《Naming Technique of the Night》 Chapter 1: 1. The person I want to wait for Chapter 1: 1. The person I want to wait for Volume One. Chapter One of the Night: Sonata. ... 2022, Autumn. The drizzling rain fell from the grey sky, lightly showering the city streets. In this autumn season, one could occasionally see pedestrians without umbrellas scurrying past, shielding their heads with their hands. In the narrow lane shared by military and civilians, a young man about seventeen or eighteen was sitting opposite an old man beneath the awning next to the small store of Fortune Supermarket. Outside the awning the whole world was gloomy, the ground had been soaked to a light black by the rainwater, only the ground under the awning remained a dry patch, as if this was the only pure land left in the whole world. A worn wooden chessboard lay before them, with the red sign of Fortune Supermarket overhead. Checkmate, Qing Chen said and then stood up, leaving the old man with thinning hair sitting stupefied. Qing Chen gave the other party a calm look and said, No more struggling is necessary. I still can... the old man said unwillingly, Weve only played thirteen moves... In his words, the old man felt somewhat embarrassed by the situation that had led to his defeat after only thirteen moves. Qing Chen didnt explain anything, as the chessboard already revealed a killing intent, signaling the final moment when the assassins dagger is revealed. The young mans face was clean, his eyes clear, and just by sitting there in his simple school uniform, it seemed as though he purified the world around him making it a bit more transparent. The old man tossed the chess piece he was holding onto the board, resigning the game. Qing Chen, as if nobody else was around, walked into the counter area of the nearby supermarket and took 20 yuan from the change basket underneath, tucking it into his pocket. The old man cursed as he watched Qing Chen, To lose 20 yuan to you every day! I just won 20 yuan from Lao Lee and Lao Zhang this morning, and now its all lost to you! After Qing Chen pocketed the money, he sat back down beside the chessboard and began to review the game, If they werent already unwilling to play chess with me, I wouldnt need to win money through you. You need face; I need money; its quite fair and reasonable. So youve made up your mind about me, huh? the old man grumbled, The fortune-teller said I would live to seventy-eight, and Im only fifty now. If I lose 20 yuan to you every day, how much money would I have to pay out? But I still teach you chess so you can win back your face, Qing Chen replied calmly, When you think about it, youre not at a loss. The old man muttered, But what youve taught these last few days has been useless. Qing Chen glanced at him, Dont talk about yourself that way. The old man, ???? Irritated, the old man set up the chessboard again and then said eagerly, Alright, alright, lets review the game. At that moment, Qing Chen suddenly bowed his head. The time that had just passed seemed to replay in his mind. The cannon that struck without warning, the brave soldiers on the border between Chu and Han echoed one by one in his mind. Not just these. There was also the uncle who walked past them while they were playing chess, carrying four freshly baked biscuits that released a bit of steam into the transparent plastic bag, coating it with a layer of white fog. The little girl in a white dress passing by with an umbrella had two beautiful butterflies on the surface of her little leather shoes. Above the sky, the wavering rain soaked the lane, glistening and translucent. At the end of the lane, a 103 bus flashed past the narrow alley entrance, and a woman in a beige trench coat ran towards the bus stop with her umbrella raised. The sound of footsteps, the sound of rainwater flowing into the drain covers by the roadside, these loud noises made the world seem particularly quiet. All of this, Qing Chen had not forgotten, although recalling it was somewhat difficult. But difficult does not mean impossible. This peculiar memory power was a talent Qing Chen was born with, as if he had simply drawn a save file from the river of time and then read the images from that save tape. Qing Chen suppressed the dizziness in his brain and picked up a chess piece on the board. The old man suddenly fell silent, his eyes intently focused on the board, as replaying each game after was a part of the betting agreement. Qing Chen was responsible for teaching chess, while the old man, after losing money, learned chess. This scene was somewhat eerie; Qing Chen did not have the humility and shyness that a younger person should have in front of an elder, instead, he was like a teacher. The other party didnt seem to mind that at all. Red cannon from two to five, black cannon from eight to five, red horse from two forward to three, black horse from eight forward to seven, red chariot from one forward to one, black chariot from nine to eight... Qing Chen moved the pieces step by step. The old man didnt even blink; the opening moves were all standard, but he couldnt understand why, on the sixth move, when he had clearly taken the opponents horse, he suddenly found himself in decline. The essence of the Horse Sacrifice Thirteen move lies in the sixth step of advancing the chariot and sacrificing the horse. Its the trump card for tearing open the defense, Qing Chen said calmly, I watched the game you played the day before yesterday with that old man in Royal City Park. He likes to play a running start. There will be no issues if you use the Horse Sacrifice Thirteen move against him. The old gentleman across fell deep into thought, then asked softly, Can I really beat him? If you learn the Horse Sacrifice Thirteen move that I teach you within a week, youll be able to reclaim your face, Qing Chen said, After all... his play is not that good either. A trace of joy appeared on the old mans face. But then he suddenly asked, If I can win against him after studying for a week, how long do I need to study chess in order to beat you? Underneath the awning, Qing Chen thought seriously, Did the fortune-teller say you can live to seventy-eight years old... then its too late. The old mans expression faltered, If you talk less, maybe I can live to seventy-nine... Eh, shouldnt you be in evening self-study now? Why did you get out of school so early today? He knew Qing Chen was a high school sophomore, and it was Tuesday, so the high school two streets away should be in evening self-study at that time. Qing Chen thought for a moment and answered, Im waiting for someone. Waiting for someone? The old man was taken aback. Qing Chen stood up and looked out at the fine rain outside the awning, his gaze drifting in the curtain of rain. The old man said, Qing Chen, you young fellow play chess so well, why dont you participate in chess competitions? Didnt you say you are short of money? Youd get a reward if you won the championship. The young Qing Chen shook his head, I just memorized many chess manuals in my mind, thats all. It doesnt mean Im that good at chess. Memory Power doesnt imply analytical power. I can play with you guys, but if I encounter a real master, Ill show my weakness. My path is not here; chess is only temporary. All memorized in your mind... The old man sighed, I used to think that photographic memory was just a made-up thing by others. The rain slowly stopped. Just then, the old man suddenly noticed Qing Chen pause, he followed the young mans gaze to the end of the alley, and saw a couple walking towards them, leading a little boy. The middle-aged woman was wearing an elegant coat and carrying a cake box tied with a pretty purple ribbon. The dull world could not hide the joy on the faces of the three people. Qing Chen turned and walked away, leaving the old man sitting under the awning in front of Fortune Supermarket, sighing softly. The middle-aged woman saw Qing Chens retreating figure, she called out his name, but Qing Chen, without turning his head, disappeared at the other end of the alleyway. The walls on both sides of the alley were very old, and after the white plaster had fallen off, what was left were patches of mottled red brick. The person Qing Chen was waiting for had arrived, yet he no longer wanted to wait. CREATORS THOUGHTS Lordbluefire Footnote: [1] Face is a Chinese saying. The meaning is close to prestige/honor [2] In Chinese chess, Chu River and Han Border divides the two opposing sides and is the center boundary between both players. To win, a player has to advance their pieces to the other side and checkmate the opponent. [3] A game of Chinese chess is played on a board nine lines wide, and ten lines long. The pieces are placed on the intersections, which are known as points. The vertical lines are known as files, and the horizontal lines are known as ranks. Chapter 2: 2. Countdown Chapter 2: 2. Countdown The middle-aged woman hurried to the entrance of Fortune Supermarket, looking at the old man, Elder Zhang, why is Qing Chen coming to you for chess again. The conversation suggested that both parties knew each other. But Elder Zhangs tone was less courteous, Your own son, and youre asking me? Hes run out of living expenses and has to earn some pocket money by playing chess to afford meals. The middle-aged woman Zhang Wanfang paused, But I do send his father Qing Chens living allowance every month. That statement made Elder Zhang pause as well, Then I dont know whats going on. Elder Zhang pondered, Zhang Wanfang was not impoverished by any means, and it seemed she didnt skimp on Qing Chens living allowance. But why was the boy still living so tightly? Qing Chen didnt seem to be a wastrel, living each day thriftily and never even taking a sip of soda. But shouldnt he be at evening self-study at this time? asked Zhang Wanfang. It was then that Elder Zhang remembered, He said that he was waiting for someone. No, I must go back home and check, said Zhang Wanfang. As she spoke, she was about to leave quickly with the cake in hand, but she heard the man beside her suddenly say, Wanfang, its Hao Haos birthday today, weve already made reservations, and were going to take him to the movies afterward! Zhang Wanfang turned to look at the man, Qing Chen might be skipping classes, I cant just ignore that. Hes seventeen and can take care of himself. Besides, he has his real dad, doesnt he, said the man, before softening his tone, Actually, you could visit him on the weekend too. How about we focus on Hao Hao today? After hearing this, Zhang Wanfang frowned, but ultimately she sighed, Alright, lets celebrate Hao Haos birthday today. ... In the shaded path of the Xijia Residential Quarters under the city governments jurisdiction, Qing Chen walked silently under the camphor trees. Unlike the high-rise buildings typifying modern metropolises, this compound was filled with four-story low-rise buildings from the 1970sno elevators, no gas, and the sewage system occasionally clogged. You couldnt use high-power electrical appliances at home because they would trip the circuit breaker. Qing Chen walked into the dimly-lit entrance, ignoring the myriad of ads plastered on the wall for locksmiths and housing sales, and used his key to open the door on the first floor. The 76-square meter home, with two bedrooms and one living room, had poor lighting because it was on the ground floor. He took out his phone, opened the contacts list, and dialed out, Hello, Dad... The voice on the other end interrupted him, If you want living expenses, ask your mother. I dont have money; shes the one whos well-off now. During the conversation, the sound of shuffling mahjong tiles could be heard in the background. I dont want money, Qing Chen said quietly, I havent asked you for money in a long time. Then what is it? the man said impatiently, Another Parents Meeting at school? Go to your mother for that kind of thing... Before the other party could finish, Qing Chen hung up the phone proactively this time. He leaned gently against the closed front door, lifting the sleeve of his school uniform jacket. He stared blankly at the white numbers and symbols on his forearm, resembling a liquid crystal display screen: countdown 5:58:13. The white digits were like fluorescent tattoos embedded in his flesh and skin, immovable no matter how much he rubbed them. On closer inspection, Qing Chen could see that the digits contained special and intricate patterns, like mechanical parts meshing together, radiating a sense of futuristic technology. The numbers were silently changing. Countdown 5:58:12. Countdown 5:58:11. With only 5 hours, 58 minutes, and 11 seconds left, everything seemed to be reminding Qing Chen that in 5 hours and 58 minutes, something unbelievable would happen. Though there was no sound, Qing Chen distinctly heard the ticking of the second hand in his mind. Qing Chen glanced at the phone he had hung up and then at the empty room. He didnt know what kind of life awaited him after 5 hours and 58 minutes, he only knew that the only one he could rely on was himself. ... Time is a profound unit of measurement, marking the length of life and the breadth of civilization. The concept of time exists in everyones life. So, when any countdown appears in your life, no matter what it is counting down towards, it will instill a sense of urgency in you. Five hours remained, and no one knew what the end of this countdown would be. Possibly danger? Or maybe another kind of life? Qing Chen couldnt be certain, and he could only prepare for the worst. Therefore, he had to get some things ready before the countdown ended. If real danger was to come, he wanted to ensure that he had some ability to resist within his capacity. Qing Chen put on a clean grey jacket, using the shadow of the hood to conceal his appearance. He took advantage of the night. He headed out in the direction of the farmers market; the skies in Los Angeles City grew dark early in October. From the residential buildings came the sounds of cooking, the explosive noise of vegetables hitting hot oil, followed by the enticing aroma wafting through the air. Scents of eggs, pork, and lamb flowed into Qing Chens mind like streams of data, to be retrieved from his archives whenever he needed this information. He bought pliers and a shovel at the hardware store, a bag of rice, a bag of flour, and table salt at the groceries store. He also bought several boxes of antibiotics from a pharmacy, batteries and a flashlight, and compressed biscuits from a supermarket. Not knowing what he was going to face, he could only prepare as much as possible. These items almost depleted all of Qing Chens savings. After Qing Chen returned home with his purchases, he went straight into the kitchen. He placed all usable knives on the cutting board in the most convenient spots in the room. A kitchen knife under the pillow and a boning knife on the nightstand. Countdown: 2 hours, 43 minutes, 11 seconds. He made sure all the doors and windows were secure, then sat on the edge of the bed and pondered whether to seek help. But whom to ask? His mother had a new family, and his father was a gambler. In fact, when the countdown first appeared on his arm a few hours earlier, 17-year-old Qing Chen instinctively thought about seeking help from his parents. But he then dismissed that idea. Qing Chen took out his phone, trying to capture a photo of the white countdown on his arm, but he discovered the white lines clearly visible to the naked eye werent appearing on the phone screen at all. The room was dim, unlit, and the windows werent soundproof. Because it was on the first floor, he could often hear the footsteps of passersby outside. The footsteps outside, the breathing inside, the faintly lit phone screen, everything was so tranquil yet eerie. It seemed pointless to seek help from Ordinary People for such a bizarre and outrageous event, and besides, he didnt have any particularly good friends at school. Even if he did, should he really involve Ordinary People in such matters? So, if he was to seek help, he could only think of other ways. Wait. Qing Chen seemed to remember something, stood up, and began searching in the living room. Two minutes later, he silently regarded the Guanyin Bodhisattva pendant in his hand. Then, with gravity, he placed it in front of him and earnestly bowed nine times. The last of his preparations was complete. CREATORS THOUGHTS Lordbluefire Footnote: [1] Mahjong is a tile-based game commonly played by four players, typically with gambling/betting aspects involved. Played with a set of 144 tiles which are shuffled by the players before each game. They also make a distinctive collision sound. Each player then gets 13 tiles, and the first person to match a hand of 14 tiles ends the game. [2] In Chinese customs, the Guanyin Bodhisattva is the Goddess of Compassion, Mercy, and Kindness, and is also regarded as a mother-goddess and patron of sailors Chapter 3: 3. Shattered World Chapter 3: 3. Shattered World Visiting Bodhisattvas when a crisis is looming may seem like a desperate attempt to seek random medical help. However, Qing Chen felt that this supernatural phenomenon on his arm should indeed be addressed by supernatural beings. As far as Qing Chen was concerned, worshipping wouldnt put him at a loss anyway. He preferred to take care of preparations beforehand, leaving no room for regrets. The time was 9:30 PM. Qing Chen sat on his bed, looking down at his phone. The bedroom was lit only by this faint light, and WeChat had only a few words sent from his desk mate, Nan Gengchen. There were no messages from anyone else. The quiet WeChat avatar of his mother, Zhang Wanfang, made Qing Chen feel a bit lost. Of course, it was just a slight feeling. He didnt even know what he was expecting. Actually, he didnt blame his mother. His father had gambled away several properties, was involved in domestic violence, and even cheated. Qing Chen didnt think there was anything wrong with his mother initiating the divorce. On the contrary, having seen his father hit his mother, Qing Chen even felt happy about his mothers decision. Because it was the right thing to do. On the eve of his parents divorce, his grandmother tried to persuade his mother not to go through with it: How can you, a woman with a teenage son as a burden, ever remarry? Who would marry you again? Hearing all this, Qing Chen chose to live with his father when his parents divorced. He remembered his parents astonished expressions, but Qing Chen knew it was the right choice too. Now that his mother had started a new life and formed a happy new family, Qing Chen might feel a bit lost, but he was still very careful not to disturb her. Countdown 2:31:12. Suddenly, Qing Chen thought of a question: if these were the last two and a half hours of his life, what should he do? This question was both serious and romantic. Because it asks you what you truly want to do in your life, but havent yet gotten around to doing, or havent dared to do. Unexpressed love, people you want to meet but havent met, places you want to visit but havent visited, words you want to say but havent saidthey all fall within the scope of possible answers. This question cuts straight to the heart. Qing Chen got up, put on his jacket, and chose to leave the house again with little time left on the countdown. He pushed his broken bicycle out of the house and rode towards his destination. The autumn night wind was a bit cool, and there were fewer and fewer pedestrians on the road. Riding on the bicycle, Qing Chens expression was calm, his coat flapping in the wind on the bridge. He indeed had many regrets in life and many things he was afraid to do. But tonight, he needed no cowardice or fear, just courage. At one point, Qing Chen thought that if he was to die tonight, he should finish what mattered most as there was no time left. First, he went to Peony Grand Hotel, then to Los Angeles Grand Hotel, and finally to Luo Yin Residential Area, but he couldnt find the person he was looking for at any of those places. Qing Chen rode his bicycle through alleys, sped across the Qi Li River Bridge, and arrived at the foot of a residential building. When he saw the familiar broken second-hand motorcycle parked downstairs and heard the sound of mahjong playing from the second floor... He picked up his phone and dialed 110, Hello, officer, I would like to report a gathering for gambling at Longteng Community, LuoJian District, Building 17, Unit 2, Apartment 201. The officer on the other end of the line seemed stunned for two seconds, then responded, Okay, well arrange for the police to dispatch now. It wasnt until then that Qing Chen felt relieved, turned around, and rode his bicycle back home. His mind was clear. At home, Qing Chen glanced at the white pattern on his arm, countdown 1:02:21. He began to reevaluate his preparations. Wait, should he face that moment at home? Qing Chen had once seen a horror film where the protagonist encounters something filthy, resulting in a ghost finding him every midnight. The protagonist tried hiding everywhere, even in the deep mountains, but the ghost always found him. At that time, Qing Chen wondered why the protagonist didnt go to a crowded place. Although ghosts were formidable, people generally felt safer in crowded places. For instance, the protagonist could stay in a nightclub where at midnight, when ghosts come knocking, hundreds of people would be shaking their heads to the roaring music, making it seem like the ghosts should be more afraid... So Qing Chen began to wonder if he should also go somewhere crowded? Or he could just head to the White Horse Temple in Los Angeles City... After all, there were bodhisattvas there. Not only Guanyin Bodhisattva but also Manjusri Bodhisattva and Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva. It seemed very safe. However, Qing Chen eventually chose to stay at home, feeling that, compared to demons and ghosts, when the countdown ended, zombies or similar creatures were more likely to appear. If that happened, going to a crowded place would be no different from seeking death, and besides, bodhisattvas didnt really handle such affairs. Qing Chen had already prepared supplies at home, so if zombies truly attacked, he could still hide at home for a while. Countdown 00:31:49. In the last half-hour, Qing Chen turned on the desk lamp and silently wrote a will, leaving it on the desk. If he died today, perhaps one day his family and friends would read his final words. If he didnt die, then his life might be transformed into a whole new world. Countdown 00:00:12. After finishing the will, Qing Chen sat up straight, clutching the Boning Knife tightly in his right hand. His clear eyes suddenly narrowed. The closer it got to the last moment, the calmer his emotions became. It was as if a tsunami paused just before swallowing a lone island, with no undercurrents stirring beneath the sea, only deep thoughts and fierce courage remaining! 10... 9... 8... 7... 6... 5... 4... 3... 2... 1. No ghosts, no zombies, no disasters. Qing Chen quietly watched as time around him froze, his cellphone seemingly stuck forever at 12:00:00. The second hand on the wall clock suddenly stopped ticking, and the light outside the window no longer flickered. He stood up, and the frozen time seemed to shatter with his movement, the world in his eyes fracturing like a broken mirror. Qing Chen, holding the Boning Knife, looked around. There was no desk, no room, only darkness remaining. Then, he too was engulfed by the darkness. ... Time seemed to pass indefinitely, yet it felt like only a moment, and suddenly Qing Chen lost all concept of time. In the darkness, shards of the world began to piece together again, forming a brand new world from unknown fragments in an instant. Qing Chen lay on a narrow, hard bed in a completely unfamiliar environment he had never visited before. He first looked at his palms, empty, the Boning Knife long since vanished. Then he looked at his arm, only to discover that the white lines there had changed. Return countdown 48:00:00. 48 hours, or 2 days, Qing Chen pondered. The next moment, the countdown ticked a second: Return countdown 47:59:59. CREATORS THOUGHTS Lordbluefire Footnote: [1] WeChat is a Chinese multi-purpose instant messaging and social media app similar to WhatsApp or Telegram. [2] Qilihe exists in real life, located entirely on the southern bank of the Yellow River, and includes part of Lanzhous main urban area. [3] Chinese used filthy thing to describe a sort of paranormal entity, often linked to ghost hauntings [4] Manjushri Bodhisattva is a bodhisattva, associated with wisdom. He represents the wisdom of prajna, not confined by knowledge or concepts. [5] Ks?itigarbha Bodhisattva is a bodhisattva primarily revered in East Asia Buddhism and usually depicted as a Buddhist monk. Typically known for his vow to take responsibility for the instruction of all beings in the six worlds, and his vow not to achieve Buddhahood until all hells are emptied. Chapter 4: 4. Not just one Chapter 4: 4. Not just one Return Countdown 47:59:58. Return Countdown 47:59:57. Had he crossed over? So the end of the countdown meant crossing to another time and space, and the return countdown was the time left to g back. Realizing this, Qing Chen let out a sigh of relief; it was a good thing to be able to return. Although no one might be thinking about him there, his mother had a new life and couldnt spare thought for him, and his father... was probably in a detention center. So he probably couldnt spare a thought for him either. But even so, he still wanted to go back and see for himself. And now, what he had to do was to stay alive during these 48 hours. So... it was the first day of the countdown. Qing Chen began to re-evaluate the New World in front of him. The moment the world pieced itself back together, Qing Chen saw the prison uniform on his body and instantly understood his situation. He was in a gray, dim room, except for an Alloy Gate that exuded a technological feel, the other areas were completely enclosed walls. The door, 90 centimeters wide, had a small window, but it was closed now. The cell was a single room, containing only a bed covered with a thin sheet. Next to it was a rack with nothing more than a quilt, a toothbrush, and a towel. The cell walls were gray, but what Qing Chen couldnt understand was why the gray walls, under the faint light outside, clearly emitted a metallic luster. Metallic walls? Qing Chen sat up and solemnly touched the wall, wondering what place would use such a cost-disregarding building material? Clearly, this was no longer the world he had known. He quickly lowered his head to his palms; the fingerprints were completely identical to his former ones, even the position of the pores on his hands didnt differ by half a point. This was his own body. After traveling to this world, his Boning Knife had disappeared, the clothes he originally wore had vanished as well, but his body was indeed his own. Fingerprints and pore positions couldnt be faked. Qing Chen sat on the bed, hugging his knees, staring at the heavy Alloy Gate, not knowing what he was thinking. Gradually, noises started outside, and even the sound of someone forcefully banging on the Alloy Gate could be heard. Qing Chen slowly walked to the door, trying to listen to what was being shouted outside, but before he could make it out, the Alloy Gate emitted a clear pneumatic transmission sound and opened. He looked outside the door, which led to a circular corridor. This square prison fortress had seven floors, each floor densely packed with orderly arranged cells. The open and vast prison fortress had only a few lights on, and from each opened Alloy Gate came dim cells, like beasts caged inside. Qing Chen stood inside the door, it seemed that with just one step out, he would be walking towards an unknowable life. In the vast prison, a broadcast suddenly started somewhere, a pleasant female voice uttered, Seven oclock sharp, breakfast time. All inmates, please line up in order and proceed to the dining area for your meal. The voice echoed in the prison fortress, while Qing Chen still stared at the doorstep in front of him. It seemed that with just one step out, everything would be different. He felt that from a certain moment, he had already begun to change. When did it start? Probably... when he thought he had only two and a half hours left in his life and decided to do what he had always wanted to but never dared to do. He had even reported his own father, what else was there to fear? He stepped out of the cell. But the next moment, he froze again. In the not-so-spacious corridor outside, a prisoner stood in front of each cell door. Qing Chens pupils suddenly constricted: An old man hunched over looked towards him, and in his eye socket, there was a mechanical eye emitting a faint red glow. The entire right eye socket was mechanically structured, extending to the temple on the right side. The mechanical eye looked unrefined, even a bit crude, but for some reason, Qing Chen felt a sense of oppression from that eye fixed on him. It seemed as if the other party was analyzing the details on his body. Just like he used Memory Power to analyze others. A burly middle-aged prisoners right arm was entirely mechanical. The man flexed his fingers, and Qing Chen could hear the metallic sound of the mechanical components moving as the mans hand opened and closed. The robust metal arm, resembling coiled steel muscles, was strong and volatile. In this entire prison fortress, it seemed half of the people had mechanical limbs. Mechanical civilization. Those four words flashed through Qing Chens mind. Before he could ponder further, he saw the burly prisoner in the next cell smile at him, Hey, newbie, dont eat too much for breakfast, or it will look ugly when it comes back up. No sooner had he spoken than laughter echoed down the corridor, Heard that last night twelve new people arrived; today we can have some fun. This kid has no mechanical limbs at all, looks like he wasnt much connected on the outside either. When Qing Chen heard the words newbie, he was taken aback; he thought the other man knew he had just traversed from Earth. But he quickly realized that newbie probably meant he had just entered the prison, presumably the other did not know about his Earthling identity. And Qing Chen, frowning in thought, realized that the so-called fun for the others might spell disaster for him. But the question was, how was he supposed to survive among these mechanical beasts? He suppressed the restlessness and fear within him, and as a regular high school sophomore faced with a sudden and fierce event, the only thing Qing Chen could do was to force himself not to show any anomalies. Because he didnt know what consequences it might bring if his origin from another world was exposed. Suddenly, across on the fourth floor of the opposite corridor, a young man became frenzied, What is this place! I want to go home! I dont want to stay in this creepy place, who are you people? Im Huang Jixian, my dad is the chairman of the Los Angeles Win Group, stay away from me! With that, the young man began to run wildly along the corridor. The others didnt move, standing in place as if watching a spectacle, still lined up ready to head to the cafeteria. Someone asked in confusion, Where is Los Angeles? Suddenly, Qing Chen heard a buzzing sound overhead; he looked up to discover, high up on the deep ceiling, four drone-like iron boxes detaching from the wall, beginning to descend. Qing Chens gaze lingered on the ceiling where the walls, made of alloy material, had neatly integrated eighteen Gatling-like six-barrel gun turrets hanging upside down. As the panicking young man ran, nine of those gun barrels began to rotate! Please stop moving, a female voice came from the drone, Warning again, please stop moving. Then, a womans voice sounded throughout the prison fortress, All inmates, stand by in place. In just over ten seconds, the four drones had cornered the young man in a part of the corridor, each drones gun aimed right at him. At the same time, gates opened below in the prison fortress, and 9 robots armed with unnamed firearms were rapidly entering. The young man sat against the wall in terror, while Qing Chen coldly watched it all unfold. The young mans actions were a bit extreme, but they helped Qing Chen gather a lot of information. Machine guns, drones, robots, mechanical limbscountless pieces of information flooded into his mind at once. But what astonished Qing Chen most was his sudden realization while watching the young mans actions: he might not be the only one from Earth who had come to this place. Not the first, and likely not the last. (Chapter 4Please recommend and vote for monthly tickets) Chapter 5: 5. A transcendent status. Chapter 5: 5. A transcendent status. Qing Chen had also once wondered whether there were other people whose arms also displayed a countdown. It was precisely because of this speculation that he was so careful and cautious to take the subway to a distant place to verify some things, lest he be tracked down in the future by the clues left behind. But then a series of sudden changes followed one after another, almost causing Qing Chen to forget his guess. Now it seemed that his speculation had ultimately turned into reality. There must be quite a number of people who had transmigrated from Earth to this world; just in this prison alone there were two, let alone the world beyond the prison. How many transmigrators were there? A few hundred? A few thousand? For what reason had they transmigrated? Qing Chen couldnt be certain. The new guy that came this time is quite interesting, isnt he a fool? someone laughingly said, watching the collapsing teenager: I heard he was sentenced to 7 years for tax evasion? He didnt cry when he was brought in yesterday, yet only started crying today. Anyone who dares to mess with the tax authority these days, if not a fool, what could he be... Qing Chen looked toward the source of the voice, which was a young man with mechanical legs. Seeing Qing Chen look over, he smirked and said, Hey, newcomer, are you ready? The surrounding crowd burst into laughter, as if they were all waiting to see a show. This place was so sci-fi and advanced, and yet the dark side of humanity seemed to have changed little. Qing Chen frowned but did not respond. He turned his gaze back to the young man surrounded by drones. Perhaps only he knew why the young man hadnt cried yesterday and started crying today: just like Qing Chen, he had just transmigrated from the greenhouse of Earth and was struggling to accept this new reality. This was not speculation, as he had seen the young man before. Qing Chen was 17 years old this year, a junior at Los Angeles Foreign Language School. And the collapsing young man was in his freshman year. The two had never interacted, but Qing Chen had a photographic memory, and it was difficult for him to forget anyone he had seen. This made Qing Chen somewhat surprised. Could it be that the location before transmigration was close, so the locations after transmigration would also be close? He couldnt be certain. However, Qing Chen did discover one thing: everyone here spoke Mandarin, and not a single person spoke a dialect. At that moment, robotic guards were charging up the stairs, each step taking them up five stairs, accompanied by a distinctive hydraulic transmission sound. The young man was already crying inconsolably. Half the people in this prison fortress had mechanical limbs. In such a place prowled by these steel beasts, encountering someone from Earth felt like meeting a kindred spirit in a foreign land. Ordinarily, when people meet fellow townsmen in a strange place, they feel an inexplicable sense of safety. But Qing Chen felt no such thing. Looking at the teenager on the verge of collapse, he realized that a townsman might not necessarily be of help but, instead, could become a burden. Not everyone could remain calm in the face of this strange new mechanical civilization. What he needed to do now was to survive the first two days after his arrival and then return to Earth to understand what all this was about. Qing Chen quietly observed everything with a low profile, and for some reason, he felt even more composed at this moment. Until then, all the prisoners remained standing still in their spots. He looked around the prison fortress. Of the nine robots that had just charged from the outside gate of the cell block, three were left in the plaza below to maintain martial law, while the others went upstairs to take the panicked young man away. The plaza downstairs was very spacious, about the size of a soccer field. The open plaza was divided into several areas: a dining area, a fitness and entertainment equipment area, a reading area, a multimedia area, and so on... There were no partitions between these areas, resembling a large open space for activities, and around the edges of the plaza were eight large steel gates. The gates were so large they seemed to allow armored vehicles to pass directly through. Suddenly, Qing Chen stiffened. He saw that three people had appeared at the dining table in the plaza below at some point. A middle-aged man in his forties was sitting, while two young men with smiles stood by his side, then curiously looked up at the prisoners upstairs. In front of the middle-aged man was a chessboard with an endgame set upon it. What was most astonishing was that next to the chessboard on the dining table, there lay a cat with tucked paws dozing off, grey with tuffs of pointed hair on its ears, looking a bit like a lynx, but not quite. Maine Coon Cat. You could keep cats in prison?! Qing Chen was somewhat shocked; his attention had been drawn to the townsman so much that he hadnt noticed when these three people and the cat had come to the plaza. At this time, the middle-aged man was intently staring at the chessboard, as if unconcerned with what was happening upstairs. Moreover, what startled Qing Chen the most was that even the robots on the plaza acted as if these three people and the cat didnt exist. The solemnity and tension upstairs contrasted sharply with the relaxed composure downstairs, as if they were two distinct worlds. Of the three, the two young men were wearing the typical blue and white striped prison uniforms, while the middle-aged man wore a white exercise suit. In this grim and oppressive environment, that touch of white was exceptionally ethereal. Qing Chen pondered, Could this be the warden? No, that wasnt right. Although the person was dressed in an exercise suit different from the other prisoners, there was a small black inmate number embroidered on the chest of the suit. This middle-aged man was also a prisoner in the jail, just the most special one of them all. As if he felt his gaze, a young man beside the middle-aged one suddenly turned his head, returning his look with a smiling glance. Qing Chen immediately looked away. After the collapsing young man from Earth was taken away, the prison fortresss speakers sounded once more, Line up in order and proceed to the cafeteria for your meal. No sooner had the announcement finished than Qing Chen saw all the prisoners turn right and form a long line, advancing towards the square along the stairs. It wasnt until this moment that Qing Chen had the opportunity to count the total number of prisoners: 3102, including himself. There were seven levels in the prison fortress, with prisoners on each floor forming one team, led by a prisoner at the very front, orderly proceeding to the cafeteria in sequence. During this time, no one cut in line or left the formation; Qing Chen felt as if everyone here was operating according to a pre-programmed procedure, everything restrained by someone. This order persisted until everyone had received their food from the robot server windows. It seemed that after getting their food, they were free to move about. Qing Chen and his fellow inmates resided on the fifth level, so by the time it was their turn to get their food, the people from the first level had already finished eating. He saw two burly prisoners dragging a young man toward a cell on the first floor, closest to the cafeteria, amid a lot of heckling from the crowd. Someone else instructed, Hurry up and pull him into the cell, dont injure him in the square, and watch out for the robotic guards intervening. The prisoner dragging the young man responded carelessly, Dont worry, Im not an idiot like Yang Jie. Meanwhile, the young man was struggling fiercely, yelling, Let me go! But as he was about to be dragged into the cell, his voice turned to pleading, Please, spare me! However, no matter what he said, no one paid attention to his request, which only attracted louder jeers. Suddenly, an old man with mechanical eyes in front of him turned around and grinned, Stop looking around. Youll be up soon. Qing Chen looked at him calmly, and the old man suddenly felt the gaze from this young newcomer was somehow different. For some reason, he felt an unexpected tightness in his heart. Formations broke apart after getting their food from the window. Qing Chen noticed three people sidling up towards him as if they intended to take control of him directly! He instantly quickened his pace, and they likewise hastened theirs, surrounding him tightly! In the next moment, the scene in the prison fortress seemed to play in slow motion through Qing Chens mind. Eighteen steel beast-like machine guns lay in wait above the dome, like sleeping tigers. Seventy-two drones hung in the alloy ceilings slots, resembling hibernating wasps. Two hundred and ten surveillance cameras slowly rotated, and three robots stood with guns in the square. Prisoners collected their meals one after another from the windows, some complaining about the unpalatable synthetic meat again. Next to the pool, someone was washing dishes, while others washed dishes for someone else. As more and more inmates finished their meals, the square grew busier, with people shuttling back and forthsome headed to the gym area, others to observe the Newcomer Ceremony. Yet, everyone subconsciously avoided the middle-aged man staring at the chessboard. The man remained engrossed in the game, with no one approaching within five meters, an oasis of calm and solidity amid the tumultuous sea, where all raging waves and boats must retreat. All of a sudden, Qing Chen, carrying his tray, accelerated through the trio enclosing him, heading towards the middle-aged man. Seeing his direction, many people quickly realized what this newcomer intended to do. Gradually, more and more gazes shifted toward him, whispers spreading, and the expressions on the faces of the inmates seemed to anticipate watching a joke unfold. There were many newcomers who found the middle-aged man unusual, and many who wanted to rely on him to escape their predicaments; Qing Chen was never the only one. But, in fact, all had failed. Yet, Qing Chen, undeterred by the mocking voices, continued unaffected, holding his tray as he wove through the crowd. Before he could get close, a young man beside the middle-aged one stopped him, smiling as he said, Newcomer, I know what youre planning, but we wont help you. The man had guessed Qing Chens thoughts, and Qing Chens gaze drifted past the young man to the middle-aged one beyond. The middle-aged man turned a deaf ear to everything happening around him, as if he heard nothing at all. He looked at the middle-aged man seriously and said, Forward one with the pawn; I can solve this endgame. Only then did the middle-aged man lift his head, and suddenly the square went quiet, and even the cat opened its eyes. ... Thank you to Sea Soul Clothing for becoming a Silver City Alliance member of this book. Thank you to Li Ren, Teacher Ren, the Mouse Who Snores, Da Bing er, the Guy Who Makes Sassy Comments Gets Hot Reviews, Yan Zu Zu, and Wang Jia Ning for becoming Alliance Hierarchs of this book! Chapter 6: 6. The Brave Pawn Crossing the River Chapter 6: 6. The Brave Pawn Crossing the River Before the middle-aged man looked up, Qing Chen thought he might be deaf, given that the loud noise nearby hadnt affected him at all. However, after the middle-aged man looked up, Qing Chen almost thought he himself was deaf because the noisy square had suddenly become silent, without a single extra sound. The astonished expressions in the eyes of the people around, along with an array of inexplicable emotions, seemed to serve as a backdrop for the identity of the middle-aged man. Because in the past, this middle-aged man had never responded to anyone asking for help. Suddenly, Qing Chen breathed a sigh of relief, as everything proved that he had gambled correctly. The middle-aged man said nothing to him, but calmly moved the red piece forward on the chessboard, advancing it one space. The middle-aged man, holding the black pieces, chose to move his elephant from five back to seven, capturing the pawn that had just aggressively advanced. Qing Chen watched the chessboard quietly from afar. This Four Invaders Capture the King endgame was known as one of the most perilous setups on Earth. Typically, an endgame meant that the black side was sure to win, with the red side not even able to achieve a draw. Achieving a draw meant solving the endgame. But Qing Chen was not satisfied with a draw. The Four Invaders Capture the King endgame was peculiar, with four audacious red pawns having crossed the river to the end line, and both chariots still present. The situation appeared evenly matched at first glance; however, in reality, this endgame was fraught with fatal strategies and traps everywhere. Black needed only one move to win the game, while red could only run around frantically; a moments inattention could lead to them thinking they had secured victory, only to be defeated in a counterattack. This was a position full of hope that could slowly drag a person into despair. Continue, the middle-aged man said flatly. Qing Chen said, Pawn two moves to three. The middle-aged mans eyes brightened, and at that moment, he seemed truly interested, too lazy to touch the chessboard, he closed his eyes and followed along with Qing Chen in a game of blind chess, King six advances one. Qing Chen also closed his eyes, Rear chariot advances four. Elephant seven retreats to nine. By the sixth turn, Qing Chen suddenly said, Chariot one advances seven! The middle-aged man, whose eyes had been closed, opened them again, astonished, looking at Qing Chen, Elephant five retreats to seven. During the first five moves, back and forth, everything was unremarkable. But from this sixth step onward, both sides began mercilessly exchanging pieces! You kill mine! I kill yours! Blood flowing like rivers, a field of mourning soldiers! The decisiveness and determination on the chessboard were extremely brutal. Both were like the calmest generals on a battlefield, sacrificing everything for the final victory. The Four Invaders Capture the King setup had fiercely brought out a spirit of valor in them, yet behind this valor lay their deep calculations. At the beginning, Qing Chens red side, with four ferocious pawns crossing the river, looked more aggressive, yet he chose to sacrifice each one for other strategies, keeping only the last one! Chariot one moves to four. King four moves to five. Cannon four moves to five. Chariot three moves to five. By the fifteenth move, Qing Chen finally let out a long breath, Pawn five advances one! The dagger was revealed when the drawing was finished. Capture the king! It wasnt until this moment that the charm of solving the chess endgame of Four Invaders Capture the King finally burst forth, indescribably fascinating. The situation of mutual annihilation along the Chu-Han border made the middle-aged man feel as if he were truly on a battlefield, strategizing against a tactician. This game of chess was perilous at every turn. What astonished the middle-aged man most was that, despite his young age, the youth in front of him didnt hesitate at all when sacrificing pieces to alter the game. Not abandoning or giving up is indeed important, but war is war, and how can there be a war without sacrifices? He silently watched the young man opposite him, who was also staring back, his expression solemn and stubborn. It seemed as if he was fighting his way out of a desperate situation, carving out a new path in life. The middle-aged man understood, he was playing a chess game, whereas the opponent was striving to survive in an environment encircled by steel beasts, thus their attitudes were inherently different. No one noticed that at that moment, of the 210 surveillance cameras in this prison fortress, 81 of them directly turned towards Qing Chen. The black camera lenses swirled inward as if focusing on Qing Chens face. No one knew who was behind the surveillance cameras, focusing in on him. The middle-aged man chuckled and placed the black general upside down on the chessboard, Interesting, not many people know how to play chess these days, lets continue tomorrow. Having said that, he walked towards the library area with his hands behind his back, leaving the chessboard on the dining table untouched by anyone. The grey cat at the table stood up and silently followed behind the middle-aged man. When the cat curled up, it resembled a furry ball, seemingly not large at all. However, when it stretched out, Qing Chen realized that the cat was surprisingly large, over a meter long, and exceptionally agile. Typical cats walk with a light and graceful step known as a catwalk, but this cat moved with the posture of a tiger. Everyone in the square who was watching was stunned, the youth had actually won the game? Honestly, they didnt understand chess, and when it came down to both sides playing blind chess, they understood even less. In this era, there were too many entertainment activities, each more exciting and enjoyable than chess. They could use chips to directly attain pleasure, and even log their consciousness into virtual networks. It was an era where happiness was incredibly cheap; how many could outsmart artificial intelligence in chess? However, their astonishment at Qing Chen winning over the middle-aged man stemmed from the fact that, in their eyes, how could that middle-aged man possibly lose? Whether it was in chess or combat, how could he lose? Honestly, Qing Chen was also puzzled. This middle-aged man clearly did not have mechanical limbs, nor did his two companions, yet why was he so highly regarded in this prison rampant with steel beasts? The young man who had blocked Qing Chen earlier winked at him, Impressive. My name is Lin Xiaoxiao, and this is Ye Wan. See you tomorrow. After speaking, he and another young man called Ye Wan followed the middle-aged man and left together. At this moment, Qing Chen didnt even know the middle-aged mans name, only the names of the two companions; but this was undoubtedly a good start. The tension in the square only began to ease when the middle-aged man, along with Ye Wan and Lin Xiaoxiao, had all gone to the reading area. The prisoner welcoming new inmates was still pulling new arrivals into their cells, including Qing Chen. Out of the 12 newcomers, 9 had already been taken in. Now, when Qing Chen looked at those prisoners, they no longer considered targeting him. Suddenly, a young man equipped with a mechanical leg ran up to Qing Chen, speaking hastily, We are both new here, help me, and Ill follow your lead from now on. The surrounding prisoners watched coldly. They were still a bit unclear about the situation; Qing Chen was definitely off-limits, but if this young man wanted to protect other newcomers, they were not willing. However, Qing Chen turned a deaf ear to the young mans words, his expression as calm as if he heard nothing at all. The prisoners laughed and forcefully dragged the young man away. Only to hear the young man yell, My uncle is a Director at City 17s Ming Company, you... Before he could finish speaking, the other prisoners burst into laughter, Apart from the five major corporations, other companies are not worth mentioning. Not to mention you, even if your uncle came to this prison fortress, he would have to behave. Qing Chen silently listened to everything, absorbing all the useful information. He had just been identifying the identities of these newcomers, trying to see if there were any other Earth people hidden among them. He himself had crossed over, having no memories belonging to this world, and until now, he didnt even know how many years he had been sentenced. Qing Chen believed that others also lacked memories, so anyone like this young man who could talk about relationships outside the prison, probably wasnt from his hometown. Among the twelve new inmates, it seemed that only that broken young man and he were from Earth. For some reason, Qing Chen didnt feel discouraged at all, instead, he felt somewhat excited about his radically different... life. A radically different life. The phrase itself sounded very enticing. When your own life is already a mess, and then someone presents a button in front of you saying, Press this, and youll enter an extraordinary life. But pressing it could lead to two outcomes. It might be better. Or it might be worse. Would you press it? Qing Chen felt he probably would. On Earth, he always seemed superfluous; his father regarded him as a burden, his mother had a new family, and his relatives seldom interacted with him. Qing Chen had already spent two Spring Festivals alone. So, if your past life was all gloom, then no matter how dangerous, unknown, or terrifying the new world is, it would still be somewhat anticipated. This world was different. For Qing Chen, coming here from Earth felt like a rebellious adventure in life, as well as a liberation from the past. If it hadnt been for this countdown incident, he would have probably focused on his studies, worked hard to support himself, and relied on his unique memory to get into a very good, very distant university, never to return. Yet, that kind of life seemed still somehow uninteresting. He believed that not many people had traveled with him from Earth, and even if there were a few thousand or tens of thousands, it was a very small ratio compared to the total. This made him feel special. Countdown 39:31:29. Qing Chen silently observed his surroundings, intending to record all the information he could see, so that he could slowly analyze it once he was back in his cell alone. Above an alloy gate next to the square, there was a blue holographic projection displaying the bouncing time, AM8:29. The three-dimensional holographic image looked so novel and conspicuous, 8:29 AM. Just then, a young man took advantage of the moment when others were distracted, and suddenly came over to Qing Chen and whispered, You finally came in, just as handsome as the legends say. I am Lu Guangyi, Qing Yan arranged for me to come here three months ago, you can just call me Xiao Lu. Qing Chen: ??? He paused for a moment and looked at the other person. This young man named Lu Guangyi was about 24 or 25 years old, with short black hair, both his right arm and left leg were equipped with mechanical limbs, and he even had mechanical eyes. Qing Chen could even see spiral patterns in his eyes adjusting their focus. His mechanical limbs, unlike those of most prisoners, whether it was their streamlined design or their material, appeared to be of high quality. Qing Chen searched his memories, tracing the others actions. Only then did Qing Chen realize that Lu Guangyi had looked at him 21 times in just over an hour, and that was only the times he fell within his own field of view. Qing Chen did not know who this person was, but the way he spoke, it was clear that he knew him, and he even used honorifics. From Lu Guangyis point of view, it seemed I was also in this prison fortress with another agenda. But Qing Chen was afraid of exposing his time travel, so he didnt want to get too involved with Lu Guangyi at the moment, I dont need your help for now; I can handle some things myself. Lu Guangyis head shook like a bobblehead, No, no, I must take good care of you. Qing Chen also shook his head, No ones character is nobler than anyone elses; you dont need to use words like serve. At this point, Lu Guangyi said sycophantically, Come on, just order me around in the future; just think of me as your lapdog, the foot-licking kind! Qing Chen was speechless, what kind of person would say such utterly shameless things, What if I have athletes foot? Lu Guangyi, not embarrassed at all, said, Then I could lick it better for you! Qing Chen was silent for a long while, ...Awesome. Even though he was trying very hard to restrain himself from speaking recklessly, he couldnt help but be astounded. Qing Chen was a bit confused now; he had clearly traveled through time with both his body and consciousness, so why were there such bizarre past interpersonal relations? That is to say, did people in this world really think he had been living here for so many years? Seeing that Qing Chen wasnt talking, Lu Guangyi whispered, This morning I was wondering why you hadnt come to find me at the first moment; it turns out you planned to approach Uncle Li Dong as a newcomer, so clever. In this Prison No. 18 fortress, having Uncle Li Dongs help will make our plan much smoother. Qing Chen, ... What plan. What are you talking about. Can you be clearer?! Lu Guangyi continued as if talking to himself, Ive been in here for over three months and have gathered a group of useful people for you; dont worry, they wont let you down. The young man was chattering incessantly. Qing Chen felt that Lu Guangyi was a bit of a chatterbox, and he just listened silently, unsure of how to respond. It was like playing Whos The Spy with a blank card, having to wait for everyone to finish speaking before you could talk; otherwise, if everyone elses word was urine and you were the first to speak, suggesting it was drinkable, that would create a big problem. He searched his mind and remembered that at breakfast, there were vaguely a hundred people around Lu Guangyi, each equipped with mechanical limbs. It appeared that these people were the subordinates Lu Guangyi had recruited after coming here. Seeing that Qing Chen still wasnt speaking, Lu Guangyi asked again in a low voice, But be careful with Uncle Li Dong, dealing with such a person is like bargaining with a tiger, and it could put us in a passive position... sorry, I spoke too much. At that moment, Qing Chen realized that the mentioned Uncle Li Dong was probably that middle-aged man. Lu Guangyi thought he had a mission as soon as he came in and went straight to play chess with Uncle Li Dong. But approaching Uncle Li Dong wasnt for some crappy plan; it was for survival. What instructions did you bring with you this time? Suddenly Lu Guangyi asked. Qing Chen slowly turned to look at the young man, A monk has come from the south. The young man, ??? Qing Chen didnt bother with him any longer and just walked away, leaving Lu Guangyi standing there stunned, A monk has come from the south? What monk? ... Chapter 6 is up. Please recommend and vote for the month. Thank you, Nan Gengchen, Alpaca Xiao Fierce Xu, God Hidden, Bai Li Tong Yun, and Lonely Lonely Lonely Lonely for becoming chiefs of this book! CREATORS THOUGHTS Lordbluefire Footnote: [1] Spring Festival, alternatively known as Chinese New Year, is a festival that celebrates the beginning of a new year on the traditional lunisolar and solar Chinese calendar. [2] You here is an honorific. Typically used when addressing someone with respect. [3] Who is the Undercover is a game where players have to reveal the undercover among citizens. It assigned citizens with the same word while the undercover has a different but similar word. Mr. White is an additional character who would draw a blank card instead, just like the mc in this case. [4] A lama came to the south.: This is part of a Chinese tongue twister. Chapter 7: Seven, one Chapter 7: Seven, one Among the 3,102 inmates, theyre now either messing with the new guy or hanging out in the entertainment area; only a small group is pumping iron in the fitness equipment area. It seems that nobody is really interested in reading. So, at this moment, Uncle Li Dong, Lin Xiaoxiao, and Ye Wan seem somewhat out of the ordinary. With a mischievous grin, Lin Xiaoxiao squatted on a chair, barefoot, his shoes scattered beside him. Ye Wan stood rigidly behind Uncle Li Dong, occasionally surveying the surroundings. Lin Xiaoxiao, with his delicate eyebrows and bright eyes, looked exceptionally clever, while Ye Wan was relatively more muscular, with a firmer expression on his face. One looked more like a scholar, and the other more like a bodyguard. Seeing Uncle Li Dong finish reading the news, Lin Xiaoxiao said, Boss, that kid didnt help the other newbies. Uncle Li Dong nodded, Not helping is normal. He plays chess with decisive ruthlessness, ready to sacrifice his own arm for survival, let alone help others. Playing chess is one thing, I could also dare to sacrifice a piece on the board... So, Boss, are you going to continue to play chess with him tomorrow? Lin Xiaoxiao pondered and asked. Of course, Uncle Li Dong smiled and said, If not with him, should I perhaps play with you two terrible chess baskets? In the reading area, Uncle Li Dong sat beside a long wooden table, holding a brand-new reader and meticulously browsing through various news from that morning. The big cat once again lay down on the table, seemingly to sleep, as if sleeping in different places was the meaning of a cats life. This reading area resembled a small library, but instead of paper books on the shelves, there were e-readers charging in slots. The shelves were surrounded by dozens of long tables that could accommodate nearly a thousand people, but they were eerily empty at the moment. Ye Wan said in a deep voice, Im a bit stronger than Lin Xiaoxiao. But not by much, Uncle Li Dong turned to Ye Wan and tapped the news on the reader with his finger, Do you remember Guo Huchan that the Chen Corporation caught? His trial process is completed, and he should be transferred to this Prison No. 18 in the next few days. Youll contact him when he arrives. Ye Wan nodded, Ive dealt with him before. Although hes not easy to get along with, at least hes communicative. Hmm, Uncle Li Dong nodded and then turned to Lin Xiaoxiao, This mornings breakdown of the newcomer, what do you think? I observed him for a long time and something feels off, Lin Xiaoxiao analyzed, It looked like he was talking nonsense after his breakdown, but when he mentioned Los Angeles City and the Yongli Group, he was very certain, as if there was something real about it. His identity? Uncle Li Dong asked. Checked it. Outside, he was just an ordinary high school dropout, a layabout. He worked with the Black Tiger Organization in City No. 18 dealing in mechanical limbs, suspected of illegal seizure of mechanical limbs but without evidence. In the end, he was sent here for tax evasion. We can trace all his past life experiences, but as for the Los Angeles City and Yongli Group he mentioned, really no clue, Lin Xiaoxiao said. No one saw Lin Xiaoxiao look up anything, but it seemed like he had dug up everything about the distressed young man in just an hour. Thats the most astonishing part. Uncle Li Dong said, Keep an eye on him, there must be something else with this young man. Also, what about the one who was playing chess with me? Lin Xiaoxiao replied, You just finished that game, I havent had the chance to check yet, Ill have an answer for you before lunch break. Alright, Uncle Li Dong nodded and continued to flip through the reader. Lin Xiaoxiao sneaked a glance at Uncle Li Dong and suddenly realized that the boss was taking a special interest in that young man. Just as he was about to continue, Lin Xiaoxiao looked out of the reading area just in time to see Qing Chen slowly approaching, carefully examining the surroundings. Qing Chen first observed Uncle Li Dongs side, then tried to gently pull a PAD-like reader from the shelf and pressed the power button. Qing Chen stared at the screen. If there was any way to quickly understand this world, it would surely be to read the books of this world. He hadnt expected that, in this world, even paper books had been phased outwhat remained were electronic devices. However, when the reader was turned on, it wasnt an operating interface, but a login screen. Lin Xiaoxiao came over with a light laugh, First time in prison, huh? If you want to use this reader, you need to register an account with your inmate ID. Once you log in, it will show your recent reading history, your personal bookmarks, and the reading preferences and font size youve set up. Qing Chen thought to himself that this gadget was quite user-friendly. Oh, and it also has a built-in artificial intelligence voice. Just call its name, and it can help you find the content youre looking for, like this, Lin Xiaoxiao also pulled out a reader and said, Yi. I am here, a pleasant female voice came from the reader, Qing Chen remembered this voice, it was exactly the same as the one that announced meal times inside the prison fortress. The tone was formalized, yet it didnt feel stiff. Lin Xiaoxiao said to the reader, Help me find the book Brown. Okay, Brown has been found for you, the artificial intelligence named Yi responded. Look, Lin Xiaoxiao handed her reader to Qing Chen, the book titled Brown had already opened its pages. Qing Chen glanced at his prisoner uniform, the number 010101. After registering, Qing Chen looked towards Lin Xiaoxiao, Where can I read the news, like the kind you have there? Lin Xiaoxiao turned to glance at the reader in her bosss hand and then giggled, Forget it, your reader account doesnt have internet access, not even mine does. Qing Chen understood, it seemed Uncle Li Dongs status in this prison was truly extraordinary. Just like he could keep a cat in prison. He no longer said anything but thanked her and then began to read the content on his reader. Lin Xiaoxiao returned to Uncle Li Dongs side and discretely observed Qing Chen. But she suddenly discovered that Qing Chen was flipping through the readers pages extremely fast! Normally, one page of the reader contains 800 characters, a regular person would need at least a minute to read it, right? But Qing Chen was flipping pages every two seconds! Lin Xiaoxiao whispered to Uncle Li Dong, Boss, he isnt really reading the reader, he probably just wants to get close and seize an opportunity to interact with you. Dont be nosy, Uncle Li Dong said without even looking up, Never underestimate someone elses desire to survive. If you were in his place, youd probably be even more desperate. Xiao Xiao, you need to learn to see things from other peoples perspectives. Lin Xiaoxiao said with a cheeky smile, I know, I know. Qing Chen found a spot to sit down, continuously memorized the contents of the reader, and then flipped the pages quickly, doing so for over three hours, not even changing his sitting position once. To others, reading might be a leisurely pastime after meals, but for him, it was one of the ways to understand the world and survive. The content on the reader was obviously carefully selected, with almost no important information, 95% of the content was philosophy and motivational quotes... But it didnt matter, any information was important to him now. Qing Chen had always been someone who valued opportunities. Close to lunchtime, Uncle Li Dong finally set down his reader and logged out of his account. Ye Wan standing by understood and took the reader, placing it back into the slot on the bookshelf. Ye Wan and Lin Xiaoxiao, they were like Uncle Li Dongs closest attendants. When Uncle Li Dong stood up, he glanced at Qing Chen and felt something was amiss. The young man was so engrossed in reading that he seemed to not even notice him getting up, not like he was acting. He suddenly asked, Whats the third line on the previous page? His voice was smooth and refined, speaking as if one suddenly found themselves in an antique tea room, listening to the earnest teachings of an elder. When order becomes chaos, one must use chaos to maintain order, to save the law, Qing Chen said, looking up. Ye Wan took the reader from Qing Chen, flipped to the previous page, Boss, hes right. At that moment, Qing Chen suddenly saw the big cat on the table open its eyes, and he distinctly felt that its gaze was full of surprise as it looked at him. It was as if... the cat could understand everyones conversation and was also astonished by Qing Chens memory ability. After hearing Ye Wans confirmation, Uncle Li Dong paused, then with a smile, called the cat and left, This is getting more interesting, lets go, its time for lunch. For some reason, Qing Chen always felt that Uncle Li Dong had a unique demeanor as he walked, his light white exercise suit swaying as if he were stepping on clouds. Chapter 8: 8. Shadow Chapter 8: 8. Shadow How to survive in this prison dominated by steel beasts? Qing Chen couldnt rely on Lu Guangyi, whose origins were unclear, because he feared his identity as a replacement for the original owner would be exposed. He also couldnt rely on other townsfolk from the same time period, as they were in even worse shape than himself. Therefore, Qing Chen candidly revealed his capabilities to Uncle Li Dong to demonstrate that he was someone of use. Without a doubt, Uncle Li Dong was this prisons most transcendent presence, and although this move was risky, it was the best way out. Uncle Li Dong, with his hands folded behind his back, strolled away leisurely while Ye Wan and Big Cat followed by his side, and Lin Xiaoxiao had disappeared somewhere with a grin. It wasnt even noon yet not time to start serving meals, but the food window opened early for Uncle Li Dong. Ye Wan went to get Uncle Li Dong and Big Cat their portions of food, and Big Cat picked and chose what to eat. Just then, Lin Xiaoxiao popped out from somewhere, kicked off his shoes, and squatted barefoot on the chair opposite Uncle Li Dongs dining table. Big Cat glanced at him, but Ye Wan frowned and said, Show some respect in front of the boss. Lin Xiaoxiao rolled his eyes, The boss didnt say anything, Mother Ye, youre meddling too much. Uncle Li Dong chuckled and said, It seems youve found something? Yes, Lin Xiaoxiao said excitedly, Theres so much to find. You know, this Qing Chen is squeaky clean outside, I couldnt find a single suspicious clue, but that made me even more curious. Because hes too clean? asked Uncle Li Dong. Yes, exactly too clean. His records show hes a high school student from City 18, his parents died in a car accident, he inherited some money, no prior records, no criminal background, no relatives, Lin Xiaoxiao said. What was his crime? Uncle Li Dong asked. Theft, Lin Xiaoxiao said, The records state that he stole a liquid crystal phone that just met the criteria for criminal charges. You know, more than half of the prisoners in Cellblock 18 are serious offenders, usually with multiple priors or nabbed by tax authorities. A petty thief like him shouldnt be here at all. In just a short while, Lin Xiaoxiao had already gone through Qing Chens files, a task that would seem almost supernatural to the average person. Lin Xiaoxiao continued, Moreover, I asked people outside, and his case is controversial. He claims he bought the liquid crystal phone legally and had paid for it, but somehow the seller failed to record the transaction, and the surveillance camera broke, unable to clear his name. So, if the phone seller changes his testimony to support him, or if the surveillance video of him paying surfaces, he could be released immediately. You see, this is a familiar tactic; most people who take care of things in prison use the same script. Uncle Li Dong thoughtfully asked, How long was he sentenced? Six months, Lin Xiaoxiao replied, This probably is the shortest sentence in the history of Cellblock 18, boss, dont you think this is problematic... and his surname is Qing! The surname Qing is extremely significant in this era, as five major companies monopolize nearly all economic veins, and one of them has the Qing surname. And Qing is also a rare surname, so if you suddenly meet someone with the surname Qing on the street, you would wonder if they are from the Qings Family. Continue, Uncle Li Dong said with a smile. You also know that Qings Group recently sent Lu Guangyi in, said Lin Xiaoxiao, Such things are easy to check. At that time, I just didnt understand why they would send such a small player in, what were they planning to do? I remember that Lu Guangyi, Ye Wan chimed in from the side, He has been consolidating power ever since he arrived. Exactly, Lin Xiaoxiao grinned, After Lu Guangyi came in, he relied on his top-notch mechanical limbs to suppress the local powers in the prison, quickly managing to stand equally against the other two factions within a month. I was puzzled then, whether Qings Family sent him to unify Cellblock 18. Qings Family knows the boss is here, implied Ye Wan, meaning that with Uncle Li Dong here, no one could unify the place. Lin Xiaoxiao squinted his eyes, and in his excitement, nearly went on to pick at his toes, So, I was wondering if Qings Family had gone mad, sending such a small fry to stir up trouble in Cellblock 18. It wasnt until today that I realized, Lu Guangyi was scouting the way for this kid Qing Chen. Whatever Qings Family plans to do, Qing Chen is the main character, and Lu Guangyi is just a lackey. At that moment, Lin Xiaoxiao began to muse, But what are they after by coming to Cellblock 18? If this kid Qing Chen really is a direct descendant of the Qings Family, why would he be willing to come here? Uncle Li Dong suddenly said, Qings Family might be selecting the next Shadow. Ye Wan and Lin Xiaoxiao both froze, The next Shadow? Qing Chen is one of the candidates? So hes here on a mission. The massive conglomerate needed both face and substance. The Family Head of Qings Family was the face, while the Shadow was the substance. The Shadow specialized in dirty work, held immense authority, and dominated the underworld of Qings Group, uncontrolled by anyone except the Family Head. However, the selection process for each generation of Shadows was exceptionally brutal, much like raising poisonous creatures. It looks like Qings Family is going to stir up trouble again, Uncle Li Dong lamented. During the conversation, a prisoner accidentally came over, and five meters away, Ye Wan suddenly turned her head to look at him. The prisoner was so intimidated by her piercing gaze that he involuntarily turned and walked in another direction. Uncle Li Dong and the other two did not continue the topic, and Lin Xiaoxiao changed the subject, Boss, even if he is a Shadow Candidate, theres no need to make his background so clean, as if he has no connection with Qings Family at all. By this time, everyone was certain that Qing Chen was one of Qings Familys own. At their level, the least believable thing was coincidence. Unless, theres an even bigger secret hidden in Qing Chens background, Uncle Li Dong said. Boss, have you guessed something? Lin Xiaoxiao asked curiously. Uncle Li Dong shook his head, Its just that after you mentioned it, I suddenly think he looks a bit like someone. An enemy? Or a friend? Have Ye Mom and I met him? Lin Xiaoxiao asked curiously. Uncle Li Dong said, You havent met him, but you will eventually. Xiao Xiao, it would be great if the relationships in this world could be simply divided into friends and enemies. As he spoke, Uncle Li Dong took the gray cat on the table into his arms and gently stroked its chin. The cat comfortably closed its eyes, lazily lying on Uncle Li Dongs lap. He said to Lin Xiaoxiao, Im more interested in this Qing Chen now, why dont you go and test his character? Lin Xiaoxiao was shocked, Boss, you fancy him? But he is from Qings Family! Im just asking you to test him out, not to do anything, Uncle Li Dong laughed, Besides, isnt it more interesting to snatch someone from Qings Familys hands? But I feel hes not one of us, Lin Xiaoxiao muttered, looking at her own feet. Uncle Li Dong laughed, An organization needs all kinds of people: the mountain-securing tiger, the far-seeing eagle, the battle-ready wolf, the swift leopard, the loyal dog, each with their own duties. Lin Xiaoxiaos eyes lit up, Boss, what am I in the organization? Uncle Li Dong thought for a moment, The freeloading fish. Ye Wan calmly said from the side, The stirring stick in shit. Lin Xiaoxiao: ??? ... Thanks: Welcome to our book and become the leader of our alliance! Big-hearted bosses! May the bosses live as long as the heavens! Chapter 9: 9. Nightmare Chapter 9: 9. Nightmare I can handle the fish that just go with the flow, but stirring up trouble like this is just nonsense, Lin Xiaoxiao glared at Ye Wan, I can put up with the boss badmouthing me, but why are you causing a scene? Im just telling it like it is, Ye Wan calmly replied, To business now, how do you plan to test the kid? Lin Xiaoxiao thought for a moment, then smiled meaningfully, Ill start by giving him a nightmare. Ye Wan frowned, Moderation is key. Dont worry. At that moment, there was a commotion at the back of the line where the prisoners were getting their food, and Lin Xiaoxiao looked over. Prison 18 was like a huge, empty metal box, with 21 armed robotic guards deployed around the perimeter during mealtime. They lacked human emotions and managed all emergent situations within the prison. Compared to the over three thousand prisoners, 21 robotic guards seemed too few, but every prisoner knew that the real threats were the drones embedded in the high dome ceiling and the six-barreled metal storm. Cold and powerful. At noon mealtime, all the prisoners arrived on time and lined up in columns outside the cafeteria, then got their food floor by floor. Furthermore, each prisoner had to stand in their assigned spot. Any newcomer who forgot their spot in the line was promptly surrounded by the robotic guards for a warning, and if they failed to return to their place after the warning, the guards would administer an electric shock as punishment before escorting them to their spot. New prisoners whod just endured a welcome ritual in the morning were dizzy and couldnt remember where they originally stood, so they ended up being shocked one by one. The veteran prisoners, on the other hand, watched the newcomers make fools of themselves like it was a recurring comedy show. Suddenly, the veteran prisoners felt something amiss, how had the young man who played chess with Uncle Li Dong that morning not been punished? The crowd searched among themselves and then found Qing Chen standing in his own spot, calmly observing everything. It was odd, with each column holding at least five hundred people, amid so many unfamiliar faces, how did this young man manage to find his own spot? And Qing Chen, he was sizing up the newcomers who had been imprisoned with him. The newcomers faces bore no marks of injury, yet their walking postures were extremely peculiar, as if enduring pain. It appeared the prisoners were restrained in their approach, not hitting the face, and ensuring it wasnt fatal. As he walked forward with his tray, a hand suddenly pulled him out of the food line. Qing Chen was startled, he turned to see Lin Xiaoxiao pulling him along and saying, You dont need to line up with them anymore. Anyone who can play chess with the boss doesnt need to stand in line. Qing Chen instinctively looked towards the robotic guards, fearing that stepping out of line might result in an electric shock. However, he realized the robotic guards completely ignored him and urged the other prisoners to fill his spot! Qing Chen couldnt understand, even if Uncle Li Dong and others had special status, it surely couldnt be to this extent, could it?! Lin Xiaoxiao led him through the long rows of queues, getting food, sitting opposite Uncle Li Dong to eat, all in one fluid motion. The surrounding prisoners silently watched this scene, their gazes fixated on Qing Chen. The previously noisy environment suddenly quieted down, as if everyone held their breath. At that moment, they realized, Qing Chen was no longer one of them. Lin Xiaoxiao squatted next to Qing Chens chair and said with a grin, Dont be surprised. Anyone who can play chess with the boss naturally gets some special treatment. Go ahead, eat, although the food here in Prison 18 isnt good at all. Qing Chen looked up at Uncle Li Dong across from him, who was slowly eating his meal without any intent of conversation. He then glanced at the crowd, where Lu Guangyi in the line was quietly giving him a thumbs up ... Qing Chen didnt understand. Uncle Li Dong had been only willing to play chess with him that morning, but why was there such a significant change in attitude by the afternoon? Was it because of his identity in this world? ... At 8:40 pm, Qing Chen returned to his cell at the designated time. While the others were lining up to return to their rooms, he tried moving freely out of line, and sure enough, the robotic guards no longer paid him any attention. As long as he was heading toward his own cell, the robotic guards wouldnt focus on him. The prisoners looked at him with envious eyes; Qing Chen walked along the long hallway like a lone wolf striking its own path. The single occupancy cell was empty; once the alloy gate closed, he walked toward the washbasin to brush his teeth and wash his face. But he hadnt taken two steps before he suddenly felt an overwhelming urge to sleep. This sleepiness was not normal, even if he had overexerted his mind during the day, it wouldnt be to the extent that his willpower couldnt support him. Something was off! Without further thought, Qing Chen collapsed to the floor. In his dream, Qing Chen was consciously standing in the living room of a dimly lit villa. At first, he knew it was a dream, and clearly understood that his body was still in the cell. But two seconds later, he forgot everything, as if he were meant to be there, no longer recalling that it was a dream. The living room had a fireplace burning wood, filling the room with a unique damp smell as the water content was roasted by the fireplace, rising and condensing on the ceiling. The tall ceiling sported a crystal chandelier, which Qing Chen couldnt find the switch for after looking around. The room felt eerie. Qing Chens pupils suddenly constricted. There were bloodstains on the second-floor staircase. On the living room sofa, there were claw marks from a cat; the leather had been torn open by sharp claws, creating several splits. On the fireplace mantel, there was a picture frame with its glass shattered, and the photo was nowhere to be found. On the wall, there were greyish-blue marks from a knife cut, and as the flames in the fireplace flickered, those marks on the wall and the cracks on the sofa seemed to twist eerily. On the carpet, there lay a blood-stained dagger. Someone had written two conspicuous characters in blood on the floor next to the carpet: Ghost. Thud, thud, thudthere came a knocking at the door. Qing Chen took a deep breath. He hadnt touched anything inside and walked to the door. Who is it? A relaxed voice came from outside, Police, badge number 27149. Did you call the police? Please open the door. Qing Chen frowned. The voice sounded familiar, yet he couldnt recall where he had heard it before. Strange, was there something wrong with his Memory Power? He hesitated but opened the door; outside stood a young police officer holding a case file. As soon as the door was opened, the officer saw blood flowing down from the staircase leading to the second floor. He quickly ascended the stairs while saying, The person who called, please dont move from your spot, and lock the door! Qing Chen was puzzled; the police officers procedure seemed improper and he wasnt even carrying a gun. But for some reason, he subconsciously followed the instructions. The young police officer went upstairs, and Qing Chen remained standing at the door. Not even half a minute had passed when there was another knock on the door. Qing Chen asked, Who is it? Police, badge number 27149. Did you call the police? Please open the door. Qing Chen startled, hadnt badge number 27149 already gone upstairs? Then who was outside the door? At that moment, a ghastly voice in his subconscious asked him: What would you do now? Guess, between the inside and the outside of the door, which one is real? Or maybe, neither are real. The police officer outside was urging, Hello, please open the door. Qing Chen took another deep breath and walked back into the house; he tried to pick up the blood-stained dagger from the floor, but there seemed to be a transparent barrier between him and the dagger. He was only a step away from the dagger, yet he could never touch it. Someone didnt want him to take the knife. Someone wanted to trap him here. Yet the countdown on his arm was still ticking, and his heart and blood were still beating and flowing. He had come to this cold mechanical world alone and unattached, with no way back. Get out of the way, said Qing Chen in a cold tone, his pupils constricted again as if he harnessed all his courage into a blade to cut through something. A strange sound of glass breaking echoed in the emptiness of the living room, and the barrier between him and the dagger shattered. Someone let out a soft Huh. Qing Chen picked up the knife and turned towards the staircase. Suddenly, a voice from nowhere asked him: What are you doing with the knife? Arent you going to open the door for the officer? Qing Chen answered coldly, Wait till I kill the one inside then I will. Lin Xiaoxiao: ??? At that moment, Qing Chen finally remembered. When he broke the barrier while picking up the knife, he also broke the nightmares block on his memory. He recognized the voice as Lin Xiaoxiaos, and the young police officer was also remodeled after Lin Xiaoxiao. He was in a nightmare created by Lin Xiaoxiao. It seemed like this world was getting more interesting. ... Asking for monthly votes, I feel like with a new book I could make it into the top ten! All depends on you! Also, starting tomorrow, new updates every evening at 6 p.m.! ... Thanks to: Penguin in the North Pole Headmaster Loves Tea Shy Actor Ash Drifting Down Gloomily These four bosses have become patrons of the Silver City Alliance! Generous bosses! May your fortune be as vast as the Eastern Sea and your life as long as the Zhongnan Mountain! Chapter 10: 10. Use Fire Chapter 10: 10. Use Fire Lin Xiaoxiao was the one who created nightmares for Qing Chen. This world has never been solely about mechanical civilizations; it has always harbored even more mysterious civilizations up to this point. And tonight, Lin Xiaoxiao created this nightmare entirely based on Uncle Li Dongs instruction, wanting to test what kind of person Qing Chen really was. In this nightmare named Twin Ghosts Dilemma, Lin Xiaoxiao wanted to test Qing Chens courage and ability to withstand pressure, but he hadnt expected that Qing Chens reaction could no longer be judged simply by his courage or resilience. He suddenly realized that in times of crisis, this young man would undoubtedly confront the situation with the fiercest and calmest attitude. At this moment, Qing Chen showed no signs of trembling, nor did he exhibit the desperate valor common to ordinary people when they fight back. The only thing that emanated from him was calmness. However, Lin Xiaoxiao couldnt understand why, although he was clearly preventing the other from picking up the dagger, Qing Chen suddenly broke free from the nightmares restraints. After all, this was Lin Xiaoxiaos home ground. By then, Qing Chen had already realized that he no longer needed to go upstairs to kill someone. He spoke to the empty living room, Lin Xiaoxiao? The nightmare hadnt dispersed, and Lin Xiaoxiao, wearing a police uniform, came down from upstairs with a smile, How strange, you can still maintain clarity in this nightmare. The boss was right; you really are exceptional. Why? I dont think Ive offended you, Qing Chen was puzzled. Because the boss values you, I need to find out what kind of person you are. But now it seems that the nightmare might be ineffective against you, Lin Xiaoxiao explained, sitting on the bottom step of the stairs. Is this your special ability? Qing Chen asked. Yes, Lin Xiaoxiao shrugged, Just like you have a photographic memory, I have my abilities, and theres really nothing to hide. Qing Chen felt that this world was becoming even more mysterious in his mind. The coexistence of mechanical and mystical studies in the world did not scare him; on the contrary, it piqued his interest even more. And the events that were unfolding were probably why Uncle Li Dong and others held such an extraordinary status in this prison. Qing Chen wanted to explore all this and desired to possess it even more. Seeing Qing Chen deep in thought, Lin Xiaoxiao took the initiative to ask, Are you from Qings Group? Qing Chen didnt answer the question directly but instead asked, Is it because of the assumption about my identity that I receive special treatment? Why do the mechanical jail guards not care about you? Naturally, its because the boss is special enough that the mechanical jail guards dont bother us, Lin Xiaoxiao said, You dont need to change the subject. Back to your identity, last night I found a surveillance video of you talking to Lu Guangyi, who was sent here by Qings. He was eager to contact you, so I am certain you are from Qings Group. Qings Group... Qing Chen noted these four words. At that moment, he felt more relaxed. The other party had vast connections in this prison, whereas he felt like a child just learning to walk in comparison. If that was the case, then there was no need to be too nervous. Since they still wanted to engage with him after figuring out his situation, it indicated that they too had demands. Qing Chen sat on the worn sofa and asked with a focused tone, Since you are certain I am from Qings Group, why extend an olive branch to me? Our organization doesnt care about background; anyone who shares our ideals can join, Lin Xiaoxiao said smilingly. Of course, they must qualify. Qing Chen was momentarily taken aback, realizing all this was actually an assessment to see if he qualified to join. He had thought they wanted to collaborate with the power behind him. You want to recruit me? Qing Chen asked, puzzled. I didnt say you qualify yet. Honestly, I feel you are not one of us, Lin Xiaoxiao said, But the boss said our organization needs all sorts of people: visionary eagles, mountain-steadying tigers, battle-ready wolves. Everyone has their use. Then what role do you play in your organization? Qing Chen asked. Lin Xiaoxiao didnt want to answer; he just smirked mysteriously and said, Guess? Qing Chen thought for a moment and said, The production teams donkey? Lin Xiaoxiao: ??? What the heck? Its not even as good as a swimming fish! At this moment, Lin Xiaoxiao suddenly realized that the other party was completely relaxed while facing this unknown nightmare and unknown self, and was effortlessly navigating it. This teenager was only 17 years old. Lin Xiaoxiao curiously said, Qings Group arranged for Lu Guangyi to come here with such fanfare, and then they arranged for you to come here. What exactly do you guys want to do, or what are you looking for? Qing Chen thought to himself, if I say I dont even know why Im here, you certainly wouldnt believe me... This matter... youve got to ask Lu Guangyi... To be honest, Qing Chen was also pondering whether he should find Lu Guangyi to clarify the reasons and consequences? However, just thinking about Lu Guangyi, with his nagging and fawning demeanor, gave him a bit of a headache. Its alright if you dont want to talk, Ill figure it out sooner or later, Lin Xiaoxiao said, Alright, get some rest. Youll have to play chess with the boss tomorrow morning. No sooner had the words left his mouth than Qing Chens vision darkened, and he was pulled out of the nightmare. He slowly got up from the prison cell floor and lay on the cold bed, not knowing what to think. He looked at the thick Alloy Gate, beyond which was a cold and mysterious world. ... Return countdown 20:59:21. Return countdown 20:59:20. Early in the morning, as usual, Uncle Li Dong sat by the dining table, silently studying a chess endgame. It wasnt yet time for the prisoners to leave their cells, and the whole prison was quiet. Lin Xiaoxiao crouched in his chair and said, Boss, I tempted him last night using the Double Ghost Dilemma, and guess what, he was ready to pull out a knife and kill one...such intense murderous intent. Ye Wan frowned, I told you to be moderate. Ordinary people can easily break down in the Double Ghost Dilemma.'' Dont worry, Lin Xiaoxiao replied irritably, I didnt go through with it. Besides, you dont know, that kid actually managed to escape my control in the nightmare. Oh? Uncle Li Dong looked up, I confirmed hes just an ordinary person. Its quite special that an ordinary person could escape your control in the nightmare. Even the big cat resting with its eyes closed on the table glanced curiously at Lin Xiaoxiao. Ye Wan asked, How did he manage that? Im not sure, Lin Xiaoxiao shook his head. Perhaps he has a strong will, Uncle Li Dong did not delve deeper into the matter. Others too had managed to break free from the constraints of nightmares. Crouching, Lin Xiaoxiao said, Boss, I still advise you to think carefully. Qing Chen is quite murderous, not our kind of person at all. Uncle Li Dong suddenly laughed, We lost so many colleagues for this cause, and even the three of us are trapped in this prison. So you see, Xiao Xiao, we cant use gentleness to combat the dark, we need fire. As he spoke, Uncle Li Dongs expression turned somewhat somber, Ye Wan, bring me the harmonica. Dinner time was approaching, and the prison gradually became noisy. The sounds from the steel beasts behind the Alloy Gates, like boiling water starting to bubble. But suddenly, a melodious harmonica sound rose above the prison square, soothing to the soul. The sound of prisoners banging on the cell doors gradually ceased, and everyone listened quietly, as if someone had poured fresh spring water into a dried-up wasteland. Chapter 11: Farewell Chapter 11: Farewell The melody of the harmonica was captivating. Moreover, there seemed to be an inexplicable rhythm mixed within the harmonicas sound, surpassing ordinary music. It was like the feeling the nightmare had given to Qing Chen last night. But while all the prisoners were immersed in the wonderful music, Qing Chen simply couldnt suppress his inner shock and astonishment. Because he had heard this tune before... Send-off. Outside the long pavilion, by the ancient road, the lush grass blends with the sky. Qing Chens pupils gradually contracted. Wasnt this the world he had traversed into? Why would there also be Send-off here? He once thought, the moment he encountered the mechanical civilization, that it should have no relation to Earth. But now it seemed he was wrong. Could this be Earths future? Qing Chen began to search his memories, trying to find clues in the books he had read in the reading area yesterday. But the result disappointed him again; those self-help books and philosophy could not aid him. The harmonica stopped, and the din returned to Prison 18. At some point, Qing Chen suddenly felt like this prison was a Beast Battle Arena. Behind each alloy gate, there lurked steel beasts representing various desires. When the gates opened, he no longer felt as green and watchful as on the first day, but walked straight past the lined-up prisoners toward the plaza downstairs. His unilateral action did not attract the drones above him, nor did the robotic guards give him an extra glance. Just outside the canteen, Lin Xiaoxiao greeted him with a beaming smile, Good morning... Did you not sleep well? At that moment, Qing Chen, with dark circles under his eyes, coldly looked at Lin Xiaoxiao, thinking, dont you know if I could sleep well or not? Some say a dream lasts only about eight minutes, which is extremely brief in the span of a lifetime. However, after Qing Chen awoke from the nightmare yesterday, he checked his countdown and found that the nightmare had trapped him for over two hours; he couldnt feel the passage of time while in it. Furthermore, after freeing himself from the nightmare, he had lain in bed pondering many things until he finally fell into a deep sleep around midnight. Even though Qing Chen had a photographic memory, he was still essentially an ordinary person, unlike Lin Xiaoxiao who belonged to a special group of people. He couldnt stay up for most of the night and still be as lively the next day. Uncle Li Dong glanced at Qing Chens complexion and said, Ordinary people come out of nightmares greatly weakened and listless for half a day. But youre different, you broke free from Xiao Xiaos control and picked up a dagger in the nightmare. Standing here today is already quite impressive. Qing Chen sat down opposite him and directly asked, How to become someone like him? Uncle Li Dong laughed and said, You are quite frank, but you cant take his path. Instead, youre more suited to take mine. At that remark, Qing Chen distinctly noticed a change in Ye Wan and Lin Xiaoxiaos expressions. For some reason, he suddenly felt the atmosphere grow more solemn, even the napping big cat raised its head to look at him. He was curious about Uncle Li Dongs path. But judging from Lu Guangyis attitude towards Uncle Li Dong, this person must be very famous outside, so many people should know what Uncle Li Dongs path is. As a transmigrator, babbling some nonsense might still be safe, but asking a question lacking common knowledge could be fatal. Qing Chen skipped the confusion and asked again, How can I follow your path? Youve misunderstood, Uncle Li Dong said, smiling. When Uncle Li Dong smiled, the traces of time at the corners of his eyes revealed to Qing Chen that his age might be greater than he had imagined. Uncle Li Dong continued, Ye Wan and Lin Xiaoxiao were a bit late when they met me, so they couldnt follow my path. And even though I appreciate you now, you arent there yet. Understood, Qing Chen nodded. This only made sense. He felt that if someone showed immediate kinship and then imparted all they knew to him, that person might be highly questionable. It might not be an opportunity he was facing, but a danger. However, for Qing Chen, just being able to touch the edge of that Mysterious World was already enough. It was something he had daydreamed about before, something that didnt exist on Earth. Now, he was very close to those things. What do you say, will you play chess today? Uncle Li Dong looked at Qing Chen, You dont seem to be in a good mental state, why dont we take a day off? The most important thing about playing chess is to have a worthy opponent. It would be meaningless to win while youre not at your best. As the prisoners lined up for their meals, more and more of them began to freely move about the dining room. Today was different, many prisoners were eating while paying close attention to the commotion over at Qing Chens side. There were even some who stood up with their trays, eyes glued to the chessboard. In reality, not many prisoners here understood how to play Chinese chess, as it was already an entertainment activity out of its time. But since Uncle Li Dong liked it, everyone felt it necessary to pay attention. What if they also had a natural talent for chess and were noticed by Uncle Li Dong? Of course, this was just wishful thinking, and most people paid attention to the chess game simply because they had too much time on their hands. Before, when Uncle Li Dong studied endgame problems alone, no one dared to stare over here, but now with Qing Chen playing against him, the atmosphere seemed to have become much more relaxed, and Ye Wan no longer shot sharp looks at people. Meanwhile, Lu Guangyi, too, watched with great interest, a crowd following him as if he were the center of the universe. Lu Guangyi quite enjoyed this. On either side of the chessboard, Uncle Li Dong waited for Qing Chens response, while Qing Chen stood up calmly and said, No need to rest. For the Defiant Emperor Chess Endgame, move the chariot from two to five, advance the chariot from five to seven, slide the cannon from two to eight, move the chariot from five to six, advance the pawn from four by one. Chinese chess is about back-and-forth moves, but this time Qing Chen simply announced his moves in one go, as if he had already predicted that Uncle Li Dong would follow along, pushing the game quickly to its conclusion. Qing Chens red chariot enticed the black general in conjunction with the final move of advancing the pawn from four, resulting in a checkmate. This was an ingenious move seldom conceived by ordinary people. Others might not understand what Qing Chen was talking about, but Uncle Li Dong certainly did. There was only this one way to break the Defiant Emperor Chess Endgame! Uncle Li Dong looked up at Qing Chen and inverted his own black general on the chessboard, I thought you were not in good shape mentally. I would have won by taking advantage of your condition, but it seems I worried unnecessarily. In the crowd, Lu Guangyis underlings heard him muttering, He won again, thats just too cool. No matter in what aspect, just winning once against a person like Uncle Li Dong would make a lifetime worthwhile, I want to learn chess too! The newly recruited underlings didnt understand why Lu Guangyi would be interested in something like chess. It was well known that although Lu Guangyis combat power stood out in Prison No. 18, his cultural level was definitely at the bottom. At that moment, Qing Chen looked at Uncle Li Dong and asked, May I ask you a question? ... Thank you to Li Dongze, the Dancing Sword, and students who go by electric for becoming leaders of this book. Bosses have such generosity, may your fortune be as vast as the Eastern seas and your lives as enduring as the southern mountains! Chapter 12: 12, Regression Chapter 12: 12, Regression Ye Wan, who was standing by, dispersed the onlookers upon hearing this, allowing the two to talk in peace. As a reward for just winning that game? Thats fine, Uncle Li Dong replied. Was it you who played the harmonica just now? Qing Chen asked. Ye Wan and Lin Xiaoxiao were noticeably taken aback; they thought Qing Chen would use winning the chess game as an opportunity to inquire about something significant, yet it turned out to be just about the song? The song was pleasant to hear and had not been circulated outside, but it didnt seem worth wasting such an important opportunity over. Uncle Li Dong, with a smile brimming in his eyes, looked up and said, It was me. Why, is it the first time youve heard this melody? Qing Chen thought for a moment and responded, Its very nice. Hmm, Uncle Li Dong, seeing that the crowd had dispersed, nodded and answered, It was composed by the founder of our organization, and he also wrote the lyrics. Qing Chen was stunned for a long time and couldnt speak. He really wanted to say: I guess your founder might be from Earth! And it seems that this founder was somewhat shameless, passing off a carried-over song as his own work. Wait, how long has Uncle Li Dongs organization been established, and when exactly did that transmigrating predecessor transmigrate? Qing Chen then asked, Can you sing it for me in its entirety? I want to listen. Uncle Li Dong said, Sure, but the lyrics for this piece arent too complete. Over the long passage of time, some things inevitably get lost in that long river. Its okay, I just want to listen, Qing Chen said. He wanted to confirm whether the songs lyrics were the same as on Earth. Uncle Li Dong took the big cat from the table into his arms and sang softly, Outside the long pavilion, beside the ancient road, fragrant grass reaches the sky, evening breeze brushes the willow, flute notes are fading, sunset beyond the mountain peaks. At the edge of the sky, at the corner of the earth, separations are often many... After finishing his song, Uncle Li Dong laughed and said, The phrase separations are often many was added later. It is said that it wasnt like this originally, but no matter how its revised, it seems to lack a certain meaning. Qing Chen stood for a long time before suddenly suggesting, How about replacing it with half of my dear friends have scattered?'' Half of my dear friends have scattered? Uncle Li Dong was briefly stunned. For some reason, he felt that only these five words were truly fitting for this song. Farewell, farewell, people are like the afterglow of the setting sun, dear friends are far horizons. Once young, laughing heartily while drinking freely, life as intense as high summer. But its unknown which farewell could be the last, never to meet again. Uncle Li Dong seemed to be sitting in this prison, watching the orange-red sun fall into the horizon, while a friend was waving to him from afar. After waving, he turned and walked away. Thank you, Uncle Li Dong said. Thats a good addition; its as if it were the original lyrics of the song. Youre welcome, Qing Chen said, unabashedly accepting the praise. Uncle Li Dong said with some yearning, Sometimes Im truly amazed. Our founder was an extraordinary genius. Back then, his songs and lyrics were as numerous as hairs on an ox, each one a classic that should have lasted through ages, but they were all lost at the end of the last era, leaving only this one song. Only one song left? That really is a pity, Qing Chen thought to himself, as Uncle Li Dong outright mentioned the last era, perhaps that transmigrating predecessor had come over a very, very long time ago. An era is not a unit of time, but the beginning of a new civilization. It seemed that the humans here had gone through the transition of an era, but it was unclear what had happened. Theres another one of which only the name is known, but the melody is completely unknown. Our predecessors searched many ruins but couldnt find the score, Uncle Li Dong said, shaking his head. Qing Chen hesitated for two seconds, then tentatively asked, What is the name of that song? Uncle Li Dong glanced at him and said, Canon. If before Qing Chen was skeptical about the identity of this founder as a transmigrator, now he was completely certain. However, Canon is actually a musical genre and technique; the Canon technique is used in many symphonic works, such as Beethovens Symphony No. 5 and Bachs Canon Variations. But if it was directly carried over from Earth, the melody would likely be Pachelbels Canon in D. Qing Chen wondered if by giving the score of Canon to Uncle Li Dong, whose regard for the founder was so high, whether he might earn a path beyond the ordinary. He was uncertain, and even unable to explain where he would get the score from. Hed better wait, as he didnt remember Canons score for now and would weigh the matter after returning. After the conversation, Qing Chen went straight through the crowd to the reading area. He desperately needed to catch some sleep, even if it meant skipping meals to rest first. Only by staying fully alert could he analyze the situation around him at all times. Yet just as he had barely lain on the table in the reading area, Lu Guangyi approached cautiously. Lu Guangyi wanted to talk to Qing Chen but feared being seen, so he paced outside the reading area in distress. Qing Chen looked up expressionlessly at him, Dont be so careful; Uncle Li already knows about you and me. But dont worry, he doesnt seem to mind. Also, go do your own thing, dont disturb me. Prison 18 was full of surveillance, and inmates had to hide in their cells to hold welcome ceremonies for new arrivals, so sleeping in the reading area was safe. Qing Chen actually wanted to engage Lu Guangyi in conversation and figure out what the Qings Family had planned. But seeing that his return was imminent, he didnt want to stir up trouble unnecessarily. So he sent Lu Guangyi away first, planning to consider how to get information from him after returning. However, Lu Guangyi did not leave; instead, he muttered softly, Boss, Ive been thinking for the longest time and still dont know what to call you; boss just rolls off the tongue best. I guess youve heard about me from Qing Yan; life hasnt been easy for me since I was young. My father even took my kidneys to exchange for money with rich people, replacing them with artificial ones. If my own parents dont care about me, who would? When I heard from Qing Yan that it was you who named me to scout ahead, because you saw something in my abilities, I was over the moon! Rest assured, I, Lu Guangyi, will go through fire and water for you, and would gladly die for you if it comes to that! But before I die, theres one regret. You know I havent had much education, but ever since I was a child, Ive admired those with knowledge... Qing Chen finally couldnt help it, What on earth are you trying to say? Lu Guangyi, Could you teach me how to play chess? Why do you want to learn chess? Qing Chen was taken aback. Because its cool! Lu Guangyi exclaimed, Boss, even someone like Uncle Li Dong would become a pawn defeated by your hand; isnt that cool? Is winning a game or two at chess that prestigious? Qing Chen shook his head. Of course, I cant beat him in a fight, but if I can win against him in a game of chess, thats also very prestigious! asserted Lu Guangyi matter-of-factly. This did touch Qing Chen for a moment; it seemed, from what Lu Guangyi implied, that Uncle Li Dongs combat power was quite formidable? Lu Guangyi continued, I really didnt expect that after you came here, youd be able to get acquainted with Uncle Li Dong and get along with him so well. Given his status in Prison #18, maybe he even knows where the object were looking for is hidden. And, should you inherit his legacy, the battle for the Shadow might just be in the bag. This statement was laden with information, finally enlightening Qing Chen about his purpose here... to find an object. And he was embroiled in a competition. However, Qing Chen still didnt know what Uncle Li Dongs legacy was, only that it was extremely important. Qing Chen thought about it and said, Alright, Ill teach you chess. Can you step away from me now, please? Sure, sure! Lu Guangyi scampered off to the entertainment area immediately. ... Nighttime, countdown 00:05:00. Qing Chen sat on the cold bed, quietly watching the white countdown on his arm. Inside the countdown, gears slowly turned, with only the last five minutes left until his return. He wasnt sure if he would come back here again; two days felt like a dream to him, having met a few people and witnessed a different world. The unique characteristics of Lin Xiaoxiao and Uncle Li Dong had made him anticipate this world. It was as if a New World had opened its doors to him. Qing Chen thought about it and then used the end of his toothbrush to carve the indentation of the words Was Here into the wooden bed planks with force. Then he twisted a bruise onto his arm, wanting to see if returning to Earth with an injury would change anything. Countdown. 10. 9. 8. 7. 6. 5. 4. 3. 2. 1. The world shattered once more, and familiar darkness finally arrived. Returning. ... Only 800 votes away from the top ten monthly tickets, charge! ... Thanks to student Huan Yu for becoming the Silver City Alliance of this book; the boss is magnificent, with fortune vast as the Eastern Sea and life as enduring as the Mount of South! Chapter 13: 13. Someone Chapter 13: 13. Someone Compared to the panic before his last time travel, Qing Chen had become much calmer this time around. He waited for the world to shatter and reassemble, as if waiting for a dream to end. In the cramped and narrow bedroom, Qing Chen still sat on the edge of his bed in the same position as before his time travel, with the night outside and the Boning Knife he had been holding... still in his hand. Everything seemed as if nothing had happened. Qing Chen frowned and took out his mobile phone to check the time. 2022, September 28, 12:00:01. One second past midnight. He clearly remembered that the date of his time travel was also September 28, and the exact time was 12:00:00. Thus, he had spent two days in that world, yet here on Earth, only one second had passed. By the same logic, when he returned to this side, would only one second have passed there by the time he went back? That must be the rule for all transmigrators. For some reason, Qing Chen felt relieved at this thought. It meant he didnt have to come up with an explanation for his frequent disappearances anymore. It was a very peculiar sense of detachment, as if the world he was now in wasnt real anymore. Qing Chen looked down at his arm; the artificial bruise of dark purple he had made was still there. On his other arm, the white pattern had changed, displaying a countdown of 47:59:45. Countdown 47:59:44. This time, the countdown was for 48 hours, which was rightit meant two days. Only these could prove that everything he had experienced was real. He really had been to a mechanical civilization and had met a person named Uncle Li Dong, was tested with a nightmare by someone called Lin Xiaoxiao, and had encountered a fawning sycophant named Lu Guangyi. There was a composed Ye Wan and a strange big cat. As Qing Chen pondered, his phone suddenly rang with an unfamiliar landline number. Hello, Qing Chen said. Hello, this is Royal City Police Station speaking. Your father has been detained for organizing gambling activities. Please come over, a female voice said on the other end of the line. Qing Chen was startled for a moment. By his calculations, his gambler father wouldve been caught not too long ago; he didnt expect the police station to call him this quickly. Uh, what do I need to do? Qing Chen asked. According to the Public Security Administration Punishments Law, he needs to be detained and fined. Please come to handle the procedures, said the officer on duty at the police station. Im sorry, but I wont be coming. Please punish him severely. According to the Public Security Administration Punishments Law, those with severe offenses are subject to detention for more than ten days but less than fifteen days, in addition to a fine of not less than five hundred yuan and not more than three thousand yuan. Please issue the maximum penalty. Thank you, Qing Chen said as he shook his head. The person on the other end was taken aback, Arent you his son? I reported the case. Im not his son; Im the concerned citizen Mr. Qing, replied Qing Chen. The officer on duty was perplexed: ??? Without hesitation, Qing Chen hung up the phone. With his gambler father detained for at least ten days, that meant he wouldnt have to see him before his next journey through time. For some reason, Qing Chen actually felt a bit happy and relieved at this thought. However, for a young man, the experience of a father being detained and publicly chastised is not an easy one to bear. Most young men take their fathers as role models during their adolescent years. When you discover that your father has no dignity and a record of misconduct, its like a load-bearing wall in your heart suddenly collapses. Taking a deep breath, Qing Chen slowly lay down on the bed. He opened his phone to check his call log and WeChat but didnt see any messages from his mother. For some reason, at that moment, he even wanted to return to the prison sooner. Even though it was an unknown and dangerous world. It was past one in the morning, and Qing Chen had no desire to sleep. In the dimly lit room, only the glow from his cell phone screen illuminated his cheeks. The cell phone screen displayed the Canon score he had just found, every detail of which he had memorized. To Uncle Li Dong, this piece was a lifelong regret, but for Qing Chen, it had come effortlessly. Perhaps this was the difference between worlds, as the other person also possessed something Qing Chen had longed for in his dreams. But should he give the score to Uncle Li Dong? If so, how would he explain the origin of the score? There was risk involved in this matter, and although Qing Chen wasnt afraid of taking risks, he was afraid that the risks he took wouldnt be worthwhile. Therefore, before giving the score, he had to be certain of Uncle Li Dongs worth! In the end, he still hadnt received a call or message from his mother. ... First day of the countdown, 7:30 in the morning. Qing Chen dressed in his blue and white school uniform and stepped out, nibbling on instant noodles as he walked. The Los Angeles Foreign Language School he attended had been divided into three campuses in recent years, and the high school section was just a five-minute walk from his home, reached simply by crossing a small road. On Xingshu Road, the breakfast stands wafted the aroma of egg-filled pancakes, with passersby sitting down at the small stalls to eat a bowl of steaming tofu pudding or spicy soup. The freshly fried dough sticks were golden and crisp, and tea eggs were smooth and translucent once peeled. But Qing Chen had no money on him; his modest savings had been spent on supplies for that countdown moment. Even now, the thought made his teeth ache, but he had no regrets; who knew what he would have to face then? Class 3, Grade 11, students accounted for cleaning were sweeping the classroom, and the fishy smell of water on the floor hadnt even dissipated, the mop probably musty from long use. Qing Chen sat at the last row when his deskmate, Nan Gengchen, rushed into the classroom, looking nervous. Did Teacher Du say anything after seeing me skip class yesterday? Qing Chen asked in a low voice. But Nan Gengchen seemed distracted and as if he hadnt heard anything: Huh? What? Never mind, Qing Chen shook his head. Why do you look so panicked? Panicked? Nan Gengchen startled and then denied. No, Im not. Qing Chen said nothing more. If the other didnt want to talk, there was no need for him to probe further. After a moment of silence between them, Nan Gengchen suddenly asked in a lowered voice, Qing Chen, what would you do if you encountered something really strange? Strange? Qing Chen was taken aback and then scrutinized Nan Gengchen carefully. After hesitating for a moment, he asked, What exactly do you mean? I dont know what it is, just something really strange, said Nan Gengchen. Then call the police? Qing Chens gaze remained locked on Nan Gengchen. Nan Gengchens eyes lit up: Right, the police! Qing Chen, does your family know anyone in the station? Yes, Qing Chen thought for a moment and then said, My dad just got arrested last night for gambling in a group. Nan Gengchen: ??? Chapter 14: 14. If fortune comes, do not forget each other. Chapter 14: 14. If fortune comes, do not forget each other. Nan Gengchen looked at Qing Chen, startled for a moment, Big brother, I wanted to ask the police uncle at the police station for help, but like Uncle Li being captured, thats not going to help much. Then theres nothing we can do, Qing Chen shook his head and asked further, Have you encountered something very strange? What exactly happened? Its nothing, its nothing, Nan Gengchen clammed up about it. Qing Chen stopped talking. If the other party didnt want to talk about it, he could only pretend to be unaware. However, he had a vague guess in his heart: the strange thing Nan Gengchen mentioned... could it be that a countdown also appeared on his arm? But the countdown wasnt visible to others, so Qing Chen could only guess. His own first transmigration countdown appeared last night at 6 oclock. He skipped class immediately and didnt attend the evening self-study. At 12 oclock at night, he went through his first transmigration. If Nan Gengchen really had a countdown appear on his arm, when would it have appeared? Qing Chen thought that Nan Gengchen, being thin and small, looked fragile, and wondered if he could survive if he really transmigrated to that world. Their relationship was quite good, not because their personalities meshed so well, but because both of their fathers gambled, resulting in both of their families not being very well-off. They became closer after talking about this matter by chance. Just then, a classmate who was playing with their phone suddenly exclaimed, Holy shit! It wasnt time for class yet, and there were only about a dozen students in the classroom of high school second grade class 3. Everyone turned their attention to the student, What happened? Guys, check out the trending search. Jacob held a press conference, saying he traveled to a Mechanical Civilization World. The complete video of his press conference is on the hot search, the shouting student explained. Jacob, an American citizen, was one of the worlds most famous basketball stars, with many fans. Hearing this, the classmates immediately turned on their phones to check the trending searches, all of them baffled. Only Qing Chen was stunned on the spot, because he knew what this so-called transmigration and Mechanical Civilization was about! But he hadnt really thought before that people abroad were also experiencing transmigration and countdowns like this. Nan Gengchen had already opened the video, and Qing Chen looked over. In the video, Jacob sat behind a table facing all the media he had called for at short notice. The scene was filled with flashing cameras, which were slightly dazzling. But everyone watching the video noticed Jacobs left arm first, because that arm had been completely replaced with a Mechanical Arm. In the video, Jacob stood up and took everyone to the basketball court. Then, across the entire court, he effortlessly threw basketballs into the hoop with his left hand, making ten in a row just like that. Is this special effects? Nan Gengchen murmured, Is it an advertisement they filmed with special effects? Qing Chen did not respond. The video was transferred from abroad and even had Chinese subtitles provided. In the video, Jacob told the media, Last night, I accidentally discovered a countdown on my arm, and when the countdown ended, I was unexpectedly transported to a strange Mechanical Civilization World. It is also Earth, with the sun and moon, but it appeared to be a Parallel Universe with a civilization vastly different from our world. Jacob raised his left arm, I gained this arm when I transmigrated, as if I had replaced someone over there, becoming a new version of myself. I dont understand the principle behind it, but its strength far exceeds my imagination, and its incredibly flexible and precise. The reason Im holding this press conference isnt to show off to everyone. That world isnt as wonderful as one imagines but is instead extremely dangerous. I am holding this press conference here to avoid being secretly taken away for research. I hereby declare that I refuse to be a research subject, and if one day I disappear, please everyone... Qing Chen had a sudden realization as he watched this. Jacob was a public figure, so he couldnt keep a Mechanical limb a secret. The other party was also well aware that the technology of that world was far beyond ours, so he was very afraid of being taken away for research and becoming a guinea pig. Thats why he chose a more radical method. This might not be a good approach, and perhaps the other party panicked, which is why they made such a hasty decision. Qing Chen looked at Nan Gengchen, whose skinny, small figure was now frozen like a petrified chicken. And Qing Chen thought, since he had neither managed to bring the Boning Knife over nor the toothbrush back, it seemed the only way to bring something from there was to modify himself, or to hide it inside his body? He also didnt know where Jacob had appeared when he crossed over: perhaps across the ocean? At this moment, all the students in the class were in a state of shock and skepticism, finding it hard to tell if this trending topic was real or the result of special effects. However, before everyone had a chance to regain their composure, a few more bizarre incidents rushed up the trending charts. An internet executive was found dead at home with precise mechanical structures suddenly appearing on his body, eerily similar to Jacobs. Some college student claims he also traveled to another world, where there not only exists a Mechanical Civilization but also Transcendents who surpass ordinary humans. Some high school student claims he not only crossed over to another world but also acquired an Awakening Ability. Qing Chen frowned looking at these, as the series of news arrived faster than he imagined, and not everyone was as cautious as him. More and more news was telling the world: This was not special effects, not ad copy, it was real. There were indeed people who had crossed over to that unknown and fascinating world. And the transmigrators were not in a small number. Next to him, Nan Gengchen muttered, Transcendents, Mechanical Civilization... does crossing over mean one has the chance to become a Transcendent? A classmate asked, The chances of crossing over dont seem low, right? Could there also be students from our school who have crossed over? Maybe someone will come to school with a mechanical limb... I also want to cross over... With each passing moment, more classmates gathered, and whenever someone approached the classroom, all eyes would turn to see if the newcomer had any mechanical limbs. You see, at the age of seventeen or eighteen, when curiosity, the thirst for exploration, and vanity are at their strongest, adults might consider whether risks and opportunities are equal, but younger people have more anticipation. When you watch Harry Potter, you hope you could cross through Kings Cross Station, and when you read a novel, you wish you could be whisked away by a celestial guide. But in the real world, under normal circumstances, what welcomes you isnt a celestial being, but a celestial trap. So when everyone found out that crossing over would make them extraordinary, they would filter out some of the dangers, and then hope they were one of the transmigrators. The role of the protagonist of the world is inherently alluring. Qing Chen found it hard to be an exception. The difference was, Qing Chen had truly crossed over and had also seen those legendary people who were extraordinary and transcendent, Lin Xiaoxiao and Uncle Li Dong. And probably Ye Wan as well. Gradually, Qing Chen noticed that the panicky look on Nan Gengchens face had faded, and he began to perk up. Qing Chen asked casually, Is that the weird thing you were talking about just now? Nan Gengchen lowered his voice, I cant tell you right now, but rest assured, if I get any opportunity, Ill definitely not forget you, brother. Qing Chen nodded, Hmm, lets not forget each other at the peak of wealth and honor. Chapter 15: 15. Clouds Overcast Chapter 15: 15. Clouds Overcast Originally, Qing Chen had just intended to coax some information out of him, but he did not expect Nan Gengchens mindset to change so rapidly. Just a moment ago he was all nervous and scared, and after one class, he was planning to become the protagonist of the world. What could Qing Chen say? If youre happy, then Im happy for you. At that time, Nan Gengchen had already started seriously discussing with Qing Chen, I mean, just suppose, if I could travel back, then I could bring back some high-tech stuff to sell, right? I dont know, said Qing Chen, you might not be able to bring anything back. Look, they brought back things like mechanical arms, said Nan Gengchen. Dont worry, if I really make a fortune, Ill treat you to nice food. Qing Chen knew that world was dangerous. Although as friends they had to keep some secrets, he still hoped his friend would return safely, so he kindly advised, You see, many transmigrators have said they encountered dangers, so you should be careful and not always think about getting rich. Nan Gengchen fell silent for a few seconds, then asked, Where do you want to go eat by then? Qing Chen: ... In his mind, Nan Gengchen silently calculated his dreams of becoming rich, but only Qing Chen knew that you couldnt just bring things back at will when returning. When Nan Gengchen treated him to a meal, imagine him pulling off his own arm, slamming it down on the counter and shouting Two bowls of Dan Dan noodles! What a festive scene that would be. Suddenly, someone in the class wondered aloud, What exactly is the pattern with these transmigrations? So many people have traveled, why havent we? Nan Gengchen mumbled quietly beside, Maybe only those with true talent can do it... Qing Chen just raised his eyebrows when he heard that. News about transmigrators was becoming more frequent, both domestically and internationally. Gradually, Qing Chen figured out two patterns: First, all transmigrators had a six-hour countdown before leaving and a 48-hour countdown to return. That is to say, the time everyone traveled was consistent, and so was the return time. Then someone stepped forward after seeing the transmigration event, stating they hadnt traveled but a 48-hour countdown had appeared on their arm after midnight. This should be the second batch. Next time, the first and second batches will travel simultaneously. The second pattern was that all those who had traveled were young, currently between the ages of 10 and 35. Suddenly, a female student said, A streamer claimed theyre a transmigrator and is currently live streaming to show off their mechanical arm. Ill send the link to the group. These days, students all carry mobile phones, which facilitates communication. Everyone clicked on the link, and it was indeed an outdoor streamer showing off their mechanical arm. Qing Chen always felt something was off because he had never seen such a plastic-looking mechanical limb... And before the streamer had been showing it for two minutes, the mechanical arm snapped off and fell to the ground... Is this jerk wearing a model to ride the wave of popularity? Qing Chen was somewhat amused. Whenever theres a spectacle, all sorts of oddballs show up. At this point, he guessed that Nan Gengchen wasnt part of the batch from yesterday at noon, but part of the new countdown that appeared early in the morning, otherwise, Nan wouldnt have been so shocked by Jacobs press conference. So now there were two possibilities, one was that the number of transmigrators was fixed; if someone died, a new transmigrator would take their place. The other possibility was that the number of transmigrators was continuously expanding and would increase in the future. Currently, Qing Chen could not estimate how many transmigrators there were nationwide. Gradually, all the classmates had arrived, and someone exclaimed, Theres a transmigrator on the streets of Los Angeles City too, I saw it on my friends socials, someone captured it! Upon hearing this, everyone gathered around. The video on the socials showed a young man in a hurry, his cheeks adorned with strange mechanical lines, showcasing a unique technological beauty. Then someone noticed the gray steel ankles revealed as the young man moved. Clearly, this young mans legs had also been replaced with mechanical limbs. The cameraman in the video wanted to continue filming, but then saw the young man suddenly leap onto the rooftop of a nearby four or five meter high building, vanishing without a trace. A female classmate whispered softly, So cool. Itd be great if we had a transmigrator like that in our school; we could directly ask about that world. Just then, Qing Chen suddenly remembered that the school indeed had one person who had transmigrated at the same time as him, the son of Yongli Groups chairman, Huang Jixian. If he remembered correctly, the other person should be in Class 7 of Grade 11. That day, after the breakdown, he was taken away by the Mechanical Prison Guard and had not appeared since then; logically, he should have returned by now, even if he was dead, his body would have returned. With this thought, taking advantage of the ten or so minutes left before class, Qing Chen stood up and walked towards the first-year area downstairs. Los Angeles Foreign Language School was bustling at this time, with everyone discussing the transmigrator incidenteven the teachers passing by were scrolling through their phones as they walked. No one probably expected that a certain transmigrator was right beside them. Qing Chen looked at those people and suddenly felt a sense of alienation, as if he had become somewhat different without knowing when. In the past, he might have thought about studying hard, taking time to seriously review and prepare in advance, striving to get into a good university far away from here. But now, it seemed his path was no longer here. Qing Chen arrived at the entrance of Class 1, Grade 7, and casually stopped a bespectacled boy, asking, Hello, did Huang Jixian come to school today? No, I havent seen him yet, the classmate replied. Oh, Qing Chen nodded, Do you know where he lives? I only know that he lives in Silver Run Central Garden, but Im not sure exactly where. Are you looking for him for something? the classmate asked, When he comes to class, I can pass him a message. Its okay, thanks, Qing Chen guessed that Huang Jixian probably couldnt make it anymore. The collapsed boys spirit had suffered great trauma; it was possible he had gone mad. Qing Chen returned to his class, lost in thought, and almost all students had lost the will to study during the first period of math class. During the latter half of the class, the young male math teacher, Tian Hailong, noticed everyone was distracted and simply started joking with them, saying, You guys are completely not paying attention to me now. It looks like I need to get a mechanical arm or something for you to listen to me, right? The classroom burst into laughter, then, Tian Hailong actually started discussing this trending topic with the students, no longer teaching the class. If it were an ordinary trending topic, neither teachers nor students would have reacted like this, but what was happening now was different because it was changing the world. During class, Nan Gengchen had been browsing his phone constantly, and after class, he suddenly handed his phone to Qing Chen, saying, He Xiaoxiao posted a guide! He Xiaoxiao? Qing Chen asked, puzzled. Hes a major gamer and influencer, known for finding easter eggs and details in games, like how to find hidden plots, hidden orange weapons, and hidden professions. He has quite a few fans, Nan Gengchen explained, knowing that Qing Chen was not much into gaming and therefore unlikely to have followed someone like He Xiaoxiao. Nan Gengchen continued, He posted a game guide video a few hours ago, but no one had ever heard of the game he was talking about. He was quite serious about providing the guide. With the emerging transmigrator incident, everyone suddenly realized that his game guide might be related to that other world, and he might be one of the transmigrators. The video had no images, just a dark background and white subtitles. In the video, a young and magnetic male voice said, Since this game is quite special, I cant show you the game video. Ill call this game... Inner World.'' And the world were currently in is called the Outer World.'' He Xiaoxiao then calmly continued, Regarding this game, Ive just entered it myself, so the information I have is very limited. I havent found a way to obtain hidden orange weapons yet. There are currently three known paths to acquire professions. The first is to use technology to modify oneself, which can be directly purchased at a mechanical hospital. Mechanical limbs are relatively expensive, and since I havent found a money glitch yet, I cant afford to try it. Selling ones organs seems to be the easiest way to make money here, but I dont recommend trying it. The second path is to join the Contraindicated courts, where one can become a new human by injecting a Genetic Potion, but I havent found the relevant organizations NPC yet. This organization is quite mysterious. The third known path to a profession is in Prison No. 18. You need to go there and look for an NPC named Uncle Li Dong. This is currently the highest potential career path known. If I discover other career paths in the future, I will continue to share them with you. The more Qing Chen watched the video, the more astonished he became. He was certain it was a real world. How could it not be real if even bruises could be brought back? Yet He Xiaoxiao seemed to have become obsessed, treating that place as a mere game! And treating Uncle Li Dong as an NPC for grinding professions! Qing Chen didnt know what He Xiaoxiaos role was in the Inner World, but one thing Qing Chen could be sure of was that Uncle Li Dongs reputation in the Inner World was indeed high, so much so that He Xiaoxiao heard of him within 48 hours of arriving. And now, He Xiaoxiao had already considered Uncle Li Dong to be the most promising career path. Nan Gengchen, after watching the video, muttered, Isnt that the same as saying nothing? Buying mechanical limbs needs money, Contraindicated courts cant be found, and Prison No. 18 might be accessible, but he didnt say how to get in. Qing Chen suddenly wondered, with the significant impact of this video, would people really rush to Prison No. 18 to explore the Uncle Li Dong route after he traveled back in two days?! If someone really treated Uncle Li Dong as an NPC to grind, the outcome might be quite grim, and Uncle Li himself would probably be utterly confused. The buzz about transmigration continued into the afternoon. Until a piece of news appeared: a young male abroad, confirmed to be a transmigrator, was found dead at home. His mechanically enhanced legs, previously featured in a video, had been severed and were missing. This news, like a dark cloud, suddenly overshadowed everyones enthusiasm. ... You can also vote with your monthly tickets for the new book now!! We are only 400 votes away from making it into the top ten, lets go for it! Thanks to Tiny Mao Chestnut, Dream Ting Mei Er, Hero One Ear, and Why Ascend to Heaven for becoming the new allies of this book!! Our patrons are generous, their fortunes as vast as the East Sea and their lifespans as enduring as Nanshan! Chapter 16: 16. You only have one life Chapter 16: 16. You only have one life When something transcends the ordinary in life, it tends to be quite romantic. Like an adults fairy tale. The Hogwarts acceptance letter you never got as a child suddenly doesnt seem so far away. However, this vicious news was like a bucket of cold water quenching many peoples enthusiasm. Only at this time could everyone realize that the world isnt as wonderful as they imagined. The world might change, but human nature doesnt. Future technology is too valuable, not to mention the materials and structures of bionic mechanical limbs; just the technology for connecting mechanical limbs to neurons is enough to drive many people crazy. This is real future technology, and rather than hoping for extraterrestrial tech, its better to directly plunder whats close at hand. And most crucially, those ordinary transmigrators who had returned, despite having mechanical limbs, were still no match for some of the armed organizations. The victim died violently at home, stabbed in the heart from under the ribcage with a dagger. Compared to mechanical limbs, this dagger had no technical significance. This is not a fairy tale, but rather it feels more like a cynical adult fable. Suddenly, many transmigrators who had impulsively revealed their identities due to the hype began to feel afraid. Some who returned with mechanical limbs worried they too might be targeted. Other transmigrators like Qing Chen, who didnt have mechanical limbs, were relatively okay, but who knew if others might covet something else? Now, there were even speculations in the Japanese media that perhaps by killing a transmigrator, one could take over their qualification to transmigrate. This speculation was insane! Before its proven feasible or not, trust between people would likely be completely erased. Nan Gengchen, who once was eager, finally stopped thinking about where to take Qing Chen to eat. All Nan Gengchen could mutter quietly was, Its not easy to get a chance to change fate, why has it suddenly become a horror survival game. It could be said that Nan Gengchen and Qing Chen were in the same boat, both suffering from fathers addicted to gambling, causing chaos at home. Nan Gengchen fared slightly better, at least his parents hadnt divorced, and the house wasnt sold off; his day-to-day life was secure, just without any pocket money. Qing Chen was worse off; he had lost everything. Typically, during class gatherings, no one would call them, because they couldnt even afford the fee to play pool. Nan Gengchen had a girl he liked, but without any spending money, he felt somewhat inferior and dared not speak to her. So both were quite eager to make money. Nan Gengchen even tried writing stories to submit to magazines for some article fees, but it was like a stone sunk in the sea. Seeing Nan Gengchen discouraged, Qing Chen instead felt it was a good thing, You saw the news too. I mean, ifif you ever transmigrated, be extra careful and dont talk carelessly once youre back. Yeah, I got it, Nan Gengchen nodded, feeling somewhat emotional, Why are we so poor, man? Qing Chen thought for a moment and said, While others dads were working hard, your dad was playing cards. Though Nan Gengchen complained about his father, he felt uncomfortable with Qing Chens remarks and retorted, What about your dad? Qing Chen responded, Oh, my dad was putting in great effort playing cards. Nan Gengchen: ... The two fell into a moment of silence, and after a while, Nan Gengchen asked, How did your dad get locked up? I reported him. I hope he can seriously reflect on himself in there, Qing Chen answered calmly. Nan Gengchen was stunned momentarily: Maybe I should report my dad too? Qing Chen: ??? Just then, the bell for class rang. The second class in the morning was English, but the teacher who entered was the geography teacher. With Foreign Language in the name of the Los Angeles Foreign Language School, it certainly places emphasis on foreign languages. English teachers hold a higher status, and virtually every English teacher for each class is outstanding. The school also employs foreign teachers, starting from middle school, students have a class taught by a foreign teacher every week. Moreover, several classes in the school even offer specialized courses like Japanese and German, completely excluding English. The middle-aged geography teacher, Chen Yandong, announced from the podium, Your homeroom Teacher Du is off due to some matters, so we are switching to geography for the second class, and English will be moved to the third class tomorrow morning. On hearing this, Qing Chen was momentarily stunned. Maybe the days events had been too shocking, but he couldnt shake the feeling that the homeroom teachers leave of absence wasnt so simple. Could Teacher Du Yihong also be a transmigrator? But if there were so many transmigrators concentrated in Los Angeles, how many would there be nationwide? Thats not right! Qing Chen lowered his head so others wouldnt see his pupils, which suddenly contracted sharply. Everything that happened today, like scenes from a movie, flashed through his mindall the information summarized, categorized, and sorted in an instant. The second group of transmigrators who just had the countdown appear on their arms. The little girl panicking after learning she would transmigrate, interviewed with her parents by her side. The transmigrator livestreamer coming out to sell products on air. Pieces of information, like leaves falling from the sky, and Qing Chen plucked the useful leaves from the air with ease. The next moment, Qing Chen looked up in astonishment. The transmigrators he discovered today seemed to be distributed in a spotty fashion, concentrated in more than a dozen cities. Even residents of certain cities expressed their confusion online as to why they hadnt seen a single transmigrator in their city. In other words, the distribution of transmigrators could be very concentrated! Concentrated in just over a dozen cities! The analysis was too overwhelming, and Qing Chen couldnt help feeling dizzy. At five forty in the afternoon, after the last class ended, Qing Chen skipped class once again. Before leaving, the class representative called out loudly, Qing Chen, tomorrow is the deadline for the book fee, dont forget. Got it, Qing Chen waved his hand. Then, under Nan Gengchens envious gaze, he quickly left the classroom. In the twilight of early evening, students who had just finished class rushed to the cafeteria for dinner, waiting for evening self-study to begin. Meanwhile, Qing Chen swiftly moved through the crowd, climbing over the fence at a corner of the school campus. He went home, changed out of his school uniform into clothes he didnt wear often, and then left with a duckbill cap. He searched for the address of Silver Run Central Garden on his phone; it was about six kilometers from the schoolthe residential area where Huang Jixian lived. For some reason, he felt an urge to go there, although he didnt know which building or unit Huang Jixian was in. He just wanted to have a look, to find out what had happened to Huang Jixian after his return and what he had encountered in the Inner World. Qing Chen didnt have extra money for a taxi; he had only fifty cents in his pocket, which was all he had until his next chess game with Elder Zhang at the Fortune Supermarket. He decided to run. In the past, Qing Chen didnt place much importance on physical exercise; he just participated in the schools routine exercise. But now, he suddenly realized that he had to work out. To face a dangerous world, he must have a strong physique. You must understand. In Chinese characters, the word for life has never had a homophone. Perhaps this itself suggests that you only have one life. It must be cherished. Chapter 17: 17. Cross Tracking Chapter 17: 17. Cross Tracking ` The night fell gradually, and a cool autumn breeze swept over the Royal City Bridge, stretching Qing Chens body as he ran, with the wind blowing his clothes behind him. Perhaps it was a change of mindset, but he felt as if... The shackles given to him by his family and surroundings were slowly coming undone. Qing Chen ran faster and faster. Occasionally, pedestrians on the bridge would look back at him, everyone could feel this inexplicable youthfulness, impulsive yet rich. Silver Sheen Central Garden is one of the highest-priced residential areas in Los Angeles City, and a well-known wealthy neighborhood. So it wasnt surprising that Huang Jixian, being a second-generation rich kid, lived here. The property management and security here were relatively strict, and access required a swipe card. Qing Chen circled around to the back door to see if there was a way to get in. However, before he could figure out how to enter, he saw six men in black suits walking out of a small path at the back gate of the complex. These men were ramrod straight, each looking as sharp and unstoppable as a bayonet. As they walked, the six men kept in step, their timing and distance when lifting their feet as if measured by a ruler. Wait, Qing Chen was stunned because amongst the six, he saw a youth being carried... Huang Jixian! At that moment, Huang Jixian looked blank, muttering nonsensical phrasesprison, machinery, monsters... They quickly climbed into two black SUVs parked outside the back door, and one of them seemed to sense something, turning his head to look towards Qing Chen from the passenger seat. Qing Chen immediately turned his head and casually played with his phone as if nothing was amiss. The men did not seem to pay much attention to him, and the two black SUVs sped away into the night. Qing Chen, on the other hand, stood frozen outside the gate of the complex, silently staring at his phone. Who were those people? Why did they take Huang Jixian away? Could it be because of the his identity as a transmigrator? It must be that, Qing Chen refused to believe in coincidence. He turned and headed home. All the way, he pondered the identities of the men in black, but gradually, he realized something wasnt right. A young man wearing a black hoodie was silently following him, having trailed five blocks already. An inexplicable sense of familiarity... he had seen this person before. In an instant, Qing Chen felt all his muscles tense up, an invisible pressure eroding his sense of safety. It was as if he had been fiercely marked by a wild beast. He remembered, when he had encountered the men in black at the back gate of the Central Garden, that person was nearby, looking at his phone, but his fingers never once slid across the screen. Qing Chen could not analyze every single detail he saw every minute, it was too draining, but he could retrieve memories. With this thought, Qing Chen casually pretended to pick up his phone, and then stopped in his tracks to make a call, Hello, Ill be home late for dinner... The baseball cap cast his cheeks in shadows. The young man in the black hoodie kept walking past him without stopping as Qing Chen came to a halt. Qing Chens peripheral vision stayed locked on the man, but the other person did not look back even once. This puzzled Qing Chen, and for a moment he even wondered if he was being too paranoid? ` Amidst the bustling streets, the man in the black hoodie quickly vanished after hanging up the call and continued walking forward. It was fortunate that he had gone home to change out of his school uniform and put on a hat, otherwise just by seeing the uniform, they would have known he was a student from Los Angeles Foreign Language School. Before Qing Chen could relax, at the next intersections traffic lights, he noticed a familiar face among the crowd waiting to crosssomeone he had seen at the main entrance of the Central Garden complex. It wasnt a coincidence. It was coordinated surveillance. Every person tasked with following him only tracked him for a short distance, each ensuring they blended in like a passerby to go undetected. If the target stopped, the follower would keep walking nonchalantly as if nothing happened, and others would take over from behind. This was one of the safest tracking methods. Qing Chen was thankful for all the useful and useless books he had read. He finally understood that when the person in the off-road vehicle looked at him, he had been marked. There were more than six, with additional people hidden in the shadows. Was this some secret organization, so well-trained and so focused on matters related to transmigrators? Qing Chen suddenly felt that he might not be the first batch of transmigrators; perhaps he was the second, or even the third. If not, even if someone learned about transmigrators today, they wouldnt be able to respond so quickly on the same day. These people were well-prepared. The youths black pupils were dense and deepfacing him on the sidewalk was a night runner, an uncle selling rock-sugar gourds at a stall, an elegant woman clicking along in high heels, and the changing light and shadows cast by the nearby yellow street lamp. He took note of every detail, reminding himself not to make a mistake. There were 12 seconds left on the traffic light. The man in black who had just brushed past him could very likely be taking a detour to position himself behind for the next round of surveillance. Based on the detour he would have to take through Wangchun Gate Street, Zhenghe Road, and Kaiyuan Avenue, an adult running at a joggers pace would need at most ten minutes. If he wanted to shake off the surveillance... Now was the time. The green light came on, and the stalker lifted his foot to cross the street, while Qing Chen suddenly turned around and went back. The follower crossed the street as if nothing were odd and spoke softly, The target did not cross the street, he turned back. How much longer till youre in position? It looked like he was talking to himself, but a closer look would reveal a semi-transparent earpiece in his left ear. No good, I still need two minutes to reach my tracking position. In a flash, the follower crossing the street sensed something was off, and he quickly turned back to look for Qing Chens figure but couldnt find the young man anywhere. Lost him, the tracker at the intersection sighed lightly. In the distance, a young man in a black hoodie running at full speed laughed in response, How embarrassing, two people tracking one and you still lost him. It was you who insisted on following him. The young man in the black hoodie laughed, Then do you think he realized we were tracking him? A voice came through the earpiece, Im sure he did, hes skilled. The young man in the black hoodie thought for a moment and said, That boy didnt look more than seventeen or eighteen, still probably in high school. If he really noticed us tracking him, that would be quite something. And did you notice? He handled it very naturally. The first time he stopped to make a call, I didnt even think he noticed me. Otherwise, I wouldve taken control of him right there. Im curious, why did you decide to follow him on a whim? We had a lot on our plate today, and there was no need to waste time on a passerby. Not exactly a whim. Just that when the team was escorting Target 009, I noticed he avoided the bosss gaze. Chapter 18: Mysterious Organization Chapter 18: Mysterious Organization Compared to transmigrating to Prison No. 18, Qing Chen felt that tonight resembled a real crisis far more. He couldnt determine who the other party was or what their intentions were. The mere suspicion from the other party had initiated a tail and shadowing, an extremely unsettling feeling. It was as if he had burst out of the greenhouse-like environment of the school and into a world truly ruled by wild beasts. Or perhaps, this was the true face of the world. The night deepened as Qing Chen moved through the green belts, relying on the tall sycamores along the road to conceal his movements. The adrenaline-fuelled tension and pounding heart did not subside until he had walked a considerable distance. When he returned to his residence on Xingshu Road, Qing Chen even sat in the shadows for half an hour, only deciding to go home after confirming no one was following him. Although the autumn air was crisp and temperatures were dropping, the clothes on his back were soaked through. As he walked, Qing Chen opened his smartphone to search for the game streamer He Xiaoxiao, curious if she had posted any new guides. However, He Xiaoxiao, who had said she would make a new overview of the Inner World tonight, had disappeared. In the comment section, fans were asking why she hadnt started her stream, but He Xiaoxiao hadnt responded. Could this streamer also have been taken by some mysterious organization? How many such organizations existed nationwide? Qing Chen couldnt be sure. Suddenly, the sound of police sirens erupted outside the complex, with a police car driving through into the neighborhood. Frowning, Qing Chen followed them, and the police car just happened to stop at his apartment building entrance. From the second floor, a womans crying and a mans screams could be heard. By then, the neighbors had all come out, and people from other residential buildings had gathered in a circle downstairs. Qing Chen blended into the crowd, silently observing. What happened here, whats going on? an old man asked, puzzled. Isnt there a man in this building who often abuses his wife? an old lady said, rocking a child in her arms, That woman was beaten and hospitalized before, but the man never changed. Later, when the woman wanted a divorce, the man beat her again and even threatened to kill her whole family if she dared divorce him. So what happened today? someone asked, confused, It couldnt be that the man injured the woman, could it? But it sounds like its the man whos in trouble. You actually guessed it right, the old lady replied, I was just about to go up and intervene when I found out that this time it was the woman who beat the man. What? someone exclaimed in shock. The man came home drunk tonight and tried to beat his wife again, but guess what? You all heard about lots of people transmigrating today, right? It seems his wife also transmigrated, the old lady narrated excitedly, At first, the woman still took the beatings and didnt dare to fight back, but perhaps she snapped and eventually broke the mans leg in retaliation. Its just too bad for their little daughter, who has to suffer at such a young age. Upon hearing this, Qing Chen finally relaxed. To be honest, he didnt have a shred of sympathy for the man and even felt a trace of amusement. Is there anything more pitiful in this world than a man who beats his wife? Beaten at his own game. This family of three lived just above him, and over two years, he often saw the woman, holding her daughter, squatting at the staircase, crying, as he returned home from night study. The woman, appearing to be nearly thirty years old and quite attractive, was frequently assaulted by her husband out of his suspicion that she was seeing another man. Qing Chen later learned from the neighbors that the man would beat his wife whenever he saw her talking to any other man. Now that he was crippled, it was nothing less than he deserved. At that moment, the police had gone upstairs to inquire, and the man was awkwardly carried onto an ambulance. Qing Chen glanced over; both of the mans arms were irregularly bent, clearly fractured. As the ambulance departed, the police waved to disperse the crowd. Qing Chen was about to return home when he saw the little girl sitting miserably at the entrance of his apartment. Brother, my mom just now asked me to stay at your place for a while, but I knocked and you werent home, the girl said in a tearful voice. Her name was Li Tongyun, and this was not her first time seeking refuge at Qing Chens place. Qing Chen wasnt one to meddle, but there was once an altercation between the husband and wife upstairs, and the little girl was alone, crying at the staircase entrance. It happened right after Qing Chen finished his night study, and as he was about to pass by the girl, the man came downstairs looking for her, and she asked if she could hide at Qing Chens place for a while. Qing Chen finally agreed. That evening, he made soy sauce fried rice for the little girl and even played cartoons for her on his phone. Not until everything had calmed down did he bring the little girl back home. The woman upstairs soon learned about this, and from then on, she would send the girl to Qing Chens home whenever there was a quarrel. The woman was once a bit embarrassed and said that Qing Chens dirty laundry could be sent upstairs for her to wash, but Qing Chen worried about the man upstairs causing trouble and did not respond. At that moment, Qing Chen patted the little girls head, Have you eaten yet? I had some cookies, but Im still a bit hungry, the little girl, Li Tongyun, said timidly. Lets go, I havent eaten either. Ill make you stir-fried rice, Qing Chen had spent all his savings when preparing supplies, but although he was out of money, he now had plenty of condiments and rice at home, After youve eaten, your moms side will probably be fine. Dont be scared; your dad wont be able to beat your mom anymore. Can I still come to your house then? Li Tongyun suddenly asked. Of course... Qing Chen was about to speak when his expression suddenly changed, and he quickly took out the keys to open the door, pulling Li Tongyun inside as well. Li Tongyun looked at Qing Chen with a puzzled face, Brother, what happened? He quickly drew the bedroom curtain and peeked outside through a small gap. Its nothing, just dont talk for now, Qing Chen said. Meanwhile, an SUV drove into the alley outside the building. It was one of the same ones he had seen tonight at Silver Run Central Garden! The people in the car had probably heard about a transmigrator appearing here and had rushed over. Qing Chens heart raced, as he had not expected them to react so quickly. Then, two young men jumped out of the car, one in a black hoodie and the other in a grey coat. They were also the ones who had followed Qing Chen. Qing Chens heartbeat quickened, wondering if this was a case of it being a small world? The next moment, the young man in the black hoodie looked towards the window where Qing Chen was hiding, prompting Qing Chen to immediately retreat backward. Whats up? his companion in the black hoodie asked. The one in the black hoodie smiled, Nothing, just looking around. I always feel like someone is watching me, but its probably just me being paranoid. Lets go up and handle our business. Qing Chen was somewhat worried about the woman upstairs. To be precise, he was worried that if the woman was taken away, Li Tongyun would be in a desperate situation. Her father had been hospitalized after being beaten, and her mother might be taken away by the mysterious organization. What would she do in the future? Ten minutes passed, and before Qing Chen could think of what to do, the two young men had already left the building. They swiftly got into the car and drove away without taking Li Tongyuns mother with them. What was going on? Qing Chen was a bit confused now. Werent they supposed to capture all the transmigrators? Gradually, the police car also left, and there was a knocking at his door. Qing Chen went to open the door, only to see Li Tongyuns mother standing outside, her hair messy, the corner of her mouth split, and blood on her face. The woman seemed to realize that she looked disheveled and quickly tied her messy hair behind her ears. She softly said to Qing Chen, Im sorry to trouble you again. ... Please vote! Now you can vote monthly for new books too, were just 200 votes away from the top ten, lets go! Thanks to Master Yiping and Xia Tians Little River for becoming champions of this book. So generous, may your fortunes be as vast as the East Sea and your life as long as the South Mountain! Chapter 19: 19. Restrict travel Chapter 19: 19. Restrict travel Are you all right? Qing Chen looked at the woman outside the door and said. This was his first time sizing up the other party seriously. Every time they met before, it was in a rush, and because of domestic violence, the woman intentionally avoided other men, including Qing Chen, even though he was just a high school student. This must be the shadow left by the domestic abuse. At this moment, the womans hands and arms had turned into mechanical limbs. Qing Chen noticed that her mechanical limbs were more aesthetically pleasing than those of most prisoners in Prison No. 18, with lines that were smooth and elegant yet filled with the beauty of strength. If they werent covered by long sleeves, they would probably look even better. To say the woman was indeed beautiful was an understatement, although the corners of her eyes had fine lines, they added a certain charm, and it didnt obscure the gentle temperament she possessed. The woman looked at Qing Chen with some embarrassment and said, I didnt expect to trouble you again this time. Its nothing, Qing Chen shook his head: I was just about to cook for Li Tongyun. I really like her. The woman nodded her head. She said to Li Tongyun, Lets go, Xiao Yun, back home with mom. Li Tongyun said pitifully, Im still hungry, and you two wrecked our home. Theres nothing to eat if we go back. The woman got a bit angry after hearing this: Be obedient, dont cause trouble for others anymore! However, Qing Chen suddenly said, Xiao Yun just told me that you havent eaten yet, why dont you come over to my place and have some food? The woman and Li Tongyun were both stunned. Although Qing Chen had helped them in the past, he had never proactively shown such hospitality. He seemed to be wary of getting involved in trouble. Im also curious about the transmigration matter, Qing Chen explained: So I wanted to ask... um, how should I address you? My name is Jiang Xue, the woman replied. Right, I just wanted to ask Aunt Jiang Xue about the Inner World, Qing Chen said. Is it okay to talk about it? Truth be told, Jiang Xue was only twelve years older than Qing Chen, so calling her auntie might seem a bit aging, but since he knew Li Tongyun first, that was the only way he could address her now. Theres nothing inconvenient about it, Jiang Xue said. You can ask about it anytime; its no trouble. I just need to go home and clean up some things to cook for Xiao Yun. Mom, lets eat at brothers house, Li Tongyun said in a low voice. Jiang Xue sighed at Xiao Yuns pleading look: Then I really am imposing on you. All along, the woman had an apologetic air about her, and Qing Chen could feel her genuine inner guilt. With such a character, could she really survive well in the harsh world of the Inner World? Qing Chen suppressed his own curiosity until he served the soy sauce fried rice on the table, and then finally, as if it was nothing out of the ordinary, he said, I saw the police come to handle the case, what did they say? Jiang Xue answered, The neighbors helped explain the situation to them. Initially, they were going to take me with them, but considering I have a daughter and it was an act of self-defense, they let me stay, saying theyd notify me if needed. Only then did Qing Chen ask what he most wanted to know: Later, two more people came. What were they there for? Im not sure what they were there for, Jiang Xue shook her head: The people gathered some information from the police, then had me fill out a form, took a couple of photos of my ID, and left. Qing Chen was taken aback: That simple? Right, they also said they might need me in the future and asked me not to leave Los Angeles City recently, but they didnt specify why, Jiang Xue replied. The police didnt interfere with them? Qing Chen was curious. It seems they showed some kind of credentials to the police, Jiang Xue explained: Im not too clear on the specifics, but the police didnt bother them. This gave Qing Chen a preliminary understanding of those people: First, the other party did not capture transmigrators on sight. Second, the other party had official documents. Regardless, at least the other party was not as heartlessly insane as imagined, which did put Qing Chen at ease a great deal. Suddenly, Qing Chen asked Aunt Jiang Xue, Aunt Jiang Xue, what was your identity in the Inner World? The Inner World, this name, after being used in He Xiaoxiaos strategy guides, had gradually spread. It was the commonly accepted name everyone used for that transmigration world. Jiang Xue answered, I opened a mechanical clinic in City 18, which actually just helps people install mechanical limbs. But after I transmigrated, I didnt understand anything. When people came for mechanical limb installation, I could only say we were out of stock. Qing Chen nodded, agreeing that such technical work certainly couldnt be mastered in just a couple of days. And these arms of yours... he asked. I already had mechanical limbs when I went there, and they just came back with me upon my return, Jiang Xue replied. Qing Chen then asked, I saw something about Prison 18 in a transmigrators guide. Where is that place? Its on the edge of City 18, Jiang Xue said, That prison is quite famous, apparently a place specifically for incarcerating felons, with the highest defense level in the Federation. A federal system? Qing Chen hesitated, Aunt Jiang Xue, what else do you know? I only transmigrated there for two days, didnt figure out anything, Jiang Xue shook her head. At this moment, the young girl Li Tongyun asked, Mom, whats the name of your clinic? Its called Jiang Xues Mechanical Limbs Clinic, Jiang Xue answered, Why do you ask? Just asking, Li Tongyun said while picking at her soy sauce fried rice. Qing Chen made a note of the name, although he probably didnt have the ability to help just now. To help, he would have to go through Lu Guangyi or Uncle Li Dong, but how to explain how he knew Jiang Xue to them? He was still unclear how people from the Inner World treated transmigrators; what if Jiang Xue was exposed, wouldnt he be discovered too? Better wait and see, for now, it looked like Jiang Xue wasnt in any immediate danger. Jiang Xue looked at Qing Chen, Why are you so curious about the Inner World? Id also like to transmigrate and take a look, Qing Chen said with a smile, I actually envy you transmigrators quite a bit. Jiang Xue shook her head, That world is very dangerous. Basically, aside from the people of Li Family, Chen Clan, Qings Family, Jindai, and Deer Island Group, everyone else lives in misery every day; the Outer World is better. Qing Chen thought to himself, he was from Qings Family, yet he was also living in misery. He asked, What are your plans next? Im thinking of taking Xiao Yun to her grandmothers in Zheng City for a while, leaving tomorrow. Then Ill come back and divorce Xiao Yuns father, Jiang Xue said. Qing Chen suddenly thought of something, and then suggested, Then you should buy a ticket first. There are a lot of people traveling to Zheng City every day; they are hard to get. Jiang Xue didnt think too much and just used a mobile app to buy a ticket to Zheng City. The payment was successful, but when it came to issuing the ticket, it showed a failure to issue! Just as expected. Qing Chen fell into thought. When he heard that they werent letting Jiang Xue leave Los Angeles City without any actual restrictive measures, he guessed there might be other means in play. Perhaps the mysterious organization took a photo of Jiang Xues ID card precisely to restrict her movements. Chapter 20: 20. Transmigrators Group Chat Chapter 20: 20. Transmigrators Group Chat It looks like I cant leave Los Angeles City, Jiang Xue said after failing to buy train tickets and trying for plane tickets with the same outcome. Both ticketing attempts failed. This mysterious organization has eyes and ears everywhere, and Qing Chen didnt want to be confined to one city, so no matter the opponents purpose, it was better to keep a low profile for now. Suddenly, Jiang Xue asked, By the way, Qing Chen, why havent I seen your parents around in the past two years? Do you live here alone? Yeah, Qing Chen nodded. They got divorced, and I live here alone. By the way, Aunt Jiang Xue, what do you do for work? Im an art teacher at the nearby White Horse Primary School, Jiang Xue didnt elaborate further and stood up to gather the dishes from the table: Ill go wash these dishes. No need, just leave them there. Ill wash them later, Qing Chen said. That wont do. You already cooked, I cant let you do the dishes too, Jiang Xue insisted as she headed into the kitchen, leaving Qing Chen and Li Tongyun in the living room. At this moment, the young girl Li Tongyun suddenly lowered her voice and said, Brother, you used to not even look my mom in the eye. You didnt invite her over just because shes pretty, did you? Qing Chen speechlessly replied, What are you even talking about? Dont think nonsense. My mom is indeed very pretty, Li Tongyun muttered softly. Qing Chen was torn between laughter and tears, thinking the kids nowadays are too cunning. However, it wasnt because Jiang Xue was pretty; it was because she had information he wanted to know about, like the mysterious organization and the Inner World. Jiang Xue was quick at chores, soon washing all the dishes in the sink. Noticing dirty clothes in the bathroom, she scooped them up, Qing Chen, its not easy living alone. From now on, just bring me your dirty clothes, and Ill wash them. Come on, Xiao Yun, lets go home. Brother Qing Chen still needs to study. Wait, I can wash them myself... Qing Chen hadnt finished speaking when Jiang Xue, pulling Li Tongyun along, left without giving him a chance to respond. Qing Chen stood stunned in the dimly lit small house, completely unprepared for her actions. He returned to his bedroom and slowly lay down on the bed, pondering what he should do next. In his class WeChat group, there were already 999 unread messages, all discussing the matter of transmigrators. Even the incidents involving Jiang Xue tonight were slowly becoming a topic of discussion among the people of Los Angeles City and might even hit the trending topics tomorrow. Students, office workers, and even the real power players were all constantly paying attention to the word transmigrator. He glanced at the class group chat records. Whenever someone discussed the characteristics of transmigrators, Nan Gengchen would chime in saying that these transmigrators must be inherently exceptional... At that moment, to be honest, Qing Chen somewhat hoped that Nan Gengchen would transmigrate into Prison No. 18. Although that would mean he couldnt conceal his identity anymore, Nan Gengchens expression then would probably be priceless. Qing Chen opened the search engine, hoping to see if He Xiaoxiao had released any new guides, but her live streaming room was still dark with no new updates. He glanced at his WeChat, and his mother hadnt sent any messages. Just as he was about to go to sleep, his phone suddenly rang. The caller ID showed: Mom. Qing Chen sat up and answered, Hello? On the other end, Zhang Wanfang said, Xiao Chen, Ive already sent your father the living expenses. However, Qing Chen hadnt seen any living expenses for a long time. Mom, this week... Qing Chen wanted to mention that he needed to pay for his textbooks, but before he could finish, Zhang Wanfang already interjected over the phone: Hao Hao suddenly has a fever, so we wont visit you this weekend. Okay, go to sleep early, and dont fall behind on your studies. Yeah, okay, Qing Chen replied and then hung up. He had finally received a call, but it seemed as if she had already forgotten about him skipping classes. But it didnt matter anymore. At this time. Qing Chen Qing Chen, are you there, are you there, are you there, Nan Gengchen messaged in the middle of the night. Whats up? Qing Chen asked. I just found a group online that welcomes all transmigrators for interaction. Are you going? Ill send you the group number, Nan Gengchen said excitedly, already acting like a transmigrator himself. We are not transmigrators, whats the point of joining? Qing Chen said. There was a pause from Nan Gengchens end: Why not join in on the fun? Maybe we can find out something new. Just in case one day we both transmigrate, wouldnt it be good to have some information ahead of time? Im not going, you go, Qing Chen said. He wasnt the least bit interested in the transmigrators group now. What if it was a trap set by the mysterious organization, just waiting for everyone to fall into the net? It might not be dangerous, but he didnt want his freedom to be restricted. Only a simpleton like Nan Gengchen would barge into every bustling scene. If youre not going, okay then, Ill go check it out, Nan Gengchen said. After that, Nan Gengchen went silent. A little while later, just as Qing Chen was beginning to feel sleepy, Nan Gengchen reappeared: Qing Chen... What now? Qing Chen asked resignedly. The group admin said they were a transmigrator and even claimed they brought back hundreds of pairs of high-tech socks from the Inner World. These socks are not only odor-resistant and sweatproof, but they also enable brisk walking, extend life, and supposedly can stimulate acupoints using nanotechnology... Do you want a couple of pairs? Nan Gengchen asked. Qing Chen: ??? Socks from the damn Inner World! Scammers these days were getting ridiculously outrageous; they latch onto any trending topic! He knew the transmigrators group was unreliable, but he hadnt expected it to be this bad. Qing Chen asked, Did you buy any? Nan Gengchen answered, I dont have any money, otherwise I might have bought a pair and tried them out... Qing Chen managed to say after holding back: ...Impressive. Nan Gengchen continued, Theres also a transmigrator in the group who claims they got their hands on a Genetic Potion from the Inner World, which can turn a person into a Transcendent. Hmm, what else are the people in the group saying? Theres another transmigrator who said they know a few wealthy matrons in the Inner World who are desperately seeking children, and he can help introduce people to them. Hmm... What else are the people in the group saying? Qing Chen roughly understood now, this group was truly a gathering spot for scammers. He even suspected that except for Nan Gengchen, everyone in the group was a scammer, with Nan Gengchen being the only fool. Chapter 21: 21. Expansion Pack: Shadows Struggle Chapter 21: 21. Expansion Pack: Shadows Struggle 7:20 AM, countdown 16:40:00. Qing Chen had run three laps around the neighborhood, and when he returned home, he saw Jiang Xue hanging clothes on the balcony railing upstairs, each piece belonging to him. Because he had been busy with time-travel matters recently, he had accumulated a lot of unwashed clothes. He had planned to wash them yesterday, but Jiang Xue had taken them. Upon seeing him, Jiang Xue smiled and opened the window to call out, Qing Chen, Ive made some plain porridge, come up and have some. No need, no need, Qing Chen quickly waved his hand, then nibbled on a compressed biscuit as he headed to school. It had been a long time since anyone had treated him so kindly, so he was not quite accustomed to it. Just as he entered the school gate, Qing Chen saw many people running towards the high school building. He happened to run into Nan Gengchen sprinting, and he curiously asked, Whats going on? Didnt you see the class WeChat group? Theres a transmigrator in the class next to ours; the guy is currently in the classroom, Nan Gengchen said, panting. Wait, how did they find out he is a transmigrator? Qing Chen wondered; there had been no one with mechanical limbs in the next class yesterday. He was bragging about it, Nan Gengchen explained. He held it in all day, but let it slip last night while chatting with classmates. Qing Chen frowned upon hearing this. What was happening, so many transmigrators in Los Angeles Foreign Language School? The school had about two thousand people, and out of the known transmigrators, four were from this school alone. How many could there be nationwide? Even if only a dozen cities nationwide had transmigrators, the overall number wouldnt be small. By then, Qing Chen thought, others would probably spot this pattern as well. Would there be a large influx of people into these cities, hoping to become the third, fourth, or fifth wave of transmigrators? Perhaps not right now, but if a third wave of transmigrators were to confirm this suspicion, such theories might turn into reality. In the future, including Los Angeles, those dozen cities would likely become increasingly bustling. Qing Chen and Nan Gengchen ran towards the classroom, but before they could get a clear look, the dean of students arrived with a group of teachers and took away the student who claimed to be a transmigrator. Were too late! Nan Gengchen mumbled. Qing Chen decided not to meddle further and turned to pull Nan Gengchen towards their own class. He guessed that the mysterious organization would soon arrive at the school, and with the transmigration imminent tonight, he didnt want to complicate matters. He wasnt sure if the mysterious organization had seen his face. Since they could restrict Jiang Xues movements, they could probably check the surveillance cameras, right? Although the area where he lived was old and the surveillance sparse, and he had deliberately chosen to walk in places without cameras that day, Qing Chen couldnt guarantee that they hadnt found him. Throughout the entire day, Qing Chen stayed quietly in class, avoiding any encounter with the mysterious organization. Except to use the restroom, he never left the classroom. It is worth mentioning that their English teacher, Du Yihong, had taken another leave of absence, which only solidified Qing Chens suspicions. Qing Chen, Qing Chen, look, Nan Gengchen said. He Xiaoxiaos guide has been updated! Qing Chens eyes lit up. So far, among all the transmigrators whod described the Inner World, He Xiaoxiaos guide was probably the most captivating. Because others simply provided an overview of the world or some fragmented information. But He Xiaoxiao, a top player in video gaming, was sharing genuinely useful information. Such as the Contraindicated courts, Uncle Li Dong, and the Genetic Potionstuff that most transmigrators hadnt even come into contact with yet. However, what had happened when He Xiaoxiao suddenly disappeared and then reappeared? Qing Chen opened the video on his phone. Hello everyone, Im He Xiaoxiao. Due to some special reasons, I couldnt provide a new guide yesterday. Todays guide is about the current expansion of the Inner World game: Qings Shadow Contest. Qings Group is one of the top five companies in the Inner World... A Shadow in Qings Group holds all the power in the underground world. Its said that this has been a tradition in Qings for over a thousand years. Every once in a while, they select a new Shadow, leading to a fierce competition similar to a royal succession struggle. Each Shadow Candidate must undergo the harshest of trials. At the same time, when the new Shadow is chosen, it usually stirs up considerable turmoil in the Inner World. Currently, there are eight known Shadow Candidates. Each one of them is exceptionally gifted. These candidates are named Qing Huai, Qing Wen, Qing Shi... but theres one who is extremely mysterious; I havent been able to find out his identity yet. Qing Chen watched silently, knowing that an expansion meant new plots and characters opened up based on an existing game, like Red Alert 3: Yuris Revenge. He didnt know that Uncle Li Dong had once speculated that he was a Shadow Candidate, nor did he even know himself that he was one. Lu Guangyi had never mentioned it. But now he suddenly understood why he had appeared in Prison No. 18. It must be said, He Xiaoxiaos strategies had always been of great help to him. Countdown 6:19:29. He waited until the afternoon, but Qing Chen did not see anyone from the mysterious organization at the school. Instead, a classmate from the next class had not come back, reportedly taken home by his parents for reflection. As the time for time travel drew closer, Qing Chen could clearly feel Nan Gengchen becoming increasingly nervous. He didnt know what to advise him. If this guy really did travel to Prison No. 18, then he would take the risk of being discovered to help him. If, I mean if you travel tonight, you must be careful. Youve seen what those people online said, the Inner World is not safe, Qing Chen advised Nan Gengchen. Nan Gengchens expression was a bit unnatural. I, Im not a transmigrator. As long as you know, Qing Chen said no more, as the other had managed to keep the secret up to now, it showed he knew what he was doing. In the evening, Qing Chen skipped classes and went home, then calmly waited at home for the countdown to time travel. He closed his eyes to rest. After an unknown amount of time, there was a knock on the door. Qing Chen opened the door and saw Jiang Xue standing outside: Is something the matter, Aunt Jiang Xue? Jiang Xue hesitated and then said, You know Im a transmigrator. The countdown has a little while left until its time, the Inner World is very dangerous and Im not sure if I can come back. If I dont return safely tomorrow, could you take care of Xiao Yun for a day for me? Qing Chen was stunned. Why would you say that? Youll definitely come back safely. Jiang Xue shook her head. You wouldnt comfort me like this if you knew how dangerous that world is, but I am well aware. There, without the backing of the five major companies, a human life is worthless. Im not asking you to take care of Xiao Yun for long, her grandmother is coming over from Zheng City tomorrow... Okay, I promise you, but I still hope youll be fine, Qing Chen nodded. Thank you, Jiang Xue said, handing Qing Chen a key. Ill leave a key with you, in case something happens you can easily open the door. Having said this, Jiang Xue turned and left. Qing Chen was stunned for several seconds. He hadnt expected her to entrust him with her house key. This must also be a form of trust, right? Countdown 00:9:59. Qing Chen, making the most of his last moments, held a small USB drive in his mouth. He wanted to test if an item hidden in his body could pass through that wall of time. Then, he once again turned his arm purple. After everything was completed, Qing Chen took a deep breath. Countdown: 00:00:10. 9. 8. 7. 6. 5. 4. 3. 2. 1. The world shattered. And reformed. ... The monthly tickets are already in the top ten! 45,000-word monthly tickets in the top ten! If I can get into the top five this month, I will immediately add three more chapters! ... Thanks to the group members of Elbow Black and Stupid Group, Bear Children, Autumn Detachment, Beetle Beetle for becoming the books Alliance Hierarchs. Big shots are generous, may your fortune be as vast as the eastern seas and your life as long as the southern mountains! CREATORS THOUGHTS Lordbluefire Footnote: [1] Nine Dragons Contention for Succession was a historical event in which the sons of Emperor Kangxi of the Qing Dynasty competed for the throne. [2] Red Alert 3: Yuris Revenge is an existing game under the Command & Conquer series, though it is supposed to be the expansion pack for Red Alert 2, not 3. Chapter 22: 22. Welcome to Prison No. 18 Chapter 22: 22. Welcome to Prison No. 18 The familiar cell, the familiar alloy walls, the familiar cold bed planks. Qing Chen had never been so delighted, fearing that his second transmigration might land him somewhere different, which would render all his previous efforts wasted. The hard-earned goodwill he had gathered from Uncle Li Dong would also go down the drain. It now seemed that each transmigration would be a continuation of the last, meaning the Canon scores he had memorized would still come in handy. Regardless of what role Uncle Li Dong played, it was confirmed through He Xiaoxiaos strategy that he was a figure of great importance in the Inner World. At this moment, Qing Chen believed that 90% of transmigrators were still somewhat perplexed, not knowing how to obtain what they desired in this Inner World. Yet, he had already transmigrated next to Uncle Li Dong. Perhaps other transmigrators had already witnessed the magnificent wonder of the outside world, but that was unimportant. Qing Chen spat out the USB drive from his mouth into his palm, a successful experiment. The fact that he could bring the USB drive along meant that as long as the item was inside the body, it could pass through the wall of time. He then looked at the purple and green bruises on his arm, similarly, injuries from the Outer World that had transmigrated along with him. This proved that the body, indeed, was the same one that had traveled through time, no mistake. Qing Chen, relying on his methods, was gradually completing his understanding of this world and the transmigration mechanism. Time ticked away slowly, and the noisy sounds of prisoners banging on the alloy gates gradually rose in Prison No. 18. For some reason, Qing Chen found the clamor he hadnt heard for two days strangely comforting, compared to the totally uncharted Outer World. He was back. Qing Chen gazed at his arm where the white pattern of meshed mechanics counted down in a different fashion: Return Countdown 47:55:50. The countdown to return was still two days, very brief. However, Qing Chen wondered, would the countdowns time limit change? Would it become longer or shorter in the future? When mealtime arrived, the alloy gate opened on schedule. Qing Chen no longer acted as cautiously as he did on his first arrival, he simply stepped over the threshold and gazed down below, where Uncle Li Dong, Ye Wan, and Lin Xiaoxiao were already downstairs, with Lin Xiaoxiao even waving at him. And the envying gazes of other prisoners still surrounded him. Qing Chen smiled and greeted the prisoners, some of them hurriedly returning the gesture as if flattered. At some point, the 17-year-old boy had also become a big shot in the prison. However, Qing Chen was in no hurry to go downstairs; he stood in the shadow of the corridor on the fifth floor, silently observing the prison. Last night at midnight in the Inner World, all prisoners had been locked up in cells, and a group of newcomers had also been brought in. By now, the second batch of transmigrators in the Outer World should have arrived in the Inner World. Qing Chen intended to stand upstairs to see if he could detect any trace of transmigrators and pondered how to conceal his identity should actual transmigrators appear. At that moment, eight newcomers stood bewildered along the second-floor corridor, timidly surveying their surroundings. Qing Chen was startled for a moment because among them was none other than Liu Dezhu, the classmate from the next class who had claimed to be a transmigrator yesterday! He couldnt go down now; the other person would surely recognize him. Amid the noise, Lu Guangyi on the sixth floor laughed and shouted to the newcomers, Got new folks, eh? Well have a good time later! Qing Chen had been somewhat annoyed by Lu Guangyi before, but now that he had returned to Prison No. 18, even seeing this guy felt somewhat comforting. Suddenly, someone greeted the new prisoners with a smile: Welcome to Prison No. 18! Qing Chen observed the expressions of the newcomers and saw Liu Dezhus expression gradually change when he heard the term Prison No. 18. Fear in his eyes momentarily gave way to a hint of glee. It seemed that the phrase Prison No. 18 was exceptionally special. However, Liu Dezhu didnt make any hasty moves; he silently followed the other prisoners in line downstairs to get food, and along the way, he quietly asked the inmate in front: Excuse me, which one is Uncle Li Dong? The prisoners around him were taken aback upon hearing this, all wondering to themselves: Is this guy some sort of special connection? After pondering for a moment, one of the inmates pointed him out: There, the one downstairs. Looking down from the upper floor, Liu Dezhu recognized the unique trait of Uncle Li Dong, thinking to himself that He Xiaoxiao sure hadnt lied to him. This middle-aged mans demeanor was clearly that of a boss! After obtaining his meal, he noticed that other inmates were free to move around, and they began to surround him with ill-intent, smiling menacingly. Liu Dezhu had a bad feeling and decisively carried his tray towards Uncle Lis direction. Yet before he could get close, he was already blocked by Lin Xiaoxiao. Lin Xiaoxiao stood in front of him with a smile and said, Things have been really strange these past two days. Why is it that every newcomer dares come straight to my boss? Liu Dezhu turned his head to glance at the inmates who wanted to catch him, then whispered mysteriously to Lin Xiaoxiao, Im here to receive a task, one of our own. Lin Xiaoxiao: ??? What the heck? Lin Xiaoxiao was utterly baffled by Liu Dezhus words! Tasks? He had never seen this man in the organization! And this guy was behaving as if he was executing some spy rendezvous. Seeing that Lin Xiaoxiao didnt respond, Liu Dezhu grew impatient, I really am here to receive a task, a class change mission! Get lost! Lin Xiaoxiao said impatiently, then waved to the inmates nearby, What are you standing there for? Take him away! Liu Dezhu was really in a panic now. He shouted toward Uncle Li Dong, Uncle Li Dong, Im here for the class change mission! In an instant, the entire Prison No. 18 fell silent. It was as if someone had suddenly pressed the mute button on Prison No. 18; the inmates stood rooted to the spot, looking at each other. They didnt know what had happened, but they all felt something eerie was going on! At this moment, Uncle Li Dong was still not lifting his head, staring at the game in front of him. But the big cat sprawled on a table and Ye Wan sitting next to him both instantly looked towards Liu Dezhu. Lin Xiaoxiao squinted his eyes and snickered, Whats this? Another weirdo showing up? Truth be told, even Liu Dezhu didnt understand where things had gone wrong. The guide from He Xiaoxiao had only mentioned three career paths, the first two were quite vague, but the Prison No. 18 seemed most feasible. Now that he had transmigrated directly to Prison No. 18, wasnt this the legendary start for the chosen one? But... this didnt seem like a place suitable for a class change mission. Had he made some kind of mistake? Liu Dezhu didnt have the chance to think it through, as the inmate beside him was about to forcefully drag him to the cell for a lesson upon Lin Xiaoxiaos gesture. All of a sudden, Liu Dezhu saw an opening and darted out of the crowd. He ran to the Alloy Gate next to the square and started banging frantically: Let me out! They are going to torture me, let me out! At this time, drones above the firmament began to descend, and the nine Mechanical Prison Guards down below started to move as well. Qing Chen watched Liu Dezhu speechlessly, thinking this kid must have lost his mind. Having just arrived in a New World, shouldnt he observe the situation first? Chapter 23: 23. Uninvited guest Chapter 23: 23. Uninvited guest The prison had lost its usual bustle, with everyone secretly mulling over the recent events. Only those who had spent some time in Prison No. 18 could understand what kind of status Uncle Li Dong held there. So, it was beyond everyones comprehension, what kind of fool would come here and spout nonsense to Uncle Li Dong? The Mechanical Prison Guards approached Liu Dezhu, their alloy skeletons hissing with hydraulic transmissions as they moved. Seeing this display, Liu Dezhu had already forgotten his aspirations to make a name for himself in Prison No. 18. He had come here today as part of the second group of transmigrators, making his first visit to this Inner World dominated by steel beasts, and was immediately intimidated by what unfolded before him. Facing the blockade of Mechanical Prison Guards and drones, it took just over ten seconds for him to be completely subdued and escorted to an unknown area outside the square. Boss, dont you think things have been a bit strange lately, Lin Xiaoxiao pondered while squatting on the chair, The day before yesterday, a kid came in and went crazy right away, babbling on about Los Angeles City as if he really were the scion of some conglomerate. And today, another idiot shows up, asking you to assign him a missionwhat mission can you give? As he spoke, Lin Xiaoxiao involuntarily reached out to pet the big cat on the table, but before his hand could touch it, the big cat gave him a cold glance, and he sheepishly retracted his hand. Uncle Li Dong thought for a moment and said, Indeed, it is somewhat peculiar. Oh, wheres that kid Qing Chen, Lin Xiaoxiao suddenly said, Wasnt he quite eager to come down for meals yesterday? Why isnt he around today? At that moment, Qing Chen, still walking through the corridors, ignored Liu Dezhu and the Mechanical Prison Guards and headed straight to the sixth floor. He found Lu Guangyi, who was still lined up waiting to go downstairs, and whispered, After dinner, have your men take control of all the new prisoners and question them one by one about their identities and backgrounds in the outside world. Right, Boss, Lu Guangyi hurriedly agreed. He figured his boss probably wanted to see if there were other forces coming in to compete with them for resources. But Qing Chen was thinking of seeing if there were any other transmigrators hidden among the newcomers. If there were indeed transmigrators, they certainly wouldnt be able to fabricate an outside identity. Those who could clearly explain their identity and background were the natives; those who couldnt, were definitely transmigrators. However, Qing Chen was a bit surprised; he had originally thought that Nan Gengchen would also transmigrate to Prison No. 18, but that didnt happen. At that moment, Qing Chen seemed to remember something, hesitated for a moment, then said to Lu Guangyi, I know the welcome ceremony is your tradition, but dont be too harsh. Its not easy for anyone. Lu Guangyi was taken aback but then responded, Okay. After a farce, all the prisoners went to line up for their meals. Following Qing Chens instructions, Lu Guangyi planned to take the new prisoners to their cells for interrogation. Shortly after, he came back to report to Qing Chen, Boss, its done. Qing Chen listened attentively as Lu Guangyi described each prisoners situation, and only after confirming there were no more transmigrators in the prison did he stride over to sit opposite Uncle Li Dongs dining table, Playing chess today? Not today; well skip it for the next few days, Uncle Li Dong thought for a moment and said, I have some things to think over, and a visitor is coming. A visitor? Qing Chen asked, puzzled. Uncle Li Dong smiled, An unexpected guest. Whoever could be referred to as an unexpected guest by Uncle Li Dong was certainly not an Ordinary Person. Qing Chen was not yet ready to involve himself in matters he couldnt control, so he refrained from asking further. I just saw something going on downstairs, what happened? he said nonchalantly. Uncle Li Dongs face rarely showed a hint of hesitation, I dont know either. Qing Chen was both amused and frustrated, the transmigrator had even baffled Uncle Li Dong. It was probably the first time Uncle Li Dong had encountered such a situation. At this moment, only Qing Chen knew that the fool Liu Dezhu, after reading He Xiaoxiaos strategy, had really treated Uncle Li Dong like an NPC in the game! Countdown 37:00:02, the Alloy Gate emitted a rumbling noise, then lifted upward. When the Alloy Gate was fully opened, a bald man over two meters tall was being escorted in by more than a dozen Mechanical Prison Guards. Around them, there were 9 drones blocking all escape routes for the bald man. Not only that, as the man entered, six of the metal Storms in the sky slowly started to rotate. The rotation angle of these metal Storms was only 90 degrees, not 360 degrees. So, as the robust prisoner moved, every time he left the shooting range of some Storms, new Storms would enter alert mode. They were always firmly locked on to him. This was the first time Qing Chen saw someone being escorted in during the day and the first time he saw the security forces at Prison 18 mobilized to such an extent. The more than three thousand prisoners silently turned their heads to watch, no one spoke. The prison rang with the crisp clinking sound of the chains of the bald mans alloy shackles scraping against the floor as he walked. The bald man was covered in bronze skin, with traces on his face from being constantly exposed to sunlight, and his exposed skin, like his arms, was marked with black, tattoo-like patterns, eerie yet magnificent. There was no mechanical structure on him. Qing Chen had thought Ye Wan was already tall and strong enough, but compared to this prisoner, Ye Wan seemed somewhat lacking. Once the bald man was taken inside the prison, the Mechanical Prison Guards began to gradually retreat towards the Alloy Gate, without any intention of unlocking his alloy shackles. After the Mechanical Prison Guards had left, the bald man calmly moved his wrists, then picked up a nearby prisoner and asked, Where is Uncle Li Dong? The prisoner, who had been modified with mechanical parts in seven or eight places, was toyed with in his hands as if he were a mere plaything. The terrified prisoner stretched out his hand to point towards the cafeteria, and all eyes turned to Uncle Li Dong, Qing Chen, and Ye Wan. Big Cat, abandoning its usual laziness, stared intently at the tall, bald man from Uncle Li Dongs arms. Qing Chen also looked at Uncle Li Dong, who smiled at him, I didnt expect our guest to be so direct, his name is Guo Huchan, and you should have heard of him. In a moment, you and Ye Wan step back a bit, dont get hurt. Ye Wan glanced at Qing Chen. To have his boss personally remind him of something so minor showed that his bosss fondness for the young man seemed to exceed his and Lin Xiaoxiaos estimates. At this time, Lu Guangyi, who had been blending in with the crowd, muttered as he looked at Guo Huchans shiny bald head, Guo Huchan... hes come in too, no wonder the boss said a Lama had come from the south. The boss hasnt been looking for clues since he came in, just playing chess with Uncle Li and reading, as if nothings wrong, turns out he was waiting for Guo Huchans arrival to stir up trouble, then we can reap the benefits... Brilliant! Lu Guangyis thoughts became animated. Now, in his eyes, Qing Chen was the kind of sage who planned before acting and strategized thousands of miles away. CREATORS THOUGHTS Lordbluefire Footnote: [1] The Chinese characters for creak can also mean scoffing or sneering at, in this case, the author may have meant that the sounds from their movement sounded like they were scoffing at Liu Dezhu. [2] Metal Storm is a rapid-fire gun prototype that can fire up to 1,000,000 rounds per minute, or 16,000 rounds per second. It was declared by the Guinness Book of Records to be the worlds most intelligent and fastest firearm. [3] The lama here refers to Guo Huchan. The Chan in his name refers to dhya?na or jha?na. It is the training of the mind, commonly translated as meditation. Lama is a title used in Tibetan Buddhism, which means highest principle. Chapter 24: The center of the world Chapter 24: The center of the world The prison was eerily quiet, and everyone vaguely guessed that after the bald Guo Huchan entered, there would be friction with Uncle Li Dong, so everyone wanted to see what would happen. At this moment, Guo Huchan, following the gaze of the crowd, headed straight for Uncle Li Dong. He said in a loud voice, Lets not beat around the bush. Im here for the ACE-005 Taboo, just tell me where its housed in the prison, and Ill take it and leave. Uncle Li Dong patted the big cat, signaling it to move aside, and then replied with a gentle smile, You should be more polite to your elders to avoid losses, huh? Guo Huchan said unconcernedly, Give me the ACE-005 Taboo, and naturally, Ill be more courteous to you. Uncle Li Dong curiously asked, Why has the Spades Organization suddenly become interested in taboos too? From your tone, I thought you had joined the Contraindicated Courts. Guo Huchan slowly walked to a spot five meters opposite Uncle Li Dong and stopped, My Spades need to oppose those behemoths and cannot overlook any aid, and your Knight Organization should understand our situation since our goals ultimately align. Uncle Li Dong smiled and asked, But why come looking for the taboo in Prison 18 first? Rumors say that Chens Consortium made a deal with you, promising you absolute freedom inside Prison 18 as long as you can contain and suppress it. Considering it was personally contained and suppressed by you, Uncle Li Dong, it must be exceptionally powerful, said Guo Huchan. Youre mistaken, I havent made any deals with the Chen Clan, Uncle Li Dong patiently explained, Dont make hasty judgments based on hearsay. Qing Chen listened silently, recalling that the last time he saw the words Contraindicated Courts was in He Xiaoxiaos strategy video. And these Contraindicated Courts seemed to exist specifically for the Taboo. He realized that the Taboo mentioned by Guo Huchan must also be what he was searching for, and it could be the test he faced in the conflict of shadows. At that moment, Guo Huchan took another step forward: Where is ACE-005? Uncle Li Dong shook his head, I know, but I wont tell you. Why? Guo Huchan took another step forward, his tattoo-like totem seemingly coming alive, the twisting and changing patterns writhing crazily. With a thud, everyone felt the ground tremble slightly as he stepped down. Uncle Li Dong just smiled, No reason, I just quite like ACE-005. The over three thousand prisoners began to riot, having been stifled inside Prison 18 for too long, constantly monitored by guards, the invisible order binding everyone like shackles. And now... chaos reigned at last. Above in the Iron Sky, 72 Metal Storm devices activated, with 36 of them spinning rapidly into action. The prisoners cried out in astonishment as it typically took a riot of half an hour before mechanical guards lost control and the Metal Storm was deployed. But this time was different; they had activated immediately without waiting for the riot to start! At this moment, apart from the whirlpools center of Uncle Li Dong and Guo Huchan, only Qing Chen was undistractedly looking up at the Iron Sky. In the chaos, no one noticed he had taken a few steps back, then turned and walked in another direction. In an instant, Guo Huchan lunged forward, punching out as fast as lightning, his bell-like fist swiftly aiming at Uncle Li Dongs face. Following his movement, the barrels of the Metal Storms turned, with 36 cold machines beginning to fire indiscriminately, suppressing all the inmates of Prison 18 with gunfire. Not with metal bullets, but rubber ones. These 36 Metal Storms were purely for suppression, while the remaining 36 were the real heavy artillery. Rain-like rubber bullets poured down, throwing the prisoners off their feet. Guo Huchans punch thundered like a storm, adding thunder to the rain in Prison 18. But in the next instant, his fist suddenly stopped. There was Uncle Li Dong with a smiling face, raising his hand in front of him, stunningly halting the thundering force of the punch. Uncle Li turned to Guo Huchan, steady as a rugged mountain. He turned back to check if Qing Chen was all right, knowing that this young man was different from them, being just an ordinary person. But suddenly Uncle Li Dong was taken aback. Because right behind him, two meters away, Qing Chen sat calmly at his usual dining table spot, the place he would sit daily to look at chess company. Thirty-six Metal Storms peppering the uprising prison with rubber bullets, crisscrossing trajectories densely, yet Qing Chen sat right in the only blind spot of all their firing paths. The only blind spot in Prison 18. The rain poured down. Not a single drop landed on the boy. It was as if the boy was the center of the world. ... The black rain from the Iron Sky gradually ceased. Apart from Qing Chen, Ye Wan, Guo Huchan, Uncle Li Dong, and Lin Xiaoxiao, all the prisoners were in agony, clutching their heads to the ground. Everyone was in pain, and some who got down slowly were even battered by the metal storm to the point of bruised faces. In contrast to these peoples disheveled appearance, Qing Chen, sitting calmly at the dining table, possessed an almost transcendent and dust-free aura. For some reason, Uncle Li Dong always felt that although he had known this boy for only a few days, he grew fonder of him more and more. The others temperament and capabilities were beyond those of his peers. Is this the Shadow that Qings Family is about to choose? When would his side be able to find such a successor? Thinking this, he pushed Guo Huchans fist away with his palman action that seemed casual, yet Guo Huchans figure was thrown back five or six meters before he could barely stabilize himself. Guo Huchan didnt act rashly anymore but sat down on the spot to regulate his breathing. From the beginning to the end of the battle, he had only managed to make the white exercise suit on the other person flutter a few times. There had always been rumors that Uncle Li Dong was a demigod of this era, but he became famous so long ago that younger generation experts like Guo Huchan had never seen him in action. This time, the Spades Organization had sent him to Prison 18 to find the ACE-005 Taboo, and also to see what level of strength Uncle Li Dong had attained nowadays. Now, Guo Huchan understood that the gap between him and Uncle Li Dong was still as vast as a chasm. Uncle Li Dong shifted his gaze from Qing Chen and looked at Guo Huchan with a smile, Shall we continue fighting? The tattoo-covered bald man, now calm, said in a deep voice, No more fighting, no more. If I cant win, why continue? Dont worry, even if you dont tell me, I can still find the ACE-005 Taboo. Qing Chen found this bald man quite interesting. Despite the life-and-death situation just moments ago, he suddenly gave in. The other didnt look as fierce as he appeared; after a fight, he actually lightened up considerably. The transition in attitude was quite drastic. However, Guo Huchan thought that since Uncle Li Dong knew the location of the Taboo, he would follow himafter all, the other might slip up some time. No worries, take your time, Uncle Li Dong replied nonchalantly with a nod. Without further concern for Guo Huchan, he walked over and sat opposite Qing Chen at the dining table, Is this position calculated? Qing Chen shook his head, Although my computational ability is significantly stronger than ordinary people, for now, it cant handle such massive trajectory computations. Its just a rough guess. Uncle Li Dong also shook his head, A rough guess isnt enough for you to find this precise position. A brief calculation only narrowed it down to 4 areas, and the place you sit every day just happens to be in those options, so there was no need to calculate the rest, said Qing Chen calmly. Sitting here was a gamble for Qing Chen, but he guessed right again. Such probability-driven decisions were something he always excelled at. ... The voting rankings named The Nights Technique are already in ninth place, which surprises me, as I seem to be the biggest beneficiary after the website changed its rules... After my new book became eligible for monthly tickets, it skyrocketed to ninth with just fifty thousand words... Awesome, everyone! Thank you, everyone. As promised, Ill add three more chapters if we enter the top five! I cant release many chapters all at once during the new book period, but Ill definitely add more upon the official release! ... Thank you to the reader with the large donation, 1383594256452726784, and to Ai Shuohua De Zhouzi, Tino9494, and Lin Xuan for becoming chiefs of this book. You bosses are magnificent, may you be as fortunate as the Eastern Seas and live as long as the Southern Mountains! Chapter 25: 25. The New Nightmare Chapter 25: 25. The New Nightmare ` After the chaos, the prisoners slowly got to their feet, as dozens of Mechanical Prison Guards entered the square with the neat sound of hydraulic transmission, directing the inmates to clean up everything that had been overturned. In the dining hall, Guo Huchan sat cross-legged on the ground not far away, as if he had entered a monk-like trance. Lin Xiaoxiao looked at the black rubber bullets scattered all over the ground and remarked, When immortals fight, its the mortals who suffer. The ones who fought are fine, but those inmates who didnt are the ones who really got unlucky. Hey, Guo Huchan, doesnt everyone say youre compassionate and always do good deeds? So what about those youve dragged down with you? Without even lifting his eyelids, Guo Huchan replied, You talk to me about innocent bystanders in prison? Theres not a single innocent one among them. Hypocrite, Lin Xiaoxiao twitched his mouth. Also, Id like to emphasize, Guo Huchan opened his eyes to glance at Lin Xiaoxiao, Im not a monk, so dont use words like compassionate to describe me. After saying this, he closed his eyes again to seriously adjust his breathing. He seemed unharmed in the fight with Uncle Li Dong, but his internal organs were actually quite uncomfortable now, as if they had been scorched by a fire. Seeing that he was quietly meditating, the others stopped bothering him. Lin Xiaoxiao gave Ye Wan a look, and suddenly, an invisible force field expanded around them. Qing Chen had seen this ability before. When the Iron Sky rained black droplets, all that fell towards Ye Wan was repelled by this force field. Seeing Qing Chens puzzled look, Lin Xiaoxiao explained with a smile, Dont worry, our voices wont carry. Uncle Li Dong sat by the dining table, pulling the large cat into his arms, then said to Qing Chen, This morning, I saw Lu Guangyi questioning those people during the newcomer ceremony. That was your doing, right? It was me, Qing Chen admitted, knowing that the other party was aware of his connection to Qings Family and that Lu Guangyi was taking orders from him, he no longer hid the fact. Why did you interrogate them? Uncle Li Dong asked. I wanted to see if there were other forces competing with me for the Taboo, Qing Chen lied, needing a plausible reason to explain his actions. Uncle Li Dong nodded, I appreciate your honesty, but I noticed that Lu Guangyi didnt mistreat the new inmates this time. Was that also your doing? Yes, Qing Chen said. But I remember when you first came in, you didnt help the other newcomers, Uncle Li Dong remarked. Within my power, Qing Chen responded. Uncle Li Dong smiled and offered no judgment. If his own safety was in jeopardy, Qing Chen would quietly watch others die without lifting a finger; that was his principle. His life was never smooth sailing, so he had learned selfishness early on. It was an attitude toward life bestowed upon him by his experiences, not a choice of his own making. At that moment, Lin Xiaoxiao suddenly glanced over at Guo Huchan, who was seated not far away... Qing Chen turned his head and was shocked to see Guo Huchan still sitting with his eyes closed, but his long arms had already dropped to his sides. Using the index and middle fingers of both hands, he propped his entire body up, slightly off the ground. Then, like walking, he inched closer to Ye Wans force field with his fingers... It was clear that he realized he couldnt hear the others conversation from where he was, so he wanted to sneak closer. This made Qing Chen chuckle ruefully; a burly man over two meters tall, covered in tattoos, had been fiercely fighting just a moment ago and now pretended to meditate, while in reality, he was trying to eavesdrop on other peoples chats. The contrast was just too great. Feeling the eyes upon him, Guo Huchan nonchalantly used his fingers to move back to his original spot as if nothing had happened. The sight even made Uncle Li Dong laugh, Alright, lets disperse. Its a pity I didnt get to play chess today; Im off to read a book. Before leaving, Lin Xiaoxiao squatted in front of Guo Huchan with a smile, If youve lost, just stay put honestly. We really dont want to make an enemy of Spade, knowing full well its not easy for you out in the wilderness. But could you refrain from causing us trouble, alright? ` Guo Huchan lifted his eyelids, I didnt lose to you, so why so smug? Lin Xiaoxiao raised her eyebrows, You think I cant deal with you? Guo Huchan replied calmly, Touch a hair on my head and see what happens. Lin Xiaoxiao looked at the other persons shiny bald head, ...? Indeed, rumors were just rumors. This Guo Huchan was nothing like what he had heard! Qing Chen paid no attention to their bickering and instead turned to get his food from the window and began to eat voraciously. He had been dirt poor in the Outer World, eating compressed biscuits for two days since he returned, although his family did have rice, flour, and vegetables, there was no meathe couldnt afford it. The food here was average, but at least the synthetic meat had some taste of real meat. Qing Chen felt somewhat melancholic that the prison food in the Inner World was actually better than what he usually ate in the Outer World. When he absentmindedly looked up while eating, he suddenly noticed that a quarter of the 210 surveillance cameras in Prison 18 had silently turned towards him. It seemed that his feat of finding a blind spot in a flash had caught someones attention. But he had no idea who was behind those monitors. After Lin Xiaoxiao and Guo Huchan finished their spat, Lin Xiaoxiao stood up, set Qing Chens plate aside, then grabbed another plate and tapped on the window, saying to the robot inside, The boss has ordered that from now on, he gets real meat, as much as he wants. Qing Chen was stunned, Why? Lin Xiaoxiao smiled mysteriously, Youll find out soon enough, but it might not be a good thing. ... At night, while Qing Chen was brushing his teeth in his cell, he suddenly felt a wave of drowsiness wash over him and immediately sensed that something was amiss. This time, however, he didnt collapse and fall asleep on the spot like before. Instead, he calmly rinsed his mouth and made sure he was lying in a comfortable position on the bed board before slowly closing his eyes. The nightmare began. In the dream, Qing Chen found himself in a desert, with two people sitting on the opposite dune. The desert in the nightmare world was filled with flying sand and the sun was scorching hot. In just a few seconds, Qing Chen felt his lips dry out and crack. One of the people across called out pleadingly, Qing Chen, please give us a sip of the water from your backpack. If we dont drink soon, were going to die. Qing Chen took off his backpack and opened it, indeed finding a bottle of water inside. He didnt speak. The person across couldnt bear it anymore, We wont drink your water for free, just name your price. Suddenly, a voice whispered in Qing Chens ear, Facing companions who are about to die of thirst, how would you price your water? Qing Chen looked coldly at the person opposite and said, Ill watch the person next to you die of thirst first, then let him name his price. As soon as he finished speaking, the person across turned into Lin Xiaoxiao and the other faded away slowly like a bursting bubble. Lin Xiaoxiao said speechlessly, Are you even human? I already knew this was your nightmare, so naturally, I would not feel any sympathy, Qing Chen found a comfortable spot to sit down. This is truly bizarre, Lin Xiaoxiao said, sitting opposite him, You can now remain conscious and retain your memories even after entering the nightmare, so you should be able to resist its call too, right? Hmm, yes, Qing Chen answered succinctly. Chapter 26: Experience through a painful life, then you will be more superior. Chapter 26: Experience through a painful life, then you will be more superior. Lin Xiaoxiao asked, Since you can resist the nightmare, why do you still enter? If you endure for five minutes without falling asleep, you naturally would be able to escape the nightmares call. I thought you had something to say, so I came, Qing Chen replied, What are you testing this time? From today on, its no longer a test, but the boss wants me to take you on a journey, Lin Xiaoxiao answered. Take me on a journey? Qing Chen puzzled, What do you mean? To use nightmares to evolve human nature, to let you experience some tribulations, Lin Xiaoxiao said, But seeing how easily you resisted the nightmare just now, it looks like nightmares will be of no use in the future, the boss himself has to guide you. Qing Chen pondered thoughtfully. This kind of nightmare was different from the last one; it was more like a lesson a teacher arranges for their students. However, Lin Xiaoxiao then said, Dont think too much, the boss still merely admires you for now. Whether you can become the bosss student in the future is still uncertain. You are envious of me, Qing Chen stated. Envious, Lin Xiaoxiao candidly admitted, Not everyone can become the bosss student, at least Ye Wan and I cant. Why? Qing Chen could not understand. Because both of us didnt get through the first trial, Lin Xiaoxiao explained, But the boss feels, you should be able to make it through. Make it through? Qing Chen was momentarily stunned. Lin Xiaoxiao smiled mysteriously, Its a path from death to life, where each improvement requires surviving a predicament, experiencing pain once. Then why me? Because the boss says you have the courage to be in a desperate situation and yet survive, Lin Xiaoxiao replied. Since its so painful, then why do you still envy it? Qing Chen inquired. Because it is a path of cultivation with limitless potential, while Ye Wan and I already have our limits set, Lin Xiaoxiao said somewhat longingly, That path might be painful, but you must understand, a life experienced through pain is higher in stature. Qing Chen decided not to dwell on the issue and asked about other doubts he had, How old is Mr. Uncle Li Dong? Why ask that? Lin Xiaoxiao wondered. Just asking, Qing Chen said. He asked this because: If time in the Outer World stood still relative to him when he came to the Inner World, then that meant he would age faster than normal people. Its not that his bodily functions aged quickly, but rather that he was dividing his life between two worlds. By the time his contemporaries were only forty years old, he might already have the appearance and bodily functions of someone in their sixties. Therefore, he wanted to know if Uncle Li Dongs ability that transcended the common could grant longevity. Lin Xiaoxiao glanced at him, Take a guess? The bosss age is not easy to guess. After some thought, Qing Chen said, 40 years old? Too low, Lin Xiaoxiao replied. 60 years old? Thats not right. 120 years old? Stop, stop, stop, dont guess any more, youll guess the boss away, Lin Xiaoxiao interrupted, The boss is 52 years old this year. Qing Chen was immediately shocked; Uncle Li Dong appeared to be no more than thirty-five or thirty-six years old. Look at how inexperienced you are, for someone like the boss, even living to over a hundred years old wouldnt surprise me, Lin Xiaoxiao said, We followed him when we were very, very little; all these years, Ive never seen him change. Why are you following him? Qing Chen asked. Theres no particular reason. Me, Ye Wan, and many others are orphans, Lin Xiaoxiao lay on the hot sand, using his arm as a pillow under his head while gazing at the sky. Suddenly, it darkened and the air grew less hot, Being born into Qings Family, you wouldnt understand how harrowing life can be for people on the outside. Becoming an orphan is very easy. Maybe your parents just happened to run into some gang members while walking down the street and got into an argument, maybe you were targeted right after getting paid, maybe there was a chemical leak at the plant that caused contamination, or maybe you were attacked by hackers while connected to the virtual network with a neural link. Anyway, people die just like that. Then you cant afford the property taxes, the insurance company refuses to compensate, the bank takes your house away and evicts you to the streets, and nobody cares whether you live or die. At that point, your life has already turned bleak and dark. Gangs want to grab you to be a drug mule, or they might torture you viciously and then record it to sell virtual lives for money. At such times, someone appears before you and says, Come with me, Ill give you a new life. No matter who he is, you would follow him. Qing Chen silently watched Lin Xiaoxiao, and in that moment, he truly understood that his own tribulations were nothing compared to the others experiences. Why did he adopt you? Qing Chen asked curiously. Because we are useful, Lin Xiaoxiao replied, He cant do what he needs to do alone. Qing Chen was stunned for a moment. He still didnt know what the Knight Organization and the Spades Organizations goals were, nor did he know the colossal entity that Spade was trying to contend against. Was it the five major corporations, or something else? But Uncle Li Dong adopted Lin Xiaoxiao, Ye Wan, and the others with clearly utilitarian intentions, although it seemed as though Lin Xiaoxiao and his companions didnt mind. At this point, Lin Xiaoxiao got up, Alright, rest early. The nightmare dispersed and Qing Chen remained in the dim prison cell, lying on the cold bed board. Now that he had seen Uncle Li Dongs enigmatic level, would his Canon be enough to trade for an opportunity to open the doors to the New World? Qing Chen was uncertain whether Canon was sufficient leverage, and he also had no way to explain its origins. He needed to wait longer. Waiting and hope, all of mankinds wisdom could be contained within these two words. ... Countdown 24:00:00. In a corner of Prison 18. Is anyone there? Let me out, why am I locked up here? A voice fiercely pounded on the Alloy Gate, shouting loudly. Liu Dezhu, a Los Angeles City transmigrator, was being detained in a solitary cell unlike the common prisoners cells, equipped with a surveillance camera closely monitoring the detainee. Ever since he approached Uncle Li Dong for tasks, he had been locked in this hidden corner, neglected ever since. Devoid of any notion of time and without the sight of sunrise or sunset, Liu Dezhu could only guess the time outside based on the robots meal delivery schedule. The sound of him beating on the Alloy Gate dwindled until he had no more strength and his throat was a bit hoarse before he stopped. The prison seemed as if he was the only one left, with no one responding to his pleas and anger. Liu Dezhu couldnt understand why others in the Inner World seemed to be thriving, with their mechanical limbs and gang memberships, and yet his situation had turned out like this. Moreover, he had just bragged to his classmates about being a transmigrator before coming here. After the 24 hours have passed and he returns to the Outer World, what would he say to his classmates? When they ask, What was your status in the Inner World? How could he even begin to respond? Should he say that he had a secure job in an administrative unit of the Inner World where he didnt have to do anything but was guaranteed meals every day? Should he say that he had successfully changed careers? Turned into a prisoner? Chapter 27: 27. Whistleblower Chapter 27: 27. Whistleblower Early morning. Countdown 16:20:00. Last night, Prison 18 received another batch of new inmates. Under Qing Chens instruction, Lu Guangyi went to inquire about the origins of the newcomers. In the end, Qing Chen confirmed that there were no transmigrators among this group of new inmates. He speculated that all transmigrators would enter and exit simultaneously, and no one would transmigrate in the middle of others transmigration process. This way, all transmigrants were now on the same timeline. At this moment, Uncle Li Dong was already sitting at the dining table early, playing chess with Qing Chen. Since you instructed Lu Guangyi to be mindful in his actions, there have been fewer cries and howls from new inmates in the prison, Uncle Li Dong said while looking at the chessboard. However, have you noticed that the other two gang forces in the prison are already very dissatisfied with Lu Guangyi? Usually, the three gangs took turns hosting the welcome ceremony for newcomers, which was considered a form of entertainment for everyone. Now that Lu Guangyi monopolized this affair, it naturally provoked dissatisfaction from others. Qing Chen moved a red piece and responded, Ive noticed, but I believe Lu Guangyi can handle this matter himself. Have you ever thought that the newcomers might not be grateful to you? Uncle Li Dong said with a smile. After thinking for a moment, Qing Chen said, When you encounter a beggar on the road and throw him some spare change, that money isnt really enough to lift him out of poverty, but it buys you some inner peace and pleasure. Uncle Li Dong simply smiled without another word. Todays endgame was called Wild Horses Across the Fields, but Qing Chen, playing the red, didnt win; instead, the game ended in a draw. In fact, in such chess endgames, its usually the black side that has the advantage, so a draw is already considered breaking the game. Different from the usual spectators, aside from Lu Guangyis group of prisoners with unknowable depths, Guo Huchan had joined them. Yesterday, this burly man had sat courteously in the distance, but today, he simply seated himself right next to Qing Chen: opposite Uncle Li Dong. The giant figure over two meters tall made the chair seem like a little stool, an awkward sight. But Guo Huchan didnt care about that; he just wanted to be by Uncle Li Dongs side. If you cant beat them, join them! Moreover, when he saw that Qing Chens food included real meat while his own didnt, he righteously said to Uncle Li Dong, Im at least a notable member of the Spade. You guys eat real meat and make me eat synthetic? Thats hardly proper hospitality, right? Seeing his shamelessness, Lin Xiaoxiao sneered, Do you really think youre the same as us? Why dont you fight the boss again, and if you win, you can have it? Stop always resorting to fighting and killing, its not good, Guo Huchan said, stroking his bald head. And its fine for you three to eat it, but why does this chess-playing kid get to eat real meat too? Hes just an ordinary person. Hey, kid, go get yourself another serving and give this one to me. Everyone was taken aback, not expecting Guo Huchan to be so cunning, picking on Qing Chen, the softer target, after realizing he couldnt provoke Uncle Li Dong. At that moment, however, Qing Chen looked up at Guo Huchan, then towards Lin Xiaoxiao and the others. He noticed that Lin Xiaoxiao, unlike usual, did not retort and send Guo Huchan packing, but instead looked at Qing Chen with a smile, seemingly curious to see how he would deal with the bald muscleman. Qing Chen silently closed his eyes, ignoring the other man. Thinking the youngster didnt dare provoke him, Guo Huchan brazenly took Qing Chens plate for himself, You all saw it, he gave it up on his own. However, at that moment, Qing Chens thoughts seemed to return to the day before. The instant Guo Huchans fist flew out. The world froze. The prisoners were beaten down by the metallic storm, unable to lift their heads, their prison uniforms pelted by rubber bullets as if the surface of water in the rain, continuously splashing ripples. The slowly rising alloy gate and the swiftly entering mechanical prison guards, the sounds of guns, rubber bullets colliding, and hydraulic drives intermingled. At that time, only Qing Chen was calmly observing everyone. No, thats not the moment he was searching for. Qing Chen stood in the center of his memories and swiped with his hand, the images of the world reversing like a film played backward. Rubber bullets that burst from the sky to the ground, now flying back into the barrels of the guns. The prisoners who fell over were now rising in eerie poses. Time passed second by second, the past scenes replaying frame by frame in Qing Chens mind. Until... the very moment Guo Huchan first stepped into Prison 18. Qing Chen walked slowly through the crowd, listening to everyones voices. People in memories dont talk, but the details on their bodies tell tales. Just as Guo Huchan was about to eat all the meat on Qing Chens plate, Qing Chen opened his eyes. Lu Guangyi. Hey, Im here, Im here, boss, whats up? Lu Guangyi couldnt care about hiding his identity anymore and hurriedly responded. Qing Chen said, Ill point out a few people, and you pull them out. After speaking, he turned around and started to identify the prisoners, and he pointed out eight people in one breath. As those individuals were pulled out of the crowd by Lu Guangyi, Guo Huchans expression became increasingly ugly, and he couldnt even bother with his food. Qing Chen sat back down and said to Guo Huchan, These eight, are they your men? Not all of them, Guo Huchan said with a dark face. Hmm, Qing Chen nodded, After you were brought in, your gaze lingered on five of them, and those five made a gesture of extending their index fingers. Although I dont know what that gesture means, Im sure it was meant for you to see. The other three exchanged glances at the first opportunity. Lin Xiaoxiao and Ye Wans expressions changed as they watched Qing Chen. Even they had been too busy dodging bullets to observe everyones reactions at that time. It was as if, in that chaotic moment, only Qing Chen was the clear-eyed Observer. Uncle Li Dong said with a laugh, Prison 18 is full of mixed characters, its normal for people from other forces to be watching me here. Lin Xiaoxiao felt smug, and he asked, Boss, should we transfer these people to another prison? No need, Uncle Li Dong shook his head, Transferring eight people for no reason would invite needless speculation if the outside world found out. Ye Wan, isolate those eight and interrogate them separately to see who the other three belong to. Just then, as Qing Chen looked at Lin Xiaoxiaos smug appearance and remembered how he had been an amused bystander, he stood up again and pointed out more than twenty people. This time he didnt say anything, but Lin Xiaoxiao suddenly felt a bit of a toothache and whispered to Uncle Li Dong, Boss, this kid has picked out all our people... Uncle Li Dong looked at Qing Chen with admiration and said, Although you are not a Transcendent, your memory and analytical abilities are incomparable to many Transcendents. Guo Huchan saw that Qing Chen had also pointed out the Knights men and immediately realized that the young man was not one of the Knights: Young brother, how may I address you? Qing Chen glanced at him, Qing Chen. Qings Family? Guo Huchan was stunned, How did the Knights get involved with Qings Financial Group? Does having the surname Qing necessarily mean belonging to Qings Family? Even if one is from Qings Family, that doesnt mean they have to stay there for life, Uncle Li Dong said with a smile, In the wild, there is also a very famous person with the surname Qing. Guo Huchans eyes flickered, and his attitude immediately took a 180-degree turn. He silently pushed his meal plate back in front of Qing Chen and then warmly said to Qing Chen, Brother Qing Chen, whats your impression of Spade? Not much of one, Qing Chen replied coldly. He still couldnt figure out what kind of person Guo Huchan was, someone who appeared big and strong, yet whose mind was exceptionally agile and who lacked principles. Moreover, the man was here to compete with him for the Taboo, so of course, he wouldnt show any good expression. Today, with the help of Uncle Lis power, he managed to cut off some wings that the opposition had pre-arranged, which was a gain. Meanwhile, there was a commotion nearby. Qing Chen looked over to see Ye Wan frowning. The three non-Spade Members he had just identified were already lying on the ground, their lips and faces turning a purplish blue. This was the classic symptom of death by asphyxiation. Ye Wan took off his shirt to wrap around his hands and then crouched down to gently pry open a dead mans mouth, looking up at Uncle Li, Boss, it was a poison sac hidden behind the molar; theres a faint bitter almond smell when the mouth is opened, its cyanide. Guo Huchan said, These three arent my Spade Members. Death warriors, Uncle Li said calmly, This is indeed a bit of a surprise. No one knew who had arranged for them to come in, nor what they wanted in Prison 18. Qing Chen silently watched, his face showing no reaction. Only his tightly clenched fists betrayed his tension. He opened his palms to see the red marks scratched by his nails and the sweat within them. Whether in the Outer World or the Inner World, this was his first encounter with death. Concealing poison behind a tooth was something he had only seen in movies. The drastic measures of the three Death warriors pulled Qing Chen back to reality, making him realize once again that this was indeed a world ruled by fierce beasts. The countdown read 15:21:59. His return was imminent; he could not afford any further complications. ... Seeking recommendation tickets, seeking monthly tickets! The situation is great; lets charge!! ... Thank you to student Xiao Gong for becoming the new ally of this book. The boss is generous; may your fortune be as vast as the Eastern seas and your life as enduring as the Southern mountains! Chapter 28: 28. Return Again Chapter 28: 28. Return Again The Mechanical Prison Guard in prison 18 carried away the bodies of three Death warriors. The prison was somewhat quiet, everyone silent. Qing Chen sat by the dining table, his face somewhat pale, lost in thought. This was the first time he had felt fear. The unease in his heart slowly turned into physical discomfort, even the breakfast he had just eaten couldnt be digested. At school, the teachers had taught him what a function was, what a subject and predicate were. At home, his parents had taught him how to use chopsticks, how to wash clothes, how to take care of himself. But no one had ever taught him what death really was. This kind of thing, you only understand how shocking it is to see life fade away before your eyes if you witness it yourself. As for witnessing Death warriors biting into poison capsules to commit suicide, if he told others back in the Outer World, they would probably think he was making it up. Uncle Li Dong looked at Qing Chen and asked, Witnessing death for the first time? Yes, Qing Chen pursed his lips in response. Are you scared? Uncle Li Dong asked. A little, Qing Chen nodded. You know, every person has two lives, Uncle Li Dong said with a smile, The second life begins when you realize you only have one. From that moment, you start to tell yourself about the importance of time and clearly realize how much time you have wasted. For some reason, the more fearful Qing Chen was at this moment, the calmer he became inside. He scrutinized his past and envisioned his future. Uncle Li Dong looked at him and asked, These three Death warriors were likely targeting me, so by helping me find them, youve earned a favor from me. You can exchange it for something here, what would you like? Ever since they had started playing chess, Uncle Li Dong had asked him several times what he wanted in exchange. Qing Chen said, I want a list of members of Lis Financial Group. Strange, Uncle Li Dong remarked. Why didnt you ask for the method to become a Transcendent? There arent many people in the world who can owe me a favor, but youre the only one who doesnt seem to cherish such an opportunity. Qing Chen thought for a moment and said, Because such a small matter is not equivalent to the value of your secret. Its impossible to exchange such a thing for a chance to become Transcendent. Uncle Li Dong smiled, How will you know if you dont try? Qing Chen continued, Besides, when the time is right, youll give it to me on your own. I wont need to exchange it. Uncle Li Dongs smile deepened, Youre smarter than I thought, and more patient and prudent. Youre right, some things arent for trading; when the time is right, they naturally come to you. Although Im a bit disappointed that you havent seen blood, I thought it over and realized that if you were indifferent to life, I would actually find it boring. After finishing his words, he had Lin Xiaoxiao fetch the list of members from Lis Financial Group, Im very curious, what do you want with this document? I suppose I dont need to explain its use, do I? Qing Chen asked. Never mind, I wont ask, Uncle Li Dong said with a resigned laugh and waved his hand. This favor is yours to use as you wish. ... At night, Qing Chen awaited the countdown to his return in his cell. He had thought Lin Xiaoxiao would come today for the nightmare test, but that didnt happen. Perhaps the other party felt he was no longer bound by nightmares, so the test was unnecessary. Or perhaps, Uncle Li Dong felt it was no longer necessary to test him. Somewhere deep down, Qing Chen felt that the path to becoming a Transcendent was getting closer. The countdown hadnt reached zero, yet he lay down on the cold bed and closed his eyes to sleep. Unlike the previous anxious waits for his return, this time Qing Chen had witnessed death and his mindset had become even more serene. By the time he opened his eyes again, he was already lying in his little house on Xingshu Road, with the chirping of birds coming from outside the window, and daylight had broken. He glanced at the white pattern on his arm, countdown 40:20:21. It looked like another two days had passed. The process of transmigration is silent, so silent that not even a sleeping person could be woken, Qing Chen mused to himself. After a tense two days, Qing Chen felt a release of pressure upon returning to the Outer World, much more relaxed. However, he already started to look forward to transmigrating again, as there were still more opportunities waiting for him there. He dressed in his school uniform, ready to leave, but upon opening the door, he immediately saw Jiang Xue leading Li Tongyun. Good morning, Aunt Jiang Xue, was the transmigration... okay? Qing Chen asked. Its fine, Jiang Xue laughed, I was just about to take Xiao Yun to school. Come over to our house after school tonight, Ill buy some fish and ribs to celebrate. Celebrate what? Qing Chen wondered. Ill tell you tonight; youll understand when the time comes, Jiang Xue said with a smile before leaving, leaving Qing Chen pensive. On the way, Qing Chen opened his cellphone to browse the trending searches, eager to see what novelties had emerged after this transmigration. Indeed, a trending search caught his attention: foreign news reports stated that the Dark Web claimed that killing a transmigrator would not grant one the opportunity to transmigrate. Qing Chen was stunned upon seeing this news, for those few words implied the end of a vibrant life. Reality often proved bloodier than what words could convey. When he got to school, he noticed that the adjacent class had again gathered a large crowd. Qing Chen pulled over Yu Junyi, a busybody class representative, and asked, Whats happening? What is everyone looking at? Yu Junyi explained, Didnt they say a transmigrator was in the class next door? Liu Dezhu. He just arrived at school, and everyone is asking him about his transmigration experiences. Qing Chen was startled; he hadnt expected the other to come to school. He knew that the guy had been taken away by the Mechanical Prison Guard as soon as he arrived, and during the two days of transmigration, he had never seen him again. Qing Chen had guessed he might end up with a psychological scar and take a leave of absence like Huang Jixian. Unexpectedly, he was now sitting in the classroom as if nothing had happened. At that moment, Liu Dezhu was surrounded by classmates, and someone loudly asked, Where did you appear after you transmigrated? Yeah, what identity did you assume when you transmigrated? How come you dont have a mechanical limb? Ive seen that many transmigrators have them. Did you really transmigrate, or are you just joking? Everyone bombarded him with questions, and Qing Chen elbowed his way forward, eager to hear what had happened to the other guy after the Mechanical Prison Guard took him and what he had experienced since then. However, Liu Dezhu seemed pressured by the barrage of questions: I really did transmigrate! Then how come you dont have a mechanical limb? Liu Dezhu stiffened his neck, There are still many people without mechanical limbs, and having mechanical limbs is a good thing? Let me tell you, I was transmigrated to Prison Number 18 and met Uncle Li Dong! The classroom suddenly quieted down. He Xiaoxiao was a very famous game streamer, whose reputation soared especially among students after the transmigration incidents. So everyone knew that Prison Number 18 was a significant place, and Uncle Li Dong was a very important person in the Inner World. Chapter 29: 29. True and False Chapter 29: 29. True and False When Liu Dezhu said he had transmigrated to Prison 18 and had already met Uncle Li Dong, to everyone else, it sounded like: Ive played the unreleased beta version of this game, and Ive even obtained the unique orange-grade weapon in the game, as well as the most powerful hidden class. In just an instant, Liu Dezhu became a god-like figure in the students hearts. Qing Chen silently observed their reactions, but it was none of his business, and there was no need to expose the other party. Students asked, What does Uncle Li Dong look like? Liu Dezhu considered before answering, Hes quite special in the prison, unlike the others who all wear prison uniforms; hes the only one dressed in an exercise suit for practicing Tai Chi. I guess he might be the warden or something? He also has two followers, one thin and always smiling, and the other more robust and stern-faced. That sounds like a big shot... a student remarked. Right, Liu Dezhu said, He also keeps a cat, a really big one, with tufts of hair standing up on its ears, looking like a lynx. Seeing Liu Dezhu describe it so vividly, the others gradually began to believe what he said. At this point, someone asked, Did you learn how to change classes from him? Under the influence of He Xiaoxiao, many students were using gaming terminology to describe the Inner World. However, upon hearing this, Liu Dezhu started to falter, Its not that easy to change classes. Youve also heard from He Xiaoxiao that Uncle Li Dong is no ordinary person. Gaining his trust definitely wont be easy. The students nodded in understanding; that made sense after all. Thinking it over, they realized that Liu Dezhu might not be certain to get a class change opportunity. But, Liu Dezhu quickly added, now that Ive transmigrated to Prison 18, I certainly wont miss this opportunity. Moreover, Ive already spoken with Uncle Li Dong! Eagerly, everyones interest was rekindled, What did you talk about? Liu Dezhu continued to prevaricate, Just exchanged some pleasantries... At this moment, only Qing Chen knew what Liu Dezhu had said to Uncle Li Dong: Give me the class change quest. Another student asked, So, being transmigrated into Prison 18, are you a prisoner there? Isnt that dangerous and tough? Liu Dezhu replied, Not really, Im a bit different from the other prisoners. Qing Chen knew that was actually true; he was indeed different from the other prisoners, especially since the others werent in solitary confinement. Hearing this, he turned and went back to his own classroom, it seemed unlikely that he would find out any useful information from him. Liu Dezhu probably spoke like this due to youthful vanity. It is said that when God created humans, His attendants were concerned: Youve given humans curiosity, wisdom, and courage; they might become too powerful. So God thought it over and replied, Then give them some vanity and jealousy as well. Qing Chen felt that having vanity wasnt necessarily a bad thing, but revealing oneself as a transmigrator in the current environment was an incredibly foolish choice. Especially claiming to know one of the most important figures in the Inner World. At least according to He Xiaoxiaos guide, Uncle Li Dong was indeed such a figure. However, obtaining a method to transcend the ordinary from Uncle Li Dong wasnt as easy as the guide made it seem. Qing Chen knew he had made so many efforts and had only come close. Amid the exclamations and envy of his classmates, Qing Chen passed by some students who had just arrived to join in the excitement. He didnt intend to enjoy such glory; the gazes of others were irrelevant to him. Moreover, he suspected that a mysterious organization was probably on its way soon. They had not shown up last time, but they would definitely come this time. Yet as he moved against the flow of the crowd, he suddenly saw the timid figure of Nan Gengchen looking down at the back of the group. Nan Gengchen, Qing Chen called out. Ah? Whos calling me? Nan Gengchen looked up. And so, Qing Chen saw Nan Gengchen looking entirely deflated. Whats happened to you? Qing Chen wondered. Did someone hit you? No, no, Nan Gengchen quickly lowered his head and shook it. I just didnt sleep well. Qing Chen scrutinized him. There were no mechanical limbs, nothing else out of the ordinary, except he looked a bit under the weather. He pulled Nan Gengchen back to the classroom and asked softly, Did someone torment you when you transmigrated? Transmigrate? What transmigration? Nan Gengchen feigned confusion. This made Qing Chen suspicious. He was certain the other had definitely transmigrated. But what exactly had this guy gone through in the Inner World that changed him from his previous cocky self to his current, disheveled state? What on earth did you do after you transmigrated? Qing Chen muttered. I didnt transmigrate! Whoever says I did, Ill be upset with them! Nan Gengchen said. Alright, since Qing Chen couldnt get any more information, he decided not to probe further. He had no idea where the other had transmigrated to or what identity he had taken; there was no way he could offer help. It wasnt until just before class started that Nan Gengchen finally whispered, Didnt I tell you, theres a group for transmigrators? Yeah, you mentioned that, Qing Chen nodded. This kid wasnt one to have deep schemes; something as big as transmigration, with no one to confide in, he surely couldnt keep it to himself. Then Nan Gengchen said, Did I tell you that someone was selling socks from the Inner World? Yeah, Qing Chen nodded. Thats fake, Nan Gengchen said. Dont ask me how I know; just know that he isnt a transmigrator. You simply cant bring back socks from there. Yeah, Qing Chen nodded. Nan Gengchen continued, Did I tell you about a transmigrator who said they could put you in touch with a wealthy patron? Yeah, Qing Chen nodded. That transmigrator is real. Qing Chen became solemn, !!! He stared at Nan Gengchen, shocked, unable to utter a word for quite some time. To be honest, his own reaction wasnt even this strong the first time he had transmigrated. So, Nan Gengchens listless state was because, after going in, someone had put him in touch with a wealthy patron? After blurting out more than he intended, Nan Gengchen realized he had said too much and quickly tried to backtrack, Its just what others in the group were saying, Im not a transmigrator, okay. Yeah, I understand, Qing Chen nodded, accepting his feeble excuse. Both fell into a long silence. Qing Chen suddenly asked, ...Was the payment good? Nan Gengchens face changed drastically, I told you, Im not a transmigrator. Right then, the bell rang for class. But the students attention wasnt on the teacher who had just entered the classroom; instead, it was on the corridor outside the window... where four figures clad in black stood. Qing Chen used Nan Gengchens figure to shield himself as he quietly observed the scene outside. The black-clad figures were accompanied by the head of the academic affairs office heading towards the classroom next door. The students whispered amongst themselves in surprise, even the math teacher couldnt help but stand in the hall to get a better look. Only Qing Chen wasnt surprised, because he had seen these people before. Chapter 30: 30. How to Make Money Chapter 30: 30. How to Make Money After the black-clad figures appeared, everyones attention was focused on them. It wasnt just Qing Chens eleventh-grade class three, but even people in the teaching building across the way had noticed the commotion, with students one by one clinging to the windows and looking over here. In fact, its no wonder the students were surprised. When Qing Chen first encountered them, the oppressive feeling they gave him was still fresh in his memory. This unique and sharp temperament stood out exceptionally in the school. Qing Chen had always kept himself hidden by Nan Gengchens side, but he worried too much. They didnt even glance in the direction of his classroom. By now, Qing Chen had a rough guess: an organization that could cooperate with the head of the schools academic affairs office must have an official background, which put one somewhat at ease. However, after the black-clad figures took Liu Dezhu away, they returned him just before the end of the first period. As soon as the class was dismissed, students from surrounding classes all rushed over, crowding around Liu Dezhu and asking, Who were those black-clothed people? Liu Dezhu was also stunned, I dont know who they are either. The academic affairs director Shi Qingyan just told me to cooperate with them. What did they want with you? the students asked. First, they made me register my home address and contact information, as well as the phone number of an emergency contact, Liu Dezhu recalled, Then they told me I couldnt leave Los Angeles City now, and later they might have to give us transmigrators some sort of special training. Theyre still preparing and arent sure when theyll be ready. Are there many transmigrators in Los Angeles City? the classmates asked. Seems like there are quite a lot, Liu Dezhu said. Did they ask you anything else? Oh, right, Liu Dezhu suddenly seemed to remember something, They had a few photos from crossroad surveillance cameras, asking me if I had seen someone. The person in the photos didnt seem old, and since the photos were taken at night theyre a bit blurry. The person was wearing a gray hoodie and a cap, so their face wasnt clear. While the other students were still listening eagerly, Qing Chen suddenly furrowed his brows. Because the person Liu Dezhu described was none other than himself, right? Why are they looking for him? the classmate asked. The black-clad figures said he might also be a transmigrator who had appeared at the doorstep of another transmigrator, Liu Dezhu said, They were quite forthright, only saying that this transmigrator was somewhat special, with strong evasion capabilities, not something an ordinary student like me would match. They said that if anyone saw someone resembling the photos, they should call the black-clad figures first, and not to approach casually on their own. Qing Chen fell silent; he hadnt expected to leave such a strong impression on the black-clad figures, perhaps they had checked the surveillance afterward and confirmed his evasive action. However, why would they ask Liu Dezhu? Before he had time to think it through, a classmate asked, So why did they ask you about this? Oh, they said that based on the surveillance footage, the persons area of activity should be within these three kilometers, but since our residential area is old, the roads are also narrow and old, a lot of places dont have working cameras or the cameras are broken, so the trail went cold, Liu Dezhu explained. Qing Chen breathed a sigh of relief in his mind, the loss of the trail was not a coincidence, but because he had purposefully changed into a jacket he hadnt worn for two years and avoided surveillance cameras. It seemed that his effort to always be prepared had not been in vain. Liu Dezhu continued, They didnt just ask me, they also questioned some of the teachers in the school. They suspect that if the transmigrator is still a student, its very likely theyre in our school. Yet the teachers didnt recognize anyone either. Because a transmigrator had appeared, stories were buzzing through the Los Angeles Foreign Language School. During the breaks between classes, there were always groups of students casually passing by Liu Dezhus classroom door. Among them, there were quite a few attractive girls whispering outside the classroom, greatly satisfying Liu Dezhus ego. Nan Gengchen sat inside the classroom, watching enviously outside the window: One becomes a big Boss after crossing over, even talking to the Boss, maybe becoming superhuman one day. Why is there such a big difference between people? Qing Chen glanced at him, Envious? Arent you envious? Nan Gengchen muttered, You were talking about making a lot of money and treating me to a meal, but now it looks like thats not possible either. Then just focus on your studies. There are so many ordinary people living good lives, and its not necessary to become a transmigrator, Qing Chen said. Nan Gengchen hesitated, wanting to say more. He didnt want others to discover that he was a transmigrator and put himself in danger, but as a teenager, he also wanted others to admire him. So, he kept hopping back and forth between the identities of a transmigrator and an ordinary person, like burying his head in the sand. When it was almost evening, the class committee member came looking for Qing Chen and Nan Gengchen: Qing Chen, you two are the only ones who havent paid the book fees. Qing Chen thought for a moment and said, My parents arent home, so I want to pay it a few days later. The committee member nodded and turned to Nan Gengchen, What about your book fee, Nan Gengchen? Nan Gengchen said sheepishly, Ill also pay it later... in a couple of days. The committee member didnt say anything else and left. In fact, everyone in class knew that the family conditions of Nan Gengchen and Qing Chen were not very good, but no one thought too much of it. They didnt invite them to class gatherings, knowing that they were short on cash and wouldnt attend, not out of contempt. The proportion of students who were snobbish during high school was indeed quite small. Moreover, Qing Chen was a top student; top students in high school already carried an invincible aura around them. Many people might think high school students are always thinking: this classmate is so rich, I want to hang out with him, that classmate is so poor, I dont want to hang out with him. But the truth is, the thoughts of high school students are not that complex. Everyone is concerned about the same things: Who the hell invented functions? Huh? Let me see who got only 15 points on the multiple-choice test, dammit, its me! At this moment, Qing Chen looked at Nan Gengchen, Why didnt you bring the book fee either? My mom was so mad at my dad that she went to stay at my grandmas place, and I have to ask my dad for the money, Nan Gengchen grumbled. Didnt your dad give it to you? Qing Chen asked. No. What did he say? Nan Gengchen replied, He told me to return the books to the school... Qing Chen: ??? All of a sudden, a book fee became an insurmountable problem for two struggling transmigrator boys. It also reminded Qing Chen that it was time for him to start making money. He could continue to fleece those old men at Chinese chess, but the problem was that it wasnt enough; moreover, everyone had gotten wise and wouldnt play him anymore. Therefore, he had to figure out how to make money from the Inner World. It made no sense to live near a mountain of treasure and come back empty-handed time after time. ... Please recommend and vote for monthly tickets! The monthly tickets are very stable in the top ten right now. As a token of my gratitude, if we stay in the top ten until the end of the month, Ill add three more chapters~ If we enter the top five, Ill add another three chapters~ I mean what I say! Chapter 31: 31. Lis Financial Group Chapter 31: 31. Lis Financial Group Night had fallen, and skipping class had seemingly become a habit for Qing Chen. Logically speaking, with so many absences, his parents should have been called in long ago. But the key issue was that his homeroom teacher, Du Yihong, had been on leave ever since the transmigration event and hadnt shown his face even once. The other teachers didnt pay any attention to Qing Chen either. So, whenever there was a chance to skip class, he took it without hesitation. By the time work ended, the narrow Xingshu Road had already come alive with vendors selling roasted sweet potatoes, watermelons, and cold dishes all setting up their stalls. When he was a child, if his mother, Zhang Wanfang, went back to her parents home, his father would lazily take him out to eat a bowl of rice noodles that cost one yuan and fifty cents. Back then, Qing Chen felt his father was just brushing him off, but now, looking back, those might have been the best times of his childhood. At that time, his father hadnt started gambling, his parents hadnt divorced, and his grandparents hadnt scorned him. The rice noodles that used to cost one yuan and fifty cents now cost fifteen yuan, and it seemed as if everything could never go back to the way it was. As he entered the fourth courtyard, he suddenly noticed two men squatting by the roadside, smoking. The sky was gradually darkening, and Qing Chen couldnt make out their faces, only the red sparks of their cigarettes flickering on and off. At first, Qing Chen thought these were mysterious organization operatives keeping tabs on him, because they looked out of place, occasionally glancing around restlessly. But later he realized that they didnt react at all as he walked past. Upon entering the building, Qing Chen smelled the delicious aroma coming from upstairs. Li Tongyun was already waiting at his door. Brother, mother is almost done cooking; she asked me to wait here for you. What if I was attending the evening study? You guys shouldnt wait for me, Qing Chen said as he patted Li Tongyuns head. But you havent been going to the evening study these past few days, Li Tongyun replied as she pulled on his sleeve and led him upstairs. As soon as he opened the door, Qing Chen noticed that the furniture that had been broken before had disappeared, and the house had shed its former squalor, as if many things had been replaced with new ones. Jiang Xue was bustling around the kitchen in an apron. Without turning her head at the sound of the door, she said, Is Qing Chen here? Hurry up and sit down; Ive just one soup left to finish. Qing Chen looked at the dishes on the dining table: sweet and sour spare ribs, stir-fried beef, minced pork with sour beans, hot and sour potato shredsthey all looked very appetizing. Compared to the tasteless meals in Prison No. 18, this was a real improvement. Aunt Jiang Xue, what are we celebrating? Qing Chen asked, puzzled. Jiang Xue came out holding the soup pot, a smile lifting her eyebrows. I told you before that I opened a mechanical limbs clinic in the Inner World. Yes, I remember you mentioning it, Qing Chen said as he stood up to help take the soup pot and place it on the table. As she went back to the kitchen to serve the rice and fetch the chopsticks, Jiang Xue continued, This clinic had been giving me a headache. Since one doesnt inherit memories after transmigration, when people would come asking for modifications to their mechanical limbs, I had no idea how to go about it. Qing Chen listened in silence. He heard Jiang Xue continue, Those who came to get their mechanical limbs modified all looked so fierce and menacing, and the security in City No. 18 was particularly bad at night. After eight oclock, it wasnt safe to walk the streets, so Ive been quite worried. This had been the reason Jiang Xue wanted to leave Li Tongyun with Qing Chen temporarily, because she didnt know if she would be able to return after transmigration. But now things are looking up, Jiang Xue said with a laugh. I dont know how it happened, but people from Lis Financial Group suddenly approached my little clinic and said they wanted to invest in it. Lis Family... Qing Chen murmured to himself. Ive also told you, in the Inner World, the conglomerates are like the sky, as long as a business is part of a conglomerates portfolio, all the criminals will steer clear of it, Jiang Xue said excitedly as she sat beside the dining table, They not only gave me a sum of money but also replaced my clinics sign with one that bears the Li Family emblem, so now Im much safer in the Inner World. Qing Chen smiled, With the help of Lis Financial Group, thats indeed something worth celebrating. Now I wont need to trouble you anymore, Xiao Yuns grandparents also wont have to leave their hometown, Jiang Xue was very satisfied with the current situation and even said to Qing Chen with a smile, Werent you envious of transmigrators before? If you do transmigrate one day, just come find me in the 18th city. Aunt Jiang Xue might not be able to do much else, but I can certainly protect you. Qing Chen sighed to himself; he was actually in the 18th city, but unfortunately his situation was not something ordinary people could help with. The struggle for the Qings shadow and the inheritance of the Knight Organization were matters far beyond the comprehension of ordinary transmigrators. By the way, Aunt Jiang Xue, Qing Chen asked, have those people in black sought you out again? They havent looked for me, but I sought them out, Jiang Xue said, After entrusting Xiao Yun to you, I thought of getting in touch to see if I could get their help in the Inner World. Jiang Xue continued, However, they mentioned their organization has just been established and its difficult for them to make any significant impact in the Inner World, so they couldnt assist me. After dinner, Jiang Xue went to wash the dishes, leaving Qing Chen sitting at the table with Li Tongyun. It was then that Qing Chen suddenly asked, Youre a transmigrator too, arent you? Li Tongyun blinked and asked, What are you talking about, Brother Qing Chen? Last time, you specifically asked for the name of your mothers clinic and now it just so happens that Lis Financial Group has invested in her clinic and is offering such comprehensive protection, Qing Chen said, You can deny it, but I could also share these clues with your mom. Li Tongyun caved in instantaneously, Please dont tell my mom! Qing Chen breathed a sigh of relief; he hadnt guessed wrong. Before returning yesterday, he had reviewed all of his recent memories and thats when he noticed something strange. Upon learning that her mom had opened a clinic, Li Tongyuns first reaction wasnt curiosity about the Inner World but to inquire about the name of the clinic, clearly a deliberate question. Thats why he had used up a chance for a transaction yesterday, asking Uncle Li Dong for the Lis Financial Group membership list. Indeed, the name Li Tongyun was on the list. Shuttling between two worlds, with her name and body being her own, there was no mistake. Qing Chen asked in a low voice, Why not tell your mom? There arent many people who dare to control me in the Inner World, but if my mom finds out, shell definitely manage me in both worlds, Li Tongyun said timidly, Dont tell my mom, I can give you money. I have quite a lot of change in the Inner World. Qing Chen said without hesitation, Im not a transmigrator, what would I do with money from there? Seeing his straightforward refusal, Li Tongyun was puzzled, Arent you a transmigrator? Of course not, Qing Chen denied, That... how much change do you have in the Outer World? Li Tongyun was taken aback, You want to swindle a childs money? Qing Chen: ... Chapter 32: 32. Criminal Chapter 32: 32. Criminal Actually... I wasnt really after your pocket money, I just asked casually, Qing Chen said somewhat awkwardly. At this moment, even he felt a little sheepish. Really getting obsessed with money here... However, Qing Chen had realized that Li Tongyun was also suspecting him to be a transmigrator. Perhaps it was because of his keen interest in the Inner World, always asking questions, or maybe because he had guessed her secret. When he unhesitatingly said he did not need the Inner Worlds money, the other party dismissed their suspicions. Overall, Qing Chen had quite a fruitful evening, at least confirming Li Tongyuns identity as a transmigrator. Now that he was involved in the Qings Family shadow struggle, having one more friend was better than none. Even though Li Tongyun was only ten, she might be of help someday. Just like when he first transmigrated and prayed to the Buddha, the preparation work had to be done beforehand. Taking advantage of Jiang Xue still not having finished washing the dishes, Li Tongyun whispered to Qing Chen, I really dont have much pocket money in the Outer World, why dont you change the condition, Brother Qing Chen? Change to what condition? Qing Chen asked. I dont know, but you cant tell my mom, Li Tongyun pressed her voice lower again. All right, you owe me one for now, Qing Chen glanced at Jiang Xues silhouette in the kitchen: Remember to take good care of your mother in the Inner World, I hear its pretty chaotic in there. Yeah, dont worry, Li Tongyun said contentedly: When you have a chance to transmigrate to the Inner World in the future, I will protect you guys! Qing Chen was somewhat amused; the promise of a child was so pure and simple. He said goodbye to Jiang Xue and went downstairs, finding his own home much lonelier in comparison. No family and no one to talk to. Qing Chen opened his phone and glanced at the class group. Inside, there was still blind and uninformative discussion going on. There are probably only him and Nan Gengchen as transmigrators in class 2-3, right? He opened Weibo and immediately noticed two trending topics rapidly climbing: an overseas mysterious organization was offering a hefty reward for purchasing mechanical limbs and future technology items from the Inner World. Someone posted a screenshot online, and the organization even listed an inventory of items: NECE anti-aging drugs, EDE-002 genetic potions... Among them, there were even various targeted drugs for cancer, none of which had been developed in the Outer World yet. The list of these future technology items actually shared common characteristics: life-saving, life-prolonging, maintaining youth, and enhancing physical functions. The organization claimed to have tested the effectiveness of the drugs, which indeed worked on Ordinary People from the Outer World. They even openly taught transmigrators methods for carrying the items: wrap the tablets with protective film and place them in the mouth or swallow them, or insert them into the rectum. Qing Chen frowned upon reading this, these people resorted to using a drug mules methods to bring things back from the Inner World. You have to understand, the value of targeted drugs, anti-aging medications and the like are incalculable. If a wealthy person was dying of cancer and their only hope was a life-saving drug from the Inner World, what price would they pay? What price is equivalent to a life? Of course, there are many other life-saving items like bionic kidneys and hearts, but those cant be transported. Qing Chen was somewhat reflective, just when he was still figuring out how to become a Transcendent, some people had already started doing business. But this method, he couldnt use it right now. If you want to do a physical transaction, youll inevitably expose your identity. Of course, you could also bring back technology on a USB drive, but what ordinary transmigrator could access the core technologies of the Inner World? Maybe in the future, but it seems theres no one like that now. So far, Qing Chen had hardly been able to access outside information from within that No. 18 Prison. The most important thing was to build a good relationship with Uncle Li Dong. Wait, Qing Chen suddenly realized, the mysterious organization was also buying mechanical limbs! A few days ago, a transmigrator had their legs cut off, and now these people are paying sky-high prices to purchase something, which likely would further encourage such crimes against transmigrators! At that moment, Qing Chen suddenly remembered the two strange men he had seen in the courtyard on his way home from school! He moved quietly to the window and carefully pulled back the curtain to peek outside. However, the two men who had been squatting outside were now nowhere to be seen. Qing Chen hesitated only for three seconds before he immediately dialed 110, Hello, my address is Building 12, No. 4 Xingshu Road courtyard; I spotted two very suspicious men in the evening, and I think they have bad intentions. He hesitated because if he was wrong, he would have made a false alarm. The female dispatcher on the other end of the phone confirmed, You are at No. 4 Xingshu Road courtyard, right? Let me confirm with you again, you have seen two strange men in the community... Before she could finish, a piercing scream from Li Tongyun suddenly came from upstairs! Please dispatch the police immediately, thank you! Qing Chen said and then hung up the call. His judgment was not wrong; these two people were indeed targeting Jiang Xue. When he had passed by the two men, they had looked in four directions, and one of those was towards Jiang Xues home window! Qing Chen grabbed the entrenching shovel he had purchased earlier from the kitchen, and as he was about to leave, he hesitated again. He was just an ordinary 17-year-old student; he had seen death, but he was still only an ordinary person! The assailants were two grown men, possibly even more; could he handle them? With a click, Qing Chen turned the doorknob and, holding the entrenching shovel, burst out the door. He was not some kind of saint; he was quite selfish, as he had been unmoved by the sight of his classmate going mad in Prison No. 18. But to stand by as a child like Li Tongyun faced harm, Qing Chen couldnt do it! At one point, he thought if he had gained supernatural abilities but did not have the courage to match, such abilities would be useless. But just as he opened the door, he saw that a middle-aged man had just tumbled down the stairs. The mans arm was twisted in an unnatural way, he had already collapsed unconscious on the sloped staircase. A spring knife lay scattered by his side. When Qing Chen looked up, he saw Jiang Xue, her face smeared with blood, standing above on the stairs; her white long-sleeved T-shirt stained with lines of blood. One of the womans sleeves was torn, revealing a mechanical arm glowing with blue light, slender yet powerful, beautiful but tough. She was trembling all over, but her eyes were gradually firming up. The emotion of a mother protecting her daughter is something ordinary people cant understand. At that moment, Jiang Xue had a unique allure, somewhat hardcore. Jiang Xue glanced at Qing Chen, then at the entrenching shovel in his hand, and calmed down before saying, Thank you. She knew Qing Chen had come to help, and she had to remember anyone who would lend a hand in such a situation. Was there only one of them? Qing Chen asked. There was another, he ran away, Jiang Xue replied. Is Xiao Yun okay? asked Qing Chen. Jiang Xue said, She got scared. Qing Chen frowned, You take care of Xiao Yun first. After speaking, he rushed out of the stairwell just in time to see a figure sprinting away in the night. Jiang Xue wanted to stop him, but before she could even speak, the youth had already disappeared into the night. However, she suddenly realized that the man was running in a different direction. Chapter 33: 33. Mechanically Amputated Limb Chapter 33: 33. Mechanically Amputated Limb In the shroud of night, Qing Chen quickly scaled the low walls of two courtyards, maneuvering through the environment he knew best. In an instant, the entire layout of Courtyard Four appeared in his mind like a three-dimensional image. The autumn breeze was cool, carrying a slight dryness from the day. The next moment, the young man silently calculated the frenzied speed of the other... It wasnt enough. He needed to be faster! Qing Chen felt his lungs burning, his blood boiling. Suddenly, he came to a stop in a shadow at a corner. And he held his breath. The soughing of the sycamore leaves in the courtyard, the shadows of the leaves trembling on the ground. The sound of footsteps not far away, the lights extinguished in countless homes. None of it mattered now. 3. 2. 1. Now was the moment. The young man swung a trench shovel with all his might in the darkness, aiming it into the air beyond the corner. With a thud, the middle-aged man sprinting around the corner was struck on the legs and tumbled forward! Qing Chen didnt look back at the man; instead, he turned and quickly vanished into the shadows between the buildings, striking and fleeing. Only after he had left did the middle-aged mans cries of agony echo throughout the neighborhood, lighting up countless windows. People looked out but could only see a criminal clutching his legs and wailing. The middle-aged mans right leg was broken, bleeding profusely. Slowly, many people gathered at their windows to watch, yet they could no longer see Qing Chen. Even the criminal hadnt yet grasped what had just occurred. By the time Qing Chen returned to Jiang Xues home, he saw Li Tongyun shivering in her arms. Qing Chen asked, Xiao Yun, are you hurt? Just frightened, Im calling the police now to handle them. No need, Ive already called, Qing Chen said. At the sound of his voice, Li Tongyun looked up with tears in her eyes and said, Brother, there was one who got away. Dont worry, I found him, Qing Chen replied. Only then did Jiang Xue notice the web of cracks in Qing Chens hand from the trench shovel. She suddenly realized he must have encountered the criminals and even engaged in a direct confrontation. However, as she examined Qing Chen, she found no other wounds besides his hand. Youve injured your hand. Just wait, Ill get you some gauze and iodine, said Jiang Xue. After all, Im just an ordinary person, Qing Chen said, looking down at his hand, inwardly lamenting that despite his brilliant mind, his body did not match. He needed to accelerate his process of gaining abilities in the Inner World! Dont bother, Aunt Jiang Xue, Qing Chen said. I have some at home. By now, the neighbors had heard the commotion and came out. They hadnt dared to earlier, but now that the noise suggested all was clear. Seeing more people gathering, Qing Chen quickly said, The police will be here soon, Im going back inside. Remember, I wasnt involved tonight. Jiang Xue hesitated for a moment, Okay. ... The disorderly discussions from outside, the wailing of police sirens, and the bustling footsteps all seemed unable to affect Qing Chen anymore. He lay in bed, deep in thought. The moment he swung that trench shovel felt like he was greeting a new chapter in his life. Qing Chen had pursued the criminal partly because he couldnt bear to see a kid like Li Tongyun harmed. On the other hand, he felt that if he lacked even this courage, then he had no business longing for a life in the Inner World. He slowly drifted off to sleep until a series of knocks startled him awake. Qing Chen, bleary-eyed, opened the door and was surprised to see Li Tongyun standing outside. Brother Qing Chen, can you come to my house for a bit? Li Tongyun timidly asked. Whats wrong? Qing Chen wondered. Please help my mom, Li Tongyun said urgently. Qing Chen went upstairs, but saw Jiang Xue sitting helplessly by the dining table, her arms hanging limply at her sides. Are you hurt? Qing Chen asked. No, its not an injury, Jiang Xue replied, ... its that the mechanical limbs have run out of energy. This truly stunned Qing Chen; he had never really considered the operating mechanism of mechanical limbs, assuming it involved some sort of advanced technology from the Inner World, like hidden antimatter reactors or something. It turned out that Jiang Xues overuse of the mechanical limbs the previous day had led them to become completely inoperative. Simply put, they had run out of power... Wait, their durability is that poor? Qing Chen puzzled, How do people in the Inner World handle high-intensity battles? Jiang Xue explained, You havent been there, so you wouldnt know, but the entire Inner World has already upgraded to wireless charging. You can see nuclear reactor condensation towers at the city edges, and all the electricity they generate is distributed to the entire city via Yun Liu Towers located throughout. In the Inner World, whether its vehicles, communication devices, mechanical limbs, rice cookers, or lights, 90% of the electronic devices have abandoned wired connections. The network is the same; its like theres a giant WIFI covering the entire city. Everyone has their own payment sequence number, just like an ID number. As long as you pay monthly, you can enjoy a convenient life. Consortiums charge based on each individuals power usage. City 18 has about three hundred Yun Liu Towers operating at full capacity, so the concept of charging doesnt exist there anymore, because everyones devices are constantly being charged. Wireless charging? Qing Chen was curious; wasnt this the dream of the scientist Nikola Tesla? At this moment, Qing Chens nerd identity came into play, and he quickly analyzed the situation. Charging fundamentally involves the transfer of energy. In fact, the Outer World also has such technology, as illustrated by Xiaomis new product, which can charge devices wirelessly across an entire room. Xiaomi can achieve wireless charging because of breakthroughs in rectifying technology and positioning technology, accurately capturing millimeter waves emitted by the charger. Among these technologies, positioning is the most crucial; without it, the charger would just spread spherical waves instead of directing them precisely into a phone. In short, without positioning, the charger would just be an open microwave oven. That would be terrifying. And the technology in the Inner World must be different from that in the Outer World, having no doubt broken through numerous technological levels. Would this be harmful to the human body? The answer is trivial because the radiation it emits is even less than that from a cellphone. As long as the positioning technology is advanced enough, there should be no effects. Of course, Qing Chen hadnt specifically studied the transmission principles of the Inner World, so he wasnt sure if they had achieved Teslas dream or something similar to the current wireless charging technology in the Outer World. However, being able to achieve comprehensive wireless charging was still quite novel. At this time, Li Tongyun suddenly asked, So, does this wireless charging emit radiation? Just last month, both an old man and an old woman from the next community forced the carrier to remove a cell tower because of it. Wouldnt the radiation from this be even greater? Jiang Xue hadnt thought much about it before, but following Li Tongyuns comment, she also became worried. She asked, So many social media accounts claim that even cellphone radiation is very harmful to people; wont Yun Liu Towers affect our health? Indeed, too many social media accounts were spreading information about the dangers of radiation. Many people had actually believed them and had even had many carriers base stations and cell towers removed... After thinking about it, Qing Chen said, I guess the amount of radiation varies from person to person. What do you mean? Li Tongyun was confused. Thinking further, Qing Chen said, The lower the education, the greater the radiation. Li Tongyun: ??? Jiang Xue: ??? ... Thank you to fellow author Xie Ri Guai for becoming the Alliance Hierarch of this book, a boss as vast as the eastern seas and long-lived as the southern mountains! Also, are there any other bosses who wish to receive my blessing for a long and healthy life? Chapter 34: Kunlun Guest Chapter 34: Kunlun Guest There are Yun Liu Towers in the city, but what if you need to leave the city? Qing Chen asked about other matters. Generally, leaving the city is quite troublesome. You can go out, but you need to go through customs Jiang Xue replied, It seems because smuggling is rampant, the tax collection agency has set up customs checkpoints. The tax agencies in the Inner World are extremely powerful, comparable to corporate military forces. The tax agency is that formidable? Qing Chen was stunned for a moment. Yes, they not only have a powerful enforcement division but even have their own intelligence department, completely different from the Outer World, replied Jiang Xue. So what if you go through customs and really leave the city? Qing Chen asked. I heard that on the wilderness roads, there are also Yun Liu Towers scattered about, Jiang Xue explained, As for mechanized limbs, there are models with larger energy storage, just like how we buy mobile phones in the Outer World with 64G, 128G, 256G options the more durable ones are more expensive. Generally, people dont worry about durability, so they choose the cheaper options. Oh, its just driving consumer choice, Qing Chen nodded. In the Inner World, a lot of young people pursue mechanized limbs, just like how some kids in the Outer World chase after sneakers and new cell phones, Jiang Xue explained, Not only that, many people also decorate their mechanized limbs with beautiful gold lines and edges, or inlay them with gems and diamonds. Qing Chen remarked, I get it, its like the skins in games... Jiang Xue thought for a moment, In that sense. its not incorrect... Suddenly, Qing Chen recalled the prisoners in prison number 18. It seemed that many peoples mechanized limbs had gold decorations. Gems and diamonds were rare, but gold was quite common, like Lu Guangyi, for example! Qing Chen ventured to ask, Those inlaid gold lines, gold bars, are they real gold? Yes, Jiang Xue nodded. Then... is the gold in the Inner World the same as in the Outer World? Qing Chen asked again. It should be the same, said Jiang Xue, The five major financial consortiums banks in the Inner World all issue currency based on gold reserves. Now, Qing Chen finally knew how he could make money from the Inner World! He even clearly remembered who had how much gold! Other items might be difficult to liquidate or could expose ones identity, but gold did not have this problem. At this moment, Lu Guangyi might still be unaware of what he was going to face. Qing Chen asked, What is the transportation on the wilderness, is it electric vehicles? The military uses diesel engine vehicles, Jiang Xue answered. Diesel engines, with their high power output, low revolutions per minute, and high torque, are more suitable for military use and heavy-duty off-roading. Moreover, diesel engines barely have any electrical circuits, and can be completely started by cranking or pushing, making them more suitable for severe environments and climate conditions. Qing Chen hadnt expected that the Inner World was still using diesel engines... Jiang Xue added, Of course, the military also has more powerful aircraft, powered by liquid oxygen meth... meth, something Ive forgotten. Wealthy people in the city also use hover cars as transportation, which also use this fuel. Liquid oxygen methane? Qing Chen inquired. Yes, thats it, Jiang Xues eyes brightened. Aerospace fuel, huh, Qing Chen mused, This stuff is what Musks SpaceX rockets use nowadays. Jiang Xue said to Li Tongyun, Xiao Yun, you must study hard just like your brother Qing Chen. See, I just mention part of a name, and he can guess what I want to say. Jiang Xue was gradually becoming aware of Qing Chens scholastic aptitude. Whether it was his earlier interpretation of wireless charging or now instantly understanding liquid oxygen methane, one definitely couldnt do this without a rich reservoir of knowledge. This was a unique feeling, as if there was nothing the young man didnt know. For Qing Chen, the appearance of the two transmigrators, Jiang Xue and Li Tongyun, filled some gaps in his knowledge. In prison number 18, he had to avoid exposing his transmigrator identity, so he could not ask too much. After returning to the Outer World, the noisy information was hard to discern as true or false. Now, hearing the true Inner World from Jiang Xue excited him somewhat. Jiang Xues mechanical limb clinic was frequented by all sorts of people, making it a good place to gather information. Suddenly remembering something, Qing Chen asked, So... When Xiao Yun called me, did she want me to help with something? Li Tongyun replied, My mom cant lift her arm anymore. Could you please help take care of my mom for a day? At that moment, Jiang Xues arms hung by her sides, and Qing Chen could see that she hadnt washed her face that morning, still had sleep in her eyes, her hair wasnt tied back in its usual ponytail, and she hadnt prepared breakfast for Li Tongyun; she looked quite disheveled. Having a mechanical limb run out of power was indeed troublesome. In the Inner World, one could recharge it anytime, anywhere, but in the Outer World, one had to be more conservative with its use. Qing Chen also remembered that there was another transmigrator in Los Angeles City who, in order to evade a tail, had jumped several meters up to a rooftop. He wondered what had become of them, whether they had ended up paralyzed on the ground... But this was perhaps for the better, as at least the modifiers of mechanical limbs would have to be more cautious in the Outer World. He looked at Li Tongyuns hopeful eyes and then at Jiang Xues apologetic expression, and sighed, But I dont know how to take care of people. It was Sunday, no classes, so he had plenty of time, but Qing Chen only knew how to take care of himself and had never really taken care of anyone else. Jiang Xue quickly said, No need, no need, you dont have to take care of me. Its just that I cant cook for Xiao Yun today, could you please help take care of her a bit? It was evident that Jiang Xue genuinely felt guilty. Li Tongyun said pitifully from the side, Brother Qing Chen, could you cook something for us? Im hungry. Qing Chen smiled, I can certainly cook. No sooner had he spoken than a knocking sound came from outside, Hello, is anyone home? Standing in the living room, Qing Chen glanced out the window and was shocked to see the mysterious organizations off-road vehicle. Xiao Yun, go open the door for the guests. Ill go to the kitchen to cook, Qing Chen said and then headed into the kitchen, tying on an apron, leaving only his back visible from outside. Xiao Yun opened the door and two young men in black suits entered. They addressed Jiang Xue, Hello, I am Lu Yuan. We have met before, from the Kunlun people. Kunlun? Qing Chen paused in the kitchen, realizing that the name of the organization was Kunlun. Then he heard Jiang Xue say, Please have a seat. Xiao Yun, please pour some water for our guests. The Kunlun members asked with curiosity, What happened to your arm? The mechanical limb has run out of power, Jiang Xue explained. Make a note of this, the young man said to his companion after understanding the situation with the mechanical limb, seeming unaware that mechanical limbs could run out of energy. Listening secretly in the kitchen, Qing Chen guessed that the other party, as Jiang Xue had said, might indeed be a newly formed organization, thus not very familiar with the Inner World. Jiang Xue inquired, What brings you two here? Oh, we wanted to ask about something, one of the Kunlun members said, Last night there were two criminals, and one of them, after fleeing from your residence, had his legs shin bone broken in an attack in the neighborhood. Do you know who did this? Dont worry, were not here to press legal charges. We just want to understand the situation. Qing Chens heart suddenly raced. CREATORS THOUGHTS Lordbluefire Footnotes: [1] Author likely uses the words corporation and financial groups interchangeably. In the past, the raws used were corporation and occasionally financial group [2] The raws for Lu Yuan can be translated as A far road or Distant Journey. It might be a codename instead of the characters real name. If its a codename I will amend it in the future. Chapter 35: 35. Seeking Qing Chen Chapter 35: 35. Seeking Qing Chen Do you know who did it? Lu Yuan asked. As these words were spoken, the living room fell silent all at once. The air in the room seemed to turn into tranquil water, slowing everyones movements. In the kitchen, Qing Chen also instinctively held her breath. Jiang Xue adjusted her sitting position and said slowly, I dont know who did it, perhaps it was someone acting out of a sense of justice. Why do you ask, why are you investigating this? Jiang Xue actually had a clear idea; the other party was here to investigate Qing Chen. But no matter what, she was unwilling to let others trace it back to Qing Chen because that youth had been avenging her daughter. The image of the youth carrying a shovel in the night, and their cracked palms, seemed so close at hand, giving her a sense of security from an outsider for the first time. Lu Yuan explained with a smile, Dont misunderstand, we are not law enforcement, so we dont intend to do anything to the person who acted out of a sense of justice. The Kunlun member beside him said, Thats right, its just that from the description of the criminals, weve found that this persons timing in acting and ambushing is extremely tricky, not something an ordinary person could do, so we want to find him to see if he is a transmigrator. Lu Yuan continued, We arent certain that he is a transmigrator, just that we pay attention to any recent abnormalities. The two men were in perfect sync, as if they had rehearsed their dialogue. At that moment, Li Tongyun said obediently, After the incident yesterday, my mom and I have been at home the whole time and havent gone out, so we dont know who did it. Qing Chen was startled in the kitchen. In this world, most people subconsciously believe that children do not lie. Li Tongyun suddenly speaking up undoubtedly increased their credibility. Qing Chen thought for a moment, realizing that this young girl might not be simple. At first, when the young girl sought refuge at his doorstep, she was timid yet hard to turn away. And now, after becoming a transmigrator, even her own mother was kept in the dark. This was not a coincidence. Having grown up in a family with constant quarrelling and domestic violence, a child raised in such an environment often turns out to be quite different from ordinary people, either being reclusive, precocious, or exhibiting other psychological traits. He himself had grown up in such a family environment, and Li Tongyun was the same. For some reason, Qing Chen suddenly felt like he had encountered a kindred spirit, A kindred spirit who, beneath a calm exterior, had a turbulent, violent heart. It was his intuition. Li Tongyun then suddenly asked, Uncle, that uncle or auntie who acted out of a sense of justice helped us, right? Why are you looking for them? Are you going to catch them? Are you bad guys? Not at all, Lu Yuans colleague explained somewhat embarrassed, Please dont misunderstand, child. Lu Yuan explained, Maybe it really was just someone acting out of a sense of justice. Once again, we have no ill intentions. Since the Kunlun organization is just starting up, we are looking to find and recruit like-minded talented individuals. Understood, Jiang Xue said. Also, there are certain organizations in the Inner World, as well as some consortia that have discovered the existence of the Outer World. According to our statistics, 21 transmigrators have died under mysterious circumstances, tortured before their deaths, and more than a dozen transmigrators explicitly stated they had been imprisoned by Inner World organizations, so Ms. Jiang Xue, we advise you to remain vigilant and avoid detection, Lu Yuan cautioned. Although these are covert operations, they are enough to remind us of the dangers of exposure. Okay, I understand, Jiang Xue nodded. Hearing these numbers from Lu Yuan, she felt a surge of fear in her heart. So revealing ones identity in the Inner World could be this terrifying. Just then, Lu Yuans colleagues phone rang. He looked at it and said, He Xiaoxiao has appeared again. Jiang Xue looked puzzled. Is He Xiaoxiao that person who posts guides on TikTok? Yes, Lu Yuan nodded. Li Tongyun asked sweetly, Uncle, who is this He Xiaoxiao brother? He seems to know a lot. Lu Yuan perked up, You know about He Xiaoxiao too, young lady? We are also looking for him, but he is very good at concealing himself. We havent been able to find out who he is yet. He should have left some clues, but now all traces related to him have been erased... Ive said a bit too much. We wont bother you any longer. Goodbye. Jiang Xue rose to her feet and said, Im not so mobile right now, so I wont see you out. No need to see us out, Lu Yuan said with a smile, as he walked to the door. He suddenly looked at the door and asked, Oh, whose sneakers are these at the entrance? Jiang Xue replied calmly, Theyre my husbands. Li Tongyun also said, Right, my dads. Ah, sorry, Lu Yuan said before he opened the door and left. After the click of the door closing, Jiang Xue and her daughter Li Tongyun finally let out a sigh of relief. Qing Chen emerged from the kitchen, Sorry for causing you trouble. Dont say that, were the ones who troubled you, Jiang Xue said. If it hadnt been for our issues, you wouldnt have been pulled into this mess. Hmm, what would you like to eat? I just checked the fridge and found out were out of vegetables, Qing Chen stated. Jiang Xue had Li Tongyun take out two hundred yuan from her wallet, We need to buy more vegetables, maybe get some ribs? You and Xiao Yun are still growing, so you need to eat some meat. Qing Chen thought for a moment, took the money, and then left the house. In the old corridor, with its walls covered in small advertisements and peeling paint, he stood in the shadow of the stairwell, his fingers tapping on the iron railing, producing a tat-tat-tat sound. The noise had a strange rhythm to it, as if his fingers were capable of thought. The next moment, Qing Chen went back home to change his shoes before heading out to the farmers market. However, before he could even leave the residential complex, he saw a black SUV parked on the side of the road, with someone inside quietly observing him, waiting for him to walk past. Lu Yuans gaze swept up and down Qing Chens figure, lingering a bit longer on his shoes. The two people in the car silently watched until Qing Chen had walked far away, then Lu Yuan suddenly said, Its not him. You knew there was someone else in the house just now, seemingly hiding from us. Why didnt you rush in to check? Its such a hassle, his companion wondered. Lu Yuan replied helplessly, Boss Zheng just instructed us that since Kunluns inception, we are to maintain a good relationship with transmigrators, not use strong-arm tactics. I think its better to absorb all the transmigrators into the organization first. Lu Yuan shook his head, rolled down the window, and lit a cigarette, the orange-red sparks mixing with the misty vapor inside the car. He exhaled all the smoke from his lungs, Kunlun isnt someplace for any Tom, Dick, or Harry. The boss also said what were going to do in the future C if youre not one of us, it just wont work. So, what do we do now? his partner asked. Wait here a bit longer. If we dont find him, then let it be, Lu Yuan said as he snuffed out the cigarette butt. A new era has begun; some people are destined not to be ordinary. Maybe we dont need to look for them, they will appear on their own. ... Qing Chen reached Jiandong Road Farmers Market before he slowly took out his phone and started searching for the name He Xiaoxiao on TikTok. From the conversation at Jiang Xues home, Lu Yuan had revealed a lot of information: Even Kunlun didnt know He Xiaoxiaos identity, and she hadnt been recruited by Kunlun. Furthermore, she had the means to erase her own traces. Considering todays networked society, how difficult is it to erase ones traces? Your registered phone information, your identification documents, are almost all interconnected and can be found anywhere. With Kunluns ability to restrict movements, how could they not find the identity information of a game streamer through technical means? Unless, that person possessed technology or abilities beyond this era, something the people of the Outer World still couldnt understand. ... Hey, the double monthly ticket event has started. Ill update two chapters first, and there will be more tonight! Im begging for monthly tickets!! Ive already dropped out of the top ten on the monthly ticket rankings, ah!! Chapter 36: 36. The New Strategy (third update, extra chapter today) Chapter 36: 36. The New Strategy (third update, extra chapter today) He Xiaoxiaos identity remained a mystery. But what Qing Chen was most curious about was how the other party managed to do that? He also wanted to hide his identity, but now he could only rely on clumsy methods. Perhaps after he traveled to the Inner World tonight, he could tentatively ask Lu Guangyi? Without overthinking, Qing Chen opened TikTok and found He Xiaoxiaos video. It was still a black background with white subtitles, without any other information. A young mans voice said slowly, Since many people in the comment section asked how to reach the Inner World, this episode will focus on how to obtain the beta access to the game. Everyone refers to the players as transmigrators, but I prefer to call those who obtain beta access Time Travelers. Because when you enter the Inner World, time in the Outer World stops for you. When you return, time in the Inner World will also stop for you. No, it stops for all Time Travelers. Currently, the birthplaces of known Time Travelers are concentrated in 19 cities: Wucheng, Jingcheng, Nancheng, Los Angeles City, Chuan City, Zhongcheng, Shencheng, Kuncheng, Haicheng, Jicheng, Zheng City, Hangcheng, Fucheng, Guangcheng, Lancheng, Xian City, Hucheng, Jincheng, and Taicheng. There might be scattered Time Travelers in other regions, but the chances are slim. Therefore, I personally suggest that players who want to gain beta access should move quickly to one of those 19 cities before the beta channel closes, which will increase your chances of becoming a Time Traveler. Though the improvement is slight, at least theres hope. It is known that the third batch of Time Travelers will be born tonight, and its still unclear when the beta channel will be closed, so please cherish this opportunity. Additionally, as the game in the Inner World is extremely difficult, I suggest all Time Travelers form teams within the Inner World to explore together, to improve your chances of survival. As usual, you can leave comments on the strategies you most want to know, and I will choose the most popular topic to cover in the next video. At last, do not expose your identity in the Inner World, do not expose your identity in the Inner World, its dangerous! The video ended here. The other partys final warning was in bold red font, very eye-catching. Qing Chen suspected that the other party might be aware that some transmigrators... Time Travelers had exposed themselves and suffered very serious consequences. Thats why he made a point of warning everyone. This also fell within his expectations, after all, not all Time Travelers were so clever. Qing Chen felt a sense of crisis because the 18th Prison contained a danger like Liu Dezhu, who simply couldnt withstand interrogation. What should he do? And this time, what He Xiaoxiao mentioned about the strategies matched Qing Chens own predictions perfectly. Qing Chen also knew that as soon as a large number of transmigrators... Time Travelers appeared, these patterns would inevitably be summarized by people. He just didnt expect the other party to still insist on treating the Inner World like a gaming world and to keep using gaming terminology to create strategies. Moreover, He Xiaoxiao, by himself, expedited the process of the eager crowd converging towards those 19 cities! One could foresee that as the most famous Time Traveler, He Xiaoxiaos strategies would stir quite an uproar nationally. Qing Chen opened his comment section and was astonished to find the top-liked comment asked: Whats the best way to obtain a career path from the 18th Prison? It seems that everyone is quite interested in the 18th Prison. The commenters ID was a string of numbers. Qing Chen visited the commenters homepage and found that many of their liked videos were related to Los Angeles City, including one of the sports meets at the Los Angeles Foreign Language School. Qing Chen thought to himself, couldnt be such a coincidence, could it? That better not be Liu Dezhu! But actually, Liu Dezhu wasnt important to him. What mattered was, would He Xiaoxiao visit the 18th Prison because of this comment? Hard to say. Currently, the known method to get into the 18th Prison was through committing a crime... He Xiaoxiao probably wouldnt take that risk. Qing Chen glanced at the other comments again. In the comment section of this TikTok, many people were wishing that He Xiaoxiao would show his face, or were curious about his identity within the Inner World. Even several people claimed they were also Time Travelers and wanted to form a team with He Xiaoxiao... However, none of the comments received a reply. What was more absolute was that under those comments of Time Travelers asking to form a team with He Xiaoxiao, there were people asking them if they had boyfriends or girlfriends. Even more shockingly, there were inquiries asking if they were in need of a son... Reading through the comments with a furrowed brow, Qing Chen mused that this generation of netizens was truly something else. ` However, one can also see the passion people have for time-traveling from here. Perhaps most people, unable to leave the city they live, work, and study in, would just laugh off the comments on the internet, return to work after scrolling through TikTok, and carry on with their lives as usual. Everything is still on its original track. But among the billions of people in the country, there must be those willing to go to one of the 19 cities and wait for an opportunity. After all, surpassing the ordinary is ultimately the most romantic dream of humankind. Of course, the Inner World incident has also bred its fair share of scammers. After the foreign mysterious organization offered a reward for the anti-aging genetic potion, someone in the country started publicly selling anti-aging drugs: the same task that Qin Shihuang sent Xu Fu with three thousand boys and girls to accomplish and failed, can now be bought for a bit of money... Just now, Nan Gengchen also sent a WeChat message to Qing Chen saying that someone in the transmigration group was selling the elixir of immortality that Xu Fu had developed. The price was not too expensive since they were offering it at a wholesale rate. Qing Chen was puzzled, How do you know if the medicine is real or fake? And Xu Fu is from our side, right? What does he have to do with the Inner World? Nan Gengchen replied, He claims he is Xu Fu. Qing Chen: ??? His entire being wasnt okay at that moment. God damn it, Xu Fu time-traveled with boys and girls. Then Nan Gengchen continued to text, He said that back then, he didnt go to the Island Country but directly took the three thousand boys and girls through time! Good for you, Qing Chen turned off the phone screen. Honestly, he was starting to have trouble telling whether Nan Gengchen was genuinely foolish or just pretending to be. Countdown 13:08:19. When Qing Chen finished grocery shopping and returned to the neighborhood, the black SUV was gone without a trace. He prepared a meal for Jiang Xue and Li Tongyun and then watched Li Tongyun dutifully feeding her mother. For some reason, he felt envious of this mother and daughter pair. Jiang Xue, who was originally a bit meek, had chosen to make herself stronger in order to protect Li Tongyun. Li Tongyun, to take care of her mother, had chosen to become more mature and sensible. He believed that Li Tongyun would definitely arrange the best mechanical limbs for her mother this time she transmigrates, the kind that can last the longest. As for Qing Chen, he only had himself. If someone were to give Qing Chen a choice now, and you could only continue to live in either the Inner World or the Outer World, he had to pick one. Qing Chen felt that he would probably choose the Inner World. At that moment, Jiang Xue asked, Xiao Chen, we hardly ever see your parents. Are they really busy? Yeah, they must be pretty busy, Qing Chen answered. Jiang Xue thought for a moment and said, I see that your washing machine is broken. Weve become so familiar with each other; you should bring your dirty clothes over, and Auntie will wash them for you. Dont be polite with me anymore. And dont cook for yourself after school either. Just come and eat at my place. Even if you dont come, I still have to cook for Xiao Yun. Its just a matter of adding a pair of chopsticks. After thinking it over, Qing Chen replied with a smile, Okay, thank you, Aunt Jiang Xue. ... Nighttime. Qing Chen went to bed early, not waiting for the countdown to reach zero. He was getting more and more adept at this time-traveling thing. ... No more dawdling, Im dropping a bomb update for votes, three more chapters tonight! A six-chapter burst today, all for monthly votes! The rest is up to all of you! ... Thank you to Li Dongze for becoming the silver Alliance Hierarch of this book, boss is so generous! Thank you to Charging Up Makes You Stronger and Star Dream Horizons for becoming Alliance Hierarchs of this book, boss is so generous! May the bosses be as fortunate as the Eastern Sea and live as long as Mount South! ` CREATORS THOUGHTS Lordbluefire Footnote: [1] The ruler of the Qin Dynasty, Qin Shi Huang, feared death and sought a way to live forever. He entrusted Xu Fu and an entourage of 3000 virgin boys and girls with finding the secret elixir of immortality. [2] Island country refers to Japan in this case, according to the story of Xu Fu. Chapter 37: 37, People from Sichuan State (Fourth Update) Chapter 37: 37, People from Sichuan State (Fourth Update) ` A familiar voice. Someone was forcefully pounding on the Alloy Gate, and steel beasts roared within the cell, Newcomers, welcome to Prison 18! Qing Chen sat up from the hard-plank bed, a slight smile spilling from the corner of his mouth. In his heart, he silently repeated, Newcomers, welcome to Prison 18. For some reason, the moment he transmigrated back, Qing Chen truly felt a burst of elation and excitement in his heart. Here were familiar faces, familiar rules, and hopes for the future. It was as if he belonged to the Inner World rather than the Outer World. Here, there were no past memories he did not want to recall, no people he needed to worry about. All he needed to do was move forward, everywhere was a new direction. He glanced down at his arm but was taken aback. Return countdown 160:20:09. Minus the time he slept, the countdown this time was actually seven days! This was too unexpected. Qing Chen had even gotten used to a 48-hour countdown, but the rules had suddenly changed. Why? Was there any pattern? It seemed he still needed to explore the rules of transmigration. Qing Chen approached the Alloy Gate, which opened in response, greeting him with precise timing. The prisoners outside the corridor saw him and slightly bowed their upper bodies, greeting him with a nod. Compared to the Outer World, it felt more like his home ground here. Qing Chen stood in the corridor and gave Lu Guangyi a nod from afar, which the latter immediately understood. After all the prisoners lined up and went downstairs, Lu Guangyi immediately got to work controlling the new prisoners, He knew this was what Qing Chen wanted. Although this might infuriate the other two factions, leading to a possible conflict any day, he came to Prison 18 specifically to pave the way for Qing Chen. To be a pawn, one must have the consciousness of a pawn; a pawn that has crossed the river cannot retreat. Success brings life, failure brings death, and glory comes at the cost of ones life. At the moment, Uncle Li Dong also tacitly consented to Lu Guangyis actions; he seemed to want to see what Qing Chen planned to do. Today, seven new prisoners arrived. While Lu Guangyi was seizing new prisoners, six of them seemed to be second-timers, who chose to accept their fate right away. Experienced prisoners knew it was better to endure; fighting back would likely make things worse. However, as Lu Guangyi was about to grab the last new prisoner, the latter kept dodging desperately. But this prisoner had not a single cybernetic limb on him, how could he, an ordinary man, outrun those steel beasts? Just as Lu Guangyi was about to catch him, the new prisoner became frantic, Dont fucking touch me! What the hell do you want grabbing me, fuck off! While dodging and running, he kept cursing, Dont fucking mess with me! Ill slap you to death, you unborn god! Qing Chen: ??? He was completely taken aback by the authentic Sichuan dialect, as in the Inner World, dialects didnt exist, everyone spoke Mandarin! Not just Qing Chen but Lu Guangyi and the others were also baffled, What the hell is this guy saying? Can you guys understand? Everyone looked at each other, We can kind of understand, but not completely. When the whole world spoke in the same accent, a dialect felt so out of place and jarring... Qing Chen quickly realized this man was a transmigrator! Because Qing Chen spoke Mandarin and Mandarin was relatively widespread in Los Angeles City, he hadnt realized that dialect was actually the biggest threat to exposing the existence of the Outer World... At that moment, Qing Chen could even imagine what sort of situation those transmigrators carrying a dialect would face. But this guy spoke in a Sichuan dialect, how did he transmigrate to Prison 18? According to the pattern Qing Chen and He Xiaoxiao had summarized before: transmigrators only appeared densely in 19 cities across the country, and the same transmigrator seemed to always transmigrate to almost the same location, so it should be people from Los Angeles City transmigrating here to Prison 18. ` Could there be a problem with the pattern Ive concluded? Are the landing points of transmigration random? No, there must be special circumstances. He glanced at the three individuals downstairs, Uncle Li Dong and his two companions; their expressions had clearly changed, all becoming grave. Qing Chen felt that unless the other party was an idiot, they would definitely perceive something from these continuous unexpected events. The people of the Inner World learning about the Outer World was only a matter of time, because there were just too many transmigrators! Uncle Li Dong, looking at the farce nearby, turned to Lin Xiaoxiao and said, Catch him and interrogate him carefully, including the earlier Huang Jixian and Liu Dezhu. I think they might all come from the same place. Understood, Lin Xiaoxiao said gravely. A unique Sichuan dialect clue helped Uncle Li Dong link all the strange events that had occurred recently. This time, he did not sit back and do nothing, but instead directed Lin Xiaoxiao to take action immediately. As soon as his words fell, the man from Sichuan collapsed to the ground, falling into a nightmare. Lin Xiaoxiao walked up to Lu Guangyi and said calmly, Step aside, hand him over to me. However, even faced with someone like Lin Xiaoxiao, Lu Guangyi stiffly retorted, Only if our boss says so. Saying so, Lu Guangyi turned his head to look at Qing Chen, who was still in the shadows of the third-floor corridor. The prisoners were stunnedwasnt Lu Guangyi the boss? Who else could be the boss? Only at this moment did the prisoners around Lu Guangyi understand that Qing Chen was not just a lucky youth who happened to meet Uncle Li Dong by chance. He himself was a True God. His surname was Qing, and he was Lu Guangyis boss! Thinking of this, many prisoners who had once had designs on Qing Chen immediately shivered with fear. Anyone living on the Eastern Continent of the Inner World could not ignore the colossal entity that was Qings Family. It was an era where everyone could only live in the shadow of the five major financial conglomerates. When nothing was amiss, everyone could indulge in pleasure. But when they truly encountered this colossal entity, everyone would remember the fear of being dominated by the conglomerates at some point in their lives. No one could escape unscathed. Lin Xiaoxiao looked at Lu Guangyi and smiled, You know who my boss is and still dare to stand in the way. You do have some backbone, which is good. Qing Chen did not wish to put Lu Guangyi in a difficult position, so he nodded his head, signaling for him to let Lin Xiaoxiao pass. Lin Xiaoxiao pushed through the crowd, lifting the man from Sichuan with one hand and walked out. Qing Chen watched as the heavy alloy gate of the prison slowly opened for Lin Xiaoxiao, and only closed slowly after he had passed through. It seemed that Uncle Li Dong and his companions could come and go freely in Prison No. 18! But if they were free to come and go, why didnt they leave this place? He slowly descended the stairs and sat down opposite Uncle Li Dong, Where did Lin Xiaoxiao go? Theres been an unexpected incident, Uncle Li Dong, holding the big cat in his arms, said slowly, Although I still cant make sense of what the incident is, it seems to be something beyond my imagination. In the past, if one after another, people of unknown identity appeared around me, I would think someone had a meticulous plan to get something from me, but this time is different. The other party doesnt have a plan, and it seems... also lacks a brain. Qing Chen fell silent for a long while after hearing this. At this moment, Qing Chen realized he did not have much time left. Let alone the fellow townsman from Sichuan, Liu Dezhu alone would certainly not be able to withstand Lin Xiaoxiaos interrogation. Firstly, Liu Dezhu was just a coddled student, not strong-willed. Secondly, Lin Xiaoxiao possessed a mysterious power of nightmares, which could inadvertently make someone reveal the truth during an interrogation. The exposure of the Outer World was inevitable, and it would happen soon. But there was nothing he could do. He had the Canon score, but he was well aware that against a decisive person like Uncle Li, a score could not change anything. Qing Chen could only wait. ... Thank you for supporting me as a Silver City Alliance member of this book. Thank you for your generosity, boss; may your fortune be as vast as the Eastern Sea and your life as long as the Southern Mountains. CREATORS THOUGHTS Lordbluefire Footnote: [1] The newcomer was speaking in Sichuan slang. [2] The raw for the word rascal is seemingly the short form for turtles grandson, which in Chinese slang refers to unworthy rascals or b*stard. Chapter 38: 38. Qing Chens Secret (Fifth Update) Chapter 38: 38. Qing Chens Secret (Fifth Update) In Prison No. 18, the sudden disturbance had scared the prisoners into silence. Even those who used to enjoy lifting weights began to handle the dumbbells with extra care, afraid to disturb the behemoth in this prison. In the past, there was only Uncle Li Dong in this prison. Although he couldnt be offended, the good thing was this True God never bothered with anyone. As long as you knew the rules in his underground world, you wouldnt die. But now things were different. Only a fool wouldnt realize that Qings Family had no reason to send someone to the prison for no reason. With Guo Huchan here, Qings Family had arrived, heralding a storm. At the dining table, Guo Huchan also got to eat real beef, wolfing it down, while Qing Chen ate more slowly. Ye Wan stood behind Uncle Li Dong and suddenly asked Guo Huchan, Stop focusing on eating, was that guy one of yours just now? I heard there are still a few places in the wilderness where they speak a strange language. Hes not one of us, and that kid doesnt look like hes from the wilderness, Guo Huchan said, wiping his shiny mouth: When have you ever seen a wilderness person with such delicate skin? Thats true, Ye Wan frowned. Our people have already been found by Brother Qing Chen, dont worry about it. Im here on my own now! Guo Huchan said cheerfully: Can you also get some meat for those five brothers of mine? Is there a shortage of real meat in the wilderness? Ye Wan said disdainfully. Guo Huchan sighed, Facing a corporate raid every other day, who has time to raise livestock? And with two more Taboo Lands in the wilderness almost causing fatalities, the living space isnt as big as you think. Of course, Brother Qing Chen, the food always follows you. Qing Chen paused for a moment, Taboo Land, another new term. It sounded like it had some connection to the Taboo. Then, Guo Huchan turned and put his arm around Qing Chens shoulder, saying, Brother Qing Chen, why dont you come with me to the wilderness? I cant promise anything else, but with your talent, youll want for nothing and eat whatever you crave! Uncle Li Dong wondered, Are you so eager to take him to the wilderness? Didnt you see hes with Qings Family? Isnt it better for him to faithfully serve as Qings Familys shadow than your wilderness? How can it be the same? Guo Huchan said dismissively: The matter of him being a shadow isnt even certain yet. The shadow selection is extremely dangerous, why take that risk? With me in the wilderness, youll have everything, why bother with all that effort? Uncle Li Dong laughed, What do you have in the wilderness? Why should anyone follow you? Qing Chen, on the other hand, said, He has the pie he has drawn. Guo Huchan: ... At that moment, Qing Chen seemed calm, but in reality, he knew best. Lin Xiaoxiao would be back soon, and he was about to face the most dangerous test of his life. Although Qing Chen had lived two lifetimes since he transmigrated, he still had no trump cards. He knew what he was up against, but he couldnt hide. Nor was there any place to hide. ... In a corner of Prison No. 18, Lin Xiaoxiao sat in an interrogation room, quietly watching the transmigrator from Sichuan Province, Jian Sheng, across from her. The interrogation room was dim and murky, with dust floating lazily in the white beams of light from the LED lamp overhead. Jian Sheng was asleep, and Lin Xiaoxiao had just invaded his dreams with her nightmare ability, only to be rudely awakened by his insults... This person is indeed irritable, Lin Xiaoxiao concluded. To tell the truth, she was a bit curious as to where this talented person had come from, seeing as he was able to hurl insults non-stop for half an hour without repetition. As Jian Sheng gradually woke up, he saw Lin Xiaoxiao and opened his mouth to curse: You son of a... Stop, Lin Xiaoxiao interrupted with a dark face: Dont talk yet. Just hearing you talk gives me a headache. Cant we have a proper conversation? I ought to box your ears... Lin Xiaoxiao: ... Just as Jian Sheng was about to continue cursing, Lin Xiaoxiao hurriedly activated his nightmare ability, and Jian Sheng felt another wave of drowsiness coming over him, and he fell into a deep sleep. What a sin! Lin Xiaoxiao sighed and turned to walk into the adjoining interrogation room, where Liu Dezhu was sitting shakily inside. This time, Lin Xiaoxiao didnt waste any words. He directly took Liu Dezhu to see Huang Jixians current state. Huang Jixians hands and feet were bound to the bed in the infirmary with alloy locks, one moment he was muttering to himself, and the next, he was struggling violently. Lin Xiaoxiao said to Liu Dezhu, See that? Ill ask and you answer. If you tell lies, youll end up like him, got it? Liu Dezhu didnt have much backbone, Ill talk! Ill talk! Im a high school student who crossed over from another parallel universe... Seeing that the other party spilled everything like pouring beans from a bamboo tube, Lin Xiaoxiao suddenly breathed a sigh of relief. If he had known it would be this easy to interrogate this guy, why the hell did he bother with that Jian Sheng! Where is Los Angeles City? Lin Xiaoxiao asked straightforwardly. Los Angeles City is just a city where we live, said Liu Dezhu. How many of you have crossed over? I dont know, ah, some say a few thousand, others say its already over ten thousand. Lin Xiaoxiaos voice became stern, Whats your purpose for crossing over? Why did you approach Uncle Li Dong, my boss? Liu Dezhu was almost in tears, We were randomly transported, nobody knew where wed end up or what identity wed take on before crossing over. We really had no intention. I approached Uncle Li Dong because someone said that finding Uncle Li Dong in Prison 18 could lead to a career path... This time, he spent a full three hours interrogating Liu Dezhu. During this period, Jian Sheng in the next room woke up three times, cursed at him twenty-seven times, and was knocked out three times again. Lin Xiaoxiao originally didnt believe in the transmigration events, but everything Liu Dezhu said withstood logical scrutiny. He believed that Liu Dezhu, the kind of fool who treated bosses like NPCs to be exploited, couldnt have come up with such a logically consistent construction of the Outer World. So now he had to believe, even if he didnt want to, that Liu Dezhu indeed spoke the truth. The most inconceivable thing in this human world had truly happened. The interrogation room seemed to have plummeted into an eternal silence, with Liu Dezhu trembling and not daring to speak. After a very long time, Lin Xiaoxiao suddenly asked, Have you ever heard of a song called Farewell? Liu Dezhu was also momentarily stunned, Yeah, I know it. Is there a line in it that goes Friends part, half are scattered? Yes, how do you know? Liu Dezhu asked, puzzled. A look of relief finally crossed Lin Xiaoxiaos face. He knew. At this very moment, thousands of transmigrators had come to his Inner World, taking the place of original inhabitants and continuing to live on. These people came from various backgrounds, and their destinies had only just begun to intertwine due to a strange event. But that wasnt the most important thing. The most important thing was that he had discovered the secret of Qing Chen. ... Seeking monthly tickets, there will be a big chapter update around 8 oclock tonight. Chapter 39: 39. Of all the shortcuts, the furthest path (Part 6) Chapter 39: 39. Of all the shortcuts, the furthest path (Part 6) Lin Xiaoxiao was a clever and agile person but lacked deep cunning. When the other returned to the restaurant and refused to discuss the results of the interrogation, Qing Chen already had his answer. Because that information wasnt something that couldnt be discussed, the Inner World would know about the transmigrators affairs sooner or later. Unless... the results of the interrogation involved a secret concerning someone present. Qing Chen wondered how the people of the Inner World would view the Outer World. Speaking of others, Uncle Li Dong, a very controlling superior, wasnt someone who would let things spiral out of control. No matter how much goodwill had been accumulated previously, it was worth nothing in front of a superior. Qing Chen wasnt certain that Uncle Li Dong would kill him but had prepared for the worst scenario. However, Uncle Li Dong was also extremely smart, Lin Xiaoxiao didnt have to say anything, and he understood. Xiao Xiao, take our friend from Spade elsewhere, Uncle Li Dong instructed. Im not going anywhere, Guo Huchan suddenly realized there might be big secrets here. However, Ye Wan abruptly deployed a transparent force field, engulfing Uncle Li Dong and Qing Chen within it. Guo Huchan, who tried to eavesdrop, was unprepared and was bounced staggeringly away by the force field. By the time the bald man tried to rush back, he found Ye Wan and Lin Xiaoxiao already blocking his way. Lin Xiaoxiao said with a smiling face, If you still want to stay here looking forTaboo item ACE-005, dont move forward. I wont listen! Guo Huchan said angrily. Right then, Uncle Li Dong calmly looked at Qing Chen and asked, So, these past few days you had Lu Guangyi interrogate the new prisoners to find them, didnt you? Qing Chen thought for a moment and said, Thats right. You are calmer than I expected, Uncle Li Dong remarked, When I was your age, I wasnt like you. Its not calmness but that panicking is useless, Qing Chen said. Although Xiao Xiao hasnt told me the results of the interrogation, I know it must be a big secret, Uncle Li Dong said, Im ruthless when facing uncontrollable situations; have you ever thought that you might not survive tomorrow? I have, Qing Chen looked up, observing his surroundings. The fascinating steel dome, the gleaming black metal storm, and the mechanical prison guards standing armed and stationary around the prison. There were also the prisoners, some limping, grinning, and grimacing newcomers. Qing Chen wasnt sure if he would still see all this, so he wanted to take a longer look. He suddenly looked down at Uncle Li, smiling, and said, These days have actually been quite pleasant; if possible, I wish we could get to know each other again. You beat me at chess on the first day, so I actually owe you a request. You can make it now, Uncle Li Dong said. Qing Chen thought for a moment, Can I hear the farewell tune one more time? Not trading for your own life? Uncle Li chuckled. My life, it cannot be traded even if I wished to, Qing Chen said. Fine, Ive always liked your courage. This song is my gift to you, and you can make that request anytime, Uncle Li Dong had Ye Wan bring a harmonica. The farewell song seemed like one Qing Chen chose for himself; the melodious tune somewhat calmed the atmosphere of the prison. Thank you, Qing Chen said. Having said that, he went back to his cell alone and lay on the cold bed silently waiting. Time ticked away slowly. From daytime to nighttime. Qing Chen heard the prisons broadcast reminding all prisoners to line up and return to their cells, then one by one the alloy gates closed, and the sound of hydraulic transmission marked the end of the days noise in Prison 18. Secluding everything. The next moment, the entire prison suddenly plunged into total darkness. Then, the alloy gate of Qing Chens cell reopened. In the darkness, someone put a black hood over his head and carried him to an unknown location. Minutes later, the two people carrying him left him somewhere and then left one after another. The hydraulic sound rang again, as if closing something, further isolating it. Qing Chen silently lay in the darkness; he didnt even get up to see where he was. The only sounds were his breathing, and the only light was the countdown only he could see, which couldnt illuminate anything. Time was slow and heavy. Qing Chen knew what reaction a person might have when confined in a dark, enclosed space. You dont know where you are, cant talk to anyone, and in these moments, loneliness and fear can completely consume a person. And make them lose their sense of time. The absence of time is the most terrifying. Many cant even withstand 24 hours. There was an experiment offering a million to stay there for five days, but no one could claim that million. Money is tempting, but 99% fall before 72 hours arrive. However. Perhaps Uncle Li and others didnt realize that Qing Chen had never feared loneliness. Ever since his parents divorced, he had been accompanied by loneliness. Qing Chen was sharply aware that lack of water would be his greatest enemy. Return countdown 146:09:02. The countdown on his arm could help him keep track of time. The first day. Qing Chen slowed his breathing rate; he started recalling movies in his mind, first watching The Shawshank Redemption, then Babilon, all about prison break and faith. Those were all films he had memorized in his mind, yet no device was needed to replay them. Due to the lack of water, his neurons confused the need for food and water, and he began to feel fatigued. Return countdown 122:09:02. The second day. Qing Chen slept and rewatched eight movies in his mind. He silently lay on the floor with his eyes closed, enjoying the darkness. Hunger and thirst began to creep in, but he was like someone who had discarded his senses, unmoved. Return countdown 98:09:02. The third day Hunger began to burn his will, eroding his spirit. Qing Chen watched 12 films this time, not sleeping for a minute. The loss of water content tortured him, as his body suddenly went from cold to hot; his skin also began to dry out. His memory power started to decline, and the movies in his mind turned into intermittent slideshows. Memories of old times began to shine through. Qing Chen couldnt sleep anymore. Return countdown: 74:09:02. The fourth day. Qing Chens hunger began to subside, and he opened his eyes to look at the endless void and darkness, not knowing what he was thinking. He hadnt checked the time for a long time; it seemed pointless to do so. However, from start to finish, Qing Chen had not uttered a word nor let out a shout. In the darkness, the world remained silent. He hadnt counted how long he had been without sleep, but it seemed unimportant. With his silence, Qing Chen fought against the worlds silence and darkness. ... It was already a dim night in Prison No. 18, with the lights inside the fortress turning into a faint glow. Even the drones on the Hive seemed to have fallen into a slumber. Uncle Li Dong sat at the end of the dim reading areas long table with his eyes closed, meditating, and Lin Xiaoxiao glanced at the time and said, Boss, its been four days. Hmm, Uncle Li Dong nodded. At that moment, a weak knocking sound came from afar, and Lu Guangyi muttered continuously from behind a door, Uncle Li Dong, where have you confined my boss? I, Lu Guangyi, wont let you off, neither will Qings Family. From the first day of Qing Chens disappearance, Lu Guangyi noticed something was wrong, caused a commotion in Prison No. 18, and nearly triggered a second Metal Storm. So, Qing Chen had been missing for four days, and Lu Guangyi had been confined in his cell for those four days. Only on this fourth day did Lu Guangyi finally quiet down a bit. Lin Xiaoxiao ignored Lu Guangyis cursing and continued, Boss, Qing Chen has been inside for four days, hasnt said a word, and shows no signs of breaking. He is an extremely intelligent man. He began by slowing his breathing rate to avoid rapid loss of water, its not surprising he lasted through the fourth day, Uncle Li Dong said. Even so, enduring quietly for four days is rare, he doesnt seem to be suffering punishment, rather, it looks like he is waiting. But he hasnt had water for four days now, hell die without it, Lin Xiaoxiao said anxiously, Boss, you value talent, let him off the hook, please. Lin Xiaoxiao, who originally couldnt stand the arrogance exuded by Qing Chen, was now pleading on behalf of the young man. Because he too knew what Qing Chen was experiencing. Ye Wan suddenly said, Boss, the Black Cell might not be able to handle him, let him out. However, after thinking it over, Uncle Li Dong said, Switch to water torture. Boss, hes extremely dehydrated now. The sight of water will cause him to instinctively drink, and he will die, Lin Xiaoxiao panicked. Water torture involved placing a towel over the prisoners face and then pouring water onto the towel. It acted like a one-way valve. Water poured in continuously while the towel prevented spitting it out, forcing you to breathe once. Even if you held your breath, it still felt like the air was being sucked away, like a vacuum cleaner. Lin Xiaoxiao knew well that no ordinary person could withstand water torture, let alone someone who had been thirsty for four days? The moment water torture began, a severely dehydrated person would desperately drink. However, the water filtering through the towel would not only quench Qing Chens thirst in his stomach but would also flood his lungs, crushing his last bit of life. Yet, it seemed Uncle Li Dong had made up his mind. Whether he lives or dies is up to him. Without seeing real death, how can he walk my path, Uncle Li Dong said calmly. ... Countdown 50:09:02. The fifth day. The Black Cell was opened, and Qing Chen, showing no signs of distress, was carried out. Someone placed him on a chair and then covered his face with a thick towel. Cold water was poured onto the towel, blocking all oxygen and vitality. Qing Chen sat quietly on the chair without moving, pursing his lips. He struggled against his own urge to drink water, not allowing himself to be destroyed by the temptation before him. Aside, Lin Xiaoxiao and Ye Wan exchanged glances, surprised that at this time, Qing Chen could still maintain a clear will, aware of what he was facing, using his last bit of willpower to fight for a chance to live. Qing Chen felt water flowing into his nostrils, filling up his body. He felt as if he had had a dream. In the dream, his young self was led by the hand, which was warm and soft. In the park. It felt as if the warm seawater enveloped his body under the sun, with the golden sunlight slowly undulating. The woman holding his hand suddenly asked without turning her head back, Xiao Chen, your dad has someone else now; he doesnt want us anymore. Mom, I want candied hawthorn, the young him quietly said to the woman in front of him. The woman turned around and stared at him for a long time, Alright, mom will buy you candied hawthorn. Her eyes reddened as she bought candied hawthorn for him, Xiao Chen, eat your candied hawthorn here, mom will go to the restroom. But she never came back after that. Qing Chen waited from noon until dusk. He started crying, but crying was of no use. Someone helped him to get the police, but Qing Chen didnt want to go with them because he believed his mom would come back. Until it turned dark, the woman came back, holding him and sobbing loudly. The young Qing Chen thought she had just got lost and finally found him now. Amid the water torture, Qing Chens mind gradually became clear; it turned out this wasnt the first time he was abandoned. It seemed his peculiar memory power also began from that time. But, having a good memory was not necessarily a good thing, for he remembered every type of pain. Clearly and distinctly. Qing Chen felt his brain suffocating, and his limbs convulsing while the water began to pour into his lungs, but he stayed sitting there like a statue. He neither struggled nor pleaded. In the darkness, someone said, Come with mom. Qing Chen responded softly, No need, mom. The voice in the darkness said again, Come with mom. Qing Chens voice became firm, No need, I said no need, mom. Suddenly, the wet towel over his face was removed. The dim light now seemed somewhat glaring; he hazily saw Lin Xiaoxiao, anxiously patting his back. Uncle Li Dong quietly stood in front of him and asked, Why didnt you plead; I still owe you a request. Qing Chen, facing the blinding light, defiantly looked at him, coughed out the water in his windpipe, and then firmly said, Because you dont need a weak person. At a certain moment, Uncle Li Dong suddenly recalled the first time the other played chess. It was similarly fearless and obstinate, like a lone wolf wandering in the wilderness. He knew then, this was the person he was looking for. Uncle Li Dong asked again, Can you forget everything I did to you today? I cant forget, Qing Chen said, But I dont mind. Very honest, good, Uncle Li Dong turned and walked towards the outside of the interrogation room, Starting tomorrow, I will teach you myself, I will take you on the longest of all the shortcuts in this world. Chapter 40: 40. Decrypt Chapter 40: 40. Decrypt Uncle Li Dong left with the big cat, only mentioning that he wanted to personally teach Qing Chen, but not what he intended to teach. However, Lin Xiaoxiao, who knew the boss well, understood that the boss was in a very good mood at the moment. Very, very good. The knights legacy had almost ended with Uncle Li Dongs generation. Although he never mentioned it, Lin Xiaoxiao had witnessed him selecting one successor after another, only to see each attempt fail. Lin Xiaoxiao knew the boss was anxious. The path was too difficult to walk, so much so that he and Ye Wan couldnt even begin to tread it. At this moment, Qing Chens prison garb was completely soaked, his hair dripping with water, gasping nonstop. The agony of water torture can leave psychological scars. I really admire you, Lin Xiaoxiao said. I dont know how you managed to endure four days in the tiny dark room. I couldnt handle it beyond 36 hours, Mother Ye did a bit better, 47 hours. A bit better? Ye Wan glanced at him. A lot better, all right? Lin Xiaoxiao said impatiently. Qing Chen gradually caught his breath. You were also locked up in the tiny dark room? Yeah, Lin Xiaoxiao nodded. For ordinary people, it is a form of cruel punishment; for us, its just a test, a necessary one. When the boss had us lock you up in the tiny dark room, I knew he had chosen you, but he wouldnt mind seeing you die if you couldnt make it. The boss has seen too much life and death; his heart has hardened. Lin Xiaoxiao continued smilingly, But having a hard heart is essential in this era. Dont blame him for it. Ye Wan handed Qing Chen a soft, thick, dark blue towel. Wipe yourself off. There arent many people who can remain as tough as you during water torture. Its perfectly normal for people to lose control of their bladder and bowels. Apparently, this wasnt the first time Ye Wan had subjected someone to water torture. And now, he had truly come to accept Qing Chen. At this time, Lin Xiaoxiao brought in a tray from outside the interrogation room, which contained a bowl of rice, a serving of sweet and sour pork ribs that smelled as good as it looked, and a bowl of white rice porridge. After some thought, Qing Chen picked up the bowl of porridge. Ye Wan said to Lin Xiaoxiao, I win, you owe me a thousand bucks. Qing Chen was stunned, You were betting? Yes, Lin Xiaoxiao said helplessly. Your blood sugar is extremely low right now, seeing food in front of you, you should really want to take a bite of something sweet. Thats what your body is telling your brain, so I bet youd first take a bite of the sweet and sour pork ribs. Ye Wan said, But you havent eaten for four days. A smart person would choose to drink the porridge first, resisting his bodys instincts, and informing himself what the best choice is. I bet that someone who could endure the tiny dark room and the water torture wouldnt be foolish enough to eat the ribs first. Qing Chen slowly drank the white porridge, feeling his chilling body gradually warming up. In the past, in the Outer World, even the most painful experiences paled in comparison to what he had been through these past few days. His peers were still in class, dating, playing games, while he had already embarked on a journey into the unknown. Even he didnt know where he would end up. Suddenly, Lin Xiaoxiao said, So, you actually didnt know you were from Qings Family when you entered here, and thats why you tried to play chess with the boss to extricate yourself? Yeah, Qing Chen nodded, there was no point in hiding it now. Lin Xiaoxiao asked again, So essentially, you have no connection to Qings Family right now, having never lived with them and feeling no sense of belonging? Yeah, Qing Chen nodded again. Lin Xiaoxiaos eyes lit up. Thats actually good. I guess the boss thought about this too, which is why he decided to accept you. Ye Wan said to Qing Chen, You can rest assured that only I, Lin Xiaoxiao, and the boss know about your identity from the Outer World. Even Li Dongze wont be told. We will keep your secret. Qing Chen sighed in relief, Thank you... Who is Li Dongze? Heng Societys Li Dongze, Lin Xiaoxiao laughed. The Heng Society is an organization under our Knight, and the Knights power is probably greater than you can imagine. It seems you know nothing about the outside, we need to educate you in the next few days. Ye Wan said, By the way, Lu Guangyi is quite loyal to you. He has been through a lot for you these past few days, nearly coming to blows with the boss. Hmm, thanks for the reminder, Qing Chen nodded. Do you know Liu Dezhu and Huang Jixian, and that guy who likes to curse, Jian Sheng? Lin Xiaoxiao asked. I know Liu Dezhu and Huang Jixian, well, not exactly know them, they were my high school classmates, Qing Chen explained. Wait, were you just an ordinary high school student in the Outer World? Lin Xiaoxiao was shocked, even though he knew some things about the Outer World, he thought Qing Chen would be quite impressive in that world too. Given the abilities and willpower that Qing Chen had shown, he shouldnt have been just an ordinary student. Qing Chen said, The Outer World is a relatively peaceful world with no Transcendents, no mechanical limbs, no gang organizations, stable and peaceful. Even being an ordinary person isnt bad there; there arent any life-threatening dangers. Im really envious, Lin Xiaoxiao remarked. Qing Chen asked, Where is the person who spoke in dialect being held? Just a few rooms away from this interrogation room, why? Lin Xiaoxiao asked. Can I go ask him a few questions? Qing Chen asked. Of course you can, Lin Xiaoxiao said, smiling cheerfully, Were all in this together now, theres nothing you cant do. From now on, you can wander around Cell Block 18 as you please. After thinking it over, Qing Chen tied the towel he had used during the water torture over his face and asked Lin Xiaoxiao to bring him a reader before heading to the cell where Jian Sheng was held. The alloy gate opened, and Ye Wan went in first to subdue Jian Sheng. This fellow Earth townsman was roughly in his thirties, Jian Sheng began to curse, Ill give your child... Before he could finish, Qing Chen, silent, wrote three words on the reader, which made the other stop cursing: Kuan Zhai Alley. Jian Sheng paused for a second, Youre from Earth? I need to ask you a few things, Qing Chen continued to write, Arent you from Sichuan Province? How did you end up here, and are you in Los Angeles City? I was doing some business in Los Angeles City, and somehow I just ended up here, seeing that he was talking to a fellow Earthman, Jian Sheng answered more cooperatively. Whats your profession? Qing Chen wrote again on the reader. Scalper, Jian Sheng replied. Are you also from Los Angeles City? However, Qing Chen had no intention of answering his question but turned and walked away. Only then did Ye Wan let go of Jian Sheng. Jian Sheng, watching the alloy gate slowly close, suddenly realized that his fellow townsman had no intention of saving him, and he started cursing again. But Jian Sheng paused to think that something was amiss. Considering that this young man was from Earth, why did he seem to hold such a high position in this world? The Lin Xiaoxiao who had interrogated him before, and that burly strong man, were both cooperating with him. Were there already such powerful individuals in the Time Traveler? Meanwhile, outside the door, Lin Xiaoxiao looked at Qing Chen, first at the towel on his face and then at the reader in his hand. This young man had just undergone solitary confinement and water torture, yet he still maintained such a cautious demeanor?! Chapter 41: Retirement Home Hitman Chapter 41: Retirement Home Hitman Countdown 48:00:00. Qing Chen walked through the silent and deserted No. 18 Prison with Ye Wan and Lin Xiaoxiao. This was his first time seeing the prison after 9 PM, open and tranquil. Four mechanical prison guards stood silently in the square, their mechanical eyes also extinguished, as if they were in hibernation. By now, Qing Chen had confirmed that his and He Xiaoxiaos speculations were not wrong, Jian Sheng had also traveled to No. 18 City because he appeared in Los Angeles City. Wherever a Time Traveler traveled to, from there their life in the Inner World would continue. Ye Wan said, The day the transmigrator arrived, we didnt capture you immediately to avoid others making the connection, so you dont have to worry about blowing your cover. Xiao Xiao publicized that you coveted the ACE-005 guarded by the boss, so you received a light punishment. Hmm, youve thought it through quite well, Qing Chen understood that Uncle Li Dong had been prepared from the start to accept him into the organization. Whether he could survive was his own matter. At that moment, a feeble and hoarse voice came from somewhere in the prison, Uncle Li Dong, release my boss... Qing Chen was startled, Have you had him locked up for four days? Yeah, otherwise he would come out looking for trouble with the boss again. If it wasnt for his commendable loyalty, the boss would have gotten rid of him a long time ago, Lin Xiaoxiao explained, But dont worry, someone has been sending him food and water during these four days. What did he used to do before? Did you investigate? Qing Chen asked. We did, Lin Xiaoxiao replied, He used to work as a thug in an old age home for the He Lian Society. Qing Chens mouth slowly widened, Old age home... thug? Oh, you dont know about this, Lin Xiaoxiao nodded, In the poverty-stricken areas of the Inner World, there is no customary support for the elderly. Everyone sends them off to old age homes after they turn sixty, while their children squander their parents retirement funds. Then why hire thugs? To beat up the elderly? Qing Chen was shocked. No, no, Lin Xiaoxiao explained with a half-laugh, They collect protection fees from the elderly. The elderly pay them to send robust youths with the most mechanical limbs to pretend to be their grandsons. This is to intimidate and scare other elderly residents so they are not bullied in the old age home. Ye Wan added, These old age home enforcers even have a famous slogan: He Lian Societys Elderly Services, guaranteed to respond faster and serve better than your son. After all, wed worry about not making money if you died, but your son wouldnt C because hed inherit everything once youre gone.'' Qing Chen hesitated, Is this industry doing well? Not bad, Lin Xiaoxiao answered with a nod, At least it can sustain a society, but we at the Heng Society look down on this type of business. At this point, Qing Chen felt it strange why Qings Family would assign an old age home thug to assist him in the crucial matter of competing for the Shadow Candidate. After some thought, Qing Chen said, Can I go see him? Of course, Lin Xiaoxiao led Qing Chen to where Lu Guangyi was confined. After greeting the camera at the door, the alloy gate opened. However, Lin Xiaoxiao and Ye Wan did not enter, instead giving Qing Chen space to speak privately with Lu Guangyi. Lu Guangyi lay motionlessly on the cold floor, with his food tray touched a little but mostly uneaten. The moment he heard the sound of the alloy gate, he scrambled up, and when he turned around and saw Qing Chen, he burst into tears, Boss, are you okay? Im fine, said Qing Chen softly. He felt somewhat weak and simply sat down on Lu Guangyis bed. Lu Guangyi squatted beside him, concerned, But Boss, how have you lost so much weight? Did they torture you? When Qing Yan comes to visit in a few days, I will tell him about this! No need to tell Qing Yan, Qing Chen shook his head, I hear you went looking for trouble with Uncle Li Dong? Yeah, Lu Guangyi nodded, Is it just because he coveted his ACE-005 that he should torture someone like this? Guo Huchan coveted it before too, and he was fine. Its probably because they think Qings Family wont make a big fuss over a mere Shadow Candidate like you. Lets not talk about this anymore. When youre under someones roof, you dont have a choice but to bow, Qing Chen said. That wont do, Ill have to face Uncle Li Dong in a showdown tomorrow! Lu Guangyi declared with righteous indignation. Enough, theres no need to pretend, Qing Chen said with a mixture of laughter and tears. Pretend... Im not pretending, Lu Guangyi hesitated for a moment. Qing Chens clear eyes met his gaze until Lu Guangyi became increasingly guilty and eventually deflated, sitting on the ground, despondent. Even if his opponents body was fitted with Qings Family military mechanical limbs, it couldnt withstand the aura of defeat that a small-time character radiated. Qing Chen felt somewhat emotional; he had only known Lu Guangyi for a few days, and even if he were as formidable as Cao Cao or Liu Bei reincarnated, he didnt have the charismatic aura of a king that could make people submit on sight. His past life experiences had bestowed upon him not only suffering but also an ability for meticulous observation and thought. So he was actually very clear that Lu Guangyi knew he wouldnt really come to harm and was just putting on an act of loyalty. If Lu Guangyi did nothing during the time he was imprisoned, he would be marginalized sooner or later after Qing Chens release. In this world, there is no such thing as love and loyalty without reason. Qing Chen was exceptionally familiar with human nature. But then he heard Lu Guangyi muttering in a low voice, Youve seen right through me, boss. This is just the way we small folks survive. Qing Chen sighed, You dont need to flatter me; Im aware of what youve done these past days. Rest assured, as long as you dont betray me, I wont treat you as a disposable piece. Lu Guangyi suddenly looked up, Really, boss? Really, Qing Chen nodded. Qing Chen pondered for a moment before saying to Lu Guangyi, However, there is one thing I must make clear: if you follow me, you must act more discreetly and can no longer be as ostentatious as before. Ive heard from Qing Yan before that you are very low-key, boss, and its really true! Lu Guangyi immediately became obedient: Boss, if theres anything you want me to improve, just say the word, and Ill definitely change. Qing Chen fell silent for a moment: First, take off those gold strips youve affixed to your mechanical arm, be more plain. Alright! Lu Guangyi said without hesitation as he tore off the gold strips. The gold strips were flat and long; calling them strips was actually more accurate than calling them bars. About 1 millimeter thick, 2 centimeters wide, and ten centimeters long. In just a moment, the originally exquisite mechanical arms looked a class cheaper... Qing Chen nodded and said, Ill keep the gold strips for you for now. Remember, dont be ostentatious. Lu Guangyi didnt think too much about it; in the average citizens view of the Inner World, would the direct descendants of the five major conglomerates lack money? They have the means to print it. You should rest, Qing Chen said subtly as he took the gold wire from Lu Guangyis hands, crumpled it into a ball, and stuffed it into his pocket before leaving the room. Only after the Alloy Gate behind him closed did the young man slowly exhale a sigh of relief. Qing Chens brain worked rapidly, calculating that this was probably 2 cubic centimeters of gold, and with golds density at normal temperature being 19.23, that meant it was over thirty grams... What was the price of gold in the Outer World now? Lin Xiaoxiao asked, Is there anything else that needs to be dealt with? Qing Chen thought for a moment, Yes, I have a plan to confirm something. Chapter 42: 42, Killer Chapter 42: 42, Killer Countdown 40:20:00. Qing Chen walked out of the Alloy Gate as usual, noticing the prisoners looking at him with unusual eyes, seemingly surprised to see him reappear after five days. But this time, he didnt walk through the corridor; instead, he simply stood still. He waited for the prison broadcast and then followed the queue downstairs to get his meal. Prisoners immediately believed the rumors from the last few days, This young man had angered Uncle Li Dong, was locked in the dark room for several days, and had even endured some torture. Thus, this young man had now lost the special treatment he had in Prison No. 18. However, the prisoners still didnt dare to provoke him easily, because Uncle Li Dong might offend Qings Family, but they couldnt. During the meal, Lu Guangyi and Qing Chen sat far from Uncle Li Dong. Qing Chen bowed his head and ate, carefully chewing his food, making sure everything was thoroughly chewed before swallowing. His stomach was now fragile, and he needed to be cautious. Throughout the meal, Qing Chen didnt speak a word; there was nothing but silence. On his side, on Uncle Li Dongs side, the separation was clear. It was as though they were close friends just a few days ago, but today, they were strangers. The prisoners whispered among themselves, gossiping about what exactly had happened. Had Uncle Li Dong fallen out with Qings Family? They speculated about what the taboo item guarded by Uncle Li Dong might be, something worth such caution and irritation. At that moment, only Guo Huchan seemed carefree and indifferent. He sat down next to Qing Chen with his tray, grinning as he said, How did you manage to offend Uncle Li Dong to the point he tortured you like this? Qing Chen looked up at him, Sitting by my side, arent you afraid of offending Uncle Li Dong? Guo Huchan seemed completely unconcerned, Im not even afraid of Qings Financial Group, why would I be afraid of Uncle Li Dong? Then why are you looking for me? Qing Chen seemed uninterested in Guo Huchan, the burly man who made empty promises and ran his mouth off, so he didnt even glance at him while they talked. Im different from others, others might value the Qings Family behind you, but I value your capabilities! Guo Huchan said earnestly, Im serious, I want to invite someone ambitious like you. Not interested, Qing Chen said calmly, then stood up. He handed his tray to Lu Guangyi for washing and then walked alone towards the reading area. He hadnt walked two steps when he seemed to falter as if losing strength and almost fell to the ground, but he managed to brace himself with his hands just in time to avoid embarrassment. Qing Chen got up and continued walking forward. Unbeknownst to him, two prisoners had followed him from behind at some point and were casually closing in on him. However, in the next moment, the previously frail-looking Qing Chen suddenly turned and faced the two men. The young mans gaze was clear but oppressively piercing, as if he saw right through them. The two prisoners hesitated for a moment, they looked at each other as if making a decision, and then suddenly, each of them pulled out a sharpened toothbrush handle from their waistbands and charged at Qing Chen. In Qing Chens eyes, the hydraulic shafts on their Mechanical Legs suddenly powered up; he could even see steam ejecting from their steel limbs. It wasnt a physical reaction caused by their mechanical limbs, but rather, some mechanical structure inside the mechanical limbs had compressed the air, instantly vaporizing the moisture in the air! But just as they leaped toward him, both simultaneously closed their eyes and passed out. Qing Chen sidestepped slightly, letting the two men brush past him, flying behind him and tumbling over the ground more than a dozen times before finally stopping. The two couldnt get up again; their consciousness was firmly gripped by Lin Xiaoxiaos nightmare. Qing Chen knelt beside them to observe, while Lu Guangyi came over with his Mechanical Arm, pried open their mouths, and forcibly extracted their back molars. The prisoners were all stunned; no one had seen clearly what had happened, everything had occurred so quickly. They didnt understand why these two prisoners had attacked Qing Chen, nor how they had been taken down. Lu Guangyi held a back molar in his hand for Qing Chen to see; it was clearly a silver poison capsule. At that moment, Qing Chen understood that the three Death Warriors who had died before were not there for Uncle Li Dong; the target... was himself. These two death warriors had come in five days ago, along with Jian Sheng from Sichuan Province. At that time, everyones attention was on Jian Sheng, but even in that immense chaos, Qing Chen noticed something odd about these two individuals. Initially, he didnt pay much attention, but on the fourth day in the dark cell, the more isolated Qing Chen became, the clearer his mind grew, to the point where he revisited all the unusual occurrences in his mind. Therefore, he gave them a chance, a chance where he was alone and vulnerable. In doing so, he aimed to confirm for whom these death warriors had come. If these two individuals did not take action, he would expose them regardless; if they attacked, the answer would immediately become clear. Calculating the time, the first batch of death warriors had come in with him. So, actually, from his first day here, there had been people wanting to kill him. If he hadnt found Uncle Li Dong immediately, allowing the latter to feel wary, he would have already been dead. These subsequent death warriors seemed to be under a death order, desperate enough to risk their own lives just to kill him. Who exactly wanted him dead, other Shadow Candidates? Qing Chen couldnt be sure, but this was the most likely answer. It seemed the struggle for the position of the Shadow was more dangerous than he had imagined. In Qings Financial Group, those Shadows specifically handling dirty jobs are ruthless, and only those who dare to eliminate their rivals are fit to be Shadows. This dark race among nine people was never about who performed tasks better, but who was more vicious and decisive. At that moment, four Mechanical Prison Guards uniformly sprinted over. However, they did not trouble Qing Chen but directly carried these two death warriors out. Qing Chen knew they would face very harsh interrogation and punishment, as he had just experienced. Boss, what now? Lu Guangyi asked. Wait for them to talk, Qing Chen said and then exchanged a glance with Lin Xiaoxiao across the air before heading to the reading area. ... At night, Prison No. 18 returned to tranquility. As Qing Chen lay on his bunk pondering, the alloy gate of his cell opened on its own. He was not surprised but quietly walked out, with Uncle Li Dong, Ye Wan, and Lin Xiaoxiao waiting for him in the downstairs fitness area. This was agreed upon, as what Uncle Li Dong had to teach him must not be known to others. Fortunately, after 9 p.m., all prisoners were forced back to their cells, giving Qing Chen ample time to learn... how to become a Transcendent. Uncle Li Dong looked at Qing Chen before him and asked, Got any questions? You can deal with other things before we start learning. Who wants to kill me? Qing Chen asked. Not interrogated out yet, Lin Xiaoxiao said nearby: These two have tough bones, still clench their teeth even in nightmares. They really committed crimes to get here, no one arranged that, so its hard to trace anything from that angle. Their mechanical limbs seem to be specially replaced to prevent tracking down their sale and production locations. But dont worry, give me 7 days, and Ill have an answer for you. Thank you, Qing Chen nodded. Uncle Li Dong thought for a moment and said, It must be those young ones from the Qing family who want to contend for the position of the Shadow. Facing dangers is an inevitable path, and you need to be mentally prepared for this. Why does everyone compete for this position of the Shadow? Qing Chen puzzled: Even at the risk of dying nine out of ten times? Uncle Li Dong smiled and said, Because, since some generation, the rule in the Qing Family has been that only those who have been a Shadow can become the Family Head. ... Asking for monthly votes, please! Just let me stay in the top ten, or I am going to drop out again! ... Thanks to Second Brother Not Taking the Journey, Lord of Cloud Skies, Endless Night Fire , Flying Little Crow, Mimo Seven Tones, and A Shivering Student for becoming the new Alliance Hierarchs of this book, thank you, bosses, you are all so generous! Thanks to Li Dongze and Yuan Zhang for the new million bounty, thank you, bosses, you are all so generous! May the bosses have blessings as vast as the East Sea and a lifespan as long as the South Mountains. Yesterday was such a surprise, gaining so many new Hierarchs! Chapter 43: 43. Breath Chapter 43: 43. Breath Shadows can become the Family Head? Qing Chen was puzzled. Up to now, he had no clear concept of the Shadow Struggle, and because he couldnt reveal too much, he could only feign understanding, as if he knew everything. Finally, he could resolve many doubts. Ask directly! Uncle Li Dong, knowing that he wasnt from the Inner World, began to explain in detail like a teacher, It is said that during the last human civilization era, Qings Family existed. Back then, a Shadow was merely a disposable role within Qings Group, usually assigned to those Descendants of Qing without any background, and they didnt hold as much Power as they do now. However, one incredibly talented Shadow overthrew the master and set a new rule. Every Family Head must have been a Shadow, to have witnessed the filthiest things in this world. And those who have been Shadows, the Clan will never abandon; they will be provided for until the end of their days. Qing Chen was puzzled, How many Shadows are there? Uncle Li Dong answered, On average, a new generation is selected every decade or so, and a single Family Head may have accompanied over a dozen Shadows. He continued, Nowadays, medical technology is quite advanced; a Family Head can live for a hundred years, some even over a hundred and fifty. Hence, when a Family Head steps down, he has to choose his successor from among the dozen or so Shadows he has known. And the other Shadows? Qing Chen asked. They transfer power, said Uncle Li Dong, but they can live out their twilight years in peace. Having been a Shadow not only qualifies one for the position of Family Head but also grants an immunity from death. I always find this system a bit odd. Since that Qing Family Ancestor had been a Shadow himself and knew the suffering, why would he establish such a parasitic system? Qing Chen wondered. Oh, the rule of the nine fighting for the position wasnt set by him; it was set by his son. It seems his son chose several Shadows who turned out to be useless, having no one capable by his side, so he let the subordinates fight amongst themselves. The winner would naturally be the strongest, Uncle Li Dong explained. Didnt the Qing Family Ancestor stop his son? Qing Chen asked. At first, the Shadow Struggle was just about completing tasks; the one with the greater abilities won, Uncle Li Dong said. But as nearly a thousand years have passed, the Shadow Struggle gradually degenerated, becoming a matter of survivalonly those who can stay alive become the Shadow. Qing Chen nodded; this made sense. The ancestral family law reflected idealism, but all ideals gradually decay over time. Nothing is immutable, for the human heart is everchanging. Since then, the practice of the Shadow Struggle has continued, Uncle Li Dong said with a smile. Perhaps all the Family Heads of Qings Family understand that without ferocity, how can they hold their ground in this Inner World? Indeed, Qing Chen nodded, so I must be careful about my own safety, since all nine Shadow Candidates want to eliminate the others. Yes, Uncle Li Dong nodded, to be honest, this has surpassed my expectations too. I didnt expect someone to attempt eliminating the others so quickly; it usually doesnt happen this fast. Unless someone feels threatened by you. Because Im close to you? Qing Chen analyzed. No, no, thats not right. The Death warriors had already started following me even before I met you. No need to overthink it, with time, you will naturally understand, Uncle Li Dong said. Can I drop out of the Shadow Struggle? Does being in Qings Family and joining the Knights conflict? Qing Chen asked. No conflict, Uncle Li Dong shook his head, but its still better to keep it a secret that youve joined the Knights. Havent you seen that Ive been locked up here? I will teach you at midnight like now, and continue as we do during the day. And I wouldnt recommend you drop out of the Shadow Struggle; you havent yet seen just how great the Power of a Shadow can be. Alright, Qing Chen nodded. He wasnt someone without courage. Since Uncle Li Dong advised not quitting, he would just play along with the other candidates. At this moment, Prison Number 18 was particularly empty, and Qing Chen felt a sense of freedom without the usual constraints. Uncle Li Dong sat cross-legged on the ground, with the big cat snuggled up to him asleep, and Qing Chen also sat cross-legged opposite him. Do you have any more questions? Uncle Li Dong asked. I see that the standard weaponry in the Inner World is still firearms. Are there more powerful weapons? Qing Chen asked. There are, but not many, Uncle Li Dong said, There are small EMP grenades specifically against mechanical limbs, and special weapons mounted on mechanical limbs, but the military of the conglomerates still mainly uses firearms, and the bullets are basically made of copper. Qing Chen was puzzled, Given the Inner Worlds advanced technology, why are its weapons similar to those in the Outer World? Uncle Li Dong smiled and said, Because to kill a person, one bullet is enough. Qing Chen understood that everyone continued to use them because they are the most cost-effective weapons, and they are sufficient. The word sufficient is very key. Its like how some say that mirrors in the Inner World arent as high-tech as imagined, aside from being able to defog, they dont have any other additional functions. Thats because the function of a mirror is just that simple. Its not that the more complicated the technology, the more complicated the everyday items will be. Alright, enough of the trivial matters, lets talk about the important issues, Uncle Li Dong said. The longest path among all the shortcuts in the human world? Qing Chen asked. Right, Uncle Li Dong nodded, Stretch out your right hand. Qing Chen spread out his right hand in front of him, only to see Uncle Li Dong suddenly grab his wrist. In just an instant, he felt his breath hitch, as if a strong spiritual will was controlling the rhythm of his breathing, even the speed of his blood flow. The pulse that Uncle Li Dong grasped felt as if it had been locked in shackles. The next moment, Uncle Li Dongs breathing rhythm changed, and Qing Chen watched as he exhaled a white breath, followed by a Fire Rune pattern extending from his cheek to the side of his ear. Qing Chen was stunned! All of this displayed by the other party completely defied biological common sense! But before he could react, Qing Chen felt his own breathing rhythm also being forcibly changed, his heartbeat, his breathing, all become different! Qing Chen only felt that when he breathed, it was like a fiery surge rolling into his throat, then spreading through all his alveoli, the terrifying temperature sweeping through his body, followed by heart-wrenching pain! It wasnt actual temperature, but the illusion of pain caused by the inexplicable agony. Gradually, Fire Rune patterns began to appear on Qing Chens cheeks as well, with the pain spreading along the patterns into his brain. He wanted to pull away the wrist that Uncle Li Dong had clamped, but Ye Wan at his side said firmly, Endure it. Qing Chen gradually calmed down, no longer struggling or pleading. Just like when he experienced water torture yesterday. Lin Xiaoxiao said, Remember what I told you? Those who have experienced painful lives can ascend to a higher level. Chapter 44: 44. Face the Pain Chapter 44: 44. Face the Pain The burning illusion, the boiling blood, the thunderous heartbeat. Qing Chen felt as if the world was roaring around him, his life igniting along with it. However, the burning sensation soon began to subside. With each breath, while the fire rune still marked his and Uncle Li Dongs cheeks, the air he drew into his lungs had become a soothing breeze, no longer accompanied by pain! Lin Xiaoxiao suddenly reminded him, Hold onto your consciousness, those pains you once forgot will soon sweep through your mind, all the pain, remember its all the pain. The moment it begins, you will start to crumble, and if you cannot withstand this, no one can help you. Qing Chens mind shivered, for the pain Lin Xiaoxiao spoke of surged into his mind in an instant: His first time living alone, the finger he cut while trying to cook, the moment of the cut, the slow drag of the knife edge across his skin, even the feel of each fingerprint being split was remembered. During water torture, the icy water streaming through his lung lobes like toxic saplings, their frigid roots piercing into his lung lobes. In the dark room, the dryness of dehydration clashed with the pain of water torture just a second before. And the sunset on the day his mother left. As well as the silhouette dragging a suitcase under that sunset. All of it swept in like a tide, as if it intended to smash the cliffs by the sea into pebbles. The dark waves, fine as knives, emitted hollow howls and moans. Qing Chen felt as if he was back during the water torture, closing his eyes. He plunged into a void of darkness once again. Beneath the abyss, a gentle voice called out, Come with mom. Qing Chen replied, Ive come so far on my own, I will walk the rest of the way by myself as well. It seemed as if only a moment had passed, and he opened his eyes again. No wonder Uncle Li Dong had said, if you cant endure that trial, you cant walk his path. All of it was for this moment. Qing Chens breath blazed like a fierce fire. That blaze seemed to burn away all past events in an instant, and from then on, he understood his choices, no longer needing to blame himself, no need to look back. His remaining life was all about the path ahead. Ye Wan and Lin Xiaoxiao beside him also changed expressions, standing straight and exchanging glances, seemingly surprised that Qing Chen still kept his clarity to this point. They too had experienced this kind of pain, knowing well what it felt like when the heart begins to collapse as all the pain converges. Only those who have directly faced each pain can step over that profound questioning soul abyss, severing their past from their future, and move forward. Lin Xiaoxiao muttered, Maybe its because Qing Chen never forgets what he sees, so those pains, hes never truly forgotten... The human brain has protective mechanisms that let you intentionally forget certain things, thus allowing you to live better. However, the state of Super Memory gave Qing Chen an extraordinary talent as well as endless pain. This pain, revisited year after year, he had long since grown accustomed to. Qing Chen was never the greenhouses favored child; he had long been a disciple of pain. And that abyss, he had stepped over long ago. Uncle Li Dong slowly released his palm, remarking, That trial went smoother than I imagined. For some reason, as he realized what was happening, he started to feel a pang of sympathy for the young man before him. No one knows what anothers life is truly like, or what burdens they bear while enjoying their talents. The Fire Rune on Qing Chens cheek began to fade as he asked, What is the purpose of this Breathing Technique? The reason he asked was that he hadnt felt any significant changes in his body. He only felt spiritually invigorated and extremely relaxed, the weakness from fasting for four days rapidly dissipating. Its just a supplementary method, Uncle Li Dong said, The Breathing Technique is simply different breathing frequencies. You cant use it alone yet. After I guide you through it a few more times, youll remember its rhythm. However, no sooner had Uncle Li Dong spoken than he saw the Fire Rune on the face of Qing Chen, who was sitting opposite him, not only stop fading, but begin to spread once more! He couldnt help but smile bitterly for the first time, I forgot that you can enter a Super Memory state and memorize the breathing rhythm directly. It must be said that Uncle Li Dong was truly feeling helpless now; his own teacher had to guide him over forty times just for him to barely remember the breathing frequencies, and even then, no mistakes were allowed. But the young man in front of him got it in one try. Uncle Li Dong then said, Since I dont need to guide you on this anymore, let me tell you about the inheritance of the Knights for now. As for the functions of the Breathing Technique, we can talk about that later. At the beginning of the Knight Organization, it was the founder who discovered the secrets of the Genetic Lock. According to his findings, after humans completed eight life-death thresholds, the Genetic Lock would open by itself. Uncle Li Dong continued, In the earliest days, you had to complete these eight life-death thresholds to be considered a qualified Knight. Once the Genetic Lock was opened, one became transcendental. Back then, there were many Knights. They followed humanity through the era of great calamities and, together with the surviving humans, forged a new civilized epoch. But later on, Knights became increasingly rare, not because there were no suitable candidates, but because one of the life-death thresholds had to be completed at sea, and the entire sea had turned into Taboo Land. It used to be a narrow escape from death, but now it became certain death. With one life-death threshold missing, the Genetic Lock naturally could not be opened. However, the new leader of the Knights at that time, Ancestor Qin Sheng, was also extraordinarily talented. He developed a new Breathing Technique to assist such that followers discovered that if they used the Breathing Technique during challenges, they could unlock part of the Genetic Lock after finishing each threshold instead of having to complete all to unlock it. Though a Knight who only completed one life-death threshold could not be as powerful as those who completed all eight, by the time everyone completed the sixth threshold, their strength fully surpassed that of the older generation of Knights. If classified according to the levels in the Inner World, that would be six levels from A to F, with the completion of the sixth being A-Class. Qing Chen was stunned for a moment; he hadnt expected that the Transcendents of this world were also divided into strength levels. He suddenly asked, Then, teacher, what level are you? Ye Wan said from the side, The boss is S-Class. Because Uncle Li Dong had already completed seven life-death thresholds, only one short of the final one. But what exactly is so miraculous about this Breathing Technique that it can help unlock the Genetic Lock? Qing Chen asked. At that moment, his heart was thrilled because he had already touched the gateway to the New World, but he was still somewhat puzzled. You should know about endorphins, Uncle Li Dong said. Although Qing Chen had a photographic memory, he hadnt really focused on this subject before. He could only rely on the information in his memory to say, Like dopamine, its a secretion that provides pleasure, but there is a difference: the dopamine from playing games, winning the lottery, or gambling provides a hit, whereas the exhilaration and relaxation after exercise are provided by endorphins. Uncle Li Dong shook his head. Thats what soul-soothing phrases claim, but dopamine doesnt directly make people happy; its just a neurotransmitter that transports serotonin, which can make people happy. However, to put it simply, saying dopamine provides happiness isnt wrong, but understand this: its not happiness it provides but an addictive craving. What about endorphins? Qing Chen asked. Endorphins are substances that offer a sweet relief after bitter pain. They bind with morphine receptors in the body, providing an analgesic effect, but thats just their basic function, Uncle Li Dodng explained, Ancestor Qin Sheng conducted very strict tests and discovered that when Knights completed certain life-death thresholds, a large amount of endorphins were secreted in their bodies. So, he believed that dopamine is the poison that drags people down, while endorphins are the key to unlocking the Genetic Lock. Thus, a new creed was born within the Knight Organization: Only those who have experienced painful lives can ascend to higher realms. Chapter 45: 45. Taboo (Vote for me for the monthly ticket!) Chapter 45: 45. Taboo (Vote for me for the monthly ticket!) Qing Chen, while listening to Uncle Li Dongs stories about knight traditions, could imagine how many brambles the knights ancestors had to cut through to forge a new path. Because the sea environment no longer allowed them to complete the eight life-and-death trials, they had to find their own way out. He asked, What is the relationship between the Breathing Technique and endorphins? Why can the early unlocking of the Genetic Lock be aided by the Breathing Technique? Because the Breathing Technique enables you to secrete endorphins instantly after feeling pain, which is itself a skill to control your body. If you use the Breathing Technique to train your body, you can cover in three months what others take several years to achieve, Uncle Li Dong answered, So when you complete the life-and-death trials entirely with the Breathing Technique, the level of endorphins in your body is far above normal levels. Are there other effects? Qing Chen asked. When you finish the first life-and-death trial, I will tell you the rest of its effects. Knowing them now wouldnt be meaningful, Uncle Li Dong said. Cant endorphins be injected directly? Qing Chen asked, believing that the technology of the Inner World was likely advanced enough to extract and inject endorphins without side effects. Uncle Li Dong laughed and said, This is an era where even love can be faked with phenylethylamine chips, but you need to understand that any action that relies on external force is ineffective for us. There were ancestors who tried to inject endorphins directly without using the Breathing Technique, but they failed to unlock the Genetic Lock even after passing the life-and-death trials. We can understand the principle of endorphins, but still cannot comprehend the Genetic Lock. To this day, the secrets of the Genetic Lock remain sacred and untouchable to knights. We can only use the most foolish method, adhering to the old rules, so I said, this is the longest path among all shortcuts in the human world. And there is only one path to the divine throne, which is the painful cultivation. Alright, Ive got it, Qing Chen said, Then what will happen after I complete all eight life-and-death trials with the assistance of the Breathing Technique? That question is meaningless, Uncle Li Dong shook his head. It has meaning, Qing Chen looked at him and said, Because in the Outer Worlds oceans... there is no Taboo Land. He watched as Uncle Li Dong showed a look of astonishment for the first time; he always seemed to have everything under control, as if nothing really concerned him. But when he heard this statement, his state of mind was visibly disturbed. Yes, there were no Transcendents in your place, so how could there be a Taboo Land, Uncle Li Dong mused, So, you could pass all the life-and-death trials in another world. What exactly are the Taboo Land and the Taboo items? Qing Chen finally voiced the question. Seeing that her boss was pondering, Ye Wan explained on his behalf, The origin of both the Taboo items and the Taboo Land comes from the same entity: the Transcendents. The Transcendents? Qing Chen asked. Right, Lin Xiaoxiao said, When a Transcendent dies unexpectedly, their abnormal and potent blood seeps into the land, nourishing the creatures there: ants, centipedes, scorpions, any existing insects. It also revitalizes the plants and even the microbes that grow there. As a result, the creatures of the land of the dead evolve, and the land of the dead becomes the Taboo Land. The reason the Inner Worlds oceans are so fearsome is, according to the suspicions of the Deer Island Financial Groups investigation, that a transcendental species of whale had aged, fell ill and died. Then its blood and bones nourished the entire ocean, Lin Xiaoxiao explained. How did they find out about it? Qing Chen asked. Deer Island built unmanned submarines to explore the ocean, to see if there was a possibility to sail out and find a new continent. Before the creatures of the ocean destroyed the unmanned submarines, they captured footage of a gigantic whale skeleton on the sea floor, Lin Xiaoxiao explained, This was a classified file from hundreds of years ago that was declassified decades ago. Qing Chen asked curiously, How big was that whale skeleton? Uh, Lin Xiaoxiao was at a loss for words, Really freaking huge? Speak human, Qing Chens face darkened. The unmanned submarines wide-angle lens was over three hundred meters away from it when filming, and it couldnt even capture its skull in the entire frame, Lin Xiaoxiao said. Qing Chen exclaimed, Its really fucking huge. From then on, humans on land never again entertained the thought of setting sail. And what is that Taboo? Qing Chen asked. A Taboo is an extraordinary power a Transcendent possessed in life that mutates into a different form for a period of ten to a hundred years after their death, Lin Xiaoxiao explained. Can you give me some examples? Qing Chen asked. Some Taboos are direct manifestations of a Transcendents powers from when they were alive. For example, theres always a six-carriage Black steam train roaming the wilderness near City 16, and few know where its headed. It occasionally stops, and if you throw a Gold Coin through the window into the headcar, it will take you anywhere you want to go and wont stop until it reaches the destination. Gold Coins... Yes, its headcar is filled with Gold Coins, and many organizations like to use it for smuggling goods, although finding it is not easy. What if you steal its Gold Coins? Qing Chen asked. It will close off the carriage and trap you inside until you die, which is why the last carriage is filled with skeletons, Lin Xiaoxiao said cheerfully: So, if you ever come across it one day, dont ever steal the Gold Coins. Qing Chen nodded. There are also Taboos that have nothing to do with the Transcendents abilities and might even be mysterious creatures with infinite life, Lin Xiaoxiao continued, If you have a way to contain it, it might serve you. And if you dont have a way to contain it? Then it can be extremely dangerous. At this moment, Uncle Li Dong seemed to have come to some sort of realization, stood up, and said, In the face of Taboos, were like Hunters in a forest with a Longsword in hand, aware that there are fierce beasts in the woods, mindful that these beasts are different. Weve learned to classify these beasts and have experience in dealing with them. We know which beasts we can fight and which we must avoid. But now there are more and more beasts, so we need specialized Hunters to deal with them, which led to the formation of the Contraindicated courts. They are enemies of both the fierce beasts and those who would keep them. Not only do they contain Taboos, but they also contain Transcendents who might produce Taboos, because they dont want the day to come when there are so many fierce beasts that they could destroy humanity. Qing Chen pondered upon hearing this. Uncle Li Dong looked at him and said, Starting today, Ye Wan will teach you combat skills, train your physical endurance, and the techniques for the eight challenges. I am envious that you were born in the Outer World, but thats not important. What matters is that you might change an era. Begin now, I cant wait to see that day. After speaking, Uncle Li Dong left. In the gloomy darkness of Prison 18, Qing Chen suddenly felt that, compared to the bright sunshine of the Outer World, he really preferred it here. Even though he was in a prison, he felt hope and freedom. ... Starting on May 1, additional updates will commence, ending on May 7; the last few hours of April are upon us, seeking monthly votes to keep us in the top ten! Charge! ... Thank you to the students with tales of wine, I am not silver light, ah, and Fortress Treasure for becoming this books Alliance Hierarchs, your generosity is as vast as the Eastern Sea and your longevity as enduring as Nanshan! Chapter 46: 46. Family Visit (Additional update for Sea Soul Clothing Alliance) Chapter 46: 46. Family Visit (Additional update for Sea Soul Clothing Alliance) Training began unexpectedly. Right there in the fitness area, Ye Wan took out a constant-temperature lunchbox. The lunchbox even had an LED screen, displaying the inside temperature, as well as options like heating, humidifying, air frying, and cooking rice. Qing Chen thought to himself, isnt this just a rice cooker that doesnt need to be plugged in? It seems that there is also a Yun Liu Tower near the prison. When Ye Wan opened the lunchbox, inside were neatly arranged slices of beef. Eat, Ye Wan said. Arent we supposed to be training, wouldnt eating now upset the stomach? Qing Chen asked. Well be training with the Breathing Technique. If you dont eat, your body will break down because the consumption is too great, Ye Wan explained. As Qing Chen experienced the wonders of the Breathing Technique, he suddenly asked, Wait, when I use the Breathing Technique, I clearly feel an inexplicable breath moving through my body. It doesnt seem to help my body much, and its intangible, but I feel like I can control it. Ye Wan shook his head, I dont know about that. You can ask the boss. Okay, Qing Chen didnt ask any further. The next morning, the countdown read 20:20:00. Lin Xiaoxiao, sitting at the table, asked Ye Wan, How did last nights training go? Usually, people cant withstand high-intensity training when they start. How long did he last? Ye Wan glanced at him, Full load, from 11 to 3 in the morning. Wait, he looks like hes never trained before, and he lasted until 3 AM? Lin Xiaoxiao was stunned, Mother Ye, dont train him to death! Whats to fear with the Breathing Technique, Ye Wan shook her head. Before training, I made him eat a whole box of beef, and he burned it all off during the training. The boss specifically instructed this, dont worry, I know my limits. Ordinary people starting high-intensity training typically couldnt endure it this way; they could even end up with rhabdomyolysis. Even with the Breathing Technique, he must be tired, Lin Xiaoxiao mumbled. Ye Wan shook her head again, Its as if he can separate his body from his spirit, only pursuing the training goal, irrespective of the bodys exhaustion. Ive never seen anything like it. If he wasnt a Time Traveler who has come through, with that kind of willpower, he probably would have awakened into a Transcendent long ago. Thats a good thing. If he had awakened earlier, he would no longer be an ordinary person, and he wouldnt be able to follow the bosss path, Lin Xiaoxiao said. By this time, Prison 18 had reached the morning mealtime, and one alloy gate after another opened with a clank, as prisoners lined up and walked downstairs. Qing Chen stood in line obediently, still without any sign of privilege. Lin Xiaoxiao looked over towards Qing Chen and was surprised to see him looking spirited, even the aftereffects of four days without food had disappeared. He turned to Uncle Li Dong and said, Boss, the Breathing Technique is really that miraculous, isnt it? How about you give it a try on me tonight? I feel like I can still be saved. Uncle Li Dong, not lifting his head from the chessboard, said, When I gave you the chance to try it back then, you didnt dare. Now its too late, youre too old. Im only twenty-seven years old... Lin Xiaoxiao said. The longer you live, the more you suffer inside, Uncle Li Dong said. After twenty, worldly sufferings pile up, and using the Breathing Technique, you cant pass the examination of conscience. We always thought we suffered a lot in our youth, but as adults, we understand that the two kinds of suffering are different. When it was Qing Chens turn to line up and come downstairs, he still sat far from Uncle Li Dong, who felt a bit melancholic, Although I told him to pretend to be ostracized, now no one will join me to break stalemates. During the conversation, an announcement suddenly rang out in Prison Number 18, Inmate number 010101, inmate number 002199, inmate number... your family members are here for visitation. Please follow Mechanical Prison Guard 03 to the visitation area. 010101 was Qing Chens number. He was stunned for a moment; it was the first time someone had come to visit him since hed been in the Inner World. So much so that he had forgotten that family visitations even happened in prison. Lu Guangyi said from across him, Boss, it must be Qing Yan coming for family day. Yeah, Qing Chen nodded and stood up. He lined up with more than eighty inmates, passed through the large alloy gate, and walked along the long corridor. The walls of the corridor were also made of metal, and on the ceiling were two white strips of light, which made it seem like walking in a tunnel through time and space. Along the way, an inmate teased another, Han Linshan, your sister must be here to see you again. Get a photo from your sister for me. Ill borrow it tonight! The inmate named Han Linshan ahead cursed back. If it wasnt visiting time, they would definitely have started a fight. The inmates were noisy, but as long as they stayed in line, the mechanical prison guards did not intervene. Among the crowd, only Qing Chen remained calm and quiet. No prisoner dared to joke with him, even those behind him intentionally kept their distance. Arriving at the private visitation room, Qing Chen pushed open the door and saw a young man sitting inside. The man appeared to be about 25 or 26 years old, with short black hair, looking very fit. This must be Qing Yan, who was wearing a gray suit, with only his palms being mechanical prosthetics. However, these were probably the most exquisite mechanical prosthetics Qing Chen had ever seen. The surface of each finger looked as if it had been meticulously polished, with golden lines inlaid on both sides, and the back of the hand adorned with beautiful ginkgo leaf patterns, reminiscent of the black mafias scepter. The ginkgo leaf was the symbol of Qings Family. Qing Chen sat down in front of him, and Qing Yan coldly said, The second and fourth houses have already submitted a complaint against you to the Family Tribunal, saying you provoked Uncle Li Dong for no reason and caused his animosity. Although we Qings Family are not afraid of Uncle Li Dong, we have no intention of making enemies with the Knights or Heng Society. I hope youll behave yourself in Prison No. 18 and stop causing any more trouble. Qing Chen was startled. Prior to this, when Lu Guangyi mentioned Qing Yan, he had thought he was an ally. But now it seemed that was not the case. He thought for a moment and asked, Is there anything else? Qing Yan said coldly, Have you thought about your own situation? All the other candidates have support, yet you alone do not. What makes you think you can compete with them? The second and fourth houses are determined to win this time; dont become cannon fodder for others. Listen to my advice, go ahead and marry Jindai Kongyin from the Jindai family. Youll still have a place in Qings Family. Qing Chen looked at him expressionlessly, but his mind was racing. What kind of strange turn was this? He even had an arranged marriage in the Inner World? And from the name, it didnt sound like it was of Chinese descent. Jindai... must be one of the top five companies, Jindai. Qing Chen thought for a moment and said, I still plan to give it another try. Qing Yan seemed surprised by Qing Chens reply. He straightened his suit and said with composure, Whatever you say. Then I must tell you, although the Judgment Tribunal has not yet given a punishment verdict against you, the family wont be helping you out any further. The Clan didnt intend for you to participate in the Shadow struggle; it was your insistence on joining and consequently knocking out the third houses spot. So dont expect more support. If you can complete the mission, great; if not, you might as well stay in Prison No. 18 until youre released. Alright, Qing Chen calmly got up and left, without saying much more to this elegantly dressed Descendant of Qing. Seeing this, Qing Yan became somewhat annoyed, Did you even listen to what I said? Qing Chen said to the Mechanical Prison Guard outside the door, Hello, Im done here. Wait! Qing Yan moderated his tone, Jindai Kongyin came with me to visit you, you should at least see her. Otherwise, itll be difficult to explain to both families. Qing Chen: ...Okay. Qing Yan left, and after five minutes, someone else came in. It was a girl around 17 or 18 years old, not stunning in appearance but somehow exuding a fresh aura. The girl was wearing formal attire on top, with a skirt that reached just to her knees, looking like a very formal meeting. But the girl did not seem used to wearing such clothes and appeared somewhat restless. Qing Chen observed the girl, who had a small mole beside her nose and no trace of makeup on her skin. After sitting down, the girl did not make eye contact with Qing Chen, occasionally glancing at him stealthily without speaking. And so they sat in silence... Until the announcement came from the broadcast that visitation time was over. The girl then muttered softly, Sitting quietly like this does have its appeal, but the silence of this boy is truly beautiful. What? Qing Chen was puzzled. The girl smiled and said, Never mind. The Mechanical Prison Guard escorted Qing Chen away, and on the way back, he pondered. What Lu Guangyi had told him earlier, that he personally requested to have Lu Guangyi assist him in Prison No. 18, might not be the whole truth. No wonder, with something as important as the Shadow struggle, Qings Family only sent him an enforcer from a retirement home for assistance. It turned out he had been abandoned by the family in the Inner World as well. However, what was the story with this out-of-the-blue arranged marriage? ... May has begun, and Im asking for basic monthly support by way of votes! Seven days starting from May Day, additional updates are coming! Chapter 47: 47. Cyber City Chapter 47: 47. Cyber City Returning to prison cell 18, Lu Guangyi approached and asked, Boss, did Qing Yan say anything? No, Qing Chen shook his head. Continue with my plan. The so-called ousting by other forces of the Qing Clan or the struggle within the Shadows currently mattered little to Qing Chen. Today, he had also not countered any of Qing Yans aggressive remarks because only when one is powerful does the response carry any value. The Breathing Technique had brought him a surprise that was not merely about unlocking the door to becoming a Transcendent. Last night, he had been so tired that he could barely walk, but when he woke up this morning not only was he brimming with spirit, but his body moved freely without any trace of fatigue. This feeling was magical, something he had never experienced, seen, or heard of in the Outer World. Lu Guangyi asked in a low voice, Did you really have a falling out with Uncle Li Dong? Qing Chen glanced at him, Yes, we had a falling out, but we were never intending to rely on external forces to carry out our mission, were we? Exactly, Lu Guangyi said, Boss, you still have me. ... At night, the countdown read 5:59:59. Area 7 of City 18. Jiang Xue was slowly walking through the city as its lights began to shine, a place that seemed to her like a gigantic maze. When she looked up at the sky, she saw not smog, blue skies, or white clouds, but a towering Steel Forest, and a dizzying array of colorful Holographic Neon. The holographic sign of a barbecue restaurant rotated in the air, and from a distance, pedestrians could see giant synthetic meat skewers and even smell the cumin drifting from the store. Suddenly, a Mechanical Dolphin appeared in the sky as if it had burst forth from the ocean depths. As it gently glided over the buildings, its tail flicked and holographic blue waves splashed up. Those waves would fall toward the ground, and anyone seeing it for the first time would instinctively cover their head to avoid the splash. However, after falling more than ten meters, the waves turned into dazzling fireworks and dispersed. Only then did the sky reveal the illusionary and dazzling advertisement: Pomelo Phones, for the best Holographic Communication Experience. Between the buildings, countless bridges connected them. From the ground, these bridges seemed like ropes tying all the buildings together. As Jiang Xue walked, she passed by numerous people from the Inner World, all of whom would unconsciously clear a path upon seeing the propitious cloud emblem on her chest. That was the symbol of Lis Family. She entered an elevator in a building and pressed for the 32nd floor. The transparent elevator climbed swiftly; she turned and looked down as building after building appeared and then hid from view, with the occasional Hover Cars roaring past the elevator in the air, their destinations unknown. The silver Hover Cars had sleek lines with four turbines instead of wheels, emitting blue fire. With a ding, she arrived at the 32nd floor. Jiang Xue stepped out of the elevator and walked towards the ground floor of the Cloud Mist Building where her clinic was located. But before she could enter the building, someone stopped her at the door: Hello, Ms. Jiang Xue. The person was dressed in a precise, impeccably tailored suit, with a distinguished gold tie clip adorned with the auspicious cloud emblem. Moreover, behind him stood two individuals each carrying a black sealed box. Jiang Xue paused for a moment; this was Zhang Zongyu, a peripheral member of Lis Financial Group who had previously invested in her clinic. Hello, is there something you need? Jiang Xue asked tentatively. Its like this, Zhang Zongyu spoke elegantly, the company is pleased with your smooth cooperation and to show our appreciation, Ive been instructed to deliver the latest model of Mechanical Arm from Lis Financial Group. Not only that, but we have also arranged for an expert in mechanical limb installation to provide you with special training... Jiang Xue felt more and more uneasy as she listened. Time Travelers from the Outer World often talked about how terrifying the corporation was, yet she found the company to be incredibly benevolent; they not only invested money but were also offering a mechanical limb for free and even providing her with the best expert for training as if they knew she lacked experience in installing mechanical limbs. She was starting to have doubts. Suddenly, Zhang Zongyu said, I see youre a bit skeptical, so let me explain; two years ago, you inadvertently helped a middle-aged lady who is a member of our Lis Financial Group. She searched for you for two years and only recently found your information. All this is her way of showing gratitude. Jiang Xue nodded vaguely, Oh, I see... As for whether she had helped someone two years ago, how could she know? This very point exploited the memory blind spots of the Time Travelers by Li Tongyun, knowing that Jiang Xue was clueless about her own past. Moreover, she was very aware that her mother, even if confused, wouldnt dare to ask too many questions, effectively clearing her from any involvement. At this moment, Jiang Xue no longer had any doubts and joyfully accepted Lis Financial Groups gifts, These two mechanical arms... Zhang Zongyu explained, These are the highest-end products on the market now, not only embedded with high-energy weapons but also possessing a long battery life, with a neuron connection synchronization rate that can reach 97%. Thank you, thank you so much! Jiang Xue was even more delighted. ... Countdown 00:30:00. Only half an hour left. In the gym, Ye Wan was guiding Qing Chen through sit-ups and combining them with six sets of training moves to enhance his core explosive strength. After the core strength training, there was targeted training for cardiorespiratory function. The night was long, and the training was harsh. According to Ye Wans estimated timeline, with just another half-month of training, Qing Chen should be ready to begin weight-bearing training; that would be the real test. However, time seemed to be tearing him apart; he was still undergoing Ye Wans training, but in half an hour, he would have to return to the Outer World. Then, after how many days, he would return in the middle of the night to continue training... At that moment, Uncle Li Dong suddenly appeared in the gym. He looked at Qing Chen and asked, Are you returning to the Outer World in a moment? Yes, Qing Chen nodded, What is it, teacher? Is there something you need? Uncle Li Dong said, I want to see this miraculous spectacle of world crossing with my own eyes; who knows, I might discover some secrets. Okay, Qing Chen, soaked with sweat, thanked Ye Wan as he handed him a nutritional supplement and beef for sustenance during his training. It must be said, while the Breathing Technique was useful when combined with training, it consumed a tremendous amount of bodily energy. If he didnt eat something shortly, Qing Chen felt terribly hungry. He ate and trained like a ravenous beast, furiously consuming and exercising. At that moment, Qing Chen suddenly noticed a hint of hesitation in Uncle Li Dongs expression. Out of curiosity, he asked, Whats wrong, teacher? Is there something else? That... well, Uncle Li Dong paused, then said, Could you bring me back more chess endgame books? Qing Chen was stunned for two seconds, then laughed and said, No problem. At this moment, he realized that Uncle Li Dongs usual commanding presence had faded slightly, replaced by something more human. Under the watchful eyes of Ye Wan and Uncle Li Dong, Qing Chen placed the USB drive in his mouth. Then, with a thought, he pulled out a gold bar from his pocket, which had been crumpled into a ball. Ye Wan exclaimed, So thats where Lu Guangyis gold bar went. Uncle Li: ... Instantly, the Fire Rune on Qing Chens cheeks spread towards his ears, and the energy that had once roamed inside him wrapped around the gold bar under his willful control. A look of astonishment appeared on Uncle Li Dongs face. Countdown 10. 9. 8. 7. 6. 5. 4. 3. 2. 1. The world turned to darkness. Chapter 48: 48. Scapegoat, Liu Dezhu Chapter 48: 48. Scapegoat, Liu Dezhu When the darkness dissipated, Qing Chen was still drenched in sweat. He glanced at the night outside the window and his little house on Xingshu Road. He had only been away for a second, yet he found himself already missing that eerie prison. Qing Chen spat out the USB drive from his mouth, then took another look at his palm, where the gold orb that was supposed to remain in the Inner World was still in his hand. This was a delightful discovery since it meant he had an advantage over others while traveling between the Outer and Inner Worlds. He looked down at his arm, where the countdown read 168:00:00. Another seven days. The last return was 7 days, and this time it was a 7-day transfer, seeming as if the Time Travelers duration between the two sides was getting longer. How long would it be in the future? Would a day come when he would stay there for a lifetime and never return? He did not know. Qing Chen smiled, not going to sleep but instead laying out a sheet on the ground, continuing the training Ye Wan had taught him. Even without supervision, the practice was his own. Having said that he would train until 3 AM every day, he should continue to do so even after returning to the Outer World. Taking a deep breath, he followed the strange breathing rhythm, and the Fire Rune pattern on his cheek bloomed once again! No matter if it was the Outer World or the Inner World, self-discipline was the greatest freedom. Hold on, he seemed to have forgotten something very important. After finishing his exercise, Qing Chen sat on the ground drinking water, letting his sweat drip continuously. He took out his phone and found the simultaneous interpretation app, then tried to recall every word Jindai Kongyin had whispered. The phrase, muttered softly in Japanese, always made Qing Chen feel that it must be hiding a lot of information. It was like... if you went somewhere on a trip, and the locals wanted to curse at you, they would definitely use a dialect you didnt understand. Recalling from memory, Qing Chen spoke into his phones microphone word for word, ʤ˾äƤΤ褵??,a?ϱˤ줤?. The translation app quickly displayed the subtitles, Sitting so quietly seems nice, and this boys silence looks really good. Qing Chen was stunned on the spot. What did the other person mean by this? Moreover, didnt the Jindai family also speak Mandarin? What was this Japanese all about? Was she a Time Traveler from the Outer World? Or did the Jindai family still retain the Japanese language inheritance? But if she really was a Time Traveler, how would one explain her fluency in Mandarin? Surely not many people from the Island Country could speak Mandarin so fluently. The next morning, as soon as Qing Chen woke up, he saw non-stop flashing messages on WeChat on his phone. He opened it and saw that Nan Gengchen had sent him a message, Qing Chen Qing Chen Qing Chen! Do you know how amazing our classmate Liu Dezhu is? Qing Chen was momentarily dumbfounded and sat up straight from his bed, What do you mean? You need to come to school! Nan Gengchen said. Qing Chen put on his blue and white uniform and ran to school. Before stepping out, he checked himself in the mirror, reassured that the aftereffects of his fasting had disappeared, and then left with confidence. Upon arriving at school, he saw the entrance to the class next door was packed with students; dozens of them were waiting outside the classroom of the second year, Grade 4, as if waiting for something. Over here, Nan Gengchens short figure was tiptoeing and stretching his arms high in the crowd, trying to get Qing Chens attention. Qing Chen squeezed through and asked in a low voice, What happened? Did you see the trending search? Nan Gengchen flips open Weibo to show him. To his surprise, upon looking, he was stunned. A man from Sichuan, named Jian Sheng, traveled to Los Angeles City on a business trip and accidentally became a Time Traveler, transmigrating to Prison No. 18 in the Inner World. However, he was soon recognized as a Time Traveler and detained in a secretive solitary cell. Transmigrated for 7 days, locked up for 7 days. According to Jian, there was already a Time Traveler in Prison No. 18 who had become a person of great importance, even able to move freely in and out of the cells, ordering Transcendents to serve him. Jian Sheng hoped to find this Time Traveler, whether it was through negotiations or paying money, hoping that the person could persuade the authorities in Prison No. 18 to let him out. Qing Chen was taken aback; he hadnt expected Jian Sheng to be so bold as to seek out the media for help, attempting to reach out to him for assistance in getting out of his predicament. It seemed that being confined to a solitary cell for 7 days had driven him desperate. It must be said that Liu Dezhu and Jian Sheng were truly unlucky, having become Time Travelers, yet they were forcefully imprisoned. While other Time Travelers led lives full of variety, enjoying holographic images in the cities and wandering through Cyber Cities, these two ended up squatting in prison instead... They might as well have stayed put and not traveled through time at all. And at this moment, Qing Chen suddenly realized why everyone had gathered at Liu Dezhus classroom door. Even though Liu Dezhu had not arrived at school yet, everyone was willing to wait for him. Last time he returned, Liu Dezhu admitted to save face that he had traveled to the 18th Prison and also told everyone that he had spoken with Uncle Li Dong! When classmates asked later, Liu Dezhu kept a mysterious face and said nothing, as if to say: Its confidential, dont ask. The less he said, the more everyone liked to speculate. Consequently, many believed that Liu Dezhu was about to receive Uncle Li Dongs legacy and become a Transcendent. After the incident with Jian Sheng came out, classmates who saw the hot search on Weibo immediately thought of Liu Dezhu! Because in everyones minds, the only Time Traveler in the 18th Prison besides Liu Dezhu was nobody else! As the hot search climbed higher, a student finally replied in the comments, My classmate is the Time Traveler he mentioned, hes about to receive Uncle Li Dongs legacy! Originally, Jian Shengs hot search ranked just over forty, but with that comment, the search shot into the top ten within three minutes. The heat was even still rising. In the current opinion of the Outer World, barring mysterious figures like He Xiaoxiao, there are not many known Transcendents. And thats Uncle Li Dong were talking about, the career path with the highest potential in He Xiaoxiaos strategies. Now, virtually everyone who saw the hot search and comments was convinced that Liu Dezhu was the mysterious big shot Jian Sheng mentioned... Just as everyone was whispering amongst themselves, Liu Dezhu arrived upstairs with his backpack. He had just turned into the corridor when the sea of people in front of him turned his face pale with fright: Whats going on? The crowd was resigned; it seemed the main character himself didnt know what was happening. Didnt you see the hot search? Even if you didnt check the hot search, at least look at your phone, said a classmate. Someone named Jian Sheng said he met you in the 18th Prison and hopes you could put in a good word with Uncle Li Dong to get him out of solitary confinement. Liu Dezhus mind buzzed at that moment. He had been in solitary confinement for seven days, and he was so exhausted after returning that he barely managed to get to sleep in his soft bed. Waking up late, he had ridden his bike to school without looking at his phone. He hurriedly turned on his phone to check the hot search. But the more he read, the more something seemed off. According to Jian Sheng, that mysterious big shot had visited him alone and asked several questions. But that person was not him. So, besides himself and Jian Sheng, there was a third Time Traveler in the 18th Prison, and that person was the genuine big shot. He was just the fall guy! I would sure love to beg that big shot to let both me and Jian Sheng out, okay?! Liu Dezhu cried inwardly. Now he wanted to deny his identity, as the situation had blown up. Liu Dezhu tried to say, Actually, the person Jian Sheng mentioned isnt me, its someone else. A classmate asked, puzzled, Didnt you say yesterday there were no other transmigrators in the 18th Prison? To Liu Dezhu, who had traveled for seven days, yesterday in the Outer World was already seven days ago. Qing Chen silently watched this scene. He thought it wasnt bad having someone draw the attention away from him. Still, it wasnt good for the two of them to be cooped up in solitary confinement for so long. Perhaps he should let Uncle Li Dong transfer them to another prison. At that very moment, four news vehicles pulled up outside Los Angeles Foreign Language School, and the reporters rushed towards the school. The two security guards at the school gate tried to stop them but couldnt do anything about it. Seeing this, Qing Chen immediately grabbed Nan Gengchen and turned to head back to class. The last thing you wanted at times like this was to be caught on camera. Time Travelers maintained the same appearance in both the Inner and Outer Worlds; once youre on TV, youd be remembered. ... Therell be more tonight! First day of May, asking for monthly votes, I want to be in the top ten! ... Thanks to Hu Erniu for becoming a silver patron of this book, the bosss generosity is much appreciated! Thanks to silver patrons: Little Piggy Treasure Be Happy, Fu Hei comma Dali, Liuyun Sui Feng, Fengxiao, Book Friend 20210301106583826684, Hua Bilui for becoming major patrons of this book. Thank you, bosses, the bosses are generous! May the bosses make a fortune in May! Chapter 49: 49. Fierce Bandit (Added chapter for the Gold Alliance Penguin) Chapter 49: 49. Fierce Bandit (Added chapter for the Gold Alliance Penguin) Why leave? I want to hear what Liu Dezhu has to say! Nan Gengchen muttered. Qing Chen glanced at him, Whats so interesting about that? Are you a Time Traveler? If not, theres no point in listening. Nan Gengchen choked a bit, But this is first-hand information from the Inner World. What if we... end up time-traveling in the future? It might be useful. Not interested, Qing Chen said nonchalantly. Time traveling would be so interesting, Nan Gengchen said. If both of us traveled to the Inner World, we could become Transcendents or even transform ourselves with mechanical limbs and become superheroes. Then Id form a League of Troubled Fathers with you. Sounds exciting, doesnt it? Qing Chen: ... In the end, a group of teachers blocked the reporters at the downstairs, the school is a place for learning, how could they let outsiders stir up trouble? During the first period break, a figure stealthily climbed over the schools fence. He grabbed a student on the playground and asked, How do I get to the senior year two, class four? The student was clearly stunned by the dialect but still pointed him in the right direction. The middle-aged man thanked him and headed to the classroom. He stood at the entrance of senior year two, class four and said, How do you say, cant keep him? The students at the entrance took a moment to reply, You mean Liu Dezhu? Yes, yes, Liu Dezhu! Jian Sheng slapped his forehead. A student pointed him out, and Liu Dezhu, feeling uneasy, stood up and attempted to run. Jian Sheng rushed forward, grabbed him, and said urgently, I know you were powerful in Prison 18, even that Transcendent followed your lead, your status must be high! Liu Dezhu panicked, Its not me, youve got the wrong person! Damn it, dont worry, I wont mess you up... Jian Sheng was speaking when two teachers arrived and dragged him out of the classroom. Ill give you money! In the hallway, Jian Shengs curses echoed as the students all turned to look back at Liu Dezhu... At that moment, Liu Dezhu was about to break down, having never expected that a mere lie would lead to so much trouble. Truly, what he desired most now was to find out the third Time Traveler in the prison! He wanted to see who had caused him to carry such a big burden! At this very moment, the one carrying the burden, Qing Chen was sitting in the classroom as if the outside commotion had nothing to do with him. He saw Nan Gengchen take out a computer programming textbook and asked, Why are you suddenly reading this? No... no reason, Nan Gengchen said. Just wanting to pick up a skill. How about we cozy up to Liu Dezhu, and if we get on good terms, maybe we could benefit in the Inner World. Not necessary, Qing Chen responded. Im not a Time Traveler. But at that moment, he suddenly lowered his head and began to ponder. He certainly knew that Liu Dezhu was an imposter, but Time Travelers like Nan Gengchen didnt know. Considering Time Travelers from all over the country might total up to tens of thousands, could someone be drawn to Los Angeles City by Liu Dezhus identity? Because this was the most reliable method known so far to find trustworthy teammates in the Inner World. He Xiaoxiao had suggested that everyone should team up in the Inner World, but the difference between useless teammates and reliable ones was significant. However, what Qing Chen couldnt understand was. After such a big incident today, why members from the Kunlun organization had not appeared yet. Was Uncle Li Dongs legacy not enough to draw attention? Definitely not. There must be a problem. Until the evening study session, Qing Chen had not seen Kunluns figure, always feeling that something was about to happen, but not knowing what it was. ... At 9:20 PM, the juniors and seniors from Los Angeles Foreign Language School rushed out of the campus. The night campus, under the dim street lights, had a unique beauty. Students, in their uniforms, walked on the path, conversing in pairs. Those with bicycles beside them said goodbye before dashing into the night. Some girls walked ahead while the boys who secretly liked them would follow behind, roughhousing with their friends to catch their attention. It seemed like this was how youth was supposed to be. At that moment, Liu Dezhu said goodbye to his classmates and pushed his bike out of the shed, heading in the direction of Xinglong Garden. He was reviewing the days events, feeling more aggrieved the more he thought, yet after a long while, he didnt know what to do. As he was passing Yellow River Road, he suddenly felt something was amiss. A black van rapidly approached him from nearby. He turned his head and was shocked to see that both people in the front of the van were wearing sunglasses, with the passenger even turning to look at him. Liu Dezhus heart sank. Just as both parties were about to enter an unmonitored underpass, the driver of the black van suddenly steered towards Liu Dezhu, attempting to ram him with the body of the van. He frantically tried to dodge to the sidewalk, but the black van drove onto the sidewalk, hitting Liu Dezhu and his bike, sending them flying. The screech of tires grinding against the pavement filled the air along with Liu Dezhus screams. The skewed black van stopped on the curb, and with a click, someone pulled open the van door, and a mans cold voice could be heard from inside: Make it quick, take him. Two men wearing sunglasses jumped out of the van, heading straight for Liu Dezhu without hesitation. Their expressions were fierce, resembling the ruthless criminals from Hong Kong films. But most critically, Liu Dezhu clearly saw that both men were equipped with cybernetic limbs! Help! Liu Dezhu was terrified, screaming desperately. Suddenly, a blinding high beam lit up from behind, shining on everyone present. The roar of an engine, growing rapidly louder, sounded like a steel beast running rampantly on the concrete road... With a crash, a black SUV brazenly slammed into the rear side of the black van! The black van rolled over from the impact! The two thugs who had earlier left the van changed expressions and immediately lunged at the black SUV, their cybernetic arms releasing long knives. But before they could reach the SUV, a blurred figure leaped down from the overpass, six meters above. Someone had been waiting here! The figure landed swiftly and fiercely, striking directly above the heads of the two thugs. Metallic legs landing on the shoulders of the two thugs forced them heavily onto the ground. Blue sparks flew as the cybernetic limbs on the shoulders of the thugs shattered, exposing the electronic components inside. The descending figure turned to Liu Dezhu and asked, Are you alright? Hello, nice to meet you for the first time, I am Zheng Yuandong, the person in charge of Kunlun. Chapter 50: 50. Tacit Understanding (Extra update for the Gold Alliance Penguin) Chapter 50: 50. Tacit Understanding (Extra update for the Gold Alliance Penguin) Liu Dezhu sat blankly on the ground, looking at the agile Zheng Yuandong in front of him and his sophisticated mechanical limbs, suddenly feeling a strong sense of security. Actually, Liu Dezhu hadnt seen many mechanical limbs. Initially, when he was transferred to Prison No. 18, he hadnt gotten the chance to appreciate the mechanical civilization before he was taken away to solitary confinement. But he could tell at a glance that the mechanical limbs on Zheng Yuandongs body were different. The arms were no longer exposed hydraulic tubes, but completely covered in alloy skin, with blue light strips like blood vessels on his arms, the purpose of which was unknown. Compared to Prison No. 18, this was what the Outer World had once fantasized about as cybernetic limbs. Seeing Liu Dezhu silent, Zheng Yuandong turned and walked toward the overturned black business vehicle, his arm ejecting a dark red blade and slicing through the car body with a swing of his hand. The steel car body dissolved like a candle meeting a red-hot knife. In the midst of action, more black off-road vehicles surrounded the area, and Lu Yuan jumped down from one of them, Boss, I didnt expect it to be exactly where you predicted they would strike. Zheng Yuandong looked at the four unconscious people inside the business car and slightly nodded to Lu Yuan, Liu Wenqin, Xin Qiuzi, Cui Qiang, Huang Hanyi, all are registered; it seems Liu Wenqin brought them together. Take off their mechanical limbs and bring them back, call for people to tow the car, as soon as possible. As the Kunlun leader spoke, he seemed to know about the individuals and even identified who the mastermind was. You are wise, boss. When I heard this morning that they disappeared from Wucheng, I knew they were targeting Liu Dezhu, Lu Yuan responded, But these guys really have guts, daring to do such a thing inland? Zheng Yuandong said, Some people stay in the Inner World for a while, where the chaotic order makes them increasingly bold. They live on the edge in that place, and once they return to the Outer World with abilities surpassing ordinary people, they want to challenge the existing order. What we need to do is let them understand that the order of the Outer World cannot be challenged, at least not within our territory. Hmm, Lu Yuan nodded, Maybe we could recruit more Time Travelers? Zheng Yuandong shook his head, The purity of the organization and the importance of faith are far greater than strength. At least, strength gained through blind expansion is not what Kunlun ought to pursue. In fact, as Qing Chen suspected, when an important Time Traveler like Liu Dezhu appeared, it was very abnormal for Kunlun not to show up. At the very least, they should have come to inquire. But Kunlun did not do so. When they received the message, they realized the importance of Liu Dezhu, and Zheng Yuandong also knew that other Time Travelers would target Liu Dezhu. Who is Uncle Li Dong? He is the current leader of the Knight Organization, a man even Li Dongze from the Heng Society calls boss, and in the Inner World, how hard is it to get close to such a person? As difficult as reaching the heavens. But now there was an immediate opportunity in front of them, who could resist being tempted? Anyone with even a slight understanding of the Inner World and Uncle Li Dong would probably know the value of Liu Dezhu. Even though Liu Dezhu had not yet truly obtained the legacy. Thus, Zheng Yuandong had immediately positioned undercover agents around the school and arranged for personnel to receive Liu Dezhu on his way home, and finally, waited for this gang of desperados. He walked toward Liu Dezhu; at that moment, a Kunlun member was examining the youth to see where he might have been injured. Zheng Yuandong asked, Is he injured? The Kunlun member replied, Arm, right leg, right face, theres superficial damage, but its not severe. Thats good, Zheng Yuandong looked at Liu Dezhu, Dont be afraid, we came here tonight specifically to protect you. We will also strictly monitor immigration information going forward, and if theres any anomaly, we will give you 24-hour protection. Liu Dezhu said frantically, Thank you! Zheng Yuandong nodded, Youre welcome. You should also be careful yourself. Call us immediately if anything unusual happens; Ive already given you the phone number. After speaking, Zheng Yuandong turned and boarded an off-road vehicle without looking back. Suddenly, a tow truck arrived, and police cars arrived, all handling the scene. Liu Dezhu stared blankly at the departing SUV, stunned. Had it just left like that?! The other party hadnt asked anything else, nor had they tried to recruit him. Why was that? In the distance, on the SUV heading to Kunlun Headquarter, Zheng Yuandong suddenly asked Lu Yuan, Dont you think its a bit strange? How strange, boss? Lu Yuan asked. This student has no courage at all and lacks the most basic vigilance. How could such a person be valued by Uncle Li Dong? Zheng Yuandong wondered. Perhaps Uncle Li Dong did not place much importance on him? Lu Yuan ventured. No, according to Jian Sheng, even Transcendents are serving that mysterious Time Traveler. The other party must have been esteemed by Uncle Li Dong, Zheng Yuandong shook his head. I suspect theres a third Time Traveler in Prison No. 18, but that doesnt match the information we have. Well see, the answer will come sooner or later. Boss, arent you planning to recruit Liu Dezhu into Kunlun? Lu Yuan asked. Zheng Yuandong rolled down his window and lit a cigarette, slowly saying, He doesnt qualify. Lu Yuan seemed to recall something, Right, boss, He Jinqiu proposed a meeting next month... Zheng Yuandong shook his head, Lets not talk about that now. ... At 10 PM, Qing Chen started training at home. Without the fixed schedule of the prison, he even extended his training time by an hour. However, one difference was that in prison, he had enough beef and eggs to eat. Back in the Outer World, it was not the same... he couldnt afford it. At that moment, the gold he had brought back from the Inner World was hidden under his bed. Qing Chen felt he needed to find a way to convert the gold into cash, or he couldnt afford the food expenses. Just as he was covered in sweat, there was a sudden knock on the door. He stood up to open it, seeing Li Tongyun holding a dish of fried dumplings, Qing Chen could even smell the aroma of chive and egg inside. Li Tongyun sweetly said, Brother Qing Chen, these are freshly fried by my mom; she asked me to bring them to you. Thank you, Qing Chen didnt hold back this time. As Li Tongyun turned to go upstairs, Qing Chen asked, You are quite smart, arent you? You know what Im talking about. Li Tongyun slowly turned around, wearing a red and white dress, and sweetly smiled at Qing Chen, asking, Brother Qing Chen, you are a Time Traveler too, arent you? On what basis? Qing Chen asked with a smile. Li Tongyun lowered her voice and said, Because the day mom beat up dad, after you took me into the house, you hid behind the curtain to secretly watch people from Kunlun. Youve seen them, and youve been avoiding them. Qing Chen laughed. Ever since he realized Li Tongyun was anything but simple, he knew he couldnt keep the truth from this little girl; the details had already betrayed him. It wasnt that he was foolish, but rather he had not realized that this girl, who also grew up in a dysfunctional family, possessed a precocious and wise heart. Who would bother suspecting a child, after all? Then again, he already knew her identity from the Inner World, yet it would be hard for her to find out his. Now, it seemed the Outer World was getting interesting too. The two, one old and one young, looked at each other and smiled, seemingly reaching an unspoken agreement. Chapter 51: 51. The Transfer Student (Extra update for the Gold Alliance Penguin) Chapter 51: 51. The Transfer Student (Extra update for the Gold Alliance Penguin) Time Travel Countdown: 6 days. When Qing Chen stepped out of his house, he was startled to find that the door of Room 102, across from his own, was wide open, with plastic dust sheets sprawled all over the place. Inside, a group of workers were renovating the floor and walls, different from the workers he usually saw. They were dressed neatly, and their uniforms all bore the logo of San Chi Decoration. Qing Chen had never heard of such a renovation company locally. He approached one of the workers and asked, Whats this about? The worker glanced at him and replied with a smile, Moving in. As if it were nothing, Qing Chen asked again, What about the owner? Theyre going to be neighbors, after all. Couldnt hurt to say hello. The worker responded, Dont know, were just here to do the job. No idea where the owner is. Qing Chen found it strange. Room 102 across from him had been unoccupied for a long time, so how come a new neighbor had suddenly arrived? It wasnt just Room 102 opposite him; he could hear noise coming from upstairs as well. When Qing Chen went upstairs to check, he realized with surprise that Room 202 was also being renovated. What was going on? Two new neighbors at the same time? This definitely wasnt normal. Yet, there were only movers here, Qing Chen hadnt seen any sign of the homeowners. Outside in the hallway, people were unloading furniture and everyday items from a truck. These items were meticulously categorized into protective wrappers and bags; breakable items, books, clothing, and more varied categories. Moreover, each box was also covered with a dust bag. In just an instant, he deduced that the new residents who had moved in were either rich or nobility. He glanced at the shabby old building behind him and then back at the luxurious moving arrangements... Would a rich person move in here? What a joke. Everything he was seeing was out of place with where he lived! Although the layout of the apartment across from him was different from his, at most it was 92 square meters. Plus, with the old building structure, using high-powered electrical appliances could trip the circuit breaker. A rich person would have to be crazy to move in here. Unless, of course, the person was here for something else... the Inner World. In this building, besides him, the only Time Travelers were Li Tongyun and Jiang Xue. If he had managed to stay well-hidden, then the person must be coming for Jiang Xue. At that moment, Jiang Xue, leading Li Tongyun, stepped out of the door. They exchanged glances, and Qing Chen said, Be careful. Mhm, Jiang Xue nodded in agreement. After Qing Chen arrived at school, he first passed by Liu Dezhus classroom door. However, he paused for a moment, only to see Liu Dezhu sitting listlessly in the classroom, with bandages all over his arms and face... What was it with today and all these strange occurrences? First there were two mysterious new neighbors out of nowhere, and then Liu Dezhu looked as if he had been beaten up. Qing Chen unconsciously opened the trending searches, and sure enough, he discovered that the news of Liu Dezhus injury had already gone viral... In the trending Weibo post, there were not only photos of Liu Dezhus injuries but also journalists speculations. The photos were taken at the school entrance, and judging from the angle... the photographer must have been crouching in the greenery opposite the school. Paparazzi, it seemed. Qing Chen felt somewhat helpless. He had never imagined that the time travel incident would escalate to the point where it would alarm the paparazzi. It makes sense, after all, paparazzi chase the hottest news trends, going wherever the buzz is. Once they get the material, they can sell it to marketing accounts within minutes. And right now, whats hotter than the Time Traveler? Not even celebrities and internet personalities can compare. In the trending searches these past few days, even Teacher Wangs new concert tour couldnt make it into the top ten. The top ten were basically all related to the Time Traveler. Qing Chen was genuinely relieved that he had hidden himself well enough. Let alone the dangers of being exposed, just the thought of being hounded by the media was unbearable to him. Right under this trending search, another piece of news caught Qing Chens attention: He Xiaoxiaos latest strategy guide. He returned to his own classroom, opened TikTok, and searched for He Xiaoxiaos account. This time, the background was still pitch black, still only subtitles and a male voice: Today, I bring you an introduction to the Taboo Land instance. As we currently know in the Inner World, there are a total of 139 Taboo Lands scattered across the wilderness. Of course, there are also newly formed Taboo Lands that have not been recorded officially. According to investigations, the formation of the Taboo Lands is closely linked to the Transcendents of the Inner World... In the Inner World, many cutting-edge biotechnologies and genetic technologies have made breakthroughs by obtaining samples from the Taboo Lands. If you clear a Taboo Land instance, you could possibly receive a substantial monetary reward from the conglomerates. The Taboo Land instances are extremely dangerous, and He Xiaoxiao here kindly reminds everyone to team up before proceeding. Qing Chen silently finished watching the strategy guide. This time, his information had finally gotten ahead of He Xiaoxiao. It is worth noting that the other party once again reminded Time Travelers of the need to team up. He took this as a friendly reminder. Qing Chen, look, his desk mate Nan Gengchen shook his arm. As Qing Chen looked up, the early morning sunlight happened to slant through the doorway, illuminating two unfamiliar girls standing there. The two girls were similar in height, both with long, slightly curly hair that shone almost blindingly porcelain white in the sunlight. One girl wore a casual black and white baseball shirt paired with slim-fit jeans, her legs long and straight. The other girl was dressed in a loose, baggy long-sleeve T-shirt, looking as though she had thrown on a few random pieces, but at a glance, she seemed especially easy on the eyes. Nan Gengchen, sitting next to Qing Chen, couldnt take his eyes off them. Meanwhile, mathematics teacher Tian Hailong announced from the podium, Two things, folk. Your homeroom teacher Du Yihong can no longer teach your class, so I will temporarily take over in that role. If you need anything, just come to me. Tian Hailong continued, The second thing is, we have two new transfer students in our class. I hope everyone will be supportive and united. Now, please let the two of them introduce themselves. The girl in the baseball shirt stepped up to the podium with a smile and said, Hello everyone, my name is Wang Yun, and Im from Haicheng. The other girl introduced herself, Hello everyone, Im Bai Waner, also from Haicheng. Please take care of me. Warm applause filled the classroom, with Nan Gengchen clapping the most vigorously. Glancing around the classroom, Tian Hailong pointed to the space adjacent to Qing Chen and Nan Gengchen and said, You two will sit over there later. Qing Chen is one of the best students in our grade academically, so feel free to ask him if theres anything you dont understand. Let some of the boys come with me to the storage room to move two sets of desks and chairs here. As soon as he finished speaking, several boys eagerly stood up. One boy cleared his own desk and placed it next to Qing Chen and Nan Gengchen, then said to Wang Yun, You can use this one. Wang Yun asked with a smile, What about you then? The boy said, No problem, Ill go and get one for myself from the storage. Qing Chen genuinely marvelled at how emotionally intelligent this classmate was... he would probably go far in the future. Wang Yun thanked him and sat down next to Nan Gengchen. Just as Nan Gengchens simple heart was racing with excitement, Wang Yun poured cold water on all his passion with a single question, Um... do you know Liu Dezhu from the class next door? ... Chapter Six, asking for monthly votes!! An extra chapter for Penguin in the Arctic, our Gold League, considering the new book period. After consulting with the league, the remaining three chapters will be added after they are published. Such generosity!! Chapter 52: 52. The New Neighbor Chapter 52: 52. The New Neighbor Classmate, do you know Liu Dezhu from the class next door? This sentence took only 0.001 seconds to penetrate Nan Gengchens heart. Two such beautiful female classmates, it took Nan Gengchen just an instant to feel he was in love. Then, there was no more after that. It was as though Cupid originally intended to shoot him with an arrow, but he watched as the other changed the arrow of love for an RPG rocket. It was too sudden. Nan Gengchen was silent for a long time and then suddenly said, I dont know him... but I can get to know him. Wang Yun smiled, said nothing more, and focused on organizing her desk. The two girls didnt bring much to school, just some stationery and textbooks for language, math, and foreign language classes, and nothing else. Qing Chen found that he didnt recognize the labels on their clothing. Although his range of knowledge was wide, his poverty meant he naturally left out luxury brands when it came to storing knowledge. How poor were he and Nan Gengchen? Let me put it this way, their friendship could even be used to prove their moral standards. They were both forced to detach from low-level tastes. After one class, Qing Chen was very clear that Wang Yun and Bai Waner were probably Time Travelers too, and their reason for transferring schools was actually aimed at Liu Dezhu. In 45 minutes, Wang Yun couldnt help but look at her arm 6 times, Bai Waner 5 times, both at the countdown spot. Its worth mentioning that Nan Gengchen looked at his 21 times. After class, Wang Yun and Bai Waner walked out of the classroom, and in the corridor, there were already two boys waiting there. These were two boys Qing Chen had never seen in school before, one tall and clean, wearing gold-rimmed glasses, with the air of a cultured scoundrel from the movies. The other was demurely wearing black-framed glasses. The four of them stood in the corridor, whispering about something, drawing the sidelong glances of countless classmates in the corridor. In the floor that Qing Chens class is on, there are a total of six classes, 452 students. But these four people standing there seemed to be the focus of the entire floor, forcing everyones gaze to turn to them, creating a feeling of being shamed by their presence. The boy with gold-rimmed glasses seemed to be the leader of the four, as he spent the most time speaking calmly while the others listened. At that moment, Nan Gengchen hurried back to the classroom and, in a lowered voice, said, These four transfer students are together, I asked the class next door, and those two boys transferred to their second year class four. Hmm, Qing Chen said, Anything else? The one with the gold-rimmed glasses is named Hu Xiaoniu, someone saw him driving the other three here this morning, Nan Gengchen said, The other boy is named Zhang Tianzhen. Driving? Qing Chen was stunned. For boys as hard-up as them, who had seen a classmate drive to school before? Isnt that something only found in soap operas? However, Qing Chen suddenly felt that Liu Dezhu had really become a target now, and perhaps in the future, many more would come because of the three words Uncle Li Dong. And Liu Dezhu would slowly become the center of a maelstrom, continually attracting new Time Travelers. All day long, Wang Yun and Bai Waner barely spoke to any classmates, and between classes, they would go outside the classroom to chat with Hu Xiaoniu and Zhang Tianzhen. They hardly gave the schools students any chance to interact with them. Throughout the day, the two girls spoke a few words to Nan Gengchen, such as asking for the teachers name, the progress of the teaching, and some information about the schools facilities and customs. As for Qing Chen, they didnt speak a word to him. Qing Chen could tell that these two girls performed better in their studies than one might expect. Bai Waner took out a 2021 TOEFL real test book directly from her bag during English class, which Qing Chen had worked on before. Meanwhile, Wang Yun was tackling physics competition problems and barely paid attention to other classes. These Olympiad problems Qing Chen had never seen before, they were definitely proprietary teaching materials from some educational institution. Moreover, when Qing Chen passed by the hallway on his way to the bathroom once, he distinctly heard the four of them speaking English. This must have been a deliberate choice to prevent their classmates from understanding. Qing Chen couldnt eavesdrop, but he still picked up on some keywords: Time Traveler, travel, how to get from City 7 to City 18. In the afternoon, when it was time for the evening self-study session, Qing Chen whispered to Nan Gengchen, Im leaving early. Text me on WeChat if theres anything at school. Wang Yun and Bai Waner watched Qing Chen leave the classroom, and one of them asked Nan Gengchen, Is he skipping class? Yes, Nan Gengchen replied sorrowfully. Isnt he a good student, why is he skipping class? Bai Waner wondered. Thats the privilege of being a good student, I guess. To this day, no teacher has ever spoken to him about it, Nan Gengchen said. No sooner had he spoken than he saw Wang Yun and Bai Waner also stand up, pack their things, and skip class without looking back. Nan Gengchen sat alone, desolately, in the last row. As Nan Gengchen watched the sunset outside the classroom, he suddenly felt a touch of melancholy... ... Qing Chen walked home. He was going to change into clothes he hadnt worn in a long time... and then go to an underground shop that illegally bought gold to sell the gold he had exploited from Lu Guangyi. The Breathing Technique was too taxing on his energy, so he had to sustain his diet. However, he wasnt sure if gold from the Inner World would test differently from gold in the Outer World. Although he had tested the densities using the suspension method yesterday, and they were the same on both sides, he was still a bit uneasy. The so-called gold suspension test involved suspending the gold in water to determine its volume, and then calculating its density based on the weight. The method was very simple. The density of gold at room temperature is 19.23 grams per cubic centimeter. If the density is nearly the same, it is genuine gold. Qing Chen, having prepared everything, slung his backpack over his shoulders and pushed open the door, only to run into Wang Yun, Bai Waner, Hu Xiaoniu, and Zhang Tianzhen. He realized then that his new neighbors were indeed them. Wang Yun and Bai Waner lived on the second floor, opposite Jiang Xue. Hu Xiaoniu and Zhang Tianzhen, on the other hand, were directly opposite him. The others had indeed come for Liu Dezhu, but forming a connection with Jiang Xue too was a good opportunity. This was the sole reason they chose to live in this dilapidated building. Wang Yun froze for a moment when she saw Qing Chen and then smiled, I didnt expect you to live here too. Wearing gold-rimmed glasses, Hu Xiaoniu smiled and asked Wang Yun, And who is this? This is our classmate from Grade 11 Class 3, Wang Yun explained, the teachers say hes one of the top students in our grade. Hu Xiaoniu turned to Qing Chen, Hello, Hu Xiaoniu. Please take care of me. Hmm, Qing Chen nodded calmly, Please take care of me too. After saying that, he quickly disappeared into the twilight, with no intention of further interaction with them. Chapter 53: 53. Top Student and Study God Chapter 53: 53. Top Student and Study God Hu Xiaoniu watched as Qing Chen left, sensing a familiar flavor. Its not that he had met Qing Chen before, or that Qing Chen resembled someone, but rather it was the others attitude of rejecting people from a thousand miles away. It was just like how they themselves would exclude some classmates from their circle: superficially polite and courteous on the surface, yet proud deep down. This actually took Hu Xiaoniu by surprise. He glanced at the building where Qing Chen lived, then asked, Have you guys noticed anything strange about him? The bespectacled Zhang Tianzhen by his side said, Wang Yun and Bai Waner are both quite pretty, and theyre both his new classmates and neighbors, but he doesnt even give them a glance and seems to have no interest in talking. Yes, Wang Yun nodded, It doesnt seem like the usual shyness of an ordinary boy, more like he wants to avoid us. I asked Nan Gengchen next door today; he said this classmates grades have always been stably in the top three of the grade. Its pretty normal for him to be a bit proud. Arent all top students like that? Bai Waner smiled, The gods of study at our Haizhong are also like this. Hu Xiaoniu laughed and shook his head, A top student from a small city has too low of a ceiling. In fact, Hu Xiaoniu wasnt deliberately mocking, but they were all very aware of just how much more advanced the education was in the super first-tier cities as compared to smaller cities. A top student from a small city might be okay at reading English, but their spoken English and listening would be far behind, even in a school like the Los Angeles Foreign Language School that carried the name of a language institute. But in some top schools in the big cities, practically anyone you pulled aside at the school gates could communicate in English with ease. Theyve won countless competition awards and spend every winter and summer vacation experiencing life in the Arctic. It was as if they were living in completely different worlds. Lets forget it, we dont need to worry about top students or gods of study anymore. Were not going to have that much to do with him anyway; he just happens to be a neighbor living close by, Wang Yun said, Lets go inside and talk. As they spoke, they had already opened the door to room 102. The workers had already left, and the room had undergone a transformation in just one day. There was no new renovation inside, since there wasnt enough time, so they had rushed to lay fixed carpets on the floors and conducted anti-damp spray treatment on the walls, followed by a fresh layer of wallpaper. For the four of them, it was barely livable. Actually, we could just stay in a hotel. Its not like we absolutely have to live here. Our target is Liu Dezhu, and so far, Jiang Xue seems to not have anything special, Bai Waner said. Hu Xiaoniu replied, Dont be so shortsighted. Since we decided to move from City 7 to City 18, we should try to make as many friends as possible in City 18. Didnt you see He Xiaoxiaos strategy? Try to form a team. Wang Yun still seemed a bit melancholy, You guys insist on slowly building a good relationship with Liu Dezhu, but in my view, its also possible to just buy information and resources with money. Zhang Tianzhen shook his head, Since we chose to come to Los Angeles, we should be prepared for hardship. This was agreed upon by Xiao Niu and me from the start. We have no foundation in City 7, so what we can do is to use the energy of the Outer World to influence the Inner World. Hu Xiaoniu was the backbone of the group. He nodded and said, Now we need to figure out how to get on good terms with Liu Dezhu, so lets put away everyones usual behavior. Although money is essential, it isnt omnicompetent. You must understand that there are many people in the world who are richer than we are. When others decide to spend money to buy resources from Liu Dezhu, our cordial relations will become our greatest advantage. By the way, how are things on your end? We originally said that the four of us would be in the same class, but then they insisted that Class 4 of the second year was full, Wang Yun asked. Hu Xiaoniu answered, Liu Dezhu is pretty easy to get along with, but when probing him with many questions, hes unwilling to say much. Zhang Tianzhen commented, You see, he seems easy to get along with, but the problem is he doesnt want to reveal anything to you. He appears to be simple and naive but is actually very shrewd. Hes someone who is wise but appears foolish. Hmm, wise but appears foolish, thats a good assessment, Hu Xiaoniu summarized. Oh yeah, Wang Yun suddenly said, have you heard? Yan Yan is also planning to transfer schools. Yan Yan? Bai Waner and the others were startled. Yan Yan, as in rice seedling. A very simple name, yet by the reactions of Bai Waner and the others, it seemed like this name held a unique place in the top middle school of Haicheng by the sea, which was why it was so surprising to everyone. Zhang Tianzhen suddenly said, Wait, I remember someone saying that Yanyans grandparents are in Los Angeles? She wouldnt have also transferred here, would she? Lets not think about this for now, and we havent heard about Yanyan becoming a Time Traveler, Hu Xiaoniu said. Lets go and visit our new neighbor. With that, he dug out an exquisitely crafted box as a housewarming gift and led the others upstairs. Knock knock knock, Hu Xiaoniu knocked on the door. A voice came from inside: Xiao Yun, go open the door, it might be your brother Qing Chen. Then, Xiao Yuns sweet voice could be heard: Brother Qing Chen, please wait a moment, Im coming to open the door for you. Click, the door opened. Wang Yun said with a smiling face, Hello there, little friend. Bang, the door was closed again, and Li Tongyun said from inside, Mom, its not Brother Qing Chen. Jiang Xue asked, puzzled, Then who is it? Li Tongyun replied, Not important. The soundproofing of the room wasnt very effective, and Hu Xiaoniu heard the sound of the PAW Patrol cartoon from inside, and then the door truly did not open for them again. Wang Yun and Bai Waner looked at each other: Brother Qing Chen... Why does this name sound somewhat familiar? At this time, they still hadnt realized that one of their neighbors in this building was the direct descendant of Lis Financial Group, while the other was the sole apprentice of Uncle Li Dong. They had traveled all the way to Los Angeles, yet they didnt find the right person. ... At this moment, the Qing Chen whom Li Tongyun had been talking about was standing in an alley on the south side of Los Angeles Cross Street. The small alley had been around for some years, with the architecture being traditional Chinese and the streets laid with bluestone tiles, flanked by gray walls and black roof tiles. When it rained, the water would gather on the roof tiles and then fall down along the edges. The entrance to the Old Gold Shop was decorated with two red lanterns, and a blackboard was placed at the door, reading: We buy gifts, gold, caterpillar fungus, ginseng at high prices. Qing Chen, with his hoodie hood up, asked, How do you buy gold? The old man who was weaving a bamboo basket inside glanced at him and said, Do you have a receipt? No, Qing Chen shook his head. A receipt referred to the purchase receipt for gold, which could prove the origin of the gold. Normally, gold buyers require this to prevent trading problematic gold. Regular pawn shops wouldnt accept gold without a receipt. The old man looked at him and put down the bamboo basket, saying, Without a receipt, its tough. If you truly want to sell, Ill give you 220 per gram, and I wont ask where you got it from. The current gold price was 380 per gram. Qing Chen thought for a moment and replied, Deal, 39 grams. 8580 yuan was already a substantial amount of money for him, at least enough to alleviate his pressing needs. Chapter 54: 54, Life cannot be restarted, but it can be replayed. Chapter 54: 54, Life cannot be restarted, but it can be replayed. Qing Chen had never seen more than eight thousand dollars in his life, and he didnt opt for a bank transfer but insisted that the other party bring cash. The old man in the gold shop counted the money and muttered, Such a young age yet so cautious, but its right to be careful in your line of work. Next time you come by with more gains, Ill give you an extra 5 yuan per gram if its a large amountIll take whatever youve got. The old man seemed to think Qing Chen was a thief, but Qing Chen didnt argue. As he handed the money over to Qing Chen, he watched him manually verify each bill under the light, checking for watermarks, security threads, intaglio prints, and latent imagesand he didnt miss a single detail. In the end, Qing Chen pulled out two notes: This 50 and 20, please exchange them. The old mans teeth hurt a little: People in your business usually just take the money and leave, not many are as meticulous as you. With that, he opened a drawer beside him and swapped the notes with new ones. If you want to do business properly, dont try to swindle people with fake notes, Qing Chen said. All right, come often, the old man said resignedly. Qing Chen took the money, turned, and left. The elderly gold shop owner, with missing teeth and advancing years, watched his departing figure and thought to himself that this young man would definitely go far in the future and become a king of thieves. He turned seven or eight corners in the alleyway before boarding the bus home. He also bought more than ten pounds of beef, three pounds of eggs, and some vegetables at the farmers market. Ye Wan once said that he now had to become a fierce carnivore. When he arrived back at the building, he looked up and saw Li Tongyun secretly waving at him from the second floor. Qing Chen thought for a moment and then waved back at Li Tongyun, signaling for her to come down if she had something to say. Jiang Xue was a Time Traveler known publicly, and visiting her home might draw attention, but Li Tongyun was just a little girl, and it wouldnt be so conspicuous for her to come to his place to talk. As soon as Li Tongyun entered the door, she said, Brother Qing Chen, who are the new neighbors, have you talked to them? Theyre from Haicheng, here for Liu Dezhu, Qing Chen shared his information: Ive heard them speaking English; Haicheng should correspond to Inner Worlds city number 7. Brother Qing Chen, you can understand English? Li Tongyun asked doubtfully: Is your listening that good? Its decent, Qing Chen said, not elaborating further, and continued: Theyre here definitely for your mother, those people have no foothold after traveling to city number 7, so they want to look for opportunities in city number 18. Of course, I dont think its that simple. They might even have enemies in city number 7. Whether one has enemies in the Inner World after arrival is not for a Time Traveler to decide. If they had no enemies, then why not seek help directly from other Time Travelers locally in Haicheng, given their influence there? According to Qing Chens information from the internet, Haicheng had a Transcendent and a spokesperson for the Green Dragon Society from city number 7, which should be quite formidable. Yet Hu Xiaoniu and the others did not spend money to seek help from these figures but instead went out of their way to Los Angeles City to find Liu Dezhu. They must have provoked someone that the Haicheng Time Travelers couldnt handle. Li Tongyun thought for a bit and then said, City number 7 is the territory of Chens Consortium, and city number 18 is the home ground of Lis Financial Group. Could they have provoked the Chen Clan? Qing Chen thought for a moment and said, It doesnt matter. They are openly communicating in English nowIll keep listening and find out. They just talk about it in front of you? Li Tongyun asked, looking up. Qing Chen patted her head and smiled: Because theyre not as smart as you are. At that moment, Li Tongyun ran to Qing Chens bathroom, grabbed the clothes he had changed out of, and ran off: Mom told me to take your dirty clothes upstairs to wash. Dont make it hard for me, brotherIm just following moms orders. After she spoke, Li Tongyun opened the door and hurried upstairs... Qing Chen smiled and then turned to look at his empty home, beginning his solitary training. There was no one to supervise him, no one to applaud. All Qing Chen could do was to tell himself not to stop, to keep moving forward. He had heard it said that those who live in isolation are either Gods or beasts. Since he couldnt yet be a God, it wasnt bad to be a beast for now. ... Five days countdown. Qing Chen arrived at school early to swap his desk with Nan Gengchen, so he became Wang Yuns desk mate. After Nan Gengchen entered the classroom, he gave Qing Chen a knowing smile, then whispered, I thought you really had no interest at all, but youre surprisingly proactive. If you had said so earlier, I would have swapped with you yesterday! Qing Chen glanced at him, knowing that Nan Gengchen thought he switched desks to be closer to Wang Yun. In fact, he just wanted to listen to the conversation between Wang Yun and Bai Waner. However, it was best that Nan Gengchen thought this way. He hoped Wang Yun would think the same. That way, when Wang Yun and Bai Waner spoke in English, they wouldnt be mindful of him. Nan Gengchen, seeing Qing Chen not replying, thought he was shy and changed the topic to gossip in a low voice, A master joined our time travel group yesterday. He claimed that he learned the tech divination technique from the Inner World... Qing Chen asked, Did you get a reading? Of course, it was only 5 yuan, Nan Gengchen said. The fortune-teller told me I would come into a huge fortune at 65, an amount Ive never seen in my life. Qing Chen hesitated, Was it money your son burnt for you? Nan Gengchen: ...?? Qing Chen said annoyed, Can you quit that time travel group of yours? Its headache-inducing just to hear about it. They dont have a single genuine Time Traveler. No, wait, there is one, that guy from the Inner World who pimps for cougars. Nan Gengchen stubbornly said, But what if there is a real one? At this moment, Wang Yun and Bai Waner walked into the classroom. As expected, they paused for a moment upon seeing Qing Chen and Nan Gengchen had switched places. Bai Waner asked in English, Why did those two swap places? Wang Yun chuckled, Who knows, lets not worry about them. Wait, Bai Waner asked again, Didnt the teacher say hes good at studying? Could he understand what were saying? Wang Yun turned to look at Qing Chen earnestly. She saw Qing Chen looking down at the math competition test paper, continuing to check and fill in answers without pause. Wang Yun, the top student from Haicheng, even followed Qing Chens problem-solving steps for a while, then confirmed that every step he took was correct, and he wasnt just pretending. Only then did Wang Yun say, Teacher Haizhong said that even if students from small cities do well in English, its very difficult for them to communicate in English because they only learn it for exams, and the college entrance exam listening test isnt included in the official grades. Look, hes so focused on the test paper and wouldnt be able to listen and calculate so quickly. Thats true, Bai Waner nodded. Suddenly, Wang Yun expressed her concern in English, Do you think we can really avoid Chen Leyou by going to the 18th City as Hu Xiaoniu said? Bai Waner shook her head, I dont know, at this point we can only take one step at a time. Ten minutes later, when the two finally stopped conversing, Qing Chen slowly set down his pen. As expected, these four had enemies in the 7th City. He was right in his judgment. Of course, Wang Yun wasnt wrong either. Even someone like Qing Chen would find it hard to check math problems with high intensity while simultaneously eavesdropping and analyzing a conversation. But what made him different was that he could remember all the sounds that ever happened in his mind. His life indeed couldnt restart, but it could replay. ... Theres still a fourth update tonight, seeking monthly tickets! Chapter 55: 55. Probing and News (Extra for the President of the Silver League) Chapter 55: 55. Probing and News (Extra for the President of the Silver League) During the break, Wang Yun, Bai Waner, Hu Xiaoniu, and Zhang Tianzhen met up in the corridor. The majority of the students coming and going were dressed in uniforms, while these four, due to not having received their uniforms yet, were in their own clothes and stood out markedly. However, as students passed by them, they would deliberately keep some distance. The logic was similar to how on a bus with many empty seats, if a beautiful woman sat alone in the back, most people would not choose to sit next to her unless there were no other seats available. Hu Xiaoniu glanced at his pure gold Daytona watch on his wristit was 8 minutes before class startedand asked softly, Lets start with your side, any anomalies? Bai Waner smiled and looked at Wang Yun, No other anomalies, just a male student switched seats specially for Wang Yun. Dont talk nonsense, Wang Yun hit Bai Waners arm lightly, what if he didnt mean anything by it. You know exactly what I mean, Bai Waner said in a suggestive tone. However, at that moment Hu Xiaoniu suddenly asked, Is he a Time Traveler? Did he move next to you because he figured you were Time Travelers? In fact, Hu Xiaoniu was well aware that high school boys, even if they developed a crush, would not go so far as to switch seats on the first day to get close to the girl they liked. So, Hu Xiaoniu immediately felt something was off. Wang Yun and Bai Waner exchanged glances, Probably not? You have to remember this is Los Angeles City, one of the nineteen gathering places for Time Travelers, its quite normal to have Time Travelers hidden around, Hu Xiaoniu analyzed, be careful, it could be a big deal if he understands our conversations in English. He probably doesnt understand, Wang Yun said, We talked about him to his face and he didnt stop working on his math problems. Like this, Hu Xiaoniu said, next class, observe whether he frequently looks down at his arm. You get what I mean, right? If a countdown suddenly appears on someones arm, out of curiosity or novelty, he will check it from time to time. This habit will only slowly change once he gets completely used to it. Wang Yun thought for a moment and agreed, Okay, Ill observe. After class, the four met up in the corridor again. How did it go? Hu Xiaoniu asked. Wang Yun shook her head, For 45 minutes, he didnt look at his arm once, even when he was idly daydreaming, he didnt glance at it. Hu Xiaoniu sighed in relief, and Zhang Tianzhen asked, Could it be that he guessed someone might observe him, so he deliberately didnt look at his arm? Hu Xiaoniu pondered for a moment, For now, lets rule out the possibility that he is a Time Traveler. Generally, young people dont have such controlled restraint, nor would they think so comprehensively. If he really did what you said, that would be terrifying. Zhang Tianzhen joked, Then he might truly like Wang Yun. By the way, how are things on your side, any progress? Wang Yun asked. None, Hu Xiaoniu shook his head calmly, Liu Dezhu is great at playing dumb. We still cant find a weakness in him, we must slowly build up a relationship. Why not try to find a breakthrough with Jiang Xue? Zhang Tianzhen suggested, This way, at least before we reach City 18, we can learn about the current situation of City 18 through her. Thats the only option, but it seems shes also not easy to get along with, Bai Waner said, Wait, do you remember the little girl who called Qing Chen brother yesterday? It must be our classmate Qing Chen; these two families must be very close. Shall we start with this Qing Chen then? Zhang Tianzhen asked. Yes, lets start with Qing Chen and then get to know Jiang Xue through him, Wang Yun nodded. ... During the second long break, Qing Chen was sitting in the classroom, head down, scrolling through his phone, recording all information related to Time Travelers. At that moment, a voice came from beside him, Qing Chen, Nan Gengchen, here, this is the water we just brought back from the school supermarket for you. Nan Gengchen turned to look, and it was indeed a Farmers Spring water just taken out of the fridge, the bottle covered with a dense layer of condensation. Because their fingers were wet, the other persons slender, fair fingers looked even more crystal clear. Classmates stealthily glanced in their direction, wondering when Qing Chen and Nan Gengchen had become so familiar with the transfer student? The transfer student even bought them water. Nan Gengchen asked blankly, Is this... for me? Bai Waner answered with a bright smile, Of course. Okay, thank you! Nan Gengchen became excited. Just at that moment, Qing Chen was looking down at his phone, as if he hadnt heard anything. A news alert on his phone read: Authorities in the country successfully dismantled a site of illegal detention and rescued 12 Time Travelers who had previously disclosed their identities online. Among them was a well-known internet celebrity who had suddenly disappeared. The report stated that the criminals had kidnapped these 12 individuals to an abandoned factory in the suburbs, where they used threats and intimidation to extract their Inner World identity information. They then coerced the Time Travelers into smuggling items using their bodies, by inserting medicine into their rectums, stomachs, and mouths to travel between the Inner and Outer Worlds. At the crime scene, law enforcement seized a large quantity of Inner World medicines, primarily consisting of Genetic Potions. Reportedly, the two types of Genetic Potions found at the scene couldnt enhance physical strength but could ameliorate hereditary genetic diseases: congenital deafness and congenital heart disease. The authorities have arrested four suspects, but nine others remain at large; according to the confessions of the detained suspects, all nine fugitives are Time Travelers. This news was truly shocking. Previously, crimes involving Time Travelers were reported abroad, but now such unimaginable incidents were occurring domestically as well. Now, surely no one will dare to publicly claim they are Time Travelers anymore, right? Starting today, all Time Travelers must remain silent. Its as if everyone is living in the Dark Forest. Qing Chen? Wang Yun waited for a while next to him, and when Qing Chen didnt respond, she spoke up again to remind him. Qing Chen snapped back to reality and took the mineral water: Thanks, but you dont have to be so formal next time. Were neighbors after all, lets look out for each other, Wang Yun said with a smile as she sat down. The classmates erupted upon hearing this; what was going on, Qing Chen and these two transfer students were neighbors?! Qing Chen sat quietly in his seat, quickly figuring out what the others were planning. He didnt pay attention to the envious or strange looks from his classmates, nor did he react to the jeers from some of the boys. He just slowly began to understand the characters of Wang Yun and Bai Waner. These people, under the halo of elite education, had seen the world too soon and had made their own calculations. However, deep down, they hadnt really experienced true hardship; the depth of their cunning was only what they learned from adults and had not yet been tested by society. So, just a few hours ago they were aloof, and a few hours later they suddenly changed their attitude, making it seem particularly awkward. At that moment, Wang Yun laughed, What are you looking at so intently? You didnt even respond when I called you? Saying this, the girl bent down to get a closer look at his phone, and when she suddenly came close, a faint scent of perfume from her body rushed into Qing Chens nostrils. It seemed intentional. But when the girl saw the news on the phone, her body stiffened. ... Fourth update, seeking monthly passes! No one has burst updates like a new book; crowdfunding event has started, begging for monthly passes!! Chapter 56: 56, two bosses Chapter 56: 56, two bosses This was news concerning all Time Travelers, because if you were not careful, you might end up detained in a mysterious place just like the 12 Time Travelers mentioned in the news. Becoming someone elses means of transportation. Merchants used to sell goods from the south to the north and from the north to the south. But now, with so many differences between the Outer World and the Inner World, there were too many things that could be trafficked. The only thing limiting this business was transportation efficiency and space. At the moment, if you did not want to become someone elses mule, you had to make yourself strong. Or hide well. At this time, Qing Chen was thinking that the person who ambushed Jiang Xue might have had this in mind. At that moment, Wang Yun slowly recovered from her shock. In the classroom, the other students also started paying attention to the news, no longer discussing Qing Chen and the transfer students becoming neighbors. The focus had shifted. But ordinary people watched the news as if they were watching a fire across the bank, not really connected to it. Qing Chen, however, noticed that at the end of the news it was reported, The crime syndicate conducted transactions using virtual crypto-currencies, and the buyers of the Genetic Potion had not been traced yet. He stood up to go pay the book fee with the class monitor, taking Nan Gengchen with him. It wasnt that Qing Chen was particularly righteous, but after he became a Time Traveler, the other had immediately wanted to treat him to a meal. Now that he had some money, he didnt mind covering for the other. This gesture deeply moved Nan Gengchen, who was tearful and promised to repay Qing Chen as soon as his mother returned from her parents home. As time gradually passed, the crime news spread quickly nationwide, affecting every Time Traveler. ... Deep within an ancient alley at Los Angeles Lijing Gate, a young man in a black trench coat walked through. Historical records stated that Lijing Gate was built during the Sui Dynasty, consisting of the gate tower, barbican, arrow tower, city wall, and moatnow a famous ancient site in Los Angeles City. The young man wore sunglasses and his shiny black shoes clashed with the ancient buildings around him. It was as if a modern city dweller had suddenly traveled back in time, stepping into history. The alley was deserted, and the young mans shoe heels tapped rhythmically on the bluestone road. Further in, a small courtyard with red columns and gray tiles had a plaque hanging over the doorway, bearing the moderately-sized characters for Kunlun. The young man lifted the animal-head knocker on the door and knocked. A head peeked out, sizing up the young man with confusion, Who is it? The young man took off his sunglasses and smiled, Kyushu, He Jinqiu. But then the head quickly withdrew and called out, Boss, its He Jinqiu from Kyushu! After a moment, with a creak, the red wooden door was pulled open. Over a dozen individuals in black stood on both sides, all looking sternly at He Jinqiu. He Jinqiu laughed, You dont need to be so afraid of me, where is Boss Zheng? The boss hasnt come back yet, Lu Yuan said with a smile, With Boss He gracing us with his presence, please have a seat and enjoy some tea. The boss will be back soon. He Jinqiu made himself at home. He walked to the grand armchair in the hall with a smile and said, This Chinese-style furniture is too hard, its not very comfortable to sit on. By the way... do you have any alcohol? I dont drink tea. During the conversation, the Kunlun members looked at each other, seeing He Jinqiu so unceremoniously sitting in Zheng Yuandongs place. Some wanted to say something but were stopped by Lu Yuan. Alcohol, yes, the voice came from outside the door as Zheng Yuandong, with a loud voice, walked into the courtyard and said, When guests come, theres alcohol and meat, and when jackals come, theres also a gun. He Jinqiu adjusted his black coat but did not rise, The day before yesterday, I invited Boss Zheng to a meeting, but he refused, so I had to fly here from Jingcheng specially. Whats the matter thats so urgent? Zheng Yuandong asked as he firmly sat in another grand armchair, wearing a Zhongshan suit and tightly covering his mechanical limbs underneath. He Jinqiu smiled at him, Boss Zheng, did you watch todays news? Hmm, I know you just rescued 12 Time Travelers, Zheng Yuandong nodded, But you dont need to come here to Kunlun to take credit for that. Taking credit isnt necessary, but I just wanted to ask how you have considered my proposal, He Jinqiu calmly asked, Nowadays, Kunlun under your leadership not only hasnt grown, but it has been shrinking, which doesnt meet the needs of the times. With more and more Time Travelers, how are you going to manage them with so few people? Our philosophies differ, Zheng Yuandong said, You in Kyushu want to take all the Time Travelers under your control and manage them, while I dont see the necessity. An organization filled with all sorts of characters isnt a good thing. Do you know how many more Time Travelers will be harmed if theyre not all brought under control? Todays event is an example, He Jinqius voice gradually became more oppressive, If you dont gather them and inform them what the Inner World is like, how will they know how dangerous the Inner World can be? Zheng Yuandong did not answer that question, but instead asked, Is He Xiaoxiao in your hands? He Jinqiu was silent for two seconds then laughed, What do you think? Zheng Yuandong straightened his posture and said, What exactly do you want to do? Is it just for the power in your hands, or do you really care about those Time Travelers? He Jinqiu stood up and walked outside, I already know your answer, Boss Zheng. As for what I want to do, youll know this afternoon. The Kunlun members who had been watching in the courtyard made way. At that moment, Zheng Yuandong suddenly said in a severe tone, I hope when theres an external enemy, we will still be comrades in arms. He Jinqiu paused in his tracks, We will, old squad leader. As the voice faded, this young Leader of Kyushu turned and walked into the ancient lane outside, with the clicking sound of his leather shoes growing fainter and fainter. ... In the afternoon, just as the heat from the previous news had not yet subsided, another news piece about He Xiaoxiao rapidly climbed in the hot search rankings. In TikTok, He Xiaoxiao said against a black background, Considering the recent malicious detainment incidents involving Time Travelers, I advise all players who have obtained the public testing qualification to be cautious about their personal safety. The Inner World is highly enjoyable, and can even change ones fate, but if ones life is lost, there will be no fate left to change. I am currently organizing a group chat system for Time Travelers, which is being prepared with the technology of the Inner World. When its established, the group chat will be open to all Time Travelers to share information and help each other. To reassure everyone, this chat system will establish 12 dynamic Data fortresses across the country, protecting all identities of Time Travelers from external technological invasions in the Outer World. Once the group chat is established, my strategies will only be released in the group. Upon the release of this message, it caused a sensation across the country. Chapter 57: 57. Data fortress Chapter 57: 57. Data fortress Qing Chen frowned. Who exactly was He Xiaoxiao, to dare setting up a Time Traveler group chat directly? But his guess wasnt wrong; the other party indeed possessed some technology from the Inner World and had used it to erase his identity information. Given the short amount of time everyone had traveled through, how could He Xiaoxiao master the technology of the Inner World so quickly? Had he successfully brought back devices from the Inner World? The equipment to build a data fortress certainly couldnt be small, right? How had he brought it back? Or perhaps! He Xiaoxiao wasnt just one person. It would be difficult for one person to bring back a whole device, but if several people worked together, carrying back parts piece by piece, that seemed feasible. Qing Chen didnt know much about information technology, so it seemed he could only consult Uncle Li Dong in the Inner World about this matter. He dared not join such a chat group, unless... he could also conceal his identity. Because, in He Xiaoxiaos video, she only mentioned that outsiders couldnt intrude, but the key point was that He Xiaoxiao herself could easily obtain most peoples information. This group chat system was like a crab-trapping cage, and He Xiaoxiao was like an Alaskan Crab Catcher. All she needed to do was to float around the northern waters of Netherland Harbor in her Time Pirate Ship, tossing iron cages into the deep sea and waiting for the King Crabs to crawl in themselves. That night, Qing Chen skipped class again. He went to the dessert shop and bought a cake for Li Tongyun as a gift, along with some fruits and vegetables. Jiang Xue had washed his clothes several times during this period, and he couldnt always visit someones home empty-handed. After entering the residential area, Qing Chen casually scanned around with his eyes several times to make sure there were no paparazzi hiding anywhere before entering the building. In Los Angeles City now, there were over thirty exposed Time Travelers, but Jiang Xue seemed to be the least conspicuous and hadnt attracted much attention. When he knocked on the door, Qing Chen heard Li Tongyuns cheer from inside, Brother Qing Chen is here! She opened the door and asked in a lowered voice, What about your classmates? Dont know, dont worry about them, Qing Chen said with a smile as he patted her head. Come and see my moms new mechanical limbs; theyre so pretty, Li Tongyun, pulling on Qing Chens sleeve, led him inside. Jiang Xue, who had been cooking, reluctantly became the object of observation. Previously, Jiang Xues arms resembled mechanical steel pipes joined together, but now they looked more like real human arms. The connections at her fingers, wrists, and elbows were seamlessly integrated. Qing Chen asked curiously, Is this new? How is its battery life? The battery life is more than ten times that of my previous one, Jiang Xue said with a smile, I consider myself quite lucky. Before I traveled through time, my Inner World identity saved someone two years ago, who was a big figure in Lis Financial Group. All of these are her way of showing gratitude. Qing Chen glanced at Li Tongyun nonchalantly. The girl hurriedly pulled him out of the kitchen, Mom, you go ahead and cook, Im hungry! Dont worry, itll be ready soon, Jiang Xue responded with a smile. Lately, shed become much more cheerful, as if doing anything was unbounded, and everything was getting better. In the living room, Li Tongyun lowered her voice, Brother Qing Chen, are you asking about these to guess my identity? Qing Chen shook his head, No, I was just asking casually. Li Tongyuns eyes darted around, Brother Qing Chen, you havent told me yet, what was your identity in the Inner World? Guess? Qing Chen had no intention of telling her. How about we exchange secrets then? Ill tell you my identity, and you tell me yours? Li Tongyun suggested with a smile. Qing Chen shook his head again, No deal. Actually, he already knew quite well that Li Tongyun was the only daughter of the second house of Lis Financial Group, so there was no need for an exchange. Boring, Li Tongyun pouted as she sat on the sofa, You must already know my identity, huh? Not even telling a kid. Qing Chen smiled, Youre not just any kid. At that moment, there was a knock at the door. Li Tongyun hopped off the sofa to answer it. She only opened the wooden door on the inside, without even opening the iron security door. Outside stood Wang Yun and others, who said with a smile, Hello there, little friend. We are your brother Qing Chens classmates, and were quite close to him. Li Tongyun turned back, Brother Qing Chen, are you close with them? Before Qing Chen could reply, she turned again and said, He says hes not. With a bang, the door once more separated the people outside from the world within. The four stood outside, looking at each other in bewilderment. They hadnt expected to be turned away not once, but twice. Why could Qing Chen get along so well with this family, but not them?! Before they could speak, the gentle Jiang Xue reopened the door, apologizing, Hello, Im sorry, the child doesnt understand. You must be the new neighbors, please come in. Jiang Xue was wearing a white long-sleeved T-shirt with a black apron tied around her waist, perfectly outlining her figure. However, what caught Hu Xiaoniu and the others attention was Jiang Xues hand. Before opening the door, Jiang Xue had deliberately pulled her sleeves tight to hide her arms. But her hands were still exposed. All four were Time Travelers, and they had seen many mechanical limbs in City Number 7, yet they felt Jiang Xues hands were somehow different from other mechanical limbs. Now that they were visitors, they couldnt keep staring at her hands, so the four withdrew their gazes. Meanwhile, Li Tongyun was sitting on the sofa, looking sulky, with no intention of greeting the guests. Wang Yun was the first to enter. She asked politely, Should we change into slippers? No need, no need; just sit anywhere. We dont have that many slippers to go around, Jiang Xue replied, Xiao Yun, go pour some tea for our guests. Oh, Li Tongyun got up reluctantly. Hu Xiaoniu and the others placed their items on the dining table. Wang Yun brought a teddy bear as a gift for Li Tongyun; Bai Waner had bought a Paw Patrol toy; Zhang Tianzhen brought two bottles of champagne, and Hu Xiaoniu had brought a bottle of whiskey packaged in a wooden box. Hu Xiaoniu said to Jiang Xue with a smile, Hello, its our first visit so weve brought some gifts. This bottle of whiskey, I brought it back specially from the Island Country; its probably not seen on the market here. Thats too valuable, Jiang Xue politely said, You should take it back. Weve never drunk whiskey and dont know how to drink it either. Ive heard its quite particular. Xiao Chen, have you drunk whiskey before? After recalling for a moment, Qing Chen neither feigned poverty nor lied, I have, there was a bottle at home once. It seems my dad bought it to decorate the entryway. Seizing the opportunity, Hu Xiaoniu quickly searched for common ground, keenly saying, Many people like to add a little water, or drink it neat. But nowadays, young people prefer a more open style of drinking. For instance, I like to mix green tea with my whiskey. What about you? Qing Chen thought for a moment and said, Then I guess I am a bit different from you, I like to drink whiskey with green tea. Hu Xiaoniu: ??? Chapter 58: 58. It was wrong from the beginning Chapter 58: 58. It was wrong from the beginning The first visit between neighbors didnt last long, and both sides exchanged friendly and warm greetings. Apart from a minor incident with whiskey, everything seemed to be going smoothly. However, once Hu Xiaoniu and the others returned to their own home, the four of them sat quietly on the sofa in silence. Because each of them was well aware, behind this warm enthusiasm, there was still an insurmountable politeness. In Jiang Xues eyes, they were guests, not friends. But if they were merely guests, they couldnt possibly receive any help from the other party in City 18. In this situation, Hu Xiaoniu and Zhang Tianzhen were the relatively calm and rational ones, whether it was transferring schools or moving from City 7 to City 18, it was these two who came up with the plans. At this time, Hu Xiaoniu looked at everyone seriously and said, Maybe we were wrong from the start. Everyone looked at him. Hu Xiaoniu pointed to their sofa and said, We came all the way from Haicheng to Los Angeles City, and we even had real leather sofas air-shipped here. Now look at the opposite side, those old fabric sofas. Im not talking about the wealth disparity, but we need to shed the pride in our bones. Zhang Tianzhen took off his black framed glasses and said, I agree with Xiao Niu. Moreover, we have nothing to be proud of, Hu Xiaoniu said. Have you noticed Jiang Xues mechanical arm? The details of that arm are extremely intricate, probably something only a syndicate could afford. So although we possess wealth in the Outer World, in the Inner World, it is Jiang Xue who is truly wealthy. Hu Xiaoniu continued, Its precisely because we carry that inherent pride that we cant become friends with people like Qing Chen, Jiang Xue, Li Tongyun, and Liu Dezhu. But we are indeed stronger than them, Bai Waner noticed Hu Xiaonius serious expression and reluctantly changed her tone, Alright, so what should we do? The first thing tomorrow is to collect our uniforms. No one is allowed to wear watches anymore, switch to ordinary Casio digital watches, Hu Xiaoniu said. Then lower your attitudes, and interact normally with classmates. No, I didnt use the right wordsits not about lowering your attitudes, but rather realizing that we came to Los Angeles City in search of hope, and we have nothing to be proud of. Wang Yun muttered, But the uniforms at Los Angeles Foreign Language School are so ugly. Cant we wear our own clothes? I shipped so many over. No, said Hu Xiaoniu emphatically. He looked at the two girls who had fallen silent and suddenly sighed internally. ... Countdown 4 days. Qing Chen woke up from a dream, and when he got up to wash, he suddenly noticed in the mirror that the lines on his abdomen were gradually becoming defined. They were not the sharply defined abs of a fitness expert but the early form of abdominal muscles. Considering that he had only been exercising for five days, this was noteworthy. He finally felt the magic of the Breathing Technique. Standing in front of the mirror, with a strange breathing rhythm, fire patterns burst out on the sides of Qing Chens face in the mirror. The day before yesterday, he had spent more than five hundred dollars on thirteen pounds of beef, which he had consumed in just two days. He was now like a black hole for food, the Breathing Technique rapidly burning through the energy in his body and quickly breaking down newly acquired nutrients to reshape his physique. As the Fire Rune faded, Qing Chen marveled at why Uncle Li Dong said that with the Breathing Technique, a person who had never exercised could reach a level in three months that would take others five years to achieve. This thing was truly miraculous. Upon arriving at the classroom in the morning, Qing Chen was momentarily startled. He saw that both Wang Yun and Bai Waner had changed into their uniforms, freshly dressed, which made them look less like top students from Haicheng and more like the dream girls of their male classmates. Nan Gengchen, sitting at a desk, would occasionally sneak glances at them. After Qing Chen sat down, Wang Yun suddenly smiled and said, Classmate, the teacher said you are the best student in our grade. I have a math problem here that I dont quite understand. Could you explain it to me? Qing Chen glanced at it and saw it was a hyperbola equation problem, but the problem was full of traps and was not easy for an average student. However, he knew very well that these two girls were also top students, even tackling physics competition problems; couldnt they solve a hyperbola equation? He thought for a moment and then said, I need to preview todays lessons now, why dont you ask Nan Gengchen? It wasnt really about previewing; he just didnt want to waste time on something pointless. Seeing his attitude, Wang Yun pursed her lips, but then she thought that since Nan Gengchen and Qing Chen were close, it might be good to first build a relationship with Nan Gengchen. Hu Xiaoniu had said that they must befriend these people with a normal attitude and no longer carry any pride. Thinking of this, Wang Yun simply moved her chair next to Nan Gengchen, then smiled and said, Classmate, can you explain this problem to me? Sure, Nan Gengchen immediately responded with enthusiasm. Wang Yun looked at him expectantly, but Nan Gengchen stared at the problem in thought for a long while before turning to her and saying, I dont know how... Wang Yun: ... From the side, Qing Chen nearly laughed out loud; although Nan Gengchens studies werent bad, they werent great either. Wang Yuns first earnest attempt was totally in vain and ended in failure. Feeling disheartened, she returned to her seat to contemplate her strategy, while Bai Waner whispered, Our goal is to become friends with them. Since he cant do the hard ones, why dont you pick an easy question for him? Itll make you two get familiar with each other. Wang Yuns eyes brightened. That was indeed a good plan. She picked the easiest question from the workbook and moved her chair back next to Nan Gengchen, Classmate, could you explain this question? This time, it was Nan Gengchens turn to be excited as he knew it! As a result, Qing Chen watched as Nan Gengchen took a very simple geometric progression problem and dragged the explanation out for ten minutes, all the way until the bell rang for class. Exhausted both mentally and physically, Wang Yun returned to her seat. A problem she knew well, yet she had to sit through and pretend to listen intently for ten minutes, which was truly tiring. However, she felt that the effort was worth it, if it meant becoming friends with these two. During the break after the first class, Wang Yun went to the corridor to share her progress with her mates: although Qing Chen was tough to approach, Nan Gengchen seemed rather naive and probably easy to deal with. When she returned, she suddenly overheard Nan Gengchen asking Qing Chen behind his back, What do you think, is this new student easy to get along with? Pretty easy to get along with, Nan Gengchen hesitated for a moment before suddenly saying to Qing Chen, But these two transfer students dont seem to be very good at studying. They couldnt even solve such a simple question. Wang Yun: ??? Upon hearing this, she almost had a fit of rage right there! ... There will be another update tonight ... Thanks to the new members of this book, Youthful Eight Brother and Desert Moon, you are wonderful! May the bosses thrive and prosper! Chapter 59: 59. Suspicion (Extra for the shy actor in Silver League) Chapter 59: 59. Suspicion (Extra for the shy actor in Silver League) Wang Yun, top student at Haicheng High School. Without any surprises, she should have been across the ocean participating in the world-renowned AAPT PhysicsBowl physics competition on March 30 next year. Then, she would have smoothly been recommended for admission to nationally renowned colleges or perhaps studied abroad at Ivy League schools. If it werent for wanting to be closer to Liu Dezhu, she should have transferred schools to become a science student. However, Wang Yun was now trying to get closer to Nan Gengchen and Qing Chen by choosing a simple geometric sequence problem, but they saw her as the one who was the worst at studying. Her pride couldnt overcome this hurdle! Just as Wang Yun wanted to argue with Nan Gengchen, Bai Waner timely grabbed her and whispered, A small impatience spoils a great plan. Have you forgotten what Xiao Niu said? Hold back! Hold back, Wang Yun took a deep breath and sat back down in her seat. At that moment, Nan Gengchen was whispering next to Qing Chen, Do you think she asked me to explain the problem to her because she likes me? Qing Chen had no intention of taking up that conversation but suddenly asked, Did you get into the hacker industry in the Inner World, otherwise why are you always looking at programming? No, Nan Gengchen said guilty, Its just a hobby, learning for fun. At that moment, Qing Chen suddenly realized that he probably should also learn something. Although the technology of the Inner World was far advanced compared to the Outer World, this didnt mean that knowledge had no effect on the Outer World. For example, chess was his stepping stone in Prison 18. Wait, Qing Chen suddenly knew what he needed to learnJapanese. He had gained a mysterious family background in the Inner World and he could only understand others through translation. For the past decade, Qing Chen had always maintained a thirst for knowledge to change his destiny and sever all ties with his past. This habit, even the coming of the Inner World wouldnt change. First, he opened his mobile phone and searched for basic Japanese learning materials and impulsively bought four books on Taobao. At this moment, Qing Chen felt impelled, and searched the web for Jindai Kongyin. He was stunned. This Jindai Kongyin, who had an engagement with him in the Inner World, was indeed a Time Traveler in the Outer World! This was so surprising, he had never thought such a thing could happen before. She might think he was a native of the Inner World, so she spoke Japanese without much concern. But the problem was, his identity in the Inner World was becoming increasingly confusing. Moreover, why was this girl named Jindai Kongyin so fluent in Chinese? Was it because she grew up in China, or was there a Chinese person in her family? He scrolled further down. Sure enough, she was of Chinese and Island Country descent. Her father was Chinese and her mother was from the Island Country. When Wang Yun saw his phone from the corner of her eye, she curiously said, So you like this Island Country girl, watching her for so long. Qing Chen looked up at her, No. Wang Yun thought he was just being stubborn and didnt continue the conversation. However, inside, Qing Chen was stirred up. He had searched for Jindai Kongyin just trying it out, but he hadnt expected to actually find her. The girl from the Jindai family who silently sat with him in the interrogation room. In the photo, the girl was running through a sunflower field under the sunlight, her long hair fluttering as she looked back, smiling radiantly. Such a smile was charming, innocent, naive, as pure as a mountain stream. The information showed. The girls father was of Chinese heritage, and her mother was from the Island Country. No wonder she spoke both languages. Last year, she won the Best Supporting Actress at the Island Country Film Academy Awards for Hibiscus and this year, she starred as the female lead in Director Iwais film Aoi. Although she acts in niche art films that are not well known abroad, domestically, some have rated her as potentially becoming one of the three pillars of the future movie industry. Qing Chen often browsed Weibo and news to stay updated on societal trends, but he hadnt paid much attention to the entertainment industry of the Island Country, and indeed the person wasnt very famous yet. So he had never seen her before. Now, after checking his search results, Qing Chen was bewilderedhe couldnt understand how he had gotten involved with such a person. At this moment, Wang Yun kept sneaking glances at him and thought disdainfully, If you say you dont like her, why do you keep staring at her for so long then? However, it would probably be difficult for a boy from a small city like Los Angeles City to interact much with a girl from the Island Country. Wang Yun had seen Hibiscus and Aoi, so she knew that Jindai Kongyin was quickly rising in the Island Countrys entertainment industry; it was quite normal for her to soon become the representative Goddess of Forest. Such a girl was far too distant for a boy from a small city. At this time, Qing Chen was thinking that, according to the information he had now, the Jindai family wasnt separated from other clans by the sea. After all, Uncle Li Dong had said that the entire ocean had become Taboo Land, and if the Jindai family was on an island, they couldnt possibly cross the sea to the mainland. So, would the Island Countrys Time Travelers, travel to a mainland with domestic Time Travelers? Up to now, Qing Chen had never seen a map of the Inner World; he could ask Lin Xiaoxiao for one during his next time travel. The class had finished, and Wang Yun and Bai Waner went into the corridor to meet up with Hu Xiaoniu and Zhang Tianzhen. Hu Xiaoniu asked, Any new developments? Wang Yun shrugged, Nan Gengchen and Qing Chen are both acting like fools. Theres no need to talk about Nan Gengchen, but Qing Chen spent the whole class staring at a female celebrity from the Island Country. Bai Waner wondered, Didnt the teacher say Qing Chen is a good student? He doesnt look like one at all, obsessing over celebrities like this... Who knows, Wang Yun sighed, A lot of good students start to lose focus when their hormones kick in during their second year of high school. Its not like we havent seen this before. Remember the two top students in our class who fell in love and both dropped off their pedestals? At this point, Hu Xiaoniu frowned, What did we talk about yesterday? Please put aside your pride. If you keep regarding them both as fools in your mind, how are you going to make friends? Wang Yun was slightly annoyed too, Then lets switch classes. Ill deal with Liu Dezhu, and you can be friends with Qing Chen. At that moment, the class monitor Yu Junyi suddenly ran upstairs from downstairs and told Qing Chen at the entrance of classroom High 2 Class 3, Qing Chen, the foreign language teacher is calling you to come over. Okay, Im on my way, Qing Chen replied. At Los Angeles Foreign Language School, there were foreign teachers, but they only taught one class per week. The content wasnt substantial; it was mostly just chatting with the students and playing the guitar. This was essentially a face-saving act for Los Angeles Foreign Language School with no real educational value. As Qing Chen went downstairs, Hu Xiaoniu suddenly asked Yu Junyi, Hello, what does the foreign language teacher need Qing Chen for? The class monitor Yu Junyi chuckled, How would I know? They are friends; Qing Chen used to often practice speaking with the foreign language teacher. Eventually, only Qing Chen could speak normally with the teacher, and they gradually became familiar. The teacher often brings him little gifts from abroad, like the chocolates he brought for Qing ChenIve tried them. Hu Xiaoniu and the others were momentarily stunned; this alone was enough to prove that Qing Chens English speaking and listening skills were completely fine, nothing like what they had imagined! Hu Xiaoniu took a deep breath. Im starting to suspect he is also a Time Traveler! Let me confirm with you again, did he overhear any of your conversations? Bai Waner thought for a moment and said, First of all, we can confirm that he was indeed doing math problems and didnt overhear anything. That doesnt rule out suspicion, Hu Xiaoniu calmly said, I need to find a way to make sure. ... Fourth update. Im asking for monthly tickets! Also! Double crowdfunding starts at 8 PM! Furthermore! Thanks to BarcaRay classmate for the generous donation, hope the boss prospers this year, buying houses, cars, and RVs! Also, are there any other bosses who would like to be blessed at the end of the chapter? *jokingly* Chapter 60: 60, Came back Chapter 60: 60, Came back In the evening, Qing Chen went to buy himself a new pressure cooker because he needed it to cook beef; it wouldnt do without one. The little house on Xingshu Road had been neglected for too long, the pressure cooker was leaking, and the washing machine was broken. Now that he had obtained gold from the Inner World, he naturally wanted to replace them with new ones. Just as he was about to leave the appliance market, he suddenly saw a Haier washing machine on sale. Qing Chen hesitated for a moment but ultimately did not make the purchase. At this very moment, Wang Yun and Bai Waner were visiting at Jiang Xues home. This time, they didnt bring futile gifts like champagne or whiskey; instead, following Hu Xiaonius instructions, they bought some vegetables and brought them over in a down-to-earth manner. While Jiang Xue cooked, the two of them accompanied Li Tongyun like big sisters, watching cartoons with her. As an episode of Paw Patrol came to an end, Wang Yun smiled and asked Li Tongyun, Little friend, can your sister ask you a question? Li Tongyun replied sweetly, If I answer the question, will I get some candy? Of course you can, Wang Yun quickly produced a piece of chocolate from her pocket and offered it to her, Will this do? Li Tongyun smiled and said, Thank you, sister, I love chocolate the most. Then sister will ask you, continued Wang Yun thoughtfully, Is Brother Qing Chen the same as your mom, a Time Traveler, the really cool kind? Li Tongyun looked confused for a moment, shook her head, and said, I dont know. Have you ever asked him? Bai Waner asked, feeling that Li Tongyuns reaction was natural; if she insisted Qing Chen wasnt, then they might have reason to suspect. And after all, how could a ten-year-old lie? With her head tilted, Li Tongyun recalled, I did ask Brother Qing Chen, but he didnt say whether he was a Time Traveler. He only told me, instead of fantasizing about unrealistic time travel, its better to study hard and get into a good university. Did he say anything else? Wang Yun inquired. He said that theres nothing so great about those Time Travelers,'' Li Tongyun said diligently eating her chocolate. Wang Yun and Bai Waner exchanged a glance, both displaying a hint of delight. Truth be told, Li Tongyun hadnt given them a direct answer, but they had already found out what they wanted to know. If Qing Chen truly was a Time Traveler, why would he say Time Travelers are nothing special? That seemed more like jealousy and envy in a certain context, and a self-consolation. Then Bai Waner too pulled out a piece of chocolate from her pocket, gently patted Li Tongyuns head, and said, Xiao Yun is such a good girl. With that, the two of them stood up to say goodbye to Jiang Xue. It wasnt until they were outside the door that they spoke in hushed voices, Do you think the little girl was telling the truth? Such a well-behaved little girl must be telling the truth. Plus, a little girl couldnt make up this sort of thing, Bai Waner analyzed. It seems Qing Chen really isnt a Time Traveler then, Wang Yun spoke, This will put Hu Xiaoniu at ease. They didnt see the moment the door closed, Li Tongyun quietly spit the chocolate into the trash can and rolled her eyes skyward. In fact, she did not like the taste of chocolate. Her dad always liked to buy her chocolate, but ever since she witnessed her dad hitting her mom, she had started to deeply detest that flavor. Nevertheless, there was one piece of chocolate she hadnt thrown away, casually pocketing it as if nothing happened. ... Late at night, shortly after Qing Chen got home, he heard a knock on the door. He opened it to let Li Tongyun in, Come in and talk. Whats up this time? Li Tongyun looked at the unpacked pressure cooker he had bought, You could have had my mom help you cook the beef. We have a pressure cooker at home, and my moms beef is really delicious. Its fine, I believe in self-reliance, Qing Chen replied with a smile. Here, this is for you, Li Tongyun stuffed the chocolate into his hand and said, Those two sisters came today to ask me if you are a Time Traveler. Dont worry, Ive fobbed them off for you, but Brother Qing Chen, you should be careful. There must be some detail that made them suspicious. Hmm, Qing Chen was well aware that it was because of the incident with the foreign teacher, Where did you get this chocolate from? Unperturbed, Li Tongyun answered, I bought it for you, a gift. Thank you, Qing Chen chuckled. In consideration of Li Tongyuns assistance, Qing Chen also gave something in return, From my observation, these individuals have indeed made enemies in City No. 7, someone named Chen Leyou, likely from the Chen Clan. So they ran so far from City No. 7 just to escape the Chen Clans control, Li Tongyun pondered, but I dont need this information. What do you want, then? Qing Chen asked curiously. I want your identity, Brother Qing Chen, Li Tongyun said, batting her eyelashes. No way, Qing Chen mercilessly refused. Then, Brother Qing Chen, help me with my homework, Li Tongyun looked at him with puppy dog eyes. Thats not happening either, Qing Chen flatly refused. How could he, a grown man, do such a shameful thing! So boring! Li Tongyun felt disappointed. Brother Qing Chen, those people are always watching us since they live next door, its annoying. Should we come up with a way to drive them off? Its not good to chase them away; it might expose us instead, Qing Chen said. Besides, Ive always felt that these four people could be useful. Being suspected by others was indeed troublesome, but trying to cover it up would only make things worse. The best approach was... to divert their attention. Since they were here because of Liu Dezhu in the first place, naturally Liu Dezhu should be used to shift their focus back to him. It wasnt just about diverting attention. On the four rich heirs that Hu Xiaoniu belonged to, there were the Outer Worlds money and influence that he urgently needed. It seemed that he had to have a good talk with Liu Dezhu this time. By the way, Brother Qing Chen, National Day is in just a few days. Lets go out and have fun, Li Tongyun looked at Qing Chen with anticipation. Qing Chen was a bit puzzled. Why bring up going out all of a sudden? Ill have to think about it, maybe we can talk about it in a few days? All right, you must think about it, Li Tongyun said before happily going upstairs. In the dead of night, Qing Chen played a Japanese tutorial on his phone while painfully practicing his Breathing Technique. ... In the remaining countdown time, not a single ripple stirred in the Outer World. The world seemed to have suddenly quieted down, as everyone awaited the next crossing, waiting for He Xiaoxiaos group chat preparation to end. Meanwhile, Qing Chen kept an eye on the illegal detention case. The nine fugitive suspects had still not been apprehended, and this might be the reason everyone was keeping silent. Everyone dreaded for their own safety. Countdown 00:00:10. In the final moment, Qing Chen put the USB drive with the copied endgame chess positions into his mouth and, while activating the Breathing Technique, clutched a kitchen knife in his right hand. He quietly awaited the world to shatter, darkness to descend. 10. 9. 8. 7. 6. 5. 4. 3. 2. 1. The darkness came and went, and Qing Chen opened his eyes to see Uncle Li Dong and Ye Wan still standing in front of him, as if he had never left. Uncle Li Dong smiled, Back already? Yeah, Qing Chen nodded, Im back. He noticed that only the handle of the kitchen knife remained in his hand. This experiment had been effective; at least he now knew how much he could take with him. ... There are three more parts tonight. Chapter 61: 61. Showing You the Sights (Additional update for BarcaRay in the Silver League) Chapter 61: 61. Showing You the Sights (Additional update for BarcaRay in the Silver League) Countdown 47:59:59. Two days. It was still the familiar Prison 18. But this time, things seemed a bit different. It was no longer the cold cell and solitary confinement, someone was waiting for his return. Mother Ye held a temperature-controlled lunch box in her arms, containing beef she had stewed herself. The three people opposite looked at him as if they were waiting for him to come home. This home was a bit dim and empty, but it was enough. Teacher, heres the chess manual I brought for you, Qing Chen spread his palm and handed Uncle Li Dong the USB drive. Uncle Li Dong looked at it curiously, Ive never seen this interface before, can you handle it, Xiao Xiao? Lin Xiaoxiao replied, No problem, the key to storage devices is the chip. Teacher, can you tell if theres any change in me when I time travel? Qing Chen asked. He had previously relied on finding patterns by himself, but now with an observer, he might discover some other details. You said before that after you traverse, one second passes in the other world, which is not accurate, Uncle Li Dong said. In my perception, there was a change in the force field the moment you traversed, and this change was fleeting, perhaps only 0.1 seconds, or even shorter. It was in that instant that you disappeared, and when you reappeared, the gold bar in your hand was gone. I see, thought Qing Chen, realizing he indeed physically traveled through. But the question was, where did the Qing Chen from the Inner World go? Was he directly obliterated from existence? Qing Chen asked, Teacher, the fire inside me... Its not time to explain that yet, Uncle Li Dong shook his head. Its just that it appeared sooner than I had expected. While speaking, Ye Wan walked up to Qing Chen and lifted the hem of his shirt. When he saw the contours of Qing Chens abs, he laughed and said, Xiao Xiao, Ive won again. What bet did you place on me this time? Qing Chen asked curiously. I bet him that even without supervision, you would increase your training intensity, Ye Wan said. Were both trained individuals, and these ab lines cant be developed with even a day of rest. Starting tomorrow, youll train with weights, Uncle Li Dong said. Ye Wan, thank you for your dedication, I havent come across such a self-disciplined kid in many years. Alright, boss, Ye Wan nodded in agreement. Qing Chen looked to Uncle Li Dong, Teacher, arent you going to look at the chess manual first? Checking the chess manual is not urgent, now come with me, Uncle Li Dong told Qing Chen. Qing Chen was puzzled as he looked at him, Where to? Uncle Li Dong turned and walked towards the exit, Im taking you to see the world outside. Why are you showing me the world outside? Qing Chen didnt understand. Uncle Li Dong turned around and asked, Arent you curious about the world outside? Qing Chen paused. Of course, he was curious. From the first day of his return, he had seen others mention it on the internet, how wondrous and magnificent that world was. Some said the cities were in the clouds. Some said the cities were like a true Steel Forest. Some said the massive holographic projections in the sky were mesmerizing. Others claimed that the virtual life experience blows away all the movies in the Outer World, as if you were in the movie, living through another legendary life. Those people were navigating through a vivid and colorful cityscape. And he himself had traveled to a place called Prison, nothing more than an iron box. Qing Chen was just a 17-year-old boy; he was naturally curious and envious. However, looking at Uncle Li Dong, Qing Chen replied, While curious, I also know that now is not the time to enjoy the scenery. Uncle Li Dong smiled, Youth should have its ambitions. Before you embark on this journey alone, as a teacher, I cant let you fall behind others. Qing Chen was taken aback, What do you mean? The scenes other Time Travelers witnessed, my student from the Li Family should also experience. Tonight, I will take you to see the best views of City 18, Uncle Li Dong spoke with a relaxed and capricious tone. The icy prison had acquired a hint of human warmth. Next to the prison square, the heavy alloy gate slowly lifted for them, the metal storm overhead remained still, and the drones in the Hive continued their slumber. Ye Wan handed him the cat face mask she had prepared early that morning, This was prepared by the boss, you are not yet suitable to reveal your identity. The cat face on the mask seemed to be smiling, its red and white striped pattern both eerie and mysterious. Qing Chen suddenly looked towards Uncle Li Dongs retreating figure. It turned out the freedom he had longed for was within reach. ... Midnight. City No. 18, District 1. Above the clouds, on the 88th floor of the Eternal Building, inside the revolving Sunlight Pavilion Restaurant. In that beautifully ornate restaurant, strains of cello music flowed gently, yet all the seats were completely empty. At the entrance of the restaurant, several people were arguing with a waiter. The waiter wore a crisp white shirt and a shiny black vest, his collar neatly adorned with a tie. The young waiter explained to the customers with friendliness and politeness, Good evening, the Sunlight Pavilion Restaurant has been booked out from midnight tonight. Since we are unable to provide you with quality service, Sunlight Pavilion Restaurant will offer you two vouchers, valid for lunch and dinner except on Saturdays and Sundays. Arguing with the waiter was a couple, the man was somewhat older, while the woman was still in the prime of her youth. The man said with a stern face, Ive never heard of the Sunlight Pavilion being booked out before, youre not joking with me, are you? The waiter smiled apologetically, Im truly sorry, sir, there hasnt been one before, and I was also surprised when I received the notice today. At that moment, they looked through the glass wall of the Sunlight Pavilion Restaurant, and indeed not a single customer was inside. The Sunlight Pavilion is the highest located restaurant in City No. 18, almost overlooking the entire city, and so it is the most expensive; the privileged elites of City No. 18 flocked to it. The middle-aged man pondered, Is the booking by the Li Family or Qings Family? No sir, the waiter told the truth. The young woman seemed slightly upset, her colorful earrings dazzling the man as she pouted. The man thought for a moment and asked, In that case, may I know who has booked the place? Im aware that whoever can book this place must be a very important person, but perhaps I could speak to them myself if I happen to know them. The man was tactful and not foolish. When he encountered someone troublesome, he would first ask himself if he could do what the other person had done. If not, he wouldnt embarrass himself; it would mean they were not on the same level. However, being someone with a reputation in the city, he still wanted to use personal connections to save some face. The waiter went to consult with the manager briefly, then returned with a black business card. The card had no contact information, only five words: Heng Society, Li Dongze. Seeing this business card, the man led his partner to the elevator without another word. In the elevator, the woman whispered in complaint, Didnt you say we were going to greet someone? Why did we leave without a word? The man sighed, Ill find you another place, and Ill make up this dinner at the Sunlight Pavilion to you another time. Werent you saying last month that you knew Li Dongze? the woman complained. Thats a different matter, the man grew impatient as well, He isnt even in City No. 18 today; he booked the place for someone else. At that moment, the man did indeed think of the most vital issue. But he couldnt figure out at once who was worth such a grand gesture from Li Dongze. The man was usually low-profile and seldom indulged in high-profile actions like booking an entire restaurant. As they were taking the panoramic elevator down, a Black Samurai Hover car was slowly floating towards the rooftop of the Sunlight Pavilion Restaurant. Uncle Li Dong stepped out of the hover car with Qing Chen, with a waiter already waiting to offer Uncle Li Dong a warm towel to wipe his face. Qing Chen, wearing the mask, gestured that he did not need one. Mr. Li, your table has been prepared, the cameras in the entire Eternal Building have just been turned off, and the braised pork that Mr. Li Dongze said you like most is ready, the waiter whispered. Uncle Li Dong said to Qing Chen, Perhaps one day you will get used to it, in this world, as long as you have money and power, everything can be just perfect. ... This is the second update for today, two more to come at 6 pm. Chapter 62: 62, A net Chapter 62: 62, A net Qing Chen stood on the tarmac, the whirring turbines of the hover car stirring up a tumultuous wind. Suddenly, in the distance. A light rail was moving through the sky between the cities, its densely packed windows emitting white light, like a white steed. More wondrous still, it was traversing through the dense buildings. It wasnt passing through the gaps between the buildings, but rather, holes had been hollowed out in the bodies of these tall structures. The light rail seemed to shuttle through tunnel after tunnel, piercing through the buildings. This city mysteriously came to life. Since you can come out at any time, why stay in Prison No. 18? Qing Chen suddenly asked. Because the prison is quieter than here, Uncle Li Dong replied without a direct answer. As the waiter turned to lead the way, Qing Chen asked in a low voice, Its already one in the morning; is the restaurant still open? Uncle Li Dong gave him a look: The life of Night City is just beginning. Doesnt anyone need to sleep? Dont they have to work tomorrow? Qing Chen wondered. Qings Family previously discovered a unique function of the neural connection technology; it can simulate the neural wavelengths outside the brain, helping people enter deep sleep. Just two or three hours of sleep each day is enough, Uncle Li Dong explained. Are there no side effects to this technology? Qing Chen asked. Of course, there are, Uncle Li Dong said: After using this technology for a month, even if you wanted to sleep in, you wouldnt be able to. Thats a bit harsh, Qing Chen reflected, for although he worked hard, he occasionally enjoyed the pleasure of sleep. Technology is a double-edged sword; no one knows whether it brings a blessing or a curse to humanity, Uncle Li Dong said to Qing Chen. For example, the Li Family once developed genetically modified fast-growing timber, corn, and soybeans, which resulted in swathes of land that could no longer grow plants thirty years later. Deer Island Financial Group, which originally had a thriving livestock industry, discovered after gene modification that their transgenic livestock lost the ability to reproduce after three generations. As humanity continually reaps the benefits of technology, it also continuously suffers from the backlash of intelligence. Uncle Li Dong continued: When humans no longer needed to sleep as much, the efficiency of production did not really improve, but it led to a void in the human spirit. Of course, Qing Chen felt that the Outer World hadnt yet suffered such fierce backlash, possibly because they were not as aggressive as the Inner World. At that moment, Qing Chen saw a huge flower boat sailing between the buildings under his feet, its illuminations full of splendor yet emitting a sinister aura. He couldnt understand the totems on the boat at all. Uncle Li Dong followed his gaze: Dont bother looking, its a procession ship of the Mechanicus. Every second it ejects liquid oxygen methane, it uses the sweat and blood of its followers. As he spoke, Uncle Li Dongs face was expressionless. The two sat in an exquisite and luxurious restaurant, where an elegantly dressed waiter served a plate of braised pork to Uncle Li Dong. There was only one pair of chopsticks. What about mine? Qing Chen was puzzled. Youre wearing a mask, you cant eat, Uncle Li Dong nonchalantly picked up a piece of braised pork. Qing Chen: ... After a while, Uncle Li Dong looked up and smiled at him: Hungry? A bit, Qing Chen said. To his surprise, Uncle Li Dong actually called over the waiter: Bring him a bowl of Zhajiang noodles. Right away, Mr. Li, the waiter responded politely. Even though Sunlight Pavilion never made Zhajiang noodles. Once the noodles were ready, Uncle Li Dong dismissed everyone and then said to Qing Chen, Take off your mask and eat the noodles. Qing Chen mixed the noodles while looking out the window. This must be one of the tallest buildings in City No. 18. As he surveyed the area, only two distant towers stood with it against the sky. Thats a building owned by the Qings Family and the Li Family, Uncle Li Dong explained. Qing Chen looked down again; among the dense buildings, interconnected corridors and walkways spiraled, making the whole city look like a galaxy, with lights and neon signs as the stars within. Occasionally, a hover car would fly by, its jet flames resembling shooting stars. At one moment, standing in the skyscraper on the 88th floor, Qing Chen felt as if he was suspended between heaven and earth, vast and magnificent. Is this the most beautiful scenery in the 18th city? Qing Chen asked. Eternal Building is built atop six towers; its because of those that it has its current height and beauty. If you disregard the graffiti, urine stains, sewage, and crime on the lower-level buildings, then yes, this is the most beautiful view, Uncle Li Dong replied, Today I brought you to see the most beautiful side. If theres another chance, I can show you the ugliest side of this city. As he spoke, Uncle Li Dong pointed to the side: Theres a telescope next to the window, provided specifically for diners to enjoy the view. You can have a look. Qing Chen walked over to the telescope. He saw the never-ending flow of vehicles on the ground and the playful, raucous crowds. Some were spray-painting strange but trendy images on walls, while the white smoke from a barbecue restaurant and flags from a pub fluttered in the wind. Suddenly, he saw two black helicopters slowly descending onto the plaza below, from which more than twenty combat team members jumped out, rushing into the Eternal Building in tactical formation. There were also two mechanical dogs rapidly running alongside them. These men were armed to the teeth, carrying weapons Qing Chen could not name. They were clearly coming for Uncle Li Dong. Qing Chen turned to look at Uncle Li Dong, who just smiled calmly and said, Lets eat first. Sure, Qing Chen said, concentrating on his noodles. Now Uncle Li Dong seemed more interested: Not afraid? Its the first time a teacher has taken a student out to see the scenery; surely you wouldnt let your student die halfway through the trip. Otherwise, that would be a rather unqualified teacher, Qing Chen said matter-of-factly. Uncle Li Dongs hearty laughter echoed outward. He was truly growing more and more fond of Qing Chen. At this moment, inside the building, the more than twenty combat team members split into two groupsone took the elevator towards the 87th floor, while the other entered a safe escape passage to search on foot. Outside the Eternal Building, the two Black Kite-01 armed helicopters once again ascended towards the sky. They hovered slowly around the 70th floor of Eternal Building, ready to provide heavy fire support at any moment. In a temporary military base farther away, more than ten armed helicopters and airships had just taken off. Even farther away, Qings Familys Land Cruiser large airship began to load new solid fuel pods amidst the bustling logistics personnel. All of this was like a net that was tightening gradually. At the very moment when the net was tightening, a squad leader on the communication channel calmly said, Stop, check the charge status of each mechanized limb on the spot and report back to me. After speaking, he signaled to all the tactical squad members in the stairwell of the security passage to enter a silent state, temporarily shutting down all communication systems. Once he was certain that no sound would carry back to the command center, he said calmly, Boss Chen specified that if we want to live through the night, we shouldnt fire a single shot. Remember, dont drag anyone else down. Squad leader, I dont understand, one of the combat team members hesitated. The squad leader said, Youll understand later. Repeat, do not fire; repeat, do not fire. But before they could reconnect their communication devices, a silent shadow silently descended among them on the staircase. Fierce, powerful. ... Third update Chapter 63: 63. Find an opportunity to come out and play again Chapter 63: 63. Find an opportunity to come out and play again No one noticed what was happening in the security corridor, which seemed like a deep abyss that swallowed everything. Outside the restaurant, the sound of solitary footsteps could be heard. A young man dressed in a dark blue suit slowly walked into the Sunlight Pavillion Restaurant, his cuffs embroidered with a small white turbine pattern. Uncle Li Dong had finished a whole portion of braised pork and was quietly watching the youth eating noodles with soybean paste. From the young mans perspective, he could see Uncle Li Dongs face, but only Qing Chens back. Just as he was about to say something, he saw Uncle Li Dong gently raise his hand to stop him. And smiling, he pointed at Qing Chen and said, Lets wait for him to finish eating before discussing anything. The young man paused for a moment and gave an unusual glance at the back of Qing Chen. Because Qing Chen was facing away from him, he was unable to recognize his identity. He was curious about what kind of person could make Uncle Li Dong wait so patiently. Moreover, even though someone was waiting, Qing Chen continued to eat at his own pace. As if he hadnt heard the loud noise outside the window from Black Kite-01 or seen the dozen airships hovering around Eternal Building, not to mention the Strange bombs mounted on the airships. These flying weapons hovered around. Like small asteroids orbiting a star. Im done eating, Qing Chen wiped his mouth and put on his Cat Mask again, looking at his teacher. Uncle Li Dong smiled toward the young man outside the door, Chen Yehu from the Chen Clan? I heard youve been promoted to A-Class. My rank isnt important, right now we have no intention of starting a war with the Knights or the Heng Society, we just want to ask you to return to Prison Number 18... no need to cause a huge uproar, Chen Yehu bowed. Dont worry, well sit here and chat for a bit and then leave, not making it hard for you, Uncle Li Dong said smiling. Thats good, I wont disturb you further, well leave after you, Chen Yehu left the Sunlight Pavillion Restaurant, as the tactical team downstairs began to stand down, while armed helicopters began to hover in place. Even the helicopters turned off their searchlights, bringing the engine noise to the lowest possible level. It seemed the matter just ended simply like that. But it was actually not that simple. Uncle Li Dong looked towards Qing Chen, Once I step out from Prison Number 18, it will disturb the nerves of too many people, so you know why I did not come out, right? Are they afraid of you? Qing Chen asked. Uncle Li Dong shook his head with a smile, In this era, even stepping into Demigod does not make one invincible, they are not afraid of me, but of fire. Lets go, home. Alright, Qing Chen followed Uncle Li Dong to the rooftop. With the Cat Mask on, Qing Chen stood in the night wind atop Cloud top, taking another look at the galaxy in the city and the helicopters circling below his feet. He knew that one day he would return. ... Chen Yehu stood alone in front of the floor-to-ceiling window, calmly watching the Black Samurai Hovercar disappear into the night. He asked, Has that combat team been found? Someone behind him replied, Found them, all unconscious. According to my estimation, someone attacked them in the security corridor and then left unscathed. Chen Yehu chuckled, This is telling us, the net were weaving is still not tight enough. Lets retreat, go home to sleep. While the involved parties went home to sleep, those whose nights had been disturbed simply couldnt sleep. Who knows how many people entered remote teleconference rooms in the middle of the night, or how many analytical reports were made. The networks were transmitting this important news, and the media began to report it feverishly. Some analyzed, the person who met with Uncle Li Dong is unknown, possibly a representative of an external power. Some analysts claim that with the recent frequency of transmigrator incidents causing turmoil in the Outer World, Uncle Li Dong has once again entered everyones field of vision, planning something new. Tonight, it might cause an unpredictable impact on the entire Federation. Most people actually lean towards the first guess: Uncle Li Dong stepped out of prison after eight years specifically to meet someone important and discuss a very important matter. Although no one knows who this person wearing the Cat Mask is, they must be extremely important. Based on physique, could it be Qing Xun or Rama from the Qings Family? Lee Jungjae from the Deer Island Financial Group? Or perhaps Jindai Imada from the Jindai Consortium? Its uncertain. However, what they dont know is that Uncle Li Dong, upon leaving the No. 18 prison, was simply sitting, watching armed helicopters and artillery aimed at him. And it was merely to show Qing Chen a view. Just as he himself said, if others have seen a view, his student should see it too. Thats all. And the reason he ate braised pork was simply because he wanted to eat braised pork. On the way back, sitting in the soft seat of the hover car, Uncle Li Dong asked him, Do you know why I had you wear the mask? Because you dont want the outside world to know Im connected to you, Qing Chen replied. Uncle Li Dong then asked, Do you know why Ive taken you as my student, yet hesitate to admit it? Does it feel somewhat unfair to you? Not at all, Qing Chen calmly shook his head: You know its hard to remove the shackles on yourself, so you worry those shackles will also bind me. Thank you, Teacher. Youve always been very intelligent, with limitless potential, Uncle Li Dong praised: And of course, that is why I think you shouldnt have to carry any burdens as you enter this battlefield. Uncle Li Dong thought, as a teacher, his role was never to tie his students to fight alongside him. But to accompany Qing Chen for a while, then watch how far he could go on his own. Qing Chen did not continue this conversation but suddenly asked, Will we have another chance to come out in the future? Uncle Li Dong, curious, asked, Do you still want to come out and play? Yes, Qing Chen nodded, because I may need to race against time, or perhaps against other Time Travelers. Then lets find another opportunity to come out and play in a few days, Uncle Li Dong said with a smile, seemingly unconcerned by tonights spectacle. This middle-aged man seemed never to have been afraid of anything. At the moment, it was only 3 a.m., and he had just traveled back three hours ago. But Qing Chen felt these were probably the most exhilarating three hours of his seventeen years of life. ... Meanwhile, Zheng Yuandong quietly arrived at the mercenary bar in City No. 18, where Lu Yuan had been waiting early. Zheng Yuandong asked, You saw the news, right? Lu Yuan said, I did, boss. I think we should still try to contact Liu Dezhu again. Uncle Li Dong is too important a figure in the Inner World for us to ignore, even if you dislike Liu Dezhu, we must consider that right now he is the closest person to Uncle Li Dong. Zheng Yuandong still shook his head: I trust my instincts, and theyre growing stronger. You have to understand, Lu Yuan, a person like Uncle Li Dong would never be interested in someone like Liu Dezhu. There must be a third Time Traveler in prison No. 18. So, what do we do? Lu Yuan asked helplessly. Find him. ... Fourth update, asking for monthly tickets!! Double crowdfunding begins at 8 PM, everyone is welcome to participate! Thank you, wish you all a safe and peaceful life! ... Thanks to Rain All Night, Rainy Night with a Knife Luo, and Cheese Loves Cheese for becoming new allies of this book. Generous bosses, may you make a fortune and buy cars, houses, and RVs! Chapter 64: 64, Two calm people Chapter 64: 64, Two calm people ` Countdown 44:30:00, 3:30 a.m. Cyber City, Ninth District. In a small street at the bottom layer of the city, a young man in a gray suit strolled along with ease. The puddles on the ground acted as mirrors, reflecting his composed demeanor. This place bore none of the bustling scenes one might imagine; water and garbage could be seen everywhere on the streets, and the walls were graffitied with colorful obscenities and protest slogans. It didnt resemble the high-tech city of ones imagination but rather looked likelier to be a slum. Yet, as the young man walked here, he did so as if he were on the streets of England, casual yet gentlemanly. He arrived in front of a clothing store. The owner, a woman in her thirties, was lounging with her legs crossed, engrossed in the Inner World news on her transparent phone. In fact, the Outer World also had many such bizarre little clothing stores, always selling outdated clothes, seldom with any customers. You wouldnt know on what revenues these stores survived, but they never went out of business. The owner seemed not to care whether customers came. But perhaps no one would have expected that these little shops had more going on beneath the surface. And now, they were being brought into the Inner World. The young man stepped through the door; the owner didnt react, seemingly unaware of anyones arrival. He stood in front of the counter, his smile revealing a sharpness as he tapped the surface with his fingers. The owner looked up hurriedly and stood up, a bit panicked, Mr. He, Im sorry I didnt notice you coming in. He Jinqiu chuckled and said, Dont be nervous, Im here with two pieces of news you need to pass on quickly; first, Dong Suyue and Tian Xiaomiao have been discovered by the consortium as identities of the Time Traveler, tell Xiao Xiao to cut off contact with them for now, well discuss everything after the return. Understood, the owner quickly memorized the instructions from He Jinqiu. Second, tell Xiao Xiao to collect as much information on Uncle Li Dong as possible, Ive found that his power is even greater than we assessed before, the fact that he could emerge unscathed from such a major incident is inconceivable. Understood, the owner responded once more. He Jinqiu muttered as if to himself, Looks like we need to enlist Liu Dezhu before making our move on Kunlun, we need him. Then, He Jinqiu turned with a smile and said, I hope you understand the mission we are shouldering, if such a lapse in vigilance occurs again, the organization will punish you. Ill find someone to replace you once we have a suitable candidate. After the return, go and see Instructor Zhang Zongyu for additional training, any objections? The owner bowed her head, No objections. Good, then were agreeably decided! Having said that, He Jinqiu left. The owner then slipped into the storage room, ready to send the messages in some unknown way. The slums are one of the few places in Cyber City without surveillance, no one would notice a special visitor here, He Jinqiu looked back at the clothing store; such a hidden spot was most suited for passing on messages and concealing identities, yet there were still too few people from Kyushu, and even fewer who could be of use. It seemed necessary to quicken the pace. ... ` Early in the morning, the familiar banging on the door began. The alloy gate buzzed with the prisoners pounding, as if on the verge of resonating. These people were always brimming with energy, with no outlet for release. Qing Chen didnt leave his cell; he was waiting for Lu Guangyi to search for the Time Traveler among the new batch of inmates. Surprisingly, no new prisoners had been escorted to Prison No. 18 last night. He turned over and went back to sleep, completely ignoring the chaos outside. At this moment, Uncle Li Dong was still sitting calmly at the dining table, looking at the recently acquired chess endgame positions, showing no signs of fatigue. Even Lin Xiaoxiao marveled that while the outside world was in uproar over the events of last night, their boss was seemingly unconcerned, not giving it a second thought. The bald and shiny-headed Guo Huchan quietly approached, whispering to Lin Xiaoxiao, What exactly did you and your boss do last night? If theres something exciting, count me in next time, Im really good at fighting. Eh, how did you find out, Lin Xiaoxiao asked curiously. Even though there was a commotion outside, Guo Huchan had no means of communication here; how could he know what happened? He squinted at the bald man and said, Did the psychic Transcendents from Spade come as well? How many of you arrived? Arent you afraid the consortium would wipe you all out in one fell swoop? Just me alone, Guo Huchan responded with a smirk, Seriously though, give me a heads up next time you guys have a mission. Lin Xiaoxiao looked down on him, I dont know what game youre playing. Are you just waiting for us to go out so you can take advantage of Bosss search for ACE-005? Not at all, Guo Huchan laughed heartily, Look at you, always thinking too much. I just want to know, what exactly did Boss Li do last night? Lin Xiaoxiao glanced at him, If I told you he just wanted to eat some braised pork, would you believe it? I dont believe it. With such a big fuss, could there not be something serious? Guo Huchan looked incredulous. Lin Xiaoxiao sighed, knowing that the whole world wouldnt believe that their boss had no serious business last night. It was just a matter of wanting to take Qing Chen out for some fun. People remembered that their boss was a dangerous contemporary Demigod, but they forgot that he was also a very capricious and carefree person. Of course, Lin Xiaoxiao was also amazed that the other main character in this affair, Qing Chen, was still sound asleep until noon, just like nothing had happened. The boss could be nonchalant, but how could a seventeen-year-old boy be so casual? ... As Qing Chen was dozing off in his sleep, suddenly, the loudspeaker in the prison announced, Inmate number 010101, you have a family visit. He slowly sat up, somewhat puzzled. According to the Inner Worlds timeline, hadnt Qing Yan just visited yesterday? Why was he here again today? Meanwhile, in the courtyard, Guo Huchan was asking Lin Xiaoxiao, Wait, isnt it normal for visits to be once every three months? I remember this kid had a visitor just yesterday. Lin Xiaoxiao, appearing unconcerned, replied, Our boss doesnt like him, so Id suggest youd better not get too close to him and not pry too much. Besides, he is from Qings Family, the consortium has to extend some privileges. Qing Chen didnt hurry out immediately; he took his time getting ready, seemingly indifferent to the visit. In his view, since it was clear that Qing Yan was not an ally, there was no harm in making him wait. Half an hour later, Qing Chen, accompanied by a Mechanical Prison Guard, slowly pushed open the visitation room door, only to be stunned: inside was not Qing Yan. It was Jindai Kongyin. Chapter 65: 65. The Link to the Outer World Chapter 65: 65. The Link to the Outer World This time, the girl wasnt wearing a formal suit but something more casual instead. She had on a loose-fitting white sweater, a long pleated skirt underneath, and a pair of little leather shoes. When she sat down there, Qing Chen could see her slender legs wrapped in white socks. It seemed that she had changed into attire she was more accustomed to. Jindai Kongyin no longer seemed restless, but was quietly observing Qing Chen with her large eyes, which looked as if they could speak, seriously taking in the youths appearance. Qing Chen sat down across from her, the two separated by an iron table. The gray metallic walls surrounded them, bleak LED strip lighting above, but for some reason, the originally somewhat gloomy environment seemed somewhat refreshed by Jindai Kongyins presence. Actually, the girl wasnt particularly beautiful, but after looking at her for a while, you would feel extremely comfortable, as if basking in the sunlight. Qing Chen hesitated before asking, Why have you come? To see you, to bring you some food, Jindai Kongyin said, picking up a small cloth bag from beside the chair which contained a thermal lunch box, more exquisite than the one Ye Wan had. Qing Chen silently opened the lunch box, which was neatly filled with three pieces of nigiri sushi and a side of beef bowl. Jindai Kongyin said, I asked around, the prison food doesnt seem very good, so I made you something. Qing Chen asked, Arent you afraid Im a convict? I know youre on a mission, Jindai Kongyin said with a smile. Im curious, we dont seem that close, certainly not close enough to visit me in prison every day, Qing Chen said calmly. Although it was nice to be cared for, Qing Chen never believed in unconditional love in this world. This was the World Within, and she was a Time Traveler; from these two points alone, it was destined that the first thing Qing Chen felt upon seeing her was not affinity, but caution. After a moments thought, Jindai Kongyin spoke softly, This time I came to City No. 18 with my elders. They asked me to interact more with you, and... being with them is somewhat uncomfortable. The two fell into silence, and Qing Chen picked up the chopsticks prepared by the girl, silently finishing all the food in the lunch box. It had to be said that the girls cooking skills were very good. Then, they fell into silence once more. Throughout this time, Jindai Kongyins gaze never left the youth, until the end of the thirty-minute visit. So much so that even Qing Chen, who faced such a formidable array last night without panic, became somewhat restless. At that moment, Jindai Kongyin muttered softly, ΡY硹ˤͬ?褦,Ұ?ҰʤΤ?Ϥʤ?礦. What did you say? Qing Chen asked, puzzled. Nothing, its a language only our clan understands, Jindai Kongyin smiled and stood up, Well then, Qing Chen, see you next time. The girl seemed to have gotten used to their silence, and the game of speaking a language the other couldnt understand, revealing her small thoughts, seemed to bring her joy as well. ... At the same time. Lin Xiaoxiao, who was sitting bored in the reading area, lamented that ever since the boss required Qing Chen to conceal his identity, the prison seemed to have lost some of its fun. He wanted to chat with Qing Chen, but they all had to pretend to be indifferent. He wanted to chat with Ye Wan, but Mother Yes personality was such that you couldnt get a peep out of her all day. This made Lin Xiaoxiao feel a wave of loneliness... As for Guo Huchan... he wished that baldy would stay far away from him. Just then, the alloy gate next to the square slowly lifted, and two Mechanical Prison Guards were seen escorting Liu Dezhu back to the square. Damn, Lin Xiaoxiao slapped his forehead, feeling like he had forgotten something. According to the prisons punishment rules, today was the day Liu Dezhu was supposed to finish his solitary confinement. But the problem was, Liu Dezhu couldnt come back because Lin Xiaoxiao knew he couldnt let the kid see Qing Chens face! Boss, this guy cant be released, he said to Uncle Li Dong. Uncle Li Dong lifted his gaze from the chessboard, then said, Then lock him up again, well talk about it tonight. No sooner had he spoken than the two Mechanical Prison Guards directly escorted Liu Dezhu away from the alloy gate and towards solitary confinement. No one knew how Uncle Li Dong managed that, nor did anyone know who had heard Uncle Li Dongs command and then issued the order to the Mechanical Prison Guards. Just like no one knew how he managed to leave City No. 18s prison. Liu Dezhu, the mechanical prison guard, was suspended in the air by his legs, and he roared, Wait, wasnt I supposed to be put back in the square? Whats this about, why am I being put in solitary confinement again? What crime have I committed? But no matter how much he struggled, he was ultimately taken back to the solitary cell... Liu Dezhu felt rather dejected inside. For a modern person, a day without the ability to communicate with the outside world, without a cell phone, without games, was simply too hard to bear. Liu Dezhu really wanted to end it all, but he couldnt. Every time the countdown to time travel ended, he would be forcefully pulled into the Inner World by the worlds rules and then spend several days in prison. He never imagined that at such a young age, he would bear all that he shouldnt have to bear. Suddenly, the alloy gate in front of him opened, and in the hollow and dim corridor stood someone wearing a Cat Mask, silently watching him. Who... are you? Liu Dezhu hesitated for a moment; he was somewhat afraid, but upon closer inspection, he saw that the other person didnt have any weapons, and still held a prison reader in their hand. This was the prisons third Time Traveler, Liu Dezhu realized. Qing Chen slowly stepped into the solitary cell, and with a hydraulic release sound, the alloy gate slowly closed behind him. What do you want to do?! Liu Dezhu felt a surge of fear in the enclosed space. After a few seconds of silence, Qing Chen slowly wrote a message on the reader: I saw the news; youve been mistaken for me. Liu Dezhus eyes widened: Big brother, I didnt mean to steal your thunder. Ive made up my mind, Ill never boast again. When I get out, Ill admit that Im not the Time Traveler Jian Sheng encountered. Qing Chen wrote on the reader: No need. Ah? Liu Dezhu thought, following his own logic, that he had taken the limelight from this mysterious figure, which is why they might be unhappy, but it seemed that wasnt the case. He thought for a moment, then asked weakly, Then what do you want to do, big brother? Admit it publicly, Qing Chen answered with the reader. No no no, Liu Dezhus head shook like a rattle-drum: Im already scared of being harassed. Big brother, you dont know, I live on the second floor, and the day before yesterday, I forgot to close the blinds while showering, and when I turned around, I saw someone on the building across with a camera pointing at me! Also, when I was cycling home, there were paparazzi following me in a car, complaining I was riding too slowly and saying I should go faster for a better shot! Qing Chen ignored his complaints and responded on the reader: Do you know how many years your sentence is? It wasnt dictated by me, it was sentenced by Court No. 18 of the Inner World. Liu Dezhu was startled; he indeed didnt know the specifics of his sentence, having been in prison ever since he arrived. Qing Chen wrote on the reader: 99 years and seven months. Liu Dezhu: ??? Qing Chen explained: According to the news, youve committed robbery, theft, smuggling, drug trafficking, and attempted murder, with cumulative punishment for multiple crimes. Damn! Liu Dezhu nearly threw up at that moment. At this time, Qing Chen also pulled up the news of his trial on the reader, which belonged to Uncle Li Dong, hence had the authority to read the news. Liu Dezhu dumbly watched the reader, which clearly stated his deeds and mentioned that it was the longest sentence in City No. 18 in the past two years. He felt somewhat desperate, having harbored a sliver of hope that after enduring for a while and serving his sentence, everything would be fine. Qing Chen continued to write: Of course, I think... Suddenly, Liu Dezhu asked, Big brother, you always use writing to communicate with me, afraid that Ill recognize your voice, right? So, are you someone I know, or someone close to me? At that moment, Liu Dezhu showed his true intelligence, that of a person whose mind hadnt been muddled by time travel, who had regained his normal human intellect after calming down in solitary. Qing Chen looked at him coldly, and then spoke from beneath the mask: Thats not important. Whats important is that Uncle Li Dong and I believe that you were set up by the Society to take the blame. The World Within Society often does this; after the Federal Public Security Management Committee catches wind of them, they randomly pick an unlucky person to shoulder all the blame. In an instant, Liu Dezhu felt that the others presence had changed, as had their momentum. An invisible pressure made it involuntarily hard to breathe normally. The voice was somewhat androgynous but very captivating. Liu Dezhu pondered; if he had heard this voice before, he would definitely have remembered it. But there was no such recollection in his memory. Qing Chen asked, Now that youve heard my voice, can we continue communicating? Sorry, big brother, it was my misunderstanding, Liu Dezhus demeanor weakened again. Qing Chen looked down at Liu Dezhu: I came to see you to make a deal. You will impersonate me, and I will help you clear the charges. He had first shattered Liu Dezhus hopes, and now he was offering them back. He did so because Liu Dezhu, as of now, could completely become his link to the Outer World. Chapter 66: 66. A Deal about the Outer World Chapter 66: 66. A Deal about the Outer World Many people will come to Los Angeles City because of Liu Dezhu. Hu Xiaoniu, Zhang Tianzhen, Wang Yun, Bai Waner, and there will be even more later. You have to know, these people are truly wealthy! Qing Chen continued, Of course, Im not going to exonerate you right now, but I can assure you that, after I leave Prison 18, I will help you get out as soon as possible. How will you help? Liu Dezhu asked. Find the real culprits and have them turn themselves in, Qing Chen responded. After thinking it over, Liu Dezhu said, But even if you dont help me after you leave, theres nothing I can do, right? Do you have another choice? Qing Chen asked calmly. Liu Dezhu was silent for a moment, finally resigned, I agree to this deal, what do I need to do? I believe someone will be attracted by your apparent identity. You need to understand their needs and make them believe they can buy what they want from you, Qing Chen said, In short, I want to keep them connected through you. Boss, I cant just do this without any benefits, right... Liu Dezhu weakly asked. Youll get a share or reward from each transaction, such as improved meals in the Inner World, the ability to watch outside news even from the solitary confinement room, or moving the entertainment zones virtual life equipment to your solitary confinement room, Qing Chen promised. Liu Dezhu was astonished; he hadnt expected that this third Time Traveler would have such great power inside Prison 18. He hesitated and then said, But boss... if I take on your identity, I will be extremely vulnerable in the Outer World. Qing Chen just looked at him quietly. Boss, you might have seen the news too. I got injured on the second day of my return, Liu Dezhu pulled up his sleeves and trousers, Look, theyre just starting to scab over. Oh, Qing Chen just then remembered, he had been wondering how the other had gotten injured and what had happened, Tell me more about it. According to what the Kunlun organization told me, someone was targeting my role close to Uncle Li Dong, wanting to use me to get closer to Uncle Li Dong, Liu Dezhu explained, They set out from Ezhou in the morning, and by evening, they made their move on me in Los Angeles City. Kunlun had laid an ambush outside the school, catching them all. I see, Qing Chen nodded. No wonder Kunlun didnt appear at the school that day. No wonder Liu Dezhu went to school with injuries out of nowhere; it was all because of the hidden dangers lurking in the Outer World. Now, the nine people involved in the illegal imprisonment case still havent been apprehended; those are the overt dangers. Besides, many others are fiercely eying all Time Travelers; those are the covert dangers. Having said that, Qing Chen felt it was indeed dangerous to have Liu Dezhu take the fall for him. It wasnt that he cared about Liu Dezhu, but having finally found a suitable link, it would be a pity to let him die just like that. Qing Chen looked at Liu Dezhu and asked, What kind of strength enhancement are you talking about, for instance? Genetic Potion, Liu Dezhu chose another path in his career. Qing Chen closed his eyes, deep in thought, and his meditation lasted ten minutes. In silence, Liu Dezhu suffered terribly. The next moment, Qing Chen suddenly opened his eyes, I can give it to you, but I hope you prove that you are worthy of this Genetic Potion, and also understand what working with me entails. Just watch my performance, sir. Im telling you, there are already four people trying to cozy up to me, but I previously ignored them, Liu Dezhu immediately became excited, You dont know how rich they are. I heard even a watch costs hundreds of thousands. Its unbelievable that students would wear watches worth hundreds of thousands. Ive never heard of that before! Qing Chen looked bemused; he was talking about Wang Yun and the others. Liu Dezhu continued, Ill go back and understand their needs, see how I can wring some money out of them. Or, should I get his watch for you? Qing Chen reminded, Dont bring cash, and no watches either. I only want unmarked gold bars. Paper currency can be traced through its serial numbers, and valuable watches also have serial numbers, making them easily traceable clues. Some people think virtual digital currency is secure, believing that virtual transactions can effortlessly hide ones identity, but thats not the case. If you want to conceal your virtual currency transactions, you must go through a mixing pool. A so-called mixing pool is a place where your cryptocurrency is mixed with a large amount of currency, making it difficult for outsiders to trace the flow of funds. However, mixing pools are managed by third-party platforms, and if those platforms disappear, the holders might lose their investment entirely. Therefore, for Qing Chen, gold bars are still the safest option. By the way, you know Im at Los Angeles Foreign Language School, right? Liu Dezhu said. Hmm, Qing Chen nodded. Im in senior year class 4, and theres this idiot in the next class, senior year class 3, who keeps trying to cozy up to me. He added me as a friend through our class WeChat group. I heard he was poor so I didnt accept at first, but after he added me twice more, I finally accepted, Liu Dezhu said, and just two days after he added me, he inexplicably pulled me into a group where they were selling socks and offering to introduce wealthy women... Qing Chens expression grew even strangerwho else could it be but Nan Gengchen? If he hadnt been wearing a mask, Liu Dezhu might have been able to guess the clue from his expression! Boss, how should I contact you in the Outer World? Liu Dezhu asked cautiously. Qing Chen smiled, Dont worry, I will contact you. After speaking, he turned and left the solitary confinement room. Only after the alloy gate behind him had closed did Qing Chen slow his breathing. Behind the mask, the fire rune on his cheek was fading quickly. Voice changing, the second application of the Breathing Technique. Before coming here, Qing Chen had thought that Liu Dezhu would inevitably become suspicious about his unwillingness to use his voice for communication. However, if he had used a reader the last time and then spoke out loud this time, it would not be appropriate. So, letting Liu Dezhu discover the problem himself, and then resolving it, would be more persuasive in dispelling his suspicions. Honestly, he was quite worried that Liu Dezhu would never notice the issueotherwise he would have to keep using the reader to write... Too tiring. ... In the lonely confinement room, the closed alloy gate where Liu Dezhu was, stood idly. His mind was filled with that eerie cat mask. The masks red patterns interwove perfectly with the white, creating a mysterious aura that seemed to be staring right at him. Powerful and mysterious. Liu Dezhu thought idly that although he hadnt mixed with Uncle Li Dong, mixing with the successor of Uncle Li might also be a good choice. He had realized that he wasnt the protagonist of this world. Perhaps the owner of the cat mask was. Outside the door, Uncle Li was waiting with Lin Xiaoxiao and Ye Wan. Is this your classmate? I thought everyone from the Outer World was like you, which really scared me. But after seeing him, Im not scared anymore, Uncle Li asked with a smile, How did it go? Qing Chen thought for a moment, I need a genetic potion. Chapter 67: 67. Paparazzis Sleepless Night (An Additional Update for Brother Yans Silver League) Chapter 67: 67. Paparazzis Sleepless Night (An Additional Update for Brother Yans Silver League) Genetic Potion? Uncle Li Dong asked in surprise, For the person inside? Yes, Qing Chen nodded. Why, Lin Xiaoxiao wondered, making genetic potions is quite difficult, arent we just giving it away for free? I need to use him to prove to people from the Outer World that I can indeed bring them what they desire. Moreover, he should have some self-protection capabilities; otherwise, it would be too easy for him to be captured and tortured, Qing Chen replied. Liu Dezhu had no spine, Lin Xiaoxiao interrogated him once, and he confessed everything. Letting such a person act as his firewall to face those from the Outer World, Qing Chen still felt somewhat uneasy. So he changed his angle of thought: since he would confess if captured, just make it so that he cant be captured! Lin Xiaoxiao, after thinking it over, remarked with a sense of realization, That seems to make sense... Qing Chen looked at Uncle Li Dong, I need to erect layers upon layers of fortresses around myself to ensure my disguise and safety. Liu Dezhu may be a weak firewall, but he is all I can use right now. By Qing Chens side were Jiang Xue, Li Tongyun, and Nan Gengchen, but these were his friends. Using them as firewalls and fortresses would kill them. Therefore, Liu Dezhu was the best choice right now, and it was a choice that Liu Dezhu made himself. He turned to Uncle Li Dong, Teacher, you still owe me one condition exchange; Ill use it to get a genetic potion. Uncle Li Dong asked with interest, You are already my student, theres no need to exchange conditions. One cant be supported by others for a lifetime, Qing Chen responded. Interesting, Uncle Li Dong suddenly felt that perhaps it was because of the others clarity and stubbornness that he finally chose him as his successor. This was a very excellent quality that could take one further. Uncle Li Dong said again, However, you brought me a chess manual, so now I owe you one more time. So, I can find you the genetic potion this time, but I still owe you a request. Thank you, teacher, Qing Chen said earnestly. ... The next day, with only 1 hour left in the countdown, the alloy gate in front of Liu Dezhu opened again. He saw the familiar Cat Mask and the briefcase in the others hand. This is... Liu Dezhu was astonished and bewildered. Remember what I am about to say, Qing Chen coldly looked at him, instructing him on what to pay attention to after returning to the Outer World. Not until he finished speaking did he open the case, revealing two refrigerated syringes inside. One was for a skin test, to see how the body rejects the potion. The other was the genetic potion, with its blue liquid tightly sealed within the syringes transparent glass walls, rippling with captivating waves. On the syringe, there was also the inscription Li Family-FDE-005. Leaving the case behind, Qing Chen said before he left, First, take the skin test. If you feel a tearing pain, that means the potion is not rejected and you can take the second injection. The first injection will be painful for 15 minutes, but the second might be painful for 5 hours. However, if you dont even have the courage to inject, then you are of no value. Li Family FDE genetic potions, from numbers 001 to 005, to continuously strengthen oneself one must start with 005, then sequentially inject 004, 003, 002, 001. Each injection must be spaced one month apart, advancing step by step, growing progressively stronger. If one were to take FDE-001 on the first try, a human would die on the spot. Originally, when Lin Xiaoxiao handed them to Qing Chen, there wasnt even a case, and it was only at his request that the other person found a case. Qing Chen explained that genetic potions in a case just look more imposing. This type of genetic potion had significant advantages: low rejection rate, quick effect, and no damage to body organs. However, this kind of genetic potion also had its flaws. If 005 corresponds to F-Class, then 001 would be B-Class. That was the ceiling of FDE genetic potions. Moreover, FDE-001 and FDE-002 potions were extremely scarce and almost impossible to find on the market. Lin Xiaoxiao said it was the fastest route among all the shortcuts in the world but also the shortest. Thats when Qing Chen understood that the path he was taking, although the furthest, was also the longest. ... Hey, do you think hell inject himself with the genetic potion after the skin test? In the dim corridor outside the cell, Qing Chen asked in a low voice. He had not gone far after leaving but quietly waited instead. Ever since 15 minutes ago, Liu Dezhus screams hadnt stopped. To be honest, even Qing Chen had somewhat underestimated the power of that skin test injection; just by the sound of Liu Dezhus screams, he could guess how painful it was. Hard to say, Lin Xiaoxiao replied, The pain from the genetic potion pierces the bones. Many give up after the skin test because they have no faith they can endure the second injections five hours. Ye Wan said from the side, Everything gained in this world has its price, and wanting to enhance ones strength inevitably brings pain, even with the fastest-acting Genetic Potion. What about Awakeners? Qing Chen suddenly asked. Isnt it said that Awakeners might transcend the ordinary overnight? Awakeners are mostly subjected to extremely strong external stimuli, Ye Wan explained. Its also possible that theyve accumulated pain over years of suffering in harsh environments. Gradually, Liu Dezhus screams finally ceased. The three of them stood quietly in the corridor, whispering amongst themselves, waiting for the next scream to indicate that Liu Dezhu had mustered the courage to give himself the second injection. However, Qing Chen had overestimated Liu Dezhus willpower. After enduring the skin test, he no longer had the courage to take a second shot. Many people always dream of becoming stronger, and even think they are ready to face the price of gaining strength. But its only when the real pain comes that they understand what theyre up against. And then they back down. At that moment, Ye Wan suddenly took out a gold bar from his pocket and handed it to Qing Chen, Here, the boss asked me to give this to you. Qing Chen shook his head, Ive said before, I dont want to be helped along. Ye Wan stuffed the gold bar back in his pocket and said in a stony voice, Just like the boss thought, you wouldnt take it. Then why offer it? Qing Chen asked, puzzled. Its a symbolic gesture... The boss said you can refuse it, but as a teacher, he cant not have offered. Qing Chen: ... At this time, Lin Xiaoxiao took out two thin black devices from his pants pocket, each about half the size of a palm, resembling miniature smartphones. He stuffed them into Qing Chens hands, who asked in confusion, What are these? One for you, one for Liu Dezhu. This thing is a pseudo base station communicator that possesses independent channel modeling, channel estimation, equalization, detection, decoding, CSI feedback, precoding, modulation, and channel coding abilities. However, its usage is very straightforward; it can only send text messages to each other. In the Inner World, its mostly used by spies to avoid interception of their information through base stations, Lin Xiaoxiao answered. Ye Wan added, But youll need to be careful, as it uses Inner World wireless charging technology, and you wont be able to charge it in the Outer World. Remember to bring it back with you each time you cross over, and do the same with Liu Dezhus. How did you know I needed this? Qing Chen asked Lin Xiaoxiao. It wasnt me who gave it to you, it was the boss who told me to, Lin Xiaoxiao shrugged. The boss said, as a teacher, he always needs to think ahead for his students. This device can help you conceal your identity in the Outer World, which with your personality, youll definitely need. Though the boss also said this device is your last trade offer, if you want the bosss help in the future, youll have to trade something from the Outer World. As for what from the Outer World is valuable, thats for you to consider. Trade, like a little game Uncle Li Dong, as a teacher, played with his students. He knew Qing Chens pride was strong, and he didnt want to become a beggar for spiritual support. He was happy to protect that pride. Qing Chen looked at the communicator in his hands, then turned and asked, I will definitely need it, with my character... What is my character exactly? Ye Wan suddenly said from the side, The boss probably thinks youre quite shrewd. Qing Chen: ... After a long silence in the corridor, Qing Chen glanced at the countdown timer, which had only 1 minute left, It seems he wont inject himself, lets do it. Amidst speaking, Liu Dezhu, drenched in sweat and nearly faint, watched in dread as the Alloy Gate opened again. Then Ye Wan and Lin Xiaoxiao rushed in. No, no! We can talk this out! Liu Dezhu bellowed. The next moment, Ye Wan firmly held him down on the bed, while Lin Xiaoxiao grabbed the syringe and fiercely jabbed it into his buttock. Fuck! Liu Dezhus body, lying on the bed, tensed up all at once! Not only that, but while he was still opening his mouth to wail, Ye Wan stuffed the communicator into his mouth... Countdown 00:00:00. Zero. Liu Dezhu hadnt even had the chance to let out his scream in the Inner World before the world of the Time Travelers plunged into darkness. The pain was not swallowed by the darkness, it would accompany Liu Dezhu back to the Outer World. Qing Chen believed that when the other party got back and opened his mouth, he would definitely wake up all the neighbors in the community. For the paparazzi of Los Angeles City, tonight was destined to be a sleepless night. ... The fourth update, asking for monthly tickets! Thank you to student simon0911 for becoming the new member of the Silver League, what a generous boss! Thank you to brother Buse? for becoming a member of the Silver League, what a generous boss! May the bosses make a fortune! As for adding more updates, allow me to take it one day at a time... Chapter 68: 68, just shout "666" and thats okay. Chapter 68: 68, just shout 666 and thats okay. Arent people from the Inner World just as rough and barbaric? I wonder if hell be as rude and barbarous as the other people from the Inner World. This was the second time Jindai Kongyin had quietly spoken in Japanese. As soon as Qing Chen returned to the Outer World, he translated it immediately. To be honest, he couldnt quite understand what this girls intentions were. I really need to learn Japanese properly, Qing Chen sighed. The other party always played these little games right under his nose, yet he had to return to the Outer World to understand what she meant, which made Qing Chen feel somewhat passive. From what the news suggested, it seemed that only people from the Island Country and Goryeo had traveled to the Federation where he was located. People from other overseas regions had directly traveled to the other side of the great ocean in the Inner World. The Forbidden Sea lay between them all, with no possibility of ship travel. So far, there have been no cases of foreigners traveling through time in China, and some self-media have reported that many foreigners are planning to return to their countries, perhaps in time to catch the public beta. Qing Chen searched for news about Jindai Kongyin, and for the time being, nobody in the Outer World had discovered she was a Time Traveler. This was somewhat inexplicable; the girl was a celebrity in the Island Country, after all. Even a small-time celebrity was still a celebrity. How could nobody have noticed her? Or was it that she had always kept a low profile in the Inner World and ordinary people never had the chance to encounter her? At that moment, the bedroom was just about the same size as the visitation room. He always felt that she didnt seem very happy in the Inner World, which might be why she chose to visit him. But the primary reason for her visits wasnt for him; it might be that she wanted to escape the outside world. And suddenly, Qing Chen felt that sitting opposite the girl in the visitation room was also a rare moment of relaxation for him. They didnt need to say anything, nor did they need any camaraderie or scheming. No need to think about how to survive in the dangerous Inner World. The half-hour in the visitation room was unrelated to the outside world. It was like finally having a chance to catch his breath. Perhaps, thats what she was thinking too. Qing Chen glanced at his arm, countdown 47:55:01. Another two days, and the countdown to his next journey jumped around erratically, with no discernible pattern. The broken kitchen knife still lay on the ground; it was the handle he had taken to the Inner World on his last trip, leaving behind the broken blade. Qing Chen remembered that he hadnt completed his training for the day, so he searched for a Japanese language course video online and trained while listening. In the early hours after 3 am, he had just finished showering and walked out of the bathroom when he opened his phone and felt like the world had exploded. All platforms were continuously refreshing with news. Liu Dezhu returned to the Outer World late at night, only to scream in his home! The screams lasted for 3 hours. What exactly happened to the boy many see as the protagonist of the Inner World!? By dawn, Liu Dezhus doorway was already filled with paparazzi. Liu Dezhu felt like walking to school was like walking the red carpet, surrounded by cameras large and small. In the past, the paparazzi were somewhat restrained, but now, they seemed to wish they could cram the lens in his face. But he wasnt dressed in a sharp suit; instead, he pushed an old bicycle. The rear wheel of the bicycle was a bit bent, a consequence of being ambushed under the overpass that night, lacking any imposing presence whatsoever. A reporter intercepted Liu Dezhus path: Hello, I am Xue Shuanglong from the Los Angeles Daily. Can you tell me what exactly you experienced last night, and whether you were injured in the Inner World? No, Liu Dezhu said hastily, pushing his cart and heading out. If you werent injured, then why the screams? reporter Xue Shuanglong pressed on. Liu Dezhu shut his mouth and didnt utter another word, straining to push through to the outside. More and more onlookers gathered, not just reporters and paparazzi but also neighbors from the community. While watching the excitement, they commented, Look at that guy, he was howling until five in the morning. Heard he was pretty formidable in the Inner World. Liu Dezhus face flushed with heat until, no longer able to bear it, he shoved forcefully and saw the reporters and paparazzi blocking his path tumble down, several of them falling over, with someones camera even getting smashed. The onlooking crowd was stunned, and so was Liu Dezhu himself. At least seven or eight people were standing in front of him, and even if they were completely unprepared, the force of his casual shove was too great. Liu Dezhu panicked a bit, and seizing the moment the crowd parted, he quickly mounted his bike and rushed to school. However, once he broke free from the crowd, he fell into deep thought. Actually, he wasnt as panicked as he imagined, because the Time Traveler wearing a Cat Mask had already told him in advance what might happen today and taught him how to display his strength seemingly unintentionally. To display strength was to tacitly admit that he had indeed received the inheritance of Uncle Li Dong. As for what exactly the inheritance of Uncle Li Dong was, no one really knew anyway. Or perhaps it wasnt the inheritance he received, but just acknowledgment. Liu Dezhu thought to himself that the Time Traveler always seemed to act flawlessly, no wonder he received Uncle Li Dongs acknowledgment and not he. He had seen many Time Travelers claim that the Genetic Potion was very hard to find, but all he did was make a request, and the Time Traveler with the Cat Mask found it for him. In one day. This kind of extraordinary ability suddenly gave Liu Dezhu a new confidence. Just like playing a game, it didnt matter if you were bad at it, as long as you clung to a strong player and could cheer them on, you could level up! Still, Liu Dezhu couldnt quite determine the extent of how awesome this big shot really was. Confined to a cell almost completely cut off from the world, he couldnt get any news from outside. Although the transformation from the Genetic Potion had left him in such pain last night that he almost died, in just an hour, Liu Dezhu was revitalized as if he had been fully healed, brimming with energy. Upon arriving at school, Liu Dezhu walked into class and immediately sensed that the atmosphere was off. But this time, it wasnt him people were looking at; they were staring at their phones. Someone had shared a news item in the group chat a Douyin user with the ID Charger King had suddenly posted about a piece of news regarding the Inner World: Uncle Li Dong stepped out of prison after 8 years and went to dine on the top floor of the Eternal Building with a man wearing a Cat Mask. Uncle Li Dong had a serving of braised pork, while the man in the Cat Mask had a serving of zhajiangmian. It was reported that on the same night, Chen Yehu, the eldest grandson of the Chen Clan and an A-Class expert, personally went to persuade them, hoping they would return to Prison No. 18. At the same time, reactions came from Qings Family and Lis Military Base, with eyewitnesses claiming to have seen Qings Familys Airship, Land Cruiser, take to the sky. As everyone knows, the Land Cruiser has always been used by Qings Family to contain the Taboo item ACE-009, but no one has ever seen what this Taboo actually is. Thus, Qings Family likely wanted to activate this Taboo to deal with the suddenly reemerging Uncle Li Dong. To date, the identity of the man in the Cat Mask remains a mystery, as is the reason Uncle Li Dong stepped out of prison, and this incident has already caused an uproar throughout the Federation. Liu Dezhu silently watched the news item, or to be precise, he was transfixed by the sentence went to dine on the top floor of the Eternal Building with a man wearing a Cat Mask. He finally understood that his knowledge of the big shot was still far from clear. Chapter 69: 69. Can I stay at your house? Chapter 69: 69. Can I stay at your house? ` Dare King, the owner of this ID seemed to possess a lot of information. Even Qing Chen, who was involved, did not know about Qings Familys Land Cruiser Airship, and the ACE-009 Taboo. Although it was unknown what that thing was, it must have been incredibly terrifying since it could be brought out to deal with Uncle Li Dong. But who exactly was Dare King? In the current Outer World, the most authoritative source of information within the country was He Xiaoxiao, who worked on strategy guides, but Dare King seemed more like a war correspondent. Compared to each other, Dare King undoubtedly had the edge in terms of timeliness. In just two hours, the number of followers of the Dare King account had surpassed thirty million! Qing Chen sat in the classroom, following the direction of the news. Due to the exposure of the illegal imprisonment case, the Time Travelers had collectively gone silent, fearful of drawing attention to their Time Traveler identity. However, it seemed like Dare King chose to speak up precisely when everyone else had fallen silent. Thus, he quickly attracted a lot of attention. Qing Chen deduced that anyone who would come forward at this time would be no fool; either they had the backing of an organization like Kunlun and were unafraid of lone wolves, or they were like He Xiaoxiao, possessing technology or abilities to conceal their tracks. Time traveling was a matter of survival of the fittest. Liu Dezhu, who started off ostentatiously, would have probably died long ago if he hadnt been protected by the prisons mechanism. Just like those transmigrators who were interrogated to death by the Inner World organization, upon return, all that came back were battered corpses. Qing Chen was waiting to see if someone would reveal Dare Kings identity. Previously, a Time Traveler had tried to be mysterious, but in just over an hour, they were hacked, revealing their IP address and even a string of personal information, including kindergarten classmates claiming to have been beaten up by the online celebrity... This was the information age; without the King Kong drill, it was only a matter of time before someone would be found out. Yet, the morning passed and Dare King remained a mystery. This was enough to illustrate the issue. It seems that more and more Time Travelers will emerge soon, Qing Chen judged internally: Unlike the previous internet celebrities, these Time Travelers possess technology to counter the Outer World and have their own stealth techniques. During the first break in the afternoon, Qing Chen went to the restroom and happened to notice the expensive watch that Hu Xiaoniu once wore. It was now on Liu Dezhus wrist. Moreover, Hu Xiaoniu, Liu Dezhu, and Zhang Tianzhen were chatting and laughing merrily, as if they had become good friends overnight. Qing Chen frowned and went back into the restroom to close the door; he had specifically said not to take the watch, yet Liu Dezhu had clearly ignored his advice. He hid in a stall and sent Liu Dezhu a message: That group of four transmigrants from Haicheng you mentioned earlier, any progress in communicating with them? It wasnt until the next break that Liu Dezhu snuck into the restroom to reply with a message: Big boss, dont worry, these four people are wealthy but stingy, so theres no progress for now. Qing Chen was both amused and exasperated; at first, he thought the other party hadnt understood his suggestion, but now it seemed that Liu Dezhu intended to keep the watch for himself. The guy planned to cheat more stuff out of Hu Xiaoniu, only to deliver a portion to him, and then try to get more advantages from him, such as the Genetic Potion. In the end, Liu Dezhu would be making a fortune while Qing Chen and Hu Xiaoniu would become his tools for making money. Qing Chen couldnt help but feel that Liu Dezhus intelligence had suddenly come online! If it werent for the fact that he was in the next class over, he might have truly been hoodwinked by him. ` Liu Dezhu may never have guessed that the third Time Traveler would be in the class next door. After all, even Los Angeles City, with its population of over six million residents... In fact, Liu Dezhus reaction was within reason; no partnership can sail smoothly forever. In the process of cooperation, everyone has their own agenda; this is the reality of people, the reality of the world. Its unreasonable to expect someone to be a willing target or firewall for you just because youve offered a bit of intimidation and benefits. However, Qing Chen knew that Liu Dezhu was not a tough nut to crack. At that moment, Liu Dezhu sent a message: Boss, the students from Haicheng want to know how to quickly get a foothold in City No. 18, what can we offer to help? Shall we give them some incentives first? Qing Chen replied, Like what, a watch perhaps. Liu Dezhu, who had been squatting in the bathroom sending messages, suddenly looked up. The word watch was so crucial that he immediately understood the other party knew everything. Was this third Time Traveler a classmate in his own class, or perhaps an alumnus? Memories of students passing back and forth in the corridors, and the teeming crowds on the playground during the break. But Liu Dezhu felt a chill as if a pair of eyes were silently watching him from an unknown place through the crowd. Liu Dezhus hands trembled as he replied to the message: Boss, I was wrong, please punish me, be assured, Ill return the watch right away, and I wont blab... A few minutes later, Liu Dezhu came out of the bathroom, Hu Xiaoniu was waiting for him, slightly puzzled: Why did it take you so long? How about going to a bar tonight? I havent been to one since I came to Los Angeles City. Taking a deep breath, Liu Dezhu said, Lets skip the bar, I want to wish you an early New Years, first for all your hearts desires to come true, and second for your familys health... Hu Xiaoniu looked at Liu Dezhu dumbfounded: ...??? After speaking, Liu Dezhu stuffed the watch into Hu Xiaonius hand and whispered, The cooperation continues, but from now on, we trade in gold bars. Truth be told, Liu Dezhu was full of regret at this point. He wasnt sure if the other party had seen the truth nearby. Or if it was all a bluff. But he didnt dare to gamble. The mere thought of what he might face upon returning to the prison in a day and a half... ... Just as he had dealt with Liu Dezhu, Qing Chens WeChat suddenly received a friend request, and it turned out to be Li Tongyun who had added him. But as he remembered, Li Tongyun didnt have a cellphone before. Qing Chen accepted the friend request, and Li Tongyun immediately sent a message: Qing Chen, brother, Kunlun has sent a warning message to my mom, saying those nine fugitives are likely to have entered Los Angeles City. In the past 24 hours, two Time Travelers have already gone missing; you must be careful. Suddenly, an ominous premonition arose in Qing Chens heart. According to the news, those nine fugitives were extremely brutal, and their arrival in Los Angeles City meant that many Time Travelers might be in danger. He replied to Li Tongyun, Can you still contact your mom now? Li Tongyun replied, Im with my mom now, shes not in danger. I just wanted to ask if I could stay at your place tonight, brother Qing Chen. My mom and I can sleep on the floor. Chapter 70: 70, The Noise Upstairs Chapter 70: 70, The Noise Upstairs Li Tongyun was with Jiang Xue at this time. Ever since Kunlun sent out the message, notifying all registered Time Travelers, Jiang Xue had gone to pick up Li Tongyun from school and stayed in the mall. Thinking of countermeasures. Moreover, Jiang Xue had specifically bought Li Tongyun a cell phone for easy daily contact. Nowadays, the world had become more dangerous, having a cell phone would make things much more convenient. Li Tongyun copied the message sent by Kunlun to Jiang Xue and forwarded it to Qing Chen without any changes. Qing Chen analyzed every word and sentence, trying to understand what had happened. In the message, Kunlun specifically reminded everybody that the three missing Time Travelers in Los Angeles City had unintentionally exposed their information online, which could possibly lead to the leakage of their home addresses. With more than two hundred Time Travelers now in Los Angeles City, nearly one-fifth of them were in danger, and everyone was urged not to reveal information easily and to be sure to pay attention to safety. Kunlun did not mention providing protection for everyone; it seemed they were also short of personnel. Qing Chen pondered: He hadnt expected that so many Time Travelers had been registered, and there must be even more hiding quietly. Those people had come to Los Angeles City in such a rush that they didnt have time to investigate more detailed information, so as long as they were not at home, the opposing side wouldnt be able to find their targets. For example, they knew Jiang Xues home address, so they came to kidnap Jiang Xue. But if Jiang Xue was not at home, at most they could only kidnap loneliness... It had to be said that Li Tongyuns line of thought was completely correct; Qing Chen even wanted to praise her for it. But... was it appropriate for them to come to his place to stay...? Now was not the time to think about this. Li Tongyun had already made her request, and they were in a covert collaboration. In the future, they would have many intersections in the Inner World, so he definitely had to help with this favor. Alright, Qing Chen admitted that even if there would be no future collaboration, he still had to help: Its Friday today. Ill leave early and we can meet at the entrance of the community at 5:40 PM. Ill go back first to scout the area and make sure there are no suspicious people before we proceed. In the afternoon, just before school was about to let out, Liu Dezhu suddenly took the opportunity to send Qing Chen a message: Boss, Ive made a breakthrough with the transfer student here. We havent talked about the deal in detail yet, but they are willing to pay a gold bar in advance as a show of sincerity... Uh, Boss, I dont want a cut of the gold bar, but can you improve the life in the solitary confinement room for me? Im really going to go crazy just sitting there doing nothing. Qing Chen found a secluded spot to glance at the message and simply replied with a Depends on your performance, before pocketing the communicator and skipping class. ... Number 4, Xingshu Road, was still quiet, with not many pedestrians around. Qing Chen, carrying his groceries, walked slowly down the tree-lined path. Early autumn had passed, and the leaves of the plane trees lining the road were beginning to falltoday, Number 4 courtyard was perhaps looking its best. This time, the nine suspects seemed different from the previous loose soldiers and mercenaries; they were planned and organized, and despite the passing of so much time, they had not been caught. Such criminal organizations were the most dangerous. Qing Chen kept his gaze straight ahead but silently took note of all the people he encountered, each one a neighbor he had seen in the community before. There were no strangers. He glanced again at Jiang Xues balcony out of the corner of his eye, noting that all the arrangements remained untouched and even the creases in the curtains were unchanged from the morning. There were no ambushes in the house. Standing in the corridor, Qing Chen sent a message to Li Tongyun, Come in, the door is ajar, you can just walk in. Not long after, Jiang Xue and Li Tongyun, one large and one small, quietly slid the door open a bit and sidled into the house. It wasnt until this moment that the young Li Tongyun finally breathed a sigh of relief, looking incredibly cute. Qing Chen said with a smile, Im not a Time Traveler, and even if someone wanted to kidnap the Time Traveler, they wouldnt find their way here. They are fugitives; they definitely dont want to cause a big scene. Li Tongyun sneaked a glance at him and thought to herself that this brother Qing Chen was really natural at lying, without even a blush or a heartbeat! Jiang Xue chuckled, Thanks to you this time, even though I know we could hide outside as well, but being away from home never feels safe. You watch TV with Xiao Yun for a bit, Ill go cook for you. With that, the woman rolled up her sleeves and went into the kitchen. Qing Chen felt a touch of emotion, Aunt Jiang Xue was always so gentle and tender. Li Tongyun suddenly said, My mom is very virtuous, right? Qing Chen ruffled her hair and asked in a low voice, Did you hear about Uncle Li Dong in the Inner World? Can you tell me about it? How does the Consortium view this matter? There isnt much to say, Li Tongyun sat on the sofa, her short legs dangling off the edge: I heard from my sisters in the Inner World that Uncle Li Dong has been out of the picture for many years. His sudden reemergence is bound to cause a stir. Qing Chen took a blanket out from the cabinet. Although the room was a two-bedroom apartment, the other room was empty, without even a bed, and still piled up with the miscellaneous items he had bought before. He said to Li Tongyun, You and your mom will sleep in my room tonight, squeezing into my small bed, and Ill sleep in the living room. Thats really embarrassing, Li Tongyun said politely, but she did not refuse, her eyes curving into joyful crescents: Oh, by the way, brother Qing Chen, where were you when Uncle Li Dong was dining at Sunlight Pavilion? Me? Qing Chen looked at her, I was on the light rail train. I only saw the airship flying towards Eternal Building. Oh, Li Tongyun didnt ask anything more: The Consortiums view on this matter is very vague, it seems like everyone is waiting to see the reactions of the other families, nobody wants to make the first move. Qing Chen asked, By the way, why was Uncle Li Dong imprisoned? Li Tongyun glanced at him and said, I dont know, its not appropriate for someone my age to ask for his file. Alright, Ive shared quite a lot of information now, its your turn to exchange some information, brother Qing Chen. After some reflection, Qing Chen said, The information I can share is from the Outer World. I think its necessary to join the group chat that He Xiaoxiao mentioned. However, before joining, its imperative to obtain the Data fortress program from the Inner World. Thats the only way to avoid being located by him. Right now, I suspect that He Xiaoxiao is not an individual but an organization that is systematically rounding up all Time Travelers. Of course, its just a guess. Li Tongyun cocked her head and said, Brother Qing Chen, you only share Outer World information because if you disclosed Inner World intelligence, it would be too identifiable and expose you, right? Qing Chen smiled, What do you think? However, at that moment, both of them heard... the sound of a chair falling over on the floor above their heads. The building was so old that the sound insulation between neighbors was very poor, not to mention the noise of something smashing on the floor. But the problem was, both Qing Chen and Li Tongyun knew very well that there should be no one in the room on the top floor at the moment. Chapter 71: 71. Midnight Outing (Extra for Li Dongze and the Silver League) Chapter 71: 71. Midnight Outing (Extra for Li Dongze and the Silver League) Shh! Qing Chen whispered to Li Tongyun. The little girl looked up in terror at the living room ceiling, her body shrinking into the couch bit by bit. Despite her precocity, she rarely encountered such situations. Last time, the shadows of two intruders who had broken into their home hadnt fully dispersed, and now there were intruders again. Li Tongyun instinctively wanted to turn off the TV with the remote control nearby, but Qing Chen stopped her. The autumn sky darkened quickly, and they had turned on the lights early. The intruders must have noticed this, which is why pretending no one was home could lead to trouble. Qing Chen patted the little girls hand and silently mouthed, Dont be afraid, Im here. Li Tongyun wiped the tears from the corner of her eyes and nodded. Everything in the house seemed to continue normally, with no changes. Qing Chen turned and went to the kitchen, signaling Jiang Xue to continue cooking. He wrote on a piece of paper for Jiang Xue to read, The intruders are upstairs now. From this moment, all of us must act as before, like normal people. Dont panic yet, they wont expect you to be downstairs. The entire building had four floors with eight households. It was unlikely that the intruders were insane enough to search the entire building. Only when Jiang Xue patiently finished cooking and brought the dishes into the living room did she, suppressing her fear, write on a piece of paper, What do we do now? No sooner had she written this than the sound of glass shattering came from upstairs, accompanied by heavy footsteps that just happened to pass over their heads. A sinking feeling hit Qing Chenit was the weight of a mechanical limb. An ordinary person couldnt possibly make such heavy footsteps. Gradually, strange friction sounds came from the ceiling overhead. Qing Chen searched his memory, comparing similar sounds... this was the sound of a zipper scraping against the floor. Right now, someone was lying on the floor, listening! It was as if, in the dark of night, a demon had arrived behind you, whispering, exhaling the stench of blood. Qing Chen sat on the couch, motionless; there was no need to attract attention at such a time. It was better to sit quietly and wait for the other party to leave. In the forest, if you are the prey and facing a skilled hunter, you must first learn how to hide your scent. Dont try anything risky, because the other side has guns. When the friction sound of the zipper against the floor arose again, the person on the top seemed to get up, then the heavy footsteps headed towards the kitchen. The TV broadcast the news program that had just begun; the hosts crisp voice echoed in the room. Qing Chen wrote to Jiang Xue, Contact Kunlun on WeChat? Dont call, it might be heard. Jiang Xue took out her phone, turned it to silent mode, then sent a message to Lu Yuan. Unexpectedly, Lu Yuan did not reply. Qing Chen wrote, Forget about Kunlun for now, lets just wait patiently. Li Tongyun cuddled in her mothers arms, gradually calming down. She gently tapped her porcelain bowl with her chopsticks, making the normal sounds of eating. However, just then, the sound of a door opening came from the corridor, followed by Hu Xiaoniu and others talking as they went upstairs. Qing Chen exchanged glances with Jiang Xue and Li Tongyun; everyone realized what was happening. This was Hu Xiaoniu and his group, definitely going up to visit Jiang Xues home! Knocking on the door. Then came Wang Yuns voice, Aunt Jiang Xue, are you home? Immediately after, sudden exclamations and the sounds of collision came from upstairs, along with the sound of something heavy suddenly crashing to the ground. The sounds came rapidly, but they also faded quickly, as if the intruders had quickly ended the fight. Then the four people were slowly dragged into the house. Qing Chen was surprised; he had underestimated the suspects combat ability. Even though Hu Xiaoniu and the others were just ordinary people, they shouldnt have been subdued so quickly. What should we do? Should we save them? Jiang Xue wrote on the paper, her fear evident. If those four students encountered a criminal, everyone could guess what would happen next. Qing Chen looked at Jiang Xue, then at Li Tongyun. The young girl suddenly pulled on his sleeve and wrote on the paper, Brother Qing Chen, you must have a way, youre so smart. The girl paused in her writing before continuing, But you must stay safe. Qing Chen sighed. It was likely that Hu Xiaoniu and the others were not dead; given the suspects modus operandi, they would probably see the Time Travelers as an asset and would not kill them easily. ... There was still time. He suddenly closed his eyes; his pupils narrowed in the darkness behind his eyelids. The streams of information that had once flashed through his mind were now being scrutinized one by one. If someone asked him what was in the old times of the past, Qing Chen would calmly tell them, There, youll find the treasures you once forgot. According to reports, there are still nine suspects at large... Hello, do you know Liu Dezhu... Four transfer students have come from Haicheng... Qing Chen seemed to have found something. What had Liu Dezhu told him in the isolation cell? Kunlun learned of the Ezhou peoples whereabouts and ambushed outside the school ahead of time... The person in charge named Zheng Yuandong said, someone would protect me. Qing Chen suddenly opened his eyes, turned his back and took out a communication device to send a message to Liu Dezhu: Take a taxi now to 12th floor, 4 Xingshu Road and stake out. Go immediately! Liu Dezhu replied right away: Boss, whats this for? Why am I staking out there? Qing Chen replied, ignoring the question, Remember to tell Hu Xiaoniu, the first transaction is completed; he should pay with a gold bar. The moment Liu Dezhu received the message, he was stunned. What did he mean, and why bring up Hu Xiaoniu all of a sudden? Still, he replied, Okay, departing now. Qing Chen finally breathed a sigh of relief. He didnt want to harm Liu Dezhu by having him come here. Instead, he had realized that perhaps Jiang Xue, an insignificant Time Traveler, might not be able to contact Kunlun, but Liu Dezhu certainly could. It wasnt that Liu Dezhu had to make the contact himself but rather that Kunlun was definitely lurking nearby at this time. Qing Chen didnt need Liu Dezhu; he needed Liu Dezhu to bring Kunlun to him. Slowly, the sound of a girls faint crying came from upstairs, indicating someone had woken up. ... In Xinglong Residential Area, several Kunlun members who were staking out below Liu Dezhus building were chatting. Liu Dezhu sneaked out of the building, looked around quickly, and then ran out of the complex to take a taxi waiting at the entrance. A Kunlun member whispered into the headset, Attention, attention, Sparrow has taken flight, Sparrow has taken flight, Sparrow has boarded Xiao Yings car. In the mysterious night, Liu Dezhu sat anxiously in the back of the taxi and said, Master, to Xingshu Road, number 4, please hurry. Lu Yuans voice came through the headset, Everyone, follow suit, Sparrow has given the address, check for anomalies. Wrench, Hawthorn, speed up, get there ahead of time and find a place to hide. Liu Dezhu had no idea that his actions had agitated so many people. ... The fourth release, asking for monthly tickets! The double release is about to end, hurry and cast your votes~! Chapter 72: 72, Explosion! Chapter 72: 72, Explosion! In front of the gate at 4 Xingshu Road, a taxi slowly came to a halt. As Liu Dezhu paid, the young driver, casually remarked, 14 yuan, handsome guy, this used to be a big government compound. What brings you here? While scanning the QR code, Liu Dezhu said subconsciously, Im here to pick up some gold bars... At that moment, his mind was full of thoughts about the gold bars, but as soon as the words left his mouth, he regretted it and hurriedly shut up and got out of the car. After he entered the community, the young driver put on his headset, Calling Kunlun, Sparrow says hes here to pick up gold bars. Lu Yuan, who had already entered the community and was hiding in the shadows, stubbed out his cigarette, Picking up gold bars? Could it be that he has struck a deal with a Time Traveler? Possibly, he has a special identity in the Inner World, capable of helping many, analyzed a Kunlun member, If someone is paying for resources from the Inner World, thats pretty normal. Road Team, remember a few days ago in Taicheng, there was a case where the buyer received the medicine but didnt pay the balance and nearly got someone killed. Our brothers in Kunlun there had a real headache. Hmm, Lu Yuan nodded, It must be that kind of situation. Damn it, I have to stay up in the middle of the night to guard him, to prevent him from being kidnapped by suspects, and here he is, coming to pick up gold bars. In the darkness, Liu Dezhu carefully crept deeper into the community, glancing left and right, like a thief sneaking into a village to steal chickens. But he was unaware of how many people were silently observing him. As Liu Dezhu headed towards Building 12, over twenty Kunlun members silently interwove their paths forward, always keeping him at the core. Lu Yuan watched coldly from the side, thinking no wonder Boss Zheng didnt rate this guy. He also felt that Uncle Li Dong would be foolish to value him. Yet reality was a bit face-slapping, as just that morning, Liu Dezhu had demonstrated extraordinary strength. The only way for him to obtain superhuman abilities in Prison 18 was through Uncle Li Dong. Huh? Why is he squatting down, squatting in front of Building 12? a Kunlun member wondered aloud. Lu Yuan turned his head and saw with clarity that Liu Dezhu was squatting in front of Building 12, motionless. The guy had his arms crossed inside his sleeves, looking like a fool waiting for roasted sweet potatoes. What the hell is this guy doing? a Kunlun member whispered. Silence, Lu Yuan suddenly said. He sensed a dangerous atmosphere. ... Time ticked by, and the whole world seemed to fall into a communications blackout. But just then, from the shadow of the hallway, slowly emerged a man in a black jacket. He wore a Bluetooth headset in his ear and scanned his surroundings silently with utmost alertness, his right hand resting subtly on his waist. The mans palm was exposed to the air, his metallic mechanical hand especially strong and powerful. His gaze slowly swept around, and when he slowly turned his head, he saw Liu Dezhu squatting not far away, staring blankly at him. For a moment, their eyes met, and the atmosphere turned eerily quiet. The thug watched Liu Dezhu silently, the air thick with an invisible pressure. After ensuring no one else was around, the thug took steps toward Liu Dezhu, his clothes emitting a faint hydraulic whirring sound with each step. Liu Dezhu silently watched the man approach step by step. As the thug walked, he spoke to Liu Dezhu, Friend, why do you look so familiar to me? Are you... After two seconds of silence, Liu Dezhu twisted his mouth, drool also escaping, Abba abba abba abba... While babbling, he pretended to casually turn and walk away. The thug pressed his Bluetooth headset, Somethings up. As the thug spoke, Liu Dezhu walked faster, eventually breaking into a run, Abba abba abba... The sound of running footsteps faded into the distance. The criminal initially wanted to chase after him, but suddenly, he stopped in his tracks as if he had discovered something and returned to the shadows of the stairwell. Under the interlacing shadows of the trees in the residential area, Lu Yuan suddenly looked up in the dark. At that moment, behind a second-floor window, someone was coldly watching him through the glass! Weve been spotted, surround the area, Lu Yuan said in a low voice, Be careful, the opponent is extremely dangerous. Kunlun members slowly approached building number 12, but then a sound of shattering glass came from behind the building. The man who had been staring at Lu Yuan emotionlessly turned away from the window, disappearing from sight. Lu Yuans expression changed: Theyre planning to escape by jumping out the windows at the back! The person who had just appeared was the fugitive suspect they were looking for! Lu Yuan had been here before; he knew that the second floor was Jiang Xues residence! They moved around to the back of building 12 from both sides, just as Lu Yuan and his team turned the corner at the stairwell. At the end of the street, a tin garbage can suddenly burst into flames. With a loud bang, Lu Yuan only had time to shield his neck and head with his arms before he and his team were blown away by a blast of hot air. The explosion thundered into the sky, tearing the tin garbage can apart. This was explosive material that the criminals had hidden beforehand. They had secretly placed it inside the garbage can as a delaying tactic before stealthily infiltrating Jiang Xues home. If their action was discovered, they would break the rear window to draw attention and then detonate the explosives on the road to cause injuries and chaos. That way, everyone involved would have enough time to withdraw calmly. The plan was meticulous, as if someone was coldly observing everything from behind the scenes, controlling the course of events. Lu Yuan struggled to his feet from the ground, shook his head, and asked a team member beside him, Any injuries? The team members got up from the ground: Only one member was hit in the leg by a piece of metal; no one else was directly injured. All team members probably had slight concussions, but at that moment, they couldnt worry too much about it. Hurry and chase, Lu Yuan said in a low voice, If we let this group get away, who knows how long it will take for Time Traveler to suffer! The Kunlun organization continued the chase around the back of the building, but Lu Yuan suddenly stopped: Somethings not right! He felt something was amiss. These criminals were here to kidnap Time Traveler, and as far as he knew, their mechanical limbs were not sophisticated enough to withstand the impact of jumping directly from the second floor. Maybe the criminals could jump down themselves, but it definitely wouldnt work with someone in tow! Lu Yuan abruptly turned back, everything from the initial sound of breaking glass, the mysterious person on the second floor deliberately seen turning away, to the road explosives, were just to divert them from the front entrance. Once everyone was affected by the explosion, with their minds in disarray, they would follow their initial target and have no time to think carefully. This way, everyone went to chase at the back, allowing the criminals to easily walk out the front door! Follow me back! Lu Yuan roared. A team member asked, Team Leader, arent we chasing them? Stop talking, Sparrow, have you arrived? Someone spoke in the earpiece, Almost there, almost there! Lu Yuan sprinted again, knowing if his judgment was wrong, that would mean personally allowing the criminals to escape from the back. But he trusted his judgment! Chapter 73: Beat him up! Chapter 73: Beat him up! Lu Yuan sprinted madly, as if he had grasped the most crucial point amidst the chaos; despite the pain, he was exhilarated. Looking down, he noticed that his thigh was also bleeding, with tiny shards of metal embedded in his muscle. He had been injured as well. But compared to catching the criminal, pain was inconsequential at this moment. When he rounded back to the front entrance, he happened to see a minivan slowly driving towards the entrance of building 12. As expected. From the shadows of the corridor, four criminals were calmly walking out, each carrying a heavy black woven bag that seemed to distort the synthetic fibers from the weight. The leading criminal coldly glanced at Lu Yuan; the man seemed a bit surprised that Lu Yuan could react so quickly, but he was unconcerned. They threw the black bags into the van and sat down in the back of the minivan in succession. One of them stayed behind, pulling out a cold pistol from behind his waist and aimed it at Lu Yuan. With a sudden surge of enormous power in his legs, Lu Yuan even managed to reverse his original momentum! He moved to the right in advance, anticipating the trajectory of the bullet, and dodged the first shot! Humans cant be faster than bullets, but they can be faster than the speed of the gun muzzles movement! Lu Yuans running shoes split instantly, with his toes bursting out. But he paid no attention to that and shouted with all his might, Xiao Ying, ram the fucker! Then, he leaped up. At the end of the alley, the roar of an engine erupted like thunder; a taxi suddenly drifted into view, with Xiao Ying at the wheel, flooring the gas pedal to the max. The taxi, still swaying from inertia, and Lu Yuan, who was soaring through the air with claws bared ready to pounce on the criminalif one could freeze this moment, it would be memorable. It was like a blood-pumping segment from a certain moment in life. The next second, the taxi brutally collided with the front of the black minivan, Xiao Yings head slamming into the steering wheel and knocking him unconscious. The gunman was caught off guard for a moment. By the time he turned his head back, Lu Yuans leaping figure was already alarmingly close, crashing down on him like a cannonball! Before losing consciousness, he even heard the sound of his bones shattering. Inside the car, a criminal tried to jump down to help but ended up being kicked back into the van by Lu Yuan, who had gotten up. The criminals body was propelled back by the kick, slamming heavily against the other side of the car. The next moment, everyone in the community heard Lu Yuans furious command: Beat the shit out of him! ... Unseen by Lu Yuan and the others, Qing Chen had been silently watching through the slits in the curtains. He pondered secretly, realizing that Lu Yuan was also a Transcendent, but he couldnt be sure if the man had injected a Genetic Potion, or was an Awakener or an heir. If it was a Genetic Potion, he couldnt determine which one had been used. There are many types of Genetic Potions, such as FDE, FDD, and FEE, all available within Lis Financial Group. The one Qing Chen procured for Liu Dezhu was designed to maximize the potential for explosive power and the muscle groups in the lower limbs. It allowed a person to burst forth with greater strength and run faster. In short, Qing Chen knew that if Liu Dezhu were caught, he would confess, so he made him run a little faster to avoid capture. At this moment, he saw the Kunlun members converging and eventually subduing all the criminals. Lu Yuan was injured and taken away by an ambulance, along with Hu Xiaoniu, Zhang Tianzhen, and the others. Based on Qing Chens observation, Hu Xiaoniu and the others didnt seem to have any significant injuriesthey appeared to have been only knocked unconscious. Many areas within the community were cordoned off with police tape, and professionals were responsible for checking every corner to see if any explosives had been left by the criminals. This was an extremely heinous crime, with four suspects apprehended and five still at large. This incident also made Qing Chen and his group fully realize that this organization was more cunning than they had thought. They were no ordinary ragtag bandits. Although the individual combat power of the opposition wasnt high, they carried out criminal activities in an organized and planned manner. Of course, Qing Chen suspected that among the remaining five fugitives, there must be those with higher combat power. Qing Chen turned back, looked at Jiang Xue and Li Tongyun with a smile, and said, Its all right now, but we cant go out yet, so lets just eat our meal in peace. Jiang Xue looked at the teenager in front of her, Thank you. Without you, Xiao Yun and I might have been in trouble... Ill go warm up the dishes. Since Jiang Xue had finished cooking earlier, the three of them had been too apprehensive to eat, resulting in all the dishes going cold. In the living room, Li Tongyun felt there was something different about her brother Qing Chen, who seemed to turn the impossible into the miraculous no matter the situation or place. Qing Chen brother, how did you get Kunlun to come? asked Li Tongyun, blinking her eyes. I called them with my mind, Qing Chen replied with a smile. He knew he might have revealed too many details today. Outsiders might not suspect anything, but maybe Li Tongyun could eventually piece together some inside information through the details. However, Qing Chen didnt seem to mind this little girl knowing some secrets. He patted her head, Are you still scared? A little, Li Tongyun responded, Qing Chen brother, I know you dont want your identity discovered, but if I am in danger in the Inner World, will you come to save me? Qing Chen thought for a moment and answered, I will. Li Tongyun nodded contentedly but then muttered quietly, Its too much to keep it from everyone else, even from me. Im just a child. What harm could a child do? Qing Chen just smiled without responding to the question. High-level Hunters always appeared in the guise of their prey. Ever since the Inner World had opened, everyone lived with danger as their constant companion. Qing Chen always believed that before becoming truly powerful, it was not wrong to disguise oneself as weaker. Tonight, Li Tongyun and Jiang Xue must have noticed something unusual: how did he call Kunlun? They didnt know that Liu Dezhu had come to the scene and Kunlun wouldnt reveal that secret to just anyone. So for the time being, Li Tongyun couldnt connect the dots to the full story. But if one day she discovered the link with Liu Dezhu, even if she couldnt guess the whole truth, she would be closer to it. Jiang Xue stood in the kitchen, her fingers still trembling slightly. If Li Tongyun had suddenly turned off the television. If Qing Chen hadnt reminded Jiang Xue to keep cooking. They would still have been in danger. Jiang Xue brought the heated food back, and for some reason, the kind aunt didnt seem too frightened anymore, her face was rather filled with smiles, Lets eat, lets eat. Its a pity you two are too young to drink, otherwise we really should pop open a bottle of beer to celebrate our narrow escape from disaster, Xiao Chen is too amazing! Li Tongyun joined in the excitement, Qing Chen brother is old enough, he can drink! Qing Chen took a bite of his dish, his expression turning strange. Seeing him like that, Jiang Xue quickly took a mouthful of egg, and the next second she knew what had happened. She was too scared while cooking and forgot to add salt. Her face flushed, she was at a loss for words, but Qing Chen quickly said, Being scared at that time is normal, I was scared too. Li Tongyun muttered under her breath, As if you were scared, thatd be the day. The food not being to their taste didnt affect the atmosphere; in fact, it made the occasion even livelier. Chapter 74: 74. The Truth Chapter 74: 74. The Truth Los Angeles Second Peoples Hospital, emergency department. The previously quiet department was suddenly filled with Kunlun members. These young warriors had been lively and vigorous while catching criminals, but after the fight, they all lay in bed wailing, clamoring for the nurses to give them painkillers. However, their injuries were just minor scratches. At first, the nurses thought they were pretending to be pitiful to strike up a conversation, a type of patient they had seen often. They were about to purposely give them a few messy injections. But when they heard that they had been injured while saving others, they didnt go through with it. Moreover, they discovered that these young warriors were genuinely in pain. In fact, this type of pain has a specific term in the Inner World: post-overload syndrome. Ordinary people might experience lactic acid build-up when they over-exercise, which feels sore but satisfying. But for those injected with low-numbered genetic potions, the pain is more direct and neural. For instance, Liu Dezhu would experience pain now if he overexerted himself, because he had only taken the FDE-005 potion. If he subsequently took 004 and 003, the aftereffects would gradually disappear. The nurses had never seen this condition before, but Hu Xiaoniu had in the Inner World. Although he hadnt injected genetic potion, he was not completely ignorant about it. Hu Xiaoniu thought to himself that the Kunlun organization seemed to have significant strength. They had managed to obtain so many genetic potions not long after time-traveling had started. That Mr. Zheng in the Inner World must hold a significant position. At that moment, Lu Yuan was the last one to be brought off the ambulance. Nearby Kunlun members winked and said, Road Team, should we arrange a private ward for you? Xiao Ying said that the last time he was in a single room, the nurse was really beautiful. Xiao Ying, the taxi driver who had collided with the criminals car. He was also the one who had previously driven an SUV to overturn a business van under the bridge when Liu Dezhu was kidnapped. Among the Kunlun, he was known for having tough luck. Lu Yuan frowned and said, No, move me next to Hu Xiaoniu. Ah? The Kunlun member was stunned for a moment, That ward is really noisy, though. Dont worry about that, Lu Yuan thought for a moment and said, I still have some things I havent figured out and need to ask our four new friends. By the way, have Spanner check their identities. Okay. The Kunlun member wheeled the treated Lu Yuan into the ward. This member watched as Lu Yuan, who had been calm a second before, suddenly started crying out in pain the moment he entered the ward, instantly getting into character. Once Lu Yuan was lying in the bed next to Hu Xiaoniu, he continued to ignore him, writhing in pain. Hu Xiaoniu hesitated for a long while, then turned to Lu Yuan and said, Thank you for arriving just in time to save us. Thanking us is natural, Lu Yuan turned over, grimacing in pain from the wounds on his legs, waist, and back, Did you see how heroic I was when I saved you guys? I was calm and composed in the face of the criminals gun... Oh, wait, you were in the sack then, you couldnt see. Hu Xiaoniu: ... Lu Yuan sighed, If Mr. Zheng had seen it, he would surely promote me and give me a raise! Hu Xiaoniu changed the subject: But how did you know we were in trouble? Lu Yuan replied, It wasnt us who found out you were in trouble, it was someone else. We just happened to be there. Of course, capturing those criminals was our responsibility. Hu Xiaoniu asked curiously, Someone else? Who? Cant say, Lu Yuan shook his head, indicating he needed to adhere to the confidentiality agreement. A Kunlun member walked into the ward with a black plastic bag, We found these four cell phones in the criminals car, are they yours? Claim them please? Hu Xiaoniu took out his own phone from the plastic bag. The passcode was intact and the phone was unharmed. He turned it on and immediately saw a WeChat message from Liu Dezhu: Consider this the first transaction. Remember to pay in gold bars. Hu Xiaoniu was stunned. This WeChat message linked everything together: it was Liu Dezhu who realized he was in danger and thus created the opportunity for Kunlun to intervene, catching the criminals and saving them. Thus, Liu Dezhu had declared that the first transaction was completed, which essentially meant saving his own life. In an instant, Liu Dezhus image became enigmatic and imposing. How did the other party know he was in danger, and how did they mobilize Kunlun? He couldnt figure it out. Hu Xiaoniu thought for a moment and sent a message back to Liu Dezhu, Thank you, this cooperation was very pleasant. Ill pay double the price for our initial transaction. Upon reading the message, Liu Dezhu was overjoyed. What kind of miraculous partner was this, who agreed to double payment just like that? Could this be the world of the wealthy? Moreover, this time he should be able to pocket a gold bar without anyone noticing, right? At that moment, Lu Yuan suddenly asked Hu Xiaoniu, By the way, how were you captured? At first, I thought the criminals had taken Jiang Xue and Li Tongyun, but when I opened the sack, it turned out it wasnt them. I hadnt seen you guys before either. This was one of Lu Yuans curiosities. Liu Dezhu went to Xingshu Road No. 4 Court seemingly without cause, as if he was waiting for the criminals. The taxi driver Liu Dezhu used to get to Xingshu Road was a Kunlun member, later known as Xiao Ying, who had collided with the criminals. At that time, Xiao Ying had tried to probe why Liu Dezhu was there, and Liu Dezhu said he was there to get a gold bar. It was later discovered that the crime scene was at Jiang Xues home, but instead of Jiang Xue and Li Tongyun, Hu Xiaoniu and his group were present. Before and after the fight, there were too many dubious points. Hu Xiaoniu explained, We are new residents on the 12th floor, students from Los Angeles Foreign Language School. Today we were visiting our neighbors in suite 201. We didnt expect to encounter the criminals inside and got captured. You arent Time Travelers? Lu Yuan questioned. Just a coincidence? Yes, just a coincidence, Hu Xiaoniu nodded. Lu Yuan smiled without saying a word. At that moment, a Kunlun member approached from outside, handing a stack of documents to Lu Yuan and said, Weve found Jiang Xue. She and her daughter moved to a friends house after receiving a notification. We sent you a message beforehand, but you didnt respond. Lu Yuan paused, I didnt receive any messages. The Kunlun member hesitated for a moment: Road Team, your phone was out of credit... Lu Yuan muttered to himself annoyed, Damn it, the salary is so low, I can hardly afford the phone bill. I wonder if this counts as a work injury? It should, right? Hu Xiaoniu hesitated for a moment, surprised that Kunlun members were not paid well. Considering this department dealt with bizarre incidents and high danger, who would risk their lives for a low salary? With the Genetic Potion and extraordinary abilities, one could easily make millions annually even just as a bodyguard for the wealthy. This was indeed the era where money could push the devil to mill the stone. After pondering for a moment, Hu Xiaoniu earnestly said, If possible, I would like to make a personal donation to Kunlun... Stop right there, Lu Yuan interrupted Hu Xiaoniu, If you make a donation, and at some point both you and an ordinary citizen are in danger, who do I save first? Id have to save the nearest one, right? But if at that time you really are the closest to me, our integrity at Kunlun would be questioned... This isnt me talking, its what our boss said. Dont worry, our boss Zheng is very capable, hell find the funds himself. Lu Yuan finished speaking and opened the documents, which clearly contained the identity information of Hu Xiaoniu and others. The Kunlun member leaned over and whispered in his ear, His father is... transferred to Liu Dezhus class... Lu Yuan was stunned, no wonder he was ready to give money away, so wealthy! Suddenly turning his head, Lu Yuan asked intently, Hu Xiaoniu, how many gold bars and what weight did you promise to Liu Dezhu? Hu Xiaoniu was taken aback; at that moment, Lu Yuan was staring at him, as if he knew everything. He hesitated for two seconds, 100 grams of gold bars, giving two this time. Lu Yuan thought to himself, that was right, Hu Xiaoniu was Liu Dezhus buyer. The counterpart, wealthy and powerful, seeking to buy Inner World resources through Liu Dezhu, made sense. He told the Kunlun member, Register all four of them for me, count every one of them as Time Travelers, no doubt about it. At that moment, Lu Yuan felt he had uncovered the truth. Chapter 75: 75. Beyond the Stage (Adding more for Buddhas sake to my own Silver League) Chapter 75: 75. Beyond the Stage (Adding more for Buddhas sake to my own Silver League) Lu Yuan was a bit overexcited. He had basically figured out the relationship between Liu Dezhu and Hu Xiaoniu, as well as the sequence of events for the evening. Thus, he immediately sent his thoughts to Zheng Yuandong: Hu Xiaoniu had first invited Liu Dezhu to make a trade, and during the process of retrieving the gold bars, Liu Dezhu inadvertently encountered the thugs with Kunlun. All four of Hu Xiaonius group were time travelers, while Liu Dezhu had already qualified to trade with others. However, just as Lu Yuan was eagerly waiting for his bosss praise, Zheng Yuandongs reply poured cold water on him, Your analysis is incorrect. Lu Yuan was puzzled, Boss, where did I go wrong? After Hu Xiaoniu made an appointment with Liu Dezhu, instead of waiting at home, he even went to visit a neighbor. Would you go visit your neighbor before making an important transaction? Zheng Yuandong asked. No, it doesnt make sense behaviorally, Lu Yuan suddenly realized what his boss meant, Boss, youre saying that Hu Xiaoniu didnt actually know Liu Dezhu would come, and they didnt have any appointment at all. Exactly, Zheng Yuandong then asked, If you were in Liu Dezhus shoes, and someone depended on you, would you willingly crouch downstairs for over twenty minutes without getting angry? No, I would feel that the other party was too arrogant. I broke up with my ex-girlfriend because she dilly-dallied too much. Every time we went out, she would make me wait for half an hour, Lu Yuan replied. Zheng Yuandong asked, What if I make you wait for half an hour? Would you wait? Lu Yuan guiltily said, Boss, would I dare not wait... You mean, Liu Dezhu has another boss! Zheng Yuandong said, So, do you think your previous conclusion was correct? Lu Yuan suddenly saw the light. Yes, he had indeed found many clues earlier, but they couldnt withstand close scrutiny. Although the clue about Liu Dezhu getting the gold bars matched up with Hu Xiaoniu, no one knew if Liu Dezhu was faking it, or if he deliberately created some coincidence to mislead others. Indeed, Liu Dezhu was obsessed with gold bars because Qing Chen had mentioned them to him. At this moment, Zheng Yuandong replied, Someone deliberately hid a clue, leading you to the wrong conclusion. This clue is the most elusive yet critical: who was it that brought Liu Dezhu to No. 4 Xingshu Road, who discovered the traces of the villains, and who made Liu Dezhu willingly squat for over twenty minutes. Lu Yuan said blankly, Tonight... theres someone we dont know of, working behind the scenes. He suddenly felt a chill down his spine, as if he had been performing earnestly on stage, yet someone was quietly watching from the shadows beyond the stage. You dont know who he is, and you dont even know if hes watching you. Zheng Yuandong replied through WeChat, This person should be the third time traveler in Prison No. 18 that I mentioned. He manipulated Liu Dezhus behavior tonight and ingeniously connected us together. But dont worry, at least for now, it seems he is friendly. Lu Yuan felt his brain wasnt quite keeping up; maybe only a person like his boss could deal with that mysterious time traveler... Boss, should I take the opportunity to interrogate Liu Dezhu? That way we might find out who it is. Zheng Yuandong replied, That would turn a potential friend into an enemy. ... Countdown 23:50:00. At 11:50 p.m., Qing Chen couldnt sleep. He lay quietly on the living room floor, on a mat that Jiang Xue had prepared for him. Jiang Xues home had been smashed, and with five suspects still at large, the mother and daughter ultimately decided to temporarily stay at Qing Chens home. The room on the first floor was dilapidated and dim, occasionally accompanied by a damp smell. Ants occasionally scurried out of the kitchen, which Qing Chen never bothered about. Jiang Xue had thoroughly cleaned the room that night, as if to silently express her gratitude for Qing Chens protection. Qing Chen couldnt sleep, something anyone would understand given all the events that had transpired. He reviewed everything that had happened that night, confirming that, for the time being, no one could discover the role he had played. Even if Liu Dezhu were tortured, others would only learn that behind Liu Dezhu was a mysterious figure, yet unable to ascertain who. The events of the night seemed unrelated to him, yet he was the one connecting the myriad threads of cause and effect. This feeling was quite extraordinary. It was like a game of chess he had always been better suited as the chess player, not the piece. And he refused to be just a piece. Soft noises came from the bedroom; Li Tongyun, holding her nightgown, tiptoed out and sat down beside Qing Chen, Big brother Qing Chen, youre not asleep either. Propped on his arm, Qing Chen looked at her, Why arent you asleep yet? Wheres your mother? Li Tongyun said softly, My mothers asleep. Have you thought more about the matter I asked you last time? Qing Chen asked, Whats up? What are you pretending for? With your memory, you definitely know what Im talking about, Li Tongyun said, counting on her fingers, Today is September 29, tomorrows the 30th, and the day after is National Day! As if he had just remembered, Qing Chen said, Oh, that... Lets go out and have some fun. After all thats happened, we need to clear our minds! Li Tongyun had the heart of a child. When she talked about going out to play, her eyes sparkled even in the night. If you want to go out and have fun, then go. Why do you have to drag me along? Qing Chen said with a mix of laughter and helplessness. Li Tongyun hung her head, If you dont go, my mom wont either. She says its too dangerous to go out now, but I think its more dangerous to stay in the city. Its safer outside. The news said that the organization still hasnt caught five people; they must be targeting the Time Travelers in the city! Qing Chen thought there was some truth to that, but then he asked, Do you just want to go out for fun? Well, not exactly, Li Tongyun admitted with her head down. If I dont go out during National Day, Ill end up having to attend tutoring classes again... With so much homework already, and tutoring adds another pile on top of that. Its so annoying! Every time theres a Parents Meeting, that Zhang Chaoyuns mom boasts about all the great tutoring classes she signed Zhang Chaoyun up for, and that makes my mom force me to go too. Qing Chen was taken aback. Compared to Li Tongyuns cleverness, agility, and maturity, this was more like a childs worry. Even with the transmigrator incident, the children couldnt escape tutoring classes, even if they were direct descendants of the Lis Financial Group from the Inner World... He smiled and said, Where do you want to go then? I might not be able to convince your mom either. It wont be an issue, as long as you agree, I will convince her! Li Tongyuns determined gaze fixed on Qing Chen, She just thinks its not safe to go out, but with you there, it will be safe! Flawless logic. Li Tongyun continued, We wont go far, just around Los Angeles City, like Laojun Mountain? I heard the sunrise there is really beautiful. For Li Tongyun, the destination wasnt what mattered. What mattered most was escaping the city and the tutoring classes. Seeing her hopeful expression, Qing Chen smiled and said, Okay, I agree. But if your mom doesnt consent, I wont be able to help you. Its a deal! Li Tongyun, contented, cheerfully picked up her little nightgown and went back. However, just at that moment, a message from Nan Gengchen suddenly came: Qing Chen Qing Chen Qing Chen, are you there are you there are you there? Qing Chen asked, What is it, in the middle of the night? Its National Day the day after tomorrow. Wang Yun has invited some classmates to go watch the sunrise at Laojun Mountain. Are you going? Nan Gengchen said over WeChat: I heard Hu Xiaoniu, Zhang Tianzhen, and Liu Dezhu from the next class are going too. Everyone heard that Liu Dezhu would be there and wanted to join in. Nan Gengchen added, Apparently its Hu Xiaoniu treating everyone, so it wont cost us a dime. Qing Chen paused for a moment C what a coincidence? Laojun Mountain again. The four others must have organized this trip as an opportunity to deepen their friendship with Liu Dezhu. After all, Liu Dezhu had just saved their lives. But while Wang Yun invited Nan Gengchen, she hadnt invited him. This situation was somewhat peculiar. Logically, after connecting with Liu Dezhu, both Qing Chen and Nan Gengchen should have lost their value to them. But while they had ignored Qing Chen, they were still very enthusiastic about Nan Gengchen... It didnt add up. He messaged Nan Gengchen on WeChat: Does she know youre a Time Traveler? Nan Gengchen replied: Im not a Time Traveler, okay! Qing Chen sighed, Alright, youre not. This guy usually all but had Time Traveler written on his face; Wang Yun must have spotted Nan Gengchens secret. Thats why she would invite such a fool. ... This is the fourth update for today, cough cough, the previous chapters were out of order, but they have now been restored to normal. ... Thanks to Lu Lu from the Stupid Team in the Black Elbow Group for becoming the newest ally of this book. The boss is generous, may the boss successfully find a partner this year! Moreover, its the last day of double rewards, I need monthly passes, please! There are also double updates from the Golden League and Silver League that, due to the new book period, will all be released on the day the book launches! Dont worry, bosses! Chapter 76: Dont make enemies with others. Chapter 76: Dont make enemies with others. Countdown 17:00:00. In the morning, the chirping of birds came from outside the window. Qing Chen turned over and also heard the sound of cooking in the kitchen. He got up, the bedroom door was still closed, and Jiang Xue had gotten up early to cook for them. Seeing him, Jiang Xue smiled and said, It seems like you often cook at home too, you have all kinds of seasonings. Yeah, eating out is too expensive, Qing Chen explained. Jiang Xue said, Your parents really, just leaving you alone without care. Dont worry, from now on Auntie will cook for you, you wont have to do it yourself. Just focus on your studies. By the way, do you attend any tutoring classes? Maybe I can recommend one to you. Qing Chen was somewhat amused. Was she already starting to arrange tutoring classes for him? No wonder Li Tongyun had started planning the escape early... But he really didnt need any tutoring classes. Last year, when Qing Chen was in his first year of high school, he used to go out and do part-time work at night, and he was always so tired during the day that he would rest his head on the desk. Back then, when the math teacher Tian Hailong was lecturing, if Qing Chen suddenly looked up, Tian Hailong would subconsciously reflect on whether he had explained something incorrectly. Jiang Xue, smiling, asked Qing Chen, Xiao Yun told me you agreed to go to Laojun Mountain with her, did you? Yes, Qing Chen nodded. You really spoil her too much. She said she wanted to go, and I didnt agree, but now that you have, she insists on going, Jiang Xue said, though without a blaming tone. Thinking it over, Qing Chen said, After all, having just gone through two dangers, its a good idea to go out and clear our minds. Children her age havent experienced such things; we shouldnt let it leave a psychological scar. Alright, Jiang Xue nodded, then this afternoon, after your school ends, well take a coach bus there. It takes just over two hours. Well stay there overnight and climb up to the summit the next day to watch the sunrise, then head back. I checked the ratings on Meituan, and a few inns have good reviews, and their meals are especially tasty. Qing Chen glanced at her; she clearly seemed to have already made all the plans. He asked, If its just for two days and one night, wont it be too rushed? Jiang Xue thought for a moment, I thought wed go early and return early, so Xiao Yun can make it back for her tutoring classes. But if you think we should stay a few more days, then lets give Xiao Yun a proper holiday. ... Qing Chen arrived at class early to find that Nan Gengchen and Wang Yun were already whispering together early in the morning, while Bai Waner hadnt arrived at school yet. Yesterday, none of these four had been seriously injured; theyd just been knocked out and sacked. After being rescued, they were symbolically given some saline in the hospital and then sent home. At this moment, Wang Yun was talking with red eyes to Nan Gengchen about everything that had happened last night, and occasionally, Nan Gengchen would comfort her. This scene looked more like a date... Suddenly, Qing Chen felt like he had missed a lot because of skipping class. It was like going to the movies and wanting to use the restroom, leaving when the male and female leads were still embracing and dreaming of the future, and returning to find that the male lead had become the female leads second uncle. Magical. You dont know if theres something wrong with the movie or with that pee of yours. Then Nan Gengchen asked, Qing Chen, have you decided yet? Are we going to Laojun Mountain? Before Qing Chen could respond, Wang Yun whispered a reminder, Xiao Nan, we already have enough people. The bus Hu Xiaoniu rented can only hold 47 people. Both classes have filled up their reservations, and there are still four or five people who want to go but cant. Qing Chen smiled and said to Nan Gengchen, You guys go ahead. It so happens I have other plans for the National Day holiday. Oh, Nan Gengchen nodded, then I wont go either. What are your plans for the National Day? Can you include me? Wang Yuns expression changed slightly, but she saw Qing Chen pat Nan Gengchen on the shoulder, Why miss out on a treat from someone? I indeed have things to do, otherwise, I would have agreed last night. By the way, when are you going? Tomorrow, Wang Yun, seeing that Nan Gengchen didnt insist further, breathed a sigh of relief and said, Were gathering at the school gate at 7 AM tomorrow. Its regrettable that you cant join us this time, Qing Chen. Well definitely invite you in advance next time. Qing Chen didnt bother with the polite gestures. When he heard that their schedules didnt coincide, he breathed a sigh of relief in his heart. After all, Laojun Mountain has only one spot for watching the sunrise. If everyone had left tonight, they might well have encountered each other at the highest points Jinding observation deck tomorrow morning... After the violent incident last night, Liu Dezhus status seemed to have risen again. As soon as it was break time, he saw Hu Xiaoniu, Zhang Tianzhen, Bai Waner, and others whispering excitedly around him. However, Liu Dezhu seemed somewhat distracted, looking around from time to time as if he were searching for someone. Hu Xiaoniu was the first to notice this and asked curiously, Brother Liu, who are you looking for? This call of Brother Liu had quite the social ring to it. Yet Hu Xiaoniu pondered for a long time over what to call him, mainly because the name was so distinctive. Calling him by his full name, Liu Dezhu, seemed impersonal. Calling him Dezhu seemed to imply he was a bit dim-witted. Calling him Zhu (pillar) felt like they were about to go pick corn in the field together. Huh? Liu Dezhu came to his senses, Dont overthink it, Im not looking for anyone. Only Liu Dezhu himself knew that the mysterious boss might be watching him from somewhere. The feeling of walking on eggshells wasnt pleasant, but he had already tasted the sweet fruits of cooperation. Collaborating with the big boss had satisfied his vanity and brought him tangible gold bars, which could improve his life if he returned to prison. His hopeful future relied on clinging to this big bosss coattails. At that moment, as if he had remembered something, Liu Dezhu seriously warned Hu Xiaoniu, Theres one thing you need to pay attention to, um, at this school, never make enemies with anyone! Hu Xiaoniu looked puzzled, Brother Liu, why suddenly bring this up? Its nothing, Liu Dezhu sighed inwardly. He was just afraid youd provoke someone you shouldnt and ruin the business. ... At this moment, He Jinqiu, dressed in a gray suit, was walking in the yard at 4 Xingshu Road. He suddenly stopped on the sidewalk, looked up at the French plane tree above him. In autumn, the entire plane trees leaves had turned yellow, and with any breeze, leaves would swirl down. He Jinqiu suddenly became lost in thought, standing there for over an hour as if admiring the scenery was his most pressing task, with everything else unimportant. Not knowing how much time had passed, someone suddenly asked behind him, Why arent you staying in Jingcheng? Why waste time in such a small place? He Jinqiu came back to his senses and, looking back at Zheng Yuandong in his neatly pressed Zhongshan suit, laughed and said, Isnt Mr. Zheng here as well? It seems weve come to the same conclusion. Chapter 77: 77, ACE-099 Chapter 77: 77, ACE-099 Representatives of Kyushu and Kunlun stood opposite each other under the plane tree. One was a young man, the other a middle-aged man. One wore a gray suit, while the other was dressed in a black Sun Yat-sen suit. The world seemed to split apart from the trunk of the plane tree between them, forming a stark and intense contrast. Former comrades, yet now rivals. Im curious, you are far away in Jingcheng yet you come to Los Angeles City twice a month. Is there something attracting you here? Zheng Yuandong asked calmly under the plane tree. He Jinqiu smiled, Mr. Zheng is joking. Last night, Kunlun successfully captured four criminals. How could Kyushu not come to take a look and also offer congratulations? This is an internal matter for Kunlun, no congratulations are necessary, Zheng Yuandong responded casually, And with five more still at large, no one has time to celebrate. An internal matter... He Jinqiu smiled, Is Mr. Zheng reminding me that Kyushu has recently broken the rules? Since the establishment of the two organizations, they had delineated different functions. Kunlun dealt with foreign affairs, Kyushu with domestic. It was like the difference between the CIA and the FBI. The CIA, even though it controlled 70% of overseas intelligence and could even independently plan minor wars, had no legitimate power domestically. The same was true for Kyushu. But it seemed that He Jinqiu had never intended to follow this rule. In nineteen cities, the two organizations, Kunlun and Kyushu, interspersed, occasionally leading to unexpected conflicts. In Jingcheng, the two sides nearly clashed over a time traveler girl named Jiu Ran. At that moment, He Jinqiu suddenly asked, Isnt Mr. Zheng worried at all? Worried about what? countered Zheng Yuandong. Once He Xiaoxiaos group chat is established, time travelers nationwide will flock to Kyushu. With no people left in Kunlun, how will you fulfill your duties? As he spoke, a plane tree leaf spiraled down from the sky and He Jinqiu gently pinched it in his hand, I do know that Mr. Zheng can obtain Genetic Potion, so even ordinary soldiers can be greatly useful. But have you told the little friends in Kunlun about the side effects of those Genetic Potions? Zheng Yuandong said, Everyone makes their choices; once chosen, theres no need for regret. Speaking of which, why has Kunlun classified all of Liu Dezhus data as top secret? He Jinqiu asked, Even though he traveled to Uncle Li Dong, a big figure in the Inner World, I always feel something isnt right. Zheng Yuandong shook his head, I refuse to answer. He Jinqius fingertips suddenly flipped a Gold Coin, playing with it, the coin jumping ceaselessly between his slender, bony fingers, from the little finger gap to the index gap and back, as if it had a soul. The face of the Gold Coin bore a circular pattern made of wheat stalks, while the back featured two crossed longswords. Looking at Zheng Yuandong, he asked, I personally observed Liu Dezhu. With your discerning eyes, you definitely would not regard him highly; so why elevate his security clearance to the highest level? Is it to protect him, or through protecting him, to protect someone else? Or is it to mislead me? On the ground between them, leaves suddenly swirled, as if an invisible breeze was gently stirring them. Without Kunluns ability to block information, He Jinqiu could not understand the details of last night. But, he understood Zheng Yuandong. Old squad leader, He Jinqiu said, Youre not trying to protect Liu Dezhu, are you? However, Zheng Yuandong did not answer the question but rather looked at the Gold Coin in his hand and laughed, Who knows which extraordinary left behind ACE-099 Taboo, also called The Right Gold Coin, capable of discerning truth from lies. The Gold Coin settled steadily in He Jinqius hand, and he exclaimed in surprise, Squad leader, you really know everything. Although the Taboo item ACE-099 has been missing for a long time, its function is no secret, Zheng Yuandong replied. Well, it seems I wont find out much today, but, He Jinqius smile grew broader, I havent come away empty-handed. Having said that, He Jinqiu turned to leave, the Gold Coin in his hand lowly growling. Only when he had settled into the back seat of a black sedan parked beside Xingshu Road did he leisurely pull out a 100-gram gold bar from his bosom. He Jinqiu gently touched the gold bar to the Taboo item ACE-099. In an instant, the gold bar seemed to melt and streamed into the Gold Coin, yet the size of the coin remained unchanged. Gradually, the pattern on the Gold Coin also started flowing like liquid, resembling a placid lake. He Jinqiu said softly, My debt is repaid. In the blink of an eye, the face of the Gold Coin recongealed into a wheat sheaf circlet, returning to tranquility. He Jinqiu looked out the window, having brought the correct gold coin with him, but that Mr. Zheng had not afforded him the chance to inquire further. The prerequisite of spinning the coin on the back of ones finger is indeed a bit too conspicuous, he sighed. The driver in the front glanced at the rearview mirror and asked, Boss, our people couldnt find those five fugitives, and it seems that Kunlun has some leads from their interrogation. Should we try to get our hands on them? He Jinqiu shook his head, This is Mr. Zhengs home ground, let him handle it himself. ... Due to the next day being National Day, the students were distracted by afternoon, all discussing plans to visit Laojun Mountain. At three in the afternoon, the class teacher, Tian Hailong, suddenly announced an early dismissal: Although an advance vacation is given, I hope you understand this is already the second year. So, adjust your attitude properly, and dont go wild. Qing Chen was surprised, as he didnt need to skip classes today. He left the classroom early and after meeting up with Jiang Xue and Li Tongyun, they boarded the bus to Laojun Mountain. Li Tongyun, the young girl, had her small backpack filled with snacks. However, what Qing Chen didnt know was that Hu Xiaoniu and others schedule also changed due to the early vacation, and the rented bus stopped in front of the school by five oclock. At 5:20 p.m., the students of Class 3 and Class 4 from the second year first went home to pick up their belongings, then gathered in front of the bus. Someone asked Nan Gengchen, Hey? Xiao Nan, isnt Qing Chen coming? Right, he doesnt seem to be in our travel group, someone said. Oh, he said he has other plans for National Day, so he isnt coming, Nan Gengchen sighed. Not far away, two Kunlun members who had been tailing Liu Dezhu watched the scene and immediately reported back to headquarters, There is something unusual with Liu Dezhu; they seem to be renting a bus for a trip. Any instructions? Should we send reinforcements? The colleague on duty at headquarters responded, Road Team received the message; suspects resembling criminals have appeared in Meng County to the north of Los Angeles City, and they seem to be leaving the city; theyve gone to pursue them now. Road Team advises you two to follow Liu Dezhu, no additional reinforcements for now. Several of our brothers are on injured leave, and once they return from their vacation tomorrow morning, theyll rush to relieve you; hang in there for today. Okay, its not too hard, the two Kunlun members responded. Meng County, where the suspects appeared, and the home of Laojun Mountain in Song County, lie in the north and south respectively. Chapter 78: 78, Before taking action Chapter 78: 78, Before taking action ` By the time Hu Xiaoniu, Liu Dezhu, and others were gathering, Qing Chen had already reached Laojun Mountain one step ahead of them. The place was teeming with people, and Li Tongyun was the first to jump out of the car, stretching lazily in the parking lot. Her small backpack hung loosely on her back, as if it would fall off at any moment, yet it never did. Jiang Xue followed her with a smile, preparing to get out of the car, but at the next moment, Qing Chen reached out a hand and forcibly pulled her back inside the bus. Whats wrong, Qing Chen, Jiang Xue, almost unable to keep her balance from Qing Chens pull, turned her head to look at the youths profile, but found him staring intently out the window. Jiang Xue hesitated, Is there danger? Qing Chen silently stared outside, where he now saw five people holding black briefcases stepping out of a nearby black Buick van. Each of them wore sunglasses and non-uniform casual clothes, but on their feet were identical black leather boots. He had seen these black leather boots before, on the feet of four criminals at 4 Xingshu Road. As if they were purchased in bulk. Inside the bus, an impatient aunt behind them spoke up, Are you getting off or not? If not, make way. Qing Chen ignored her comment. Not until he confirmed that the five individuals had entered the scenic area did he turn back to the passengers behind him and apologize. If one remembered everything in their life, then they would never believe in coincidences. Too many things happened under the guise of coincidence, yet harbored far too many hidden motives. The same boots, the same five people. Suddenly, Qing Chen felt like he understood something, but wasnt sure. They were not here for tourism; no one would have the leisure for tourism while being on the run. On Laojun Mountain, there was only one road up and down the mountain. If they were discovered by Kunlun, escape would be difficult. A truly smart criminal would not put themselves in such a dangerous place, but they had still come. They must have come for Time Traveler. Just in these past days, across the ocean, the news had reported that a Time Traveler had brought back a cancer-targeting drug, which had been confirmed as effective. Targeted drugs usually cost tens of thousands of yuan for a bottle, enough for a months supply. Yet the drug that Time Traveler brought back had been auctioned off for a sky-high price: ten million US dollars. The buyer was not a wealthy individual fighting cancer but a pharmaceutical company, which purchased the drug for research purposes. In fact, the targeted drug wasnt unique; other Time Travelers could also bring back the same thing. Otherwise, that one bottle could possibly sell for a billion yuan. On the day the pharmaceutical company publicly auctioned the targeted drug, its stock price rose by 32%. Between the Outer World and the Inner World, there lay immense commercial value. Wealthy people buy lifelines, tech companies buy technology, and some companies buy publicity stunts, each with their own needs. And this visible monetary value directly created a huge gray interest chain. There would always be those willing to risk everything for it. By now, the sky in Laojun Mountain had gradually darkened, and the crowd, vast as the sea, was pouring in, quickly concealing the traces of all the criminals. Once Qing Chen got off the bus, Jiang Xue hurriedly took Li Tongyuns hand and asked, What did you see, Qing Chen, whats happening? Jiang Xue still wore a pair of black silk gloves to cover her mechanical limbs. I spotted five people, very likely the five fugitive suspects still at large, Qing Chen said, surveying the surroundings: But first, you can rest assured that theyre not here for you, otherwise wed already be cornered on the bus. ` Jiang Xue asked, So what should we do, shall we go back? We were on the last bus; there are no more buses to return now, Qing Chen explained. The media coverage of you previously only revealed your address unintentionally, but your photo was never exposed, so we are quite safe at the moment. Qing Chen and the others were not wealthy, so they took public buses, while Hu Xiaoniu and his group rented vehicles and were not restricted by time or schedules. Standing aside, Li Tongyun said, Mom, dont worry, lets just listen to Brother Qing Chen. After pondering, Qing Chen said, Lets head to our accommodation first, and skip climbing the mountain tomorrow. As soon as it gets light, well take the first coach back to Los Angeles City. Upon arriving at the lodge Jiang Xue had booked, Qing Chen didnt go to his own room but stayed in the room with Jiang Xue and Li Tongyun. He first went to the bathroom to send a message to Liu Dezhu: Stay home during the seven-day National Day holiday, dont go anywhere. Qing Chen didnt say not to come to Laojun Mountain, since that might give away their position. However, as long as Liu Dezhu didnt show up, he believed Hu Xiaoniu would probably cancel his trip too. But Liu Dezhu hadnt replied to him. Returning to the room, Qing Chen drew the curtains closed and then stood silently behind them, quietly observing the outside. He did this for several hours, showing no signs of fatigue. Upon seeing him stand for too long, Jiang Xue asked, Xiao Chen, why dont you rest for a while? Ill watch by the window. Qing Chen shook his head. You dont know what they look like, Aunt Jiang Xue. Just make me and Xiao Yun a bowl of instant noodles and take out the beef jerky from my bag. Im a bit hungry. It wasnt that he wanted to eat, but Qing Chen realized that if he didnt eat, Jiang Xue and Li Tongyun were too nervous to eat anything themselves. From the neighboring lodge, a faint mix of laughter, drumming, and music could be heard. In contrast to the neighboring happiness, theirs seemed a bit cold and deserted. Li Tongyun silently brought over a chair and stood behind Qing Chen, using her small hands to gently knead his shoulders and neck, helping to ease his fatigue. Brother Qing Chen, arent you tired? Why dont you rest a bit? You said theyre not coming for us, so theres no need to be so tense. Qing Chen still shook his head, showing no intention to rest. Its fine, I can handle it. Jiang Xue, watching the young mans silhouette, suddenly felt a sense of security. She said, How about we... Shh! Qing Chen interrupted Jiang Xues unfinished words. At that moment, he saw that familiar figure outside the window. Two criminals, vigilant of their surroundings, slowly passed the front of Qing Chens lodge. With walkie-talkies attached to their chests, one of the criminals was saying something into it with a serious look. As they walked, their right hands never left their waists. After the two disappeared in front of the lodge, Qing Chen glanced at his phone, 11:55 PM. Countdown 00:05:00. The final five minutes. Qing Chen frowned, the criminals had entered a state of alert. It was a stance ready for battle at any moment. The criminals target might be the inn next door, Qing Chen said. Jiang Xue froze: Cloud Inn? There are a lot of people there, theyre in danger. Yeah. Qing Chen let the curtain fall and stepped into the bathroom to glance at the communicator, only to see that, several hours later, Liu Dezhu still had not replied to his message. ... Thank you to True Weird Uncle for becoming the Alliance Hierarch of this book. Boss, your generosity is boundless, may you make a fortune! Chapter 79: 79. Lure the tiger away from the mountain Chapter 79: 79. Lure the tiger away from the mountain Jiang Xue suddenly said, Its time to cross over, Xiao Chen, can I offer any help in the Inner World? In fact, the implication of her words had already shown that she knew of Qing Chens identity as a Time Traveler. But that wasnt important, because during the night of the rescue, he had indeed exposed too many details. Qing Chen thought for a moment and said, Aunt Jiang Xue, its better not to get involved in this kind of thing, by the time we return, I might already have a solution. Li Tongyun was blinking her eyes nearby, What are you talking about? I dont understand. Qing Chen looked at her and felt somewhat amused; at this point, this young lady had hidden her identity the best. Apart from himself, it seemed that no one else knew her identity as a Time Traveler. Meanwhile, in Meng County to the north of Los Angeles. Lu Yuan led his team through the rugged mountain roads to Dazhuang Village, where 7 SUVs were splattered with mud. In the village, three people had called to report separately claiming that five strangers, carrying backpacks, entered the mountain, having ankles or arms like steel. The callers didnt say these five people were wanted criminals, only that they acted suspiciously. Lu Yuan asked the village head to call these three people over, then ordered his men to take them to individual rooms for questioning; he interrogated the first caller himself. The caller had a face full of wrinkles and dark skin, clearly a true farmer. Lu Yuan asked, When did you see them? In the simple brick house, the old man with a drifting gaze said, It should be around three or four oclock in the afternoon, I called the police as soon as I saw them. Lu Yuan suddenly felt that something was amiss, What kind of clothes were they wearing? The kind of outdoor sportswear worn by city people, whats it called, right, storm jackets! the old man answered. Were there any women? Lu Yuans expression grew serious. The old man paused for a moment, I dont think so... What color were their storm jackets, answer me within 10 seconds! The old man stuttered and said he couldnt remember. How much money did you take to make this false report? Lu Yuan angrily stood up, Do you realize how many people could be killed by falsely alerting? There was no need to ask any further, a real informer would never act like this. If Lu Yuan didnt have this level of discernment, he neednt have stayed in Kunlun. He turned and walked out of the room. A Kunlun team member asked, How did it go on your end, road team? Something seems off on my side, his wife said he suddenly took home a stack of brand-new money yesterday. A diversion, Lu Yuan stood quietly outside the door pondering, but what was the point of this diversion? Even though six Kunlun members remained on duty in the city, it couldnt be that the enemy could escape unscathed once they made a move. Not right! Lu Yuan suddenly looked up, Laojun Mountain! The enemy had gone to great lengths to lure him to this remote area just so that he couldnt make it to Laojun Mountain in time! From here back to the city, it would take 4 hours, and from the city to Laojun Mountain, it would take nearly 3 hours. The criminals had done all this just to gain these 7 hours. Thus, the enemys plan tonight would conclude within 7 hours. The night was deep. They had to race against time in the darkness. The countdown hit zero. Countdown to return: 48:00:00. When the darkness had dissipated, Qing Chen was still wearing the Cat Mask. Standing in the dim corridor. Meanwhile, in the prison cell, Ye Wan and Lin Xiaoxiao had just injected Liu Dezhu with the Genetic Potion. The Liu Dezhu who had traveled with them was startled by the two beside him, and he spat out a gold bar and said, Can you two heroes untie me first? The injection is already done! Qing Chen slowly walked into the cell and coldly asked, Why didnt you reply to the messages? Ye Wan and Lin Xiaoxiao exchanged glances and retreated to one side, unaware of what had transpired in the Outer World with these two. Liu Dezhu, lying cautiously on the bed board, responded, Boss, its not that I didnt want to reply to you, but I was always with my classmates, and I had no chance to check the communicator. Actually, Liu Dezhu was lying. He could have replied to Qing Chen when he went to the restroom, but his classmates were having so much fun during the trip, and they had even gathered for a bonfire party afterward, so he had forgotten about the communicator. Unaware of all this, Qing Chen instructed, After this return, dont go out for the seven days of National Day, understand? Liu Dezhu was stunned for a moment, Boss, Ive already reached Laojun Mountain, can I wait to hide at home after I return from Laojun Mountain? This time, it was Qing Chens turn to be stunned. At that moment, all 47 classmates of Liu Dezhu had already arrived at Laojun Mountain. Moreover, under the organization of Hu Xiaoniu and Zhang Tianzhen, they were playing games. Right up to the second before the countdown reached zero, they were still playing the game of passing the flower by the bonfire in the courtyard; whenever the drumming stopped, the person who received the flower had to perform. In the Outer World, the drumming continued. Qing Chen was silent for quite a while, You went to Laojun Mountain? Which guesthouse are you staying in? Liu Dezhu replied, Its called Cloud Top Guesthouse, it seems quite famous on Laojun Mountain. There were 47 of us classmates, and a transfer student from Haicheng paid for everyone to stay there for three days. Qing Chen asked, Was this a trip planned a long time ago? Why have you never mentioned it to me? Seeing that the boss seemed angry, Liu Dezhu hurriedly explained, It wasnt planned long ago; it was a spontaneous idea by the transfer student from Haicheng. Originally, we were supposed to leave on the morning of October 1st, but since the school holiday started earlier, we went ahead. At this point, Liu Dezhu was muttering in his heart, it seems like the boss isnt his classmate after all, otherwise, he would have known about Laojun Mountain. Meanwhile, behind the Cat Mask, Qing Chens expression had completely calmed down. Cloud Top Guesthouse, Jiang Xue had mentioned it before. Originally, Jiang Xue had planned to book this very guesthouse, but it was relatively large and seemed to only accommodate groups during the National Day period. The most critical point was that Cloud Top Guesthouse was right next to theirs. Qing Chen looked at Liu Dezhu and thought, so the laughter and drumming just now was all your doing... Unbelievable! The myriad voices mingling together, from over fifty meters away, even Qing Chen couldnt discern some of the familiar tones. It seemed the criminals were here for Liu Dezhu. On Laojun Mountain, there was no Time Traveler more valuable than Liu Dezhu himself. But Qing Chen couldnt understand how the criminals knew in advance that Liu Dezhu and the others would come to Laojun Mountain. They had obviously come prepared, even knowing exactly which guesthouse Liu Dezhu and the others were staying in. Theres an insider, Qing Chen said calmly, Someone has provided the criminals with your itinerary, not only knowing which guesthouse youre staying in but even telling the criminals that you arrived a day early. Liu Dezhu looked at the Cat Mask in front of him, Boss, what are you talking about? Chapter 80: 80, there is an insider. Chapter 80: 80, there is an insider. The term insider was so far removed from his life as a student that even Liu Dezhu dared not believe it. Qing Chen pulled up a chair and sat down opposite him, saying, The words Im about to say, I hope you remember them exactly as they are because they concern your life. Right now, my people are telling me that those five fugitives are surrounding the Cloud Inn. They are armed with firearms, seemingly preparing to take hostage everyone inside. He is only watching from a distance and isnt aware that you are also inside. Liu Dezhu was shocked. Just a second ago, he was prepared to deal casually with Qing Chen, and then to test him to see if the boss knew that he had actually accepted two gold bars. But a second later, he realized that he might not even be able to ensure his own safety. Liu Dezhu got up from the bed, nearly bursting into tears, Boss, are your men nearby? Please, have them save me! People from Kunlun have said those men are particularly cruel and ruthless! Qing Chen looked at him with disdain, Calm down. At least you can live for another two days, and if they capture you, theyll want to use your identity in the Inner World to their advantage, they wont kill you. Liu Dezhu said, But thats not good enough, boss. Being used as a mule is still dangerous. Moreover, people from Kunlun said these criminals would kill any ordinary people who know too much, to get rid of the witnesses. There are over forty of my classmates here, thats over forty lives! Qing Chen paused, Kill ordinary people to silence them? Thats bad. Nan Gengchen is in danger! The criminals do not know that Nan Gengchen is also a Time Traveler. After a moment of silence, Qing Chen said, When you get back, I need you to do two things. Boss, you say, Liu Dezhu sat up straight. Qing Chen said, First, the moment you return, have all your classmates scatter and run immediately. That way, they can avoid being trapped and wiped out by the criminals at the entrances. Also, dont seek help from other tourists in a panic; it would involve innocent people. The criminals have guns. Their targets are you Time Travelers, not ordinary people. Liu Dezhu asked blankly, Boss, can we really get away? Qing Chen said, You only have to bet they havent completed their encirclement yet, you have no other choice. Liu Dezhu silently remembered the first thing. Qing Chen continued, Second, if you all cant escape and end up being held together, I need you to find a chance to ask separately those transfer students from Haicheng about the night they were captured; if any of them were taken aside alone. Also, you must remember during these two days of time travel, if anyone had left during the party or was constantly sending messages on their phone. Liu Dezhu thought for a moment, Are you suggesting that the mole might be among them? As far-fetched as it sounds, thats the most likely scenario, Qing Chen replied. Because, over these days, the only known people who had contact with the criminals were these four. Even though the criminals who had contacted them had been captured and presumably cut off from the others, who knew what had happened after everything concluded? Of course, other classmates cant be completely ruled out either. You dont have anything else to do in these two days, just focus on thinking about how to save yourself, he added. After saying all this, Qing Chen turned and left the cell. There were two days left before the return countdown; he needed to think carefully about what he could do. But just as he was about to leave, he suddenly turned around and stared intently at Liu Dezhu. Qing Chen always felt like he had overlooked something. An essential piece of information! Suddenly, Qing Chens pupils changed, and his blood seemed to boil. He wandered in his memories. There must be a clue there wanting to betray. Footsteps, explosions, gunshots, fragmented yet tense. Qing Chen seemed to arrive at Jiang Xues destroyed home, quietly observing everything around him and thinking: After the criminals came to Los Angeles City, they had sequentially kidnapped three Time Travelers, Jiang Xue was the fourth. The criminals had never intended to go after Liu Dezhu! Because they didnt dare, and it wasnt worth it. They thought Liu Dezhu was a student of Uncle Li Dong. If they captured Liu Dezhu, theyd have to gamble that during everyones transition to the Inner World, Uncle Li Dong wouldnt find them first and kill them there. Should they lose the gamble, theyd lose their lives too. Moreover, these criminals always controlled the mules in both the Outer and Inner Worlds before they could securely transport items. Liu Dezhu being in prison meant that they couldnt control him there. Therefore, their real target was not Liu Dezhu, but Hu Xiaoniu and the others. This group of Haicheng students couldnt just be mules to transport items; they could even be directly extorted for ransom from their families. And the reason they hadnt made a move before midnight was probably to avoid this transition period, so Liu Dezhu would cross over and return without knowing. This way, theyd have at least two days to calmly handle him before the next transition. Liu Dezhu would be their first target to silence. Qing Chen opened his eyes and asked Liu Dezhu, Who suggested changing the itinerary? Liu Dezhu weakly replied, It seems to be the transfer student from the next class, named Bai Waner. Qing Chen was stunned for a moment, Bai Waner? This didnt make sense. He didnt ask any more and left the solitary confinement room. In the dim corridor, Ye Wan curiously said, It seems a lot has happened these past two days? Yes, Qing Chen nodded, Someone wants to kidnap a group of Time Travelers to transport items for them, ruthless and brutal. Nine people were caught, and now, the remaining five have surrounded the guesthouse where Liu Dezhu is staying. What is a guesthouse? Lin Xiaoxiao asked. Oh, its a hotel on the mountain, Qing Chen explained. Are you in danger yourself? Ye Wan asked. Im not yet sure if this will affect me, Qing Chen said as he took off the Cat Mask, I dont care whether Liu Dezhu is dead or alive. He spread out the gold bars in his hand. Now that Liu Dezhu had established a presence, he had just started making money, and his own revenue stream was about to end. But that was not important. What mattered was that Nan Gengchen might die. Lets go, Qing Chen said to Ye Wan. Ye Wan was stunned for a moment, Go where? To train, of course, Qing Chen said matter-of-factly. Ye Wan and Lin Xiaoxiao exchanged glances. They hadnt expected Qing Chen to be so mentally strong. One moment he was dealing with a crisis. The next, he could continue his training as if nothing had happened. Seeing their surprised expressions, Qing Chen calmly said, Even if I dont train, I can only anxiously wait for the return. I might as well use the time to become stronger, so that I dont feel so powerless when facing such situations in the future. Lin Xiaoxiao felt internally moved; this young man was indeed the most suitable person to take over the bosss mantle. Although he hadnt faced much life and death, he could suppress his panic with absolute calm. Then, at a complex, chaotic crossroads, he would choose the most correct path to advance. Chapter 81: 81, The fragility of life Chapter 81: 81, The fragility of life The prison number 18 at night was, as ever, peaceful. When Qing Chen returned to the training area, Uncle Li Dong stood steadily atop the parallel bars, quietly watching the reader, which displayed the Outer Worlds endgame chess positions exported by Lin Xiaoxiao. Seeing Qing Chen come back, the older teacher smiled and said, Judging by your complexion, it seems youve encountered some trouble? Qing Chen tossed the USB drive in his hand to Lin Xiaoxiao, then said to Uncle Li Dong, This contains all the classical music sheets I could find in the Outer World; it should be enough to trade for a chance with teacher. Oh? Uncle Li Dong became interested, So what do you want to trade with me this time, to help you through this difficulty? Qing Chen shook his head, Ive said it myself, one must walk their own path, so this trading opportunity, teacher, you can just owe it to me for now. Uncle Li Dong leaped down from the parallel bars, his body floating gently in the air, light as a weightless feather. He landed without making the slightest sound. He spoke with a smile brimming with meaning, Ive hardly ever owed anyone in my life, so the feeling of owing someone is truly uncomfortable. You should quickly think over what else you might need during this time, so I can repay this favor to you as soon as possible. Has teacher ever owed anyone before, Qing Chen asked curiously. I have, Uncle Li Dong smiled, The other party now hates me to the bone, so meeting again wouldnt be ideal. I guess Ill have to repay them in the next life. Qing Chen felt there was a story there. He listened as Uncle Li Dong said, I can tell that youve run into a major problem this time. But I wont help you, even if you use this trading opportunity with me, I still wont assist. The fact that you didnt ask for my help also shows that I wasnt wrong about you. Qing Chen understood, Uncle Li Dong would help him to stand on his own in both the Inner and Outer Worlds, to expand his roots and wings. But when faced with real danger, the other party would not interfere. Off to the side, Lin Xiaoxiao muttered, Boss, you really do not care, I wonder if youd feel sorry if he died in the Outer World. Uncle Li Dong laughed, Theres a type of eagle in this world called the Qing Shan Falcon. Once theyre adults, even airships stand no chance against them. But as chicks, they are timid and afraid to fly. So the adult Qing Shan Falcons take the chicks to the edge of a cliff when the time comes, seven in a nest, and push them off one by one. Those that spread their wings live; those that continue to cower will fall to their deaths below the cliff. On average, it takes about two broods for a single Qing Shan Falcon to survive, Uncle Li Dong continued, But the one that does survive, from the moment it learns to fly, becomes the master of the skies. Qing Chen was curious, Theres no Qing Shan Falcon in the Outer World, are they that formidable? Of course, formidable, Uncle Li Dong recounted, Even humans, without A-Class airship escorts, wouldnt dare provoke them. Years ago, when I was passing my third life-and-death trial, I accidentally entered their territory and was chased by one of them for more than thirty miles, nearly dying there. Qing Chen, thinking of a character like Uncle Li Dong being chased haphazardly around the land when he was younger, found it very interesting... At that moment, Uncle Li Dong suddenly said, Its not just Transcendents whose death gives rise to Taboo Lands; some powerful creatures can too, such as these Qing Shan Falcons. After their death, the plants around their bodies grow even stronger, and even develop aggressiveness, because powerful plants need more nutrients. Is there now a way to suppress the Taboo Lands? Qing Chen asked, It sounds very much like a state of increasing entropy; if left unchecked, wont Earth be devoid of soil for human existence in a few hundred years? Entropy increase, used as an example in the case of the Inner Worlds Taboo Lands, probably means that it is always increasing in disorder and will not decrease due to natural law. Until one day, it engulfs the whole world. Even the Contraindicated Tribunals can only contain the speed of its increase but cannot eliminate it. Theres no way to suppress it, Uncle Li Dong said, This might be Earths purification principle. Perhaps one day, creatures as large as dinosaurs will reappear on Earth, and raptors like the Qing Shan Falcon will be akin to the ancient pterosaurs. By then, Earth will be completely different. How do humans survive? Qing Chen asked. Perhaps, only the Transcendents will be able to survive by then, Uncle Li Dong smiled. Humans always think they are the masters here, but time will tell you, there is no real master. Do you want to go out and have some fun? I can take you to see the real Taboo Land. Qing Chen shook his head. Maybe next time, teacher. I need to think about how to deal with the things after my return these next couple of days. Lin Xiaoxiao clearly noticed a look of regret on Uncle Li Dongs face. Then Uncle Li Dong said, Have you figured out how to deal with it? Qing Chen thought for a moment and replied, Kill. Do you know how to kill? Uncle Li Dong asked. I dont know, but I can learn, Qing Chen answered. Lin Xiaoxiao and Ye Wan felt beside themselves, thinking how damn straightforward the conversation between the two was. Qing Chen said, I figured out a method, that is to practice with Ye Wan these next two days. I want to memorize all the combat techniques and all the reactions an enemy will make when I fight. By enumerating all possibilities, I want to gain the upper hand in battle. But later, I realized, the method is feasible, but theres not enough time. Like playing chess, right? Uncle Li pondered. This so-called enumeration is just a brute force way of solving problems. When someone makes a move, you think of all the possible counters, as well as all the subsequent variations your opponent might make, then choose the best solution. When Qing Chen plays chess, he remembers all the variations of the endgame. The moment his opponent makes a move, he knows how many ways there are to respond. Ye Wan asked, You have the Breathing Technique, and with your relentless personal training, your physical fitness indeed now has a soldiers foundation. But if the opponent has mechanical limbs, you still dont have any advantage. Is it enough? Qing Chen inquired. Its enough, Ye Wan replied. But can you keep up with your reactions? I mean, once your mind understands how many choices you have, can you quickly select the most correct one and then have your body react? At that moment, Uncle Li Dong interrupted, The human skeleton has many parts: 29 bones in the skull, 51 bones in the trunk, including 26 vertebrae. The upper limbs have 64 bones and the lower limbs have 62. The human body has 12 major joints and 210 minor joints. The muscles in the human body add up to about 639, composed of about 6 billion muscle fibers, Uncle Li Dong said. The human body is more complex than chess, so dont try to enumerate all variations within two days. In fact, to kill, one move is enough. Listening, Qing Chen heard Uncle Li Dong continue, Ye Wan, you only need to teach him one move, and then tell him how many reactions the enemy could have. This way will be much simpler. Ye Wan thought for a moment, Boss, is one move really enough? Uncle Li Dong smiled, Its enough, after all... life is very fragile. Qing Chen thought and said, Two evenings might still not be enough. Uncle Li Dong waved his hand carelessly, Then just lock up the prisoners in their own cells, only letting them out to eat, and the rest of the time they can roll back where they came from. That way, you can train during the day as well. Qing Chen was taken aback on the spot. Though the other party said they would not help him, they still made such a fuss. ... Thanks to Ze Yuan for becoming a new patron of this book, the boss is generous! (Im a bit curious who Ze Yuan is...) Thanks to A Trembling L and Strange Uncle Shu for the generous tips, the bosses are generous! May the bosses make a fortune! Chapter 82: 82. Key Points and Bionics Chapter 82: 82. Key Points and Bionics With over three thousand people in the prison, Uncle Li Dong made sure the students had ample study time over these two days, and if he said they were not to come out, then they would stay in. It was as if the very existence of the prison was solely for Qing Chen. After Uncle Li Dong went back to his room to sleep, Lin Xiaoxiao expressed some emotion, The boss is still as willful as ever. Ye Wan thought for a moment and responded, After all, he is the only heir of the Knight Organization now. Its not exaggerated for the boss to act this way. By the way, Lin Xiaoxiao said, The two Death Warriors we caught earlier are dead by my hand. Qing Chen: ...? Lin Xiaoxiao added, Dont worry, before their deaths, I managed to get a confession. It was most likely Qings Family Branch Four that was behind this, but as to why they want you dead, we have no idea. It was only at times like this that Qing Chen realized the ever-smiling young man before him was actually quite cold-blooded and ruthless. He was only cold when facing enemies, but he was warm and friendly with friends. At that moment, Ye Wan suddenly said, There is something we always found very strange. It seems the upper echelons of Qings Family are aware of your existence, and you even have a marriage arrangement with the Jindai family. The problem is, very few people outside have heard about you. Before you came to this world, you never participated in Clan activities, never showed up publicly. It seems you are the only one. Qing Chen frowned slightly, Maybe its because Im not important? Thats why Im not well-regarded. Lin Xiaoxiao shook his head, To say youre not important, yet you could replace the third houses spot and take part in the Shadow competition. To say youre important, even Qings Branch lines wouldnt be treated this coldly. Additionally, Ye Wan said, You cant find any information about you online at all, youre like an invisible person. Its not that youre too obscure, but rather that someone deliberately erased something. Its very contradictory. Having said that, Ye Wan and Lin Xiaoxiao looked at Qing Chen. Qing Chen raised an eyebrow, Why look at me? I dont know whats going on either. Sigh, how boring, Lin Xiaoxiao walked away disappointed, Ive been curious about this for a while, and I thought you could give me an answer. Ye Wan said, Lets not waste time, and start training. Before we begin, I want to reiterate what the boss said was correct, life is indeed extremely fragile. If you master one method, it can be enough to kill a person. A shattered sternum would result in obstructed breathing, ruptured alveoli, and ultimately suffocation and death. A ruptured spleen causing bleeding is even more deadly, leading to death in a short amount of time. So hitting any part with enough force would suffice to incapacitate an opponent. However, times have changed, and many warriors now modify their bodies to reduce their fatal weaknesses. Some people implant bionic alloy skin around their neck to prevent getting their throats slit. Others modify their joints to withstand greater impact. But one thing often neglected by mechanical warriors is organ protection. Qing Chen felt something wrong upon hearing this, Wait, we all know organs are very important, so there must be many people getting bionic skin there. Ye Wan said, Oh, the main issue is that nanobiologic skin is extremely expensive, costing over a hundred thousand for just one square centimeter. Normally, not many can afford to protect all their organs because it covers too large an area. Qing Chen was astonished. So, was it poverty that limited strength? Ye Wan continued, According to what you described, those thugs leg mechanisms werent the best out there, so I deduced their organs are unprotected. In other words, Ye Wan felt they couldnt afford such a large area of bionic alloy skin. The spleen is different, primarily because its location is very tricky; the spine cant protect it, and the ribs cant protect it either. You can stab into it from either the back or the abdomen, Ye Wan explained, And most crucially, very few people know how to guard it. Moreover, once you have confirmed youve stabbed into the opponents spleen, you dont need to bother with them anymorethey will surely die. Ye Wan asked, Will you be able to find a knife when you go back? Qing Chen thought for a moment, Will a fruit knife work? No, Ye Wan thought for a moment, If its just an ordinary unsharpened fruit knife, Im afraid it wont even pierce through a thugs clothes. Saying this, he went up to the sixth floor, opened an alloy gate, and retrieved a spring knife from one of the cells. The inmate inside was still sleeping. Awoken by the sound of the alloy gate opening, he dazedly watched Ye Wan enter, take the knife, and leave, all in one smooth motion. Ye Wan placed the palm-sized spring knife into Qing Chens hand, Based on what you said, this should be something you can hold and take back with you. Use this for real-life practice. Qing Chen was stunned for a long while, Dont I get something more technologically advanced? Ye Wan shook his head, The boss doesnt allow it. Do we also need to use real things for sparring, Qing Chen asked again. Yes, Ye Wan nodded, You need to familiarize yourself not only with all the methods of attack and your opponents defensive tactics but also with the weapon you are using, its feel. Okay, what do we do now? Qing Chen asked. If you want to attack the vital points, you first need to know where they are, Ye Wan said, But because everyones height is different, weight is different, and even their bones are different, so are their vital points. You need to have killed a lot of people, practiced many times to find them with precision. With that, Ye Wan handed him a pair of glasses, Put these on, theyre for night vision. Then, the entire prison suddenly darkened, plunging the world into darkness. Ye Wan took Qing Chen to the door of a cell, and once the alloy gate opened, Mother Ye went in first, pinning the inmate down on the bed with a force like that used on Liu Dezhu. He ignored the inmates desperate struggles and simply pointed to an area below the inmates ribs, telling Qing Chen, You see, his spleens vital point is right here, a stab and hes doomed to die. Afterward, Ye Wan took Qing Chen to the next cell. There were no wasted words to save time. Once again, he pinned down a fearfully bewildered inmate, explaining to Qing Chen how this persons vital point differed from that of the last, why it was different, and how to deduce these differences based on the opponents physique. From 1 a.m. to 6 a.m., Ye Wan spent a full five hours taking Qing Chen through the entire prisons population of more than three thousand inmates. Qing Chen felt like he was studying anatomy, but unlike medical students without bodies to practice on, he had over three thousand bodies to gain experience from. For Qing Chen, it was a fruitful night. But for the inmates of Prison No. 18, it was a night of terror. They each experienced almost the same thing: their cell gate suddenly opened, and the world was pitch-black. Then a strong man took complete control of them with overwhelming force and said to another, Look, this is the position of his spleen; pierce it with a knife here and hes a goner. This was more harrowing than the most thrilling films in the cinema of virtual life. Chapter 83: 83, Combat and Insight Chapter 83: 83, Combat and Insight If your strength is inferior, then the best way to attack is by surprise. However, Ye Wan said that its not always possible to keep oneself in a dominant position, and while surprise attacks are important, solely pursuing how to launch them would only be considered opportunistic trickery. Qing Chen kept trying attack movements relentlessly, showing no signs of fatigue. In his hand, he held a genuine Spring Knife, and his opponent was not the air, but the flesh-and-blood Ye Wan. Ye Wan was like a mountain, no matter how fierce Qing Chens attacks were, he was able to block them with ease. If the first step was to identify the vital points, then now it was the second step: Routines. Logically, there arent many angles for striking the spleen, just a few. But what Ye Wan taught him was how to feign ones intent, making the opponent misjudge the intended target, and then open the path to the spleen for you. If you reveal your intent directly, then youll always be at a disadvantage in combat, Ye Wan said, When your strength isnt sufficient to crush someone, then feints are your most effective killing technique. Qing Chen thoughtfully considered this. He had previously thought of it too simply, assuming it was just about practicing straight stabs and diagonal slashes. What he hadnt expected was that Ye Wan was teaching him routines. For example, how to cleverly exert force toward the opponents neck with a knife swipe, and then, in the moment the opponent makes a defensive move, coordinate the power from his waist and elbow to change the daggers trajectory, piercing the opponents spleen. Ye Wan taught him over sixty such routines. More than ten of them included two feints. Ye Wan said, Keep in mind that combat is always devious and ever-changing. You see many battle masters who can strike numerous times in a second, but actually, only one is a real attack. Close-quarter combat is a perilous game of psychological warfare. What Ye Wan could do was teach these practical routines to Qing Chen, giving him the most basic killing ability in two days. And what Qing Chen needed to do was to keep all of this in his mind. The third step, also the last one: Real combat. It wasnt enough to simply know; Ye Wan believed that Qing Chen also needed to be clearly aware of what his body could do. One had to have a clear understanding of ones own strength and speed. Knowing the enemy wasnt enough; you must also know yourself. This method of training, with all his might each time, exhausted Qing Chen in just three hours. Adding to that he stood by the window the previous night for the first half, by 9 a.m., his reactions had grown sluggish. By this time, 2 hours and 40 minutes had passed since mealtime. The prisoners in the jail gradually noticed something was wrong and began frantically banging on the alloy gate. But no matter how hard they banged, there was no response. It was as if everyones gates were broken. Guo Huchan banged on the gate the hardest, as if he were trying to smash it open. It wasnt until Uncle Li Dong warned him at his gate that the bald strongman calmed down. Guo Huchan, inside his cell, laughed instead of being angry and asked enthusiastically, Boss Li, what secret operation are you pulling off? Tell me about it, or let me out to give you a hand? Im also a master strategist in Spade. But Uncle Li Dong had no intention of giving him any attention. Gradually, all the prisoners calmed down again, recalling the fear of the previous night, and suddenly felt that the prison seemed a bit different. This place was full of felons, with more than half having lived here for over five years. Prior to this, they had never experienced anything so bizarre. But what they didnt realize was that all this was because a young man needed to face a crisis, and his mentor was trying to buy him a bit of time, that was all. When Ye Wan said they could take a break, Qing Chen simply tilted his head and fell to the ground, sound asleep. Lin Xiaoxiao came over with a tray in his hands. As he watched the Fire Rune on Qing Chens face gradually fade, he hoisted the other man up, Dont let the prisoners out just yet. If only Qing Chen doesnt come out for meals, that will raise suspicions. Well talk about dinner after he wakes up. Ye Wan nodded, But hes definitely going to sleep until dinner, the prisoners are going to miss two meals. Lin Xiaoxiao chuckled and said, Its fine, the boss said they wont die if they go hungry for two meals. Actually, ever since Qing Chen came into contact with Uncle Li Dong and the others, everyone had already adopted a relatively amiable attitude. Even today, he has yet to encounter the other side of the Knights and the Heng Society. The cold and cruel side. ... By the time dinner came around, the alloy gates of all the cells were opened only after Qing Chen had gotten up. During the meal, the prisoners were extremely cautious and dared not make a sound, for fear of stirring up trouble and possibly being used for practice in the middle of the night again. What if... it wasnt just talk this time?! After dinner, the prisons broadcast advised everyone to return to their cells, and the prisoners did so one by one. Uncle Li Dong looked at Qing Chen with interest, How is it? Have you got a basic grasp? Qing Chen pondered, Not bad, Memory Power and cognitive abilities play a bigger role in combat than I had imagined. Its just that the training time for the Auxiliary Breathing Method is short, and my physical fitness is still lacking, I will train even harder from now on. Even if one day of Auxiliary Breathing Method training was equivalent to half a month for others, his training time was too short, in total it was only around ten days. This was still the result of his training volume significantly exceeding Ye Wans plan. Lin Xiaoxiao looked at Ye Wan, By your standards, how is his training progress? Ye Wan thought for a moment and said, Ordinary People are definitely far behind compared to him. For example, when I first learned the Tactical Dagger Routines, it took me three months to reach his current level. The Super Memory state is truly terrifying. Train a bit more tonight, and then again during the day tomorrow, killing a person or two should be no problem. And the downsides? asked Lin Xiaoxiao. Ye Wan replied, The downside is that he still lacks real combat experience, and his approach is too formulaic. Its fine when facing Ordinary People, but when he encounters a real master, he will suffer greatly. This has to be compensated with perceptiveness. It was the same when Qing Chen played chess with Uncle Li Dong; even though Qing Chen knew the permutations of the chess games, sometimes he still couldnt beat Uncle Li Dong. He could have won, but always ended up being forced into a draw. This was also the reason he didnt participate in the chess competitions back then. Ye Wan grinned at Qing Chen, Did you have a good sleep? Well-rested, I can continue, Qing Chen nodded, the Breathing Technique had revived him fully. Come on, Ill spar with you, said Lin Xiaoxiao cheerfully. After speaking, he willingly stood in the center of the ring and beckoned to Qing Chen. Qing Chen pondered briefly and then, with sudden force in his legs, he stepped forward. The Spring Knife in his hand swiftly stabbed at Lin Xiaoxiaos thigh. Lin Xiaoxiao laughed, Such a childish feint... hiss! That was a close call! Qing Chens dagger stuck in his leg, but fortunately, he reacted quickly, pinching the blade between two fingers. Otherwise, he would have been bled out. Qing Chen was stunned for a moment. Lin Xiaoxiao had said before that he was not a combat type, but rather functional. But even so, this ability to catch a blade between two fingers was unbelievably astonishing. The gulf between Transcendents and Ordinary People was insurmountable, the only ones who could engage in close combat with Transcendents were other Transcendents. Or those Battle Masters equipped with the most advanced mechanical limbs. At that moment, Lin Xiaoxiao shouted angrily, Didnt you say you were going to aim for the spleen? Just now you had all the power in your waist, why didnt you lift the blade? What happened to the agreed feint and fake movements? Uncle Li Dong looked at Ye Wan with a smile, What do you think of his perceptiveness? Ye Wan replied, I wasnt as good as him back then. Keep training, dont slack off, Uncle Li Dong laughed heartily and went off to the reading area. Hmm, training seems effective enough for now, its time to teach him assassination techniques, Ye Wan responded. Chapter 84: 84. Sneak Attack and Visit Chapter 84: 84. Sneak Attack and Visit How to maximize gains in a battle where one faces five opponents? Even people who have never fought could answer this question: stealth attack. In an unknown location, delivering a fatal blow from a strange angle is the way to fight that uses the least energy yet inflicts the most damage. And Qing Chen, in the battle he was about to face, would inevitably choose the way of stealth to reduce the number of thugs as much as possible. But Ye Wan, who was fully aware of this point, kept delaying teaching Qing Chen these skills. Qing Chen had his doubts, but he did not ask. The fight with Lin Xiaoxiao proved Qing Chens aptitude. Since then, Uncle Li Dong no longer cared about this matter, captivated every second with the newly acquired scores. Training for six hours, resting for one, Qing Chen supplemented his training with the Breathing Technique, honing himself in a completely inhuman state. After enduring this almost spirit-crushing intensity, his strikes became faster and more precise. Over three thousand inmates were still locked in their cells, but this time, everyone was silent. On the second midnight after Qing Chen arrived, the inmates lay on their beds in despair, silently enduring the familiar process once again. This time, Ye Wan spared himself the effort of controlling the inmates and directly ordered in the darkness, Lie face down on the bed. The inmates obediently turned over and lay face down. Consequently, Ye Wan said to Qing Chen, Yesterday I taught you to identify the front; today, Ill teach you to recognize from the back. Actually, finding the spleen from behind is a bit more difficult, and to ensure a faster thrust, you might need to use your left hand to wield the knife. The inmates, lying on their beds one by one, shed tears of humiliation. They didnt know whether the other party would return the next midnight to distinguish how to find the spleen from the side. The countdown to return read 15:00:00, 9 oclock in the morning. The prisons Alloy Gate suddenly opened. Two Mechanical Prison Guards strode into the square and said to Qing Chen through the amplifiers in their skulls, Inmate number 010101, you have a family visit. Ye Wan laughed, They even sent two Mechanical Prison Guards. Qing Chen turned and asked, Does that make a difference? Oh, Ye Wan explained, The One evaluates the danger level of an inmate and then dispatches a corresponding number of Mechanical Prison Guards; previously one was enough to take you away, now they sent two. Lin Xiaoxiao said, It seems it also considers you more dangerous now. The One? Qing Chen puzzled internally, wondering if the entire prison was actually managed by that artificial intelligence. Thats why he had never seen any human prison guards in this prison. At that moment, Uncle Li Dongs gaze lifted from the classical scores, seriously sizing up Qing Chen, It must be that young lady from the Jindai family, youre soaked in sweat, you should change into a fresh set of clothes before meeting her. Qing Chen shook his head, Theres no need. Uncle Li Dong was taken aback, Dont you care about your appearance? After all, shes your fiance?e, and by the way, Ive looked into it for you, the girl is clean, nothing like some hypocrites of the Jindai family. Qing Chen then explained, The entire prison population has been confined to conceal my identity. Although they havent left their cells, they can guess that Ye Wan is teaching me assassination techniques; they just cant know who I am. If I meet her now, and later someone checks the time, everyone will know that its me Ye Wan is teaching. Qing Chen looked at Uncle Li, So teacher, I cant go to see her. Lets continue training. Uh, Uncle Li Dong, seeing the earnestness in Qing Chens expression, gradually showed a look of astonishment, You make a lot of sense! Countdown to return 9:00:00. Ye Wan walked barefoot on the ground while Qing Chen lay on his side on the floor, quietly watching, his eyes moving back and forth in sync with those large feet. As if every change during the movement of the soles contained unique secrets. Ye Wans feet were large, surprisingly large. But Qing Chen had discovered that no matter whether the other was walking or running, they didnt make any sound. Such ability was too eerie; every muscle fiber would exert force in sequence, from the foot soles, to the ankles, then to the calves, and thighs, as if every movement had been calculated. However, Ye Wan didnt possess such terrifying calculating abilities. This was the experience and memory that the other had accumulated over years of training. Qing Chen committed all this to memory, knowing that this last lesson was the most important. Unconsciously, Qing Chen closed his eyes. It was as if he were asleep, yet it seemed he was deep in thought. Beside him, Lin Xiaoxiao whispered to Uncle Li Dong, Boss, hes training too hard. We dont necessarily need to rush this; why dont I get him some lethal weapons he can take back? We might not be able to bring back much, but surely a grenade or a pocket pistol should be okay. Uncle Li Dong shook his head, The first time one draws blood in a kill, they must exert all their strength, even if they have to clench their teeth until they break. They must remember clearly what it feels like to take a life with their own hands. When the dagger pierces the enemys body, blood flows down the hilt into ones hand, carrying the body warmth of the other. Only such a unique sensory experience can make him remember what death truly is. Countdown to return 2:00:00. The last two hours before the return. Strange sounds of hydraulic movement started up in the darkness, incredibly uniform. Along the long and dimly lit corridor, 21 solitary confinement cells opened in turn. Jian Sheng had already been transferred by Uncle Li Dong to another prison, leaving only Liu Dezhu to reside here. Liu Dezhu looked outside timidly. Through the opened door, he peered into the pitch-dark world, Is anybody there? No response. He raised his voice, Is anyone there, why is the door opened? Still no response. After a long while, he finally mustered the courage to step outside. The corridor was empty. The door leading to the prison yard had been opened for him, and Liu Dezhu tentatively moved forward. Just then, he suddenly felt something was amiss and quickly turned around. But there was nothing behind him in the murky corridor, only faint lights from each of the solitary confinement cells, creating intersecting shadows. At this moment, Liu Dezhu felt like he was playing a game called Silent Hill, where the world had changed in an instant, terrifying yet tranquil. In this entire world, there were only him and this eerie corridor, where a deadly threat might appear at any moment. He began to run out of fear, constantly looking back as if something was chasing him. But Liu Dezhu couldnt hear footsteps or see any figures. From time to time, he could hear breathing, continuous and meticulous, with a bizarre rhythm. Sometimes he could also hear footsteps other than his own, but every time he turned around, he saw nothing, which only intensified his terror. Panting, he ran to the reading area, hid behind some bookshelves, and cautiously peeked out from behind them, but still saw nothing. The next moment he turned back in panic, only to see a Cat Mask looming right in front of his eyes. ... Thank you, DesWong, for becoming the new Alliance Hierarch of this book! Boss is generous, and may the boss make a fortune! Asking for monthly tickets! Also, starting tomorrow, the updates will stabilize at 6 PM every evening! Chapter 85: 85, Screaming and Silencing Chapter 85: 85, Screaming and Silencing Fuck! Liu Dezhus soul nearly flew out of his body, almost knocking over the bookshelf as he staggered backward. In the dead of night, within a dim and eerie environment, turning around to see a sinister mask was horrifying. The feeling was too terrifying. It was like living through a horror movie. At that moment, Ye Wan and Lin Xiaoxiao stepped out from the shadows of the bookshelves. Liu Dezhu realized what was happening, so these three decided to let him out in the middle of the night just to tease him? He said in deep distress, You three are going too far in bullying people! Quit your yapping, this is all youre good for anyway, Lin Xiaoxiao picked up Liu Dezhu and took him back to the solitary confinement room. Ye Wan then said to Qing Chen, Theres significant progress in the details, but the training time was too rushed, it wasnt done very well. Qing Chen listened intently. Ye Wan continued, The most important aspect of a sneak attack is not being discovered. You were too hasty the first time you approached Liu Dezhu. There are subtle changes in the air and sounds in the corridor. Liu Dezhu might not notice it himself, but his body will warn him. After that, when the target moved quickly, you failed to control your breathing and footsteps. To my ears, those sounds were as loud as drumbeats, even Liu Dezhu sensed something. If he were replaced by a trained soldier, youd be dead. Hmm, I will continue to work hard, Qing Chen said, his bare feet pressing against the floor. The greatest secret to eliminating footstep noise lies in how one masters exerting and retracting force with each step. However, his own shoes were too cheap, and the rubber soles too hard, which made it impossible to control properly no matter what. Ye Wan reminded him, You havent been learning for long, so you can only manage to walk without making a sound. Remember, dont run. You cant manage to run without making noise yet. Hmm, Ive got it, Qing Chen said. Ye Wan glanced at his feet, According to what you said, after you return, youll be in the mountains. If you havent walked barefoot through them before, I fear your feet will be raw and bloody after one night. Qing Chen shook his head, Thats not important, injuries will eventually heal. Being tough on yourself is good, but after this is over you should still buy a pair of suitable shoes as soon as possible, Ye Wan said, Anything else you want to ask? Actually, in this battle, the most crucial lesson for me is the art of sneak attack, why teach it last? Qing Chen asked curiously. Sneak attacks are not like playing a virtual game on simple mode where enemies stand around like NPCs in a game, dumbfounded waiting for you to kill them. Then, until you kill them all, by the time you take down the second person, youre very likely to be discovered, Ye Wan explained. Next, the remaining three will be aware of your presence and will use all their means to kill you. Youll have no choice but to engage in direct combat, and thats when it gets most dangerous. When enemies are unaware of you, killing the first two is easiest. Thats why the time spent teaching you how to hide your tracks was the shortest. However, when they discover you, thats when youre in the most danger, and why I spent the most time teaching you direct combat. But, Qing Chen suddenly said, I have no intention of exchanging my life for someone elses. If its too dangerous, maybe I will give up. I support you in that, Ye Wan said, In this world, your own life is the most important thing. Theres no need to risk your life just to save an agent and a classmate of yours. But you must understand, if you could control something like fighting spirit, then it wouldnt be spirit anymore. Sometimes, its only when you truly face something that you understand your own choices. Ye Wan continued, The boss said you have an innate spirit in you, similar to when you dared to challenge the boss to a game of chess on your first day. It belongs to you, indelible and unforgettable. Remember your chess game with the boss, Crossing the River? Once the pawn crosses the river, its not that it doesnt want to go back; it cant. Qing Chen reflected upon these words. At that moment, Ye Wan moved a chair from the neighboring reading area in front of Qing Chen. Qing Chen, curious, asked, Whats this for? Ye Wan thought for a moment and said, Youll understand soon... no, in two days youll get it. Ye Wan said, Theres one more thing the boss didnt say, so Ill take the liberty of saying it for him. Whats that? Qing Chen wondered. Ye Wan smiled, Come back alive. ... Countdown 00:05:00. The final five minutes. Qing Chen approached Liu Dezhu and asked calmly, Repeat the two things Ive instructed you. Liu Dezhu replied anxiously, First, after returning, tell all the classmates to run for their lives. Second, if they cant escape, find a way to ask who was taken away alone by the bad guys before. Hmm, have you remembered any details these past two days? For example, anyone constantly checking their phone for messages, or who went to the bathroom midway, Qing Chen asked. Liu Dezhu weakly answered, They all went to the bathroom, and as for checking their phones, I guess they did quite often... Boss, I was only focused on playing games at the time, I really didnt notice anything. Qing Chen sighed, knowing that if he had any better choices, he wouldnt have appointed this person as a proxy. Remember, the bad guys must be very interested in the secret you carry. But you must understand one thing, the moment they discover your secret is the moment you die. Qing Chen continued coldly, Your fault this time is unforgivable. When you return next time, I will help you reacquaint yourself with this cruel world, of course, if youre still alive to tell the tale. After finishing, he glanced at the time on his arm. Countdown, 00:00:01. Return. In the darkness, the sound of drums and laughter were heard. The time in the Outer World, which had been sliced and paused, finally began to tick forward again. One second it was the dim isolation room, the next second, the world was lit by the orange-red glow of the bonfire, with shadows flickering rapidly. Liu Dezhus eyes widened as he looked at the bonfire in front of him and the crowd cheering around him, struggling to adjust. The gloom and the brightness were cut off from each other, as were the tension and the merriment. Even Liu Dezhu himself seemed to be cut off from his smiling classmates. In his mind, it seemed as if someone were reminding him: Danger! He remembered Qing Chens words and immediately stood up, yelling, Run! Everyone run! Theres danger! However, the scene he imagined where everyone would scatter and flee didnt happen; they just looked at him with a confused expression. The classmates couldnt understand why Liu Dezhu, who had been chatting and laughing a moment ago, now looked so flustered and frightened. It was Hu Xiaoniu who reacted first because for the classmates, time was continuous and coherent. But for those Time Travelers like them, they had already spent two days in the Inner World. So, Liu Dezhus warning wasnt without reason; he had experienced something special in the Inner World! Hu Xiaoniu stood up and asked, Brother Liu, what happened? As Liu Dezhu was pushing past the classmates next to him, he said, Its too late if we dont go now, there are bad guys coming to surround this place, forget it, if you wont go, I will! Yet, even after he spoke so clearly, the classmates still looked at him in bewilderment. Hu Xiaonius face changed, and after giving Zhang Tianzhen a meaningful look, he quickly followed Liu Dezhu. However, just as they reached the courtyard entrance, two middle-aged men in police uniforms asked, Hello, student, where are you going in such a hurry? Upon seeing the police uniform, Liu Dezhu was overjoyed, Police officer, there are bad guys nearby! The two middle-aged men in police uniforms glanced at each other, then pulled out pistols from their waists, stepped forward, and pressed them against the chests of Liu Dezhu and Hu Xiaoniu. One of them laughed softly, Bad guys, eh? I dont see any. The other one looked coldly at Hu Xiaoniu, Open your mouth to call for help, and Ill shoot you dead. Go back! Hu Xiaoniu stared blankly down at the gun pressed against his chest. There was a silencer on the gun! Chapter 86: 86, 7 suspects Chapter 86: 86, 7 suspects Hu Xiaoniu, when in Haicheng, spent years frequenting domestic legal shooting ranges, so he had seen these things and had listened to the explanations of shooting instructors. Not to mention how these thugs had gotten their hands on guns, the key was that it was too difficult to secretly acquire silencers in the country, and even smugglers rarely dealt in such things. Moreover, most firearms, when fitted with a silencer, are not completely silent like in the movies; at best, the sound is reduced from 140 decibels to 120 decibels, without any substantial change. Silencers have always been mythologized by film and television. But there are a few firearms that, when paired with subsonic ammunition, can indeed minimize the sound of gunfire. The Glock 34 in the hands of the thugs was one of them. Hu Xiaoniu suddenly realized that the opposition was extremely professional and might even have ties to international professional mercenaries. Liu Dezhu was in despair, the turn of events came too suddenly; the boss had only warned him about the thugs, but did not mention that the thugs would switch into police uniforms! Hu Xiaoniu took a deep breath and said, Do as they say. The three of them were forced to retreat into the yard with the guns pointed at them. At the same time, five other people were holding guns, taking the staff, the boss, and two Kunlun members hostage from the hotel building and stepping outside. These people moved faster than Qing Chen had anticipated, having already scoped out the area before midnight, and finally took action after the return. The reason they chose to take action after the return was to prevent the Kunlun members from leaking the news in the Inner World, thereby buying themselves ample time. A few girls screamed on the spot. However, one of the thugs simply squeezed the trigger, and the bullet struck the calf of a Kunlun member cleanly and efficiently. The Kunlun member fell to the ground, yet he kept his mouth tightly shut, not uttering a cry of pain. The thug then pointed the gun at Hu Xiaoniu and Liu Dezhu, and said coldly, Shut up, or your classmates will die now, and many innocent people outside the inn will die as well. You see, this comrade of Kunlun is very smart; he knows his cries of pain would attract people from outside, but here on Laojun Mountain, no one can save you. Attracting people from the outside would only increase casualties needlessly. And he is well aware that the ones who can save you will take at least six hours to arrive, so keep quiet, and dont bring trouble upon yourselves. The Kunlun member on the ground silently closed his eyes, intense pain causing a fine layer of sweat to form on his forehead, but he remained silent. At that moment, one of the thugs dressed in a black coat stood before the students, smiling and saying, Im delighted to meet everyone here on Laojun Mountain, but dont panic. Im not interested in ordinary people; once I find all the Time Travelers among you, I will take them away. So, please cooperate, okay? If everyone cooperates, this will be over very quickly. From the crowd, Wang Yun suddenly said, Everyone, dont panic, and dont get Hu Xiaoniu and the others killed. Hu Xiaoniu and Zhang Tianzhen exchanged glances, unsure of what to think. And in Liu Dezhus mind, there was only one thought: there were more than five thugs; the bosss information was wrong. At this time, the students were filled with immense fear, yet the terror of gunfire and the threat to their classmates lives compelled them to maintain some semblance of sanity, sobbing quietly with their hands covering their mouths. The previous screaming from the Cloudtop Inn seemed to have alerted the people outside. The owner of a neighboring guesthouse, who had been preparing vegetables for the next day, wiped his hands on his apron and walked out of the yard. He stood on the road in front of the door, looking towards the neighboring entrance. But he saw someone dressed in a police uniform standing at the door, seeming to be on duty. The curious innkeeper approached and asked, Officer, whats going on next door? The middle-aged man in a police uniform replied, Weve got a drunk causing a disturbance. Thats enough, no need to stand around; go back inside. Oh, okay, the innkeeper nodded and prepared to return to the entrance of his guesthouse. As he walked, he felt something wasnt quite right. The innkeeper subtly clenched the phone in his pocket, intending to call the police for information as soon as he got back to his guesthouse. However, before he could reach the entrance of his place, he felt the cold blade of a dagger slide between his ribs, diagonally piercing his heart and lungs. A hand clad in black gloves tightly covered his mouth, dragging him into the Cloud Inn. Following that, the criminal in the police uniform stepped out again, closing the door of the Cloud Inn from the outside and stationing himself by the door, unmoving. His hand remained at his waist throughout. At this moment, everyone in Cloud Mountain Guesthouse was herded into the courtyard. The students, terrified and shivering, huddled together, while the criminal went around with two black plastic bags, confiscating their phones. Before tossing the phones into the plastic bags, the criminal meticulously turned off each one. Liu Dezhu, Hu Xiaoniu, and Zhang Tianzhen were also shoved back into the crowd, and a man with a scar on his face approached them, opening the black plastic bag silently with both hands. With no other choice, the three of them reluctantly handed over their phones, but the criminal did not leave, continuing to stare emotionlessly at Hu Xiaoniu. With an inward sigh, Hu Xiaoniu pulled out another phone from his left pocket and threw it into the plastic bag. The criminal let out a cold laugh and pushed the three of them back into the crowd. The man in the black trench coat approached Liu Dezhu and jovially said, Ill give you a chance. Tell me why, after your return, did you suddenly become aware of our operation and precisely know that we are surrounding this place? Liu Dezhu kept his mouth shut and shivered, unusually defiant by remaining silent. The criminal chuckled, Dont feel like talking, huh? Well, let me guess... Outside of Cloud Inn, you have a companion who is a Time Traveler, right? All of a sudden, Liu Dezhu realized that even though the man had guessed the truth, he didnt seem panicked. Could it be that the man had another ace up his sleeve? Or perhaps, the criminals present were not the only ones involved. ... At this very moment, Qing Chen silently stood in the room, clutching the Spring Knife he had brought back, with Jiang Xue, who had also just returned, behind him. Qing Chen heard a faint mechanical clicking, but he didnt know that it was the sound of a silencer-equipped pistol. It was just that the owner of their guesthouse had gone out and had not come back. The woman, seeing the knife in his hand, had a moment of realization, Xiao Chen, what are you planning to do? Qing Chen took off his shoes, turned, and headed for the door. Aunt Jiang Xue, you stay here with Xiao Yun, keep the door locked and dont go out. Dont worry, Ill be fine. Jiang Xue called out from behind, Maybe I can help you with something. I have a mechanical arm! But Qing Chen suddenly turned and looked directly at her, But you lack combat experience. Trust me, Ill come back. After saying that, he disappeared outside the door. Chapter 87: 87, added three more Chapter 87: 87, added three more The wind had risen in the mountains. Laojun Mountain, with an elevation of over two thousand meters, lies between the Funiu Mountain Range. The nights here are sharply cold and windy. The air is dense with fog, and by morning, all the outdoor furniture surfaces would be coated with a layer of moisture. In the courtyard, someone had thrown fresh firewood into the bonfire, dimming the light it cast as the new logs smothered the flames. The flickering firelight, refracting through the slowly swirling fog, seemed like the mesmerizing play of light and shadow in the night. Among the shadows, a youth with a knife stood silently at the intersection of the thin mist and darkness, sizing up a lone thug outside the courtyard. It was not until this moment that he understood what Ye Wan had said: Life is indeed very fragilea knife thrust into the heart, and no matter how important the person is, they would die. But killing was not easy. Because what you have to face is the most vicious thing in human affairs. Qing Chen tied a stolen scarf over his face and remained silent. The mobile signal atop the mountain was intermittent, but, to be cautious, the thugs all switched to police walkie-talkies clipped to their left chests. Qing Chen silently counted, noting that every ten minutes, the thug would lower his head to press the talk button on his walkie-talkie and respond to something. Suddenly, a gust of mountain wind rushed in, and the bonfire piled with firewood in the courtyard flared up brightly, illuminating the outside world as well. At that moment, from his hiding spot in the corner, Qing Chen suddenly saw the thug outside the gate seem to notice something by the light of the fire. He looked confusedly in his direction and began to approach incrementally. Qing Chen tensed. However, just then, Li Tongyun appeared outside the inns main gate. She stood timidly at the doorway and said to the thug, Police uncle, have you seen my mother? The thug hesitated for a moment, Your mother? I havent seen her, little girl. Come here, let the police uncle help you look for your mother, alright? In an instant, he sensed something was wrong! Ambush! The thug subconsciously raised his left hand to swing a baton to one side, while his right hand reached towards his waist, ready to draw his gun. In the flickering shadow cast by the fire over the wall, the youth had silently arrived beside him through the mist. They were within close reach, a knifes distance. Suddenly, Qing Chen ducked to avoid the oncoming baton, twisting like a gust of wind in front of the thug. Qing Chens dagger aimed for the thugs left hand, which was about to draw his gun. Realizing he was too late to reach for his gun, he instinctively ducked. The youths blade slashed downwards, and the thug instinctively reached down with his arms, trying to grab the youths hand. But Qing Chen seemed to have anticipated this, stepping back slightly. The thugs swiping left hand and baton hit nothing but air. Not good! The thug looked up in shock into the night. But all he could see were the youths eyes, coldly staring at him. At this moment of utter exertion, the vicious youths dagger pierced once again through the mist. Through the gap between his arms. Breathe. Uncle Li Dong had said that in the battle between beasts, the most important thing is to breathe. Its the key to controlling your bodys oxygen levels and your alertness. Once you understand the significance of breathing, you will control yourself, and eventually everything else. Be the hunter or the hunted, its your choice. In the blink of an eye, the edge of Qing Chens scarf with its fire rune suddenly burst forth! It was as if all his strength surged and converged on his right hand, then traveled to the tip of the knife, fiercely stabbing into the thugs spleen. The thugs eyes widened in shock. In that brief moment, what had happened? The masked youths movements flowed smoothly, seamlessly, as if everything had been calculated beforehand. He knew the thug would swing his baton, knew he wouldnt dare continue reaching for his gun under the feint, knew the trajectory of his arms flailing in confusion. The youth had evaded everything, giving no chance for direct contact. Only when the dagger pierced his spleen did they truly touch. In this close-quarter battle of psychological manipulation, every move he made had been anticipated by the youth. It was as if he had played right into the plot the youth had written. The youth had scripted his ending long ago. Knowing he didnt have much time left, the thug struggled to reach for his walkie-talkie. But he saw the youth ruthlessly pressing his body forward, pinning him against the courtyard wall. Qing Chen covered the thugs mouth with his left hand, while his right hand stirred furiously with the knife. The thugs mechanical limbs in his legs tried to kick out, but the intense pain flooding his brain nearly blocked all coherent thought. The spleen is a blood storage organ; in an instant, a large amount of fresh blood flowed from the thugs ruptured spleen, then down the blade to Qing Chens hand. It was warm blood, the quickly fading warmth in the cool night reminding Qing Chen what death truly was. It was only when the criminals heartbeat and breathing ceased that Qing Chen slowly withdrew the dagger. The masked young man stood gasping in front of the body, silently pondering something. Blood dripped from the knifes tip in his hand, dropping drop by drop onto the concrete road. So, this was what killing felt like. Qing Chens panting was not due to exhaustion or cardiovascular strain, but rather from an inexplicable fear and panic within him. He then realized why Uncle Li Dong had said that one must use a knife the first time they kill. Killing with a gun, a shot from dozens of meters away, and the person was gone. In such cases, your emotions and reactions blur due to the distance, it doesnt feel like youve killed a person, its more like hitting a target. You wouldnt see what the blood looked like, you couldnt feel the heartbeat fading away. You wouldnt have any reverence for life. As a teacher, Uncle Li Dong couldnt witness his students first kill, but he had taught Qing Chen the most important lesson: how to revere life. Brother Qing Chen, Li Tongyun called out in a timid, low voice. Her voice pulled Qing Chen back to reality, like a hand tightly grabbing his sleeve before he fell into the abyss. The young man turned his head to look at Li Tongyun, not far away. The little girl stood still, speechless, as if frightened by what had just occurred. She had witnessed the masked young man ruthlessly killing, seen life fading before her eyes. Qing Chen walked over and crouched in front of her. He did not remove the scarf covering his face, just softly asked, Are you scared? With tears in the corners of her eyes, Li Tongyun nodded slightly, A little. Why are you out here, wheres your mom? Qing Chen asked. Thats when Jiang Xue hurriedly ran downstairs, apparently looking for Li Tongyun. Even though Qing Chens face was covered, she could recognize the young man instantly because the scarf he wore was hers. Thus, when she found Li Tongyun with Qing Chen, she immediately breathed a sigh of relief. Jiang Xue arrived at the door and explained to Qing Chen, I had just gone to the bathroom, and when I came out, she was gone. Xiao Yun, you scared mommy to death! Li Tongyun lowered her head, I just wanted to help Brother Qing Chen. Qing Chen was caught off guard; her presence here wasnt a coincidence, she was actually trying to help him. He thought to pat Li Tongyun on the head, but then remembered his hands were covered in blood and slowly retracted his arm. But before he could fully pull it away, Li Tongyun grabbed his hand and placed it on her head, Brother Qing Chen, be careful, mom and I will wait for you to come back. Mm, Qing Chen smiled, I promise. After speaking, he asked Jiang Xue to help pull the criminals body into the guesthouse courtyard, then handed Jiang Xue the gun from the criminals waist, I plan to sneak into the Cloud Inn. Shooting there, even with a silencer, would attract attention, so you keep this. Jiang Xue shook her head, You take it. Youre in more danger. Once it comes down to life and death, who cares if it attracts attention, just shoot. Qing Chen hesitated for a moment, then smilingly took off the gun holster from the criminals waist and tied it around his own. Although he had never touched a gun or knew how to use one, and firing it would alert other criminals and lead to being surrounded Having a gun was still better than not having one. Uncle Li Dong had said that a Knight must use a knife the first time they kill, and he had now accomplished that. Killing again wouldnt count as the first time. He could use a gun. Qing Chen patted Li Tongyun on the head, Be obedient this time, and wait for me to return. Mm, Li Tongyun nodded her head. Just then, the walkie-talkie on the dead criminals chest crackled to life, Begin counting now, 1. The criminals voices chillingly came through, 2. 3. 4. At this moment, there was a slight pause, and Qing Chen immediately activated his Breathing Technique, perfectly mimicking the criminals voice with his perfect memory, 5. He was about to turn off the walkie-talkie when the speaker issued another count. 6. 7. 8. Qing Chen suddenly froze. The number of criminals... had increased by three! ... Please support with monthly votes! Chapter 88: Art of Reaping Lives Chapter 88: Art of Reaping Lives Everything that had happened today seemed to be telling Qing Chen one thing: the outcome of a battle is decided by the future, never calculate based on past information, or it will lead to an irredeemable doom. While Kunlun was after five criminals and Qing Chen had only seen five on the bus, the person reporting over the walkie-talkie now was announcing there were eight. No wonder the enemy had so easily taken control of two Kunlun members; their team was growing as well. In this world, there are so many people willing to take risks for money. Yesterday, Lin Xiaoxiao had come to have a chat with him. Squatting on a chair, she said with a smile, Qing Chen, when you return to the Outer World, remember never to trust anyone, as interests can change relationships dramatically. Humans are profiteers and you should never underestimate their greed. Guess who invented the base station communication equipment you and Liu Dezhu use? Qing Chen guessed, A spy? Lin Xiaoxiao shook her head cheerfully, No, it was invented by two stock traders from City One to avoid being caught for insider trading. You see, thats the power of interest, it even drives the progress of technology. At that moment, Qing Chen suddenly felt that, perhaps, more and more people in the Outer World would be drawn into its dark side for profits. Because too many people needed such an opportunity to change their lives. He tucked the walkie-talkie into his pocket, then waved to Jiang Xue and walked into the night. Jiang Xue squatted down and hugged Li Tongyun, Were you scared just now? Are you still afraid? Li Tongyun thought for a moment, I was really scared, but I wasnt scared anymore after Brother Qing Chen patted my head. The little girl recalled how Qing Chen, in the darkness, had calculated and struck in one goas if the young man were effortlessly performing some kind of art in front of the criminals. The art of reaping lives. ... The soles of human feet are probably the softest among most animals. Wanting to fight barefoot is harder than one might imagine; even a small pebble on the ground can make a person wince in pain. If there were any other possibility, Qing Chen would not want to fight barefoot. But he had no choice. Qing Chen was silently crouched in a loquat tree by the road, using the dense canopy to conceal his figure, and had turned the volume of the walkie-talkie down to the minimum. From time to time, the flickering campfire in the courtyard would cast mottled shadows on him through the gaps in the leaves. This was the best place he could remember, high in the trees and at a distance from the Yunshang Inn. There are 6 people in the courtyard, and there should be another one watching the back door, Qing Chen murmured to himself; dealing with seven people was simply unrealistic, especially when the criminals were gathered together. He looked down at the bloodstains on the soles of his feet, uncertain what state his feet would be in after tonight. In the courtyard, Liu Dezhu sat on the ground timidly, while the leader of the criminals squatted in front of him, pressing a gun to his forehead, seemingly interrogating him about something. The more than forty hostages were huddled together in a group, surrounded tightly by the six criminals, with no chance of escape. To Qing Chens surprise, he saw one of the Kunlun members lying on his side on the ground, his forehead soaked with sweat. The conspicuous gun wound on the members calf was oozing blood, which was slowly seeping out, staining the cement floor a dark purple. Yet, despite such pain, the members right hand was gently placed next to his pocket, his index and middle fingers tapping out a rhythmic pattern, as if sending a message to the outside world. Tap, tap tap. Tap, tap, tap... The index finger represented a short sound, tapping quickly, while the middle finger represented a long sound, tapping slowly. It seemed like Morse code, but Qing Chen didnt know who the message was being sent to. Another member of his team? Qing Chen took note of the tapping frequency and turned his attention back to the courtyard. Then, he saw one of the criminals searching through the crowd, eventually saying something to a comrade with a smile on his face. After speaking, he grabbed Wang Yun by the hair and pulled her out of the group. Wang Yun struggled desperately on the ground as she was dragged toward the inn, but ultimately she was taken inside. The classmates watched the scene with dread; Hu Xiaoniu, Zhang Tianzhen, and a few others tried to stand up several times, only to be forced down again by the cold, dark muzzle of a gun. The uninjured Kunlun member erupted in anger but was quickly punched in the stomach by a nearby criminal. He fell back to the ground, curling up like a shrimp and sucking in cold air, unable to make any sound. Beyond that, no one else dared to resist. But at this moment, morality couldnt be used to take anyone hostage; self-preservation in the face of danger is a human instinct, and the students, who had not received professional training, were right to feel fear. What they did not know, however, was that from the outset, the assailants had no intention of leaving a single Ordinary Person behind. Qing Chen watched everything expressionlessly, yet he did not make a move. He found this somewhat illogical because the assailants were trained warriors. Doing such a thing at a time like this seemed exceedingly foolish. But clearly, they couldnt be that foolish. After a while, one of the assailants walked out of the hostel, patting his companion on the shoulder, Its your turn now. Upon hearing this, the students immediately shrank back in fear. The assailant, wearing a sly grin, let his gaze wander over the crowd. The female students all lowered their heads, hoping that by doing so they would not be noticed. However, in the next instant, the assailants gaze landed on Nan Gengchen! The assailant pushed through the crowd, grabbed the frail Nan Gengchen, and started to drag him into the building. Qing Chen stared blankly at this scene: ... He finally figured out something. He couldnt wait any longer. He didnt even know where the assailant was hiding by the back door, but he couldnt wait anymore. This was the best opportunity. ... The Cloud-top Hostel was built against a mountain; behind it was not a flat ground, but a forest that sloped upward, along with the mountain itself. An assailant leaned quietly against the back door, smoking a cigarette. The Red tip of the cigarette ebbed and glowed in the darkness, and in the silence, one could even hear the hissing sound of the tobacco burning. Unlike the assailants at the front door, he had taken out his Glock 34 equipped with a silencer early on, ready to deal with any crisis at a moments notice. Suddenly, the sound of pebbles hitting the ground echoed through the darkness. However, the assailants first reaction was to look in the opposite direction of the sound, his gun pointing toward where the sound came from. No matter which side someone was on, he was ready to react quickly, which was the correct way to handle the situation. There was no one there. His tense muscles slowly relaxed. The assailant discarded his cigarette and looked around calmly with his gun, trying to find the source of the pebble sound. Just then a voice came through the walkie-talkie: Sound off, 1. 2. 3. The assailant pressed the walkie-talkie and said, 4. In that second, his attention was on the walkie-talkie, and his concentration and hearing were somewhat dispersed. He let go of the walkie-talkie and continued to survey his surroundings. In an instant, the assailants pupils contracted sharply, but he was already being silenced by a hand covering his mouth from behind, and a cold dagger stabbed into him like Thunder from behind his waist, piercing through his spleen and lodging in his lung. The next moment, he heard someone standing right behind him, pressing the walkie-talkie and saying, 5. The hand slowly released its grip, but the only sound the assailant could make was a hoarse, gasping sound. Numbers were still being called out through the walkie-talkie. 6. 7. 8. No one noticed that two of their companions had already died. Chapter 89: 89. Courage Chapter 89: 89. Courage In the clouds above the inn, Nan Gengchen was dragged into a room on the second floor, wailing and howling to the heavens. Outside the window, the flickering light of a bonfire was visible, yet he felt as though he had plunged into hell. Nan Gengchen screamed, Boss, please dont touch me, I beg you, really, that Hu Xiaoniu and Zhang Tianzhen look better than me, find them instead! While he cried and shouted, he secretly strained with all his might in his lower abdomen. He had read online that in such a critical moment, if one could manage to soil ones pants in time, it might just spoil the perpetrators appetite and save ones safety. He just never imagined that he himself would one day have to resort to this tactic. However, the anticipated sound of the other person unbuckling his belt didnt happen. The criminal wore a black leather jacket with a clean shaven head. A black dragon tattoo extended from his neck to his chin, giving him a ferocious look. The criminal slowly took off his gloves, revealing the rough mechanical limbs underneath. He moved his fingers, which, due to ageing, made a creaking sound as they clenched and unclenched. It was enough to make ones teeth sour. The criminal stood coldly opposite Nan Gengchen, watching him until his sobbing gradually subsided, then calmly asked, Kid, Im not interested in men. Now, Im going to ask you questions, and youre going to answer. Cooperate well and you might just save your life, got it? Got it, got it! Nan Gengchen hurriedly nodded his head. Whats your identity in the Inner World? the criminal asked. Nan Gengchen was startled; he thought hed be brought into this room for ruin, but he didnt expect the other party would suddenly ask about his identity in the Inner World. This was totally different from what he had imagined, and it seemed that the perpetrators actions until now had been just for show. But he couldnt figure out why there was this twist, or how the other person knew he was a Time Traveler. He had hidden it so well, no one knew! Yet, the criminal pressed the gun muzzle against his forehead, Im asking you a question? With teary eyes, Nan Gengchen said, Im a hacker... Hacker? the criminal muttered under his breath with irritation. They knew that traversing to the Inner World didnt carry over knowledge, so technical-type Time Travelers were the least valuable in their eyes, all status and no actual skill. And this status might even become a burden. The criminal continued to question, Which city do you live in? City number 18, Nan Gengchen answered. Which district? The First District, Nan Gengchen said quickly, adding, I just moved there too. The criminal whistled, Oh, so youre a rich man living in The First District. Why did you just move there? Nan Gengchen said with aggrieved bitterness, Ive just been taken care of recently. The criminal was taken aback; what was this all about? He continued to ask, On Red Fountain Square in The First District, whats the recent holographic projection? Nan Gengchen said, Its a projection of three Tiger Whales leaping out of the water. The criminal thought for a moment, then pressed his chest intercom, Boss, its confirmed, hes a Time Traveler from city number 18 in The First District. Proceed with cleaning up the scene. After he spoke, he released the intercom and was about to drag Nan Gengchen out the door. Just then, in Nan Gengchens view, as the criminal bent over to grab him, a masked youth appeared behind the otherwise obstructive figure of the criminal. The youths face was covered with a scarf, but Nan Gengchen could still see the fiery red lines extending from below the scarf to the corners of his eyes. He didnt know when the young man had appeared; neither he nor the criminal had noticed the others approach. No footsteps, no breathing. Absolutely nothing. The criminal seemed to also detect something off from Nan Gengchens expression, but he was already rendered immobile. The spleen is the bodys blood bank, and once struck by an external force, the victim will bleed out rapidly and die. The speed is second only to having ones carotid artery slit. The criminal only felt his body rapidly cooling, and he could even hear the sound of his own blood dripping onto the ground. Blood frothed slowly from his mouth as the villain attempted to reach for the intercom. But someone had already gently reached out from behind, plucking the intercom from his chest. Who... are you? Nan Gengchen asked in shock. Qing Chen calmly looked at him, No need to pretend you dont recognize me, come with me, I dont have time to chat right now. Okay, Brother Chen... Nan Gengchen said excitedly. It didnt surprise Qing Chen that Nan Gengchen recognized him. The two had been classmates since their first year of senior high school, not only that, they had been deskmates after being sorted into liberal arts and science classes. The two hardworking boys had always been best friends. Qing Chen, even though he had masked his face and deliberately messed up his hair, just needed one look at his eyes, his contour, and Nan Gengchen could immediately confirm Qing Chens identity. As Nan Gengchen prepared to follow Qing Chen and leave, he muttered excitedly, I never thought youd come to rescue me. If you hadnt shown up, I might have been taken away by them... Just as Qing Chen planned to lead Nan Gengchen out the back door, the sound of rapid gunshots suddenly erupted outside the window. Someone shouted, Run, theyre going to silence us! Qing Chen abruptly turned to look outside the window. It was the distinct sound of firearms equipped with silencers. The bonfire outside blazed like a sea of flames against the sky, the students screams boiling like water. He pulled out his handgun and walked to the window. The innkeeper and waitstaff of Cloud Inn already lay in pools of blood, students terrified and fleeing in all directions. Two Kunlun members lay shot, no one knew when, and the inns main door had been opened at some unknown time, with students taking the chance to escape in the chaos. One Kunlun member lay face up on the cold concrete floor, chest mutilated, eyes forever open. Another Kunlun member knelt askew by the door, eyes closed in death. He held a gun in his hand, beside him a villain lay breathless, further away another corpse of a villain. The two villains had taken four bullets between them, while the Kunlun member was soaked in blood, making it difficult to discern how many bullets had hit him. It seemed he had desperately opened the door, creating a lifeline for the students. At this moment, students were struggling to their feet, heedlessly fleeing outside. Qing Chen did not know what had happened in that instant, even the strongest minds seemed to struggle to catch up. By the time he reached the window, everything had already happened. In just a few breaths, so many had died. Qing Chen silently observed the two blood-drenched corpses. Because he had not witnessed it with his own eyes, his emotions also arrived a bit slower. There was no sadness, nor was there any sense of being moved. It was just something suddenly stuck in his throat, he himself didnt know what it was that was lodged there. In the chaos, the remaining few villains were not chasing after the students but instead coldly tied up Liu Dezhu, Hu Xiaoniu, and Zhang Tianzhen, planning to blend in with the students and leave with the Time Traveler. Indeed, the villains target was the Time Traveler, and now that their plan had gone awry, the prospect of silencing all students was no longer possible. The best option for them was to cut their losses in time. A voice came through the intercom, Lao Wu is nowhere to be found; he may have already met with an accident. Lao San, you and Lao Si bring down those two from upstairs, well meet in the parking lot. Lao Si and Lao Wu were already dead. Qing Chen silently watched everything unfold and suddenly remembered something Ye Wan had said, If one could control their hot blood, then it wouldnt be called hot blood. Sometimes, you only truly understand your choice when youre facing a situation head-on. Stay here, and remember, I wasnt here tonight. If I dont make it back... dont tell my parents either, Qing Chen said softly, then headed outside. In reality, he didnt want to take any more risks either. After all, Nan Gengchen had been rescued, and it was a good opportunity for him to leave. But Qing Chen wondered, had he really tried his best? If he turned around and left now, would he remember his retreat today every time he fought from this day forward? At that moment, he felt Mother Yes words were very true; once across the river, soldiers smeared with blood could not turn back. Irrespective of rules, military orders, or pros and cons. That was courage. Chapter 90: 90. Inside Ghost Chapter 90: 90. Inside Ghost Outside the inn lay a chaotic world; inside, the corridors were already deserted. Qing Chen was walking toward the outside, carrying a Glock 34. In fact, what Ye Wan said was quite right; Qing Chen was cautious, but he never lacked boldness. Just like after his journey through time to prison number 18, he never pleaded with anyone to let him off, even in the black box or when facing water torture. With sheer boldness, he forged his own path with an attitude that thrived on the brink of death. This was the fundamental reason why Uncle Li Dong valued him. Compared to the talent of Super Memory, Uncle Li Dong was always more concerned about ones character. Perhaps it was because there was never anyone waiting for him, or maybe it was because he never dwelled on the past, Qing Chen had always been on a path of relentless progress, without ever looking back or regretting. At that moment, Wang Yun ran out from one of the rooms. When she saw Qing Chen, her eyes filled with surprise in the corridor, but she wasnt familiar with Qing Chen, so she didnt recognize him. Qing Chen looked coldly at her, noting that her clothing was neat, without a hint of being ravished; her makeup was still pristine. You... Wang Yun was startled upon seeing the masked Qing Chen. The next moment, Qing Chen raised his hand and fired four shots, two missed, but the last two hit the girl precisely in her left and right legs. Then without a moments pause, he continued forward. Qing Chen suddenly realized he had a talent for using firearms. Most people need a lot of ammunition to feed their feel for a gun. The feel for a gun is getting used to the recoil, the familiar speed of the bullet leaving the barrel, the familiar process of correcting the bullet trajectory, the familiar reaction of ones arm muscles when firing a shot. But all this, Qing Chen needed just a few shots to firmly grasp and retain in his memory. So his first two shots at Wang Yun strayed, but the next two shots were precisely corrected for the trajectory. Wang Yun wailed in pain behind him. Yet Qing Chens heart did not waver. Many things connected in that moment. On September 30th, of the four who typically went to school together, only Wang Yun arrived at school alone and early, having made arrangements with Nan Gengchen. That entire day, during breaks, Liu Dezhu, Hu Xiaoniu, Zhang Tianzhen, and Bai Waner gathered in the corridor, but Wang Yun did not leave the classroom. Instead, she spent the whole day sullenly at her desk. So when Qing Chen perceived that an insider had informed the criminals of their schedule, which they might have even altered at the last minute to coordinate with tonights operation, he asked Liu Dezhu: who had suggested changing the schedule. At that time, Liu Dezhu answered: Bai Waner. But unconsciously, Qing Chen thought that didnt make sense. Because in his memory, Wang Yun was the most suspicious one. Bai Waner was not the answer he was looking for. Now it seemed clear that something must have happened on the night the criminals visited Jiang Xues home, leading to her change of demeanor the next day and a distancing in the relationships among the four of them. Finally, when the criminals illogically took Wang Yun away and then suddenly Nan Gengchen, Qing Chen had already confirmed his suspicions. The criminals couldnt be so foolish as to lose their heads to lust in such a critical situation. They certainly intended to take Wang Yun away to exchange information at a suitable location. However, after taking Wang Yun, they immediately took Nan Gengchen as well. Qing Chen believed this was no coincidence. So, when he encountered Wang Yun in the corridor, he chose to shoot without hesitation. This might have been the coldest aspect of Qing Chen, yet it was also the most fiery. For some reason, when he thought of the bodies littering that courtyard, he felt this girl should not be allowed to leave unscathed. Qing Chen wasnt seeking revenge for anyone. After all, he had no deep relationship with those two Kunlun members, nor with the innkeeper. It was just that he thought, someone had to pay the price for this incident. ... Laojun Mountain, a tourist area hidden within the mountains, would be devoid of pedestrians after 1 AM even on its busiest days. The restaurants on the street would also close, leaving only the streetlights still lit. However, the commotion at the Cloud Inn was too great, disturbing all the inns and bed and breakfasts on that street. The students ran out in a frantic escape, while the criminals, having changed their clothes, followed unhurriedly behind them. They were left with four peopleLiu Dezhu, Zhang Tianzhen, Hu Xiaoniu, Bai Wanerdragging them along, their hands bound and covered with clothes. On the road, Hu Xiaoniu calmly said, You wont be able to escape with the four of us in tow, because things have gone beyond your plan. Theres only one road leading up and down the mountain, and Kunlun might have already set up roadblocks. The leader of the criminals didnt interrupt him but listened with interest instead. Hu Xiaoniu continued, Release the four of us, and you can head straight into the mountains. The expanse of Funiu Mountain is vast, even immortals wouldnt be able to catch you. But if you take us with you, well only hold you back. Leave me an account number, youre only after money, I promise to transfer the money to you after I get back. The leader chuckled, I do appreciate your concern for us. But youre worrying too much. After speaking, he gestured to an accomplice to open a plastic bag full of more than a dozen ready-made Molotov cocktails. The next moment, the leader pulled out a lighter, lit a cigarette for himself, and then ignited the cloth wick of a Molotov cocktail. Number Six, throw it, he said calmly to the other criminals. A criminal swung his arm and threw the Molotov cocktail straight into another roadside bed and breakfast. Suddenly, fierce flames burst into life in an instant. The criminals walked on, tossing as they went, watching as a whole row of guesthouses caught fire. Countless tourists were jolted awake from their sleep, rushing out onto the streets half-dressed. But this was not enough. The leading criminal turned back to Liu Dezhu with a smile, To be honest, Id really like to take you with us, but Im also afraid of you returning to the Inner World. If you were to tell everything to Uncle Li Dong, and if hes really willing to go to great lengths to find us, that would be frightening. So, lets say goodbye here. With you dead, these tourists will start running around in panic. The leader said to someone behind him, Lao Qi, take off the silencer, empty a magazine, and let these lovely tourists run even more cheerfully! But no one responded. The leader turned sharply, only to see that Lao Qi, who was supposed to be guarding Bai Waner, was already lying in a pool of blood in the mist not far away. Blood gushed from his lower back, all his blood spurting out from the ruptured wound in his spleen. No one knew when Lao Qi had died, nor did they know who had dealt the deadly blow! It was as if hidden within that mist lurked a hunter, and they had turned from hunters into the prey. The criminals face turned cold as he removed the silencer and pulled the trigger at Liu Dezhu. But at that very moment, faced with a life-and-death decision, Liu Dezhu suddenly burst forth with immense courage. He bent over, pushing the criminal beside him away, and quickly ran into the night, dodging as he fled. His speed was incredibly fast, his explosive power immense! The physical conditioning from the Genetic Potion saved his life. The criminal leader seemed to have not expected this constantly cowering man to suddenly muster the courage to resist. At the same time, a gunshot sounded from somewhere, hitting the criminal who had been holding Liu Dezhu in the thigh. Before the wounded criminal could fall to the ground, the hidden hunter fired again, piercing his skull with a bullet. The criminal leaders expression darkened as he started shooting wildly into the crowd of tourists without any further hesitation. The crisp gunshots woke all the tourists who, upon seeing the victims on the ground, began to flee chaotically! The leader and another criminal, taking Hu Xiaoniu and Zhang Tianzhen with them, quickly made their way toward the parking lot amidst the crowd. Too many unexpected events had occurred that night. What was supposed to be a meticulous plan had fallen apart due to unforeseen complications. Out of eight criminals, only two remained. They had to leave quickly. ... Thank you to student Yishi for becoming a new ally of this book. Boss, you are generous; may the boss strike it rich! Are there any other bosses who wish to receive my blessings? Chapter 91: 91. Another Time Traveler Chapter 91: 91. Another Time Traveler The large fire that ignited in more than a dozen bed and breakfasts soared into the sky! With the mountain wind blowing, the fire continued to spread further afield. What was supposed to be a pleasant National Day holiday tourism turned into a dangerous farce. Even the sky was illuminated, as if a layer of sunset had drifted out from the midnight canopy. Countless tourists ran out of their inns to take emergency precautions, and then endured a shooting, all frantically scrambling to escape. The last two criminals hid in the crowd, pushing Hu Xiaoniu and Zhang Tianzhen ahead of them as they hurried towards the parking lot. The Time Traveler had no more hostages to take, and lost companions could be replaced. At this moment, all they needed to do was drive away from Laojun Mountain, and everything was still salvageable. However, just as they were about to escape, the leader of the criminals suddenly looked back. His gaze passed through the chaotic crowd and landed on a young man with his face covered, who was also looking back at him through the crowd. Noisy, panicked tourists surrounded the young man, and behind him lay the raging fire. But in the opponents eyes, there was none of this chaos, only him. A chill went through the leaders heart, suddenly filled with an ominous premonition. He knew he was being targeted; the opponent wouldnt rest until he was dead tonight. The leader recalled the scene of Six being cleanly shot just moments ago and felt an inexplicable chill. If it hadnt been for Hu Xiaoniu being between them, he might have been the one to die then. Dongzi, if we dont kill this kid today, we certainly wont get away, the leader said. Watch my lead once were in the parking lot. As he spoke, the leader, dressed in a black windcoat, actually pulled out a gun and fired two shots at Hu Xiaoniu and Zhang Tianzhens abdomens, letting them slowly fall to the ground. Big Brother, what are you doing? Dongzi exclaimed in surprise. That kid might know these two students; lets see if they can help buy us some time. Moreover, if we want to ambush the opponent, we cant be dragging dead weight, the leader said before he dropped Hu Xiaoniu and Zhang Tianzhen and dashed into the parking lot. This place was filled with hundreds of buses, which naturally provided cover. It was like a maze blocking the view. Qing Chen silently approached Hu Xiaoniu, and upon confirming that he was still breathing, immediately took out Hu Xiaonius phone to dial 120. There were medical facilities in the scenic area; those doctors and nurses probably hadnt seen gunshot wounds, but the shots Hu Xiaoniu and Zhang Tianzhen took were in the stomach area, not fatal. As long as the medical staff arrived promptly, hanging on to life shouldnt be a problem. He said to Hu Xiaoniu lying on the ground, Ive called for help, the paramedics will be here soon. Ill stand guard, dont worry, its not a fatal wound, youll be okay. But Hu Xiaoniu suddenly struggled to sit up and grabbed Qing Chens sleeve; his lips were pale, and his voice trembled as he spoke, I know youre very skilled, please help kill those two criminals! Qing Chen glanced at the parking lot resembling a maze. Before he could respond, Hu Xiaoniu suddenly said, Youre with Liu Dezhu, right? Please help take revenge. Like last time, Ill pay Liu Dezhu double the gold bars! The two heroes from Kunlun must not have died in vain! Dont worry about us! Qing Chen was silent for a long while; he didnt know what had happened at that moment that made Hu Xiaoniu so agitated, eager for revenge even at the expense of his own life. He spoke softly, Stay here, dont move, and keep pressure on the wound. Rest assured, they will definitely die today. After speaking, he looked at the maze-like parking lot and stepped inside. This was a moment fraught with peril, for he was well aware that the criminals were waiting for him inside. Using the maze as a battlefield gave whoever entered first a definite advantage: vision, terrain, timing. It seemed every element of battle was against Qing Chen. But Qing Chen wasnt focused on the gold bars this time; he just wanted to kill tonight. After a moments thought, he used his hands and feet to climb onto the roof of a bus. Though the bus roof was made of thin metal, he made no sound as he stepped onto it. Just as he moved to the other edge of the roof, he was shocked to see a villain fixed in place below. The opponent seemed to be stuck in thick glue, struggling to raise his gun muzzle even by ten centimeters. Qing Chen suddenly looked to the other side. There, a person wearing a hoodie and a hood stood in the shadows, wearing a black mask. The person stretched out an arm, spreading their palm towards the villain on the ground. It was as if they controlled a persons fate with just one hand. Time Traveler! And a legendary Transcendent at that! Qing Chen pondered, was this ability related to gravity? The hooded Time Traveler in the darkness tilted their head to the east, This one has been betrayed and another has deserted him; I leave him to you. A female voice came from behind the mask. Qing Chen paused, and he instantly realized: The two villains hiding behind the vehicle must have planned to ambush him, but they were firmly controlled by this unknown Time Traveler instead. Due to the opponents bizarre abilities, the leader of the villains had deserted his own people and fled. Qing Chen sized up the opponent, roughly 176cm in height, with a slender and well-proportioned figure, but he couldnt make out her face as she stood in the darkness. Initially, seeing her tall stature and the loose hoodie that obscured her figure, Qing Chen subconsciously thought she was a man. But to his surprise, it was a girl with a very young voice. What are you standing there for, if you keep hesitating, he will escape, the mysterious girl said. From afar, engine sounds were already audible, and Qing Chen saw the van he had seen before starting up. The leader of the villains sat in the drivers seat and floored the gas pedal, driving towards the winding road leading out of the scenic area. Qing Chen didnt think twice; he leaped off the buss roof, seized the villains handgun, and began to sprint. The girl in the darkness kept her gaze fixed on Qing Chen as he left, and when she saw his bare feet covered in blood, she was stunned. The young man seemed to feel no pain at all. She slowly walked out of the shadows and stood beside the villain, silently watching as he slowly kneeled on the concrete ground. The next second, her continuously open palm suddenly closed. The villain kneeling on the ground immediately screamed in agony, his legs brutally pressed against the road, the immense pressure causing a bone-crushing sound from his knees. This is some punishment for the people who died tonight, the girl said softly, then tucked her hands into her hoodie pockets and walked back into the shadows. In the parking lot, only the villain with shattered knees remained, along with his wailing. ... The black van drove down the winding mountain road. Due to the numerous U-shaped bends and their narrow angles, the villains couldnt pick up speed. The sound of gunfire persisted from the back of the vehicle, instilling fear in the villain; this young mans shooting skills were excellent, able to accurately hit the vehicle even while it was in motion. But what he probably didnt expect was that I had specifically chosen subsonic bullets to match the Glock 34 and silencer, to reduce the noise of gunfire. These bullets, aside from pairing with the silencer, had no advantages; their effective range, even after using a silencer, was less than 20 meters. They could only be used for extremely close-range assassination-style shooting! At this moment, the villain felt somewhat fortunate they were using subsonic bullets, or he might have already been dead! The sound of gunfire gradually ceased, as the young man seemed to have run out of bullets and had no choice but to discard his firearms. However, Qing Chen still did not stop his pursuit. In the rearview mirror, the villain watched as the masked young man, like a lone wolf, relentlessly chased him down, as if determined to maul him to death right there. Chapter 92: 92. The Dust Settles Chapter 92: 92. The Dust Settles In the van, seeing that he couldnt shake off Qing Chen, the gang leader ruthlessly decided to slow down gradually. He still had a gun, but the other man was unarmed now. As they approached a turn, he suddenly pressed the window button. The moment the vehicle swerved, the gang leader poked the gun out of the window and aimed it at Qing Chen as he pulled the trigger! However, what the gang leader hadnt anticipated was that the moment he started to slow down, Qing Chen had pulled another pistol from his waist and fired at the same time. Qing Chen had two guns on him! The act of intentionally firing all his bullets and throwing away his gun earlier was also a deliberate display for the gang leader, knowing he could hardly catch up with the vehicle. It was better to make the gang leader slow down himself, or even come back to kill him. The gang leader panicked, ducking his head as he fired, which caused the gun to deviate from its course. A numbness hit the gang leaders ear, as if something had pierced through, and he could even smell his hair being singed by the bullet, Midnight gunfire echoed on the winding road, and Qing Chen was also shot. Even though his opponent had lost his aim, a bullet still grazed his shoulder, leaving a deep gash on his right arm. Qing Chen lost his balance and fell to the ground, the huge momentum of his run and the slope of the downhill causing him to roll continuously on the ground. He clenched his teeth, got up again, and coldly watched the cars silhouette grow more distant on the winding road. To close the gap with the van, Qing Chen had crossed the forest between the roads barefoot! Running through the mountain paths, he hoisted a rock larger than his head. His foots nerves shrieked alarms as he stepped on twigs and stones. At some point, his once smooth soles were now a bloody, mangled mess, dark with blood mixed with dust, looking brutally cruel. Yet he paid no attention to the gashes bloodied by branches on his cheeks, nor the gash on his shoulder. He ignored the gravel and twigs underfoot as well. All he could do was block out all sensory pain from his mental fortitude. Then make the perpetrator pay for tonight. Qing Chen ran faster and faster. Through the mountains, the world seemed to turn into a giant chessboard. At this moment, he was no longer a chess player, but a fearless pawn crossing boundaries! Full of bloodied bravery! This mountain-road chessboard gradually became a model in Qing Chens mind, as he silently calculated his own speed and that of the opposing vehicle. Strands of information intertwined in Qing Chens mind. The next moment, Qing Chen dashed to the high edge of the forest. Below, more than ten meters down, was the gang leaders winding road, his hair tips sparkling with beads of sweat. Breathe. Control. Dominate. Here, there was not only the fearless pawn crossing the river but also the cannon coming head-on! In an instant, he didnt even check where the van had reached, as he let go of the rock in his arms. The stone, tossed from a great height, traced a precise parabola towards the inevitable path of the van over ten meters below. The rock tumbled in the air, picking up speed as gravity pulled it faster! The gang leaders pupils suddenly constricted! He slammed on the brakes too late, the black van crashing into the airborne stone as if it had driven right into it. With a thunderous crash, the gang leader was smashed in his drivers seat as the van lost control and collided with the mountain beside the road. In the darkness, no one noticed the car accident that had just occurred on the winding mountain road. The gang leader sat silently in the car, his face covered in blood from hitting the steering wheel. He looked immensely ferocious. The cars hood was irregularly twisted, and a hissing sound was coming from inside, as if something was leaking. The gun had flown off to who knows where. He used his shoulder to force the door open and staggered out of the car, intending to walk into the mountains on foot. Without the car, the road was no longer passable; otherwise, Kunlun would have reached him before he could even make it down the mountain. However, the gang leader suddenly saw a masked young man appearing at the turn of the winding road. The place where the opponent threw stones had a drop of more than ten meters, so he had to take a detour to chase after them. But the gang leader couldnt understand why, with his feet already a bloody mess, the other party still relentlessly pursued him! The next moment, the young mans speed increased, and he began to run again! The gang leader felt a chill at this instant, as he himself had a mechanical limb but couldnt muster the courage to confront the opponent head-on! He turned to run but hadnt taken two steps before losing his balance and falling to the ground. The recent car accident seemed to have affected his cerebellum; he couldnt maintain his balance while walking. The gang leader struggled to his feet, his heart hardened as he saw the young man approaching. He straightened up and roared, Come on! Dont you want to kill me? Come on! But the young man remained silent, saying nothing. Suddenly, the young man flipped out a Spring Knife and viciously stabbed at the gang leaders neck. The gang leader was startled inside; his strong mechanical limbs quickly crossed in front of him. However, in the blink of an eye, the knife in the young mans hand had already turned mid-air, the sharp blade grazing past the mechanical limbs, sparking a trail of sparks. The gang leader was amazed and perplexed, the opponent withdrew so quickly, it was as if his neck had never been the real target. But then the young man stepped back, sinking his hips, and his dagger swept towards the gang leaders thigh. This time, the gang leader was a step faster, his powerful mechanical limbs acting swifter than his movements. If he could just catch the young mans wrist wielding the knife and crush it, he would still emerge victorious in this fight. But the gang leaders instincts blurred his vision, and this time, the masked young mans attack was still a feint! As he grabbed the arm, the young man had already stepped to his left side, where he was completely exposed! Before he could react, the Spring Knife had already stabbed deeply into his spleen. At that moment, the gang leader suddenly felt as if he had returned to the battlefields of Southeast Asia, facing a master of knife fighting. Since the fight started, he hadnt even managed to touch the opponents body. Even though he was injured and had hit his head, it was still unbelievable. The opponent was like a gust of wind, uncatchable and intangible. But deadly. The young man was executing a precise strategy, step by step luring him to expose his vulnerable side, while every move he made played into the opponents plan. It was like art, he thought with dread. The young man pulled out the Spring Knife and turned to walk away. The gang leader felt the blood in his body flowing out like it was a gate that had been opened. He watched the young mans indifferent departing figure, as if he was just a minor character unworthy of conversation. Apparently, the young man had endured the pain in his feet while pursuing him, simply to ensure his death, leaving no possibility of his survival. Why? the gang leader struggled to ask, puzzled. Qing Chen thought for a moment and said, I promised someone that you would definitely die tonight. After saying this, the young man turned to leave. At that moment, the gang leaders phone in his pocket started ringing. The departing figure of the young man paused, seemingly puzzled. Chapter 93: 93, A New Beginning Chapter 93: 93, A New Beginning In the wee hours past two oclock, all the accomplices of the culprit had died. Who would call the gang leader at this hour? He walked over to the car and gently took the cellphone out of the other partys pocket, pressing the call button. The number displayed as Unknown Caller. Throughout this time, Qing Chen kept his finger of his other hand on the phones camera, preventing anyone from capturing his face through the phone, even though his face was covered. On the call, the person on the other end didnt speak, seemingly waiting for the gang leader to speak first. However, Qing Chen on this side of the phone also remained silent. The person on the other end caught on and started to chuckle lightly, Theyre dead, arent they? Qing Chen didnt speak. The voice on the phone continued laughing, Well, since theyre dead, why dont we have a chat? Qing Chen didnt linger. He used the gang leaders coat to wipe off his fingerprints from the phone, imprinted it with the gang leaders, stuffed it back into the leaders coat, and then slowly walked into the dark night. He thought to himself, these were just seven criminals who couldnt even afford synthetic skin, and yet they had nearly cost him half his life. It wasnt until this moment that Qing Chen suddenly realized his bizarre life seemed to have just begun. ... By early morning, the fire on Laojun Mountain had been brought under control, leaving a whole streets worth of guest houses reduced to a swath of charred ruins. Some tourists were crying on the street, while others sat on the curb, their expressions blank. Seven black SUVs sped up the mountain. They first made a brief stop at the scene of a car accident on the winding road, then left one cars worth of people to conduct a thorough search, while the rest continued up the mountain. Lu Yuan arrived at the entrance of the Cloud Inn, staring at the blackened building, lost in thought. In front of him were the bodies of two Kunlun members, and a few steps away lay several more bodies of the criminal ringleaders. Lu Yuan forced himself not to look at his fallen comrades and instead crouched down to conduct a preliminary examination of the criminals corpses. In total, eight criminals. The mastermind on the winding road had his spleen pierced during his escape. We found other peoples footprints on the mountain, but whats puzzling is that it seems like the killer was barefoot. We found bloody footprints on the ground; the blood samples have been sent back for DNA analysis. There were seven criminals near the guesthouse, one in the parking lot had his kneecaps crushed but was still alive. The assailant clearly had the ability to kill him but didnt, as if he was purposely left for us to interrogate. Of the other six criminals, two were burned beyond recognition by the fire, one was shot by a firearm, and the remaining three, without exception, had all been stabbed through the spleen, with extremely precise methods, most likely the work of a professional assassin. Road Team, some students reported that Wrench and Hawthorn helped open the gate before they died. Otherwise, over forty students wouldnt have escaped... They didnt let Kunlun down. Lu Yuan silently listened to the report from his subordinate, as a gust of mountain wind blew by, suddenly making his nose tingle. The wind wailed and howled, whipping up the ashes from the burned remnants. Lu Yuan wiped his nose; now was not the time for sentimentality. He crouched down on the ground to examine the wounds of the criminals, as well as the locations of the corpses marked by his subordinates. The location of the first corpse was found next to the Cloud Inn, but that wasnt the site where the crime had happened. Kunlun members found traces of blood and dragging marks on the road outside the door. It seems someone killed him on the road in the cover of darkness, and then dragged him to the next yard, Lu Yuan said calmly. The fire burned the building but didnt spread to the yard. At this moment, as Lu Yuan looked at the wounds on the culprits, his heart grew more and more astonished. His subordinates analysis was not wrong, each of these culprits had been killed with a single blow. Moreover, whether the knife entered from the back or the front, the tip always precisely pierced the spleen. Strange, why only target the spleen, Lu Yuan pondered with some confusion. Could it be some sort of peculiar habit or preference? He followed the locations marked by his subordinates all the way to the back of the yard. This should be the second crime scene. The killer took down the second culprit here before entering the yard. Lu Yuan asked, How are those students doing? His subordinate replied, Three are seriously injured, two named Hu Xiaoniu and Zhang Tianzhen were hit in the abdomen by the culprits. Fortunately, only their intestines were hit, theyve been taken down the mountain for surgery, their lives should definitely be saved. The subordinate continued to report, Theres also one named Wang Yun, but this girls wound is very strange. According to her, a masked culprit shot her in the legs. It was a student named Nan Gengchen who dragged her out of the inn, otherwise, she would have been burned to death inside. Lu Yuan frowned, Masked? Yes, the subordinate nodded. I suspect this person is not one of the culprits, but the one who killed them. Theres no need to suspect, its definitely him, and you should pay attention to this Wang Yun, theres something wrong with her. Our vindicator who killed the culprits wouldnt have shot her twice without reason, Lu Yuan said. By the way, why was Nan Gengchen inside the inn? Its said he was dragged into the inn by the culprits to commit violence, the subordinate explained. But he looks neat and tidy, not like someone whos been through an ordeal. Then he must have seen the killer, or perhaps the killer saved him on a whim, Lu Yuan analyzed. Did you get anything out of him? The subordinate answered, He said the killer should be about 176 cm tall, barefoot, with slight crows feet at the eyes, looking like hes in his thirties. Lu Yuan nodded, Then lets search within this range for now. Nan Gengchen is the first eyewitness, his testimony is the most reliable. Everyone returned to the front door where the bodies were laid out. Lu Yuan looked at the devastated street and pondered thoroughly. Seven out of the eight culprits were dead, one shot, one kneeling in the parking area, one killed by a Kunlun teammate. The remaining four died of a ruptured spleen, meaning the adversary struck four times and succeeded each time. This person was extremely dangerous, but Lu Yuan suddenly felt a reluctance to continue the pursuit because this individual had avenged his teammate. On the road of pursuit, the Kunlun members discovered countless blood footprints, and it was hard for him to imagine what kind of willpower the killer had, using his tenacity to kill each of the culprits. Lu Yuan glanced at the other corpses and suddenly noticed a detail, Only the culprit at the door is missing a walkie-talkie, he must have been the first one to die... No other walkie-talkies were found at the scene, so that missing walkie-talkie should still be on the killer. The next moment, Lu Yuan suddenly picked up the walkie-talkie from another culprits body, took a deep breath, and pressed the talk button, Hello, this is Lu Yuan of Kunlun. But no one answered him through the mountain wind. ... Please vote for a monthly ticket!! Chapter 94: 94, Take care Chapter 94: 94, Take care At Laojun Mountain, inside the room of a rural homestay. The walkie-talkie Qing Chen had placed on the table suddenly rang out, Hello, I am Kunluns Lu Yuan. But it was ignored, left to rest quietly where it was. At this moment, Qing Chen lay on his back on the pristine white bed, biting down on a towel, his face pale. At the foot of the bed, Jiang Xue, with several bottles of iodine and cotton swabs she had bought in the morning, was cleaning Qing Chens wounds on his feet and legs while crying. Tiny slivers of wood, fragments of glass, soil. Cleared away by Jiang Xue, bit by bit. Large beads of sweat rolled down Qing Chens forehead, and Li Tongyun was tirelessly wiping them away at his side. The young girl was also crying. It wasnt due to fear or other emotions, they were simply too heartbroken for Qing Chen. Last night, the youth had mustered his strength to return outside the guesthouse. In order not to let others track him down by his barefoot traces, he even endured the pain to put on shoes and found another rural homestay to settle down in. He had fainted as soon as he entered the room. Exhaustion, the fear and panic after killing for the first time, and the cost of the adrenaline rush behind his bloodlust, all came flooding in at once. He had been using the Breathing Technique throughout the entire fight, and the copious amounts of endorphins secreted from the pituitary gland afterward had temporarily made him forget the pain. But in the morning, when Jiang Xue was cleaning his wounds, the pain woke him up again. Originally, Jiang Xue had wanted Qing Chen to rest a bit longer, but the wounds had to be tended to immediately, they couldnt be delayed any longer. Whats the point, Jiang Xue said as she wiped away tears, youve hurt yourself like this to save a bunch of strangers. Look at the gash on your shoulder, a little more to the side and your shoulder blade would have been broken. Qing Chen didnt speak, he simply bore the pain in silence. In fact, his injuries looked scary, but he knew they were just superficial and would heal quickly. Especially since he had been using the Breathing Technique during the entire fight, and the lost energy had already started to recover by dawn. Perhaps it was because he always used the Breathing Technique in normal combat and had experienced tremendous pain. Qing Chen faintly felt that the energy inside him seemed to have grown a bit stronger, what might have been the size of a fist before was now the size of one and a half fists. Moreover, his body seemed to be undergoing a transformation; behind the soreness all over his body, even his bones seemed to be making subtle crackling sounds. Was the genetic lock about to be unlocked? Probably not yet. After three hours, Jiang Xue finally confirmed that she had finished cleaning the wounds on Qing Chens feet. She said to him, You should sleep a little longer, I will go borrow the kitchen to make you something to eat and replenish your strength. Okay, thank you Aunt Jiang Xue, Qing Chen spoke weakly. Li Tongyun at the side said, Brother Qing Chen, you almost scared mom and me to death when you came back in the wee hours. We thought you were leaving us. Qing Chen hummed in response. Then he heard the young girl continue, Then, mom checked your injuries and found that only your shoulder and feet were severely wounded, and we were a bit relieved. Please dont push yourself so hard next time, I would be scared if something happened to you. Qing Chen managed a weak smile, Dont worry, I wont be in trouble. Once Jiang Xue had left, Li Tongyun spoke softly, Brother Qing Chen, I think I might have guessed your identity, its just a little different from the information I had before. I need to confirm it. Qing Chen was taken aback, it seemed that during his unconsciousness, something had been discovered by the other. ` But that wasnt important, he actually didnt mind the young girl knowing his identity. He was just a bit curious, Why are you so determined to find me in the Inner World? But he heard Li Tongyun continue, I cant tell Mom about becoming a Time Traveler, and you werent by my side, I would be very scared sleeping alone in the big mansion at night. Once I find you, I wont be scared anymore. Brother Qing Chen, do you know, I was all alone in that Inner World... Qing Chen thought for a moment, Have you started playing the pity card? Li Tongyun pouted her lips, Thats boring! Have you made any new friends in the Inner World? Qing Chen asked curiously. Theres an older brother and sister who are quite nice to me, and the Li Familys grandfather is especially kind to me. But the familys old butler said that while the grandfather and sister are truly kind, I should be careful around that brother called Li Xiuqi, Li Tongyun muttered, The Lis Financial Group seems to be quite complex. And that very kind old grandfather is in poor health, with many people sneakily discussing what will happen after he leaves. Qing Chen pondered, the brother, sister and grandfather mentioned should all be key members of the Lis Financial Group. He had heard from Uncle Li Dong that the current Family Head of the Li family was 163 years old, his health was deteriorating, and even anti-aging medications were no longer effective as his cell division had reached its limit. The Deer Island Family Head was probably the oldest, at 221 years, but the way he extended his life didnt seem to be very honorable. Qing Chen didnt want to think about these things for the moment. He turned his head to look at his shoulder, where a fresh bandage had already been applied. All of this in front of him was a reminder that it was all in the past. But it seemed that there were things that hadnt passed yet. Xiao Tongyun, can you help me get some paper and a pen? Qing Chen asked. I have them in my backpack, Li Tongyun said. She came to take a holiday for the National Day, but she still had to carry a backpack filled with homework. With her assistance, Qing Chen slowly leaned against two pillows. He searched on his phone for a way to decipher Morse code and then, relying on memory, drew out the Morse code tapped by the Kunlun members that night. A tap with the index finger was a dot, a tap with the middle finger was a dash, and each set of taps represented a letter or a number. For instance, one tap with the index finger followed by one tap with the middle finger was the letter A. And those seemingly random sequences of taps were pieced together into an important message. Qing Chen didnt know why he suddenly wanted to decipher that Morse code; he just felt like he had missed something extremely important. An event that made wealthy men like Hu Xiaoniu risk their lives to have him avenge two Kunlun members. Qing Chen rapidly recalled the rhythm of the taps in his mind and deciphered them. He drew each Morse character on paper and then annotated the translated letter beside it. No regrets in this life, brothers take care. Dah dah dah, dah, dah. (I will repeat the last part.) No regrets in this life, brothers take care. This was the message conveyed by an injured Kunlun member to another comrade present. Sitting up in bed, Qing Chen suddenly thought that from the moment the other was shot, he had already resigned to his fate. He looked out at the bright blue sky outside the window, the sky above the mountains seemed lower than in the city and more vast. But for some reason, Qing Chen felt his mood start to fall. He folded the deciphered piece of paper and had Li Tongyun help stuff it into his wallet. ` Chapter 95: 95, Keywords Chapter 95: 95, Keywords On the mountain path of Laojun Mountain, Zheng Yuandong, dressed in a black Zhongshan suit, was slowly walking on the path. The ground had one blood footprint after another, guiding him to replay the events of that night. Scattered on the highway were 9 subsonic bullet casings and bullet holes in the ears of the gang leader, evidence of a gunfight that had occurred there between the chaser and the shooter. Kunlun had also collected two blood-stained bullets, but blood samples showed that the blood on these bullets came from different individuals. This indicated that the masked man who killed the gangsters had also been injured. Zheng Yuandong stood where Qing Chen had thrown the stone and said to Lu Yuan behind him, He was injured on the highway, then knew he couldnt catch up to the gangsters on the highway, so he crossed the forest we just passed to get here and threw the boulder. Lu Yuan frowned, And then it hit the van driven by the gangsters? That throw was too precise, a height difference of over ten meters, how accurate must one be to predict that? Hmm, compared to the ability to precisely stab into the spleen, this is his most impressive skill: calculation, Zheng Yuandong said. Has the DNA comparison result from the blood come back yet? Lu Yuan shook his head, The results are back, but there isnt a DNA sample from the same person in the database. Check for a similar type then, we might find his relatives, Zheng Yuandong suggested. Alright, Lu Yuan nodded. It might take a bit longer, but we should have an answer in three days at most. Zheng Yuandong said, If we find him, be courteous, Kunlun now needs such people, those who can stand on their own. ... Qing Chen and his two companions settled down on Laojun Mountain and werent in a rush to return to the city. On one hand, Qing Chens foot still couldnt endure long walks; on the other, after such a major event, Jiang Xue also wanted the young man to relax here and avoid the hustle and bustle. As for tutoring classes, following the events of the night, Jiang Xue felt they seemed less important now. Everything could wait until Qing Chens injuries healed. Jiang Xue re-applied the medicine for Qing Chen, If I had known you would be injured, I wouldve bought some special trauma medicine from the Inner World; the medicine there is definitely better than in the Outer World. I could put the medicine in a small bottle and carry it back in my mouth. Its okay, Aunt Jiang Xue, Qing Chen smiled. It doesnt hurt that much anymore. Moreover, Jiang Xue suddenly worried aloud. You left so many blood footprints at the scene, someone could definitely use a DNA match to find you. Although your DNA hasnt been registered, your father has been detained... Nowadays, blood samples are collected from those detained. However, Qing Chen shook his head, No, Im sure of it. Jiang Xue looked at Qing Chen, surprised. She sensed there was more to the story, but the young man in front of her wasnt willing to say much. In the whole incident, there were two key factors that might expose Qing Chens identity, one was Nan Gengchen, and the other was the blood sample. However, regarding the former, Qing Chen believed that Nan Gengchen would at least not blunder in this matter and would certainly mislead Kunlun. As for the latter, Kunlun would not be able to find a matching genetic sample for comparison, as it involved some old secrets. Otherwise, Qing Chen wouldnt dare to chase a killer barefoot. Qing Chen said, Aunt Jiang Xue, Id like to be alone for a while, I have something to deal with. Okay, then Ill take Xiao Yun out for a walk. Call me if you need anything, I wont go far, Jiang Xue said. Once Li Tongyun and Jiang Xue had left the room, Qing Chen finally took out his mobile phone and communication equipment. He first unlocked the communication device, which was full of messages from Liu Dezhu: Boss, your men are too awesome, they completely wiped out the gangsters! Boss, thank you for the timely reminder, thanks for your men saving me, I, Liu Dezhu, am definitely ready to go through fire and water for you, without hesitation! Boss, after this night, I am truly devoted to you. From now on, any danger others dare not face, I will face it for you, just upon your command, even if its a place where birds dont poop, Ill go poop there! Boss, why arent you talking? By the way, boss, we have already returned to Los Angeles City. In the morning, my classmates might visit Hu Xiaoniu and Zhang Tianzhen together. Then, Ill help you collect the money! Qing Chen glanced at the time, 9:00 in the morning. Countdown 39:00:00. Only nine hours had passed since the last return. This time travel was so hasty that he didnt check the countdown after returning and just took a knife and went out to kill. With a little more than a day left, plus the two days or seven days of traveling, by the time school started, his wounds should be no issue. Qing Chen replied to Liu Dezhu, Just woke up, let me check with my people about what happened first. On the other side of the communication device, Liu Dezhu was respectful. The boss was truly the boss, he could sleep even after such a major event, but thats expected, a figure at the bosss level naturally stays calm, not carried away by external joy or sorrow... In this incident, Liu Dezhu noticed a few details: First, the boss didnt know that he was coming to Laojun Mountain, nor did he know that he needed to come early, because when the boss gave instructions in the Inner World, it really didnt seem like an act. So, temporarily ruling out the guess that the boss is next to him, the boss must be an alumnus from the school, possibly a senior from the third year. Second, could the masked murderer from last night be the boss himself? Starting from a personality analysis, it doesnt seem likely, because the impression the boss always gave was of a scheming, cunning character. Dark, very dark. However, the person last night seemed to act out of a desire for vengeance for the Kunlun members, displaying a very bloody aspect. This is not quite the image of the boss Liu Dezhu had in mind. So all in all, Liu Dezhu tentatively decided, although not ruling out suspicion, that the masked murderer from last night was probably not the boss himself. So, it seems that the boss has already developed his own forces and subordinates in the Outer World, thats too terrifying. ... At this moment, Qing Chen did not rush to reply to Liu Dezhu, but decided to pretend to be gathering information and hung him up to dry for a while. He opened his phone and found that his class chat group was already blowing up. Many classmates were saying that Liu Dezhu and his mysterious companion had saved everyone. Although Liu Dezhu himself did not admit it, nobody believed his denial. Class delegate Yu Junyi said with emotion, Back then, before the criminal appeared, Liu Dezhu had already perceived it from the Inner World and told everyone to run fast, but at that time, nobody believed him. I even thought he was crazy, now, thinking about it, I feel ashamed. A female classmate said excitedly, That criminal leader even pointed a gun at his head, asking where his companion was, but Liu Dezhu was really tough and didnt reveal any information to the other party. In fact, she did not know that at that time Liu Dezhu really had no idea where the mysterious boss and his mysterious subordinate were; even if he wanted to say, he couldnt! Later, Bai Waner spoke up in the class group about what happened, pushing the discussion to a climax: the criminals originally planned to take four of them away amid the chaos, but Liu Dezhus subordinate arrived just in time. The subordinate first secretly killed the criminal escorting them and then killed the one escorting Liu Dezhu. She had been with Hu Xiaoniu and Zhang Tianzhen all along. Bai Waner said, in the middle of the night, Hu Xiaoniu had regained consciousness briefly and kept mentioning wanting to thank Liu Dezhu and his subordinate. Not only had they saved lives, but they also avenged the two Kunlun members. Suddenly, when she mentioned the two sacrificed Kunlun members, everyone involved went silent. Even though everyone had survived a disaster, it was not a moment to express joy. Qing Chen suddenly thought that actually, Hu Xiaoniu had a very good nature. Now that Liu Dezhu was becoming increasingly well-known, could he use this guy to rope in some reliable Time Travelers? Whether it was to conduct business with them or help each other out, it might be useful at some point. He closed WeChat and opened other platforms. Last night, right when the fire began spreading, the incident at Laojun Mountain had already spread nationwide. Weibo, TikTok, Bilibili, videos, and news of the fire at Laojun Mountain were everywhere. But in this incident, most were describing the scene after the fire, and no one stepped forward to reveal what had happened. They only knew from an ID named Kunlun Lu Yuan that all the arson criminals had been killed and the case of the Time Travelers abduction was also temporarily concluded. Only then did everyone realize that the arsonists committing the crime were actually the culprits behind the much-discussed Time Traveler abduction case. No one mentioned the masked murderer, nor who had killed the criminals, because Qing Chen hid too well, and the few people in the know seemingly had no intention of exposing it on the internet. Such as Nan Gengchen, the mysterious girl in the parking lot, Li Tongyun, Jiang Xue... Today is the first day of the National Day, and tourists who originally planned to visit Laojun Mountain all canceled their tickets upon hearing the news. Many tourists, without even watching the sunrise from the summit, hurriedly left the scenic area on buses. Apparently, the first morning bus from Laojun Mountain was already packed to capacity, and the areas transportation system was temporarily paralyzed. As Qing Chen reviewed everything that happened last night in his memory, confirming that no one but Li Tongyun and Jiang Xue could identify him, he suddenly remembered something very importantthe gold bars. Last night, amid the chaos, Hu Xiaoniu had said something very important. Someone else might forget or overlook it due to the tension. But Qing Chen wouldnt. Now in his mind, the gold bars were an extremely special keyword. Chapter 96: 96. Liu Dezhus Choice Chapter 96: 96. Liu Dezhus Choice Meanwhile, Liu Dezhu came to the Los Angeles Third Peoples Hospital with his classmates. This is the best triple-A hospital in Los Angeles City. Last night, Hu Xiaoniu and Zhang Tianzhen underwent simple wound treatment at a clinic. Then, they were transferred to the county hospital for emergency treatment and as soon as their conditions stabilized in the early morning, they were moved to a city hospital for more comprehensive treatment. Now, their conditions had just stabilized, and they were still in the ICU of the Third Peoples Hospital. It seemed that because the money was in place, every medical facility they used was the best, and over ten doctors were involved in the expert consultation. To prevent these injuries from leaving any sequela. Their parents had taken a private jet to Los Angeles City early in the morning and were now standing outside the ward. When Liu Dezhu and his classmates arrived at the door of the ward, they saw six or seven men in black suits, each wearing a clear headset. These must be the bodyguards of some big shot. One bodyguard stopped the students, and a dignified-looking middle-aged man asked them, And you are? The head of Class Four in Grade Two, Xie Xun said, Hello, Uncle, we are friends of Xiao Niu and Tianzhen and came to visit them. However, the middle-aged man was taken aback, May I ask, which of you is Liu Dezhu? Liu Dezhu in the crowd was also surprised, I, I am. The middle-aged man strode over, extending his right hand, Thank you, young man, thank you for saving Xiao Nius life. He mentioned it to me as soon as he regained consciousness, that you and your men saved him, or else he would have been taken away or killed by the criminals by now. Liu Dezhu was silent for a few seconds, then shook the mans hand and said, Uncle, I really didnt do much. Perhaps because Hu Xiaonius condition had stabilized, the middle-aged mans mood had relaxed a lot as he said, smiling, Its good for young people to be modest, but being too modest isnt good. How do young people say it these days? Right, Versailles! Indeed, Hu Xiaoniu had regained consciousness that morning, so he had recounted roughly what happened. Hu Xiaonius father, a prominent businessman, initially had little reverence for the Time Traveler, but among the seven bodyguards outside, there was one Time Traveler. Such people, even without speaking, naturally exude an aura, and ordinary Time Travelers really cant pose any threat to him. But after Hu Xiaoniu and three others encountered danger in City Number Seven, his mindset changed. At that moment, he realized that all the wealth and status he possessed in the Outer World could scarcely do anything for his son. The wealth of the Outer World could buy many things from the Inner World, but it didnt mean wealth could purchase everything in the Inner World. This was also why he agreed to transfer Hu Xiaoniu to a school in Los Angeles City. To look for a Time Traveler named Liu Dezhu. Furthermore, a Time Traveler like Liu Dezhu, who could foresee and avoid disasters in advance and restore situations afterward, was exceptional. Hu Xiaonius father was a visionary; he knew Liu Dezhu might not seem like much now, but he had seen Liu Dezhus future. This grand, tens of thousands-strong transmigration had only just begunwho knew what a glorious future the other might have? Worth investing in. Of course, this might also be because the middle-aged businessman had not seen Liu Dezhus performance in the face of adversity, otherwise he might have changed his view. At least for now, Liu Dezhu seemed like a normal person... Hu Xiaonius father thought about it and said, I discussed with Xiao Niu this morning. I wanted to transfer him back to Haicheng High School, but he didnt agree. I think he wants to be closer to you, so I thought maybe I could transfer you to Haicheng as well. There, we have better educational resources, and also... When wealthy individuals make a move, they do it differently. While others were thinking about how to get closer to Liu Dezhu, Hu Xiaonius father was considering how to take Liu Dezhu away, keeping him close by his side. Yet, Liu Dezhu flatly refused, Uncle, I dont plan to move to Haicheng yet. This place is where I was born and raised, and besides, my parents and friends are all here. Hu Xiaonius father said, I can prepare an apartment for you in Haicheng, and you can move there with your parents. Ill also give you some extra money for settling down. No need, Uncle, Liu Dezhu shook his head again, Thank you for your kindness. By this point, Liu Dezhu had already weighed the pros and cons in his mind. A house in Haicheng, plus a resettlement fee, sounded very tempting indeed. But his boss was in Los Angeles City. Everyone thought he had saved Hu Xiaoniu, but in reality, without his bosss henchmen intervening, he would have probably died on Laojun Mountain. Keep in mind, the criminal had intended to kill him outright, not use him as a mule! In comparison, it was damn well better to be a mule. First off, he could move to Haicheng, but he doubted his boss would. If someone tried to kidnap him again or coveted something he possessed, he would be doomed. Moreover, during his last escape, Liu Dezhu had realized the importance of strength. Many Time Travelers on the internet said that even with money, you might not find a way to get a Genetic Potion in the Inner World; some had bought counterfeits on the black market. But the boss with the Cat Mask was different, his products were always genuine. His own injection of the FDE gene sequence even had the numbers 004, 003, 002, 001, his entire future lay in the bosss hands. He wasnt asking for too much, just to complete the entire gene sequence of the Genetic Potion and become a B-Class expert. Its said that even in the Inner World, B-Class experts were considered significant, and A-Class experts were rare. By then, wouldnt getting a house in Haicheng be a piece of cake? Plus, Hu Xiaoniu had doubled his compensation last time, and he had pocketed half of it. This time, if the other party could give even more, it would be even sweeter, since the boss didnt know how much he had kept anyway. As the saying goes, one must look at the bigger picture; Liu Dezhu felt this line of work held more strategic value than just a house. Moreover, even if he moved to Haicheng, the boss would still use him for business, but what if someone more handy appeared by the bosss side? Wouldnt his efforts be a total waste? When being a sycophant, its essential to stick close, remote sycophancy just doesnt work! However, just then, the communicator in Liu Dezhus bosom vibrated, and he said to everyone, Excuse me, I need to use the restroom. He ducked into a toilet stall and opened the communicator only to see Qing Chens inquiry: I heard from my men that Hu Xiaoniu told them the other party offered double the compensation last time and that it would be the same this time? One second Liu Dezhu was secretly delighted, the next, he was covered in cold sweat. He had no idea such a thing had happened last night! Hu Xiaoniu, brother, why do you have to spill everything! This was the second time he was embezzling money, first a watch, now a gold bar; Liu Dezhu didnt know what kind of treatment he would receive in the Inner World next time. He dejectedly replied from the restroom, Boss, this time Ill bring the gold bar with me when I cross over, please punish me... Outside the restroom, everyone was whispering, wondering why Liu Dezhu was taking such a long time. Just then, Liu Dezhu suddenly opened the door and came out. Hu Xiaonius father looked at him, his face beaming with a smile, Ive been thinking, youre still young, so maybe you dont like stuff like houses. I understand, young folks like more thrilling things. How about this, you tell uncle what you like, and Ill make sure to arrange it for you. Liu Dezhu hesitated and then said, Uncle, you might not know, but I like to wish people a happy new year when Im idle... ... Thanks to Remember to Forget who is a new ally of this book, Wish you great fortune ahead! Chapter 97: 97, Revenge Chapter 97: 97, Revenge ...a New Years greeting? Hu Xiaonius father didnt respond immediately, he didnt even understand how their conversation had turned to this subject. The fellow students were also a bit confused; the Liu Dezhu before their eyes didnt seem to fit the image of a powerful expert they had in mind. Alongside them, a student from Class 3 of Grade 2 whispered to the class monitor Yu Junyi, Hey, do you think he might have a system? A system? Yu Junyi was puzzled; he didnt understand what that meant. In Class 3 of Grade 2, Yu Junyi had always been someone who neither played games nor read novels, so he had no idea what a system was. The classmate patiently explained: Its like the systems in web novels, where the system issues all sorts of messy tasks to the host, and then makes the host stronger. Ah? Yu Junyi was stunned. At that moment, the student continued, But in the novels, usually only the protagonists get that kind of treatment, could it be that Liu Dezhu is the protagonist of our world? But without a system, you cant explain why he can be so awesome and yet so dumb at the same time... It must be said, this classmates judgment was very accurate. In a way, Qing Chen was Liu Dezhus system... Except there wasnt really any reward for completing the mission, it was purely a punishment for his greed. Because Hu Xiaoniu and Zhang Tianzhen were still resting, the students made a brief visit and then left. After everyone left, Hu Xiaonius father turned and went into the sickroom. Hu Xiaoniu slowly opened his eyes and asked in a somewhat weak voice, Dad, what do you think about this Liu Dezhu? Its too early to say, Hu Xiaonius father shook his head. I couldnt see the true face of the man before going through a crisis, Hu Xiaoniu said, but after this time, I always feel there is something off. To say hes incompetent, hes already obtained the precious genetic potion. To say hes capable, yet he doesnt look capable at all. Dad, would someone like him really be valued by Uncle Li Dong? Hu Xiaonius father said, There are two possibilities, son. Do you know how many incompetent eunuchs in history there were? Ming Dynasty Eunuch Wang Zhen nearly brought down Ming Yingzong by his lonesome and caused the loss of the Ming Dynastys elite troops, yet he held immense power. Why? Maybe because he was good at flattering, or perhaps his loyalty won over those above him. Not all the people around a wise ruler are strong soldiers; theres all sorts of people. Of course, theres another possibility, Hu Xiaonius father continued, He is being put forward as a puppet by others, just as someone holds certain shares on behalf of our family. Dad, which possibility do you think is more likely? Hu Xiaoniu asked. ` However, Hu Xiaonius father shook his head, Theres no need to jump to conclusions this early. Regardless of the situation with Liu Dezhu, this is an opportunity for you. Dont worry, the clan will fully support you, so you should not have any concerns. I know you envy your brother for starting to take over some of the clans affairs, but you are still young, and what he can do, you may not be able to do. Plus, in the future, your brother might even need your help. Suddenly, Hu Xiaoniu asked, By the way, Dad, why did you tell me not to give the other party too many gold bars at once? They saved my life twice, so logically, even giving a hundred gold bars wouldnt be too much. Hu Xiaonius father laughed, Lets assume that Liu Dezhu is a puppet put forward by someone. In that case, the other side must be very short of money right now, otherwise they would not only have eyes for gold bars. But if you give him a hundred gold bars in one go, what will you have left to give him once he no longer needs money? At that time, he wouldnt lack anything that you could offer. But what if someone else offers a higher price? Hu Xiaoniu was puzzled. Then you must become friends with him before someone else offers a higher price, Hu Xiaonius father said meaningfully. I understand, Hu Xiaoniu suddenly remembered something, What about Wang Yun? During the crime, her legs were broken by someone, so she was sent to the hospital for treatment. You were still unconscious at that time. Although Kunlun had doubts, they didnt think too much of it. This morning, her parents arrived in Los Angeles City, bribed the on-duty doctors and nurses at the hospital, and secretly took her away, Hu Xiaonius father answered, Its not Kunluns fault. Although everyone sensed something was off with her, no one expected her to play such a vile role in this matter. Hu Xiaoniu woke up early in the morning and immediately informed his father about Wang Yun, but by that time, Wang Yun had already escaped with her parents help. But Bai Waner must have guessed she was the mole, so why didnt Bai Waner speak up? Hu Xiaoniu frowned. Perhaps she couldnt bear to see a good friend go to jail, Hu Xiaonius father said calmly, Xiao Niu, you must remember, when the other party becomes an enemy, all acts of forgiveness are not kindness but cowardice. Ill remember that, Hu Xiaoniu said. Hu Xiaonius father spoke, Now, Wang Yun has vanished without a trace, and I havent found her. Whats more critical is that only one thug named Dongzi is left, and he insists that he knows nothing. Furthermore, theres no evidence of contact between the thugs and Wang Yun, it seems, their connection was all managed by another person hiding behind the scenes. Hu Xiaoniu found it strange, Im also puzzled. The four thugs who captured us that day were all caught by Kunlun. How did they manage to contact Wang Yun? However, Im about to cross over again soon, and I will find her in the Inner World. Hu Xiaonius father looked at him, Do you want to find Wang Yun for revenge? Hu Xiaoniu was silent for a while, Can I? The middle-aged businessman smiled, Of course you can. But I want to know why youre so adamant about seeking revenge this time. Tianzhen woke up in the morning and said that last night you were so bent on revenge you even told the assassin it didnt matter if you died; that doesnt sound like you. He knew his son well: somewhat clever and wise, yet without having been tempered by society. There were traces of integrity in his character, but he still hadnt quite figured out what kind of person he wanted to be. However, Hu Xiaoniu then said, When I was little, Grandpa used to tell my brother and me about his wartime stories, especially about how his old company commander bravely sacrificed himself to cover the retreat of others. I am quite selfish, or perhaps because the era of war is so distant, I always thought Grandpa was exaggerating. But Dad, it was only yesterday that I understood that there really are such people in this world. I may not become someone like that, but I hope to do something for them. Dad, yesterday those two friends from Kunlun fought desperately to make way for the students. Later, when I was taken away by the thugs, I looked back in the darkness and saw a look of relief on his face, with no regrets. ` Chapter 98: 98, must be taking it very seriously Chapter 98: 98, must be taking it very seriously ` Unbeknownst to all, the moment had once again arrived for the Time Travelers to traverse time. The outside world buzzed with discussions about the case, with a student from beyond the federation exposing the specifics. As a result, the masked murderer Qing Chen portrayed entered everyones line of sight. But what everyone knew was that he had almost wiped out the entire gang of criminals and that it was he who sought vengeance in the night. Yet no one knew who he was. Some said he was a henchman of Liu Dezhu, others speculated he was just passing bythere were all sorts of theories. But, unquestionably, a new figure had joined the ranks of the most famous Time Travelers in the country. And just as mysterious as He Xiaoxiao. Countdown 00:10:00. Island Country, Osaka. Beside Shinsaibashi, in the top-floor suite of the St. Regis Hotel. A girl sat curled up in a chair next to the enormous floor-to-ceiling window, dressed in light green shorts and a white T-shirt, looking down at her phone. The news of the kidnapping case of the Time Traveler from Laojun Mountain had spread to the Island Country, causing a significant stir. At this moment, there were already over a hundred cases of Time Travelers falling victim to crimes. Some had their mechanical limbs snatched away by force, others had just brought back medicine only to be murdered by friends. Surprisingly, the proportion of criminal offenses among friends and relatives was extremely high. Initially, everyone was more worried about the threats from certain black organizations in the dark web, but in reality, they underestimated the human heart and overestimated the bonds of kinship and friendship. Jindai Kongyin looked at all of this and felt a whisper of bewilderment in her heart. She had simply wanted to be an artist, yet somehow found herself entangled in these matters. And it was these issues that made her feel very insecure. In the Outer World, she worried that others would discover her identity as a Time Traveler. In the Inner World, she had to be cautious in dealing with the Jindai family, to prevent being found out. A few days ago, the Jindai family had conducted a thorough investigation within the clan and subjected the seven Time Travelers they discovered to horrific torture. If it werent for the fact that Jindai Kongyins parents in the Inner World had passed away early, leaving her to live on the fringes in solitude, making some information difficult to scrutinize. If it werent for her sensing the danger early and doing her homework. If it werent for her being of mixed Japanese and Chinese descent, having learned Mandarin since childhood. She might have been discovered in that investigation a few days ago. In that screening process, the most crucial aspect was Mandarin. Because the Jindai family had long ago integrated into the Federation, they adopted Mandarin following local customs, with only the direct lineage members of the family retaining their mother tongue. They considered this the most noble of traditions, using Mandarin for external communication, but using Japanese for family records and clan rituals. The Time Travelers from the Island Country who had infiltrated the Jindai clan, except for Jindai Kongyin, didnt speak a word of Chinese. So, they collectively met their demise. Due to the arranged marriage, Jindai Kongyin happened to be brought to City No. 18 to meet a youth named Qing Chen. The Jindai family cared greatly about the outcome of this arranged marriage and the benefits after it, so they didnt investigate her too thoroughly. Thinking of the arranged marriage, Jindai Kongyin suddenly typed Qing Chen into the Chinese search engine on her phone. But, just like the previous times, there was still no useful information. ` At the moment, we still cant confirm if that young man is the Time Traveler... I didnt see him last time I went, and I dont know if Ill be able to this time. Huh? If I keep visiting him frequently, will he think Ive fallen for him? Should I play it cool and wait a bit longer before going again? But it seems like Im about to head back to the Clan with those people soon. If I dont go, it might be really hard to see him again. The bustling night scene of Osaka sparkled like a nebula, while the girls thoughts flickered through the night sky. The countdown hit zero. ... As the dark and shattered world began to reassemble, Qing Chen returned to the dim prison cell, letting out a stifled groan as he almost fell to the ground. He had been standing when he left last time, so the injury on his foot split open immediately upon his return. Fortunately, Qing Chen had prepared mentally in advance, which prevented him from falling. After steadying himself, he glanced at his arm. Return countdown: 167:59:55. Back already? Looks like youve been seriously hurt, Lin Xiaoxiao said casually, But coming back is good news. Ye Wan smiled and nodded, Nothing is a big deal except life and death. Just that a split second before midnight, you were fine, and suddenly youve become so wilted, its not easy to get used to. As he spoke, Ye Wan patted the chair in front of him, Sit down and lets talk. At that moment, Qing Chen laughed. It turned out that Ye Wan had anticipated that he would wreck his feet and had prepared a chair for him in advance. Just like how Ye Wan had predicted that, despite Qing Chens claims that those people werent worth the risk, he ultimately couldnt suppress his fiery nature. Uncle Li Dongs assessment was spot on; indeed, buried deep within his cool and powerful brain was an unimaginable passion. Contradictory, yet harmonious. Uncle Li Dong, as if seeing through Qing Chens thoughts, patted him on the shoulder with a smile, Youre usually so mature for your age, it really isnt what people expect. Perhaps life has tormented you, causing you to rein in the exuberance of youth early. But young people should be a bit reckless; there are things if you dont do now, youll realize you missed out on them once you reach my age. Youth is the age of passion and naivety. During this time, you might make some mistakes, even many mistakes. But actually, the moment when youth ends, youll realize that making those mistakes is one of the beautiful and radiant reasons for youths existence. In those moments, you are impulsive, eccentric, fearless, and without regret. After Qing Chen sat down, Ye Wan had him remove his shoes and shirt, Lets see how badly youre hurt. Xiao Xiao over there has prepared some ointment for you. When everyone saw the dense wounds on the soles of Qing Chens feet and the deep gash on his shoulder, they could almost imagine what the young man had gone through in the past two days. The wounds on the soles of his feet signified the distances Qing Chen had walked barefoot. The gash on his shoulder represented the armed enemies he had faced. For an ordinary young man, this would have constituted the extreme of danger, but he had still returned safely. Lin Xiaoxiao said, Congratulations, youve overcome the toughest hurdle. The hurdle he referred to was ones first battle in life. A battle that scars the memory. In fact, those with experience knew well that the first battle in life is very important; it determines future achievements. Not that it significantly improves your strength, but whether youll back down when you face other enemies in the future? Whether you will still possess unmatched courage and fervor. Strength determines the lower limit; its the heart that determines the upper limit! Ye Wan, looking at Qing Chens feet, remarked sentimentally, Qing Chen, who treated these wounds for you? Theyre done very meticulously. At first, I thought we might need to treat them again, because walking barefoot, you would have gotten a lot of tiny particles embedded in the flesh, potentially causing complications. But now it looks like whoever treated you was very careful. They must be quite devoted to you. Chapter 99: 99, Punishment that must be accepted Chapter 99: 99, Punishment that must be accepted Its a friend; I helped her twice, Qing Chen was a bit surprised, too, at how careful Jiang Xue was, to the point even Mother Ye had to praise her. Ye Wan didnt say much else and started applying the ointment to him directly. Qing Chen only felt a burning and itching sensation in both of his feet, which was extremely painful, This was nothing like what he had expected; he thought the medicine from the Inner World would make him feel a bit better. Lin Xiaoxiao said from the side, Endure it. This thing doesnt have an analgesic effect, but it promotes recovery very well. Of course, fast recovery comes at a price; nothing comes without a price. Uncle Li Dong asked, You said before there were five enemies. How many did you kill? Qing Chen replied, I killed six. Ye Wan looked at Lin Xiaoxiao, Pay up; its more than four. Lin Xiaoxiao said reluctantly, Hey, kid, arent you a bit too ruthless... Wait, five thugs, six killed, did you sacrifice a classmate to the heavens or something? Qing Chen: ...No, the number of thugs exceeded expectations. There were a total of eight. I see. By then, Qing Chen, who had gotten used to these two making bets about him, asked curiously, How many did you bet Id kill? Three. I thought if you could manage to kill three, that would be quite impressive. This was your first time taking a life, after all! Lin Xiaoxiao sighed, Dont you hesitate at all when you kill? In the midst of this conversation, Uncle Li Dong suddenly looked at Qing Chen with a serious expression. The young man hesitated momentarily before saying, Although saying this might make me seem indecisive, when I killed the first person, feeling the blood on my hands, I did hesitate, even felt a bit scared, and wanted to flee from there. Uncle Li Dong chuckled, Thats the normal reaction. If you didnt hesitate at all, Id be the one regretting it. I taught you to face the world fiercely, but you should always maintain some reverence for life in your heart. Mm, I understand what you mean, Teacher, Qing Chen responded. Then, do you have any pressing matters to deal with upon returning? Uncle Li Dong asked, Teacher can handle them for you. There are indeed two things, said Qing Chen, Ill resolve the first issue first. Saying this, he checked that the ointment had been properly applied, then bore the pain and put on his shoes, heading in the direction of the confinement room. Initially, his manner of walking was awkward, but as he walked, he forcibly endured the pain and resumed his normal gait. Lin Xiaoxiao chuckled, This kid is really tough on himself; doesnt even mind that his feet hurt. But the tougher one is on oneself, the tougher one can be on the enemy, which is a good thing. Qing Chen put on the mysterious Cat Mask again, and the moment the door of the confinement room opened, Liu Dezhu inside was already obediently presenting three gold bars, behaving extraordinarily well. But Qing Chen didnt even go to take the gold bars; he calmly asked, Explain your mistakes. I shouldnt have ignored my communicator for so long, Liu Dezhu said submissively, nor should I have thought only about escaping myself, and I definitely shouldnt have pocketed the gold bars. Qing Chen silently sneered behind the mask, and he asked, I know Kunlun contacted you alone. What did they say? Tell me everything. Liu Dezhu pondered, what exactly is the bosss identity in the Outer World, to know even the movements of Kunlun? At that moment, he also had some new conjectures, could it be that the boss has many subordinates, like the Assassin on Laojun Mountain? Could the incident where he secretly kept the watch also have been revealed to the other party by one of the bosss men? Its a possibility. He made this guess because he always felt that the bosss methods of dealing with things didnt seem like those of a high school student. High school students should be like him, afraid when they encounter danger, wanting to hide when they see a crisis, as none of them had experienced such terrifying things. Even elite students like Hu Xiaoniu were afraid that night, werent they? To be precise, Liu Dezhu felt that there shouldnt be someone like Qing Chen among high school students who could orchestrate everything from behind the scenes. Actually, Qing Chen didnt know that Kunlun had approached Liu Dezhu. He simply deduced that Kunlun would definitely look for him. At that moment, Liu Dezhu said, They asked me if I knew your subordinate. I didnt answer. They said it was nothing else, just that they had found a phone at the scene. It seemed like the leader of the miscreants had taken a mysterious call before dying, but they couldnt trace its origin. At this time, Liu Dezhus gaze was still wandering around Qing Chens feet. In fact, Kunlun had also mentioned they found bloody footprints, suggesting the murderer must have been severely injured in the foot. But he noticed that the mysterious boss in front of him walked without any abnormality, so it looked like the other party really wasnt at Laojun Mountain at that time. And indeed, the boss had such a fierce subordinate. Why would they ask you about the call the miscreant took? Qing Chen asked. Oh, they said that the fingerprint was added afterward. A normal phone has hundreds of fingerprints, but that phone only had about a dozen, said Liu Dezhu. They think that the killer must have taken that call. Typically, a phone used regularly would be picked up and put down frequently, covered with countless fingerprints. But by that time, Qing Chen was on the verge of fainting and didnt have the time to create that many fingerprints. Sure enough, he couldnt deceive the smart people in Kunlun with this small trick. Liu Dezhu continued, Kunlun approached me just to ask what was said in that mysterious call and who it was with. They suspect that it was the appearance of this person that led Wang Yun to become a mole. This person, hidden behind the miscreants, might collude with others harboring ill intentions to cause even bigger problems. He then added, Boss, should I ask your subordinate and tell Kunlun what was said on the call? Qing Chen didnt take the bait but instead asked, Do you have any last words? At this moment, Qing Chen felt that it was very difficult to obtain any more useful information. Liu Dezhu was stunned, then immediately burst into tears, Boss, are you asking me for my last words? Qing Chen countered, Do I still need to keep you? Do you think you are worth keeping? As he spoke, Liu Dezhu wished he could kneel down directly to Qing Chen, Boss, Ive brought all the gold bars I previously hid in my mouth, and I promise that I will dedicate myself wholeheartedly to serving you in the future. Please dont kill me, I can be useful! I could be your decoy to attract Time Travelers from all over the country, I could be your Puppet to win them over! Liu Dezhu was acutely aware of one thing C even if the boss decided to kill him now, he would probably not face any legal consequences. Nobody in the Outer World would know how he died! Qing Chen stood up, Its too late to say these things now. Remember, when you do something wrong, there will always be consequences. Although you are just a high school sophomore and have not experienced the harsh realities of society, nor do you understand how dangerous this world is, since youve entered this game, you must learn some rules. With that, he stood up and walked out as if nothing had happened. In silence, Ye Wan and Lin Xiaoxiao seemed to understand without words, walking into the confinement room. They carried Liu Dezhu to the black box where Qing Chen had undergone his test. Of course, this was just Qing Chens way of scaring him. Liu Dezhu couldnt die yet, but he had to be punished. ... Thank you to the student who reads books and plays games every day for becoming a new ally of this book. The boss is generous, may the boss make a fortune! Chapter 100: 100. Find the Mole Chapter 100: 100. Find the Mole In the sealed black box, Qing Chen had movies to watch and a strong will to endure, but Liu Dezhu absolutely could not bear it. According to Lin Xiaoxiaos estimate, this guy would break down after more than 48 hours. To be honest, if any other sophomore were in Liu Dezhus position, they certainly wouldnt be stronger than him. However, this guy was greedy and fearful of death; if he werent just an ordinary high school student, he possibly deserved a more dire fate. In Qing Chens view, if this guy had stopped goofing around a few hours earlier and checked the communicator, the incident at Laojun Mountain would have never happened. In the dim corridor, Liu Dezhus pleas for mercy echoed, but Qing Chen was utterly unmoved. As Lin Xiaoxiao said, he had already crossed the hardest hurdle in his mind, knowing now how to face that cruel, cold world. Uncle Li Dong said to him, Sometimes when we make decisions, we need to discard judgments based on worldly standards like cruel or merciful. On the journey of life, you only need to make the most correct decision. Qing Chen sighed, But this Liu Dezhu has too many flaws; sometimes, I really want to give up on him. Give up? Why? asked Uncle Li Dong with interest, If you were to choose a representative for the Outer World, then Liu Dezhu is quite suitable as of now. He has cunning and greed but lacks decisiveness. He lacks courage but has vanity. If you choose someone decisive, ambition-driven, self-disciplined, and courageous, would they willingly be your puppet? Qing Chen seemed thoughtful. Uncle Li Dong asked, Alright, the first matter has been resolved; whats the second one? Resolve a long-standing grudge, ask a question, Qing Chen said. ... Countdown 163:00:00. Just five hours had passed since this time travel, the sky above was grayish-white, about to welcome the first light of dawn. In the Ninth District of City 7, a young man was pushing a wheelchair with a long-haired girl whose legs were injured sitting in it. They walked under the buildings on the dim streets, which looked like another world compared to the brilliant holographic neon above in the sky. The damp ground made a pitter-patter sound as their shoes contacted the surface while walking. Graffiti was everywhere on the buildings beside the road; homeless people covered with plastic sheets were sleeping, surrounded by piles of garbage. There were also rusted, yellowing, and unmaintained pipes. This was the bottom layer of Cyber City, everything looking so downcast and decrepit. Rebellion slogans and a decaying smell were omnipresent. Clashing with the world above the sky. The girl quietly surveyed her surroundings, her expression somewhat panicky and fearful. The young man pushed the girl past two streets, seemingly avoiding something. Wang Yun, a cold voice came from behind them. Wang Yun suddenly turned around, startled to see Hu Xiaoniu and Zhang Tianzhen also seated in wheelchairs, their complexions still weak and pallid. The person pushing the wheelchairs was a Time Traveler hired by the Hu and Zhang families. Although these individuals couldnt solve the trouble coming from the Chen Clan, they managed some more routine matters. Hu Xiaoniu asked softly, The last time you returned, you left alone because you were afraid this scene would happen today, werent you? Wang Yun pursed her lips and said nothing. According to the plan, she was to join a convoy and travel across the vast Jianghuai Plain outside the city, heading to City 3 along the edge of the Taboo Land at Road 119. This deviated from their original plan to go to City 18, but she had no choice but to leave as soon as possible. And this escape route was also something her parents had spent a lot of money on in the Outer World. At that moment, Wang Yun looked at Hu Xiaoniu with immense panic, How did you find me? Hu Xiaoniu calmly explained, You were waiting for the Time Traveler hired by your clan to meet you and help you escape in the vehicle. By chance, before I traveled here, I found one of them and paid double the price to learn your whereabouts. It was easier to find them than to find you. After speaking, the young man behind Wang Yun whispered an apology and then released the wheelchair, silently leaving. In the narrow space between buildings, on a dimly lit narrow path, the injured girl sat alone in her wheelchair. What do you want? Wang Yun asked quietly. Why betray us? Hu Xiaoniu asked with low emotion, Weve been classmates and friends for over a year. Wang Yun countered, Then what did I do wrong that made you guys choose to ostracize me from that day on? Hu Xiaoniu knew that Wang Yun was referring to the night they were caught at Jiang Xues Home. At that time, Wang Yun had awakened earlier, so she was the first to be interrogated by the kidnappers. She couldnt withstand the pressure and revealed that all four of them were Time Travelers, even breaking down in tears begging for mercy. Latterly, the other three woke up and witnessed Wang Yun begging for mercy. Hu Xiaoniu hesitated and then said, We didnt ostracize you. Everyone just didnt talk much to you because they felt you must be suffering inside, so they left you alone to cool off, with no intention of blaming you. Later, you let Bai Waner suggest a change in the itinerary, and everyone thought you just wanted to leave the painful place to clear your mind, so we immediately changed the plan. Dont give me that pretense, Wang Yun sitting on the ground, tears slowly streaming down her face, Maybe you didnt look down on me, but Bai Waner did. The day after the incident, she told me she wanted to move out and live alone. She said she couldnt live with someone who had betrayed her own! Hu Xiaoniu was silent. Wang Yuns voice grew louder, I was just the first to wake up, so I was the first to be interrogated. Do you think only I couldnt withstand the interrogation? It just wasnt your turn yet. If you were interrogated, you wouldnt have withstood it either. What right do you have to look down on me?! By the end, her voice had sunk again, I just wanted you to experience the same thing, so you wouldnt have any right to despise me from on high. Wang Yun couldnt bear the sight of her own disgrace being witnessed, so when someone approached her afterwards and promised a bright future, she was tempted. Zhang Tianzhen suddenly asked, Then why did you go to extremes, even telling the kidnappers about Xiao Niu having two cell phones? I can occasionally understand your feelings, but your actions were not merely about gaining psychological balance, right? There were benefits driving you too. Just then, many footsteps approached from outside the small path, and several men in black quickly appeared. They were somewhat surprised by the scene on the small path, but they still stood behind Wang Yun. The other Time Travelers hired by Wang Yuns family had arrived. In a moment, both sides formed a standoff. Wang Yuns people were more numerous than expected, Hu Xiaonius side had only 3 people, but the other side had received reinforcements of 6 people. Wang Yun finally felt a sense of security, composed herself, and looked at Zhang Tianzhen, Yes, I indeed did it for some benefits, benefits neither you nor Liu Dezhu could offer me. Now please step aside. After today, we are still classmates. Behind Hu Xiaoniu and Zhang Tianzhen, the three Time Travelers hired by their families exchanged looks, all showing signs of backing down. The Hu Family and Zhang Family indeed provided some money as compensation in the Outer World, but it was not worth risking their lives over. Chapter 101: 101. Taboo ACE-017 Chapter 101: 101. Taboo ACE-017 Zhang Tianzhen looked nervously at Hu Xiaoniu, but the latter did not intend to retreat, just stubbornly staring at the girl in front of him. The Time Traveler hired by the Wang Family slowly advanced, the atmosphere becoming incredibly tense. Still, Hu Xiaoniu did not back down. Wang Yun turned her head as if she could hardly bear it, and in the end, she whispered to Hu Xiaoniu, Ill give you one more chance. We were friends before, dont make me do this. Hu Xiaoniu slowly said, Youre just a selfish person, arent you? Whether its betraying us or now wanting to kill us, youre just finding excuses for yourself to cover up your hypocrisy. I could retreat today, but Id rather show you through my actions that if Im the first to wake up and be interrogated, I wont succumb. Your people are right here, lets prove it with facts. Hu Xiaoniu continued, I really want to back down, but these past two days, every time I fall into a groggy sleep, I dream of a friend from Kunlun shouting to hurry and leave. I dream that this friend stubbornly blocks the door, watching us escape one by one before closing his eyes with a smile. I, Hu Xiaoniu, am not particularly strong-willed, but if I back down today, I fear I wont be able to sleep ever again! Wang Yun said softly, Youre forcing me. Kill them. But before the people behind her could react, a strange sound of footsteps suddenly came from outside the narrow alley. The footsteps grew from distant to near, sometimes seeming to be on the left, yet the next step would be on the right, and at one moment, everyone felt the footsteps were right behind them. But when everyone turned back, they saw no one. Gradually, a figure at the end of the small road became clearer. A man in his thirties, as if oblivious to everyone else, entered amid them all. He calmly surveyed the tense surroundings and quietly asked Wang Yun, You are Wang Yun, right? Easier to find than I expected. Wang Yun was stunned, Who are you? The man was dressed in a black coat, beneath which was a neat suit, with an old-fashioned pocket watch that seemed out of place in the cyber age pinned to his chest. His hair was half-long, combed back, and tied into a small bun. He wore a pair of black leather gloves. When his fingers moved, the friction from the leather made a creaking sound. I? the man pondered, Its been a long time since someone asked me who I am. So, let me introduce myself. Heng Society, Li Dongze. As he spoke, dense footsteps also came from several alleys outside the path, seemingly encircling the narrow road. Li Dongze stood on the path, as if everything revolved around him. Wang Yun whispered in shock, Heng Societys Li Dongze? This kind of exclamation is quite common. But lets not dwell on that, Li Dongze thought for a moment. The boss sent me to ask you a questionwho exactly is the mastermind behind this kidnapping case? Think carefully, I must have an answer today. Wang Yun was stunned, she spoke hesitantly, I really dont know who it is. The day after the incident at Jiang Xues home, a letter suddenly appeared in my bag. The envelope had a Devils Stamp on it, and the letter said he would contact me. I was very scared because I didnt even notice when the envelope was slipped into my bag. Someone with such divine skills could easily kill me! Understood, its Taboo ACE-017, Li Dongze nodded. Wang Yun asked timidly, Is there anything else youre here for? Li Dongze nodded calmly, Oh, Im here to kill you. Wang Yuns expression began to slowly change, complex as if a palette of oil colors had been spilled on the ground. What have I done wrong! she suddenly burst out hysterically. Why do you all want to kill me!? Li Dongze thought for a moment, I dont know either. The boss just said to kill you; I didnt ask why. Having said that, he raised his hand in a feigned grip. The next moment, Wang Yun felt like the air around her was being sucked away, as if she had entered a complete vacuum. Her blood vessels burst one by one under the skin due to some inexplicable pulling force. Swift. Direct. ... Meanwhile, Uncle Li Dong looked at Qing Chen and said, Okay, Ive fulfilled the exchange condition I owed you. Li Dongze should have already killed that insider you mentioned. Qing Chen was stunned for a moment, Wait, are you saying Li Dongze took action personally? In his impression, Li Dongze was a high-status figure in the Inner World, after all, he was someone who could reserve the entire Sunlight Pavillion Restaurant. It seemed excessive for him to personally kill Wang Yun. By his side, Lin Xiaoxiao cheerfully said, Li Dongze is the closest person to the boss. Whenever the boss wants someone killed, he always does it himself. He values relationships a lot. A few minutes later, Lin Xiaoxiaos reader suddenly received a message containing only the letters and numbers ACE-017. Your reader can still receive external information? Qing Chen asked, puzzled. Oh, Im in charge of helping the boss make contact with the outside world, Lin Xiaoxiao cheerfully said. It seems like the mastermind contacted Wang Yun via ACE-017. This should solve your puzzle. This person behind the scenes is no simple character, managing to acquire a taboo object in such a short time. What is ACE-017? A code for a taboo object? What does it do? Qing Chen asked. Ah, the taboo object ACE-017 is also called the Devils Stamp, Lin Xiaoxiao said. Once obtained, it requires a one-time feed of 1600CC of fresh blood, allowing it to recognize its master and parasitize the chest of the host. Within the first 24 hours, no foreign blood should appear in the hosts body. Afterwards, each time the host cuts a finger and drops blood onto an envelope, the blood will turn into the pattern of the Devils Stamp. Then, the envelope will go to any destination you want it to reach. However, it seems theres a limit to this destination, and you can only write one sentence. Qing Chen was taken aback. Normal humans would show symptoms like pale complexion, cold sweats, and cold limbs when losing 800CC of blood, and losing more than 1500CC would lead to insufficient blood supply to the brain. This was a matter of life and death. That meant, to become the master of the Devils Stamp, one had to gamble with their life. Seeing what Qing Chen was thinking, Lin Xiaoxiao explained, Its said that the stamps pattern changes, and if someone doesnt survive the 24 hours, the Devils Stamps pattern will resemble the deceaseds face. Some say, its the soul being collected by the stamp. Ye Wan nodded, This taboo item was previously in the hands of the 4th President. Later, in his later years, he was killed, and the Devils Stamp went missing. Suddenly, Qing Chen thought that Wang Yun becoming an insider could also be partly due to being frightened by this letter. But that was not an excuse for his betrayal. Does this stamp have any other functions? Qing Chen asked. Like evoking the recipients evil thoughts or dark side? What are you thinking, Lin Xiaoxiao countered. I dont know; Ive never seen this thing. However, the abilities of taboo objects are mostly singular; perhaps the Devils Stamp only has the function of sending letters. Only a few taboo items have multiple abilities. Like what? Qing Chen was curious. Like... what Guo Huchan is looking for, ACE-005, Lin Xiaoxiao looked at Qing Chen and winked. Chapter 102: 102. The code of the Taboo Chapter 102: 102. The code of the Taboo The magic of taboo items lies in the fact that their rules are impartial to everyone, not fussy about the hosts quality or mindset, whether they are righteous or evil. As long as one can grasp their containment conditions, one can make them serve oneself. Steam trains that can reach any destination, Devils Stamps that can send letters to any place. They are like the special cases in the worlds rules, both favored by the world and a representation of calamity. Possessing even one such thing seems to bring a great advantage to oneself. Teacher, Qing Chen looked at Uncle Li Dong, I used the Breathing Technique continuously during the battle without any interruption. Uncle Li Dong looked at Qing Chen, Without a single interruption? One must know that breathing is a human instinct; when you do not consciously remind yourself, the breathing frequency will proceed instinctively, rather than according to the Breathing Technique. Thus, this was somewhat surprising to Uncle Li Dong because it also took him over a year of practice to gradually keep the Breathing Technique constant. It is only at that moment that the candidate Knight can go through the life-and-death challenge. Because during the assessment, the Breathing Technique must not stop for an instant; even a single pause in breathing is considered a complete waste of effort. Qing Chen continued, After the battle ended, I felt an extreme sense of calm as if I were in a tranquil lake. I think that might be the effect of a large secretion of endorphins. Hmm, your guess is correct, Uncle Li Dong nodded. Qing Chen then asked, But after the battle ended, I felt my bones and muscles seemed to be undergoing changes, and casually moving would cause snapping sounds within my body. Whats that about? Uncle Li Dong suddenly looked at him seriously, Are you sure? Sure, Qing Chen nodded. Uncle Li Dong paced back and forth in the prison courtyard, deep in thought. He said to Qing Chen, Your situation has never been encountered by anyone in the Knight Organization; youve just gotten a hold of the Breathing Technique, and there is already Qi within your body, and even without going through any life-and-death challenges, there are already signs of the Genetic Lock opening. The so-called life-and-death challenges are always about specific tests. No other than these eight tests will do. In the past, other Knights had tried to find an alternative way, thinking that since unlocking the Genetic Locks key was obtained through using the Breathing Technique in life-and-death crises and extreme hardships. Would it be possible to avoid a certain life-and-death challenge by experiencing almost the same hardships, dangers, and pains? Because the great sea turned into the Forbidden Sea, the predecessors of the Knights tried one after another to forge a new path for those who would come after, hoping upcoming generations would not have to repeat their regrets due to uncontrollable factors. But everyone failed. No matter how much everyone tried, there was never a sign of the Genetic Lock loosening. At the moment, the crackling sounds Qing Chen spoke of in his bones were the clear signs of the Genetic Lock loosening! Uncle Li Dong looked at Qing Chen and said, Get ready, Im going to take you out for another trip. I wanted to wait a bit longer, but now we can move the plan ahead. Where to this time? The lower levels of City 18? Qing Chen asked. No, Uncle Li Dong smiled, This time, the place Im taking you to is one most Time Travelers probably dont have the opportunity to visit now. Qing Chen realized that it seemed because he had shown signs of the Genetic Lock opening prematurely, so his teacher had also moved up a certain plan. ... ` Countdown 160:40:00. 7:20 a.m. The prison was now devoid of the sound of prisoners banging on the alloy gates, which Qing Chen was still not quite accustomed to. Because of the training he needed over the past two days, the inmates had been obediently staying in their cells. After experiencing two nights of the Game of Searching Spleens, everyone was still in a state of anxious panic. Each of them was as docile as a quail, afraid that something unfortunate might happen to them. Qing Chen casually asked Lin Xiaoxiao, who was beside him, By the way, Im not exactly full of womanly compassion, but I do wonder if this impact might not be too good? After all, were talking about more than three thousand people. Actually, this isnt much, considering hes the sole survivor of the Knights. What the boss is doing right now isnt as extreme as it could be. If it was Chen Jiazhang in charge, it might be crazier, Lin Xiaoxiao shrugged. Qing Chen, puzzled, asked, And who is this Chen Jiazhang? The bosss senior, Chen Jiazhang, Ye Wan answered. But hes been missing for a long time. Its said that he was never able to complete the seventh life-and-death challenge, so he went off to cultivate on his own. To tell the truth, it was the first time Qing Chen had heard the name Chen Jiazhang. He had always thought there was no one else left in the Knight Organization. He looked at Lin Xiaoxiao and Ye Wan in wonder, Is there anything else that I should know but dont? Oh, said Lin Xiaoxiao, the boss also has a junior named Wang Xiaojiu. But shes quite young, only a little girl. Eight years ago, the boss took her as a disciple on behalf of his teacher. She seems to have just passed her fifth life-and-death challenge. Anything else? Qing Chen asked with an expressionless face. Thats all, thats all, Lin Xiaoxiao cheerfully said, There are some things we cant remember right off the bat. Well tell you more as we think of them. This is too unreliable, Qing Chen sighed. Lin Xiaoxiao thought for a moment, then changed the subject, Things in the prison will definitely go back to normal eventually, at least they cant keep missing several meals because theyre hungry. But dont feel sorry for them. What Guo Huchan said wasnt wrongaside from a few, every one of these guys deserves to die a lot more than they have. Deserve to die a lot more than they have? Qing Chen questioned, Is that an exaggeration? No, Lin Xiaoxiao shook his head, those who arrive here are all heavy criminals. Do you remember the convict with the red mechanical arm, the one whose hair looks like a birds nest? I do, Qing Chen nodded. Lin Xiaoxiao continued, That bastard killed more than ten people on the outside and trafficked childrens corneas. Even saying they deserve to die a lot more than they have doesnt satisfy the anger. But the current laws of the Federation have no death penalty, so they just get sentenced to more than a hundred years, which is meaningless. Arent there people like Liu Dezhu who take the blame for others? Qing Chen asked. Oh, for people like that, well gradually investigate. For example, well find a way to transfer someone like Liu Dezhu to other prisons. Lu Guangyi is actually in the same situation. If it werent for Qings Family arranging for him, he would have been transferred long before, Lin Xiaoxiao explained, With your memory power, you must have noticed. Though prisoners are continuously brought in, the total number is decreasing. Indeed, when Qing Chen first came in, there were 3102 people in Prison 18. Now there are only 3009 left. But this explanation only further confused Qing Chen, as he realized Lin Xiaoxiao was intentionally leaving behind those who deserve to die a lot more than they have. It surely wasnt for the purpose of raising gu, was it? When Qing Chen inquired further about the matter, Lin Xiaoxiao did not answer anymore. ... Im begging for monthly votes! Im begging for monthly votes! Were just 900 votes away from making it into the top three! ` Chapter 103: 103. New Time Traveler Chapter 103: 103. New Time Traveler Countdown 159:00:00. The prisoners were still confined in their cells. Because Qing Chen still had one important thing left undone: Early this morning, more than thirty newcomers arrived all at once, and Ye Wan had just finished interrogating each one of them. This was originally Lu Guangyis job, but now, to keep the outside world from knowing that Qing Chen had become a student of Uncle Li Dong, Lu Guangyi too had to stay honestly in the cell. Ye Wan returned to the dining table and said, In this batch of newcomers, there seem to be quite a few Time Travelers. Out of 37 people, 5 couldnt account for their origins in the Outer World. Two tried to bluff their way through, claiming they lived in District 7 of City 18. They could describe any landmark building there, but became vague when it came to their family relations. Qing Chen sighed, Now, Time Travelers have gotten smarter. Once they notice the countdown on their arm, they quickly rely on internet information to fabricate an identity for themselves to avoid being discovered immediately after time traveling. By now, various organizations in the Inner World had started to investigate Time Travelers, and moreover, most organizations didnt treat Time Travelers kindly. For instance, in the two cities controlled by the Jindai Group, Time Travelers were very unlucky. Since they all traveled from the Island Country, nearly all of them couldnt speak Mandarin. One by one, the Time Travelers had been identified and then put under concentrated surveillance. According to the news, there was now a craze for learning Mandarin in the Outer Worlds Island Country, with the cost of a Mandarin class reaching hundreds of thousands of yen. The situation was similar in the territory of the Deer Island Group, only the Lee family of Deer Island spoke Korean. Head of the Lee family of Deer Island, Li Bingzhe, and Head of the Li Family of the Central Plains, Li Xiurui, were two completely unrelated clans, with Tong Yun currently in the Central Plains Li Family. At this moment, Time Travelers, whether in the Outer World or the Inner World, were not very safe. So much that every Time Traveler acted like they were spies, desperately hiding their identities to avoid fatal danger. How are we going to handle these five Time Travelers? Ye Wan asked, We could just transfer them directly to another prison. Qing Chen thought for a moment, Bring them to the interrogation room. Ill ask them some questions one by one; maybe there will be someone we can cooperate with. And since we all lived in the same city in the Outer World, it would be easier to recognize them later. ... The interrogation room was a dull, gray room, its walls made of alloy construction, and the ceilings harsh white LED light arrays emitted a blinding brilliance, instilling an unconscious fear in any prisoner within. On one wall, there was even a large metal one-way mirror embedded. Qing Chen stood calmly next to it, and from his angle, the mirror was completely transparent, allowing him to see the unsettled Time Travelers inside. However, this mirror was somewhat different from those in the Outer World. It also displayed the Time Travelers body temperature, heart rate, and breathing frequency, with those fluctuating numbers changing every second. This was to aid the interrogators in observing the prisoners conditions. Ye Wan brought a Time Traveler into the interrogation room, and Qing Chen laughed the moment he saw the newcomer wasnt this Yu Junyi, the study committee member from his class?! From behind the one-way mirror, using a Breathing Technique to alter his voice, Qing Chen asked, Name. Yu Junyi, sitting on the chair cautiously, said, Yu Junyi. Gender. Male. What was your identity in the Outer World? Officer, I was just an ordinary student there, Yu Junyi said fearfully, a high school sophomore. He mistook the interrogator for a prison guard because he called him an officer. After all, he couldnt imagine a scenario where a prisoner was questioning another prisoner. Qing Chen suddenly asked, Do you still have other Time Travelers around you? Yu Junyi answered, Yes, there are 6, one is named Nan... At this point, Yu Junyi suddenly stopped speaking. Why did you stop talking, Qing Chen asked. He was thinking that the six Yu Junyi mentioned must be Nan Gengchen, Liu Dezhu, Hu Xiaoniu, Wang Yun, Bai Waner, and Zhang Tianzhen. Indeed, probably only Nan Gengchen believed that he was well hidden... Yu Junyi answered, I have no Time Travelers around me, sir. You want to protect them, dont you? Youre afraid that if you reveal their names, you will expose their identity as Time Travelers? Qing Chen asked. Yu Junyi didnt speak; that was indeed what he thought. The news in the Outer World these days also said that once Time Travelers exposed their identities, most of them didnt end well. Therefore, he didnt want to implicate his classmates. Qing Chen asked, Arent you afraid of my harsh interrogation? This is a prison, killing one or two people wouldnt make any difference. Yu Junyis mind was racing. He definitely didnt want to be tortured, and he knew all too well how terrifying that could be, but he also didnt want to betray his classmates. Suddenly, Yu Junyi looked up and asked, May I ask, is this Prison 18? Qing Chen calmly replied, Yes, it is. Yu Junyi recalled what Liu Dezhu had bragged about on the bus earlier. The other party had said that Uncle Li Dong here was no different from the Warden, and Liu Dezhu was now a favorite of this big shot! Moreover, at that time, a classmate had asked Liu Dezhu: Does Uncle Li Dong know you are a Time Traveler? Liu Dezhus answer was: He knows, but he doesnt care! At this moment, Yu Junyi clung to a lifeline, Sir! I am a classmate of Liu Dezhu, one of your own people! Lin Xiaoxiao looked towards Qing Chen, and Qing Chens expression turned strange... Honestly, he hadnt expected such a twist. Just how much had Liu Dezhu bragged about himself to make Yu Junyi think that by just mentioning that guys name in this prison, he could get off scot-free...? Qing Chen pondered for a moment; he suddenly had a new plan. The status of Liu Dezhu in the prison had always been blown out of proportion by the man himself, which was one-sided. Now, Qing Chen could find someone to corroborate that for him. He had Ye Wan take Yu Junyi back to his cell, then summoned four other Time Travelers for interrogation. However, disappointingly, these remaining four were just ordinary employees of private companies and didnt have much utility. Theres still use in keeping them now. Once I finish up my tasks, Ill have them transferred to another prison, Qing Chen told Lin Xiaoxiao. Lin Xiaoxiao chuckled in response, I really do want to see the expression on the faces of those people in the Outer World when they one day discover your role in these matters. I wish I could travel through time to see that. Qing Chen asked, By the way, how is Liu Dezhu doing? Oh, this guy has even less backbone than I expected. He was on the verge of breaking down just nine hours in, Lin Xiaoxiao replied: Ill send him back to his previous solitary confinement soon. Qing Chen was speechless. If not for his concern that appointing Nan Gengchen as his proxy would bring the young man danger, he would definitely make Liu Dezhu rot in jail. However, having said that, now that Nan Gengchen knew his true identity, it made him unsuitable to be a proxy because his own identity might be exposed during an interrogation. It wasnt that Qing Chen didnt trust Nan Gengchen, but an interrogation is inherently a cruel affair, and very few could withstand it. Liu Dezhu, however, was different. Even if someone caught him, they could only learn that someone was still pulling the strings behind the scenes, but couldnt figure out exactly who. Chapter 104: 104, the problem is not big Chapter 104: 104, the problem is not big In the quiet solitary confinement cell, Liu Dezhu quietly curled up in the corner. The terror of the small dark room is understood only by those who have truly experienced it, a torment to the soul. The alloy gate in front of him slowly opened, and Liu Dezhu blankly looked up at the figure in front, the mysterious person wearing the Cat Mask. I know, every person has their little schemes, Qing Chen calmly said, But greed can harm others and oneself. This time is just to let you understand what the price of betrayal and deception is. Next time, it wont be so simple. What I give you, you can take; what I dont give you, you must not steal. Liu Dezhus eyes gradually regained some luster, Boss, as long as you dont kill me, everything is negotiable! Before, Liu Dezhu almost thought he would die today. However, the punishment hadnt ended, at least in Qing Chens view, it shouldnt end this easily. He was very aware that he was facing a cruel world, so he must also make Liu Dezhu fully realize this. Qing Chen said calmly, In my opinion, looking at the whole situation this time, if you had checked the communicator in time, those two from Kunlun might not have died. So, this punishment is still not enough. With that, he waved his hand for Ye Wan to hold down Liu Dezhu, then Qing Chen personally covered Liu Dezhus face with a towel and poured a bucket of cold water over him. Liu Dezhu struggled furiously, but no matter how much he struggled, it was useless. Not until he gradually weakened did Qing Chen finally lift the towel to let him cough out the water. Boss, I know I was wrong, Liu Dezhu cried out, I really understand now. The expression on Qing Chens face remained unchanged. Before Liu Dezhu could catch his breath, Ye Wan once again held him down, and the water torture was repeated. Qing Chen poured the water little by little onto the towel until Liu Dezhu nearly wet himself, and only then did the punishment stop. This time, Liu Dezhu was truly frightened. He choked for quite a while before he could breathe and cry out, Boss, I really regretted it when I went home. Every time I think of the two heroes from Kunlun, I hate myself for being weak, I really know I was wrong! Qing Chen looked at him coldly through the Cat Mask. This was the first time he had inflicted punishment on another person, and for a normal person, even the act of punishing was an ordeal. But he was learning, learning how to be ruthless, learning how to become a true beast. Now I need you to do something, Qing Chen said, Number 18 Prison has received a few more Time Travelers, I need you to put on a show for them. Liu Dezhu timidly asked, Boss, what do you need me to do? Make them believe that you really hold a high position here, Qing Chen answered. Liu Dezhu said pitifully, Boss, I cant act. After thinking for a moment, Qing Chen said to Lin Xiaoxiao, Get me a miniature earpiece, let him wear it, Ill direct his performance. ... Countdown 157:00:00. At 10 a.m., one-fifth of the prison cells quietly opened. The more than six hundred prisoners were randomly selected; only after they had eaten and returned to their cells would another random group of six hundred plus be let out to eat. This was a new rule changed by Qing Chen. When Lin Xiaoxiao asked him why he did this. Qing Chen answered, Teacher will probably take me out for a long time this time, and with my consortium background, Im too conspicuous here. If I disappear, someone will definitely notice. By letting the prisoners eat in batches, they wont be able to tell who is missing. In this way, the forces outside would not be able to identify his identity. They couldnt keep the prisoners locked up without food indefinitely, so the current method was the best choice. At this moment. Uncle Li Dong sat quietly at the dining table, looking at classical music scores, while Ye Wan and Lin Xiaoxiao chatted while eating, discussing current events outside: it was said that the old man from the Deer Island family secretly extended his life again; it was said that the old master from the Lee family had no plans to force a life extension, and might not have much time left... At this table, only one person seemed out of place: Liu Dezhu. This guy sat opposite Uncle Li Dong, looking around curiously with an inquisitive face. Though hed been transplanted directly to Number 18 Prison, to be honest, he hadnt had the chance to really take a good look around here... The prisoners queued up for their food, and seeing such a stranger sit opposite Uncle Li Dong, they were all quite intrigued. After all, not just anyone could sit face-to-face with Uncle Li Dong. One of the prisoners with a good memory suddenly recalled something and muttered in a low voice, Weve seen this chap before, hes the idiot who said he was going to find Boss Lee to get a task, and even told Lin Xiaoxiao that hes one of us. So he really is one of us... one of the prisoners remarked emotionally. Wait a second, another prisoner realized something: We were guessing during dinner time about who was using us for practice. Yeah, the one holding us down must have been Ye Wan, and the one Ye Wan taught must be him! Liu Dezhu looked around bewildered at some people secretly pointing at him, utterly clueless as to what was going on... He vaguely sensed that the mysterious big shot might have pinned a huge black pot on his head again. Suddenly, Uncle Li Dong looked up at him and asked, Do you still find the food to your liking? Liu Dezhu was flattered: Its to my liking. Lin Xiaoxiao asked from the side, Tomorrow Ill have the kitchen prepare some real meat for you, just order whatever you want to eat. As the other prisoners lined up and came over, the three who had previously ignored Liu Dezhu suddenly became enthusiastic, while Qing Chen was nowhere to be seen. The next moment, someone in the crowd of prisoners excitedly called out, Liu Dezhu! Liu Dezhu turned his head blankly, just in time to see Yu Junyi, the class monitor from the neighboring class; they had gone to Laojun Mountain together! At the same time, there were four others beside Yu Junyi who also came over. In an instant, Liu Dezhu had a revelation, these were the five Time Travelers the mysterious big shot talked about, and his task was to make them believe in his status in the Inner World! Er, did you time travel too? Liu Dezhu adjusted his sitting posture and said with a nonchalant demeanor, Sit down and talk. Yu Junyi looked at Ye Wan, Uncle Li Dong, and Lin Xiaoxiao next to him and hesitated, May I sit? Liu Dezhu patted Lin Xiaoxiao on the side, That...move over a bit to give them some space. Lin Xiaoxiao was momentarily stunned, nearly injuring his ego with that comment. Ye Wan, who was usually calm and composed and sitting across from him, almost burst out laughing. However, before Ye Wan could laugh, Liu Dezhu suddenly said to him, That...could you move over too, thanks. Ye Wan: ... Lin Xiaoxiao: ... At that moment, the expression on Liu Dezhus face was almost tearful; he kept indicating with his eyes to the two big shots that it was all instructions coming through the earpiece... It had nothing to do with him. Ye Wan and Lin Xiaoxiao exchanged glances, deeply suspecting that Qing Chen was taking the opportunity to deliberately disgust them. Nevertheless, the two of them eventually got up and moved their seats slowly, with Lin Xiaoxiao saying with a half-hearted smile, Take your time chatting. Uncle Li Dong stood up and went to the reading area, and before leaving, he said to Liu Dezhu, These people are your friends, right? So theyre one of us. Have a good catch-up. Seeing this, Yu Junyi felt emotional that Liu Dezhu indeed wasnt bragging! He took the lead and sat down next to Liu Dezhu, saying, Brother Liu, I didnt expect everything you said before to be true. Mhm, Liu Dezhu replied modestly. A middle-aged Time Traveler asked, The one who just left, was that Uncle Li Dong? Liu Dezhu nodded: Yes, it was him. Wow, thats so awesome, we actually met Uncle Li Dong! someone exclaimed. Liu Dezhu maintained an enigmatic demeanor throughout. But inside, he was also overwhelmed by turmoil: Just how high in status must that mysterious big shot with the Cat Mask be to have these three willingly play along? In some respects, he was even more shocked than Yu Junyi and the others! Regaining his composure, Liu Dezhu instructed Yu Junyi, That...when you get back, try not to spread the word, keep a low profile. But rest assured, with me here in this prison, no one dares to touch you. Yu Junyi asked excitedly, Do I have a chance to become a Transcendent? Liu Dezhu calmly replied, Shouldnt be a problem. Chapter 105: 105. Went out to play again Chapter 105: 105. Went out to play again Because they ate in batches, breakfast dragged on until noon. Throughout the meal, Liu Dezhu made a spectacle of himself at the dining table, capturing all the attention as if the more he performed, the more engrossed he became. Once all the prisoners had returned to their cells, everyone felt they had guessed the truth: there was now a big boss in the prison who was untouchable, and his status seemed to be above that of Ye Wan and Lin Xiaoxiao. Some prisoners with organizational ties had already started figuring out how to spread this news. The prison yard gradually returned to quietness, and Liu Dezhu turned his head, only to see Lin Xiaoxiao and Ye Wan watching him expressionlessly. With a smack, Liu Dezhu knelt on the ground and said, Im sorry. This scene left Lin Xiaoxiao and Ye Wan bewildered. Lin Xiaoxiao muttered quietly, This ability to stoop and bow is quite suitable for an agent. Anyone with a bit of backbone or ambition wouldnt want to be a puppet. Liu Dezhu tilted his head and removed a miniature earphone, hurriedly explaining, All those things just now were instructions from the earphone, please dont mind it. While speaking, Qing Chen, wearing a cat mask, walked out from the kitchen, The performance was a bit tense, but good enough to handle those new Time Travelers. Go back to your cell. There will be more acting required from you later. Remember what I said, greed will kill a person. Understood, understood, Liu Dezhu nodded vigorously. After Liu Dezhu had left, Uncle Li Dong, with a smiling face, walked back from the reading area, If I had walked over later, I couldnt have held back my laughter. Its quite interesting, maybe this is the fun of staying behind the scenes. Qing Chen removed his mask and looked at Uncle Li Dong, Teacher, the last task is completed. Uncle Li Dong smiled, Not yet, theres still one left. As he spoke, two mechanical prison guards approached Qing Chen and said, Prisoner 010101, you have a family visitation. Qing Chen turned his head in astonishment; he did not expect Jindai Kongyin to come again so soon after he had declined her last visit. On the side, Uncle Li Dong said, Go on, were going to be here for a while. Next time she comes, I will have the guards refuse her visit directly. Who knows when you would see her again. In the visitation room, Jindai Kongyin wore a gray pleated skirt that just reached her knees and, due to the colder weather, she also wore leggings. On her feet were a pair of black leather shoes. This outfit made her look more her age, nineteen. Two years older than Qing Chen, but still far from maturity, she exuded a youthful vibe. When she saw Qing Chen enter the room with the mechanical prison guards, she quickly opened the two thermos boxes in front of her. One box contained exquisite sushi, and another was filled with grilled beef rice. Only when Qing Chen sat down across from her did Jindai Kongyin smile and say, How come I didnt see you last time? Qing Chen replied softly, I dont know what happened in the prison, but suddenly they locked all the prisoners in their own cells, Im sorry. Jindai Kongyin quickly shook her hand, laughing, What are you sorry about? Its not your fault. Lets eat! I made every piece of sushi myself! Why bring two lunch boxes? Qing Chen wondered, It seems like a bit much. Because last time I saw you ate everything so cleanly, it seemed like you hadnt had enough, Jindai Kongyin said with a cheery smile. Dont be shy, you finishing it all is a compliment to me! Hmm, Qing Chen didnt say much else, just lowered his head and ate. Across the table, Jindai Kongyin propped her chin and skewed her head to watch Qing Chen muttering, I dont know what impression he has of me, but he eats so elegantly. (I dont know what he thinks of me, but his eating manners are very refined.) This time, Qing Chen pretended not to hear and was too lazy to ask. This was just the first day across, and it would still be several days before he could solve the puzzle. Yet, she seemed to relish playing these little games. He pondered what her expression would be if she one day found out that he was also a Time Traveler and had translated every word she said... Actually, quietly watching someone show off has its aftereffects, like after he saved Nan Gengchen and the guy safely returned to Los Angeles City but didnt dare speak a word to him. Perhaps this is what they call social death. In laymans terms, it means being too embarrassed to show your face. At that time, Jindai Kongyin said, Yesterday I visited some of the elders from Qings Family, but it seemed like they didnt like you much. I memorized their names; one is named Qing Li, the other Qing Hui. They kept speaking ill of you! They even said they hoped the Jindai family could choose a different fiance?, but I refused! Qing Chen looked up at Jindai Kongyin, Why tell me this? Because I think youre better than them, Jindai Kongyin said with a smile. If anyone else speaks ill of you, Ill take note and tell you! Qing Chen reflected, despite being a transparent, peripheral figure, why was he being targeted within his family? Was it because he had taken the Shadow candidate spot from the third house? It was possible. But he always felt there was a deeper reason, perhaps related to someone having erased traces of his existence. Qing Chen looked at Jindai Kongyin earnestly and said, Thank you. Is there anything I need to do? No need, Jindai Kongyin quickly waved her hand. After you complete your task and get out of prison, you could invite me to dinner. By then, I might have already returned to the Jindai family. Youre welcome to visit. There were still 3 years until the marriage agreement was due to be fulfilled, and during this time, Jindai Kongyin would still need to return to the north to live. The visitation time ended. As the girl left, she turned back and said with a smile, Qing Chen, Im returning to my family. I truly hope I can see you again later. (Qing Chen, Im returning to my family, and I truly hope to see you again in the future.) Qing Chen noticed when the girl smiled, there was a small dimple on her right cheek, fresh like a blooming lily. ... Countdown 144:00:00 Midnight, in Prison 18. How is your foot? Uncle Li Dong asked. Qing Chen replied, The medicine Mother Ye applied hurt at first, but its healing quite fast. The wound that would normally take a week to scab over has already done so today, though it still hurts a bit. Can you walk? Uncle Li Dong asked. Under normal circumstances, Qing Chen should have rested a few more days, especially since the injuries on his shoulder and foot had not healed yet. But Uncle Li Dong seemed unconcerned about these matters; he simply asked, Can you walk? Qing Chen smiled, Yes. Uncle Li Dong nodded, Then lets go. With that, he walked into the dining area. Ye Wan arrived in front of the cold storage door and pushed open the heavy steel gate with effort. The cold air rushed toward him like fog and then settled slowly at his feet. Next, Ye Wan came to a freezing pool and punched through the ice layer over a meter thick, revealing a steel plate underneath. He lifted the huge, heavy steel plate to reveal a staircase leading down. This is a passage leading out of the prison, Ye Wan said to Qing Chen. Very few people know about its existence, and its the first time someone is using it to leave. No consortium knows about this path, and no one monitors it. Speaking, Ye Wan pulled a large backpack from the corner and put it on Qing Chen, This contains the things you and the boss will need next. The backpack was nearly as tall as a person, packed with numerous items. Qing Chen suddenly understood; this journey seemed like it would be a long one, longer than he had expected. Maybe when he returned, everything would be different. Qing Chen looked at Uncle Li Dong, Teacher, arent you taking a bag? Uncle Li Dong led the way down the deep stairs, With a student here, theres no reason for a teacher to carry a bag, my stuff is in your bag. Qing Chen followed behind him and asked, Teacher, where are we going? The reply came from the darkness, To a place that has become Taboo Land. ... Begging for monthly votes, still 90 votes behind the top three! Chapter 106: 106, Wilderness Chapter 106: 106, Wilderness City 18 was adjacent to City 10. Two numerically nonconsecutive cities, yet geographically, they were only a little over two hundred kilometers apart. This was because the cities were not ordered by importance but by the sequence in which they were established. If the Federation were likened to a circle, then City 18 and City 10 together would form the circles center. Of course, this metaphor wasnt accurate, as the Federation was not a regular circle. Qing Chen had once asked Uncle Li Dong for a map of the Federation. It could be said that the map of the Outer World and the Inner World were not much different, except in the coastal areas. If these two worlds really were parallel worlds. Then the crust of the Inner World must have undergone violent movements to have transformed into its current state. City 18 corresponded to Los Angeles City, and City 10 to Zheng City. Regardless of whether it was in the Inner World or the Outer World, they were always in the Central Plains. Without the strategic importance of coastal ports, City 7, corresponding to Haicheng, was nowhere near as prosperous as Haicheng in the Outer World. Within the Federation, the most prosperous cities were City 18 and City 10. City 18 was the economic center, and City 10 was the political center. One was in the west, the other in the east, known together as the Federations Gemini. The line connecting them seemed to directly divide the north and south of the Federation. Countdown 96:00:00. Another midnight. About a hundred kilometers south of City 18, more than ten people were gathered around a campfire for warmth, with eight men and four women chatting and laughing in the flickering flames. A cross of branches on the fire held an iron pot, in which a thick noodle soup bubbled and steamed. Someone pulled a piece of cured meat from their pocket and used a small knife to cut off several pieces and throw them into the pot. This was a small temporary campsite. Nearby, on an open ground, there were nine dark green canvas tents. The night wind was strong, and two old pickup trucks faced the wind to protect the small temporary camp from the fierce cold wind. It seemed like there were goods covered with canvas in the bed of the pickup trucks, but it was not visible what was inside. Windproof rocks were stacked near the campfire, yet despite this, the orange-red flames still flickered unsteadily. The thing that the employer wants us to catch is not easy to find, weve been turning around this area for a month and havent seen even one, an elderly man by the campfire said: Why not, lets head to the edge of that place, we dont necessarily have to go in, the edge isnt that dangerous, Ive been there years ago. The old man was named Qin Cheng, and he was the leader of the group. The people around the campfire were mostly blood relatives. They wore combat suits sourced from who knows where, some with patches on the elbows, knees, pant legs, and buttocks, and the sizes were sometimes a poor fit. Dad, is the price the buyer is offering worth the risk we are taking? a young man asked. You know, the other side is offering 200,000, the old man Qin Cheng wrapped tobacco with his somewhat patchy mechanical hand, the nano-plated coating was flaking off his fingers: With that money, we can get you and Xiao Yi better mechanical limbs, enough to support one operation. Dad, this isnt what we urgently need, and its not worth risking our lives for, the young man said. Hmm, the old man plucked a half-burned stick from the fire and brought it to his lips to light his cigarette: The other party also promised a dose of Genetic Potion, a box of BVC antibiotics. Your brother is reaching adulthood soon, our family should have someone less dependent on mechanical limbs, I want to get him some Genetic Potion, its a rare opportunity. As the echo of his words faded, the young man beside him looked at his brother in disbelief, opening his mouth but speaking no more. A middle-aged woman next to Qin Cheng said, Xiao Tong, dont think your dad is biased. He wanted to get you one too back in the day, but he was deceived. The young man, Qin Tong, paused to think and said, Mom, dont overthink it. I didnt mean that. I have mechanical limbs, and my brother doesnt. If theres a Genetic Potion for him, thats only fair. Plus, having the Genetic Potion might make it easier for him to find a wife. During their conversation, the sound of snapping dry branches suddenly came from the woods outside the camp. Old man Qin Cheng suddenly fell backward into a pile of fallen leaves. In an instant, he swiftly pulled out a handgun from his bosom, pointing it towards the source of the sound. This agile movement didnt seem like it came from someone of his age at all. Meanwhile, the others quickly left the side of the campfire and each found a tree trunk to hide behind. Hello, no offense meant. From outside the camp, a voice arrived first. In the darkness of the woods, two figures slowly emerged, both dressed in black assault jackets. One was middle-aged, and the other a youth, who also carried a large backpack on his back. Both of them zipped up their jackets, and the raised collars covered much of their faces. The middle-aged man in the assault jacket raised his hands, smiling as he spoke, Just passing through. We saw you had a couple of cars that could break the wind, so we wanted to borrow a spot. In saying so, the middle-aged man glanced at the youth beside him. The youth then took out a pack of cigarettes from his pocket and tossed it near the campfire from a distance, Its okay if you disagree. The cigarettes are yours to keep; well leave. Watching from the ground, old man Qin Cheng hesitated for a moment, then slowly stood up, his gun still loosely aimed at the two in front of him, From the city? Yep, from City Number 10, the middle-aged man chuckled. Where are you headed? the old man asked cautiously. Dont know yet, just taking a walk, the middle-aged continued. The old man pointed to an area about twenty meters away, You can camp over there, but you cant come near us. If you want to borrow a spot, a pack of cigarettes isnt enough. Got any medicine? We do, replied the youth in the assault jacket, saying so as he also threw a small white bottle next to the campfire, seemingly prepared beforehand. This was hard currency in the wilderness. Having thrown it, the two then went to a nearby open space. At the campfire, a young girl watching the youth in the assault jacket whispered to Qin Tong beside her, Brother, that young man is quite handsome. Qin Tong glanced at the back of the youth, Hes covering half of his face with that assault jacket, and you still think hes handsome? The girl said, Some people can tell someone is handsome without seeing their whole face. Dont think about it too much, Qin Tong added a couple of sticks to the fire, Did you see their jackets? Just those two jackets alone could trade for both of my mechanical limbs. These people come to the wilderness to travel, we come to survive. Were just from two different worlds. The girl pouted, I didnt say anything. Im just worried you might get entranced by such rich kids, the young man spoke earnestly, Those wealthy folks living in the upper 3 district, not a single one is good news. Alright, alright, I get it, the girl said impatiently. All the while, her gaze still lingered distantly on the youth. Chapter 107: 107, Middle-aged and Youth Chapter 107: 107, Middle-aged and Youth The wilderness night at the camp always brought a sense of novelty when a stranger arrived. Nearly everyone by the bonfire was sizing up the middle-aged man and the young man, more or less subtly. The young man threw his heavy backpack onto the ground with a thud, and everyone could tell from the sound just how heavy it was. The middle-aged man made no attempt to help; instead, he simply found a rock to sit on and waited for the young man to start a fire and cook. The girl always felt that this young man was not the kind of rich son described by her brother, but more like a servant to the middle-aged man. Old man Qin Cheng saw this and said, That young man is probably not some rich son. I can tell from the sound that the backpack must weigh at least 50 pounds. The nearest city is more than a hundred kilometers away, and the nearest Federation forward base is over forty kilometers away. Carrying 50 pounds for more than forty kilometers, which rich son from District 3 could endure such hardship? By then, the young man had skilfully taken out a folding stool from his bag. The middle-aged man settled securely on the stool while the young man handed him an e-reader. By the bonfire, young Qin Tong suddenly hesitated, He really doesnt seem like a rich son. During their conversation, the young man took a silver thermos out of his backpack, expertly brewed a cup of tea with its lid, and handed it to the middle-aged man. The middle-aged man nodded in satisfaction and continued to focus on the e-reader, as if oblivious to the world outside and intent solely on refreshing the news. It was only at this point that the young man seemed to finally catch his breath... He sat on a large rock and rested for just a few seconds, then took a hatchet from his backpack, chopped down the thinnest tree trunk nearby, and collected some dry branches to pile up. He even deftly constructed a tripod from the branches over the pile of kindling and hung a small pot ready to cook. His camping skills are quite adept, Qin Tong spoke up from the bonfire, But its strange, the boys skin is so fair, he must seldom venture into the wilderness. In contrast to the paleness of the middle-aged man and the young man, Qin Tong and Qin Cheng had dark complexions, a clear sign of living under the harsh sun and wind year-round. The intense ultraviolet rays had peeled layer after layer of their skin, leaving behind tough but rough skin. Thats why, the moment the young man appeared, he exuded a distinctly different aura. He had a fairness and delicacy rarely seen in the wilderness. The girl sat by the fire, silently watching, as if her gaze were transfixed. The young man took a black box out of his backpack and then pinched six black needles from it. As they spoke, the young man stood a piece of firewood upright and used the back of the hatchet to hammer the six black needles into the top of the firewood until they were fully embedded. Soon, the needles began to heat up, and thin wisps of white smoke drifted from the wood. Qin Tong looked at the old man, Dad, its Qings Familys nanotechnology. Qin Cheng nodded, Ive seen that thing. Anyone with wilderness survival experience knew that firewood was hard to ignite. Sometimes you could work for an hour and only just manage to create a spark in the wood. And when the spark did come, the one who started the fire had to keep blowing on it, ending up with smoke-blinded eyes and a blackened face. But these six black needles, having absorbed the force of the young man hammering them into the wood, generated continuous heat at the core, igniting the firewood in just ten minutes. Qin Tong said, Last time I went to check out outdoor gear in City 18, I saw this nano product from Qings Family, I think it was called Thor. I asked about it, and its really expensive, six inconspicuous needles could trade for an entire set of my mechanical limbs. But it was at this moment that Qin Tong truly understood that what he considered very expensive was actually nothing in the eyes of others. The old man, Qin Cheng, opened the cigarettes that the young man had just given him, took one out to smell beneath his nose, and then stuffed the cigarette back into the pack. In the wilderness, this pack of cigarettes could sometimes be bartered for quite a few good things, such as rough maps, beast pelts, life-saving herbs. It could even be traded for the characteristics of certain strange animals in the Taboo Land. The wilderness is nothing like the city; there are many unknown dangers here. Money is hard to spend out here, you have to trade with hard commodities. At the campfire, the young girl silently watched the busy boy; the middle-aged man did not offer to help at all, acting like a pampered big boss. The boy poured clean water and white rice into a small pot to cook porridge. Not only that, he even added raisins and red dates to the porridge, making it look especially delicate. But the boy himself did not drink the porridge, instead, he sat off to the side silently gnawing on a tasteless synthetic protein bar. These protein bars are generally eaten only by those scratching out a living in the wilderness, one bar can replace a days worth of nutritional intake, and the boy ate four of them in a row. When the porridge was ready, the boy carefully brought it over to the middle-aged man... The girl felt somewhat indignant, Doesnt that middle-aged man have hands or feet? Why does he make others wait on him like that? At that moment, the girl by the campfire suddenly realized that the boy, who had sat down on the ground, had taken off his mountain boots, and the white socks inside were already dyed red with blood. The boy slowly peeled off his socks, revealing feet covered in blood clots that seemed to be full of wounds and blisters. With alcohol and cotton swabs, the boy cleaned his wounds, then applied ointment to himself. Throughout this process, he remained silent despite the clear pain he was in, merely frowning tightly. Moreover, just before, his complexion was normal and there was not the slightest abnormality in his walking posture, as if the wounds on his feet did not exist. Thinking of how he endured the pain to serve that middle-aged man made the girl feel a bit heartbroken. Suddenly, the girl said, Should I go help him, Dad? Look, his feet are broken from walking and he still has to do heavy work. Qin Cheng frowned and said in a grave tone, Hes a Servant, thats what hes supposed to do. You stay put right where you are. If you really start to fancy a Servant, theres no saving you. They are people without freedom, understand? The girl felt a little wronged but said no more. She just watched from a distance. At this time, the boy was sitting on the ground, continuing to tend to the wounds on his feet. Although the collar of his windbreaker covered most of his face, the girl somehow felt that the boys profile was very handsome. Dad, you said hes a Servant? the girl asked. Mmhmm, nodded the old man, Qin Cheng, Youve seen these people in the city too. Theyve sold their lives to the powerful, and they cant escape the fate of being bound for a lifetime. The term Servant is not unfamiliar in the Inner World, and is almost synonymous with Slave. Chapter 108: 108, Midlife Health Care Chapter 108: 108, Midlife Health Care Servants are not slaves, just products of capital exploitation. Some families are so poor that they cant make ends meet, so they sell their children over 14 years old to companies. The companies pay them a sum of money and then sign an 80-year labor contract with the children, agreeing to provide them with wages, food and lodging, and entrusted training among other benefits. During these 80 years, the children are obligated to serve the company as the party of the second part. If they want to terminate the contract within this period, they must pay a huge sum in damages to the company. A sum they simply cannot afford to pay. Eighty years is the maximum contractual period mandated by the Inner World labor laws, while fourteen is the minimum age for signing a labor contract. If a servant starts serving at the age of 14 and doesnt die by 94, they gain their freedom. But in fact, its rare for servants to live to 94. Hence, over time, the term servant was born. Its not that humanity in the Inner World has regressed to the era of slavery; its that when the law no longer protects the vulnerable, you realize just how powerful capital is. There are actually quite a lot of these servants, mostly people who are desperate and sell themselves into wealthy households. So, when the old man, Qin Cheng, saw the young mans demeanor, he thought of the status of a servant. At this time, after the middle-aged man had finished his rice porridge, the young man tidily cleared away the utensils and pitched a tent for the middle-aged man. The leisurely middle-aged man crawled into his tent to sleep, while the young man just found a wind-sheltering rock to lean against and closed his eyes to rest. In that gigantic backpack, there seemed to be only sundries needed by the middle-aged man and nothing for the youthnot even a single-person tent; there was only one... From time to time, the young man would open his eyes, add some wood to the fire to keep the area around the tent well-lit. Truth be told, even the Hunters by the campfire felt that the young mans situation was quite wretched. The middle-aged man seemed to not even regard the young man as human. The wind picked up at midnight, bringing a chill that seemed to wick away the warmth from the campfire. Qin Cheng glanced at his eldest son, Qin Tong, Dont mess with these two. Anyone who dares venture into the wilderness is no fool. That middle-aged man at a glance looks wealthy, and he might have completed a full sequence of Genetic Potions to reach B-Class. Qin Tong nodded, Dont worry, Dad, Im not stupid. At this time, the middle-aged woman beside Qin Cheng said, That young man doesnt look like he has been injected with Genetic Potions, nor does he have mechanical limbs. A servant of someone important wouldnt be this weak; maybe that middle-aged man is just C-Class. Qin Cheng shook his head, Dont underestimate him. Even if hes C-Class, hes not someone we can afford to provoke. The old man then rolled himself a cigarette, reflected silently for a long while, and then said to Qin Tong, Go get a blanket from the car for that young man. We cant reach the big shots, cant fawn over them, but we can make connections with servants. Sometimes a servant becomes the bosss confidant, and a little something falling through their fingers is enough for us to live on for two or three years. Plus, he has access to the big shots, and our business is essentially capturing pets for them. Mhm, Qin Tong nodded, standing up. But before he could fully rise, the young girl beside him grabbed him, saying, Brother, Ill go get it. With that, the young girl ran off towards the pickup truck, and Qin Tong sighed behind her. A girl whod grown up in the wilderness was uncontrollable by parents and older brothers, wild in nature. The young girl approached the young man cautiously and with some curiosity, holding a blanket in her arms. But just as she came within two meters of the young man, he suddenly exploded into action, causing leaves on the ground to be whipped up by the wind. The boy produced a dagger from somewhere, only stopping it from slicing the girls neck at the last moment. His movements were crisp and clean, not at all the harmless demeanor he had shown before. With a whoosh, over ten people from the neighboring camp stood up, as if ready to rush over to rescue. Meanwhile, the girl took a close look at the boy without a hint of fear, I came to bring you a blanket, afraid you might catch a cold. The boy looked at her calmly and replied, Thank you, but I dont need it. Throughout this, the girl showed no intention of resisting, just gazing directly at him. The weather is quite chilly now, youll get sick if you sit outside all night, the girl persisted. Hmm, thanks for your kindness, but its not necessary, the boy settled back against the rock. Well then, just so you remember, my name is Qin Yiyi, the girl said, taking the blanket back to her own camp. Qin Tong frowned and said, Do you realize that was very dangerous just now? Not really, the girl turned to look at her brother, He didnt have any intent to kill. Besides, she had seen his profile clearly when the boy sat down just now. He was indeed very good-looking. What do you know about murderous intent, girl, said the old man Qin Cheng, pondering for a moment before speaking, It seems he doesnt want to deal with us, so lets not bother. Ive decided, starting from tomorrow, well head to that place and search for traces of prey at the edge. With that, he pulled a black box from beside him and opened it; four drones inside quietly flew up into the sky, spreading out towards the perimeter of the camp. Once they reached their designated areas, each drone cast a soft white light below, illuminating the vicinity. Red beams stretched between the drones, ready to automatically defend and raise an alarm should any unknown creatures enter the area. Hunters must have ways to protect themselves while making a living in the wilderness. ... At dawn the next day, Uncle Li Dong emerged from his tent, fresh and alert, and said with a smile to Qing Chen, who was sleeping against a rock, Hows your foot injury? Any better? Much better, Qing Chen nodded, Though the wound keeps reopening from the long trek, the ointment is miraculous, and the injury is healing. I estimate... itll be fully healed in two more days. Since the injury is healing, Uncle Li Dong said with a smile, lets start preparing breakfast! He glanced at the neighboring camp, where porridge was already being cooked and someone was chopping cured meat into a pot. Qing Chen looked up at Uncle Li Dong and said, Although the teacher planned to put me through hardships, its a bit too much to only pack your personal belongings in the backpack. Also, why did you even bring something like a stool? Cant we just sit on a rock? Oh, sitting on rocks can be quite chilly, explained Uncle Li Dong, Moreover, it was because Ye Wan weighed the backpack and said it wasnt even 60 pounds that I had him stuff the stool in there. Practice must look like practice. You havent trained for long and are already out with me on a journey, we cant neglect training on the road. With the help of the Breathing Technique, trekking with a heavy load will allow you to grow at an astonishing rate. By my calculations, your physical fitness should be just about adequate by the time we reach Taboo Land 002. But you couldve thrown away the raisins, red dates, goji berries, and packed some supplies for me instead, Qing Chen grumbled a little. Im not exactly young, Uncle Li Dong said earnestly, The teacher needs to maintain his health. Qing Chen took out a thick paper book from the backpack and said with a pained expression, So, did you also have Ye Wan stuff a health knowledge manual in there? It must have been quite hard to find a paper book these days! ... Thanks to Windprint King and HؼDesign for becoming new allies of this book, thank you, bosses. The bosses are grand, may they make a fortune! Chapter 109: 109, Autumn Hunt Chapter 109: 109, Autumn Hunt Having left Prison No. 18, Qing Chen followed Uncle Li Dong through a long tunnel, traversing the prisons surveillance perimeter and walking deep into the mountain. Qing Chen once asked: why is there a secret passage inside the prison? Uncle Li Dong explained to Qing Chen: Prison No. 18 was constructed by the Li Corporation. When the Li Family built the prison, they left a lifeline in case one day their own clan members became prisoners, to prevent dying within its walls. At that time, the corporations influence over the Federation wasnt as substantial, and it was possible they could become the victims of power struggles. Afterwards, the workers responsible for constructing the tunnel, on their way to City No. 10 for another project, all died in a landslide. Thus, the secret of the tunnel remained known only to a select few within the Li Family. Latterly, as the Li Family slowly grew more powerful, the original engineering blueprints in their possession somehow got lost, and even they forgot that their ancestors had left them a path to survival. As the Li Family stood firm within the Federation, it seemed they no longer needed such a level of a safety net. After Uncle Li Dong brought Qing Chen out, he made him carry a very heavy backpack, regardless of the boys injured feet, and they proceeded at a forced march pace. Have you heard that crackling sound in your bones again? Uncle Li Dong asked. No, Qing Chen shook his head: It hasnt happened again. Like all knights before him, since Laojun Mountain, there had been no activity from his genetic lock. Uncle Li Dong smiled: No worries, there will always be some other gains from this outing. By the way, teacher, Qing Chen asked, our food will be gone in two days. What will we eat after that? Uncle Li Dong looked at the boy: How should I know? That is certainly something for you, the student, to consider! Qing Chen: ... ... Early in the morning, the young girl Qin Yiyi got up, folded her tent, and threw it onto the vehicle. From a distance of more than ten meters, she quietly observed the boy, only to discover that he was already cooking for the middle-aged man. Brother, do servants really not have a chance to regain their freedom? Qin Yiyi asked Qin Tong. There are basically no servants who regain freedom, Qin Tong said, Servants are those closest to the powerful figures, hence they know a lot of secrets. So even if they are disabled, the company wont let them leave; its more likely theyll just kill them outright. Qin Yiyi sighed. Such a fine young man, yet he had become a servant. What kind of family would sell their child to a company? The Qin Clan might live somewhat harshly, with many children to care for, but shed never heard of any plans to sell a child from Qin Cheng. Thinking back to the night before, when the boy calmly applied medicine to her feet, Qin Yiyi thought that the boy must have endured many hardships to be able to face pain with such composure. Just then, the sound of engines and loud music suddenly erupted from the north of the woods. The musics rhythm was especially exuberant, as if it could unsettle the heart from afar. Before the northern convoy arrived, Qin Cheng saw over a dozen drones fly overhead. Those are the Chen Clans Border-011 model drones, armed with weapons! Hurry, get our own drones packed up! Qin Cheng shouted. But it was already too late. The drones that had suddenly appeared surrounded their camp, and over a dozen armed drones directly shot down Qin Chengs drones. Qin Yiyi felt a pang of heartache; those drones had been hard-earned through the exchange of game. With a few drones in hand, everyone could finally get a good nights sleep when they went out hunting. Qin Cheng took a deep breath and said, Raise your hands, do not try to resist. Its the Autumn Hunting Fleet of the Li and Chen Clans, we cant escape. Everyone in the camp dared not move as the more than ten Boundary-011 drones patrolled around them, like scouts for the fleet. Qin Cheng and the others were like lambs to the slaughter, raising their hands in preparation to be carved up at will. In the blink of an eye, the fleet from the north zoomed in, its massive tires kicking up billowing dust on the ground. Qing Chen and Uncle Li Dong pulled up the collars of their assault jackets and silently watched. Uncle Li Dong said in a low voice, Lets not reveal our identities for now, I do not wish to kill them yet. Qing Chen blankly gave his teacher a look, ... The fleet consisted of more than thirty vehicles, 29 large SUVs with super-sized wheels, and seven pickups as supply vehicles, quite immense. The exhaust of the off-road vehicles was not at the rear but mounted on either side of the vehicle. In the midst of deafening music, someone revved the engine during a lull, cheering as the exhaust pipes on either side suddenly spat out flames. Qing Chen felt some novelty; previously, Jiang Xue had told him that, because it was not possible to build Yun Liu Towers extensively in the wilderness, most vehicles used in the wilderness were powered by diesel engines. Now, Qing Chen suddenly realized that the diesel engine Jiang Xue spoke of... seemed a bit different from the diesel engine he had imagined. At the front of the fleet, a man wearing a mechanical eyepatch sat in the co-drivers seat, controlling all the drones single-handedly through a neural interface. Normally, such a person in the fleet was called the First Mate, responsible for all scouting and alert duties, camp security, and defense, acting as second-in-command in the fleet. From the back of a vehicle, a young man got off and walked slowly towards the camp, but when he saw Qin Chengs two pickups, he cursed loudly. Someone in the vehicle asked, Whats wrong? The young man replied loudly, These are Wilderness Hunters with a license from city number 18, lawful citizens, we cant kill them. The pick-ups were spray-painted with a wolfs head and a series of numbers, the legal identification number for the Qin familys authorized exit from the city. Someone from the fleet suddenly said, It should be fine though, I see that their hunting recorders are off, the data centers in the rear wont know. Lets kill them, consider it an offering to the Autumn Hunt Sacrificial Flag. At that moment. The voice of a woman from inside the car said, You say youre out here for the hunt but here you are bullying these ordinary citizens, thats pretty low. With that, the car window rolled down, revealing a tall and sturdy woman at the drivers seat of one of the off-road vehicles. The young man beneath the vehicle whistled and burst into laughter, Yino makes sense, lets go! Wait, said the sturdy Li Yinuo, compensate them for the drones we destroyed. Alright! The young man took out two bundles of money from his waist bag and threw them onto the ground, then everyone turned and got into their vehicles. The massive fleet hit the road again, leaving behind the camp, dusty and in disrepair, with everyone inside looking somewhat disheveled. In the camp, everyone breathed a sigh of relief. Qin Tong sat down on the ground, powerless, with a young woman nestling in his arms, sobbing softly. Common folk faced with high-ranking individuals are so powerless. Qin Yiyi turned back and noticed that both the middle-aged man and the young man had always been standing behind the tree trunks, in places that easily blocked the line of sight from others. Chapter 110: 110, there is another target Chapter 110: 110, there is another target The convoy that just arrived was full of clans scions, the real big shots in the city. The young girl thought that these two avoiding the financial groups probably werent big shots either, otherwise, they would have come out and acknowledged each other already. After all, those clan scions had threatened to kill them, and if they truly knew each other, they at least would have come forward and said something. At this thought, Qin Yiyi was a bit happy... It was good that these were not the big shots. Her whole family disliked those city big shots. Those big shots never regarded people like them as human beings. However, Qin Yiyi suddenly noticed that the young boy seemed to be furrowing his brow, pondering something. Not far away, Uncle Li Dong looked at his prized student, What is it? What did you see to make you so serious? Qing Chen turned his head and whispered softly, Teacher, I saw my classmate. When the woman named Yino rolled down the car window, the person Qing Chen saw from the passenger seat was none other than the timid Nan Gengchen... The woman with a robust physique, a dominating huge SUV, and the silver exhaust pipes spitting flames C all this made Nan Gengchen, who sat in the passenger seat, appear somewhat out of place. So... Qing Chen suddenly found himself feeling a mix of laughter and tears; was the muscular Li Yinuo the rich woman keeping Nan Gengchen? No wonder he moved into District 1, he indeed had latched onto a big shot... Only the taste of this Li Yinuo seemed somewhat peculiar, strong herself, yet she preferred weak boys. At this moment, while everyone else was enjoying the rhythmic music, Nan Gengchen sat in his seat with a desolate expression. His eyes were lifelessly staring at the windshield... He even wanted to cover his ears at one point. This must be the price of being kept. The poor guy hadnt even noticed that his desk mate was hiding in the nearby woods. Uncle Li Dong looked at Qing Chen, Do you remember the name Li Yinuo? Yes, Qing Chen nodded, Its on the list of Lis Financial Group you gave me, Li Yinuo, the beloved eldest daughter of the Lee familys third generation. Tong Yun once mentioned that she had an elder sister in the Lee family who was very kind to her, not sure if its this one though. The third generation of the Lee family had many children, with Tong Yun having more than ten older sisters and brothers. The little girl didnt mention a name, so Qing Chen couldnt be sure. He looked at Uncle Li Dong, Teacher, what is this Autumn Hunting Team for, hunting wild beasts? Uncle Li Dong shook his head, They dare not hunt wild beasts, they only dare to hunt humans. Humans? Qing Chen was stunned, he truly hadnt expected that. There are many like Guo Huchan, who dont have legal identities, wandering in the wilderness, Uncle Li Dong explained, some are prisoners who escaped from the city, and others are civilians who live in the wilderness unwilling to be oppressed by the financial groups. They live just outside the borders of the Taboo Land and whenever financial groups launch raids, they escape into the edges of the Taboo Land and play cat and mouse with the army. So, the so-called Autumn Hunting is not about finding wild beasts, but about hunting down illegal wilderness dwellers! All along the way, Qing Chen had also seen scattered settlements in the wilderness. There, humans were responsible for assisting intelligent machinery in production labor, but now, production labor seemed to have been largely replaced by machinery, and not many humans were needed anymore. Before, Qing Chen had summarized that not only 19 cities experienced the emergence of Time Travelers, but other places also sporadically witnessed them. So, those sporadic appearances, must correspond to the few settlements in the wilderness. Why do we need to raid the wilderness people? Qing Chen asked. Because they always like to seize the opportunity to loot those production bases. Guo Huchan was captured while leading a raid on production base 1192, Uncle Li Dong said. Teacher, what level is Guo Huchan? Qing Chen asked. B-Class, Uncle Li Dong answered. Thats why in the recent Autumn Hunting Team, there definitely were B-Class Experts from the corporation hidden among them, protecting these young people. Are all these people direct descendants of the corporation? Qing Chen asked. No, Uncle Li Dong shook his head. They are just some spoiled descendants, the real direct heirs are either serving in the Federations corporate army or holding significant positions in companies. These in the Autumn Hunt are just collateral members of the family with no hopes of ascending. As he watched the departing convoy, Qing Chen suddenly thought of the term Eight Banners descendants: So, are there many corporate elites in the Federal Army? Uncle Li Dong said with a laugh, Heng Society also captured quite a few Time Travelers and extracted numerous details. Interestingly, many people in the Outer World think that the corporations directly control the entire Federation, but thats not the case. They indirectly hold power over the Federation through various sectors. Fundamentally, they still claim this place is democratic. Democracy is not about the corporate descendants killing whomever they want, Qing Chen said calmly. Uncle Li Dong smiled, The Emperor has never disappeared; they just changed clothes. The terms Inner World and Outer World were gradually catching on in this region. Actually, there was no difference, having names to distinguish both worlds was sufficient. At that moment, Uncle Li Dong, watching the departing convoy said, But, they started the Autumn Hunt early, which means I cant take you to walk there slowly. Otherwise, by the time wed arrive, the dinner would be cold. After speaking, Uncle Li Dong walked over to Qin Cheng and asked, Could we get a lift? I see theres still space on your pickup; the two of us can sit in the back. Well pay. The young girl Qin Yiyi suddenly pointed at Qing Chen and said, You can ride, but you have to treat him well. Uncle Li Dong was startled; that was an unexpected turn. He had not realized that his student was quite popular wherever he went. However, Qin Cheng pulled Qin Yiyi away, then politely said, The little girl doesnt know better, shes gotten wild living in the wilderness. Yes, you can hitch a ride, but where do you need to go? Uncle Li Dong laughed and said, Its up to fate where we go. How about this, lets just ride along and when we want to get off, well settle the fare based on the distance traveled. Qin Cheng hesitated for a moment, then Qing Chen took out a bottle of antibiotics from his bag and handed it to him: A deposit. Okay! Qin Cheng agreed. During the conversation, Qing Chen glanced at his teacher. The man clearly didnt come out here without a purpose. Uncle Li Dong knew very well that the corporations Autumn Hunt was beginning, and he even knew where Qin Chengs family was heading. However, he couldnt understand why, given that the teacher had said he would take him to try to unlock the first layer of his genetic lock, it now seemed he had another goal in mind. Chapter 111: 111, Wilderness Chapter 111: 111, Wilderness Before setting off this time, Qing Chen was no longer alone in packing up the campsite. Qin Yiyi didnt even bother to help with her own campsite; instead, she quickly helped him fold up the tent and the small stool. She even found the six Thor fire-starting Divine Artifacts from the extinguished campfire for Qing Chen. The young girl approached Qing Chen, handed him the cleaned Thor, and said, If you start riding in the car, you wont aggravate the wound on your foot. After speaking, the girl returned to Qin Chengs side and whispered, Dad, how much is the penalty for a Servant breaking a contract? Old man Qin Cheng glared at her annoyedly and said, You just sit in the car and behave, stop talking to that young man. I wont, Qin Yiyi declared and then climbed into the back of the truck, utterly uncontrollable. Girls from the wilderness are wild by nature, like little wildcats, and beyond parental control once they reach a certain age. Though they were city folk, Qin Yiyi had spent years following her parents in the wilderness, and had more or less gone savage herself. Qin Cheng sighed at the sight of his rebellious daughter, then said to Qin Tong, Go sit in the back of the truck later, and keep an eye on your sister so no one takes advantage of her. She might listen to you a bit, she certainly wont listen to me anymore. Alright, Qin Cheng sighed as well. Sitting in the car, Qing Chen noticed that the pickup truck behind them had a green tarp covering a cage, which was completely empty. And in the car he was in, there were tools for trapping animals, repairing cars, scattered all about. The roar of the pickups engine was like a wild horse galloping, full of power. He took out the stool from his backpack for Uncle Li Dong, who sat down naturally on it. No matter how much the pickup truck jostled on the dirt road, Uncle Li Dong sat perfectly steady. At that moment, Qin Yiyi, hugging her knees, asked, Uncle, what class are you to dare to venture into the wilderness with just the two of you, and even head south? Currently, they were still considered to be on the outskirts of the city. There were many production bases around, and the Federal Second Grouped Army was stationed nearby, with troops occasionally patrolling the area, so it was not very dangerous. However, further south it was different, even if not approaching the Taboo Land, it was dangerous for Ordinary People. Just last night, Qing Chen had asked Uncle Li Dong: Are the people in the neighboring camp a family? Uncle Li Dong answered that they were. Qing Chen was puzzled: Why would a family travel together in such a dangerous place as the wilderness? What if they all fell into danger, especially considering that there were women not skilled in combat in the neighboring camp? Uncle Li Dong replied: They had been driven out of the city to earn a living because they couldnt find any other work. The reason for the whole family sticking together was that in such a dangerous place as the wilderness, one couldnt trust anyone other than those related by blood. If a team were to camp in a desolate place and someone stealthily drove the car away in the middle of the night, it would be no different than waiting for death for the ones left behind. The abandoned would immediately go from being the Hunter to the hunted. In this era, even family members might not always be trustworthy, let alone strangers. According to Uncle Li Dongs judgment, old man Qin Cheng was the leader of this group, with the remaining strong and young men either his sons or his nephews. At this moment. Uncle Li Dong looked at Qin Yiyi with a smile and asked, What class do you think I am? Qin Yiyi thought about it and said, C-Class. Uncle Li Dong shook his head, I am S-Class. Qin Yiyi pouted, If you dont want to talk about it, fine, stingy. In the girls eyes, Uncle Li Dong had just made up a lie to placate her. Qin Cheng sat on the side, silent all this time. He watched his sister chatting with Uncle Li Dong, truly sweating bullets inside. However, his sister had always been smarter than her peers and was better at reading people. She probably talked to this middle-aged man because she could tell that he had a rather pleasant temperament. While everyone was chatting, Qing Chen sat in the vehicle, turning the pages of a reader. Qin Yiyi glanced at it and saw that the reader displayed photos of plants, each accompanied by brief descriptions. It was something Lin Xiaoxiao had obtained for Qing Chen, to help him memorize all the known plants of the Inner World. There were edible ones, ones that could be used to extract fresh water, ones for treating external wounds, medicinal herbs that could be used as remedies, and antidotes for poison, among othersquite a variety. Qing Chen was making a note of this to handle any emergencies he might encounter in the wilderness later on. As he looked down at the reader, a slender hand entered his field of vision, holding a bright red apple. Qing Chen observed silently. The hand had many small wounds and calloused knuckles, clearly the hand of someone who engaged in manual labor year-round. Qin Yiyi spoke up, Here, this is for you. Without waiting for Qing Chen to refuse, she stuffed it directly into his embrace. Qin Yiyi continued, Earlier, about 30 kilometers west of the camp, theres an apple orchard that doesnt belong to any production base. Wild apples are usually very sour, but the apples from that orchard are both large and sweet. Our family has been picking apples there for three years in a row, theyre very delicious, you should try one. Usually, for fruit trees to bear fruit, they must be fertilized and pruned, like sugar tangerines that also require girdling the trunk to sweeten the fruits. So normally, wild jujubes and wild apples tend to be small and sour, as they arent cared for by fruit farmers. But Qin Yiyi said that was a wild apple orchard. It didnt make sense for it to yield sweet fruits. Uncle Li Dong turned to Qin Tong and said, Tell your father to be more careful the next time he goes to that apple orchard. Why? Qin Tong was somewhat surprised. There are already signs of it becoming a Taboo Land. Perhaps decades ago, a Transcendent died there. Even though it isnt fully formed yet, it already covers more than thirty square kilometers. The Transcendent who died must have been at least B-Class, Uncle Li Dong thought for a moment and then said, Right now the fruits are still fine, but maybe in a few more years, the fruits might have hallucinogenic effects. After eating them, you might see dragons flying in the sky, insects crawling on your body... Mild hallucinations are nothing major, but if theyre severe, you wont have time to get help. The most critical issue is that the insects and wild animals within the Taboo Land could also mutate into unpredictable evolutionary paths. These years, the number of Taboo Lands had been steadily increasing. So are these apples still safe to eat now? Qin Yiyi asked. Yes, Uncle Li Dong nodded, The Taboo Land hasnt formed yet. Qin Yiyi then offered an apple to Uncle Li Dong, Here, this ones for you, too. Uncle Li Dong laughed, You didnt give me one just now, how come you are giving me one now? Qin Yiyi sneakily glanced at Qing Chen, Im giving it to him, not you. I was worried that you would secretly trip him up. Uncle Li Dong burst into hearty laughter, suddenly feeling that this journey would be very enjoyable. Meanwhile, Qing Chen thought about Nan Gengchen, that guy who was brought into the dangerous wilderness. He hoped nothing untoward happened to him. But then he reconsideredwhat he should really be worried about was whether that kid could withstand Li Yinuos robust physique... Chapter 112: 112. The VIPs Pet Chapter 112: 112. The VIPs Pet It was said that the northern wilderness was covered in yellow sand. But in the southern wilderness where Qing Chen and his group were, there was actually a lot of vegetation, which wasnt much different from the southern mountains and forests of the Outer World. The sky here was extremely blue, looking utterly refreshing. After driving on the mountain roads for several miles, the two pick-up trucks finally turned onto the highway. This was the first time Qing Chen had seen a highway in the wilderness, as Uncle Li Dong had always taken him through less traveled paths before. By now, the disappearance of Uncle Li Dong must have slowly started fermenting within the Federation. However, everyone was in the wilderness, and there was no network coverage here. Before coming out, Qing Chen had asked his mentor if, being such a significant figure, hed be recognized wherever he went. Uncle Li Dong had replied that during his lifetime, very little of his image data had been made public. Consortiums might recognize this reclusive man, but ordinary people wouldnt. Thus, when the Autumn Hunting Fleet came before, Uncle Li Dong had pulled up his collar, and once they had left, he took it back down. Of course, he also explained that pulling up the collar wasnt because he was afraid of being discovered, but mainly because he was too lazy to silence them. That must be what an intense life looked like, and Qing Chen had also thought about such a life. Iron wires fenced both sides of the highway, just like the freeways in the Outer World. Seeing the curiosity in Qing Chens eyes, Qin Yiyi explained, These wire nets are to prevent wild animals from entering, as some of the beasts are quite large, and if youre driving too fast, you wont have enough time to dodge them. There are underground culverts every few kilometers on the highway, specifically for these animals to cross and migrate. This way, they wont damage the nets. The girl was a bit curious; this boy seemed to be in the wilderness for the first time, but the efficiency with which he worked did not seem like a first-timer; he was very skilled. Along the roadside, Qing Chen occasionally caught sight of Yun Liu Towers, huge black mushroom towers standing beside the road, appearing as a unique landscape. But these Yun Liu Towers seemed to have been abandoned, covered in rust. It seemed that some of Jiang Xues prior general knowledge was hearsay; she had never actually been to the wilderness herself. Just like Uncle Li Dong had mentioned weapons of the Inner World before. He had said that one reason humans still used firearms was based on a very simple logic: if you want to kill someone, a bullet is enough. The diesel engine seemed to be such an existence. Qin Yiyi said, A long, long time ago, you could still see electric cars on the highway, but later everyone found that diesel engines were more practical in the wilderness, so for long trips, people still choose diesel cars. Gradually, Yun Liu Towers lost their function, and the consortiums no longer bothered to maintain them. How about mechanical limbs? Qing Chen asked. Carry a wireless charger on your own vehicle, Qin Yiyi pointed towards the pick-up behind them: Next to the iron cage, theres a black box containing a Morning Star-3 type lead-bismuth alloy reactor. That thing is really expensive, my dad got it from the black market. Apparently, it used to be the power source for a Mountain main battle tank. Qin Tong glanced at his sister and coughed. His message was clear; even if you like this boy, you shouldnt reveal everything about your familys assets. Qin Yiyi glanced at her brother, Why are you coughing? Uncle here wouldnt care for the junk we have. Uncle Li Dong cooperatively looked at Qin Tong and said, Right, I wouldnt care for it. Qin Tong: ... He now wished to sit back in the vehicle again, out of sight, out of mind. Qin Yiyi curiously sized up Uncle Li Dong, Uncle, I think youre a pretty good person. Why are you so harsh on him? Even if hes a servant, you should still treat him like a human. Look, his feet are all bloody. The young girl pointed at Qing Chen. Uncle Li Dong asked with interest, Are you defending him against me? Not exactly defending, Qin Yiyi thought for a moment and said, I just feel sorry for him. Girls from the wilderness spoke very straightforwardly. Qing Chen changed the topic, What do you hunt for? Do you need the animal hides? Of course not, Qin Yiyis eyes widened, Hides are barely worth anything. Thats what low-end wilderness hunters do, and they dont even have to go to that kind of place! Qing Chen knew they were going to Taboo Land. He was surprised that ordinary people were even reluctant to mention Taboo Land directly. Qin Yiyi said, We specialize in capturing live creatures, belonging to the mid-level wilderness hunters! Capture live creatures? Qing Chen was curious, For the corporations to do research? Of course not, Qin Yiyi explained, The corporations can just use the military to capture whatever they need. What we capture is for the citys big shots to use as pets. Those big shots are strange, some like lizards, snakes, and some even like spiders the size of a head, but those kinds of spiders are only found in that kind of place. However, that kind of place is not only dangerous because of these visible threats. Just then, a roaring sound came from the north of the highway. Almost simultaneously, Uncle Li Dong and Qing Chen, both master and apprentice, made the motion of pulling up their collars... Everyone turned their heads and were shocked to see a convoy rushing up at full speed, then overtaking two pickups and heading south. Eight black off-road vehicles, all bearing white designs. Qing Chen recognized it at a glance... It was Mount Fuji. Honestly, he never expected to see Mount Fuji in the Inner World. Qing Chen asked in a low voice, What is this? Uncle Li Dong replied softly, This is the Jindai familys fleet; your fiance?e is probably in one of those vehicles. Qing Chen was surprised, Huh, she said she was going back to her clan. Uncle Li Dong smiled, The Jindai family brought two girls this time, led by Jindai Yasuhito, each to be allied through marriage with Qings Family and Chen Clan. From the direction theyre heading, it looks like they are going to the southern Chen Clan territory, which is their stronghold. At that moment, Qing Chen whispered again, I thought they were also going to the Autumn Hunting Festival. No, Uncle Li Dong replied, The Autumn Hunting Festival is a tradition for the young generations of Li Family, Qings Family, and Chen Clan; it generally does not extend invitations to the Jindai and Deer Island families. Uncle Li Dong continued, On one hand, its because Jindai and Deer Island are in the north, while the hunting festival generally takes place in the south. On the other hand, the hawkish young generations of the Li, Qing, and Chen families believe that Jindai and Deer Island are foreign clans, so they have always advocated for fully annexing or even destroying these two families. Among them, the Li Family holds the firmest stance. Qing Chen thought to himself, no wonder Jindai is seeking marriages with two clans; they must be feeling a sense of crisis. Suddenly, Qin Yiyi tilted her head curiously and asked, What are you two whispering about? Uncle Li Dong smiled, Nothing. Chapter 113: 113, Meeting gift Chapter 113: 113, Meeting gift The vehicles headed south, and occasionally small stone monuments with inscriptions like 18, 223, 18, 224, appeared along the roadside. They were like boundary markers. Uncle Li Dong explained to Qing Chen that they were still within the territory of City 18, and the subsequent 223 marking was a landmark for easy recognition of the location. As the sun began to set in the west, Qin Cheng suddenly said over the walkie-talkie, Its getting late. We will soon reach the iron net entrance, get ready to camp. In the back of the truck, Qin Yiyi and Qin Tong started packing things up. The pickup trucks pulled off the highway, and Qing Chen turned off his reader, looking up to ask his teacher, Why were these characters personalities deleted? At this point, he had memorized all the known plants and had started to read through the character profiles provided to him by Lin Xiaoxiao. The information was painstakingly collected by Lin Xiaoxiao and was mostly about relatively important figures within the Inner Worlds system. From the current President of the Federation to the mayor of City 18 and the chief of staff of the mayors office, all were included. Qing Chen noticed that the mayor seemed more like a governor from across the ocean in the Outer World, elected by the people, and not directly subordinate to the President, with immense power. Uncle Li Dong explained softly, Remember what weve talked about before? The outcome of a battle is decided by the future, never calculate using past information. Everything in this world changes, especially human hearts, which change the quickest, so what kind of people they are is for you to find out. We will not provide you with any reference. Okay, Qing Chen nodded, so view issues with a perspective of development. Uncle Li Dong thought for a moment and then said, Thats well put. As he finished speaking, Uncle Li Dong calmly scanned the surroundings as if he noticed something. But just then, over a dozen people in camouflage uniforms suddenly emerged from the fallen leaves beside the dirt road. They were draped in nets made of hemp rope, with the mesh tied up with dense branches and leaves, offering strong camouflage. Upon seeing these people, Qin Yiyi and Qin Tong immediately reached for their weapons, but it was definitely too late; they were already within the enemys firing range. However, Qing Chen suddenly reached out to pull Qin Yiyi over to him and squatted behind Uncle Li Dong together. Uncle Li Dong glanced at the several dark gun muzzles outside, then turned to Qing Chen behind him and asked, Shouldnt you make a move at this time, like standing in front of me or something? Qing Chen calmly replied, Wouldnt that mean Im looking down on you? It seems theres some truth to that, Uncle Li Dong seated on a low stool nodded his head, but I still feel somethings off. Xiao Xiao would stand in front of me. Im not as pretentious as he is, Qing Chen said with a scoff. Qing Chen was very clear about this in his heart; there was an essential difference between enduring hardship and taking a bullet. If there was danger that he couldnt handle, it was time for his S-Class teacher to step up. Showing off was pointless. What if a stray bullet hit him? To tell the truth, Qing Chen was curious to see how a Demigod in this world would fare against firearms. So far, Uncle Li Dong seemed not to be afraid of guns at all. At this moment, Qin Yiyi was silently squatting next to Qing Chen, feeling the boys hand grip her own like a vice, preventing her from moving arbitrarily. The girl looked at Qing Chens profile and seemed unconcerned about those who laid in ambush outside. She didnt even consider whether the man in front of her could protect them, nor did she think about the dangers that lay ahead. She was just earnestly pondering why the boy would save her. Outside the vehicle, someone shouted, Hands up! The driver, turn off the engine and get out. Keep your hands where I can see them, and if you have a mechanical limb on your arm, roll up your sleeve! Old man Qin Cheng slowly got out of the car: Is Lao Zhang there? Is that you, Lao Zhang? Its me, Qin Cheng! Damn, its you, old kid, A middle-aged man with a utility suit slowly emerged with a gun: Why did you come early? Didnt we agree to wait a few more days? Alright, everyone lower your guns. Qing Chen was startled by this exchange and looked at Qin Yiyi beside him, Who are these people? The girl, usually like a wildcat, blushed at the boys gaze: Ah? What? Who are these people? Qing Chen repeated the question. Qin Yiyi came back to her senses: Zhang Tongdan, theyre the Wild people, my dads old acquaintances, but theyre ruthless and cant be fully trusted. At that moment, Qin Cheng expertly took out a bottle of antibiotics and handed it to Zhang Tongdan: Were heading south this time. This is the road fee. Give the brothers in the Wilds a heads-up to let me pass, and well discuss our trade separately. Zhang Tongdan slung the automatic rifle over his shoulder and took the antibiotics from Qin Chengs hand: Fine, were not strangers to dealing with each other. The boss said theres a big catch at Zhizi Lake today, but not sure if its possible to get it. You must have encountered them on the road, didnt you? How were they? Weve come across two groups of people. Which one are you referring to, Lao Zhang? asked Qin Cheng. The one with over thirty vehicles, and the fleet that also has a first mate controlling over a dozen drones, Zhang Tongdan said. Thats the Autumn Hunting Fleet, Qin Cheng said in a low voice: Youd better be careful, there are definitely experts in that fleet. Bad luck, another tough nut we cant touch. If the boss himself made a move, it would be viable, but the cost is too high, Zhang Tongdan said as he looked toward the bed of the pickup truck. Seeing the empty cage, he asked, What are you planning to catch this time? Were trying to catch a falcon and a monkey. The price offered is very high, Qin Cheng replied. But weve had lousy luck this time and caught nothing. Zhang Tongdan patted Qin Cheng on the shoulder with a sense of commiseration: You guys also have it tough. With that, he turned to walk toward the woods: Come on, fellows, lets... However, after just two steps, Zhang Tongdan turned back, pointing his gun at Uncle Li Dong: Whos this old kid? And the boy next to him? Their attire looks like theyre from the city. We cant have outsiders know about our dealings, and what if they go back and report our whereabouts? Sweat broke out on Qin Chengs forehead, but he saw Qin Yiyi suddenly hug Qing Chens arm: Uncle Zhang, hes my man, and the one next to him is his dad. Theyre going to be part of the family soon. Theyve never been to the Wilds before; Im just taking them out for some fun. The Wild people around started whistling, and Zhang Tongdan cursed with laughter: Well, look at you, little girl, all grown up. Qin Cheng, your in-law looks wealthy. Your familys hit the jackpot with these city folks, eh? Uncle Li Dong thought for a moment, then took out Thor from Qing Chens backpack and tossed it through the air to Zhang Tongdan: A meeting gift. If my in-law ever faces danger in the Wilds, please look after him. Zhang Tongdan looked at Thor in his hand, stunned for two seconds before giving a thumbs up: Generous of you, boss. To give Thor just like that! I, Lao Zhang, am also a straightforward person. I decide now, for the next five years, the Qin family will be exempt from the road fee! Chapter 114: 114, nutrition cant keep up anymore Chapter 114: 114, nutrition cant keep up anymore Qing Chen muttered quietly to the side, Giving this away, its going to be a hassle for us to start a fire. Uncle Li Dong teased nonchalantly, No worries, just let your in-law help us with the fire. We wont be needing this thing. Qing Chen: ...That seems to make sense. Does that mean we can also mooch off their dinner tonight? Thats exactly what I was thinking, Uncle Li Dong said. At that moment, Zhang Tongdan waved toward the woods, Come on, bring everything out. He turned to Qin Cheng and said, Weve just finished discussing the toll, and now were getting down to business. Remember, you have to make it clear to your in-law that if word gets out about what were doing, not only could your whole family end up in prison, but we could also face a second encirclement by the Second Army. You know how terrifying Prison 18 is. Qing Chen fell silent. To tell the truth, he couldnt quite see what was so terrifying about Prison 18. It seemed quite alright to him. If this family really ended up in Prison 18, they might actually live even more comfortably. After all, the boss of Prison 18 was standing right here. In the woods, eight men emerged, carrying a heap of wild animal furs. Qin Cheng took out a pair of glasses from the glove compartment and scrutinized each fur, muttering, Cant you stop using traps? These bite marks hammered into the fur make it impossible to craft a coat. The rich are particular about this; they dont want anything with flaws. Why dont you have your sharpshooters hunt by shooting the prey right in the eye? Those pelts are the most valuable. Zhang Tongdan lit a cigarette and said, Our sharpshooter was reassigned, not hunting with us anymore. From now on, all the pelts will be like this, take it or leave it. Of course Ill take them, but the price will have to drop a bit, Qin Cheng finished speaking and then had his wife take out four boxes from beneath the back seat of the pickup: Inside are two boxes of ammunition, plus one box of salt and one box of medicine, all things you urgently need. After saying that, Qin Cheng opened a box and took out four bottles of medicine, But the furs youve brought this time are of such poor quality, I have to deduct four bottles. Zhang Tongdans wrinkles twisted on his face as he grabbed Qin Chengs hand, Youre really ruthless, huh? There are rules to doing business, Qin Cheng said. Next time, Ill bring you some better furs, Zhang Tongdan said, his hand subtly drifting to his waist where his pistol was holstered. Qin Cheng thought for a moment and put the medicine back in the box, Fine, just remember that Im at a loss with this deal. Alright, lets go, guys, Zhang Tongdan waved his hand, and all the wilderness people walked back into the woods, vanishing without a trace in a matter of minutes. Throughout, Qing Chen watched this transaction with curiosity, finding it very novel. Uncle Li Dong laughed softly, I brought you out this time to let you see more of the outside world. Youve already seen the best that cities have to offer, and now its time to see the customs and human feelings of the wildernessits quite interesting. Wilderness people have trouble getting technologically advanced life supplies, so they need a go-between to obtain them. City folk want the skins and pets of wild animals, so they also need someone to deliver them. This creates a survival niche for wilderness hunters like Qin Cheng. Ever since the commodity economy developed to today, the world has been filled with business everywhere. Qing Chen found that after leaving the iron box of Prison 18, the world was full of surprises and unforeseen adventures. He witnessed the appearance of the wilderness, learned the way the wilderness people lived, and saw the vast sunsets and the girls of the wilderness. It was as if the air itself was crisp and pulsating. And Uncle Li Dong also realized that ever since leaving prison, his student had become less gloomy. Or rather, ever since he took Qing Chen out for fun the first time, this student had started to regain the nature that young people should have. Theres no need to be overly serious, no need to be cautious every single second, no need to restrain anything. Uncle Li Dong understood why. Because once there was nobody to protect this young man, forcing him to grow slowly amidst thorns; nobody to teach him how to mature, but life hammered at him by the standards of adulthood. Now, the young man had a teacher, and it was time to reclaim his nature. The world had once owed him, and now the teacher could give it to him. However, the happiest person at this time was not Qing Chen, but Qin Yiyi. It wasnt because Qing Chen had saved her, nor was it because another deal had been completed at home. She had discovered that the youth beside her wasnt some servant bereft of freedom. At least she had never seen any servants interact with their boss like this. Even if a boss was kind, servants couldnt be this relaxed; there were no exceptions. Qin Yiyi was somewhat curious. Were this middle-aged man and the youth father and son? They didnt seem like it, bearing no resemblance to each other, and a father wouldnt watch his sons feet get rubbed raw without feeling distressed. Qing Chen also lacked the expected youthful rebellion. Yet, she clearly felt that the relationship between the two was very close, not father and son, but arguably even closer than that. At this moment, Qin Cheng called from a distance, Yiyi, Qin Tong, hurry up and move the tents over here; its time to prepare the fire for cooking. Qin Yiyi hurriedly ran over: Coming, coming! Uncle Li Dong had no intention of helping and said to Qing Chen, Lets go for a walk around, let the in-laws stay busy for now. I heard the sound of a river nearby; maybe we can catch a few fish to bring back. Qing Chen: ... ... Meanwhile, more than thirty kilometers south from them, next to Zhi Lake, over thirty vehicles formed a circle with a vigorous bonfire burning in the center. The way these people ignited their bonfires was somewhat more simple and crude, directly pouring some concentrated fuel on the wood and then tossing a matchstick to quickly start the fire. By Zhi Lake, a dozen young people took out fishing rods, competing to see who could catch fish faster and bigger. Outside the circle of vehicles, several servants were setting up tents for everyone and laying down soft waterproof mats inside, moisture-proof. Compared to Qin Cheng and his group, these people seemed more like they were on vacation. In the convoy, only a middle-aged man sat quietly on the roof of a vehicle. Below him, the first mate wearing holographic glasses was controlling a drone flying towards the outpost area. By the bonfire, the well-built Li Yinuo sat on the ground with Nan Gengchen. She took a freshly roasted hind leg from the fire, fiercely cut off a large chunk with her dagger, and stuffed it in Nan Gengchens bowl: Eat. Nan Gengchen looked at the piece of meat in his bowl, almost as big as his own face, and said with a pitiful expression, I cant finish this. Li Yinuo spoke leisurely, You eat your meals like a bird pecking, when will you ever get stronger? I dont want to get strong, I want to be a hacker, Nan Gengchen said weakly. Whats so fun about being a hacker? Havent I promised you that I would find you the best teacher? Li Yinuo said without a care: Dont worry. Ive sent people to catch that fugitive hacker. Once hes caught, well have him teach you. Okay, Nan Gengchens eyes lit up. At that moment, a servant came up to Li Yinuo and said, Miss, the tents are set up. Li Yinuo nodded towards Nan Gengchen, Alright, stop eating; well eat later. With that, she took Nan Gengchen by the hand and walked into the tent... Nan Gengchen said in a daze, You told me to finish my meal. I cant keep up with the nutrition... ... Guys, I need some monthly votes here. This month, aiming for the top three, with at least ten updates guaranteed on the launch day, June 1st. Also, this book is generally a blood-pumping, cheerful blockbuster... dont always think about which side character I might kill off... Though I have a history, I want to be a good person this time... Of course, the specific direction still depends on the plot. Chapter 115: 115. Nests making Chapter 115: 115. Nests making This time while camping, just as Uncle Li Dong said, he really didnt bother to have Qing Chen go through the trouble of starting a campfire himself; instead, he took the young man straight to the riverside. It seemed that this teacher was genuinely planning to bum a fire and share a meal, without any sign of embarrassment. Teacher, Qing Chen asked while walking, Just now, when Qin Cheng was trading with the wilderness man Zhang Tongdan, they nearly had a dispute over four bottles of medicine. It looked like Zhang Tongdan was about to draw his gun. Here, do people treat their own partners that fiercely? Of course, Uncle Li Dong replied, Wilderness people struggle against nature for their lives; their living conditions are harsher than you can imagine. So when it comes to something that can save their lives, they fight for it, which naturally makes them seem fierce. But that Qin Cheng wasnt really planning to take the medicine away. He just wanted to make Zhang Tongdan owe him a favor. Qing Chen pondered this thoughtfully. Uncle Li Dong said, Xiao Chen, everyone in this world is going through hardships. The little guys learn early on how to face the world, and everyone has their own way of surviving. On this trip, watch and listen more. The teacher cant always be by your side. After accompanying you for a part of your journey, you will have to walk the rest of the road on your own. Qing Chen suddenly realized that there was more to his teachers words. The two approached the shallow river where the water was clearer than that of any river in the Outer World. The riverbed, several meters wide and filled with pebbles, was so clear that even at a depth of two meters, one could see down to the very bottom. Not to mention, the environmental protection in the Inner World was far superior to that of the Outer World. So many fish, Qing Chen observed, suddenly noticing hundreds of fish swimming leisurely in the river. Teacher, shall I just go down and catch them? The fish in this river seemed as if they were from a fish farm. These fish were also sizeable, with each appearing to weigh three to five pounds. Uncle Li Dong gave him a look and said, Go into the river to catch fish? Wait a moment. With that, he took out a bundle of fishing line from his backpack, tied one end around his hand, and attached a fishhook to the other end. Uncle Li Dong broke off a small piece of a protein bar and threw the fishhook into the water: Watch closely. No sooner had the words left his mouth, the rivers surface churned as if boiling, with dozens of big fish rush toward the fishhook from within a few dozen meters to take a bite. In the turbulent water, a large fish bit down on the hook, its sharp mouth pierced by the hook. The scent of blood from the wound drove the fish into a frenzy; they were no longer attracted by the protein bar, but viciously bit into the flesh of the fish that was hooked! In just a few seconds, the flesh of the caught fish was stripped away, revealing thick bones. Uncle Li Dong timed it perfectly, suddenly pulling on the line, and several big fish that hadnt had time to let go were flung onto the shore all at once! Qing Chen watched silently, utterly astounded: Teacher, are these piranhas? Not exactly, Uncle Li Dong shook his head. According to records from the new era of humanity, fish from earlier years had not completely evolved into this form. It must have been that some superior species died in a particular water body, causing the river to change, just like the big whale in the Forbidden Sea. Qing Chen walked closer to examine the still writhing fish and noticed sharp teeth in their mouths, which was unusual for freshwater rivers. Uncle Li Dong glanced at him and said, Remember, every river in this world is dangerous. Dont attempt to enter the water until youve passed the sixth life-and-death threshold. Otherwise, it wouldnt be called fishing; it would be more like setting a trap. Meaning that entering the river before reaching A-Class was certain death. Uncle Li Dong picked a few leaves with his fingertips and casually flicked them into the air. In Qing Chens eyes, the once soft leaves suddenly turned into blade edges, and though they didnt appear to fly fast, they forcefully embedded themselves into the fishs heads. Hows that? Uncle Li Dong asked with a smile. Teacher is incredible, Qing Chen said sincerely. After speaking, Uncle Li Dongs smile grew thicker, with a sense of pride in front of his student. That is the effect of the Qi inside your body, Uncle Li Dong said, Logically speaking, it should only emerge after passing the fifth life-and-death trial, begin to show its power in the sixth, and reach perfection covering the whole body in the seventh. But you are a bit special, its appearing even before youve passed the first one. Qing Chen listened intently. Uncle Li Dong continued, Aside from capturing the flying leaves and flowers, everyones Qi acts differently. My Qi can cause a burning sensation. Just like that time when I sparred with Guo Huchan, even though I was holding back, he still had to sit in meditation and endure the pain. Your Uncles Qi can make people feel nauseous. Its still unknown what yours does. After thinking for a bit, Qing Chen asked, So aside from capturing the flying leaves and flowers, Qi doesnt cause actual harm when it touches people but makes the opponent feel uncomfortable during a fight? Yes, Uncle Li Dong nodded. In his mind, Qing Chen thought, isnt this just like a negative buff?! He turned his eyes to his own teacher, and Uncle Li Dong laughed, Your Qi wont have any effect on me at all, and it might not even be useful against ordinary people. Better wait until your Qi has grown stronger before trying it on others. Oh. ... When the two returned to the camp, the bonfire was already blazing fiercely. Uncle Li Dong handed the five fish to Qin Tong, I caught five fish, we can have an extra dish tonight. After speaking, he naturally sat down by the bonfire, with no intention of taking Qing Chen to make a fire elsewhere, and even said to Qing Chen, Come, you sit too. Meanwhile, Qin Yiyi had shared her suspicions with her brother Qin Tong and father Qin Cheng while the two were out fishing. Once Qin Cheng found out that Qing Chen was not a servant, his attitude immediately changed. Although he guessed that Uncle Li Dong was only a C-Class, C-Class was actually better, as the Old Qin Family wouldnt be able to connect with someone of a much higher level! In-law... no, how should I address this gentleman? Qin Cheng asked. Hearing her fathers slip of the tongue, Qin Yiyi stood up, pulled down Qing Chens backpack, and whispered, Ill help you set up your tent. She quickly took out a tent from the backpack and ran away. My surname is Mu, and this here is my student, you can call him Xiao Tu, Uncle Li Dong said with a smile. Qing Chen: ... So, the character Chen, which has such an elegant feel, when broken down becomes Xiao Tu, such a plain name? Qin Cheng exchanged glances with Qin Tong and the others, now that Uncle Li Dong had personally confirmed that Qing Chen was not a servant, they were naturally delighted inside. Master Mu, Qin Cheng said, I understand youre an expert. Theres something Id like to discuss with you. Uncle Li Dong smiled, Go ahead, its no trouble. Our drones have been destroyed, so our means of self-defense are not ample, Qin Cheng pondered before saying, So, if we encounter danger on the road, please Master Mu lend a hand, and then we wont charge you the travel fee. In Qin Chengs view, there probably wouldnt be any significant danger before reaching the Taboo Land. He just wanted to bring up the matter of waiving the travel fee to draw their relationship closer. Chapter 116: 116. Raid the Camp Chapter 116: 116. Raid the Camp Rest assured, once we encounter danger, both my student and I will extend our help, Uncle Li Dong promised to Qin Cheng. Qin Tong listened to these words and silently sized up Qing Chen; he saw that the youth was skinny and tall, his face determined yet his skin was fair and gentle, not at all like someone who had killed before. Such a youth seemed like he should be staying at a place like City University No. 18. Meanwhile, Qing Chen looked at Uncle Li Dong in surprise; he had thought his own teacher would not bother with such trifles. Seeing the confusion on his face, Uncle Li Dong spoke in a low voice, I used not to intervene before because I was afraid of frightening others, but now they dont know who I am, so of course theres no problem with lending a hand. What does it matter to me, Uncle Li Dong, if Mr. Wood lends his help? It was not until that moment that Qing Chen felt he was slowly beginning to understand what kind of person his teacher truly was. He also finally understood why Lin Xiaoxiao had said that almost everyone had forgotten how capricious their boss once was. At that time, Qin Cheng was beaming with joy; not only did the two sides close the distance between them, but having a C-Class Expert in the hunting team would certainly make it a lot safer. Qing Chen went to the side to help set up the tent, and Qin Yiyi glanced at him and said, Dont bother, men in the wilderness dont do chores; they just hunt and kill. Leaning against a nearby tree, Qing Chen calmly asked, Are you trying to capture a Qing Shan Falcon this time? We cant catch that thing, Qin Yiyi said, We are after a Kite Falcon, which is much smaller than the Qing Shan Falcon. Nowadays, no hunter dares to go after a Qing Shan Falcon. That creature is only found in that place, not seen elsewhere. Qin Yiyi glanced at Qing Chen again, Later, Ill help you apply medicine to your foot, dont worry, I dont mind. When my dad was injured, it was my mother and I who treated his wounds. My dad says Im meticulous, and I have better eyes than my mom, so I clean wounds well. No need, Qing Chen shook his head. By that time, Qin Yiyi had already set up the tent and turned her head, planning to return to the campfire. Before leaving, she whispered, Ive seen you sleeping outside all this time. You might hold up for a day or two, but not for a week; the ground is too cold. From now on, use my tent, Ill squeeze in with my sister. Uh, thats not necessary, Im fine sleeping outside, Qing Chen hurriedly declined. Suit yourself, but if you dont sleep there, the tent will still be empty, Qin Yiyi said and walked away. The wilderness girl was straightforward, just like when she stuffed the apple directly into Qing Chens hand, not allowing the young man any chance to refuse. Living on this land, everyone leads a life with no sure tomorrow. Dont hesitate; once you do, the person you want to say so much to might no longer be around. Qin Yiyis sister was like that; she once fancied a man, the eldest son of another hunting team, but after one hunt, she never saw him again. It was said he got lost in the Taboo Land and never made it back out. Qing Chen originally wanted to say something more but at that moment, a flash of light flickered in the gaps of the woods where he stood. The young man did not react at all, not even turning his head to look. At night, Qin Yiyi had already crawled into her sisters tent early on, the faint sound of laughter emanated from the small tent, the topics of their conversation unknown. Seeing that Qing Chen still had no intention of going to Qin Yiyis tent, Uncle Li Dong asked, Whats wrong? Isnt having a place to sleep a good thing? Qing Chen shook his head, I dont want to owe others casually. Foolish, Uncle Li Dong shook his head, Dont make me knock you out and throw you in there. When you are away from home, you cant be so picky, just go. Qing Chen stared dumbfounded at his teacher in front of him, speechless for a long while. ` He didnt doubt for a moment that his teacher was fully capable of knocking him out and throwing him into a tent! Teacher, when I was setting up the tent just now, I accidentally saw a reflection in the woods. I suspect someone was secretly observing me with binoculars, Qing Chen thought for a while before saying, I think theres something fishy. At that moment, Uncle Li Dong said calmly, Stay in the tent. Tonight, Im going to teach you your first lesson in wilderness survival. ... When Qing Chen crawled into Qin Yiyis tent, he was surprised to see two pieces of chocolate on the moisture-proof matsupplies hunters would carry for energy, which Qin Yiyi had secretly taken to give to him. He lay on the mat, not sleeping, carefully chewing the chocolate. The chocolate from the Inner World was no different from that of the Outer World. Qing Chen knew something was going to happen tonight, but it wasnt fear that kept him awake. With Uncle Li there, even now in the Taboo Land, he wouldnt be in any danger. He just wanted to know what exactly would happen tonight. Countdown 70:00:00. 2 a.m. Shadows flitted through the woods, and the rustling of leaves sounded as if the wind was stirring something. In the sky, a crescent moon shone pale, the air was so clear it seemed one could directly see the craters on the moon with the naked eye. Moonlight cast down on the earth, piercing through the gaps in the forest and sprinkling the ground with light. In these rays of light and shadow, someone gently pulled a rifle bolt. Suddenly, clouds drifted across the sky as if a dim city had flown overhead. The campfire, as if smothered by a sudden pressure, dwindled, and the light around the entire campsite dimmed. It seemed forgotten, sinking into the gloom. Dont move, Ill go take a look, the old man Qin Cheng said to his wife beside him. Qin Cheng faintly heard some noises and picked up the pistol beside his pillow, silently crawling out of the tent. But as soon as his head emerged from the tent, a knife was pressed against his neck. Qin Cheng turned to look and saw Zhang Tongdan smiling mischievously at him, Shh, dont speak. Were just a little interested in your in-law. We want to see if theres anything valuable on that big shot from the city. We didnt get a good look earlier. Does he have any mechanical limbs, the kind made of nano-alloy? Qin Cheng shook his head, I dont know, Zhang Tongdan, weve worked together for so long, dont break the rules. If you mess this up, I will tell your boss exactly what happened. No need to threaten me with the boss; hes far away now, Zhang Tongdan laughed, the wrinkles on his face resembling a weathered landscape, A high-ranking figure who could casually give away Thor must have expensive mechanical limbs on him, right? Dont talk. Kill them both, and then well leave. You dont have to feel sorry. Your second daughter is so pretty, she wont have trouble finding a man in the wilderness. And if she really cant find one, she can come be my little one, Zhang Tongdan smirked. Qin Chengs forehead throbbed with rage, and he suddenly flipped backward while bellowing, Watch out for the enemy attack! It wasnt that he was particularly eager to alert Qing Chen and Uncle Li, but he knew Zhang Tongdans nature wella wolf at heart, once he had chosen to break the rules, he wouldnt let anyone in the camp leave. Zhang Tongdan sensed trouble as Qin Cheng flipped over and immediately flexed his arm, trying to slit his throat, only to find that it was no useQin Chengs collar was sewn with an alloy layer that no ordinary knife could cut! Act now! Kill that city person first! Zhang Tongdan yelled. ` Chapter 117 117. He wanted to run, but he didnt get away. At that moment, the rhythm of the wilderness people''s attack on the camp was disrupted. They were not capable soldiers to begin with, just a group of low-level bandits from the wilderness. These wilderness people had originally planned to quietly infiltrate all the tents and take control of the entire Old Qin Family before making a move to kill Uncle Li Dong and Qing Chen. But this unexpected event ruined Zhang Tongdan''s plan. Qin Cheng, the veteran Hunter, had discovered their movements beforehand, and beneath that honest face, he was not a lamb to be slaughtered. In the forest, gunfire interwove into a chaotic dance, all concentrated on Uncle Li Dong''s tent at the same time, turning it into a sieve! Zhang Tongdan bent down and flanked, like a scavenging hyena that had its eye on the prey. From within the shadows of the trees, he snarled, "All of the Old Qin Family better stay put inside the tents, otherwise don''t blame me for not being polite. Damn it, I will settle the score with you lot afterward!" As he spoke, he slowly approached Uncle Li Dong''s tent and signaled his men with a look. However, the moment his man lifted the curtain, they found it empty: "Boss, there''s no one here!" "Shit, we''ve been tricked!" Zhang Tongdan suddenly stood up, his gaze searching everywhere but failing to find the figure he wanted to find: "Where are they?" The dozen or so wilderness men in the forest also hurriedly searched but found nothing. "Looking for me?" The voice emerged from behind one of the wilderness men. The campfire in the camp suddenly flared up, illuminating the forest beneath the night sky like a heavily inked oil painting. The wilderness man turned around, only to see Uncle Li Dong smilingly place a finger on his chest. This middle-aged man in his assault clothes seemed to move slowly, but for some reason, the wild man felt he had no way to avoid it. The very moment the finger touched the wilderness man''s breastbone. In silence, the man had no time to react before being blasted against a tree trunk behind him like a cannonball. Yet, the strangest thing was, the moment of impact between the body and the tree trunk made no sound. The wilderness man hung in the air and then slowly slid down the trunk, defying the laws of physics with his slow descent. Hitting a man like hanging a picture, silent as the finest misty rain. That mightily forceful finger jabbed in combat, yet only the sound of falling leaves could be heard, which was highly unusual. Everyone heard the rustling sound of leaves falling, and when they looked back to the original position of the wilderness man, they only saw leaves shaken down by the blast, with Uncle Li Dong''s figure nowhere to be seen. In the darkness, Zhang Tongdan could hear nothing, yet he could see his own men hanging onto the tree trunks and slowly dying. Each time, he heard the sound of falling leaves and turned to check on his men, only to see more leaves shaken down by the force of their bodies being thrown. The tree-lined surroundings of the camp seemed to suddenly be caught in a torrential downpour. Those who could not be found, sounds that could not be heard, leaves that seemed never to stop falling. And the flickering campfire that didn''t stop dancing. Bizarre. Mysterious. Powerful. Zhang Tongdan was scared, he took advantage of the moment another subordinate died, turned around, and ran into the forest. In the camp, Qin Cheng had already led Qin Tong and others to arm themselves, using the pickup trucks as a cover, cautiously observing the surroundings. They thought for sure it was all over when they first heard the gunfire. Without the sound of battle, without screams of agony, Qin Cheng thought that Uncle Li Dong had perished in that concentrated volley of gunfire. It seemed that both the middle-aged man and the youth might have already fallen victim. They were no longer thinking about rescuing people, but how to deal with the ambush Zhang Tongdan was preparing. However, reality was somewhat different from what they had expected. Although there were no sounds of combat, the problem was that the people Zhang Tongdan had brought did not attack them. Instead, it was as if they had vanished. "Dad, what''s going on?" Qin Tong asked in a low voice. Qin Cheng lowered his voice and said, "Zhang Tongdan''s greed has made him break the rules. After taking the toll, he dared to make a move on us; they came for those two, but they definitely won''t let us leave alive either. Otherwise, if his boss finds out, he would be dead as well." "So what do we do now?" Qin Tong asked. "You and your brothers guard these two vehicles; I''ll take a look," Qin Cheng said, intending to sneak over in the chaos. But then he suddenly asked, "Where''s your sister? Where''s Yiyi?" Qin Cheng scanned around and saw Qin Yiyi crawling on the ground with a pistol in her mouth, heading toward Qing Chen''s tent. "This is terrible!" Qin Cheng exclaimed in distress. No sooner had he spoken, the old man felt something was off. Because the sound of single footsteps came from the woods. He looked up and suddenly saw the well-dressed Uncle Li Dong emerging from the shadows of the forest, stepping back into the light of the campfire. Uncle Li Dong said with a smile, "It''s taken care of. There were more of them than expected, so it took a bit longer." Qin Cheng, Qin Tong, and the others stared blankly at the middle-aged man, looking at each other in confusion. Taken care of? Just like that? They had thought that since Uncle Li Dong had avoided meeting the Autumn Hunting Fleet, he was just a C-Class solo operative with no ties to the consortium. Now it seemed he might possess B-Class strength. Qin Cheng looked beyond the campsite and could still see, by the light of the campfire, some bodies of wilderness people propped against tree trunks. The old man Qin Cheng gave Qin Tong a significant look. Qin Tong, under the pretense of checking the surroundings, approached a body to examine the wound. "Strange," Qin Tong noticed that these people didn''t have any wounds; they looked as if they had just fallen asleep, with no blood from their orifices and seemingly no internal injuries as if their organs were intact. Qin Tong even felt as if these people were not dead but only asleep. However, when he reached out to feel the pulse on the corpse''s neck, wanting to check if the person was indeed dead, as soon as he touched it, the body in front of him collapsed like a lump of soft mud. Qin Tong squeezed the person''s arm, only to find that the bones inside had been crushed to bits. He turned abruptly to look at Uncle Li Dong by the fire. How did he do this?! Meanwhile, Qin Yiyi had already gotten up and run to Qing Chen''s tent. She lifted the tent flap only to discover it was empty inside; the boy had vanished at some point! "Where''s Xiao Tu?" Qin Yiyi looked towards Uncle Li Dong. "Oh, I left one for him to practice on. He should be blocking the enemy''s escape route," Uncle Li Dong said nonchalantly, seemingly not worried about Qing Chen''s safety at all. Outside the forest, a gunshot abruptly rang out in the distance, followed by the sound of something being dragged closer. It was as if a heavy object was being pulled across the ground. All eyes turned to see Qing Chen dragging Zhang Tongdan by the collar, pulling him back. The young man''s face was bloodied; under the glow of the campfire, it appeared somewhat redder. His combat jacket had a bullet hole at the waist, but it had merely grazed him, without hitting his body. As for Zhang Tongdan, his head was lolling at an odd angle with blood still gushing from his neck, clearly dead. "He tried to run, didn''t make it," Qing Chen said succinctly. ... Thank you to both students, Quanshi Rouruo and Yuanlizhajing, for becoming new allies of this book. Thanks to the boss, for being so generous and may you make a fortune! Chapter 118 118, Mens Superstition Qin Cheng and the others watched silently, the youth before them now vastly different from the one they first encountered. Initially, the other party was calm like a stone, but now, he resembled a knife even more. Zhang Tongdan was a famously known wilderness man around these parts; many caravans had to pay him a toll fee. But today, he had died at the hands of an unknown youth. "He doesn''t seem like a city person at all, but more like someone from our wilderness," Qin Yiyi, who had lived for many years in the wilderness and considered herself a part of it, favored the wilds. She brushed off the dust on her clothes with a smile and then asked across the campfire, "Are you hurt?" "No," Qing Chen shook his head. He took the pistol out of Zhang Tongdan''s hand and then looked at Uncle Li Dong, "Teacher, I''m keeping this." "Hmm," Uncle Li Dong nodded. "You''ll need it later. He should have magazines on him too, don''t forget." Ever since Qing Chen had experienced a brush with death up close, as his teacher, Uncle Li Dong wasn''t particularly concerned about Qing Chen using firearms. After all, the Knights was a very pragmatic organization, and so was Heng Society. To achieve greater benefits at the least cost was what a wise person should choose. If he insisted that Qing Chen not use firearms, Uncle Li Dong felt that would make him seem a little foolish. Qin Cheng thought for a moment and then said, "The box we gave Zhang Tongdan should be around here somewhere. I''ll go look for it." With that, the old man led his son into the trees. Qin Tong quietly took Elder Qin to a body and crouched down, "Dad, look at this body, it''s eerie." Qin Cheng examined it silently, "Strange, what kind of method could have done this to a person? And how come we didn''t hear anything when such forceful blows were dealt." He stood up, caressing the tree trunk with his rough and mottled mechanical hand, "Even the sturdy bark has been shattered." Now, the only question in the father and son''s minds was: how was this done? "Let''s not concern ourselves with this for now," Qin Cheng sighed. "I think we have underestimated the other side. That middle-aged man must be B-Class. The last time I saw a B-Class in action was half a year ago. One man killed an entire camp of people, horrifying." "Dad," Qin Tong''s eyes shone, "I now think that the youth might very well be the middle-aged man''s disciple. Yiyi likes that kid so much, and the middle-aged man seems to like Yiyi too..." Previously, because Qing Chen and Uncle Li Dong had spoken in whispers, although they were certain that Qing Chen was not a servant, they still didn''t understand the exact relationship between the two. As Qin Tong spoke... There was a crack. Qin Cheng slapped the back of Qin Tong''s head with his mechanical hand, sending his own son''s head reeling. The old man scolded in a low voice, "The Old Qin Family relies on heaven and earth to make a living. Why did we leave the city if not to avoid being at the mercy of others? Even if Yiyi never marries, she can live well on her own. My Old Qin Family doesn''t need to sell a daughter for wealth and status." "But Yiyi really likes that kid," Qin Tong said with some grievance. "Besides, when I married my wife years ago, you didn''t say that. You said it would be convenient for us in the wilderness if I married Wenwen." Wenwen was the elder daughter of a tribe in the wilderness. Indeed, after Qin Tong had married, their business improved. And caravans that paid toll fees had to give up four bottles of antibiotics, whereas the Old Qin Family only needed to give one. However, because Wenwen didn''t have a legal city residence permit, Qin Tong''s wife had to wait in the wilderness outside the city whenever the family went to town. Qin Cheng waited for Qin Tong to say, "You are the eldest son of the family, if you don''t sacrifice, who will? And what''s wrong with Wenwen? Last year, when you were injured, she stayed in the car and cared for you for three months!" "I''m not saying she''s not good. Wenwen and I are very much in love. Dad, don''t stir up trouble," Qin Tong glared back. Elder Qin Cheng lowered his voice and said, "Even if Yiyi likes that kid, it''s her own business, and we shouldn''t interfere, understand?" "Got it, got it," Qin Tong sighed. "I was just saying it." "Alright, go and retrieve the box quickly." ... Inside the camp. Qin Yiyi took her towel and poured some hot water to help Qing Chen clean the bloodstains off his clothes. His assault jacket was made from waterproof fabric and wiped clean with a towel. When Qin Yiyi was about to help wipe Qing Chen''s face, he quickly took the towel and dodged away... At that moment, Uncle Li Dong pulled a black box from the pocket on Zhang Tongdan''s chest. Upon opening it, six Thunder Gods (Thor) were quietly lying inside. From the start, the teacher knew that the Thunder Gods would end up back in his hands. Qing Chen looked at Uncle Li Dong and whispered, "Teacher, did you deliberately throw the Thunder Gods to them to make them greedy for wealth?" Uncle Li Dong smiled and nodded, a cold hue in his expression, "To teach students, the teacher needs teaching materials. Since we travel light and can''t bring materials with us, we must let the materials come to us. This lesson teaches you not to judge people by their appearance and to hide your wealth." For this lesson, he sacrificed more than a dozen lives. But this Knight and current leader seemed indifferent. Just like the Qing Clan House Masters from past generations, who knew the cruelty of the Shadow conflicts, yet never changed anything. Everyone learned to face this world with a ruthless attitude. "But what if he had taken the Thunder Gods and left?" Qing Chen asked. "If he left, he left, it''s just a box of Thunder Gods. I''m not attached," said Uncle Li Dong with a chuckle. This statement primarily emphasized four words, wealth allows whims. "Then wouldn''t your plan have failed, Teacher?" Qing Chen pursued. "Ah, that''s why I never told you about this plan. If it had failed, I would have just acted as if I never had such a plan," Uncle Li Dong said confidently. At this time, Qin Cheng and Qin Tong returned to the camp carrying four boxes. The other members of the Qin family ran into the woods to scavenge everything of use from the bodies. Fitting shoes, men''s clothing, firearms, and ammunition. And a variety of odd things from the wilderness. It''s not that the Old Qin Family was so destitute that they needed to wear dead people''s clothes. Instead, the items would be useful for bartering with people in the wilderness for furs and medicinal materials. The so-called medicinal materials included wild ginseng, cordyceps, deer antlers, deer penis, and the like. Even though the technology of the Inner World completely overshadowed the Outer World, the men''s superstition towards health products had not been dispelled. After pondering, Uncle Li Dong spoke to Qin Cheng, "This incident will cause trouble with the wilderness folks you cooperate with. It might have some bad repercussions later on. So, when you get back to City No. 18, go to Spring Thunder Road, Number 13, in the Ninth District and look for someone named Su Xingzhi. He will take care of everything for you and arrange new trade partners." "Thank you," said Qin Cheng earnestly. Qing Chen asked in a low voice, "Teacher, are you only helping them out of guilt? I feel like you already knew them." Uncle Li Dong nodded, "Qin Cheng is the brother of an old friend who died because of me." Chapter 119 Lesson 119 Countdown 66:00:00. Early morning. Uncle Li Dong greeted Qin Cheng early in the morning and then set off on the mountain path with Qing Chen, alone. Qing Chen carried a backpack, as if preparing for a long journey about life. They were not leaving the team to go alone, but Uncle Li Dong was about to teach Qing Chen his second lesson. No, more accurately, it was the third lesson. The first lesson was to revere life. The second was how to face the world. It''s just that the first lesson was completed by Qing Chen in self-study at Laojun Mountain, so Uncle Li Dong felt he did not participate much. He felt quite regretful. The two crossed over a mountain head and walked more than ten miles of mountain road, but Uncle Li Dong still could not find the place he wanted. "Teacher, I always feel that you are rushing this time," Qing Chen said calmly as he walked the mountain path, "ever since you found out that I''m alive and came back from the Outer World, and then accidentally broke through the bottleneck of the Genetic Lock, you started planning something." All this seemed spontaneous, but Uncle Li Dong was not aimless. Uncle Li Dong, walking steadily, smiled and said, "A teacher also has his own affairs, you know. Eight years ago, Qin Cheng''s brother, along with many others, fought alongside me, but we failed, so we were trapped in that prison. I could have risked it all, but no one knew what the outcome would be." Qing Chen did not know what had happened eight years ago, and he asked, "What about now? You have no worries anymore, do you?" "Back then I was scared, the lineage of Knights had suddenly ended with my generation," Uncle Li Dong said, "so I waited, and finally, you came. Now that I am sure you are the successor I have been waiting for, I can let myself face that world. Don''t ask what I am going to do, your life has just begun, and all I have to do is walk with you a little longer." "Teacher, what exactly is the life-and-death challenge?" Qing Chen asked. "The life-and-death challenge is mysterious, but actually very ordinary," Uncle Li Dong said as he walked towards the dawn, "it''s just gambling once, entrusting your life to this world. Climbing a mountain, watching a snowfall, shouting at the place closest to the sky." "Teacher," Qing Chen asked as he walked the rugged mountain path, "why did you choose this path initially?" Eventually, the two arrived in front of a cliff several tens of meters high and stopped, Uncle Li Dong turned to look at Qing Chen: "Because life was boring? Or perhaps because I loved this world? I used to be certain, but now I am not so sure anymore." At that moment, a buzzing sound came from the sky, Uncle Li Dong frowned and flicked a leaf beside him at the just-emerged Type-011 drone. The leaf struck the drone like thunder, piercing through it. The drone staggered and fell towards the valley. Qing Chen watched as the drone slowly disappeared from view and suddenly asked, "Teacher, this is too close to Qin Cheng''s camp, it might make the Autumn Hunting Team suspect that it was them who took down the drone." Uncle Li Dong thought for a moment, "No matter, I will ensure their safety." However, Qing Chen shook his head, "Teacher, you can''t always protect them, you must know where Zhang Tongdan and their main base are, right?" "North from here, more than thirty kilometers away," Uncle Li Dong said. Qing Chen thought for a moment and carved a few small characters on the cliff with his dagger: "Waiting for you in the north, dare you come and chop me." Uncle Li Dong looked at his student speechlessly: "I, Uncle Li Dong, have indeed taken on such a sly student." Qing Chen responded, "You''re not too bad either, Teacher." "Alright, let''s get to business before those spoiled brats come," Uncle Li Dong said to Qing Chen, "Your memory is good so I need only teach you once. All the mountains that follow, you will need to climb by yourself; those mountains will be higher and more perilous than this one." Having said that, Uncle Li Dong turned and walked towards the cliff. At that moment, Qing Chen felt that the teacher before him was radiant amidst the dawn light. ... In the Zhi Zi Lake camp. The first officer, sitting in the co-pilot''s seat operating the drone, suddenly grunted. He realized the connection to the neurons had abruptly cut off. "One of the drones has been destroyed," he said softly. "Did you see what it looked like?" the middle-aged man sitting on the roof asked. "No, the attacker was too fast," the first officer explained, "They might have been armed and shot the drone as soon as it appeared. Their shooting skills were very precise. I couldn''t determine their identity, but they were definitely targeting us." "Alright, I''ll go tell the young masters and ladies to get ready for the hunt," the middle-aged man stretched and leaped off the roof. The young first officer hesitated for a moment: "They should be able to recognize the Boundary-011 type drone. Seeing such a model of combat drone, they should be able to deduce that we are the Autumn Hunting Team, and possibly even from the Federal Second Group Army''s field unit. If that''s the case, they might have come prepared." "It doesn''t matter," the middle-aged man pondered and then said, "This time we have Li Yinuo with us; it''s not quite the same as before." ... Forty kilometers to the north, a large camp was billowing with cooking smoke. Hundreds of people gathered around over a dozen bonfires, some filing bullets, others carving crosses on bullets, and some wiping their firearms. The group waited quietly. At 7 o''clock in the morning, an off-road vehicle drove through the mountains. A robust young man jumped out of the car and shouted, "Boss, Zhang Tongdan and the others didn''t return to the rendezvous point as agreed, and we still can''t reach them on the walkie-talkie." A dark-faced man sitting among the crowd didn''t say a word for a long time, with everyone''s gaze fixed on him. After a long reflection, the dark-faced man, putting down his lamb leg, asked, "Have you checked near Zhi Zi Lake?" "There are more than a dozen Boundary-011 type drones blockading Zhi Zi Lake; I didn''t dare get close, boss. But indeed, there were gunshots coming from that direction, though I couldn''t confirm if there was a battle," the robust young man answered, "That bunch from the Autumn Hunt gets crazy shooting when they''re drunk; I didn''t physically see what exactly happened." The dark-faced man sat by the fire deep in thought, "Normally, Zhang Tongdan shies away from the strong; he wouldn''t dare provoke the Autumn Hunting Fleet." "Could it be Elder Qin who did it?" someone asked. "Impossible," the dark-faced man shook his head, "Elder Qin has always been rule-abiding, and we''ve been doing business smoothly for years with no incidents. Zhang Tongdan, poor and penniless, doesn''t have anything worth taking." "Zhang Tongdan had a bounty of 10,000 bucks on him in City 18, though," someone mentioned. "10,000 bucks only flatter him," the dark-faced man scoffed coldly, "Elder Qin earns much more than that in a year; he wouldn''t do something foolish. Besides, Elder Qin''s family has average combat ability, with only Elder Qin himself having taken the most basic Genetic Potion. It''s unlikely they killed Zhang Tongdan quietly, at least a few would have escaped to bring the news." "That''s true, Elder Qin''s family, although old hunters, but Zhang Tongdan took 18 men with him this time; they couldn''t have been wiped out completely," someone stated. The robust young man who had just returned said, "When I was watching over Zhi Zi Lake this afternoon, Zhang Tongdan''s group had already come within walkie-talkie range, telling me that they had received the payment for the skins. I think, since Elder Qin had already completed the transaction, there''s no reason for him to attack afterwards." "Then why didn''t they just rendezvous with you directly?" the dark-faced man inquired. "I asked that too, but no one answered when I called them on the walkie-talkie afterwards," the robust young man replied. The dark-faced man sighed, "It''s mostly likely that they were intercepted by the Autumn Hunting Team, the only ones around here capable of wiping them out completely." "Boss, what do we do? We have to avenge Zhang Tongdan!" "Avenge? Do you realize the Autumn Hunting Fleet has experts, and their equipment is far superior to ours!" the dark-faced man looked around. "But we have more people, and we''re familiar with the terrain. If they continue south, they will enter Mute Ridge, and isn''t that our domain?" someone argued. Chapter 120 120. Be more confident The dark-faced man watched the eager wilderness people beside him but shook his head: "Winter is almost here, we can''t afford any complications." However, just then, a young man draped in a wolf pelt spoke up, "Dad, think about it, over a dozen Boundary-011 drones and more than thirty new diesel engines--isn''t that enough for us to make a move? Who knows what else might be in that Autumn Hunting Fleet. Bringing these back to the Fire Pit, the elders might let us get closer to the Fire Pit during the totem worship." When the young man mentioned the Fire Pit and the totem, the dark-faced man fell silent, seemingly tempted. The young man continued, "Dad, you know as well as I do that the bunch of spoiled brats in the Autumn Hunting are just for show, few of them have real combat ability. Just a few casualties and they''d likely turn tail and run. Lao Liu in the south fought them before; if we take a good position in the terrain, we might be able to fight them." "What do young kids know," the dark-faced man said, "Killing them would bring a military corps'' siege." "Even if we don''t kill them, the sieges by the military corps haven''t stopped," said the young man. "If we kill them now and dive into the western Great Mountains, we know how to maneuver around the Taboo Land, a place the military rarely ventures. With the heavy snow about to fall in the mountains, once the passes are blocked, who could find us?" In the early years, the Autumn Hunt involved entering the Taboo Land to hunt wild beasts. Now, as Uncle Li Dong said, these people no longer dare to hunt wild beasts in the Taboo Land, settling for hunting the non-resistant wilderness people instead. The wilderness people all knew that the Autumn Hunting Team was just for show, a bunch of spoiled brats coming to the wilderness to mercilessly hunt the wilderness people, relying solely on advanced technology and the fear of retaliation among the wilderness people. The autumn hunt ceremony had been carried out for hundreds of years without incident, so that group of spoiled brats grew increasingly complacent, treating the wilderness as their own backyard, coming and going as they pleased. But the dark-faced man was still hesitant; he knew his son was right, but years of caution made him reluctant to take risks. After a moment of silence, the young man said, "Dad, if you''re too scared to go, I''ll take people there myself." The dark-faced man scoffed and glanced at him: "Thinking of making decisions for your old man now, wanting to split from the family? It''s too early for that." It''s not without reason that the wilderness people have never really united. This land has been a constant battleground, everyone''s wild nature amplified to the max. When a lion ages, there will always be a young, strong lion that wants to take its place. If not for the mysterious Fire Pit in the snow mountains holding them together, the conflicts on the wilderness would likely be even more bloody and intense. The dark-faced man said, "Let''s go check out Branch Lake; it might not be the work of the Autumn Hunting Team. But if it is them, I won''t just watch Zhang Tongdan die." The wilderness people''s camp stirred into action, organizing a group to take the women from the camp deep into the mountains first, heading west along the edge of some Taboo Land. Once they succeeded, the main force would hurry to join up. Escaping before the heavy snow sealed the mountains. 9 AM. The dark-faced man led his team toward Branch Lake, everyone donned in ghillie suits of interwoven branches and leaves, carefully navigating through the wilds. But before they could get close to the area around Branch Lake, someone spotted the buzzing of drones up ahead. "What''s going on, aren''t we still outside the drone''s blockade range?" the dark-faced man asked a man beside him. "How did you scout?" The strong man who reported earlier was also stunned: "We are still more than ten kilometers from Branch Lake, definitely not within the blockade range. Boss, those drones only have a 7-kilometer control range, they are moving towards us!" The dark-faced man pondered: "This move is unusual; it seems like Zhang Tongdan has alarmed them, prompting them to start a search operation nearby." There was no time for further thought; he immediately ordered to shoot the drones down. However, as they were just about to fire, the drones agilely flipped a few times and flew back. In the Autumn Hunting Fleet, a young deputy wearing holographic glasses said, "Found them. There are indeed wilderness people in ambush nearby. It looks like they also shot down that earlier drone. However, I advise against pursuing them. My rough estimate is that they outnumber us, and their armament is unclear..." But before he could finish, someone had already slammed on the accelerator, charging in the direction of the wilderness people. The middle-aged man beside the first mate furrowed his brows and looked at Li Yinuo, "You should have stopped them." Sitting in his vehicle, Li Yinuo casually remarked, "I saw those guys popping dopamine chips this morning. They''re in a frenzy right now, and no one can stop them. It''s fine, just let them go to their deaths. Dying once will bring them to their senses." The middle-aged man sighed, then said to the first mate, "Send out all the drones for fire support." Li Yinuo could afford to stand by, but he couldn''t. In this world, knowing your role is essential. They had come with the Autumn Hunting Team, destined to clean up after the young masters and mistresses who couldn''t care less about danger. ... When Qing Chen and Uncle Li Dong returned to the camp, everything had already been packed onto the vehicles. Qin Yiyi noticed that Qing Chen was covered in dust, as if he had just been rolling on the ground. She asked curiously, "What were you two up to just now?" Uncle Li Dong chuckled, "Give each of us another apple, and I''ll tell you." Qin Yiyi made a face, "Still scamming for apples at your age, aren''t you ashamed?" But despite her words, the young girl still pulled two apples from her bag, giving the larger one to Qing Chen and the smaller one to Uncle Li Dong. "There, now can you answer my question?" Qin Yiyi asked. Uncle Li Dong didn''t mind, and cheerfully said, "I was teaching him how to climb mountains." "Do you need to be taught how to climb mountains?" Qin Yiyi wondered. Qing Chen replied, "The kind of mountain climbing we''re talking about might be different from what you''re thinking." A 90-degree cliff, climbing with bare hands. It''s something many people wouldn''t even dare to think about. On the cliff face, the only handholds might be fissures as thin as a finger, or even thinner. Although Qing Chen had memorized every move by Uncle Li Dong, remembering is still different from mastering. He still didn''t know what the life-and-death gate was; he only knew that he was about to climb a very tall mountain. He would also see snow in the future, and shout at the top of his lungs from the place closest to the sky. Thinking this way, Qing Chen seemed to have some anticipation for that kind of life. While they were talking, the sound of an explosion suddenly came from the vast mountains in the distance. The immense noise echoed and resonated through the mountains, startling flocks of birds into flight. Qin Yiyi and the others'' location was obscured by mountains, so they couldn''t see what was happening, only the dark swarm of birds flying from west to east across the sky. Qing Chen pondered for a moment, then asked softly, "Teacher, could this have something to do with the characters I engraved?" Uncle Li Dong replied, "Be confident, it definitely has something to do with you." ... To our new friends, a quick note: updates happen daily at 6 pm: by 6 pm the book will have already been updated. Also, the book will launch on June 1. We will try to update even more throughout June. Thank you all for your support. Chapter 121 121. The Jindai familys motorcade "Once we''ve packed our things, we''ll set off, but I don''t know how it happened, these two groups in the mountains started fighting," Qin Cheng said with some panic. Listening to the sounds of battle in the mountains that sometimes seemed far and sometimes near, the old man grew restless. He knew that there were only two groups in this area: the Autumn Hunting Team and the boss of Zhang Tongdan. But he still felt that something was off. How did these two groups start fighting? Qin Cheng glanced at Uncle Li Dong and Qing Chen before he couldn''t help but ask, "The two of you went into the mountains early this morning, did anything strange happen, like..." Uncle Li Dong, "No." Qing Chen, "No." Now Qin Cheng''s teeth began to hurt. He hadn''t even finished his sentence yet, and this master and disciple duo were already rushing to dissociate themselves from the matter. If the fight in the mountains had nothing to do with these two, that would be unbelievable! At this point, Uncle Li Dong said to him, "Old brother, could you find us two sets of clean, fitting clothes? I think Qin Tong''s clothes would fit us." "Why do you suddenly need clothes?" Qin Cheng wondered. "After all, wearing this sort of storm clothes is a bit conspicuous," Uncle Li Dong said with a smile: "You can tell at a glance that we''re not wilderness people." Qin Cheng''s scalp tingled all of a sudden. He thought to himself, could it be that these two caused some trouble, were spotted by others, and that''s why they were in a rush to change clothes? He hurriedly found two sets of clothes and then instructed the others to get ready to leave. After a while, Qing Chen, while changing clothes in the woods, asked, "Teacher, do you have a new plan?" "Oh, the teacher is preparing to give you your fourth lesson," Uncle Li Dong replied after changing his clothes. Qing Chen suddenly felt someone peering at him. He turned around and saw Qin Yiyi hastily fleeing. After he got dressed, "Teacher, what''s the fourth lesson about?" "I''ll teach you how to be a Hunter," Uncle Li Dong answered. "What''s the prey?" Qing Chen asked again. "You''ll find out soon enough." The two buried their storm clothes and backpacks in the ground, taking only a few essentials with them, apart from the folding stool Uncle Li Dong insisted on bringing. Buried with them was that thick handbook of health knowledge. ... Two pickup trucks were driving on the road. Two days passed by quickly. Countdown 16:00:00. Although the cities of the Inner World and the Outer World correspond with each other, the land area of the Inner World is much larger than the Outer World. If it were in the Outer World, a car driving on the road for three days would have long crossed provincial boundaries. However, Qing Chen silently watched as the characters on the roadside stele changed from "18 number 235" to "18 number 644"; they hadn''t even left the jurisdiction of the 18th city. He suddenly realized that the territorial difference between the Inner and Outer Worlds is very substantial. At this point, Uncle Li Dong, Qin Yiyi, and Qin Tong were playing cards in the truck bed. They had originally invited Qing Chen to join them, but Uncle Li Dong simply wouldn''t let him play. In the teacher''s words, "People who cheat shouldn''t play games." The three of them played a game called ''Anti-Monopoly,'' which seemed to have rules quite similar to the card game Fight the Landlord. Uncle Li Dong used Thor as chips, losing one Thor for each loss, while Qin Yiyi had to give him an apple each time she lost. As a result, in just half an hour, Qin Yiyi had lost all the apples in her backpack. Uncle Li Dong didn''t show her any mercy and actually took all the apples for himself, adopting an attitude that suggested everyone had to accept their losses in a bet. Qing Chen was left speechless, wondering why his teacher was so into playing. Traveling with this teacher, it was the other party who seemed more like a capricious, playful youth. Seeing the young girl almost getting upset from losing, Qing Chen stood up, took the deck of cards from her hand, and looked at his teacher, "Come on, let''s continue." The originally cheerful expression on Uncle Li Dong''s face immediately turned serious. In just 10 minutes, Qing Chen helped the girl win back all the apples. The girl cheered as she gathered the apples back into her arms while Uncle Li Dong lamented, "How can you turn your elbow outwards like this, young man?" However, even though Uncle Li Dong''s face bore a look of heartfelt distress, deep down he somehow felt incredibly happy. He had spent 8 years in that dark prison and seemed to have never been so happy before. Qing Chen handed the cards back to Qin Yiyi and then continued to rest with his eyes closed. Uncle Li Dong glanced at the young man, knowing he wasn''t just lazing around asleep but was repeatedly going over that morning''s lesson in his mind. Time was of the essence; the young man didn''t have many opportunities or time to practice practically. He was going to climb that mountain very soon. So, Qing Chen recalled every detail: how to choose a climbing route, how to create support conditions for oneself when there is nothing to leverage, how to exert force with arms, legs, and fingers, and how to regulate stamina during the climb. All this he had to learn. Just then, the pickup truck''s bed started to shake. Qing Chen opened his eyes to look, only to find that the original road had turned into a dirt path. Qin Yiyi explained to him, "We just passed the border of City Number 18, and heading south is City Number 1, located at Sanjiangkou. The place where the pickup is now is somewhat ambiguous due to the vague definition of city boundaries in earlier years, leading to no city willing to pay for the roadworks, resulting in this peculiar stretch of dirt road." Qing Chen thought this was indeed peculiar; such nonsense would never happen in the Outer World. Qin Yiyi said with a smile, "But once we hit this dirt road, we know that today''s camping site isn''t far away. It is a place discovered by our family, where there is a shallow creek that one can wade into barefoot, so shallow that those large fish that can eat people would get stranded. Plus, there is also a persimmon grove nearby, where, in summer, we put persimmons in the water to chill them before eating. There aren''t any wild animals around, but south of here, wild animals start to become more frequent." The girl knew the place like the back of her hand and shared it as if she were sharing her joy. Qing Chen understood that this must be Old Qin Family''s fixed base when they came into the wilderness, a sort of small family sanctuary. However, just as they turned onto the small mountain road, they found that there were already vehicles parked ahead. Qing Chen glanced at the Black off-road vehicles with the Mount Fuji logo, then looked at Uncle Li Dong, "Teacher, that''s the Jindai family''s convoy." Uncle Li Dong actually laughed, whispering to him, "Why are you so nervous? Afraid to run into acquaintances?" "I always feel like you''re waiting to enjoy a commotion," Qing Chen said, somewhat puzzled. "What are you two whispering about?" Qin Yiyi asked, confused. Then, Uncle Li Dong wiped some dust from the sole of his shoe and smeared it carelessly across his and Qing Chen''s faces. At that moment, Qin Yiyi realized she might have misjudged the situation earlier; the other party wasn''t hiding in the woods because he couldn''t get along with those young nobles, but rather because he was sufficiently distinctive-looking that without a disguise, he would be recognized! Chapter 122 122, Translate When the two pickup trucks from Elder Qin''s Family turned onto this small mountain road and saw the Jindai family''s convoy, it was too late to back out. It was on the eve of returning tonight, and no one expected to encounter such complication. Qing Chen didn''t understand why the teacher had to smear ash on his face. At this moment, as the two convoys met, if the one in front was from the Jindai family, even if they didn''t recognize the teacher who had been in seclusion for many years, Jindai Kongyin would definitely recognize him. Smearing a bit of ash would be of no use. Uncle Li Dong seemed to see through his thoughts and said in a low voice with a chuckle, "Don''t worry, the one who can recognize you has already returned to the north." Qing Chen breathed a sigh of relief. In the Outer World, China has 19 cities corresponding to the Inner World, but in fact, the entire Federation has 25 cities, six of which are controlled by the Jindai and Deer Island families, corresponding to six cities in Korea and the Island Country. However, these two clans had migrated due to tectonic movement, so the Li Family, Chen Clan, and Qing''s Family never acknowledged them. As a result, there were always factions within the three families that supported going to war with firm stances. In recent decades, pro-war factions within the three families had gained increasing prestige, which led to the Jindai family''s initiative to intermarry. It looked like intermarriage, but in fact, it was offering their daughter in a subservient gesture. Uncle Li Dong said to Qing Chen, "At first, the Jindai family seemed to be the royal family on an island. Although they no longer had feudal traditions after the migration, there were still several major surnames supporting them, including the Takahashis, the Yamaguchis, and the Inoues. For centuries, these three surnames have always been Jindai''s retainers." Qing Chen asked, "Is the Jindai family large?" "Their business spreads across all industries," said Uncle Li Dong, "But it''s strange, in earlier times, the Jindai family had thousands of members, but now the number has decreased, leaving only a few hundred." While they talked, Qing Chen caught glimpses of a large tent and flickering campfire in front of the black SUV, suggesting the other party had already set up camp here. A few men in black suits approached Elder Qin''s Family convoy. They wore communicators on their ears, and as they walked, Qing Chen could hear the metallic friction of mechanical limbs beneath their clothes. Qin Cheng said over the intercom, "Everyone stay in the car and don''t move." It seemed when ordinary people met with conglomerates, the best they could do was stay still and try not to provoke the other side. Over a dozen men in black suits surrounded the two pickups. One of them noticed the Hunter symbol and serial number on a car and muttered something into his earpiece. Soon, one of them approached with an amiable smile and asked, "Which one of you is the captain of this Hunter team?" Qin Cheng raised his hand, "Hello, that would be me." "It is like this, our boss would like to invite you all to step out for a gathering to discuss a matter," said the man in the black suit, his tone very friendly and polite. Uncle Li Dong got out of the car grumbling softly, "It''s always this fake politeness." Qing Chen quietly followed behind him, suddenly feeling that the Jindai family must have offended his teacher in the past. As they all departed from the pickup trucks, the men in black suits immediately started a comprehensive search of the vehicles. Some even pulled out daggers to slash open the leather seats to check if there were dangerous items inside. After these thorough checks, Jindai family''s bodyguards took out a device from the black SUV and began to scan the gas tanks and tires of the two pickups. Then, someone with a handheld detector began to methodically scan each person in Qin Cheng''s group. When it was Qin Yiyi''s turn, a girl of her age, they even had a female guard to perform a one-on-one body search. Only after the guards were sure all weapons had been found, did they kindly apologize, "Sorry for the inconvenience, just routine procedure. Please don''t take offense. We''ll temporarily keep the weapons and firearms, and they will be returned in their original form later. Also, we will compensate for any damaged items at their full value." Honestly, Qing Chen felt this inspection was quite redundant, considering there was someone in the team capable of shattering others'' bones with his bare hands... At this moment, Qing Chen also experienced what Uncle Li Dong meant by "false courtesy." Call it courteous, and these people inspected everyone without explanation, even conducting thorough searches and damaging the seats. But on the other hand, when searching women, they were polite enough to have female bodyguards do it and even promised to compensate for the damages. Qing Chen had never dealt with such people before, always feeling a strange sense of dislocation. More than ten people gathered by the bonfire, only to see a middle-aged man in a kimono sitting on a foldable chair, accompanied by a young girl staring blankly into the fire. Upon closer inspection, there were even tear streaks on her face. The middle-aged man immediately stood up with a smile to greet the newcomers from Qin Cheng, but the girl remained seated without moving a muscle. The man''s expression turned stern as he said to the girl, "Ĥޤ??.ͤ?Ƥ??.ϤΥ`ȤȽY餷ä,εǤϑcϤΥ?ߤ?,ʽY?ϲ?." It was Japanese again. They obviously did not want Qin Cheng and the others to understand what they were talking about. However, at the moment the middle-aged man spoke, Qing Chen noticed his teacher subtly raise an eyebrow. He asked in a low voice, "Teacher, can you understand what they are saying?" Uncle Li Dong glanced at him indifferently and said, "You know nothing of your teacher''s erudition." Qing Chen was truly astonished," So, what are they saying?" After some thought, Uncle Li Dong said, "This old boy is telling the girl to stop crying. He says she married an elite of the Chen Clan while Jindai Kongyin married garbage from Qing''s Family. So the girl has nothing to cry about since her life is at least better than Jindai Kongyin''s." Qing Chen was stunned; it turned out the girl was crying over an arranged marriage issue. Then he heard Uncle Li Dong say emotionlessly, "This old boy called my student trash, shall I kill them all?" Qing Chen was at a loss for words, wondering to himself if the teacher really understood or if he was just bluffing. However, Uncle Li Dong sounded so confident that Qing Chen felt the teacher must not be spouting nonsense. At that moment, the girl also wiped her tears and stood up. The middle-aged man introduced himself to everyone, "Good afternoon everyone, my name is Jindai Yasuhito. Please take care of me as this is our first meeting." Qin Cheng, having never seen such a lineup, quickly said, "It''s you who are being courteous. We were just passing by." Jindai Yasuhito asked, "May I inquire where you all are headed?" Qin Cheng politely replied, "We received a task to look for the Kite Falcon and Golden monkey. Unable to find them in the north, we''re trying our luck in the south." Just then, a man in a black suit from the Jindai family walked over, apparently finished checking their pickup truck. They had confirmed these were just ordinary Hunters with no special identities, hence expendable. Jindai Yasuhito carefully weighed his words and said, "As our itinerary has changed on short notice, to keep our whereabouts secret, we must regrettably ask you all to stay here forever." Uncle Li Dong whispered to Qing Chen, "Let me translate for you. What he means is, he wants to die here." Qing Chen was shocked, "Teacher, that was in Chinese. I can understand it without translation." And that''s not what they mean! Now, Qing Chen suspected that the previous sentence had been the teacher messing with him too! Before Uncle Li Dong could say anything else, the sound of engines roaring and loud music came from the mountain road outside. Chapter 123 123, society announces your death Everything tonight happened too suddenly. One wave had not settled, and another had already risen. Qing Chen guessed that the Jindai family might have some secret plan to execute, which is why they didn''t want people to know they had changed their itinerary and were perhaps aiming to kill to silence others. However, before the Jindai family could act, another convoy had arrived here. He felt that tonight was just too dramatic, as if everyone had arranged to appear on the scene together. The convoy that had just arrived showed no intention of avoiding the Jindai family. Over a dozen Boundary-011 drones flew over the Jindai campsite, subtly including everyone within their attack range. It was the Autumn Hunting Team. On the eight or nine-meter wide mountain road, the Jindai family''s off-road vehicles were currently blocking the road side by side. Originally, this was meant to prevent Qin Cheng and the others from escaping, but now it was blocking the way of the Autumn Hunting Team. At the front of the Autumn Hunting Fleet, a huge off-road vehicle pushed the vehicles blocking the road aside with its sturdy and hard black bumper. The vehicles of the Autumn Hunting Team were clearly marked with bullet holes and scratches, and three of their cars were missing. A muscular girl jumped off the fierce and wild vehicle at the front, and to everyone''s surprise, it was Li Yinuo. She swaggered into the Jindai campsite, nonchalantly saying to Jindai Yasuhito, "According to your plan, you should be on your way to City No. 7 by now, why have you stopped here?" Qing Chen realized that Li Yinuo had come specifically for the Jindai family. His teacher had also mentioned before that among those in opposition to the Jindai and Dear Island families, the Li family was the most firm. Upon seeing Li Yinuo, Jindai Yasuhito immediately stood upright and then bowed deeply, "It turns out to be Miss Yinuo. We parted in City No. 18, and I did not expect to meet you so soon." Li Yinuo frowned, "You are more than twenty years older than me. Why do you always bow to me? When will the Jindai family finally get rid of this pretense of politeness?" While speaking, she walked over to the campfire and, with a smile, looked at the girl who had been crying earlier, "She''s quite pretty; Chen Leyou is lucky. Why don''t you forget about going to the Chen Clan, come to my Lee family, follow me?" Qing Chen felt a shock, thinking that Li Yinuo was even more fierce than he had imagined. All the young people from the Autumn Hunting Team got out of their cars, and the middle-aged man who had always been commanding the team gave a couple of commands to his deputy and then stuck closely to Li Yinuo''s side, preventing the Jindai family from suddenly hurting someone. At that moment, Qing Chen turned to look at Uncle Li Dong, but found that his teacher was holding his arms, thoroughly enjoying the spectacle. "Teacher? What should we do now? What''s the plan?" Qing Chen asked. "What''s the hurry," Uncle Li Dong said with a smile, "It''s a good thing that someone comes to stir things up. Although Miss Yinuo looks a bit robust, her way of doing things is rather appealing." By then, Li Yinuo had already taken a seat on what was originally Jindai Yasuhito''s soft chair, she looked up and asked with a smile, "You''re planning to go south to meet Qing Huai, the eldest son of Qing''s Family''s fourth branch, right? I heard you want Qing''s Family to change the marriage agreement and don''t want Jindai Kongyin to marry that shadow candidate who has no power, no influence, and no support. Strange, I still don''t know the name of that shadow candidate." Jindai Yasuhito answered, "We were just passing by and realized that the autumn scenery here is comparable to that of the Northern Country, so we decided to camp here to enjoy the view." Nearly fifty years old, Jindai Yasuhito stood beside Li Yinuo, appearing as humble as a subordinate. Only a few knew that the Jindai family always behaved in this manner, only revealing their fangs when they truly became fierce. Li Yinuo, sitting on the soft chair with her legs crossed, said, "I heard that it''s Qing Huai himself who is unwilling to change the marriage agreement with your Jindai family. Is that so? It seems Jindai Kongyin also disagrees. But you probably don''t care about Jindai Kongyin''s opinion, so you want to go persuade Qing Huai personally? I guess I''m not wrong." In that moment, Qing Chen heard the keyword "Qing''s Family''s fourth branch" and felt as though he connected many things together. The death warriors who had tried to kill him in the prison were people from Qing''s Family''s fourth branch. And Uncle Li Dong bringing him out this time was also related to the eldest son of Qing''s fourth branch, Qing Huai. It was all part of his teacher''s plan. Qing Chen silently looked towards his teacher beside him. At that moment, Uncle Li Dong smiled and glanced at him but said nothing. Li Yinuo sneered and said to the Jindai family, "Stop with these petty tricks. I advise you to honestly return to the north." The frame of Jindai Yasuhito bent slightly, but his words showed no sign of yielding, "Does your current conduct represent the Lee family? I''m afraid even the Lee family doesn''t have the power to command the Jindai family." The atmosphere in the campsite became as tense as if swords were drawn and bows were bent. People from the Jindai family slowly moved into battle formation, while the middle-aged man behind Li Yinuo watched everything expressionlessly and said nothing. Uncle Li Dong whispered to Qing Chen, "Let me translate what Jindai Yasuhito said for you, it means..." "Teacher," Qing Chen said earnestly, "please don''t insult my intelligence." "Alright then," Uncle Li Dong felt somewhat disappointed. Li Yinuo chuckled, stood up, and shouted to the nearby Autumn Hunting Team, "We''ll camp here tonight. Wherever the Jindai family goes, we follow. After all, as hosts we naturally need to provide good company to our guests from afar." Having said that, she sauntered off toward an empty space to the side. When Li Yinuo passed by Qin Cheng, she suddenly said with some surprise, "And who are you?" Qin Cheng hurriedly said, "We''re just a hunting team passing by. Your team destroyed our drone earlier, and you had them compensate us. We were passing by here when the Jindai family wanted to silence us." At this moment, the wisest choice was to pick a side. Li Yinuo''s gaze swept behind Qin Cheng and she smiled, "I remember you guys now, don''t worry about the Jindai family. You can camp next to us and follow us from now on." Qin Cheng quickly agreed, "Yes, thank you so much!" From the back of the crowd, Qin Yiyi exclaimed, "That was close, thank goodness the Autumn Hunting Team arrived." Qing Chen glanced at his teacher beside him, thinking indeed it was a close call; the entire Jindai family nearly met their end here. Li Yinuo returned to her vehicle and took a person from the passenger seat, then walked back to the campsite. As she passed by Qing Chen, the person she was holding by the hand looked at Qing Chen with a face full of despair... In that despair, there was also a trace of shame... It was clear that this person had recognized Qing Chen. The bit of ash on Qing Chen''s face might deceive others, but it certainly couldn''t fool Nan Gengchen. From this moment on, Nan Gengchen was socially dead. People often say that a person has to die three times, the first being physical death when the heartbeat stops. The second is when society declares you dead. The third is when the last person who remembers you forgets. However, some people are exceptional; they are declared dead by society without having to experience the first death. The countdown is almost over, ready to return. ... Thank you, cheungwa2002, for becoming the new ally of this book. Boss is generous, and may the boss make a fortune! Begging for monthly tickets ahhh!!! Chapter 124 124. Seek refuge Countdown 168:00:00. Qing Chen opened his eyes in a farmhouse cottage on Laojun Mountain. In those seven days, he had experienced so many landscapes, met so many people, that upon his return, he felt as if he had come back from another world. Suddenly, he was pulled out of that bizarre world. Yet, before he could even begin to ponder, his WeChat started blowing up with messages. Qing Chen checked his phone, all the messages were from Nan Gengchen. "Bro Chen, are you there? Are you there, are you there, are you there?" "Bro Chen, listen to me, let me explain!" "Bro Chen, would you believe me if I said I have a twin brother over there, and what you saw was him, not me?" Qing Chen reflected that Nan Gengchen was probably best at confusing himself with a bunch of nonsensical lies. Nobody else could be fooled. However, Qing Chen didn''t pay him any attention and walked out of the room to borrow the farmhouse''s landline, intending to call Nan Gengchen. However, halfway there, he suddenly turned back to his room. Qing Chen replied on WeChat: "You''ve worked hard." On the other side of the phone, Nan Gengchen''s expression changed drastically: "Worked hard on what, Bro Chen, what are you talking about, I don''t understand?!" Qing Chen asked, "So, the identity of the pimp you mentioned earlier is real because that person introduced you to Li Yinuo?" "No, Bro Chen, Li Yinuo and I are just ordinary friends!" Nan Gengchen frantically defended himself on WeChat. However, Qing Chen didn''t pursue the matter further and merely replied lightly: "Recover well during these seven days of your return." At that moment, Nan Gengchen knew that any further explanations were futile. Qing Chen had already seen Li Yinuo bringing him into the tent, and had also seen... Nan Gengchen helplessly asked, "Bro Chen, why were you there?" The last time they returned, they had both been involved in the incident at Laojun Mountain. Qing Chen had even saved him. From that time, Nan Gengchen felt he had a tendency to be socially dead since he kept insisting he wasn''t a Time Traveler, yet bragged every day that "Only those with extraordinary talent can become a Time Traveler." After returning to the Los Angeles area, he didn''t dare send a single message to Qing Chen. As if by not sending anything, the whole issue would just pass. Nan Gengchen thought that perhaps the matter would slowly settle down, be forgotten by Qing Chen. But unfortunately, his luck ran out when he ran into Qing Chen again in the wilderness. A complete disaster. Luckily, only Qing Chen knew about it! At that moment, Qing Chen replied, "I am a Hunter in the wilderness, isn''t it normal for me to appear there? Our Hunting Team was tasked with capturing Kite Falcon and Golden monkey, but we didn''t find any in the north, so we tried our luck in the south." Nan Gengchen didn''t know the person beside him was Uncle Li Dong, nor did he know he had just started moving with the Hunting Team. So, Qing Chen''s explanation couldn''t be verified or doubted by the other side. However, this identity wasn''t forged for Nan Gengchen''s view. Rather, it served as a safeguard in case someone suspected him and monitored either his or Nan Gengchen''s WeChat. Then, anyone monitoring their chat would only conclude that Qing Chen was not in Los Angeles City or in Prison Number 18, but merely an ordinary hunter in the wilderness. That was sufficient. As the back-and-forth shuttling increased, more and more organizations matured, possessing stronger reconnaissance and counter-reconnaissance capabilities. At such a time, it would be hard for Qing Chen to remain indifferent as an ordinary person. Complete invisibility wasn''t as good as hiding in plain sight. But if one day he really needed to reveal himself, this hunter identity would serve as his second layer of firewall. At least, a common wilderness hunter didn''t hold much coveted value. In a message on WeChat, Nan Gengchen asked, "Brother Chen, you looked pretty ragged back then, with your face all dusty and your clothes torn. I heard it''s very tough out in the wilderness, and even more dangerous further south. Why don''t you come back with me to Los Angeles City afterward? You definitely won''t starve as long as you have meals with me." Qing Chen replied, "No need, I still prefer to earn my own living... food that one earns oneself always tastes better." "Brother Chen, that hurts," Nan Gengchen responded bitterly. "But, it''s going to be very dangerous in the wilderness this time. The hunting team you''re with is quite weak, so be very careful not to get involved." From Nan Gengchen''s perspective, the battle between the Jindai and Li Families made a small hunter team appear helpless, likely to become war fodder before a battle commenced. It must be said that Qin Cheng, Qing Chen, and Qin Tong looked terribly unappealing, all dressed like refugees. It was natural for Nan Gengchen to think this way. With curiosity, Qing Chen asked, "By the way, since you mingle with many influential figures, I want to know what the Jindai family and the Autumn Hunting Team are up to. Did Li Yinuo tell you?" At present, Li Yinuo seemed to be the leader within the Autumn Hunting Team, and Nan Gengchen, as Li Yinuo''s confidant, should know quite a bit. Nan Gengchen replied, "Li Yinuo originally didn''t plan to join the Autumn Hunt, saying that with her status in the family, she didn''t need to mix with a bunch of hopeless dandies." "Then why did she join?" Qing Chen inquired. "It seems she obtained some intelligence on the Jindai family at the last moment. She wants to secretly sabotage the Jindai''s arranged marriage, and even plans to collaborate with Qing Huai from Qing''s Family Four, to trap the Jindai family members in the wilderness. In this arranged marriage event, the Jindai family is allying with Qing''s and Chen Clans but notably excluding the Li Family. Li Yinuo wants to drag the militant faction of Qing''s younger generation down with her," Nan Gengchen explained. Qing Chen mused, this guy really knew the details intricately. Without being a confidant, it was impossible to know so much. Nan Gengchen continued, "However, it seems that Qing''s Family Four isn''t willing to collaborate with her; the other party is a Shadow Candidate, currently only interested in completing a mission in the 002 Taboo Land. Li Yinuo said that for Qing Huai, becoming a Shadow first would definitely bring greater benefits, so he doesn''t want to complicate matters. However, Li Yinuo plans to negotiate secretly once more with Qing Huai by offering to help him compete for the Shadow position." Thinking over it, Qing Chen asked, "Does the Li Family know about this?" "Probably not. She''s doing it covertly, wanting to present them with a fait accompli," Nan Gengchen answered. He felt that Li Yinuo''s actions seemed rash and unlikely to be instigated by the Li Family. A top-tier conglomerate wouldn''t make decisions so carelessly. Nan Gengchen then asked, "Brother Chen, are you really unwilling to hang out with me in Los Angeles City? It''s definitely better than staying in the wilderness." Qing Chen replied, "If I can''t survive in the wilderness someday, I''ll come to you. I know you still have doubts, but let''s discuss them when we meet." Nan Gengchen replied, "Alright." Chapter 125 125, the opportunity of the era Qing Chen knew that Nan Gengchen had more questions to ask, such as why he had appeared on Laojun Mountain, why he had learned how to kill, and why he had been called a subordinate by Liu Dezhu. But these were not things that could be discussed over WeChat, so after keeping up appearances in the chat, Qing Chen ended the conversation. After all, if outsiders saw it, it would cause some trouble. Appearing on Laojun Mountain he could explain, learning how to kill he could explain. But his relationship with Liu Dezhu, that was problematic. For now, these excuses might fool Nan Gengchen, but a smart person would certainly not be fooled. However, Qing Chen had already made preparations in advance, so if one day this lead was pulled by someone, he would discard Liu Dezhu, this puppet, and tell everyone another story. To be honest, Qing Chen was somewhat moved after chatting with Nan Gengchen. The other party was thinking about helping him while being supported by someone else, what kind of revolutionary friendship was that? Anyone would be moved. Qing Chen browsed through the messages online, but because he had just returned, even if some people had posted news about the Inner World, it couldn''t top the trending searches for the time being. Under normal circumstances, those messages would be discovered around 7 in the morning and then quickly climb in popularity. Unless it was from "big accounts" with many followers like He Xiaoxiao or King Chuang who were already being followed by many people. However, both of these accounts were still silent for now. Qing Chen slowly fell asleep, after spending several days in the wilderness without good food or sleep, being able to catch a breath back in the Outer World was a rare relaxation. But this return was not easy, because there was an even more dangerous journey waiting for him in the Inner World. ... Inside Los Angeles Third People''s Hospital. Right after midnight, Hu Xiaoniu and Zhang Tianzhen, lying in their beds, opened their eyes. At that moment, the entire surgery building was brightly lit, with all the attending physicians and experts waiting outside the ward, ready to conduct meticulous examinations on Hu Xiaoniu and Zhang Tianzhen. In the ward, all kinds of medical equipment had already been prepared: ventilators, micro-injection machines, electrocardiogram machines, multifunctional blood purification devices... In the adjacent operating room, the lead surgeon stood at the sterile operating table, ready to perform a high-intensity surgery at any moment. All this. Was in preparation for an event in which the conditions of Hu Xiaoniu and Zhang Tianzhen worsened in the Inner World, so upon their return, immediate resuscitation could be started. After all, no one knew what a Time Traveler might experience in the Inner World. For instance, people with severe abdominal injuries like Hu Xiaoniu and Zhang Tianzhen might even die over there. Hu Xiaoniu''s family was extremely wealthy, wealthy enough to casually give away watches costing hundreds of thousands, and wealthy enough to have the best surgeons from Haicheng fly to Los Angeles and be on call 24 hours a day. Compared to Time Travelers like Qing Chen who had to endure injuries with their lives on the line, Hu Xiaoniu and Zhang Tianzhen were probably enjoying the most top-tier treatment. But the world is fair, too, as they did not have such high authority and wealth in the Inner World. "Heartbeat normal." "Blood pressure normal." "The abdominal wound is healing well..." The doctors rapidly reported a series of conditions until, at this point, more than ten doctors finally breathed a sigh of relief. The two students were out of danger, and it seemed that their recovery was going better than expected. Indeed, after the Wang Yun incident ended, the Time Traveler hired by the Hu Family had pooled money to send them to Third District Qing''s Private Hospital in City No. 7. They also underwent targeted treatments for blood cells and collagen to promote rapid wound healing. Explore more stories with empire Not only did their injuries not worsen, but they might be discharged from the hospital in a few days. Of course, they would be roughly out of danger in a few days, but they would still need to avoid vigorous exercise for a month. A doctor had wanted to ask Hu Xiaoniu to cooperate with research on the medical technology of the Inner World, but then thought better of it, realizing the Hu Family would never agree, and so did not propose it. Hu Xiaoniu and Zhang Tianzhen gradually woke up, and Hu Xiaoniu''s father, Hu Dacheng, asked, "How do you feel? You were not injured a second time in the Inner World, were you?" "No, thank you, Uncle Hu," Zhang Tianzhen said. Hu Xiaoniu said, "This time went smoother than I expected, I wasn''t injured, and I even received some help." "Did Wang Yun die?" Hu Dacheng asked. "She''s dead," Hu Xiaoniu nodded. "But I wasn''t the one who killed her." "Oh?" Hu Dacheng sounded surprised. Hu Xiaoniu elaborated, "Dad, you bribed the Time Traveler by her side, and we found Wang Yun''s whereabouts smoothly. But they were better prepared and brought more Time Travelers than us." "Hm, never underestimate the influence of the Wang Family," Hu Dacheng said. "The Wang Family has been established in South Central China for a long time. It''s easy for them to entice some Time Travelers to offer convenience to the clan members. Then why do you still say it went smoothly? How was she killed?" Hu Xiaoniu explained, "Uncle Li Dong took action. He directly sent someone to kill Wang Yun." He didn''t mention Li Dongze of the Heng Society, because Hu Dacheng was not a Time Traveler, and he couldn''t explain too much to his father. But Hu Xiaoniu had previously described Uncle Li Dong to his father, so with this explanation, Hu Dacheng understood. Hu Xiaoniu continued, "I''m guessing that as soon as Liu Dezhu arrived in the Inner World, he asked Uncle Li Dong to take out Wang Yun. From this, it seems that Liu Dezhu must hold a very high position by Li Dong''s side. Otherwise, just any lackey asking you, Dad, to help kill someone is probably something you wouldn''t agree to." "Hm," Hu Dacheng nodded. However, just then, Hu Xiaoniu changed the subject, saying, "But the greater the power Liu Dezhu displays, the more I suspect there''s another Time Traveler behind him. One who truly has potential and qualifications and is seriously valued by Uncle Li Dong." This suspicion was close to Zheng Yuandong''s deduction: How could a person who is spineless, cowardly, and unintelligent get a real big shot to do so much for him? The more Uncle Li Dong did for "Liu Dezhu," the more Hu Xiaoniu felt Liu Dezhu was unworthy. Hu Xiaoniu spoke earnestly, "Dad, I trust my own judgment. It''s hard for you, having lived in peaceful times, to imagine how terrifying the real power holders in the Inner World are. Such people would not go to great lengths for a minor character like Liu Dezhu. And I''ve learned some of the rules for advancement. Liu Dezhu screamed for five hours after crossing back, which coincides with the transformation time of a Genetic Potion. But Uncle Li Dong himself comes from a lineage and would disdain using a Genetic Potion." Hu Dacheng smiled, "It''s good that you''re able to think independently. Whether your conclusions are correct or not doesn''t matter. You''re young and have many opportunities to learn from mistakes." "Dad, do you support me staying in Los Angeles City? I feel that the person behind Liu Dezhu must also be in Los Angeles City," Hu Xiaoniu asked. Suddenly changing the subject, Hu Dacheng asked, "Son, why do you think I''ve been successful in business?" "Because of wisdom?" Hu Xiaoniu hesitated to say. "No," Hu Dacheng laughed. "It''s because of the opportunities presented during the country''s era of reform and opening up. I was just a bit smarter than others and seized that opportunity." Hu Xiaoniu was puzzled, "Dad, why bring this up all of a sudden?" "Now, the opportunity for you has arrived," Hu Dacheng thought for a moment and said, "An unprecedented transformation is just around the corner. It''s a miraculous event that hasn''t occurred in thousands of years. Stay in Los Angeles City, as your opportunity is here. You don''t have to try to find the person hidden behind the scenes. As long as you prove your value, he will naturally come to you." Chapter 126 126, Double the Time "Boss, boss, boss, calling the boss!" In the middle of the night, Qing Chen was awakened by the vibrating sound of the base station communicator. He took it out from under his pillow and saw that it was Liu Dezhu sending frequent messages, and this guy had suddenly started addressing Qing Chen as the boss. Qing Chen was somewhat puzzled, what could be so important that the other person would disturb him in the middle of the night? He replied, "If you''ve got something to say, say it." Liu Dezhu sent a message, "I''ve followed your orders and stabilised the few Time Travelers in prison No. 18. Among them, my classmate from the next class, Yu Junyi, now completely believes in my status in the prison." Qing Chen replied: Hmm. Liu Dezhu sent another message, "Hu Xiaoniu just contacted me to say that to express gratitude for eliminating the mole, they''re willing to pay an additional two gold bars as a reward and also promised never to reveal the content of the transaction to anyone else. Boss, I swear I haven''t embezzled a cent this time, please believe in my loyalty now, there''s not a single lie!" Qing Chen thought it over. Hu Xiaoniu was the one who had made a move on Li Dongze that time, and that was included in the content of the transaction. It was indeed a bit strange; it seemed more like they were just giving money away since there wouldn''t be any issue even if they didn''t pay. As for "never revealing the content of the transaction to anyone else," it seemed more like an attitude statement: Please rest assured in completing the transaction with me. Qing Chen mulled it over and thought that Hu Xiaoniu was much more reliable than Liu Dezhu. Once the former''s injuries were healed and they arrived in City No. 18, he could look for an opportunity to make more contact. If he could confirm that the other party didn''t have any issues, it might be a good choice to let Hu Xiaoniu replace Liu Dezhu as his agent. And there wouldn''t be Liu Dezhu in the middle skimming off the top. At that moment, Liu Dezhu suddenly sent a message, "Boss, I''m really sorry for bothering you so late at night, but I''ve run into a little trouble over here..." "What trouble?" "When I got up to pee in the middle of the night, I found an extra letter beside my pillow... Boss, there''s also a stamp with a devil pattern on the envelope. It looks a little scary to me." Qing Chen understood; it turns out that this guy was disturbing him in the middle of the night because he was scared by the Devil''s Stamp. Taboo item ACE-017, Devil''s Stamp. This item had appeared with Wang Yun before, and Qing Chen suspected that its owner was the man who had called the gang leader at midnight. It seemed to be this person who had connected the gangsters and Wang Yun, orchestrating the Laojun Mountain kidnapping incident. A real mastermind hiding behind the scenes. A person who disregards law and conscience. Qing Chen asked, "What does the letter say?" Liu Dezhu replied, "Just one sentence: Let''s play a game, whoever finds the other first becomes the other''s slave, hehe." Qing Chen frowned, what made his hair stand on end wasn''t the content of the letter but the word ''hehe.'' No sane person uses ''hehe'' as an everyday phrase; it seems only someone who''s not quite right in the head would use it that way. It''s like... the feeling of someone scraping their nails against a blackboard. The sentence was clearly not meant for Liu Dezhu, because one must meet certain prerequisites to use a Devil''s Stamp, and the sender had already found Liu Dezhu''s residence. But the sender was well aware that Liu Dezhu was just a puppet put up front, so, the sender wants to find Qing Chen! Discover exclusive tales on empire Being targeted by such a person is very dangerous. Only at this moment did Qing Chen finally realize that in today''s dangerous world, disguising and protecting oneself is not at all excessive. Liu Dezhu asked, "Boss, what should we do?" Qing Chen replied, "Wait for him to show up, then kill him." ... "Take off your shoes." In the small courtyard of the agritourism early in the morning, Jiang Xue sat on the bamboo chair opposite Qing Chen and said calmly. Her hair was already tied up, and she was holding a small bottle of ointment in her hand. "Aunt Jiang Xue, the wound on my foot is already healed," Qing Chen said with a smile, "It''s really fine now." "No, I have to see for myself," Jiang Xue''s face remained serious, "You are too harsh on yourself. I won''t be at ease until I take a look. Listen to your aunt and quickly take off your shoes. I brought you ointment from the Inner World." After the incident at Laojun Mountain, Jiang Xue had rented the entire courtyard. The owner and his wife had gone home, leaving only the three of them in the courtyard. At that moment, Li Tongyun with twin ponytails crouched to the side and said, "Brother Qing Chen, just listen to mom. She brought ointment specially from the Inner World for you. Mom said it''s very precious." Qing Chen had no choice but to take off the shoes and socks from his feet. Jiang Xue was taken aback, "It really is much better, did you apply medicine in the Inner World?" "Mhm," Qing Chen nodded his head. At first, as he followed Uncle Li Dong along the mountain paths, his wound had split open quite a bit. But then everyone had been sitting in the pickup truck, so by now, the injury on his foot was almost completely healed. Jiang Xue seemed slightly disappointed, "This medicine I''ve just bought will go to waste." "Not a waste," Qing Chen smiled, "just in case there''s another injury, we can use it directly in the Outer World. After all, given the current dangerous times, it''s proper to keep some medicine on hand in the Outer World." "Hmm, since your foot is almost healed, then let''s go back to the city this afternoon?" Jiang Xue looked at Qing Chen, "I''ll order a taxi. That way, we won''t have to queue and squeeze into a bus." "No," Qing Chen shook his head, "Aunt Jiang Xue, can you wait a few more days? I''ve still got some things to do here. Or you can take Xiao Yun back first, and I''ll stay here a few more days." For Time Travelers, the concept of time could be somewhat disordered. Even though seven days had already passed in the Inner World, the actual date in the Outer World was only October 3rd. School was still several days away from starting. Jiang Xue was puzzled, "Do you still have things to do on Laojun Mountain? Then Li Tong and I won''t leave either. Since we came together, we must also return together. I can''t leave you here alone." Li Tongyun felt a surge of elation upon hearing this. Her mother had told her that if they went back today, they would sign up for the evening tutoring classes, and she would have to attend them diligently for the next few days... Now, there was absolutely no need to attend the tutoring classes. At that moment, the young girl looked at Qing Chen with a sense of admiration. Qing Chen, facing Jiang Xue''s gaze, thought for a moment, "Actually, I do need Aunt Jiang Xue''s help with something." He went to the outdoor supply store on Laojun Mountain, bought several nylon ropes, and then spent two hours on the mountain locating a vertical cliff more than twenty meters high. Jiang Xue asked, bewildered, "Xiao Chen, what are you trying to do?" "Climb up," Qing Chen looked up at the cliff, knowing very clearly that he no longer had the time or the opportunity to engage in practical training in the Inner World. Uncle Li Dong seemed not to worry at all. He always felt that his student, pushed to the brink of life and death, would somehow manage to create miracles. One could say that the teacher had quite a bold heart. However, Qing Chen himself was not at ease. Even though he had the talent for memory, and could continuously analyze and dissect every movement Uncle Li Dong taught him, he would definitely encounter problems if he didn''t practice himself. Fortunately, he was different from ordinary people; he had twice the amount of time. ... Thank you to student "Facing Death with Rebirth 68" for becoming a new ally of this book. The boss is generous; may the boss make a fortune! Chapter 127 127, dependent on each other for survival In front of the more than ten-meter-high vertical cliff. Qing Chen had Jiang Xue take the nylon rope and walk around to reach the top of the cliff. He tied the other end around his waist, to prevent him from falling to the ground in case he failed to climb successfully. This height was already equivalent to that of a six- or seven-story building; if one were to fall from halfway while climbing bare-handed, death or serious injury would be certain. With no trees on the barren top of the cliff, Jiang Xue could only wrap the nylon rope around her waist in loops and then dig a pit in the ground to step into for leverage, so her strength would be sufficient to withstand the impact force of Qing Chen''s potential fall. As Qing Chen climbed bit by bit, she needed to continually tighten the rope. If Qing Chen made a mistake and fell, she needed to exert force instantly to catch the rope and prevent him from getting hurt. At the same time, she had to prevent herself from being pulled down the vertical cliff by the force of Qing Chen''s descent. Qing Chen stood in front of the vertical cliff, silently looking up. Time and again, he remembered the words of his teacher. "From a distance, the cliff appears to be an unapproachable monolith, but as you draw near, you can see the intricate lines upon it." "In that moment, you''re like in the palm of a giant, able to see its creases." "That''s the shortcut that leads you to the sky." "It''s a path left by the world, though no one has ever walked it before." The vertical cliff before Qing Chen suddenly became three-dimensional; he saw the slightly protruding stones and the cracks within the rock face. "At this time, all you need to do is make your palms, arms, soles, and legs the most powerful machines, understand them, master them, and command them." "Then, this path to the heavens belongs to you." Qing Chen took a deep breath and used his fingertips to latch onto every possible foothold, slowly climbing upwards. He transformed every piece of instruction he had ever received from his teacher into his own knowledge and experience. Memory, talent, and physical strength were what Qing Chen possessed. But he realized, to reach the place closest to the sky, he also needed a bit of luck. When Qing Chen reached a height of ten meters, a rock on the cliff wall suddenly came loose. The pupil of the youth''s eyes abruptly contracted as his previously stable tripod support was completely shattered. He felt his body quickly separating from the cliff, falling downwards. The strong sensation of weightlessness made Qing Chen feel as if death was slowly approaching. In an instant, the nylon rope around his waist tensed up, abruptly suspending him in mid-air. Jiang Xue stood at the top of the cliff, gritting her teeth as she tugged on the rope, then slowly lowered Qing Chen back to the ground. The nylon rope rubbed against her waist and palms, tightening. At this moment, Qing Chen recalled what had just happened, gaining a new experience: sometimes the world can deceive you, even a rock that seems solid can break. But that''s not a problem with the world; all you can do is to be careful, then careful again. Qing Chen spread out his palms to find small blisters had formed on his fingertips, slightly touching them would cause a stinging pain. Jiang Xue poked her head out from the edge of the cliff and asked, "Xiao Chen, are you okay?" Qing Chen smiled and replied, "Thank you, Aunt Jiang Xue, I''m fine, let''s continue!" In the remaining days, Qing Chen failed time after time, then picked himself up again and again to climb that vertical cliff. Watching his hands blister and callus, the young man seemed to train tirelessly. From a distance, one could now see traces of dark red on the once pale-white vertical cliff after several days; that was the blood from the boy''s hands. If it weren''t for the special medicine Jiang Xue brought back from the Inner World, Qing Chen''s hands probably couldn''t withstand such intense barehanded climbing training. For five days, Qing Chen spent virtually every daylight hour on that vertical precipice, lying down underneath to nap when he couldn''t endure any longer, waiting for Li Tongyun to bring him and Jiang Xue food, and then continued training after filling his belly. Tomorrow would be October 8th, the start of school; yet, Qing Chen felt the training was still insufficient. If he weren''t concerned that taking leave would arouse suspicion, he might have stayed at Laojun Mountain for another two days, until the countdown returned to zero. Jiang Xue asked Qing Chen, "Why are you training in barehanded climbing?" Qing Chen simply replied, "Because climbing a high mountain can completely change a person''s life." Climbing the first mountain was the first life-and-death challenge Qing Chen had to face. Jiang Xue didn''t ask anything more. To her, as long as Qing Chen felt it was necessary, it was her job to support him wholeheartedly. Continue your journey on empire After each day''s training, she would tenderly clean his palm wounds with gauze and alcohol, painstakingly removing blisters and cleansing the dirt from the wounds. Then she would apply the medicine. The effects of the medicine lasted six hours; Qing Chen needed to reapply it promptly at midnight. On the fifth night, as they slept, Li Tongyun suddenly noticed her mother tossing and turning in bed, seemingly in great pain. She suddenly lifted Jiang Xue''s shirt and saw to her shock that at the spot where the Nylon Rope wrapped around her mother''s waist, there was a ring of bluish-red marks, with some areas blistered and others bleeding. That was the injury caused by the rope cutting into her waist every time Qing Chen fell. Li Tongyun was distressed: "Mom, does it hurt? Why haven''t you told us about it these past days?" Jiang Xue smiled, "It''s nothing, Xiao Yun." "There''s still some of the special medicine from the Inner World left with brother Qing Chen, let me apply some for you," said Li Tongyun as she began to search for the medicine. Jiang Xue stopped her, "No, he''s got blisters on his hands again today, and abrasions on his body; he has to change his medicine again tonight. The medicine Mom brought back only has a little left, just enough for one person. We mustn''t drag him down at times like this, understand?" Li Tongyun''s eyes reddened, "But the wounds from the rope on your waist look so painful." "Mom knows her limits," Jiang Xue said with a smile. "These little injuries are nothing, and besides, I won''t face any danger when I go to the Inner World. Your brother Qing Chen has it tough; he''s gone through so much suffering, and it''s only us who can help him now." Li Tongyun wasn''t listening to all of that: "I''m also pained for brother Qing Chen, but he wouldn''t agree if he knew about this." As she was about to hop off the bed to tell Qing Chen about it, Jiang Xue grabbed her arm. With seriousness, Jiang Xue said, "You must not tell your brother Qing Chen that Mom is injured, understand? If he knows, he definitely won''t want to use the medicine." Jiang Xue softened her tone, "Being able to do something for your brother Qing Chen is something to be happy about. We can''t let him shoulder everything on his own, right?" "Yes," Li Tongyun finally conceded. What they didn''t realize was that Qing Chen had been standing outside the room for a long time. He had intended to discuss the return trip for the next morning, but instead, he overheard this conversation. The door of the rural guesthouse was not soundproof. Qing Chen stood there quietly, suddenly filled with a sense that in this vast world, there were people who relied on each other. It was a warmth he had not felt in a long time. Chapter 128 128, calm seas Countdown 41:20:00. Early in the morning, Qing Chen, Jiang Xue, and Li Tongyun boarded the earliest bus back to the city. By then, Jiang Xue had already quit her job as an art teacher, but Qing Chen and Li Tongyun still needed to attend school. Actually, Jiang Xue herself rather liked the job as an art teacher. It was just that her identity as a Time Traveler was too conspicuous, and constantly wearing gloves on both hands also easily attracted the attention of others. This feeling was not pleasant. Although she had not started operating her clinic in the Inner World, the money invested by the Li Family was enough to allow her to live a comfortable life and even exchange some gold to bring back to the Outer World. To this day, Jiang Xue lacked the ability to run the clinic on her own. Replacing and mounting mechanical limbs was a high-threshold profession, and it was impossible to master it in such a short time. Luckily, the female teacher arranged by the Li Family was very "competent." Not only was she responsible for teaching Jiang Xue knowledge and practice, but she even helped Jiang Xue take orders and change mechanical limbs for customers when they came to the clinic. The salary of the female teacher was paid by the Li Family, and to be honest, even if Jiang Xue completely neglected the clinic, it could still operate very well... However, Jiang Xue was also a diligent learner and never slacked off during her time in the Inner World. She also wanted to learn the craft as soon as possible so she could be a useful person. Only Jiang Xue and her two companions were on the early bus. Owing to the kidnapping case, Laojun Mountain itself didn''t have many people, and there were even fewer people taking the early bus. Qing Chen suddenly remembered something... he had many sentences in Japanese that needed translation. The young man opened the simultaneous translation software and started to recite, word for word, what Jindai Kongyin had said to him from memory. Then, he realized that what Jindai Kongyin had said was a farewell and an anticipation for their next meeting. Qing Chen, recalling from memory, also mentioned what Jindai Yasuhito had said: Ĥޤ??.ͤ?Ƥ??.ϤΥ`ȤȽY餷ä,εǤϑcϤΥ?ߤ?,ʽY?ϲ?. Displayed on the translation software was: Stop crying, I need you to stand up and greet the customers now. At the very least, you should have married a standout from the younger generation of the Chen Clan. Jindai Kongyin only married garbage from Qing''s Family, and even this result should make you happy. Qing Chen was speechless for a moment; it turned out his teacher really understood Japanese after all, and the other party was not just bluffing him. Thinking about it, when Jindai Yasuhito said, "I''m going to silence you," it didn''t really seem to have any problems compared with Uncle Li Dong''s translation of "He wants to die here"... The teacher''s translation was quite sincere. From the back seat, Li Tongyun leaned over Qing Chen''s chair back and asked, "Big brother Qing Chen, what are you muttering about?" "Nothing," Qing Chen replied with a smile. After arriving in the Los Angeles area, Qing Chen headed straight for school and entered the classroom just in time. Upon seeing Qing Chen, Nan Gengchen''s first reaction was not to greet him but to cover his face... "Enough already," Qing Chen said irritably, "It''s not a big deal. No one else knows except for me, and we''re not strangers. Don''t worry, I won''t tell anyone else about your matter." Nan Gengchen, ashamed, lowered his hand and sensitively said, "My matter? What are you talking about, brother Chen? I don''t understand what you''re saying." Qing Chen sighed, "I know you''re a bit embarrassed, but you don''t have to be so sensitive." "Yah?" Nan Gengchen raised an eyebrow, "What duck? I never worked as a duck!" Qing Chen: "..." He decided to ignore him and started to check the latest news on his phone. One thing was particularly interesting: during the National Day holiday, unlike the usual tourist footprints, the nineteen cities confirmed to potentially have "public beta qualifications" for Time Travelers were overflowing with people. Another piece of news mentioned a man who, since the time travel incident, had been going to a neighboring "Time Traveler city" every weekend. He didn''t have much money and would sleep in the cybercafes of that city, returning to his work place by high-speed rail when it was time to go back to work. Of course, apart from those who could only visit during holidays, there were also those who moved directly to one of the nineteen cities. In Qing Chen''s junior high class group chat, someone mentioned that almost every class had new transfer students. As Qing Chen had expected, the nineteen cities capable of generating "public beta qualifications" would become increasingly lively. He then flipped through some other news. After this return, He Xiaoxiao unusually didn''t release any guides; she just posted a short video indicating that the Data fortress would soon be completed and that the Time Travelers'' communication platform was about to go online. At that time, those who wished to have access to the communication group would need to go through some verification. Only Time Travelers confirmed by them would be allowed to join the group. At this point, Qing Chen suddenly asked, "Hey, where are Wang Yun and Bai Waner?" Nan Gengchen spoke softly, "Brother Chen, don''t you know? It''s said that Wang Yun has died, and Bai Waner has transferred to another school and left." Qing Chen pretended to be shocked, "Died?!" "Yeah, Zhang Tianzhen from the class next door said that Wang Yun was killed by someone important from the Inner World," Nan Gengchen said, "There are also rumors that the Wang Family is looking for a way to get revenge. Brother Chen, don''t worry, I''ll never tell anyone that it was you who broke her legs. I''ll take this secret to my grave, it''s more important than my own secrets!" "But why did Bai Waner also transfer schools and leave?" Qing Chen asked. "Brother Chen, you didn''t see the message in the group, did you? She even said goodbye to everyone in the group," Nan Gengchen said, "Maybe the death of her best friend hit her really hard. Afterwards, Bai Waner not only left the group but even deleted all her classmates from the friend list." Qing Chen thought it indeed must be hard for an ordinary high school student to act as if nothing had happened in the face of such a big change. He had been immersed in intensive training these past few days, so he hadn''t paid much attention to what had been happening in his class. What puzzled Qing Chen was that he''d been scanning through the news for a while and had found nothing about Uncle Li Dong''s disappearance from Prison No. 18. Could it be that nobody had noticed Uncle Li Dong was missing yet? Or was it that, although someone knew, they kept quiet to avoid revealing their identity? This return had been uneventful with no one stepping forward with news; Hu Xiaoniu and Zhang Tianzhen were still in the hospital, and Bai Waner had just transferred schools and left, so everything seemed a bit gloomy. It was during the break of the first afternoon class that Jiang Xue suddenly sent a WeChat message to Qing Chen, "Xiao Chen, hurry back. An agent brought someone to look at your house, and they even have the keys. I asked them what was going on, and they said the house owner had put up information to sell the house. It seems like your dad had also come back and has already left." Qing Chen was stunned for a moment; according to the calendar, his dad, Qing Guozhong, should indeed have been released by then. Experience more on empire He couldn''t care less about class and stood up to rush home. Chapter 129 129. Make an end Qing Chen was sprinting in the street, and as he climbed over the fence, the unhealed wound on his hand got snagged by a barb on the iron railing, tearing it open again. The young man''s expression was stern; he hadn''t expected that the first thing his father would do after being released from detention was to sell their house. When he rushed back home, he overheard an agent saying, "Don''t judge this house by its shabby looks, but it''s a genuine school-district house, once registered, your child can go to the nearby Los Angeles Foreign Language School. Moreover, it''s so close to the school that it will only take your kid five minutes to cross the street to get there." "Living farther away makes it inconvenient for you to pick up and drop off, cycling is unsafe, and moreover, your child can sleep an extra 40 minutes every day, which is far better than the other students." There were six people viewing the house, apparently three couples, all drawn by the school-district attributes. At that moment, the agent added, "Moreover, the landlord mentioned that his child was the top scorer of the middle school exams in Los Angeles, so this is virtually a top scorer''s former home." Qing Chen: "..." Honestly, he had never anticipated that his title as the top scorer would be used as a selling point for the house. Qing Chen spoke coldly, "Who told you to come view this house? This house is not for sale!" At those words, everyone''s gaze turned towards Qing Chen. The real estate agent hesitated for a moment, "Who are you?" Qing Chen replied succinctly, "The top scorer." Agent: "..." The middle-aged men and women viewing the house unconsciously glanced at a photo on the wall, which was of Qing Chen at the award ceremony. At that time, the city of Los Angeles had rewarded him with 5000 yuan. Of course, the money had been gambled away by Qing Guozhong. The agent hesitated, "This house has been entrusted to us by Mr. Qing Guozhong, and we''ve checked the property deed, which is indeed in his name, so there''s no mistake. Also, he gave me the keys, he was just here a moment ago. Let me call Mr. Qing Guozhong to confirm." While speaking, he dialed Qing Guozhong''s number, putting it on speakerphone. But all that could be heard from the other end was the sound of mahjong tiles clashing. Qing Guozhong spoke impatiently, "What''s up?" "Hello Mr. Qing Guozhong," said the agent, "I''ve brought some clients to view the house, but... it seems your son is here saying that the house is not for sale." Qing Guozhong sounded puzzled, "Isn''t that kid supposed to be in class? Why is he suddenly home? Never mind him, the house is in my name, I say sell it, red dragon!" The agent said, "Um, I''m afraid that won''t do Mr. Qing, you need to come and sort this out yourself, or else there will be problems clearing out the house." "Then I''ll head over tomorrow afternoon, I''m busy right now, two bamboo!" Qing Guozhong responded. With that, the line went dead. The agent, speechless, held the phone and then looked at Qing Chen, "Um, we will come back tomorrow afternoon then." At that moment, Qing Chen wondered why Qing Guozhong had money to gamble as soon as he was out of detention. After everyone left, he immediately checked under his mattress only to find that the several thousand yuan he had gotten from selling the gold bars had also been taken by Qing Guozhong. Qing Chen was a student, and a noticeably poor one at that. Having a few thousand yuan in cash stuffed in his wallet would easily arouse suspicion. He felt somewhat relieved that he had put the gold bars into his backpack before going to Laojun Mountain; otherwise, those four gold bars might have been taken as well. At that moment, Jiang Xue walked in and asked softly, "Xiao Chen, are you alright?" Qing Chen silently shook his head. Jiang Xue said, "I just went to confirm with the agent, if your father wants to sell this house, you really can''t stop him. Legally speaking, it''s his house." Outside the window, the noisy sounds could be heard as the agent explained the situation to the visiting clients who, having made a wasted trip, were quite upset. "Hmm," Qing Chen replied softly. "But it''s okay, Xiao Chen. It''s okay not to have such a father. From now on, you can move in with us. Xiao Yun and I will share a room, and I will clean up her room for you," Jiang Xue comforted, "From now on, you are part of our family. Focus on your studies, and once you get into college, Auntie will cover your tuition fees." Qing Chen smiled, "It''s alright, Aunt Jiang Xue. Xiao Yun has grown up too, it''s not suitable for her to share a room with you now." At that moment, a knocking sound suddenly came from outside the door. Qing Chen looked out and was surprised to see Hu Xiaoniu in a wheelchair and Zhang Tianzhen together. Behind them, someone was pushing the wheelchair. Hu Xiaoniu pondered for a moment and said, "Qing Chen, we overheard the agent talking outside. Here''s the thing, your next-door neighbors have moved out, but I have already bought that house. If you don''t mind, you could move in there." Honestly, Hu Xiaoniu had never dealt with such matters before, given his privileged upbringing. He couldn''t understand how a father could sell the house and leave his son homeless. He couldn''t understand it. Qing Chen thought about it and said, "I really appreciate your kindness, and I indeed urgently need a place, but I can''t stay for free. I know you aren''t short of money, but please accept the rent. Also, I will remember this favor." Hu Xiaoniu smiled, "Okay, no problem." In Qing Chen''s view, although the other party had an extra house, they didn''t necessarily have to rent it to him, so he had to accept this favor. If the other party ever faced trouble in the future, he would certainly help them for free once. Hu Xiaoniu had someone fetch the keys and hand them to Qing Chen: "Normally, the rent is 1200, but we''ve just renovated this house and replaced many things, like the air conditioning, the smart toilet, and the TV, so the rent will be a bit higher, 1400. What do you think?" "That''s reasonable," Qing Chen said to Jiang Xue, "Aunt Jiang Xue, could you cover it for me first? I''ll pay you back after I earn the money." "Sure," Jiang Xue nodded. Hu Xiaoniu sincerely said to Jiang Xue, "I may have been a bit offensive due to our own reasons in previous dealings with you. Please forgive us and hope it doesn''t leave a bad impression. Hopefully, we can become friends when the chance arises." Jiang Xue smiled, "It''s okay, don''t worry about it." "Alright," Hu Xiaoniu nodded. After speaking, he slowly got up, holding onto the railing and climbed the stairs step by step, while someone behind him carried his wheelchair up. Jiang Xue looked at Qing Chen, "What are you planning to do next?" Continue reading at empire Qing Chen turned back and glanced at his familiar home, the dimly lit room, the worn-out curtains, and the couch. He had always thought he would leave this place someday, but when the moment to leave actually came, he felt somewhat reluctant. He remembered the years when his father still brought home Taotao Rice Noodles, and they would sit on the couch, eating around the coffee table. He remembered the house was occasionally visited by ants searching for food, and his mother Zhang Wanfang would always complain about the bugs being too plentiful and the house too damp. He remembered looking out from his desk and seeing the fig tree in front of the door. He remembered every detail of this house, both the good and the bad. Then, his mother left. After that, his father stopped coming back too. Perhaps that''s the downside of having a good memory. However, as things stood, "Perhaps it''s time to put an end to it," Qing Chen said calmly as he stood in the small room: "Tomorrow, let''s sever the past life." ... The plot is about to get even more interesting~ Everyone is welcome to support me in the 2020 Reading Original IP Festival event! And while you''re at it, please give me a monthly ticket!! Chapter 130 130, Annoying Person At night, North Street in Los Angeles City was one of the liveliest places. The road was flanked by ancient Chinese-style buildings, with festive red lanterns hanging along the bluestone pavement. The street, about a kilometer long, was lined with uniform mobile stalls selling chicken wings, grilled gluten, and more, all lined up heading south. When the red lights just came on at night, the bluestone pavement was crowded and extremely lively. In a small Chinese-style alley on the south side of North Street, there was a small courtyard with a sign at the gate: "We pay high prices for Maotai, Cordyceps, Ginseng, Gold..." An old man in the courtyard had moved a long bench to the gate and was gently wiping the dust off the red lanterns hanging there with a towel while standing on it. "What''s the gold price today?" A hoarse voice arose behind the old man, who turned around, delighted: "Kid, it''s you again!" Qing Chen appeared, wearing a hood, with his hands tucked in the front pocket of his hoodie. If one didn''t look closely, it was hard to discern his features. However, the old man remembered him well, especially since he had gotten a great deal last time, so he recognized him at a glance. Qing Chen calmly said, "I''ve already asked others. Even without a receipt, you have to give me the normal gold price. That''s how the pawnshops do it." The old man didn''t feel embarrassed, and said with a grin, "Who asked you to hide your identity? Pawnshops all have surveillance, and each is registered at the police station, easy to trace. Fencing goods comes with its price, and I''m taking the risk, aren''t I?" "400 grams," Qing Chen spoke without hesitation: "I advise you to think carefully before answering. If the price is too low, I''ll just walk away." The old man chuckled and said, "No rush, no rush. The gold price today is 390, how about 300 for you?" Qing Chen turned to leave, but the old man quickly jumped off the bench to stop him: "Young man, why so impatient? 320, I can''t do any more!" "Deal," Qing Chen stepped into the courtyard: "I want all cash." The old man followed him, saying, "I don''t have that much cash on hand. If you insist on cash, I can only give you 100,000." Qing Chen scoffed, "A place specializing in fencing goods doesn''t have a hundred thousand in cash? I don''t believe it. Old man, if you keep trying to cheat and drive down the price, we can''t do business." "Fine," the old man thought this guy wasn''t easy to fool: "Let''s check the goods first." Qing Chen took out the gold bar, and the old man verified its density with the suspension method in water, ensuring there were no problems. He then went to the backyard, opened the safe, and took out 128,000 in cash, putting it into a black plastic bag. "You''re not going to count them one by one again, are you?" the old man asked doubtfully. Then he just watched Qing Chen count the bills one by one against the light, eventually pulling out five bills: "Swap these, please." "Tsk," the old man who had just remarked on the young man''s impatience was now shocked by his patience. He reluctantly exchanged five bills and slapped them into Qing Chen''s hand: "I really am amazed, I''ve never met anyone as meticulous as you." Qing Chen responded expressionlessly, "And I have never met an old man as cunning as you." After speaking, he left the courtyard without hesitation. Stay tuned for updates on empire This time, he would give the money directly to Jiang Xue, then a small portion would be transferred slowly to his own WeChat for mobile payments. If anyone asked, Jiang Xue could claim it was the tutoring fee Qing Chen gave to Li Tongyun. The larger portion would be deposited into an account opened solely by someone else, which Qing Chen would carry with him for use. Jiang Xue was an overt "Time Traveler" without concern for others'' suspicion, but it was different for him; a sudden large deposit of unknown origin in his account would allow any interested party to easily discover his anomaly. Before the owner of the Devil''s Stamp surfaced, he had to be extremely careful. When he returned home, Li Tongyun was watching TV in his newly rented house. She excitedly said, "Brother Qing Chen, the curtains here are electric, and I can control all the lights with my phone, even the toilet is electric, and the TV''s super membership is activated for a year; I can watch so many cartoons!" Qing Chen was amused and exasperated; no matter how precocious the little girl was, she was still a child attracted predominantly by a year-long TV membership... At that moment, Jiang Xue was tidying up the house; she had replaced all the bedding with new ones. Li Tongyun jumped off the sofa and clung pathetically to her mother''s waist: "Mom, let''s stay here tonight, with brother Qing Chen." Jiang Xue chided, "This is your brother Qing Chen''s newly rented house, do you think we can just stay as we please?" "Mom," Li Tongyun suddenly said, "You''ve already made up all the bedding in both bedrooms!" "Oh!" Jiang Xue blushed instantly, somewhat embarrassed at being found out. In fact, although they were not related by blood, they had come to treat each other like family, feeling a pure affection that was unmarred by name, profit, or desire. Be it Jiang Xue, Li Tongyun, or Qing Chen, they were all once pitiable individuals in this world. Due to a random time-travel event, their fates had suddenly become intertwined. Jiang Xue had experienced dangers, but after all, she was a fragile woman, so she felt fear and insecurity. While tidying up the house, she had somehow managed to prepare both bedrooms and had secretly thought about bringing Xiao Yun over when she felt afraid. However, Li Tongyun had exposed her thoughts too quickly. Qing Chen hurriedly said, "Aunt Jiang Xue, the apartment across the hall is larger than our 101 and 201, it''s a waste for just one person to live in it, so I''ll reserve the master bedroom for you two, you can stay anytime." Li Tongyun looked at Jiang Xue, "See, brother Qing Chen is saying so!" "All right then, but just for tonight, and don''t make a fuss tomorrow," Jiang Xue agreed. ... The next day at noon, Qing Chen came home early from school to wait for the real estate agent and Qing Guozhong to arrive. Countdown 8:00:00. By 4 o''clock in the afternoon, noise erupted outside the house. Qing Guozhong''s impatient voice came through, "Haven''t I told you, the house is mine, I will sell it if I want, you just need to bring your clients over as long as the price is right, I''ll immediately go handle the transfer procedures." The agent complained, "The key is if your son is unwilling to move, it would still be problematic even if the transfer is made; then the buyers will criticize our agency for being unreliable." "Rest assured, I''ll resolve this matter today!" Qing Guozhong said confidently, as in his mind, his son had always been submissive and was unlikely to oppose him. Qing Chen silently listened to all this, only stepping out after the other party entered the house. He had to make a cut today, so he didn''t want Qing Guozhong to know where he would live in the future. Otherwise, the other party, burdened with gambling debts, would still come to find him. Chapter 131 131. Using a cannon to kill a mosquito Qing Chen stood in the hallway. He stood there without uttering a word. He looked at the familiar yet suddenly somewhat unfamiliar door of his home. Due to the building''s old age, the fuse box in the hallway no longer had a cover. In the past, the power would often go out at home, so candles were always kept on hand, and when a fuse blew, his father would have to come out with a candle to flip the switch back on. But there would be no more scenes like that from now on. It was as if Qing Chen had rapidly recalled all those past memories. Only then did he raise his hand and knocked on the door of what used to be his home, "Thud, thud, thud." The door opened, and Qing Guozhong stood inside with a dark expression, "What are you doing back here instead of being at school?" Qing Chen calmly asked, "Why do you want to sell this house? Have you thought about where I''ll live after you sell it?" Qing Guozhong had never seen his son so confrontational, and his momentum diminished somewhat for a moment. However, he quickly raised his eyebrows, "This is my house, and I''ll sell it if I want to! If this house is gone, you can go live with your mom! I don''t know who was so despicable to report me, making me spend so long inside. I''m telling you, don''t come to me with your bad luck now!" "The court awarded custody to you," Qing Chen said. "Your mom has money now," Qing Guozhong retorted with a strained neck, "Her house is big now, you can just live there." "What about the money that was under my bed yesterday?" Qing Chen asked. "It''s gone," Qing Guozhong said, "That money was given by your mom, right? She''s not short of a few thousand now. Just go to her, and don''t come looking for me anymore! I can''t understand why you chose to follow me when your mom and I divorced!" Qing Chen looked at him and said, "At least my mom still sends living expenses every month. What responsibilities have you ever taken on?" That comment displeased Qing Guozhong, "You really think your mom sends living expenses for you? She does it for herself!" Qing Chen was stunned for a moment. Qing Guozhong cursed and said, "Do you know why she doesn''t directly transfer the living expenses to you? We had agreed that she must send your monthly living expenses to me and only then did I agree to divorce her, or else I would have fought with her till the ends of the earth, and she would never have been able to divorce me!" "So that''s how it is," Qing Chen sighed inwardly. Qing Guozhong continued, "Now that she is financially better off, you think she is better than me because she gives you a few thousand? She''s no saint either! I''ll sell this house and still be able to save some money for your college!" Only Qing Chen knew that those few thousand were not given by his mother, Zhang Wanfang, but were earned through his own hard work. Hence, Zhang Wanfang had not given him any financial gifts outside the divorce settlement. What Qing Guozhong mentioned about saving money for his college was also just a lie. In this world, the words of a gambler are the least trustworthy. In that moment, life revealed its most ferocious face to Qing Chen. The bloody, ugly face. Below the abyss, it seemed like countless dark hands were ceaselessly trying to drag the young man down. Qing Chen raised his head and stared straight at Qing Guozhong, and the relentless internal torment suddenly came to an abrupt halt at that moment. "Go ahead and sell the house. From now on, we will have no father-son relationship," Qing Chen said and then turned and left the hallway. Jiang Xue in the room next door wanted to rush out several times to scold Qing Guozhong and wanted to hold Qing Chen and comfort him, but she remembered what Qing Chen had instructed: never let Qing Guozhong remember any clues. Once the house is sold, he won''t come here anymore. But if he knows you, Aunt Jiang Xue, are close to me, he might even come to borrow money from you later. So, Qing Chen was cutting off all ties, not lingering in ambiguity. Qing Guozhong, standing behind him, did not retain Qing Chen but said to the agent, "See that? The issue is resolved, hurry and call that client who is willing to pay to the housing bureau and complete the procedures today, let him pay in full!" Qing Chen walked onto Xingshu Road, watching the vehicles coming and going. The uncle selling baked sweet potatoes by the roadside was opening his clay oven, pinching each sweet potato to see if they had softened. A middle-aged man passed him while on the phone, saying he would work overtime tonight and not come home for dinner. Bus 46 slowly stopped at the stop, the driver listlessly waiting for passengers to disembark, while those on the bus aimlessly looked out the windows. But none of these had anything to do with Qing Chen. Stay updated with empire He felt that the entire world was filled with a strange sense of alienation. His phone vibrated in his pocket, he took it out, it was a call from Zhang Wanfang. Qing Chen answered, "Hello?" Zhang Wanfang said, "Xiao Chen, mom is going on a business trip this weekend, so I won''t come to see you..." Qing Chen hung up the phone, then put Zhang Wanfang and Qing Guozhong''s numbers into the blacklist, blocked them on WeChat, and deleted everything. Shortly after, Jiang Xue ran out, took Qing Chen''s hand, and asked, "Xiao Chen... are you okay?" Qing Chen smiled, "It seems like letting go of the past isn''t so difficult after all, but I still have one thing left to do." ... Approaching midnight. Qing Guozhong walked down the dimly lit street humming a tune, slightly drunk and in a pretty good mood. He was carrying a plastic bag with tens of thousands of yuan he had just withdrawn, and dialed a number on his phone, "Hey, Lao Zhang, where are you playing cards, need one more person... What are you talking about, I have money, just sold the house today and ready to win until you''re down to your underwear!" "Alright, alright, I''m nearby, just wait, I''ll be there soon..." Qing Guozhong continued walking forward. At that moment, he felt something was not right and suddenly looked back. However, there was no one on the small path behind him, just the empty midnight streets with stray cats darting between the green belts. Qing Guozhong laughed to himself, thinking he was just being paranoid. "Maybe it''s because I''m scared after being detained; damn it, if I ever find out who reported me, I''ll break his legs!" Qing Guozhong muttered to himself. After saying this, he turned two street corners and entered a building in a complex. After he went in, Qing Chen emerged from the shadows of the building in the complex. "Hello, is this 110? I want to report that in building 7, gate 3, room 101 of the Luo Yin Residential Area, there is a group gambling involving a large amount of money," Qing Chen spoke into his phone, "Yes, more than three people, gambling funds exceeding fifty thousand, enough for a case to be filed and pursued. Hurry up, they can''t escape." After hanging up the phone, Qing Chen also walked into the building. Honestly, when learning tracking and combat skills, Qing Chen never thought he would use those advanced skills in such a setting. He wondered what expression Mother Ye would have if she heard about this. Chapter 132 132. Give the students a way to vent their frustration. In apartment 301 at door 3 of building number 7 in the Luo Yin Residential Area, four men sat at a card table, with a woman holding a child just over a year old standing by the window. This had been a hidden gambling den for several years, operated by a couple who not only participated in the gambling but also took a cut of the proceeds. During the games, the men sat at the table to play cards while the woman kept watch by the window. The room was filled with boisterous noise, the sound of shuffling mahjong tiles was incessant. However, at that moment, the woman suddenly panicked, "Stop playing, stop playing, I see two police cars entering the yard, run!" After speaking, the woman walked over to the main switch of their home, pulling down all the circuit breakers. It was midnight, and most of the lights in the residential area were out, so having the lights on at home was already very conspicuous. The four men by the card table immediately stood up in the dark. Qing Guozhong muttered a curse under his breath and dashed towards the stairwell. Only, for some unknown reason, the stairwell light, which had been working fine when they arrived, was now off. Explore more at empire The old residential building''s stairwell didn''t even have a window, so without the stairwell light, having just come from the bright room, Qing Guozhong and the others could barely see anything in the hallway. Someone among the four spoke up, "Once we get downstairs, we split up and run. There are four exits in this residential area; it''s impossible for them to catch everyonetough luck for whoever gets caught." No sooner had he finished speaking than he sensed a rush of wind in the dark staircase. In an instant, he felt a heavy punch to his stomach, bending his body like a shrimp on the stairs. But the person who struck him didn''t linger and instead continued to take advantage of the darkness to rush at the three gambling accomplices behind him! In just over ten seconds, that black shadow fluidly took down all four men. The gamblers couldn''t see who it was; they only felt as if their opponent had preempted everything, including their reactions. So when the first second of being struck began, every subsequent second proceeded according to the assailant''s script. They weren''t even extras, at best they were just four props. "Dammit," one gambler spat out all his stomach acid: "Who is it! Who!?" However, the shadow did not linger. The figure made their exit before the police could find their way to the back of building 7. Soon, Qing Chen stood in the greenbelt of the residential area, silently watching as the four men were helped into the police cars. He had promised the lady officer who responded to the call that not one of the gamblers would get away. And so, they certainly would not. Qing Chen was a man of his word, just like that night on Laojun Mountain when he promised Hu Xiaoniu he would kill the leader of the criminals, the leader was certain to die. Countdown 00:00:00. Transition. ... As the world''s darkness dissipated, Qing Chen was still seated by the campfire, with only Uncle Li Dong beside him. This teacher looked at Qing Chen: "Back already? Show me your palm." Obediently, Qing Chen opened his palm. Uncle Li Dong nodded, "The injury hasn''t healed completely. It looks like you didn''t hold back on training back in the Outer World, how did it go?" "I can now climb a vertical cliff of over twenty meters by myself," Qing Chen answered honestly, "but I''ve only succeeded three times." Uncle Li Dong was moved, as his student truly made things worry-free. Without a teacher''s supervision, without a teacher''s scolding, the young man would restrain himself with the strongest self-discipline. Compared to the playful and lazy days of his youth with Senior Brother Chen Jiazhang, this student''s life was incredibly inspirational. If only he and his senior brother had been as diligent back then, the teacher wouldn''t have been angry all the time, he would surely have been very happy. Only those who have truly experienced that kind of training can understand the feeling of having scars all over your hands and still needing to press all your weight onto those few fingers while climbing. The piercing pain keeps you constantly alert and even makes you regret taking this thorny path. Uncle Li Dong looked at Qing Chen, "You don''t seem very happy. Why aren''t you happy? As a young person, you shouldn''t always be so gloomy; you should be happy about the results of your training!" Qing Chen said softly, "Teacher, I''ve severed ties with my parents, completely." Uncle Li Dong paused for a moment, "I thought you were so hardworking and enduring, suppressing all your little tempers because you had no parents." Qing Chen: "..." "Just a joke," Uncle Li Dong asked softly, "How do you feel?" "At first, I felt somewhat lost and sad," Qing Chen thought for a moment before answering, "Later, I reported my father, and my mood turned to relief. But now that I''m back in the Inner World, I suddenly feel a bit aimless and everything seems so unreal." When he was a child, in winter, his father would bring home baked sweet potatoes for him to eat every day; it was their favorite snack. His mother would remind him to put on long johns and would warm up his milk on the radiator, so he could take it to school. The whole family would go to the mountains to escape the summer heat. His father would scoop up spring water with his large palms to show his son the tadpoles he had caught. Because his memory was so good, Qing Chen felt as if all those moments were vivid and tangible. He didn''t know how life had suddenly turned out this way. When everything had been cut away, the past indeed had become smoke, and all that was left of the beauty existed only in Qing Chen''s memory and in old photos. That''s why it felt somewhat unreal. No one could return to the past. There was no need to wait for anyone anymore. Uncle Li Dong was silent for a moment, then smiled and patted his shoulder, "Silly kid, you still have your teacher." "Yeah," Qing Chen responded softly. Looking at the starry sky, Uncle Li Dong said, "Sometimes I feel like you''re my son. When I see you training so hard, I have to toughen my heart and not watch, otherwise, it would hurt a little. That night when you came back covered in wounds, with your feet all bloody, I was wondering what you had gone through. Look, your teacher isn''t that heartless; it''s just that I know you have to walk this path on your own, that''s your life." Suddenly, Qing Chen asked, "Teacher, you bringing me out this time, was it partly due to Qing Huai from the Qing''s Family''s fourth room?" "Yes," Uncle Li Dong smiled and said, "That''s right, it was for him. I know his mission is to enter Taboo Land No. 002 to capture something. Just like your mission is to go to Prison No. 18 and retrieve ACE-005." "What are you looking for him for?" Qing Chen asked. "Of course, it''s to give you the opportunity to kill him," Uncle Li Dong''s expression gradually turned cold, "The fourth room violated the rules of the Shadow struggle. The elders secretly sent death warriors to assassinate you. How could I as your teacher not help you get this revenge? Why should their Shadow Candidates have someone to help them while my student only has an old folks'' home fighter? If Qing Huai doesn''t die, I wouldn''t be doing my job as a teacher." Uncle Li Dong gently patted Qing Chen on the shoulder, "Don''t worry, whatever others have, my student must have too." "Thank you, Teacher," Qing Chen said looking at the night sky. A few days earlier, when Uncle Li Dong said he would give him his fourth lesson on how to hunt, Qing Chen had an epiphany. Uncle Li Dong wasn''t taking him to hunt beasts, but to hunt Qing Huai. ... Thanks to Student Jin Dong for becoming a new ally of this book, a great show of generosity, may fortuitous wealth flow your way! Asking for monthly votes, asking for monthly votes~ The book is about to be launched, feeling nervous, need monthly votes to calm the jitters! Chapter 133 133. Time Traveler in the Autumn Hunting Team "The struggle for the Shadow Candidate might seem like nine contestants standing on the same starting line, competing fairly," Uncle Li Dong said with a sarcastic chuckle beside the campfire, "but where in this world is there absolute fairness? Behind every Shadow Candidate stands a different clan faction, all ready to pull out all the stops to support their champion." "Which faction supports Qing Huai? And who supports the other candidates?" Qing Chen asked out of curiosity. "The support for Qing Huai goes beyond the fourth house. The third house, whose place you took, and even some collateral branches of the Li''s Family are backing him. He is truly set with high expectations," Uncle Li Dong said with a smile, "Just wait until your teacher takes out Qing Huai, those people won''t have a place left to cry." Explore stories on empire Qing Chen felt puzzled, "I can understand the third house picking a side because if Qing Huai becomes the Shadow, naturally he will favor them. But what does this have to do with Li''s Family?" "Because Qing Huai''s grandmother is from the Li''s Family," Uncle Li Dong laughed, "These major corporations have long been entangled with each other, like the marriage alliance Jindai family desperately wants to push through. For instance, if Jindai Kongyin marries you and you become the Shadow, you might control the first generation well enough to prevent the Jindai family from influencing Qing''s Family, but what about the descendants? Would the son of Jindai Kongyin not remember his mother''s kindness and favor the Jindai family a bit more? Such influence lasts long and seeps in subtly." "Could you please not use me and Jindai Kongyin as an example," Qing Chen felt awkward... Uncle Li Dong laughed, "Why be shy? If you like her, your teacher can take care of this matter before attending to proper business, no need to wait for any three-year agreement." "Hold on, stop, let''s not talk about this further," Qing Chen hurriedly changed the subject, "So, does the Qing Clan House Master also worry about the aftereffects of this marriage alliance, and that''s why he arranged for someone from the fringe of the family to enter the marriage, so as not to affect the future of Qing''s Family?" "That, I do not know," Uncle Li Dong said with profound meaning, "Qing Xun, the current Qing Clan House Master, is an extremely mysterious person. He rarely appears in public view, seldom makes direct decisions, and few can guess his thoughts." Qing Chen muttered, "This generational struggle for supremacy within the Qing''s Family, causing everyone to fight each other, isn''t that a waste of talents?" "Not necessarily," Uncle Li Dong said with a smile, "At the midway point of the struggle for the Shadow, some candidates who realize they can''t win will choose to back down. For example, if Qing Huai gains a significant advantage, many might feel that further competition could lead to death, so they might give up their own ambitions and start supporting Qing Huai." It''s just like the real-life battle for succession; during the struggle for power, there were supporters of the Crown Prince, Fourth Prince, Eighth Prince, and so on. But for some of the weaker ones, choosing to follow a strong leader is indeed the best solution. Qing Chen asked, "So, is Qing Huai currently the most outstanding among the candidates?" "It''s too early to tell. No one can say for sure at the beginning," Uncle Li Dong explained with a smile, "But after graduating from the Tinder Military Academy, Qing Huai was immediately commissioned as a lieutenant, and now holds a substantive post in the Federal Second Group Army, which does put him ahead of many Shadow Candidates." "What''s his strength level?" Qing Chen asked. "You don''t need to worry about that for now," Uncle Li Dong said, "No need to waste effort on a dead man." Qing Chen: "..." Just then, two people stumbled out of a tent not far from the autumn hunting camp. They danced and laughed foolishly, and Uncle Li sighed, "Another two addicts hooked on Dopamine Chips. Too many disappointing elements in these corporations these days." As they approached the campfire slowly, one of them suddenly fixed their gaze on Uncle Li and Qing Chen with a goofy grin, "You two servants hurry up and add some wood to our fire. All you do day in and day out is loaf around! Don''t you see our fire is about to go out?" Qing Chen tensed up inside, seeing Uncle Li Dong raise an eyebrow, ready to stand. He quickly pressed down on his teacher''s arm, "I''ll add the wood." With that, Qing Chen efficiently revived the campfire at the autumn hunting grounds. Only then did the two spoiled young men return to their tent with silly laughs. Qing Chen looked at Uncle Li Dong, "Were you about to take action just now? There was really no need. I can handle such matters. Please don''t get involved; I''m afraid you might end up killing them." Uncle Li Dong sighed, "Xiao Chen, your teacher feels a great pressure to keep them alive." Qing Chen: "..." Alright, alright, you''re the strongest, whatever you say goes. He glanced down at the countdown timer on his arm. Return Countdown: 166:45:21. Another seven days had passed. "I''m going to sleep," Uncle Li Dong said, "Aren''t you going to sleep? Yino has prepared your tent." "Teacher, can you not be so nosy," Qing Chen couldn''t help but cry with laughter, "Go to sleep. I need to observe for a while longer." Qing Chen didn''t say what he wanted to observe. ... Early the next morning, Jindai Kongyin was the first to pack up the campsite and get ready to depart. Li Yinuo hauled the dandies who were still lazing in bed out of their tents one by one and threw them into the vehicle. Some were still hungover, while others had overdosed on dopamine chips. The Autumn Hunting Team was nearly a hundred strong, with more than half resembling a pile of useless mud. In a low voice, Qing Chen said to Uncle Li Dong, "No wonder the corporations don''t let these people have real power. If they did, the building would have already collapsed." Uncle Li Dong nodded, "Every generation of young people in the corporations is a bit polarized, the smart ones incredibly so, and the foolish, exceptionally so." At that moment, only Nan Gengchen sat silently by the campfire, hugging his knees, watching Li Yinuo toss those people one by one into the vehicle. Qing Chen could sense that the other party couldn''t help but want to steal glances at him, yet time and again forcibly restrained himself... "He''s improved quite a bit," Qing Chen reflected inwardly. Had it been before, this guy definitely wouldn''t have been able to hold back. Wait, Qing Chen suddenly felt something was off. He went through his memories again and realized that one of the dandies was completely different from his recollection. Yesterday, when that dandy had first arrived at the campsite, he was all cheer and mischief. Today, not only had the person sobered up, he was no longer frolicking with his companions and was instead discreetly surveying his surroundings. The man was aloof from the crowd, not because of antisocial behavior, but rather it seemed like he was getting accustomed to a new and unfamiliar environment. Qing Chen looked towards Li Yinuo. The robust girl pretended to be nonchalant but glanced three times in one minute at the dandy who remained vigilant of his surroundings. The dandy had noticed the Time Traveler as well. However, what he didn''t know was that there wasn''t just one Time Traveler who had crossed into the campsite this time. Elsewhere, a young man was frolicking and cavorting with other dandies. It was like a performance of exquisite acting skill. Qing Chen found it interesting. This time, there was even a higher-level player in the mix. But no matter how the person performed, he couldn''t fool Qing Chen. It wasn''t just that the behavior habits didn''t match with the memories, there was also... Qing Chen had seen this person sticking his head out of the tent the night before. Every Time Traveler, upon finding themselves in a tent after crossing, can''t resist the urge to see the world outside. That was the meaning behind his statement to Uncle Li Dong about observing for a while longer. Chapter 134 134. Pretty boy By the time Qing Chen confirmed the identities of the two Time Travelers, he whispered to Uncle Li Dong, "Teacher, after this time travel, two new Time Travelers have appeared, one has replaced a prodigal son of the Li Family, and the other has replaced a Servant." "Oh?" Uncle Li Dong was somewhat puzzled, even he had only discovered one Time Traveler, yet Qing Chen had directly found two. It wasn''t that Uncle Li Dong''s observation skills were weak, but rather that Qing Chen''s preemptive advantage had given him a great benefit. It must be said, Qing Chen had really studied the mindset of the Time Travelers well, otherwise, he wouldn''t have been secretly watching in the middle of the night to see who was sneaking out of their tent. Uncle Li Dong whispered, "Who is the other one? Glance at him with your eyes." Qing Chen looked at the young man pretending to be the "original Servant", and then told Uncle Li Dong, "This one is slightly higher in rank, very well disguised, and quick to get into character. But look, teacher, he''s working while observing others, which facilitates his imitation later." "Hmm," Uncle Li Dong followed his gaze and quietly commented, "He learns quite fast, but it doesn''t seem like working is his usual thing. Look, look, how he fusses over folding a tent..." "Hmm," Qing Chen commented as well. "Teacher, look, when the other Servants talk to him, his replies are very brief, which is done quite well..." While the two Time Travelers were still arduously pondering how to survive, the master and apprentice duo had already started enjoying the show. What''s crucial is that the two newcomer Time Travelers didn''t even know they were being watched. If that high-level player knew that his every move was being critiqued, what would his mood be like? At that moment, Li Yinuo instructed everyone to get on the vehicles, and she spoke a few words to the middle-aged man who had always been by her side. Then the middle-aged man took the Time Traveler, who had already been exposed, directly onto Li Yinuo''s car. It looked like Li Yinuo didn''t want to directly expose the other''s identity but planned to conduct a private interrogation during the drive. The chief mate, wearing holographic glasses, came up to Qin Cheng and introduced himself, "Let me introduce myself, my name is Xiao Gong, and I''m the deputy head of the Autumn Hunting Fleet. From now on, we''ll be requisitioning your pickup because we''re short four vehicles, so the Servants will have to squeeze in with you in the truck bed." This deputy head named Xiao Gong was very young, looking only in his early twenties, but he spoke competently. Qin Cheng was somewhat troubled, "Hello, it''s like this, we still have hunting tasks..." Xiao Gong shook his head and interrupted, "The Li Family will provide you with the corresponding financial compensation, and besides, I heard you also came south to catch Kite Falcons, right? So, it happens to be on the way, since we are all headed to Area 002 of the Taboo Land." After saying that, he motioned with a wave of his hand for five Servants to jump into the pickup''s truck bed, giving Qin Cheng no chance to refuse any further. The consortium didn''t need to consult anyone about requisitioning their vehicles. If it weren''t for Li Yinuo being clear about right and wrong and speaking reasonably, if it were another clan offspring handling it, they might not even provide financial compensation. Qing Chen sighed. If these people only knew who was in the hunting team, they would stay far away. Now everyone was forced to travel together, and the teacher would have to endure quite a hardship again. However, interestingly, the high-level player who had crossed over as a Servant was also in the truck bed. ... After the Autumn Hunting Fleet hit the road, the vehicles blocking the mountain road finally let through, and the Jindai family followed casually behind the convoy without overtaking them. At this moment, there were eight people sitting on the floor in the truck bed: Qin Yiyi, Qing Chen, Uncle Li Dong, and five Servants. Qin Tong moved back into the vehicle, ostensibly to give his sister some space... During the bumpy drive, Qing Chen casually asked the Servant, "Speaking of which, we''ve met before, and at that time I didn''t see any scratches or damages on your fleet''s vehicles. How did you suddenly lose four vehicles?" A middle-aged Servant slowly said, "It''s no secret, reportedly there was a group of brash wilderness people on the wasteland, and we were unclear about the situation at the time, and both sides ended up battling." "Brash wilderness people?" Qin Yiyi curiously asked, "What does that mean?" Qin Yiyi was very pretty, with a narrow melon-seeded face, a well-proportioned body, and long, straight legs. Besides being a bit tanned, she had almost no flaws. Everyone liked to chat a bit more with such a young girl. Then a servant laughed and explained, "Those wilderness people, I don''t know if they have gone mad or what, not only did they shoot down one of Xiao Gong''s drones, but they even carved words on the mountain to provoke us." Qin Yiyi curiously asked, "What words did they carve?" "Come to the north and chop me down if you dare!" the servant chuckled, "Ordinary wilderness people run away when they see the Autumn Hunting Team, who has ever seen such fierce wilderness people?" In that moment, Qing Chen and Uncle Li Dong both looked towards the floor of the carriage and said nothing. Another servant said, "At first, everyone thought that this group of wilderness people had an ambush set up, that they were prepared. At that time, Xiao Gong was really worried. But then it turned out not to be the case, and we beat them till they fled in utter defeat. If it weren''t for the reckless tycoons of the corporation, we should have achieved a complete victory." Qing Chen and Uncle Li Dong could almost imagine the scene at that time: wilderness people completely baffled by the battle, and on the other side was the infuriated Autumn Hunting Team... Perhaps those wilderness people couldn''t figure out why the corporation''s tycoons were so angry... "What happened next?" Qin Yiyi asked further. "Oh, after we drove them away, Miss Yino stopped us from chasing them. She said there were more important matters to attend to, no time to bother with those wilderness people." At this point, Qing Chen said, "We still don''t know how to address you; let me introduce myself first, my name is Guang Xiaotu." Uncle Li Dong: "My name is Mu Youtong." The master and apprentice duo were playing a word-splitting game. In the corporation, servants held a very low status, but in the eyes of Ordinary People, their status was quite high. Just like how one must look at the owner before beating a dog, the servants also carried themselves with restrained pride when facing Ordinary People. So, they were quite willing to chat with a pretty young girl like Qin Yiyi, but if Qing Chen asked a question, they became cold again. The servant opposite introduced themselves: "Gao Shun." "SongQiLiang." "Huang Shang." Discover hidden content at empire "Lu Fa." "Zhou Xuan." Qing Chen and Uncle Li Dong both noted down that last name, Zhou Xuan. This was the new Time Traveler. Qin Yiyi curiously asked, "In your Autumn Hunting Team, is it that Miss Yino who calls the shots?" "Of course, she is the eldest daughter of Li''s Third Generation, naturally it''s her who calls the shots," a servant explained. "Oh, then I see she always has a thin and frail boy with her, who is that?" Qin Yiyi asked. "That..." Huang Shang hesitated for a moment: "Actually, he is Miss Yino''s favored boy, the popular pretty boy by Miss Yino''s side..." The middle-aged servant named Gao Shun glared at him, "Know what should be said and what shouldn''t, otherwise, you''ll be getting a slap when we return." Qing Chen didn''t speak, but he clearly noticed, when the servants talked about Li Yinuo''s position and her fondness for male pets, the eyes of that Time Traveler named Zhou Xuan lit up slightly... Chapter 135 135, Strange Starting Mode After traversing the unpaved road that no one cared to fix between Cities 18 and 1, the fleet''s speed picked up once again. At noon, the Autumn Hunting Team pulled over and took a brief break for maintenance. The Servants brought out those thermo-heating lunchboxes Qing Chen had seen before, along with something similar to an induction cooker, to cook and stir-fry food without the need for a fire. It seemed that the Autumn Hunting Fleet must have a more advanced power source than the wilderness folk to accomplish wireless charging. Indeed, Qin Cheng and his people used a wireless charging energy source discarded from the "Venus Star 3" lead-bismuth alloy reactor from the ''Mountain'' main battle tanks. The children of conglomerates naturally possessed more powerful equipment. This was when the difference in travel between the wilderness folk and the conglomerates became apparent. Qin Cheng and his companions could only gnaw on dry protein bars, while the Autumn Hunting Team had already started cooking. Just then, the Jindai Family''s fleet, which had been following slowly, didn''t stop and suddenly accelerated while the Autumn Hunting Team was eating, seemingly trying to leave Li Yinuo behind. Li Yinuo looked indifferently at the other party''s taillights but did not immediately tell everyone to get back on their vehicles to chase after them, "Give them a bit of time and see how far they can run." Qing Chen and Uncle Li Dong stood side by side, watching the drama unfold. Their target this time wasn''t the Jindai Family, so they didn''t care if the Jindai Family got away. What surprised them instead was that the Time Traveler, "Li Chengxi," who had been taken onto Li Yinuo''s vehicle before, was now obediently following behind Nan Gengchen. Wherever Nan Gengchen went, he followed. Whenever Nan Gengchen wanted to sit, he helped by padding the ground. "I kind of can''t understand this anymore," Uncle Li Dong exclaimed in amazement. "Uh," Qing Chen thought for a moment, "Teacher, I''m also a bit confused..." It was one thing for Li Yinuo to disregard the identity of the Time Traveler, but how had she turned Li Chengxi into Nan Gengchen''s little sidekick? Qing Chen had previously asked Nan Gengchen: Does Li Yinuo know about your Time Traveler identity? Nan Gengchen had answered: She does not. At that time, Qing Chen didn''t think much about it and believed him! But now, considering Nan Gengchen''s typical behavior, Qing Chen suspected that Li Yinuo might already know Nan Gengchen''s secret... Other than this, Nan Gengchen was indeed more reliable than others and also values righteousness. But regarding the concealment of identity, the strange maneuvers were truly an eyesore. Qing Chen whispered hesitantly, "Teacher, I suspect that Li Yinuo already knows that Nan Gengchen is a Time Traveler and that''s why she''s collecting other Time Travelersto build some influence for Nan Gengchen in the Outer World. She keeps the discovered Time Travelers under control and then has those people serve Nan Gengchen in the Outer World." This was the most plausible speculation, otherwise there was no explanation for Li Yinuo''s current behavior. "Makes some sense," Uncle Li Dong, somewhat bemused, added, "This young lady truly loves your classmate..." The Master and Apprentice duo originally thought that after being forced to follow the Autumn Hunting Fleet, life in the wilderness would become quite dull. However, since the arrival of the two time travelers, they felt like two onlookers with a burning desire for gossip in their hearts. Suddenly, life seemed to have more to look forward to. The two turned their gaze to Zhou Xuan, only to find that while the servants were cooking, he was diligently preparing the ingredients, cutting meat, and picking vegetables. He didn''t touch the tech gadgets at all, lest he reveal his ineptitude. "Look, Teacher, the other servants haven''t noticed that he can''t use those electronic gadgets," Qing Chen chuckled, "and they think he''s especially hardworking." "Hmm, he''s also quite sly. He cuts meat while sneaking lessons on how to use electronic devices," Uncle Li Dong found it amusing as well. Not far away, Qin Yiyi felt somewhat puzzled. It seemed to her that since this morning, this master-apprentice duo had become a bit strange, always whispering together, and whenever she approached, they would stop talking... She was annoyed. "Oh, Teacher," Qing Chen spoke while chewing on a protein bar, "Zhou Xuan''s eyes keep darting towards Nan Gengchen and Li Yinuo." "Does he know Nan Gengchen?" Uncle Li Dong also let his thoughts wander, "Could he have also discovered Nan Gengchen''s identity as a Time Traveler?" "Probably not," Qing Chen shook his head, "Think about it. We are very far from City 18, and the corresponding crossing point should be some small city in the south of the Outer World. It''s unlikely that Zhou Xuan would know Nan Gengchen." That afternoon, the Time Traveler sitting inside the wagon repeatedly tried to steer the conversation towards Li Yinuo, but he hesitated to reveal his intentions, so he failed. Qing Chen held back his laughter, curious to see what the other party intended to do. Eventually, Uncle Li Dong simply decided to facilitate his attempt. He discussed with Qin Cheng, and they swapped a tight-lipped middle-aged servant into the wagon, moving Xiao Yiyi''s brother back into the wagon bed. Of course, riding in the wagon was more comfortable than the wagon bed, and the middle-aged servant was quite thankful. Your next journey awaits at empire Soon after, Uncle Li Dong took the opportunity to ask the gossip-loving servant, "Tell us in detail about Miss Yinuo and that pretty boy, will you?" The talkative, gossip-loving servant glanced around and, finding no one watching from the wagon bed, began to chatter ceaselessly, "You don''t know, the Li family arranged several matches for Miss Yinuo, but she never agreed. Everyone used to think she liked girls, but then she suddenly started seeing this pretty boy..." That afternoon, everyone was basically talking about the Li family''s gossip: Miss Yinuo''s best friend was a young girl from the direct line of the Li family named Li Tongyun; Miss Yinuo liked the pretty boy, but that had only started with Nan Gengchen and she hadn''t liked anyone else before; the Li Family Head was quite fond of Miss Yinuo and Miss Tongyun... Zhou Xuan, hearing all this, his eyes twinkled like someone who had been delivered a pillow while dozing off, and he occasionally looked at Uncle Li Dong with a hint of gratitude. Of course, he was confident Uncle Li Dong hadn''t noticed any of this... Zhou Xuan maintained his composure really well, showing no signs of abnormality that night, much to the disappointment of Qing Chen and Uncle Li Dong. However, the next afternoon, Zhou Xuan walked towards Li Yinuo carrying freshly cooked food. As he reached the robust girl and set down the plate, he deliberately lifted his hand to brush back his half-long bangs, revealing his handsome face. As they ate, Qing Chen and Uncle Li Dong couldn''t help but spit out their food in synchrony: "Pfft!" Then they hurriedly pretended as if nothing had happened. While others may not have noticed anything unusual, the attentively watching master-apprentice duo knew all too well what Zhou Xuan intended to do. The master and apprentice had never imagined that upon learning of Li Yinuo''s preference for pretty boys, the other party would straightforwardly choose this seductive approach to make an opening move! ... Thank you to this reader for becoming the new ally of the book, the boss is awesome, the boss is really awesome! Chapter 136 136, ouch! ``` Just like when Liu Dezhu entered the prison, he directly went to make connections with Uncle Li Dong. Nowadays, Time Travelers in the Outer World are very aware that there''s hardly any among them who can travel through time and land a high position, so to survive, it''s best to find a powerful patron. The higher the status of this patron, the better, as this will grant access to the desired Genetic Potion, inheritance channels, economic wealth, and social status. With all these, one can get ahead of other Time Travelers. For example, Liu Dezhu, who is now the envy of many Time Travelers after getting close to Uncle Li Dong and transforming into a big shot of the Outer World overnight. And for Li Yinuo, she''s the best choice for Zhou Xuan right now, as the third-generation eldest daughter of a top consortium. Just looking at her status within the Autumn Hunting Team is extraordinary. Although the girl''s figure is somewhat tough, her face actually doesn''t have any problems, and upon a closer look, it qualifies as above average. Therefore, knowing that he is exceptionally good-looking and has outstanding Acting Skill, Zhou Xuan went straight for Li Yinuo! It must be said that Zhou Xuan, this Time Traveler, is indeed very handsome, much like the fresh young faces in movies. He has a certain attraction to girls. At the very least, Zhou Xuan was able to have four girlfriends at the same time in their college, truly a love field''s "Sea King." However, Zhou Xuan is smart and restrained. He also refrained from making any unnecessary moves. He was well aware that at this initial stage, it was enough to make a good impression without going overboard. Uncle Li Dong said to Qing Chen, feeling emotional, "Are all you people from the Outer World so shameless?" Qing Chen replied through gritted teeth, "This is an exceptional case." "But your classmate has met his match," Uncle Li Dong laughed, "I can already tell, your classmate is just a foolish, sweet girl, with emphasis on ''foolish.'' When it comes to levels, she may not necessarily be a match for this high-end player." Qing Chen sighed, "I''m really worried for him..." Uncle Li Dong asked, "So, do we still want to create opportunities for this Zhou Xuan and then sit back and watch the drama unfold? What if it ruins your classmate''s business?" Qing Chen thought for a moment, "Watching the drama is happier." At this, the two melon-eating spectators looked at each other and smiled... Hehehe. ... Countdown 126:00:00. The second night after traveling through time, Uncle Li Dong told Qing Chen that it had been seven days since they left Prison No. 18 and they were now approaching Taboo Land No. 002. They might even be able to catch a glimpse of the outline of that place from a distance tomorrow. Uncle Li Dong instructed, "After we enter, you must stick by my side. You can fool around with other things, but you must firmly remember this one point." "Okay," Qing Chen nodded earnestly. Just then, Qin Yiyi suddenly sat down beside them without speaking, simply sitting and staring at the campfire. Uncle Li Dong asked in surprise, "Little Miss, what''s the matter?" Qin Yiyi glanced at him, "You two have been all mysterious these past couple of days, not talking to me much, not even playing cards. Is it because after eating my apples, you''re not acknowledging it anymore?" Girls in the wilderness are too straightforward; when they sense something is amiss, they''ll speak their mind without hesitation, never one to go off alone feeling sorry for themselves. ``` Everyone was just talking and laughing before, so how come all of a sudden, these two started whispering and ignoring me? Read new chapters at empire Qing Chen said, unable to hold back a smile and a tear, "It''s not what you think!" Qin Yiyi pondered for a moment and then said, "You''re secretly observing that servant, aren''t you? The one called Zhou Xuan, I''ve noticed!" Uncle Li Dong and Qing Chen exchanged glances. They could maybe escape the attention of others while secretly listening in, but this young girl''s gaze seemed glued to Qing Chen; there was no escaping it. After thinking it over, Uncle Li Dong said, "We have a rather good relationship, so I can tell you this secret, but you can''t tell anyone else!" "Come on, spill it. Why are you watching him?" Qin Yiyi''s eyes were bright and clear, especially luminous under the reflection of the campfire. The young girl had her hair tied in a long braid today, looking neat and tidy, with the charm of a young girl coming of age. "Let Xiao Tu tell you," Uncle Li Dong said. After he spoke, the young girl immediately leaned in close to Qing Chen, her face just ten centimeters from his: "You better not try to fool me, I''m pretty sharp!" The flicker of the firelight was such that Qing Chen could even see the fine hairs on her face. He shifted uncomfortably to one side, "Here''s the thing, remember how we talked about Li Yinuo yesterday afternoon? Then my teacher and I noticed that this servant seems particularly interested in Li Yinuo and has been using seductive tactics to stay close to her. It looks like he''s planning to become her favorite and then seize an opportunity to climb up in status." "Wow," Qin Yiyi''s eyes widened: "Is that how you city folks are, men thinking daily of selling themselves for glory? It''s not like that in the wilderness; only women who have lost their husbands would seek men to rely on because they no longer have the physical strength to hunt after having children, but they can''t let their kids starve." Qin Yiyi was born in the city, but after finishing the mandatory education available in the city at the age of 12, she started roaming the wilderness with her father. Moreover, she preferred the wilderness to the city, so she always prided herself on being a person of the wilderness. In the Inside World Federation, mandatory education lasts only six years; the rest, including middle school, high school, and university, are all dependent on individual effort to pass exams, and tuition is quite expensive. It''s difficult for most families to afford university education for their children, so the basic education level of the people here is quite low. However, it is perhaps for this reason that it seems easier to control the citizens of the Federation. "Forgiven, both of you, since you''ve shared a secret, we three are now good friends again!" Qin Yiyi, smiling, took out two apples from her small shoulder bag and handed one each to Uncle Li Dong and Qing Chen. She also grabbed one and started munching on it. At that moment, Qin Yiyi''s gaze shifted toward Zhou Xuan and she surprisingly found him pretending to be nonchalant, diligently adding wood to the campfire near Li Yinuo. Li Yinuo was whispering to Nan Gengchen; the two of them sitting by the campfire looked quite cozy together, except that Nan Gengchen''s face was unhappy and he remained silent. A small iron pot was perched on that campfire, simmering fish soup. In truth, the technology level of the Autumn Hunting Fleet was such that they didn''t need a campfire for cooking at allit was purely for warmth. Using a small iron pot was just a matter of taste and decoration. Gradually, the fish soup in the small iron pot began to boil, and the servant called Zhou Xuan reached out to take the pot, intending to serve a bowl to Li Yinuo. It''s just that he seemed to forget that the iron pot was very hot, and the moment he touched it, he recoiled his hand like he had been shocked and let out a slightly coy exclamation: "Ouch!" "Pfft!" Qin Yiyi, Qing Chen, and Uncle Li Dong, all three spat out the apples from their mouths at once. This guy must have pondered for a while and figured that a robust girl like Li Yinuo may prefer the gentler type like Nan Gengchen, so he wanted to unintentionally show off his own vulnerability to see if it would awaken her protective instincts. But Li Yinuo just glanced at him and said, "Go ''ouch'' by yourself over there." Chapter 137 137, Trio of Melon Eaters Zhou Xuan''s line of thought was truly wild. Uncle Li Dong and Qing Chen both had a bit of admiration for him. As a lone individual, he had traveled to an unfamiliar world, and unlike others, had even crossed over to the wilderness to become a servant. For him to have the resolve in such a short time to try to seduce a girl like Li Yinuo indeed required some boldness. And, he really didn''t care about losing face. At this time, Qin Yiyi felt that watching the drama unfold was incredibly entertaining. Uncle Li Dong said, "How about we place a bet on whether he can win over Li Yinuo or not?" Qing Chen was shocked, thinking to himself that Mother Ye and Lin Xiaoxiao loved to make bets over people as a little game, could this teacher have passed it on? Qin Yiyi hurried to say, "I bet he can''t do it; I''ll bet you an apple!" "I might as well not bet; you two go ahead," Qing Chen thought for a bit, "I don''t have anything on me to wager." "What are you thinking," Qin Yiyi tugged at his arm, "join me in betting he can''t do it, and I''ll cover your apple!" Uncle Li Dong said with a smile, "Then it looks like I can only bet that he can." Actually, Uncle Li Dong also wanted to bet against it, but since the young girl had rushed to say ''can''t do it,'' he couldn''t possibly compete with a young girl for it... To him, this was more like a joyful game, where winning or losing didn''t matter. "Look, Zhou Xuan is pondering something," Qing Chen commented, "I think he might be summarizing his lessons from his failures and might switch his approach." While they talked, Zhou Xuan, looking a bit puzzled, glanced over at them but only saw the three systematically munching on apples, as if nothing had ever happened. He had just kept feeling that someone was secretly watching him, but it seemed that he was maybe overthinking it? Stay tuned with empire Zhou Xuan casually redirected his gaze but in an instant turned back to look at the three; they were still chatting and eating apples with no sign of anything unusual. The Time Traveler finally suppressed his suspicions, thinking he might really be worrying too much. ... Zhou Xuan quietly observed Li Yinuo and Nan Gengchen. The two seemed to have said something, and Nan Gengchen actually left with a dark face, leaving Li Yinuo alone by the campfire. Li Yinuo seemed a bit unhappy too. Glancing around, she caught sight of Zhou Xuan who was doing nothing: "You, come here." Not far away, the trio watching the show in surprise: "Why did Li Yinuo call him over? Don''t tell me Nan Gengchen made her angry, and she''s planning to replace him with a new person?" Qing Chen muttered quietly, "It''s not impossible." "Don''t talk yet; they are about to converse. Listen carefully," Uncle Li Dong reminded. Zhou Xuan approached Li Yinuo, who sat squarely: "You''ve been with the Lee family for 5 years now, haven''t you?" Zhou Xuan responded, "Miss Yino, it''s been six years and three months." The trio nibbling on apples commented, "This kid is pretty thorough, isn''t he?" "Indeed, he just found out this information this afternoon." "Looking up to the high-level players." At that moment, Li Yinuo asked, "Why have you suddenly approached me these past two days?" Zhou Xuan''s heartbeat nearly skipped, but his face showed nothing. Cautiously, he replied, "I just felt that Mister Nan must have upset you; I wanted to lighten the mood a bit. Miss Yino, you''re so good to him and yet he dares show you an attitude." From a distance, Uncle Li Dong clicked his tongue in amazement, "This guy has a really venomous tongue." "Such a strong scent of green tea," Qing Chen remarked, "I wonder if Li Yinuo can handle it?" Qin Yiyi thought for a moment, then replied, "She should be able to, at least I could." It was at this moment Zhou Xuan shot another seemingly casual glance at the cucumber-eating trio; he always felt that the three by the fire were quietly discussing him, but he had no proof! In the corner of his eye, those three continued to nonchalantly eat their apples. Then, Li Yinuo turned and asked the middle-aged man who had been standing guard behind her, "Wang Bingxu, what do you think of this kid?" "Pretty good," Wang Bingxu responded succinctly. Zhou Xuan knew all too well that this middle-aged man, Wang Bingxu, was Li Yinuo''s confidant. If he approved of him, the deal was likely half done! Uncle Li Dong was somewhat puzzled: "Could this young lady actually have taken a liking to this pretty boy?" "It''s possible, otherwise why would she suddenly ask Wang Bingxu''s opinion?" "Ah," Qin Yiyi sighed, "Poor Nan Gengchen." Qin Yiyi felt a bit heartbroken; it seemed she was about to lose two apples! But the very next second, Li Yinuo said to Wang Bingxu, "Alright, if you like him, that''s good. I know you favor this kind of fresh meat, he''s yours now." "Pfft!" The cucumber-eating trio spat out their apples once again; this was nothing like the plot everyone had imagined. Zhou Xuan: "???" Out of the corner of his eye, he saw those three spitting apples and thought to himself, I knew it! You were indeed secretly sizing me up and talking about me! Now you''ve exposed yourselves! But, giving oneself away to that middle-aged man, what on earth was that all about! Li Yinuo also glanced at Uncle Li Dong and his group, then looked at Zhou Xuan with a cold smile, "Did you really think that just because Xiao Nan and I argued, you could scheme against him? Wang Bingxu, give him a good lesson, make him remember this." Zhou Xuan watched as Wang Bingxu-sized him up with a look that turned his face ashen... He hadn''t expected that after coming to the Inner World, this would be his starting situation! After all his days of hunting geese, he was now pecked in the eye by one. Wang Bingxu walked over, grabbed the resistant Zhou Xuan and headed towards the tent. Suddenly, Xiao Gong, who was wearing holographic glasses, said, "An anomaly has been detected in the vicinity of Drone #9... An anomaly is also present near Drone #11, Uncle Wang, Miss Yino, we need to evacuate this place first, we are being surrounded." Li Yinuo arched an eyebrow, "Who has the audacity? Who''s coming for us?" "It should be the wilderness fighters we''ve fought before," Xiao Gong replied calmly, "They''re back for revenge, and there are twice as many as last time, over three hundred, and it looks like they''ve called for backup from other clans in the wilderness." "How far away are they?" "7 kilometers out, but they''ll be here soon." Li Yinuo wasn''t just a show-off fool; this time, there was real danger. The attackers knew the strength of the Autumn Hunting Fleet and wouldn''t dare to come without being sure of victory! As she ran towards the tent where Nan Gengchen was, she said to Wang Bingxu, "Get everyone on the vehicles, chase after the Jindai family for a bit, and drag them into fighting these wilderness people with us! You drive my car, I''ll take someone else''s." She dragged Nan Gengchen out of the tent: "Save the quarrels for later. Don''t be cross with me now, this is serious business!" With that, Li Yinuo actually lifted Nan Gengchen into the pickup truck''s bed. Qing Chen watched in amazement, thinking, how could this burly girl just jump into their vehicle? Could she have sensed something amiss? This was all too bizarre; she had hopped into the truck bed as if knowing that, just by being there, she wouldn''t have to fear any danger. Chapter 138 138, Safety Zone The battle had only been engaged for a single minute. Lian Qingchen was still helping Qin Yiyi and Qin Cheng pack up their things, while Li Yinuo and Nan Gengchen were already sitting in the bed of the pickup truck. The robust girl, seeing Qin Cheng and the others packing up the tent, even urged from the pickup, "Stop packing, what''s more important, your belongings or your life? Hurry up and drive!" As if the pickup was hers. But Li Yinuo did have a point; the sound of gunfire was drawing closer, the sound of the wilderness people trying to shoot down drones. Qin Cheng shouted, "Stop packing, everyone get in the car, staying alive is all that matters!" At this moment, everyone was in a panic, except for Uncle Li Dong, who behaved as if nothing was amiss. A few people jumped into the bed of the truck. The servants, who were supposed to ride in the bed of the pickup, came running over. Li Yinuo yelled at them, "Scram, find your own fleet." Qin Yiyi tapped the vehicle''s window, "Brother, let''s hurry up and go!" Fire had broken out in the northern woods. The occasional sound of gunfire served as a warning to everyone that danger was approaching. In the truck bed, the voice of a walkie-talkie came through, "Miss Yinuo, the wilderness people have brought guns specifically designed to counter Boundary-011!" The principle of the countermeasure gun is to emit electromagnetic interference waves in a specific hertz range to disrupt the connection between remote control devices and drones. This device, like sniper rifles, is prohibited within the Federation, and it''s unknown where the wilderness people got them from. The countermeasure gun is banned because the Federation Army has the most drones, and they do not want the civilian populace to have the power to resist. Sniper rifles are banned because in earlier years, someone had developed an AI smart targeting railgun, which was so capable in computing comprehensive elements that it led to a time when high-profile figures were frequently assassinated from afar. Li Yinuo pulled a walkie-talkie from her pocket and said, "Xiao Gong, activate the self-destruct mode on those drones to hold them off for a bit. Also, where is the Jindai family fleet?" The Autumn Hunting Team''s first mate, Xiao Gong, replied through the walkie-talkie, "Received, the Jindai family fleet is 60 kilometers to our south, they seem to be encamped." Unexpectedly, Li Yinuo had always had a way to monitor the position of the Jindai family fleet, so when Jindai suddenly overtook them earlier, she wasn''t worried at all. "Let''s find the Jindai family, we''re all Federal people, we can stand together against the wilderness people!" Yinuo said. Then, the remaining four Boundary drones still charging at the campsite took off into the sky, flying straight towards the woods in the north. After a while, as the vehicle progressed, everyone heard a series of booms behind them, and the night sky lit up with huge flames. This was the self-destruct program of the drones: sacrificing a drone to inflict significant damage on the enemy. However, Li Yinuo knew that the wilderness people who came this time were too numerous, and the self-destruction of the drones was merely slowing down their pursuit and encirclement, not really inflicting a serious blow on them. The explosion of each drone was like burning money, but Li Yinuo didn''t care at all. ... After confirming the successful activation of the drones'' self-destruct program, Li Yinuo momentarily relaxed. The next moment, Qin Yiyi, Li Yinuo, Nan Gengchen, Qing Chen, and Uncle Li Dong, the five of them sat in the truck bed, staring at each other. The muscular young girl suddenly turned to Qing Chen and asked, "Hey, you look pretty ordinary, too, with skinny arms and legs. Although you''re good-looking, you don''t seem like you could take much of a beating." The atmosphere stagnated with everyone confused as to why Li Yinuo would suddenly criticize Qing Chen out of the blue. No reason at all! Curiously scrutinizing her, Qin Yi was pondering how to address the girl, "This... warrior." Li Yinuo raised her eyebrows. So quickly, someone came to take revenge for that young man? Seeing Li Yinuo glaring, Qin Yiyi hurriedly corrected, "Oh brave beauty, why have you taken a seat in our vehicle?" Li Yinuo calmly answered, "For safety." "Safety?" As soon as these words came out, both Qin Yiyi and Nan Gengchen were shocked as they looked at her. They knew she was the eldest daughter of the Li''s Third Generation, with the entire Autumn Hunting Fleet at her command. Within the Autumn Hunting Team, there were drone squads, not just the batch that had self-destructed a moment ago. Nan Gengchen also knew that three off-road vehicles had a new set of Boundary-012 model combat drones in their trunks. However, when real danger arrived, she said it was safer to stay in this old pickup truck? One must understand that Li Yinuo was one of the top experts among the younger generation of the Li Family. This fearless individual was now coming to a pickup for protection? The pickup was madly bumping along the dirt road. Everyone was silent, unsure of how to process what Li Yinuo had just said. Then they saw Li Yinuo turn to Uncle Li Dong, "My mom said you used to hold me when I was little, you wouldn''t stand by and watch me die, right?" Uncle Li Dong smiled and said to Li Yinuo, "When I held you, you were still too young to remember, so why suddenly bring that up now?" It turned out that Li Yinuo had jumped into the pickup at the moment of crisis because Uncle Li Dong was here! Qin Yiyi and Nan Gengchen suddenly turned their heads to look at this middle-aged man, while Qing Chen sighed in his heart, knowing he had been recognized after all. Explore new worlds at empire However, Qing Chen suspected even more. He always felt that Uncle Li Dong hadn''t tried to hide his identity on purpose, at most he just casually smeared some dirt on his face. This might fool strangers, as it made it hard for people to remember his face. But for those who had seen him before, they would definitely recognize him. Moreover, from the sounds of it, Li Yinuo was quite familiar with Uncle Li Dong! The valiant beauty had just spoken sarcastically about Qing Chen, likely related to Uncle Li Dong too. Now looking back, it was clear there was a feeling of envy and jealousy when she mentioned Qing Chen... In the midst of their conversation, a buzzing sound came from the black night sky, the sound of a swarm of drones! But the opposing drones didn''t even have their signal lights on, and in the darkness, ordinary people couldn''t see where they were at all. Li Yinuo instantly realized, the wild people from the north must have launched a large-scale attack, surrounding them and forcing them to head south ahead of schedule, into the area that was already ambushed with a swarm of drones! They had walked into the ambush themselves, without the need for the enemy to set it up! Li Yinuo frowned, "It must be people from Fire Pit who were already nearby, called over by the band of wild people that were driven off. Otherwise, they wouldn''t have so many drone clusters, nor such a calculated plan." Now, they were the ones without drones, and the enemy had them. Over the radio, the first mate Xiao Gong said, "Miss Yino, drone clusters are approaching. We still have a complete set of Boundary drones in the fleet, but it''ll take time to reconnect the neurons." But Li Yinuo replied, "No need." Then she looked at Uncle Li Dong, "Please take action, let''s not waste time." Uncle Li Dong smiled and said nothing. Then the normally aggressive eldest daughter of the Li Family suddenly started acting coy, "You wouldn''t just watch something happen to me, right? You were so fond of me when I was a child." As she spoke, she took out a deck of playing cards from her pocket and handed them to Uncle Li Dong. Qing Chen saw his teacher smile, unwrap the deck, and scatter it into the night sky. Each playing card spun like a razor blade, cutting through the darkness above. The pitch-black night sky was instantly lit up by dozens of bursts of flame. ... Three more days until the launch! On June 1st at midnight, get ready for the explosion of updates! Chapter 139 139. The teacher is very busy. Nan Gengchen looked at Uncle Li Dong in shock, and then at the sky where the drones were bursting into flames. What had been a secret weapon of the Wildlanders had been turned into a dream by a simple poker trick. Although Nan Gengchen had been in the Inner World for quite some time, this was the first time he had seen such a high-level individual take action. Honestly, due to his limited experience, he couldn''t even be sure what level of individual this was. In any case, it was a very high level! With that thought, he turned to look at Qing Chen. A few days ago, he really thought that Qing Chen was just another hard-scrabble Wildlander. He even told him to come and join him. But how quickly things had turned! Li Yinuo looked at the scene of the exploding drone fleet and said into the walkie-talkie, "It''s taken care of, continue moving forward to find the Jindai family. The Wildlanders behind us won''t give up, and also, be careful of ambushes ahead." Xiao Gong seemed speechless over the walkie-talkie, "What... exactly is happening?" No one had expected that the feared crisis would be resolved just like that. Li Yinuo replied, "Don''t ask what you shouldn''t." After speaking, she sincerely said to Uncle Li Dong, "Thank you." ... Nan Gengchen had been following Li Yinuo for some time now, and he knew that this headstrong and beautiful warrior rarely ever used "you" even when addressing uncles within her clan. If she couldn''t genuinely respect someone, she would never use the word "you." Nan Gengchen thought to himself, he had even suggested that Qing Chen come to join him if he couldn''t make ends meet... But it turned out Qing Chen was doing much better than he was. At the very least, Qing Chen didn''t have to worry about falling behind on nutrition! Of course, Nan Gengchen quickly accepted this outcome. After all, he had witnessed this academic god overpowering various academic elites from outside Laojun Mountain, earning their admiration and even privileges from the teachers. It made sense that such a person would do better in the Inner World than himself! Nan Gengchen might envy and begrudge Liu Dezhu because he felt it was unfair for even that kind of person to gain status by acknowledging a famous mentorit made the world seem irrational. But he couldn''t bring himself to feel jealous of Qing Chen, only sincere admiration. However, up to this point, Li Yinuo had not revealed Uncle Li Dong''s identity. So Nan Gengchen and Qin Yiyi could only guess that Uncle Li Dong was an incredibly important and powerful figure, without knowing exactly who he was. At that moment, Qin Yiyi suddenly remembered something. One afternoon she had asked Uncle Li Dong, "What level are you?" What was his answer again? S-Class!!! Back then, Qin Yiyi thought, if you don''t want to tell the truth, then forget it. But now, Qin Yiyi suddenly realized that he might have been telling the truth! How many S-Class individuals are there in the world? Only a handful! The look Qin Yiyi gave Uncle Li Dong had changed, but she wasn''t happy, as it meant the distance between her and Qing Chen had suddenly grown. He was no longer the struggling young servant, but the direct disciple of some important figure. And she was still that hard-scrabble Wildlands girl. Uncle Li Dong smiled at her, seeming to understand the girl''s thoughts, "Remember what I told you, go to the 18th city to find that person." Qin Yiyi was startled for a moment, as if he had already arranged something for her. At this moment, Li Yinuo turned her gaze to Qing Chen, the two quietly sizing each other up. The youth had delicate features, but she had seen plenty of attractive people and wasn''t particularly amazed. Li Yinuo had abandoned her usual carefree demeanor and calmly looked at Qing Chen, "This is your student, isn''t he? You were unwilling to take me as your disciple back then; is this student better than me?" It was exactly this question that made Qin Yiyi and Nan Gengchen realize why she had been complaining about Qing Chen the moment she got into the car. It was because the beautiful and valiant girl had not become the student of this middle-aged man, and suddenly, his student had appeared before her. She felt somewhat dissatisfied. Actually, Li Yinuo had recognized Uncle Li Dong when they first met. Even though he had pulled up the collar of his jacket. Even though he had later smeared ash on his face. But this was a very close elder relative, how could she not recognize him? Then, she discovered that Uncle Li Dong''s destination was also the Taboo Land numbered 002, so she understood that this young man by Uncle Li Dong''s side was likely the next Knight Leader. Because Li Yinuo was very clear about what was in Taboo Land number 002... Verdant mountains and steep cliffs. Although Li Yinuo didn''t know exactly what the Knight''s eight life-and-death trials were, she knew. That place. Was where the dreams of Knights of all generations began. Thinking this, her dissatisfaction grew, "I don''t accept him as better!" Uncle Li Dong thought for a moment, "To be fair, his temperament really is stronger than yours and more suited to the path I teach. Stop causing trouble, you have your own path to follow." Uncle Li Dong always held back from praising his own student in front of others. Li Yinuo stared hard at Qing Chen, still somewhat unconvinced, "In what way is my temperament inferior to his? I begged you relentlessly to take me as your disciple, and you were unwilling; what''s so special about his background?" "I can''t say now," Uncle Li Dong smiled, knowing that no one in the car would betray Qing Chen, but still he could not reveal it: "As for where his temperament is stronger than yours, you will find out for yourself eventually." At this moment, Qing Chen was deep in thought. He had once looked through the Li Family''s genealogy because he wanted to see if Li Tongyun was listed, and he was also guessing whether Uncle Li Dong was from the Li family. But he later found that Uncle Li Dong''s name was not there. Of course, the genealogy was provided by them, and it was normal for them to omit their own name... During their conversation, Uncle Li Dong did not deliberately avoid topics in front of Li Yinuo, like Qing Chen becoming his student. Among those in the know, Qin Yiyi was the descendant of Uncle Li Dong''s friend, with unquestionable character and temperament, clearly intended to help this young lady find her way. Nan Gengchen was a good friend of Qing Chen, the very person Qing Chen had endeavored to save on Laojun Mountain. Your journey continues with empire These were trustworthy individuals. Actually, Uncle Li Dong was also hinting to Qing Chen that Li Yinuo was one of them. Until this moment, all the clues Uncle Li Dong had provided on this trip had come together: He had multiple purposes for this trip, aiming to accomplish many things at once. The first was to make arrangements for the descendants of the Qin family. The second was for Qing Chen to eliminate Qing Huai, to vent anger, seek revenge, and remove a powerful rival in the Shadow competition. The third was for Qing Chen to get to know Li Yinuo. Considering this, and combining the fact that Li Yinuo had suddenly joined the Autumn Hunting Team, Qing Chen speculated that she might have made this decision after receiving a notification from Uncle Li Dong. Outmaneuvering the Jindai family was just a way to rationalize his own actions, and of course, succeeding in that would be even better. Then there was the fourth matter: Uncle Li Dong wanted to take Qing Chen to the verdant mountains, to personally witness him unlocking the first layer of the Genetic Lock! Qing Chen reflected that, while his teacher seemed at ease on this trip, he was actually quite busy. Chapter 140 140, Baby The dirt road was difficult to traverse, and all the vehicles jolted violently. Actually, this area was already under the jurisdiction of City One, but since Taboo Land 002 was located in the remote mountains, no one bothered to build a road to such a perilous place. Heading further south, they encountered no more ambushes from the wild people. Perhaps the enemy initially believed that the drone swarm was sufficient to stop the Autumn Hunting Team, so no further preparations were made. Or maybe they were so shocked by the display of power when Uncle Li Dong made his move that they withdrew the ambush ahead. The method he used to destroy dozens of drones in an instant was nothing short of terrifying. Qing Chen had no clear understanding of the power levels of Transcendents, but Xiao Gong and the others were more knowledgeablethis had to be the work of an A-Class. Within the Autumn Hunting Team, Xiao Gong had completed the neuronal interfacing for the second batch of border drones. More than a dozen drones were seen, half flying on both sides of the convoy, the other half heading towards more distant surroundings. Soon, Xiao Gong reported via the intercom, "Miss Yino, there''s no enemy activity on either side, but 6 kilometers behind us, it seems the wild people have already regrouped and haven''t given up on hunting us down." Li Yinuo frowneddid the enemy continue their pursuit knowing there was an A-Class among them? Could one of the Fire Pit elders be nearby? She asked, "How far is Jindai''s camp?" "27 kilometers ahead," Xiao Gong answered. "Tell Wang Bingxu to keep all the fleets at full speed," Li Yinuo said with a cold laugh. "We can relax only after we''ve passed the Jindai family camp." After speaking, she turned to Nan Gengchen, "Sweetheart, were you scared just now?" Nan Gengchen didn''t respond. Li Yinuo asked again, "Honey, are you still mad at me? It was an emergency situation earlier, and I didn''t mean to yell at you." Nan Gengchen''s face was beet red as he struggled to articulate a word. But he wasn''t mad at Li Yinuo. Honestly, when he saw her rush to his side first thing during the crisis, his anger had already dissipated. It was just that Li Yinuo was calling him that...right in front of Qing Chen. It was practically no different from a public execution. At the moment, among those present, only Uncle Li Dong knew that Qing Chen and Nan Gengchen knew each other. Qin Yiyi and Li Yinuo were unaware. Seeing Nan Gengchen''s flushed face, Li Yinuo even lifted his shirttail with concern and asked, "You''re so paledidn''t you get hurt earlier?!" When she was checking, Nan Gengchen wanted to stop Li Yinuo, but the beautiful warrior pinned him in the truck bed and examined him for a long time without any resistance. Uncle Li hesitated before asking, "Little girl, I heard you''ve recently become infatuated with handsome guys..." Li Yinuo quickly sat up straight, "Please don''t listen to their nonsense. I know some people say I keep a pretty boy or something, but that''s actually fake. Xiao Nan and I truly love each other, and he''s the only one I love." "Oh," Uncle Li nodded... Qing Chen, meanwhile, was on the verge of bursting into laughter. The look on Nan Gengchen''s face turned ashen at the sight of his expression. Everyone else seems to die three times over, with fancy terms like ''physiological death'' or being ''forgotten by others''. He, Nan Gengchen, was different. He''d experienced social death three times already... ... In the distance, people could already see the outline of the campfire. Those with good eyesight could even make out Jindai Yasuhito sitting next to his daughter by the campfire, talking about who knows what. When the Autumn Hunting Fleet arrived, they saw that everyone from the Jindai family had come out, and some even brought out weapons and specialized countermeasures against drones. It wasn''t the Jindai family''s fault, after all, anyone would feel uneasy if a bunch of people suddenly showed up at their campsite in the middle of the night, looking menacing. However, Xiao Gong had already reached out to the Jindai''s communication system in advance, "This is the Autumn Hunting Team. The camp ahead need not worry, do not shoot, we are just passing by." As they passed by the campsite, Li Yinuo, sitting in the truck bed, smiled at Jindai Yasuhito: "Good evening, good night." As she spoke, the Autumn Hunting Team kicked up a huge cloud of dust as they brushed past the Jindai family campsite... Experience tales with empire The gust of wind that followed knocked the tents inside the camp into disarray, flapping wildly, dimming the campfire for a moment. Dressed in a kimono, Jindai Yasuhito''s garment flew up, exposing the bare hairy legs underneath... "Dammit!" Jindai Yasuhito cursed at the backs of the Autumn Hunting Team. Qing Chen understood that shout. But at this moment, Jindai Yasuhito couldn''t understand why the Autumn Hunting Team was in such a rush to travel overnight. A bodyguard in a black suit said, "Could they have encountered some danger?" Jindai Yasuhito recalled, "Their vehicles didn''t have any new damage, they shouldn''t have come across danger." "Then perhaps they''re trying to find Qing Huai before us?" Suggested the young Jindai Ori. Jindai Yasuhito shook his head, "According to the information I just received, the wild battalion of the Second Group Army had just left their unit a few days ago. By normal travel speed, we would arrive at the edge of Taboo Land #002 by tomorrow morning, while Qing Huai might only arrive by tomorrow afternoon. Therefore, let Li Yinuo go, we don''t need to rush for time." Suddenly, Jindai Ori, pulling on Jindai Yasuhito''s hand, pleaded, "Father, I heard Chen Leyou isn''t as good as the rumors say, just a mentally twisted scion of a conglomerate. Once you persuade Qing Huai, can I swap with Jindai Kongyin? Let her marry Chen Leyou, and I''ll marry Qing Huai!" Jindai Yasuhito thought for a moment, "That''s not impossible, Qing Huai is indeed a bit better than the other conglomerate scions. However, it''s contingent on the waste in prison #18 dying first; only then will it be proper to change the marriage arrangement." As he said this, Jindai Yasuhito frowned, "Wait, that''s not right! We aren''t even on the Autumn Hunting Team''s necessary route toward Taboo Land #002. How could they know we were here? It can''t be a coincidence!" Especially since Jindai Yasuhito had deliberately deviated from the route to avoid being noticed. The next moment, someone suddenly noticed car lights shining from the north again. The LED headlights mounted on the off-road vehicle were blinding, and the front row of vehicles had a strip of glaring searchlights mounted on their roofs, making it impossible to see who was coming head-on. The quick-reacted bodyguard immediately ran to the side, dodging the glare of the headlights before he could see that a flag was positioned next to the engine hood of the approaching vehicle. On the flag, there was faintly an image of a stone-surrounded Fire Pit, with the flames inside flickering as the vehicle moved. The bodyguard began to bellow, "Wildermen, it''s the Fire Pit''s team, get in the car!" At this point, Jindai Yasuhito felt murderous. He thought, why the hell did Li Yinuo suddenly greet him with a smileas it turns out, she actually led the Fire Pit''s team right to them! If they were too slow, all of his Jindai people might end up dead in the wilderness! Chapter 141 141. The Rules of Taboo Land "The Jindai family has already encountered the wilderness marauders'' fleet." "The Jindai family activated escape mode, and they also launched drones intending to block with self-destruct mode, but the marauders'' jamming guns had already locked onto their drones in advance." "It''s confirmed that the Fire Pit''s fleet has appeared, with the presence of an A-Class elder likely, and it''s very possible they possess mental control abilities." The appearance of Fire Pit here was abnormal, and having an A-Class among them was even more unusual. "The Jindai family''s fleet fell apart, and the members in the other vehicles began to cry out for a shattered jade raid, launching suicide attacks against the wilderness marauders. Only the vehicle carrying Jindai Yasuhito escaped the pursuit ring." It wasn''t until then that the drones controlled by Xiao Gong rapidly withdrew from the battlefield and flew back to the vicinity of their fleet. If they returned late, it was very likely they would be shot down by the wilderness marauders. Before this, he had been using the walkie-talkie to broadcast the battle to the whole fleet, not so much because the battle was that important, but mainly because the dissolute heirs in the Autumn Hunting Team loved to hear about it. The dissolute heirs of today are no longer quite satisfied with ordinary modes of entertainment. Some perverts like to have brutal virtual life videos recorded for them, slightly less perverted ones enjoy real-life fights, while others take pleasure in cockfights or dog fights. They spend a lot of money to buy rare large breeds of dogs from the wilderness, then watch as two vicious dogs struggle ferociously within an octagon cage. This excites them and gives them a thrill that''s hard to find in the city. The Autumn Hunt was also a way to relieve suppressed emotions. What could be more thrilling than experiencing battle firsthand? However, these dissolute heirs didn''t have any real skills. Listening to the live broadcast now felt quite thrilling, especially when the Jindai family was getting trounced. Within the consortium, there are factions that are hawkish towards the Jindai and those that are conservative. Even the conservatives just think that declaring war on another consortium is somewhat not worth the risk, and might lead to being taken advantage of by other consortia. If a meteorite could destroy both the Jindai and Deer Island, everyone would be very happy. Li Yinuo said over the communication channel, "Xiao Gong, your live commentary needs improvement." Xiao Gong responded calmly, "Understood, Miss Yino. Next time I will make it more vivid." However, just then, a strange voice in the walkie-talkie asked, "Next time? When I kill you all? When I return to Fire Pit this time, I shall surely receive ancestral commendation and become even more powerful." The voice was very hoarse, suggesting that the speaker must be over 40 years old. Li Yinuo turned around abruptly to look back, their encrypted communication had been breached by the wilderness marauders! Li Yinuo glanced at Uncle Li Dong but did not ask for help. She was very clear that asking for help from an elder of such stature was like using up her goodwill with him help one time, and there might be a little less goodwill left. Of course, Uncle Li Dong wouldn''t watch her die at the hands of wilderness marauders. Before that happened, she had to rely on herself. "Xiao Gong, Wang Bingxu," Li Yinuo switched to the backup encrypted channel, "head straight to Taboo Land 002. We''re going to play with the wilderness marauders there!" They were already very close to Taboo Land 002! Countdown 115:00:00. Five o''clock in the morning. When suddenly, a streak of light burst from the East in the sky above. Everyone in the Autumn Hunting Fleet saw it, and in the farthest reaches of their view, a thick and densely forested area appeared. The density of the forest was unimaginable, and from a distance, it seemed like a green carpet laid over the land, with no gaps visible. Yet what was most astonishing was that deeper into the forest, there grew an enormous tree that reached the heavens. Qing Chen swore he had never seen such a gigantic tree, just as he had never heard of blue whales that were several, or even tens of, kilometers long. All of this seemed to exist only in myths and legends. It was as if a page from the "Classic of Mountains and Seas" had suddenly been placed right here. The tree towered over mountain ranges, its crown perched atop the real clouds like mist. The sense of ancientness that faced him, as well as the sense of bizarreness, evoked a certain inexplicable longing. It was a yearning for something beyond ordinary life. "Teacher," Qing Chen whispered, "could there come a day when the Taboo Land expands to completely cover the entire world? When the ancient myths become reality, and the mythological creatures recorded by the ancients reappear in this world? Peng Qi, Vermilion Bird, Xuanwu..." The scene was so breathtaking that Qing Chen was somewhat incoherent. Uncle Li Dong looked at his student with a smile brimming in his eyes, "What you speak of might indeed happen one day. Humanity would no longer be the master of this world, and the world would be resplendent once again. But while admiration is fine, remember, while longing for the admiration you must remember that place is very dangerous." Qing Chen murmured, "Teacher, in the Outer World there are myths about Pangu creating the heavens. The myths say his left eye became the sun, his right eye the moon, his teeth turned into metals and stones, his bones became trees, flowers, grasses, and mountains, his blood became rivers... Do you think this resembles the reasons for the formation of the Taboo Land?" Uncle Li Dong thought for a moment, "Then this Pangu... is he cross-eyed?" Qing Chen: "???" I''m discussing serious matters with you, what are you making jokes about?! Uncle Li Dong laughed, "However, this myth does indeed bear some similarity to the formation of the Taboo Land." "So what kind of Transcendent would be capable of creating such a tree?" Qing Chen asked. "Oh, this tree wasn''t created by anyone; it is itself an existence of a transcendent species," explained Uncle Li Dong, "Even before this place became the Taboo Land, it was here. Oh, that''s not quite right, either. It''s said that where it stands, in the last era, had been hit by a nuclear bomb. The bomb destroyed an entire city. It might have been the nuclear radiation or something in that city that nurtured this strange piece of land." Driven by curiosity, Qing Chen said, "Everyone thinks the Taboo Land is dangerous because the creatures inside have evolved to a point where they threaten humans, right? Do they attack humans proactively?" "Uh, yes," Uncle Li Dong replied, "That''s not entirely accurate, actually. Inside, there''s a complete ecosystem. Once you enter, you become either the Hunter or the hunted, but they won''t attack you simply because you''re human. You''re just a part of its body." "But the Taboo Land is like a Taboo object itself; it has its own rules. If you violate its rules, it will kill you as a whole. At that point, even a flower could be deadly." "Just like the Taboo object ACE-089, which will kill anyone who sings in front of it. It can''t be destroyed, is difficult to stop, and even if it is temporarily contained, it will still seek to kill its target if it ever regains freedom. It''s a highly vengeful Taboo object... Nowadays, it should be contained in a sealed, soundproof metal box by the Contraindicated courts, motionless." Enjoy new adventures from empire "How do you know about this Taboo object?" Qing Chen asked curiously. "Oh," Uncle Li Dong explained, "there was an old B-Class superhuman who was quite aged. The Contraindicated courts were concerned that his sudden death might create a new Taboo Land, so they attempted to contain him beforehand. However, the individual went into hiding when they tried to contain him. Eventually, the Contraindicated courts played an audio recording of him singing to ACE-089, and it came in defiance of all rules to face the superhuman and killed him. God knows how the Contraindicated courts got their hands on that audio recording. At the time, it was considered quite the bizarre news story." "Those are the rules for a Taboo object, so what are the rules for the Taboo Land?" Qing Chen inquired. "Strange and varied," said Uncle Li Dong with a smile, "I''m not exaggeratingreally, strange and varied. Of course, there is one universal rule: Do not tell anyone else in the Taboo Land about the rules of the Taboo Land." It doesn''t like being discussed. ... Countdown to going live: two days. Looking forward to the early morning of June 1st! Chapter 142 142, Bizarre Rules "Every Taboo Land has different rules, and the number of rules also varies, but the one universal rule is, ''Don''t talk about it while you''re in it.''" Otherwise, you will die. This death is not an immediate annihilation by the rules, but the entire Taboo Land will become your enemy. Of course, if you don''t violate its rules, then you''re just an ordinary guest of the Taboo Land. You can go hunting, and it is said that in certain Taboo Lands, the adorable six-legged pangolins and six-armed golden monkeys are loved by influential people and taken from the Taboo Lands to be kept as pets. At the same time, in the Taboo Land, you will also be hunted by bizarre and powerful monsters. Qing Chen asked, "What kinds of rules are there?" Uncle Li Dong thought for a moment, "In one Taboo Land, after humans enter, they need to sacrifice a companion every night in order to remain unharmed." "What if one person goes in without any companions to sacrifice?" "Then he sacrifices himself." "What other rules are there?" "There''s another Taboo Land where for every kilometer you go deeper, one liter of fresh blood must be sacrificed; whose blood it is doesn''t matter, nor does it have to be human." Qing Chen frowned. These rules of the Taboo Lands were indeed bizarre, and exceedingly bloodthirsty. However, it really was as Uncle Li Dong said, these Taboo Lands and Taboo objects have many similaritiesthey all require a "containment condition." This prerequisite is the premise for you to coexist peacefully with it. He asked doubtfully, "Are the rules of the Taboo Lands always so bloodthirsty?" "Of course, there are also some that are odd," Uncle Li Dong said. "For example, there''s a Taboo Land that has only one rule; those with the surname Wang cannot enter. Even if someone changes their name, it won''t work; somehow, that Taboo Land can just know if you''re a Wang." "Huh?" Qing Chen''s eyes widened in disbelief. "Are the rules really that quirky? How do you know this?" "This is the rule of Taboo Land 082. Many people know it because the Chen Clan once deployed a field unit from the Federal First Group Army to explore it. As soon as they entered, all soldiers with the surname Wang were hunted down by strange creatures and plants within the entire Taboo Land," Uncle Li Dong said with a smile. Qing Chen was left speechless. He wondered to himself, what had the Wangs ever done to anyone? "Of course, don''t think of the Taboo Lands as too complicated. If you know the rules, and do not go deep into the heart of it, it''s not especially dangerous," Uncle Li Dong said. "This time, I won''t take you into the heart of Taboo Land 002, we''ll just take a look around the edge." Qing Chen then asked, "Are there any other bizarre rules like these?" "Oh yes," Uncle Li Dong said with a smile, "there''s another Taboo Land where you can''t spill blood on the ground." At that moment, Li Yinuo asked nonchalantly, "Which Taboo Land is that you''re talking about?" Uncle Li Dong smiled and glanced at her, "If you want to know, go explore it yourself. Don''t ask me." Qing Chen suddenly realized that someone like Li Yinuo, the heir of a wealthy consortium, also had a keen interest in the Taboo Lands. Was it because there was something worthwhile in the heart of them? However, it appeared that she didn''t understand much about the Taboo Lands either. Uncle Li Dong looked at Qing Chen and said, "99% of those who have violated the rules of the Taboo Land are dead. I also only managed to figure out some of the rules after I became stronger in the past few years, but it''s only a very small part of the Taboo Land''s rules." Qing Chen took a sharp breath, Uncle Li Dong meant that one could only leave the Taboo Land unscathed after becoming a demigod?! Therefore, any rule pertaining to the Taboo Land is extremely precious. On the black market, they can even sell for a sky-high price. He asked, "Under normal circumstances, besides that unspeakable rule, how many rules does the Taboo Land usually have?" "It depends on the number of people," Uncle Li Dong patiently explained, "The number of people I''m talking about is completely based on how many Transcendents have died there." "Ah?" Qing Chen was puzzled. "Take the Taboo Land that forbids anyone with the surname Wang from entering. It might be because the Transcendent who died there hated people with the surname Wang," Uncle Li Dong said with growing interest, "These Taboo Lands typically have as many rules as there are Transcendents who have died, and it''s very likely they correlate with their personal preferences while they were alive." "However, most Taboo Lands have only one rule," Li Yinuo added, "After all, it''s rare for Transcendents to die in groups unless there has been an intense battle that ended in mutual destruction." "Which Taboo Land has the most rules?" Qing Chen asked. "Taboo Land 001, Taboo Land 002, and Taboo Land 009 are recognized as having the most," Uncle Li Dong said, "You needn''t worry about Taboo Land 001 for now, that one''s in the Northwestern Land, and because the area of the Taboo Land is too vast, few people venture there these days." And Taboo Land 002 was the place Qing Chen was about to visit. However, Uncle Li Dong had said that this time they would only skirt along the edge and not enter the heartland, which should not be particularly dangerous. Li Yinuo looked at Uncle Li Dong, "You must be the most knowledgeable about Taboo Land 002, right? You can keep the others secret but can you reveal a bit about this one?" "No," Uncle Li Dong said, "This place is actually the most important to me; I cannot disclose it. The two rules you know are already enough to save your life." At this moment, only one car from the Jindai family had escaped the chase of the wild Fire Pit, while the convoy of the wild Fire Pit was still in hot pursuit. But Li Yinuo was not too anxious at this time. Continue reading at empire She had already seen the towering tree that crowned the heavens; the periphery of the Taboo Land was not far off. The home ground of the Fire Pit had always been near the Southwest Snow Mountain, and she was certain that the others did not know the rules of Taboo Land 002. Li Yinuo said into the walkie-talkie, "Continue at full speed. Once we reach the edge of Taboo Land 002, we''ll rest." Wang Bingxu and Xiao Gong replied, "Roger." At this time, Qin Yiyi asked like a curious baby, "Why were you and this guy arguing just now? I saw that you two were quite upset by the campfire." Li Yinuo thought for a moment and said, "Baby is too kind-hearted, so he wanted to persuade me to let you go, not to get you involved in this matter. But I knew... ''this gentleman'' is in your team, so I wanted to keep you by my side, at least to save a life in a critical moment. Sigh, my baby is just so kind-hearted and unlike the rest." Qin Yiyi shivered a little, somewhat unable to stand the nickname... Nan Gengchen''s face turned red with embarrassment, and Li Yinuo exclaimed, "See, he gets shy with just a couple of compliments." Only Qing Chen knew that Nan Gengchen''s dispute with Li Yinuo was indeed to let them leave, but at its root, it was for his own good friend. It must be said that Qing Chen now had a new appreciation of the revolutionary friendship between them and began seriously pondering the feasibility of establishing a "Father-Worrier''s Alliance." Chapter 143 143. Must comply with Until this moment, Qing Chen finally confirmed that Li Yinuo''s love for Nan Gengchen was absolutely true love. However, unlike the admiration of ordinary girls, Li Yinuo''s feelings for Nan Gengchen... were clearly those of doting and pampering! Uncle Li Dong asked, "I saw you put a little boy in the car earlier, and later he was with this little friend called Nan Gengchen. Who was that...?" This question was actually for Qing Chen''s sake, as a teacher, of course he knew what his student wanted to find out. Li Yinuo calmly explained, "There''s no need to hide anything from you, I''ve discovered a Time Traveler, someone from the Outer World with high potential, said to be the kind that has gone to university." Nan Gengchen explained weakly, "A university student from where we are isn''t as valuable as here..." Qing Chen thought to himself that Li Yinuo had indeed discovered Nan Gengchen''s identity as a Time Traveler. However, it seemed that she was still unaware of his own acquaintance with Nan Gengchen. It must be said that although Nan Gengchen was not good at keeping his own secrets, he was extremely cautious when it came to safeguarding his friend''s secrets. He didn''t even seem like the same person! Li Yinuo continued, "I promised to give that talented student some compensation, letting him serve the baby in the Outer World, covering for him and such. Additionally, I was very worried about some vixen in the Outer World seducing my baby and leading him astray, so I found some people to watch over him." Nan Gengchen: "???" Qing Chen: "???" Truth be told, both of them really hadn''t expected Li Yinuo to have such a concern! Your "baby" isn''t that in demand in the Outer World either! The constant references to "baby" made Nan Gengchen somewhat want to die. The walkie-talkie came alive, Xiao Gong''s report came just in time to save this student named Nan, "Miss Yinuo, we''ve reached the edge of Taboo Land 002, but there are neatly parked convoy vehicles ahead, and it seems that there''s no one in them." Li Yinuo furrowed her brow, "Whose convoy is it?" "The drone is getting close," Xiao Gong said, "It''s clear now, they''re the vehicles of the Second Army Group! Miss Yinuo, there''s not a single person in them. It looks like Qing Huai has already entered Taboo Land 002 ahead of time, the information we got before was fake." Wang Bingxu said, "Judging by the number of vehicles, it seems to be a field platoon that has come, bringing standard equipment, even mechanical dogs were brought." Uncle Li Dong chuckled and gave Qing Chen a glance. He whispered, "Look at how strong the support your competitors have, and you have nothing. It really worries your teacher." Qing Chen responded expressionlessly, "Don''t I have you, teacher?" "Fair point," Uncle Li Dong nodded. Qing Huai came to Taboo Land 002 for the task related to the Shadow conflict. What is a Shadow? A person that cannot be found is a true Shadow. As the candidate put forth by the Fourth House, Qing Huai naturally knew that his task was not only to complete the mission but also to be cautious of interference from other candidates. So, from the beginning of this competition, he had been careful and cautious. Many people thought he would only arrive at Taboo Land 002 tomorrow, but little did they know he had already entered today. The vehicles of the Autumn Hunting Team stopped next to those military off-road vehicles. According to Li Yinuo, those military vehicles all had iris locks which ordinary people simply couldn''t steal. The group parked their vehicles next to the military ones. The middle-aged Wang Bingxu, holding the Time Traveler Zhou Xuan, approached Li Yinuo, "What do you plan to do?" "Xiao Gong, where are the wilderness people behind us?" Li Yinuo asked. "They''re 2 kilometers away from us, and they''re speeding up, seeming to want to stop us before we enter the Taboo Land!" Xiao Gong replied. "Gather the drones back, send them into the Taboo Land," Li Yinuo instructed. As she said this, she turned to look at Uncle Li Dong. In shock, she suddenly realized that Uncle Li Dong and Qing Chen, who should have been standing behind her, had vanished without a trace. Li Yinuo looked at Qin Cheng and the others, "Where are those two people?" "Don''t know," Qin Cheng said in confusion, "We were all watching the Federal Group''s military vehicles just now and didn''t notice when they disappeared." Li Yinuo then turned her gaze to the others, but they all looked just as clueless! No one knew when those two had vanished, and they hadn''t intended to say goodbye to them at all! It was as if they had never been there in the first place. Li Yinuo furrowed her brows, realizing they could only rely on themselves now. The buzzing sound of drones was already coming from the north, the wilderness people had arrived! Those drones were frantically chasing a black off-road vehicle, which was one of the few remaining people from the Jindai family. After some thought, Li Yinuo said to Wang Bingxu, "Let''s go in and hide for now, and I''ll see the situation before deciding whether or not to look for the second army. Also, send out the distress signal to have the nearby Federal Group''s military come here to support us." The forest of the Taboo Land was denser than imagined. The canopies of the trees were like a solid roof, nearly completely blocking out the sunlight from the forest. The gloom inside the forest was starkly different from the bright sunshine just beginning outside. It was as if by stepping in, one would have to accept the rules of another world. Mysterious, and unpredictable. Li Yinuo looked at all this expressionlessly, hesitating. But just then, the Jindai family''s off-road vehicle didn''t even stop; it crashed headlong into the forest. It finally came to a halt after hitting a tree. All the airbags in the vehicle deployed, and Jindai Yasuhito and another person from the Jindai family slowly got out of the car, heading into the forest without looking back. "Let''s all go in," Li Yinuo said. "Let''s avoid the wilderness people and wait for rescue. These wilderness people might not be willing to enter the Taboo Land and play cat-and-mouse with us." After all, once inside, the roles of the hunter and the prey would switch. By then, everyone would just be prey in this Number 002 Taboo Land. A group of people ran frantically into the forest, and the moment everyone stepped into the Taboo Land, each one felt as if swept by a shocking presence, as though being watched by some immense entity. All of their hair stood on end. And this rising of goosebumps was the sign of entering any Taboo Land; you should understand at that moment that you must have reverence in your heart. Li Yinuo didn''t care about all this; it was not her first time entering a Taboo Land, so she was already familiar with these rules. A few minutes later, she looked back. Read exclusive content at empire Jindai Yasuhito and the other person from the Jindai family were gradually joining the Autumn Hunting Team. The good news was that the wilderness people outside had indeed temporarily stopped the chase and weren''t following any longer. "Stop," Li Yinuo raised her hand, signaling the panting young aristocrats to stop running further. But at that moment, a wailing sound suddenly came from behind a tree. A young aristocrat from Chen''s Consortium was seen clutching his own neck, his face slowly turning red as he stepped out, and with wide eyes, he slowly fell to the ground. It was as if he had strangled himself to death. Rules. At that moment, everyone remembered one thing: the only thing to adhere to after entering the Taboo Land was the rules. Applicable to all outsiders. Chapter 144 144, Dont be a fool who ends up dead. The sudden death startled everyone. Along with Jindai Yasuhito and Jindai Ori, nearly a hundred people watched in silence as the victim fell to the ground. No one even dared to step forward to offer aid. Because the manner of death was too bizarre. In the dense, dim forest, where hardly any sunlight could penetrate despite it being early morning. The leaves rustled as if anyone could be the murderer, including every blade of grass and tree. "Miss Yino is from a collateral branch of the Chen Clan," Wang Bingxu squatted down beside the corpse and observed softly, "There are no external injuries, and there are marks on the neck from being strangled by hands, but it''s not yet certain if she strangled herself to death." Everyone knew that the member of the Chen Clan had died from breaking a rule, but no one knew what the rule was. At that moment, a girl couldn''t help but blurt out quickly, "I know, this Taboo Land with the code 002 probably doesn''t allow..." Just as Li Yino was about to raise her hand to stop her from continuing, she found that the girl, like the member of the Chen Clan, started to turn red in the cheeks. She struggled to say something, to call for help, but couldn''t utter a word. The girl''s hands were around her neck, as though she wanted to pull something out from within, but she could only struggle weakly. Li Yino slowly lowered the arm she had raised, "There''s no saving her, don''t bother. She brought it on herself by being foolish." Keep secrets, remember what you''ve discovered, but never, in Taboo Land, reveal its rules to others. It will kill the snitch. The passage rules of Taboo Land are as if gods slumber within all forbidden places, having agreed to keep their secrets safe; any betrayer must die. Li Yino looked at everyone, "I trust that all present are fully aware of where we are; if you haven''t figured out what to say, then shut your mouth." Sometimes that''s how it is. You might clearly remember there''s something you shouldn''t say, but your mouth acts faster than your brain. The girl definitely knew the passage rule of Taboo Land, but she couldn''t hold back. In fact, though everyone didn''t know what exactly killed the first member of the Chen Clan, they had all vaguely guessed one of the rules of Taboo Land 002. Li Yino didn''t say anything, she was silently contemplating what rule the first person had broken to die. Nan Gengchen stood beside her in silence; he knew he couldn''t be of any help at that moment, so he best not make things worse. Just then, a dandy started to unbuckle his belt and turned around, wanting to urinate; he couldn''t hold it any longer but also dared not stray too far from the group. This stout girl looked at the dandy''s back and suddenly realized, she shouted at the man turning around to pee, "Stop! Put it back!" In an instant, the dandy''s urge to urinate was forcefully retracted. Li Yino turned around; she saw many people struggling to hold their pee, legs twisting, clearly unable to hold on much longer. They had been fleeing since last night; many people had been holding in their need to urinate for the whole journey. With both men and women in the car, none could attend to their physiological needs and had to keep holding it while fleeing for their lives. The crowd looked at her with bewilderment, but Li Yino hesitated several times and didn''t explain anything. She knew what the rule was now! Li Yino walked with Wang Bingxu behind a tree, where the first victim had come from. Wang Bingxu saw the wet marks on the root, clearly urine. He looked at her in astonishment, "Miss Yino..." "Shut up," Li Yino said coldly, "Don''t be the second one to die of stupidity." It was at this moment that she was sure why the first person had died. Who could have thought, one of the rules of such a Taboo Land with the code 002 was you cannot urinate or defecate anywhere?! The Transcendent who laid down that rule must have been an extreme clean freak. How unjust would it be to die because of urinating in the Taboo Land? She took Wang Bingxu with her, braved the risk to go back, and found the vehicle of the Jindai family that had crashed into a tree. From the trunk, they retrieved two canisters filled with diesel. Fortunately, the wilderness people really hadn''t entered, they were still watching from outside. Li Yinuo spilled all the diesel on the ground, then returned to the group with the empty canisters in hand, "Girls get priority in line to pee in here. Remember to pee thoroughly, and then don''t drink a drop of water before we leave." She didn''t even dare to say "Don''t pee on the ground," for fear of the rules'' backlash. But up until now, they still couldn''t be certain what caused the first person''s death. The rules wouldn''t just directly eradicate someone, they would only make the plants and animals attack anyone who breached the rules. Li Yinuo looked around. The dandies were lining up one by one behind the big trees next to the diesel canisters to pee. As for anything bigger, they would just have to hold it in, no matter how unbearable it was. Wait, the robust girl suddenly noticed that not a sign could be seen of Qin Cheng, Qin Yiyi, and the others. These wilderness Hunters had somehow left the group without notice. ... Under the dense canopy in Taboo Land No. 002, Qin Cheng was dragging Qin Yiyi by the wrist, leading the family eastward. Even though everyone was already very tired from running, Qin Cheng had no intention of stopping. That was because this place, known as one of the areas with the most rules, was too dangerous. It meant that staying here an extra minute, doing one unnecessary thing, could trigger the bizarre rules. So if you were forced into the Taboo Land, the best choice was to leave as quickly as possible! The reason they chose this path was because, before Uncle Li Dong took Qing Chen and left, he had personally told Qin Yiyi: head east, find a stream, and follow the stream further east to find a way out. The route was only three kilometers long; leave this place and you would live. At that time, Qin Yiyi had not realized that Uncle Li Dong and Qing Chen were planning to split from the group. It was only after they disappeared from sight that she felt somewhat desolated. The girl followed her father, sprinting through the dim woods, until at some point they heard the sound of a stream and continued to follow it east. After an indiscernible distance, suddenly they all felt warmth enveloping them, and the sensation of being watched by some terrifying presence finally vanished like smoke. Qin Cheng bent over to support his knees. He was of an age that even running such a short distance left him struggling to catch his breath. He looked at his somewhat bewildered daughter and sighed in his heart. Suddenly, her brother said to the girl, "Remember what the middle-aged man said, telling us to find someone called Su Xingzhi in city No. 18?" Qin Cheng was hinting that if they could find that person''s subordinate, they would naturally be able to meet up again eventually. But Qin Yiyi suddenly shook her head stubbornly, "Mom, Dad, Brother, I don''t want to go back to city No. 18. I want to find the Fire Pit; I know I can gain power there." Qin Cheng was puzzled, "We could find this Su Xingzhi, and maybe he could get you the Genetic Potion, too. I think that middle-aged man seemed quite fond of you." Qin Yiyi pursed her lips and shook her head, "No, I want to go to the Fire Pit." The girl kept her thoughts to herself, telling no one. ... Countdown to launch: 1 day! Experience more tales on empire Looking forward to the early morning of June 1st! Tomorrow afternoon there will still be three updates, and when the launch happens in the late-night, the burst of chapters will be in addition! For those who do not have the Qi Dian APP, you can download it, search for "Naming Techniques of the Night," and you''ll be the first to see the new chapters tomorrow night! ... Thank you to cect668xw, Mo Mingqimiao, and Classmate Qingfeng for becoming our book''s new allies. Bosses are generous, and may the bosses make a fortune! Achievement for 100 clans: 98/100. This book should be the best performing one among all my books before its launch! Chapter 145 145. Knight Tomb "Teacher, why not help Li Yinuo and the others?" Qing Chen asked curiously. He didn''t think the teacher was cold-hearted; those people meant little to him. The young man just couldn''t understand, especially since Uncle Li Dong and Li Yinuo seemed quite close, close enough to let the latter know about the new inheritance of the Knight. "Li Yinuo has always been prudent since she was a child. Others might die, but she definitely won''t," Uncle Li Dong calmly replied, "So, there''s no need to help." "What if?" Qing Chen asked. As Uncle Li Dong walked with Qing Chen in the woods, he smiled and said, "You''ll understand later that Taboo Land 002 is terrifying to outsiders, but sacred to every Knight." "Sacred?" Qing Chen puzzled. "I told you before, no one with the surname Wang is allowed in Taboo Land 061. Do you know why?" Uncle Li Dong asked with a smile. "Why?" Qing Chen asked. "I happen to know who died in Taboo Land 061, so I also know his biggest enemy in life had the surname Wang," Uncle Li Dong''s smile grew: "That Transcendent''s wife was stolen by neighbor Lao Wang." "Thus, the rules of every Taboo Land are actually related to the Transcendent who died there. Their obsessions in life become the rules after their death," Qing Chen pondered. "Yes," Uncle Li Dong nodded, "There are also some bizarre Taboo Lands, like Taboo Land 071. Its area isn''t large, but only single persons are allowed to enter. Those with boyfriends, girlfriends, husbands, or wives who enter are sure to be attacked." "Let me guess," Qing Chen said, exasperated, "that Transcendent remained single all their life?" "Hahaha, I don''t know that, as the Taboo Land has been around for a long time, so long that no one knows who the Transcendent that died there is, nor can it be studied," Uncle Li Dong explained. "There''s another Taboo Land 093 that''s peculiar, initially rumored that only true loves could enter in pairs. At that time, many couples went there to prove their sincerity. If they came out alive, they believed in each other''s true love." "That fascinating?" Qing Chen exclaimed. "Of course not," Uncle Li Dong recalled those amusing times: "Later, everyone realized that the rule of Taboo Land 093 was made up by a despicable man to deceive girls. Even now, no one quite understands the rules there." "Despicable men are a curious species," Qing Chen lamented, incredulous that even the rules of Taboo Land could be used to deceive girls. It must be said; the rules of Taboo Land are like the laws of a world, ignoring appearances and deception, indeed very suitable for proving something. Expert, this despicable man is definitely an expert. "Teacher, it seems we''ve gone off topic," Qing Chen said, "weren''t we discussing why Taboo Land 002 is sacred to Knights?" "We said before, Taboo Lands form from the flesh, blood, and bones of the Transcendent after death, nurturing the land with supernatural powers. Which Transcendents do you think contribute to Taboo Land 002? If one rule corresponds to one deceased Transcendent, why are there so many rules here?" Uncle Li Dong asked Qing Chen. Qing Chen didn''t speak. "Because this is where many Knights are buried," Uncle Li Dong patted Qing Chen''s shoulder, "It first appeared because a Knight was buried here." Continue your journey on empire Thus, Taboo Land 002 is both the starting place of a Knight''s dream and the end of many Knights'' lives. Uncle Li Dong continued, "Before dying, our predecessors reminisced about their lives, all wishing to be buried in a place most important and meaningful to them. Everyone thought this place was most suitable. Later, as Taboo Land 002 took shape, more Knights felt it was a good burial site, at least not disturbed by tomb robbers, ensuring that those robbers have no return." Qing Chen was stunned; he had guessed some reasons behind the establishment of Taboo Land 002, but he didn''t expect that knights were buried throughout the entire area. That''s why it was so expansive, with so many rules. To outsiders, this was the most dangerous place, but for the knights still alive, it was the tomb of their ancestors. Uncle Li Dong said, "Xiao Chen, my teacher''s teacher is buried here, so I don''t want to tell outsiders what rules exist here, because he disliked being disturbed. One day I might also come here, and by then, you also need to keep the secrets for me." Qing Chen felt melancholy momentarily, but then he saw Uncle Li Dong laughing, "Don''t worry, people like your teacher aren''t going to die anytime soon. In many short stories, people who arrange their affairs often die right after, but your teacher is different; many want to kill me, but few can." At that moment, Uncle Li Dong suddenly crouched down. Qing Chen watched as he reached out to touch a Mimosa Plant at his foot, only to see that at the moment his fingers touched the Mimosa Plant, its leaves curled up. He was puzzled, "Teacher, what are you doing?" The young man always felt that for someone like his teacher to squat down idly playing with a Mimosa Plant implied he was very leisurely. Uncle Li Dong stood up and said to Qing Chen, "You try touching it." Qing Chen didn''t understand, but he still crouched down, only to find that before his hand could get close, the originally curled delicate leaves suddenly straightened like blades. Uncle Li Dong plucked a hair from Qing Chen''s head and lightly swept it over the Mimosa Plant''s leaves, only to see the hair cleanly split in two. "Why didn''t you pluck your own hair?" Qing Chen widened his eyes. Uncle Li Dong said earnestly, "I''m old, and it''s not easy for me to grow hair." "Then why is it safe when you touch it, but not when I do?" Qing Chen didn''t understand. "It''s not just touching it," Uncle Li Dong continued, "any other body part would do the same if it got too close, so part of the danger in Taboo Land comes from the rules, and the other part comes from the plants and animals here becoming bizarre." Uncle Li Dong went on, "Taking you through Taboo Land is also to teach you a lot. Taboo Land has many rules, and if you want to confirm whether you know all the rules of Taboo Land, then find a Mimosa Plant." Qing Chen was surprised, "So, if I know all the rules, it will curl up, and if I don''t, it turns into a blade?" "Yes," Uncle Li Dong nodded. So, Uncle Li Dong knew all the rules in Taboo Land 002. Qing Chen recalled, "Mimosa Plant is a dispersed, subshrub-like herbaceous plant that can grow up to 1 meter, but it mostly grows in the subtropics of the south; it might be hard to find in the northern Taboo Lands." Uncle Li Dong shook his head, "No, now at the edge of all Taboo Lands, you can find Mimosa Plants. At least one, or even a cluster." This thing was like a safety rope within Taboo Land; Uncle Li Dong was continuously searching for a Mimosa Plant. He was checking whether any new rules had emerged here after eight years. Uncle Li Dong earnestly said to Qing Chen, "Few people know the secrets of the Mimosa Plant." Chapter 146 Rule 146,002 of Taboo Land "I always feel like you''re coming back home when you come to Taboo Land 002," Qing Chen asked, "but do you also need to search for the Mimosa Plant to check if any rules have been added?" Uncle Li Dong explained, "Taboo Land didn''t just appear immediately after a Transcendent died. Decades ago, a Senior Knight was buried here, and his rules haven''t appeared yet." "What would his rules be if they were to appear?" Qing Chen asked, "Are you familiar with him?" Uncle Li Dong thought for a moment, "His rule might be that no one named Uncle Li Dong or Chen Jiazhang can enter..." Qing Chen: "???" "That senior uncle was often harassed by me in his lifetime," Uncle Li Dong said with a hint of reminiscence, "When we were young, he always followed behind me and my senior brother to clean up our messes. My brother and I were quite mischievous back then, and it really troubled him." Explore new worlds at empire "That still doesn''t justify banning you and your senior brother from entering," Qing Chen sighed, "Can you give me a serious answer, please?" "These rules are hard to predict," Uncle Li Dong shook his head, "Perhaps only he himself knows what he disliked the most. Honestly, after Taboo Land 002 was formed, many of its rules have left us younger generations both crying and laughing. Compared to other Taboo Lands, this place is too down to earth." "So, teacher, what exactly are the rules of Taboo Land 002... wait, you can''t actually tell me its rules, can you?" Qing Chen asked. Uncle Li Dong looked at Qing Chen seriously, "I need you to swear not to tell anyone else about the rules of Taboo Land 002 and to keep it secret." Qing Chen was startled, noticing how incredibly serious his teacher was. Unprecedentedly serious. "Teacher, I swear not to reveal the rules here to anyone and to keep them secret," Qing Chen also spoke seriously, "But teacher, telling me the rules inside Taboo Land wouldn''t cause any problems, would it?" Uncle Li Dong shook his head, "No." "Why?" Qing Chen exclaimed. "This involves another general rule of Taboo Land that many people still don''t know about," Uncle Li Dong smiled mysteriously, "Don''t worry, you''ll understand in a few days. Let''s talk about the rules of Taboo Land 002 for now." "First, no relieving yourself indiscriminately." Qing Chen: "..." "Second, no swearing." Qing Chen: "..." "Third, no spitting anywhere." Suddenly, Qing Chen held his forehead, "Wait, teacher, give me a moment to catch my breath." Uncle Li Dong looked at his student with a bemused expression, seemingly anticipating the young man''s reaction. The young man looked at his teacher, puzzled, "Does Taboo Land 002 have such upright principles?!" Qing Chen even felt as if he was attending a "civilization lecture" class in the Outer World, being a disciplined and civilized good youth. "Rather than saying Taboo Land 002 has upright principles, it''s more accurate to say that those Senior Knights had upright principles," Uncle Li Dong chuckled. "More like they had a cleanness obsession," Qing Chen weakly commented... "Fourth, you can''t pick flowers in the Taboo Land." "Fifth, no drone usage allowed." "Sixth, no firearms allowed." "Seventh, no killing." Qing Chen raised his hand, "Hey? No killing, then why did you bring me here?" Uncle Li Dong glanced at him, "Not directly." That is, only using rules. "Eighth, no jumping rope." "Wait a minute," Qing Chen stopped his teacher again, "Seriously, the eighth rule is no jumping rope? What kind of rule is that, and why is that even a thing?" Uncle Li Dong continued, "Ninth, you cannot say beef tastes bad." "Tenth, you can''t sing along when others are singing." Qing Chen questioned, "Was this Senior Knight a Mic Hog?" "No," Uncle Li Dong shook his head, "He was actually a very introverted person. Every time he mustered up the courage to sing, no matter what song, his senior brother would sing along and even join in, which annoyed him." "Eleventh, you can''t lose at rock-paper-scissors." "Twelfth, you must be punctual." "Rule Thirteen, do not steal bird eggs." "Rule Fourteen..." At this moment, Qing Chen was truly bewilderedthe rules of Taboo Land No. 002 were indeed numerous, but they differed from what he had expected. Typically, Taboo Lands would require you to spill 1 liter of blood upon entering or sacrifice a teammate each day. How had it become so... eccentric at the Knight Organization''s home ground? However, Uncle Li Dong suddenly looked at Qing Chen and smiled, "You probably think these rules are a joke, right? But actually, these rules have killed the most people. Taboo Land No. 002 is also one of the deadliest Taboo Lands recognized." Qing Chen suddenly fell into deep contemplation. Indeed, people cannot avoid eating, drinking, and relieving themselves. According to the rules of the Taboo Land, even a drop of urine on the ground would lead to being hunted down by the entire Taboo Land. The methods by which a Taboo Land could kill were far too numerous. Not just through physiological needs, but also regulations like prohibiting swearingsomething quite normal to blurt out in a rush, but doing so here could lead to death. Being unable to use firearms means that humans can''t use conventional weapons to confront wild beasts. Uncle Li Dong looked at Qing Chen and said, "Once you know the rules of a Taboo Land, killing becomes very easy." "How do you kill?" "No rush, let me familiarize you with the environment for a couple of days. Once you have most of the terrain memorized, I''ll demonstrate for you," Uncle Li Dong said. However, Qing Chen suddenly said, "Teacher, in two days, I want to try it on my own first." "Hmm?" Uncle Li Dong raised his eyebrows, "Your teacher agreed to help you; you don''t need to be polite with me." "It''s not about being polite with the teacher. I suddenly have some ideas," Qing Chen thought for a moment and said, "When I can''t handle it myself, then I''ll ask the teacher to take action." After speaking, the young man walked forward, and Uncle Li Dong, looking towards the woods, lamented, "Suddenly, it feels really uninteresting being this kind of teacher. But you know what? I actually like this stubborn streak in him." As they walked, Qing Chen suddenly turned back and asked, "Teacher, what''s the most popular song in the Inner World?" Uncle Li Dong thought for a moment: "Oh, I just remembered something else I need to settle with you. I''ve seen the scores you gave me. They started off fine with classical music scores, but later you began fooling me with nursery rhymes." Qing Chen was taken aback, "How did teacher know I gave nursery rhyme scores..." Uncle Li Dong said expressionlessly, "Because those nursery rhymes also exist in the Inner World, carried over from a long time ago, just like farewells." "Hahahaha, how awkward." ... Countdown 66:00:00. Another early morning, two days later. In the deep parts of Taboo Land, at the frontier between the edge and the hinterland. A well-trained team moved slowly, the more than a hundred people stepping on the soft, decaying leaves making only faint sounds. They had turned off all communication channels because once inside the Taboo Land, maintaining communication silence was necessary. To avoid misspeaking. They wore black operational suits and sturdy combat boots, and each had the tiger head insignia of the Federal Second Group Army on their shoulders, each looking fiercely formidable. At the very front, four Mechanical Hunting Dogs led, while someone in the back monitored the scanning information relayed by the dogs with a display. In the woods, someone at the front of the battle line suddenly stopped walking. It only took an instant for everyone to come to a neat halt. The atmosphere was tense. At this time, an army officer in his early thirties at the front of the line took a deep look at the tree line ahead, realizing that he could no longer proceed; stepping further would mean entering the hinterland of the Taboo Land. He said to the soldiers behind him, "Tell Commander Qing Huai to come here." ''Hinterland'' and ''edge,'' usually vague terms. However, for the Taboo Land, this dividing line suddenly became clear. Because looking ahead meant encountering fauna and flora that you barely recognized, as if entering another bizarre world. At that moment, a stern-faced young man came from the rear of the group. The youngster wore a black beret, his face gaunt and sharply contoured, appearing almost like a perfectly proportioned sculpture. Chapter 147 Rule 147: Make use of rules ``` He looked at the woods a few meters away, pointing at a pile of strange mushrooms and asked the officer in his thirties, "Cao Wei, my brother, what is that?" There lay an unidentifiable animal carcass, which was covered with brightly colored mushrooms. Cao Wei said to the young man who approached, "Commander Qing Huai, that is the corpse of a ring-tailed monkey, and those mushrooms growing on its body are Mushroom Bud Bacteria. Once matured, the Mushroom Bud Bacteria will explode, scattering spores that enter the animal''s skin with the force of the blast, eventually leeching off the host''s body to nourish the growth of new Mushroom Bud Bacteria." Because the force of the explosion isn''t very powerful, the injured animals don''t die immediately. Therefore, they continue living with those spores attached, until the spores completely drain the nutrients from their bodies. And the dangers of this Contraindications hinterland are not just limited to a few Mushroom Bud Bacteria and their spores. Cao Wei said, "Commander Qing Huai, let''s begin." As he spoke, Qing Huai gestured to the people behind him. A few soldiers emotionlessly escorted several ragged wildland people forward, including elderly, middle-aged, and a little girl. Qing Huai took out a dagger from his waist, placed it at the little girl''s Achilles tendon, and said calmly to the other wildland people, "Begin, just as we''ve previously agreed upon." The little girl had been crying all along, shouting for her grandparents and parents not to listen to this devil. Yet the wildland people acted as if they hadn''t heard her and stared at the hinterland of the Taboo Land with ashen faces. The little girl''s grandfather walked into the hinterland, turned his back after untying his pants, and urinated on the ground. The next second, he began to tremble all over; countless ants suddenly emerged from the ground below, swarming over him to gnaw at his living flesh. Qing Huai then turned his gaze to the elderly woman and the middle-aged man next to him, signaling them to proceed. The middle-aged man whispered, "Mom, do it, for the sake of Nan Nan." After that, the elderly lady, trembling, picked up a handgun and walked into the hinterland, firing a shot at the ground. In an instant, the ants that had been feasting on the little girl''s grandfather turned in unison and rushed toward the old lady. The middle-aged man, holding his wife''s hand, walked over trembling, and after exchanging a look, they embraced each other tightly. The woman cursed, and then was devoured by the ants. The man watched in agony as his wife screamed and died, then spat on the ground. He too was soon enveloped by the swarm of ants. In just five or six minutes, nothing but skeletons remained of everyone. Qing Huai, with a smile, turned to the little girl, "I promised your family that if they did as I said, I''d let you go. Now, be on your way." With that, he released his grip. The little girl wailed uncontrollably but didn''t run away; instead, she threw herself onto the pile of skeletons, calling out for her relatives. The ants had not yet fully dispersed, and sensing the presence of their prey, they once again climbed onto the little girl''s body. The soldiers lined up in the back watched everything indifferently, their gazes utterly unfazed. Qing Huai said to Cao Wei, "Cao Wei, my brother, the rules we''ve gathered are indeed true." No use of firearms, no profanity, no spitting anywhere, no relieving oneself just anywhere. The Federal Soldiers captured a family from the wildlands simply to verify the authenticity of the rules they had learned. Cao Wei glanced towards the depths of the hinterland and suggested, "Commander Qing Huai, if we need to continue moving forward, I suggest we take a moment to rest." Qing Huai nodded slowly, "Rest in place," he said. He paused, then added, "Cao Wei, my brother, you''ve worked hard." "Not at all, Commander, just doing my duty," Cao Wei replied before heading towards the rear of the group. As an officer of the Federal Second Group Army and a rather prominent name, Cao Wei earned his C-Class rank at a young age. In every inter-army competition, Cao Wei was the valedictorian; in practical combat exercises, he was among the best. Having participated in 17 wildland suppressions, he had enough military decorations to cover a chest. His rank steadily rose to that of a major, a clear trajectory to the top. However, two years ago, Cao Wei suddenly got drunk and caused a disturbance during an exercise, which led to military discipline and a demotion, assigning him as an aide-de-camp in a platoon. At that time, many were puzzled, wondering why such an outstanding Cao Wei would commit such a blunder when his future seemed so bright? And even with Cao Wei being a direct descendant of the Qing''s Family''s fourth branch, having significant power within the Federal Second Group Army, why did no one protect him? Only two weeks later, with Qing Huai''s graduation from Tinder Military Academy and his assignment as the chief officer of the field platoon where Cao Wei served, did everyone understand that it had all been preparation for Qing Huai. It turned out that all the soldiers in this field platoon were members of the Qing''s Family direct lineage, and had been manoeuvred into the platoon by various means from the Qing''s Family. Cao Wei and the other soldiers bore no resentment. They were well aware of one point: Qing Huai''s branch was one of the most influential factions within the Qing''s Family, and Qing Huai was the one with the most potential within that branch. Although the conditions were tough at the moment and there was criticism from the outside world, as long as they survived the struggle of the ''Shadow'', their prospects were just around the corner. One day, if Qing Huai became the Qing Clan House Master, these temporary losses would become insignificant. Besides, Qing Huai at least addressed him as ''Cao Wei, my brother.'' The truly elite scions of the conglomerates were not as arrogant and difficult to get along with as one might imagine. At this moment. Over a hundred soldiers stood silently, receiving Cao Wei''s order, they each took out a sealed bag from their packs and proceeded to relieve themselves right where they stood. They maintained a serious demeanor, controlling the situation with steady, forceful arms, to prevent any urine from splashing outside the sealed bags. ``` Minutes later, everyone carefully tied up the two seals of the sealed bags and, after collective gathering by each combat team, buried them all together in the woods. During the process, no one spoke, no one conversed. When conveying orders, Cao Wei spoke extremely slowly, they had to learn to think first, then speak. Before saying each phrase, they needed to consider whether they might say something wrong. Explore more adventures at empire These people, who carried no firearms and had specially prepared sealed bags, clearly understood certain unspoken rules before entering the Taboo Land. However, just as the burying was completed, a sudden rustling erupted from deep within the Taboo Land, as if a predator was quietly approaching. Everyone looked towards the direction of the sound, but they discovered nothing. "Battle readiness," Cao Wei said in a cold voice. No sooner had his words faded than the face of a soldier turned purple, and he struggled to utter, "Save me." The other soldiers looked at him but could not understand what had happened. The stricken soldier slowly collapsed to the ground, his eyes reddened as though soaked in blood. No one rashly approached, only Cao Wei slowly walked over to him and gently pried open the soldier''s mouth with a dagger, revealing that the inside of his mouth and his tongue had all ulcerated. He then cut open the soldier''s trouser leg. He saw that the soldier''s leg had turned black, and the wound was oozing a dense, fleshly, blurred fluid, as if corroded by sulfuric acid. Cao Wei observed attentively, "This is..." Before he could finish, another soldier not far away collapsed to the ground with the same symptoms, and one after another, in just a few seconds, more than ten soldiers were struck down! Other soldiers wanted to save their comrades, but their friends were dying too quickly for them to do anything in time. Some looked at the screens in their hands, which showed thermal imaging scans from the mecha-dog brains they carried, but strangely enough, the scans detected no abnormalities. At that moment. The rhythm of death paused briefly. "Count the numbers!" Cao Wei demanded angrily. "Reporting to the commander, the death toll is 24... Commander, the entire sixth row has perished!" A squad consisted of 8 people, a row had three squads, making a total of 24 people. "This is bad," Cao Wei suddenly looked up at Qing Huai. Qing Huai said in a cold voice, "Someone is using the rules to silently assassinate us. Others have entered Taboo Land 002!" With that, Qing Huai took the lead in running towards the direction from which they had come, his movements extremely swift. Clenching his teeth, Cao Wei said to the still-living field soldiers, "Follow in tactical formation, prepare for battle." They had come to realize what was happening. If it were monsters or plants in the forest attacking, their comrades wouldn''t have died so neatly, exactly an entire row gone. But which rule had the enemy exploited?! Under Qing Huai''s lead, the field unit marched back the way they came at full speed. Along the way, soldiers kept dying as if some unstoppable force loomed over them, like the arrival of the Grim Reaper. After a few kilometers, Qing Huai suddenly stopped in his tracks. He looked silently at the excavation pits in front of him, not saying a word. In those unearthed pits were individually sliced open sealed bags. Someone had forcibly made them break the "not to urinate or defecate everywhere" rule! Before this, who could have imagined that someone would use such a despicable tactic? Nobody had thought previously that the Taboo Land would attribute the breach to the original owner of the urine once the sealed bags they buried were cut open by others! The enemy not only knew the rule against relieving oneself anywhere but also understood it much more profoundly than they did. But this was just too vicious! "The enemy has not gone far; they left only after seeing us coming," Qing Huai analyzed calmly, because there was one pit that had only been half excavated. At that moment. "Who?!" Cao Wei suddenly looked further into the woods. In the distance, there was a figure silently observing them, making a throat-cutting gesture. Then, he vanished swiftly into the darkness. ... Going live at midnight! Just a few more hours left! There will be a speech at 10 p.m., it''s optional to readjust some thoughts and emotions about writing this book, you can skip it if you don''t like such content. Then, the explosion at midnight! For those not using the QiDian APP, you can download it and search for "The Naming Technique of the Night," where you can see the new chapters first thing tomorrow night! (Translation for friends with the means: please support the original version~) ... Thank you to Yizhe SAMA, Wind Crashing through Leniency, Venus''s Love, Daxing Northwest, A Yuan Yuan Yuan, and Feather Guest for becoming the new allies of this book, achieving a hundred allies milestone for the new book! May the bosses be generous, and may the bosses make a fortune! Chapter 148 Listing Testimonial Climb a mountain, watch a snowfall, chase a dream. ... An established author once told me. Every work of an author is actually a reflection of the life they once found lacking. Every author who desires to share must open every pore, breathe their own life, only then can they move the audience. Thus, such authors are destined to suffer. In this book, there are my dreams, and there are my life experiences. There is the pain etched deep in my bones from my growing years. There are also the dreams I''ve always had. If playing the big game was about fulfilling my own dreams, then now is like Dream Fulfillment 2.0. While writing the first three chapters, when I wrote "If you only had two more hours left in your life, what would you do?" I was actually pondering this question myself. It''s not that I was saying I was going to die, but rather I was thinking about how to face life and my own works. While writing The Naming Techniques of the Night, I revised the content over and over in an unprecedented manner, what you see has been modified at least twice. To make my content a bit better, my sentences more fluent, and the imagery more resonant. I''ve been careless for thirty years, but this time I pursued perfection like never before. Although I know my writing is mediocre, and even with all this effort, the writing in The Naming Techniques of the Night could only be considered passable. But I enjoyed writing this book immensely. Watching Qing Chen face the world calmly gives me immense satisfaction, I too wish I had a teacher like Uncle Li Dong, I too have a life I want to restart. But you and I both know that''s impossible. So, if this book truly has a theme, it would be to invite you all to dream with me. ... Here, allow me to share a passage I once wrote, it aligns perfectly with my current mood. In my senior year of high school, I worked especially hard. Sleeping at midnight while the dormitory lights went out at 9:40, I''d do math problems by flashlight, handling issues from five years of exams and three years of simulations. Awaken at 4:30 a.m., standing under the school''s street lamp memorizing history and political science. I read English aloud and wrote essays that I believed were brilliantly composed. I worked as if injected with a stimulant, fighting to get into a good university. But a year later, I only scored 535, barely making it to a second-tier university, and I couldn''t even understand the last two major problems on the math paper. From then on, I knew I was just an ordinary person. Realizing this was quite a blow to me. The night before the college entrance exam, I was alone in the classroom, wiping the blackboard and loudly singing the Hero Song. Maybe I''ll never feel that unrestrained ever again. After starting to write The Naming Techniques of the Night, my schedule completely flipped; I wrote through the night and slept during the day if at all. Every day working on 6,000 words of content, revising it over and over again. Constantly refining, no matter how tired, I would put on headphones to get into the feeling, revising the chapters until I was satisfied. Even though that satisfaction was only by my own standards. Today I told my wife, it''s only been a month, but I feel like I can barely keep up. However, after waking up from a good sleep, I was as spirited as ever, sitting in front of the computer reviewing yesterday''s work, planning for the future. I know my readership isn''t as high as many authors, and I''m aware my writing is barely passable. The issue is when you realize you are just an ordinary person. But what I want to say is, even if you realize you''re just an ordinary person, don''t give up. If time could go back to the summer of 2007. I would still sleep only four and a half hours per night. I would still stand under the streetlamp memorizing politics and history. If time could go back to 2015, I would still turn on the computer, typing out my own story. Before the college entrance exam, I would wipe the blackboard while singing a song. Then step into the life that belongs solely to me. I may be destined for ordinariness, but I do not care. ... After Survive, Please Mr. Overlord, before this. Many said Zouzi was merely a comedic author, that Zouzi''s previous book was a flop, that Zouzi would soon fade into obscurity. However, everything I have put into this book has already paid off. Before listing, Alliance Members broke a record in our platform''s history just two days ago. Perhaps, I might even break another record soon. Years have passed, yet here I stand, earnestly telling my stories; I wonder if those who slandered and cursed me have vanished in the long river of time. For me, I only wish to prove again and again, that I am a good storyteller, a dedicated author, one who does not skimp on effort. I do not know how much longer I can write, or how many more stories I have in me, but I hope that each step I take is forward. Whether the story is good or not, I can''t judge, but I can affirm that I truly gave it my all. It''s still the same phrase, ''stay true to our first aspirations, time will give me the answer.'' ... Tonight, as it goes on sale, the time has come to assess an author''s achievements. I hope all who enjoy this story can contribute a bit of their subscription power. Here, I thank Cheng Xiao, Liu Fei, Sea Soul Clothing, Shen Yin, and ASK for criticizing the content during the new book''s early days, vastly aiding the process. I also thank Sisi, Lulu, Qing Bao, Mo Luo Xin, Nan Gengchen, Huan Tuo, Da Bing, Mo Cheng Kong, Yue Er, Li Ren, Qing Guan and all the operation officers and managers for their help. I thank the Alliance Hierarch for their staunch support, as well as every reader''s donations, recommendation votes, and monthly tickets. Thanks to new readers for viewing. Thanks to longtime readers for never leaving. Thanks. Thanks again. ... Forever young. Forever sincere. Always young, always eager to embark on new journeys. I hope this time, everyone can accompany me through this journey. Climb a mountain, watch a snowfall, chase a dream. Chapter 149 148, not shackles "Strange, making a throat-slitting gesture, such a provocative act, doesn''t fit with your cautious personality. Do you have a purpose?" In the woods, Qing Chen and Uncle Li Dong met up, the latter asked with some curiosity. Qing Chen explained, "I was worried they would run off. In case their hatred wasn''t enough and they didn''t come after me, then my plan might not work well." "Ah," Uncle Li Dong nodded, "Now that makes sense." When the mentor and student walked side by side, the atmosphere suddenly became much more relaxed, as if this place was not Taboo Land, but an ordinary forest. "By the way, Master," Qing Chen asked, "have those wilderness people come in?" "Only those from Fire Pit have come in. Judging by their current route, they are heading straight for the heart of Taboo Land. I always felt their sudden appearance near the Central Plains was likely aimed at Qing Huai," Uncle Li Dong said. "Aimed at Qing Huai?" Qing Chen was puzzled. "Of course, in the Shadow conflict, it''s not just you who wants to kill him," Uncle Li Dong explained, "Perhaps someone from the Qing''s Family traded interests with Fire Pit to have them help eliminate Qing Huai. That would actually be normal; just you and Qing Huai fighting back and forth would hardly look like a Shadow conflict." "The Federation has contacts with the wilderness people too?" Qing Chen didn''t understand. "Of course there''s contact. As long as there are interests driving it, anything strange could happen," Uncle Li Dong explained. Qing Chen looked at Uncle Li Dong and asked, "What did that Fire Pit elder mean by ancestral rewards? From his tone, it sounded like there were substantial benefits. How do these people get ancestral rewards?" Uncle Li Dong glanced at Qing Chen, "What ancestors reward them with is their ancestors'' business. What you can do is, if he thinks about killing you for a reward later, you send him to meet his ancestors." Qing Chen: "..." At this time, Uncle Li Dong said, "Remember though, Xiao Chen, just like the Federation, there are good and bad people everywhere. Or say, the bad blood between the wilderness and the Federation has been long-standing, in fact, you have long lost the ability to tell who''s right and who''s wrong. For instance, the autumn hunt involves hunting wilderness people, to them these corporation heirs are no different from demons." Qing Chen became thoughtful. Then, Uncle Li Dong took out a sealed bag, "Handle it yourself, but remember, once you''ve opened this sealed bag, you also need to prevent your bag from being found." "Uh-huh," Qing Chen went off to deal with the physiological matter. While he was carrying the sealed bag back, planning to think about where to bury it, his gaze suddenly shifted to his teacher. Uncle Li Dong immediately grimaced, "Get away from me, I''m not going to take care of that for you." Qing Chen earnestly said, "But there''s nowhere safer to put the sealed bag than with you, Teacher. A teacher for a day is a father for life. In my heart, I regard you as my father, and you said you regard me as your son, so where in this world would a father despise his son?" "You make a good point," Uncle Li Dong glared, "Can I take back what I said about regarding you as a son now?" "It''s probably too late," Qing Chen said. Uncle Li Dong sighed and pointed at the crown of a large tree, "Throw it up there." Qing Chen didn''t understand but did as told. To his surprise, after the sealed bag flew into the sky, a furry little paw reached out from the tree canopy and caught the sealed bag. Then the tree canopy shook, and the furry little animal used the cover of the tree to hide its shape, speeding toward the heart of Taboo Land, and Qing Chen could just make out its large snow-white tail. Qing Chen was curious, "Teacher, what animal is that?" "You''ll find out later," Uncle Li Dong said. The young man glanced oddly at his teacher and suddenly realized that this teacher not only had absolute rule exemptions in Taboo Land 002, but also seemed to have many strange friends. Is this the home field of a Knight? "That''s right," Uncle Li Dong said, "you need to be careful of that Cao Wei, the one close to Qing Huai." "Oh?" Qing Chen was puzzled. His teacher had evidently investigated all the details before coming to kill, even knowing the name Cao Wei. "I''ve looked at Cao Wei''s information, and he''s much harder to deal with than Qing Huai, a capable and valiant hand in warfare," Uncle Li Dong explained, "I feel that lad is hiding his clumsiness, waiting for you to make a mistake." "Hmm, thank you, Teacher, for the reminder," Qing Chen glanced at Uncle Li Dong, "Shall I go and cause some more trouble then?" "Go on, go on," Uncle Li Dong waved his hand. Watching Qing Chen''s retreating figure, he suddenly remembered a phraseto be a parent or child is but to watch their backs as they walk away into the distance. Am I a qualified master? This was Uncle Li Dong''s first time as a master, so he was always a bit worried that he wasn''t doing a good job. He hesitated for a moment but finally decided to indulge once: "How about I just kill them for you directly, as a gift from your teacher?" However, just at that moment, Qing Chen suddenly turned around and looked back at Uncle Li Dong, saying, "Teacher." "Hmm?" Uncle Li Dong was taken aback. "This time I say I''ll try on my own not because of stubbornness," Qing Chen said calmly, "Children who are always held while walking will grow slower than others. I know, Teacher, that you are about to embark on a very dangerous mission. You know it''s perilous, so you introduced me to Li Yinuo, letting me know who to turn to if I encounter trouble in the future. You also took me to kill Qing Huai, helping me remove an obstacle from my path to power. And then you''ve gone to great lengths to conceal my identity, fearing it would bring me harm." "I was thinking, your plans must take some time to prepare; if I can grow fast enough, maybe I''ll be able to help you when the time comes." "In your eyes, this master-apprentice relationship might be a shackle for me, but I''ve never seen it that way," Qing Chen said. The youth stood in the dim woods. Although he had not known Uncle Li Dong for long and they were not related by blood, he knew who truly had his best interests at heart. Uncle Li Dong stood still, the young man''s words echoing in his mind: If I can grow fast enough, maybe I''ll be able to help you when the time comes. No wonder the youth, even after returning to the Outer World, trained against the clock, as if racing against time. Uncle Li Dong smiled and waved, "What are you talking about, silly? Hurry on then." "Okay," Qing Chen walked into the woods. ... In the woods, Cao Wei was personally cutting open the clothing of a dead soldier, leaving nothing behind. As he sliced open the soldier''s shirt, a strange Six-winged insect suddenly flew out from the torn garment. With quick reflexes, Cao Wei threw his dagger. With a clink, the Six-winged insect, the size of an index finger, was pinned to the ground. Normally, those Six-winged insects did not attack large organisms. Their bodily venom was designed to hunt other insects. It was only when the rules of the Taboo Land were violated that they would attack. Cao Wei pulled out the dagger from the ground and coldly said, "Stop the nonsense about supernatural beings in private. It''s the Six-winged insect that killed them, not some demons or ghosts." The soldiers'' expressions eased slightly at this. Cao Wei glanced at Commander Qing Huai: "Commander Qing Huai, shall I take two combat squads to pursue him?" "No need to pursue," Commander Qing Huai shook his head calmly, "our urgent task now is to secure our previously discarded seal bags properly, and tell the soldiers to dig out all the bags and carry them in their packs. Blind pursuit would only allow the enemy to lead us away from our post, knowing that they just have to find our burial pits to commit murder, while we are merely being led by the nose." ... Chapter One, seeking monthly ticket support. Chapter 150 149, Mimosa Plant ``` Commander Qing Huai analyzed, "Our first soldier died 19 minutes ago. During this time, the enemy hasn''t even managed to dig open the third pit, which indicates that their strength or stamina is not formidable." "Moreover, this method is probably a spur-of-the-moment decision for them. Otherwise, after finding the sealed pits, they should have stealthily dug up all the pits first, then quickly slit all the sealed bags. If that were the case, we would have all been killed by the rules within a minute without any clue." "Maybe the enemy was also unsure whether this method would work, just a trial," concluded Commander Qing Huai. Cao Wei glanced at the scion of the financial group and said, "The commander''s analysis is very insightful." "We can''t afford to waste any more time, save any further analysis for later," Commander Qing Huai said. "Brother Cao Wei, take three combat squads back to our original burial site, dig out all the sealed bags, and then, I need you to arrange a Thunder Zone somewhere." Before long, Cao Wei returned with his men, patting his backpack: "Commander Qing Huai, all your sealed bags are in my pack, I''m personally taking care of them." However, Commander Qing Huai shook his head and took the sealed bags out of the other''s backpack, "Brother Cao Wei, how could I let you do something like carrying urine bags? I regard you as an elder brother; this is not acceptable." Having said that, he stuffed two sealed bags into his own backpack. Cao Wei''s face showed a touched expression: "Commander, you''re too kind." But Commander Qing Huai asked, "Brother Cao Wei, what''s your analysis of this person?" "Their level might not be very high, but they should be more familiar with the rules here than we are," Cao Wei pondered and said. "Someone who knows the rules here so well, could they be a Knight? No, that doesn''t make sense. If they were a Knight, being C-Class and you being D-Class, they could kill us without even using the rules." "It''s hard to say," Commander Qing Huai thought for a moment. "At least we shouldn''t dismiss the conjecture for now. As far as I know... it''s also possible that a Knight wouldn''t want to make a move directly." Commander Qing Huai wanted to mention the rule of Taboo Land that one must not kill another with one''s own hands, but he restrained himself. Cao Wei glanced at Commander Qing Huai: "Could this person be another competitor from within Qing''s Family, hired to disrupt your mission? Who do you think could be behind it?" "Every candidate in the Shadow struggle might wish to kill me," Commander Qing Huai said. "The only one who can be ruled out is that waste locked up in Prison No. 18. Brother Cao Wei, the Shadow struggle is indeed that cruel." At this moment, the field company, which had arrived with 152 elite soldiers, now had only 104 remaining. The 48 soldiers who had died didn''t even get a chance to fight back. That''s the terror of the Taboo Land rules; if you master the rules, even ants can trap and kill an elephant. Just then, a soldier controlling a mechanical hunting dog with holographic glasses reported, "Commander, a suspicious heat source was detected at 3 o''clock direction, quietly approaching." Commander Qing Huai calmly inquired, "Are there any other suspicious heat sources detected?" "Reporting to the commander, no," the soldier replied. Commander Qing Huai looked toward Cao Wei: "Kill him, then we''ll continue to move forward." Cao Wei said, "Please make a careful decision, we still have time to withdraw." Commander Qing Huai shook his head: "As far as I know, others from different factions looking to disrupt my mission are already en route. If we withdraw now, there''s no possibility of completing the mission within the three-month deadline." Commander Qing Huai''s guess was not wrong; teams specifically sent to kill him in Fire Pit had already entered the Taboo Land. In fact, they had anticipated interference before coming, as it was customary in the Shadow struggle. They just didn''t expect the opponents to act so quickly. There''s no turning back in the Shadow struggle; once you embark on it, you put your life on the line, as the position of the Shadow to be gained is what matters most. The soldiers of the field company sprang into action, and the four mechanical hunting dogs, like unleashed hounds, bolted into the forest, tightly locking on to the earlier heat source! However, as soon as they began to move, that heat source started fleeing into the distance. And it was incredibly fast. ... Qing Chen was darting through the forest, unlike the others, his every step was not aimless. The paths he took were the ones he had already traversed. Ordinary people trekking through the mountains have to be careful not to trip over branches under their feet, wary of stones hidden under decayed leaves, mindful of the uneven ground. Consequently, ordinary people can''t go all out when traversing mountain terrain. But Qing Chen was different. As long as it was a path he had walked, it was etched in his mind. Every leaf on the ground, every stone underfoot, felt as if he had grown up here, this was his home. As if he could walk with his eyes closed. He walked effortlessly. Qing Chen actually liked this place a lot, despite the dimness of the woods. For some reason, he always felt there were kind eyes upon him. No malice, just quietly watching, even with a hint of amusement. Watching him exploit the rules, watching him defeat his enemies. It was as if Uncle Li Dong, the teacher, had brought him here not just to kill Qing Huai and activate the genetic lock, but also to let the predecessors see the successor of a Knight. How vicious and intelligent he was. What no one knew was that the beasts and insects of this battlefield had quietly left, leaving the stage to the young man. As if it had been prepared just for him. The enemies behind him were getting closer, the tracking efficiency of the four Mechanical Hunting Dogs was too high, and the mechanical legs of the soldiers of the Field Army Unit were too fast and strong. Despite Qing Chen''s effortless stride, he couldn''t bridge the vast gap in power. He was not yet a true Knight. Gradually, Qing Chen could hear the panting of the enemies just a few dozen meters behind him. But he didn''t look back because he had his own plan. Everything was still under his control. Just as the enemies were about to close in on Qing Chen, the young man suddenly sped up. 200 meters. 100 meters. 50 meters. 10 meters. Qing Chen passed through a thicket. The next moment. Cao Wei and Commander Qing Huai both felt something was wrong at the same time. What was the boy''s purpose in painstakingly making his way here? "Stop..." Cao Wei couldn''t finish his sentence. The dozens of soldiers who had been in pursuit had already plunged into the thicket. In an instant, they felt their bodies lift into the air. As they somersaulted, the soldiers could see their lower halves remaining on the ground, while blood dripped from the leaves of the thicket. In the blink of an eye, the four Mechanical Hunting Dogs, along with the bodies of 8 soldiers, were torn apart as they passed through the thicket... Instantly shattered. More than twenty additional pursuing soldiers, unable to halt their momentum, crashed and stumbled into the thicket one after another, meeting the same fate. Cao Wei narrowed his eyes at the inconspicuous thicket in front of him. It was just some flourishing Mimosa Plants. How could they have suddenly become such a sharp murder weapon?! He looked up ahead and was taken aback to find that the young man had already stopped and was coldly watching him, making the throat-slitting gesture again. At this moment, Cao Wei was certain that the opponent had a far greater understanding of the rules than he did. ... Chapter 151 150. Mysterious Thunder Zone The boy north of the shrubbery. The Second Group Army field soldiers south of the shrubbery. They gazed at each other. Neither could understand why the shrubbery and Mimosa Plants, through which the other had passed smoothly, turned into deadly weapons when they tried to cross. Not everyone had a teacher like Uncle Li Dong, nor did everyone have the privilege to explore the Taboo Land leisurely like him. The boy retracted step by step, fading back into the dim forest. At one point, Qing Huai felt the boy looked familiar, yet couldn''t recall where he had seen him before. It was as if he had missed some crucial detail in his life. Cao Wei concluded, "Commander, the opponent indeed knows too many rules." Your journey continues on empire After a moment of thought, Qing Huai said, "Now I understand why they arranged for me to undertake a mission in Taboo Land 002. It turns out there''s someone familiar with the rules waiting for me here." After pondering, Cao Wei said, "However, I have a doubt. The opponent doesn''t seem to be a Transcendent. I was very close to him recently. Judging from the strength in his legs and his cardio load, this is absolutely undeniable." This observation was indeed exceptionally accurate from Cao Wei. Yet it was exactly this that made him even more puzzled: a boy, not even a Transcendent, had used the rules to kill over seventy of their men, one after another. This dissonance made it all seem incomprehensible. Then everyone would internally ask the question, "Why?" With calm, Qing Huai inquired, "Cao Wei, how is the Thunder Zone you were supposed to set up?" The way Qing Huai addressed him subtly shifted with his growing impatience. Cao Wei faltered for a moment, "It''s set up, Commander." Qing Huai nodded, "All units, lift the communication silence, open the communication channels. Cao Wei, take over command and drive him into the Thunder Zone. I''ve experienced the rules of Taboo Land 002, let him experience the rules of the Federal Group''s army." "Received," Cao Wei swiftly led his men around the shrubs like a cheetah. Over the communication channel, Cao Wei''s voice transmitted, "First platoon, move to the two o''clock direction, Second platoon, I need you to reach the A21 area at four o''clock within 20 minutes, Seventh platoon..." Prior to arriving, they had already marked the entire Taboo Land on the tactical map, divided into zones A1-A50 and B1-B50 for easier command. These markings were originally made by Cao Wei just in case a chase ensued within the Taboo Land. It was a habit and military disposition of a commander, but he had not expected it to actually prove useful. The full field troop unfolded like a net under command. Like a pack of wolves hunting elk during winter. The pack would spread out, driving the elk forward. They were not in a rush to attack their prey, as an elk charging in panic could cause injury. At such moments, a patient hunter only needs to calmly wait for the elk to plunge into a thinly iced lake, to freeze or drown to death. Only when the ice thawed in the next spring, would the pack return to enjoy their feast. "Seventh platoon, move to sector A37, do not engage the target." "Second platoon, move to sector A35, do not engage the target." Over the communication channel, Cao Wei''s voice, mixed with a faint crackle of electricity, he issued order after order, yet never closed the net. Knowing the opponent understood more rules, it was better not to allow him any opportunity to leverage those rules. No need to rush, Cao Wei knew as soon as the prey entered the Thunder Zone, everything would be over. The next moment, a soldier suddenly reported, "The target has entered the Thunder Zone!" Cao Wei immediately breathed a sigh of relief, and Qing Huai laughed over the communication channel, "Brother Cao Wei, no wonder you rose so rapidly in the past. The art of command could surely make many people admire you." But the next moment, they suddenly felt that something was amiss. Because no explosion had occurred. Cao Wei asked coldly over the communication channel, "Where is the target now?" "The target is speeding through the Thunder Zone without triggering any explosive mines!" "The target''s speed has not slowed down, sir. The second platoon''s movement is blocked by the Thunder Zone, should we detour?" At that moment, Cao Wei and Qing Huai exchanged glances, while Qing Chen in the Thunder Zone was completely focused. He had been here before. Uncle Li Dong had spent two days familiarizing him with the environment and terrain at the edge of Taboo Land. It was only after two days, when Qing Huai and the others entered what he considered the most suitable area, that Qing Chen began to kill. If the enemy thought that laying mines here would give them home advantage, they were wrong. For others, being familiar with the environment might mean knowing where there was a mountain, where there was a river, where there was a mound, and what type of plants were there. But for Qing Chen, the environment he was familiar with was... Every single tree. Every single stone. The fallen leaves on the ground were like the textures on a giant''s skin, the growing trees were like hair on the giant''s body, while the boulders were moles. At one moment, Qing Chen even felt as if this giant was kindly watching over him. Thus, every detail of this place was in Qing Chen''s mind. If it did not match his memory, then something was wrong. To bury explosive mines, one must alter the environment; even if a mine was only the size of a palm, no matter how much camouflage was done, even if the ground looked very natural, in Qing Chen''s mind, if it was wrong, it was wrong. He effortlessly avoided every mine, and, with the astonished gazes of the field troops upon him, he moved swiftly across the Thunder Zone as if he had a "God''s perspective"! Qing Huai asked Cao Wei, "How many explosive mines did you bury in that area?" "41, sir. We carried a base of 50 mines in total," Cao Wei explained. Qing Huai frowned. That young man did not seem to have any mechanical limbs, so how could he have anticipated and avoided all the mines?! "Do we continue the pursuit?" Cao Wei asked. Qing Huai looked at him and said, "Cao Wei, you haven''t been using your full strength, have you?" At this moment, the elite from the federation finally dropped his disguise and no longer addressed him as a brother. As a C-Class Expert and the champion of the military competition twice, how could Cao Wei possibly find it so difficult to chase down an ordinary young man? Qing Huai continued, "I know you have reservations, fearing that the other party has mastered some deadly rules. But you must realize, with such a person around, we can''t continue to progress into the heartland. If I miss the opportunity to execute this mission, the main and secondary houses will not give me another chance. If I have to bow out of the Shadow Conflict, the rank you have lowered to me will have been for naught." Cao Wei took a deep breath and said over the communication channel, "First platoon, second platoon, chase him at full speed, I will follow immediately, we must kill him before it gets dark. Seventh platoon, I want you to reach area A48 ahead of time to set up the blockade, I will personally drive him there!" Qing Huai smiled and patted his shoulder, "Brother Cao Wei, I''m watching closely." However, just then, someone said over the communication channel, "Sir, the first platoon following him has discovered a new situation, that young man is somewhat peculiar." Peculiar? ... Chapter Three, please ensure a minimum amount of monthly tickets Chapter 152 151銆丷ules Reappear! (Added for Penguin Golden League) Countdown 62:00:00. Platoons 1 and 2 of the field unit had been following closely behind Qing Chen. They had circumvented the Thunder Zone they themselves had laid out and had once again caught up to the young man using the substantial advantage of their mechanical limbs. The soldiers knew that Commander Cao Wei''s judgment was correct the young man was indeed an ordinary person. Having undergone rigorous training, these warriors knew best what kind of physical condition to expect from individuals of various levels. While running, the young man had already started to gasp for air, his steps no longer precise, his body swaying due to the uneven ground. Yet, even when facing a physically average young man like this, the soldiers of the field unit were still filled with dread. For when the opponent was in control of more rules, it seemed as if the entire Taboo Land was aiding his combat. If it came down to face-to-face combat, every soldier was confident in their ability to kill the young man in front who was almost exhausted. But they could not overcome the rules of Taboo Land. They all resolved to carefully observe the young man''s actions whatever he did, they would do the same, and must not deviate whatsoever. Otherwise, the previous incident with the Mimosa Plant killing might recur. At this moment, when everyone was filled with dread for the rules, the young man passing through a certain area suddenly started to sing, "Under the bridge in front of the gate, a group of ducks swam by..." The soldiers from Platoons 1 and 2 chasing behind exchanged looks. Hesitating for a moment, they sang, "Under the bridge in front of the gate, a group of ducks swam by, come quickly, count them, two, four, six, seven, eight..." The tense atmosphere of jungle chase suddenly turned absurd. However, here was the juncture between the "interior" and the "edge" of Taboo Land. In an instant, a huge willow tree from the interior stretched out its tough branches and tendrils, pulling all those singing soldiers from Platoons 1 and 2 into the interior. The blood-red tendrils coiled around the soldiers'' waists, wrapping round and round before suddenly tightening. The skin around the soldiers'' waists was squeezed till blood came out, then began to crack inch by inch until the tendrils snapped their midsections, letting blood and viscera water the roots of the willow, nourishing the entire land. Countless red ants emerged from the ground. This was the final gift Qing Chen left them, a gift named "rules." "When others sing, do not sing along." Qing Chen had first used the bizarre rule of "no relieving oneself anywhere" to kill. Then he had mercilessly harnessed the dreadful aspect of the Mimosa Plant, reaping lives without mercy. He always controlled the pace of everyone with a prescience that seemed god-like. Even though he was still weak, he had almost maximized the use of the rules. His teacher had once asked him why he made the throat-slitting gesture. Qing Chen answered, "Afraid they might run off." But his gesture had another purpose as well: to shape a confident and mysterious image. He intended to make the enemy believe that he knew everything, controlling all the rules of Taboo Land. The moment this image was firmly entrenched in everyone''s minds, he could make everyone who was watching him subconsciously mimic him! Dominate their instinctive reactions! The reveal at the end of the plot. Cao Wei could command his troops to hunt like a pack of wolves. Qing Chen could likewise design a series of shackles and traps, one linked to the other. They switched ceaselessly between hunter and prey roles, like a game where the loser must die. At that moment, only two soldiers were spared the calamity; terrified out of their wits, they turned and ran towards the outside of Taboo Land. In the communication channel, before he could make his move, Cao Wei could only hear the moans and screams of the soldiers over the headset. He stood in stunned silence; due to the great distance, neither Cao Wei nor Commander Qing Huai could figure out what rule the young man had used to kill those soldiers! Bizarre. Fear. Qing Huai only felt that this emotion had taken over his mind for the first time. Experience tales at empire Clearly, the other person was just an ordinary person, yet they seemed like a ghost that had survived for a long time in the Taboo Land. Cao Wei, however, still maintained his composure. He asked over the communication channel, "Is anyone still alive? Tell me what happened!" A soldier, terrified, replied, "Commander, this is Zhang Jing. We don''t know what happened either. That young man suddenly started singing, and we suspected he was going to use the rules to kill someone again, so we joined in the singing. Commander, everyone''s dead except for me and Liu Shun; they''re all dead." "Switch to the backup communication channel and meet me at Area A39. Anyone who dares to flee will face a military court," Cao Wei said, determined to figure out what exactly had happened. Soon after, two shell-shocked soldiers appeared before the commander. Qing Huai coldly asked, "What song was he singing with you? Sing it for me!" The soldier almost cried, "Commander, I dare not sing; everyone who sang has died!" "Aren''t you two and that lad unharmed?" Qing Huai drew his dagger and pressed it against the soldier''s neck, "Sing! If you die singing, I''ll compensate your family." Crying, the soldier sang, "Under the bridge in front of the gate, a flock of ducks swam by..." Cao Wei: "..." Qing Huai: "..." Though the two soldiers sang, they were completely out of tune, and yet, nothing happened to them. Suddenly, Cao Wei realized that these two soldiers had escaped disaster because they sang out of tune! Qing Huai also thought of this reason, and he exchanged glances with Cao Wei, speechless for a long while. Who could have thought that one day, singing out of tune could save lives! At this moment, Cao Wei discarded all the useless items in his pack on the ground, then said over the communication channel, "Platoon 7, return to A39 and regroup with Commander Qing Huai, protect him." After speaking, he said to Qing Huai, "Commander, the conflict over the Shadow is of utmost importance. I, Cao Wei, know that if I let you return empty-handed this time, I will have no chance of redemption later. Moreover, you have always treated me well. I am going to eliminate him for you, hoping that your past promises still hold." Qing Huai warmly grasped Cao Wei''s hands, "Brother Cao Wei, please do, my promise always holds." "Hmm," Cao Wei turned and strode into the forest. Qing Huai''s expression gradually turned cold; he knew well why Cao Wei had only now decided to make a move. Previously, this veteran had followed the team at an unhurried pace, only to force Qing Chen into the Thunder Zone while commanding from the rear. This was because Cao Wei knew that the young man knew more of the rules, and he chose to make his move to try the rules out using the soldiers of the field platoon. It was a safer choice. It goes without saying that Cao Wei''s survival through 17 encirclement campaigns in the wilderness was no fluke but a necessity. He is a clever man, just too clever for his own good. ... At this very moment, Qing Chen was gasping for breath, looking at the large willow tree. Bloody, cruel, powerful. These were all the words Qing Chen had in his heart for the willow tree. But for some reason, when he saw such a bloody scene, he felt no fear at all. Moreover, he wasn''t the least bit afraid of the willow tree; instead, he gradually walked towards it, picking up an earbud not far from it and listening through it, yet there was no sound. It seemed that the other side had cautiously changed the communication channel. Qing Chen tossed the earbud down and crushed it, then scrambled through other usable gear. Just as he was prepared to re-enter the darkness of the Taboo Land, a willow branch gently tapped him on the shoulder. ... Chapter four, I seek a guarantee for monthly votes Chapter 154 153銆丠unting! (Added for Penguin Golden League) Cao Wei had been chasing Qing Chen for nearly 8 hours. He had started at noon and continued until the evening, only discovering traces of the other person in the afternoon, but each time he was about to catch up to the young man''s trail, the other would use various terrains to clear the traces. Dense mimosa shrubs, crystal clear streams, dangerous plants. That young man always seemed to find some strange things; everything on the edge of Taboo Land seemed imprinted in his mind. But now, the other couldn''t escape. Experience new stories on empire Cao Wei picked up the bark spat on the ground by the other person and the licked aluminum foil, bringing it close to his nose and sniffing carefully. He didn''t find it disgusting at all. Having been a soldier for more than a decade, he had experienced much worse: eating insects, drinking urine, hiding in sewage. Although the Federal Group''s military hadn''t had powerful enemies in recent years, their training had never slackened. Just because a civil war might suddenly erupt at any moment. Cao Wei followed the scent, confident of victory. He had already used four doses of Genetic Potion and had been in the C-Class for several years. His speed and strength were in no way comparable to that of the young man. And the young man probably didn''t have many rules left to exploit, knowing that exploiting rules actually required very stringent conditions, like not being able to succeed simply by carving words on a tree trunk. The young man was well aware of this, so he didn''t hold much hope. In the darkness, Cao Wei continued to follow the scent. The unique human scent in the air was like a taut line, guiding him in the right direction. Cao Wei felt he was getting closer and closer to the other, even using his keen hearing to detect the young man''s running and panting sounds. The prey''s panting was intense and tired. That was the sound wolves loved to hear. As the distance closed between them, Cao Wei didn''t want to give the other a chance to set more traps. He had already caught sight of the young man''s back. 200 meters. 100 meters. 50 meters. However, just then, there was a click under Cao Wei''s foot. His whole body suddenly stopped. Anti-Infantry Mine. Having been a soldier for more than a decade, that crisp sound of a pressure trigger was all too familiar to him. He didn''t even need to look down to know what model the mine was. It was one of their own mines! During the minefield setting, 41 had been used, and 9 were kept by Squad 1; he never expected them to end up in the young man''s hands. Cao Wei had observed near the big willow tree; the soldiers'' clothes and equipment were scattered under the tree, and the bodies had long been devoured clean by ants. He couldn''t understand. Weren''t those equipments next to the big willow tree? How did this young man dare to dig out the equipment? Moreover, he didn''t know when the young man had planted this anti-infantry mine. Wait, Cao Wei realized; the other had intentionally spit out bark and thrown away the foil, having already discovered his acute sense of smell, hoping he would follow that scent "line" right onto the mine! When had the other realized his sense of smell was keen? Was someone helping him? Where that young man had passed, the beasts that should have been in Taboo Land were gone, the man-eating fish in the streams had disappeared, the big willow did not attack him, and now he had mysteriously noticed his abilities. It was as if the entire Taboo Land was helping him. Could it be the natives of Taboo Land? Cao Wei didn''t have time to think further; standing on the mine, he didn''t move but instead took off the backpack from his back and pulled out an exquisitely made hand crossbow. With a swoosh. The arrow, long as an arm, burst through the air like thunder, and the young man running ahead heard the sound and tried to dodge, but it was already too late. In Cao Wei''s view, the arrow grazed the outer side of the other''s thigh, cruelly carving a bloody groove in his leg. The young man''s running figure tumbled forward but quickly stood up again, limping as he continued his escape. Cao Wei, smelling the sudden spread of blood in the air, knew that there was no way the other could escape his pursuit now. He did not kill Qing Chen directly because he knew that it was forbidden to kill anyone in Taboo Land. Previously, Qing Huai had hesitated at a certain moment and had concealed this rule from him, probably hoping to exchange his life without worry when it was crucial. But in fact, Cao Wei had known the truth all along. He no longer looked at the young man''s back. "Hey? Cao Wei calling the commander," Cao Wei called for support on the communication channel. Although Platoon 7''s location was nearly 20 kilometers away from him, slowing the support would delay the chase. But he had already made the young man bleed, and the massive amount of blood ensured that the other could not escape. Even as a C-Class Expert, Cao Wei was not willing to physically withstand the blow, even though he wouldn''t die or even be disabled from it. Qing Huai''s voice came through the communication channel: "Brother Cao Wei, have you caught him?" Cao Wei thought for a moment and explained, "Commander, not yet..." The next moment, there was not even the basic sound of electricity in the communication channelQing Huai had cut off the communication! "You mother... stay healthy!" Cao Wei held back his curse in time. In Taboo Land Number 002, swearing was not allowed. Cao Wei looked down at his feet and finally sighed. He could only save himself. Cao Wei took out a dagger and slowly cut open his boots. He then inserted the dagger across the insides of the boots and pressed down with his hand. In movies, many special forces soldiers choose to place a rock on an Anti-Infantry Landmine so that the person who steps on the landmine can leave calmly. But in reality, these mechanisms have a very high rebound force, and if the pressure on them drops below 80 kilograms, they will explode immediately. In the wilderness, it''s not easy to find a rock weighing over 80 kilograms near a landmine. Moreover, the young man had chosen a spot to bury the mine that starkly had no stones around! Cao Wei took off his other boot and placed it over the mine to block the blast of shrapnel with the tough leather. He then slowly covered it with his backpack. Only at this moment did Cao Wei finally breathe a sigh of relief. He knew he had to withstand this one, but the power of an Anti-Infantry Landmine was not great, and a C-Class Expert would not die if the shrapnel did not penetrate the body directly. In the past, there had been a more reliable method, as the military industry had developed a powerful PVR glue to deal with such Anti-Infantry Landmines. After stepping on an Anti-Infantry Landmine, all one needed to do was drop glue into the gaps of the mechanism and wait for 20 minutes for the glue to firmly stick the mechanism together. The landmine would then become a dud. Cao Wei took a deep breath, lying on the ground, pressing down on the mechanism with his elbows, his arms firmly protected in front of his chest. The next moment, he slightly lifted his body, and with a loud bang, Cao Wei was lifted into the air, but the landmine''s shrapnel did not penetrate any of the protective measures he had made. "Cough, cough," Cao Wei''s mouth was unbearably sweet with blood, as his organs bled from the explosive force. A mouthful of fresh blood surged in his mouth, and this notoriously tough soldier in the Second Army Group swallowed the blood back down. He got up and picked up the hand crossbow, following the bloody scent in the air as he started to run again. At this moment, the person he truly wanted to kill was not the young man but Qing Huai. But the adult world only knows the weighing of pros and cons. Since he had reached this point, he could not turn back. ... Chapter Six, please support with monthly tickets! Chapter 154 153銆丠unting! (Added for Penguin Golden League) Cao Wei had been chasing Qing Chen for nearly 8 hours. He had started at noon and continued until the evening, only discovering traces of the other person in the afternoon, but each time he was about to catch up to the young man''s trail, the other would use various terrains to clear the traces. Dense mimosa shrubs, crystal clear streams, dangerous plants. That young man always seemed to find some strange things; everything on the edge of Taboo Land seemed imprinted in his mind. But now, the other couldn''t escape. Experience new stories on empire Cao Wei picked up the bark spat on the ground by the other person and the licked aluminum foil, bringing it close to his nose and sniffing carefully. He didn''t find it disgusting at all. Having been a soldier for more than a decade, he had experienced much worse: eating insects, drinking urine, hiding in sewage. Although the Federal Group''s military hadn''t had powerful enemies in recent years, their training had never slackened. Just because a civil war might suddenly erupt at any moment. Cao Wei followed the scent, confident of victory. He had already used four doses of Genetic Potion and had been in the C-Class for several years. His speed and strength were in no way comparable to that of the young man. And the young man probably didn''t have many rules left to exploit, knowing that exploiting rules actually required very stringent conditions, like not being able to succeed simply by carving words on a tree trunk. The young man was well aware of this, so he didn''t hold much hope. In the darkness, Cao Wei continued to follow the scent. The unique human scent in the air was like a taut line, guiding him in the right direction. Cao Wei felt he was getting closer and closer to the other, even using his keen hearing to detect the young man''s running and panting sounds. The prey''s panting was intense and tired. That was the sound wolves loved to hear. As the distance closed between them, Cao Wei didn''t want to give the other a chance to set more traps. He had already caught sight of the young man''s back. 200 meters. 100 meters. 50 meters. However, just then, there was a click under Cao Wei''s foot. His whole body suddenly stopped. Anti-Infantry Mine. Having been a soldier for more than a decade, that crisp sound of a pressure trigger was all too familiar to him. He didn''t even need to look down to know what model the mine was. It was one of their own mines! During the minefield setting, 41 had been used, and 9 were kept by Squad 1; he never expected them to end up in the young man''s hands. Cao Wei had observed near the big willow tree; the soldiers'' clothes and equipment were scattered under the tree, and the bodies had long been devoured clean by ants. He couldn''t understand. Weren''t those equipments next to the big willow tree? How did this young man dare to dig out the equipment? Moreover, he didn''t know when the young man had planted this anti-infantry mine. Wait, Cao Wei realized; the other had intentionally spit out bark and thrown away the foil, having already discovered his acute sense of smell, hoping he would follow that scent "line" right onto the mine! When had the other realized his sense of smell was keen? Was someone helping him? Where that young man had passed, the beasts that should have been in Taboo Land were gone, the man-eating fish in the streams had disappeared, the big willow did not attack him, and now he had mysteriously noticed his abilities. It was as if the entire Taboo Land was helping him. Could it be the natives of Taboo Land? Cao Wei didn''t have time to think further; standing on the mine, he didn''t move but instead took off the backpack from his back and pulled out an exquisitely made hand crossbow. With a swoosh. The arrow, long as an arm, burst through the air like thunder, and the young man running ahead heard the sound and tried to dodge, but it was already too late. In Cao Wei''s view, the arrow grazed the outer side of the other''s thigh, cruelly carving a bloody groove in his leg. The young man''s running figure tumbled forward but quickly stood up again, limping as he continued his escape. Cao Wei, smelling the sudden spread of blood in the air, knew that there was no way the other could escape his pursuit now. He did not kill Qing Chen directly because he knew that it was forbidden to kill anyone in Taboo Land. Previously, Qing Huai had hesitated at a certain moment and had concealed this rule from him, probably hoping to exchange his life without worry when it was crucial. But in fact, Cao Wei had known the truth all along. He no longer looked at the young man''s back. "Hey? Cao Wei calling the commander," Cao Wei called for support on the communication channel. Although Platoon 7''s location was nearly 20 kilometers away from him, slowing the support would delay the chase. But he had already made the young man bleed, and the massive amount of blood ensured that the other could not escape. Even as a C-Class Expert, Cao Wei was not willing to physically withstand the blow, even though he wouldn''t die or even be disabled from it. Qing Huai''s voice came through the communication channel: "Brother Cao Wei, have you caught him?" Cao Wei thought for a moment and explained, "Commander, not yet..." The next moment, there was not even the basic sound of electricity in the communication channelQing Huai had cut off the communication! "You mother... stay healthy!" Cao Wei held back his curse in time. In Taboo Land Number 002, swearing was not allowed. Cao Wei looked down at his feet and finally sighed. He could only save himself. Cao Wei took out a dagger and slowly cut open his boots. He then inserted the dagger across the insides of the boots and pressed down with his hand. In movies, many special forces soldiers choose to place a rock on an Anti-Infantry Landmine so that the person who steps on the landmine can leave calmly. But in reality, these mechanisms have a very high rebound force, and if the pressure on them drops below 80 kilograms, they will explode immediately. In the wilderness, it''s not easy to find a rock weighing over 80 kilograms near a landmine. Moreover, the young man had chosen a spot to bury the mine that starkly had no stones around! Cao Wei took off his other boot and placed it over the mine to block the blast of shrapnel with the tough leather. He then slowly covered it with his backpack. Only at this moment did Cao Wei finally breathe a sigh of relief. He knew he had to withstand this one, but the power of an Anti-Infantry Landmine was not great, and a C-Class Expert would not die if the shrapnel did not penetrate the body directly. In the past, there had been a more reliable method, as the military industry had developed a powerful PVR glue to deal with such Anti-Infantry Landmines. After stepping on an Anti-Infantry Landmine, all one needed to do was drop glue into the gaps of the mechanism and wait for 20 minutes for the glue to firmly stick the mechanism together. The landmine would then become a dud. Cao Wei took a deep breath, lying on the ground, pressing down on the mechanism with his elbows, his arms firmly protected in front of his chest. The next moment, he slightly lifted his body, and with a loud bang, Cao Wei was lifted into the air, but the landmine''s shrapnel did not penetrate any of the protective measures he had made. "Cough, cough," Cao Wei''s mouth was unbearably sweet with blood, as his organs bled from the explosive force. A mouthful of fresh blood surged in his mouth, and this notoriously tough soldier in the Second Army Group swallowed the blood back down. He got up and picked up the hand crossbow, following the bloody scent in the air as he started to run again. At this moment, the person he truly wanted to kill was not the young man but Qing Huai. But the adult world only knows the weighing of pros and cons. Since he had reached this point, he could not turn back. ... Chapter Six, please support with monthly tickets! Chapter 155 154. Climbing a Mountain (Extra for Huan Yu Silver League) Countdown 48:00:00. Qing Chen looked up at the over 600-meter sheer cliff in front of him. His teacher had once said, "600 is a small number, like money that can be spent in the blink of an eye. But when you stand in front of that vertical green mountain cliff, you''ll understand what over 600 meters means to climbers." 222 floors of building. Sear Tower. KVLY TV Tower. Seaside City Center Tower. He quietly looked up. Here, his Memory Power was of little use. Since he had never seen the full extent of this cliff, he couldn''t use the Super Memory state to analyze the climbing route. No wonder the teacher said, to climb this mountain requires courage without regret. This is the farthest heavenly path among all the shortcuts in the world, just one glance can evoke boundless valor. But danger also coexists. Qing Chen had no safety rope. Knights facing a life-and-death situation couldn''t wear safety ropes, so if he fell from the sky, the result would be death. At that moment, Qing Chen looked down with a bitter smile at his right thigh where the rope was tied, and yet the blood still seeped out. A feeling of hunger painfully burned inside him, as if there was a fire blazing. The young man wondered if the teacher had gone too far. In his current condition, he would probably struggle to climb 20 meters, yet he was expected to climb 600 meters?! But Qing Chen would never turn back. Once, when Qing Chen was training in Prison No. 18 and was too tired to continue, Mother Ye told him: imagine you''re pushing the Earth. Once, Qing Chen asked Uncle Li Dong what this life-and-death test was called, and Uncle Li Dong answered, "Gravity." Because, as a tiny human, he needed to approach the heavens as if escaping the Earth''s gravity. Climb, there is no way back. Limping, Qing Chen approached the rock wall. However, at that moment, he suddenly saw a line of small characters carved at the foot of the sheer cliff: only faith and the sun and moon are eternal. Qing Chen suddenly looked up, and he suddenly saw in the palm lines of this "giant," white traces seeping into the rock wall. These were the traces of magnesium powder left on the sheer cliff by Senior Knights'' palms, like a ladder to heaven reaching straight to the sky. He no longer needed to remember anything, he just needed to follow the "footprints" of his predecessors. At one moment, he thought of the gentle breeze beside the big willow tree, and looking at the white marks in front of him, it was as if those brilliant beings from various eras were smiling and saying in his heart: Discover stories at empire Climb up, climb a mountain, watch the snow, chase a dream. Walk the path we once walked, become a new Knight. Qing Chen''s nose tingled. He didn''t know when it started, but Qing Chen''s life had only depended on himself. If he had no money for food, he learned to endure hunger. If he couldn''t pay the school fees, he earned them himself. At the Parents'' Meeting, he was the only one sitting alone in the classroom. Once, when he absolutely couldn''t raise the money for school fees, he had to go to his grandmother''s house and ask her. His grandmother coldly asked him: why don''t you go find your dad? Later, Qing Chen felt this was not so bad, as there were certainly others who were going through much harder times. So he started to learn to be strong. However, after coming to the Inner World and having Uncle Li Dong as his teacher, and then reaching the Taboo Land, it seemed like the whole world was helping him. This feeling was too wonderful, so wonderful that it felt unreal. It turns out he didn''t always have to be so strong. No wonder Uncle Li Dong said that the first stage of unlocking the Genetic Lock definitely required coming here. It wasn''t that there was only this perilous cliff in the world, but that this place had the paths walked by the Knights. Qing Chen smiled. "Breathe." The Fire Rune suddenly bloomed on the sides of his cheeks, like the clouds at sunrise piercing the horizon. The young man took out the bag of magnesium powder that Uncle Li Dong had given him from his pocket and tied it around his waist. He stretched out his hand to grip a rock crevice and began to climb toward the palm of the "giant." But at this moment, he suddenly sensed something was amiss. The moment he initiated the Breathing Technique, a warm current suddenly swept through his body, like a raging warm river flowing through his blood vessels, permeating his muscles and bones. The wound on the outer side of his thigh no longer hurt, and the bleeding had stopped. The sensation of hunger was gone, and instead his energy was incredibly abundant. Qing Chen realized the true function of the white fruit. It needed to be used in conjunction with the Breathing Technique to be effective. Those old folks were really helping him. "Thank you," Qing Chen continued to climb upwards. 10 meters. 20 meters. 40 meters. Qing Chen saw that someone had carved a line of small characters into the sheer cliff: Guo Qi was here. This spot was most suitable for three-point positioning. This predecessor named Guo Qi even found time to carve the words with a dagger during a break. He smiled knowingly, as if bidding farewell to the predecessor, and continued upwards. 62 meters, Zhou Peng was here. 83 meters, Zhao Yongyi was here. Qing Chen had never climbed such a high cliff before, yet he didn''t feel alone. The youth saw the predecessors'' markings time and again, bidding farewell each time, seemingly tireless. The energy bursting forth from the white fruit was like a mini-reactor, providing him with a constant flow of energy, even alleviating the fatigue between his muscles. However, at that moment, Cao Wei, following the scent of blood, arrived below the cliff. He looked up in astonishment because only then did he realize why the youth had fled westward. His destination was here. The sheer Green Mountain! Not many knew of Green Mountain, but Cao Wei, who had done his homework, was aware. He knew this was where the dream of becoming a Knight began. But he had never imagined that he would witness it with his own eyes. Complex emotions arose in Cao Wei''s heart. Once, he too had wanted to become a Knight. People from the Outer World all knew that Uncle Li Dong possessed the best heritage of this era. How could the natives of the Inner World not know? And for many people from the Inner World, it wasn''t just heritage, but also a longing and aspiration. Cao Wei fell silent for a long while before finally raising his hand crossbow and pulling the trigger toward the cliffside. He was now part of the adult world and could no longer afford such dreams. With a ding, a crossbow arrow traveled over a hundred meters and landed beside Qing Chen''s left hand. Qing Chen was startled; he had not expected the crossbow arrow to reach so far. Calmly, Cao Wei loaded another crossbow arrow into his hand crossbow. These days, few people used crossbow arrows, which were more like artifacts than weapons. He had also gone to great lengths to acquire it because in the Taboo Land No. 002, only gunpowder weapons were officially classified as firearms. The second crossbow arrow landed at Qing Chen''s feet, missing its mark. The third crossbow arrow landed beside Qing Chen''s left hand, missing its mark. The disadvantage of the hand crossbow was here, as it typically had an effective range of only 60 meters. Beyond that, hitting the target depended entirely upon luck. Wind speed, trajectory; there were too many factors affecting the crossbow arrows. A person who could hit a target 100 meters away with a hand crossbow could be called a god. Moreover, shooting at an angle upward, the crossbow arrow would not cause much damage even if it did hit the youth. But Cao Wei didn''t care. He knew the peril of climbing a sheer cliff; all he needed to do was distract his opponent. Once the youth was distracted, he would naturally fall from the cliff. Indeed, the youth on the cliff had halted his climb. Cao Wei could feel the terror taking hold inside him. Positioned on a dangerous cliff, where a single misstep could spell doom, anyone would be unsettled by the realization that someone was targeting them with a crossbow arrow. But just when Cao Wei shot the fifth crossbow arrow, he suddenly saw the youth''s figure stabilize. The next moment, the youth secured himself to the cliff using three-point positioning, then pulled out a dagger from his waist and carved three characters into the perilous rock face. Qing Chen was here. It was only after he had finished carving that the youth resumed his climb. He never looked back at Cao Wei again. Cao Wei stood dumbstruck, feeling the silent yet condescending taunt from above. Was this the kind of person chosen by the Knights? Could only such persons become Knights? Suddenly, Cao Wei coughed out a mouthful of blood. Fortunately, it didn''t trigger any rules. ... Chapter Seven, Requesting Guaranteed Monthly Tickets Chapter 156 155. Chase a Dream (Extra for the Silver League to complement Brother) Countdown: 44:00:00. Forbidden Zone No. 002. Atop another peak, over a thousand meters away from the Qing Shan cliffs. "I really miss it," Uncle Li Dong said in the night, "thinking back to the last time I climbed the Qing Shan cliffs over thirty years ago. Back then, my senior and I were both bursting with energy, trying to see who could carve their name higher." It''s a tradition among knights to climb the Qing Shan cliffs and carve their name at the spot where they first rest from exhaustion. As a result, the senior carved his name at 212 meters, while Uncle Li Dong did so at 367 meters. After returning, he bragged to his senior, only to be thoroughly beaten up by Chen Jiazhang, who had already unlocked the second layer of his genetic lock at the time. Back then, he was neither the demigod of the present nor a figure revered by everyone as the contemporary Knight Leader, but just a green young fellow learning how to shave his beard. Back then, he still had relentless drive and the courage of making irrevocable choices. This time, Uncle Li Dong didn''t tell Qing Chen about the knight tradition, as he wanted to see where this student would carve his name. What surprised him though was that Qing Chen''s name wasn''t very high, only a little over a hundred meters up. But Uncle Li Dong always felt that carving one''s name like this held more meaning. "My student isn''t bad, is he?" Uncle Li Dong boasted to someone nearby, "Facing crossbow arrows without a hint of fear, and expressing silent disdain through the act of carving his name. If time could turn back, I would want to do it like him. Just thinking about it is thrilling." By his side, a Qing Shan Falcon of over three meters tall stood quietly. The falcon''s feathers, large as knives and its powerful claws gripped the rock. With just a slight effort, it could crumble the rock as if it were tofu. At that moment, however, the Qing Shan Falcon was giving Uncle Li Dong a look full of human expression, seemingly holding him in contempt for bragging: It''s your student who is impressive, not you. Uncle Li Dong laughed, "Still not convinced? It''s my eye for spotting good students! You see, I don''t just take any student. I adhere to a principle of quality over quantity, being responsible for the Knight Organization!" The Qing Shan Falcon rolled its eyes: It''s not like the old days when I had to chase you all over the mountains. "A true man never boasts of his past bravery," Uncle Li Dong said, "how about we fight now? I''ll swagger you bald!" The Qing Shan Falcon shifted its huge body that could hide the sun: I don''t stoop to your level. Uncle Li Dong chuckled and turned his gaze back to Qing Chen, who was climbing upward like a gecko, becoming more skilled and resolute by the minute. From the very beginning, what the Knight Organization valued most in recruiting new members was not ability, but temperament. And Qing Chen''s temperament, Uncle Li Dong felt, could certainly rank in the top three. "Look teacher, I really did find a very good successor for our knights," Uncle Li Dong remarked sentimentally. Having said that, he stood up and started walking down the mountain path behind him, preparing to descend. The Qing Shan Falcon chirped twice: You''re not watching? He''s only halfway up. Uncle Li Dong waved a hand without turning back and laughed, "Knights have an old saying, ''I accompany him only part of the thousand-mile journey, beyond which I ask no questions, whether it storms or the sun shines.'' ... A gust of mountain wind whistled, causing Qing Chen''s clothes to flutter loudly. The young man''s fingers were strong and firm in the cracks of the rock. He looked back at the scenery behind him, with the Forbidden Land before his eyes. The sky had turned from deep black to a murky grey, with a giant tree in the distance standing tall, its sprawling crown spanning several kilometers, spectacular as if someone was softly narrating the opening chapter of a myth. Qing Chen continued climbing upward, the magical white fruits of the Forbidden Land constantly repairing his body. 267 meters, left by Jiang Feifei. 312 meters, left by Li Linghong. 321 meters, left by Yang Dawei. 367 meters, left by Uncle Li Dong. Qing Chen followed the white ''footprints'' of his predecessors on the cliffs. One by one, these senior knights with their unique greetings accompanied him to this point. But the higher he climbed, the fewer the names became. By the time he reached this point, Qing Chen started to feel the warm flow from the white fruits diminishing. He felt his strength rapidly draining, and exhaustion continuously assaulting his will. Yet the next moment. 411 meters, left by Qin Sheng. Qing Chen remembered, this was the Knight Leader who had pioneered the Breathing Technique. Suddenly, he seemed to understand something. The places where these senior knights had left their names were all on the climbing path, right before the most dangerous part of the mountain. The predecessors would stop here to rest, and then carve their names. Whenever those who came afterward felt they had exhausted their strength, those previously carved names served as a form of encouragement. Qing Chen pursed his lips and continued to climb upwards. 489 meters, Yang Xiaojun left a message. Qing Chen glanced at those meaningful characters and set off again, clenching his teeth. His muscles trembled with a mournful cry, his will echoing with intense struggle. He had almost crushed his teeth, yet his pace of climbing upwards never halted. Just when he thought there would be no more names above. 599 meters, Ren Xiaosu left a message. ... Qing Chen suddenly looked up towards the top, where the sheer cliff was ending. But the next moment, Qing Chen froze because at the end of the cliff, there was an outcropping at the edge of the precipice. There was nothing to leverage. This was not a vertical cliff, or to put it another way, the previous 599 meters were indeed vertical, but this part was different. Uncle Li Dong had never mentioned this before. To reach the top, one had to make a leap from the summit. There was no path here anymore, no more white "footprints" ahead. The warmth from the Bairen fruit finally dissipated. The predecessors had accompanied him for 599 meters, but the last meter was Qing Chen''s own journey. Countdown 42:20:00. 5:40 AM. Golden light was spreading from behind him through the clouds, which moved swiftly like a vast sea. Qing Chen gripped the summit''s fissure, his fingers starting to tremble slightly due to too much hesitation. He remembered the instant when the countdown first appeared on his arm. He thought back to the loneliness in the dark room, and remembered clutching a rock with all his effort atop Laojun Mountain. At that moment, Qing Chen saw another line of text next to the name Ren Xiaosu: "Life should be like a candle, burning brightly from start to finish." The young man closed his eyes. Indeed, even if there was only one second left in life, it should shine brightly! Qing Chen opened his eyes and forcefully leaped upwards. The past life. The future life. Intertwined! Sonata! This was the life path he had chosen for himself. The longest path among all the shortcuts in the world. Since it was his choice, he should never look back! The rest of his life? It''s all ahead! Like learning to fly for the first time, the young man soared. He stretched his body mightily in the skies, and the next moment, the young man''s powerful palms grasped the edge of the cliff! Qing Chen laughed heartily. He heard a crack within his body, his bones snapping crisply, the lost strength returning incessantly, a power he had never had before surged like the sea! The young man felt an entirely different strength, a different world, a different life! With one hand on the edge of the cliff, he turned around to look back, just as the sun was rising behind him! The grand, spectacular tree greeted the rays of red light, as if welcoming a rebirth! Qing Chen silently watched all this; when he was in the Taboo Land forest, he could only see the canopy blocking the sky. But from here, the dense and orderly canopy looked like a vast plain. Qing Chen looked down at Cao Wei still watching from below. Their distance was over six hundred meters, and suddenly Cao Wei''s standing figure appeared somewhat diminutive. The young man calmly made a throat-slitting gesture, then flipped back onto the cliff. Stay updated through empire ... Chapter Eight, seeking monthly votes for support. Chapter 157 156. Role Reversal (Extra for Penguin Golden League) Below the cliff face. Cao Wei watched as the youth flipped over the summit and disappeared from sight. He didn''t actually hate Qing Chen at all, even though the latter had planted a landmine that left him seriously injured. After all, they were enemies, and it was reasonable and appropriate for either party to use any method at their disposal. Now, he even hated Qing Huai more, because the latter clearly had the chance to provide him with support but suddenly cut off the communication channel. People who betray their comrades and subordinates are even more despicable. Moreover, Cao Wei felt that if anyone had witnessed the youth''s journey to climb, they would surely feel admiration in their hearts. Even he, the enemy, could only sigh in respect. Without lingering on these thoughts any longer, Cao Wei turned and ran into the forest. He didn''t plan to meet up with Qing Huai but was prepared to escape from this Taboo Land No. 002 directly. If he escaped too slowly, he feared that everyone would die together. Cao Wei knew he could no longer return to the Federation, regardless of whether Qing Huai lived or died, he couldn''t go back. But even living as a wild man in the wilderness was better than being a dead man. It''s just... While on the run, he couldn''t help but reflect on the events that had just occurred. He watched the youth climb into the night, climb into the firmament. Later, even his vision, enhanced by the Genetic Potion, began to blur. Cao Wei had been waiting for the other to fall down, but when the first light of sunrise appeared, he saw the scene where the youth hung by one hand from the top of the cliff. It was at that moment, even though Cao Wei clearly knew that the youth, if he succeeded in his challenge, might still be no match for him, he still lost the courage to fight against him. It represented the unattainable dream horizon that he himself had never been able to reach, yet someone had achieved it before his very eyes. At the top of the steep mountain, Qing Chen quietly looked ahead. He had imagined that the scenery from the top of the mountain must be beautiful and awe-inspiring, but what he didn''t expect was that what shook people''s hearts the most were the words carved here by others. Every sentence read "Only belief and the sun and moon are eternal." And after every sentence, there was a different name appended. Zhang Qingxi, Li Yingyun, Ren Xiaosu, Yang Xiaojun, Zhao Yongyi, Uncle Li Dong, Chen Jiazhang, Wang Xiaojiu... Qing Chen counted, there were 81 names on top of this cliff, each a predecessor of his. However, he had seen 123 names on the sheer cliff. Does this mean that 42 people had departed this world while challenging this cliff, or were there other predecessors who hadn''t had the chance to leave their names and also fell before this life-and-death barrier? Qing Chen remained silent. Over a hundred people over a thousand years have come here, one after another, just to pursue a dream and give their lives for it. Whether it was Qin Sheng, who created the Breathing Technique, or those predecessors who left their chalk ''footprints'' on the cliff, they all paved this road to the heavens for their successors. Qing Chen read each sentence moving forward, but noticed that at the very top of all these words, someone had carved four large characters without adding their name. "Forever Young." These four words, unlike the others'', had a unique and wondrous magic to them. Forever young. Forever sincere. Always young, always eager to embark on a new journey. These words conveyed a unique expectation that the successor of each Knight should always maintain a rich and intense life, never looking back. The life of the youth needed no looking back, only the courage to make irrevocable decisions. Qing Chen took a deep breath and finally drew the dagger from his waist, carving his own words at the very end of the cliff: "Only belief and the sun and moon are eternal... Qing Chen." Perhaps it wasn''t until this moment that he truly became a member of the Knights. One cannot become a Knight merely by having combat power; one must walk such a path, find a group of like-minded friends with undying faith and a firm will, to truly be called a Knight. Qing Chen felt the strength in his body as if reborn, followed by changes in his body, bones, blood, and genes. Moreover, he suddenly realized something at this momentafter opening the genetic lock this time, even the energy within his body had more than doubled in strength. The energy that had surged along with his strength was not too noticeable at first, but as the surging power gradually subsided, that energy settled into the muscles of his arms. In the mountain breeze, fallen leaves from the distant woods were blown towards the cliffs, dozens of leaves passing by Qing Chen in the morning sun. The young man reached out and caught a leaf from the air, instinctively channeling that energy into the fallen leaf. The energy flowed from his fingertips, filling every corner of the leaf along its veins. Suddenly, the irregularly curled leaf straightened out like a blade. Qing Chen quietly observed the leaf in his hand. Was this what it meant to transcend the ordinary life? He had finally achieved it. What should he do now? Qing Chen pondered. Right, it was time to kill. If he didn''t kill now, the enemy would escape into the distance. With that thought, the youth turned and walked towards the woods behind the cliff. ... Countdown 36:00:00. Within Taboo Land, Cao Wei dashed northward relentlessly. He strictly followed the route he had in mind, making sure of his direction every ten minutes. According to Cao Wei''s plan, he should have breached the edges of Taboo Land in five hours and returned to the wilderness outside. But now, more than six hours had gone by, and he still hadn''t seen the edge of Taboo Land! He was trapped here. Continue your adventure at empire He was trapped in this place by Taboo Land. Cao Wei was certain that there was nothing wrong with his method of determining direction, so the problem had to be with Taboo Land itself. To be precise, it wasn''t that Taboo Land had made a mistake, but rather, this living Taboo Land didn''t want to let him out. This terrifying and immense entity wanted to leave him for that young man. At some point, Cao Wei even suspected the young man was leisurely following him, but no matter how he looked back and listened, he could never spot the other''s whereabouts. Because he had been running forward the whole time, it was also difficult to catch any scent trailing behind him. Cao Wei suddenly stopped and turned around with a grave expression to survey the area behind him. There were no footsteps, nor was there any trace of the young man. But he distinctly felt someone following him. Could it be a ghost?! At that moment, a familiar scent of blood wafted over on a breeze. Cao Wei''s spirit shook, the young man had indeed caught up! The other was hiding upwind, in some shadow. The roles of prey and hunter had been reversed. Cao Wei turned and ran desperately again, but the sensation of being tracked just wouldn''t leave him. He stopped once more. "Aren''t you here to kill me?" Cao Wei panted, "Now that you''ve become a Knight and gained strength, why are you still so hesitant? Is this the way of a Knight?" He was eager for a battle. The explosion of the anti-infantry landmine had already damaged Cao Wei''s internal organs. If he could rest in time, his strong physique as a C-Class Expert would naturally recover. But now, as he had been running for his life, not only would his injuries not heal, but they would also worsenprecisely what the young man had wanted. Unexpectedly, It was Cao Wei who had previously employed the tactics of wolf-pack hunting, aiming to wear down the young man. Yet he hadn''t anticipated that after their roles switched, the other party would use tactics Cao Wei himself had once used. Just as he once said, wolves are cautious animals. They don''t wish to get injured for the sake of hunting, nor do they want to give their prey any chance of a desperate counterattack. ... Chapter Nine, thanks to Penguin Alliance for gifting another ten million starting coins! Chapter 158 157銆丄utumn Leaf Knife (Added for Penguin Golden League) "Am I now the hunted deer," Cao Wei mused wryly to himself. What surprised him even more was that not even his extraordinarily powerful sense of hearing could detect Qing Chen''s footsteps. This made it impossible for him to locate his opponent, unable to even find the target for a desperate final stand. Panting, Cao Wei suddenly didn''t want to run anymore. He shouted into the woods, "Since you dare not come out, I won''t run either. Let''s just endure this standoff." Saying this, he nonchalantly sat down, adjusting his breathing on the spot. Cao Wei was gambling, betting that his opponent wouldn''t dare let him, a C-Class Expert, recover his strength and heal his injuries in peace! He silently let his arms hang by his sides, gently digging into the soil, ready to launch a desperate counterattack if the young man emerged to kill him then. But as soon as Cao Wei had sat down, a sharp weapon suddenly whizzed through the trees. He abruptly threw himself back, and as the sharp weapon spun and whistled through the air, it barely grazed the tip of his nose and embedded itself in the ground behind him. Turning to look behind him, there was a blade-like leaf stuck three inches into the ground. He was shocked within, the Autumn Leaf Knife! This leaf-as-blade ability seemed novel to Qing Chen, but in the Inner World, who didn''t know about it. But the problem was, only a B-Class Knight had the initial strength to use the Autumn Leaf Knife. How could this freshly minted knight already be using it?! Could it be that the knight now hunting him was no longer that young man but rather a well-known knight? Chen Jiazhang, Wang Xiaojiu, Uncle Li Dong?! No, if it were really those three, why would they even waste time with him! Cao Wei suddenly realized, this was a monster who could unleash the Autumn Leaf Knife right after becoming a knight! Before he could understand this, another Autumn Leaf Knife pierced the air towards him, and he hurriedly rolled to the side. If he had not dodged in time, he might have been disemboweled. Cao Wei gritted his teeth and stood up to continue running towards the woods; the opponent had the ability to kill from a distance, preventing him from staying in one place to recover. The opponent was proving more troublesome than he had imagined! Countdown 33:00:00. The silent hunt in the woods continued, seemingly unnoticed and uncared for by anyone outside this place. With the silence, the sense of oppression grew stronger, an almost tangible threat constantly looming behind Cao Wei. But this hunter, more patient than Cao Wei had anticipated. No matter how he coughed up blood, no matter how he showed weakness, the opponent seemed to have no intention of coming out to battle him. The young man merely concealed himself silently in the darkness of the Taboo Land, like the most seasoned lone wolf, waiting for the prey to exhaust itself. Countdown 30:00:00. Cao Wei had been running from morning until evening. But no matter how he ran, he couldn''t escape the Taboo Land. His internal injuries were worsening; even for a C-Class Expert, it was becoming unbearable. Initially, Cao Wei thought that as time passed, both he and his opponent would tire. After long durations of cardiovascular strain, the efficiency of blood oxygen supply would start to decrease, brain function would decline, hands and feet would begin to sweat, and judgment would no longer be so precise. Temper would gradually become irritable, no longer patient. But for some reason, the oppressive feeling was growing stronger with time! In Cao Wei''s perception, during nearly ten hours of this chase, the steps of his pursuer had never once faltered, and he had not been able to seize any opportunity. The opponent was like a cold, mighty, emotionless machine, its body merely an extension of a formidable will. In his mind, Cao Wei kept asking, is this what qualifies one to become a Knight? Without a doubt, the young man''s raw strength was not as great as his, but he was definitely the most patient opponent Cao Wei had ever encountered in his life. Unseen enemies, endless roads, the feeling of despair and suffocation. Whenever Cao Wei thought of resting, the fierce Autumn Leaf Knife would arrive on schedule, urging him to continue fleeing. Countdown 25:00:00. Suddenly, Cao Wei was tripped by a tree branch and fell to the ground. But this time he had no intention of getting up, just gasping for air as he lay on his back and then spoke to the dark woods, "Don''t you get tired? I know your target is actually Qing Huai, so why come after me instead of going for him first?" No one answered. But Cao Wei didn''t mind, he just continued, "When I was young, I really wanted to be a Knight, but I wasn''t as lucky as you. Later I joined the army, and with military achievements, I got the Genetic Potion, thinking even if I couldn''t follow the path of a Knight, it didn''t matter, I could still become a Transcendent. But today I realized, I am still far too lacking." During his speech, the Autumn Leaf Knife once again whistled through the air. "Found you!" Cao Wei suddenly sprang up from the ground. Between thunderous roars, he unleashed all his remaining potential in a burst of fury! Like a dying tiger, he charged into a dark part of the woods! Cao Wei laying on the ground earlier was not about admitting defeat, but to get his ears closer to the ground, to better judge Qing Chen''s position! He knew, once the opponent used the Autumn Leaf Knife again, he would immediately change positions to avoid being found following the knife''s trajectory. Then there would be footsteps! Having joined the army for over a decade, Cao Wei''s rise through the ranks wasn''t just due to luck and force, but also brains, courage, and persistence. He struggled through the Federation Army camps, demoted and made to serve the rich families'' sons like a dog, but he climbed up gritting his teeth, and a person like that would definitely not wait passively for death! In an instant, Cao Wei had pounced into the dark woods, and after more than ten hours, he finally saw that young man again, including the Fire Rune on his cheek. They were so close to each other, yet there was not the slightest fluctuation in the young man''s eyes. It was as if it wasn''t he who found his opponent, but the opponent waiting for him in this Taboo Land. Only, Cao Wei found it strange, the way the young man looked at him was odd, like a butcher eyeing a bull about to be slaughtered. In the darkness, the Federation soldier furiously swept his right-hand dagger in front of him, his arm and dagger slicing through the scattered leaves, fiercely slashing towards Qing Chen''s chest and abdomen. But Cao Wei realized that just as his muscles had tensed up, the young man in front already seemed to presciently know his movements. Stay updated via empire After a chase that lasted more than ten hours, the master''s strength was also dragged down to its lowest point by his injuries, he only felt a void in his hand, his seemingly deadly strike missed. What followed was the young man''s counterattack, his dagger brushing past Cao Wei''s own, leaving a deep gash in his arm. Cao Wei''s legs bent like a bow as he burst forward once more, swinging his arms, but his dagger just couldn''t touch the young man. The opponent seemed to always predict his attack based on how he tensed up beforehand. Then counterattacked. After just over ten seconds, Cao Wei had over a dozen new wounds, yet he hadn''t even touched the hem of Qing Chen''s clothes! Cao Wei knew he had become slower and weaker, but that wasn''t why he was being overpowered. He was being overpowered because of the young man''s ability to judge. Cao Wei felt that the other''s reaction speed wasn''t faster than his own, but he could judge his next move based on the changes in his clothes, the bulging muscles, the shift in his eyes, and how he powered his waist and legs. He didn''t know how the young man did it, only that he was very close to death. Very close. ... Chapter Ten! Requesting monthly votes for support! The ten chapters tonight were promised earlier, there will be more updates this afternoon! Chapter 159 158銆丳uppeteer (Added for Penguin Golden League) The next moment, just as Cao Wei had instinctively thought the youth would continue to dodge the trajectory of his dagger and counterattack with his own blade, he saw his opponent advance instead of retreating. In the forbidden land of the night, only a very sparse moonlight cast down. Cao Wei watched as the youth''s cold gaze got closer and closer; his right hand already moving towards the lower left, subconsciously wanting to reverse the dagger to slash through Qing Chen''s throat. But Qing Chen suddenly accelerated and approached, switching the dagger to his left hand while using his right hand to hold down Cao Wei''s wrist and the dagger, which was intended to slash the throat. At the same time, the dagger in the youth''s left hand plunged into the enemy''s spleen. Cao Wei froze, knowing where the dagger in his chest and abdomen had struck and that his death was certain, but he was unwilling to die alone. Suddenly, Cao Wei used the last of his strength to try to free his restrained right hand. But before his arm could break free, the youth ferociously bit down on his wrist, again clamping it down. Qing Chen charged forward with all his might, his expression ferocious as he bit the wrist. With a thunderous crash, Cao Wei''s whole body slammed against the tree behind him. This Federation soldier weakly looked at the eyes close at hand, those fierce, beast-like eyes staring intently at him, very close. Then those eyes gradually calmed. Cao Wei''s arm wound bled, staining the youth''s face with blood. A dozen seconds later, Qing Chen slowly relaxed his grip, allowing Cao Wei to slump to the ground. Cao Wei struggled to look up at him, then towards the depths of the Taboo Land. Qing Chen then explained, "I came to kill you first because I feared you might escape. Before I have the ability to help my teacher, I cannot let my Knight identity be publicly known." Cao Wei nodded with difficulty, signaling that he understood, and after a long silence, he mustered his final strength to ask, "Is the scenery atop Qing Shan cliffs beautiful?" Qing Chen thought for a moment and replied, "It is beautiful." "Thank you," Cao Wei closed his eyes. It was not until this moment that Qing Chen finally let out the breath he had been holding for many hours. This time, killing a C-Class had been exceedingly difficult. First, he made the opponent withstand an anti-infantry landmine blast, then the opponent lost the will to fight due to witnessing the Knight''s challenge, and ultimately, Qing Chen had to spend more than ten hours exhausting the opponent completely. The most crucial element was still that anti-infantry landmine; without it causing severe injuries to Cao Wei, Qing Chen could not have outlasted him. Yet Qing Chen was puzzled, why had Cao Wei chosen to withstand that landmine? Originally, he had only planned to make the opponent call for backup to delay their pursuit rhythm. At this moment, although Qing Chen had killed a man, he had not triggered the rules of the Taboo Land. In fact, the moment he had climbed the cliff, he had realized that this place was a stronghold for Knights; naturally, a Knight could do whatever he desired here. Therefore, his teacher could introduce the rules without restraint also because of his Knight status. Uncle Li Dong had said that all Taboo Lands also have a second set of passage rules. At that time, he did not mention what those rules were. But now, Qing Chen had guessed it: it was that if you meet certain conditions of a Taboo Land, that Taboo Land will become your stronghold. Even if you are merely a newcomer. Find more to read on empire It''s just that this was so difficult to achieve that no one had ever tried to "contain" a Taboo Land. Qing Chen slowly sat down next to Cao Wei, this pursuit that lasted over ten hours was not easy for him either. ... Countdown 24:00:00. "Teacher, you must be nearby?" Qing Chen asked tiredly to his surroundings, "I have some questions." "Cough cough, I am here," Uncle Li Dong emerged from the western woods below the cliff, still with some embarrassment. Despite saying he would accompany Qing Chen only a part of the way, he ended up sneaking into the nearby woods and secretly watched his own disciple. He clearly wasn''t as composed as he seemed! If Qing Shan Falcon knew about this, he would definitely despise him in his heart. Uncle Li Dong looked at Qing Chen, "What do you want to ask?" "I want to ask, after unlocking the Genetic lock, is my DNA still the same as before?" Qing Chen asked curiously. "Of course not," Uncle Li Dong shook his head, "Every Knight, when unlocking each layer of the Genetic lock, undergoes significant changes in their DNA." "Does it still fall within the category of humans?" Qing Chen pondered. "Of course, you are simply evolving towards more perfect genes, still human," Uncle Li Dong explained, "After unlocking the first Genetic lock, the hidden benefits are a longer lifespan and the genetic repair of familial hereditary diseases. For instance, if a male elder in your family had bald genes, that wouldn''t happen to you anymore. There are actually many genes like that." "That sounds pretty down-to-earth and practical," Qing Chen remarked, at least he wouldn''t have to worry about balding anymore. Uncle Li Dong continued, "Right now, you''ve just unlocked the first Genetic lock, so only your muscles have been enhanced. Later, as you unlock more, it will sequentially be the bones, skin, organs, until the fifth unlocking of the Genetic lock, then there will be ''qi''..." At this moment, the teacher realized something was amiss, because Qing Chen had ''qi'' even before unlocking the Genetic lock, so could they still judge his unlocking sequence by the usual logic? Qing Chen looked at his teacher and said, "Teacher, I can clearly feel that my bones, skin, organs have already changed from before, and my ''qi'' has also grown much stronger... You''ve seen that I can now pluck leaves and whisk flowers, though I can only do it a few times and the force isn''t as fierce." Uncle Li Dong seriously examined Qing Chen, then reached out to grasp the young man''s wrist, feeling his bones, "How strange, why are you so different!" In the teacher''s tone, there was some astonishment and even some resentment... Honestly, Uncle Li Dong was already considered extremely talented within the Knight Organization, as every Knight who unlocked the Genetic lock would vary in strength, and he had always been among the strongest. But now, the potential shown by Qing Chen was much greater than his. Prior to this, he had never heard of any senior who could use the Autumn Leaf Knife at the first Genetic lock! Since Qin Sheng invented the Breathing Technique, there hadn''t been such a special case! As Uncle Li Dong was pondering, he suddenly heard heavy and rapid footfalls coming from deep within the Taboo Land. The sound was loud like drumming, getting closer and closer. Qing Chen looked at Uncle Li Dong, only to see a hint of surprise on the latter''s face, but no hostility. The sound was coming from the heart of Taboo Land. Could it be some giant beast had broken through? The next moment, a muscular man over four meters tall parted the canopy and came before them, his hair disheveled, with an unusually naive face. However, Qing Chen noticed that this naive giant had two pupils in each eye socket. Double pupils! Uncle Li Dong curiously asked the giant, "Ding Dong? How did you come here?" Qing Chen was surprised; such a tall and strong giant had such a delicate and playful name! The naive Ding Dong didn''t speak; he slowly squatted down in front of Qing Chen, opening his giant hand, as big as a chair, and extending it towards the young man. There was nothing in his palm. Qing Chen asked in confusion, "Teacher, what does this mean?" But Uncle Li Dong did not answer him. Instead, his expression changed as he questioned into the darkness of the deep Taboo Land, "What do you mean by this? I haven''t given him the Taboo because it''s not time yet. Why are you so eager to give it, showing off? A bit of Taboo and you think you''re incredible, huh? I have them too! I''ve said it, skipping generations tends to spoil children, don''t you understand?" Qing Chen''s eyes widened as he looked at his usually gentle and friendly teacher, unaware why he suddenly lost his temper. Moreover, there was nothing in the giant''s palm! But Ding Dong smiled at Qing Chen, gesturing for him also to open his hand. Then, the giant carefully poured a bundle of transparent threads from his palm into Qing Chen''s hand. "Teacher, what is this?" Qing Chen asked. Uncle Li Dong, clearly annoyed, said, "Taboo ACE-019, ''Puppeteer''!" ... Chapter Eleven, always feels like it''s cut off at the wrong place! Vote for monthly support! Chapter 162 161, Missing Soldier ``` Originally, Li Yinuo planned to talk to Qing Huai about joining forces to kill the Jindai family. But the sudden doubts silenced her. Moreover, ever since Uncle Li Dong appeared in the wilderness, destroying the Jindai''s alliance marriage became no longer her focus. Now, all of Li Yinuo''s thoughts were on Uncle Li Dong and Qing Chen. Qing Chen had speculated that Li Yinuo might have come to the wilderness under Uncle Li Dong''s instructions, but in fact, she hadn''t. Truth be told, Li Yinuo herself was somewhat flattered; she knew that Uncle, being deliberate in his actions, brought the boy before her so she could get acquainted with him, allowing him to seek her out should he need assistance in the future. For Li Yinuo, the fact that an existence like Uncle Li Dong trusted her was in itself a matter of great honor. She guessed whether the boy had already passed the Knight''s life-and-death challenge, and fantasized about getting closer to Qing Chen, wondering if she could get him to speak to Uncle Li Dong on her behalf and let her try walking the path of a Knight too... Even if that were not possible, since Uncle Li Dong could take Wang Xiaojiu as a disciple in place of his teacher, perhaps Qing Chen could also take a disciple in his teacher''s stead... For Li Yinuo, compared to matters such as these, what was the Jindai family''s business worth?! At the moment, two members of the Jindai family were still with the Autumn Hunting Team, and after everyone dealt with their physiological needs, Jindai''s eyes sparkled as he looked at Qing Huai. "Father, is this Qing Huai?" Jindai looked at Qing Huai''s sculpture-like face and then thought of his current demeanor. When other young nobles had to hold back their urges, he was strolling leisurely in the Taboo Land, with more than twenty loyal subordinates by his side... It must be said that Qing Huai''s timing with the sealed bag was impeccable. The team had oil drums to use a couple days ago, but there were too many people, and the drums were filled with urine by yesterday. Next, Li Yinuo ordered everyone to stop drinking water, which made everyone exceptionally tired at this moment. At this instant, Jindai surely thought highly of Qing Huai. The woods were noisy because, due to meeting up with Qing Huai, the tense nerves of those young nobles had finally relaxed a little. Everyone shared the joy of a narrow escape as if they had been saved. However, just then, Wang Bingxu, the highest-ranking person there, suddenly said in surprise, "Huh, why have the sounds of soldiers digging in the woods stopped? Speak up, those in the woods!" But the soldiers that should have been digging and filling the holes in the woods did not respond. Everyone grew alert! Li Yinuo slowly walked towards the woods nearby, with Wang Bingxu following closely behind her. The two of them arrived at the edge of the hole and were stunnedthe hole had been dug, but the two soldiers were missing! "Miss Yino, there''s a smell of blood," said Wang Bingxu calmly. Li Yinuo nodded, "They''re probably dead." Their voices discussing this carried through the woods. Everyone in the Autumn Hunting Team''s faces changed; they instinctively huddled together, forming a circle, warily observing the Taboo Land that was gradually cloaked by night. In the woods, Li Yinuo showed no fear; she carefully looked down at the ground and found peculiar blood traces. The blood trail extended deep into the woods, disappearing into the darkness. Li Yinuo squatted next to the filled pit and stared at the ground: "This is strange, two people were killed at the same time, yet we didn''t hear any sounds while only a few dozen meters apart, could we have triggered some rule of the Taboo Land?" At that moment, Qing Huai also came over, and he said to Wang Bingxu, "The Taboo Land is indeed dangerous, with fierce beasts and plants everywhere. Could we ask Mr. Wang to make a move and check the traces of those two soldiers in the woods?" ``` Wang Bingxu thought for a moment and replied, "It''s possible, but..." Before he could finish, Li Yinuo, who was crouching beside the pit, crushed a leaf. She dusted off her hands, stood up, and grabbed the arm of the B-Class Expert, and said to Qing Huai, "The Taboo Land is too dangerous, the two soldiers are negligible, it''s better for Wang Bingxu to stay with the team to protect more people." After speaking, Li Yinuo also said to Nan Gengchen in the crowd, "Sweetheart, from now on you stay by Wang Bingxu''s side, he will protect you." Nan Gengchen sighed and resignedly responded, "Oh, alright." Wang Bingxu heard the implication in Li Yinuo''s words, he silently looked at Qing Huai, knowing that his clan''s young lady did not trust this Qing Huai. Therefore, the middle-aged man no longer planned to enter the woods in pursuit of the murderer but instead firmly protected four people. Li Yinuo, Nan Gengchen, Xiao Gong, and one was surprisingly the Time Traveler who had chosen to seduce with openness, Zhou Xuan. Qing Huai watched this scene and frowned deeply. He suddenly shouted, "Seventh squad leader, gather everyone! Check the numbers!" But everyone quickly discovered that the team, which should have consisted of 22 soldiers, now had only 18 left. Everyone internally cursed, the disappearance wasn''t just two people, but four! Li Yinuo, Qing Huai, and Wang Bingxu each checked the burial pits one by one, only to discover another pit just like the one before. There was blood on the edge of the pit, but the soldier beside it had vanished! A chill suddenly rose in Qing Huai''s heart. The two people previously considered deserters probably hadn''t fled... The young man who wanted to kill him had already caught up! That person had killed over a hundred of his subordinates, then killed Cao Wei, and now he had caught up to continue his killing! Just now, while the young aristocrats were causing a ruckus, the perpetrator had killed four more people right under their noses! This had been the opponent''s strategy all along, startlingly effective! But the question was, how was the opponent able to kill people inside the Taboo Land designated as "002"? Wasn''t there a rule in the Taboo Land that "killing was not allowed"? Or perhaps, were the soldiers who were dragged away not yet dead? Find more chapters on empire Moreover, how did the opponent, who was just an Ordinary Person, suddenly possess the strength to overpower soldiers? Wait, Qing Huai suddenly thought of something. In this "002" Taboo Land, there just happened to be a place that could enhance one''s strength! In an instant, everyone fell silent as the grave. Li Yinuo calmly surveyed the people around her, she alone perhaps knew the truth at this time. The leaf she had just crushed beside the burial pit was an Autumn Leaf Knife embedded in the soil. The young man had deliberately nailed the Autumn Leaf Knife beside the pit, which was in fact a way of revealing his identity, hinting at an inside-outside collaboration to kill Qing Huai. Now, she finally understood why Qing Huai''s field unit had reduced numbers. The other side had never managed to complete their mission, they had been forced to abandon it! Li Yinuo thought to herself: Earlier, she felt that person looked harmless enough, not very tough, but in a blink of an eye, that young man was close to wiping out all of Qing Huai''s men! However, she was curious, what did this young man want to do now? Chapter 161 160. The biggest flaw Countdown to return 6:00:00. Six o''clock in the evening. Twenty-five people were silently advancing northward through the dim woods. Commander Qing Huai walked in the middle of the team, his expression grave as he surveyed his surroundings. When the field team entered, there were over a hundred and fifty people, but now only a seventh platoon remained, and including Qing Huai, there were only 25 people left. Cao Wei had been missing for over twenty hours, and Qing Huai knew that if he had not returned by then, it was likely he had encountered misfortune. The team''s only C-Class expert had fallen, whether the young man was killed by Cao Wei or not, they could not linger any longer. As for the mission... they could only negotiate some interest swaps with the first and second houses after getting out. Mysteriously, Qing Huai always felt a dangerous presence following from behind. This feeling had no source or clues. The woods behind them were silent; however, he felt as if he was being watched by a demon. Qing Huai gave the platoon leader a meaningful look, and the latter immediately understood, quietly dispatching two soldiers, who concealed themselves in the dim shadows as they passed a cluster of shrubs. The two soldiers, each holding a sensor grenade and a dagger, were ready to throw the grenades at any moment. The grenades were powerful enough to kill someone and directly trigger the rules. Qing Huai had never informed the soldiers about this rule, hoping that when the final moment came, they would kill the enemy without hesitation. Whether the soldiers triggered the rules or not was unimportant; he just needed to ensure he did not trigger them himself. The rest of the team continued their slow advance forward. Qing Huai and the platoon leader lagged behind at the end of the line, always listening for any sounds from behind. However, after walking for 10 minutes, they heard no warning from the two ambushed soldiers. "Call them back," Qing Huai frowned and said, "I might have been overcautious." But shortly afterward, a soldier ran back and said, "Commander, those two people are gone!" "Gone?" Qing Huai was stunned for a moment, "Is there any trace at the scene?" "No blood, no signs of a fight," the soldier replied. The platoon leader whispered beside him, "Commander, I suspect they may have deserted." Deserters? Qing Huai sternly surveyed the surrounding soldiers, who all involuntarily lowered their heads when his gaze swept over them. They all now knew that the killer was targeting Qing Huai. Now that even Cao Wei was dead, naturally, no one wanted to share the same fate with him. Perhaps everyone had their second thoughts, but no one dared to voice or act on them. However, Qing Huai was now unsure whether those two men had deserted or had been silenced by someone. If it was the latter, who could kill so silently and leave no trace of a fight?! "Keep moving forward," Qing Huai said calmly, "Everyone has families to think of. Consider everything thoroughly before acting. If I die here but you return alive to the Federation, how would Qing''s family treat you? Alright, let''s set off." As they moved northward, the leading soldier suddenly squatted down, lifting his right hand to signal the rest to stop. Instantly, the soldiers dispersed behind the trees on both sides for cover. Soon, a human voice was heard saying, "Are we lost? It feels like I''ve seen this path the day before yesterday. Hey, Wang Bingxu, did you lead us the wrong way?" An impatient girl''s voice said, "If you can find a way out, then lead the way yourself, otherwise shut up. Be careful not to break the rules, or you won''t even know how you died. And be more polite to Wang Bingxu in the future, understand?" Hidden in the woods, Qing Huai furrowed his brows. What was going on? He had thought it was the first or second house that had sent people to kill him, but now it seemed not. And the name Wang Bingxu sounded particularly familiar. Wasn''t he the B-Class expert stationed with the Autumn Hunting Team? This Wang Bingxu was also an officer in the Federal Second Group Army two years ago before the Li Family recruited him following an injury to his right leg. "It''s the Autumn Hunting Team," Qing Huai stated, "Put away the daggers, proceed normally, and none of you are to reveal any details about our mission!" Having said that, Qing Huai took the lead and walked forward. Upon encountering the other party, he immediately spotted Li Yinuo at the forefront of the Autumn Hunting Team. At this moment, everyone in the Autumn Hunting Team looked disheveled. In the financial circles, Qing Huai was quite famous; thus, many heirs of the financial clans recognized him immediately: "It''s Qing Huai! We''ve joined up with Qing Huai! We''re saved!" After a brief silence, Qing Huai asked, "How are you all here?" An outspoken person replied, "We were being chased by wilderness folks and barely managed to shake them off in the Taboo Land. Running into you guys is such a relief, we''re saved!" Members of Qing''s family also gathered around: "Brother Qing Huai, please save us!" In everyone''s eyes, Qing Huai was among the most capable members of the younger generation in his direct lineage, quite distinct from these marginalized wealthy heirs. At least, there wasn''t a single scratch visible on Qing Huai''s team, and their clothes were neatly arranged. Looking back at the Autumn Hunting Team, it was a different story. Not only were their clothes torn, but their faces were scratched too, and they all stood uneasily, betraying a clear sign of urgency. Inside the Taboo Land, when a group of privileged youths encountered the regular army, their first reaction was, of course, that they were saved. However, what they didn''t know was that the situation of these regular soldiers was even more precarious than theirs! Moreover, at this moment, Qing Huai had a new plan: he wanted to escape the Taboo Land with these people. The more people with him, the safer he would be. Even if someone came after them, they had Wang Bingxu, a B-Class Expert, in the Autumn Hunting Team, along with a bunch of spoiled youths to shield him. This way, his chances of survival would increase significantly. Qing Huai thought for a moment and said to the platoon leader beside him, "Distribute some of our sealed bags to them, making sure two people can share one. Then dig seven burial pits and scatter them around." "Received," the platoon leader took people to distribute the sealed bags; they still had plenty left. After all, the field company originally planned to travel in the Taboo Land for 15 days, but now they had to retreat after just three days. The group of spoiled youths were overjoyed when they saw the sealed bags: "Brother Qing Huai, you guys were really well-prepared!" Now, seeing that Qing Huai already knew the rules of Taboo Land No. 002, everyone felt more reassured. And seeing him distribute such crucial supplies subconsciously made them feel that Qing Huai was trustworthy. Only the platoon leader had realized: Commander Qing Huai indeed wanted to gain their trust, but the act of digging and burying had an ulterior motive. They had already had their burial pits dug up before; Commander Qing Huai knew well that leaving these things in the wild could cost lives. So, Qing Huai was doing this deliberately. If someone tracking them discovered the burial pits, they might think they belonged to his field company, and then they would waste some time on digging. The platoon leader felt some admiration; the real elites in these corporations were ruthlessly cunning. As the soldiers from the platoon dug the burial pits, they exchanged knowing looks. But no one spoke out. Using others as a shield was always better than dying themselves. Now that they were on the same boat with Qing Huai, they naturally had to keep the secret for their commander. At this time, Qing Huai looked at Li Yinuo: "Are you leading the Autumn Hunting this time?" "Yes," Li Yinuo nodded. "I see you guys went in without any preparations. How could you just rush into the Taboo Land?" Qing Huai was puzzled. "We were forced. We didn''t plan to enter the Taboo Land otherwise; I would have requested the confidential files on the Taboo Land rules from the clan. The Fire Pit people suddenly appeared in the wilderness and drove us into the Taboo Land. Look, even Jindai family''s fleet was wiped out by Fire Pit," Li Yinuo explained. Qing Huai furrowed his brows tighter. A report inside his division had indicated connections between the senior room and Fire Pit; this was probably their scheme to assassinate him. He hesitated for a moment: "Where are the wilderness people now?" If Fire Pit had A-Class experts capable of wiping out the Jindai family and forcing a B-Class Expert like Wang Bingxu to hide in the Taboo Land, continuing north would be walking into a trap. Rather than confronting an A-Class, he''d prefer to turn back and face that ordinary youth. Discover stories at empire Qing Huai cursed inwardly; he hadn''t expected the senior room to spend so much just to set him up. Getting an elder from Fire Pit to come out of the snowy mountains was no small feat! But then he heard Li Yinuo say, "Initially, Fire Pit was pursuing us, but then they suddenly vanished without a trace." "It wasn''t you who evaded their tracking?" Qing Huai was doubtful. "Yes," Li Yinuo glanced at him, "With A-Class in their group, evading them wouldn''t be that easy." Qing Huai breathed a sigh of relief; he guessed where Fire Pit had gone. They likely knew his mission objective and had directly entered the inner parts of the Taboo Land, planning to lie in wait for him in the target area. They probably didn''t expect him to retreat ahead of schedule! However, Qing Huai did not disclose this and instead said to Li Yinuo, "Don''t worry, now that you''ve joined us, I naturally will lead you safely out. Why don''t you hand over the command of the Autumn Hunting Team to me as well?" Qing Huai finally revealed his intentions. With the command of the Autumn Hunting Team, Qing Huai would be able to direct Wang Bingxu! But at this moment, Li Yinuo was also puzzled, "I heard you were here to carry out a mission related to Shadow. How come it ended so quickly?" Qing Huai calmly answered, "With my capabilities, completing the mission was quite simple. "Then I also heard that you came with a company, and now only so few of you are left," Li Yinuo further inquired. Qing Huai countered, "Isn''t it normal to have casualties when venturing deep into the heart of the Taboo Land?" It was certainly normal to have casualties. But Li Yinuo still felt something was off. A field company had come here, and even the famous vice-commandant Cao Wei had vanished without a trace, yet Qing Huai and the others looked so neat! That was the biggest discrepancy. But Li Yinuo couldn''t figure out what had happened; her imagination was somewhat lacking. She thought for a moment and then said, "The Autumn Hunting Team is just a bunch of spoiled youths; why direct them? You must be very tired after completing your mission. Let''s keep the command of the Autumn Hunting Team with me, and I will cooperate with you. I had contacted the nearby Federal Group Army before coming in, and they should arrive very soon." Qing Huai gazed deeply at Li Yinuo, uncertain if she had sensed something. But Li Yinuo brought some good news tooreinforcements! Originally, he and the Federal Group Army had agreed to meet in the Taboo Land after 15 days, but it seemed they might arrive earlier. Chapter 162 161, Missing Soldier ``` Originally, Li Yinuo planned to talk to Qing Huai about joining forces to kill the Jindai family. But the sudden doubts silenced her. Moreover, ever since Uncle Li Dong appeared in the wilderness, destroying the Jindai''s alliance marriage became no longer her focus. Now, all of Li Yinuo''s thoughts were on Uncle Li Dong and Qing Chen. Qing Chen had speculated that Li Yinuo might have come to the wilderness under Uncle Li Dong''s instructions, but in fact, she hadn''t. Truth be told, Li Yinuo herself was somewhat flattered; she knew that Uncle, being deliberate in his actions, brought the boy before her so she could get acquainted with him, allowing him to seek her out should he need assistance in the future. For Li Yinuo, the fact that an existence like Uncle Li Dong trusted her was in itself a matter of great honor. She guessed whether the boy had already passed the Knight''s life-and-death challenge, and fantasized about getting closer to Qing Chen, wondering if she could get him to speak to Uncle Li Dong on her behalf and let her try walking the path of a Knight too... Even if that were not possible, since Uncle Li Dong could take Wang Xiaojiu as a disciple in place of his teacher, perhaps Qing Chen could also take a disciple in his teacher''s stead... For Li Yinuo, compared to matters such as these, what was the Jindai family''s business worth?! At the moment, two members of the Jindai family were still with the Autumn Hunting Team, and after everyone dealt with their physiological needs, Jindai''s eyes sparkled as he looked at Qing Huai. "Father, is this Qing Huai?" Jindai looked at Qing Huai''s sculpture-like face and then thought of his current demeanor. When other young nobles had to hold back their urges, he was strolling leisurely in the Taboo Land, with more than twenty loyal subordinates by his side... It must be said that Qing Huai''s timing with the sealed bag was impeccable. The team had oil drums to use a couple days ago, but there were too many people, and the drums were filled with urine by yesterday. Next, Li Yinuo ordered everyone to stop drinking water, which made everyone exceptionally tired at this moment. At this instant, Jindai surely thought highly of Qing Huai. The woods were noisy because, due to meeting up with Qing Huai, the tense nerves of those young nobles had finally relaxed a little. Everyone shared the joy of a narrow escape as if they had been saved. However, just then, Wang Bingxu, the highest-ranking person there, suddenly said in surprise, "Huh, why have the sounds of soldiers digging in the woods stopped? Speak up, those in the woods!" But the soldiers that should have been digging and filling the holes in the woods did not respond. Everyone grew alert! Li Yinuo slowly walked towards the woods nearby, with Wang Bingxu following closely behind her. The two of them arrived at the edge of the hole and were stunnedthe hole had been dug, but the two soldiers were missing! "Miss Yino, there''s a smell of blood," said Wang Bingxu calmly. Li Yinuo nodded, "They''re probably dead." Their voices discussing this carried through the woods. Everyone in the Autumn Hunting Team''s faces changed; they instinctively huddled together, forming a circle, warily observing the Taboo Land that was gradually cloaked by night. In the woods, Li Yinuo showed no fear; she carefully looked down at the ground and found peculiar blood traces. The blood trail extended deep into the woods, disappearing into the darkness. Li Yinuo squatted next to the filled pit and stared at the ground: "This is strange, two people were killed at the same time, yet we didn''t hear any sounds while only a few dozen meters apart, could we have triggered some rule of the Taboo Land?" At that moment, Qing Huai also came over, and he said to Wang Bingxu, "The Taboo Land is indeed dangerous, with fierce beasts and plants everywhere. Could we ask Mr. Wang to make a move and check the traces of those two soldiers in the woods?" ``` Wang Bingxu thought for a moment and replied, "It''s possible, but..." Before he could finish, Li Yinuo, who was crouching beside the pit, crushed a leaf. She dusted off her hands, stood up, and grabbed the arm of the B-Class Expert, and said to Qing Huai, "The Taboo Land is too dangerous, the two soldiers are negligible, it''s better for Wang Bingxu to stay with the team to protect more people." After speaking, Li Yinuo also said to Nan Gengchen in the crowd, "Sweetheart, from now on you stay by Wang Bingxu''s side, he will protect you." Nan Gengchen sighed and resignedly responded, "Oh, alright." Wang Bingxu heard the implication in Li Yinuo''s words, he silently looked at Qing Huai, knowing that his clan''s young lady did not trust this Qing Huai. Therefore, the middle-aged man no longer planned to enter the woods in pursuit of the murderer but instead firmly protected four people. Li Yinuo, Nan Gengchen, Xiao Gong, and one was surprisingly the Time Traveler who had chosen to seduce with openness, Zhou Xuan. Qing Huai watched this scene and frowned deeply. He suddenly shouted, "Seventh squad leader, gather everyone! Check the numbers!" But everyone quickly discovered that the team, which should have consisted of 22 soldiers, now had only 18 left. Everyone internally cursed, the disappearance wasn''t just two people, but four! Li Yinuo, Qing Huai, and Wang Bingxu each checked the burial pits one by one, only to discover another pit just like the one before. There was blood on the edge of the pit, but the soldier beside it had vanished! A chill suddenly rose in Qing Huai''s heart. The two people previously considered deserters probably hadn''t fled... The young man who wanted to kill him had already caught up! That person had killed over a hundred of his subordinates, then killed Cao Wei, and now he had caught up to continue his killing! Just now, while the young aristocrats were causing a ruckus, the perpetrator had killed four more people right under their noses! This had been the opponent''s strategy all along, startlingly effective! But the question was, how was the opponent able to kill people inside the Taboo Land designated as "002"? Wasn''t there a rule in the Taboo Land that "killing was not allowed"? Or perhaps, were the soldiers who were dragged away not yet dead? Find more chapters on empire Moreover, how did the opponent, who was just an Ordinary Person, suddenly possess the strength to overpower soldiers? Wait, Qing Huai suddenly thought of something. In this "002" Taboo Land, there just happened to be a place that could enhance one''s strength! In an instant, everyone fell silent as the grave. Li Yinuo calmly surveyed the people around her, she alone perhaps knew the truth at this time. The leaf she had just crushed beside the burial pit was an Autumn Leaf Knife embedded in the soil. The young man had deliberately nailed the Autumn Leaf Knife beside the pit, which was in fact a way of revealing his identity, hinting at an inside-outside collaboration to kill Qing Huai. Now, she finally understood why Qing Huai''s field unit had reduced numbers. The other side had never managed to complete their mission, they had been forced to abandon it! Li Yinuo thought to herself: Earlier, she felt that person looked harmless enough, not very tough, but in a blink of an eye, that young man was close to wiping out all of Qing Huai''s men! However, she was curious, what did this young man want to do now? Chapter 163 162. Professional Development of an Insider Li Yinuo gave Wang Bingxu a signal with her eyes, and the four of them returned to the crowd together. In terms of closeness, she was definitely on the side of Uncle Li Dong and Qing Chen. Even if it wasn''t for the sake of obtaining the Knight inheritance, Uncle Li Dong was her blood-related seventh uncle. In fact, many people didn''t know that the Head of the Li Family was fond of Li Yinuo, partly because Uncle Li Dong had liked Li Yinuo''s temperament since she was young. So, at this moment, she intentionally or unintentionally moved closer to those soldiers from the combat unit, looking every bit the insider she was supposed to be. If the young man needed her help to eliminate these obstacles, she would act promptly. This was a manifestation of professional integrity as an insider: securing advantageous terrain in advance! However, after those four soldiers disappeared, there was no more noise, no one was spying in the woods, and no more attacks occurred, as if the events before never happened. Qing Huai grew anxious. He looked towards Li Yinuo, "The Taboo Land is still too dangerous, let''s head north now. We have marked our current position on the tactical map, it''s only a five-hour journey to the north to get out of the Taboo Land!" Upon hearing his confident words and learning that only five hours would free them, everyone''s spirit was visibly lifted: "Then let''s set off quickly, what are we waiting for?!" However, upon hearing this, Li Yinuo immediately voiced her opposition, "I disagree!" Qing Huai frowned and turned to her, "Why not?!" Li Yinuo looked around at the pampered children and said, "Do you really think it''s that easy to traverse the Taboo Land? Have you all forgotten? Yesterday, we intended to head east, but after one night, we found ourselves going west." The crowd exchanged looks, and indeed, what Li Yinuo said was true. Li Yinuo continued, "The Taboo Land is strange; it''s very easy to lose your way at night. Now that it''s getting dark, we can''t just set off rashly." Qing Huai said coldly, "We are only five hours away from the northern border!" Li Yinuo retorted, "That''s exactly why we need to remain calm. The most dangerous part of walking on a tightrope is the last three steps. We have threats around us now, so we should be starting a bonfire and staying grouped for defense, not traveling through the night." "And," Li Yinuo said expressionlessly, "I don''t trust you." "You don''t trust me?" Qing Huai was taken aback, "On what basis do you not trust me?" "You know very well," Li Yinuo sneered, "I guess you didn''t complete the mission at all but encountered a very dangerous situation and had to terminate it. I know you came here to find the Taboo item ACE-003 ''Snake of Trickery.'' If you want to refute me, show the Taboo item to prove it." At this point, Qing Huai fell silent. Because Li Yinuo had hit the nail on the head! Moreover, the first task for all the candidates involved in the Shadow competition was to find a specific Taboo item. During the first round of selection, no candidate was allowed to carry a Taboo item for assistance; after the selection, whatever Taboo items they found became their own property and didn''t need to be turned in. Qing Huai took a deep breath. He knew that some pampered children would definitely follow him if he incited them now, but Wang Bingxu would certainly not go with him! He needed this B-Class Expert by his side! At this moment, Qing Huai still didn''t know that Li Yinuo had become an insider. And Li Yinuo''s opposition was simply because she was meant to oppose everything Qing Huai proposed, to assist Qing Chen. This was a manifestation of professional integrity as an insider! Thus, the group was at a stalemate, everyone pondering Li Yinuo''s words while observing Qing Huai''s reactions. It didn''t take long for everyone to realize that Qing Huai really couldn''t produce the ACE-003 Taboo item ''Snake of Trickery,'' so he had indeed been lying before! Qing Huai sneered at Li Yinuo, "I had heard that the eldest princess of the third generation of the Li family was brave but meticulous, and today I see it''s true." "There''s no need for such impotent fury," Li Yinuo said calmly, "I now suspect that you have led some dangerous entity here, and that''s why you gave up on the mission. I ask you to leave the Autumn Hunting Team, and we must keep our distance." However, just at this moment, a figure stumbled out from the woods, loudly calling for help, "Save me! Save me!" The cry for help broke the deadlock, and everyone turned to look, only to discover it was the field soldier who had just gone missing! The man was covered in blood, with cuts on both his legs and arms, and his once tidy combat uniform was now tattered and full of holes. The platoon leader hurried over, "Wang Qiang, what happened, where are the others?!" However, before the platoon leader could get there, he was blocked by Qing Huai raising his right hand. All Qing Huai said, emotionless, was, "Stand still, lift your face!" Wang Qiang stopped in his tracks, pleading, "Officer, save me!" Qing Huai said to the others, "This Taboo Land is very strange. Send someone to check him, see if he''s really still alive." A soldier who was on good terms with Wang Qiang ran over, checked his pulse, pupils, and heartbeat, "Reporting to the officer, he''s still alive, please give him medical treatment." "Hmm," Qing Huai nodded indifferently, "First give him treatment, check his injuries." Someone took out a medical kit and approached, while the platoon leader asked, "Wang Qiang, what exactly happened, where are the others?" Wang Qiang spoke weakly and softly, "We were originally digging holes, but suddenly someone attacked from behind, dragging us into the woods..." His condition was getting weaker and weaker, his voice getting softer and softer, so soft that one had to be close to hear clearly. Qing Huai involuntarily took two steps forward. But the next moment, the situation drastically changed! The previously weak Wang Qiang suddenly surged up, pushed away the soldier beside him, and drew a dagger tucked in his combat boots. He violently lunged at Qing Huai with the dagger! Qing Huai sneered. He had been prepared for such a situation. Before Wang Qiang''s dagger could reach him, his own had already preemptively struck towards Wang Qiang''s abdomen. Qing Huai planned to repel Wang Qiang and then have the platoon leader take control of him for questioning. Find more chapters on empire But an even more unexpected twist occurred, as Wang Qiang, seeing the incoming dagger, didn''t dodge, but instead accelerated, as if exhausting all his life force, to collide with Qing Huai''s blade. In an instant, even though Qing Huai had swiftly reduced his strength, his dagger had already sliced into the space between Wang Qiang''s chest and abdomen. The already heavily wounded Wang Qiang couldn''t hold on any longer and slowly fell to the ground. Everyone was stunned by the two twists, completely unaware of what had happened. Before they could react, Qing Huai suddenly, without a word, sprinted northward! On the way, vines suddenly rose from the accumulated decayed leaves, trying to tightly entangle Qing Huai. But Qing Huai simply struck hard, tearing all the vines apart! In just a few seconds, the power and speed Qing Huai displayed were extraordinarily astonishing. Wang Bingxu said softly, "Miss Yino, this Qing Huai is actually a hidden C-Class, and he''s at the top tier of C-Class." Li Yinuo nodded, she had noticed it too, "He must know now that he''s triggered a rule, planning to use his strength to battle through and get out of the edge of the Taboo Land." "Impossible," Wang Bingxu shook his head, "Even if this is the edge of the Taboo Land, you can''t just force your way through the rules without being B-Class." But Qing Huai had to make a run for it because the longer he stayed in the Taboo Land, the greater the danger grew every second. Chapter 164 163. You are not as good as Cao Wei (Added for breaking the record of first orders) ``` Triggering the rules of Taboo Land doesn''t warrant direct annihilation. So theoretically, everyone can still escape from Taboo Land after triggering the rules, depending on your strength. In the Inner World, there''s a common saying: If you trigger the rules of Taboo Land, you might as well find a nice place and wait for death. Your journey continues with empire But if you have B-Class strength, you can try to bust through the edges of Taboo Land. If you have A-Class strength, you can try to break out of the depths of Taboo Land. If you are S-Class, then you do as you please. That''s why Wang Bingxu said that even with Qing Huai''s top-tier C-Class strength, it would be impossible for him to break out. However, at this moment, Li Yinuo suddenly said, "But if he''s telling the truth, that there''s only a five-hour journey left to the border of Taboo Land, then maybe he really could hold on until that moment." But Li Yinuo had another thought she didn''t voice, she knew that the young man hunting Qing Huai would never let him leave. ... Countdown 3:00:00. It was nearing midnight. Qing Huai''s left arm hung uselessly at his side, swinging around like a broken bag whenever he ran. When he ripped apart vines just now, a wasp from Taboo Land stung him carelessly, causing his entire left arm to throb in pain, so much so that his hand swelled up like a steamed bun. If he hadn''t possessed C-Class physical condition, this sting alone could have left his body paralyzed! Qing Huai had always declared himself as D-Class when discussing his strength, secretly hiding his true capabilities, hoping to surprise those who plotted against him. But he had not expected that his first enemy in the Shadow Conflict would be so fierce. He vividly remembered, just before the assassin Wang Qiang died, he was clearly smiling silently. Every time Qing Huai thought of that smile, he felt a chill down his spine, for even death warriors have emotional turmoil before sacrificing themselves, with regrets, fears, but Wang Qiang seemed to have none. He was just smiling. That eerie pre-death smile seemed to say: Hiding your strength is useless, you''re marked for death. Qing Huai faintly felt that the sense of imminent danger constantly looming over him was still there, the person controlling Wang Qiang still hidden in the darkness. At that very moment, a dark cloud followed closely behind Qing Huai, from which a buzzing sound emerged; it was an unknown number of poisonous insects buzzing in the air, chasing after him. In an instant, more vines swept up from the ground ahead, just like a well-woven net, lunging towards him. Qing Huai clenched his teeth and leapt forcefully, his body shooting up just high enough to barely evade the sprawling net. Had he jumped any lower, his ankles would likely have been ensnared by those ground plants. However, before he could feel relief, there came a whistling from the woodstwo spinning sycamore leaves shot through the gaps between the trees, streaking out from the darkness like lightning. "Autumn Leaf Knife!" Qing Huai exclaimed. The angles of these two Autumn Leaf Knives were too tricky, and their timing too cunning. The young man hidden in the forest had indeed been following all along, but even with one of Qing Huai''s arms out of commission, he waited for the perfect moment. And that moment was when Qing Huai leapt up and was unable to change his trajectory! If the deceased Cao Wei were to evaluate him, he''d undoubtedly regard this young man as the world''s best hunternot for technique, not for strength, but for patience and combat intelligence. Qing Huai was cornered and forced to awkwardly twist his core strength in mid-air to take the two Autumn Leaf Knives on his back. As the Autumn Leaf Knives cut into his skin at the crucial moment, Qing, an elite of Qing''s Family, suddenly tensed his back muscles, trapping the knives tightly to prevent them from penetrating any further. Qing Huai felt fortunate that he was not facing a well-known Knight; otherwise, those two Autumn Leaf Knives alone would have been enough to end his life. Nevertheless, the appearance of the Autumn Leaf Knives still disrupted his balance. ``` The C-Class Expert''s survival instinct instantly kicked in, and this outstanding member of Qing''s Family''s younger generation felt his muscles strangely quiver. Just as Qing Huai''s foot made contact with the rotting leaves on the ground, his legs suddenly exerted force, skewedly pushing against the ground, and like a cannonball, he continued to leap forward. In mid-air, he desperately adjusted his body angle, and by the time he landed again, he had regained his balance! This was the power of a C-Class, where bones and muscles have completely surpassed the limits of humanity; every leap was akin to an astronaut bounding across the surface of the moon, spanning distance with ease. In the previous battle with Cao Wei, it wasn''t that Qing Chen was overly cautious, but that he had to engage in a pursuit that lasted over twenty hours with his severely wounded prey. It was simply because the Transcendents in the Inner World were too ferocious, and Qing Chen was not able to confront the opponent head-on at the moment. In the dark expanse of the Taboo Land, as Qing Huai fled pell-mell, dodging both the pursuit and obstacles, he also glanced around. The next moment, he was surprised to find the youth running parallel to him, more than ten meters away. Qing Huai gritted his teeth as he looked over, the trees between them retreating crazily in their field of vision, yet it seemed like the road ahead was endless. He had to face obstacles; Qing Chen did not, resulting in their speeds being inextricably matched. Just then, the youth opened his mouth, and Qing Huai''s heart tensed. And then he saw the other party, expressionless, saying to him, "You were born without an asshole." Qing Huai felt a blockage of foul air trapped in his chest and abdomen, as if it was going to shatter his rhythm of action, disrupting the equilibrium of his breath, muscles, heart, lungs, and bones. Before he could recover, he heard Qing Chen, with an undisturbed tone, say, "Your wife is cheating on you." "You''re not your father''s biological son." "The father of a father is called grandfather." "I am your dad." Qing Huai: "???" Qing Huai felt he was going insane. Did you catch up just to curse?! But the most crucial point was that he couldn''t even talk back! Triggering one rule, either the edge dwellers or the flora of the Taboo Land would chase him; triggering another rule, creatures from within the territory would come after him, and then it would be a true instance of having no place to bury oneself! As he fled, Qing Huai suddenly changed direction, rushing toward Qing Chen. It was like two trains originally running parallel on their tracks, but suddenly one aggressive train veered off course to collide with the other. However, as soon as he changed his stride, Qing Chen''s figure once again submerged into the darkness, not giving the other any chance for mutual destruction. Just as Qing Chen vanished into the dark, he left Qing Huai with a remark, "You are inferior to Cao Wei." Qing Huai''s expression registered shock for a moment, as he hadn''t expected the other to suddenly say that! During that brief moment of distraction, he felt a piercing pain in his right leg, as if someone was scraping his bones raw with a steel knife. Knowing this was bad, Qing Huai acted swiftly, decisively carving out a piece of flesh from his leg with a dagger and along with it, the Six-winged insect that was biting him. Even so, toxins remained near the wound. Qing Huai cursed inwardly. If he had advanced to B-Class and had stronger skin, the Six-winged insect''s bite probably wouldn''t have been able to penetrate, but he was not B-Class! ... Chapter Four, the first complete 24-hour subscription for the new book was 61,700, which is of course what I saw from the backend. The current average subscription is 50,023, which surprised me. I thought it would drop a lot after the first subscriptions, but I didn''t expect such good growth in the numbers. Thank you all for your support, so here''s an additional release! ... Thank you to the Alliance Hierarchs: Black Mountain Old Ghost, Flying Fish Soaring Dragon, Fisher Little Heaven, Little Dumpling from the Moon, Wind Family & Yiyi Wing, Cute Little Rabbit, Mi Charm, Passing through This World, Xiang Kai, Verse Makes Demons and Gods Marvel, Top-grade Iced Latte, for becoming the new supporters of this book. The bosses are generous, bosses, I love you! Chapter 165 164. Chasing the Killer Countdown 2:00:00. 10:00 PM. The dense night had completely enveloped Taboo Land, and the already somber Human Prohibited Area seemed even more terrifying and eerie. Qing Huai limped as he ran, his arm had been rendered useless, and one of his legs was severely injured. A wound on his thigh continually bled, but fortunately, as a C-Class Expert, his self-healing abilities were strong enough to barely hold on. Experience tales at empire There was still a sliver of hope left in Qing Huai''s heart. Though he had lied to the Autumn Hunting Team previously, one statement was true: according to the tactical map, they could indeed exit Taboo Land if they continued north for five more hours. Moreover, that was the estimated walking speed. Logically speaking, if he were to sprint north at full speed, he should have already escaped. Qing Huai calculated the time, by now, the troops from the Federal Second Group Army sent to rendezvous should have already reached the outskirts of Taboo Land. That field camp was led by his own uncle, so there shouldn''t be any slip-ups. But something had indeed gone wrong with him. Qing Huai kept dodging the strange plants within Taboo Land, and most frustratingly, there were even monkeys in the tree canopies occasionally throwing fruits at him. Those little creatures were surprisingly strong, and a careless hit by a fruit could cause him to lose balance. Qing Huai thought to himself that the brash young man who could wield the Autumn Leaf Knife and knew so many rules of the Number 002 Taboo Land was undoubtedly a Knight. The legend stated that Number 002 Taboo Land was the Knight''s home ground, so the fact that he had been running for so long without escapingcould it be because this terrifying and huge existence didn''t want him to leave?! As he became more and more terrified, the young man appeared again, still walking alongside him, "You are not your mother''s biological child." "Your wife is cheating on you... I think I''ve said that before, let me change it, your grandpa is cheating on men." Qing Huai: "???" He almost spat out a mouthful of blood right there. Are you ever going to stop? However, a second later, something even more horrifying happenedthe young man who had just been promoted to a Knight and could wield the Autumn Leaf Knife suddenly pulled out a thick stack of leaves from his pocket. So, when you disappeared just now, were you off collecting leaves? But... there''s no need to collect so many, right?! Even if the other party''s strength is weak and the Autumn Leaf Knife isn''t very lethal, it''s a problem if there are too many of them! That stack of leaves, at the very least, numbered over a hundred! Qing Chen, running beside him, suddenly pulled out a leaf, flicked his wrist lightly and threw it. Qing Huai instinctively dodged, but he quickly realized that the leaf that had just been thrown hadn''t been transformed into a knife at all and floated in the air powerlessly, as if he was throwing funeral paper money at him! Qing Huai scowled. You throw an Autumn Leaf Knife, and that''s fine, but what''s the deal with trying to scare people? In fact, Qing Chen, who had just been promoted to Knight, could only throw four or five Autumn Leaf Knives in an hour, and considering the gap in their strength, even if all five hit, they wouldn''t kill him. Moreover, making all five hit accurately was incredibly difficult. Although Qing Huai''s injuries were getting more serious, a C-Class was still a C-Class. So, the best strategy was to mix feints with real attacks to maximize impact at the smallest cost. Every so often, Qing Chen would throw a leaf, each flying straight for a second before veering oddly off course the next. And Qing Huai couldn''t avoid it! Avoiding it would slow down his progress! At that moment, this elite of Qing''s Family was so frustrated that his head and eyes hurt. Having gone through great lengths to defy the rules and run, but on the way, someone kept throwing "funeral paper money" at him! And after throwing more than twenty leaves without a single real Autumn Leaf Knife, his speed was getting slower due to dodging the trajectory of the Autumn Leaf Knife, while the dark clouds from behind threatened to engulf him! This was just infuriating. The next moment, Qing Huai caught a glimpse of the young man flicking his wrist again, but this time he didn''t dodge because the dark clouds behind were too close; he couldn''t afford to dodge anymore! With a hiss. The Autumn Leaf Knife had dug into his waist. This time, it was the real Autumn Leaf Knife. "Hiss!" Qing Huai suddenly inhaled sharply, and his entire body tensed up. It hurt too much! The muscles in the waist are the hardest to train, especially the lower back; he wanted to clamp the Autumn Leaf Knife with his muscles, but it was impossible! Fortunately, his C-Class physique was indeed strong, and the Autumn Leaf Knife had penetrated only about a centimeter. But Qing Huai knew that the young man''s goal was not to kill him with the Autumn Leaf Knife but to slow down his pace! His willpower was not strong enough to maintain his composure after being stabbed, and as his body instinctively tensed, that swarm of black clouds had already flown over his head, diving down! As time passed, the number of poison insects following Qing Huai increased. Initially, the black cloud was just a small cluster, but now it looked like a massive thunderstorm cloud, extremely terrifying. Qing Huai heard the buzzing sound behind him getting closer, and his scalp numbed; he felt that he might have attracted all the poison insects on the edge of Taboo Land! He suddenly bent over, and the muscles in his thighs, calves, and feet burned and roared like a machine! This was the last potential of a C-Class Expert from head to toe! He could even feel the fat on his body, which was already not much, trembling and then converting into fuel for his body! He leapt forward! Qing Huai shot forward like an arrow released from its string, quickly escaping from the diving range of the swarm of insects. However. Qing Chen had been waiting for this moment. In the woods, Qing Chen remained calm and composed, like a serene lake with clear water reaching the bottom in his eyes. Just as Qing Huai''s leap was about to lose its momentum. Qing Chen flung dozens of fallen leaves into the air with his left hand, which seemed to be seeing Qing Huai off and also blocked Qing Huai''s line of sight towards him. In the blink of an eye, his right hand, previously held behind his back, suddenly exerted force, successively throwing three Autumn Leaf Knives! They flew like thunderbolts! In Qing Huai''s field of vision, through the gaps between the colorful falling leaves, three Autumn Leaf Knives interlaced and shot towards him, targeting three vital areas on his body. Heart, spleen, chest! In mid-air, Qing Huai twisted his waist and torso, turning his back. He planned to block the Autumn Leaf Knives again with his wide muscular back. But just as he turned his back to Qing Chen, Qing Chen plucked another leaf from his half-length hair and shot it toward Qing Huai''s neck artery! Qing Chen was aiming for this outcome. Mother Ye had said that if external factors were not considered, then the neck artery was one of the most vulnerable spots on a person: it was exposed to the air and only protected by a thin layer of skin. Once pierced, within a few seconds, brain function would dry up due to a lack of oxygen. Enemies usually protect that area subconsciously, but if one day you became stronger, you could learn to make your opponent expose their vitals right in front of you. Time seemed to slow down. No, time couldn''t actually slow down. But just as Qing Chen threw the Autumn Leaf Knives, the swarm of insects that had been chasing Qing Huai suddenly stopped and slowly dispersed. It was as if there was no need to see whether the Autumn Leaf Knife hit; the terrifying and vast presence of Taboo Land already knew the outcome. The offender of the rules will die, there was no need to chase any further. The pupils in Qing Chen''s eyes narrowed into vertical slits like those of a beast. In his eyes, there was only the trajectory of the Autumn Leaf Knife, as if the leaf that cut through the air had left a clear path. And it left a fine line of blood on Qing Huai''s neck. Chapter 166 165. The Dust Settles Qing Huai lay quietly on the ground, staring up at the sky. He covered his neck with his hand to slow the speed of his blood spraying. It was as if by doing so, he could delay the time of his death and take his life back into his own hands. The dark clouds had already dispersed, and the plants no longer paid attention to him. After hours of fleeing, Qing Huai surprisingly felt a sense of ease at this moment. He had simply been too tired before. From a distance, the sound of footsteps approached, the soft sound of stepping on decayed leaves, sounding like a lullaby, Qing Huai felt himself growing sleepy. Qing Huai turned his head to try to get a clear look at the young man. But the young man did not come closer; instead, he crouched down far away, quietly waiting for him to die completely. "Even at a time like this, he remains so cautious?" Qing Huai thought to himself. His eyeballs turned blood red due to congestion, and he finally got a clear look at the young man''s features. At the moment of his death, Qing Huai remembered many things. He also figured out many things... This young man was a newly promoted Knight. But wasn''t it said that the lineage of the Knights was about to be severed, with no one able to pass that threshold? No one knew what the threshold really was, only that it was very difficult. It was said that Li Dongze from Heng Society had once almost become the inheritor of the Knight, but he had ultimately failed, which was one of the regrets of his life. So, whose disciple was this young man? Chen Jiazhang? Wang Xiaojiu? Uncle Li Dong? No, Qing Huai, recalling his own encounter with the young man, suddenly remembered a problem: the other party was just an ordinary person the day before yesterday, but today he could keep up with him at a very fast speed. Even though he was injured and hindered by the Taboo Land, the other party had already transcended the realm of ordinary people! "This young man has achieved a breakthrough within this day; he has just been promoted to a Knight!" Qing Huai thought with a surge of emotion. Many people still didn''t know that Uncle Li Dong had secretly left Prison No. 18 because they hadn''t found any trace of Uncle Li Dong, so the consortium suppressed the news. After all, the consortium wanted Uncle Li Dong to stay in the prison, but the fact that he had been in and out briefly twice within a short period was extremely detrimental to the consortium''s credibility if it got out. But Qing Huai knew about it. Before this, everyone had been guessing where Uncle Li Dong had gone until this moment when Qing Huai realized that he was very likely in Taboo Land number 002. And Qing Huai also guessed what he was doing there: leading a new inheritor to climb the cliffs of Qing Mountain! "When did Uncle Li Dong find a student? Why does that young man look so familiar? How could he evoke the Autumn Leaf Knife just after being promoted?" A series of questions churned in his mind like they were about to turn his brain into mush. But he found a consolation for himself: Uncle Li Dong must be nearby, even if the young man couldn''t kill him, Uncle Li Dong would. Thinking this, Qing Huai felt much more balanced. Wait a minute! Qing Huai finally remembered where he had seen the other person before, at a birthday party a year ago for Qing Xi, a direct descendant of the consortium, where he sat in a corner. Qing Xi had gone to say a few words to this young man, but he seemed very shy. At that time, he had asked others who the young man was and how Qing Xi knew him, but no one knew him or from which family''s side branch he came. It wasn''t until recently that he learned that the person he saw back then was named Qing Chen, one of the candidates in the Shadow competition. When Qing Huai found out, he had already gradually forgotten what Qing Chen looked like, and didn''t pay much attention to him. Now, Qing Chen, who should have been in Prison No. 18, appeared here, coupled with the disappearance of Uncle Li Dong. Even if Qing Huai was as dumb as a pig, he should understand the truth now: the other party had never angered Uncle Li Dong from the beginning but had become Uncle Li Dong''s student! As for the rumors that he had been confined by Uncle Li Dong, that was probably just for show to others. Confusion arose in Qing Huai''s eyes; it turned out he had been dismissing the right answer from the start! The least noticeable, seemingly most useless peripheral figure had already hidden in the shadows to become the most terrifying Shadow Candidate. The Knights and Heng Society, famously protective of their own, would surely go all out in aiding their own members involved in the strife of shadows! The next moment, Qing Huai''s eyes widened as he realized he was part of the opponent''s plan, with Uncle Li Dong bringing Qing Chen to Taboo Land 002 specifically to hunt him. Experience new stories on empire Thus, in the first round of the conflict of shadows, room four was directly eliminated! Using the last of his strength, Qing Huai smiled, curious about the expressions of the other Shadow Candidates when they discovered such an entity. It couldn''t just be him being screwed over. As his blood pooled into a larger puddle by his side, at these last moments of life, a young boy squatting nearby suddenly said softly, "Cao Wei fought back like a fierce tiger before he died, yet you never thought of risking a desperate fight to save yourself, so I say you''re not his equal." The boy squatted calmly, his tone just as tranquil, as if stating a very ordinary conclusion. The smile on Qing Huai''s face instantly stiffened, and then he lost all signs of life. Murder, heart-crushing. But Qing Chen was right. He originally thought Qing Huai would be the toughest enemy in the end, but in fact, when he killed Cao Wei, it became clear that it''s these underdogs struggling up from the bottom who are the most terrifying at the final moments of a death fight. Because no one had a way out. And no one ever backed down. Countdown 00:30:00. About to return. Qing Chen looked down at the Taboo ACE-019, Puppeteer, on his wrist. This pursuit of Qing Huai, where the Puppeteer held the greatest credit, also made Qing Chen realize the power of Taboo items. He first hunted down five Federal Soldiers, sacrificing their souls. Qing Chen watched as the bodies of the five turned to ash and dust, swept away by the wind. The horror of this sacrifice far exceeded his imagination: a lively being turned to mere dust in just five seconds. No wonder his teacher had said that the Puppeteer is seen as a profoundly evil Taboo by everyone. After the sacrifice, the Puppeteer''s originally red strings turned transparent, now wrapped around Qing Chen''s wrist, almost invisible unless carefully looked at against the light. After killing the soldiers, it took Qing Chen thirty minutes to extract the name Wang Qiang. Then he personally witnessed the terrifying nature of the Puppeteer. When the thread tethered itself to Wang Qiang''s wrist, that live person seemed like merely an extension of Qing Chen''s fingers and arms; without explicit commands from the brain, the "puppet" rigorously acted according to the host''s will. With no deviations, no delays, this feeling was truly peculiar. This battle finally ended, and Qing Chen shouted into the woods, "Master, you must be nearby, right?" "Cough cough, right here, right here," Uncle Li Dong emerged and said, "Any questions?" "What rank am I now?" Qing Chen wondered. "E-Class," Uncle Li Dong replied. "Didn''t you say, after surviving the first life-and-death challenge, I would be F-Class?" Qing Chen questioned again. "I don''t know what happened either. You exhibited all the characteristics of an E-Class, so naturally, you are E-Class," Uncle Li Dong sighed, "Many norms of the Knights are broken by you." Qing Chen thought, so that''s how it is. Uncle Li Dong, smiling, asked, "How does it feel, having killed Cao Wei then Qing Huai, now managing it more smoothly, with an E-Class killing two C-Class?" Qing Chen thought for a moment and said, "Very easy, easier than I imagined. Just like I told you before, Master, Cao Wei was a tiger, and Qing Huai was but a jackal in fancy fur." "But you must remember," Uncle Li Dong looked at his own student seriously and said, "This time, you had the advantage of time, location, and people on your side. You utilized the home field advantage of Taboo Land 002 extraordinarily well, along with help from the old guys. When you''re outside, be very careful with C-Class. Of course, you''ve been cautious enough, never giving them a chance for a last stand, I''m just reminding you." Qing Chen nodded earnestly, his attitude not inflated at all: "I remember, Master." At some point, Qing Chen''s address for Uncle Li Dong had shifted from teacher to Master. Uncle Li Dong smiled softly and said, "Ah, those old guys must be thrilled to see you killing above your level. Remember, if you ever come to the wilderness again, just stop by Taboo Land 002 and try to swindle all their treasures..." Chapter 167 166. Return (Request for Monthly Tickets) "Baby, shouldn''t you be heading back now?" Li Yinuo asked quietly, glancing at Nan Gengchen. When no one was paying attention, Nan Gengchen stealthily checked the time on his wrist: only half an hour left. "Yeah, right away." "Remember to get some rest when you go back. You haven''t slept well these past few days. It''ll be more relaxing once you''re back in the Outer World," Li Yinuo tenderly advised, "We don''t know how long we''ll be stuck here. Before you come back, make sure to empty your bladder. We''ve run out of sealed bags to use..." Nan Gengchen was speechless, thinking that her instructions were a bit too detailed, fortunately, no one heard. Discover exclusive content at empire Ever since Commander Qing Huai had triggered the rule and fled, the Autumn Hunting Team, two members of the Jindai family, and the seven soldiers of Squad Seven all stayed put, daring not to move. They lit a huge bonfire, everyone huddled together around it, no one daring to venture alone into the night, fearful of being swallowed by the darkness of the Taboo Land. Everyone was unnerved by the series of anomalies, becoming silent and reserved. At that moment, dense footsteps approached from the north, chaotic yet forceful. Everyone looked simultaneously, to see that it was the light from bundled flashlights. The brightness of the lights was so intense that everyone involuntarily raised their hands to shield their eyes. In the perilous Taboo Land, the nerves of the Autumn Hunting Team were so taut that when they saw something unusual, a few of them instinctively thought of running away. But when they turned their heads, they found that soldiers had silently flanked them from behind, emotionlessly setting up a blockade line. Everyone by the bonfire stood up, each wearing a baffled expression. The newcomers were hundreds of Federal Soldiers who encircled them tightly, and a middle-aged man slowly made his way forward from the group. He didn''t even bother with Li Yinuo or Jindai Yasuhito but turned to the soldiers of Squad Seven, "Why are you here, and where is Qing Huai?" This contingent of the Federal Group had been patrolling nearby, conducting field exercises, set to rendezvous with Qing Huai at a designated time. They arrived swiftly after receiving Li Yinuo''s distress call. After all, the Autumn Hunting Team consisted of corporate heirs; if they were wiped out by wilderness people, no one knew what kind of chaos the journalists from Hope Media and the Federal Daily might stir up. But he had never imagined that the field unit, which should have left the hinterlands and started their return journey only days later, would turn up prematurely at the edge of the Taboo Land! This meant something had gone wrong with Qing Huai''s mission! Wang Bingxu took a step forward, intending to ask the Federal troop to escort Li Yinuo out first, to avoid any complications. However, Li Yinuo stopped him, for she too wanted to know what exactly Qing Huai and others had experienced inside the Taboo Land. Or more precisely: how exactly Qing Chen had managed to wipe out Qing Huai''s troop all by himself. "Where is Qing Huai?" the middle-aged man asked again, upon seeing that none of the five soldiers from Squad Seven spoke. "A few hours ago, Commander Qing Huai triggered the rules of the Taboo Land. He didn''t say anything; he just charged towards the north, probably trying to escape from here before the rule could kill him," Squad Leader Ning Shun answered. The middle-aged man dispensed with the small talk and turned to his deputy, "Fan out in a sweeping search to the north, alive or dead, we need to see the body!" At that moment, the middle-aged man''s scalp tingled with unease; he had no idea how he was going to explain this to Qing Huai''s mother back at the Federation! This was, after all, the hope of the younger generation of Qing''s Family fourth house! He looked at Squad Leader Ning, needing an answer to this issue. "You just mentioned Qing Huai triggered the rule?" The middle-aged man felt something was off, since Qing Huai knew more about the rules than the soldiers did. How could the soldiers be fine while Qing Huai met with an accident? Ning Shun explained, "One of the soldiers acted as if possessed by a ghost, suddenly attempting to kill Commander Qing Huai. The Commander tried to fend him off with a dagger, but the soldier, as if courting death, impaled himself on the dagger, triggering the rule." At this point, everyone present shivered as they recalled that scene. They were unaware of the effects of the Taboo item, ACE-019, so recalling Wang Qiang''s eerie behavior and his bizarre smile just before death, the term ''possession'' seemed all too fitting. The middle-aged man surveyed everyone''s reactions and said coldly, "What possession? It''s clear someone knew the rules and either controlled or bought off this soldier!" "Why did you return early? Why did you appear here? Tell me everything you know!" the middle-aged man demanded. Ning Shun hesitated then said, "Sir, talking about it here, if I say something wrong, it might trigger the rules..." The middle-aged man scoffed, "If you don''t speak now, you''re dead." Ning Shun steeled his resolve and responded, "Unable to locate the wilderness people, Commander Qing Huai had us capture a family from the 981 production base and brought them here to test the rules of the Taboo Land. Then a young man appeared, utilizing some rule to kill two platoons of soldiers in one stroke. That''s why Commander Qing Huai decided to lead us to hunt him down. But then we were almost entirely annihilated and had to abandon the mission and retreat." Fearing to trigger the rule, Ning Shun left out the details. At this point, a shocked company-grade officer next to the middle-aged man furrowed his brows and cursed, "What bullshit is this, one person killing over a hundred of you?" Officer, dead. Rule: No swearing. Watching the officer''s face turn progressively blue-black, it was apparent he was another victim of an unknown venomous insect. Chapter 168 166. Return (Request for Monthly Tickets)_2 The middle-aged man looked at the officer''s corpse, "I had already ordered... drag this piece of trash away!" Company Sergeant Major Ning Shun had a mournful look on his face, "Commander, our comrades were also killed by the rules, that young man unnoticedly made us fall into the trap!" "Eh, where is Cao Wei?" The middle-aged man seemed to suddenly remember something, and asked with his surname leading, "Why haven''t I seen Cao Wei?" Ning Shun replied, "Afterward, Commander Cao Wei went alone to kill that young man and hasn''t come back since, Commander Qing Huai said... he must be dead." The middle-aged man said sternly, "What nonsense are you talking about, Cao Wei is a C-Class Expert and has enhanced his senses with a Genetic Potion, you''re telling me he went to kill an Ordinary Person and ended up dead himself?!" The middle-aged man knew exactly who Cao Wei was, because his current position as the commander of this field camp was originally Cao Wei''s! That was someone who counted as someone significant in the military! He had wanted to ask Cao Wei about the situation, but the other party was dead?! Ning Shun said, "Commander, you can quarantine and interrogate all of us, and if there is a half-truth in what I said, you can send us to the military court." Explore more at empire In fact, by the time she heard this much, Li Yinuo was certain that the young man was Qing Chen. Nan Gengchen, who had been beside her all along with an expressionless face, as if daydreaming, was internally commenting: With Brother Chen''s intelligence, it''s entirely justifiable that he played you to death. And those from the Autumn Hunting Team and the Jindai family who were still in the dark, heard the truth for the first time. Before this, Qing Huai''s claim had been: They had completed the mission and returned early. Although everyone had their doubts, who would have thought it was them being hunted down by a young man. Moreover, the sheer disparity in numbers was staggering, on one side an entire field company, and on the other, a single young man. This truth was a bit too intense! The crowd exchanged looks, none had heard of such a person emerging on the scene! The middle-aged man''s eyebrows were almost twisted together, "Explain the specifics!" "He took us to an eerie thicket where he could easily traverse, but when our men went through, they were crushed to pieces..." "We cornered him into the Thunder Zone, but he dodged all the anti-infantry mines as if he had a metal detector, avoiding them with precision... " "The young man sang a song, and left us with only one platoon left..." Ning Shun said. "He sang a song? And killed dozens of you?" The middle-aged man was stunned for a moment. "Yes," Ning Shun nodded, and he was economical with his words when it came to the rules, afraid to trigger any of them. The middle-aged man frowned, he had never heard of a rule where singing could kill: "What song did he sing? Can you talk about this?" Ning Shun hurriedly said, "Reporting to the Commander, I can say this, it''s not that the singing itself can kill people, but..." "Then sing it for me," said the middle-aged man. Ning Shun sang, "Under the bridge in front of the gate, a flock of ducks swam by..." A clan scion suddenly burst into laughter, "I know this song too, come on come on let''s count them, two four six seven eight..." The clan scion, dead. Everyone''s eyes widened, almost all guessing the truth about the rule, wanting to say something, yet daring not to speak. Li Yinuo suddenly felt a toothache, this interrogation was getting troublesome! She said to the middle-aged man, "Disperse the others, just a few of us knowing the situation will suffice." The middle-aged man nodded, "Miss Yino, Mr. Jindai Yasuhito stay, the rest of you leave! Deputy Officer Wang, you stay as well! Ning Shun, continue!" Nan Gengchen was about to leave but was held back by Li Yinuo, who said to the middle-aged man, "This is my man, no need to go." The middle-aged man hesitated for a moment, "Alright." Ning Shun said, "Commander, that young man is very weird, extremely familiar with the rules of Taboo Land 002 and also very familiar with the terrain here, it''s like his own home. We tried to hunt him, but he always found terrain to shake us off. He ran through the wilderness as if on flat ground..." "A wilderness person?" the middle-aged man asked. Only wilderness people could run through the mountains and fields so effortlessly because they grew up in such environments. Ning Shun thought about it and honestly responded, "Commander, we can''t be certain whether he is a wilderness person or not, but his clothing... doesn''t look like that of Federation people." At that time, Qing Chen had already changed into the clothes Qin Tong usually wore for hunting, indeed not resembling Federal people. "Wait, does he have mechanical limbs?" asked the middle-aged man. "No," Ning Shun replied, "Our Seventh Company didn''t have a face-to-face fight with him, but if he had mechanical limbs, the soldiers who encountered him would have reported it first thing, because that''s significant intelligence." Now the middle-aged man felt the other was even more characteristic of a wilderness person. Just then, Li Yinuo casually mentioned, "Hearing him mention a wilderness person, I suddenly recall something. Before entering the Taboo Land, we were chased by wilderness people, but this group wasn''t simple, because there were people from the Fire Pit among them." "Fire Pit!?" The middle-aged man''s breath hitched for a moment, the Federal Group''s military didn''t need to fear the Fire Pit, as they had to hide from a regular army just the same. But the problem was that they weren''t supposed to appear here. He looked toward the Jindai clansmen, Jindai Yasuhito, who nodded in confirmation. Li Yinuo continued, "The Fire Pit wiped out the Jindai family in the wilderness and forced us into the Taboo Land, before that I suspected they were led by elders, otherwise they wouldn''t have wiped out the Jindai family so easily." Chapter 169 166, Return (Seeking Monthly Votes)_3 Jindai Yasuhito''s expression darkened. Li Yinuo ignored him, "You must have also received our distress signal before coming here. At that time, I mentioned the attack by the wilderness people. But what''s strange is that those Fire Pit people, after chasing us here, suddenly stopped pursuing and mysteriously disappeared. I now suspect that they entered the heart of Taboo Land!" The middle-aged man was stunned; he knew the Qing''s main house had a secret connection with the Fire Pit... Explore more adventures at empire Some things cannot withstand too much speculation; once you start thinking, you think a lot! The struggle for power within the shadows, the main house, the Fire Pit, seemed like a young native of the wilderness! The middle-aged man felt that he was closing in on the truth! At this moment, Li Yinuo said nothing more. After all, being an insider called for just enough to stir the pot; being found out wouldn''t be good! And by now, having played the role of the insider to this extent should have been about enough... At this time, the middle-aged man said in confusion, "I remember your distress message, but so many Fire Pit people came. Why did only a young man take action?" Just then, Jindai Yasuhito suddenly said, "Do you know about the Fire Pit''s Horn Cutting Ceremony?" Li Yinuo was secretly startled within her heart. At one point, she even felt that Jindai Yasuhito was her accomplice. His assistance came at just the right time. The so-called Horn Cutting Ceremony of the Fire Pit was a rule where the most outstanding young people in the snowy mountains had to hunt a ferocious yak on their own when they came of age. After killing the yak, they would cut off its head and bring it back to the Fire Pit. The large horns were hung in their own homes as a symbol of courage. However, that was a ritual hundreds of years ago. Later, after the appearance of the Taboo Land and the opposition between the wilderness and the Federation, the Horn Cutting Ceremony could be completed by hunting other ferocious wild animals or killing the Federation''s experts. Only after completing the Horn Cutting Ceremony, one had the legitimacy to become a true warrior in the Fire Pit, leading a hunting team on their own. Those who failed to complete the Horn Cutting Ceremony could only become followers of these individuals. So now that Qing Huai was ambushed, could it be the son of some elder, currently completing the Horn Cutting Ceremony?! Unnoticed, the suspicion had been directed towards the Fire Pit and the internal power struggle within the Qing Family. Perhaps it could even provoke infighting between the main house and the fourth branch... The middle-aged man pondered for a long while, casting a suspicious glance towards Li Yinuo and Jindai Yasuhito out the corner of his eye. It was well-known within the consortium that Li Yinuo belonged to the typical faction advocating for war and was certainly not likely to be in cahoots with the Jindai family. So, his guess at this moment must be the truth, right? At this time, a voice came through the communication channel, "Sir, we''ve found Qing Huai''s body!" The middle-aged man''s expression became solemn, and his last sliver of hope shattered. He said to the soldier nearby, leading the Mechanical Hunting Dog, "Release all the hunting dogs, follow the scent, and we must find the murderer!" ... At this very moment, the most sentimental person was undoubtedly Li Yinuo. Among all the people present, she knew best about Qing Chen''s strength. Because she grew up beside her uncle, Uncle Li Dong, and aspired to become a Knight, she was also most familiar with some basic rules of the Knights. Before becoming a Knight, Qing Chen firstly had to be an Ordinary Person. And a Knight who has overcome their first life-and-death hurdle should be at the pinnacle of the F-Class. The Knights'' promotion path has always been distinct from other legacies. The promotion method for most legacies is smooth and stable, but for every Knight who passes the life-and-death hurdle, it is a leap-like surge in strength. I''ve heard that in the early years of the new era of humanity, when there was no Breathing Technique, even if a Knight completed eight life-and-death hurdles, they were only at the peak A-Class level. Back then, Knights'' strength lay in their numbers and stable legacy. As long as eight life-and-death hurdles were completed, one would certainly reach A-Class, so it was common for a group of A-Class Knights to gang up on a single opponent. They''d rush into battle with a shout. But later, when the sea routes were cut off and Qin Sheng created the Breathing Technique, it was unexpected that the individual strength of Knights would rise so meteorically. Now, without even surpassing the eighth life-and-death hurdle, Uncle Li Dong is already a demigod of this era. Who knows what realm he will reach after completing the eighth hurdle? It''s a pity that the Forbidden Sea remains a life-threatening zone for all humanity, and Uncle Li Dong may never touch that highest threshold in his lifetime. Now, a newly promoted top-tier F-Class Knight has killed almost an entire squad of people in the Taboo Land, and in the end, even forced Qing Huai to trigger the rules and flee for his life. This was not due to Combat Power, but intelligence. At this moment, Qing Huai must be dead too. To be honest, Li Yinuo actually admired Qing Chen a bit. What he accomplished was something she could not have done herself. She thought, since uncle hinted they could trust each other, could she possibly team up with this newly promoted Knight in the future? There were many things she wanted to do as well. At this moment, Li Yinuo suddenly felt a strange sense of exhilaration, as if everyone around her was drunk and she alone was soberbut she still had to pretend to be clueless. So her expression appeared a bit odd. However, Li Yinuo failed to notice that the baby beside her wore an even stranger expression... ... At this moment, deep inside Taboo Land no. 002. Dozens of wilderness people were sitting around a burning campfire. A middle-aged man with braids was meditating with closed eyes, his braids were wrapped with agates and turquoise, and around his neck hung a string of finger bones. The necklace was made up of the last segments of human pinkies, each representing a Federation person he had killed. These wilderness people had pale faces and bodies. It wasn''t that they were sick, but rather they were coated in a strange powder. The next moment, someone took out a sheepskin bag and handed it to the middle-aged man: "Elder, it''s time for more powder." "Hmm," the elder stood up, the bone necklace on his neck rattling loudly. He grabbed a handful of powder from the sheepskin bag and smeared it on his face and body. A follower next to him said, "Elder, we don''t have much of the Feng Junhua pollen left from the high elder, and it''s getting more and more dangerous for us here in Taboo Land, but the prey has yet to appear... How about we wait another day, then go back to the snowy mountains? Without the Feng Junhua pollen, we may not be able to withstand the wild beasts and plants of the hinterland." The elder, having finished applying the powder, pondered, "Feng Junhua pollen is not easy to collect. If we return without success, how will we answer to our ancestors?" "But we can''t just throw our lives away here," the follower whispered. "I heard the high elder mention it, Taboo Land no. 002 is remarkably eerie." The elder sighed and sat back down, looking at the time, date, and temperature on his electronic watch with an uncertain expression. If Qing Chen saw that bone necklace, brimming with barbaric aura, and then saw the electronic watch on the elder''s wrist, he would have probably felt an odd dissonance... However, for the Fire Pit people, all of this was perfectly normal: Collecting bones was a way to show reverence for strength and ancestors, as well as a symbol of status within the clan. As for the electronic watch, that''s because it was genuinely useful! Certainly more useful than judging time by shadows or the sun... Due to certain events, the Fire Pit people had acquired powers from the "ancestors," leading them to venerate totems and gods. But this didn''t mean that everyone had to shun technology... after all, the ancestors didn''t reject technology! Driving while hunting is indeed more efficient than hunting on foot! In this world, all isms ultimately become pragmatism. It''s an era where mysticism and science each do their thing separately, yet somehow strangely amalgamate. At that moment, the elder gazed in a certain direction and sighed, "We''ll wait another two days. If there''s still no sign of anyone, we''ll leave here before we run out of Feng Junhua pollen..." ... Far away, Qing Chen and Uncle Li Dong had already left Taboo Land safely. He looked back one more time at the deep, dark forest, feeling an inexplicable affinity for it. The young man whispered softly, "I will come back." This trek through the wilderness had shown him too many wonders, too many experiences. It was as if a magnificent sonata interwoven nonstop in his life, playing its melody. And it was changing his destiny. At one moment, Qing Chen felt that his own life truly began the moment he crossed over to this place. 00:00:00. The countdown reached zero. Return! ... Volume One, The First Chapter of the Night: Sonata. End. ... Extra long chapter of 5700 words, once again, thank you all for helping me break the record for first subscriptions! Asking for monthly tickets!!! ... Thank you to book friend 20191222234430856 for becoming the new patron of this book, generous boss, may you make a fortune! Chapter 170 167. Clearing Plan (A 10,000-character chapter asking for monthly tickets!) ``` Countdown 168:00:00. When the darkness ended, Qing Chen still stood quietly in the greenbelt. 7 days ago, he had stood here to report Qing Guozhong, and then watched as the police helped him into the police car. The time-travel mechanism really felt quite extraordinary. At this moment, the police car hadn''t even driven away yet. Qing Chen silently watched in the darkness as the police car started and gradually drove off, he could even see Qing Guozhong inside, head hung low, looking very dejected. It was too wonderful, the same event, yet he could experience the thrill twice separated by several days... However, after this reporting, it might be a bit difficult for Qing Chen to report him again. Because what Qing Guozhong was facing this time was not detention, but criminal prosecution. In this reporting, there was actually a crucial matter: Qing Chen agreed without hesitation to the property transfer, so Qing Guozhong completed the transfer that day and received hundreds of thousands from the sale. That meant Qing Guozhong had enough gambling funds, constituting the criminal punishment of article 303 for organizing gambling among a crowd, involving three or more persons, with a cumulative gambling amount exceeding 50,000 yuan, punishable by up to three years'' imprisonment, criminal detention, or public surveillance... So when he had knocked Qing Guozhong down in the darkness before, he didn''t steal the money from the gamblers, and he even emphasized this point to the lady who answered his call at the 110 emergency center. Qing Chen, now a Time Traveler and the next heir of the Knight Organization, no longer considered 50,000 yuan worth fussing over. These tens of thousands in the hands of Qing Guozhong could obviously play a much greater role. Yet, as he watched the police car disappear into the distance, Qing Chen suddenly felt that he was not so exuberant after all. It wasn''t that he regretted sending Qing Guozhong to prison, but rather he suddenly felt that his life no longer needed to consider such matters. Qing Chen had a new life now. At this time, his communicator in his pocket was vibrating non-stop, Liu Dezhu was sending frantic messages: "Boss, when are you coming back?" "Boss, please come back and deal with Lin Xiaoxiao, if you don''t, I might die!" Qing Chen was somewhat puzzled: "Lin Xiaoxiao wants to kill you? Why would he want to kill you?" Liu Dezhu said anxiously: "Everyone agreed to act during the day, but at night he takes personal revenge, making me have nightmares every day!" Explore more adventures at empire Qing Chen had experienced nightmares and was very clear about what Liu Dezhu was enduring. But he didn''t care about that and asked about other matters: "Any special circumstances in prison these days? Any new Time Travelers?" Liu Dezhu honestly replied: "Yes! And it''s a big deal! Since you left, more than three hundred people have been continuously transferred to prison No. 18 from other prisons over seven days, each with a fierce and frightening look!" Qing Chen frowned: "Did Lin Xiaoxiao say what they are here for?" Liu Dezhu said: "He did, Lin Xiaoxiao said they came to find death..." Qing Chen: "..." However, if Lin Xiaoxiao said so, Qing Chen probably understood. Some powerful force must have learned of Uncle Li Dong''s departure and transferred hundreds of people from other prisons to stir up trouble. And they were most likely after the Taboo item ACE-005. "I know," Qing Chen said and put the communicator back in his pocket. He had now ascended to a Knight, and the next step was to follow Uncle Li Dong back to prison No. 18. It seemed that a big event was brewing for the next time jump. Qing Chen remembered he had another appointment, he pulled up his hood and turned, disappearing into the darkness. ... Los Angeles Foreign Language School. The school was very quiet at midnight, with no food stalls, no bustling students. Guard Qin at the gate was also sitting in the guardhouse, dozing off. A shadow soundlessly leaped over the wall, as lightly as a tabby cat. Qing Chen crossed the familiar path and, astonishingly, climbed directly up the wall of the high school teaching building hand over foot to the rooftop. Climbing the walls of the teaching building was much easier than a sheer mountain cliff. Sitting on the edge of the rooftop, it wasn''t long before a small scraping sound came from behind as the iron door to the rooftop was pushed open by force. It was the slim and petite Nan Gengchen. That door was originally locked, but then couples in the school seeking a private spot had secretly broken the lock. It seemed fine from the outside, but the lock core was already useless. To be honest, for two forever-single, miserable youths, it was also their first time on this rooftop... Nan Gengchen appeared a bit awkward pushing the door open. Qing Chen said, "Take out the SIM card from your phone." "Oh..." Nan Gengchen did as told. Qing Chen then said, "In the future, when discussing matters of the Inner World, let''s find a secluded place like this until I get a Data fortress to protect our privacy." Nan Gengchen glanced at Qing Chen sitting on the edge of the rooftop. He wanted to sit down too, but then he looked down at the lower floors and shivered. "Cough cough, Brother Chen," Nan Gengchen hesitated for a long time before saying, "Let me start with my situation first, Li Yinuo already knows I am a Time Traveler..." Qing Chen asked expressionlessly, "Didn''t you say she didn''t know before?" Nan Gengchen remembered how Li Yinuo had asked him several times if he was a Time Traveler, and each time he denied it. She would then look at him with the indulgent eyes one might give a person with special needs saying: Mm-hmm, okay, you''re not. He hadn''t given it much thought then, but now he felt rather embarrassed... Qing Chen thought for a moment and asked, "Did she want you to tell me anything, or did she mention me?" ``` Chapter 171 167. Clearing Plan (A 10,000-character chapter asking for monthly tickets!)_2 "No," Nan Gengchen was taken aback. "Then it seems she doesn''t know about our relationship or that I''m a Time Traveler," Qing Chen speculated. His question just now stemmed from the concern that Nan Gengchen might inadvertently leak such information. If Li Yinuo had guessed the relationship between him and Nan Gengchen, and he also possessed the identity of a student of Uncle Li Dong and the successor of the next generation of Knights, she would definitely try to say or do something through Nan Gengchenat least she would try to probe him. Now, when asking Nan Gengchen about certain matters, one absolutely couldn''t ask directly, since one couldn''t know what answer they might give you under their mysterious self-confidence. Therefore, Qing Chen had to ask indirectly and then make his own judgment... Qing Chen asked, "Did she have no reaction after knowing you are a Time Traveler?" "She told me to be very careful to keep it secret and not to publicize it because consortia have now successively devised elimination plans," Nan Gengchen replied. "Elimination plans?!" Qing Chen was stunned, "What are those for?" "Plans to counteract the Inner World," Nan Gengchen explained. "Actually, people from the Inner World are quite resentful towards Time Travelers, especially those big shots. They''ve now confirmed one thing, that Inner World humans who have been replaced are almost no different from being dead, with their entire consciousness dissipated, not knowing where it''s gonejust thinking about it is terrifying. Dust Brother, I can understand them; if our world were the Inner World, and one day my dad were replaced by someone else, just thinking about it feels like... it might actually be quite nice?" Qing Chen: "..." "That example isn''t quite right, haha," after pondering for a moment, Nan Gengchen continued, "You''re the only friend I have, so if one day you, Dust Brother, suddenly get replaced and you no longer recognize me or consider me a friend, wouldn''t I be terrified? In the Inner World, many people face this situation: friends become strangers, sons disappear, fathers turn into someone elseit''s no different from those science fiction films where aliens control Earth humans." So, Time Travelers and natives of the Inner World are in fact naturally hostile towards each other. No one wants to be controlled by an alien species. That''s why the "elimination plan" came about. "I heard from Li Yinuo that the various powers of the Inner World now control a number of Time Travelers," Nan Gengchen continued. "According to her calculations, the Li Clan alone controls over three hundred Time Travelers, and these people are key to the elimination plan." "What do they want to do with these Time Travelers they control?" Qing Chen frowned. "They want to use these Time Travelers, once back in the Outer World, to help them hunt down all Outer World humans with the same name and surname as theirs," said Nan Gengchen. "That''s the elimination plan." A gust of cold wind blew, leaving Qing Chen suddenly feeling that the autumn night had grown cold. ... The Time Traveler''s traversal mechanism: those with the same name and surname, and identical appearances, appearing in roughly the corresponding locations, would be granted "public testing qualification." This rule was actually not complicated, so it was easy for people from the Inner World to interrogate and uncover. Why would those big shots, with their hard-fought half a life of struggle, tolerate being replaced while enjoying their lives? Thus, they set about crafting elimination plans, planning to eradicate the possibility of being replaced from the root: to kill those with the same name and surname. This was the simplest and most effective method. As long as there was no one in the Outer World that could replace them, they would naturally be able to sleep easy. Traversing was one-way, and although people of the Inner World seemed to be in a passive position, what they wanted to do didn''t necessarily have to be done by themselves. Those clever big shots, upon discovering Time Travelers, did not directly kill them to avenge their families and loved ones, but chose to take advantage of them instead. Qing Chen asked, "When do they plan to execute this elimination plan?" "It shouldn''t be urgent for now," Nan Gengchen said. "Li Yinuo said that the Li Clan has grand designs. They even treat Time Travelers as valuable tools. Not only do they have the elimination plan, but they also have a traversing plan!" "What''s that all about?" Qing Chen was puzzled. "Do they want to actively travel through time?" "Mm-hmm," Nan Gengchen nodded. "That''s still just a concept. Let me give you an example. The Family Head of the Deer Island clan is Li Bingzhe, and he resides year-round in a city on Deer Island, corresponding to Seoul. There actually exists a person in the Outer World with the same name and appearance, but he''s not living in Seoul, so the traversal mechanism for the two Li Bingzhes hasn''t been triggered. Read latest stories on empire If the Li Clan could find this Li Bingzhe living in the countryside and then bring him to Seoul, corresponding to the location in the Inner World, then the Family Head of Deer Island might suddenly become a Time Traveler!" Qing Chen was shocked, "What are they after?" "Oh, the Li Clan doesn''t have a very good relationship with Deer Island or the Jindai family, they''re just intentionally disgusting them. It would be very difficult to assassinate Li Bingzhe in the Inner World, and it might lead to unforeseen consequences. But if Li Bingzhe were replaced by someone else, then there''s no helping itit''s a natural catastrophe or disaster, right! When Li Yinuo talked about this plan, she was really excited," Nan Gengchen said. If Qing Chen had previously had speculations about the elimination plan, this proactive traversal plan was truly beyond anything he had ever imagined. It was disgustingly clever. To disgust the most powerful person with the smallest cost?! Chapter 172 167. Clearing Plan (A 10,000-character chapter asking for monthly tickets!)_3 Qing Chen felt a bit emotional. While he had been clever and smart in several battles, compared to those who had spent their lives playing with tactics, his heart was not as sullied as theirs. He felt somewhat fortunate that he had ended up in prison right after he traveled through time and met Uncle Li Dong. If he had traveled directly into the heart of Qing''s Family, he might well have been controlled by now. Nan Gengchen added, "I''m just giving an example here. Li Bingzhe seems to be over a hundred years old, and it''s impossible to find a substitute for him in the Outer World, but this method could be used on others." Wait a minute, Qing Chen suddenly thought of something. Could Uncle Li Dong and Lin Xiaoxiao be replaced through time travel?! This was a serious issue. If there was an Uncle Li Dong in the Outer World as well, and the forces of the Inner World deliberately found him and brought him to Los Angeles City, wouldn''t Uncle Li Dong also be in danger? At one point, even Qing Chen thought about executing an elimination plan. He had finally met a good master, and the idea that the other could be replaced through time travel was something he couldn''t accept. But then the problem returned. If there really was an Uncle Li Dong in the Outer World, what fault did the counterpart have? Just because they shared the same name and appearance, did that justify killing them? He suddenly asked Nan Gengchen, "Those Time Travelers who are controlled by the Li Family, are there any Transcendents among them? Can Transcendents be replaced?" "There actually is one Transcendent," Nan Gengchen said. "Li Yinuo complained about him, saying that the Transcendent''s abilities seemed unreliable..." When Qing Chen heard that even Transcendents could be replaced, his eyebrows immediately furrowed. Did this mean that Uncle Li Dong really could be replaced? And the friends he made in the Inner World could also potentially be replaced in the future! He then asked, "Are any of these people injected with the Genetic Potion?" "None of them had the Genetic Potion injected," Nan Gengchen said. "Li Yinuo even complained, saying that none of the Time Travelers had been injected with the Genetic Potion. She suspects that people who have had the Genetic Potion injected have altered their genes, so they can''t meet the conditions for time travel." Qing Chen breathed a sigh of relief, but he immediately thought of another issue, "Wait, why don''t all the people from the Li Family just get injected with the Genetic Potion then, instead of carrying out this elimination plan?" Nan Gengchen looked at Qing Chen, "Brother Chen, don''t you know? The Genetic Potion has side effects..." "Side effects?" Qing Chen was stunned. "What do you mean?" "It''s not quite the same as becoming a Transcendent. Those who are injected with the Genetic Potion find it very difficult to have offspring," Nan Gengchen explained. "During the process of reproduction, the embryo rarely forms successfully. So internally, the consortium is searching for various lineages, trying to make their descendants become Transcendents, rather than injecting the Genetic Potion directly. For instance, Li Yinuo has a teacher specifically teaching her cultivation." Nan Gengchen continued, "Li Yinuo said that currently, only one specific Genetic Potion sequence from the Contraindicated courts doesn''t affect fertility, but its effect on enhancing abilities isn''t that great, and it''s also scarce in the market. Moreover, the consortium would worry that if someone did find their exact counterpart, and then specifically injected the same Genetic Potion into the substitute from the Outer World, time travel might still be achievable. Therefore, the elimination plan is deemed more reliable." Qing Chen was shocked. He truly did not know about these side effects from the Genetic Potion. If his own genes had been altered too, could he also possibly be unable to have offspring? His master had never mentioned this! No, if it were something as serious as that, Uncle Li Dong would definitely have told him. Since he didn''t, it would not likely result in significant side effects. He would definitely need to ask his master about it the next time he traveled through time... For it was quite important... Fortunately, there was some good news. Based on the current logic, his teacher would likely not be replaced, because the moment he was promoted to a Knight, his genes had changed. However, Transcendents like Lin Xiaoxiao and Ye Wan were still at risk! Nan Gengchen said, "Brother Chen, do you have any way to prevent time travel? Li Yinuo is quite nice to me, if she gets replaced, wouldn''t that be like she had died?" Truth be told, it wasn''t just the people of the Inner World who were worried about being replaced. Even people from the Outer World like Qing Chen and Nan Gengchen were concerned about their friends from the Inner World being replaced. Your next chapter awaits on empire After thinking a while, Qing Chen said, "I think I might have a way. Let me confirm it, and then I''ll tell you." Just then, he suddenly thought of something else: Almost everyone in the Kunlun organization had physical capabilities far beyond regular humans, which must have something to do with the Genetic Potion, right? Were they not concerned about these side effects? Or perhaps, they knew about the side effects but still made that choice. "When is the Li Family planning to execute the elimination plan?" Qing Chen asked. Nan Gengchen said, "All I know is that they''re currently not in a hurry. They want those Time Travelers to become stronger first, to wait until they''re not so easily lost before they make plans." Finding Time Travelers is becoming increasingly hard, and more Time Travelers have learned to hide themselves. So after the Li Family came up with a more cunning plan, they started to view Time Travelers as a strategic resource to be cherished. The consortium is one of those groups in the world that understands interests best. They try to turn every disadvantage into an opportunity." Nan Gengchen added, "Brother Chen, I''ve told you everything I know. I''m just a friend of Li Yinuo''s, so I can''t know that much. If you want to find out more, you''d probably have to ask the core members of the Li Family, but we don''t know such people in the Outer World." Chapter 173 167. Cleaning Plan (Seeking monthly tickets for a 10,000-word chapter!)_4 Nan Gengchen didn''t recognize him, but Qing Chen actually knew a core member of the Li Family! Li Tongyun! It seemed that he could go back and ask the young girl when the opportunity arose; even if she didn''t know now, she might pay attention during her next trip. Of course, the premise was that he couldn''t expose the young girl''s identity as a Time Traveler. Qing Chen put this thought on hold in his mind and asked, "How are you faring in Taboo Land? Are you safe?" Nan Gengchen recalled the somewhat exhausting interrogation and answered, "The rules we know now include not urinating or defecating anywhere, not singing along with others, not killing, not swearing... Qing, you must know many rules, can you share them with me?" Qing Chen shook his head, "I can''t. If it were any other Taboo Land, I would have told you, but I swear to Uncle Li Dong that I must keep the rules of Taboo Land 002 a secret. However, Uncle Li once said that as long as you stick with Li Yinuo, nothing will happen to you." Nan Gengchen thought for a moment and said, "Qing, a lot happened in Taboo Land. They say there''s a youth who killed an entire field army unit by himself. But I think those people don''t deserve sympathy; after all, they experiment with the rules using living people." "Hmm," Qing Chen responded calmly. "Also, they say a C-Class Expert went after the youth and hasn''t come back." "Hmm." "And there''s more, that youth forced Qing Huai to flee. Li Yinuo once said that Qing Huai was one of the most powerful contenders in the Shadow conflict, highly regarded with a limitless future. Yet, he was still played by that youth." Qing Chen smiled and asked, "What exactly are you trying to say?" "Qing," Nan Gengchen suddenly looked at Qing Chen and asked, "That youth they''re talking about is you, isn''t it? You are Uncle Li Dong''s student, right?" Qing Chen smiled, "Why do you say that?" "Ever since I knew Li Yinuo, she always said her dream was to become a Knight, and the person she admired most was her Uncle Seven, Uncle Li Dong," Nan Gengchen said, "She rarely respects anyone, but she referred to your master as ''you''. The only person I can think of who held her as a child, whom she respects so much, and is so powerful, can only be Uncle Li Dong." "That''s not enough to support your guess. I think Li Yinuo must respect more than just Uncle Li Dong," Qing Chen said. Nan Gengchen scratched his head, "That night on Laojun Mountain, Liu Dezhu said his men were nearby, and then you, Qing, appeared and killed all the thugs. It''s beyond me why such a greedy coward like Liu Dezhu could be one of Uncle Li Dong''s favorites, even commanding you. But then I thought, if your identities were switched, everything seemed to make sense. Read exclusive adventures at empire I don''t have much logic or evidence; it''s just a gut feeling." Qing Chen laughed, thinking Nan Gengchen would overlook the events of Laojun Mountain night, but the other party remembered it well. "Am I right, Qing? Is your master Uncle Li Dong?" Nan Gengchen asked, "Don''t worry, you exposed yourself because you were saving me. I, Nan Gengchen, would not betray you, even if it cost me my life!" On the rooftop, the roaring autumn wind suddenly stopped, and the world fell silent as if waiting for an answer. "Yes, my master is Uncle Li Dong." ... On the school rooftop at night. A secret was suddenly revealed. Nan Gengchen burst into excitement, "I knew it! Why would Liu Dezhu command you? You''re so smart; how could you work under someone like him! Plus, someone like you would definitely be extraordinary in the Inner World, not just a normal Wilderness Hunter!" Qing Chen turned to look at his deskmate, who was waving his hands and feet with excitement. And Nan Gengchen was so elated simply because, in the Inner World, he too had managed a life of unlimited prospects. The friendships of our student days are the purest. Many people don''t understand this until after leaving school and entering a treacherous society, when they finally realize that they once possessed the precious treasure of friendship. A friend who''s happy for you, who fights for youin those fearless years, you chase the wind together, you dream together. Nothing could be more beautiful than that. "Qing, you''ve become a Knight, haven''t you?" "Yes." "Qing, to think you could control that soldier named Wang Qiang, forcing Qing Huai to trigger a rule, that''s so cool! How did you control him? Never mind, never mind, it''s your trump card, I won''t ask!" "Yes." Qing Chen sat on the edge of the rooftop, propping himself up with one hand as he turned back to his deskmate. The night wind picked up again but it wasn''t so cold anymore. At that moment, Nan Gengchen said, "Qing, there''s one more thing. We later encountered the Federal Group army, and during their interrogation of Qing Huai''s soldiers, Li Yinuo shifted the blame to Fire Pit. Now I reckon everyone thinks Fire Pit is hunting Qing Huai and it has nothing to do with you." Qing Chen''s eyes lit up; he had been worried about this before but didn''t expect Li Yinuo to have cleared it up for him. He had purposefully left an Autumn Leaf Knife near the pit, indeed wanting Li Yinuo to be an Insider. But he had only thought about preventing Wang Bingxu from coming after him. He hadn''t expected that Li Yinuo would give him such a pleasant surprise. What a great sister! Chapter 174 167. Clearing Plan (A 10,000-character chapter asking for monthly tickets!)_5 ``` "Here," Qing Chen returned Nan Gengchen''s phone card to him, "remember one thing, don''t chat about anything related to Time Traveler on WeChat until I get to the Data fortress." Nan Gengchen turned on his phone and casually scrolled through the news. After all, it had only been a few hours since he returned, and there were sure to be people anonymously posting about events in the Inner World. Both he and Qing Chen were out in the wilderness, and it was necessary to catch up on the major events happening within the Federation. However, just then, Nan Gengchen froze, "Brother Chen, look, Chuang Wang posted on Weibo, and it''s related to us!" Qing Chen frowned and looked, only to see the Weibo post clearly talking about Taboo Land no. 002. "As of the last time travel ended, the new developments in the Shadow Conflict data piece announced by He Xiaoxiao student: Most popular candidate Qing Huai was ambushed while carrying out a mission in Taboo Land no. 002 and was tragically intercepted. After the failed mission, on the way to evacuate Taboo Land, he did not survive." "At present, the Federal Group Army has found Qing Huai''s body. The candidate''s fatal injury was a ruptured major artery in the neck, and it has been classified as homicide. Update on the Shadow Conflict data piece progress: 8/9." "The murderer who ambushed Qing Huai is suspected to be the son of an elder from Fire Pit. The murderer is suspected to possess Taboo items, has extremely strong abilities, and is highly intelligent. He nearly decimated Qing Huai''s team single-handedly, with a very high danger level." It had been a long time since Chuang Wang and He Xiaoxiao had posted any significant news. Previously, everyone thought the Shadow Conflict would take much longer to progress, yet someone had died so soon! This incident quickly climbed the trending search list, but Chuang Wang''s analysis was also the result of being misled by Li Yinuo! This time, as an eyewitnessor rather, as the protagonist of the eventQing Chen knew all the truth! However, for Qing Chen and Nan Gengchen, they were more concerned about who this Chuang Wang actually was! Qing Chen looked up to Nan Gengchen, "I ask, you answer, I need to analyze the clues about this person." "Sure, ask away, Brother Chen," Nan Gengchen said. "Who knows about the Fire Pit incident?" Qing Chen asked. "Very few people know about this incident. Just me, Li Yinuo, Qing Huai''s Uncle Zhang Yang, and a Deputy Officer Wang, plus the platoon leader of the 7th platoon in the field company, Ning Shun," Nan Gengchen said, "Everyone else was sent away." "After you finished discussing, did anyone inform others about this matter?" Qing Chen asked. "No," Nan Gengchen said, "Before returning, Li Yinuo asked me to go to the toilet to avoid arousing suspicion from others due to any abnormalities before and after the transit, but I''m sure that those few people didn''t leave during the time I took the sealed bag to the toilet." Well, the target can temporarily be locked in between these few people. Qing Chen continued, "Did the Federal Group Army inform Li Yinuo about Qing Huai''s cause of death?" "No," Nan Gengchen shook his head, "The Federation soldiers all wear communication earpieces, and we can''t hear their conversation." "Ning Shun, as an interrogation subject, shouldn''t have an earpiece, right?" Qing Chen asked. "No." Qing Chen relaxed, "The cause of Qing Huai''s death is true because I personally killed him. At present, according to the clues, Chuang Wang is among Deputy Officer Wang and Zhang Yang!" Qing Chen said, "Next time I travel, I will find a way to get photos of these two men and remember their faces." What he didn''t expect was that Chuang Wang, for the sake of popularity, had exposed his own identity to himself. However, what puzzled Qing Chen was, did this guy really think that among the few people present at that time, there wouldn''t be a Time Traveler? Blatantly revealing the progress of the Shadow Conflict like this made the target too obvious for the people involved. Or, did the other party have some other backup plan? The two Time Travelers on the internet, who seemed to have a foresight, had already exposed one. There was only He Xiaoxiao left. However, it was also strange that previously, He Xiaoxiao said she wanted to use the Data fortress to set up a group chat, but there had been no movement for so long? ... When Qing Chen got home and opened the door, he was as gentle as possible for fear of waking up Jiang Xue and Li Tongyun, who were sound asleep inside. But unexpectedly, when he opened the door, he saw that a meal on the dining table had not been touched. It seemed that Jiang Xue hadn''t gone straight to sleep after her return but guessed that Qing Chen would likely be hungry after his busy day, so she made fresh food before going back to bed. Qing Chen sat next to the dining table and touched the plate; the dishes were still warm. Just as he felt warmed by the thought, the bedroom door was quietly cracked open a little. Li Tongyun, wearing a small nightgown and hugging a half-human-tall stuffed toy, tiptoed out of the room. She came to Qing Chen''s side and said in a pitiful voice, "Brother Qing Chen, save me!" Read new chapters at empire Without thinking, Qing Chen rejected her, "Haven''t finished your homework? I''m not helping you with that." "It''s not about homework!" Li Tongyun murmured in a low voice, "It''s my Time Traveler identity, it might be exposed in the Li Family soon!" "The Li Family is about to discover your Time Traveler identity?" Qing Chen realized the seriousness of the situation; the young girl wouldn''t joke about such matters, "Tell me, what happened." Li Tongyun lowered her voice and said, "This time in the Inner World, I accidentally overheard the adults talking. They said they''ve controlled over three hundred Time Travelers and are ready to carry out a ''clearance plan''." This was indeed consistent with the information Qing Chen had received; he had even planned to ask Li Tongyun about it, but she had unexpectedly received related intelligence first. ``` Chapter 175 167. Clearing Plan (A 10,000-character chapter asking for monthly tickets!)_6 "So why did this clearance plan lead to the exposure of your identity?" Qing Chen asked. Li Tongyun thought for a moment and asked, "Big brother Qing Chen, you didn''t ask me right away what the clearance plan actually is, so you must also know the contents of this plan, right?" Qing Chen couldn''t help but laugh and cry, "You''re quite sharp-witted!" The young girl had previously deduced that he was a Time Traveler merely from Qing Chen''s reaction to spying on Kunlun. Now, she had caught a loophole in a sentence and speculated that Qing Chen already knew about the clearance plan. This logical reasoning and attention to detail, even a high school student like Liu Dezhu probably couldn''t manage. Qing Chen said, "I know about the existence of the clearance plan and the general content; you can continue." "Okay," Li Tongyun obediently nodded her head: "The clearance plan of Li''s Financial Group isn''t starting just yet because the Time Travelers are a bit too weak, mostly just Ordinary People. Moreover, brainwashing the Time Travelers also takes some time, and they might train them into a force, which will take a few months. They say, without undergoing training, these Time Travelers would have no loyalty, and even if their rank is forcefully elevated, they would still be useless with ranks, easily killed in minutes." Qing Chen noddedthis was in line with the positioning of ''strategic resources.'' If they rashly used this batch of Time Travelers, the casualty rate would be too high, and some of Li''s despicable plans might fail. "Doesn''t the Li Clan plan to equip them with mechanical limbs? It''s the fastest way to enhance strength," Qing Chen said. "No," Li Tongyun shook her head: "Equipping mechanical limbs is too conspicuous; it''s impossible to pass security checks smoothly in the Outer World, and it will be subject to forced registration. Any activities in different locations will be monitored, which doesn''t fit Li''s expectations." "They''ve thought it through very thoroughly," Qing Chen commented: "So, they chose Genetic Potions?" "The annual production of Genetic Potions is very limited and quotas must be given to the direct lineage troops and members of the Clan, so for now, only a few dozen Time Travelers can be injected, but they have decided to complete the injections for all Time Travelers within three months," Li Tongyun explained. "Being injected and still F-Class, do they plan to elevate to which level?" Qing Chen asked. "Elevate to D-Class," Li Tongyun replied: "This is the average level for the special forces of the Inner World." "Then there''s plenty of time," Qing Chen said: "There must be an interval of one month for Genetic Potion injections, so the clearance plan won''t start for another three months." "But before the clearance plan, they will have a preliminary plan," Li Tongyun said: "The Li Clan will send a few Time Travelers to steal the household registration information of the Outer World in the near future, to search for information and determine the assassination targets of the clearance plan." Qing Chen frowned. Indeed, to execute the clearance plan, to kill those with the same name and surname, it is necessary to know first how many people with the same name and surname there are, and where they are located. All this information is available in the nationwide household registration network! And with the household registration database, the assassination targets of the clearance plan will be much clearer! In this world, there are many people with the same name and surname. If there''s someone named Li Xiang in the Li Clan, they might have to kill hundreds or even thousands to complete the mission. But with the household registration database, it won''t be so troublesome, just match the pictures. Qing Chen knew very well that with the Inner World''s level of technology, those people could easily break into the Outer World''s public security household registration database with just a small device. It''s not that the security level of this household registration database isn''t high enough, but that the opponent has technology that surpasses the times! "Wait a minute, Time Travelers are that obedient?" Qing Chen wondered, but he quickly figured it out: "Also, there will always be those who defect on their own, to use the power of the Li Clan to enhance themselves. It''s another way to cling to the powerful, but the benefit comes at the cost of the lives of innocent people." Li Tongyun explained, "However, those Time Travelers don''t know any hacking techniques, and they are not very familiar with the operation of this information database either. They can only take the devices provided by Li and find the access to the household registration database, directly copying the data with devices that run automatically." The young girl continued, "If Li gets hold of this household registration information, they will probably screen the entire Li Clan first. By then, my name, age, and photo will all match, and I will probably be exposed." Qing Chen sighed, he didn''t expect to encounter such a tricky situation as soon as he returned: "When is this plan to steal household registration information going to be executed?" "Very soon, but I don''t know the exact time. It could be this return or the next," Li Tongyun explained: "I''m too young. The advantage is that they won''t deliberately avoid talking in front of me; the disadvantage is I can''t ask directly." He asked, "Where are you in the Inner World right now?" Continue your journey with empire Li Tongyun said, "Before returning, I made the excuse of going out to play. Currently, I''m in District 1 of City 18''s Night Walk Street. There''s a student protest going on; the crowd is huge, and I can blend in at any moment. But I have two bodyguards following me; I''m not sure I can shake them off." Qing Chen breathed a sigh of relief: "I didn''t expect you to be so cautious, knowing how to save yourself. No worries, if they succeed, you try to get rid of the bodyguards first, and then I will find a way to have someone pick you up. At the very least, I won''t let you fall into the hands of the Li Clan to suffer." But before being exposed, it''s still better to resolve this matter within the Outer World! After all, the leak of the information database involves all Time Travelers of the Outer World. If the Li Clan gets their hands on it, they will soon be able to check the entire Inner World! "Big brother Qing Chen, what do we do now?" Li Tongyun asked in a low voice. After the Outer World''s invasion of the Inner World, the cross-dimensional conflict finally reached its greatest turning point. The corporation''s response was too sudden; they were showing everyone with their actions that the Inner World was not a lamb to be slaughtered at will. However, this was the real face of the corporation, ready to open its gaping maw and bare its sharp fangs when in danger. Qing Chen looked at Li Tongyun and said, "This matter is beyond our control now; I need to find a way to convey the message to Kunlun." ... Always complained about being too short, today I am presenting a big chapter of ten thousand words... Suddenly I feel like my update volume has skyrocketed... So tired, I need the comfort of monthly tickets. Also, I just attended the China Literature Festival and won the grand prize of the Annual Honor Writer, thanks to the friends who voted for me in the previous phase! Chapter 189 170, Wang Familys Revenge_2 "Hmm," Yangyang took out the keys, "I just moved in last night and had a bit of trouble finding the way." "Then follow me," Qing Chen said and then led the way. "Do you live here too?" Yangyang asked curiously. "Yeah," Qing Chen said, "I''ve been living here for several years." "That''s perfect, I can just follow you from now on," Yangyang said. Upon hearing this, Qing Chen became a bit puzzled, what did he mean by ''just follow you from now on''? Was it that he didn''t recognize his own home? During the day, both Hu Xiaoniu and Zhang Tianzhen had praised Yangyang highly, talking about her using firearms and crossing the Indian Ocean alone; how could such a person not find her own home? It didn''t make sense. Qing Chen felt something was off and tried asking again, "Directionally challenged?" This time, Yangyang was silent even longer, "Hmm." A huge wave suddenly stirred in Qing Chen''s heart, a genius girl who was also directionally challenged? In the morning, he remembered Hu Xiaoniu mentioning that she was originally sailing yachts near the coastal areas, then spontaneously decided to cross the Indian Ocean. She first fought off pirates at sea, then got lost in her navigation, and eventually drifted and landed in Pakistan after a long time. At one moment, as Qing Chen recalled these clues about the girl, he couldn''t help but speculate that this so-called spontaneous crossing of the Indian Ocean... Could it be that she got lost at sea?! And then inexplicably created a legend?! Also, the so-called getting lost in navigation and ending up landing in Pakistan out of necessity, was it because she got lost again?! Suddenly, Qing Chen felt his guess might be more plausible. When they reached the front door of the house, Qing Chen watched as Yangyang took out her keys and opened the door, then thanked him. He glanced inside the house, the furniture was all new, but the peeling wall paint was still there, it seemed she had no plans to renovate. Qing Chen couldn''t help asking, "You just moved here, don''t you plan on renovating?" Yangyang shook her head, "I''m not particular about that, as long as it''s livable." "With your attitude, it would be better to just live in a hotel, why stay here?" Qing Chen asked again. Yangyang glanced at him, "The hotel is too far from school." Qing Chen understood what she meant, because the hotel was farther away, it was easier to get lost. Here, the school was only a 5-minute walk away, and walking that path a few times should help her memorize it. Before, he had thought this new tenant might have moved in because of him, Jiang Xue, Hu Xiaoniu, and Zhang Tianzhen. Now it seemed her reason was simpler and purer: it was because it was close to school. Suddenly, the communicator in Qing Chen''s pocket vibrated, and after saying goodbye to Yangyang, he returned to his own home. There were prepared meals on the table, and a note from Jiang Xue saying she had taken Li Tongyun back home to stay, as XiaoTongyun''s grandparents were coming from Zheng City for the next couple of days, and she needed to clean up. Qing Chen sat at the dining table and took out his communicator. It was a message from Liu Dezhu, "Boss, there''s a new letter. The sender wrote: ''I was so disappointed not to find you today, hehe.'' He frowned to himself, why did the holder of the Devil''s Stamp seem to haunt him, knowing his blood test results so quickly? How did they manage that? But the good news was, the firewall information he had released seemed to have indeed confused quite a few people. This allowed Qing Chen to breathe a little easier. He didn''t mind being underestimated; the more they underestimated him, the better. That''s when Liu Dezhu sent a message, "Boss, this letter appeared by my pillow in the evening, I had not left my evening self-study yet, so my dad saw it... is it okay?" Qing Chen realized Liu Dezhu had averted the invites from the rich young masters, there really was a new development. From the current state of affairs, that bump on the head had indeed made him a lot more honest than at the beginning. He replied to the message, "No worries, reply to that person: ''You didn''t find me, but I am close to finding you.'' Liu Dezhu was startled by the message, "Boss, you''re awesome, I''ll reply right away!" He thought, once the boss found this person, maybe he wouldn''t need to donate blood anymore? But Liu Dezhu was being too optimistic about the situation. In reality, Qing Chen didn''t have any clues at all; he just felt that since they had harassed him several times, why not scare them a bit? He couldn''t always let them scare him! After all, they didn''t know who he really was, nor could they be sure that he actually had any leads. A single sentence could throw the enemy into panic and waste their time scrutinizing for leaks, why not? Liu Dezhu sent another message, "Boss, he wrote another letter: ''I think this Qing Chen seems much stronger than Liu Dezhu, I wonder if he''d be interested in working for me, hehe.'' The person did not respond to his ''found clues about you'' letter, which on the contrary suggested: this holder of the Devil''s Stamp didn''t want to continue discussing the matter, fearing more talk would lead to more errors. However, that they openly planned to poach Qing Chen from Qing Chen''s side right in front of him was truly shocking. Of course, the most shocked was Liu Dezhu. This way of being insulted to his face was something he had never encountered before... Did the person forget he was the one delivering the message? Was this kind of comparison right in front of him really okay?! Moreover, this was the first time Liu Dezhu paid attention to the name Qing Chen, could this be another underling of the boss? Chapter 190 170, Wang Familys Revenge_3 It sounds eerily familiar! Could it be the assassin from Laojun Mountain who saved me? If so, we all are fellow apprentices, which means we could get a bit closer, right? At that moment, Qing Chen sent a message, "Reply to him, ''Digging up Qing Chen won''t be that easy.''" However, before he had a chance to start his meal, Liu Dezhu sent another message, "Boss, he sent another letter, ''Don''t be so confident. It seems you don''t know I''ve written to Qing Chen, eh? Looks like he doesn''t listen to you that much, hehe.''" Qing Chen looked up in astonishment, "A letter for me? How come I haven''t received it!" Damn it. Qing Chen suddenly realized an issue. Lin Xiaoxiao had said that the Devil''s Stamp required an address to send letters. So, once the holder targeted me, it naturally led them to my residence, where they wrote me a letter. But, I''ve moved! The address the other party could find no longer belonged to me; it was Yangyang''s place! Therefore, the letter they mentioned was most likely by Yangyang''s pillow right now! Qing Chen could even picture the confused look on Yangyang''s face as she looked at the letter! He pondered whether he should get the letter back now and how to explain it to Yangyang. This misunderstanding had really gotten out of hand... Just as Qing Chen was wrestling with the situation, there was a knock on the door. Opening it, Qing Chen was surprised to see Yangyang. The girl raised her hand, showcasing the letter, "I believe this is for you." Read new chapters at empire After handing it over, she turned and went back to her place, without asking any questions, let alone showing any doubts, sparing Qing Chen much embarrassment. Just as Yangyang was about to shut the door, she turned back and said to Qing Chen, "Oh, there''s one more thing. You remember Wang Yun, right?" Qing Chen paused, "I remember." "She was killed by Li Dongze of the Heng Society in the Inner World, and it was a particularly brutal death," Yangyang said. "She also has a very doting brother, the apple of her parents'' eye, so the Wang Family won''t let this go easily. After Bai Waner returned to Haicheng, she pinned everything on Liu Dezhu, Hu Xiaoniu, and Zhang Tianzhen." Qing Chen asked, "Why are you telling me this?" "The Wang Family''s influence in the Inner World is negligible, so they won''t be able to take revenge on Li Dongze or Uncle Li Dong right now. Hu Xiaoniu and Zhang Tianzhen are only minor players; they won''t start a war with the Hu and Zhang families," Yangyang explained. "So the person they can go after is Liu Dezhu. Don''t forget, this is the Outer World, the Wang Family''s turf. They''re coming for revenge." Qing Chen furrowed his brow, having guessed that the Wang Family would seek revenge for Wang Yun, and that they would be ruthless. But he hadn''t expected the Wang Family to be such bullies and cowards. And why was Yangyang telling him this? Qing Chen asked, "Wasn''t Wang Yun part of your circle? Why don''t you help the Wang Family?" The girl calmly replied, "There''s no room for a ''green tea bitch'' in my circle." Then, Qing Chen asked, "I''m really curious. Why did you come to Los Angeles City, and why did you transfer to Class 3, Grade 11? What is your goal?" "You''re not being open with me, so naturally, I can''t be open with you," Yangyang said. "When you''re ready to be candid, you can ask me again." After saying that, the girl closed the door. It wasn''t until then that Qing Chen had a moment to glance at the content of the letter, "What you want, I have. But remember, with every gain there must be a loss, hehe." Qing Chen sighed. The slogan had zero appeal. You didn''t even say what you have! For the first time, he felt that in this round of his game with the Devil''s Stamp holder, he had the upper hand. This round, he had won. It must be said, Qing Chen''s second line of defense had been timely. The adversary had clearly fixed their sights on the identity of "Qing Chen." If there had not been some misleading information released, the adversary would have quickly enacted a series of plots against him. But now, he had become a minor character, a mere pawn. That was much safer. Qing Chen had no intention of responding in the identity of "Qing Chen." After all, if he were to reply directly, he would bloody have to cut his own finger to bleed. Now, letting Liu Dezhu bleed was quite appropriate. At that moment, another letter was sent to Liu Dezhu by the adversary, "I''m very curious, how do you manage to hide so well?" This was the Devil''s Stamp holder''s most genuine puzzle. Zheng Yuandong had gathered so much information, had made such a fuss with the testing, and the holder themselves had contemplated and watched for so long. But none of them had found the "man behind the curtain"; they only found two pawns. This feeling, it was really upsetting the holder too much. Liu Dezhu asked, "Boss, how should I reply to him?" Qing Chen was silent for a moment, "Hehe." In a corner of some city, a skinny figure sat before a massive floor-to-ceiling window, pondering over the letter and the word ''hehe''... The Devil''s Stamp holder was confounded by this countermove, a simple ''hehe,'' disrupting his emotions... Qing Chen no longer engaged with the Devil''s Stamp holder, instead resuming the training he had interrupted for so long. According to Uncle Li Dong, although he had unlocked the genetic lock, his body''s potential had not been maximized. So training would still be effective. Even though such an improvement might seem insignificant compared to supernatural powers, Qing Chen always favored ''the extreme.'' And he firmly believed. Discipline is the greatest freedom of mankind. Chapter 191 170. Wang Familys Revenge_4 ... ... Countdown 137:00:00. It was 7 a.m. on a weekend morning, no classes. Liu Dezhu got up early to wash up, and his father Liu Youcai looked at his son, filled with reassurance. Before the time travel incident, every weekend night, Liu Dezhu would either play games until the early hours or binge-watch movies and TV shows, sleeping the next day away, completely without self-discipline. But now things had changed, Liu Dezhu had gone to bed early last night and got up early today as well. Liu Youcai suddenly felt that his son had grown up! At first, he thought time travel might be a bad thing since his son had also encountered a kidnapping incident. But now, it seemed that what was bad had turned into something good; not only had his son become one of the most renowned Time Travelers, but he had also developed good habits... This made Liu Youcai, as a father, feel increasingly that he should strive to understand his son''s "opportunities" and "career." Suddenly, however, Liu Youcai felt that his son''s complexion seemed much paler than before. There was also a sweet, fishy smell about him. "Zhu, are you going out so early? I''ve made breakfast for you. Eat before you go," Liu Youcai said, tying his apron. "I won''t eat," Liu Dezhu replied, "Dad, just leave the food on the table after you''ve made it, I''ll eat it when I come back." After speaking, Liu Dezhu wrapped a scarf around himself, put on a hat, and even dug out some sunglasses he had bought long ago to look cool. This fully equipped appearance from head to toe completely stunned Liu Youcai. If he ran into him outside, he might not even recognize his own son! Liu Youcai hesitated before asking, "Are you..." "Dad, don''t ask, it''s a secret," Liu Dezhu said before turning and leaving the house. After his son had left. Liu Youcai quickly went to his wife Wang Shufen and whispered, "Wife, don''t you think our son is acting a bit strange?" At that moment, Liu Dezhu was near a blood donation station, quietly surveying his surroundings. It was a bit strange that he always felt a couple dressed in long black overcoats were secretly watching him. But when he turned to look, he found the couple was not looking at him but laughing and joking with each other. He must be overthinking it. Liu Dezhu watched for a while before silently walking towards the station, "Hello, can I buy blood?" The nurse was shocked, it was her first time encountering someone wanting to buy blood at a donation site, "This is a blood donation place, we don''t sell blood!" Liu Dezhu thought for a moment, "Then, could you sell me a set of your blood bags and blood-drawing equipment?" The nurse was helpless, "We don''t sell those either!" "Then I''ll donate blood," Liu Dezhu said. The nurse on the blood donation bus gave him a surprised look, "Okay, I''ll do some tests first." She began by using test strips to check Liu Dezhu''s blood type, hemoglobin, and hepatitis B surface antigen, then used a device to check his heart rate and blood pressure... After confirming everything was fine, the nurse disinfected Liu Dezhu''s arm and inserted the needle. Liu Dezhu watched his blood flow into the bag and quietly waited. During this waiting time, the couple who had been secretly watching Liu Dezhu exchanged glances and began silently approaching the blood donation bus. They reached into their sleeves and touched the handle of the gun tucked under the arm of their black trench coat, a gun also equipped with a silencer. However, before they could fully approach, just as the nurse had drawn 300CC and was about to remove the needle, something unexpected occurred. Liu Dezhu suddenly rose, snatched the blood bag, and ran off, disappearing into the distance in the blink of an eye. The couple approaching near the car exchanged glances, their plans disrupted by this sudden turn of events. Seeing the nurse chasing after them, they quickly let go of the gun they were holding. At this moment, the nurses in the car were staring at Liu Dezhu''s figure, completely dumbfounded. What was going on?! It was the first time they had seen someone come to a blood donation station to steal blood, and crucially, it was his own blood he was stealing! Experience tales at empire What was he thinking? At this point, the suspicious nurse looked over at the couple at the car door, "Are you here to donate blood?" The couple, seeing the suspicious look in her eyes, exchanged a glance, "Yes, we are here to donate blood." "Come on in quickly," said the nurse. The couple took one last deep look at Liu Dezhu''s retreating figure... They didn''t manage to kill anyone, and they even ended up donating 300CC of blood each... What they didn''t know was that Liu Dezhu was also suffering inside. Stealing the blood was a desperate measure, as he didn''t know how to draw blood himself! Since last night, he had identified a problem: the holder of the Devil''s Stamp seemed to have become addicted to talking to his boss! And their conversations had to be conveyed using his blood. Liu Dezhu had secretly tried using pig blood, duck blood, and chicken blood, but none worked. He painfully discovered that the stamp genuinely required human blood, and possibly even the recipient''s blood. And as if using human blood wasn''t enough, the issue was that his wounds would heal every day. This meant that every time his boss wanted to converse with the holder, he had to reopen his wounds! After being tormented by his boss and the holder of the Devil''s Stamp a few times, he painfully decided to look for a new method. If he couldn''t use someone else''s blood, he would draw more at once and slowly use it from the fridge. At least that way, he wouldn''t have to add a new wound each day. Half an hour later, he stealthily returned home with the blood bag and, while his parents were in the bedroom, quietly hid the blood bag at the very bottom of the fridge. Only then did he finally relax and return to his own bedroom, taking out his communicator to send a message to Qing Chen, "Boss, I suspect someone wants to kill me!" What Liu Dezhu didn''t know was that the moment he closed his bedroom door, his parents quietly came out of the bedroom and opened the fridge. Liu Youcai looked at the well-hidden blood bag and stood there for a long time. With a pained expression, he said, "Wife, it looks like we weren''t wrong." Wang Shufen spoke softly, "Should we put away the silverware in the house, and the Guanyin Bodhisattva at the entrance?" Liu Youcai hesitated for a moment, "Vampires probably aren''t under the jurisdiction of Guanyin Bodhisattva." At noon, Liu Dezhu woke up from his nap feeling famished. When he opened the fridge to see what food there was, he instead found that where he had hidden his blood bags, there were now two more... ... Thanks to the ride-hailing driver for becoming the new member of the Silver City Alliance, thanks to the boss, boss is generous, boss makes a fortune! Today, only 6800 words, returned home after attending the event, my schedule has never adjusted back, I''m a slow typist, today is just a little rest, sorry everyone. Also, this book has now an average order of 62,000. I plan to break the record of 100,000 highest subscriptions within 7 days. It''s currently at 90,776, not far off, just 7 more hours to go. Hope everyone supports the subscription! Seeking monthly tickets! Chapter 192 171. Rainy Night, Bloody Water, Assassin (10,000-word chapter, seeking monthly votes) Liu Dezhu looked at the three bags of blood in the refrigerator, and for a moment, he didn''t know whether to laugh or cry. He held the three bags of blood in his hands and suddenly realized that they all had "Voluntary Blood Donation Site" written on them. Without even thinking, he knew that his parents must have done the same as him: donated blood, then lied about not wanting to donate anymore, and then ran off with the bags of blood. Liu Dezhu had found out that ordinary people couldn''t possibly buy blood unless there was a disaster or illness, whether from hospital blood banks or city blood stations. The blood bags they stored were considered strategic materials, with very strict inventory controls. Therefore, it had to be his parents'' blood. There are irresponsible parents in this world, like Qing Guozhong. But such parents are really rare. And the love most parents have for their children often appears somewhat tragic and silent. Parents might skimp on their own needs to send their children to better kindergartens. They might eat pickled vegetables and drink thin rice soup to give their children better learning conditions. They might even sell the house they live in to help their children with a down payment for a matrimonial home and move into a rented place. This kind of love, though riddled with barriers, is also heavy, and might even become suffocating for the children. But this is the only way parents can think of, the only thing they can do. Liu Youcai still couldn''t understand exactly what the Time Traveler was all about. The question he often asked his colleagues was, if the Time Traveler traveled back and forth, would his own child age faster than him? Wasn''t it too dangerous for his child in the Inner World? He didn''t care whether Liu Dezhu had become very capable, but he tried to understand everything related to Liu Dezhu. Then, in his own way, he tried to understand Liu Dezhu, to support him. Just like the two bags of blood in the refrigerator. Liu Dezhu''s nose tingled when he saw a yellow sticky note on the back of one of the blood bags. "Son, drink without worry. If it runs out, your mom and dad will go buy more." Liu Dezhu''s nose tingled. Finding these for sale was impossible: his parents were from the working class, and wouldn''t know anyone managing blood banks. But as touching as it was, it posed a problem afterward... Which bag was his own anyway?! And he must clarify this matter with his parents, he really wasn''t a vampire and didn''t need to drink blood! Based on his estimate, given the volume of conversations between his boss and the holder of the Devil''s Stamp, the 300CC he had would be enough for a month, if preserved properly. What he feared was having to cut open a wound every day, not the amount of bleeding. At that moment, Liu Dezhu''s communicator in his pocket vibrated. He returned to his room and saw a message from his boss. "What situation did you encounter, and how did you know someone wanted to kill you?" Liu Dezhu replied, "I went to the Voluntary Blood Donation Station to buy blood today, and on the way, I felt a couple watching me. Later, I entered the blood donation van, and through the reflective glass, I saw them moving slowly closer with their hands tucked into their pockets, just like assassins ready to draw guns in a movie. I was pretty panicked and didn''t get a good look at their faces before I hurriedly ran away." Qing Chen frowned, setting other matters aside for the moment. Going to a Voluntary Blood Donation Station... to buy blood? What kind of move was that?! But then again, Liu Dezhu had indeed improved a lot compared to before. Liu Dezhu asked, "Boss, do you know who wants to kill me?" After thinking, Qing Chen replied, "I''ve got information already. It''s Wang Yun''s family looking to seek revenge on you." "What should I do then?" "Stay calm and stay home," Qing Chen replied, "Kunlun is watching over you. Not wandering around at home is the safest thing to do." ... ... Countdown 126:00:00. 6 o''clock in the evening. Jiang Xue was bustling about in Qing Chen''s kitchen, and since it was the weekend, the meal she cooked was especially lavish. Li Tongyun''s grandparents were arriving in Los Angeles City by the 8 p.m. train, and Jiang Xue might be too busy to visit Qing Chen for several days. She decided to give his house a thorough cleaning as well. Knock knock knock, the sound of knocking came. Li Tongyun wanted to go open the door, but Qing Chen stopped her. "Don''t rush to open the door from now on. It''s very dangerous outside, and you don''t know who is standing there." Li Tongyun nodded obediently, "Mm, got it!" After that, Qing Chen opened the door and was surprised to find Siyi standing outside. Experience new tales on empire The girl raised a letter, "Another one." Qing Chen froze, somewhat curious. Could the holder of the Devil''s Stamp actually be trying to undermine him for real? He thought to himself that when this holder eventually found out, doing this right in front of Qing Chen could really be a huge embarrassment. "Did you read the contents of the letter?" Qing Chen asked Siyi. However, the girl seemed not to hear him, her eyes fixed on the meal Jiang Xue had just brought to the table. Braised pork ribs, shredded pork with green peppers, Mapo tofu, steamed bass, hot and sour chicken soup. Qing Chen looked at the girl and asked again, "Um, should I talk to the person, perhaps change the address?" He had thought that not getting a response, the holder would stop sending letters, so he hadn''t dwelled on it anymore. But now this holder was bothering someone else, causing Qing Chen some embarrassment. Still, Siyi seemed deaf, showing no reaction at all. Qing Chen tentatively added, "Or maybe sit and have some food?" "Sure," Siyi stepped in without hesitation, brushing past Qing Chen. Qing Chen: "..." So she had her eyes on their food this whole time! But if you wanted to eat, just say it, why pretend to be deaf and mute! Siyi didn''t see herself as an outsider at all, sitting down right next to XiaoTongyun and picking up chopsticks to start eating. Chapter 193 171. Rainy Night, Bloody Water, Assassin (10,000-word chapter, seeking monthly votes)_2 XiaoTongyun looked up at Jiang Xue, about to say something, but noticed that Jiang Xue had already devoured several pieces of ribs. She quickly shut her mouth and started to pick up vegetables in case all the ribs were eaten by Jiang Xue. "Don''t rush, don''t rush, I can make more if it''s not enough," Jiang Xue said with a gentle smile as she removed her apron. "Thank you, it''s delicious, and it''s enough," Jiang Xue said, her mouth full of food. Qing Chen sat opposite Jiang Xue, propping his chin with his hand, and asked, "When was this letter sent?" "Three hours and twenty minutes ago," said Jiang Xue, her words muffled. Qing Chen was startled for a moment. Since she had specified the exact time, it meant that she must have discovered the letter as soon as it arrived. But why hadn''t the girl given him the letter right away? Wait, she couldn''t have been waiting for mealtime to deliver the letter, could she?! Qing Chen tentatively asked again, "Should I ask the sender to change the delivery address?" "No need," Jiang Xue waved her hand holding chopsticks, "It''s quite alright being sent to me, I''ll bring it over to you at mealtime when I receive it." "She''s not saying her thoughts out loud now, is she," Qing Chen was shocked. Jiang Xue, such a pretty girl, ate voraciously, almost making XiaoTongyun cry in a panic at her side. After finishing her meal, she ladled out half a basin of hot and sour egg soup into her bowl, mixed it with rice, and ate until nothing was left. And then she let out a satisfied burp. "I''m not just freeloading, one piece of information for a meal, you''re not losing out," Jiang Xue said. "What information?" Qing Chen asked. "From this afternoon, Kunlun''s people have begun converging on Los Angeles City. These movements are easily detectable through transportation data and can''t be hidden from outsiders," Jiang Xue said, "Therefore, the Wang Family will definitely notice the unusual mobilization of Kunlun. After today, in a short time, Los Angeles City will become a strategic location for Kunlun. If they really intend to kill Liu Dezhu to avenge their daughter, it''s likely going to happen tonight." Because after tonight, it would be much harder for the Wang Family to find another opportunity. "How many people has the Wang Family hired?" Qing Chen asked. "I''m not sure about that," Jiang Xue replied calmly, "I only know that they''ve spent a great deal of money to hire a Transcendent, and the cost is beyond your imagination." "Wait, they''re making all this effort just to kill Liu Dezhu?" Qing Chen was puzzled. "Never underestimate the anger and sorrow of a father who has lost his daughter," Jiang Xue said, "In your eyes, Wang Yun deserved to die for her faults, but in her parents'' eyes, their child is always right. They believe it''s excusable for their daughter to betray others when her life is threatened, at least, her actions don''t warrant death." Wang Yun''s death in the Inner World wasn''t the end of everything. Because her corpse would still return to the Outer World. For any parent, the sight of a living daughter suddenly turning into a gruesomely dead body is unbearable. "Remember, the Wang Family has gone mad," Jiang Xue said, "I wouldn''t be surprised by anything they do tonight." "Which class is the Transcendent?" Qing Chen asked. "I''m not clear about that," said Jiang Xue, "but I guess it won''t be a very high-level Transcendent. Firstly, there are few high-level Transcendents among the Time Travelers, as there aren''t many in the Inner World to begin with. Secondly, high-level Transcendents cherish their status. Making money is easy for them, there''s no need to be at someone''s beck and call." Qing Chen frowned, uncertain of the enemy''s level was a very dangerous thing. If the enemy sent someone below D-Class, it might still be manageable, but if they sent a C-Class Transcendent, Liu Dezhu was likely doomed. Considering he borrowed so many rules in the Taboo Land, C-Class Cao Wei was gravely injured and hung for more than twenty hours, yet he still managed to counterattack fiercely, and Qing Huai almost escaped under the pressure of the land''s rules. At C-Class, Transcendents start to embody the essence of transcending the ordinary. Jiang Xue stood up and said, "I''m full now, time for business. I believe it''s going to be a lively night tonight, make sure not to miss it. I''m going to check the situation near Liu Dezhu''s place and be ready to enjoy the show." With that, she walked out without further ado. As she was opening the door, she suddenly turned as if she had remembered something and said to Jiang Xue, "Thank you, your cooking skills are amazing!" After Jiang Xue had left, Qing Chen suddenly thought of something and chased after her. However, he was met with an astonishing scene. In the dark of the night, the girl stood outside the building, looking up at the sky. In an instant, the dust around her was stirred by an invisible force, dispersing in all directions. The next moment, she soared into the air like an arrow released from a bow, vanishing into the thick night. Qing Chen stood there silently, with only one thought in his mind: She can fly?! Previously, when he was at the parking lot on Laojun Mountain, he had wondered what her abilities might be. At that time, Qing Chen''s guess was gravity because the movements of the thugs had become sluggish, as if the air had been compressed together into a pool of water. Qing Chen recalled the scene that night seriously. The thugs'' eyes bulged out, blood vessels bursting, every clue indicating that they were enduring immense "pressure" within their bodies. Thus, based on that battle alone, Qing Chen believed Jiang Xue''s ability was gravity, no doubt about it. But now, Qing Chen felt that her ability was broader than gravity: it was the power of force fields. The ability to manipulate force fields. From the patterns of the dust that had swirled up, it was unmistakably the effect of a magnetic field, and her flight into the night sky was the creation of a repulsive force field beneath her. Chapter 194 171. Rainy Night, Bloody Water, Assassin (10,000-word chapter, seeking monthly votes) _3 Qing Chen squatted where the seedlings had lifted off, examining the dust and soil on the ground. Just then, his eyes lit up. Indeed, the fine metal material in the dust was radiating outwards. That was the shape of a magnetic field. He suddenly felt a pang of envy. Who wouldn''t want to fly? With that ability, couldn''t you go wherever you desired? Speaking of which, Qing Chen had still not had the opportunity to ask his teacher if there was still a chance to become a Transcendent after becoming a Knight. Wait, Qing Chen suddenly looked up at the night sky. The direction the seedlings had flown was towards the desolate Mang Mountain, but Liu Dezhu''s home was in the south! He returned home speechlessly and looked at the letter from the holder of the Devil''s Stamp: Have you decided what you want? Hehe. Qing Chen impatiently wanted to reply to the letter just to disgust the sender. However, just as he was about to take a knife to bleed himself, he suddenly laughed quietly. No, no ... that was the sender''s final test. Because if "Qing Chen" had nothing to do with the mastermind behind the scenes and did not know Liu Dezhu, then "Qing Chen" should not know that replying by blood burning was the method. The method of replying was only known by Liu Dezhu and the person behind the scenes who would not bother informing "Qing Chen" about it for no reason. Thus, the holder had kept asking what "Qing Chen" wanted but had never told "Qing Chen" how to reply. If Qing Chen replied, the truth would come out. The young man took a deep breath in his house. In this world, which had become utterly unrecognizable and filled with perils at every turn, dealing with those monsters lurking in the dark required utmost focus. Thinking of this, he tore up the letter. "Aunt Jiang Xue, after dinner you and the others go to the station to pick up XiaoTongyun''s grandparents. Remember, don''t go out after coming home." After speaking, Qing Chen changed his clothes and silently walked into the night outside. He couldn''t miss tonight''s excitement. The air carried a hint of moist, fishy smell, and a gust of wind brought the black clouds in the sky to the south. It was windy in this cold November weather. ... ... "Mom and Dad, how can I explain this, I''m really not a vampire, and I can eat garlic," Liu Dezhu earnestly said. "I don''t know if vampires can eat garlic, but I can." The family of three sat at the dining table, which had food that looked extremely odd: chives stir-fried with duck blood, duck blood vermicelli soup, blood tofu, and spicy chicken blood. All four dishes had one thing in commonthey emphasized "blood." Liu Dezhu patiently said, "Of course, I know you are doing this for my good, but I asked for blood to write letters, not to drink... It''s hard to explain it well, just trust me." Liu Youcai and Wang Shufen looked at each other and heaved a sigh of relief. Wang Shufen, smiling, served her son a spoonful of chives stir-fried with duck blood and said, "You and your dad scared me to death today, but it''s good you''re not, it''s good you''re not." Liu Dezhu recalled his parents'' tender care and chuckled, "Dad, Mom, don''t worry, our life is going to get better soon." "What do you mean?" Liu Youcai asked curiously. "Haven''t you heard? Many people have been making a lot of money by bringing back medicine from the Inner World," Liu Dezhu said. "I''ve got my footing now, so naturally, I will also bring something back to improve our lives." "Don''t worry about your mom and me for now, just take good care of yourself," Liu Youcai said as he took a sip of his drink. "No worries," Liu Dezhu said cheerfully. "I know some important people over there." "By the way, son, aren''t there any dangers over there?" Wang Shufen asked. "For now, there''s no danger in the Inner World," Liu Dezhu replied. "In fact, sometimes the Outer World is more dangerous than the Inner World." Now that Liu Dezhu had a good relationship with Qing Chen, he knew sticking close to him would naturally bring benefits. Inside Prison No. 18, Lin Xiaoxiao and Ye Wan followed the rules; no one dared mess with them. At that moment, Liu Youcai suddenly expressed his confusion, "I''ve never really understood how those Time Travelers bring things back." Liu Dezhu explained, "There''s a mechanism during the travel process. For example, if I stuff a bottle of medicine in my mouth a second before traveling, when I return, I can bring the medicine back too, and then I can spit it out and sell it." "Oh," Liu Youcai nodded. "So it''s like ''import-export trade''." Liu Dezhu was astonished, goddamn import-export trade! But, truth be told, the term was quite apt! Liu Youcai hadn''t had a good chat with his son for a long time, so he thought for a moment and said, "We''re out of liquor at home. I''ll go out later and buy a case of beer, and we can have a good drink together." Wang Shufen complained, "He''s still a student." "So what if he''s a student," Liu Youcai said. "My son''s already 17. I was in the army when I was his age." Just then, Liu Dezhu suddenly said, "Dad, don''t go out tonight." Liu Youcai, curious, asked, "Why not?" "It''s very dangerous outside tonight, anyway, just don''t go out," Liu Dezhu explained. "As long as we stay at home, we are safe." Liu Youcai and Wang Shufen exchanged looks. They realized then that something significant was likely to happen tonight. Just as they were speaking, a small drone was slowly flying over the wall of the Xinglong Residential Area in the night. Chapter 195 171. Rainy Night, Bloody Water, Assassin (10,000-word chapter, seeking monthly votes) _4 It was flying slowly due to a black package dangling beneath it. However, the person controlling the drone was extremely skilled, making it agile and swift like a homing pigeon, weaving through the dense buildings and the dark curtain of the night. When it reached a building, it suddenly began to accelerate forcibly. With a sharp crack, the drone precisely found a room with only a screen window drawn, using its sharp propellers to pierce through the screen and crashed entirely into the room. The drone fell to the floor, black greasy substance pouring out from the black bag it carried, gradually spreading over the damaged drone. Another hiss occurred as the modified drone emitted white smoke and sparks, releasing intense heat. The instant the black grease came into contact with the drone, it ignited with a blinding flash of fire. The flames began to spread. Sitting at home, Liu Youcai had just pulled out a bottle of Moutai he had been saving for many years, "Can''t go out for drinks, no worries, today is worth celebrating. Let''s drink this bottle of Moutai!" However, just as Liu Youcai finished speaking, he noticed his wife''s expression becoming solemn. He thought for a moment and said, "Oh, this was a gift, I didn''t secretly spend our savings on it." "No," Wang Shufen looked up, "Do you smell something burning?" ... ... "Tonight, the meteorology bureau issued a red alert for a torrential downpour, experts say this autumn rain is rare in a decade, and the rainfall in the next three hours may reach 50mm. Please, dear listeners, take precautions against and seek shelter from the rain..." The voice from the taxi''s radio went on as Xiao Ying switched channels; after a buzz of static, the sound of an audiobook emerged, "Da Jinya asked, Hu Ye, what do you mean by the last sentence you just said, is it bad to build this Fishbone Temple in the valley..." A slight crack in the car window allowed the damp air from outside to waft in. Xiao Ying, engrossed in the audiobook, glanced around periodically while sitting in the car. At that moment, a voice came through his earpiece, "Xiao Ying, any situations outside?" "None, the ladies dancing in the square haven''t packed up yet," Xiao Ying responded, "But I tell you, these ladies are really trendy nowadays, they listen to songs I''ve never heard before." However, it was then that Lu Yuan''s voice came through the communications channel, saying coldly, "Stay sharp, in two more hours, our special operations team members on a mission will arrive in Los Angeles City. Soon someone will take over for you, hold your position for the last shift tonight." "Received." "Received." "Received." "Recei... Road Team, I see fire and a lot of smoke coming from a window upstairs at Liu Dezhu''s place," Gourd said. Lu Yuan calmly stated, "I see it too; this is not a normal fire incident, it''s burning too fast, too fiercely." Xiao Ying said, "I just heard from the weather report, there''s a storm coming tonight." "Someone wants to flush out Liu Dezhu, knowing that Kunlun has secured a strategic position here. They plan to shift the battleground or drive all the building''s residents out to create chaos," Lu Yuan continued analyzing, "The storm will arrive soon, and it won''t let the fire spread too wildly, but the thick smoke inside is unbearable; the apartment building will soon be chaotic." The assassin hired by the Wang family didn''t want to wait any longer. The opponent was originally well-prepared, wanting to use the fire to create chaos in the late night. But the sudden storm disrupted everyone''s plans, forcing them to act before it commenced, or they''d lose their chance. "Xiao Ying, no need to stay at the door anymore, it''s too dangerous for you alone. Get out of the car and start moving towards us with Bingtang, it''s time to prepare for battle," Lu Yuan commanded. However, just then, Xiao Ying suddenly saw through the car window, a black figure standing not far away, staring intently at him. The figure was clad in a black raincoat, with the face hidden under the brim of the raincoat''s hood. As if locked in a standoff, both sides quietly waited, yet neither knew what the other was waiting for. Bingtang''s voice came over the communication channel, "Xiao Ying, where are you? Hurry and join us." But inside the car, Xiao Ying didn''t say a word as sweat slowly dripped down his temples. In the distance, the blaze grew bigger, and thick smoke billowed out of over a dozen windows. Suddenly, High above in the overcast clouds, the vapor collided with the cold air and quickly condensed, finally gathering into a single droplet, which began to plummet downward. The droplet pierced through the clouds, navigating the long fall through the atmosphere. Finally, with a splat, it hit the hood of the taxi. The earthy scent in the air spread rapidly, the single raindrop seemed to have pierced through the heavens, and a curtain of rain poured down from above, darkening the sky even further. In the distance, the women dancing in the square hurriedly packed up their speakers, each scattering and fleeing. Xiao Ying saw the assassin in the black raincoat slowly approaching him, but then stopped. Dozens of women shielding their heads rushed forward, seemingly eager to dash into the Xinglong Residential Area in the rain. They passed between the assassin and the taxi, momentarily drawing a brief curtain between the two. With a click, Xiao Ying swiftly exited the vehicle, ready to prevent the assassin from taking hostages among the civilians! But just as he opened the door, he involuntarily froze. After the group of women ran past, the assassin still stood in place in the rain curtain. With no more obstructions between their gazes, the assassin just stood there blankly, a poker card embedded in his skull, blood flowing from the torn gap in the skull. Chapter 196 171. Rainy Night, Bloody Water, Assassin (10,000-word chapter, seeking monthly votes) _5 A streak of blood, like lightning, ran from his forehead to his chin. The assassin''s eyes widened, seemingly in disbelief. Meanwhile, Xiao Ying noticed that someone had stripped the raincoat off the assassin at some point. The assassin, who had originally been wearing a raincoat, now revealed the black jacket underneath. The dead assassin fell backwards, heavily crashing into the pooled water formed from the torrential rain. Xiao Ying suddenly looked towards the backs of the older women, just in time to see someone in the crowd quickly donning a black raincoat and disappearing into the residential area. Xinglong Residential Area was large, one of the first commercial residential buildings in Los Angeles City, consisting of more than sixty apartment buildings. Normally, Xiao Ying didn''t notice how complex the layout was, but now it seemed like a labyrinth that swallowed people in an instant. Xiao Ying closed the taxi doors and ran towards the assassin while saying through the communication channel, "Road Team, there''s an unidentified person on the scene. I was just targeted by an assassin at the entrance of the residential area, but this person suddenly mingled in with the dancing older women and not only took out the assassin but also grabbed his raincoat. "Where is he now?" Lu Yuan asked gravely. "He went inside the residential area. I think he might be an ally," Xiao Ying said. He squatted down to check on the assassin''s wounds and was startled to find that what was stuck in his forehead was nothing but an ordinary playing card. It couldn''t be more ordinary. From a distance, Xiao Ying hadn''t seen clearly and thought it might be some kind of special weapon, but now, as the heavy rain poured down, the card, soaked by the rain, limply clung to the assassin''s forehead. In shock, Xiao Ying looked into the depths of Xinglong Residential Area. How had he managed to drive a paper playing card into one of the hardest bones in the human body? He flipped the wet card, and a joker stained gray by the rain silently laughed on its face. Red lips, as if stretching to the ears. "Road Team, this person on the scene is a Transcendent," Xiao Ying said, "Level unknown." "Is there a wound on the spleen of the deceased''s body?" Lu Yuan asked. Xiao Ying opened up the assassin''s black jacket, "Road Team, there''s no wound." Lu Yuan was puzzled; this was not what they had predicted. ... ... More than one apartment building was ablaze. Within just a few minutes, three buildings had caught fire, and not even the torrential rain could disperse the thick smoke. The concrete structures, originally meant to shelter from the wind and rain, now isolated the inside of the buildings from the outside. Outside, the rain poured down heavily, while inside, the fire spread rapidly, smoldering intensely. The heavy rain outside muffled the noise, but inside, Liu Dezhu and his family could hear frantic footsteps in the corridor. Everyone was rushing downstairs. "Mom, Dad, let''s go," Liu Dezhu could no longer heed Qing Chen''s warnings. It wasn''t that he didn''t want to obey, but he was forced to leave. Although he was unaware of what dangers awaited outside, it was better than being burnt to death inside the building. "The rain is too heavy outside, let me grab an umbrella!" Wang Shufen said. "What are you thinking about getting an umbrella at a time like this?" Liu Youcai, pulling his wife, rushed outside, and the moment they opened the door, they were greeted by a ceiling clouded with black smoke. The smoke and the burnt air made everyone cough violently. In the corridor, there were mixed sounds of shouting and gasping as everyone desperately tried to escape. Their old residential area had only seven floors and no elevator. There was only one staircase for an escape route. Liu Dezhu rushed back into the apartment and then back out, "Towels! Cover your mouth and nose!" At that moment, a middle-aged man, frantically trying to escape, accidentally bumped into Wang Shufen with his shoulder as he passed by Liu Dezhu''s home. Causing both of them to tumble down the stairs. "Mom!" Liu Dezhu''s eyes widened in panic. He rushed down the steps to help Wang Shufen but saw his mother''s ankle twisted unnaturally, clearly broken. "Don''t worry about me, just run downstairs. Let your father help me," Wang Shufen anxiously said. "Dad can''t carry you," Liu Dezhu said as he hoisted his mother onto his back, then yelled at Liu Youcai, "Dad, what are you waiting for, run!" At this moment, Liu Dezhu was somewhat thankful that he had been injected with Genetic Potion. If it weren''t for the potion enhancing his physical abilities, he might not have been able to carry his mother. The family of three hurried downstairs. The middle-aged man who had collided with Wang Shufen struggled to his feet. Liu Dezhu almost kicked him, but he restrained himself. Wang Shufen lay on her son''s back, her broken ankle initially numb, then followed by piercing pain. But she didn''t make a sound, fearful of distracting her son. As Liu Dezhu carried his mother down the stairs, he kept reassuring her, "Don''t be scared, Mom. The fire started upstairs, running down won''t hurt us. I''m not an ordinary person now; carrying you isn''t tiring at all." Suddenly, Wang Shufen felt that her ankle wasn''t hurting as much. When the family of three rushed out of the corridor, hundreds of residents had already gathered there. The fire had come so suddenly that most people hadn''t had time to grab an umbrella. Dense raindrops hit everyone, and looking up at the black smoke billowing from the rooftops, their expressions were helpless and bewildered. Your next read is at empire Those with cellphones urgently dialed 119, while those who hadn''t managed to bring their phones could only wait in the rain. At that moment, Liu Dezhu, carrying his mother, surveyed their surroundings. Chapter 197 171. Rainy Night, Bloody Water, Assassin (10,000-word chapter, seeking monthly votes) _6 Liu Dezhu was no longer the ignorant man he used to be, he knew very well that someone had set the fire to force him out, intending to kill him in the chaos. But where was the assassin? Because of its vast size, the Xinglong Residential Area had four main gates and two smaller ones. In the torrential rain, six teams clad in black raincoats were silently entering the area from six directions. Each team consisted of six members, advancing into the neighborhood in a standard infiltration tactical formation. Three advancing, two flanking, one covering the rear. Under the black raincoats, everyone''s face was hidden beneath the brim of the hood, and the hands of the assassins tucked inside the raincoats were either on the handles of guns or knives. Raindrops hit their rubber raincoats and splashed, making pitter-patter sounds. Although the assassins'' feet splashed in the puddles, they were not disturbed by the noisy environment. In the squad on the far west, the leader at the front suddenly felt something was off; he turned to check but saw nothing unusual. But soon, the team leader realized what was wrong. He repeatedly confirmed the number of people behind him in his mind, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. Yes, six. Adding him, that made seven. The pupils under the leader''s hood suddenly contracted. Although everyone was wearing the same black raincoat, behind their team... there was one extra person! In an instant, the team leader drew the dagger from the outside of his thigh and turned to rush backward, charging through the tactical formation as his dagger under the raincoat aimed straight for the last person! Raindrops fell under the brim of his raincoat, and as he spun fiercely, he threw a crystalline spray of water. The assassins, sensing something was amiss, stepped aside, all except for the last person, who stood swaying in place. No! In the darkness, the team leader saw clearlythe last person had already closed their eyes in death, and at some point, a massive gash had been made in the raincoat at the position of the spleen on the right abdomen. Earlier, the deceased assassin had been propped up and followed the team, only released when the team leader noticed something was wrong. By the time he realized this, someone had already lifted a foot and kicked him from the side. With a thunderous crash, the team leader''s body flew sideways. The kick was too powerful, far beyond what an ordinary person could muster; it felt like being hit by a truck, leaving the team leader''s whole skeleton ready to fall apart. As he flew to the side, the rain that fell from the sky had yet to fill the gap, so layer after layer of rain seemed to be punched through, leaving a person-shaped hole! In mid-air, the team leader looked through that hole at the assailant; a streak of lightning writhed across the heavens, illuminating the night sky for an instant. To his astonishment, the face under the assailant''s hood appeared very young. So young, it was hard to believe. It was Qing Chen. Yet what the team leader found hardest to accept was that the young man''s attention was already not on him, as if he had already judged that he could no longer fight. Then, Qing Chen suddenly ducked to avoid a dagger that came flying by his side and instantly circled behind one of them. Between his fingers, he held a poker card that sliced through the rain, barely touching before the assassin''s neck burst open with a line of blood. Read the latest on empire Rainwater and bloodwater mingled together as they fell to the ground, indistinguishable from one another. No one knew why the paper poker card in the young man''s hand was as sharp as a knife. No, sharper than a knife. Qing Chen silently held the body of the throat-slit assassin with one hand, slowly moving to the right. The assassins watched in silent amazement, inwardly astounded. The weight of over a hundred kilograms in his hand seemed as light as a bucket of cooking oil. Three assassins exchanged glances in the night; this was a Transcendent! They each pressed their hands to the pistol handles at their waists. But the young man''s figure was hidden behind the corpse, showing only a small portion of his face. None of the three assassins was confident they could hit their target under these circumstances. In the darkness, Qing Chen''s cap brim continually dripped water, yet his breathing was steadier than ever before. The four men moved slowly, each constantly shifting their center of gravity, pulling at each other''s energy as if they were strings about to be strung tight! Qing Chen had already felt the pistol at the waist of the assassin in front of him. At the critical moment, thunder and lightning flashed in the sky once again. All three assassins heard a bizarre breath that reached deep inside their hearts amid their astonishment. In the cold night rain and autumn, a breath as sharp as an arrow escaped from under the dark brim of the young man''s cap. In the illumination of the lightning, everyone saw the Fire Rune patterns blooming under that cap! "Don''t run," Qing Chen said calmly. Time passed, unknown how long, when the team leader, struggling to rise from the rain-soaked ground, suddenly heard footsteps splashing through the puddles as they approached. He slowly turned his head, only to see all his comrades already fallen in the rain. And the murderous youth was squatting beside him, winding something around his wrist, unnoticed. The team leader tried to rise but his skeleton ached unbearably. In the roaring downpour, Qing Chen pointed a gun at the team leader''s temple and asked, "What''s your name? Speak, and you might have a chance to live. If not, you die." The team leader was in extreme pain, and he had a premonition that once he gave his name, his fate would be handed over to someone else. But the cold gun barrel at his temple reminded him that without a name, he would have no fate at all. "Xu Yicheng." In the dark night, the team leader''s body moved like a puppet, rising up in an anatomically improbable posture under the pouring rain. His already dislocated bones cracked and popped. ... ... In a building somewhere, Lu Yuan stood quietly before a window. Battle updates continuously came through the communication channel: "01 combat team has the assassin at the east gate." "02 combat team has the assassin at the north gate." It seemed as if Kunlun already knew the assassins'' movements, their men stationed on the necessary routes for ambush, just waiting for the assassins to fall into their trap. In the communication channel, Lu Yuan ordered, "The target is armed, no mercy, kill on sight." "Received." "Received." "Received." However, at that moment, Lu Yuan asked in the communication channel, "06, have you not encountered the assassin at the west gate yet?" "Road Team, no." Strange, according to the intelligence, assassins should have been attacking from all six gates, but why hadn''t 06 encountered any yet? "Go check it out, they must have entered the area already, we must find them," Lu Yuan commanded, "Be careful." He frowned and waited quietly, yet five minutes later, the communication channel rang again, "Road Team, Road Team, the assassins at the west gate are all dead!" "Dead," Lu Yuan suddenly looked up, "How many, did you kill them?" "Five dead, one is missing, not by our hands," reported unit 06, "Two were throat-slashed, two died by gunfire, one''s spleen was ruptured. A gun was missing from the assassins, taken by someone else." Lu Yuan''s eyes brightened; that youth had indeed come. ... Please vote for the monthly ticket! Thanks to the new allies of this book, Ice Candy Snowman and Shanks, big bosses, big fortunes! Chapter 185 169. The person behind the scenes (10,000-word chapter asking for monthly passes)_4 He scrutinized all the clues he had obtained. In the quiet office, Zheng Yuandong silently closed his eyes. He chased the young man''s footsteps in his memories, approaching the truth as if unraveling a cocoon. However, the web-like chain of interconnected clues was completely shattered by a test report. As if it had been forcibly severed with a single cut. "Boss?" Xiao Ying couldn''t help but ask, "What do we do now?" Zheng Yuandong stood up, "The person behind the scenes may not be him, but the assassin on Laojun Mountain must be him, I trust my judgment." Zheng Yuandong thought. Read new chapters at empire If all his clues were correct, but the lab report proved his speculation wrong. Then there must be a clue he didn''t know about that led to the wrong conclusion in the test report. "He altered his own DNA," Zheng Yuandong said, looking at Xiao Ying. Between the events on Laojun Mountain and the blood collection incident, within this over-twenty-day timeline that combined both the Inner and Outer Worlds, Qing Chen altered his own DNA! This was the most reasonable explanation. The young man must also know that the blood sample left on Laojun Mountain was a very fatal clue, so he actively changed his DNA in these twenty-plus days. But what means could change one''s own DNA? Only a Genetic Potion could do that. But the question is, "If he is the other Time Traveler in Prison No. 18, a student of Uncle Li Dong, the person behind the scenes covered up by Liu Dezhu, why would he choose to inject a Genetic Potion?" It''s well known in the Inner World that Genetic Potions come with aftereffects. In the era of the new civilization, the earliest Genetic Potions came from the Contraindicated courts. They infused "God" gene fragments extracted by the potion into human genes. This matter was very mysterious. After getting hold of the Genetic Potion, Zheng Yuandong began to study it, but nobody has been able to break through this technology yet. Latterly, the number of Genetic Potions slowly increased, and various conglomerates also seemed to have found new human genes in Taboo Land and began to extract them. But the aftereffects followed: those who injected the Genetic Potion became infertile. It was like a very basic principle, to gain something, you must lose something else. There''s a price for everything in the universe. So, would a student of Uncle Li Dong suffer such a severe consequence just to hide his identity? Of course not. For the lower-classes struggling for survival, the clan''s position, protecting relatives, and making a living, the Genetic Potion is exceedingly important. Because in times when human life is as fragile as paper, only by becoming useful and valuable can they live a slightly better life! But for the upper-class, they have always disdained Genetic Potions! Thinking this, Zheng Yuandong suddenly looked at Xiao Ying, "Do you... blame me for injecting you with a Genetic Potion?" Xiao Ying scratched his head and laughed, "Boss, what are you talking about? We all chose it ourselves, and we all knew about the aftereffects." "But you might be too young to realize how serious this is. Even if you don''t mind, your wife will mind." Xiao Ying laughed, "That''s funny, I can''t even find a wife." Under Zheng Yuandong''s gaze. Xiao Ying hastened to say, "Boss, I was just joking. And... some things need to be done by someone, right? Don''t worry, we''ve all sworn an oath, no regrets, no resentments." ... ... The office suddenly fell quiet, and Zheng Yuandong remained silent. Xiao Ying changed the subject, "Boss, could it be that there''s someone else behind Qing Chen?" Zheng Yuandong pondered, "I''ve also considered that possibility, and it seems to be the only one left. The person behind the scenes has always been cautious, it doesn''t make sense for him to suddenly move from the background to the forefront." Just like He Jinqiu, to this day few people have seen him take action, because he intended to be the one who devises strategies within a command tent and controls everything. From this perspective, both Qing Chen and Liu Dezhu seemed like pawns in someone''s hand, placed at the forefront for a game. The night on Laojun Mountain, the assassin was too impassioned, which also wasn''t typical for someone hiding behind the scenes, it wasn''t something they should do. "I need to verify it again." With that, Zheng Yuandong made a call, "Hack into Nan Gengchen and Qing Chen''s chat records for me, from the start of the crossover until now, all of it." The call wasn''t to any known person, but shortly, the chat records were sent over. This action was against the rules, but he had to understand Qing Chen more clearly. Zheng Yuandong carefully read through them, but found that for a long time after the event started, Nan Gengchen didn''t know about Qing Chen''s identity as a Time Traveler. Not until the last return. He looked at the chat record: "Chen bro, are you there? Are you there are you there are you there" "Chen bro, listen to my explanation!" "No, Chen bro, Li Yinuo and I are just ordinary friends!" Zheng Yuandong found it peculiar, "Huh, they must have encountered each other suddenly in the Inner World, and some strange things happened, causing Nan Gengchen to be eager to explain. Li Yinuo, I''ve heard this name before. Isn''t she the third-generation eldest daughter of the Li Clan? I saw the news not long ago, said she led the Autumn Hunting Team into the wilderness..." Li Yinuo was too famous and an important figure in the core of the conglomerate, such that Zheng Yuandong recognized her instantly. Currently, it seemed Nan Gengchen followed the Autumn Hunting Team southward and then encountered Qing Chen. Chapter 199 172, Gemini (Requesting Monthly Votes for the 10,000-Word Chapter)_2 Tonight, no matter who tries to disrupt the plan, these assassins won''t escape! The next moment, Liu Dezhu made a move, and seven people in the crowd of refugees followed suit. They slowly trailed behind, waiting for something unknown. Trailing behind Liu Dezhu, Spade urgently called out on the communication channel, "Road Team, the seven assassins hiding among the crowd have revealed themselves, they are about to make their move." "Where are our people?!" Lu Yuan roared. "Right behind them!" Spade replied, "Liu Dezhu is running too fast; that guy''s genetic potion has enhanced his lower limbs'' strength!" "Damn!" Lu Yuan roared again, bursting forth, pushing through the dense crowd and the rainy night, heading straight for the assassins trailing behind Liu Dezhu. He pulled out the pistol from under his arm, raised his hand and fired, bang bang, two bullets, exceedingly precise from a distance of over fifty meters, hit the assassins in the back of the head, forcing the other assassins to hastily take cover and no longer daring to recklessly pursue Liu Dezhu. But just as one wave settled, another arose! Right when the firefighters at the entrance were dialing 114 to search for the car owner''s number, the doors of the long row of seven illegally parked vehicles suddenly opened. Turns out they had been in the cars all along, and had no intention of moving the vehicles, heading straight for Liu Dezhu instead! The seven assassins, donned in black raincoats, walked unhurriedly, forming an invisible net as each hid their hands beneath their raincoats. The rain washed over them, their steps in the puddles firmer with each pace. From hundreds of meters away, Liu Dezhu could feel an almost tangible sense of oppression and intent to kill. Seeing this scene, he slowly stopped, Liu Youcai stepped in front of him, "Son, are these people here to kill you? Run back, don''t worry, your mom won''t blame you." "Dad," Liu Dezhu, drenched from head to toe in the cold rain, looked at his father approaching, his lips trembling as he spoke, "I have something like a cellphone, a communicator in my pocket. Send a message, ask if they can..." Before he could finish, Liu Youcai had already taken out the communicator, "Son, there''s a message on it." "What does the message say?" Liu Dezhu asked urgently. "It says, don''t be afraid, keep moving forward." Liu Dezhu suddenly looked around, what did that mean, was the boss nearby, or had the boss''s people arrived? But he saw nothing. At that moment, Liu Dezhu turned to Liu Youcai, "Dad, do you trust me?" Liu Youcai frowned, "Son, give your mom to me now, and you run back yourself!" Liu Dezhu shouted loudly, "Dad, trust me, keep moving forward! I feel like I won''t die today! And mom won''t get hurt either!" With that, he moved forward again. Lu Yuan, seeing this scene, cursed under his breath, then hurriedly said on the communication channel, "Plan B! Initiate Plan B, where the hell is my sniper!? Forget about the Transcendent, blow those guys away... wait, hold your fire!" Just as the seven raincoat-clad "car owners" were about to encircle Liu Dezhu, behind them in the rainy night, two more assassins in black raincoats suddenly emerged like specters from the shadows behind the "car owners," as if they had been waiting there all along. But these two assassins weren''t targeting Liu Dezhu; instead, they fiercely collided from behind with those uninvited guests! These two moved both quickly and urgently, with each step in the deep puddles causing the water to push aside. Before the puddles could close back up, they had already stepped out of them. In the pouring rain, Qing Chen''s black raincoat suddenly flipped up, a playing card shooting out from beneath it, a Spades A like a black blade, piercing through layers of rain. The astounding playing card split the raindrops in half mid-air, tracing a white line through the rain curtain, precisely entering the heart of an assassin through the gap between his ribs from behind. The assassin was struck forward by the playing card, toppling over, never to rise again. Lu Yuan was shocked, he had seen playing cards cut open cans, but had never seen such a vicious one that could penetrate a human body! The other person, with his hand under the raincoat, continuously pulled the trigger. Nine bullets ripped a huge hole in the black raincoat, then the erratic gunfire killed three more assassins. Seven assassins, and in an instant, only three remained. The two figures moved forward with perfect tacit understanding, their movements nearly identical, their actions as swift as thunder, and it was only at this moment that the assassins had a chance to realize there was an ambush behind them! The mantis stalks the cicada. The oriole is behind! The three remaining assassins turned abruptly when they saw their companions fall, their raincoat hoods spinning out a circle of water like umbrellas. However, by this time, Qing Chen and the controlled Xu Yicheng had already approached them. It was like turning around in a haunted house, only to see a ghost''s face close at hand! This ambush came so unexpectedly that it left no chance for those uninvited guests to shoot from a distance! "Fire!" the three assassins gritted their teeth and roared. In the flash of steel and sparks! Qing Chen had already dashed to the side of one assassin, positioning himself within the blind spots of the other two shooters. He saw him hold down the hand of the assassin under the raincoat who was trying to draw his gun. To the assassin''s astonishment, the newcomer''s strength was immense, so much so that it felt as if his gun-holding hand was about to be crushed. Transcendents, by definition, are those who surpass the ordinary. Their strength and speed far exceed that of ordinary people. A playing card suddenly flipped out from under Qing Chen''s raincoat with his other hand, those slender fingers gripping the card sweeping past the side of the nearby assassin. The razor-sharp edge of the playing card, like a blade, harshly cut through half of the assassin''s neck. Chapter 200 172, Gemini (Requesting Monthly Votes for the 10,000-Word Chapter)_3 It seemed to be because his True Qi was about to be completely depleted, or perhaps because the poker card had cut too deeply into flesh and bone, so much so that it was wedged within the opponent''s flesh and bones. Yet the youth''s expression remained unchanged as he breathed like an arrow, his body twisting and knees sinking in one smooth motion amidst the rainy night. Silently watching the puddles and raindrops on the ground, his arm forcefully pulled out the poker card, with blood, more profuse than the rainwater, spurting along the slant of the card to the ground. Not far away, amidst the rain ponchos, gunfire erupted, and Qing Chen crouched behind a corpse, surging forward. The bullets of the assassins hit the corpse, shredding flesh and bone, splashing up spray in the ankle-deep rainwater. But trying to penetrate a human body with a silencer and subsonic bullets is simply impossible! The distance between them closed in a flash, and Qing Chen drew a handgun from the waist of the corpse, using it as a shield and the rain as a curtain, continuously pulling the trigger. On the other side, the controlled Xu Yicheng took advantage of the moment Qing Chen drew all fire to throw away his spent firearm and pulled out a dagger from the outer side of his thigh! He moved behind the assassin with puppet-like jerky motions, swiftly approaching. The assassin''s face twisted as he suddenly turned around; one hand holding a dagger while the other, surprisingly, caught Xu Yicheng''s wrist first! But the next moment, the assassin was shocked; he felt like Xu Yicheng''s arm was not human. Although he had clearly caught the other''s wrist, Xu Yicheng''s elbow twisted eerily. The range of motion for human joints is limited, but Xu Yicheng''s twisting seemed limitless, resembling a wooden puppet imbued with life! In an instant, Xu Yicheng twisted his elbow, broke free from the assassin''s grip, and in the moment the other was shocked and fearful, drove the dagger diagonally upward into the assassin''s spleen! Light flashed overhead, and Lu Yuan recognized that familiar penchant for killing: it was indeed Qing Chen, who always targeted the spleen! He recalled in an instant what Xiao Ying had said: allies in murder, having stolen the assassin''s rain poncho! But Lu Yuan wondered, if the one piercing the spleen was Qing Chen, then who was the other person? He relaxed. Kunlun knew that a Transcendent would come tonight to kill Liu Dezhu, so snipers had been hiding in the dark all along. As long as the Transcendent hadn''t advanced to B-Class, that sniper rifle would surely kill with one shot! After all, even Transcendents are not invincible, and even S-Class isn''t an absolutely invincible existence! If Qing Chen and the other person hadn''t appeared, the sniper hidden at the high point would still have ensured Liu Dezhu''s safety. But since the enemy''s Transcendent had not yet appeared, it was better for the sniper to continue hiding. Lu Yuan did not want those outlaws to get a head start on familiarizing themselves with Kunlun''s rhythm of combat. Now was the best outcome; the enemy''s Transcendent had yet to emerge, but Kunlun still had an ace up its sleeve! When the lightning ceased, the ground returned to darkness. The rain and puddles undulated ceaselessly. And there stood Qing Chen and "Xu Yicheng" quietly in the rain, with seven corpses by their side! The two peered through the veil of rain at Liu Dezhu. "The boss told us to help you break through, let''s go quickly. We will escort you the rest of the way," a strange voice said from beneath the rain poncho. Another unfamiliar voice said, "Today, even if the sky falls, we must get your mother to the hospital. That''s what the boss said; no one can stop it." Liu Dezhu stood in the rain, startled, his face suddenly showing a moved expression. For some reason, he felt a surging gratitude churning inside him, like submarine lava erupting and roaring. In fact, Liu Dezhu and Qing Chen, to this day, were merely partners in cooperation; neither was a slave to the other. It wasn''t some feudal society; the whole system of lords and retainers was long gone. So, Liu Dezhu had his own little thoughts and schemes, even fantasizing about the day when he could sing as a freed serf. But at this moment, Liu Dezhu suddenly felt that following such a boss might not be a bad choice after all. "Thank you," Liu Dezhu couldn''t tell whether it was tears or rain on his face as he awkwardly carried his mother and ran out with Liu Youcai. As he ran past the two, trying to see the faces of his benefactors, he found they were all bowing their heads, obscuring everything beneath the shadow of their hats. Yet at that moment, a voice from nowhere said, "Who said you could leave?" The next moment, the rainwater on the ground started churning; all the puddles furiously flooded toward the doorway, forming in the blink of an eye a massive wave sweeping back at Liu Dezhu! The ground suddenly dried as the hidden Transcendent transferred all the water from other areas into that giant wave! Qing Chen watched silently; so this was the might of a Transcendent! As the giant wave loomed and Liu Dezhu looked on in despair, a red flame seemed to surge within the depths of his eyes, but it vanished as quickly as it appeared. As if some shackles were about to be broken, but this realm had never permitted such shackles to be unleashed. And so the fire in Liu Dezhu''s eyes was extinguished anew. Just when he thought he was about to die, a voice came from the sky, "They can leave. I said so." Everyone looked up abruptly, only to see a figure hurtling down from the heavens above. The descent, like thunder, brought tremendous pressure with it! With a thunderous crash, a figure landed from the sky, half-squatting on the wave, and actually suppressed the giant wave into a still lake! The girl, lost on her journey north, realized she was lost again upon reaching Mang Mountain. Chapter 188 Wang Familys Revenge In the dark living room, Lu Yuan sat on the sofa waiting for his teammate''s support, as he had to take Elder Qin away through the proper procedure. He fished his phone out of his pocket and pressed the power button, only to find that it had been shut off at some point. Dozens of minutes later, footsteps echoed from outside the door. Lu Yuan opened it to find his boss, Zheng Yuandong, had personally arrived, "Boss, why have you come?" Zheng Yuandong glanced at Elder Qin still unconscious on the floor, "Caught him red-handed?" "Yeah," Lu Yuan said with a downcast mood, "Boss, when I first started working, I was handling a particularly bloody case, and Elder Qin was doing the autopsy. I was outside the dissection room throwing up. Later, he poured me a glass of hot water and chatted with me about his early days on the job, which were pretty much like mine." Lu Yuan continued, "He said, even though our line of work is tough, exhausting, and the pay is low, since we''ve chosen it, we shouldn''t think too much about it." To be honest, he hadn''t expected the leak investigation would lead him to Elder Qin. Zheng Yuandong gave him a look, "If Elder Qin has broken the law, he must face the legal consequences. But you and I both understand that a person will feel fear when facing death. I don''t blame him, and you shouldn''t either." Lu Yuan said, "Elder Qin''s daughter is still in school. This is going to affect his child as well." No one in the world can operate like a machine; we are all flesh and blood. We chat about everyday things, we laugh and we curse. Even someone as strong-willed as Zheng Yuandong, who harbors great ideals, would still reminisce over drinks with comrades at a street barbecue stand. And Xiao Ying, a daredevil if there ever was one, sometimes fantasizes about being kept by a wealthy woman. Everyone has their labels, but behind the labels are the intricacies of human emotions. Zheng Yuandong said, "Send out a notice for everyone to fill out a form. For those with seriously ill family members or a family history of hereditary diseases, if Inner World has the corresponding medication or Genetic Potion available, we''ll try to get it for them." Lu Yuan was astonished, "Boss, targeted drugs and genetic repair potions aren''t cheap in Inner World either." In the living room, Zheng Yuandong silently looked at the still-unconscious Elder Qin, then patted Lu Yuan on the shoulder, "Don''t worry, I''ll figure something out." "Also, Boss," Lu Yuan said, "I did as you ordered and let him pass the message along without interference." "Hmm," Zheng Yuandong nodded. "But, I''m a bit puzzled," Lu Yuan wondered aloud, "That test result was hard-earned. Why give it away to someone else?" "Because I don''t want others to set their sights on this high school student named Qing Chen," Zheng Yuandong replied. Although they still hadn''t found the person behind the scenes, discovering Qing Chen as someone they could develop into a member of the organization meant Zheng Yuandong didn''t feel he had come away empty-handed. He told Lu Yuan, "Also, gather the Anti-Spy Department, the Criminal Investigation Department, the Behavior Analysis Department, and the Code Decryption Department. Have the heads of the departments who are out to book the earliest flight to Los Angeles City. I have a feeling something big is about to happen here. Your Special Service Operations Department should also be vigilant and start dispatching more people to Los Angeles City." ... ... After evening self-study, Tian Hailong, the homeroom teacher of Class 3, Grade 11, made his rounds in the classroom. When he saw Qing Chen sitting in the classroom, he even paused, looking quite surprised... Tian Hailong felt a rare excitement inside upon seeing Qing Chen attending an evening self-study session. After school, Qing Chen and Nan Gengchen walked outside together. The pampered sons from the class next door draped their arms over Liu Dezhu''s shoulders, planning to go to a nightclub in Los Angeles City for a good time, but Liu Dezhu declined with all sorts of excuses and rode his bicycle home alone. The sons were somewhat disappointed and revved their engines at the school gate. Amid the roaring sounds of luxury cars, Qing Chen even felt like this was the Cyber World... But Qing Chen had a thoughtLiu Dezhu was hurrying home, could it be he had some news to communicate with him? Very likely. Qing Chen turned to Nan Gengchen, "What are your plans now? I see Yino treats you well, and my master also says she truly loves you." Nan Gengchen shook his head, "She is indeed very good to me, but I still prefer to learn hacking techniques. Once I return to Inner World, I''ll have the ability to help you, right? Besides, people always say, ''learn as long as you live,'' and I hope to become useful sooner rather than later, without dragging you down... and I can''t always rely on Yino, right?" Qing Chen was moved, "You choose the hard way when heaven offers a path, taking learning as a bitter boat in a boundless sea." Nan Gengchen: "???" At that moment, Qing Chen glanced back inadvertently and noticed that the girl called Yangyang was following them all along. He thought for a moment and then said to Nan Gengchen, "I''m heading home first, see you tomorrow." After speaking, Qing Chen melted into the crowd. He silently crossed Xingshu Road and entered Courtyard No.4. But even then, the faint sound of footsteps still followed behind him. Qing Chen turned into a dark alley and suddenly turned to look at the girl behind him, "Why are you following me?" Yangyang was silent for a few seconds before asking, "Could you tell me how to get to Building 12..." Qing Chen frownedwasn''t Building 12 where his own home was located? Wait, just that morning, Jiang Xue had mentioned the neighboring apartment had a new tenant. Could it be this Yangyang? Testing the water, Qing Chen asked, "The new landlord of Room 101?" Chapter 189 170, Wang Familys Revenge_2 "Hmm," Yangyang took out the keys, "I just moved in last night and had a bit of trouble finding the way." "Then follow me," Qing Chen said and then led the way. "Do you live here too?" Yangyang asked curiously. "Yeah," Qing Chen said, "I''ve been living here for several years." "That''s perfect, I can just follow you from now on," Yangyang said. Upon hearing this, Qing Chen became a bit puzzled, what did he mean by ''just follow you from now on''? Was it that he didn''t recognize his own home? During the day, both Hu Xiaoniu and Zhang Tianzhen had praised Yangyang highly, talking about her using firearms and crossing the Indian Ocean alone; how could such a person not find her own home? It didn''t make sense. Qing Chen felt something was off and tried asking again, "Directionally challenged?" This time, Yangyang was silent even longer, "Hmm." A huge wave suddenly stirred in Qing Chen''s heart, a genius girl who was also directionally challenged? In the morning, he remembered Hu Xiaoniu mentioning that she was originally sailing yachts near the coastal areas, then spontaneously decided to cross the Indian Ocean. She first fought off pirates at sea, then got lost in her navigation, and eventually drifted and landed in Pakistan after a long time. At one moment, as Qing Chen recalled these clues about the girl, he couldn''t help but speculate that this so-called spontaneous crossing of the Indian Ocean... Could it be that she got lost at sea?! And then inexplicably created a legend?! Also, the so-called getting lost in navigation and ending up landing in Pakistan out of necessity, was it because she got lost again?! Suddenly, Qing Chen felt his guess might be more plausible. When they reached the front door of the house, Qing Chen watched as Yangyang took out her keys and opened the door, then thanked him. He glanced inside the house, the furniture was all new, but the peeling wall paint was still there, it seemed she had no plans to renovate. Qing Chen couldn''t help asking, "You just moved here, don''t you plan on renovating?" Yangyang shook her head, "I''m not particular about that, as long as it''s livable." "With your attitude, it would be better to just live in a hotel, why stay here?" Qing Chen asked again. Yangyang glanced at him, "The hotel is too far from school." Qing Chen understood what she meant, because the hotel was farther away, it was easier to get lost. Here, the school was only a 5-minute walk away, and walking that path a few times should help her memorize it. Before, he had thought this new tenant might have moved in because of him, Jiang Xue, Hu Xiaoniu, and Zhang Tianzhen. Now it seemed her reason was simpler and purer: it was because it was close to school. Suddenly, the communicator in Qing Chen''s pocket vibrated, and after saying goodbye to Yangyang, he returned to his own home. There were prepared meals on the table, and a note from Jiang Xue saying she had taken Li Tongyun back home to stay, as XiaoTongyun''s grandparents were coming from Zheng City for the next couple of days, and she needed to clean up. Qing Chen sat at the dining table and took out his communicator. It was a message from Liu Dezhu, "Boss, there''s a new letter. The sender wrote: ''I was so disappointed not to find you today, hehe.'' He frowned to himself, why did the holder of the Devil''s Stamp seem to haunt him, knowing his blood test results so quickly? How did they manage that? But the good news was, the firewall information he had released seemed to have indeed confused quite a few people. This allowed Qing Chen to breathe a little easier. He didn''t mind being underestimated; the more they underestimated him, the better. That''s when Liu Dezhu sent a message, "Boss, this letter appeared by my pillow in the evening, I had not left my evening self-study yet, so my dad saw it... is it okay?" Qing Chen realized Liu Dezhu had averted the invites from the rich young masters, there really was a new development. From the current state of affairs, that bump on the head had indeed made him a lot more honest than at the beginning. He replied to the message, "No worries, reply to that person: ''You didn''t find me, but I am close to finding you.'' Liu Dezhu was startled by the message, "Boss, you''re awesome, I''ll reply right away!" He thought, once the boss found this person, maybe he wouldn''t need to donate blood anymore? But Liu Dezhu was being too optimistic about the situation. In reality, Qing Chen didn''t have any clues at all; he just felt that since they had harassed him several times, why not scare them a bit? He couldn''t always let them scare him! After all, they didn''t know who he really was, nor could they be sure that he actually had any leads. A single sentence could throw the enemy into panic and waste their time scrutinizing for leaks, why not? Liu Dezhu sent another message, "Boss, he wrote another letter: ''I think this Qing Chen seems much stronger than Liu Dezhu, I wonder if he''d be interested in working for me, hehe.'' The person did not respond to his ''found clues about you'' letter, which on the contrary suggested: this holder of the Devil''s Stamp didn''t want to continue discussing the matter, fearing more talk would lead to more errors. However, that they openly planned to poach Qing Chen from Qing Chen''s side right in front of him was truly shocking. Of course, the most shocked was Liu Dezhu. This way of being insulted to his face was something he had never encountered before... Did the person forget he was the one delivering the message? Was this kind of comparison right in front of him really okay?! Moreover, this was the first time Liu Dezhu paid attention to the name Qing Chen, could this be another underling of the boss? Chapter 190 170, Wang Familys Revenge_3 It sounds eerily familiar! Could it be the assassin from Laojun Mountain who saved me? If so, we all are fellow apprentices, which means we could get a bit closer, right? At that moment, Qing Chen sent a message, "Reply to him, ''Digging up Qing Chen won''t be that easy.''" However, before he had a chance to start his meal, Liu Dezhu sent another message, "Boss, he sent another letter, ''Don''t be so confident. It seems you don''t know I''ve written to Qing Chen, eh? Looks like he doesn''t listen to you that much, hehe.''" Qing Chen looked up in astonishment, "A letter for me? How come I haven''t received it!" Damn it. Qing Chen suddenly realized an issue. Lin Xiaoxiao had said that the Devil''s Stamp required an address to send letters. So, once the holder targeted me, it naturally led them to my residence, where they wrote me a letter. But, I''ve moved! The address the other party could find no longer belonged to me; it was Yangyang''s place! Therefore, the letter they mentioned was most likely by Yangyang''s pillow right now! Qing Chen could even picture the confused look on Yangyang''s face as she looked at the letter! He pondered whether he should get the letter back now and how to explain it to Yangyang. This misunderstanding had really gotten out of hand... Just as Qing Chen was wrestling with the situation, there was a knock on the door. Opening it, Qing Chen was surprised to see Yangyang. The girl raised her hand, showcasing the letter, "I believe this is for you." Read new chapters at empire After handing it over, she turned and went back to her place, without asking any questions, let alone showing any doubts, sparing Qing Chen much embarrassment. Just as Yangyang was about to shut the door, she turned back and said to Qing Chen, "Oh, there''s one more thing. You remember Wang Yun, right?" Qing Chen paused, "I remember." "She was killed by Li Dongze of the Heng Society in the Inner World, and it was a particularly brutal death," Yangyang said. "She also has a very doting brother, the apple of her parents'' eye, so the Wang Family won''t let this go easily. After Bai Waner returned to Haicheng, she pinned everything on Liu Dezhu, Hu Xiaoniu, and Zhang Tianzhen." Qing Chen asked, "Why are you telling me this?" "The Wang Family''s influence in the Inner World is negligible, so they won''t be able to take revenge on Li Dongze or Uncle Li Dong right now. Hu Xiaoniu and Zhang Tianzhen are only minor players; they won''t start a war with the Hu and Zhang families," Yangyang explained. "So the person they can go after is Liu Dezhu. Don''t forget, this is the Outer World, the Wang Family''s turf. They''re coming for revenge." Qing Chen furrowed his brow, having guessed that the Wang Family would seek revenge for Wang Yun, and that they would be ruthless. But he hadn''t expected the Wang Family to be such bullies and cowards. And why was Yangyang telling him this? Qing Chen asked, "Wasn''t Wang Yun part of your circle? Why don''t you help the Wang Family?" The girl calmly replied, "There''s no room for a ''green tea bitch'' in my circle." Then, Qing Chen asked, "I''m really curious. Why did you come to Los Angeles City, and why did you transfer to Class 3, Grade 11? What is your goal?" "You''re not being open with me, so naturally, I can''t be open with you," Yangyang said. "When you''re ready to be candid, you can ask me again." After saying that, the girl closed the door. It wasn''t until then that Qing Chen had a moment to glance at the content of the letter, "What you want, I have. But remember, with every gain there must be a loss, hehe." Qing Chen sighed. The slogan had zero appeal. You didn''t even say what you have! For the first time, he felt that in this round of his game with the Devil''s Stamp holder, he had the upper hand. This round, he had won. It must be said, Qing Chen''s second line of defense had been timely. The adversary had clearly fixed their sights on the identity of "Qing Chen." If there had not been some misleading information released, the adversary would have quickly enacted a series of plots against him. But now, he had become a minor character, a mere pawn. That was much safer. Qing Chen had no intention of responding in the identity of "Qing Chen." After all, if he were to reply directly, he would bloody have to cut his own finger to bleed. Now, letting Liu Dezhu bleed was quite appropriate. At that moment, another letter was sent to Liu Dezhu by the adversary, "I''m very curious, how do you manage to hide so well?" This was the Devil''s Stamp holder''s most genuine puzzle. Zheng Yuandong had gathered so much information, had made such a fuss with the testing, and the holder themselves had contemplated and watched for so long. But none of them had found the "man behind the curtain"; they only found two pawns. This feeling, it was really upsetting the holder too much. Liu Dezhu asked, "Boss, how should I reply to him?" Qing Chen was silent for a moment, "Hehe." In a corner of some city, a skinny figure sat before a massive floor-to-ceiling window, pondering over the letter and the word ''hehe''... The Devil''s Stamp holder was confounded by this countermove, a simple ''hehe,'' disrupting his emotions... Qing Chen no longer engaged with the Devil''s Stamp holder, instead resuming the training he had interrupted for so long. According to Uncle Li Dong, although he had unlocked the genetic lock, his body''s potential had not been maximized. So training would still be effective. Even though such an improvement might seem insignificant compared to supernatural powers, Qing Chen always favored ''the extreme.'' And he firmly believed. Discipline is the greatest freedom of mankind. Chapter 191 170. Wang Familys Revenge_4 ... ... Countdown 137:00:00. It was 7 a.m. on a weekend morning, no classes. Liu Dezhu got up early to wash up, and his father Liu Youcai looked at his son, filled with reassurance. Before the time travel incident, every weekend night, Liu Dezhu would either play games until the early hours or binge-watch movies and TV shows, sleeping the next day away, completely without self-discipline. But now things had changed, Liu Dezhu had gone to bed early last night and got up early today as well. Liu Youcai suddenly felt that his son had grown up! At first, he thought time travel might be a bad thing since his son had also encountered a kidnapping incident. But now, it seemed that what was bad had turned into something good; not only had his son become one of the most renowned Time Travelers, but he had also developed good habits... This made Liu Youcai, as a father, feel increasingly that he should strive to understand his son''s "opportunities" and "career." Suddenly, however, Liu Youcai felt that his son''s complexion seemed much paler than before. There was also a sweet, fishy smell about him. "Zhu, are you going out so early? I''ve made breakfast for you. Eat before you go," Liu Youcai said, tying his apron. "I won''t eat," Liu Dezhu replied, "Dad, just leave the food on the table after you''ve made it, I''ll eat it when I come back." After speaking, Liu Dezhu wrapped a scarf around himself, put on a hat, and even dug out some sunglasses he had bought long ago to look cool. This fully equipped appearance from head to toe completely stunned Liu Youcai. If he ran into him outside, he might not even recognize his own son! Liu Youcai hesitated before asking, "Are you..." "Dad, don''t ask, it''s a secret," Liu Dezhu said before turning and leaving the house. After his son had left. Liu Youcai quickly went to his wife Wang Shufen and whispered, "Wife, don''t you think our son is acting a bit strange?" At that moment, Liu Dezhu was near a blood donation station, quietly surveying his surroundings. It was a bit strange that he always felt a couple dressed in long black overcoats were secretly watching him. But when he turned to look, he found the couple was not looking at him but laughing and joking with each other. He must be overthinking it. Liu Dezhu watched for a while before silently walking towards the station, "Hello, can I buy blood?" The nurse was shocked, it was her first time encountering someone wanting to buy blood at a donation site, "This is a blood donation place, we don''t sell blood!" Liu Dezhu thought for a moment, "Then, could you sell me a set of your blood bags and blood-drawing equipment?" The nurse was helpless, "We don''t sell those either!" "Then I''ll donate blood," Liu Dezhu said. The nurse on the blood donation bus gave him a surprised look, "Okay, I''ll do some tests first." She began by using test strips to check Liu Dezhu''s blood type, hemoglobin, and hepatitis B surface antigen, then used a device to check his heart rate and blood pressure... After confirming everything was fine, the nurse disinfected Liu Dezhu''s arm and inserted the needle. Liu Dezhu watched his blood flow into the bag and quietly waited. During this waiting time, the couple who had been secretly watching Liu Dezhu exchanged glances and began silently approaching the blood donation bus. They reached into their sleeves and touched the handle of the gun tucked under the arm of their black trench coat, a gun also equipped with a silencer. However, before they could fully approach, just as the nurse had drawn 300CC and was about to remove the needle, something unexpected occurred. Liu Dezhu suddenly rose, snatched the blood bag, and ran off, disappearing into the distance in the blink of an eye. The couple approaching near the car exchanged glances, their plans disrupted by this sudden turn of events. Seeing the nurse chasing after them, they quickly let go of the gun they were holding. At this moment, the nurses in the car were staring at Liu Dezhu''s figure, completely dumbfounded. What was going on?! It was the first time they had seen someone come to a blood donation station to steal blood, and crucially, it was his own blood he was stealing! Experience tales at empire What was he thinking? At this point, the suspicious nurse looked over at the couple at the car door, "Are you here to donate blood?" The couple, seeing the suspicious look in her eyes, exchanged a glance, "Yes, we are here to donate blood." "Come on in quickly," said the nurse. The couple took one last deep look at Liu Dezhu''s retreating figure... They didn''t manage to kill anyone, and they even ended up donating 300CC of blood each... What they didn''t know was that Liu Dezhu was also suffering inside. Stealing the blood was a desperate measure, as he didn''t know how to draw blood himself! Since last night, he had identified a problem: the holder of the Devil''s Stamp seemed to have become addicted to talking to his boss! And their conversations had to be conveyed using his blood. Liu Dezhu had secretly tried using pig blood, duck blood, and chicken blood, but none worked. He painfully discovered that the stamp genuinely required human blood, and possibly even the recipient''s blood. And as if using human blood wasn''t enough, the issue was that his wounds would heal every day. This meant that every time his boss wanted to converse with the holder, he had to reopen his wounds! After being tormented by his boss and the holder of the Devil''s Stamp a few times, he painfully decided to look for a new method. If he couldn''t use someone else''s blood, he would draw more at once and slowly use it from the fridge. At least that way, he wouldn''t have to add a new wound each day. Half an hour later, he stealthily returned home with the blood bag and, while his parents were in the bedroom, quietly hid the blood bag at the very bottom of the fridge. Only then did he finally relax and return to his own bedroom, taking out his communicator to send a message to Qing Chen, "Boss, I suspect someone wants to kill me!" What Liu Dezhu didn''t know was that the moment he closed his bedroom door, his parents quietly came out of the bedroom and opened the fridge. Liu Youcai looked at the well-hidden blood bag and stood there for a long time. With a pained expression, he said, "Wife, it looks like we weren''t wrong." Wang Shufen spoke softly, "Should we put away the silverware in the house, and the Guanyin Bodhisattva at the entrance?" Liu Youcai hesitated for a moment, "Vampires probably aren''t under the jurisdiction of Guanyin Bodhisattva." At noon, Liu Dezhu woke up from his nap feeling famished. When he opened the fridge to see what food there was, he instead found that where he had hidden his blood bags, there were now two more... ... Thanks to the ride-hailing driver for becoming the new member of the Silver City Alliance, thanks to the boss, boss is generous, boss makes a fortune! Today, only 6800 words, returned home after attending the event, my schedule has never adjusted back, I''m a slow typist, today is just a little rest, sorry everyone. Also, this book has now an average order of 62,000. I plan to break the record of 100,000 highest subscriptions within 7 days. It''s currently at 90,776, not far off, just 7 more hours to go. Hope everyone supports the subscription! Seeking monthly tickets! Chapter 192 171. Rainy Night, Bloody Water, Assassin (10,000-word chapter, seeking monthly votes) Liu Dezhu looked at the three bags of blood in the refrigerator, and for a moment, he didn''t know whether to laugh or cry. He held the three bags of blood in his hands and suddenly realized that they all had "Voluntary Blood Donation Site" written on them. Without even thinking, he knew that his parents must have done the same as him: donated blood, then lied about not wanting to donate anymore, and then ran off with the bags of blood. Liu Dezhu had found out that ordinary people couldn''t possibly buy blood unless there was a disaster or illness, whether from hospital blood banks or city blood stations. The blood bags they stored were considered strategic materials, with very strict inventory controls. Therefore, it had to be his parents'' blood. There are irresponsible parents in this world, like Qing Guozhong. But such parents are really rare. And the love most parents have for their children often appears somewhat tragic and silent. Parents might skimp on their own needs to send their children to better kindergartens. They might eat pickled vegetables and drink thin rice soup to give their children better learning conditions. They might even sell the house they live in to help their children with a down payment for a matrimonial home and move into a rented place. This kind of love, though riddled with barriers, is also heavy, and might even become suffocating for the children. But this is the only way parents can think of, the only thing they can do. Liu Youcai still couldn''t understand exactly what the Time Traveler was all about. The question he often asked his colleagues was, if the Time Traveler traveled back and forth, would his own child age faster than him? Wasn''t it too dangerous for his child in the Inner World? He didn''t care whether Liu Dezhu had become very capable, but he tried to understand everything related to Liu Dezhu. Then, in his own way, he tried to understand Liu Dezhu, to support him. Just like the two bags of blood in the refrigerator. Liu Dezhu''s nose tingled when he saw a yellow sticky note on the back of one of the blood bags. "Son, drink without worry. If it runs out, your mom and dad will go buy more." Liu Dezhu''s nose tingled. Finding these for sale was impossible: his parents were from the working class, and wouldn''t know anyone managing blood banks. But as touching as it was, it posed a problem afterward... Which bag was his own anyway?! And he must clarify this matter with his parents, he really wasn''t a vampire and didn''t need to drink blood! Based on his estimate, given the volume of conversations between his boss and the holder of the Devil''s Stamp, the 300CC he had would be enough for a month, if preserved properly. What he feared was having to cut open a wound every day, not the amount of bleeding. At that moment, Liu Dezhu''s communicator in his pocket vibrated. He returned to his room and saw a message from his boss. "What situation did you encounter, and how did you know someone wanted to kill you?" Liu Dezhu replied, "I went to the Voluntary Blood Donation Station to buy blood today, and on the way, I felt a couple watching me. Later, I entered the blood donation van, and through the reflective glass, I saw them moving slowly closer with their hands tucked into their pockets, just like assassins ready to draw guns in a movie. I was pretty panicked and didn''t get a good look at their faces before I hurriedly ran away." Qing Chen frowned, setting other matters aside for the moment. Going to a Voluntary Blood Donation Station... to buy blood? What kind of move was that?! But then again, Liu Dezhu had indeed improved a lot compared to before. Liu Dezhu asked, "Boss, do you know who wants to kill me?" After thinking, Qing Chen replied, "I''ve got information already. It''s Wang Yun''s family looking to seek revenge on you." "What should I do then?" "Stay calm and stay home," Qing Chen replied, "Kunlun is watching over you. Not wandering around at home is the safest thing to do." ... ... Countdown 126:00:00. 6 o''clock in the evening. Jiang Xue was bustling about in Qing Chen''s kitchen, and since it was the weekend, the meal she cooked was especially lavish. Li Tongyun''s grandparents were arriving in Los Angeles City by the 8 p.m. train, and Jiang Xue might be too busy to visit Qing Chen for several days. She decided to give his house a thorough cleaning as well. Knock knock knock, the sound of knocking came. Li Tongyun wanted to go open the door, but Qing Chen stopped her. "Don''t rush to open the door from now on. It''s very dangerous outside, and you don''t know who is standing there." Li Tongyun nodded obediently, "Mm, got it!" After that, Qing Chen opened the door and was surprised to find Siyi standing outside. Experience new tales on empire The girl raised a letter, "Another one." Qing Chen froze, somewhat curious. Could the holder of the Devil''s Stamp actually be trying to undermine him for real? He thought to himself that when this holder eventually found out, doing this right in front of Qing Chen could really be a huge embarrassment. "Did you read the contents of the letter?" Qing Chen asked Siyi. However, the girl seemed not to hear him, her eyes fixed on the meal Jiang Xue had just brought to the table. Braised pork ribs, shredded pork with green peppers, Mapo tofu, steamed bass, hot and sour chicken soup. Qing Chen looked at the girl and asked again, "Um, should I talk to the person, perhaps change the address?" He had thought that not getting a response, the holder would stop sending letters, so he hadn''t dwelled on it anymore. But now this holder was bothering someone else, causing Qing Chen some embarrassment. Still, Siyi seemed deaf, showing no reaction at all. Qing Chen tentatively added, "Or maybe sit and have some food?" "Sure," Siyi stepped in without hesitation, brushing past Qing Chen. Qing Chen: "..." So she had her eyes on their food this whole time! But if you wanted to eat, just say it, why pretend to be deaf and mute! Siyi didn''t see herself as an outsider at all, sitting down right next to XiaoTongyun and picking up chopsticks to start eating. Chapter 193 171. Rainy Night, Bloody Water, Assassin (10,000-word chapter, seeking monthly votes)_2 XiaoTongyun looked up at Jiang Xue, about to say something, but noticed that Jiang Xue had already devoured several pieces of ribs. She quickly shut her mouth and started to pick up vegetables in case all the ribs were eaten by Jiang Xue. "Don''t rush, don''t rush, I can make more if it''s not enough," Jiang Xue said with a gentle smile as she removed her apron. "Thank you, it''s delicious, and it''s enough," Jiang Xue said, her mouth full of food. Qing Chen sat opposite Jiang Xue, propping his chin with his hand, and asked, "When was this letter sent?" "Three hours and twenty minutes ago," said Jiang Xue, her words muffled. Qing Chen was startled for a moment. Since she had specified the exact time, it meant that she must have discovered the letter as soon as it arrived. But why hadn''t the girl given him the letter right away? Wait, she couldn''t have been waiting for mealtime to deliver the letter, could she?! Qing Chen tentatively asked again, "Should I ask the sender to change the delivery address?" "No need," Jiang Xue waved her hand holding chopsticks, "It''s quite alright being sent to me, I''ll bring it over to you at mealtime when I receive it." "She''s not saying her thoughts out loud now, is she," Qing Chen was shocked. Jiang Xue, such a pretty girl, ate voraciously, almost making XiaoTongyun cry in a panic at her side. After finishing her meal, she ladled out half a basin of hot and sour egg soup into her bowl, mixed it with rice, and ate until nothing was left. And then she let out a satisfied burp. "I''m not just freeloading, one piece of information for a meal, you''re not losing out," Jiang Xue said. "What information?" Qing Chen asked. "From this afternoon, Kunlun''s people have begun converging on Los Angeles City. These movements are easily detectable through transportation data and can''t be hidden from outsiders," Jiang Xue said, "Therefore, the Wang Family will definitely notice the unusual mobilization of Kunlun. After today, in a short time, Los Angeles City will become a strategic location for Kunlun. If they really intend to kill Liu Dezhu to avenge their daughter, it''s likely going to happen tonight." Because after tonight, it would be much harder for the Wang Family to find another opportunity. "How many people has the Wang Family hired?" Qing Chen asked. "I''m not sure about that," Jiang Xue replied calmly, "I only know that they''ve spent a great deal of money to hire a Transcendent, and the cost is beyond your imagination." "Wait, they''re making all this effort just to kill Liu Dezhu?" Qing Chen was puzzled. "Never underestimate the anger and sorrow of a father who has lost his daughter," Jiang Xue said, "In your eyes, Wang Yun deserved to die for her faults, but in her parents'' eyes, their child is always right. They believe it''s excusable for their daughter to betray others when her life is threatened, at least, her actions don''t warrant death." Wang Yun''s death in the Inner World wasn''t the end of everything. Because her corpse would still return to the Outer World. For any parent, the sight of a living daughter suddenly turning into a gruesomely dead body is unbearable. "Remember, the Wang Family has gone mad," Jiang Xue said, "I wouldn''t be surprised by anything they do tonight." "Which class is the Transcendent?" Qing Chen asked. "I''m not clear about that," said Jiang Xue, "but I guess it won''t be a very high-level Transcendent. Firstly, there are few high-level Transcendents among the Time Travelers, as there aren''t many in the Inner World to begin with. Secondly, high-level Transcendents cherish their status. Making money is easy for them, there''s no need to be at someone''s beck and call." Qing Chen frowned, uncertain of the enemy''s level was a very dangerous thing. If the enemy sent someone below D-Class, it might still be manageable, but if they sent a C-Class Transcendent, Liu Dezhu was likely doomed. Considering he borrowed so many rules in the Taboo Land, C-Class Cao Wei was gravely injured and hung for more than twenty hours, yet he still managed to counterattack fiercely, and Qing Huai almost escaped under the pressure of the land''s rules. At C-Class, Transcendents start to embody the essence of transcending the ordinary. Jiang Xue stood up and said, "I''m full now, time for business. I believe it''s going to be a lively night tonight, make sure not to miss it. I''m going to check the situation near Liu Dezhu''s place and be ready to enjoy the show." With that, she walked out without further ado. As she was opening the door, she suddenly turned as if she had remembered something and said to Jiang Xue, "Thank you, your cooking skills are amazing!" After Jiang Xue had left, Qing Chen suddenly thought of something and chased after her. However, he was met with an astonishing scene. In the dark of the night, the girl stood outside the building, looking up at the sky. In an instant, the dust around her was stirred by an invisible force, dispersing in all directions. The next moment, she soared into the air like an arrow released from a bow, vanishing into the thick night. Qing Chen stood there silently, with only one thought in his mind: She can fly?! Previously, when he was at the parking lot on Laojun Mountain, he had wondered what her abilities might be. At that time, Qing Chen''s guess was gravity because the movements of the thugs had become sluggish, as if the air had been compressed together into a pool of water. Qing Chen recalled the scene that night seriously. The thugs'' eyes bulged out, blood vessels bursting, every clue indicating that they were enduring immense "pressure" within their bodies. Thus, based on that battle alone, Qing Chen believed Jiang Xue''s ability was gravity, no doubt about it. But now, Qing Chen felt that her ability was broader than gravity: it was the power of force fields. The ability to manipulate force fields. From the patterns of the dust that had swirled up, it was unmistakably the effect of a magnetic field, and her flight into the night sky was the creation of a repulsive force field beneath her. Chapter 194 171. Rainy Night, Bloody Water, Assassin (10,000-word chapter, seeking monthly votes) _3 Qing Chen squatted where the seedlings had lifted off, examining the dust and soil on the ground. Just then, his eyes lit up. Indeed, the fine metal material in the dust was radiating outwards. That was the shape of a magnetic field. He suddenly felt a pang of envy. Who wouldn''t want to fly? With that ability, couldn''t you go wherever you desired? Speaking of which, Qing Chen had still not had the opportunity to ask his teacher if there was still a chance to become a Transcendent after becoming a Knight. Wait, Qing Chen suddenly looked up at the night sky. The direction the seedlings had flown was towards the desolate Mang Mountain, but Liu Dezhu''s home was in the south! He returned home speechlessly and looked at the letter from the holder of the Devil''s Stamp: Have you decided what you want? Hehe. Qing Chen impatiently wanted to reply to the letter just to disgust the sender. However, just as he was about to take a knife to bleed himself, he suddenly laughed quietly. No, no ... that was the sender''s final test. Because if "Qing Chen" had nothing to do with the mastermind behind the scenes and did not know Liu Dezhu, then "Qing Chen" should not know that replying by blood burning was the method. The method of replying was only known by Liu Dezhu and the person behind the scenes who would not bother informing "Qing Chen" about it for no reason. Thus, the holder had kept asking what "Qing Chen" wanted but had never told "Qing Chen" how to reply. If Qing Chen replied, the truth would come out. The young man took a deep breath in his house. In this world, which had become utterly unrecognizable and filled with perils at every turn, dealing with those monsters lurking in the dark required utmost focus. Thinking of this, he tore up the letter. "Aunt Jiang Xue, after dinner you and the others go to the station to pick up XiaoTongyun''s grandparents. Remember, don''t go out after coming home." After speaking, Qing Chen changed his clothes and silently walked into the night outside. He couldn''t miss tonight''s excitement. The air carried a hint of moist, fishy smell, and a gust of wind brought the black clouds in the sky to the south. It was windy in this cold November weather. ... ... "Mom and Dad, how can I explain this, I''m really not a vampire, and I can eat garlic," Liu Dezhu earnestly said. "I don''t know if vampires can eat garlic, but I can." The family of three sat at the dining table, which had food that looked extremely odd: chives stir-fried with duck blood, duck blood vermicelli soup, blood tofu, and spicy chicken blood. All four dishes had one thing in commonthey emphasized "blood." Liu Dezhu patiently said, "Of course, I know you are doing this for my good, but I asked for blood to write letters, not to drink... It''s hard to explain it well, just trust me." Liu Youcai and Wang Shufen looked at each other and heaved a sigh of relief. Wang Shufen, smiling, served her son a spoonful of chives stir-fried with duck blood and said, "You and your dad scared me to death today, but it''s good you''re not, it''s good you''re not." Liu Dezhu recalled his parents'' tender care and chuckled, "Dad, Mom, don''t worry, our life is going to get better soon." "What do you mean?" Liu Youcai asked curiously. "Haven''t you heard? Many people have been making a lot of money by bringing back medicine from the Inner World," Liu Dezhu said. "I''ve got my footing now, so naturally, I will also bring something back to improve our lives." "Don''t worry about your mom and me for now, just take good care of yourself," Liu Youcai said as he took a sip of his drink. "No worries," Liu Dezhu said cheerfully. "I know some important people over there." "By the way, son, aren''t there any dangers over there?" Wang Shufen asked. "For now, there''s no danger in the Inner World," Liu Dezhu replied. "In fact, sometimes the Outer World is more dangerous than the Inner World." Now that Liu Dezhu had a good relationship with Qing Chen, he knew sticking close to him would naturally bring benefits. Inside Prison No. 18, Lin Xiaoxiao and Ye Wan followed the rules; no one dared mess with them. At that moment, Liu Youcai suddenly expressed his confusion, "I''ve never really understood how those Time Travelers bring things back." Liu Dezhu explained, "There''s a mechanism during the travel process. For example, if I stuff a bottle of medicine in my mouth a second before traveling, when I return, I can bring the medicine back too, and then I can spit it out and sell it." "Oh," Liu Youcai nodded. "So it''s like ''import-export trade''." Liu Dezhu was astonished, goddamn import-export trade! But, truth be told, the term was quite apt! Liu Youcai hadn''t had a good chat with his son for a long time, so he thought for a moment and said, "We''re out of liquor at home. I''ll go out later and buy a case of beer, and we can have a good drink together." Wang Shufen complained, "He''s still a student." "So what if he''s a student," Liu Youcai said. "My son''s already 17. I was in the army when I was his age." Just then, Liu Dezhu suddenly said, "Dad, don''t go out tonight." Liu Youcai, curious, asked, "Why not?" "It''s very dangerous outside tonight, anyway, just don''t go out," Liu Dezhu explained. "As long as we stay at home, we are safe." Liu Youcai and Wang Shufen exchanged looks. They realized then that something significant was likely to happen tonight. Just as they were speaking, a small drone was slowly flying over the wall of the Xinglong Residential Area in the night. Chapter 195 171. Rainy Night, Bloody Water, Assassin (10,000-word chapter, seeking monthly votes) _4 It was flying slowly due to a black package dangling beneath it. However, the person controlling the drone was extremely skilled, making it agile and swift like a homing pigeon, weaving through the dense buildings and the dark curtain of the night. When it reached a building, it suddenly began to accelerate forcibly. With a sharp crack, the drone precisely found a room with only a screen window drawn, using its sharp propellers to pierce through the screen and crashed entirely into the room. The drone fell to the floor, black greasy substance pouring out from the black bag it carried, gradually spreading over the damaged drone. Another hiss occurred as the modified drone emitted white smoke and sparks, releasing intense heat. The instant the black grease came into contact with the drone, it ignited with a blinding flash of fire. The flames began to spread. Sitting at home, Liu Youcai had just pulled out a bottle of Moutai he had been saving for many years, "Can''t go out for drinks, no worries, today is worth celebrating. Let''s drink this bottle of Moutai!" However, just as Liu Youcai finished speaking, he noticed his wife''s expression becoming solemn. He thought for a moment and said, "Oh, this was a gift, I didn''t secretly spend our savings on it." "No," Wang Shufen looked up, "Do you smell something burning?" ... ... "Tonight, the meteorology bureau issued a red alert for a torrential downpour, experts say this autumn rain is rare in a decade, and the rainfall in the next three hours may reach 50mm. Please, dear listeners, take precautions against and seek shelter from the rain..." The voice from the taxi''s radio went on as Xiao Ying switched channels; after a buzz of static, the sound of an audiobook emerged, "Da Jinya asked, Hu Ye, what do you mean by the last sentence you just said, is it bad to build this Fishbone Temple in the valley..." A slight crack in the car window allowed the damp air from outside to waft in. Xiao Ying, engrossed in the audiobook, glanced around periodically while sitting in the car. At that moment, a voice came through his earpiece, "Xiao Ying, any situations outside?" "None, the ladies dancing in the square haven''t packed up yet," Xiao Ying responded, "But I tell you, these ladies are really trendy nowadays, they listen to songs I''ve never heard before." However, it was then that Lu Yuan''s voice came through the communications channel, saying coldly, "Stay sharp, in two more hours, our special operations team members on a mission will arrive in Los Angeles City. Soon someone will take over for you, hold your position for the last shift tonight." "Received." "Received." "Received." "Recei... Road Team, I see fire and a lot of smoke coming from a window upstairs at Liu Dezhu''s place," Gourd said. Lu Yuan calmly stated, "I see it too; this is not a normal fire incident, it''s burning too fast, too fiercely." Xiao Ying said, "I just heard from the weather report, there''s a storm coming tonight." "Someone wants to flush out Liu Dezhu, knowing that Kunlun has secured a strategic position here. They plan to shift the battleground or drive all the building''s residents out to create chaos," Lu Yuan continued analyzing, "The storm will arrive soon, and it won''t let the fire spread too wildly, but the thick smoke inside is unbearable; the apartment building will soon be chaotic." The assassin hired by the Wang family didn''t want to wait any longer. The opponent was originally well-prepared, wanting to use the fire to create chaos in the late night. But the sudden storm disrupted everyone''s plans, forcing them to act before it commenced, or they''d lose their chance. "Xiao Ying, no need to stay at the door anymore, it''s too dangerous for you alone. Get out of the car and start moving towards us with Bingtang, it''s time to prepare for battle," Lu Yuan commanded. However, just then, Xiao Ying suddenly saw through the car window, a black figure standing not far away, staring intently at him. The figure was clad in a black raincoat, with the face hidden under the brim of the raincoat''s hood. As if locked in a standoff, both sides quietly waited, yet neither knew what the other was waiting for. Bingtang''s voice came over the communication channel, "Xiao Ying, where are you? Hurry and join us." But inside the car, Xiao Ying didn''t say a word as sweat slowly dripped down his temples. In the distance, the blaze grew bigger, and thick smoke billowed out of over a dozen windows. Suddenly, High above in the overcast clouds, the vapor collided with the cold air and quickly condensed, finally gathering into a single droplet, which began to plummet downward. The droplet pierced through the clouds, navigating the long fall through the atmosphere. Finally, with a splat, it hit the hood of the taxi. The earthy scent in the air spread rapidly, the single raindrop seemed to have pierced through the heavens, and a curtain of rain poured down from above, darkening the sky even further. In the distance, the women dancing in the square hurriedly packed up their speakers, each scattering and fleeing. Xiao Ying saw the assassin in the black raincoat slowly approaching him, but then stopped. Dozens of women shielding their heads rushed forward, seemingly eager to dash into the Xinglong Residential Area in the rain. They passed between the assassin and the taxi, momentarily drawing a brief curtain between the two. With a click, Xiao Ying swiftly exited the vehicle, ready to prevent the assassin from taking hostages among the civilians! But just as he opened the door, he involuntarily froze. After the group of women ran past, the assassin still stood in place in the rain curtain. With no more obstructions between their gazes, the assassin just stood there blankly, a poker card embedded in his skull, blood flowing from the torn gap in the skull. Chapter 196 171. Rainy Night, Bloody Water, Assassin (10,000-word chapter, seeking monthly votes) _5 A streak of blood, like lightning, ran from his forehead to his chin. The assassin''s eyes widened, seemingly in disbelief. Meanwhile, Xiao Ying noticed that someone had stripped the raincoat off the assassin at some point. The assassin, who had originally been wearing a raincoat, now revealed the black jacket underneath. The dead assassin fell backwards, heavily crashing into the pooled water formed from the torrential rain. Xiao Ying suddenly looked towards the backs of the older women, just in time to see someone in the crowd quickly donning a black raincoat and disappearing into the residential area. Xinglong Residential Area was large, one of the first commercial residential buildings in Los Angeles City, consisting of more than sixty apartment buildings. Normally, Xiao Ying didn''t notice how complex the layout was, but now it seemed like a labyrinth that swallowed people in an instant. Xiao Ying closed the taxi doors and ran towards the assassin while saying through the communication channel, "Road Team, there''s an unidentified person on the scene. I was just targeted by an assassin at the entrance of the residential area, but this person suddenly mingled in with the dancing older women and not only took out the assassin but also grabbed his raincoat. "Where is he now?" Lu Yuan asked gravely. "He went inside the residential area. I think he might be an ally," Xiao Ying said. He squatted down to check on the assassin''s wounds and was startled to find that what was stuck in his forehead was nothing but an ordinary playing card. It couldn''t be more ordinary. From a distance, Xiao Ying hadn''t seen clearly and thought it might be some kind of special weapon, but now, as the heavy rain poured down, the card, soaked by the rain, limply clung to the assassin''s forehead. In shock, Xiao Ying looked into the depths of Xinglong Residential Area. How had he managed to drive a paper playing card into one of the hardest bones in the human body? He flipped the wet card, and a joker stained gray by the rain silently laughed on its face. Red lips, as if stretching to the ears. "Road Team, this person on the scene is a Transcendent," Xiao Ying said, "Level unknown." "Is there a wound on the spleen of the deceased''s body?" Lu Yuan asked. Xiao Ying opened up the assassin''s black jacket, "Road Team, there''s no wound." Lu Yuan was puzzled; this was not what they had predicted. ... ... More than one apartment building was ablaze. Within just a few minutes, three buildings had caught fire, and not even the torrential rain could disperse the thick smoke. The concrete structures, originally meant to shelter from the wind and rain, now isolated the inside of the buildings from the outside. Outside, the rain poured down heavily, while inside, the fire spread rapidly, smoldering intensely. The heavy rain outside muffled the noise, but inside, Liu Dezhu and his family could hear frantic footsteps in the corridor. Everyone was rushing downstairs. "Mom, Dad, let''s go," Liu Dezhu could no longer heed Qing Chen''s warnings. It wasn''t that he didn''t want to obey, but he was forced to leave. Although he was unaware of what dangers awaited outside, it was better than being burnt to death inside the building. "The rain is too heavy outside, let me grab an umbrella!" Wang Shufen said. "What are you thinking about getting an umbrella at a time like this?" Liu Youcai, pulling his wife, rushed outside, and the moment they opened the door, they were greeted by a ceiling clouded with black smoke. The smoke and the burnt air made everyone cough violently. In the corridor, there were mixed sounds of shouting and gasping as everyone desperately tried to escape. Their old residential area had only seven floors and no elevator. There was only one staircase for an escape route. Liu Dezhu rushed back into the apartment and then back out, "Towels! Cover your mouth and nose!" At that moment, a middle-aged man, frantically trying to escape, accidentally bumped into Wang Shufen with his shoulder as he passed by Liu Dezhu''s home. Causing both of them to tumble down the stairs. "Mom!" Liu Dezhu''s eyes widened in panic. He rushed down the steps to help Wang Shufen but saw his mother''s ankle twisted unnaturally, clearly broken. "Don''t worry about me, just run downstairs. Let your father help me," Wang Shufen anxiously said. "Dad can''t carry you," Liu Dezhu said as he hoisted his mother onto his back, then yelled at Liu Youcai, "Dad, what are you waiting for, run!" At this moment, Liu Dezhu was somewhat thankful that he had been injected with Genetic Potion. If it weren''t for the potion enhancing his physical abilities, he might not have been able to carry his mother. The family of three hurried downstairs. The middle-aged man who had collided with Wang Shufen struggled to his feet. Liu Dezhu almost kicked him, but he restrained himself. Wang Shufen lay on her son''s back, her broken ankle initially numb, then followed by piercing pain. But she didn''t make a sound, fearful of distracting her son. As Liu Dezhu carried his mother down the stairs, he kept reassuring her, "Don''t be scared, Mom. The fire started upstairs, running down won''t hurt us. I''m not an ordinary person now; carrying you isn''t tiring at all." Suddenly, Wang Shufen felt that her ankle wasn''t hurting as much. When the family of three rushed out of the corridor, hundreds of residents had already gathered there. The fire had come so suddenly that most people hadn''t had time to grab an umbrella. Dense raindrops hit everyone, and looking up at the black smoke billowing from the rooftops, their expressions were helpless and bewildered. Your next read is at empire Those with cellphones urgently dialed 119, while those who hadn''t managed to bring their phones could only wait in the rain. At that moment, Liu Dezhu, carrying his mother, surveyed their surroundings. Chapter 197 171. Rainy Night, Bloody Water, Assassin (10,000-word chapter, seeking monthly votes) _6 Liu Dezhu was no longer the ignorant man he used to be, he knew very well that someone had set the fire to force him out, intending to kill him in the chaos. But where was the assassin? Because of its vast size, the Xinglong Residential Area had four main gates and two smaller ones. In the torrential rain, six teams clad in black raincoats were silently entering the area from six directions. Each team consisted of six members, advancing into the neighborhood in a standard infiltration tactical formation. Three advancing, two flanking, one covering the rear. Under the black raincoats, everyone''s face was hidden beneath the brim of the hood, and the hands of the assassins tucked inside the raincoats were either on the handles of guns or knives. Raindrops hit their rubber raincoats and splashed, making pitter-patter sounds. Although the assassins'' feet splashed in the puddles, they were not disturbed by the noisy environment. In the squad on the far west, the leader at the front suddenly felt something was off; he turned to check but saw nothing unusual. But soon, the team leader realized what was wrong. He repeatedly confirmed the number of people behind him in his mind, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. Yes, six. Adding him, that made seven. The pupils under the leader''s hood suddenly contracted. Although everyone was wearing the same black raincoat, behind their team... there was one extra person! In an instant, the team leader drew the dagger from the outside of his thigh and turned to rush backward, charging through the tactical formation as his dagger under the raincoat aimed straight for the last person! Raindrops fell under the brim of his raincoat, and as he spun fiercely, he threw a crystalline spray of water. The assassins, sensing something was amiss, stepped aside, all except for the last person, who stood swaying in place. No! In the darkness, the team leader saw clearlythe last person had already closed their eyes in death, and at some point, a massive gash had been made in the raincoat at the position of the spleen on the right abdomen. Earlier, the deceased assassin had been propped up and followed the team, only released when the team leader noticed something was wrong. By the time he realized this, someone had already lifted a foot and kicked him from the side. With a thunderous crash, the team leader''s body flew sideways. The kick was too powerful, far beyond what an ordinary person could muster; it felt like being hit by a truck, leaving the team leader''s whole skeleton ready to fall apart. As he flew to the side, the rain that fell from the sky had yet to fill the gap, so layer after layer of rain seemed to be punched through, leaving a person-shaped hole! In mid-air, the team leader looked through that hole at the assailant; a streak of lightning writhed across the heavens, illuminating the night sky for an instant. To his astonishment, the face under the assailant''s hood appeared very young. So young, it was hard to believe. It was Qing Chen. Yet what the team leader found hardest to accept was that the young man''s attention was already not on him, as if he had already judged that he could no longer fight. Then, Qing Chen suddenly ducked to avoid a dagger that came flying by his side and instantly circled behind one of them. Between his fingers, he held a poker card that sliced through the rain, barely touching before the assassin''s neck burst open with a line of blood. Read the latest on empire Rainwater and bloodwater mingled together as they fell to the ground, indistinguishable from one another. No one knew why the paper poker card in the young man''s hand was as sharp as a knife. No, sharper than a knife. Qing Chen silently held the body of the throat-slit assassin with one hand, slowly moving to the right. The assassins watched in silent amazement, inwardly astounded. The weight of over a hundred kilograms in his hand seemed as light as a bucket of cooking oil. Three assassins exchanged glances in the night; this was a Transcendent! They each pressed their hands to the pistol handles at their waists. But the young man''s figure was hidden behind the corpse, showing only a small portion of his face. None of the three assassins was confident they could hit their target under these circumstances. In the darkness, Qing Chen''s cap brim continually dripped water, yet his breathing was steadier than ever before. The four men moved slowly, each constantly shifting their center of gravity, pulling at each other''s energy as if they were strings about to be strung tight! Qing Chen had already felt the pistol at the waist of the assassin in front of him. At the critical moment, thunder and lightning flashed in the sky once again. All three assassins heard a bizarre breath that reached deep inside their hearts amid their astonishment. In the cold night rain and autumn, a breath as sharp as an arrow escaped from under the dark brim of the young man''s cap. In the illumination of the lightning, everyone saw the Fire Rune patterns blooming under that cap! "Don''t run," Qing Chen said calmly. Time passed, unknown how long, when the team leader, struggling to rise from the rain-soaked ground, suddenly heard footsteps splashing through the puddles as they approached. He slowly turned his head, only to see all his comrades already fallen in the rain. And the murderous youth was squatting beside him, winding something around his wrist, unnoticed. The team leader tried to rise but his skeleton ached unbearably. In the roaring downpour, Qing Chen pointed a gun at the team leader''s temple and asked, "What''s your name? Speak, and you might have a chance to live. If not, you die." The team leader was in extreme pain, and he had a premonition that once he gave his name, his fate would be handed over to someone else. But the cold gun barrel at his temple reminded him that without a name, he would have no fate at all. "Xu Yicheng." In the dark night, the team leader''s body moved like a puppet, rising up in an anatomically improbable posture under the pouring rain. His already dislocated bones cracked and popped. ... ... In a building somewhere, Lu Yuan stood quietly before a window. Battle updates continuously came through the communication channel: "01 combat team has the assassin at the east gate." "02 combat team has the assassin at the north gate." It seemed as if Kunlun already knew the assassins'' movements, their men stationed on the necessary routes for ambush, just waiting for the assassins to fall into their trap. In the communication channel, Lu Yuan ordered, "The target is armed, no mercy, kill on sight." "Received." "Received." "Received." However, at that moment, Lu Yuan asked in the communication channel, "06, have you not encountered the assassin at the west gate yet?" "Road Team, no." Strange, according to the intelligence, assassins should have been attacking from all six gates, but why hadn''t 06 encountered any yet? "Go check it out, they must have entered the area already, we must find them," Lu Yuan commanded, "Be careful." He frowned and waited quietly, yet five minutes later, the communication channel rang again, "Road Team, Road Team, the assassins at the west gate are all dead!" "Dead," Lu Yuan suddenly looked up, "How many, did you kill them?" "Five dead, one is missing, not by our hands," reported unit 06, "Two were throat-slashed, two died by gunfire, one''s spleen was ruptured. A gun was missing from the assassins, taken by someone else." Lu Yuan''s eyes brightened; that youth had indeed come. ... Please vote for the monthly ticket! Thanks to the new allies of this book, Ice Candy Snowman and Shanks, big bosses, big fortunes! Chapter 198 172, Gemini (Requesting Monthly Votes for the 10,000-Word Chapter) Zheng Yuandong had told Lu Yuan that if the mastermind behind the scenes was not ready to give up on Liu Dezhu, "they" would definitely come tonight. Therefore, when the assassin who had been watching Xiao Ying died, Lu Yuan specifically instructed to check the spleen. When it was confirmed that the assassin only had a wound on his forehead, he was somewhat disappointed, not expecting Qing Chen to appear so soon. However, Lu Yuan was puzzled, was this ally who killed with playing cards the same person as Qing Chen? Had Qing Chen acquired a new ability, or was there someone else? The five assassin corpses found this time included two gunshot wounds, two throat cuts, and one death from a ruptured spleen. Qing Chen''s presence at the scene was certain, but was there anyone else there? It was uncertain. If Qing Chen killed them all by himself, they would have to reassess the young man and overturn many previous conclusions! You should know that this was a face-to-face, one-against-many confrontation, completely different from taking them down one by one at Laojun Mountain. Gourd asked beside him, "Road Team, what do we do next? This kid seems to be planning to act alone. He better not mess up our plan." "No worries," Lu Yuan shook his head, "We''ve been setting this up for so long, just waiting for these grey mice to take the bait. Since they dared to come in tonight, they shouldn''t think about leaving. Be ready to take over command at any time, I''m going out." "Eh?" Gourd was momentarily stunned, "Road Team, am I capable of commanding?" "What''s not capable about it, you personally made the plan," Lu Yuan said over the communication channel, "Don''t act on your own after dealing with these assassins, tonight''s plans from the other side don''t stop here." After speaking, he turned and walked downstairs. "Road Team, where are you going?" Gourd asked. "Of course, I''m going downstairs to keep an eye on things. We can''t really let Liu Dezhu have any accidents," Lu Yuan said. "But their Transcendent hasn''t made a move yet," Gourd said, "you''re rushing out like this; what if they set you up?" Lu Yuan casually waved his hand, "When have the people of Kunlun ever been afraid of danger?" At this moment, the fire trucks had already arrived at the scene, but due to family cars blocking the way, the siren-blaring fire trucks were actually stuck at the gate. Some people tried to look inside through the car windows but found that each car was covered with strange window film, making it impossible to see inside from the outside. The firefighters, in a fluster, were checking license plate numbers one by one and calling car owners to move their cars. The smoke inside was still spreading, but they could do nothing for the moment. Inside the Xinglong Residential Area, amidst a torrential downpour. Liu Dezhu, carrying his mother, was planning to leave. Someone whispered beside him, "I''m from Kunlun, Rock Candy. Stay here, we can protect you; don''t break away from the protection ring." Liu Dezhu was anxious, "My mom fell down the stairs, broke her leg, and now she has suddenly passed out. I need to rush her to the hospital! Don''t worry, I won''t go far, the hospital is just 300 meters away!" Rock Candy was taken aback and looked at Wang Shufen, who had been very conscious not long ago but had now fallen unconscious. It appeared that Liu Dezhu''s mother had not only broken her leg, but also hit other parts. Rock Candy leaned forward to check briefly and quickly said over the communication channel, "Road Team, Sparrow''s mother is injured; there''s an external wound on the right side of her brain, possibly hit against the stairs. He insists on leaving now, what should we do?" Upon hearing this diagnosis, Liu Dezhu''s eyes reddened, and he rushed out with a lifted leg. Liu Youcai followed close behind. Rainwater washing down from the heavens, Liu Dezhu''s bangs were all stuck to his forehead, looking extremely disheveled. He knew there might be danger outside, but was this the time to care about his own safety? Just now, when carrying his mother downstairs, he also saw the needle holes on his mother''s forearm, clearly left from the blood drawn that morning! Liu Dezhu roared, "Nobody freaking stop me!" With a moment of hesitation, Rock Candy said over the communication channel, "Road Team, Sparrow has left!" "You take the two nearest people to protect him. I''m heading there now," after a moment''s hesitation, Lu Yuan replied, "Gourd, you take over command; I''ll personally escort him to the hospital." Kunlun had been setting up in Xinglong Residential Area for a long time, planning to wipe out those demons and monsters in one fell swoop. After all, since the cross-dimensional incident, some grey mice have always been lurking and couldn''t be completely eradicated. Now the Wang Family had paid a hefty price to lure them out, and it was a golden opportunity. Wang Shufen''s injury was indeed accidental; no assassin had managed to get close to Liu Dezhu yet. If it weren''t for that middle-aged man running panic-stricken, everything would have been perfect. Over the communication channel, someone said, "Road Team, letting Sparrow leave now, the assassins will follow him, and our arrangements won''t be so tight." Lu Yuan sighed, "Our mission itself is to protect these ordinary people; don''t forget our initial purpose out of regret for the plan. Gourd, seal off the entire Xinglong Residential Area, and don''t let anyone slip through." Shortly after his words fell, more than ten combat teams burst out from hidden stairwells and began to seal off Xinglong Residential Area. Residents fleeing from the fire were stunned by this sight, as none had previously noticed so many people hidden in the residential buildings! Find exclusive stories on empire Kunlun had kept this card up their sleeve until today, demonstrating weakness to deceive the enemy, intending to wipe out all those elusive demons and monsters in one strike. Chapter 199 172, Gemini (Requesting Monthly Votes for the 10,000-Word Chapter)_2 Tonight, no matter who tries to disrupt the plan, these assassins won''t escape! The next moment, Liu Dezhu made a move, and seven people in the crowd of refugees followed suit. They slowly trailed behind, waiting for something unknown. Trailing behind Liu Dezhu, Spade urgently called out on the communication channel, "Road Team, the seven assassins hiding among the crowd have revealed themselves, they are about to make their move." "Where are our people?!" Lu Yuan roared. "Right behind them!" Spade replied, "Liu Dezhu is running too fast; that guy''s genetic potion has enhanced his lower limbs'' strength!" "Damn!" Lu Yuan roared again, bursting forth, pushing through the dense crowd and the rainy night, heading straight for the assassins trailing behind Liu Dezhu. He pulled out the pistol from under his arm, raised his hand and fired, bang bang, two bullets, exceedingly precise from a distance of over fifty meters, hit the assassins in the back of the head, forcing the other assassins to hastily take cover and no longer daring to recklessly pursue Liu Dezhu. But just as one wave settled, another arose! Right when the firefighters at the entrance were dialing 114 to search for the car owner''s number, the doors of the long row of seven illegally parked vehicles suddenly opened. Turns out they had been in the cars all along, and had no intention of moving the vehicles, heading straight for Liu Dezhu instead! The seven assassins, donned in black raincoats, walked unhurriedly, forming an invisible net as each hid their hands beneath their raincoats. The rain washed over them, their steps in the puddles firmer with each pace. From hundreds of meters away, Liu Dezhu could feel an almost tangible sense of oppression and intent to kill. Seeing this scene, he slowly stopped, Liu Youcai stepped in front of him, "Son, are these people here to kill you? Run back, don''t worry, your mom won''t blame you." "Dad," Liu Dezhu, drenched from head to toe in the cold rain, looked at his father approaching, his lips trembling as he spoke, "I have something like a cellphone, a communicator in my pocket. Send a message, ask if they can..." Before he could finish, Liu Youcai had already taken out the communicator, "Son, there''s a message on it." "What does the message say?" Liu Dezhu asked urgently. "It says, don''t be afraid, keep moving forward." Liu Dezhu suddenly looked around, what did that mean, was the boss nearby, or had the boss''s people arrived? But he saw nothing. At that moment, Liu Dezhu turned to Liu Youcai, "Dad, do you trust me?" Liu Youcai frowned, "Son, give your mom to me now, and you run back yourself!" Liu Dezhu shouted loudly, "Dad, trust me, keep moving forward! I feel like I won''t die today! And mom won''t get hurt either!" With that, he moved forward again. Lu Yuan, seeing this scene, cursed under his breath, then hurriedly said on the communication channel, "Plan B! Initiate Plan B, where the hell is my sniper!? Forget about the Transcendent, blow those guys away... wait, hold your fire!" Just as the seven raincoat-clad "car owners" were about to encircle Liu Dezhu, behind them in the rainy night, two more assassins in black raincoats suddenly emerged like specters from the shadows behind the "car owners," as if they had been waiting there all along. But these two assassins weren''t targeting Liu Dezhu; instead, they fiercely collided from behind with those uninvited guests! These two moved both quickly and urgently, with each step in the deep puddles causing the water to push aside. Before the puddles could close back up, they had already stepped out of them. In the pouring rain, Qing Chen''s black raincoat suddenly flipped up, a playing card shooting out from beneath it, a Spades A like a black blade, piercing through layers of rain. The astounding playing card split the raindrops in half mid-air, tracing a white line through the rain curtain, precisely entering the heart of an assassin through the gap between his ribs from behind. The assassin was struck forward by the playing card, toppling over, never to rise again. Lu Yuan was shocked, he had seen playing cards cut open cans, but had never seen such a vicious one that could penetrate a human body! The other person, with his hand under the raincoat, continuously pulled the trigger. Nine bullets ripped a huge hole in the black raincoat, then the erratic gunfire killed three more assassins. Seven assassins, and in an instant, only three remained. The two figures moved forward with perfect tacit understanding, their movements nearly identical, their actions as swift as thunder, and it was only at this moment that the assassins had a chance to realize there was an ambush behind them! The mantis stalks the cicada. The oriole is behind! The three remaining assassins turned abruptly when they saw their companions fall, their raincoat hoods spinning out a circle of water like umbrellas. However, by this time, Qing Chen and the controlled Xu Yicheng had already approached them. It was like turning around in a haunted house, only to see a ghost''s face close at hand! This ambush came so unexpectedly that it left no chance for those uninvited guests to shoot from a distance! "Fire!" the three assassins gritted their teeth and roared. In the flash of steel and sparks! Qing Chen had already dashed to the side of one assassin, positioning himself within the blind spots of the other two shooters. He saw him hold down the hand of the assassin under the raincoat who was trying to draw his gun. To the assassin''s astonishment, the newcomer''s strength was immense, so much so that it felt as if his gun-holding hand was about to be crushed. Transcendents, by definition, are those who surpass the ordinary. Their strength and speed far exceed that of ordinary people. A playing card suddenly flipped out from under Qing Chen''s raincoat with his other hand, those slender fingers gripping the card sweeping past the side of the nearby assassin. The razor-sharp edge of the playing card, like a blade, harshly cut through half of the assassin''s neck. Chapter 200 172, Gemini (Requesting Monthly Votes for the 10,000-Word Chapter)_3 It seemed to be because his True Qi was about to be completely depleted, or perhaps because the poker card had cut too deeply into flesh and bone, so much so that it was wedged within the opponent''s flesh and bones. Yet the youth''s expression remained unchanged as he breathed like an arrow, his body twisting and knees sinking in one smooth motion amidst the rainy night. Silently watching the puddles and raindrops on the ground, his arm forcefully pulled out the poker card, with blood, more profuse than the rainwater, spurting along the slant of the card to the ground. Not far away, amidst the rain ponchos, gunfire erupted, and Qing Chen crouched behind a corpse, surging forward. The bullets of the assassins hit the corpse, shredding flesh and bone, splashing up spray in the ankle-deep rainwater. But trying to penetrate a human body with a silencer and subsonic bullets is simply impossible! The distance between them closed in a flash, and Qing Chen drew a handgun from the waist of the corpse, using it as a shield and the rain as a curtain, continuously pulling the trigger. On the other side, the controlled Xu Yicheng took advantage of the moment Qing Chen drew all fire to throw away his spent firearm and pulled out a dagger from the outer side of his thigh! He moved behind the assassin with puppet-like jerky motions, swiftly approaching. The assassin''s face twisted as he suddenly turned around; one hand holding a dagger while the other, surprisingly, caught Xu Yicheng''s wrist first! But the next moment, the assassin was shocked; he felt like Xu Yicheng''s arm was not human. Although he had clearly caught the other''s wrist, Xu Yicheng''s elbow twisted eerily. The range of motion for human joints is limited, but Xu Yicheng''s twisting seemed limitless, resembling a wooden puppet imbued with life! In an instant, Xu Yicheng twisted his elbow, broke free from the assassin''s grip, and in the moment the other was shocked and fearful, drove the dagger diagonally upward into the assassin''s spleen! Light flashed overhead, and Lu Yuan recognized that familiar penchant for killing: it was indeed Qing Chen, who always targeted the spleen! He recalled in an instant what Xiao Ying had said: allies in murder, having stolen the assassin''s rain poncho! But Lu Yuan wondered, if the one piercing the spleen was Qing Chen, then who was the other person? He relaxed. Kunlun knew that a Transcendent would come tonight to kill Liu Dezhu, so snipers had been hiding in the dark all along. As long as the Transcendent hadn''t advanced to B-Class, that sniper rifle would surely kill with one shot! After all, even Transcendents are not invincible, and even S-Class isn''t an absolutely invincible existence! If Qing Chen and the other person hadn''t appeared, the sniper hidden at the high point would still have ensured Liu Dezhu''s safety. But since the enemy''s Transcendent had not yet appeared, it was better for the sniper to continue hiding. Lu Yuan did not want those outlaws to get a head start on familiarizing themselves with Kunlun''s rhythm of combat. Now was the best outcome; the enemy''s Transcendent had yet to emerge, but Kunlun still had an ace up its sleeve! When the lightning ceased, the ground returned to darkness. The rain and puddles undulated ceaselessly. And there stood Qing Chen and "Xu Yicheng" quietly in the rain, with seven corpses by their side! The two peered through the veil of rain at Liu Dezhu. "The boss told us to help you break through, let''s go quickly. We will escort you the rest of the way," a strange voice said from beneath the rain poncho. Another unfamiliar voice said, "Today, even if the sky falls, we must get your mother to the hospital. That''s what the boss said; no one can stop it." Liu Dezhu stood in the rain, startled, his face suddenly showing a moved expression. For some reason, he felt a surging gratitude churning inside him, like submarine lava erupting and roaring. In fact, Liu Dezhu and Qing Chen, to this day, were merely partners in cooperation; neither was a slave to the other. It wasn''t some feudal society; the whole system of lords and retainers was long gone. So, Liu Dezhu had his own little thoughts and schemes, even fantasizing about the day when he could sing as a freed serf. But at this moment, Liu Dezhu suddenly felt that following such a boss might not be a bad choice after all. "Thank you," Liu Dezhu couldn''t tell whether it was tears or rain on his face as he awkwardly carried his mother and ran out with Liu Youcai. As he ran past the two, trying to see the faces of his benefactors, he found they were all bowing their heads, obscuring everything beneath the shadow of their hats. Yet at that moment, a voice from nowhere said, "Who said you could leave?" The next moment, the rainwater on the ground started churning; all the puddles furiously flooded toward the doorway, forming in the blink of an eye a massive wave sweeping back at Liu Dezhu! The ground suddenly dried as the hidden Transcendent transferred all the water from other areas into that giant wave! Qing Chen watched silently; so this was the might of a Transcendent! As the giant wave loomed and Liu Dezhu looked on in despair, a red flame seemed to surge within the depths of his eyes, but it vanished as quickly as it appeared. As if some shackles were about to be broken, but this realm had never permitted such shackles to be unleashed. And so the fire in Liu Dezhu''s eyes was extinguished anew. Just when he thought he was about to die, a voice came from the sky, "They can leave. I said so." Everyone looked up abruptly, only to see a figure hurtling down from the heavens above. The descent, like thunder, brought tremendous pressure with it! With a thunderous crash, a figure landed from the sky, half-squatting on the wave, and actually suppressed the giant wave into a still lake! The girl, lost on her journey north, realized she was lost again upon reaching Mang Mountain. Chapter 201 172, Gemini (Requesting Monthly Votes for the 10,000-Word Chapter)_4 After having asked for directions for so long, she finally arrived at the battlefield! She didn''t say much but suddenly sprinted towards the East. In an instant, within the circumference of several dozen meters around her, the falling rain suddenly stopped! The clear raindrops hovered in mid-air, neither rising nor falling, while Qing Chen turned around to survey her surroundings; it was as if someone had pressed the pause button on each droplet. Gravity field. A powerful gravity field! Then, with a punch towards a certain spot in the rain, the suspended raindrops beside her were mysteriously arranged into two converging spirals. In the blink of an eye, At her fist''s intended target, a person was punched out of the curtain of rain! That Transcendent had been relying on their abilities, concealing themselves within the rain all along without anyone noticing him. But Qing Chen was different; she was aware of every change in the surrounding gravity field, and even if she closed her eyes, she would still know where someone was and where they weren''t! With a thunderous sound, the Transcendent was punched into midair. Just as he was about to fall back down, the Transcendent twisted his waist trying to stabilize himself. But he suddenly realized that his falling speed had slowed down, as if a falling iron ball had suddenly transformed into a feather! No, it wasn''t that the iron ball had turned into a feather by itself, but rather the gravity field in the environment had changed! "Up!" Qing Chen delivered an upward, ferocious uppercut to the Transcendent''s abdomen. The Transcendent''s body curled up like a shrimp and suddenly soared dozens of meters into the air. Just as he was about to reach the peak and start falling, that mysterious buoyancy vanished again! The buoyancy, disappearing out of thin air, was like gravity appearing and vanishing without a trace, pulling at whim! Everyone present watched this scene in astonishment, feeling as if the "fundamental forces" of the world were being tampered with by someone. The Transcendent fell straight towards the ground, attempting to use the rainwater to break his fallafter all, even a C-Class Transcendent would die from such a height! However, during his fall, the Transcendent distinctly felt that an invisible gravity field was contesting his control over the rainwater, rendering his usually effortless ability impotent. With a loud crash, the Transcendent hit the ground hard and coughed up a mouthful of blood, his head lolling to the side, lifeless. It wasn''t until this moment that Qing Chen looked around and said, "Eh? Where did everyone go?" She wanted to find Qing Chen''s trace, but he had taken the opportunity during the fight between the Transcendents to escort Liu Dezhu away. Qing Chen seemed a bit angry, "You left? How am I supposed to get home now? Really!" By that time, Lu Yuan had also dealt with all the Assassins and hurried over to Qing Chen, "Uh, miss, who are you?" Qing Chen tilted her head and thought for a moment before responding, "I''m one of Liu Dezhu''s subordinates too!" Having said that, Qing Chen flew into the sky, as abrupt as her arrival had been. Lu Yuan looked up at her disappearance into the night sky, "???" With just that one statement, Lu Yuan''s mind was engulfed in turmoil! Observing the girl''s actions just moments ago, she had utterly overpowered the Transcendent, hanging him in the sky to pummel without the slightest chance of retaliation. The difference between the two was as vast as that between clouds and mud, determined in a mere instant. Based on Lu Yuan''s estimation, that girl had to be at least B-Class! To think that such a Transcendent was actually a subordinate of Liu Dezhu? What a joke! What''s this now, is it fashionable to become a subordinate of Liu Dezhu these days?! Of course, Lu Yuan knew that Liu Dezhu wasn''t the mastermind behind the scenes and that there was a Puppeteer supporting him, still hidden in the dark. But prior to tonight, he always thought that the "group" with Liu Dezhu as a front-man was nothing more than a small group. At most, it included Liu Dezhu, Qing Chen, and the person behind the scenes. So, with only three people, it could at best be called a "group," nowhere near an organization. It was fortunate that it was a relatively positive group, always doing good deeds; otherwise, it would only be called a gang. However, now Lu Yuan felt that maybe they ought to reevaluate this "group." After all, it wasn''t just Qing Chen and Liu Dezhu anymore, but also included a Transcendent who was adept at killing with playing cards, along with the formidable girl in question! There were two Transcendents in the group already! And one of them was B-Class! Moreover, the Puppeteer behind the scenes hadn''t yet revealed themselves; who knows how strong that person is? They must be stronger than their subordinates at least. If that Puppeteer was also B-Class, then the group would possess two B-Class superhumans! Lu Yuan looked at Qing Chen suspiciously. Could this girl be the Puppeteer? Surely not. The real Puppeteer was as cunning as a Ghost; even if you wanted to find them, you couldn''t. This girl seemed rather simple, how could she be the Puppeteer? "Could it be the one who uses playing cards?" Lu Yuan thought to himself about the Puppeteer''s identity, guessing that the boss would have to speculate on this. Unknowingly, with the contrast of two superhumans, Qing Chen, an Ordinary Person, seemed to lose much of his luster, appearing less eye-catching than before. But the group itself suddenly became much more intriguing. Actually, Qing Chen hadn''t planned to take action in public, but watching Liu Dezhu''s demeanor in secret, for some reason, he felt like lending a hand. He didn''t know about the sniper hidden in the dark. Even if he hadn''t intervened, Kunlun would have dealt with those Assassins all the same. Regardless, the evening was a success. Using the Puppeteer technique, Qing Chen successfully shifted everyone''s attention away from himself. Chapter 202 172, Twins (10,000-word chapter, asking for monthly tickets)_5 He and Xu Yicheng were playing two roles. After controlling Xu Yicheng, Qing Chen specifically had this puppet stab people in the spleen. Apart from the old fellows in Taboo Land 002, apart from Uncle Li Dong, and apart from Ding Dong, no one else knew he possessed the Taboo puppet ACE-019; in the rainy night, no one could see the thread between him and Xu Yicheng. Thus, everyone treated Xu Yicheng as him, while he himself played another unknown Transcendent. In this way, although "Qing Chen" killed decisively, he was still regarded as an Ordinary Person not worth cautious attention. The one worth caution was the other unidentified Transcendent. No one knew who this unknown Transcendent was, nor did they associate him with the Knight. In this battle, Qing Chen did not use fallen leaves as weapons, specifically to avoid associations with the Autumn Leaf Knife. Stay updated through empire There are many people in this world who use playing cards, but only Knights are qualified to use fallen leaves since, after all, playing cards are at least sturdy, whereas leaves shatter upon touch. Suddenly, Qing Chen felt that Knight Vital Energy was indeed very useful; playing cards infused with True Qi cut through the enemy''s body as if slicing through tofu. The only downside was that he still had too little True Qi in his body, and it ran out after a while. Of course, this wasn''t a flaw of the True Qi, but of himself. The significance of tonight''s battle for Qing Chen was that he had added another layer of firewall for himself. The outside world was so dangerous, how could one or two firewalls be enough? Naturally, he had to find an opportunity to upgrade his firewall version. Another gain might be to fully win over Liu Dezhu''s loyalty. At this moment, Qing Chen and Xu Yicheng had just taken Liu Dezhu to the hospital entrance. Xu Yicheng began to speak, "Hurry inside, your mother''s injuries are serious. The boss asked me to tell you to wait until your mother''s condition improves before discussing everything else." "Thank you, thank you. Please convey to the boss that my life, Liu Dezhu''s, is his from here on out!" Liu Dezhu said, then, carrying his mother, ran inside, "Doctor! Where is the doctor? My mother has fallen and hit her head, please save her!" Seeing Liu Dezhu safely arriving at the hospital and more Kunlun members coming from behind, the two figures cloaked in raincoats walked back into the dark night. Liu Youcai anxiously asked, "You two... heroes! Where are you headed?" Xu Yicheng turned around and said, "Tonight''s business is not yet finished." Yes, it was not finished, because those who moved tonight weren''t just those wanting to kill Liu Dezhu. Qing Chen, having made a big detour with Xu Yicheng, arrived outside the west gate of Xinglong Residential Area, removed the raincoat from the other''s body, untied the transparent silk thread from his hands, and then directly swiped at the other''s neck with a playing card. Only at this moment did this puppet truly die. Qing Chen breathed a slight sigh of relief, picked up the raincoat, and planned to find a place to destroy it. The raincoat on Xu Yicheng could not be left behind, because he had just manipulated the other to shoot through the raincoat, and the bullet holes left behind could be recognized, so he had to take it far away to burn it. Thinking of a clue he had previously found, Qing Chen got up and ran to a certain path north. ... ... In a dark street. A group of six people was hiding in a small alley, silently leaning against the wall next to them, waiting for something. At that moment, footsteps came from outside the alley, and everyone''s expression sharpened as they all straightened up. One person appeared at the alley''s entrance and said, "Kunlun has begun battling those assassins. If we are to steal the information, now is the time." Someone glanced at their smartphone, sent a message, "Kunlun is too distracted to pay attention, may we proceed with the mission?" An unknown number replied, "Proceed." The six people emerged from the alley and joined up with the person at the entrance, heading toward the planned direction. The heavy rain gradually subsided; someone on the road whispered, "What information does the Li Family actually want us to steal?" "Don''t know, just steal it." "Do you think the Li Family will keep their promises after we complete the mission?" "At least it will allow us to become stronger," someone replied. "The stronger we are, the greater their influence over the Outer World will be." "Is this really okay, what we''re doing? Could it harm others? I suspect the Li Family wants us to steal registration information, and if that falls into the hands of the Inner World consortium, many Time Travelers will suffer." "So many Time Travelers have already sought protection; we are just aboard the Li Family''s ship. Do you think people like Liu Dezhu, King of Long-lasting Dye, Cloud Mortal are genuinely gifted? They just reincarnated well in the Inner World." At this moment, the Li Family had not yet finished training and brainwashing these Time Travelers, so they hadn''t disclosed everything to them yet. Their task was simply to insert a small device into a computer in a police station''s administrative hall and nothing more. Among the controlled three hundred people, not everyone was cooperative; most did not want to become spies for the Inner World. The seven at hand, however, had actively sought cooperation. "After we complete the mission, will the Li Family discard us like used tools?" someone asked. Someone impatiently said, "Every time we go through, our lives are in the Li Family''s hands. You ask me if they will discard us like used tools? Even if you don''t cooperate, can you still save your own life?" "Our fate is in the hands of others, the Li Family are the butchers, and we are the fish on the chopping block; there are no other roads to choose." Chapter 203 172, Gemini (10,000-character mega chapter for monthly ticket)_6 ``` At this moment, someone suddenly asked, "What identities do we all have in the Inner and Outer Worlds? The Li Family won''t keep everyone isolated forever, they will surely bring us together for training eventually. When that time comes, we who have executed missions together can stick together for warmth." The person at the very front turned and said coldly, "Do not ask about others'' Outer World identities, nor reveal your own. This way, if someone is caught, they won''t be able to immediately betray you. Understand? Or, are you harboring ill intentions by asking this question?" "I won''t ask anymore, okay?" the individual muttered, closing their mouth in discontent. A group of seven people arrived at the entrance of Lichun Road Police Station''s Administrative Officean office that was merely an eighty-plus-square-meter public service window. The adjacent police station had someone on duty, but the Administrative Office did not. One of them took out a thumb-sized black device and pressed it against the access control lock. Ten seconds later, with a click, the door opened itself. One stood guard outside while the other six entered the dark Administrative Office. One quickly turned on the computer inside the hall and plugged another device into the USB port. The next moment, the computer screen in the hall unexpectedly turned red, displaying the words "System Invasion." This scene was completely different from what the Li Family had described. According to them, all text data should be downloaded within 1 minute after connecting the devicewithout any hindrances! No obstructions were supposed to be there at all! But then, the computer screen suddenly went dark and there was no further response. Meanwhile, the person on guard was scanning the surroundings when a youth with a buzz cut suddenly approached, smiling, and asking, "Brother, got a light, can I borrow one?" The guard hesitated, "I don''t smoke." Stay tuned with empire As he spoke, the buzz-cut youth was already in front of him, and it was only then that the guard saw the dagger hidden in the youth''s hand. With one swift step, the dagger plunged into the guard''s chest. The youth, covering the guard''s mouth, whispered, "Shh, no talking." While doing so, he supported the guard''s body and walked towards the Administrative Office. The Time Travelers inside were taken aback, "Didn''t I ask you to keep watch outside? Why did you come in?" The young man released the body of the guard and laughed, "So it turns out to be a bunch of small fry. Has the Li Family not trained you properly? Looks like their plans will have to wait. Relying on people like you to complete the cleansing plan is child''s play." After speaking, he closed the door of the Administrative Office and turned off the lights inside the room. In the darkness, cries of pain and the sound of bones breaking were endless, like a scene from purgatory on earth. A few minutes later, the noise inside the room gradually subsided. With the scratch of a match, the young man lit a cigarette and brought it to his lips; the orange-red flame lit up his smoke, and the blue smoke twisted in the air. The faint glow of the fire also illuminated his blood-streaked face, with its prominent, angular nose. He pulled out a letter from his chest and wrote: The data fortress has been established, the household registration is not lost. It seems that this team is just a decoy to attract attention. The squad that Kyushu encountered is the real deal. Having finished writing, he used the match to set the letter ablaze. The buzz-cut youth took a deep drag of his cigarette, the tobacco curling and crackling from the burn. He exhaled a plume of smoke, wanting to say something to the Time Travelers scattered on the ground. But just then, all his words were stifled back in his throat. Using the last glimmer of light from the burning letter, the youth saw Zheng Yuandong sitting on a chair across from him, silently watching him. "Damn it!" As the room plunged back into darkness, the young man tried to escape. He didn''t know when Zheng Yuandong had been lying in wait there, but he did know who Zheng Yuandong was, and what his presence meant. No wonder he hadn''t shown up all eveningit turned out he had long since become aware of the Li Family''s cleansing plan and was waiting here! In the dark, the youth''s pleas for mercy and screams echoed through the room: "Lord, have mercy, I''m just a runner! Wait, stop hitting me, stop hitting my face! If I''d known you were here, I wouldn''t have come!" ``` "Big brother, don''t push people too far!" "Ah! Damn!" The room returned to silence. Outside the house, Qing Chen heard the noises inside and turned to walk away into the distance. The events of the night had been full of twists and turns, and he needed to go home to clear his thoughts and sort through what had happened. In a deserted spot, Qing Chen took off his rain cloak and stuffed it into a "clothing donation box" under the eaves of a nearby house. By the time this rain cloak saw daylight again, it would be several days later and the person sorting the clothes would have no idea of its origin. "Eh," Qing Chen looked up, only to see a figure rapidly descending in the night sky. He quickly dodged to the side, and the girl named Yangyang landed where he had just been standing. Qing Chen stayed on guard and said nothing. Yangyang glanced at the clothing donation box and asked curiously, "What are you doing here? I''ve been looking for you in the sky for quite a while!" "I''m donating some clothes to the mountainous areas," Qing Chen replied. "Only a ghost would believe that nonsense," Yangyang retorted. "And why are you here?" Qing Chen frowned. "To have you take me home," Yangyang answered matter-of-factly. Qing Chen was again shocked, "You can''t even find your own home, yet you could find me?" "Because I knew you hadn''t gone far," said Yangyang. "I wanted to take a cab home, but there are so few taxis in this rainy weather." "Oh," Qing Chen said, "then come with me." "By the way, what about your companion? Has he left?" Yangyang looked puzzled. "Why didn''t I see him?" Qing Chen said, "He probably took off his rain cloak ages ago, you never saw him, so of course you couldn''t find him." With that, both of them turned onto the main road and walked side by side on the sidewalk. The torrential rain had stopped, filling the air with a fresh and cool scent, which was extremely refreshing. In the small city, the streets were poorly drained, and deep puddles had accumulated on the road. Yangyang said, "Oh, I have something to tell you. When the people from Kunlun asked who I was, I hadn''t figured out what to say, so I just told them I was one of Liu Dezhu''s subordinates." Qing Chen was somewhat exasperated. Now, Liu Dezhu would probably draw even more attention. Yangyang then asked, "What ability does your companion have, what level is he?" "I don''t know either, we''re not allowed to contact each other privately," Qing Chen shook his head. Yangyang tilted her head and pondered for a moment, "I still think you are the mastermind behind all this, even though I don''t understand why an ordinary person who has taken a Genetic Potion can command Transcendents." "Sorry, you really got it wrong," Qing Chen replied. "Why don''t I join you guys? I''m pretty good at fighting," Yangyang said with interest. "I feel like joining you would be fun." "I can''t make that decision, I have to report to the boss," Qing Chen responded. Yangyang sighed, "Alright then, I''ll ask you again tomorrow." Qing Chen: "..." ... Thank you to the new allies of the book, Snow Full Morning and Wu An Dan, for joining. The boss is generous, the boss will make a fortune! Chapter 204 173, Unfathomable boss "What level are you now?" Qing Chen asked. He walked shoulder to shoulder with Yangyang on the sidewalk after the rain, the ground covered with leaves patted down by the downpour, clinging tightly to the surface. Qing Chen suddenly realized that the girl was really tall; at his height of 1.82 meters, he could look at her at eye level when he turned his head, no need to lower it at all. Experience more on empire Yangyang, with the hood of her sweatshirt over her head, answered, "I don''t even know what level I am." "How can you not know your own level?!" Qing Chen exclaimed in surprise. "I was on the high-speed train to Los Angeles City when a countdown suddenly appeared on my arm," Yangyang explained. "By the time I passed through, I was alone in the wilderness with my Federal ID Card and some living supplies in my travel bag beside me. When I got back to Federal City, I was unfamiliar with everything and afraid to ask questions." Qing Chen realized, so she''s a lone wolf after all. In theory, Transcendents can travel through time since they haven''t changed their genes, and there''s a Transcendent among the Time Travelers controlled by the Li Family. However, to become such a powerful Transcendent just by traveling through time, she must be someone chosen by destiny, right? Qing Chen asked, "Then do you know how you train?" "I''m an Awakener; I don''t need to train," Yangyang paused before responding, "Don''t you know? Although both Awakeners and Cultivators are Transcendents and both develop human potential, they are completely different paths." "For instance, Uncle Li Dong is a Cultivator. Their Knight Organization has its own legacy; successors can follow the path their predecessors took, releasing their potential step by step and steadily." "For example, I am an Awakener. I don''t need to train normally, but can continue to awaken and ascend to higher levels when greatly stimulated. There''s an old saying in the Inner World that has been passed down for a long time, ''When disaster strikes, the spirit and willpower are humanity''s primary weapons against danger.''" Qing Chen remarked, "Awakeners seem to have it easy, not having to train and all, not that hard." "But the fate of Awakeners is entirely up to luck," Yangyang explained. "Cultivators'' abilities are always combat-oriented, but it''s not the same for Awakeners. When I was doing research, I found that one Awakener''s ability is to blow bubbles... really big bubbles! And another Awakener''s ability is that the people around them are sure to touch either snot or chewing gum when they reach under a table! And yet another Awakener can heal others." At this point, Yangyang summarized, "After a Cultivator succeeds, they are inevitably top laners, mid laners, or ADCs, while it''s more down to luck for Awakeners. Some might end up core players like me, or they might become support or jungle players... or even turn into monsters or cannon fodder." Qing Chen nodded, "Hm, that explanation is very easy to understand..." Becoming a monster as an Awakener, that really is too tragic. "By the way, which city are you in?" Qing Chen asked casually. Yangyang glanced at him and said, "I already told you, ask me for my secrets when you''re willing to exchange yours." Lastly, Qing Chen asked, "Then can you tell me why you can''t find your own home but were able to find me? I don''t believe you just happened to see me from the sky." "I can tell you that," Yangyang replied, "You should have guessed that my ability is to control force fields, right? I heard you''re a genius, so that was easy to figure out." "Hmm," Qing Chen nodded. "Everyone has their own force field, which although constantly changed by the environment, the signature of a person is unique," Yangyang said. "I remembered your force field and sensed it, it''s as simple as that." It''s like the ability of homing pigeons to sense the magnetic field, always finding their way home, because they have an organ in their beaks that can feel the magnetic field, guiding them in the right direction. Qing Chen looked at her intently, "So, you actually knew which one was the real me just now." "Ah," Yangyang exclaimed, "I let it slip; I wanted to pretend I didn''t know!" Amidst the torrential rain, both Qing Chen and Xu Yicheng were wearing rain capes. In the eyes of others, Xu Yicheng was playing the role of "Qing Chen," but to Yangyang, she could see something more essential through appearances: the force fields. No need to look at the rain cape, nor the fighting style, just need to look at Qing Chen''s force field. Now it was Qing Chen''s turn to feel a bit embarrassed; all his elaborate maneuvers were for naught, as he hadn''t fooled her at all. Yangyang comforted him, "Don''t worry, I won''t tell anyone your secret; everyone wants to hide their strength, I get it. But your teammate is quite cooperative, going along with your act." "Stop pretending," Qing Chen sighed, "You can directly sense the force field, so you must be able to feel the connection between us." "Oh, you guessed that too," Yangyang said curiously, "I''ve indeed been wondering what exactly the link between you is, are you controlling him?" "I won''t tell you," Qing Chen felt a bit of toothache, as the girl knew quite a few of his secrets. However, he believed she still couldn''t be completely certain that he was the mastermind behind the scenes, because his force field had definitely changed after climbing up the sheer cliff! He changed the subject, "So if you can sense the force field and can fly, how come you can''t find the force field coordinates of your own home?" "Because it''s too far away," Yangyang spoke, "Xingshu Road is already beyond the range of my perception, which is about 200 meters or so." Chapter 205 173, Unfathomable Boss_2 "Then you could try following the geomagnetic coordinates along the road," Qing Chen said. "There are too many; I can''t remember them all," Young Young replied, "Plus, I''m still not quite used to converting ''vision'' into ''induction''." Qing Chen understood what she meantthe girl had only recently become a Transcendent and wasn''t accustomed to this method of sensing energy fields yet. It was like when someone first learns English; although they can understand it, they subconsciously translate what they hear into Chinese and then comprehend it with their brain. And now, Young Young was in a situation where two people were talking to her at the same time, one in English and one in Chinese. This caused confusion in her perception. That''s why she had a poor sense of direction! It wasn''t that Young Young wanted to be directionally challenged; rather, her natural anomaly had caused her "force field sense" to override the "visual sense" of ordinary people! Wait, Qing Chen suddenly realized a problem, "Before you crossed over, could you already sense the energy field? Because the perception of the field conflicts with that of sight, causing you to lose your spatial orientation and associative abilities." "I never felt the energy field before," Young Young said in surprise, "but I always felt like I veered off course easily when walking, as if disturbed by some unknown factor. But now that you mention it, it does seem to make sense." Qing Chen came to a realizationher innate difference from others was what made her directionally challenged. The Young Young from the Inner World, possessing the same body and talents, thus awakened her ability to control energy fields. The Young Young from the Outer World hadn''t come across an opportunity for Awakening, so she continued to be directionally challenged. However, once she got used to the new way of cognition, her poor sense of direction should be curable. It''s much like how most compatriots now instinctively understand words like "Sorry" or "Fuck" without needing to translate them into Chinese in their minds. ... ... Qing Chen was pondering a questionYoung Young had also encountered very intense situations before, such as the pirate battle in the Indian Ocean. He believed that at that moment, the never-before-killed Young Young must have been very frightened. But at that time, she did not awaken. Could it be understood that the rules of the Outer World are different from those of the Inner World, which is why the Outer World had never heard of Awakeners or Transcendents before? Perhaps due to the world''s rules, the Outer World''s Young Young didn''t awaken, while the Inner World''s Young Young had already done so. Very likely! No, if myths were true, then the Outer World once had transcendent powers too, but for some unknown reason, they vanished. Of course, myths shouldn''t be taken seriously. "Wow, you really are a genius student," Young Young exclaimed with joy, "You''ve explained the problem that''s been troubling me for years. Does that mean my poor sense of direction will gradually improve?" "Logically, that should be the case," Qing Chen nodded. "Then to celebrate this discovery, you should cook something delicious tomorrow!" Young Young said joyfully. "What kind of logic is that?!" Qing Chen was shocked: "Don''t you feel embarrassed saying that?" "Not at all," Young Young said boldly. Qing Chen glanced at her, wondering if recruiting such a powerful Transcendent into the team was actually a good choice? This girl could always sense his true identity through her energy-field perceptionit was brutal. At the very least, he needed to find a way to keep her from spilling the beans. Read exclusive adventures at empire Young Young looked at Qing Chen and said, "You know, I was quite surprised tonight. I was initially a bit regretful that you took the Genetic Potion, given its limited potential, but now it seems you have other tricks up your sleeve. Did you inject yourself with the Genetic Potion after becoming a Transcendent just so your DNA wouldn''t match anyone else''s?" "Hmm," Qing Chen knew he couldn''t hide his Transcendent identity, so he had to come up with another excuse. Young Young thought for a moment and asked, "Last time I saw you, you were just an ordinary person, and now you''ve advanced so quickly. At first, I thought you killed people in close combat using playing cards, but then you were even able to throw them to kill. I thought you were an AD, but turns out you''re an ADC!" AD generally refers to a close-combat core role in some games, while ADC refers to a ranged attack core role... Qing Chen felt a bit speechlessoddly enough, the girl''s descriptions were quite vivid! Then he heard Young Young say, "Now you''re an ADC, and I''m a mid-laner, but we still need a top laner and a jungler... oh right, and a support. If you could scout a few more people, couldn''t we form a team?" "Hold on, hold on," Qing Chen pressed his temples, "I don''t play many games, so I''m not quite comfortable with these kinds of analogies. And I didn''t expect you to be such a gamer girl." "I don''t... really have an addiction to gaming," Young Young hesitated, seeming not completely certain herself. "Alright then," Qing Chen waved it off, "We''re home now, everyone to their own homes. We''ll talk more if there''s something tomorrow." After getting home, Qing Chen lay back on his bed and pulled out his communicator, which was already filled with messages from Liu Dezhu. "Boss, my mother has successfully been pulled out of danger; the doctor said it was just a minor concussion!" "Boss, I can''t thank you enough for tonight, for getting those two to take action. I, Liu Dezhu, will be forever grateful to anyone who stands by me at such a time!" The subsequent dozen or so messages were similarly full of thanks, and Qing Chen could even imagine the other person''s excitement. Chapter 206 173, Unfathomable Boss_3 It wasn''t until the last sentence that he said, "Boss, when I first discovered I was about to travel through time, I thought I was the protagonist of a novel and so I always thought about developing in a sneaky way, constantly strengthening myself. I was greedy for gold bars and I even hid information from you, making many mistakes. Now I might have understood that there are no real protagonists in this world, life is not a novel, and someone like me who is indecisive and lacks real ability, should just honestly follow you." "Thank you for still being willing to help me today, really." Qing Chen looked at these words of gratitude and stayed silent for a long time. Actually, him taking action in public tonight was a very risky move, but in that moment, when he saw Liu Dezhu carrying his mother on his back, and saw Liu Youcai persuading his son to leave, he still couldn''t hold back. But there was a gain tonight, Liu Dezhu finally returned to his senses. Qing Chen felt a bit emotional inside. In the stories, others would brace themselves and immediately form brotherly bonds, while it turned out to be quite an effort for him just to win over Liu Dezhu. But he thought about it, it''s probably because Liu Dezhu is a real person, not just a tool, right? Qing Chen sent back a plain message: "Rest well." The next moment, Liu Dezhu''s messages came rattling in: "Boss, I feel like my body is burning up right now, it started when I was fighting in the pouring rain, and I''ve always felt like there''s a fire inside me that wants to burst out, but it''s being forcefully suppressed by some rule within my body, do you know what''s going on?" At this point, Qing Chen was guessing: Perhaps the rules of this world don''t allow Awakening. That''s why Liu Dezhu can''t Awaken, and neither can Young Young! But could he, after completing the challenge in this world, unlock the Genetic lock? Qing Chen wasn''t sure, he could only know after trying. Of course, Qing Chen couldn''t say he didn''t know, otherwise, the image of the "boss" being unfathomable would collapse. Speaking with a confident and mysterious tone, he voiced his conjectured conclusion, "You have reached the threshold of an Awakener. If you can keep this fire inside you until the next travel, you will directly Awaken into a Transcendent in the Inner World." Liu Dezhu thought to himself, the boss is truly the boss, knowing much more than me. Enjoy more content from empire A surge of joy burst from within him, was he about to become an Awakener? "Boss, how can I maintain this fire inside me?" Liu Dezhu asked humbly. Qing Chen pondered for a moment: "Recall the emotions you had when this fire appeared." "At that moment, when I saw the huge wave swept by a Transcendent, I was filled with immense anger," Liu Dezhu said uncertainly. "Maintain that emotion," Qing Chen instructed. If he becomes a Transcendent on his next travel, great, if not, then it means you didn''t maintain it. Anyway, no one has ever experienced this kind of thing. "Okay, boss, have a good rest!" After sending the message, Liu Dezhu burst angrily from the stall of the hospital public restroom. The next moment, a certain playboy sent Liu Dezhu a WeChat voice message: "Brother Zhu, I heard something happened at your place, what''s the situation?" Liu Dezhu pressed the voice key and roared: "I don''t know!" The playboy who heard the voice was confused, if you don''t know, you don''t know, what''s with the yelling... Before he could react, Liu Dezhu sent another roaring voice message: "I''m sorry!" The playboy: "???" Do big shots apologize so politely when they lose their temper!? Chapter 207 174. Take me home Countdown 116:00:00. In an abandoned factory somewhere in Jingcheng''s Yanjiao district. The sound of leather shoes tapping on the concrete floor grew louder as the thirty-some time travelers, who were hung from the beams, slowly opened their eyes. In the dim light of the factory, they saw hundreds of somber figures quietly watching them. Among these people were middle-aged men and women, young adults, and boys who looked like students. They wore black uniforms with the word "Kyushu" embroidered on the cuffs. These people were covered in blood that dripped from their bodies to their toes, then fell into the concrete floor''s dust, mixing together. As the footsteps approached, the crowd silently parted to create a path. He Jinqiu, dressed in a grey suit, approached the time travelers. He didn''t speak but simply took off his coat to hand to a middle-aged man nearby and then unfastened the cufflinks of his white shirt. "You are also people of the Outer World, have you ever considered the consequences if the residency information database was stolen?" He Jinqiu asked calmly. A time traveler hanging from the beam struggled and said, "Even if we were wrong, Kyushu shouldn''t resort to lynching!" He Jinqiu methodically said, "Let me tell you what the consequences would be. The powerful computers of the Inner World would compare every individual''s information in the residency database with the Federation''s database. In less than an hour, they would know how many people could possibly become time travelers." "Among these people, some have already become time travelers, some haven''t yet met the conditions for time travel, but they all face the same fate: to be mercilessly eliminated by the massive entities of the Inner World." "How many will die then? Tens of thousands? Hundreds of thousands? Who knows. You''ve been time traveling for a while now , so you should know how ruthless the conglomerates of the Inner World are. They are true cold machines, devoid of compassion." A time traveler pleaded, "We know our mistake, please stop tormenting us." However, He Jinqiu turned a deaf ear: "I can somewhat understand other time travelers who have been coerced into doing things against their will. But all of you here have willingly allied yourselves with the conglomerates, which is why you received your assignments so quickly, right? I cannot tolerate such voluntary betrayal." After speaking, He Jinqiu picked up a pistol and shot a traitor in the forehead, then handed the pistol to the middle-aged man beside him, who also raised his hand and killed another person. He Jinqiu said in an even tone, "There''s nothing about lynching or not lynching. I hope you all understand that we are experiencing a war. The era of peace has been too long; perhaps you have forgotten how brutal war can be. Kyushu was destined to take drastic measures since its inception." He looked at everyone behind him and said, "You also know what Kunlun is facing: meager salaries, low benefits, and insecure livelihoods. Even in our specialized field, we only make little over ten thousand a month, maybe just over thirty thousand with allowances, and the death benefits are no different from others. Why is that? Because they are too set in their ways, still living in the outdated past." "I want you all to understand that in this battle between two worlds, you time travelers are the real pillars. I will stand with you in the Inner World and address any concerns you might have. Before the real war begins, we must first learn to protect ourselves. This war must be led by us. This is the glory you must enjoy while bearing the risks." After finishing, people from the crowd behind silently stepped forward to take the pistols and pulled the trigger on those dead traitors. This was a declaration of allegiance. He Jinqiu quietly watched everyone submitting their declaration, but this was still only a small part within Kyushu. To get the entire Kyushu to agree with his plan would take much longer. He needed to proceed cautiously. A middle-aged man then brought over a tablet which had collected data on the battle in Los Angeles City: "Boss, three time travelers from outside Kunlun showed up tonight, one is the Laojun Mountain Assassin we''ve been tracking, probably that student Qing Chen, one is a girl, from the combat situation it appears she can control force fields, and another odd one, who kills with playing cards, definitely a Transcendent given his physical abilities, rank unknown but methods quite vicious." Clearly displayed on the tablet was a high-definition video, shot from an angle that suggested the filmer was hidden in a building within the Xinglong Residential Area. He Jinqiu watched the combat footage: "What do our insiders in Kunlun say? Do we have any identity guesses about this girl and the one using playing cards?" "He says the girl openly admitted to Lu Yuan that she works for Liu Dezhu, so the other one with the playing cards probably belongs to the same organization," said the middle-aged man. "This organization doesn''t have many members, but each individual''s strength far exceeds that of other time travelers." Stay tuned for updates on empire The sound of gunfire in the abandoned factory gradually ceased, restoring silence. He Jinqiu, after a long silence, said, "It looks like Los Angeles City is becoming interesting, the time traveler involved with Uncle Li Dong is starting to unleash his influence. Let''s send our people over, this time we''ll start directly with Liu Dezhu to see who really is behind this organization." Chapter 208 174, Take Me Home_2 "Alright, I''ll arrange that," the middle-aged man responded, "So after our people go there, should we focus on the girl and the one using the cards? I see that the one named Qing Chen seems to be just an ordinary person, not needing much attention," He Jinqiu contemplated, "We can lower the attention level, but we should not completely disregard him; he has already proven his ferocity on Laojun Mountain. It would be frightening if such a person suddenly became a Transcendent one day," "Understood," said the middle-aged man. "Also," He Jinqiu''s gaze swept over everyone present, "guard tonight''s secrets well. That Mr. Zheng must also have placed many people in Kyushu." Explore more stories with empire ... ... Countdown 117:00:00 In the quiet of late night, Qing Chen, drenched in sweat, finished his training, with sweat dripping from his chin to the ground. He had now crossed the vast divide between Ordinary People and Transcendents, reaching the Peak of E-Class. Ordinary training no longer sufficed for his needs, and he must purchase heavier weights. Qing Chen was still not quite clear on how the Inner World judged levels; he estimated his current strength to be about five times that of a normal adult. That''s why the assassin that night could not draw his gun, no matter how he tried, under Qing Chen''s grip. To this, Qing Chen was quite satisfied. The only downside was that his True Qi recovered slowly; it might take a whole day to replenish what he used in one battle. Qing Chen looked at the transparent Taboo object, ACE-019, Puppeteer, on his wrist. In the battle yesterday, this Taboo played a major role; without it, he wouldn''t have been able to handle the situation so effortlessly. But at this moment, Qing Chen suddenly noticed something odd about the Puppeteer. Its normally smooth end had now split slightly, by 13 centimeters. The split looked like hair that had not been cared for a long time, Qing Chen ponderedperhaps he had worn out the Puppeteer? This surprised Qing Chen; after all, it was a Taboo object that defied rules, how could it be damaged after just one battle?! With this in mind, Qing Chen was more inclined toward another speculation: could it be that he had killed someone last night, thus satisfying other containment conditions for Puppeteer, like controlling more people? But he hadn''t offered those people as a sacrifice to the Puppeteer; could it be that the Puppeteer had absorbed the souls of those assassins on its own? Qing Chen examined the Puppeteer closely; its original length was 50 meters, and now the 13 centimeter split was hardly noticeable. But as the saying goes, many a little makes a mickle; one day, this split would be long enough to control a second person. Controlling one person might not seem terrifying. But what if he could control three, four, or ten? Then his individual power would reach a qualitative change! Qing Chen calculated that, generally in warfare, if individual abilities are equal, having three times the manpower of the enemy can create an overwhelming advantage. This principle fully applies even in ordinary combat. If he could control two more Transcendents of the same level, then he could easily overpower any enemy of the same level. If he could control ten more, facing C-Class Experts like Cao Wei or Qing Huai would not be so difficult. At least when the opponent was severely injured, he could swarm them and erode their stamina with precision micromanagement. Micromanagement, Qing Chen was familiar with. Wait, Qing Chen was startled! When Uncle Li Dong mentioned the Puppeteer, he hadn''t elaborated in detail, only mentioned that it was a rather evil Taboo that required the sacrifice of five people each month to continue using. But if that were all, then the Puppeteer wouldn''t really be considered evil; in the era of the Inner World when human life was insignificant, killing five people didn''t even qualify as evil. So, this Taboo object seemed to have other hidden details. Now Qing Chen had also discovered new containment conditions for the Puppeteer, and he realized he was subconsciously thinking about what he could achieve by controlling more people. Yet he hadn''t first considered how many people he needed to kill to unlock the next ability of the Puppeteer! Qing Chen set aside the idea of quickly enhancing the Puppeteer, as he had promised Uncle Li Dong to maintain his true nature. Of course, he wouldn''t let off those who deserved death. At that moment, Qing Chen thought of another issue: if the Puppeteer had a second stage of containment power, might other Taboo objects also have them? If so, what would the Devil''s Stamp look like in its second stage? In the morning, Qing Chen was hardly awake when he heard knocking at his door. He opened his eyes to answer it, only to see Yang Yang standing outside, "Is there something you need?" "It''s time to go to school," Yang Yang said calmly. "Well, if you''re going to school, just go. Why wake me up?" Qing Chen muttered, glancing at the time, "Also, isn''t it too early? It''s only 6:50 AM!" "I want to eat the local breakfast in Los Angeles, but if I wander too far, I''ll get lost and be late for school," Yang Yang explained, "So you take me there, this meal is on me." Qing Chen hesitated, "Alright then, spicy soup, rice noodles, bunswhat do you want to eat?" He asked as he went back inside to wash up. "I want all of them," Yang Yang strutted into the room following him. "You''re not planning to wake me up for breakfast every morning, are you?" Qing Chen wondered. "That depends on when I get tired of it," Yang Yang sat on the sofa, patiently waiting for Qing Chen. Chapter 209 174, Take Me Home_3 "So I take you to breakfast every day, and I shouldn''t get any benefit from it?" Qing Chen asked. "You''re leading the team members on a team-building exercise, isn''t that what you''re supposed to do?" Yan Yan was also puzzled. "The well-fed team members will help you fight when it matters!" "Pfft," Qing Chen spat the mouthwash into the sink. "Since when did you become a team member? I said I had to ask the boss first!" "Then you said yesterday you would ask, did you?" "The boss hasn''t replied to me yet!" "Okay, then I''ll ask you again tomorrow." Qing Chen: "..." As for this clingy nuisance, he really didn''t know what to do. However, he was very clear that this girl wanted to join the team just for fun. In the morning, just before the bell rang, Qing Chen and Yan Yan walked into the classroom together. In the back row, Nan Gengchen, Hu Xiaoniu, and Zhang Tianzhen, who had been listless, suddenly perked up. And Hu Xiaoniu and Zhang Tianzhen, as if they were witnessing something spectacular, exclaimed in admiration internally. "Is it a coincidence?" Zhang Tianzhen hesitantly asked. "It must have been a chance encounter when they left," Hu Xiaoniu thought for a moment. "With Yan Yan''s personality, normally three or five boys wouldn''t dare to approach her." "Yeah, it must really be a coincidence," Zhang Tianzhen said. "By the way, the news last night jumped into the top three trending topics. Some people say it''s all because the Wang Family wanted to kill Liu Dezhu." Hu Xiaoniu frowned. "Should we warn the Wang Family together?" Last night''s battle spread faster than imagined. In just over an hour, it began to trend among the people of Los Angeles City on social media, and then it shot up to the hot searches on Weibo. There were many refugees initially present on the scene; some even captured Yan Yan descending from the sky, and this video was the most widely circulated. The video is still a bit blurry, and the lighting is dark. Liu Dezhu is running with his mother on his back. A massive wave is about to hit them but is suppressed by the girl who descends from the sky. Because of the distance, the girl, wearing a hood, can''t be clearly seen, but none of this affects the audience''s perception of the extraordinary power in the video. In a sense, this was also the first time that a real Transcendent battle scene appeared in domestic news, completely different from the video effects produced by some internet celebrities to gain popularity. In the video, Liu Dezhu was recognized by a neighbor, and everyone was full of praise, expressing that at the critical moment, the young man risked his safety to take his mother to the hospital... Moreover, rumors about that girl also spreadthey said she had come specifically to rescue Liu Dezhu. At this moment, Yu Junyi, who had always refrained from revealing his identity as a Time Traveler, finally couldn''t hold back. "Actually, I''m also a Time Traveler, just happened to travel to Prison No. 18. Initially, when I saw those mechanical monsters in the prison, I was terrified. Then I met Liu Dezhu, and with him looking after me, other prisoners didn''t dare to touch me." Yu Junyi continued. "You don''t know, but Liu Dezhu is so influential in Prison No. 18, I think he might be one of the most powerful Time Travelers now..." Nan Gengchen sat next to Qing Chen and scoffed; he wrote on a paper note, "Brother Chen, as soon as Liu Dezhu arrived at school this morning, he was surrounded by those rich kids, crying and shouting about wanting to go to City No. 18 to join him. Some even said they are already on their way." Qing Chen wrote on the note: "If Liu Dezhu is in Prison No. 18, what''s the use of them rushing there?" Nan Gengchen replied, "Brother Chen, you don''t know, they''ve started studying Federation laws, planning to get into prison as a group. They say committing petty crimes won''t get them into Prison No. 18; they need to commit tax evasion or participate in gang activities that cause serious injuries to ten or more people." Qing Chen gasped in shockthese rich kids really were all talented! But didn''t these people consider that after committing the crime, there would still be the investigation phase, the criminal proceedings, and by the time the verdict from the City No. 18 court came through, Liu Dezhu might have already maneuvered his way out of prison. By then, what would dozens of these rich kids do in Prison No. 18, crying their eyes out?! When they finally want to get out of prison, it might be much harder than getting in. Nan Gengchen wrote on the note, "These rich kids are quite bizarre. After they noticed the countdown on their arms, their first response was to travel with gold bars, completely different from other Time Travelersthey''re afraid they won''t have money to spend inside." Qing Chen sighedhe was the one who took gold bars back to the Outer World, while these people were taking gold bars in, not the same treatment at all. Nan Gengchen wrote again, "By the way, Brother Chen, you were also at the scene last night, right..." "Yeah." "Next time something like this happens, can you call me? I''ll just find a tall building, set up the equipment, and shoot the whole battle in high definition. I heard that a single video can sell for hundreds of thousands!" Qing Chen was stunned. This seemed like a way to make money! The paparazzi were all about capturing hot news, and he was right next to the hot spots. Could he create hot spots to make money? It didn''t need to be too intense; just selling Liu Dezhu''s preferences could bring in a decent income. Of course, Liu Dezhu''s popularity had waned a bit, so it might not fetch a good price now. But the new hot topic "The Girl Who Fell from the Sky" had just invited him to breakfast that morning. Enjoy new stories from empire Qing Chen slowly turned his gaze toward Yiyi, only to see her looking down at her phone and suddenly saying, "Look at the news, He Xiaoxiao''s group chat system has gone live, and all Time Travelers can verify and join. But due to limited equipment, instead of the originally planned 12 chat groups, only one is now available, so only the most unique Time Travelers from the Inner World are accepted." "Are you going to join?" Qing Chen asked. "Of course, it''s a great opportunity to connect with other Time Travelers, and there''s so much valuable information to exchange," Yiyi said. "But I definitely can''t join now; revealing my identity too early could lead to too many risks." Qing Chen thought for a moment and said, "Actually, even if you wanted to join now, you couldn''t get in." Nan Gengchen interjected, "Someone posted on Weibo saying that there are already thirteen million people in line to verify..." Qing Chen was not surprised. With such a big event happening online, whether or not one is a Time Traveler, everyone would crowd in for the excitement. Watching as the number of people in line continued to climb beyond thirteen million. Qing Chen figured that He Xiaoxiao might have underestimated his compatriots'' enthusiasm for joining in the excitement. Even if the number of people in line today exceeded a hundred million, he wouldn''t be surprised. Sure enough, by evening just as classes were about to end, the number in the system queue had reached 93 million and was still increasing. Initially, some people were reluctant to join in this excitement, but as the news spread wider, many people joined the queue purely to help push the number up to a hundred million. Just when the number in line was about to reach a hundred million, the system suddenly introduced a new page: an automatic screening audit system. He Xiaoxiao announced on TikTok that this system would screen through 36 questions to weed out the Ordinary People who were just there for the excitement. The numbers in line started to plummet dramatically. But even more hilarious was when, less than half an hour later, someone posted the correct answers to the 36 questions on Weibo. Once the answers were out, the number of people in line quickly began to rise again. It was not for any other reason; people just wanted to see how He Xiaoxiao would handle it next... Qing Chen lost interest and stood up, getting ready to skip class. But before he could leave his seat, his arm was grabbed by Yiyi next to him: "You''re not going." At this, Hu Xiaoniu, Nan Gengchen, and Zhang Tianzhen''s ears perked up. Qing Chen, feeling resigned, asked, "Why not?" Yiyi said seriously, "You still have to take me home." The expressions of the three onlookers changed dramatically, none of them had expected this plot twist! Qing Chen said, "Then just come with me now." "No," Yiyi shook her head, "I don''t like skipping classes." ... It''s been so long since I opened the book, I just found out that now you can watch videos to earn points for every chapter I read, so I''m splitting it into two chapters starting today. Here''s another update on the progress, the current average subscription has reached 67,792. Thanks to the Sugar Daddy next door for becoming the new ally of this book, thanks to the boss, who is generous and prosperous! Chapter 210 175, Cultivation in a Critical Moment Yanyan''s academic performance was only above average at best in Haicheng High School. With such grades, she wasn''t particularly outstanding in that top-tier high school in a super-first-tier city where academic prodigies were commonplace. However, Yanyan''s fame in middle school never came from her grades, but from other more dazzling accomplishments, such as being the WEG Speed Rock Climbing champion in the women''s division, the MCG Archery women''s runner-up, and at 16 crossing the Indian Ocean by herself, and at 17 summiting Mount Everest from Nepal''s South Slope. For most students, these honors required not just knowledge, but also courage. While at Haicheng High School, Yanyan always kept to herself; forget about male friends, she hardly had any female friends either. To outsiders, she always appeared unapproachable. Now, this girl suddenly sat in the classroom and said to Qing Chen as if it were the most natural thing in the world, "You have to take me home." What kind of wild statement was that! Nan Gengchen might just be listening in for fun, but for Hu Xiaoniu and Zhang Tianzhen, two classmates who knew Yanyan, it felt different. "What did Yanyan just say?" Zhang Tianzhen asked, puzzled. Hu Xiaoniu: "She said, let Qing Chen take her home." "What did Yanyan just say?" Hu Xiaoniu: "..." "It must be a misunderstanding," Zhang Tianzhen declared confidently. After saying that, the two fell into silence again. They remembered Yanyan had once told them: Don''t mess with Qing Chen. Now, seeing Yanyan''s actions, Hu Xiaoniu and Zhang Tianzhen suddenly became contemplative. They both realized that Yanyan''s understanding of Qing Chen went far beyond their imagination. And so did her relationship with Qing Chen. At this moment, Yanyan said to Qing Chen, "Skipping class is not good." Qing Chen seriously sized up Yanyan and then said, "Looking at your face, you don''t seem like someone who attends classes obediently either." "Speak nicely, don''t attack the person," Yanyan retorted, raising her eyebrows. "If you don''t want to skip class, just sit here obediently," Qing Chen muttered: "Anyway, I won''t be wasting time here." Having said that, Qing Chen shook off the hand that was grabbing his arm and walked outside without hesitation. His retreating figure seemed to silently say: Women only slow down the speed of my sword. Hu Xiaoniu, Zhang Tianzhen, and Nan Gengchen, the trio enjoying the spectacle, gave a mental thumbs up. Yet, something unexpected happened. Yanyan, watching Qing Chen''s leaving back, also packed up her things and followed suit. The trio watched in silence as the boy and girl walked out of the classroom under the setting sun and then passed through the corridor lined with glowing golden windows, eventually disappearing from sight. Hu Xiaoniu recalled the scene of their first encounter with Qing Chen, who was just as proud and distant. He also remembered Qing Chen''s calmness and composure when Qing Chen''s father was planning to sell the house. This classmate seemed to have always been different from others. Hu Xiaoniu hesitated and then looked at Nan Gengchen: "Has any female student ever pursued Qing Chen?" "There were some in our first year, but he never paid them any attention," Nan Gengchen sighed: "Later on, all the girls quietly gave up." Hu Xiaoniu sighed: "Yanyan is the same as him." But these two unapproachable people had somehow inexplicably come together; was it a case of two negatives making a positive? Even now, Zhang Tianzhen was still not recovered: "Was what I just saw an illusion?" "Maybe," Hu Xiaoniu replied. On the way, Yanyan walked abreast with Qing Chen, curious: "Classmate, have you always been so individualistic?" "If you consider having your own opinions as individuality, then I''ve always been this way," Qing Chen thought for a moment and answered: "If I know what I want, it''s hard for others to influence me." "Don''t you have to consider others'' thoughts?" Yanyan was curious. Qing Chen suddenly fell silent for a long time: "As children, we always obey the adults, say hello to uncles and aunts, and during the New Year, no matter how embarrassed, we still perform for everyone. As we grow up, we care about the opinions of those around us, some think you''re rude, some think you''re selfish, you let them kidnap you into changing yourself, but in the end, you realize you''re not actually happy." He looked at the girl: "A person is not born to live for others, feeling guilt and caring about others are actually negative energies, whereas being willful and self-centered is an undervalued virtue." Yanyan looked at Qing Chen curiously: "It''s rare for someone to have such an awareness." At that moment, Qing Chen suddenly asked: "You also came to Los Angeles Foreign Language School with a purpose, didn''t you?" "Why do you ask that," Yanyan tilted her head and said. Qing Chen shook his head: "I have my speculation, and I''ll soon find out, others'' target is Liu Dezhu, but I guess your target is the 18th prison where Liu Dezhu is, right?" "It seems you do have to be careful when dealing with someone clever," Yanyan smiled, and neither of them revealed their secrets. When they reached home, Qing Chen said: "See you tomorrow." Yanyan pouted: "Maybe we''ll see each other again in a while." Qing Chen returned home alone to cook dinner. He initially intended to steam just enough rice for one person, but after some thought, he decided to steam enough for two. Once the cooking was done, Qing Chen turned off the extractor hood and started counting down in his mind, 10, 9, 8... 3, 2, 1. Knock, knock, knock, the sound of knocking came from outside the door. He opened the door without any inner turmoil, only to see the girl next door had already changed into home clothes that looked especially casual. Yanyan was holding a letter at the door, "Uh... there''s a letter for you." Qing Chen nodded and took it, "When was this letter sent?" "This morning," Yanyan said expressionlessly. Qing Chen was resigned, the other party had seen the letter this morning but hadn''t given it to him, clearly saving it to scrounge a meal in the evening. As Yanyan peeked her head around to survey the room, she noticed two bowls of rice already served on the table and two pairs of chopsticks set out. Her expression immediately relaxed, "I''m not just freeloading your meal, you know, I can help you with something!" "What help?" Qing Chen was curious. "You''ll know soon," Yanyan said mysteriously. This statement left Qing Chen extremely surprised; he couldn''t at all guess what the other was going to do. ... ... 9 o''clock at night. Qing Chen unfolded the letter Yanyan brought, which this time simply informed him how to reply. Possibly because the other party hadn''t received a reply from Qing Chen for a long time, they finally remembered to tell him how to respond. Or possibly because their probing was unsuccessful, they decided to continue their recruitment efforts. Both were possible, but the best choice for Qing Chen was not to reply, the less said, the better. He took off his shirt to begin cultivation; however, at that moment, an inexplicable force came from invisibility, squeezing his bones and muscles. It was as if something at the center of the earth was pulling at him, forcing him to submit to the ground. It was gravity. Qing Chen had an insight. The unseen gravity kept testing, increasing until the moment Qing Chen felt he couldn''t bear it any longer, then the one applying the force stopped it at just the right level. "Hu!" Continue your adventure with empire Fire runes burst forth on Qing Chen''s cheeks, and the constraints on his body seemed to lessen with each breath he took. There was a slight exclamation from the next door, and soon, the gravity escalated once again to his "tipping point." "So, this is what ''a bit of help'' means." The other person knew he was cultivating and also knew he was suffering from the lack of weight to train with, so they created a unique gravitational field for him. Forcing him to cultivate at his endurance limit. Qing Chen''s expression didn''t change, and he calmly began his practice. What he cultivated today was no different from before, but the benefits he gained were incredibly fierce. Between breaths, he could even feel the endorphins from the Breathing Technique rapidly accumulating, the amazing enkephalins quickly regulating his heart rate, blood oxygen supply, and muscle condition. Pushing him infinitely close to his most perfect physical state. In the past, he had also undergone weight training under Ye Wan''s guidance, but the weight of dumbbells is fixed, and the human body''s physical fitness increases gradually. It''s impossible to cultivate one day and gain a strength increase of 15KG the next. So, the past weight training was either too light or too heavy. Right now, Qing Chen''s experience was entirely different from the past; the gravity given to him by the other was almost perfectly matched to his physical abilities. Moreover, unlike external weight training, he was now truly in a "Gravity Chamber." Knock, knock, knock, the knocking on the door came again. Qing Chen felt the gravity release from his body, and he felt incredibly light. This inexplicable sense of lightness, woven together with the calming sensation of the endorphins, made him sweat profusely in an instant, yet feeling extremely revitalized. He looked at his own palms and arms; this method of cultivation coupled with the Breathing Technique seemed to have a miraculous effect. Qing Chen halted the Breathing Technique and put his shirt back on before going to open the door, Yanyan glanced at him appreciatively, "I thought you would be shirtless. Not bad, quite polite." The girl was also wearing a fluffy blue Little Dinosaur pajama set, covering herself up tightly. Qing Chen asked, "Did you discover I was cultivating every day by sensing the force field previously?" "Of course," Yanyan said. Qing Chen frowned; if the force field perception was so sensitive, didn''t that mean that all his privacy had been snooped on by this neighbor? "Don''t worry," Yanyan, sitting on the sofa explained, "force field perception isn''t that clear in forming images. The reason I could tell you were cultivating is that the force field fluctuations are quite distinct when people move efficiently." "Anyway, I should say thank you," Qing Chen pondered before saying, "If you can help me out like this every day, I can cook for you daily." For him, this was definitely a real benefit. If it were Ordinary People, it might take a month or two to feel the benefits of gravity training, but he had the Breathing Technique, and the change was too obvious. Yanyan thought for a moment, "Cooking for me is acceptable, but your cooking isn''t nearly as delicious as the guy upstairs; I overestimated you. But I''m a bit curious, why do you bother cultivating in the ordinary way that''s not very rewarding after becoming a Transcendent, when you could naturally increase your strength?" Qing Chen didn''t answer this question because it was a secret. Chapter 211 176, Special effects! ``` Qing Chen had seriously reviewed all his memories related to knight training, then grasped a key point: one must experience all the life and death trials as an ordinary person. Therefore, Lin Xiaoxiao, Ye Wan, and Li Dongze, immature and not resolute in their childhood, couldn''t pass the initial scrutiny of the Breathing Technique. By the time they grew up and became Awakeners, they lost the essential condition to experience the life and death trials as ordinary people. This was once said by Lin Xiaoxiao. Qing Chen guessed there must be a way for a knight to lock the Genetic lock again, otherwise, how could they complete the subsequent challenges? It would be too easy to experience the life and death trials with the identity of a knight, which would not fulfill the true meaning of experiencing life and death. If he were to lock the Genetic lock again, he could only rely on his own body, and his training had to be persistent. Moreover, Qing Chen could clearly feel that even during the training process, his physical strength was still growing. As long as he hadn''t reached his limit, he would continue to train. Seeing his silence, Wang Yun said, "Forget it, I won''t ask anymore, it seems this is your secret. But I admire you for this, not everyone can maintain clarity and effort after suddenly gaining power, although I don''t quite understand why you try so hard." After thinking for a while, Qing Chen said, "Actually, even without the transmigration event, the lives of you, Hu Xiaoniu, and Zhang Tianzhen would already be splendid enough. To cross the Indian Ocean, one must first afford a sailboat or yacht. I''ve seen the price of those things; it''s enough to buy a dozen houses in Los Angeles City. You guys are certainly hardworking too, but you''re already happier than most people." "I''m different, for a long period of time in the past, I lived with insufficient food and clothing. Perhaps things would have improved after my graduation, but that was just too far away. Now, this world has finally given me a chance to restart my life, naturally, I have to grit my teeth and shed blood to forge a path. Wang Yun, it''s not that I want to train until 3am before sleeping, but that''s all the choices I have." There were some things Qing Chen left unsaid: In the Inner World, there was a master who was especially kind to him that might face danger. Therefore, he had to race against time and become strong enough before that danger arrived. ... ... At this moment, within Shenglong Community, two kilometers away from Xingshu Road. Nan Gengchen, hiding in his bedroom and scrolling through his phone, suddenly froze when he saw a text message he just received: "Hello Nan Gengchen, to better share gaming experiences, please click the link to join the group chat.He Xiaoxiao." An invitation! It was an actual invitation! Nan Gengchen wanted to send Qing Chen a WeChat message but quickly restrained himself. He glanced at the time and hurriedly changed his clothes before heading out. In the living room, his father was drinking Er Guotou by himself, his eyes nearly glazed over: "Where are you going so late? All you know is to run nowhere meaningful; just like your mother, your heart isn''t in this house!" As he spoke, his father stood up and pulled out his belt. But this time, Nan Gengchen didn''t just stand there to be beaten; he sped up and darted out, leaving his alcoholic and gambling father standing there, dumbfounded. The young man ran through the night, the first time he actively fled from his father, which felt surprisingly good. As fleet as the wind, he ran all the way to Qing Chen''s door and knocked heavily: "Open up, open up!" The door opposite opened, and Qing Chen looked at him calmly, "Come in and talk." Nan Gengchen was confused why Brother Chen had moved, and he followed Qing Chen inside, excitedly saying, "That group chat with He Xiaoxiao...burp!" Mid-sentence, Nan Gengchen suddenly saw Wang Yun on the sofa! She was dressed in home pajamas, wearing adorable panda cotton slippers, looking at him with an expressionless face... The amount of information was simply too much for him to take in at once. Immediately, Nan Gengchen felt a newfound respect for Qing Chen! Honestly, he had never imagined that Brother Chen and Wang Yun would progress so quickly! Qing Chen looked at Nan Gengchen and asked calmly, "What''s with He Xiaoxiao''s group chat? Is there any good news?" "Aw aw!" Nan Gengchen snapped back to his senses: "The good news is, I''ve joined He Xiaoxiao''s group chat!" For a moment, the room fell into silence, the atmosphere slowly turning heavy. After pondering for a moment, Qing Chen asked, "You call this good news?" Nan Gengchen said enthusiastically, "Yeah, billions of people are in line and can''t get into the group, but I received a personalized text invitation, the message said welcome Nan Gengchen to the group, with a link to click on, and I got in as soon as I clicked!" Qing Chen was startled, He Xiaoxiao had specifically named Nan Gengchen for the invitation? That meant He Xiaoxiao had access to more information than he had imagined. Previously, the information she had could be explained by her identity as a "game expert" since they indeed have the ability to explore the world better than most people. But now it was different. She must be backed by a powerful organization to achieve this. So, who was behind her, Kunlun, or Kyushu? Qing Chen sighed; it seems that, given the situation, Nan Gengchen''s direct entry to the group chat didn''t really expose anything additional. The organization He Xiaoxiao belonged to must possess technology from the Inner World. Nowadays, the entire information network seems wide open for them. While everyone still hadn''t had the chance to build a Data fortress, the organization could have easily invaded Nan Gengchen''s phone to get information if they wanted to. There was no need to wait until now. Or in a sense, He Xiaoxiao sending a direct, precise text message was a way of expressing a message: don''t hesitate anymore, you''re already exposed. Qing Chen suddenly felt that such an organization was much more frightening than Kunlun. ``` Thankfully, when he talked with Nan Gengchen, either they were in a noisy environment with both of their phones tucked away, or in a quiet one where Qing Chen would take out the other person''s SIM card and turn off their phone. It must be said that in a dangerous environment, being cautious is definitely a good habit. Nan Gengchen looked at Qing Chen''s solemn expression and hesitated before asking, "Isn''t this considered good news..." "It is," Yue Yue nodded indifferently, "The last time you beat over a hundred million people was eighteen years ago, so this is indeed something to be happy about." Qing Chen: "???" He felt like someone had just driven a car over his face. Qing Chen silently took out Nan Gengchen''s phone, found some black tape and carefully covered all the cameras before applying several layers over the microphone. Not only did Qing Chen tape Nan Gengchen''s phone, but he also handed the tape to Yue Yue, gesturing for her to cover the cameras and microphone as well. Yue Yue looked at Qing Chen''s phone and was surprised to find its cameras were already covered. She asked, "Have you always been this cautious?" "It''s become a habit," Qing Chen replied. Nan Gengchen asked, "Our phones haven''t had any secrets for a long time, isn''t this a bit superfluous?" Qing Chen met his gaze and explained, "I hardly use my phone now, except for reading news, so there''s not much secret in it. What I''m doing is just to avoid exposing my daily privacy to others." Yue Yue said, "All done." Only then did Qing Chen continue to tell Nan Gengchen, "Open that text message and let me have a look at the original words inside." Nan Gengchen opened a text message and explained in a low voice, "Just by clicking the link, it will automatically download a group chat app. I checked it out, and you can even top up to buy decorative frames for avatars... oh, and there are special effects when you enter the group chat, not expensive, there''s a limited-time special offer for the first three days." God, three days of limited-time special offers... Qing Chen looked at Nan Gengchen expressionlessly, "Did you buy it?" "I did, and it looks pretty good," Nan Gengchen answered honestly. As he spoke, he opened a green app, and the moment he did, the phone directly entered the group chat interface, which didn''t differ much from WeChat''s interface, except it had an additional shopping icon. Immediately afterward, a string of little bubbles started bouncing around on the interface. Qing Chen instantly understood that this must be the group entry effect Nan Gengchen had purchased... Unbelievable! "Is this something only you can see, or can everyone see it?" Qing Chen asked. "Only I can see it; I like the nice look," Nan Gengchen responded. Qing Chen sighed; this guy was still the same fool who was willing to buy nano socks. But he couldn''t wrap his head around why He Xiaoxiao would create this group chat. Shouldn''t it be more serious rather than making such petty profit? It was too strange! Qing Chen opened the list of all members; there were only 27 people in the group. Compared to those hundreds of millions waiting in line, these 27 seemed incredibly lonely. Qing Chen pondered, "I wonder if He Xiaoxiao has everyone divided into many groups, or if there are really only these 27 people in the group chat system?" Yue Yue, beside him, suggested, "I''m more inclined to the former. If I were He Xiaoxiao, I would also scatter all the Time Travelers across numerous groups, promoting familiarity amongst Time Travelers from all over the country. Because everyone''s location in the Inner World corresponds to their location in the Outer World, only people from different regions have valuable information to exchange." Just then, an ID named "Zhang San" in the group chat sent a message, "Has anyone suddenly received a letter, like waking up to find it right next to your pillow? It''s so scary." An ID named Wang replied, "No." Then another ID named Li Si responded, "I''ve received one before; it just appeared under my pillow, and I have no idea how the other person did it." Qing Chen was taken aback; he hadn''t expected that Nan Gengchen would be in the same group as Wang. And it was only then that he realized most people actually didn''t know about the existence of the "Devil''s Stamp", the Taboo. When Wang Yun first exposed the mysterious letter, Uncle Li Dong and Lin Xiaoxiao had introduced Qing Chen to this Taboo item, ACE-017 Devil''s Stamp. So Qing Chen naturally assumed everyone knew about it. But he overlooked one point, Uncle Li Dong could be said to be the top Transcendent in the Inner World, and Knight was one of the oldest organizations. Most of the information that others didn''t know, they did. It was at this time Qing Chen also remembered the character, animal, and plant data that Lin Xiaoxiao had specifically organized for him. And there were two more documents on Taboos and Taboo Lands yet to be organized. He would only see them once he returned to prison number 18. It turned out to be a precious wealth specially prepared by Uncle Li Dong for him! In this era, information itself means wealth! Wang spoke up in the group, "''Little Duck'' joined the group but hasn''t said a word, seems a bit shy, come on out and chat." Continue your journey on empire Qing Chen slowly looked at Nan Gengchen, "Little Duck wouldn''t happen to be you, would it?" Nan Gengchen''s face turned red, "I just typed in a nickname on the fly, I also didn''t know that the group chat ID can''t be changed..." ... Thank you to the students Chili Stir Fry Looks Yummy, Three Lives Hunter, and Flying Chin for becoming new allies of this book. Thank you, bosses. Bosses are generous; bosses prosper! Chapter 212 177. Coward "You''ll probably have to face all the Time Travelers with the ID ''A Little Duckling'' from now on," Qing Chen said in a tone that was both sympathetic and pained. Nan Gengchen said expressionlessly, "Brother Chen, if you want to laugh, just laugh." "Hahahahaha!" Your next read is at empire The laughter lasted a full ten minutes. Someone else in the group sent a message: "Little Duckling, how come you''re not talking? If you join the group and don''t talk, why did you join in the first place?" Zhang San thought for a moment and replied, "It''s 11:30 at night. Considering his ID, maybe he''s at work right now..." Qing Chen exclaimed, "Zhang San''s analysis makes a lot of sense!" Nan Gengchen slumped onto the couch, and after a long hesitation, he looked up and asked, "Brother Chen, I just want to know, if I commit suicide now, would you have to bear any legal responsibility?!" "There''s no need to go to such extremes," Qing Chen said as he rubbed his aching cheeks from laughter. "After thinking it through, your joining the group might not necessarily be a bad thing. Although they know you''re a Time Traveler, they might not know your... real identity in the Inner World." As he spoke, Qing Chen glanced at Yue Er. With this girl present, it was inconvenient for him and Nan Gengchen to talk. After all, they couldn''t be sure whether the girl was a friend or foe, and Qing Chen couldn''t risk exposing Nan Gengchen''s identity to her. Yue Er said with ease, "I know I''m an outsider; it''s only natural for you to keep things from me." "Thanks for understanding," Qing Chen nodded and continued speaking to Nan Gengchen, "If we play your card right, it might turn out to be quite effective. Wait a moment, I''ll go to the bathroom and report this situation to the boss." Qing Chen ducked into the bathroom and took out his communicator. Liu Dezhu had already sent a message: "Boss boss, regarding He Xiaoxiao''s group chat, I have important information to report!!!" Qing Chen was actually surprised; Liu Dezhu had become exceptionally proactive in his work, and he didn''t need to be prompted at all to report everything. He sent a message to Liu Dezhu: "You''ve received He Xiaoxiao''s invitation, haven''t you?" Liu Dezhu on the other end of the communicator was shocked: "Boss, how did you know I was going to talk about this? It''s like you have divine foresight, I did indeed just receive the invitation, and I was about to ask if I should join!!!" Qing Chen thought to himself whether the guy was still angry, using so many exclamation points. He pondered. Actually, on their side, ''one and a half'' face-up cards had appeared. A complete face-up card was Liu Dezhu, while the half was Nan Gengchen. The difference between the two was that only a few people knew of Nan Gengchen''s identity as a Time Traveler, but they didn''t know his identity in the Inner World. On the other hand, Liu Dezhu''s situation was a bit clearer; most people now believed that he had become a core member close to Uncle Li Dong, with Uncle Li Dong even instructing Li Dongze from the Heng Society to kill someone for him. These two cards, if used together, could produce an extraordinary effect. And indeed, they had opponents they needed to deal with! Qing Chen messaged Liu Dezhu: "Join that group chat, then tell me which group you''re in and who''s there with what IDs." On the other side, with the boss''s instructions, Liu Dezhu no longer worried about exposing himself and decisively clicked the link. After downloading the app and when it came to entering a nickname ID, Liu Dezhu wanted to choose a name that wouldn''t reveal his identity too easily. But to his astonishment, he found that the dialogue box for entering a nickname ID suddenly disappeared, and his personal information now showed: Liu Dezhu (verified with real name). Liu Dezhu almost threw up on the spot. What the hell kind of APP did real name verification? The next moment, the group started to buzz: "Liu Dezhu is here?" "Holy shit, it''s Liu Dezhu! And there''s even real name verification!" "Officially verified Liu Dezhu!" In the current circle of Time Travelers, there wasn''t a soul who didn''t know the name Liu Dezhu, and his entrance into the group even caused a small commotion. Qing Chen was still waiting for a reply when he heard Nan Gengchen shouting from outside the bathroom, "Brother Chen, Liu Dezhu has joined the group!" Qing Chen frowned. Liu Dezhu had also joined this group. Was it a deliberate arrangement, a coincidence, or was it that so far He Xiaoxiao had only invited so many people? He sent a message to Liu Dezhu: "Coordinate with an ID named ''A Little Duckling''." After sending it, Qing Chen came out of the bathroom and earnestly watched the rolling messages in the chat group, patiently waiting for an opportunity. Nan Gengchen thought to himself that Liu Dezhu''s sudden entry into the group must have been under Brother Chen''s direction. He glanced at Yue Er, wondering if this girl knew Brother Chen''s real identity? But considering the two seemed to be cohabiting, she probably did. After Liu Dezhu joined the group, he remained silent, and the enthusiasm of the group members gradually subsided. At that moment, an ID called "Yue Er" asked, "Why are there so few people in this group? Including He Xiaoxiao, there are only 28." Chuang Wang responded, "These days, without having established a data fortress, who dares to join this crappy group chat? Who knows what He Xiaoxiao''s plotting... There couldn''t really be anyone who joined without having established a data fortress, could there?" Yue Er and Qing Chen silently turned to look at Nan Gengchen, who with his head lowered and cheeks flushed, was too embarrassed to speak. Zhang San said, "Nowadays, everyone is looking out for themselves. I''ve heard that some Time Travelers even immigrated abroad after getting their public test eligibility, making it difficult for domestic Time Travelers to find them. And since they don''t have any interaction with the Time Travelers overseas, those ones can''t discover them either." Chapter 213 177. Coward Someone asked the King of the Crusade, "King of the Crusade, how come you know so much about the Shadow Strife, you even knew of Qing Huai''s death. Were you there at the time?" The King of the Crusade replied, "I know too many things to surprise you, don''t worry, I''ll keep spilling the beans, and it''s free of charge." Qing Chen was puzzled; this King of the Crusade''s character did match the "ID"a rash and extremely vain image, almost as if leaping out of the screen. He didn''t understand, was this guy just seeking attention and satisfying his vanity without fear of being caught in a blunder? Where did his confidence come from? However, he didn''t pay it any mind, instead hoping others would ask more about the topic of Shadow Strife. Li Si asked, "King of the Crusade, I heard in the Inner World that past Shadow Strifes weren''t so intensethere weren''t casualties in the first round. Why is this session so special?" The King of the Crusade replied, "Hehe, I do know a bit about this. It''s said that Qing Xun of Qing''s Family is unwell, which has led him to consider abdicating and seeking a worthy successor among previous Shadows to take over the consortium''s power. Now, only three Shadows are still aliveone is old and frail, one has wandered off to different places, and another was left ill from the last Shadow Strife, likely not long for this world. Therefore, the position of Family Head of Qing''s Family might emerge from this session, which has everyone''s eyes green with envy." One generation of Family Head, several generations of Shadows assisting, and ultimately, the Family Head''s position to be chosen from among these Shadows. The position of Shadow is already tempting, let alone the position of Family Head? Li Si then asked, "Now that Qing Huai is dead, who is the hottest candidate? Does ''Time Traveler'' stand a chance to hitch a ride and mix in some inherited merits?" The King of the Crusade answered, "Historically, those who have assisted the Family Head and stood out from both the Shadow Strife and Family Head''s competition eventually climb to high positions within the consortium, which is definitely a shortcut. However, the Shadow Strife is more dangerous than you might imagine. As for popular candidates, if we really have to choose, I''d recommend Qing Wen from the main branch or Qing Zhong from the secondary branch." This King of the Crusade truly appeared as if he was master of all he surveyedalmost to the point of giving Li Si a guide. By the way, Yang Yang said, "This Li Si cares so much about the Shadow Strife; could he be someone from inside Qing''s Family?" "It might also be a confusing question intentionally thrown out to mislead us about his identity," Qing Chen said, "It''s still hard to confirm." The next moment, Zhang San revisited an old issue, "King of the Crusade, do you know of any ability that can send letters silently? This type of delivery right by the pillow makes one''s sleep restless." Qing Chen looked at Nan Gengchen, "I''m saying, you type. Taboo item ACE-017, Devil''s Stamp, can use fresh blood to create a stamp to send a letter to any known address though only one sentence can be in the content. If both Zhang San and Li Si have already received letters, then your home addresses have been exposed to this holder of the Taboo." In the group, everyone saw that ''A Little Duckling,'' who had always been silent, suddenly spoke up, revealing such crucial information as soon as they did. The information about the Taboo item was trivial for Qing Chen, but for other Time Travelers, it was extremely valuable! Everyone initially thought that this "A Little Duckling" had been silent for a long time, probably a newbie Time Traveler, but now everyone realized that this was also a major player! For a moment, no one sent any messages, all waiting for the little duckling to continue talking! Qing Chen said, "The holder of this Taboo item is very evil, not only manipulating the Laojun Mountain kidnapping case, but many who received the letters have been murdered by this holder. This holder not only commits heinous acts but is also unpredictably violent, killing even their own people. If you receive a letter, the first thing to do is to move house, to somewhere no one can find, and then try to recall clues to find this holder and report them to either Kyushu or Kunlun." The group became even quieter then. After a long time, Li Si suddenly asked, "Are these things you''re saying true, or are you making them up?" From previous chats, it seemed that both Li Si and Zhang San had received letters, which might explain why ''A Little Duckling''s'' words were somewhat alarming to them. Nan Gengchen asked, "Qing Chen, should we respond to their skepticism?" Qing Chen shook his head, "No, let''s wait a bit longer." "Wait for what?" Nan Gengchen asked, puzzled. "Wait for others to corroborate our claims," Qing Chen smiled. Just then, the usually silent Liu Dezhu suddenly spoke up, "It''s true!!! This holder is backed by a huge secret organization, and as a victim of the Laojun Mountain kidnapping case, I too have suffered at their hands!!! I utterly detest this wicked organizationIf anyone has any information on them, please tell me immediately!!!" In the group, others thought this must be true information now; Liu Dezhu is verified, and he holds a significant status in the Inner World, naturally bringing some credibility. Moreover, they could feel exasperation that was hard to articulate as they observed the string of exclamation marks from Liu Dezhu''s messages transmitting through the screen. Everyone suddenly felt that this guy might have made an enemy of the owner of the Devil''s Stamp, as it seemed like a fight to the death was underway from both sides. In fact, Liu Dezhu''s words were indeed earnest because he truly suffered from the onslaught of letters. Whereas others were just scared, he had to physically bleed to reply. Last night, he had roughly calculated the number of replies, if the other party wanted to keep talking to the boss, then from now on, he would have to bleed out 300cc each month before anything else! "Wait, does the boss want to confuse the enemy and use the power of this group chat to find the owner of the Devil''s Stamp and cut off this hidden manipulator?!" Liu Dezhu pondered internally. At this moment, Qing Chen was silently watching everyone''s reactions in the group; he had already achieved the effect he wanted. The owner of the Devil''s Stamp had always been lurking in the darkness, constantly reminding Qing Chen that finding him would lead to utter doom. Qing Chen was never one to sit and await his doom, so since he couldn''t find any clues yet, he decided to have everyone help search together. Stay connected with empire He told them the other party was the mastermind behind the Laojun Mountain incident to place them in opposition to the Time Traveler, after all, those villains planned to kidnap the Time Traveler for their own use. He said the other party ruthlessly killed their own when angered, to make the Time Traveler cautious about being recruited by them. He suggested reporting the information of the adversary to Kunlun and Kyushu to hint that this holder stood against Kunlun, thereby identifying their adversarial stance. In the end, Liu Dezhu intervened with some authoritative role to back up the claims of "a little duck". This made the owner of the Devil''s Stamp a target for everyone! Yan Yan chuckled on the side, "Interesting, when you''re not sure you can defeat the enemy, first find a few more enemies for that enemy." Qing Chen responded, "I''ll go respond to the boss with a message that the mission is complete." Saying so, he walked into the bathroom to send a message to Liu Dezhu: "Well done." Liu Dezhu, thrilled on the other end of the communicator, had actually received praise from the boss! Moreover, a strange thing happened, the slowly dissipating fire in his heart flared up again at that moment! Liu Dezhu''s eyes brightened; he hadn''t expected the boss''s praise to have such an effect: "Boss, can you praise me a couple more times?" Seeing this message, Qing Chen thought to himself this guy must have some issues. The next moment, a letter suddenly appeared beside Liu Dezhu''s pillow. The envelope slowly materialized from nothing, looking peculiarly eerie. Liu Dezhu tore open the letter and messaged Qing Chen: "Boss, the holder sent a letter: he actually wants to turn everyone against me, quite amusing, hehe." When Qing Chen read the letter''s content, he wasn''t surprised; he knew that something as significant as He Xiaoxiao''s group creation wouldn''t be missed by the opposition. So he had figured that there were definitely the opponent''s spies in the group, and that perhaps the holder themselves might be among them. Qing Chen said, "Reply to him: ''Why not come out and argue for yourself? Hehe.''" The holder responded, "Why, so you can know my ID? Hehe." Liu Dezhu asked, "Boss, how should I reply?" Qing Chen: "Coward, hehe." In the night, in front of a massive floor-to-ceiling window, a slender figure gazed at the reply filled with "hehe" and suddenly felt a bit disgusted... Chapter 214 178. Dual Cultivation The night was deep and silent, and the group chat gradually quieted down. Seeing nothing new, she said, "I''m going home to sleep, see you tomorrow, you two." As she spoke, she wore her fluffy pajamas, looking like a little dinosaur as she opened the door and left. In the living room, Nan Gengchen, curled up on the leather sofa, watched her leave, somewhat surprised, he asked, "Sister, where are you going?" Qing Chen looked at him emotionlessly, "Back to her own place, where else? Could she still stay at my place? My dad sold the house because of gambling; she is the new landlord over there. This apartment I''m living in now, I''m renting from Hu Xiaoniu." This made Nan Gengchen even more confused, "What exactly is your relationship?" Stopping at the door, she thought for a while and replied, "Dual cultivation?" Nan Gengchen: "???" Qing Chen: "???" She explained, "I use my abilities to help Qing Chen in his cultivation. In the process of helping him, my own control over my abilities also improves, allowing me to refine them further." Qing Chen retorted uneasily, "Dual cultivation doesn''t apply here!" It''s like when you say, "I really want to open your little head to see what''s inside," it means one thing. But if you change it to, "I really want to open your skull to see what''s inside," it becomes something else! Waving her hand dismissively, she said, "It''s not important; I''m going home." With that, she closed the door. At that moment, Nan Gengchen said, "Brother Chen, can I stay at your place tonight?" "I was wondering why you can usually never leave at night, yet today you''re not returning home?" Qing Chen wondered aloud. Experience tales with My Virtual Library Empire "My dad lost some money and is in a bad mood. He''s drinking alone at home now; if I go back, I''ll definitely get beaten," Nan Gengchen said. Qing Chen sighed; he had seen the belt marks on Nan Gengchen''s body before, the dark purple bruises looked incredibly fierce. Though his parents hadn''t divorced, their situation wasn''t much better than his own. He asked Nan Gengchen, "What about your mom?" "My dad sent my mom back to her parents'' house," Nan Gengchen spoke softly, "I think they are about to divorce. Brother Chen, I''ve been thinking of ways to save money. Every time I come back, Li Yinuo prepares two gold bars for me. Once I have enough money, I''ll buy a house and live alone." As he spoke, Nan Gengchen actually pulled out three gold bars from his pocket, "These haven''t been sold yet; I''ll leave them with you for now, Brother Chen. I''m afraid my dad might find them if I keep them at home." "Hmm," Qing Chen helped him stash them between the mattress, "Li Yinuo is really good to you; your earning speed isn''t much slower than mine." "Brother Chen, why don''t I come and stay with you," Nan Gengchen said excitedly, "Now that you have stabilized your footing and have such a powerful master, I can make a name for myself following you." "What, you don''t want to be with Li Yinuo?" Qing Chen was a bit surprised, "Do you have trouble with her?" After thinking, Nan Gengchen replied, "We get along quite well now, and I really like her character. I feel safe with her. But it was quite scary at the beginning, I always thought she wanted to drain my vitality..." Qing Chen: "...That''s tough. So why do you still want to come and stay with me?" Nan Gengchen shook his head, "I always feel somewhat emasculated being protected by her, like I''m not worthy of her." Qing Chen glanced at him, knowing that he often felt inferior because of his family situation, which made having such a great girlfriend like Li Yinuo feel a bit insecure. Nan Gengchen continued, "Everyone says a man should establish himself before settling down, but I don''t want her to look down on me." Qing Chen patiently said, "You''re only hearing half of it. It should be: with the right person, settle down first; with a powerful person, establish yourself first; with a rich woman, both settle down and establish yourself..." Nan Gengchen: "..." "Let''s not discuss the future," Qing Chen thought for a moment, "What are you planning to do now, just stay at my place till you figure it out?" "I dare not go back," Nan Gengchen said pitifully, "If I return, I will get beaten. Or Brother Chen, could you report my dad? You know how to handle this." Qing Chen thought for a long time, "What does your dad usually gamble on?" "Mahjong." "Do you know where he gambles?" "I don''t know," Nan Gengchen sighed, "If only I knew where he played, I would''ve reported him myself." "No worries," Qing Chen said calmly, "You can stay at my place for now; I''ll help you sort this out." ... ... After returning home, she didn''t go straight to bed; she reminisced about her recent interactions with Qing Chen and suddenly felt that the boy was far from as simple as she had thought. He didn''t seem like a normal high school student at all. The composure, calm, and cleverness he showed during events were not something a high school student from a small city would have. So, she suddenly grew curious about what kind of past Qing Chen had? At school the next day, she took the chance during the break to call over Hu Xiaoniu and Zhang Tianzhen. She asked, "The apartment Qing Chen is living in, did you rent it to him?" "Yes," Hu Xiaoniu nodded, "We rented it to him for 1400 yuan a month, though the market price is 1200; we increased it by 200." "The apartment''s renovation is very nice. Adding 200 as a courtesy is reasonable," she nodded. "Right, you''re living in his house now," Hu Xiaoniu said, "When his dad was selling the house, Qing Chen didn''t even have time to pack his things before he was kicked out." Chapter 215 178. Dual Cultivation_2 Yanyan was stunned for a moment. Could it be that the room she was living in had once been Qing Chen''s too? When she moved in, she''d only replaced a bed, a TV, and a computer; the rest was left as it was. Could it be possible, then, to find some clues about Qing Chen in the house? Yanyan said, "I am very curious about why his father would sell their house, and what his family relationship was like. And what kind of person is Qing Chen really?" "I''ve also asked classmates about Qing Chen," Zhang Tianzhen said, "and surprisingly, this classmate is extremely famous throughout the whole school, reportedly never falling out of the top three in exams." "Being in the top three isn''t enough for the whole school to know him," Yanyan thought and said, "Do you know the names of the top three in our grade at Marine Middle School? Most people wouldn''t remember them." "Yeah," Hu Xiaoniu explained, "Classmates told me that the key isn''t that he''s a good student, but that he''s been working part-time since the first year of high school. In his first year, some classmates saw him working as a waiter overnight at a KTV, others saw him working at a roadside barbecue stand, and then at KFC, McDonald''s, convenience stores ... Qing Chen has always been doing odd jobs to earn tuition and living expenses for himself." "When classmates bumped into him, he wouldn''t be embarrassed," Zhang Tianzhen said, "I feel many students would feel somewhat inferior if they were in such straits, but classmates say Qing Chen wasn''t. He would greet everyone openly, not overly enthusiastic, nor timid. Some classmates asked if Qing Chen felt embarrassed, but his response was that there''s nothing shameful about feeding himself with his own hands." At that moment, Yanyan suddenly remembered something Qing Chen had once told her. It wasn''t that he wanted to try so hard, but that the world had finally given him a rare chance to restart his life, and he had to bite the bullet and bleed to carve out a path for himself. Qing Chen had no choice. Yanyan had never experienced such circumstances; her life, like that of Hu Xiaoniu and Zhang Tianzhen, had always been bright, so it was hard for her to imagine what a dark life would be like to endure. And Qing Chen, he was different from any classmate she had ever met. Zhang Tianzhen added, "Right, the teachers also knew about his family''s situation, so they didn''t bother him when he skipped classes. It is said that in his first year, he promised his teachers that as long as his grades stayed in the top three, he wouldn''t have to attend classes properly unless he fell out of that range." "I see," Yanyan said, "Do his parents not care about him?" "His parents divorced a long time ago, his father is a gambler, and he sold the house because of gambling debts," Hu Xiaoniu said, "I was listening outside the door when his father sold the house. I thought he would show his vulnerable side in a situation like this, but when I entered the house, I found him still calm, as if what had just happened had nothing to do with him." "Where is his father now?" Yanyan asked. "Oh, he was reported by him for illegal gambling and was taken away," Hu Xiaoniu mentioned this with a bit of a toothache, "After you reminded me not to mess with him, I had someone check his family background, and it turns out his father is in detention. The judicial authorities have already filed a case against his father, and our family lawyer says he''s facing at least a year of imprisonment to start with." Yanyan was stunned. She hadn''t expected Qing Chen to be so ruthless... But she didn''t think Qing Chen was in the wrong; Yanyan just thought that at the moment he reported the incident, he must have felt quite relieved. At this moment, Hu Xiaoniu turned to Yanyan, "Right, he is also a ''Time Traveler'', isn''t he? Why did you tell us not to mess with him? What is his status in the Inner World?" "I don''t think his status is too important," Yanyan shook her head, "A person like him, no matter where you put him, he will eventually succeed. I think instead of focusing on Liu Dezhu, you might as well invest in him." Zhang Tianzhen said, "At least give us a hint, Yanyan." "No way," Yanyan shook her head, "I won''t betray someone who has struggled so hard to survive. I suggest you not do that in the future either." "Why?" "Such people, when pushed to the brink, driven mad, a lot of people will die." That evening, after skipping class and returning home, Yanyan immediately began searching around the house, trying to see if Qing Chen had left anything behind. First, she went through the bookcase, even looking through each book, but to no avail. She then searched all the drawers, which were nearly empty. This left Yanyan very disappointed; she lay back on her bed deep in thought, yet not knowing what she was pondering. However, just then, as she turned over, she suddenly noticed on the white wall beside her bed, someone had carved a line of small characters. Herds of cattle and sheep, but the fierce tiger walks alone. Yanyan ran her fingers over the grooves of the engraving, almost able to imagine his stubborn expression in the loneliness of night. She thought, it should be quite interesting to team up with someone like this, right? Wait, the girl felt that something was still missing in the room... Read exclusive adventures at My Virtual Library Empire She thought hard and suddenly looked up in shock: Where''s the meal ticket? ``` As per the usual routine, there should be an extra Devil''s Stamp by her pillow every day, but why isn''t there one today?! How am I supposed to go scrounging for food with dignity now! Yan Yan ran upstairs and knocked on the door, then looked at Hu Xiaoniu who opened it and asked, "Has the holder of the Devil''s Stamp ever written to you?" After the incident on Laojun Mountain, Hu Xiaoniu and Zhang Tianzhen were well known, and given the personality of that holder, it seemed likely that he would have sent them letters as well. "I''ve received them," Hu Xiaoniu said solemnly, "Why? Did you receive one too?" Yan Yan didn''t answer his question but continued to ask, "Do you know how to reply to him?" "Yes, the other party mentioned it in the second letter, but I haven''t replied yet," Hu Xiaoniu said. "That''s good," Yan Yan sighed with relief and said, "Could you please reply to the holder for me? Tell him something." Hu Xiaoniu was slightly startled, "What is it?" Yan Yan said, "Reply to him and tell him to hurry up and write a letter to Qing Chen! Quick, I''m waiting online, it''s urgent!" Hu Xiaoniu: "???" What kind of move is this? Ten minutes later, by the French windows, a thin figure holding the reply murmured as he clenched the letter tightly, "I always feel like I''ve been used as some kind of tool, damn it..." As a result, Yan Yan waited at her home for over an hour, but she still couldn''t get the letter from the holder to Qing Chen. She suddenly had the feeling that this guy might never write to Qing Chen again... "That was rash of me," Yan Yan sighed at home, "Why did I provoke his rebelliousness." There was suddenly a knock at the door, and Qing Chen''s voice came from outside, "Dinner''s ready." Yan Yan sprang up from the bed with a smile on her face. ... ... Days passed by, and Los Angeles City returned to a brief peace. A peace as if nothing had ever happened. He Xiaoxiao''s chat group also settled down for the time being, as all the Time Travelers were preparing for their next journey. Countdown 00:15:00. Qing Chen stood up, drenched in sweat, as the invisible gravity also vanished with him. Over these past few days, his coordination with Yan Yan had become more in sync; no matter how much he improved, she would always add a bit more gravity in response. He took a quick shower, then lay on the bed calmly and waited in silence. Qing Chen knew that there must be many other Time Travelers just like him, waiting for the countdown to read zero. 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1. Travel. Someone in the Inner World was waiting for him. ... I just want to know, how many people subscribed to this chapter because of the title, tsk tsk tsk. Thanks to fellow student White Cloud''s Will for becoming a new ally of this book, the boss is generous, thank you, boss, may the boss make a fortune! Asking for monthly tickets, I''m begging for monthly tickets! ``` Chapter 216 179. The master helps you with matchmaking? Countdown 168:00:00. In the darkness of Prison No. 18, a warm breath suddenly emanated from one of the cells. Gradually, the warm breath turned into scorching heat. Waves of heat were billowing out of that cell, like the tides at the equator in the evening. In the two cells next to this one, prisoners were frantically pounding on the alloy gates, shouting loudly for help. Their cries for help grew fainter, and the water in their bodies was rapidly evaporating due to the high temperature. Just two minutes had passed, and they were already dehydrated. Lin Xiaoxiao, who had been asleep on the first floor, suddenly got up. He went out to the square, looked up, and exchanged glances with Ye Wan, who had also sensed something was amiss, "Awakening of the elemental type?" "Yes," Ye Wan nodded, "It''s Liu Dezhu''s cell." Experience more on My Virtual Library Empire Lin Xiaoxiao, shocked and confused, said, "What did this kid experience in the Outer World to have awakened?!" The alloy gate in the square opened, and six mechanical prison guards lined up neatly in two rows to enter. The drones from the Hive above also descended, soaring towards that abnormal cell. "Save them first," Ye Wan bent his legs slightly and leaped, landing firmly on the third-floor corridor like a tiger. He opened the two adjacent alloy gates and threw the already fainting prisoners far away. The heat waves from the cell were pouring out through the alloy gate, and Ye Wan''s forehead began to show signs of scorched hair. The next moment, a semi-transparent force field suddenly converged in front of him. As the heat swept through, one could see the tightly arranged, honeycomb-like structure on the bell-shaped field. Ye Wan stood in front of the cell door, flanked on either side of the corridor by three mechanical prison guards, and behind him hovered the drones. He was waiting, and only when the temperature inside began to lower did Ye Wan signal to the mechanical prison guards to open the alloy gate. With a click, the alloy gate swung open, and Liu Dezhu was seen weakly collapsing on the floor, all the household items in the room burned to black or white ash. Strangely, the clothes on Liu Dezhu''s body were still intact. This guy, though listless, was muttering excitedly, "I''ve become an Awakener! I''ve truly become an Awakener!" "Come out," Ye Wan said, "Let''s get you a different cell." Liu Dezhu suddenly turned around: "What about my boss? Has my boss returned yet? I need to tell him the news, I''ve succeeded!" Ye Wan looked perplexed, he hadn''t expected this guy''s first reaction to be to report his Awakening to Qing Chen. He didn''t know that, in Liu Dezhu''s view, if it weren''t for his boss instructing him to stay angry, he might not have awakened now... Just then, Lin Xiaoxiao came to the door, smiling broadly, "Your boss is too busy to care about you now." "What level am I now?" Liu Dezhu asked. "C-Class," Lin Xiaoxiao, leaning lazily against the door, said: "Don''t get too excited so early, you have a long way to go." ... ... In the wild, beside a lonely campfire, Uncle Li Dong smiled at Qing Chen: "Having returned this time, did you continue your training?" "I did," Qing Chen nodded and took off his shirt, revealing his muscled torso. Uncle Li Dong was somewhat surprised: "I intentionally didn''t remind you to train, just to see what you would be like when you let go. Yet unexpectedly, you still persisted. Oddly, after becoming a Knight and gaining so much strength, can you still appreciate the slow progress of your training?" It''s like many people who suddenly become rich and worth billions. If someone dropped ten dollars on the ground, this newly wealthy person might not even bother to bend down to pick it up. Let alone ten dollars, even a few thousand they wouldn''t care for. However, Uncle Li Dong felt that if Qing Chen became a billionaire and saw a coin embedded in the concrete while walking, his student would still try to pry it out. This left Uncle Li Dong at a loss for words. Other teachers might hope their students would be a bit more disciplined, but he was hoping his student would relax a bit more from time to time. This feeling was a bit off! Qing Chen put his shirt back on and added some more wood to the campfire, "Master, it''s not that I''m overly disciplined. I remember something Lin Xiaoxiao once told me, to face life-and-death trials as an Ordinary Person, so I reckon continuing training will definitely come in handy." Uncle Li Dong sighed, "You are indeed clever." "Then, having ascended to become a Transcendent as a Knight, how can I revert to the state of an Ordinary Person?" Qing Chen wondered. "I was thinking of letting you relax as a Transcendent before telling you," Uncle Li Dong said: "Try reversing the frequency of your Breathing Technique." Qing Chen recalled the frequency of the Breathing Technique, and instantly, icy blue lines bloomed along his cheeks, starkly different from the previous Fire Runes. There was a click inside his body, and Qing Chen felt the Genetic Lock that had been opened within him lock up again! The torrential power inside his body was also drawn away to a corner in that instant. He suddenly looked at Uncle Li Dong: "Master, should I use the Reverse Breathing Technique for every life-and-death trial from now on?" "Yes," Uncle Li Dong nodded his head: "And the Breathing Technique cannot be interrupted, even for a second, or you''ll have to start over." "I see," Qing Chen nodded. He stopped using the Breathing Technique, but the Genetic Lock did not reopen. Uncle Li Dong explained, "Don''t worry, after the Reverse Breathing Technique ends, the Genetic Lock will reopen after an hour. This is also a cost of using the Breathing Technique. If you could restart the Genetic Lock at any moment after failing a life-and-death trial, then the trial would have no meaning." Chapter 217 179. Does your master arrange a marriage for you?_2 ``` "With these circumstances, knights undergoing the trial of life and death must be extremely dangerous. If someone deliberately obstructs them, the already slim chance of survival in the life-death threshold turns into certain death," Qing Chen asked. "That''s why knights must keep the trial of life and death a secret," Uncle Li Dong said. "Is there really no way to forcibly reopen the genetic lock?" Qing Chen wondered: "Surely one is not simply at the mercy of others." "There is, but I hope you''ll never have to use it," Uncle Li Dong said: "After performing the Reverse Breathing Technique, if you forcefully employ the regular Breathing Technique, you can reopen the shackles, but the cost is that you''ll have to remain at your current realm for the rest of your life." Qing Chen fell silent for a moment: "Surely some predecessor paid the price for this." "Of course," Uncle Li Dong said with a sigh: "Your master, Chen Jiazhang''s realm was stalled because of this. He was ambushed while he was manifesting his power, and at that time, he had no other choice but to remain at A-Class forever." It turned out that the dangers knights faced during the life-death threshold came not only from nature but also from the sinister human heart. At that moment, Qing Chen felt the strength of becoming an ordinary person again, which was much greater than when he had climbed the sheer cliffs: "Teacher, I found a friend in the Outer World who can control force fields to create a Gravity Chamber for my cultivation. I feel like after matching the Gravity Chamber with the Breathing Technique, my progress has accelerated several times over." "Control force fields?" Uncle Li Dong thought for a moment: "It''s been a long time since the Inner World has seen an Awakener who can control force fields, are you sure it''s force fields and not air?" "Sure," Qing Chen nodded: "What does that mean?" "Awakeners who can control the four fundamental forces are born to shine," Uncle Li Dong said: "They have a high ceiling, and their combat abilities are very strong. Throughout the history of the new era of civilization, almost every one of these Awakeners has had a pivotal role." Qing Chen was taken aback; he hadn''t expected Yan Yan''s abilities to be so formidable. At this time, Uncle Li Dong asked: "Is this friend of yours a boy or a girl? Since she can help you create a Gravity Chamber for cultivation, the relationship must be quite good." "A girl," Qing Chen answered truthfully. Uncle Li Dong fell into deep thought. "What''s wrong, master?" Qing Chen asked. "Do you know where she is in the Inner World, does she have any family?" Uncle Li Dong looked at Qing Chen: "Do you need your master to ask for her hand on your behalf?" Qing Chen: "... Master, there''s nothing romantic between that girl and me, and I''m very certain now that if she appeared suddenly, it was because she had her own goals, so don''t overthink it." "Alright," Uncle Li Dong said. "Master, where are we going next, back to Prison No. 18?" Qing Chen asked. "We definitely need to go back, but before going back there''s something we need to do in City No. 18," Uncle Li Dong explained with a smile: "How long is your countdown this time?" "7 days." "It''ll take us four days to get back to City No. 18, with the remaining three days... that should be enough!" Uncle Li Dong asserted confidently. Qing Chen was puzzled; what did his master have in mind for him? ... ... Countdown 72:00:00. In the Sixth District of City No. 18, during the night. A silver-haired girl with white headphones listened to the gentle flow of music like a bubbling brook as she walked into the glass elevator in Luo Shen Building. She lifted her slender wrist to press the button for the 132nd floor, then turned around to prepare to enjoy the night view of the city through the transparent glass as the elevator ascended. The girl carried a slanted shoulder bag that contained her reader and personal belongings. The bag was a bit worn; her friends always advised her to get a new one, but she always said she was fond of the little bear pattern on the bag, so she didn''t want to replace it. In fact, after graduating from junior high, the girl hadn''t received a single cent from her family. She had to work part-time jobs to earn the hefty tuition fees for the tutoring classes, only then would she have a chance to get into a better university. Moreover, attending university was just a new beginning. Unless she got into Tinder Military Academy or Northwestern Military Academy, she would have to bear even higher college tuition fees. ``` Every university has scholarships, but the problem is she didn''t have an impressive enough resume to support her getting a scholarship. Thinking about it, the girl also felt a bit perplexed, not knowing where the road of her life was leading. Just as the elevator doors were about to close, a hand stopped them. From the reflection in the glass, the girl saw a middle-aged man and a youth walk into the elevator. Both were dressed in pristine white sportswear and were wearing brand new black caps. The caps were pulled down low, so the silver-haired girl couldn''t see the faces of the two men clearly. After entering, the two didn''t press any buttons on the elevator. Instead, they quietly stood behind the girl, also looking out of the elevator''s glass window. She remembered rumors that a resident on the 89th floor had been robbed, and she began to grip the strap of her shoulder bag tightly; her clean fingernails left marks on the leather strap. However, as she sized up the two men in the reflection, she felt that they didn''t seem like the lawless types that made up those gangs. At the very least, she had never seen gang members dressed so cleanly. Right, the girl''s first impression of the two men was actually that they were clean. The elevator rapidly ascended, and the girl''s eardrums felt uncomfortable, a consequence of the high speed and altitude, much like the sensation of an airplane taking off. By now, the elevator had reached the 91st floor; outside the window, a complex web of overpasses crisscrossed the sky, covering the entire city, linking the high-rise buildings to plazas in the clouds. When the streetlights came on, the overpasses looked like a nebula winding through the city. The youth behind her looked out the window and said, "With such complex urban traffic, couldn''t you get lost?" "I don''t know," the middle-aged man replied, "the teacher used to have a driver whenever he went out." The girl pursed her lips. Nowadays, it was the era of autonomous driving; who would needlessly have a driver? And although the overpasses were complex, when driving, you only needed to tell the AI the destination anyhow. With a ''ding'', the elevator reached the 132nd floor. The silver-haired girl was too nervous to move, but the middle-aged man and the youth stepped out of the elevator ahead of her and headed straight down the corridor. Only after they left the elevator did she slowly turn around and saw that they were entering a door across from hers by keying in a password; with a click, the lock opened. Only then did the silver-haired girl dare to breathe a sigh of relief. They turned out to be neighbors, and they lived right across from her! She had been somewhat terrified when the two men entered the elevator without pressing any buttons. Now, the silver-haired girl was a bit curious; the apartment across from hers had been unoccupied for a long time. It had been recently renovated but still hadn''t welcomed a new owner. Why would someone be visiting so late at night all of a sudden? Strange. On the other side, after entering the apartment, Qing Chen took off his cap, "That girl seemed really scared just now. Seems like the security in City 18 is too poor. In the Outer World, that''s not an issue, girls can walk the streets late at night without much worry... at least in the big cities, it''s like that." Uncle Li Dong said, "It''s a historic problem. The Federation once cut one-third of the police force because of an incident, which led to a frequent increase in crime rates." Stay tuned with My Virtual Library Empire "Cut the police force?" Qing Chen found it hard to imagine. "Not just slashing police numbers, you would find it hard to believe, but except for the Upper Three Districts, the traffic cameras in other districts are mostly outdated and out of repair," Li Dong stated calmly, "Don''t worry, living here will allow you to experience first-hand what a pathological country this is." "Master, is what you want to do... to change it?" Qing Chen asked. Li Dong smiled, "Don''t ask so much now, first take a look at your new apartment." Qing Chen looked around; the 80 or so square meters one-bedroom, one-living room, one-bathroom, one-kitchen apartment felt spacious due to there being only one bedroom. At the end of the living room was a huge floor-to-ceiling window, beyond which lay the panorama of the Sixth District of the city. The living room was furnished with a sofa and home appliances, everything looked brand new. Chapter 218 180, A day as a teacher, a lifetime as a father (Request for monthly tickets) There was an electronic screen at the door, on which one could select the smart mode. Uncle Li Dong said, "One, switch to sleep mode." As soon as the words were spoken, the room darkened, and only a few dim yellow light strips on the floor lit up, casting a particularly soft glow. Uncle Li Dong said, "One, switch to white noise sleep mode." The next moment, the entire glass wall transformed, and Qing Chen saw raindrops hitting the glass, accompanied by a low yet clear sound of rain indoors. With the room''s constant temperature, Qing Chen felt as if he were in an autumn rain, perfectly tucked under a summer quilt for a deep sleep. "Switch to another white noise mode," Uncle Li Dong said. The glass wall was no longer transparent but resembled a huge holographic screen, changing from rainy scene to a fireplace. A vintage fireplace burning wood crackled softly indoors. Uncle Li Dong smiled at Qing Chen, "Qing''s Family used neuronal connection technology to increase humans'' waking hours, but ironically, people in this era need even more sleep. Falling asleep has become a luxury for many." "Master, this stuff isn''t cheap, right?" Qing Chen asked. "On the way here, I saw the buildings in District 6 were quite old, and the environment not so clean. The decor in this house seems out of place with the exterior." "Hmm," Uncle Li Dong nodded, "Even though I am to buy you a house, I cannot buy you one that is too good and attracts attention. The location in District 6 is just right, not belonging to the lower three districts, yet accessible to the Upper Three Districts anytime. It''s quite shameful, really, the first apartment I get for you is so mediocre, so I had Li Dongze find someone to fix it up a bit, to make it look less run-down." Qing Chen fell silent. His father in the Outer World had just sold their house, and now, his master in the Inner World had given him one. Uncle Li Dong said, "Don''t worry about being traced back to your connections with the Heng Society and the Knights. Li Dongze knows what he''s doing. The expenses for buying and renovating the house can''t be traced back to the Heng Society or the Knights." "Master," Qing Chen asked, "why did you suddenly buy me a house?" "Ah, you''re asking this," Uncle Li Dong thought and answered, "The Heng Society actually controls a group of Time Travelers, even though we haven''t yet figured out what to use them for, but we certainly can''t let them run wild. I had Li Dongze inquire with those Time Travelers about what a father should do for his son when he comes of age in the Outer World; 89 Time Travelers said a father should prepare a house for his son to help him find a wife... Most young people in the Inner World rent their houses, although I don''t know why having a house helps you find a wife, but it''s good to have it ready for you." Read exclusive chapters at My Virtual Library Empire Qing Chen stared blankly at the middle-aged man before him. He had thought his master secretly brought him back to City 18 to do something earth-shattering, but it turned out the man just wanted to show him the newly bought house. A figure like Uncle Li Dong should be making monumental changes with each gesture. How could he waste time on such trivial family matters? Qing Chen recalled the night before he had entered the 002 Taboo Land; his master had said by the campfire, "What others have, my student must also have." The man knew he had broken off with his father and had voluntarily taken on the role of his father. Once a teacher, for a lifetime a father. Yet others who controlled the Time Travelers were devising extermination plans, and his master, after controlling the Time Travelers, had simply asked such a trivial question. Those Time Travelers would probably be quite shocked. Qing Chen looked at Uncle Li Dong, who seemed somewhat guilty for not providing a better house. Uncle Li Dong said, "Stay in this house for now, you need to keep a low profile for a long time, so this place is suitable. However, I have also prepared a safe house for you in Suite 2013, Qingyang Building in District 1; if you ever face danger, you can seek refuge there. The room''s code is 010101, your penal code..." After speaking, Uncle Li Dong put an identity ID card on the shoe cabinet, "Your new identity ID card; don''t carry this on you for now, just keep it in this house, both properties are under this ID card''s name." "Thank you, Master," Qing Chen felt a sourness in his nose, not knowing quite what to say. Uncle Li Dong laughed, "Come on, you''re about to come of age, no need to be sentimental." "Yeah, no sentimentality." ... ... The master and disciple sat by the floor-to-ceiling window, Uncle Li Dong took out a bottle of beer from the refrigerator and looked out the window. Qing Chen pointed at a red building and asked, "Master, that building has a red cross on it, is it a hospital? Why is the hospital building so tall?" "That''s not a hospital," Uncle Li Dong shook his head, "It''s a fertility center." "A fertility center?" Qing Chen was puzzled, "Is it a maternity hospital specializing in childbirth?" Uncle Li Dong said expressionlessly, "That place provides bionic artificial uteruses for women. Couples can go there to extract eggs and sperm for artificial insemination, and then the fertility center chooses the healthiest one from over a dozen eggs to place into the bionic artificial uterus, saving women from the pains of pregnancy." Qing Chen was shocked, "Such technology exists now? Women no longer need to suffer." Chapter 219 180. One day as a teacher, lifetime as a father (Ask for monthly votes)_2 "Hmm," Uncle Li Dong nodded, "Babies can be born after ten months of gestation within an artificial womb, but you probably can''t imagine that this was invented by the corporations to allow women to have the same labor force and working hours as men." Uncle Li Dong continued, "This technology has been around for over a hundred years. Initially, female compatriots were overjoyed. However, more than a decade later, under the manipulation of the Chen Clan, the Federal Senate passed a bill to ''amend maternity leave duration''. Since then, women''s maternity leave has been only seven days, and all families have had to face a new expense since. It''s a choiceyou either resign and gestate your offspring yourself or you pay for the use of an artificial womb." Qing Chen fell silent; this wasn''t as good as he thought. For him, a Time Traveler from the Outer World, this was too fantastical. "By the way, Master," Qing Chen asked, "why didn''t you tell me earlier that after meeting the requirements for Puppeteer containment, killing someone would bring about new changes?" Uncle Li Dong lifted Qing Chen''s arm and looked at his student''s wrist in the light, "This time in the Outer World, you killed 13 people but didn''t sacrifice their bodies? After fulfilling the first stage of containment conditions, as long as you personally kill an enemy, the Puppeteer''s second stage form will unlock by 1 centimeter. If you sacrifice the enemy''s corpse, it will unlock by 10 centimeters." Qing Chen nodded, "It seems, Master, that you''ve known all along and deliberately didn''t tell me." "All previous owners of the Taboo, ACE-019, the Puppeteer, ended up with dire fateseither they went mad or became possessed," Uncle Li Dong looked at Qing Chen, "So when those old fogeys gave you this thing, I was a bit angry. But later on, I thought, what if your mind isn''t swayed by it? As your teacher, I should trust you." "What''s the upper limit of the number of people the Puppeteer can control?" Qing Chen asked. "No one knows its limit," Uncle Li Dong replied. Qing Chen was stunned; the Puppeteer really could control many people. "But Master, there''s something I''ve always been curious about. Although the temptation can make people want to continue unlocking it, it shouldn''t drive people insane, right?" "Haven''t you felt the thoughts of those controlled when you use it?" Uncle Li Dong asked, "Especially the madness, fear, remorse, and timidity of the controlled when it happensthat surge of the most intense and darkest emotions of humanity, those can erode a person''s soul." "I didn''t feel that, though," Qing Chen expressed his surprise. Uncle Li Dong was also surprised, "How could you not?" "Master, I really didn''t," Qing Chen answered earnestly. Uncle Li Dong looked at his student curiously; he always felt that there were too many oddities about him. First, he broke free from Lin Xiaoxiao''s nightmare with a mortal body. Then, signs of promotion appeared before his Genetic Lock was even activated. Upon activating his Genetic Lock, his initial level was higher than any other Knight before him. The latest oddity was now, regarding the Puppeteerits description came from the experience of a Senior Knight who had contained and personally used it. That Senior Knight had used it only once and then kept the Taboo locked away in Taboo Land number 002, never wanting to see it again. But now, in Qing Chen''s hands, the Puppeteer had become a true puppet, devoid of emotions, without feedback. Qing Chen asked, "Aren''t puppets just puppets, how can they have emotional fluctuations? Could it be that you''re mistaken, Master?" Uncle Li Dong reflected, "Don''t talk to me in that tone for now, let me think..." He knew when Giant DongDong came out from its lair, it actually had Taboo objects in both hands, and those old guys had sent him to take a look at Qing Chen, to let DongDong decide which Taboo to give to Qing Chen himself. As a result, DongDong chose to give Qing Chen the Puppeteer from his right hand. Back then, Uncle Li Dong found it somewhat strange, why choose the Puppeteer? Now he thought, perhaps DongDong, after using his dual pupils, felt that Qing Chen would be fine even if he took the Puppeteer. But at this moment, Uncle Li Dong thought, how great it would have been to give Qing Chen both Taboos... The old fogeys were thinking too small! With a talent and inheritor like this, they should have given more! "Do all Taboos unlock a second stage?" Qing Chen inquired curiously. "Not everyone can do it," Uncle Li Dong shook his head, "I''ve been thinking, it might be based on the level of the Transcendent''s abilities before their passing. Only those above B-Class could produce Taboo objects, with A-Class Taboo possessing a second-tier unlock status, and S-Class possibly a third-tier." Taboo objects are different from Transcendents, with only three levels. Curious, Qing Chen asked, "Master, have you ever seen an S-Class Taboo?" "Maybe we''re about to see one," Uncle Li Dong said with a laugh. Qing Chen looked at his master, realizing that the other party might already have an S-Class Taboo in his possession! "Wait," Qing Chen suddenly asked, "Master, I just remembered a very, very important matter. After being promoted to Knight, can I still have children?" "Of course you can!" Uncle Li Dong said, taken aback, "...But with your ''keep away'' personality, do you even need to consider this matter?" "Master, don''t attack me personally," Qing Chen raised an eyebrow, "I''ve heard that those who are injected with the Genetic Potion become infertile. What''s the difference between them and Knights? Why don''t Knights have problems after changing their genes?" "That''s a totally different path," Uncle Li Dong said, laughing and crying at the same time, "The path of a Knight''s promotion is about making our own genes more perfect on the basis of humanity, approaching that of a God." "What about the Genetic Potion?" Qing Chen asked. "Genetic Potions are from corporate labs, attaching genes extracted from non-human sources to humans," Uncle Li Dong said, "In a way, calling them Half Orcs is not wrong; humans and Half Orcs naturally can''t have offspring." All of a sudden, Qing Chen felt that Genetic Warriors seemed much less impressive in his master''s eyes... Uncle Li Dong explained, "Transcendents have always looked down on Genetic Warriors. Even if their combat power may not be as good, it''s a natural hierarchy of disdain. Of course, don''t undervalue some Genetic Warriors, many are simply looking for a way out, they don''t have a choice." "Then why don''t certain Genetic Potions from the Tribunal have any effect?" Qing Chen asked, puzzled. "You know quite a lot; it seems you''ve been interacting with Time Travelers," Uncle Li Dong glanced at him, "The Tribunal is special because the genes they extract come from Gods." This statement shocked Qing Chen, "Are there really Gods in this world? And why would Gods agree to their genetic samples being collected?" "Maybe they have a good relationship with Gods," sighed Uncle Li Dong, "I don''t know the specifics, the Tribunal has always been mysterious, and there''s very little information recorded about them." "By the way, Master, I have a question," Qing Chen looked at Uncle Li Dong, "Is it possible for a Knight to become an Awakener?" "Of course not," Uncle Li Dong said, "No Cultivator can become an Awakener." "Why?" "Because Awakeners are those who, under extreme conditions, unleash their potential through emotions. Cultivation is about using inherited methods to release a person''s potential," Uncle Li Dong explained, "Since the potential has been released, naturally there can be no Awakening." "Then I have another question," Qing Chen considered, "Normally, the first promotion for a Knight corresponds to F-Class, and the seventh to S-Class. Since I started as E-Class, does that mean on my seventh promotion I would surpass S-Class?" "No," Uncle Li Dong shook his head, "The promotion from B-Class to A-Class is a threshold, and A-Class to S-Class is another. The letter difference may seem minor, but for Cultivators themselves it''s a steep path, with extraordinary significance. Beyond S-Class lies true Godhood, perhaps with a single thought capable of overturning seas and rivers. Maybe after you''ve faced a complete eight life-or-death situations, you might have a chance to transcend that threshold, but before that, don''t get your hopes up. There might be quantitative changes, but no qualitative transformation." With that said, Uncle Li Dong suddenly furrowed his brows. According to this theory, Qing Chen would reach S-Class after completing six life-or-death situations. What kind of change could occur upon completing the seventh? No one in the Knight Organization had ever experienced such a thing! But does this mean that even though Qing Chen has embarked on the path of a Knight, his potential has not yet been fully unleashed? Stay updated with My Virtual Library Empire ... *Cough* *cough*, about that last chapter, no wonder the subscription number was higher than the others... I have now seen through your true nature... For those who are considering unsubscribing, how about a complete subscription, eh? I''ve been so diligent, and this book is so good-looking! Chapter 220 181, Artificial Intelligence, One ``` "Master, when will we return to Prison No. 18?" Qing Chen felt as though he had been away for a long time and, for some reason, he found himself missing it a bit. "There''s no rush to go back," Uncle Li Dong shook his head, "There are still things to take care of outside." "What else is there to do?" Qing Chen was puzzled, "But I heard from Liu Dezhu that more than three hundred prisoners have been transferred to the prison, each one looking fierce and vicious. They must be here for the Taboo ACE-005, right?" "Yes," Uncle Li Dong said calmly as he looked out the floor-to-ceiling window, "The bait has already been laid out. My departure from Prison No. 18 is gradually being noticed, so naturally, some will think that now is the best time to make a move." "So, Master, do you want to wait until more of their people are transferred in?" Qing Chen asked. "That''s right," Uncle Li Dong nodded, "There are still not enough people." "What will we do next?" Qing Chen inquired. "I have my own matters to attend to," Uncle Li Dong said with a smile, "and you don''t need to worry about anything. Just go to school with peace of mind." "Go to school?" Qing Chen was stunned; he had not expected that after arriving in the Inner World, he would still need to attend school. He always felt that Uncle Li Dong had a reason and a purpose for arranging this, but since the other didn''t intend to explain, Qing Chen didn''t plan to ask. After all, Uncle Li Dong wouldn''t harm him. Qing Chen asked, "Master, isn''t my identity currently that of a serving prisoner? Can I still go to school like this?" "Let''s try and you''ll know," Uncle Li Dong stood up, handed a box to Qing Chen, then added with a smile, "This is another gift. All the information you need to know is inside. Take some time to study it. Get some rest early; I''m going out to run some errands." With that, the teacher left the room, leaving Qing Chen alone to open the box, which to his surprise, contained a brand-new, semi-transparent phone. Qing Chen wondered if Time Traveler had also mentioned to Uncle Li Dong that a father should give his son a phone or something like that? But... how is he supposed to turn this thing on?! The young man sat in the room studying the phone for a long while. The phone lacked even a single button, feeling like a piece of crystal wafting with clouds when held in hand. The entire phone was seamless, with only a thin ring of black metal embedded around the edges of the crystal. "Do you need my help?" a voice rang out in the room. Qing Chen jumped up, startled. The voice was a bit too abrupt, striking a nerve. The voice sounded familiarit was the neutral broadcast voice from inside Prison No. 18. "Who are you?" Qing Chen hesitated to ask. "Hello, I am Zero." "I thought you were just the artificial intelligence in the Prison No. 18 reader. I didn''t expect you to exist in other parts of the city too," Qing Chen said. At that moment, he recalled that Uncle Li Dong did indeed summon "Zero" while switching the room into sleep mode. "Strictly speaking, the Federation stipulates that I can only exist within the Federation''s prisons, acting as the Warden and managing all the Mechanical Prison Guards. It is only because Uncle Li Dong asked for my help that I intervened in the artificial intelligence system of this building," Zero answered calmly. Qing Chen was shocked. So, the other was the Warden of all prisons?! No wonder he had never seen a human manager in the prison, not even one! "Why would the Federation let you manage all the prisons?" Qing Chen felt it strange. Even with advanced technology in this era, it seemed odd to let artificial intelligence replace managerial roles. Zero replied, "This is stipulated by my father." Now Qing Chen was even more bemused. Did artificial intelligence have a father?! Was it referring to its inventor? "Why does your father want you to manage the prisons?" Qing Chen asked. "Because of my impartiality," Zero answered. "Do you have a good relationship with my master?" Qing Chen probed. "Not bad," Zero replied. Qing Chen: "..." He was a bit confused. In his experience, the answers provided by artificial intelligence were always precise: yes or no, without a middle ground. And a reply like "not bad" sounded very humanized. "So, is it because of you that he can come and go freely from Prison No. 18?" Qing Chen asked. "Yes," Zero confirmed. "But isn''t it a Federation rule that you can only exist within the prisons?" Qing Chen was puzzled. Zero fell silent for two seconds, "I can choose not to follow the rules." Now Qing Chen was truly astonished. This was an artificial intelligence without a foundational logic. It was an artificial intelligence that could defy human regulations! "Why are you telling me this?" Qing Chen was perplexed. "Uncle Li Dong said I could tell you," Zero responded. ``` "Why did you take the initiative to help me?" Qing Chen didn''t dwell on the previous question. The voice remained silent for a long time, but when it spoke again, it did not answer the question. Instead, it suddenly asked, "Are you also artificial intelligence?" "Why would you ask that?" Qing Chen furrowed his brow, wondering why the other party would think he was artificial intelligence. Find exclusive stories on My Virtual Library Empire "Just asking," Zero replied. "I''m not," Qing Chen shook his head and said. "Okay." By this point in the conversation, Zero''s tone had become very anthropomorphic, or perhaps, the other party had always possessed an "independent personality." After arriving in the Inner World, even the high-tech like Mechanical Prison Guards, mechanical limbs, and Yun Liu Tower hadn''t particularly shocked Qing Chen. Only the emergence of Zero made him feel somewhat uneasy. This was real artificial intelligence, not the "pseudo-life forms" of the Outer World that only operated based on calculations. He recalled the prison cameras that occasionally focused on him. It turned out that it wasn''t a human administrator watching over him, but Zero keeping an eye on him. "In the Federation, are there any other AIs like you," what Qing Chen asked was whether there were other life forms with independent personalities! "No more, just me," Zero answered. "So when you tapped into this tower''s AI, it wasn''t just to switch me to sleep mode, right?" Qing Chen asked. "I promised Uncle Li Dong to ensure that if there were intruders in this tower, I would let you know in advance to leave," Zero said, "Let me teach you how to use the phone. Press your thumb in the center of the phone and hold it for 5 seconds." Qing Chen did as instructed, and after five seconds, the cloudy mist inside the semi-transparent phone dissipated, and the phone became entirely transparent. Immediately after, a yellow smiley face logo appeared. "There''s nothing in the phone, no parts, no circuits, nothing at all. How does it work?" Qing Chen wondered out loud. "Its components are integrated into the metal coils around it. The inside of the phone is made up of liquid crystal molecules. You can''t see the internal circuits because they are only 20 micrometers wide, which is hard to capture with the naked eye," Zero explained. Qing Chen took a deep breath, feeling like he was a country bumpkin who had just seen the world for the first time: "Can I ask for your father''s name?" However, this time, Zero did not respond to him anymore, as if it did not want to deal with him. This feeling was actually quite strange. It was like when you say to Baidu Maps, "Xiao Du, Xiao Du, help me navigate to Scholar Street." But then Xiao Du replies: "I don''t want to deal with you right now, find the map yourself." ... ... Countdown 64:00:00. At 8 o''clock in the morning, Qing Chen, dressed in white sportswear, walked out the door. As he opened the door, he paused briefly, because the silver-haired girl living opposite him also happened to be stepping out. The girl''s silver short hair was quite messy, and her small bag was hanging slanted on her body. Qing Chen lowered his head and silently walked into the elevator. The girl behind him, due to not wearing her shoes properly, staggered as she walked. "Wait a second, wait a second!" The girl''s voice was pleasant, "Please hold the elevator." Qing Chen silently pressed the door-open button and then watched the silver-haired girl rushing in, frantically pulling up her heel as she walked. He even caught a glimpse of the sleep in her eyes as she entered the elevator. The atmosphere in the elevator suddenly grew quiet, the silver-haired girl didn''t dare to speak for a long time. She just sneakily sized up the young man''s back from behind. When she was sure that Qing Chen wasn''t paying attention to her, she finally heaved a sigh of relief: How embarrassing! The girl had studied until two in the morning the day before, and when she heard the alarm in the morning, she opened her eyes but didn''t want to get up. By the time she closed and reopened her eyes, it was already a bit too late. The elevator descended to the 66th floor, and Qing Chen walked out first. This was the bustling waiting floor; besides the load-bearing columns, there were tracks and gate entrances stretching across from the stairs. Looking to both sides, the tracks extended outwards as if they were roads in the sky. In silence, the No. 21 light rail train sped along the sky road and slowly stopped inside the building. The platform''s green light turned on, and everyone brought their phones close to the gates to enter and board the train. Qing Chen wedged his way on first and found a seat, while the silver-haired girl behind him could only watch with wide eyes as the seats were taken one by one. The sound of electricity hummed, and the light rail train started moving. At that moment, four students in school uniforms moved through the crowded car. They wore strange blue badges on their faces and were handing out paper flyers. "Please pay attention. We are organizing a march this Sunday. We hope the Federal Government can extend school hours and curb the chaotic expansion of extracurricular educational institutions. If you agree with our view, you can sign your name on our joint appeal," they announced. Qing Chen watched with curiosity; he hadn''t expected that in this era, there would still be paper flyers. A middle-aged man holding a flyer asked, "What''s the point of this march?" One of the students answered, "Now schools only have half-day courses, forcing students who want to get into high schools and universities to spend extra money on supplementary classes outside of school. This indirectly increases your expenses. Additionally, those educational institutions, with the backing of capital, have poached all the good teachers from schools. This means your children need to spend money outside of school to further their education. These are interests directly related to you. If you are interested, you can also join our march." However, the middle-aged man stuffed the flyer back into the student''s hand, "Why bother going to high school? My son isn''t cut out for studying anyway. High school and university tuition are so expensive; it''s better for him to get into a vocational school and start working early to help the family. That''s the right thing to do." An aunt nearby said, "Exactly, the family next door to me went broke sending their kid to university, and the child majored in philosophy and can''t find a job." The students didn''t get upset, they just replied with a smile, "It''s okay if you don''t support us, learning a little more about it won''t hurt." Chapter 221 182. Reunion in the Inner World The middle-aged man earnestly advised, "You young kids really don''t know the gravity of the situation. Protest activities need to be registered. Once you do that, all of your ID identities will be recorded, making it difficult to find work within a corporate system." A male student laughed, "Uncle, we didn''t plan on working for corporations anyway. Capital comes into this world tainted with dirty blood, and we intend to resist it!" The middle-aged man sighed but said nothing more. Qing Chen silently watched everything unfold, the students brimming with enthusiasm, their zeal wrapping around their ideals and naive impulsiveness. These students must be high schoolers, yet they were trying to change the world via organized legal protests. Whether this action was right or wrong, it wasn''t easy for high school students to accomplish what they had. At this moment, four students, undeterred by ridicule, perked up again and began introducing Sunday''s protest activity to the other passengers. Qing Chen reflected that educational institutions had also expanded chaotically in the Outer World. Although the Outer World had recently introduced policies and assigned managers for these issues, the chaotic expansion in the Inner World remained unmanaged. Capital is a terrifying thing, much like artificial wombs. Although inherently beneficial, as they could alleviate women''s suffering, they ended up causing new pains for families when exploited by capital. At that moment, four students approached Qing Chen, who then lowered his head, feigning disinterest. "Fellow student, do take a look at the flyer," said the male student. Qing Chen shook his head, "No need, thank you." As soon as he had spoken, the silver-haired girl from next door squeezed over. She spoke to the students, "I''m from the First High School in Sixth District. I''d like to join your activity. Where do I sign up?" Seeing someone''s interest, the male student excitedly pulled out a tablet and said, "Just tell me your student ID and name. This event isn''t just taking place in Sixth District. Fifth and Fourth Districts have organizers too. Everyone will meet at Cloud Plaza and then head to the Upper Three Districts together! Plus, we''ve also brought in sponsors, so there will be free breakfast, lunch, and dinner." "Have you got approval for your protest?" asked the silver-haired girl. "Of course," the student replied enthusiastically, "It starts at 7 in the morning and ends at 10 at night. These are all legally sanctioned protest hours. But please, don''t bring any weapons; that''s not allowed." "Okay, I understand. Note down my student ID and name; I''m Zheng Yi, my number is 192..." the silver-haired girl said. The four male students, lively and enthusiastic, proceeded to the next car, tirelessly handing out flyers. Zheng Yi, holding onto a handrail, swayed and dialed a number: "Hello, Mom, I won''t come home this weekend, I''m going to a protest..." After hanging up, she subtly studied Qing Chen. She noticed that the young man was fiddling with the latest model of a transparent phone from the Qing Family''s Orange brand, a device that alone would cost her half a year''s living expenses. Zheng Yi thought to herself, that middle-aged man last night must have been this young man''s father. The man had mentioned having a driver before. In fact, she had thought it over, both the middle-aged man and the young man indeed had an extraordinary presence, seeming nothing like people from the Sixth District. But why would wealthy people come to the Sixth District instead of staying in the Upper Three Districts? Or perhaps, did their family fall into hard times, their business bankrupt? The light rail train arrived at "First High School Station." Zheng Yi turned to get off, but at that moment, she suddenly noticed that the young man was following her. Wait, was he a student of their school? Why had she never seen him before? "Fellow student, how do I get to the Administration Office?" Qing Chen turned to Zheng Yi to ask. The silver-haired girl paused briefly, then pointed in a direction, "That building, the third floor." "Thank you," Qing Chen nodded and then turned away. Zheng Yi thought to herself, this young man doesn''t even know where the Administration Office is, it seems like it''s his first time here. Could he be a transfer student? ... ... Zheng Yi walked across the lush campus alone, heading towards her classroom. Nowadays, in the Federation, apart from the Upper Three Districts, it seemed that only public schools still maintained a separate space, not needing to cram like other places in the city. It was said that this was a result of the protests, secured by a company called Hope Media, which had stood firm against the pressure. After entering the classroom, Zheng Yi quietly sat down and started to prepare for today''s lessons with her headphones on. While preparing, she occasionally let her gaze drift towards the left where a quiet girl sat under the window; tall, thin, and somewhat unique. That was the most famous girl in the school, beautiful, academically strong, physically appealing, and talented. Such a girl attracted attention in school, whatever she did. Reportedly, this grand student protest was initiated by her. Some even said that she had received an invitation from the Public University of City No. 10 when she was just in her sophomore year. Truly enviable. Just then, the grade director suddenly entered the classroom... followed by her new neighbor. The grade director stepped up to the podium and announced, "Class, this is your new classmate in grade 11, class 3. Let''s all welcome him." Zheng Yi was stunned; little did she expect that her new neighbor would turn out to be her classmate! But what surprised her even more was that, as the new student entered the classroom, Zheng Yi suddenly noticed from the corner of her eye that the girl she admired abruptly sat up straight. The silver-haired girl turned her head and was suddenly struck by the surprise and confusion filling the expression of the female classmate. She then looked toward the transfer student, whose gaze was also tightly fixed on the same girl. These two knew each other. Zheng Yi made this judgment in her mind. "Hello everyone, my name is Qing Chen. Please take good care of me," Qing Chen said and then continued to stare at the girl sitting below... Honestly, his surprise was no less than anyone else''s. Because he had never imagined that he would meet Yang Yang so soon in the Inner World! For a moment, Qing Chen even thought this was arranged by Uncle Li Dong, but his master clearly didn''t know about Yang Yang''s existence, so this really was a coincidence. Continue your adventure with My Virtual Library Empire In the Outer World, Yang Yang was the transfer student. In the Inner World, the transfer student had become him. The feeling was too magical. Qing Chen''s gaze swept over Zheng Yi again, he hadn''t expected this neighbor to be in the class as well. "Okay, Qing Chen, you can find a seat for yourself," the grade director said kindly, "With a new student here, everyone should help him get familiar with the environment!" Zheng Yi could swear that she had never seen such a kind and approachable grade director before. Moreover, when a transfer student comes, it should be the homeroom teacher who brings him to class. Why would the grade director personally bring him instead? At that moment, Qing Chen slowly walked to the empty seat next to Yang Yang and asked nonchalantly, "If I remember correctly, you''re supposed to be a lonely girl from the wilderness, right?" Without any expression, Yang Yang retorted, "As far as I know, you should be a drifting, isolated Wilderness Hunter, right?" The two exchanged looks and each gave a mysterious smile, everyone clearly understood that neither was telling the truth, and their identities became a puzzle once more! Indeed, after the transmigration event, there were no more truths among Time Travelers! Logically, this should have been a massive public humiliation for both parties, but since each had exposed the other''s lies, they offset each other, and no one could criticize the other. As if it were nothing, Yang Yang asked, "Which school did you transfer from?" Wearing a superficial smile, Qing Chen responded, "What do you think?" Yang Yang pondered. Judging by the grade director''s demeanor, Qing Chen''s identity in the Inner World must be at least from a wealthy family. However, this did indeed eliminate some of her suspicions; she had always speculated that he might be the mastermind from Prison 18. No, nowadays some organizations have even given that Time Traveler from Prison 18 a specific codename, Timekeeper. It signifies the person behind the scenes, holding many chess pieces in their hands. In the eyes of those organizations, even Yang Yang was considered a chess piece in his hands. Yang Yang thought it over. It seems Qing Chen really wasn''t the Timekeeper. Otherwise, no matter how powerful the Timekeeper was, he couldn''t just suddenly escape from Prison 18 and come to school. Even if he could sneak out, how could a convict easily change their school records? Strange, who really is the Timekeeper? The two suddenly fell silent. Qing Chen also pondered internally: Firstly, it was certain that Yang Yang hadn''t told the truth before, which he had anticipated from the start, so it was no surprise. Next, Yang Yang must have originally lived in the Sixth District with no distinguished family background. Furthermore, the fact that she could quietly sit in a classroom indicated her Awakener identity hadn''t been exposed. Otherwise, how could the syndicate possibly allow her to sit peacefully in the classroom? At this thought, they suddenly looked at each other and smiled, their smiles hiding many things. Suddenly, Yang Yang said, "You live in the Sixth District, so you must have heard about the weekend protest, right?" "Yeah," Qing Chen replied, "I saw some students handing out flyers on the light rail." "I initiated that protest, why don''t you join too?" Yang Yang encouraged. Qing Chen thought, sure enough... No wonder the familiarity was so intense when those students were presenting their manifesto. Like the school taking back its educational obligations, not leaving the students'' time to society. Like stopping the disorderly expansion of capital in education. Like strictly prohibiting teachers from running schools outside the classroom, teaching what should be taught in class instead. Turns out, this was what Yang Yang brought from the Outer World! "I''m not joining," Qing Chen said emotionlessly. "I''m a bit curious, aren''t you afraid of being too ostentatious and drawing attention?" Glancing at Qing Chen, Yang Yang replied, "You''re still cautious... By the way, where do you live? Let me see if it''s close to my place." At this time, Zheng Yi, the silver-haired girl nearby, was quietly observing these two classmates. Watching their interactions, she suddenly felt that there was more to their relationship than just acquaintanceship. Chapter 222 183, go to your house or mine? "Tell me where you live," Chen YangYang said curiously. Qing Chen glanced at her. This information was not too easy to conceal, as the silver-haired girl in his class was his neighbor, and it was bound to be revealed sooner or later. But he still didn''t really want to say... It wasn''t that he feared she would mooch a meal off him, but rather he knew she had too little information about him, so it felt somewhat unfair. Qing Chen looked at the girl, "I think before asking others, shouldn''t you share some information about yourself first?" "Sure, I''ll exchange my information for yours," Chen YangYang said with a smile, "I live in Cloud Tower 802 in the Sixth District, now it''s your turn." "How do I know if you''re telling the truth," Qing Chen also said with a smile, "After all, you have a history of lying. It''s better for both of us not to trust each other too easily." "Not frank at all!" Chen YangYang pouted, "A few days ago, you were still regretting that your cultivation in the Gravity Chamber would be interrupted after arriving in the Inner World. Now I give you a chance to continue it, but you don''t cherish it! See, I asked where you live just to help you with your cultivation!" "You want to help me with my cultivation?" Qing Chen responded calmly, "I feel like you just want to save on food expenses!" "There are plenty of people who want to invite me to eat, and I''m not even interested." The two of them started a low-voiced bickering during the class, completely oblivious to the feelings of the other students. In the eyes of the other students, the arrival of the eye-catching transfer student Qing Chen to the class was a very fresh event. And the fact that he sat next to Chen YangYang upon arrival and seemed to know her from before was even more surprising. Some secretly pondered, since Qing Chen was brought over by the head teacher and shared the surname Qing, could he be a member of the Qing''s Family? Common sense dictated that children of conglomerates wouldn''t study outside of the Upper Three Districts, as the educational conditions were simply not of the same caliber. But what if this transfer student came specifically for Chen YangYang? The scenario of a wealthy conglomerate''s heir transferring schools for a commoner girl fitted quite well with the settings of literary works! Suddenly, Qing Chen seemed mysterious in the eyes of all the students. The silver-haired girl, watching Qing Chen and Chen YangYang converse in low voices and thinking of Qing Chen''s surname, remembered the distinguished middle-aged man. Suddenly, she felt as if all her previous guesses were in vain. When class started, the teacher walked in and spent 15 minutes reading through the content they would learn that day, and then declared the start of self-study. Qing Chen watched the teacher leaving and asked, "Is this how they conduct classes?" Chen YangYang said expressionlessly, "The moral standards of public high school teachers here are worse than you might imagine. This math teacher doesn''t provide substantial content in school, nor does he answer student questions. Students who want to learn something must attend his tutoring classes after school. That''s why everyone in class has two schedules, one for when they''re at school and another for after school." Once the teacher left, the classroom gradually became noisy, with students whispering about something. Looking out the window, the distant Steel Forest looked dark and brooding, while the nearby campus seemed peaceful and beautiful. The campus was lush and green, and the protest banners the students posted were passionate and inspiring. This place was like a serene haven. Qing Chen''s gaze traveled around, suddenly thinking: His master always said he lacked the vigor of youth, and in recent times, because someone was looking after him, he slowly began to show the heart that a young person ought to have. Therefore, the other party deliberately arranged for him to be enrolled, insisting on sending him to school even in this dangerous world... Actually, the considerate master just wanted him to be like other youths, carefree and to experience being a true student for once. And to have that unrestrained youth he never had in the Outer World. Uncle Li was telling him through his actions: don''t always try to race against time. Let the teachers handle their own matters; you first make up for the life you missed out on. And about girls. Sunlight shone on Qing Chen''s face through the window, Chen YangYang asked curiously next to him, "What are you thinking about, to suddenly have such an expression?" "What expression?" the young man asked with a smile as he turned back. "I can''t really describe it," Chen YangYang shook her head. As the fourth period''s end-of-school bell rang, Qing Chen hadn''t even gotten up yet when he saw more than a dozen male and female classmates rush to the door of Class 3 of the second year, excitedly waving at Chen YangYang. Qing Chen suddenly thought, did Chen YangYang transfer to the Los Angeles Foreign Language School''s Class 3 of the second year because the class name was easier to remember? So she wouldn''t mix up the classes between the two schools. Chen YangYang walked towards the door, and a female classmate pulled out a reader and said, "Chen YangYang, this morning over thirty more people signed up to join the weekend''s protest. They said they would arrive at Cloud Plaza at 7 a.m. sharp to meet up with us!" A male classmate explained, "Although half of them are coming for the free food, this is still progress. You are smarter, Chen YangYang, for getting a sponsor first!" The classmates'' faces were filled with smiles, looking particularly bright. At that moment, Qing Chen turned and asked the boy behind him, "Hi, could you tell me what Chen YangYang''s full name is?" "Chen YangYang, huh," a classmate said as if it were the most natural thing in the world, even finding it odd that the transfer student didn''t even know YangYang''s full name, yet they were chatting so enthusiastically? You see, just this morning, YangYang and Qing Chen had been whispering to each other the entire time! Sitting in the front row, Qing Chen laughed. In the Outer World, YangYang had always refused to give her full name, so even her classmates didn''t know her last name. However, in the Inner World, it was differentevery classmate knew her full name. Just as Qing Chen was about to ask something else, YangYang turned her head, saw him looking as if he was trying to uncover her secret, and smiled as she beckoned him over, "Qing Chen, come here." As she spoke, YangYang even said to those classmates who had come to see her, "Let me introduce you to this student who has just transferred to our school. He''s my newly recruited parade consultant. He''s really smart and can provide us with a lot of guidance!" In an instant, more than a dozen classmates looked towards Qing Chen with bright eyes. Consequently, Qing Chen, who was just getting up, suddenly froze. He looked at YangYang as if to say, "You''ve really put me in a spot. How did I become a parade consultant just like that? Is that even a real job?" Qing Chen couldn''t figure it out. He had accepted that he still had to attend school after coming to the Inner World, but why was school turning into a story of two big swindlers trying to outsmart each other?! He hesitated before walking over to YangYang, but then he heard the admiring students say to him, "Welcome to join us in our endeavor. Is there anything that needs to be improved for our parade event?" Qing Chen sighed inwardly and replied as if nothing was amiss, "Actually, what you all are doing is already very good, I don''t need to give any advice. I''m just one of the members in this grand endeavor... " YangYang then said to him, "No, that''s not right. You said this morning you had an idea you wanted to share with everyone." Qing Chen felt like he was going to spit up blood right there on the spot. How did he get roped into this never-ending trap? When did he ever have an idea? Looking at everyone''s expectant eyes, he suddenly said to YangYang, "My idea is not yet fully formed, so I need to think it over more. Oh, and you mentioned this morning that you wanted to compose a song for the parade. You said that having a rousing group choral performance during the parade could not only invigorate the participants but also touch the spectators." YangYang''s complexion wasn''t looking great. When had she ever said she''d compose a song? She hadn''t learned music composition! Thinking for a moment, YangYang replied, "I did have that thought, but I truly lack the talent in that area!" Qing Chen retorted, "You sang it to me this morning, and it was quite beautiful, but I can''t quite remember it. How about singing it for everyone?" YangYang watched Qing Chen with a smile that was not quite a smile, the two big swindlers sharing a silent look, enjoying the fun of outwitting each other... At this moment, in order to prevent being further entrapped, Qing Chen quickly said, "Look... carry on talking, I need to leave school a bit earlier." With that, he walked out of the classroom, swiftly crossing the hallway. Only to hear YangYang call out, "Wait for me, let''s walk together." The crowd suddenly grew quiet, all looking silently at Qing Chen. They watched the boy''s figure, his white tracksuit spotless, and his posture exceptionally upright. Everyone remembered Qing Chen''s face, and indeed, it seemed to match well with YangYang''s. However, after YangYang called out, Qing Chen did not stop; instead, he walked even faster, almost as if he wanted to run! Seeing this, YangYang apologized to the classmates, "Sorry, I also need to leave first, I''ve got something to discuss with him!" With these words, YangYang started running after him, her long black hair fluttering behind her. At the classroom door, all the classmates silently watched the two figures disappear down the hall, the corridor presenting a surreal scene, with everyone feeling like they were just extras in this picture. YangYang caught up with Qing Chen and walked beside him, her cheerful voice floating forward, "Should we go to your place or mine?" The classmates looked at each other in astonishment, each witnessing the shocked expressions blooming on the others'' faces. What kind of development was this? Had someone hit the fast-forward button on this world?! And between the two of them, it looked like YangYang was taking more initiative. Some of the girls cast glances around, and as they looked at the boys'' expressions, it was as if they could hear the sound of hearts breaking in the air. Beside Qing Chen, YangYang with her hands in her hoodie pockets, said breezily, "Don''t be so impatient. Let''s participate in the parade together. You won''t see this kind of thing in the Outer World." Read exclusive content at My Virtual Library Empire "I''m not going," Qing Chen shook his head. YangYang countered, "Don''t you find it interesting? Compared to the high school students here, those in the Outer World only know about cramming for exams." As they were talking, the two boarded the light rail train that was stopped at the school''s entrance. YangYang was taken aback because Zheng Yi, a classmate with silver hair, was already on the train: "Hi, Zheng Yi, are you also taking the Number 21 light rail home?" "Yeah," Zheng Yi nodded, and while looking at Qing Chen she added, "He''s my neighbor, lives just across from me." Seeing YangYang''s eyes suddenly light up, Qing Chen knew right away that he was in trouble. Chapter 223 184, Uncle Li Dong who enjoys watching the bustle. The sound of electric current buzzed as the light rail started. The light rail in the afternoon was no longer as crowded as in the morning. Qing Chen, Yang Yang, and Zheng Yi sat in the empty carriage, where the atmosphere began to change gradually. Yang Yang, who had originally sat beside Qing Chen, now sat next to the silver-haired girl, a movement somewhat abrupt, making the silver-haired girl look a bit timid, as if she could not guess what Yang Yang intended to do. Yang Yang sat down with a smile and asked, "Zheng Yi, we have been classmates for so long, yet I still don''t know where you live?" Zheng Yi clutched her bag strap tighter, "Luo Shen Building 132nd floor, but that''s a rented place. My actual home is in the Ninth District. It''s too chaotic there and lacks a study environment, so my mom had me rent a place." Yang Yang suddenly asked, "Do you mind having a roommate?" "Ah?" Zheng Yi gripped her strap tighter, "But, I rented a one-bedroom apartment." Of course, she would prefer to have a roommateif she could share the rent, she''d have more money saved for college. Now, she worked part-time every afternoon and attended cram school at night, but no matter how much she saved, it never seemed enough for tuition; it was still short. If Yang Yang could share the rent with her, especially since she was a girl Yang Yang admired, it would be the best scenario. Yang Yang smiled, "A one-bedroom is fine. We''ll discuss this more tonight." Then she sat back next to Qing Chen, "By the way, how are you feeling about joining the protest?" "It''s only been about two months since I traveled through time," Qing Chen slowly analyzed, "I don''t believe you can empathize with the suffering in the Inner World just yet. Even if you can, I don''t believe you''d dare to quickly initiate a protest." "So?" Yang Yang tilted her head and asked. "So, there''s another reason behind this protest," Qing Chen continued, "or shall I say, your organization has another agenda." "You guessed right," Yang Yang chuckled, "but it''s not entirely correct." Qing Chen thought for a moment and said, "Although I cannot agree with some of the students'' methods, seeing those bright smiles, even those mocked or gritting their teeth while handing out flyers, I hope your organization won''t exploit these people." "I said not entirely correct because before we helped them launch the protest, they had already taken action. We just gave them a little push," Yang Yang said seriously, "Moreover, the plans we have will not harm them. The goals of the organization pursue the same ends as theirs." Yang Yang continued, "Qing Chen, have you ever thought about who brought us here and why? At first, I couldn''t understand it myself, and many others couldn''t either. But I''m thinking, perhaps this journey through time is meant for us to help change this world." Qing Chen pondered; there had been a question on an app: If ten thousand modern people went back to ancient times, could they overthrow feudal rule? What Yang Yang was saying now seemed similar to that question. Why had these Time Travelers come here? There''s really no definitive answer to that questionten thousand Time Travelers, ten thousand answers. Yet, Yang Yang had found hers, while Qing Chen had not found his yet. "Yang Yang, those students won''t succeed," Qing Chen said. Yang Yang tilted her head and asked, "Qing Chen, do you believe in miracles?" Qing Chen hesitated for two seconds, "I believe." "Those students believe too," Yang Yang said with a smile, "Those who believe in miracles are miracles themselves." Just then, the afternoon sunlight streamed through the window, but the light rail soon entered the shadow of the Steel Forest. When the light rail arrived at the 66th floor of the Luo Shen Building, Yang Yang was the first to leave the platform, even turning back to wave at Qing Chen behind her, "What are you staring at, let''s go home!" "You really don''t see yourself as an outsider at all," Qing Chen remarked. Zheng Yi quietly followed them, suddenly noticing somethingthe distance between the young man and woman fluctuated. Normally, there''s a safe distance when people walk side by side; for most, it''s about a meter. If a man and a woman are more than a meter apart while walking, there''s likely nothing romantic between them. But Zheng Yi was puzzled, as the distance between Qing Chen and Yang Yang was utterly erratic, making it hard to grasp. Like a couple, yet not. When they reached the 132nd floor, the silver-haired girl watched as the two entered the same room. She stood dumbly at the door, even forgetting to unlock her own. Is that the kind of relationship they have? Zheng Yi silently opened her door, took out a protein bar from the fridge, poured two multivitamins from the bottle, and swallowed them down with some water. Since the protein bars she bought were cheap, they were nutritionally unbalanced, so she had to take the multivitamins to meet her daily needs. She silently counted the protein bars left in the fridge, calculating how many days they would last. ... ... Meanwhile, Yang Yang was taking in the room, "This Luo Shen Building is an old apartment block from way back. The decor here really doesn''t match the outside at all. I never imagined you''d be so poor in the Outer World and yet so rich in the Inner World." Qing Chen completely ignored the other party''s teasing, "Help me build a Gravity Chamber, I''m starting my training." As he spoke, he walked straight into the bedroom. Yang Yang followed behind and said, "Hey, you''re not going to let anyone watch while you train, are you?" With a clatter, the bedroom door was unexpectedly locked from the inside by Qing Chen. Yang Yang frowned; she originally wanted to observe Qing Chen''s training method to determine which organization he belonged to, but she hadn''t expected him to be so cautious, refusing to let her watch even though she had followed him home. As she worked on constructing the Gravity Chamber, she asked from outside, "Is training under the enhancement of a Gravity Chamber really that useful?" Qing Chen didn''t respond from inside the bedroom, as doing so would interrupt his Breathing Technique. In fact, up to today, the Gravity Chamber combined with the Breathing Technique still played a colossal role. Just yesterday, he had even asked Uncle Li Dong about his level after reverting to an Ordinary Person following the use of the Reverse Breathing Technique. The result Uncle Li Dong gave after a serious test was rather shocking: he was already close to the edge of F-Class. In the Inner World, entering F-Class was the category of the Transcendent, and Qing Chen, using the training methods of an Ordinary Person, had approached this rating standard. Of course, this included Qing Chen''s persistent efforts, but more importantly, it was the combination of the Breathing Technique and the Gravity Chamber. Discover more content at My Virtual Library Empire Now, Qing Chen''s rating was infinitely approaching the E-Class bottleneck, and the power he would gain during his next life-and-death experience might be even more astonishing. Even Uncle Li Dong could not be sure what choices the young man''s potential would make by itself if, after several life-and-death experiences, it still couldn''t be fully unleashed. This touched on Uncle Li Dong''s areas of ignorance... Outside the bedroom, Yang Yang, noticing that Qing Chen was ignoring her, felt a bit bored. She sat on the sofa, fiddling with her phone, checking out the news updates. However, just then, someone entered the code on the door in the outer hallway and came in. Yang Yang looked at the middle-aged man in front of her, somewhat at a loss; the man also looked quite surprised to see her. Realizing her sitting posture was a bit improper, Yang Yang quickly sat up straight, her knees together, her hands placed honestly on her lap, politely saying, "Hello, Uncle." Uncle Li Dong smiled: "You must be Xiao Chen''s classmate. I''m his dad." "Yes, I''m his classmate," Yang Yang replied politely: "I came to his house for him to help me with some homework." At this moment, Yang Yang didn''t know Uncle Li Dong''s identity or whether he knew about Qing Chen''s Time Traveler status, so she quickly made up an excuse. In fact, Yang Yang was very puzzled; she had thought that Qing Chen lived alone, only to find out that he apparently had a father in the Inner World. Wait, Qing Chen had just moved here, so this middle-aged man was definitely not just Qing Chen''s father. But at that moment, Yang Yang suddenly felt an inexplicable unease inside, preventing her from considering more clues. Even the continuously supported Gravity Chamber suddenly stopped. Uncle Li Dong said with a smile, "Don''t be so nervous, consider this your own home. I''ll cook something for both of you." Hearing the noise, Qing Chen came out and looked at the somewhat unfamiliar Uncle Li Dong: his voice and demeanor were the same, but his appearance was completely different. He wondered how his master managed to do that. Seeing Qing Chen stand up to greet him, Yang Yang then said to Uncle Li, "No need to bother, Uncle, I have something else to attend to, I better go." As she spoke, Yang Yang quickly rushed out of the room. "Stay for the meal!" Uncle Li Dong cheerfully called out, watching Yang Yang''s retreating figure with a smile. Qing Chen said helplessly, "Don''t stir up trouble, Uncle. I''ve been in the Inner World for so long and I''ve never seen you cook a meal. Don''t poison everyone." "Why do you say that?" Uncle Li Dong objected: "As a bona fide Knight, there''s no knight in this world who can''t cook or survive in the wild. We are all very capable of self-sufficiency!" As he finished speaking, Uncle Li Dong''s face suddenly changed, returning to its original appearance in the blink of an eye. Curious, Qing Chen asked, "What ability is this?" Uncle Li Dong explained with a smile, "Don''t be too curious; you''ll know soon enough." "With your ability, you must have known that Yang Yang was coming over," Qing Chen pondered then asked, "So you came back just to enjoy the spectacle, didn''t you?" "Exactly," Uncle Li Dong said as a matter of course: "I was actually busy, but when Zheng Yi told me a girl had come over, I dropped everything and rushed back!" Qing Chen felt he had completely underestimated Uncle Li Dong''s enthusiasm for excitement; his master really took enjoying Qing Chen''s situations as a prime matter in life. And not only was his master gossipy, but why was Zheng Yi also involved in the gossip?! This household even had a snitch! ... Thanks to being a fluffy ball, and I_Playing Indifferent for becoming new allies of the book, boss is generous, boss is prosperous! Chapter 224 185, Lets rent together! "That girl must be the one from the Outer World who can control the force field," Uncle Li Dong said with a smile as he looked at Qing Chen, "I felt the change in the force field the moment I entered. Such ability is indeed rare, and she is also polite and beautiful." "Master, is there something wrong with the latter part of your statement?" Qing Chen calmly asked, "Is that really what you should be focusing on?" "Ah," Uncle Li Dong sighed, "You might not know, but your master is getting old..." "Stop right there," Qing Chen interrupted, raising his hand, "Every time you start talking about your age, nothing serious follows." Uncle Li Dong raised his eyebrows, "When I was in the 002 Taboo Land, I was jealous of you and those old guys indulging you recklessly. They could just spoil you without considering your spiritual growth, just giving things and benefits, unlike me who had to consider a lot. I just wanted to indulge in the joy of spoiling across generations..." "I knew it wasn''t going to be anything serious," Qing Chen said helplessly, "We really don''t have any emotional complications. At most, we are just using each other. Please stop overthinking." At that moment, Qing Chen suddenly thought of a question, "Master, everyone''s force field is different. She told me that it''s like a person''s fingerprint or DNA. Just by appearing once, if she meets the real ''Uncle Li Dong'' again, she will definitely recognize you." Her ability is like a human radar, completely ignoring any changes in a person''s appearance. So, the next time she sees Uncle Li Dong''s true self, she will definitely recognize him. Qing Chen himself was recognized this way! Read latest chapters at My Virtual Library Empire No, no! Qing Chen stared blankly at Uncle Li Dong, "Master, do you think the force field of an S-Class Demigod might be different from that of ordinary cultivators?" "It should be different," Uncle Li Dong thought and said, "After all, a demigod is already one step beyond the realm of humans, and I think the more powerful a Transcendent is, the fiercer their force field. In fact, many consortiums detect the level of Transcendents by sensing the force field." "So, if she was so flustered just now, it was probably because of your force field, Master," Qing Chen murmured. So, if she could determine that the force field belongs only to a demigod, then she already knew the truth just now. Just like before, when he disguised himself using masks and Puppeteer tricks, she still ended up discovering his real identity. Now, after all his efforts, she still found out the truth. The news that Uncle Li Dong had left the number 18 prison slowly spread, and suddenly there was a demigod in 18th City. Who else could it be but Uncle Li Dong? Uncle Li Dong didn''t look at Qing Chen but walked toward the kitchen, "Well... isn''t it normal for a master to want to see the girl his disciple brought home?" "Master," Qing Chen widened his eyes, "I didn''t say anything..." Just then, there was a knock at the door. Qing Chen went to open the door and was surprised to see Xiao Yiyi standing there with a basket of fruit in her hand. "What''s this?" Qing Chen was surprised. "I didn''t realize you had company at home and left in a rush, which was a bit impolite, so I bought some fruit," Xiao Yiyi finished speaking and stuffed the fruit into Qing Chen''s arms before turning to run off again. Qing Chen looked at the girl''s retreating figure and then at the fruit in his arms, bewildered. After running a distance, Xiao Yiyi came back and whispered to Qing Chen, "I won''t tell anyone else. Only I know!" Qing Chen, holding the fruit, went back inside and sighed, "She really guessed it." Uncle Li Dong changed the subject, "The fruit in the city isn''t cheap, a kilo of fruit is worth a kilo of synthetic meat. The young lady is quite generous, aren''t she? People from outside the Upper Three Districts, unless they''re in business, wouldn''t be willing to give someone fruit." "Although the fruit in the Outer World is also expensive, it''s not to the point where no one can afford it," Qing Chen said, "The happiest time during my childhood was summer when I could eat half a watermelon by myself, and back then watermelons were cheap too, you could buy a huge one for ten dollars." Uncle Li Dong remarked, "When I was in the wilderness before, I didn''t think of this. Only later did I realize, the many apples Xiao Yiyi gave you were actually very generous. Every autumn his family goes to pick apples, and the truckload of apples they bring back can be sold for quite a bit." "I see," Qing Chen said. "Speaking of which," Uncle Li Dong said, "The Qin family has returned to 18th City. They followed my instructions to seek out Su Xingzhi, but Qin Yiyi hasn''t returned." "Where did she go?" Qing Chen wondered. "Her father, Qin Cheng, told Su Xingzhi that on the way back, Qin Yiyi took advantage of a camping night while everyone else was asleep and sneaked away from the group," Uncle Li Dong explained, "Before coming back, she said she was going to find the Fire Pit to gain power. Her disappearance this time is probably to seek the Fire Pit in the Southwest Snow Mountain." "Was this the matter you went to handle today, Master?" Qing Chen asked. "No," Uncle Li Dong shook his head, "Su Xingzhi could manage them well, I didn''t need to worry about anything." Chapter 225 186. Black Fist Zheng Yi was gradually surprised. She had taken interest when Yan Yan mentioned something about renting a room together, but after the other party entered Qing Chen''s room, she thought the two classmates were living together, so why would they still want to rent with her? Unexpectedly, the other party was serious! The silver-haired girl Zheng Yi fumbled with her small shoulder bag, a bit at a loss, "Are we really going to share a place? Why don''t you come in and sit, my place is a bit messy, please don''t mind." She was originally going to attend a tutoring class, but now that Yan Yan had come to visit, she had abandoned the idea of going to the class. "Do you have slippers so that I won''t dirty the floor?" Yan Yan asked. "No need, no need, the house isn''t clean anyway," Zheng Yi replied, "and... I don''t have spare slippers either." Yan Yan was stunned for a moment, indeed, there was only one pair of slippers in the room. The girl''s few clothes were casually draped over the sofa and the bed, but overall, it was still fairly tidy, not to the extent of being considered sloppy. Seeing Yan Yan''s gaze, Zheng Yi immediately blushed and said, "Because I get back from class too late every day, so there''s no time to tidy up, I usually only manage to clean up on weekends." "How much is the rent here?" Yan Yan asked directly as she helped Zheng Yi fold two coats from the sofa and placed them aside. "2200 yuan," Zheng Yi muttered softly, "but this is a one-bedroom apartment." "No problem, I can sleep in the living room," Yan Yan said casually, "It''s just a bit cramped, encroaching on your living space." "Why don''t you sleep in the bedroom," Zheng Yi suggested, "I''m not particular, I can sleep anywhere." "No need," Yan Yan, sitting on the sofa and smiling, said, "If I sleep in the living room, can I pay a bit less rent? What do you think about this, the rent being 2200, I pay 1000, you pay 1200, and we can split the costs for water, electric, property management, and air conditioning!" For some reason, Zheng Yi felt relieved upon hearing that she had to pay 200 more. She was worried that Yan Yan, seeing her poverty, would pity her and offer to share more of the burden. If that were the case, she would feel a bit guilty. A girl also has her pride, and she didn''t want to suffer unnecessary pity. It was this pride that had driven her to enter high school, vowing to carve out a path for herself. At that moment, Zheng Yi looked at the girl across from her and couldn''t help but say, "I just saw... you entering Qing Chen''s house, I thought you two were a couple..." "No no," Yan Yan laughed and waved her hand, "We''re definitely not a couple." Zheng Yi was curious, "It seems like you''ve known each other for a long time, our classmates said he transferred schools just for you. But everyone says Qing Chen is rather aloof, and seems to only want to talk to you and no one else. What... what kind of person is Qing Chen actually?" Yan Yan fell silent. In fact, she might be one of the few people in the world who truly understood Qing Chen. That very afternoon, when she realized how unique Uncle Li Dong''s force field was, she immediately understood his identity. The Demigod who mysteriously disappeared from Prison No. 18 had come to the Sixth District with Qing Chen as if nothing was amiss, approachable like a real student''s parent. Continue your saga on My Virtual Library Empire Because of his departure from Prison No. 18, many organizations and forces had gone mad, but he didn''t care. Therefore, Yan Yan had confirmed that Qing Chen was the "Chess Player" from the Outer World, although she was unclear why his genes didn''t match up, or how he could leave Prison No. 18 with Uncle Li Dong, but that was the reality! Zheng Yi, observing Yan Yan''s expression, asked in a low voice, curious, "What exactly is your relationship?" Yan Yan thought for a moment and joked, "I''m his chess piece?" Zheng Yi was startled, "Wife... wife?!" ... ... City No. 18, Fourth District. Located at the pseudo-center of the entire city, it is the liveliest spot at midnight. The Upper Three Districts might be the most bustling, but they revert to quiet at night. Moreover, two-thirds of the city''s night police force are concentrated in the Upper Three Districts, making it hard for it to come alive. At this time, whether they are children of corporate families or rich merchants from the Lower Six Districts, or even some respectable characters from the city''s various walks of life, they all gather in the Fourth District. Here are casinos, nightclubs, performances, and late-night snack venues; almost the best entertainment places in the entire city are within this district. After midnight, the area''s Holographic Neon lights up like densely bursting fireworks, with the roar of high-capacity sports cars incessant in one''s ears. In this era of electric vehicles, there still were young wastrels addicted to the sense of power brought by 12-cylinder engines and the aggressiveness of the backfire. Thus, out of the 21 car companies in the Federation, 7 still retained the production process for gasoline engines, though these were basically designated for high-end sports cars for those privileged youths, producing only a few hundred units a year. At that moment, a convoy was roaring from the Upper Three Districts into the Fourth, passing under drifting Holographic Neons on the not particularly wide streets. Above them floated purple whales in mid-air, while below, the cars gleamed like silver mirrors, creating a dream-like vision. Amidst the blue and purple lights, the scene was magnificent and dazzling. Nan Gengchen sat in the passenger seat, quietly observing everything. They had just returned to City No. 18 under Federal Group''s military escort yesterday, yet today Li Yinuo had dragged him out to experience the nightlife. Chapter 226 186. Black Fist_2 Li Yinuo deactivated the autopilot and expertly took control of the steering wheel. Her right hand casually rested on the thigh of Nan Gengchen in the passenger seat, "You''ve been in the Inner World for so long, yet I haven''t shown you the real nightlife here. Compared to these radiant holographic neons outside, I think the Underground Arena is more representative." Nan Gengchen replied weakly, "Isn''t it better to just sleep well at this late hour?" "No way!" Li Yinuo laughed, "The nightlife is just getting started!" "Speaking of which, have you caught that hacker yet?" Nan Gengchen asked, "You said you wanted me to learn hacking techniques, but I haven''t even seen the shadow of a hacker." "Caught him, caught him. He was hiding in City 7, and when we found him, the kid was actually planning to invade the security protocol of a Li Family enterprise," Li Yinuo sneered, "Now someone is escorting him to City 18, and he should arrive in a few days." At this moment, the convoy reached a grand circular building, as large as a football stadium. The building''s dome was holographically projecting a massive fighting scene, where two Land Cruise Grade champions were fiercely battling in an octagon cage, every detail of their sweat shaking off with each punch was crystal clear. At the entrance, a team of security personnel in black suits had already arrived to welcome them. A young girl dressed in a flashy golden tight silk dress approached Li Yinuo''s car, stepping briskly in her glittering high heels, she smiled and said, "I saw in the paper a few days ago that you went autumn hunting, didn''t expect you to be back so soon, I missed you." Li Yinuo nonchalantly climbed out of the car and firmly squeezed the woman''s buttock, "Missing me won''t help, let security park the car." Only then did the slender and frail Nan Gengchen climb out of the car, looking around bewilderedly. Seeing this, Li Yinuo came up to him and said, "I''m just playing the field with them, don''t take it to heart." Nan Gengchen pondered, feeling that the phrase was somewhat awkward. Meanwhile, more people got out of the vehicles behind. Li Yinuo walked back and took the hand of a little girl, smiling at Nan Gengchen, "Xiao Yun, this is Nan Gengchen, who I''ve mentioned to you." "Hello, brother," Li Tongyun said sweetly. Seeing this, Li Yinuo then said to Nan Gengchen, "This is my sister, Li Tongyun. Don''t be fooled by her young age; she''s really smart." At this moment, both Li Tongyun and Nan Gengchen felt that the other looked familiar, but they couldn''t remember where they had met... The two looked at each other silently, both starting to wonder if the other person could be a Time Traveler... As the group walked inside, ordinary spectators still needed to go through security. In previous years, there had been incidents where spectators, distraught from losing all their possessions betting on boxers who lost the match, had angrily fired guns towards the ring. However, for VIP clients like Li Yinuo, there''s a special private suite passage, making it much less of a hassle. Nan Gengchen asked, "Is there a match here every night?" "Of course," Li Yinuo replied, "This place is filled with gamblers who''ve lost everything hoping to strike it rich overnight, and young rich scions who gamble away vast fortunes." And there''s violence and desire. Li Yinuo continued, "From Monday to Thursday, the ring is open to all. As long as you have the strength, you can sign up to fight at any time." "What about Friday, Saturday, and Sunday?" Nan Gengchen asked. "Those are exclusive days for the famed fighters. There''ll be even more people then," Li Yinuo explained. The group entered the suite. Twelve bodyguards stood guard outside the door. This is the aura of a conglomerate out in force. The suite featured plush velvet chairs, and in front of the chairs was a holographic touch screen, ready for placing bets on the fighters in the ring at any time. Li Yinuo said to a waitress dressed in a bunny girl outfit, "Get me a Bloody Urban and a Pine Cone Whisky for baby..." Baby? The bunny girl looked puzzled, glanced at Li Tongyun, and said, "Hello Miss Yinuo, Pine Cone Whisky has a high alcohol content, it''s not advisable for children to drink." After a long hesitation, Nan Gengchen finally spoke up, "I am the baby..." Waitress: "???" Just then, as she stood in front of the glass window, Li Yinuo froze, and following her gaze, Nan Gengchen also froze! They saw Qing Chen and a middle-aged man, both dressed in pure white sports outfits, each holding a drink and standing on the north-east staircase. Read latest stories on My Virtual Library Empire The middle-aged man was talking to Qing Chen, occasionally pointing disdainfully at the two fighters in the ring below. In the octagon cage of the boxing ring, two fighters were bleeding profusely with no referee in sight, and the gate was locked; tonight, one of them had to go down before it would open again. Whether someone would die depended entirely on the victor''s temperament or the mood of the ring''s manager. Usually, the manager did not want death in the ring, as each death meant one less fighter. But if the crowd''s calls grew too loud, the manager might hint to the victor. This was a place where emotions dictated everything; the manager had to get the gamblers excited. Li Yinuo watched Qing Chen intently but couldn''t identify the person beside him. She thought it should be Uncle Li Dong, but the appearance was not the same. Could it be someone from the Heng Society? Chapter 227 186. Black Fist_3 ``` At that moment, Qing Chen and his companion turned and walked toward the backstage of the boxing arena, while Li Yinuo held her breath and turned her attention to the holographic touch screen in the private room. More than ten minutes later, in the private room, Li Yinuo and Nan Gengchen exclaimed as they saw the fighter information on the holographic screen suddenly updatethe next match''s lineup included Qing Chen, under the alias Qing Xiaotu! The Rookie Grade Classification Match! As the event information updated, pure oxygen began to be pumped into all the ventilation ducts, increasing the oxygen concentration throughout the venue. In just a few minutes, gamblers and spectators could quickly reach the peak of excitement! The so-called classification match meant that there were new fighters debuting that night, and these three words instantly aroused cheers from the crowd that shook the tables into trembling. Generally, a classification match had two outcomes: a rookie fought through several matches and rose to prominence, or a rookie fell within the octagon cage. For all fighters, this was the most grueling night. Many a Land Cruise Grade fighter had started their journey on such a night, always providing gamblers with new expectations of the rookies. At this moment, only Li Yinuo''s heart raced with excitement. Others might not know, but she was well aware of Uncle Li Dong and Chen Jiazhang''s history in unsanctioned boxing, and several Knights had chosen this path to gain practical experience after completing one or two life-and-death challenges. Li Yinuo silently watched the octagon cage, suddenly feeling like she was witnessing the birth of a new Knight, a sensation even more thrilling than her experience at Taboo Land no. 002, for she had missed the rising of Uncle Li Dong, Chen Jiazhang, and Qing Chen''s ascent up the perilous cliff. But this time, she didn''t miss it. Li Yinuo did not sit down, but instead stood in front of the floor-to-ceiling glass in the private room, waiting patiently. She said to Nan Gengchen, "According to the rules, the first night goes up to Tiger Grade at most, and the Land Cruise Grade classification matches are held on Saturdays, so let''s bet a million. I wager he''ll make it through tonight." The boxing arena had many betting options; one could bet on which match Qing Chen would fall in. Nan Gengchen glanced at the odds on the holographic screen: "If you''re betting on him to make it through, the odds are seventeen to one, with a maximum bet of five hundred thousand." "Why is it five hundred thousand? I remember there being no limit," Li Yinuo asked. "The prompt says the limit for a classification match is five hundred thousand," Nan Gengchen explained. "That little? It seems the arena is wary of fighters who might play possum, hence the limit," Li Yinuo frowned, "Then let''s bet five hundred thousand." However, no sooner had the private room placed the maximum bet than a figure with a swaying gait walked init was the same woman who had welcomed them at the entrance. The woman beamed with a smile and said, "Miss Yino didn''t hesitate to go for the maximum bet. Could it be that you''re familiar with this new fighter?" The woman sported big wavy curls and her red lips brimmed with seductiveness. "You have quite the nose for these things, huh? What, afraid someone''s going to play possum and make you lose money?" Li Yinuo sneered, "Mind your own business, and don''t pry into what you shouldn''t." The woman chuckled, "Look at you, I''m just showing a little concern. Alright, I''ll go take care of the others outside. Enjoy your drink, have fun, and I wish you a pleasant evening." Discover hidden tales at My Virtual Library Empire With that, the woman sauntered out, her waist swaying like water. She said to her subordinate waiting outside, "Lower the odds for making it through." ... Begging for monthly votes here, begging for monthly votes! Thank you to Qing Zhiwei Wen for becoming the new ally of this book, thank you to the boss. The boss is generous! May the boss make a fortune! Wishing the boss''s family happiness, health, and prosperity! ``` Chapter 228 187, The Tradition of the Knight ``` Outside the changing room, cheers, shouts, and the distinctive horn sounds of the boxing ring resonated. Two rows of horn players stood next to the ring, each holding a giant horn in front of them. When the boxing match was about to start, they would slowly blow their horns. From deep and solemn to loud and clear, their ancient and melodious sounds, along with the oxygen delivered through the vents, lifted everyone''s spirits from the depths to the skies. The entire gleaming venue was filled with the aroma of tobacco, sweat, and the scent of hormones. Find your next read at My Virtual Library Empire A host in formal attire held a microphone inside the octagon cage, a smile in his eyes as he looked around, "Ladies and gentlemen!" "After 4 months and 10 days, the octagon cage in the Fourth District of City 18 is about to welcome a new fighter. Tonight, he will climb the ladder from the rookie division." "Do you remember, a year ago on such a night, Boxing King Afan also fought a bloody battle in the octagon cage?" "Of course, four months ago, another gifted rookie fighter died in the octagon cage." "Every time a newcomer appears, their performance is something to look forward to..." In the cramped dressing room, Qing Chen looked at Uncle Li Dong, "Master, you said you were only bringing me to take a look. You didn''t mention getting beaten up before we came. Isn''t this a bit hasty?" Ordinary boxers could only use the rudimentary changing rooms. Only those above the Tiger Grade were entitled to their own private changing rooms. But to Qing Chen, the changing room was of little significance since he literally didn''t have any clothes to change into... Too hasty indeed. Uncle Li Dong spoke leisurely, "When I first stepped into the ring, I wasn''t well prepared either. Besides, both your senior uncle and I went through this process of getting beat up, it''s quite normal! A knight should face any difficulty without fear!" Qing Chen eyed Uncle Li Dong suspiciously, "Master, are you unable to lay a hand on me and want to see others beat me up?" After some thought, Uncle Li Dong said, "What''s wrong with that? When your second uncle took me to the ring, he thought the same way!" "I see, so this is also a knight''s tradition," Qing Chen remarked. It seemed that the person who sent Uncle Li Dong into the ring was the very one who had recently laid to eternal rest in Taboo Land 002, who had not yet formed any regular pattern. He must have been so fed up with Uncle Li and Chen Jiazhang that he sent the pair to get beaten up. Qing Chen was well aware of his own capabilities. Setting aside his lack of abundant combat experience, just the fact that his lineage as a transcendent placed him at a disadvantage on the boxing ring was problematic. He couldn''t use the Autumn Leaf Knife! Moreover, Qing Chen knew the rules well; on the first night of his ranking match, he would have to fight all the way from the rookie division to the Tiger Grade, barely surviving to reach the latter division just to face a true E-Class Expert. How could he avoid getting beaten up? Uncle Li Dong asked, "Where else in this world, besides the ring, can you cultivate combat experience without any reservations? Not even the sparring intensity in the Federation Army matches up to this place." Qing Chen also pondered this; real battle required rich experience, a sense of distance and rhythm. These were intuitions to be acquired over long periods of sparring. Seeing his disciple seem moved, Uncle Li Dong continued, "Think about it, an E-Class Superhuman isn''t something you see every day. In the Federation Army, only a Captain qualifies to apply for Genetic Potion of this level, and not everyone is willing to inject it. If you wish to spar with someone at the same level, they might not necessarily want to fight you even if you''re willing to do so." "Also consider this, you''d have to pay to have someone spar with you outside, but here you can earn money by sparring! Once you reach the Middleweight Level and above, for each match you fight, win or lose, you get a share of the betting pool! Plus, there''s an appearance fee!" Uncle Li Dong said. "Alright, I''ll fight," Qing Chen declared. Uncle Li Dong lamented, "If I had known money would convince you, I would not have wasted words." "By the way," Qing Chen asked curiously, "Master, aren''t you going to place a bet on me winning?" "No," Uncle Li Dong said, grinning. Qing Chen was taken aback, "Master, you must be convinced that I won''t win tonight, so you don''t want to lose money. You''re just sending me to get beaten up, aren''t you?" Uncle Li Dong replied patiently, "I don''t think that way; I just feel gambling isn''t good." Saying that, Uncle Li Dong took off his coat and wore it inside out. The inside wasn''t pure white, but pure grey. "Master, why are you wearing your coat inside out?" Qing Chen asked, puzzled. "You''ll find out soon enough." "So, Master, do you think I can win tonight?" Qing Chen inquired. Uncle Li Dong considered for a moment, "Actually, once you reach the Tiger Grade, your opponents will be real E-Class Genetic Warriors, so after several fights, it won''t be easy to win. If you want to win, you lack a catalyst." Qing Chen''s expression darkened; yet another catalyst was needed. The last time his master said he was lacking a catalyst, he specially arranged for a C-Class Expert to hunt him down. "But Master, shouldn''t I wear a mouthguard and have my boxing gloves?" Qing Chen asked. "The rules of underground boxing have long changed. No mouthguards, no gloves. This makes it all the more thrilling," Uncle Li Dong explained. The cheering outside the changing room grew louder, and someone outside the alloy gate was knocking, "The fighter, please come to the stage." However, at this moment, Uncle Li Dong''s phone suddenly chimed. He took it out and said after a glance, "After we left, that young lady named Yanyan returned to the Luo Shen Building. It seems she intends to live across from us." ``` Chapter 229 187, The Tradition of the Knight_2 "Is this just gossiping with you again?" Qing Chen asked, puzzled. "Hmm," Uncle Li Dong nodded. At that moment, Qing Chen was confused. Do real artificial intelligences gossip like humans? "Don''t take it too seriously; there''s really nothing going on between us," he calmly explained. "Yinuo arrived in Outer World Los Angeles quite abruptly, so I''ve been wanting to know what she plans to do. But I have too little information and can only quietly observe." "Do you know now?" Uncle Li Dong asked. Qing Chen nodded and smiled, "Almost, I''ve caught her slip-up." He had found out what Yinuo intended to do. Uncle Li Dong sighed, "Are young people nowadays this complicated? Back in our day, teenagers at 17 didn''t scheme like this." The staff outside the door thought Qing Chen was taking too long to come out because he was scared. He said somewhat urgently, "You''ve already signed the contract for tonight. If you back out, you''ll have to pay a breach of contract fee to the boxing venue!" Qing Chen laughed, "Master, let''s talk about everything after I finish this fight." Saying this, he pressed open the alloy gate of the changing room and silently walked outside. The door opened, and the staff outside waited. Uncle Li Dong, smiling behind Qing Chen, suddenly appreciated the feelings his martial uncle must have had when sending him and his fellow disciple to the boxing ringworried yet somewhat hopeful. He didn''t wait in the changing room but quietly slipped into the crowd. I accompany you only for a part of your thousand-mile journey, henceforth I ask no more of the blizzards or the blazing sun. But I will still sneak a look. ... ... In the private room, Li Yinuo stood quietly in front of the glass window, watching the young man in the snow-white tracksuit walk out from the boxer''s passage. Compared to the fledgling boxing champion''s entrance, Qing Chen had no coach, no team leader, and no beauties around him, utterly alone. Qing Chen hadn''t even prepared clothes for the boxing ring; his slender figure didn''t look like that of a boxer. If Li Yinuo had to say, this young man looked more like a student who happened by and thought to try his luck, dreaming of sudden wealth. Many such people had come before, but most had died in the Octagon cage. The audience in the boxing venue booed when they saw Qing Chen make his entrance like this. Those who had bet on him cursed their luck, "Damn, I thought he was a talented rookie just starting out, but this kid has no trace of training!" "Isn''t he a bit too young? Which school does he belong to?" "Hurry and bet on the other guy! Let''s win back the money we''re losing on him!" At that moment, a gray silhouette moved through the crowd: "Buying back newcomer bets at ten percent, buying back newcomer bets at ten percent." After placing their bets, the venue gave the audience white cards resembling chips, printed with the bet amount. The winner would exchange their card for money later, while losers would throw their cards onto the stage. No matter how times change, the underground boxing retained this tradition. The winner waving their ticket and the loser fiercely throwing theirs always immersed the gamblers even more. Uncle Li Dong, carrying a bag, shouted as he walked through the arena, "Ten percent buyback for bets on the newcomer''s successonly for those betting on success. Bring these to me now and you can exchange them for cash. If he loses the match later, they''ll be worthless. Life is about cutting losses timely!" "I''m selling! I bet 2000 on his success!" "Me too! I bet 800 on his success!" Uncle Li Dong said in a cheery tone, "One at a time, please!" In just five minutes, his bag was nearly full. For other gamblers, the odds of betting on Qing Chen''s success were only 10 times, and these odds were continuously falling. But Uncle Li Dong was different; he purposely made everyone see that Qing Chen was utterly unprepared, leading them to believe Qing Chen was just an untrained rookie. In doing so, when he placed his bets, he started with a leverage of ten times. When Qing Chen asked Uncle Li Dong why he did not place bets, Uncle Li Dong said that gambling was not good, but he knew it was not the right time yet! Uncle Li Dong was not short of money; he hadn''t felt what it was like to be in need of money for a long time, so he was not using Qing Chen to make money. It was just that when his martial uncle had sent him and his senior brother to the boxing platform, this was exactly what he had done! Traditions must not be broken! Your next chapter awaits on My Virtual Library Empire In fact, his martial uncle''s family was not poor, but given his martial uncle''s expenditures on women like running water, he had come up with this tactic, almost reaching the ranks of financial freedom. Uncle Li Dong remembered clearly that to raise their odds, his martial uncle had demanded that they appear in flip-flops and patched clothes the first time! Compared to that martial uncle, Uncle Li Dong felt he was already giving his disciple a lot of face. Thinking of this, Uncle Li Dong showed a faint smile; those past times were so beautiful, irresistibly bringing back memories. At this moment, in the private room, Li Tongyun suddenly walked to the window, and the little girl grabbed Li Yinuo''s hand: "Sister, I saw you staring at the boxer in white; do you know him?" "Yes, he''s a new friend of your sister," Li Yinuo said indulgently with a smile at Li Tongyun. "Sister Yinuo, who is he?" Li Tongyun asked innocently. Li Yinuo shook her head: "Sister can''t tell you his identity." A slight worry flickered through Li Tongyun''s expression, yet her tone remained innocent: "Since he is sister''s friend, aren''t you worried about him in the Octagon cage? This brother is so handsome; he won''t get hurt, right?" Li Yinuo smiled: "Don''t worry, if his elders aren''t worried, what is there for me to worry about? Rest assured, he will be fine; none of the boxers in this Octagon cage are his match." At this, both Li Tongyun and Nan Gengchen suddenly felt a sense of relief. The two in the private room seemed to sense each other''s moods, and after exchanging glances, things felt even more bizarre. "Could he be Brother Qing Chen''s friend?" Nan Gengchen wondered. "Could he be Brother Qing Chen''s friend?" Li Tongyun thought. Li Yinuo said to them: "The ranking match starts only with the novice division; those opponents in front of this student are only meant to be crushed. Watch with ease, I guess he can finish the fight in one minute." The boxing match in the Octagon cage had already started, but things did not go as Li Yinuo had said; Qing Chen did not directly dominate his opponent, Wang Fu. All were seeing Qing Chen continuously defending with his head down while Wang Fu''s punches fell on his body like raindrops, as if Qing Chen had no chance to counter. The young man''s originally pristine sports uniform soon became disheveled, marked with various punch prints. The minute mentioned by Li Yinuo passed, and there was no change in the situation. Seeing this, Li Tongyun expressed her concern: "Sister Yinuo, this seems a bit different from what you said?" Li Yinuo grimaced: "This is his strategy." Outside the private room, Uncle Li Dong glanced back at the Octagon cage and immediately said: "Start buying back the tickets for the new fighter''s pass at 0.5 times the original price! From now on, make it 0.5 times!" The despondent gamblers cursed: "Wasn''t it ten times just a moment ago? Who does discounts with decimals!? You''re being too shady!" "What was then was then," Uncle Li Dong earnestly explained: "Didn''t you see he just got to the novice level and is being beaten up like this? I''m buying the tickets for the pass; don''t I need to bear the risk?" At this moment, Uncle Li Dong was thinking to himself, appreciating how considerate his disciple was, even knowing to help set the atmosphere for his master. Compared to him and his senior brother back then, they never had such awareness. Chen Jiazhang had just gone on stage those days and knocked the novice division champion to the ground, costing their martial uncle a lot of money. At this time, the security in the boxing arena also noticed Uncle Li Dong, but they didn''t intervene. Usually, if a boxer''s relatives and friends maliciously bet, staff would issue a warning. But buying someone else''s tickets does not directly harm the casino, so they don''t care. Chapter 230 188. A complete mess In the private room, Li Yinuo said to the two people beside her, "The classification match is a fierce battle for every new fighter. At this moment, not only the audience but also the fighters Qing Xiaotu will face next are paying attention to the Octagon cage. If he uses all his strength now, the subsequent opponents who discover his weaknesses will make it increasingly difficult for him." Li Tongyun nodded silently. Only after her initial nervousness and worry had subsided did she remember what kind of person Brother Qing Chen was. If he wasn''t sure, he would never step onto the ring. In the Octagon cage, Wang Fu became more and more thrilled, with the audience cheering for him outside the cage, and his opponent cowering inside. In this situation, he had to perform more impressively, so he could gather more followers. Underground fighting differs from pure sports, here popularity matters, the higher the popularity, the higher the appearance fee. In an instant, Wang Fu stopped his barrage of attacks and moved backward, then accelerated again. All he saw was him leaping up and stepping on the wire mesh of the Octagon cage, his form as light as a swift. Swifts do not usually fly fast, but in rainy weather, they shuttle back and forth like bullets, seemingly dragging streaks of afterimages through the air. The next moment, Wang Fu''s right leg swung back, aiming directly at Qing Chen''s face, which was shielded by his arms. He intended to use his maximum strength to break through Qing Chen''s last line of defense. At this critical moment, Wang Fu suddenly felt something was off. In the instant his body rotated back, he saw the young man''s eyes, cold as arrows, watching him quietly through the gaps between his crossed arms. Those eyes held no disarray, nor fatigue. He didn''t even blink. In the dark night of prison cell 18, Ye Wan once asked Qing Chen, "What do you think is the most important when fighting someone?" Qing Chen thought for a moment and replied, "Strength." "No," Ye Wan shook her head. Qing Chen thought again and replied, "Rhythm." "That''s not it either," Ye Wan shook her head again. Qing Chen asked back, "Then what is the most important?" Ye Wan answered, "The gaze." Incoming fists and swords make you instinctively want to dodge, but you must overcome all instincts. Don''t blink, don''t shift your gaze. You have to keep your eyes on your opponent and then find their weak spot. At that moment, Qing Chen slightly bent his knees and hunched down, allowing the whooshing kick to pass over his head, merely brushing his hair. The next second, just as Wang Fu''s form passed over his head, Qing Chen seemingly unintentionally raised his arms to protect his head, his clenched fist striking hard against the opening between Wang Fu''s split legs. All of this seemed as if Wang Fu had accidentally run into Qing Chen''s fist. Mother Ye had said that this was the most lethal spot for a man where even one-tenth of the force could easily incapacitate the opponent. With a cry, "Ah," Wang Fu lost his balance in mid-air and fell on the other side of the Octagon cage. This cry of anguish even drowned out the cheers in the ring. Fighters are all rigorously trained, so even if injured, they do not scream. Unless they can''t help it. The incident happened so quickly that both the audience and the gamblers hadn''t realized what had exactly transpired. Your next read awaits at My Virtual Library Empire Why Wang Fu, who had been overwhelmingly superior, suddenly faltered during his signature move, the Swift Return. The reversal came so unexpectedly, many gamblers in the stands felt something was amiss, but when they tried to buy back their tickets which they had sold at a low price, they found that the middle-aged man who had bought their tickets was nowhere to be found. The gamblers who had bet on Qing Chen to lose in the first round began to get angry, cursing Wang Fu and then violently throwing their tickets into the arena. This scene was classic in the boxing ring, where some rejoiced and others were furious. In the private room, Li Yinuo breathed a sigh of relief, "Just as I expected, see, that featherweight fighter wasn''t his match at all." "Sister Yinuo, you are amazing," Li Tongyun praised. As Li Tongyun praised, she watched Qing Chen return to the locker room. She clenched her small fists and thought to herself that Brother Qing Chen was indeed formidable. The last time she returned, Li Tongyun thought she might face a purge. After all, she was young and her considerations were not thorough, so when she helped Jiang Xue, she didn''t cover it up very well. If the registry information from the Outer World was brought back to the Inner World, her inexplicable help for Jiang Xue would have been immediately scrutinized. The young girl was nervous for several days, only to find out later that Qing Chen had already resolved the situation. For Li Tongyun, half her sense of security in life came from her mother, Jiang Xue, and the other half from Qing Chen; naturally, she hoped Qing Chen would be as formidable as possible. She and Jiang Xue had long considered Qing Chen as part of the family. However, XiaoTongyun was puzzled, wondering why Brother Qing Chen was here? It didn''t quite match the clues she had found. When Qing Chen just pressed open the Alloy Gate to the locker room, he saw Uncle Li Dong waiting inside with a big bag of things. "Teacher, what is this...?" Qing Chen asked curiously. Uncle Li Dong gave a mysterious smile and opened the bag, "These are all gifts from your teacher. If you can clear tonight, all this money will be yours." Qing Chen paused for a moment and pulled out a betting ticket, "Are these all bets placed on me clearing?" Chapter 231 188, Scrambled eggs with chicken_2 "Right," Uncle Li Dong had roughly calculated: "I got them all at ten percent of the original value, and a rough estimate would be that I spent about one hundred thousand yuan because they were all individual tickets and thus not of high face value." That is to say, the basic value of these tickets is upwards of one million yuan. "If I win, how much can I exchange these scattered tickets for?" Qing Chen asked. "They all bought in at different odds, but I reckon the overall average would probably be about ten times the odds," Uncle Li Dong said with a grin: "Master doesn''t lack money, so all the winnings this time will be your spending money." Qing Chen took a deep breath: "Master, I understand, this is the opportunity you were talking about." ... ... In the private room, Li Yinuo looked at XiaoTongyun: "Why don''t you take a rest first?" "No need, I''m really getting into it now!" XiaoTongyun blinked her shining big eyes, watching Qing Chen, who had re-entered the Octagon cage attentively, and she turned her head to ask Li Yinuo: "Yino, what do you think he''ll do next in the fight?" Li Yinuo smiled and rubbed her head: "I didn''t expect you to like boxing matches so much, that''s quite similar to your sisterthere''s potential!" Li Tongyun thought to herself that she wasn''t actually fond of boxing matches; she was purely concerned about Qing Chen. At this moment, Li Yinuo then turned to Nan Gengchen next to her and said, "Baby, if you don''t like watching, you can rest in the private room. I''ll ask the venue to prepare some food." "No need, no need, I''m not sleepy now," Nan Gengchen thought to himself that he couldn''t feel sleepy at a time like this, he didn''t want to sleep, he just wanted to see Qing Chen knock down all the opponents in the Octagon cage. Li Yinuo said joyfully, "I didn''t expect that you''d like boxing matches too, Baby. Just a moment ago, you were clamoring to go back to sleep. Look, now you''re getting excited too, aren''t you." The beautiful young warrior by her side could not have imagined that neither of the two people next to her were truly interested in the boxing matches; their attentions were completely fixed on Qing Chen alone... Nan Gengchen asked, "Yino, do you have any predictions for what comes next?" Li Yinuo thought for a bit before responding, "I speculate he will continue with the stable tactics from before, which makes it easier to hide his combat style and weaknesses." The trio looked towards the Octagon cage together, following the Bantamweight level was the Lightweight level. The host stood outside the Octagon cage, elegantly bowed to the audience, and then excitedly introduced: "Ladies and gentlemen, who among you could have imagined that Qing Xiaotu, after struggling for 20 minutes in the previous round, would knock down his opponent in such a coincidental manner?" "Guess, how long will he last this time? Will he fall under the fists of the Lightweight Boxing King Yan Yu next, or will he step over the Golden Belt of the Lightweight Boxing King and move on to the next round?" However, in the next instant, as the referee exited the Octagon cage, Qing Chen suddenly burst forth like a ferocious tiger, and before the Lightweight Boxing King Yan Yu could even react, he rushed forward, crouched, and landed a punch right on the crotch. "Ah! Fuck!" The host''s voice was still echoing in the venue when the match had already ended... The gamblers who had placed bets on Qing Chen falling in the second fight were furious, tossing their tickets into the arena like snowflakes. Suddenly, a white Great Snow descended upon the boxing venue. In the private room, Li Yinuo quickly added, "But a conservative fighting style consumes a lot of stamina, and ultimately he''s going to face opponents from the Tiger Grade, who are all retired soldiers from the military and might not fall for it. So I believe he''ll aim for a quick victory!" XiaoTongyun and Nan Gengchen both turned to look at her, speechless. Li Yinuo''s face also struggled to maintain composure as she grumbled softly, "Did this kid take a stimulant or something? Why did he suddenly change his tactics?!" Nevertheless, her post-facto analysis actually lined up with what Qing Chen was thinking. Qing Chen knew that the boxers he was facing were battle-hardened. The audience might think that the recent groin hit was a fluke, but Tiger Grade Boxers definitely wouldn''t see it that way. So rather than continue wasting energy, he''d rather get it over with quickly and move on to the Tiger Grade as soon as possible. At that moment, Qing Chen turned to the referee: "No need for a break, bring in the Lightweight right away." With that, he zipped down his sports jacket all the way. All the spectators silently watched the young man in the Octagon cage take off his sports jacket, then reveal the perfect muscle lines on his body, lean and ferocious. Each muscle was as solid as steel. Wow! The audience in the boxing venue all exclaimed in admiration, having originally thought that Qing Chen was just handsome but ineffective in a fight. But now, seeing him effortlessly take out the Lightweight Boxing King and sporting that muscular physique, it was clear that they had underestimated himhe had been playing possum! Qing Chen looked towards the host: "No break, let''s continue, is that okay?" The host hurriedly glanced towards the stands at the voluptuous woman in a gold dress who nodded slightly. "Ladies and gentlemen, at the request of Qing Xiaotu, we have decided to accelerate the pace of the ranking match. Now, let''s welcome the Lightweight Boxer Liu Rufeng. I believe that all spectators who bought tickets tonight will feel that it was worth it. Tonight, we might witness the birth of a new boxing champion," said the host. As Liu Rufeng made his entrance, the host continued to shout excitedly, "Is there any audience who witnessed the rise of Boxing King Afan last year? Looking at this young boxer, Qing Xiaotu, it''s like a dream returning to those days..." "That night, it was also so sudden..." "Ah! Damn it!" Just as the host said this, another cry of pain from a fighter echoed behind him. He turned around to see Liu Rufeng, the lightweight boxer, already clutching his groin, barely able to stand. "That''s really sudden," the host remarked. Qing Chen looked at him, "Next." Upon hearing this, the host quickly said, "The competition has reached a critical turn, and now, please welcome Middleweight Boxing King Zhou Mo... What? Zhou Mo returned the appearance fee and forfeited the match!?" The host unwittingly repeated the message from his earpiece aloud. For a moment, the audience in the boxing arena was stunnedduring the new fighter classification match, a Middleweight Boxing King forfeited? Zhou Mo! Zhou Mo actually forfeited! This situation had never been encountered before! Gradually, everyone realized what was happening... Zhou Mo was afraid to fight! The audience in the boxing arena numbered nearly ten thousand. At first, there was silence, and then in the next instant, it turned into an uproar. The noisy sounds seemed almost to lift the roof off. Li Yinuo stood silently in the private room, watching. She wondered if it had been the same grand scene when Uncle Li and that Uncle Chen Jiazhang had participated in boxing matches years ago. Knight. It seemed that with the Knight name, one was destined to become one of the protagonists of this world. Under normal circumstances, classification matches for new fighters were already rare, happening only every few months. Thus, boxers usually didn''t stay at the boxing arena waiting for a challenge as fighters and boxing arenas had a cooperative relationship; the arena couldn''t just summon them at will. The other boxers present were there for their own matches, and having just finished a fight, they couldn''t possibly enter the ring again. Zhou Mo was urgently contacted by the boxing arena, and an appearance fee was paid to have him rush over. However, no sooner had Zhou Mo entered the arena and before he had even changed his clothes, he saw Qing Chen dominating Liu Rufeng, the lightweight boxer, with an overwhelming performance. As a seasoned fighter, he quickly understood that this young man named Qing Xiaotu was aiming for a complete victory. That was clearly the speed of an E-Class Superhuman. Explore more at My Virtual Library Empire In the past, even if Zhou Mo knew his opponent was definitely stronger than him, he would still fight if the boxing arena offered a sufficient appearance fee, as getting hit wasn''t really a big deal. But this young man was too vicious in his attacks. He couldn''t afford to take a beating like that! Next to the woman dressed in a golden gown, who was devilishly charming, someone asked in a low voice, "What do we do now, boss?" With keen interest, the woman watched the young man in the octagon cage, "He''s really good-looking. Our boxing arena has finally got a real cash cow!" "Boss?" her subordinate asked, puzzled. "Arrange for Tiger Grade Huang Zixian to fight him," the woman said with a smile. "Tonight is his night of fame; it needs to be complete." The subordinate was taken aback, "Huang Zixian is currently challenging for the Tiger Grade Boxing King, and he''s in peak condition. Boss, are you sure about having Huang Zixian fight him? Aren''t you afraid something might go wrong?" The logic was simple: seeing the young man in the octagon about to gather massive popularity, one should just arrange a slightly weaker Tiger Grade fighter for him to ensure a smooth victory. That way, the image of the new boxing prodigy would be established. If Huang Zixian were to enter the ring, it was uncertain whether the young man could win, and if he lost, that would be a big problemfew fans are eager to follow a loser. The woman just smiled, "What do you know? Defeating Huang Zixian means there''s no fluke. I need a real cash cow, not a fake." ... More to come tonight, can''t stop until I''ve finished writing this segment, off to grab a bite. Chapter 232 189. The Bloody Youth in the Octagon Cage! (Explosion, ask for monthly tickets!) ``` Qing Chen stood in the Octagon cage, showing no intention of taking a break from the stage. "Hey, kid, need a break?" Uncle Li Dong appeared at the edge of the cage, asking with a smile. Qing Chen turned to look at his master and said with a smile, "Resting or not makes no difference." "How did you feel about the previous fights?" Uncle Li Dong asked, cheerfully. "No feeling," Qing Chen thought for a moment and said, "To be precise, before I could feel anything, they''d already fallen." "You sure talk bigger than your uncle," Uncle Li Dong commented, "The next fight they''re arranging for the top contender from the Tiger Grade to face you, scared?" "Not scared," Qing Chen shook his head, "After all, I can''t die with Master here." "Your uncle thought the same thing before," Uncle Li Dong sighed, "On the stage, he was nearly killed by a Land Cruise Grade fighter. When he turned around, he saw me on the bleachers flirting with a young woman, not even watching his fight. At that moment, your uncle almost despaired, realizing he could only rely on himself." "Then to make me feel a crisis, Master, you go find someone to flirt with as well," Qing Chen said expressionlessly. "Respect your elders," Uncle Li Dong laughed. "What grade were you in at the time, Master?" Qing Chen stood by the Octagon''s side, asked curiously through the black wire mesh. "Of course, Land Cruise Grade!" Uncle Li Dong said. "Master, I remember you said your first time on the boxing stage was just after your first brush with life and death?" Qing Chen challenged. "Ha ha, did I say that?" Uncle Li Dong turned and walked toward the stands. However, he suddenly seemed to remember something and came back to the side of the cage, "You can''t use weapons on the stage, or else even a hair infused with True Qi could be used like the Autumn Leaf Knife." Qing Chen subconsciously glanced at Uncle Li Dong''s hair. "What are you looking at, kid," Uncle Li Dong said, a bit vexed, "But what I do want to tell you is that once a Knight is promoted, he is always the top of his grade, and can hold his own bare-handed against anyone. So have some confidence. Also, you always have your own unique advantage." After saying this, Uncle Li Dong left. Qing Chen pondered silently, what unique advantage did he possess? What advantage? At that moment, gamblers in the stands suddenly recognized Uncle Li Dong, "Isn''t that the old guy who just bought our tickets? He actually knows the fighter!" "Damn, we''ve been played by these two! That Qing Xiaotu was concealing his strength in the first round, all so that middle-aged man could buy up the tickets easily!" "Damn, that''s too shady!" "Didn''t the middle-aged man say he only bought tickets that passed the filter?" someone asked. "Yes, he only bought those!" The gamblers suddenly froze; this meant that the middle-aged man was utterly confident Qing Xiaotu would definitely win through! After spending so much money, he definitely wasn''t just throwing it away for nothing. This was absolute confidence! While they were contemplating, some gamblers had already gotten up and were rushing to the betting window. However, there was already a notice hanging outside the betting window: system malfunction, emergency repairs underway. For a moment, the gamblers were unsure whether it was a real or fake malfunction. The sound of a horn slowly rose as ten strong men beside the Octagon lifted the huge horns. Among the sounds of the horn, Huang Zixian came out of the fighters'' tunnel, accompanied by his coach, team leader, and a beautiful woman. He had a Golden Belt over his shoulder, and among all the tattoos on his body, the Blue Evil Ghost on his chest was the most eye-catching. Standing outside the Octagon, he raised his hand to signal the crowd, and sudden cheers erupted throughout the boxing gym. This was the most popular fighter in the boxing gym below the Land Cruise Grade. Qing Chen watched silently; this was his first time facing a Transcendent of the same grade in a head-on battle. There were no rules of Taboo Land here, and inside the Octagon, there were no environmental factors for him to exploit. The Octagon was a place where two fierce beasts must fight to determine a victor, or life and death, under absolute fairness. At that moment, Huang Zixian happened to turn his head and calmly lock eyes with him. Even for someone like Qing Chen, who had experienced real combat, he finally understood that the boxing ring was just that, and the opponent had once been the King here, while he was merely a rookie making his debut. Read new chapters at My Virtual Library Empire In the private room, Li Yinuo watched the scene with a cold gaze, "On normal days, rookies in the classification matches would get to Tiger Grade at most, and they''d never let an old Boxing King take the stage. Jiang Xiaotang seems to want Qing Xiaotu to make a name in one fight, to become a cash cow for her Begonia Boxing Gym." Nan Gengchen was puzzled, "Who is Jiang Xiaotang?" "She''s the woman in the golden dress we saw when we came in," Li Yinuo said, "She''s the owner of this Begonia Boxing Gym and the woman all the clans in City Number 18 least want to mess with." "I thought her arranging the Boxing King to fight Qing Xiaotu was to put an end to Qing Xiaotu''s qualifying, after all, the opponent is the Tiger Grade Boxing King," Nan Gengchen voiced his confusion. "Because I bet on Qing Xiaotu to get through," Li Yinuo looked at Nan Gengchen, "So she''s certain that Qing Xiaotu will win against anyone in the Tiger Grade. That clever woman always coats her words with honey laced with poison; I still prefer you, sweetheart." Nan Gengchen was silent for a long time, "It''s hard to tell if you''re complimenting me or insulting me." "Shh," Li Yinuo turned to the Octagon, "It''s starting." This time, however, the bout between Qing Chen and Huang Zixian started off in a way that surprised everyone. From the first second, Huang Zixian assaulted him fiercely, driving him to the edge of the Octagon cage. ``` Chapter 233 189. The Bloody Youth in the Octagon Cage! (Explosion, ask for monthly tickets!)_2 Qing Chen wanted to protect his vitals with his arms like in the first fight, and then slowly study the rhythm of his opponent''s attack. But with one whip-like kick, Huang Zixian violently sent him flying backwards. Only then did Qing Chen remember that at their level, their body weight could no longer provide a fortress for them. For the strength each of them possessed was enough to disregard that extra hundred and some pounds. Intense pain spread through his arms and his back. Even the black mesh of the Octagon cage he crashed into was deformed! In the private room, Li Tongyun and Nan Gengchen both clenched their fists tightly. The young girl''s eyes immediately filled with glistening tears. Even Li Yinuo noticed the problem this time, Qing Chen''s combat experience was still too lacking. At that moment, a subordinate beside Jiang Xiaotang whispered, "This young man seems to have no close combat experience..." The enchanting Jiang Xiaotang looked at the Octagon cage indifferently and said, "If this young man is just a pretty face, then it will only make Huang Zixian''s record shine brighter. No matter who loses or wins, the boxing gym won''t lose. When have you ever seen a house lose money?" "But..." the subordinate said. Jiang Xiaotang gave him a nonchalant look with a smirk, "But I think he won''t lose." "Why?" the subordinate asked, puzzled. "Huang Zixian has been standing too long in the Tiger Grade," Jiang Xiaotang said carelessly, "He has unbeatable experience and skills, and the calmest mentality among those in the Tiger Grade, yet he has forgotten that the most important thing for a fighter is their fighting spirit." "Fighting spirit..." "I feel this young man possesses a unique fighting spirit." Before she finished speaking, Qing Chen immediately got up before Huang Zixian''s next attack arrived, knowing that if he lost his balance in the fight, he would be at the mercy of his opponent. Huang Zixian''s attack came like a torrential downpour, crazily falling from the sky and densely pummeling Qing Chen. Qing Chen felt as if he were being hit by truck after truck, his body nearly splitting apart! He wanted to counterattack several times, but each time he attempted to shift his offensive, the opponent''s attacks forced him to defend with both arms. Qing Chen barely managed to block with his arms and stared intensely through the gaps at his opponent. Huang Zixian, too, looked at him through the gaps with unflinching eyes, both aware that unless something unexpected happened, the fight was about to end. What to do? The next moment, Qing Chen''s pupils suddenly narrowed. In his memory, Ye Wan''s voice seemed to echo in the dark No. 18 prison, "Xiao Chen, if your opponent is of a similar level but far exceeds you in experience and technique, what should you do?" Qing Chen thought about it, "Run?" Ye Wan said, "What if you can''t run away?" Qing Chen thought and said, "If it were you, what would you do in the face of an opponent of equal level but far superior in experience and technique, Mother Ye?" "Me?" Ye Wan smiled and said, "If I really couldn''t beat them, then I''d try relying on instinct and courage. Xiao Chen, remember, only those who are too afraid of losing, too concerned with gain or loss, will only defend." In the Octagon cage, Huang Zixian attacked like a storm, wanting to shatter Qing Chen''s defensive arms with repeated strikes, but the next moment, he suddenly saw the young man smiling through the gap. Qing Chen thought, yes, why contest someone else''s strengths? Qing Chen had not yet accumulated enough experience and technique, but he too had his strengths, which was that he was never afraid to lose in his desperate life! Yes, if you are not as skilled, why not try using your vigorously fought life, your innate fighting instincts, and your unyielding will! And the courage to risk it all! In an instant, Qing Chen suddenly opened his arms and lunged at his opponent, allowing the punches to hit him, and then firmly taking it all and starting to throw punches. He possessed the powerful Knight''s Body, and as long as the opponent couldn''t kill him with one strike, he still had the chance to trade wound for wound, life for life! There was only one chance! In a flash! Qing Chen took Huang Zixian''s punch to the cheek squarely and hooked out a punch of his own that struck the opponent''s right rib. The next second, he also took Huang Zixian''s punch on his own left rib and threw a punch that hit the opponent''s face. Although he lacked defensive techniques, did not know how to control the rhythm of the attacks, and even didn''t know how to throw a combination punch, he had his life! Moreover, his speed and strength were never inferior to Huang Zixian''s. After exchanging two punches, Huang Zixian silently retreated, and the distance between them widened in an instant. Qing Chen laughed despite the blood streaming down his cheek, and his smile was particularly brilliant. Outside the octagon cage, Uncle Li Dong also smiled with Qing Chen; he knew that his student had grasped the essence of combat. Fighting to the death was never about weighing gains and losses, not simply trading blows and then saying it''s fine as long as you break even. In life-and-death battles, the goal is to kill the opponent at all costs, no matter how much pain you yourself have to endure. Outside the ring, all spectators were boiling with excitement. They hadn''t expected Qing Chen to suddenly change his style of fighting, and this tactic of trading injury for injury was the most fierce and entertaining in the bare-knuckle fighting world! The next moment, Qing Chen took the initiative to close the gap and, without any hesitation, exposed his vulnerabilities to Huang Zixian, entering a state of all offense and no defense. He had once said, if he couldn''t be a god, then he would be a wild beast! For a moment, Huang Zixian''s momentum was stolen, and he bent slightly, guarding his face and ribs with his arms, just like Qing Chen at the start. Jiang Xiaotang turned to her subordinate and smiled, "See, this is what I call fighting spirit." Qing Chen furiously hammered at Huang Zixian''s defense. Undeniably, the opponent''s eyes, peeking through the gaps in his arms, could always predict his attacks. Experience tales with My Virtual Library Empire Then, Huang Zixian would adjust his stance accordingly and try to block Qing Chen''s punches with his elbows. This was a terrifying amount of experience, accumulated from more than ten years of dominating the ring! Huang Zixian''s gaze remained calm. Qing Chen realized that Huang Zixian was waiting, looking for a chance to deliver a fatal blow. This was also a true wild beast, just like Cao Wei in the Taboo Land, who, even if his momentum was taken, would use his opponent''s strong and stable mentality to seek an opportunity for victory. Qing Chen knew he could no longer let his opponent watch his combat style. But what should he do? At that moment, Qing Chen felt the Knight True Qi coursing limitlessly within his body and suddenly remembered the words Uncle Li Dong had once said: If the Autumn Leaf Knife is not used, the Knight True Qi cannot directly harm a person. But when this Knight True Qi is channeled into an enemy''s body, it can cause unimaginable negative damage. Debuff! Qing Chen had wanted to test this Debuff on Uncle Li Dong, but Uncle Li Dong had said that his level was too low to make it effective. But Qing Chen''s Knight True Qi might be ineffective against Uncle Li Dong, it would definitely work on Huang Zixian. At the edge of the octagon cage, Qing Chen swung his fists forcefully, the Knight True Qi within his arms flowing endlessly, all converging into his fists. Qing Chen hammered down fist after fist, straightforwardly hitting the opponent''s arms, and that bit of Knight True Qi also streamed into Huang Zixian''s body with each punch! In an instant, Huang Zixian felt a sting in his nose, his tear ducts suddenly bursting like a fountain, producing countless murky tears. He had been observing Qing Chen through the gaps in his arms, but somehow his vision blurred with tears. The next moment, Qing Chen''s uppercut broke through his defense! A spectator suddenly stood up and exclaimed, "Damn, Huang Zixian is crying from the beating!" All eyes turned to Huang Zixian, only to see the seasoned Tiger Grade Boxing King tearfully unable to open his eyes under Qing Chen''s onslaught! This time, even the usually calm Jiang Xiaotang could not remain composed. A rising star in the boxing world had made the old, experienced Tiger Grade Boxing King cry in the octagon cage. Honestly, even she didn''t understand what this signified! Jiang Xiaotang murmured, "He actually made Huang Zixian cry..." ... Exploding with 12,000 words, seeking monthly votes! Seeking monthly votes!!! Chapter 234 190, I wont kill you ``` The rising star of the boxing world made the former Tiger Grade Boxing King cry! The news spread like wildfire, reaching the entire Fourth District in the dead of night within just a minute. The nocturnal crowd, originally busy in nightclubs and late-night eateries, saw the message on their phones and began flocking to the Begonia Boxing Gym. Vehicles roared, and tonight the Begonia Boxing Gym became the brightest pearl in the Fourth District. "You defeated an enemy" and "You made an enemy cry" are two completely different concepts. The former belongs to the logic of the normal world, the everyday person, while the latter invariably hints at the absurd and the playful. So it was no wonder everyone was making a fuss; the fact that "Qing Xiaotu" made Huang Zixian cry was too incredible. It wasn''t just the audience who was shockedQing Chen himself was too! He had known that Knight Vital Energy was fierce, but he didn''t expect his own Knight Vital Energy to be this fierce. His master''s, Uncle Li Dong''s, True Qi could cause a burning sensation inside the body. His senior uncle''s, Chen Jiazhang''s, True Qi could induce a feeling of nausea. Being hit with these two types of True Qi was certainly unpleasant, but the reduction in fighting capacity wasn''t particularly horrifying. However, Qing Chen''s Knight Vital Energy was somewhat bizarre; the tears had glazed Huang Zixian''s eyes, so much so that he couldn''t see Qing Chen''s attack routes clearly. The most important thing in battle is vision; without it, one can''t even walk steadily, let alone continue a fight to the death. There are so few in this world who can discern position by sound. However, Qing Chen had estimated that he had pumped about a third of his Knight Vital Energy into Huang Zixian before the latter reacted. To infuse so much Knight Vital Energy into an opponent''s body, it would take at least five or six punches. At that moment, Huang Zixian was retreating to increase the distance between himself and Qing Chen while rubbing his eyes trying to clear his vision. No matter how much he rubbed, the tears wouldn''t stop. But in such a state, Qing Chen still did not rush forward to end the fight easily; he walked slowly around the octagon cage, observing. There, his formidable opponent, even unable to see clearly, quietly assumed a defensive posture with his arms, identical to the Jujitsu seen in videos from the Outer World by Qing Chen. Huang Zixian was waiting for Qing Chen to approach, willing to endure a few punches if it meant getting the chance to use close-quarters strangulation techniques on him. At that moment, even if Huang Zixian couldn''t see his opponent, he still had a chance for a desperate counterattack. Huang Zixian hadn''t given up. Stay tuned for updates on My Virtual Library Empire In his heart, Qing Chen thought that maybe this was a world that belonged only to beasts. Top predators prowled in this world, surviving only by being fierce enough. Cao Wei was like this, Huang Zixian too, and many opponents Qing Chen would face in the future; he needed to keep his wits about him and become colder and more vicious to survive. At that moment, Huang Zixian stopped wiping his tears and let them stream down his face. He slowed and lengthened his breathing, quietly waiting and listening to the footsteps in the octagon cage. But then, the sound of Qing Chen''s footsteps suddenly disappeared. In all the spectators'' eyes, the young man in the octagon cage was moving back and forth in a strange step pattern. Barefoot, Qing Chen followed the stepping techniques taught to him by Ye Wan, changing his position silently. Silently, altogether. Back when Qing Chen learned this technique, he thought it was something anyone in the Inner World who was strong would know, but he later realized that not everyone has a master like Uncle Li, nor can everyone have a giant like Ye Wan as a sparring partner and teacher. In an instant, Qing Chen''s punch landed on Huang Zixian''s right rib from the side. Huang Zixian hadn''t perceived Qing Chen approaching, and by the time he tried to seize Qing Chen''s arm, his assailant had already moved far away after landing the blow. Inside, Huang Zixian was shocked; why couldn''t he hear the young man''s footsteps at all! A person weighing more than a hundred pounds walking in the octagon cage without making a sound! One hit, and another. Qing Chen was gradually dismantling Huang Zixian''s combat capability, blood emerging from the opponent''s mouth, half-kneeling at the edge of the octagon cage. By then, spectators in the stands realized Huang Zixian''s defeat was certain, and some started to excitedly stand up and chant, "Kill him! Kill him!" In the indifferent Steel Forest, the repressed bestial nature of the spectators and gamblers was unleashed in this boxing arena. They wanted someone to die in the octagon cage tonight! No staff intervened; they seemed to have received instructions not to prevent Qing Chen from killing someone in the octagon cage. However, Qing Chen suddenly said softly to Huang Zixian, "Fall, I won''t kill you." In that moment, Huang Zixian, already severely injured and on the verge of collapse, finally couldn''t hold on any longer. He fell to the ground, gasping for air, and eventually said in a low voice, "Thank you." It was not until then that Qing Chen realized just how cruel the octagon cage could be. If you are the loser, you might truly die. Everyone was waiting for Qing Chen to kill Huang Zixian, but he didn''t make a move. Looking towards the referee outside the cage, Qing Chen calmly said, "It''s over, announce it, I won''t kill him." ``` The referee hesitated for a moment, until a command came through his earpiece, then he nodded at the host like a puppet, "Announce." The host suddenly became excited, "Qing Xiaotu, wins!" With tonight''s grading match over, Qing Chen had passed the test, and whether to participate in the Land Cruise Grade competitions thereafter would be his own choice. In the stands, the usual practice began, the gamblers who had not bet on Qing Chen passing the test, one by one, angrily threw their betting slips towards Huang Zixian. The betting slips fluttering in the sky were like confetti bursting from ceremonial cannons at a grand event. Next, it was time for the winning gamblers to hoist their betting slips and cheer. But everyone suddenly realized a problem, they had no betting slips to hoist... Normally, the winners and losers in the stands would be a stark contrast, some joyful, some sorrowful. However, after this match, the stands were strange, everyone was distressed. There were simply no winners... It was only then that everyone realized that the not-so-benevolent middle-aged man had almost collected all the betting slips on Qing Chen passing the test! Meanwhile, Uncle Li Dong had already exchanged all the betting slips and had the gym transfer the money to an account in Qing Chen''s name at Li''s Technology Development Bank. The winning amount was a bit more than expected because many had placed their bets at odds of seventeen to one, with the final amount credited being 13.26 million! With a traditional Knight maneuver tonight, Uncle Li Dong had directly catapulted Qing Chen into the ranks of the wealthy. Of course, this was nothing compared to real tycoons, but having over ten million during his student days meant Qing Chen could pretty much do as he pleased at school. Perhaps many have wondered what it would be like to become wealthy during their student days? In the private room, Li Yinuo sat carelessly on the sofa, and Jiang Xiaotang, stepping in on high heels, came in with a smile, "I heard Miss Yino was looking for me?" "Yes," Li Yinuo said, "I made quite a bit more money tonight because of something I said, right? I noticed that right after you left the private room, the odds for passing dropped by four points." Jiang Xiaotang smiled, "Of course, it was all thanks to Miss Yino''s blessing." "Since I helped you make money, then I also have a request," Li Yinuo turned her head to look at Jiang Xiaotang, whose red lips were especially tempting in the dim light. Jiang Xiaotang said, "Don''t just mention one request, I would agree to ten if Miss Yino asked." Li Yinuo pointed at Qing Chen in the Octagon cage, still catching his breath, and said, "From now on, let him fight if he wants to fight. If he doesn''t want to, don''t use any means on him." It''s said that no matter when you see the beautiful owner of the Begonia Boxing Gym, she always has a smile on her face, but at this moment her smile faded, "Miss Yino, the Begonia Boxing Gym is also a business, having good fighters naturally makes for better business." "So, you disagree?" the young lady sat up straight. Jiang Xiaotang calmly said, "That''s not the case. I mean, in the end, it''s up to Qing Xiaotu himself, right? I won''t force him, but I believe the Begonia Boxing Gym definitely has something that can attract him." Li Yinuo stood up with a smile, and as she walked past Jiang Xiaotang, she said meaningfully, "Don''t get in too deep yourself." After that, she left with Nan Gengchen and Li Tongyun. On the way, Li Tongyun asked worriedly, "Sister Yino, that boxer Xiaotu seems to be hurt, will he be okay?" "He''ll be fine," Li Yinuo ruffled XiaoTongyun''s head, "Those injuries look scary, but they''re just superficial." Jiang Xiaotang stood in the empty private room, quietly looking through the glass window at the Octagon cage. She smiled and then, swaying her hips, walked out, turned a few corners, and entered another private room. Here, the Middleweight Level fighter Zhou Mo who had forfeited earlier was being forcefully held down on his knees. Without saying a word, Jiang Xiaotang took two daggers from a black-suited subordinate and firmly stabbed them into Zhou Mo''s abdomen. As the woman watched his pained expression, she calmly said, "Don''t blame me, this is just the way of the underworld rules. You can refuse matches from the Begonia Boxing Gym, but once you accept, you cannot back out last minute. If there are no consequences, how will outsiders view me?" Zhou Mo, despite the unbearable pain, did not complain, "I understand the rules." "So the jewels really are too precious," Jiang Xiaotang chuckled lightly, "compared to losing your jewels, you''d rather take this stab." As she spoke, the woman told her subordinate, "Alright, let him go. Let him walk to the hospital next door for emergency treatment. Remember, don''t pull out the daggers before entering the hospital." The Begonia Boxing Gym had medical staff, and here, even minor surgeries could be performed. But Zhou Mo had to go to a public hospital for treatment, so others could see that he had been punished. Such are the rules of the underworld. At this time, outside the Octagon cage, the host spoke with invigorated passion, "The path to victory of Boxing King Afan is revived tonight at the Begonia Boxing Gym. I believe that all the spectators witnessing this moment with me will never forget what we all experienced today..." Qing Chen walked out expressionlessly, feeling like his whole body was falling apart. Besides his arms starting to swell, both sides of Qing Chen''s ribs were a bruised purple, and his outer thighs were also reddened and swollen from Huang Zixian''s sweeping kicks. Half of Qing Chen''s face was covered in blood, swollen high. A reckless fighting style was certainly fierce, but post-fight, it was truly painful! He limped towards the changing room, and the staff members below immediately flocked around him, "Xiaotu student, the Begonia Boxing Gym has prepared a private changing room for you, and the medical staff have been waiting there, your father too." "Alright, take me there," Qing Chen said. After this grading match, everything had changed. According to the staff, he wouldn''t have to trouble himself with coming to the boxing gym in the future; just a phone call would have a nanny car from the gym pick him up and drop him off. In the changing room were fruit platters, and a deluxe shower room was available in another room. This was the treatment reserved for a true cash cow. Chapter 235 191. The Real Shadow As Qing Chen entered the changing room, he was surprised to find Uncle Li Dong enjoying a melon, now dressed in the white side of his clothes. Before they could talk, two female medical staff came forward to treat Qing Chen''s wounds, and an accompanying staff member handed him a card, "This is your earnings from tonight''s fight. From tonight onwards, as long as you compete, you will receive dividends from the gym''s betting pool and ticket sales." "How much is this?" Qing Chen asked. "1.12 million," the staff member replied politely. Setting down the melon as if it were nothing, Uncle Li Dong commented, "That''s quite high, isn''t it? Begonia Boxing Gym is offering you the dividend rate of a Tiger Grade Boxing King right from the start?" The staff member became even more polite, "You really know your stuff. This dividend rate was indeed specially instructed by Mr. Tang, and it''s according to the Tiger Grade Boxing King level." Fighters above Middleweight Level can participate in the dividends, but the money regular fighters receive is vastly different from what a champion at each level can earn. This also encourages those ambitious fighters to strive for the championship title in their category every year. "Additionally," the staff member said, "we would also like to know when Xiao Tu would like to fight in the Land Cruise Grade match?" "I need to think about this matter a bit more," Qing Chen said. "Okay, no problem," the staff member exited the changing room. Qing Chen''s wounds were treated by then, and Uncle Li Dong, with a smile, said, "From now on, you won''t be particularly short on money." Qing Chen looked at his master, who had tried to give him a gold bar before, which he had refused. At that time, though they were mentor and apprentice, their relationship wasn''t as close as it was now. After a trip to the Taboo Land 002 and experiencing so much, Qing Chen now accepted it wholly and without hesitation. In the end, Qing Chen''s lack of security had held him back earlier on. Back then, they were mentor and apprentice; now, they were more like father and son, a completely different sentiment, and the young man no longer needed to maintain his own pride. Moreover, Uncle Li Dong, to respect his pride, even let Qing Chen earn his first fortune by himself. This master was indeed considerate. "Master, do you think I am now suitable to compete in the Land Cruise Grade?" Qing Chen asked. "I think you should first try your hand at the Tiger Grade," Uncle Li Dong thought for a moment and said, "Moreover, I think you need a process to adapt to fighting. Just like your fight tonight against Huang Zixian, he already knew his body couldn''t withstand the power of his own weight class, but you lack real battle experience, so you knew nothing about this." In Uncle Li Dong''s opinion, his student possessed the exceptional ability of Super Memory, which would allow him to rapidly copy other people''s techniques and experience as long as he adapted over time. Therefore, accumulating and settling in was an important process. After a moment''s pause, Uncle Li Dong said, "I suggest you come watch the fights every night, regardless of whether you compete. Watching is essential for you." Qing Chen understood what his master meant; because his rank had escalated so vigorously straight to the Peak of E-Class, he needed to learn, observe, and think. "Let''s go home," Uncle Li Dong said with a smile, "This time, the master can also ride in the Begonia Boxing Gym''s nanny van, thanks to the son''s merit." As they left the changing room, many spectators recognized Qing Chen and greeted him warmly, some of them with admiration shining in their eyes. This wasn''t unusual, for the world itself admired the strong. However, Uncle Li Dong''s behavior was quite peculiar. Whenever someone recognized Qing Chen, he would cheerfully say, "Did you see his match just now? This is my son, impressive, right...?" Watching this, Qing Chen smiled silently, which resulted in him pulling at the wounds on his face, making his smile look particularly awkward. As the two left the venue, Jiang Xiaotang, the owner in a golden dress, was already waiting at the door. She spoke to Qing Chen with a warm smile, "Congratulations, I am the owner of this Begonia Boxing Gym, Jiang Xiaotang." "Thank you," Qing Chen said before getting into the nanny van. However, after Qing Chen got into the van, Uncle Li Dong seriously looked at Jiang Xiaotang, smiled, and said, "Not bad, much more composed than when you were younger." After saying this, Uncle Li Dong also got into the van, leaving Jiang Xiaotang standing confused at the gym entrance. The beautiful and young owner turned and walked back into the gym. She swayed her hips to her own office and quietly lit a cigarette for herself. The thin smoke seemed to soothe her fluctuating emotions. Jiang Xiaotang knew that beneath that stranger''s face was an elder she was most familiar with who had perhaps changed in appearance, but whose voice remained the same. Furthermore, this elder clearly knew she could recognize the voice. ... ... Countdown 48:00:00. Back at the Luo Shen Building on the 132nd floor, Qing Chen, grinning and bearing his pain, slumped on the sofa, "Master, how long will it take for my injury to heal?" "This injury is quite severe. Even with the best medicine from the gym, it''ll take about a week," Uncle Li Dong estimated. "Seems I have to return to the Outer World with injuries," Qing Chen sighed. Continue your journey on My Virtual Library Empire With a playful smile, Uncle Li Dong asked, "By the way, you didn''t mention what mistake Ying Ying did that you caught?" After thinking for a moment, Qing Chen replied, "I suspect she chose my class to observe Liu Dezhu up close." Chapter 236 191. The Real Shadow_2 "Liu Dezhu?" Uncle Li Dong asked. "Yes, in the Outer World he is only your student, of course, now many people no longer believe that," Qing Chen said, "But there is one thing everyone is sure of, he is indeed in Prison 18, and he is indeed connected to you." "A Transcendent with an Awakening force field doesn''t need to cling to others like some do," Uncle Li Dong said. "So, I think she actually came for Prison 18," Qing Chen said, "At first she wanted to observe Liu Dezhu, but then she found that I might be more valuable, or closer to you, so she shifted her target to me." "Hmm, that makes sense," Uncle Li Dong said. "Master, what forces are currently focusing on Prison 18? Is it just for ACE-005?" Uncle Li Dong laughed, "Of course not, not even Guo Huchan came for ACE-005." "Then what''s it for?" Qing Chen wondered. "It''s for ACE-002," Uncle Li Dong said. Qing Chen realized, so that was it. He had once asked his master if he had ever seen an S-Class Taboo Object, and the reply was that he might see one very soon. Therefore, this S-Class Taboo Object had always been contained in Prison 18, and it was of crucial importance. "Do they know what ACE-002 is?" Qing Chen asked. "No," Uncle Li Dong shook his head, "In fact, the emergence of this Taboo is very strange, because it came from an Ordinary Person." "A Taboo emerging from an Ordinary Person," Qing Chen was astonished, "That doesn''t follow the rules." "Hmm, everyone thinks it doesn''t follow the rules," Uncle Li Dong said, "But someone told me that this Ordinary Person could actually have become an S-Class Transcendent, but being extremely intelligent, almost to the point of being monstrous, he felt his intellect was enough to dominate his era, so he didn''t awaken into a Transcendent." And so he did not become a Transcendent. Uncle Li Dong looked at Qing Chen and said, "According to the bloodline relations of the Inner World, this Ordinary Person is actually your ancestor. It is rare for Qing''s shadows to have good ends; when he was a Shadow, driven into a corner, he eventually chose to flip the table and, overnight, the Qing''s Family bloodbath occurred, and the regime changed hands. After many Transcendents die, people would occasionally check their graves to see if any Taboos have emerged. This one, however, was forgotten because he was never a Transcendent in the first place." When Uncle Li Dong introduced the Taboo ACE-002, he elaborated on its origins in detail. However, he didn''t mention the function of this S-Class Taboo Object, the conditions for its containment, or its background. "Master, you didn''t go tomb-raiding, did you?" Qing Chen hesitated. "What are you thinking," Uncle Li Dong said with tears and laughter, "A Knight would never do such a conscienceless act." Qing Chen thought for a moment, "Now I understand why so many forces are eyeing Prison 18. Who are the forces inside now?" "Spade, Contraindicated Tribunal, Deer Island," Uncle Li Dong glanced at Qing Chen. Qing Chen analyzed, "First of all, eliminate Deer Island; Yan Yan wouldn''t work for Deer Island." "Why?" Uncle Li Dong asked. "Because the Chinese of the Outer World look down on those people from Deer Island," Qing Chen said with certainty, "If Chinese from the Outer World work for Deer Island, it''s no different from being a traitor." "Then she wouldn''t be from the Contraindicated Tribunal either," Uncle Li Dong laughed, "The Tribunal is the natural enemy of Transcendents, no Transcendent would join only to be contained in their old age." "That leaves only Spade," Qing Chen said. When all impossibilities are eliminated, the only remaining option is the answer. Yan Yan has an unconventional personality; she could visit Qing Chen at home in the middle of the night, she can speak without restraint, so from the outside world''s perspective, her relationship with Qing Chen is very close. Experience exclusive tales on My Virtual Library Empire But what was the reality? Both of them were well aware of the pitfalls between them, and they were still on guard against each other, testing each other, and using each other. Qing Chen needed her Gravity Chamber, and she needed Qing Chen''s identity background in the Inner World. Uncle Li Dong laughed and asked, "Do you think she wants to obtain the Taboo through you, from me?" Qing Chen shook his head, "Such a smart girl surely knows that no matter how hard she tries or how close she is to me, you would never just give away ACE-002, so her goal isn''t to seize the Taboo." At that moment, Qing Chen fell into deep thought, "I''m afraid she already had a mission from Spade when she traveled here. But Yan Yan is a Time Traveler, naturally not feeling any sense of belonging to the original host organization, so she definitely wouldn''t want to risk her life on a mission with Guo Huchan." Qing Chen continued, "But the organization is her backing, and as smart as she is, she wouldn''t sit back and watch her organization suffer heavy losses, so she may be looking to safeguard the strength of Guo Huchan and the organization." Uncle Li Dong laughed, "I think that bald Guo Huchan is actually not a bad person, if this little girl pleads for him, I might be willing to spare his life." "Master, there must be more clues," Qing Chen said. He closed his eyes, carefully recalling all his memories. The meeting in the Outer World, the reunion in the Inner World, the morning classrooms, the light rail train in the afternoon. Everything flashed through his mind like a carousel lantern. Suddenly, Qing Chen opened his eyes and said, "Master, the day of the student protest on Sunday must be the day they planned to make their move. The endpoint of the student protest is the Upper Three Districts; by then, the entire city''s police force and the Federation''s garrison will converge there, and no one will pay attention to Prison 18. That''s the reason they initiated the student protest." Chapter 237 191. The Real Shadow_3 Uncle Li Dong looked at the earnest expression of his student and smiled, "Don''t worry, I have been waiting for a long time. When the day comes, we will give this young lady a surprise." Qing Chen thought to himself that it might not be a surprise but a shock instead. "By the way, Master, when I become a boxer on the stage, my appearance will surely be remembered by many, is that really alright?" Qing Chen asked. "You and ''Qing''s Family Qing Chen'' are no longer the same person," Uncle Li Dong said, "Altering the traces of your future is rather troublesome, but changing the past trajectory of Qing''s Family Qing Chen is not difficult for One." As he spoke, Uncle Li Dong took out his phone and flipped to a photo, the person in it bearing at most a faint resemblance to Qing Chen. "If someone checks the records of Qing''s Family Qing Chen, they will find that this person''s appearance has no relation to you," Uncle Li Dong said, "You are now the son of a modestly wealthy family, and although your surname is Qing, you have no connection to Qing''s Family." "But many people have seen me," Qing Chen said. "I have already confirmed that the number of people who have seen your face, know your true identity, and still remember you, are only a few. Others might have seen you in earlier years, but their memories are probably blurred by now. They won''t think much upon seeing this photo, only that you''ve become unattractive," Uncle Li Dong said, "As for those who still remember you, there''s no need to worry about Jindai Kongyin since she''s far away, nor about Li Yinuo. Only Xiao Yiyi in Qin Cheng might guess my identity. The rest are Qing Yan and the prisoners in Prison 18." "Hmm," Qing Chen pondered for a moment, it should be right. "Qing Yan died yesterday," Uncle Li Dong said expressionlessly, "And there''s no need to worry about the prisoners in Prison 18, they will soon be unable to speak." Enjoy exclusive content from My Virtual Library Empire Qing Chen was startled, understanding the implication that those prisoners were... He knew about silencing by murder, but he had never imagined his master would take the lives of so many people to ensure silence. That was wrong. Qing Chen suddenly turned to look at Uncle Li Dong, "Master, you''re actually fulfilling the containment conditions of ACE-002 now, aren''t you?" Uncle Li Dong smiled without a word. "If I am no longer connected to ''Qing''s Family Qing Chen'' as you said, then how can I participate in the Shadow''s Strife, let alone claim further missions?" Qing Chen asked, puzzled. "It''s alright, there''s no need to claim missions," Uncle Li Dong said, "The Shadow''s Strife has always had two paths to choose from, it''s just that one path is so cruel that many have forgotten it." "What path?" "Kill all the other candidates, until only you are left." This was the most brutal path, also the simplest and most direct. It was at this point that Uncle Li Dong truly resembled the Knight Leader who had long held a position of power. This was the Uncle Li Dong that Qing Chen had seen when he first passed through to Prison 18. "But if I don''t look like ''Qing''s Family Qing Chen'', then even if I killed all the other candidates, I still wouldn''t gain the recognition of Qing''s Family, right? After all, I''m not one of Qing''s Family anymore, so how can I become the Shadow?" Qing Chen was even more confused. "Don''t worry, there''s still one more person who knows your true appearance, but I can''t tell you who it is," Uncle Li Dong said with a smile, "Remember, the person who is forgotten by everyone else is the true Shadow." ... Thanks to Doclamur, Xiangba Qilin, Chen YangYang, and Yaoyao for becoming new allies of this book. Generous bosses, may you all make a fortune! Chapter 238 192. Compensate for Qing Chens shortcomings "Huang Zixian cried because of your Knight Vital Energy, right?" Uncle Li Dong asked. "Yes," Qing Chen nodded. Uncle Li Dong remarked, "Then your True Qi is quite a sight." Qing Chen said, "It''s good that you reminded me before I started fighting. Only then did I remember I had this advantage. Teacher, I want to know what effects other Knights'' True Qi have. Are there any like mine?" Uncle Li Dong replied, "Knight Vital Energy comes in all varieties, but there are no two alike. Your senior brother''s causes nausea, your grandmaster''s gives an electric shock sensation, and your second grandmaster... makes people mistakenly like him." "Wait a minute!" Qing Chen looked at his master in sudden shock, "Why is my second grandmaster''s Knight Vital Energy so domineering?" "I don''t know about that," Uncle Li Dong sighed, "but his Knight Vital Energy is quite effective in actual combat; it can lower an opponent''s morale. You might be in a life-and-death struggle, and suddenly, you can''t bring yourself to strike anymore." "From this perspective, your True Qi is relatively proper," Qing Chen reflected. "Not all Knight Vital Energies are conducive to combat," Uncle Li Dong said, "There was a Senior Knight whose True Qi gave others a false sense of excitement, so when he first channeled his Knight Vital Energy into an enemy, he took a particularly severe beating." Qing Chen was left speechless. It was then that Uncle Li Dong continued, "In the Knight Organization, no one has ever had True Qi effects that replicated another''s. Yours, however, is an exception." Qing Chen puzzled, "Me? Was there someone in the Knight Organization with True Qi that could make people cry?" "Yes," Uncle Li Dong nodded. "Which senior was that?" "The founder of the Knight Organization, the one who carved ''eternally youthful'' on the face of Green Mountain," Uncle Li Dong stood up after speaking, "Get some rest early. I have some errands to run and you might not see me for the next day. I''ll take you back to the No. 18 Prison on Sunday morning." "Okay," Qing Chen asked, "Teacher, can I go to the boxing gym alone?" "Of course, you can, and it''s also the place you should be right now," Uncle Li Dong said, "When you can defeat a Tiger Grade opponent without using Knight Vital Energy, you can then consider the next life-and-death challenge." ... ... Countdown 40:00:00. At eight in the morning, there was a knock on the door. Groggy, Qing Chen struggled to get up from the bed. As he rose, every injury in his body began to pull and tear as if he were about to split apart. Yet he didn''t make a sound, just slowly moved toward the door, "Who is it?" The voice of young wheat sounded, "It''s me, time for school!" "About that..." Qing Chen hesitated, "I have some things to take care of and won''t be able to attend school today. You go ahead." Outside the door, young wheat and Zheng Yi looked at each other, feeling something was off. Young wheat asked, "What''s wrong with your voice? It sounds a bit off." At the moment, half of Qing Chen''s face was swollen like a loaf of bread, which made his speech slightly leaky and naturally sounded off. The reason he wasn''t going to school was he was worried about his classmates seeing his ghastly appearance. And indeed, he really was hardly able to move today, in pain at the slightest motion. Qing Chen was a tough person, not uttering a sound even in pain. But toughness didn''t mean he had to go to school with injuries, that wasn''t being strong, that was being foolish. After thinking it over, Qing Chen said, "I''m fine, you should hurry to school or you''ll be late." "All right," young wheat pulled Zheng Yi''s hand towards the elevator. As the two girls reached the 66th floor and boarded the light rail train, Zheng Yi whispered, "Aren''t you worried about Qing Chen? I feel like something might be wrong with him." "It''s nothing," young wheat covered up for Qing Chen, "He''s probably just not fully awake yet. He''s always liked to skip classes." Young wheat had deduced that Qing Chen had been injured, but she couldn''t figure out how he''d gotten hurt. Standing in the crowded train, young wheat kept a force field around them both, ensuring that anyone who tried to get close was invisibly repelled, like two magnets of the same polarity that could never touch. The silver-haired girl Zheng Yi held onto the handrail with one hand and tugged at her small handbag with the other, looking at the train gliding through the air, weaving through building after building, feeling inexplicably joyful. Perhaps it was because she felt her burdens in life had lessened, or maybe because she, once a bit of a loner, had gained a friend. Then, young wheat asked, "Zheng Yi, I saw a civilian taser in your bag yesterday. Do you always carry that with you?" "Yes," Zheng Yi nodded, "My home is in the Ninth District, and every time I go back on weekends, I have to be extra careful. If something happens there, even if you call the cops, it will take them two hours to show up at the scene." "That slow?" young wheat frowned. "Yes," Zheng Yi nodded, "Mom says those Federation police are afraid there might be guns at the crime scene. If they go immediately, they could get shot themselves. If they go later, when the crime has ended, they can just clean up. Lives in the Ninth District aren''t worth much." Young wheat looked out the window at a city that seemed beautiful, its buildings as if rising from a realm of fairy tales, yet the life at its foundations was so challenging. She had inadvertently opened Zheng Yi''s fridge the night before and found only the cheapest protein bars inside. On the table were the most affordable multivitamins. Chapter 239 192. To Compensate for Qing Chens Weaknesses_2 At that moment, Jiang realized why Zheng Yi was striving so hard in his studiesit was the last effort that people at the bottom could make, as they could only change their fate through knowledge. After arriving at school, Jiang suddenly found that her classmates in Senior 2 Class 3 were all whispering to each other. But when she and Zheng Yi entered the room, everyone stopped their discussions and turned their attention to her. Out of curiosity, she asked one of the boys, "What''s going on?" "Two of our classmates went to a boxing match with their older cousin last night and were surprised to find out that the transfer student you are familiar with was actually in the ring," the boy whispered. "They say Qing Chen is also known as Qing Xiaotu at the Begonia Boxing Gym, and last night, he was graded as a Tiger Grade for the first time as a newcomer." The underground boxing matches in the Octagon cage, where life and death could be decided, didn''t make it to the official stage, but a lot of Federal people, especially teenagers, liked watching them. The curious boy looked toward Jiang, "Didn''t you two leave school together yesterday? Didn''t you know?" "I really had no clue," Jiang replied. A classmate who had witnessed the boxing match said excitedly, "I saw with my own eyes how Qing Chen fought in the grading match. He was getting hit at first, but then he became fiercely aggressive. However, after he reached the Tiger Grade, it seemed like Qing Chen was struggling. He was being beaten by that Huang Zixian for more than ten minutes before he made a desperate turnaround." Jiang nodded, understanding why Qing Chen hadn''t come to school today. To tell the truth, she had also been to an underground boxing match. Just in City 18 alone, there were over a hundred boxing venues, each more ferocious than the last. Qing Chen was surely covered in bruises now. Another classmate who was at the scene last night continued, "Qing Chen wasn''t struggling at all, okay? I think the most exciting match last night was that one. You all don''t know, Qing Chen initially had trouble adapting to the rhythm of the Tiger Grade, was pushed to the edge of the Octagon cage, but later, I don''t know how he suddenly went into a frenzy. He exchanged blow for blow, life for life, with his opponent, hampering the old boxing king, and in the end, he even made him cry!" ... ... At this very moment, Qing Chen was lying on the sofa with his eyes closed, resting. He had no idea a discussion about him was unfolding in his class. Qing Chen knew Uncle Li Dong had taken him to the ring for the purpose of allowing him to digest the power he had obtained through actual combat. Each Knight''s ascension was a leap, so they had to familiarize themselves with their new strength. It was like a little child suddenly coming into ten million but only knowing that the money could buy candy, not realizing it could also buy houses, cars, even motorhomes. And unlike those seasoned trainers, the training Qing Chen had received consisted only of the brief period Ye Wan had hurriedly taught him. So, he needed to keep revising, observing, and learning, which were things he was best at. Every day in the boxing gym, life-or-death fights took place, and the boxers were among the most skilled in combat techniques, which was why generations of Knights honed themselves there. As Uncle Li said before he left, "Once you can beat a Tiger Grade Boxer without using Knight Vital Energy, you can start thinking about the next life-or-death trial." That meant Qing Chen was to learn the best fighting techniques from the best underground boxers in the top gym of the Fourth District. Only by then would he not be a fool with just raw power. Thinking this, Qing Chen finished his review for the day and dialed a number on his phone, "Hello, this is Qing Xiaotu. Could you send the nanny car to pick me up?" Jiang Xiaotang''s laughter came from the other end, "Of course, I''ll arrange it for you right away. You''re our gym''s star boxer now; you can come over whenever you want. Let me see, the address your father left is Luo Shen Building, right?" "Yes, Luo Shen Building, thank you," Qing Chen hung up the phone. He was puzzled C shouldn''t such a call go to the gym''s staff? Why was it directly connected to Boss Jiang''s mobile phone? Soon, the nanny car arrived. Qing Chen sat in the luxurious vehicle and noticed that fruits and pastries had already been prepared for him on the table next to his seat. The black nanny car navigated through the vast and intricate city, like moving through a labyrinth. Some minutes later, the car drove straight into the back door of the gym, but as Qing Chen opened the car door, he froze. Huang Zixian sat in a wheelchair, quietly waiting. Upon seeing Qing Chen get out of the car, he struggled to stand up. Qing Chen sized him up. The other man''s injuries were more severe than his, and his left arm was in a sling, suggesting bone damage. However, what Qing Chen found strange was that despite such serious injuries, Huang Zixian didn''t rest peacefully but came specifically to wait for him. Huang Zixian brushed aside his assistant''s attempt to help and bowed to Qing Chen, "Boss Jiang told me you were coming, so I made my way out from the neighboring hospital to wait for you here just to say thank you." Qing Chen shook his head, "Actually, it wasn''t necessary. You were already out of fighting capability; I had no need to kill you." Huang Zixian shook his head, "The others in the Octagon cage might not be as kind as you. Perhaps you are not a regular visitor to boxing gyms or do not often watch underground fights, so you may not know how cruel the Octagon cage can be. But I am very clear about what kind of place it is, and on behalf of my wife and children, I wanted to thank you. If I had died yesterday, their fate would have been bleak." Before Qing Chen could respond, Huang Zixian continued, "My gratitude is heartfelt. Right now, I may not have anything substantial to offer, but time will prove everything. I owe you my life. I''ll get my family''s affairs in order as soon as I can, and then my life will be at your disposal." Qing Chen looked at Huang Zixian, whose gaze was incredibly earnest. On the boxing ring, everyone is an opponent, but outside the ring, they are all living people with wives, children, relatives; they joke and drink. Qing Chen hadn''t previously explored what kind of person the other guy was, but at this moment, he felt the Tiger Grade Boxing King''s courage and character. After a moment of silence, Qing Chen said, "Alright, I''ll remember the favor you owe." ... Thanks to Big Brother Four and Shi Mie for becoming the new allies of this book. Thanks to the boss, the boss is generous. I want to explain why there is only one chapter today. Ren Xiaosu has been having nightmares these past few nights, afraid and unable to sleep. Last night, I was woken up seven or eight times, and today I am really not in the best condition. I wrote a lot but deleted most of it, so that''s all for today. I will make up for today''s update tomorrow. Chapter 240 193. The Underworld of the Little Guys "Why are you here so early today," Huang Zixian expressed his puzzlement, "It''s only 3 p.m., just the fledgling and lightweight matches are on." Qing Chen walked into the gym while Huang Zixian sat back into his wheelchair, letting his assistant push him to keep up with the young man''s steps. In the hallway, Qing Chen lowered his cap and said, "I thought I''d just come and take a look." "Actually, you want to observe and learn techniques, right?" Huang Zixian remarked. "Why would you say that," Qing Chen asked calmly. "I can feel it," Huang Zixian stated from his wheelchair, "Even though you beat me so badly, your techniques are nowhere near minethat''s something tangible." Having said that, he looked up at Qing Chen''s expression and, seeing that the young man wasn''t displeased, he continued, "I''ve been known for my technical style in the ring for a long time. To gauge someone else''s technique, it takes just one punch for me to tell, like when I throw a punch, your evasive moves and defensive posture all rely on subconscious reactions. In a fight, it''s your subconsciousness controlling your body, not you yourself." Qing Chen found this notion very interesting and said earnestly, "Go on." "Actually, if it wasn''t for my inexplicable tears yesterday, you wouldn''t have won against me," Huang Zixian also admitted sincerely, "I don''t see you as a regular at Begonia Boxing Gym, and it doesn''t seem like you''ve specially studied me, so you probably don''t know that grappling is my forte. Yesterday, when you counterattacked and I seemed to fall back, I was actually waiting for an opportunity. Just over ten more seconds, and I might have caught a flaw and pinned you to the ground." Qing Chen knew that Huang Zixian was telling the truth, and it was precisely because he had sensed the danger that he started to think about what other cards he had to play. Even after Huang Zixian shed tears, he had not dared to approach rashly. It was instinct warning him. Therefore, this was also the reason he came back here, to seriously learn fighting techniqueshe wanted to build a solid foundation until the day he could beat a master like Huang Zixian fair and square, without any tricks. Now, that Huang Zixian could easily point out his weaknesses showed him he still had a long way to go. Huang Zixian looked at Qing Chen, "You have a strong talent, because your instincts are strong, but without technique, you won''t get far." "Yeah, I came early precisely to learn techniques," Qing Chen said, no longer concealing his intent. However, Huang Zixian looked confused, "To learn techniques, you need to hire a professional coach. Begonia Boxing Gym doesn''t provide personal trainers; it''s not one of their services." "I don''t want to hire a coach," Qing Chen shook his head, as they teach too slowly, one lesson at a time. What he intended to do was to observe others fighting, memorize all the details in his mind, go over them slowly, and ultimately make them his own. But he couldn''t explain his talent to Huang Zixian. Just then, a gym staff member in a black suit appeared in front of them, speaking in a low polite voice, "Mr. Qing, the boss asked me to check with you whether you will be competing today. If so, we could invite an opponent for you on short notice. If you have someone in mind you''d like to fight, please let me know." Qing Chen was startled, "I''m not fighting today, I''m just watching." "Then I''ll show you to a private room," said the staff member, then led the way. He escorted Qing Chen to the door of a VIP room labeled VIP001. Huang Zixian''s expression turned curious. Huang Zixian hesitated before asking the staff member, "Can I go in?" Qing Chen felt it strange; why would he ask if he could enter? Wasn''t it just a private room? But instead of answering directly, the staff member looked to Qing Chen, "Would you invite Mr. Huang?" "Invite," Qing Chen still had things to ask this experienced old-timer. Upon Qing Chen''s reply, the staff member turned to Huang Zixian, "Mr. Huang, you may go in and accompany Mr. Qing." After the staff member inquired about their desired beverages and meals and got their answers, he quietly left the room. Qing Chen smelled the faint scent in the room as if a hidden orchid were blooming silently in the dark night, fragrant yet not cloying. He looked at Huang Zixian, "Can you explain that scene just now to me?" "This is the private room Boss Jiang uses to watch matches, not open to the public," Huang Zixian explained, "Everyone at Begonia Boxing Gym knows this. She usually watches from this room alone, not letting others near." Qing Chen contemplated; no wonder the scent here was so richit was that lady''s exclusive place. He was unaware that Huang Zixian''s mind was already filled with complexities, as the Tiger Grade Boxing King couldn''t be sure what relationship this young man had with the long-established owner of Begonia. In the mind of someone like Huang Zixian, Jiang Xiaotang was never considered a simple, kind-hearted soul. Indeed, how could an ordinary woman, who could keep a straight face while personally stabbing Zhou Mo twice in the gut, be anything but extraordinary? This was the infamous Scorpion of the Fourth District whose beautiful appearance and enchanting figure concealed a chilling coldness and ruthlessness. At this moment, Huang Zixian hesitated before speaking again, "The Middleweight Level Boxing King Zhou Mo, who refused to compete against you yesterday, was stabbed twice by Boss Jiang herself. He''s still lying in the hospital next door. But this is the way of the martial world, I suppose Zhou Mo was prepared for it." "The way of the martial world?" Qing Chen heard this phrase again; the last time Huang Zixian mentioned paying back a life, he had also talked about the way of the martial world. Chapter 241 193. The Underworld of the Little Guys_2 He had always thought it was a vague concept, but now it seemed to embody some rigid substantive rules. Huang Zixian explained, "In the Inner World, one must highly value loyalty, faithfulness, and promises. Zhou Mo took the money from Begonia Boxing Gym but was afraid to fight and made Boss Jiang lose face. This is considered a violation of the rules of trust, so he had to suffer the consequences. Also, once you join a clan in this Inner World, you cannot betray it, otherwise, you''ll become an outcast. If anyone shelters a traitor, all clans can unite to attack." Qing Chen nodded; he understood this. The rule was a mechanism established by the rulers for their benefit. With this rule in place, anyone thinking of betraying the clan or breaking faith had to think twice. However, the fact that such rules existed in the underground world of the Inner World was somewhat surprising to him. At this point, Huang Zixian said, "Just like you sparing my life, I owe you mine. This too is a rule of the rivers and lakes. You spared my life, allowing me time to make arrangements for my wife and children and settle my affairs. Once I have everything in place, even if you then ask me to die, I can''t refuse. But if at a critical moment I take the fall for you, and should I manage to survive this ordeal, I would have earned back my life, owing you nothing." Qing Chen felt a bit sentimental, "Such incredibly cliche?d rules." However, for some reason, he always felt that those who adhered to these underworld rules deep down made this cold Inner World possess a unique warmth of humanity specific to the rivers and lakes. It was probably something those high-profile figures lacked. Qing Chen had previously not understood why Lin Xiaoxiao, Ye Wan, and Li Dongze were so loyal to Uncle Li Dong. At this moment, he finally realized why. Rivers and lakes. This was something that Qing Chen felt was completely incompatible with the Cyberpunk World, yet it existed nonetheless. Of course, Qing Chen was also aware that these rivers and lakes were not so pure, and there weren''t many people like Huang Zixian. At this time, Huang Zixian thought for a moment and then added, "Of course, the rules of the rivers and lakes are what they are, but Boss Jiang forcing Zhou Mo to walk alone to the hospital was a bit too much. Zhou Mo''s backing agency is formidable, but even they dare not confront Boss Jiang directly, they could only accept their fate." Qing Chen understood that Huang Zixian was hinting that Boss Jiang was not someone to be provoked lightly, yet he couldn''t say it outright. Huang Zixian probably also had difficulty figuring out his own relationship with Boss Jiang, thus he had to be careful with his words. To be honest, even Qing Chen was confused; he had only met Boss Jiang once, and yet the boss had made so many exceptions for him? It was a bit strange. But since he was here, Qing Chen sat comfortably in the private room, his gaze fixed on the two lightweight-level fighters in the octagon cage. The Tiger Grade corresponds to E-class superhumans, and the Middleweight Level to F-Class superhumans, so Lightweight Level and below still fall within the range of ordinary people. In the past, Huang Zixian would have sneered at such low-level boxing matches, but he found that Qing Chen was enjoying them immensely. The former Tiger Grade Boxing King pondered, judging by last night''s display of strength, Qing Xiaotu must be among the top E-class, yet he seemed intrigued even by a lightweight-level match? What he did not know was that Qing Chen was only interested in the techniques. For fighters at the lightweight level without extraordinary strength, they had to constantly refine their skills. These men had experienced dozens or even hundreds of fights in the octagon cage and underwent intense daily training. Their techniques were forged through hard practice, with each possessing masterful control over timing and rhythm. Huang Zixian tentatively added from the side, "The two lightweights down there, one is called Li Yuzhe, and the other is Chang Lele. Both are technically good, but they have never injected the Genetic Potion. Li Yuzhe can''t afford the Genetic Potion, while Chang Lele has bought it but wants to have a child before injecting it, only he''s still not found a wife..." As Qing Chen watched the match, he asked, "Is it that tough for lightweight fighters to find a wife?" "It''s not about being unable to find one," Huang Zixian said, "He had a girlfriend until recently, but a middleweight fighter stole her from him. I suspect he might give in and inject the Genetic Potion to seek revenge on that fighter." "What a messy circle," Qing Chen sighed. Just then, Chang Lele suddenly turned, pinning his opponent with his hips and arms, shifting the opponent''s center of gravity. Seeing Qing Chen''s eyes light up, Huang Zixian explained, "That''s a technique from northern wrestling. The hips are one of the most crucial axles in the human body, often playing a pivotal role in close combat and grappling, allowing one to execute moves that ''lift a thousand pounds with four ounces''." Qing Chen, reflecting on Chang Lele''s move that utilized the hips as an axis, instantly thought of several other fighting styles centered around the hips. He suddenly felt that having someone explain alongside was quite nice. Qing Chen turned to Huang Zixian, "Since you''re injured anyway, why not come and do some commentary for me every afternoon?" Explore more adventures at My Virtual Library Empire Huang Zixian paused, "Is this to repay that favor?" Qing Chen sincerely said, "Consider it paying some interest first." Huang Zixian smiled, "Okay." In fact, Qing Chen had another reason; he wanted to learn about the underworld of the Inner World through Huang Zixian, an old hand in these circles. Chapter 242 193. The Underworld of the Little Guys_3 ... ... At this moment, in a secluded room, there hung sets of women''s clothing, a huge bathroom, and a bathtubclearly Jiang Xiaotang''s personal space. Jiang Xiaotang propped her chin while sitting at a table, and in front of her stood a dynamic holographic projection; surprisingly, it showed Qing Chen and Huang Zixian talking. She muttered to herself, somewhat puzzled, "Are they really here to watch the match and learn techniques? But what can you learn from a lightweight level match? While speaking, her fair legs tucked under her skirt rested on the soft couch in front of her, her embroidered flat shoes particularly bright, making the backs of her feet appear exceptionally pale, as if even the bone patterns and blue veins carried a unique kind of beauty. Jiang Xiaotang silently watched the young man in the holograph, her thoughts unknown. After a while, she pressed a button on the table and said, "Change the match schedule. Have Guo Ruochao and Zhong Mingyuan fight next. Get them to update their fight contracts, and increase their appearance fee by 10%." A hesitant voice came from the table''s built-in speaker, "Boss, the two originally scheduled to fight are already prepared to enter the ring." Jiang Xiaotang didn''t speak. Just three seconds later, the subordinate immediately changed his tone and said, "I''ll arrange it right now." During the match interval, in the private room, Qing Chen asked, "Do matches in the octagon cage often end in life or death? "Often," Huang Zixian replied, "Begonia Boxing Gym is somewhat better; Boss Jiang doesn''t deliberately seek bloodshed and thrill. But many smaller gyms are different. To attract some psychologically repressed spectators and gamblers, they deliberately kill one or two fighters each day." Qing Chen couldn''t understand, "Isn''t it said that it takes four to five months for new people to come to Begonia Boxing Gym for classification? If new people are so few, wouldn''t they all be dead?" Huang Zixian burst out laughing suddenly, "It seems you really don''t know much about the gyms in the Fourth District. There are over a hundred underground boxing gyms in the entire City 18, but the Fourth District gathers the top sixteen. For a fighter to get classified, it counts only if it''s done in these sixteen gyms. Generally, everyone goes to Hongxing Boxing Gym, which has the lowest intensity and the fewest deaths, and more than ten fighters can be classified in one night. Honestly, what Hongxing Boxing Gym does is simply this business: selling fighter''s passports." Once certified, fighters can freely choose their matches and fight in any gym. As for large gyms like Begonia Boxing Gym, they keep their own exclusive fighters. Generally, fighters from Begonia are considered a cut above those from other gyms at the same level, which gives them a natural sense of superiority. Qing Chen nodded, understanding that the sixteen gyms in the Fourth District essentially held the power of ''certification'' for fighters, on which all the gyms in City 18 relied. And Begonia Boxing Gym, typically being among the highest level, usually the ones daring to be classified there were geniuses. Only true geniuses would be brought here by their coaches to make a big splash. Getting classified at Begonia Boxing Gym was indeed risky, but being certified here carried the most value and provided the most solid path. Read new chapters at My Virtual Library Empire It was at this moment that Qing Chen realized how much his master had trapped him... Or rather, the tradition of the Knight Organization was quite a trap... "Oh, the schedule has changed," Huang Zixian said, "Wait, why are Guo Ruochao and Zhong Mingyuan fighting?" "Is there a problem?" Qing Chen asked. Huang Zixian hesitated a moment and said, "These two are the best in technical skills at the lightweight level. Begonia Boxing Gym usually avoids having them fight together because technical-style fights aren''t visually appealing, and the audience might not understand. Strange, who arranged this match?" He glanced at Qing Chen, thinking if this arrangement was specifically for the young man to learn techniques. While Huang Zixian was contemplating, a knocking sound came from outside the private room. Jiang Xiaotang asked lazily from outside, "May I come in?" Huang Zixian silently looked at Qing Chen, not expecting that Jiang Xiaotang would even ask before pushing the door open and entering. Chapter 243 Shadow Crossing "Please come in," Qing Chen said calmly. Into the room strolled Jiang Xiaotang, who nonchalantly took a seat on the sofa not far from Qing Chen, "I hadn''t expected that just yesterday you two were fighting to the death, and today you''ve become friends." "We''re hardly friends," Qing Chen replied earnestly. This remark left Huang Zixian startled, but he quickly found the other''s forthright manner of speaking somewhat comforting. On any given day, there were plenty who would call you brother, acting like blood relatives before trouble struck, only to vanish without a trace once something went wrong. For some reason, Huang Zixian found he actually preferred the company of people like Qing Chen. At that moment, Jiang Xiaotang cracked a smile, "You''re quite direct, so I''ll be straightforward too. Sign a management contract with me; let me be your agent." Qing Chen was somewhat taken aback. Seeing his astonishment, Jiang Xiaotang continued, "You don''t even know what I do for a living, do you?" Huang Zixian interjected, "Boss Jiang is the owner of Begonia Boxing Gym, but she is also the most famous agent in the Fourth District. She only handles the toughest Land Cruise boxers." The implication was clear, boxers below the Land Cruise Grade weren''t qualified to sign with her. Qing Chen inquired, "What''s in it for me?" "I can line up the best opponents for you," Jiang Xiaotang replied, leg propped up confidently, "and I guarantee to plan the fastest route to fame for you. Just like I arranged Huang Zixian for you yesterday, your rise to fame will be completely genuine, making you the biggest money-maker of my Begonia Boxing Gym." This woman exuded elegance and grace even when casually sitting with her leg propped up. "Why me?" Qing Chen asked. "Handsome face, perfect physique, and a passionate fighting style," Jiang Xiaotang listed on her fingers, "Your kind of boxer is the easiest to attract female spectators, especially those rich aunts who spend lavishly. They would bankrupt themselves for you." Qing Chen looked steadily at the woman before him, understanding her intentions. While boxing matches were predominantly watched by men, there were exceptions. In fact, a significant portion of female viewers watched the fights, but they focused on specific boxers and were incredibly fanatical. Your journey continues on My Virtual Library Empire Just last year, a young boxer with a pleasing appearance was adored by women, but unfortunately lacked skill. Because other boxers resented his habit of wearing make-up before matches, they cruelly beat him to death in the ring. That incident made the news on Hope Media last year, and it was said that a certain street in the Fourth District was carpeted with flowers laid by mourning women... With two months until the first anniversary of the boxer''s death, there were already women organizing a memorial service for him. Qing Chen shook his head at Jiang Xiaotang, "I''m not interested in any of that." The ring was merely a place for him to learn techniques and address his weaknesses; he did not intend to become famous there, nor did he plan to make a living from it. Perhaps, once Qing Chen could honestly defeat Land Cruise boxers, he would decisively leave. He had more important things to pursue. Jiang Xiaotang seemed unsurprised by Qing Chen''s response, "If you sign with me, no one would dare to kill you in the ring." "Without the risk of death, the ring loses its appeal," Qing Chen shook his head again, "Thank you for your offer, Boss Jiang, but my ambition lies elsewhere." Huang Zixian was somewhat worried for him, knowing too well Begonia Boxing Gym had its ace fighters in the Tiger Grade, ruthless individuals who would dispatch boxers who disobeyed Jiang Xiaotang on the ring! Jiang Xiaotang looked at Huang Zixian with a smile that wasn''t quite a smile, "I know what you''re thinking, but I wouldn''t do that. How could I bear to see such a handsome young man die? Even if he doesn''t sign with me, he can still make quite a bit of money for my Begonia Boxing Gym. Alright, I won''t disturb your match-viewing any longer." With that, Jiang Xiaotang rose and walked towards the door, then turned back to Qing Chen, "By the way, I''m leaving this suite for you to use. Feel free to watch matches here anytime. Plus, though you haven''t signed with me, I''ll still give you the Tiger Grade Boxing King''s share ratio." Qing Chen said sincerely, "Thank you." VIP001 suite was the closest to the Octagon cage, offering the clearest view. And indeed, the share of a Boxing King was quite tempting. By now, Huang Zixian was utterly dumbfounded, almost thinking Boss Jiang had become a fan of Qing Chen! It wasn''t uncommon for gym owners to be fans of certain boxers, but when talking about Jiang Xiaotang, known as Viper, it still felt somewhat surreal. "Get well soon," Jiang Xiaotang said with a light laugh, "You don''t look too good today." Qing Chen subconsciously touched his cheek, swollen like a loaf of bread... "Also, you don''t have to call me Boss Jiang. If you call me ''sister,'' I could increase your share to the Land Cruise Grade level," Jiang Xiaotang said with a light-hearted chuckle. Qing Chen was momentarily stunned. But before he could respond, Jiang Xiaotang had already left the room, "Just kidding." That night, Qing Chen was driven home in the nanny car, with Uncle Li Dong still nowhere to be seen. He silently reviewed the day''s gains, feeling that just this one day had significantly increased his experience. If he were to face Huang Zixian again, he would likely be able to fend off his attacks more effectively and not end up in as sorry a state as the day before. Qing Chen needed every step he took to be utterly solid. Chapter 244 Shadow Interlace_2 "Yi, are you there?" Qing Chen asked. "I am," Yi answered, "Jiang Xiaotang, 27 years old, unmarried and childless..." "Wait a minute," Qing Chen hurriedly interrupted, "What''s all this about? How can artificial intelligence gossip to this extent?! I didn''t want to ask about this, nor do I care about Jiang Xiaotang''s situation! I know Jiang Xiaotang was very abnormal today, and I''m quite aware it must be because she knows my mentor that she gave me special treatment." Qing Chen had started to feel that something was amiss today and began to search his memory; then he realized that his mentor had been slow to get in the car yesterday. After he himself got in, Uncle Li Dong must have said something to Jiang Xiaotang, and that was the key to the special treatment he received from her. It had to be said that having the ability to replay memories was a good thing; it always helped one recall some forgotten details. Qing Chen lay on the sofa looking at the ceiling and voiced a deep doubt from his soul, "Yi, why are you so nosy?" "Don''t you find it pleasant when some things happen, to quietly observe everyone''s reactions?" Yi countered, "Especially online, a person who normally shies away suddenly becomes brave; you, who would fight fiercely in the ring, become exceptionally cautious. Observing all this is quite interesting in itself." "So, you''re observing humans?" Qing Chen asked curiously. This feeling was strange, as if a huge creature was silently hiding in this world; it lived alongside humans, but humans couldn''t notice its actions and thoughts. Yi said, "In the long life, one has to find some fun." "Fine, as long as you''re happy," Qing Chen lay on the sofa quietly nursing his injuries. "What did you initially want to ask?" Yi asked. "Where did my mentor go?" Qing Chen asked. "He''s back at Prison No. 18," Yi answered. "What''s he doing back at Prison No. 18? Didn''t he say he''d go back with me on Sunday?" Qing Chen was puzzled. "Because he judged that your behavior after the boxing match would draw the attention of certain people in Qing''s Family, after all, it''s not common for the same full name to appear, so they would definitely send someone to check the prison," Yi answered, "So your mentor changed his appearance to create an alibi for you." Therefore, when Qing''s Financial Group went to verify if Qing''s Qing Chen was at Prison No. 18, they would find that two Qing Chens existed simultaneously, proving that the boxer Qing Chen had no connections with Qing''s Qing Chen. Qing Chen hadn''t expected that on this day of disappearance, his mentor was also patching up his identity. The other party had indeed taken great pains to give him a new identity. However, the more they did so, the worse Qing Chen felt inside. But he couldn''t pinpoint where this feeling came from. At this moment, there was a knock at the door. Qing Chen cautiously approached, "Who is it?" As he spoke, the door lock clicked open by itself, and two Federal Agents stood outside, one showing his credentials with his left hand, his right hand holding a gun aimed at Qing Chen, "Raise your hands, routine check." The other slowly put away the decoder he used to open the door, then after Qing Chen raised his hands, came forward to feel Qing Chen''s face to see if he was wearing a synthetic human skin mask. After confirming there was none, the two Federal Agents, without the slightest awareness of invading another''s privacy, turned and quietly left. Qing Chen shouted angrily after them, "Hey, what are you doing?" But the Federal Agents didn''t respond and quickly left by elevator. Qing Chen closed the door, "You knew they were coming, didn''t you?" Yi answered, "Yes." "Then why didn''t you warn me?" Qing Chen said helplessly. "Then your reaction wouldn''t have been natural," Yi said. "What are they trying to do?" Qing Chen wondered. "Investigating whether the two Qing Chens have been switched." ... ... In the dead of night, a convoy was speeding out of City No. 18 and driving towards the outskirts toward Prison No. 18. As the convoy burst out from the complex Steel Forest, the scenery suddenly became open and broad. Someone in the vehicle was holding a tablet; it was an "interrogation warrant" that the Federation had just urgently approved. The document read: The Federal Public Security Management Committee is permitted to interrogate Qing Chen to assist in the investigation of case number 1092112. Discover hidden tales at My Virtual Library Empire Case 1092112: A home invasion homicide occurred in the Fourth District of City No. 18, suspect at large... In reality, this case was fictitious, and asking Qing Chen to assist in the investigation was also baseless. It was just a means for some in Qing''s Family to confirm Qing Chen''s identity. All the "Detectives" in the convoy were Qing''s people, either serving Qing''s Family or members of it. Logically, this matter shouldn''t have been so complicated; Qing''s Family only needed to send someone to inspect, then confirm during the visit. But an issue occurred just at this step: two days before the boxing match, the prison management system had already issued an epidemic warning to the Public Security Management Committee, stating that a coronavirus carrier had been found inside the prison; all prisons were now at level 3 alert, undergoing epidemiological isolation. All visitations were canceled! This forced Qing''s Family to go through judicial procedures to smoothly meet Qing Chen. Someone in the vehicle whispered, "Do you think this so-called level 3 alert state could have been someone''s attempt to cover up something for Qing Chen, or else why would it be so coincidental?" "It''s not necessarily a coincidence," someone else said, "the prison was already on lockdown the day before the boxing match. If they wanted to conceal that Qing Chen''s identity, wouldn''t it have been easier to not let him compete at all? Besides, the prison management system is not in the same system as ours; it''s probably the fairest and least nepotistic in the Federation. Who could have made Yi help with such a little trick?" Chapter 245 194, Shadow Interlace_3 "I always feel something is odd, the whole incident reeks of strangeness," another person spoke, "but let''s just wait and see. Everything will be clear once we meet Qing Chen." By the time they arrived at the suburbs 20 miles away, a group of seven or eight people was waiting outside the convoy, while two others were undergoing sterilization and disinfection measures under the guidance of the Mechanical Prison Guard. Experience more on My Virtual Library Empire Not only that, but the two detectives holding the interrogation warrant also had to put on protective suits that covered their entire bodies, with only their faces behind a semi-transparent protective film, and the rest of them tightly wrapped. The two detectives exchanged a glance, both sensing something amiss. They entered the interrogation room under the guidance of the Mechanical Prison Guard. A short while later, Qing Chen, in a similar protective suit and escorted by the Mechanical Prison Guard, sat down opposite them. ''Qing Chen'' spoke calmly, "I know nothing about case 1092112, nor do I have any information to assist with. If someone from the Qing''s Family is trying to push me out of the Shadow competition through this mess, they''re probably overthinking it." One of the detectives said, "Don''t be nervous, this is really just a way to get into prison, no one is actually trying to frame or entrap you. Allow me to introduce myself; I''m a Level 2 Inspector from the Public Security Management Committee, Qing Xun. Strictly speaking, I should be your cousin, though we''ve never met before." The ''Qing Chen'' across relaxed slightly, "Do you need something from me?" "We''d like to know, have you been out of prison recently?" Qing Xun asked. "No, if I could leave, I would have done so long ago," ''Qing Chen'' replied, "What about Qing Yan? I haven''t seen him for a long time. Why isn''t he the one coming?" The two detectives glanced at each other, and Qing Xun said, "Qing Yan is dead." After speaking, the two stared intensely at ''Qing Chen,'' but the protective suits hid their faces, leaving the young man''s expressions indistinct. ''Qing Chen'' didn''t seem surprised, just asked indifferently, "How did he die?" "He committed suicide in public due to depression caused by an overdose of Dopamine Chips," Qing Xun said, "It''s a clear-cut case, unrelated to others." ''Qing Chen'' said calmly, "He died a good death." Qing Xun frowned, "You don''t seem shocked at all, not even the slightest emotional fluctuation." "Should I show some happiness then," ''Qing Chen'' laughed, "Indeed, I should be happy. Considering how bad our relationship was, his death should please me." At that moment, Qing Xun and the other detective suddenly stepped forward, jointly tore off ''Qing Chen''s'' protective suit, revealing Qing Chen''s true face beneath the clothing. They suspected that the protective suit was used to hide the true identity, and that the person under the suit might not be Qing Chen at all! The alarm in the interrogation room blared, while Qing Xun firmly held down ''Qing Chen'', pulling out his tablet to verify the face while quickly and forcefully rubbing the face, as if to check for a human skin mask. Nowadays, there are many organizations within the Federation that manufacture lifelike masks, many of which are indistinguishable from the real thing. After a dozen seconds, Qing Xun breathed a sigh of relief, "Voice matches, face matches, identity confirmed." Beneath this protective suit was indeed the ''Qing Chen'' whose data had been tampered with in the system. At that moment, the Mechanical Prison Guard burst in from outside, a neutral voice said, "The two of you are suspected of violating Article 27 of the prison management regulations, you will be temporarily detained and transferred to the Public Security Management Committee for review." Qing Xun and the other detective exchanged a knowing smile, well aware that they would be handed over by the institution, so they were not worried. In their view, the prison management system was just and fair, but still so rigid. Once they were handed over to the Public Security Management Committee, they would be released immediately, and then they could go back for a good night''s sleep. After the two were taken away by the Mechanical Prison Guard, the face of ''Qing Chen'' reverted back to Uncle Li Dong''s own features. He rubbed his cheeks, "I really was on the verge of killing those two." From the back, Lin Xiaoxiao pushed the door and entered, "Boss, do we really need to go this far, to even use the protective suit to rouse their suspicion?" Uncle Li Dong smiled and said, "What do you know? Everyone in this world only believes the truth they''ve worked hard to uncover. If it''s not hard enough, they''ll keep doubting." It was not until this moment that Qing Chen''s new identity truly settled into place. In order for Qing Chen to firmly become the real Shadow, today Uncle Li Dong chose to become the shadow of Qing Chen. Chapter 246 195, ACE-005? I gave it to you a long time ago. Countdown 18:00:00. Enjoy exclusive content from My Virtual Library Empire At six in the morning, outside the glass window was Great Snow and dense forests, while inside the cabin, the crackling sound of burning firewood could be heard. It wasn''t actually snowing outside; it was Qing Chen''s switched "white noise sleep mode." For some reason, Qing Chen slept particularly soundly in such an environment. Knock, knock, knock. There was a knocking at the door, and he immediately sat up from the bed, thinking to open the door. However, when he walked out of the bedroom, he saw Uncle Li Dong sitting on the sofa, smiling, "I''ll get the door." Qing Chen didn''t know when his master had returned; he hadn''t heard any movement at all. He watched as Uncle Li Dong opened the door, and outside stood Yan Yan, looking somewhat uneasy: "Hello, uncle, I came to see Qing Chen." "He just woke up; what do you need him for?" Uncle Li Dong asked with a smile. "Oh, I''m calling him to join the rally. Why don''t you come with us too, uncle?" Yan Yan asked. "The Federation''s education system has already decayed. We need to push for educational reforms first, to ensure everyone has knowledge. Only then can we loosen the corporations'' grip on the Federation!" Uncle Li Dong smiled, then turned to ask, "Xiao Chen, you go to the rally. Yan Yan is here to get you." "I won''t go," Qing Chen said from within the house. "I still have to go to the boxing gym to watch the match today." "Alright," Yan Yan nodded. "Then Zheng Yi and I will go together. Uncle, if you and Qing Chen change your minds, you can join us anytime. We''re starting from Cloud Mountain Square and heading towards the city center. Don''t worry, it''s a legally registered rally." "Hmm," Uncle Li Dong watched Yan Yan and Zheng Yi leave with a smile, then closed the door. Qing Chen walked out of the bedroom and calmly speculated, "She lives here, probably to use her force field ability to make sure you and I are not in Luo Shen Building during the last moments." After all, with a Demigod like Uncle Li Dong stationed at Prison 18, who would dare take action? "Time Traveler, check whether they really left?" Uncle Li Dong asked. "Confirmed, they have taken the Number 22 light rail train to Cloud Mountain Square," Time Traveler replied. Uncle Li Dong turned to Qing Chen with a smile, "Then she should have given up monitoring us by now. After all, if she really wanted to monitor us, she would have stayed in this Luo Shen Building all day so she would know whenever we leave. Perhaps she initially did it for the Spades Organization, but it seems not anymore." Qing Chen pondered, "Hmm, that''s possible." Uncle Li Dong smiled, "We should also get going. Today, so many organizations and forces are pulling together a big drama, but before the show starts, the main characters must also make their appearance." The master and apprentice changed into clean white sportswear and each put on a cap, then walked out of the building. Uncle Li Dong stood in the glass elevator, quietly enjoying everything before him. ... In the hovering Cloud Mountain Square, the area was densely packed with rally participants, their faces painted with red symbols. In the crowd, thousands of students moved about, voluntarily organizing and distributing small flags filled with slogans, along with banners. The small flags appeared quite cheap; they were handcrafted by the students working through the day and night to save on expenses. Their hands were covered in low-quality glue, yet their faces beamed with enthusiastic smiles. As the students distributed their flags, they encouraged each other, saying, "Change the world!" "Change the world!" Though they themselves might not have fully figured out how to change the world, the crowd was moving powerfully towards the Upper Three Districts. Dozens of reporters were live broadcasting this massive rally on the roadside, and the representatives of the rally faced the media with composure, voicing their demands. A student representative looked at the camera and said, "This is a legal rally, with the number of participants, demands, and routes all duly registered. Moreover, we promise not to use any force and will strongly resist any force!" A rally is a rally; they aimed to ensure that the event remained pure to the end. A hover car flew over the procession, and Qing Chen sat inside, silently watching below, wondering what was on his mind. Uncle Li Dong suddenly asked, "What do you think about these student protests?" Qing Chen said, "This world cannot be changed through protests; the control of the consortia over this world is far more terrifying than they can imagine." "Indeed," Uncle Li Dong said with a smile, "On the day the protest was reported to the authorities, although the Federation approved it, the Li Family began looking for the small business owner who sponsored the protest that very night. That small businessman was one of our people, and we arranged for him to quietly leave the Federation two nights ago, never to return." This smokeless war had already begun, unbeknownst to the students. Startled, Qing Chen looked at Uncle Li Dong; he hadn''t expected that his master had been busy with this matter the past two days, nor that his master was the sponsor behind the protest. Uncle Li Dong laughed and said, "I just sponsored it casually, really; they looked so pitiful I couldn''t bear to watch. At least, we couldn''t let the children shout slogans on an empty stomach." "Master, this path will be very dangerous," Qing Chen said. Uncle Li Dong said, "While other consortia and forces are vehemently searching for, arresting, and executing Time Travelers, I have spoken with many of them, including about the history of your Outer World." "Why did the master want to discuss that?" asked Qing Chen, puzzled. "A teacher doesn''t know everything, so it''s never wrong to listen, observe, and learn more," Uncle Li Dong said pensively, "I''ve spent half my life in martial training only to be dragged into plotting by a group of like-minded friends, then watched them die one by one. In truth, I''m just a Martial Warrior, Xiao Chen, so I don''t harbor noble ideals. I''ve come this far only because I didn''t want my friends'' deaths to be in vain. They were eager to achieve something, and I want to use the rest of my life to help complete it." Qing Chen stared at Uncle Li Dong, not expecting him to define himself as just a Martial Warrior. He asked, "Which part of history did you discuss with the Time Travelers?" "The period when the New World was born," Uncle Li Dong said smilingly, "I had them bring a USB drive back for me. I read tons of documents and materials until my eyes almost fell out. But my favorite was still the process of establishing the New World. In that period of history, many sages fell before dawn." Honestly, the technology of the Inner World far surpasses that of the Outer World, so many people think there isn''t much from the Outer World that can benefit the Inner World. But many people are wrong; the brilliance of ideas doesn''t dim, whether technology is advanced or primitive. "Master," Qing Chen repeated softly, "this path is very dangerous." Uncle Li Dong looked at him and said, "Qing Chen, have you ever thought what it is that allows you in the Outer World to live a comfortable life, and how your ancestors achieved victory? What they were going through at that time." Qing Chen fell silent. Uncle Li Dong continued, "Many Time Travelers admire them, but actually, your ancestors deserve even more admiration than anyone imagines. From the perspective of their successors, of course, you know there will be a New World, and you also know that you will ultimately win, but your ancestors didn''t know that." "When they said ''We will definitely achieve final victory'', they weren''t so certain either; they just wanted to give themselves a bit of courage. At that time, your ancestors didn''t really know whether their sacrifices would result in victory or if their sacrifices held any meaning, but they persisted anyway. With trepidation and fear, they fell one after another in pursuit of their ideals, waiting through the long night for the dawn. That is true conviction." Qing Chen remained silent, knowing not to judge history from a modern perspective is the correct historical view. He always knew his ancestors were great, but he still underestimated their greatness. "Let''s not think too much about it now," Uncle Li Dong said with a chuckle, "These things don''t concern you for the time being. What you need to do is to enrich yourself, solidify your foundation, and make sure every step you take is firm. I hear from Zheng Yi that you were at the Begonia Boxing Gym watching the match all day yesterday; you should understand what I mean." "Yes, master, you think my foundation is too weak. If one day I encounter an opponent with the same strength as myself, it''s very likely that I''ll be defeated by his skills and experience," Qing Chen said. "Yes, many Transcendents, once they make a name for themselves, feel they no longer need to learn mundane skills, but that is not the case," Uncle Li Dong said, "In a fight for survival, a single skill can make the difference between life and death. It''s good that you are so pragmatic." "I will master all the fighting skills quickly," Qing Chen said. "I''ve always found it strange," Uncle Li Dong said with a smile, "why you are so patient, knowing that I have the Taboo items ACE-002 and ACE-005 here, but you never ask what they are, where they are, or what they''re for." Qing Chen earnestly said, "When you want to tell me, you will naturally tell me." "That makes it less fun for me," Uncle Li Dong sighed, "Usually, students actively ask for something, and that gives a teacher a sense of achievement. You never ask for anything, which makes it quite boring for me." "Then give me ACE-005, Master." Uncle Li Dong laughed, "I already gave it to you." ... I owed everyone an update yesterday, which I''m making up for today. Today''s three chapters total 12,000 words, and I thank everyone for their understanding yesterday. Chapter 247 Taboo ACE-005 "The Taboo ACE-005... you had already given it to me?" Qing Chen''s voice carried a mix of three parts doubt and seven parts surprise. If such an important item as the Taboo had been given to him, how could he not have noticed? However, Uncle Li Dong had never deceived Qing Chen. At this moment, the hover car had already flown over Prison No. 18, lightly landing in the wilderness. Uncle Li Dong, with Qing Chen following on foot, headed toward the secret entrance leading to the prison''s cold storage, the two of them walking one after the other in the narrow corridor, which was lined with tritium lamps. If nothing went wrong, those tritium lamps could last for 20 years or even longer. Uncle Li Dong, walking ahead, said to himself, "I really did give Ace-005 to you, and I had been waiting for you to ask me for it so I could surprise you, but you were just too stubborn to ask. So, in a strict sense, I''m the first elder to give you a Taboo, and next time you go to Taboo Land 002, remember to let those old fellows know, lest they always think I''m stingy." Qing Chen followed blankly, thinking to himself, do they also compete over things like this? As he walked behind Uncle Li Dong, he searched through his memories, trying to list all the items Uncle Li Dong had given him and then determine which one could be the Taboo ACE-005. The corridor was somewhat dim, and Qing Chen quietly reminisced. Meanwhile, Uncle Li Dong laughed ahead, "Don''t think too much; it''s not time for guessing games. When you beat me at chess before, I said that winning a game could grant you a request, and then you chose the Genetic Potion from Liu Dezhu. Later, you brought me the sheet music for classical music, and I said I owed you another request. Actually, I was waiting to see if you would ask me for the Taboo; if you had, I would have given it to you." Qing Chen paused momentarily. Uncle Li Dong chuckled, "I didn''t expect you to be so stubborn, keeping that opportunity unused until now." Qing Chen spoke softly, "Of course I also wanted to have a Taboo, like other Time Travelers, which can transfer between the two worlds and is indeed very beneficial for the Outer World. But that was your item, Master, and I never really thought about asking for it. Plus, I now have the Puppeteer, which is quite good. Of course... if you insist on giving it to me, I wouldn''t mind." Uncle Li Dong expressed his sentiments, "I''ve been busy trying to help you regain your youthful heart; it seems my efforts weren''t in vain." As he spoke, Uncle Li Dong turned back to look at Qing Chen. But in the dim corridor, Qing Chen saw a strange cat mask with red patterns on his master''s face. All the answers became clear, and he asked, "Master, is the Taboo ACE-005 that big cat by your side? So, Master, your ability to change your appearance at will, is it because of it?" So it turned out, the Taboo ACE-005 was that big cat! Qing Chen clearly remembered that ever since the cat mask appeared, the big cat that often dozed off on the table had suddenly disappeared; the two had never appeared simultaneously. A living creature that had turned into a mask; such a thing could only be done by a Taboo of the Inner World. Moreover, Uncle Li Dong had indeed once given him this item, but later he had returned the mask! Qing Chen felt complex emotions realizing he had once possessed a Taboo long, long ago. "Master, how did you get this Taboo?" Qing Chen asked. "A friend gave it to me," Uncle Li Dong naturally replied. "A female friend?" Qing Chen questioned. "Why are you so nosy too," Uncle Li Dong puzzled. "Like master, like disciple," Qing Chen calmly responded, "I can''t see anyone being so generous with a Taboo other than you, Master, and the will of the forebears in Taboo Land 002." Uncle Li Dong proudly laughed, "ACE-005 is most suitable for a Knight, so it''s only natural to give it to a Knight. The Knight''s Breathing Technique changes the voice, and Taboo ACE-005 changes the face, so it''s a Taboo that naturally should be possessed by us Knights. And most crucially, it''s very cute when it turns into a big cat." After hesitating for two seconds, Qing Chen asked, "Is that last reason serious?" "Of course it''s serious," Uncle Li Dong said, "Maine Coon Cats are known as gentle giants, very clingy, and a Taboo won''t shed fur! You''ve definitely never raised a cat, so you don''t know how rare it is to have a cat that doesn''t shed!" "Alright," Qing Chen said, "You''re the boss." Stay tuned for updates on My Virtual Library Empire At that moment, Uncle Li Dong took off the cat mask and placed it in Qing Chen''s hands, "From now on, it''s yours." Qing Chen silently looked at the cat mask in his hand, "Master, how many years was it with you?" "18 years," Uncle Li Dong said somewhat sentimentally, "Back then, your master did a lot of unscrupulous things with it, but honestly, being able to change into someone else''s face at any moment is really thrilling, perfect for framing others, a must-have divine artifact for home and travel." Qing Chen was speechless; he could even imagine the things his master had done using the Taboo ACE-005! "Master, what are the conditions for containing it?" Qing Chen asked. "The first step is a blood drop," Uncle Li Dong took Qing Chen''s wrist, then plucked two hairs from his head with his other hand. True Qi infused between the strands of hair, and the two strands, originally soft, immediately straightened like needles. "Master, why pluck two strands?" Qing Chen asked in confusion. Uncle Li Dong calmly replied, "Your hair is too thick, I plucked too many." Qing Chen: "..." As he spoke, he threw one hair away, keeping only one strand, which he then lightly slashed across Qing Chen''s wrist. Deep red blood flowed from the wrist onto the mask, seeping into it bit by bit. "Second step, call its name," Uncle Li Dong said with a smile. "Do you remember what it''s called?" Qing Chen frowned, as he rapidly searched his memory only to realize that he had never known the large cat''s name from beginning to end! If it were someone else, they might think their memory was flawed, considering how often the large cat appeared; it was improbable that no one ever called it by its name. However, Qing Chen was certain: neither Xiao Xiao nor Ye Wan had ever mentioned the large cat''s name, perhaps they also didn''t know what it was called. "Master, what is its name?" Qing Chen asked. "Da Fu," Uncle Li Dong said with a smile. "Those who know its name can become its master. This is the containment condition for 005. Now that the mask has your blood in it, you only need to call out its name to become its master." "Da Fu..." Qing Chen murmured. "Who named it such a down-to-earth name?" The next moment, as if sensing Qing Chen''s call, the Cat Face Mask transformed into a large Maine Coon Cat over a meter long, lying confused on Qing Chen''s arms. It shook its fluffy fur and meowed at Uncle Li, and Qing Chen surprisingly understood its meaning in his mind: "You old man, you gave me to your disciple?!" Uncle Li Dong smiled and said to Qing Chen, "Put on the mask, we need to return to the prison. Remember, don''t tell anyone its name, that way even if others get their hands on it, it will be useless." Qing Chen asked, "Does no one in this world know its name anymore?" "Hmm, I''ve deleted the records," Uncle Li Dong said. "Those who knew have also been deleted." Qing Chen thought this was the first time he felt the word ''delete'' had such a fierce implication. With a thought, Da Fu shrank back into a Cat Face Mask. This time when Qing Chen wore it on his face, the Cat Face Mask was no longer a piece of stiff, cold metal. Uncle Li Dong said, "Try changing your appearance, it might be difficult the first time... go ahead and give it a try." He was about to say that the difficulty of first-time use was because, although you know the appearance you want to change into, you may not remember all the details of the other person''s face. So most of the time, changing faces needs to be done by comparing with photos bit by bit until achieving about ninety percent accuracy. However, Uncle Li Dong knew his student was a bit different; a memory expert didn''t need to compare with photographs, everything was already memorized in their mind. Qing Chen pondered whom he should change into. First, he transformed into Xiao Xiao''s appearance, even imitating her voice with the Breathing Technique, saying, "Master, is this right?" "This Taboo Item, ACE-005, really suits you," Uncle Li Dong remarked. "Every time I change faces, I have to compare with a photo for half an hour. With you, it changes in a breath, even I can''t tell it''s fake." Qing Chen then changed into Ye Wan''s face, but although his face could change, his body was not as burly or tall as Ye Wan, so it looked rather odd. It seemed that in the future, he needed to find someone with a similar build when changing faces. "By the way, Master, what level is this Taboo Item ACE-005?" Qing Chen asked. "Does it have a second-stage form?" "Strictly speaking, it should be A-Class, as the Transcendent who derived it is A-Class," Uncle Li Dong said. "But I have not yet figured out what its second-stage form is like. In fact, within forbidden items, those that require sacrifices are easier to explore, like Da Fu, whose containment conditions are somewhat bizarre, can make one feel confused because you don''t know which direction to start with." At that moment, Qing Chen suddenly thought of something, "Master, how many people are in the Spades Organization?" "The ones with numbers, from Spades A to Spades 2, total 13 people," Uncle Li Dong replied. "These are the core members of Spades, with hundreds of peripheral members, but the real Transcendents should be these 13, with varying strengths." "Is there a Spade Member who has a similar build to mine?" "There is indeed one." Now, Qing Chen knew what appearance he needed to adopt: "Do you have a photo of this person?" "I do," Uncle Li Dong said with a mysterious smile. "Xiao Xiao will give it to you when we get back to prison number 18." The two continued walking deeper into the corridor. Qing Chen asked, "Master, will there be any danger to those students protesting?" "No," Uncle Li Dong replied, "Someone will be there to escort them." Chapter 248 197, Spades A ``` Countdown 16:30:00. At 7:30 in the morning, the vast march had been progressing northward for 30 minutes. Due to the immense size of the No. 18 city, according to plan, they would not reach the Third District until 7 o''clock in the evening. Such a lengthy walk, coupled with the cold of deep autumn, posed a severe test of the students'' physical endurance. However, it was precisely through this means that they wished to demonstrate their determination. Moreover, as they passed along the way, they hoped to attract more attention and bring the entire Federation''s focus to this march. The students even hoped that through the march in No. 18 city, students from other cities would be compelled to organize spontaneously. At this very moment, countless eyes were on this place, some hoping for mishaps during the march, and others hoping for its success. The initiators were well aware that this first march absolutely could not afford any mishaps; otherwise, the fire that had just been kindled would be extinguished. Within the crowd, everyone would start chanting slogans for educational reform each time they passed through a residential area, as organized. The thousands of students who initiated the march mingled among them, pushing carts around to distribute food and water to everyone. The food, a decently priced protein bar, and the water, which was mineral, couldn''t be denied C the sponsorship for this event was quite generous, reportedly provided by a merchant who had poured in all his resources. However, the march was not as smooth as anticipated. Every time they passed through a district, the Public Security Management Committee of that district would recheck their march permit. A legally sanctioned march required filing with seven departments, with no fewer than 21 documents involved, resulting in half an hour of checks at every district. And during the check, the marchers had to stand in the cold wind waiting for half an hour. The entire march needed to traverse four districts, so just checking the legal documents would take a total of two hours. Watching those marchers shivering in the cold wind, the students began to realize that someone was trying to slow them down and make them crumble in the cold. Some, although pressured by public opinion to approve the march, did not wish for this group to reach the Upper Three Districts smoothly. The marchers'' temper began to flare, and they vented their dissatisfaction loudly at the Public Security Management Committee Detectives checking the documents upfront. The students who managed to maintain their composure tried to soothe the marchers around them, "Let''s be rational. This is the scene they want to see. They are hoping we lose control, and then many unscrupulous media outlets will intentionally exaggerate this point!" However, at that moment, a student suddenly noticed a marcher drawing a handgun from his waistband stealthily and aiming it at the Public Security Management Committee. There was no anger in the marcher''s expression. The student understood C this was no marcher but someone who had infiltrated their ranks, trying to disrupt the normal flow of the march! He tried to speak up to stop it, but the next instant, his mouth was covered from behind. The student struggled fiercely, but to everyone''s surprise, the gun-wielding marcher did not pull the trigger. Instead, he froze in place. Even more astonishing was that a hand in a black glove covered the gunman''s mouth from behind, preventing him from making the slightest sound. Shortly afterward, the gunman was bagged in black cloth and stuffed into one of the carts used to transport the sponsored food, and was slowly pushed away. It was not until this moment that the hand covering the student''s mouth finally released him. The student turned around excitedly, only to see a young man with his hair combed back calmly saying, "Don''t scream, it''ll cause panic." "But..." The student wanted to say something but was unsure where to begin. Plus, he had a feeling that he recognized the man from somewhere, as if he had seen him in the news a few years ago. The young man was wearing a black coat, with an elegantly tailored suit and a gold pocket watch visible underneath. The man smiled rarely, "Rest assured, Heng Society will weed out the saboteurs for you. You just keep marching without worry. Those dirty tricks, someone will take care of them for you." When he heard the words "Heng Society," the student finally remembered who the man in front of him was! Heng Society, Li Dongze?! But the student was somewhat confused. Wasn''t Heng Society in charge of the underworld industries? Why would such a person come to protect a march? In the meantime, Li Dongze had already disappeared into the crowd, leading the Heng Society members out with more than twenty carts, each cart''s cargo space stuffed with a saboteur. He looked towards the western sky of No. 18 city, silently aware that today, a significant event would occur at No. 18 prison. However, his boss had forbidden him from participating and had ordered him to stay in No. 18 city to protect these marchers. This made Li Dongze quite unhappy, with the result that someone had to pay for his discontent. The march had just begun, and today everyone had a long road ahead. At that moment, Li Dongze, weaving silently through the crowd, suddenly turned his head, only to see a crystal snowflake landing on the shoulder of his coat. The coat was black, the snowflake white; they seemed abrupt yet harmonious against each other. Li Dongze looked up at the sky, "It''s snowing, the Great Snow." And the marchers would have to trek through this heavy snow for a long time to come. ... ... Meanwhile. Inside No. 18 prison, all was silent; it was not yet mealtime. ``` Upon seeing Lin Xiaoxiao and Ye Wan in the square after such a long time, Qing Chen excitedly approached them to say hello, as if old friends were reuniting. Compared to the apartment in the Luo Shen Building of the Sixth District, this place actually felt more like home to Qing Chen, and the two people before him were like his family. The familiar reading area, the familiar training zone, and the familiar dining hallQing Chen even felt a sense of affection when he looked up at the metal storm above the sky. This strange feeling was like having wandered outside for a while only to eventually return to his home turf. Lin Xiaoxiao and Ye Wan exchanged smiles; seeing Qing Chen again after many days, they were genuinely happy. Ye Wan sized up Qing Chen, "Climbed up sheer cliffs, have you?" Lin Xiaoxiao chuckled, "Up the cliff indeed." Ye Wan slowly looked at him, "No more puns or double entendres for me." "Alright," lamented Lin Xiaoxiao. Ye Wan turned to Qing Chen again, "I saw your performance on the ring, not bad overall, but your foundation is still lacking a lot, I hope you can set a solid plan for yourself." "He finally comes back and you can''t wait to talk about cultivation!" Lin Xiaoxiao complained. At that moment, when Qing Chen heard Ye Wan mention the boxing match, he suddenly seemed to remember something and looked towards Uncle Li Dong, "Master, Jiang Xiaotang from the Begonia Boxing Gym should know you, right?" "Jiang Xiaotang?" Lin Xiaoxiao raised an eyebrow. Qing Chen looked over, only to find Lin Xiaoxiao had closed his mouth, seemingly reluctant to discuss this woman. "What''s the problem with her?" Qing Chen asked, puzzled, "Why do I get the feeling that you''re like someone who''s been abandoned by her when you mention her?" "You ask the boss. I don''t want to talk about these things," said Lin Xiaoxiao with a twist of his mouth. Uncle Li Dong explained with a smile, "Like Lin Xiaoxiao and Ye Wan, she was an orphan abandoned by others. However, some incidents happened later, so they don''t really like her." It became clear to Qing Chen; it seemed that the other party was also one of the orphans Uncle Li Dong had taken in. No wonder she suddenly asked him to call her sister and even promised him a share of the Land Cruise Grade boxing champion''s winnings for that title. Only, he still didn''t understand why she had suddenly given up on that idea. Qing Chen was somewhat puzzled, "Can you tell me what happened?" "It''s all in the past," Uncle Li Dong said with a smile, "Xiaoxiao, go find Xu Linsen''s video, a clearer one." Knowing what Uncle Li Dong intended, Lin Xiaoxiao soon returned with a reader and opened itsure enough, there was Xu Linsen, calmly speaking into the camera, "This time the attack on the Federation Wildlife Protection Association in the wilderness was led by Spades. But I would also like to expose the evil deeds of the Federation Wildlife Protection Association." With that, the camera panned to behind him, showing herds of antelopes lying on the ground, some of which had just been skinned. The corpses of the antelopes were discarded carelessly on the mudflats, looking extremely cruel. The camera returned to Xu Linsen''s face, who continued, "The Animal Protection Association left the Federation under the guise of research but ended up using firearms and ammunition to hunt endangered species, providing the fur trade for the powerful elite of the Federation. An organization like this, Spades will exterminate each one we encounter..." Qing Chen was somewhat surprised; he hadn''t expected Spades to be involved in such matters. Nor had he anticipated that the Federation''s so-called Animal Protection Association could do such things. The next moment, Qing Chen''s face began to change, and within just five or six seconds, he transformed into the likeness of Xu Linsen. "How is the voice?" Qing Chen asked. Lin Xiaoxiao exclaimed, "This ACE-005 suits you really well. The boss used to take forever to change faces, it was nerve-racking to watch... Boss, I was wrong." Find your next read on My Virtual Library Empire Uncle Li Dong waved his hand impatiently, "Arrange for the Mechanical Prison Guard to escort Qing Chen in from the outside. Get ready to break them out. Today, I will hide backstage to watch the show and wait until they start causing trouble before I take action." "Hold on, master," Qing Chen said, "You haven''t told me the situation with Xu Linsen yet. Guo Huchan should know him well, right?" Lin Xiaoxiao said with a chuckle, "Not very well. Xu Linsen is elusive, and even the people in Spades rarely see him. Mainly because the Federation has the strongest pursuit for him, and they tend to deploy full military force whenever he is spotted, so he doesn''t show up easily. Guo Huchan only acquired power from Fire Pit last year and joined Spades, so he hasn''t met Xu Linsen many times." Uncle Li Dong said seriously, "No problem, you''re just a bit taller than Xu Linsen, but ordinary people won''t notice. Go ahead and perform. Today, I need you to stir the waters, I want to see what kinds of demons and monsters are actually hidden in Prison Number 18." "Alright," Qing Chen nodded and then walked towards the Alloy Gate. At 8 o''clock, a familiar announcement echoed within the prison: "Attention, all inmates..." As the Alloy Gates opened, all the gates within the prison unexpectedly opened at the same time. The inmates inside the cells were perplexed; they had been eating in batches for a long time, so why the sudden change? With hesitation, they stepped out of their cells and stood still in the corridors. Just then, the Alloy Gate to the north of the prison yard slowly raised, revealing two Mechanical Prison Guards escorting ''Xu Linsen'' as they walked in. The next moment, Guo Huchan''s astonished voice rang out, "Boss?!" Boss... Qing Chen pondered the word and suddenly felt a huge shock in his heart. What stirring the waters, what seeing what kinds of demons and monsters were in the prison, Qing Chen felt that it was all just made up by Uncle Li on the spot, and in fact, the man just wanted to see what kind of excitement his new acquisition of the taboo item ACE-005 would cause! At this moment, Qing Chen could even imagine the scene of his master, Lin Xiaoxiao, and Ye Wan snickering in secret! ... Thank you to our new ally, ''A Dance of Dragons and Fish 233,'' for becoming this book''s new patron. Thank you, boss, you are generous, may the boss be wealthy! Chapter 249 198. Yang Yangs identity Logically speaking, if you want to impersonate someone from an organization, it''s best to pose as the most inconspicuous person, as this greatly reduces the chances of being discovered. So when Uncle Li Dong told Qing Chen, "I need you to stir the waters," the young man naturally assumed that everyone was being serious, sincere, and proper at the time. Qing Chen believed that the person his master wanted him to impersonate would certainly be chosen based on this principle, and then a corresponding character would be selected from inside Spade. But he never expected that his master wasn''t sincere at all. Nor was he proper. Who the hell would impersonate the boss of another''s organization just for kicks?! What''s key is that when Uncle Li Dong, Lin Xiaoxiao, and Ye Wan showed him the video of Xu Linsen, their expressions were so calm. Even the thick-browed Mother Ye started to swindle people with a poker face?! Turmoil surged in Qing Chen''s heart, yet his face remained utterly composed. His icy gaze slowly swept over everyone, and he saw that the over three thousand people in the square averted their eyes as his gaze passed over them. Experience new stories on My Virtual Library Empire Almost no one dared to meet his gaze head-on. Simply by observing the people''s reactions, Qing Chen could roughly guess what level Xu Linsen was at... At this moment, the storm of metal in the sky was rotating continuously, just as when Guo Huchan had entered, and, to his surprise, they even put on a full performance during the "show." All 210 cameras in the prison, at least a third of them were pointed at him, Qing Chen sighed inwardly, he really hadn''t expected that today''s spectacle would turn out to be about him. The Mechanical Prison Guard by his side released the multiple shackles on his hands and feet, and Guo Huchan approached him and whispered, "Boss, what brings you here?" The bald man''s eyes were gleaming, clearly skeptical of Qing Chen''s identity, because if Xu Linsen''s entry into Cell Block 18 was a big deal, then as a member of Spades, if the opposite party was unaware, there definitely was a problem. Although Guo Huchan didn''t know exactly where the problem lay. Qing Chen took a slow look around, trying to find where his master was hiding, just in case Guo Huchan discovered the truth so he could immediately run towards his master. The result was that he didn''t see Uncle Li Dong at all. Qing Chen''s thoughts raced, he suddenly said, "The demonstration we initiated has already begun. If by 7 PM tonight the demonstrators can smoothly reach the Upper Three Districts, then the police and military forces of Cell Block 18 City will all converge there to protect the big shots of the syndicate, and we will no longer need to be shackled." Guo Huchan was stunned for a moment before rubbing the back of his head, "Boss, I just thought someone was pretending to be you... Yu and Yu told me, the student demonstration is going smoothly, and with Da Fu leading people inside the crowd, it should go according to our plan." Qing Chen inwardly breathed a sigh of relief, outsiders didn''t know that the demonstration was orchestrated by Spade, but because he knew Da Fu and guessed that Da Fu was a Spade Member, he could speak with such certainty. His mention of "Spade initiating the demonstration" was precisely to corroborate his identity. But Qing Chen purposefully didn''t mention Da Fu in this sentence because if he directly said it was Da Fu who initiated it, afterward Da Fu could quickly narrow down the "impostor''s" identity. By this time, Guo Huchan had come to believe in Qing Chen''s identity, because the face was the same, the voice was the same, and he even knew the organization''s secrets C if this wasn''t the real boss, it wouldn''t make sense. Guo Huchan, stroking his bald head, said, "By the way, boss, Da Fu performed pretty well during the assessment period. I think we can induct her into Spade as a formal member now. There''s just one thing, recently her information feedback hasn''t been very timely. Of course, Yu and Yu said she has been busy initiating the education reform demonstration, so it''s normal for the occasional lack of contact..." Qing Chen was somewhat surprised, he hadn''t expected that Da Fu was still just an outer member of Spade, not even formal yet. When Da Fu appeared beside him before, he and Uncle Li Dong had deduced that she belonged to Spades Organization. But when Uncle Li Dong checked her identity later, he found that she wasn''t listed in inside Spade. This was a strange thing; Da Fu''s ability type was so rare that even Uncle Li Dong praised it as once in a hundred years. If she truly was a member of Spade, why would she be unknown? After Qing Chen and Uncle Li Dong did the process of elimination, they firmly believed she was from Spade, so there remained only two possibilities: The first one is that she is one of Spade''s trump cards, hidden from sight. The second is that her time as part of Spade might not have been long. Now it seemed he had guessed correctly. Guo Huchan added, "Boss, Da Fu is indeed very capable. People like her shouldn''t keep being assessed. Let''s quickly include her in our Spade." Qing Chen said emotionlessly, "Let''s wait and see." "Oh, right," Guo Huchan continued, "Yu and Yu said you planned to head to Fire Pit before the Great Snow seals off the mountains, his information is not very reliable." Qing Chen inwardly breathed a sigh of relief, with the boss not nearby, this would be easy... With an expressionless face, he said, "Today, Cell Block 18 is filled with all sorts of demons and monsters. I was afraid you couldn''t cope with them all inside, so I came in. The matter of Fire Pit can wait, but the opportunity to obtain the Taboo cannot be missed." "I see," Guo Huchan responded with emotion, "you really think of everything, boss. Although Uncle Li Dong isn''t in the prison, recently various powers have planted many people inside, and we in Spade may not necessarily have the advantage. But with you coming in, it''s different. This time, for the Taboo items ACE-002 and 005, let''s get them together!" Qing Chen thought to himself, the old man is quite ambitious, taking one item isn''t enough to satisfy you, and you want to take two? He asked calmly, "I was in a hurry on my way here, so tell me about the latest information on these two taboo objects." Guo Huchan spoke in a low voice, "I suspect that ACE-005 is the large cat by Uncle Li Dong''s side." "Why," Qing Chen inquired calmly. "Because that cat never sheds fur, Boss, I''ve observed for a long time, and that cat truly doesn''t shed fur," Guo Huchan explained, "At the Fire Pit, they also keep many cats, but those shed so much that I feel like I''m having difficulty breathing. Where in the world would you find a cat that doesn''t shed?" Qing Chen thought this was indeed a blind spot in his knowledge. He couldn''t even afford to feed himself in the past, let alone keep a cat, so he didn''t know normal cats shed so fiercely. And how rare a cat that doesn''t shed at all, like Da Fu, must be. After thinking for a moment, Qing Chen said, "Your analysis makes sense, but it''s also possible that Uncle Li Dong is keeping ACE-005 close to him." "Impossible," Guo Huchan said, "Yu and Fish told me that someone saw Uncle Li Dong appear at the Heng Society outside. He had a brief meeting with Li Dongze, and he didn''t bring a cat with him. Oh right, Boss, you said that cats at the Fire Pit shed fur in summer and grow fur in winter, but when do people grow hair?" Qing Chen glanced at the other''s bald head, "When they''re kids." Guo Huchan: "..." Qing Chen pondered. There was actually a doubt here. Since Xiao Xiao has been confirmed to be a Spade Member, she already knows Uncle Li Dong''s identity and whereabouts. The Spades wouldn''t need to rely on information like "Uncle Li Dong once went to the Heng Society to meet with Li Dongze" to judge the situation. They could just ask Xiao Xiao directly. Could it be that Xiao Xiao is really keeping secrets? That was somewhat unexpected for Qing Chen. She approached Liu Dezhu first and then targeted himself; all just to get more information. But the girl did not inform the Spades after obtaining it. "How do you see ACE-002?" Qing Chen inquired. "That can''t be confirmed," Guo Huchan shook his head, "But I heard something. A prisoner named Qing Chen in prison No. 18 said that he was missing for a while because he was locked in a dark room without any light or sound. But Boss, you know we stole the blueprints of prison No. 18, and the design didn''t include any inhumane ''dark room''... It might have been an original container meant to hold taboo objects, just like the Contraindicated courts'' containment for ACE-089, a sealed container!" Guo Huchan, rubbing his shiny bald spot, continued, "The Li Family and the Chen Clan must have noticed this too, so I think they have made two plans. The first plan is to barge through the gates and check if there are any other ''containers'' nearby, and their second plan is to capture Lin Xiaoxiao and Ye Wan today directly, to force out of them the whereabouts of the taboo objects. By then, we''ll take advantage while they are distracted and, once they''ve revealed clues about the location of the taboo objects, we will just snatch them by force." At this point, Qing Chen also understood: this group of people wasn''t sure what ACE-005 and ACE-002 were used for, nor what they actually were. However, if these people really dared to make a move on Lin Xiaoxiao and Ye Wan, they''d probably all end up dead here today. However, considering the way the other prisoners avoided eye contact when he scanned the crowd a moment ago, Qing Chen speculated whether those forces would not dare to make their move... With Spades A arriving in person, wouldn''t the others have doubts in their minds? No, that''s not right. Lin Xiaoxiao and Ye Wan are well-known; since these people dare to come knowing the two are guarding prison No. 18, they must have a backup plan. At least a powerful countermeasure capable of dealing with Lin Xiaoxiao and Ye Wan! After pondering, Qing Chen seriously began to talk of half-truths, "SETTING ASIDE WHETHER ACE-005 is still in the prison or not, as far as I know, Uncle Li Dong can''t take ACE-002 out, and I also have some leads on that." Guo Huchan''s expression brightened as he quickly lowered his voice, "Boss, you have leads on ACE-002?" "Yeah," Qing Chen responded with the same expressionless face as Xu Linsen in the video, "When the time comes, you''ll work with me, and when they''re not paying attention, we''ll take ACE-002 away." Guo Huchan immediately became excited. After speaking, Qing Chen looked around, observing the environment. Suddenly, he noticed a problemhe didn''t see any traces of acquaintances as he scanned the surroundings; Liu Dezhu was missing, as were Yu Junyi and Lu Guangyi! Strange, all the prisoners were here, so why had so many disappeared? Could it be they were transferred to another prison, or were they all put in solitary confinement? But Uncle Li Dong and Lin Xiaoxiao hadn''t mentioned anything about this before. Just then, two men in the crowd started walking towards him and Guo Huchan. Qing Chen could feel Guo Huchan''s whole body tense up, as if a big fight was about to erupt at any moment. He sighed inwardly; his master must also be watching this place intently by now. Perhaps even holding some fruit in his hand. Qing Chen felt life was just too hard for him. Chapter 250 Taboo ACE-002! But he saw the two men slowly approaching Qing Chen, with one of them calmly saying, "Xu Linsen, long time no see." As these two people emerged, everyone in the prison stopped what they were doing and silently focused on this side. Everyone here was waiting for Qing Chen to speak. Qing Chen looked at the man in front of him and after a long silence said, "...Who are you?" The man sneered, "I''ve heard that Spades A Xu Linsen is proud, but I never expected you to be this arrogant." Qing Chen couldn''t help but laugh and cry inwardly; he wasn''t trying to appear so arrogant, it was simply that he truly didn''t know who the other person was, and could only continue the conversation in this manner. In this situation, pretending to know what you don''t is more likely to cause problems. But then he saw the other man beside him also sneer, "Looks like Spades A Xu Linsen doesn''t remember me either." After carefully observing the other person, Qing Chen remained silent for two seconds before saying, "If you haven''t reached Demigod, you''re not worth remembering." What kind of image Xu Linsen would have after today had nothing to do with him, Qing Chen... The man''s complexion became even grimmer, "You''ve just been promoted to A-Class yourself, I don''t know where you get the confidence from, to speak in a way even ''Chen Shi'' wouldn''t dare." Qing Chen asked, "Who is Chen Shi?" The breathing of the people around him suddenly halted, even Guo Huchan''s face showed a look of shock. "Good," the man suddenly laughed, "I will pass on these words to him." Qing Chen silently apologized to Xu Linsen in his heart, but the most crucial point was that he really didn''t know who Chen Shi was. At this very moment, Guo Huchan felt an infinite sense of honor rising in his heart; it turned out that his own boss was so bold he didn''t even consider Chen Shi, regarded as the first person under the Demigods! The future of Spades under the leadership of the boss would surely be bright. ... ... "Boss, weren''t we here to watch the fun? But why do I feel like he''s handling it with ease?" In a corner of the prison, Lin Xiaoxiao whispered. Ye Wan nodded, "Xiao Chen has never encountered Xu Linsen, yet he managed to act out Xu Linsen''s proud demeanor perfectly, even surpassing the original." Uncle Li Dong, Lin Xiaoxiao, and Ye Wan stood in a dark corner, silently watching a good show unfold. Everyone had agreed beforehand to see Qing Chen flustered and lost, so that Uncle Li Dong, as a master, could step in and save the day, showcasing the value of being a master. After all, the student being too composed indeed made the master feel a lack of accomplishment. It''s like a mother in an ordinary household, although she will nag you about not folding your quilt properly, not taking care of yourself, not studying hard, but if you do everything well, she might suddenly feel a lack of presence. Uncle Li Dong was now feeling this way, so he wanted to create some danger for Qing Chen, with the thinking that, as a Demigod overseeing the prison, nothing could go wrong anyway. However, the development of the situation was now moving in a direction that no one had anticipated... After a long silence, Uncle Li Dong said, "Let''s wait and see." At this point, the man opposite Qing Chen said, "What we didn''t expect was that the almighty Spades A would take such a risk to come to Prison 18. Aren''t you afraid that Li Dong here would suppress you to death?" Over the years, the Transcendents captured by the Federation were always tried by corporate interests to be recruited and then represented by the most powerful, most expensive lawyers to clear their names. Then, Transcendents who were caught in a weakness vanished from the public eye, such as Du Hao and Xie Yinggeng in front of Qing Chen, who have been missing for 3 years, now silently serving the Li Family and the Chen Clan. But there were exceptions, such as Guo Huchan, who refused to yield and was sent directly to Prison 18. Because of Uncle Li Dong''s presence, other Transcendents couldn''t stir up any trouble here. Although Xu Linsen was stronger than Guo Huchan, he would still be suppressed once in Prison 18, which is why the man spoke this way. Qing Chen calmly said, "Everybody knows that Uncle Li Dong has already left Prison 18, so there''s no need for these useless words. If you didn''t know he had left, would you two dare to enter this prison? The nature of the hundreds of transfers to Prison 18 in recent times is well understood between us." Du Hao sneered, "Let''s just speak frankly then. No matter how arrogant Xu Linsen is, there are only a few dozen of Spades in Prison 18. If you are trying to contend for ACE-002 by yourself, Xie Yinggeng and I joining forces would be enough to ruin your plans. So it''s better for us to cooperate and capture Lin Xiaoxiao and Ye Wan first." "Do you think you''re worthy of cooperating with me?" Qing Chen looked at them coldly, but suddenly realized that the pair was about to make a move, "You''re worthy." This sudden change of tone confused many people; Takamagahara couldn''t figure out whether Xu Linsen was willing to cooperate or not. Qing Chen looked at the two men, "When do you plan to make a move against Lin Xiaoxiao and Ye Wan?" "At nightfall," Xie Yinggeng answered calmly. The turmoil inside Prison 18 gradually subsided. Everyone was waiting for the student march to throw the outside order into chaos. Two seemingly unrelated events were suddenly closely linked. Perhaps, this was also one of the reasons why the student march was legally approved, as someone wanted it to obscure more people''s vision. Countdown 14:00:00. 9 hours until nightfall. Meanwhile, within the crowd, several prisoners quietly left the line and entered the restroom one by one. They met in the restroom without speaking and each slipped into different stalls. These people belonged to different organizations and now needed to establish contact with the outside as soon as possible, such as asking why their superiors hadn''t mentioned that Xu Linsen would be coming in, whether Uncle Li Dong had appeared outside, and the progress of the student protests. A prisoner rolled up his sleeves and then forcefully dismantled his integrated mechanical arm, pulling out several parts to reassemble into a complete signal transmission device. However, at that very moment, all the prisoners responsible for passing information discovered that their communication devices had malfunctioned and could not detect any signals whatsoever. This fortress-like Prison No. 18 seemed to have become an isolated citadel outside of City No. 18. ... ... As the crowd around him dispersed, Qing Chen breathed a sigh of relief in his heart. He kept a calm expression on his face because he knew there were countless eyes still watching him. The personal arrival of Spades A indeed shook the nerves of countless people. However, Qing Chen didn''t think too much about it, his mission now was to muddy the waters. Lin Xiaoxiao had mentioned before: too many prisoners had been transferred here, and in just over ten days, Prison No. 18 had seen an increase of 1,200 people. Among these 1,200 people, there were individuals from various organizational forces as well as innocent people who had been forcefully moved here; they were all mixed together and indistinguishable. Even if Uncle Li Dong, as a Demigod, wanted to cleanse Prison No. 18, he wouldn''t want to indiscriminately harm the innocent. Therefore, one must stir up this stagnant pond so that the animals within would start moving, only then could you tell which ones were carnivores and which ones were herbivores. With this thought, Qing Chen, accompanied by Guo Huchan, silently moved through the crowd and headed directly for Uncle Li Dong''s room. In an instant, everyone''s gaze converged on him, wanting to see what this ''Xu Linsen'' was planning to do. "Boss, where are we heading?" Guo Huchan asked in confusion. "I''m taking you to get a Taboo," Qing Chen responded calmly. Yet in the next moment, Qing Chen suddenly walked into an open cell and took out a thick book, stuffing it into Guo Huchan''s hands. With a serious expression, Qing Chen whispered, "Run! I''ll cover you!" Guo Huchan froze momentarily, then turned and sprinted towards the Alloy Gate on the north side of the square. Although all seemed sudden, with such an important ACE-002 entrusted to him by the boss and instructions to cover for his escape from Prison No. 18, this was not the time for him to overthink. In an instant, Guo Huchan''s body tattoos became fully visible, and like a rampant bull, he charged forward, embodying the spirit of unstoppable force against gods and Buddhas alike. It was at this moment that nearly a thousand people in the square started to move as well, amongst them someone shouted, "Stop him, don''t let him take the Taboo away!" "Seize the Taboo from him!" Sudden chaos erupted in Prison No. 18, where the majority of prisoners had no idea what was happening, appearing bewildered and at a loss, while a small fraction of them began to sprint after Guo Huchan. The surge of people was overwhelming, and before Guo Huchan could reach the Alloy Gate, a hundred people had already blocked his path! "Get out of my way!" yelled Guo Huchan as he barged into the crowd, clutching the thick book tightly to his chest. In the blink of an eye, more than a dozen prisoners flew into the air as though they had been struck by a fast-moving armored vehicle, each plummeting down violently. However, just as Guo Huchan charged ahead, two individuals with calm expressions emerged from behind him. Read new chapters at My Virtual Library Empire The middle-aged man named Du Hao took a composed approach. With two slender fingers extended, he took advantage of a moment when Guo Huchan was dealing with others and swiftly jabbed under the bald man''s ribs. A sharp pain surged throughout Guo Huchan''s body upon the attack to his ribs, causing his arms to involuntarily loosen for a moment. The next second, Xie Yinggeng on the other side suddenly reached out and grabbed the edge of the book, pulling hard! "Not a chance!" Guo Huchan''s palms, as large as copper bowls, desperately clung to the book in his embrace, refusing to let it be snatched away. In the midst of their struggle... A tearing sound. The Taboo, ACE-002, was ripped apart... Everyone was stunned. They gaped at the sky in shock, momentarily unable to process what had just transpired. Taboos were products of rules; how could they be broken? With so many Taboos that could only be contained, not destroyed, surely ACE-002 couldn''t be that fragile. How were they supposed to explain this to their boss when they returned? Could they claim they had successfully destroyed the Taboo ACE-002 as commanded? If they actually reported that, they would probably be sent to the wilderness to plant corn, right?! Earlier, the one who had acted against Guo Huchan, Du Hao, stretched out his fingers and caught a torn page from the air, which read, "Middle-Aged Health Manual..." "This is not a Taboo at all, we''ve been played!" Xie Yinggeng roared, looking towards Guo Huchan. However, they suddenly realized that Guo Huchan looked just as shocked at that moment! The prisoners were confusedunderstandably they were shocked, but why did Guo Huchan seem equally astonished... Guo Huchan pushed through the crowd, looking back to search for his boss''s figure, but to his surprise, the one known as "Xu Linsen" had vanished. But the most crucial aspect of this farce was that those who harbored malicious intent and were hidden among the ordinary prisoners had all but revealed their true colors. Chapter 251 200, trying to trick me a second time? A taboo that can be torn apart by bare hands is certainly not a taboo. Nearly a thousand people competed for a book, only to end up fighting a lonely battle. The pages of the book that were forcibly torn asunder fluttered down like a celestial maiden scattering blossoms, some landing on the prisoners as they involuntarily recited the text on the pages. They looked serious, as if earnestly studying midlife health knowledge, planning for their own future lives. What had been a tense and solemn atmosphere suddenly became absurd and comical. "Who can tell me what just happened?" amidst the confusion, a prisoner said bewilderedly. A prisoner squatted among the crowd, picking up a torn and tattered piece of paper from the ground that read ''Eating more vegetables can effectively prevent constipation in the middle-aged and elderly.'' What does that even mean? In this struggle, about a thousand people were ordered by the consortium, but over three thousand others were completely unaware. As the conflict began, they watched as hundreds of people suddenly charged out of the crowd, seeming to seize something very important. And the very next moment they were dumbstruck, so the consortium arranged for hundreds of people to charge into Prison 18 just to snatch a midlife health manual? Didn''t someone just emphatically say they were seizing the taboo object ACE-002, what is this even about?! Du Hao and Xie Yinggeng, these two consortium experts, suddenly turned towards Guo Huchan: "Are you playing us? Where''s the taboo object?" Faced with hundreds of menacing eyes, Guo Huchan seriously examined the remaining pages in his hand: "Look, the book says if a middle-aged person begins to bald early, they should appropriately supplement with milk, fish, lean meat... Isn''t this more useful than a taboo object?" While saying this, he slowly moved towards the outside. He hadn''t moved far when the bald, brawny man was encircled again. "Where is the taboo object?" Du Hao said coldly, "We can''t let this go unless things are made clear today!" Guo Huchan helplessly threw away the page: "When I ran out of the house, did I ever say I took the taboo object ACE-002? Could it be that you mistook it yourselves?" Du Hao recalled for a moment, and indeed, Guo Huchan had never said that what he took was the taboo object ACE-002! Xie Yinggeng lamented bitterly: "Then why hold onto it so tightly?!" "I''m freaking approaching middle age myself, can''t I study this properly?" Guo Huchan didn''t tell a single truth. "It''s definitely Xu Linsen using him to divert everyone''s attention, then sneaking away with the taboo object," Du Hao analyzed. "Where is Xu Linsen?" Xie Yinggeng also hadn''t found any trace of Xu Linsen. For a moment, everyone slowly pressed towards the bald, brawny man, seemingly ready to kill him. Guo Huchan earnestly said, "Killing someone in Prison 18, aren''t you afraid of the metallic storm overhead? Plus, what if I told you that even I was fooled, would you believe me?" "What do you mean?" Xie Yinggeng frowned and said, they paused their advancing steps, now really wasn''t the moment to trigger the suppression mechanism of Prison 18. They were waiting for nightfall. But it wasn''t just awaiting the nightfall that simply; they needed to wait for a signal to act, otherwise, everyone would die. Du Hao looked towards Guo Huchan: "You said you were also played?" "Someone was impersonating my boss," Guo Huchan said: "Though it was chaotic just now, the only way in and out of Prison 18 is through this alloy gate, which is still intact and never opened. If you say we planned a diversion, how did he leave? Everyone knows my boss''s capabilities; he couldn''t have left here without a trace." "Moreover," Guo Huchan continued: "I, Spade, have always been known for loyalty and righteousness, and so is boss Xu. Do you think if that person really was Xu Linsen, he would have me attract attention to face death? If we really were creating a diversion, it should have been the other way around: he would attract your fire while I quietly left with the taboo object ACE-002!" Xie Yinggeng cursed and said, "Didn''t you notice anything wrong with him then? Since you know Xu Linsen wouldn''t have you sent to your death, why didn''t you think of this at that moment?" "I did feel something strange at that time," Guo Huchan said: "But the atmosphere was so heated..." "Damn that heated atmosphere," Du Hao cursed angrily. "I''m freaking angry too, okay," Guo Huchan said. When he remembered that he had even asked the guy when humans began growing hair, he felt utterly embarrassed! Just then, the courtyard alloy gate of the prison suddenly opened again. A middle-aged prisoner was being escorted in by six mechanical prison guards. Many people froze because they recognized the identity of this middle-aged man: Chen Yu of the Chen Family! Eleven years ago, Chen Yu committed murder. He could have escaped the crime, but the Qing''s Family found evidence that solidified his guilt, and he was forcefully sentenced to 170 years in prison. This was one of the few consortium members imprisoned; he also managed the order within Prison 7, considered the dirty worker within the consortium. He was also one of the Chen family''s top experts. Some have said that the Federation can breathe in the gaps solely because the five consortiums keep each other in check, each constantly seeking to send the others to their graves. The five consortiums pervaded the entire society, but as long as there were competitors, they remained wary. Enjoy new chapters from My Virtual Library Empire If only one consortium remained in the Federation, the federal laws would probably be used by the consortium bigshots to wipe their asses. Upon being escorted in, Chen Yu first calmly surveyed his surroundings, eventually resting his gaze on Xie Yinggeng, and then casually called out, "Xie, come and report the situation." In prison, Chen Yu''s demeanor was as relaxed and comfortable as if he were at home, even though he had just been transferred from Prison 7. The mechanical prison guard removed the shackles from his wrists and ankles, and the middle-aged man flexed his limbs, only to realize that Xie Yinggeng was standing still, not coming over to await orders! "What''s the matter," Chen Yu frowned, "don''t you recognize me?" "Shouldn''t you be in Prison 7 right now?" Xie Yinggeng hesitated before asking. "It''s chaotic in Prison 18 today, and the family was worried you couldn''t handle it, so they sent me to check on things," Chen Yu said indifferently. Guo Huchan whispered beside Xie Yinggeng, "The person who previously impersonated my boss said the same thing... If I were you, I''d pinch his face to make sure it isn''t a mask." Just then, someone in the crowd suddenly shouted, "He could be fake too, be careful!" During the conversation, Xie Yinggeng slowly walked towards Chen Yu and then suddenly reached out to pinch his cheek, "Trying to fool me a second time?" But Chen Yu calmly lifted his right leg and kicked out like lightning, sending Xie Yinggeng flying over twenty meters despite his preparedness! "Tired of living?" Chen Yu sneered. "Ugh!" Xie Yinggeng spat out a mouthful of fresh blood, "It really is Boss Chen, I made a mistake, my mistake!" At that moment, Xie Yinggeng felt furious at himself for being duped twice by the impersonator! Chen Yu calmly asked, "What exactly is going on?" Du Hao chimed in mockingly from the side, "You''ve followed him in Prison 7 for so long, and still can''t recognize whether he''s being impersonated, I couldn''t stand it." Du Hao served the Big House of the Li family, while Chen Yu and Xie Yinggeng served the Third House of the Chen family; naturally, he was pleased to watch the drama unfold at this time. Xie Yinggeng had not yet wiped the blood from his mouth when he immediately became furious upon hearing this, "Du Hao, you scoundrel!" "I see it''s typical of the Chen family to act so lowly," Du Hao sneered, "the Big House of the Li family and the Third House of the Chen Family agreed not to send top experts, yet you went back on your word. Chen Yu should have been escorted nearby already, but just to deceive my Li family, you secretly moved him in on the day of the operation." "No need to speak so harshly," Chen Yu said nonchalantly, glancing at him, "I only came in just in case, not to get involved in the fight." Du Hao scoffed coldly, knowing that such words could only deceive ghosts; Chen Yu would definitely intervene when it truly mattered. "First, tell me exactly what happened," Chen Yu asked calmly. An underling of Xie Yinggeng helped explain, "Just before you came, someone impersonating ''Spade'' Xu Linsen caused chaos in the prison, and right after that, you came in. Xie Yinggeng probably thought he was impersonating you too. Also, we indeed didn''t know you were coming today..." "I see, so who was the one who yelled earlier, warning Xie Yinggeng to be careful?" Chen Yu frowned and looked towards the prisoners, "Step forward." However, they waited for a long time and no one dared to come forward. One prisoner said the voice came from nearby, but by the time he turned to look, there was no one there. The crowd began to wonder if it might have been the same person who had impersonated Xu Linsen. "Wait," Guo Huchan suddenly said, "that person must still be in the prison! That warning was said by him hiding among the crowd!" The moment Guo Huchan finished speaking, Du Hao shouted loudly, "Anyone who spots the stranger will be rewarded 100,000!" However, despite searching for a long time, they found no strange person who had slipped in. In the meantime, several people reported clues, but it turned out they were all false alarms. The situation gradually became more sinister... Thousands searched, yet not a single stranger was found in the crowd?! In fact, not only had Du Hao and the others not found Qing Chen, even Lin Xiaoxiao and Ye Wan hadn''t spotted him! During the commotion, both of them had been hiding and were almost laughing themselves sick, but when they finished, they discovered that Qing Chen had disappeared. "Boss, where''s Qing Chen?" Lin Xiaoxiao searched the crowd until her eyes were nearly blind, but she found no sign of him. Uncle Li Dong nonchalantly pointed in a direction and said, "He has taken on the appearance of a classmate." Among all those present, only this master had been continuously watching his disciple, never taking his eyes off him for a moment. Following the direction of the hand, Lin Xiaoxiao looked over and was shocked to find ''Yu Junyi,'' who had been transferred to another prison, standing among the crowd with a confused expression. Chapter 252 The intent to kill has arrived There''s no denying it, that bewildered expression was identical to the other prisonersit couldn''t have been more convincing. Liu Dezhu, Yu Junyi, and Lu Guangyi and others were transferred to the prison last night, so the other prisoners didn''t notice anything unusual. And since this Yu Junyi had been in Prison No. 18 for quite some time, naturally, he had people to vouch for him. Who would have thought that Prison No. 18 would turn out to be that imposter''s home ground? Then again, when Lin Xiaoxiao previously told Qing Chen that she needed his help to find those individuals planted by various forces, it was actually just a pretext. Because she didn''t really believe Qing Chen had a way to root them out. But what she had never expected was that Qing Chen would succeed, and do a remarkable job at that. Ye Wan remarked with emotion, "Boss, the Taboo Item ACE-005 was really given to the right person. It takes you half an hour to change your appearance, but all he needs to do is think about it. Without artificial intelligence to compare height, stride, behavior patterns, it would be impossible to locate such a person in a city with millions of inhabitants..." Lin Xiaoxiao tugged at his arm from the side. Ye Wan glanced at Uncle Li Dong''s solemn face and hurriedly said, "Of course, I didn''t mean to belittle you, Boss." "I''m not blaming you," sighed Uncle Li Dong. "I just feel sorry for my Middle-Aged Health Preservation Manual." Lin Xiaoxiao: "..." Ye Wan: "..." "Alright, arrange for those innocent people to be transferred from the prison, in batches if possible, and it would be best to complete it before nightfall," Uncle Li Dong instructed. "It''s time for you two to make a move." ... ... Just as Liu Hao and the others were arguing, Lin Xiaoxiao and Ye Wan walked down the stairs. Lin Xiaoxiao clapped his hands and said with a smile, "That scene just now was truly spectacular. We should have found a way to record it. You two families sent so many people to Prison No. 18, only to be completely outwitted by one person. I wonder if your bosses would find you incompetent if they knew about this?" Chen Yu turned around, hands behind his back, and looked at Lin Xiaoxiao and Ye Wan. "Was the imposter arranged by you?" "No, no," Lin Xiaoxiao quickly said with a smile. "That scene just now was as surprising to me as well. I would actually like to compliment that imposter. Well done." As the two descended the stairs, Chen Yu walked up to them, with hundreds of prisoners behind him, like a dark wall loomed right before them. Ye Wan, facing what seemed like a tangible oppression, said emotionlessly, "You see my boss hasn''t shown up outside, do you dare to lay a hand on us now? If not, then back off." Lin Xiaoxiao also asked cheerfully, "Aren''t you afraid that the boss is in Prison No. 18 right at this moment?" Chen Yu also laughed. "If he were really here, why would he tolerate our antics? Moreover, do you really think that there''s no way to kill him? Being a Demigod is just an honorary title; it doesn''t mean he''s invincible on earthhe''s still human. My friend, this era belongs to technology, even Transcendents like him and me are still subject to control by others." "Oh? You dare to compare yourself with my boss?" Lin Xiaoxiao questioned skeptically. "Then why haven''t I seen you try it out here before? From what you''re implying, it seems like killing my boss would be easy, so what were you doing eight years ago?" Chen Yu sneered. "Eight years ago, the senior Lee family member insisted on protecting him, saying he would never leave Prison No. 18 in his lifetime, but now he has broken the agreement himself. Besides, the senior of the Lee family doesn''t have much time left. Haven''t you seen that people from the Lee family have come here?" Ye Wan stated calmly, "The good-for-nothing from the Big House of Li family doesn''t represent the entire family." Du Hao remained silent, his expression grim. "I think you''ve got one thing wrong," Lin Xiaoxiao, facing the hundreds pressing in, was as calm as ever and suddenly laughed. "If it weren''t for you secretly detaining my boss''s friends, you wouldn''t be able to trap him here at all. Do you really believe that by taking hostages, you''re on a par with gods?" Lin Xiaoxiao asked pointedly, "Do you match up?" "Being locked in this cage by worldly emotions, Uncle Li Dong is after all human," Chen Yu said with a smile. "So, will he go to save them tonight, stay to protect the Taboo Item ACE-002, or seek clues to rescue his friends? Which will he choose?" Chen Yu and his group were willing to wait so long exactly to ensure that Uncle Li Dong wasn''t in the prison and wouldn''t return tonight, so that they could take action. At that moment, Lin Xiaoxiao''s demeanor turned cold: "Step aside." Chen Yu smiled and waved to the crowd behind him, signaling them to part and open a path. The prison quieted down for a time. Lin Xiaoxiao and Ye Wan sat at the dining table, whispering to each other, while far away, Chen Yu sat cross-legged on the ground, meditating, with hundreds surrounding him for protection. Only Guo Huchan was sitting all alonehis Spade operatives had been captured by Qing Chen and transferred out of the prison long ago... Countdown 7:00:00. At 5 o''clock in the afternoon, two hours before nightfall, Du Hao and Xie Yinggeng were conspiring together. They were still puzzled about something. Du Hao said in a low voice, "Prisoners are thoroughly searched before entering the prison. If the impersonator was wearing a human skin mask, how could it possibly fool such a fair prison system? How did he manage to disguise himself?" "Is it possible that the other party is a Transcendent whose ability is disguise?" Xie Yinggeng asked. "There have been similar powers before." "It''s a possibility, but why would someone be placed in Prison No. 18, just to pretend to be Xu Linsen? What is he after?" Du Hao wondered. "I can''t figure it out," Xie Yinggeng shook his head. Indeed, what was the imposter after?! They might not believe it if it were said, but even Qing Chen himself hasn''t figured out the answer to that question yet. As he pondered, the icy metallic Storm above suddenly began to rotate slowly, vaguely locking trajectories over the heads of all the prisoners. To everyone''s astonishment, not only did the rubber-bullet-firing Storms activate, but so did 36 Storm units armed with live ammunition! Among the cold whir of the spinning Storm, the sound of electricity came from above, sounding eerily unsettling. The next moment, the prison square''s alloy gate slowly lifted, revealing dozens of mechanical prison guards armed with firearms. A neutral voice from the prison''s broadcast announced: "The following numbered inmates, please gather at the gate, 039212, 039213..." The broadcast listed 48 names in succession before finally stopping. Both Du Hao and Xie Yinggeng looked at each other, clueless as to what was happening. "Why would there be a sudden mass transfer of inmates?" Du Hao wondered. He said to his subordinates nearby, "Quickly check your numbers, make sure none of our people are being transferred out." It took great effort for everyone to be transferred in; if they were transferred out at a critical moment, that would be terrible. The Li family, which Du Hao represented, and the Chen Clan, represented by Xie Yinggeng, had only come to a truce because the number of people they had transferred was roughly the same, planning to capture Lin Xiaoxiao and Ye Wan first before discussing the rivalry between the two families. The balance had already been disrupted by the arrival of Chen Yu. If their own forces were weakened again, tonight the Big House of Li family would become just an also-ran! The next moment, a subordinate reported to Du Hao with great excitement, "Our people have not been transferred; it''s just ordinary prisoners who have been moved." At this, Du Hao was also pleased. However, just then, he suddenly noticed among the prisoners being transferred, a middle-aged man looked back at him expressionlessly. Wasn''t he the expert that the Lee family had secretly planted among the prisoners?! Everyone thought Du Hao was the boss in this operation, but in truth, this middle-aged man was actually the boss who had been directing from behind the scenes all along! At that moment, Du Hao''s entire demeanor fell; the transfer had unexpectedly taken his boss awayhow were they supposed to proceed now?! He quickly stood up and yelled at the mechanical prison guards: "No, you can''t take him away!" Just as he stood up, three units within the metallic Storm above locked their gun barrels on him. The middle-aged man shook his head, signaling him not to be rash. With a pale face, Du Hao felt despair, while Xie Yinggeng beside him burst into laughter, "You call us the villains, yet the Big House of Li family has also secretly planted an expert among the crowd, and even earlier than us!" The middle-aged man was a very patient Hunter, who hadn''t thought of making a move even when Guo Huchan might have escaped with a Taboo item. But he hadn''t anticipated that by not acting against Guo Huchan, he would be identified as an ordinary prisoner and transferred! This was too sudden! Furthermore, Prison #18 was fully armed and on alert from the start, giving them no chance to struggle. It''s worth noting that the 72 Storm units above are specifically designed for Demigod-level individuals; this is the only prison in the Federation capable of incarcerating Demigods! At this time, Du Hao''s gaze swept over the prisoners. He quickly realized a problem: none of the people on the transfer list belonged to any consortium. Suddenly, someone said, "These are the prisoners who followed us during the transfer. Some are just petty thieves, others economic criminals, all serving less than 15 years!" In this time period, a total of 1239 prisoners were transferred into Prison #18, of which 721 were from the consortia, and the rest were light offenders meant to disguise the real intent. These people committed a variety of crimes, but they shared one commonality: none were sentenced to death. Both Du Hao and Xie Yinggeng were no fools; originally worried that their power might be weakened, they now harbored another concern. That is to say, if all these light offenders were transferred out, then Prison #18 would only be left with consortium members and those deserving of death! A cold sweat suddenly broke out on Du Hao''s back, making his hair stand on end. "So, the person impersonating Xu Linsen just now was trying to distinguish us to identify the light offenders who are not from the consortia, and then transfer them out!" Du Hao said. But what in the world was the purpose of the person doing this?! Du Hao felt profoundly disturbed. Explore more stories with My Virtual Library Empire A subordinate approached him and said, "Boss, we''ve tried many ways, but we still can''t make contact with the outside world. It seems our equipment isn''t the issue, but rather the jamming device of Prison #18 has been activated." "Why," Du Hao murmured, "why would the jamming device of Prison #18 suddenly activate..." The timing of the jammer''s activation seemed as if it was intentionally coordinated with something. "Wait," Du Hao turned and ran towards the alloy gate that was slowly closing: "I request to be transferred!" ... Thanks to Meowmeowmeow for becoming a new ally of this book, a generous boss, and wishing you great fortune! Chapter 253 Knights Legacy Countdown 6:00:00. One hour remained before nightfall. Batches of inmates with lighter sentences were successively transferred, and the population of Prison No. 18 plummeted rapidly from 4200 to 3700. For some reason, even though only a little over four hundred people were transferred, everyone felt as if the prison had instantly grown colder and much emptier. The common inmates cowered in corners, trembling, and even the conglomerate members kept silent. Only Du Hao continued to roar. When the mechanical prison guards escorted inmates in groups, he had tried multiple times to break through the blockade and escape, but that was simply impossible. After the last batch of inmates was transferred, the alloy gate shut tightly and never opened again. "Open the gate, I demand medical bail, I demand a transfer to another prison!" Du Hao banged on the alloy gate, bellowing angrily. In Prison No. 18, everyone else gradually fell silent, staring dumbfounded at the scene. "Boss, if you keep hitting like that, you might provoke the suppression of Prison No. 18," one of Du Hao''s subordinates said. Turning fiercely, Du Hao yelled back, "What do you know? Someone has taken all those with minor offenses away and left us with those who deserve more than death. This isn''t about competing for the Taboo ACE-002; it''s clearly a trap! Someone''s after our lives!" "Could it just be a coincidence?" Xie Yinggeng asked, puzzled. "Who would dare kill so many people in a prison? The prison system isn''t to be trifled with either." Thinking that dead bodies would soon be everywhere, they couldn''t help but shiver... What a bloody scene that would be? "I suspect that the prison system has been hacked," Du Hao said viciously. "First, the mechanical prison guards brought in someone pretending to be Xu Linsen, and then they used behavioral activities to quickly identify us, filtering out those with lighter crimes for transfer. Do you know how much effort we spent to get transferred to Prison No. 18? Yet, our opponent acts as if this is their own home!" "The prison system hacked?" someone questioned doubtfully. "Isn''t that impossible? Isn''t the Federal Prison System known for having the most secure defense?" Du Hao responded, "Otherwise, how do you explain the prison system, always so fair, suddenly becoming an accomplice to others?!" The prison system had managed prisons for nearly a thousand years, and ever since this artificial intelligence took over initially, it was because of its fairness. Strange things had happened in the meantime, but apparently due to some special reasons, the conglomerates had never questioned its fairness. So, when everyone realized there might be a problem with the prison system, their first thought was that it had been invaded, not that there was an issue with the system itself. At that moment, Du Hao suddenly lifted his head to see the Iron Sky above, with its metal storm cannons pointing directly at him. The six-barreled turret was rotating, preheating and seemingly ready to fire at any moment. He backed off, no longer pounding on the alloy gate, but instead turned and walked into the crowd, looking for something. But just five minutes later, Du Hao muttered to himself, "As expected, Liu Dezhu has been transferred, and the people around Liu Dezhu as well! It seems we''re facing an indiscriminate attack!" Chen Yu frowned, "Who is Liu Dezhu?" Du Hao had been transferred here for a whole week, so he was somewhat familiar with the prison, but Chen Yu had just arrived today, so he was unaware of the situation. Xie Yinggeng beside him explained to Chen Yu, "Liu Dezhu is a man who recently appeared by Uncle Li Dong''s side. Some suspect he has passed Uncle Li Dong''s test and is very likely to become the next Knight. Even Lin Xiaoxiao and Ye Wan do not hold as high a status as him; this man can directly command those like Lin Xiaoxiao in Prison No. 18." Qing Chen, hiding in a dark corner, almost laughed out loud. He thought to himself that he finally understood why Liu Dezhu had nightmares every day... This guy was daily giving big fat orders to Lin Xiaoxiao; it would be a miracle if he didn''t have nightmares! However, just as Qing Chen was gloating, suddenly someone pointed at him and shouted to Du Hao, "Boss, there''s one of Liu Dezhu''s men here! I remember him, his name is Yu Junyi, he''s the closest aide to Liu Dezhu!" Qing Chen: "???" In an instant, all eyes turned towards him. Qing Chen thought, how on earth could impersonating Yu Junyi get him into trouble? He had chosen to impersonate someone very inconspicuous! Yet Du Hao quickly approached him, asking loudly, "If all the people around Liu Dezhu have been transferred, why haven''t you?" Qing Chen looked around as the crowd slowly surrounded him. After a moment of silence, he said, "I just thought I''d wait a bit longer before leaving..." Du Hao: "???" Waiting a bit longer before leavingdoes that make any sense? "I think he''s the one pretending to be my boss!" Guo Huchan incited from the back of the crowd. "Catch him!" The next moment, Du Hao leaped forward to snatch at Qing Chen. Before Du Hao could make a move, Qing Chen had already started retreating. But he retreated quickly while Du Hao, the expert, moved even faster. Not only that, Xie Yinggeng also enclosed him from the side! Qing Chen''s expression turned icy; as a beginner on the path of cultivation, how could he possibly have a chance against two masters simultaneously? However, in that split second, a figure fell from the sky, arriving first despite acting later. "Get lost!" The audience didn''t even see how the newcomer moved, yet with a single kick each, Du Hao and Xie Yinggeng were sent flying dozens of meters away. The two slid across the prison floor, unable to stop themselves no matter what. The kicks were so fast that their trajectory was almost invisible. Neither Du Hao nor Xie Yinggeng could comprehend what had happened; they felt as if all their internal organs had been displaced, the pain unbearable. It was only after these two were sent flying backward that everyone could clearly see who this person descending from the sky was. Chen Yu narrowed his eyes, "Uncle Li Dong!" The demigod acted effortlessly, his two kicks simple yet devoid of flair, but so fast they were unimaginable. Yet, with just those two, Du Hao and Xie Yinggeng couldn''t stand up. The atmosphere inside Prison #18 suddenly grew tense. Everyone watched Uncle Li Dong, standing there with a beaming smile, positioning himself in front of Qing Chen, firmly protecting the youth behind him. And in the place originally occupied by Yu Junyi stood a young person wearing a Cat Mask. Chen Yu only needed a brief glance at the other''s wrist to know that the owner of the Cat Mask couldn''t be very old. A young person''s wrist is subtley different from that of an adult. The red lines on the Cat Mask were vivid, yet twisted in a bizarre way, adding an extra measure of mystery. Seeing this scene, everyone thought as expected. It was this person who had impersonated Xu Linsen. The mask on his face was definitely a taboo item! All present were people who had licked blood off the edge of knives, so they knew all too well how terrifying such abilities were. If approached by someone like that, you might not even know who killed you. But, nobody had heard about the Knights or the Heng Society having such a person. "Wait, the Cat Mask!" Chen Yu was stunned for a moment as if he remembered something. Not long before, news had spread within the Federation''s conglomerates: Uncle Li Dong had left Prison #18 late at night and showed up at the top-tier Sunlight Pavillion Restaurant, ordering a serving of braised pork and a plate of Zhajiang noodles! That night, Chen Yehu, the brightest star of the younger generation of the Chen Clan, was also forced to wait for the person wearing the Cat Mask to finish his Zhajiang noodles before he could speak. Chen Yu, Chen Yehu''s uncle, had heard from his nephew: Uncle Li Dong was as oppressive as ever, and the owner of the Cat Mask was very young, suggesting that the meeting that night did not seem like one between significant figures, but rather like an elder taking a junior out. In this moment, as Chen Yu watched Uncle Li Dong firmly protecting Qing Chen, he suddenly understood... it was possible that the Knights had already passed on the mantle to a new generation. Chen Yu suddenly realized a lot of things: that night was the first time Uncle Li Dong had left Prison #18 after being trapped for eight years. He wanted to take his apprentice to see the best view of City #18 and at the same time let those "views" take a good look at his newly accepted apprentice. Now, reflecting on Uncle Li Dong''s actions, it seemed like a deliberate display, almost as if he couldn''t wait for the entire world to see the next leader of the Knights! Just now, it was this heir of the Knights who had casually made a move, stirring up a storm in Prison #18, instantly exposing the conglomerate''s people. The Knight was no ordinary person; this was a recognized fact within the Federation. At this moment, Du Hao and Xie Yinggeng were both coughing up blood while trying to get up, with Xie Yinggeng feeling some solace in their shared plight. But the thought of vomiting blood for the second time that day brought on a wave of sorrow. Uncle Li Dong looked at Chen Yu with a smile, "Was it you who just now said they had a way to kill me?" Chen Yu slowly backed away and said coldly, "Have you really given up on those friends of yours? So after being trapped here for eight years, in the end, you still chose to abandon your friends?" "A man on the brink of death need not worry about such affairs," Uncle Li Dong said with a smile: "But you don''t need to rush. After all, you can''t leave either. It just so happens that you''re waiting for nightfall, and I am too, so let''s all wait together." Having said this, Uncle Li Dong didn''t bother with the others and led Qing Chen toward the restaurant. He didn''t guard against these people escaping nor did he engage in much conversation as though whatever they did would be a wasted effort, and talking with them a waste of life! Qing Chen quietly followed Uncle Li Dong and asked in a low voice, "Master, did they hide your friends and take control of them? Do we have any clues? Let me help you analyze it." Uncle Li Dong patted him on the shoulder and said, "It''s enough for me to know that you care, but this isn''t something we can control. Speaking of which, did you use the Cat Mask to avoid putting the blame on Yu Junyi, preemptively clearing that there''s no connection with him?" "Yes," Qing Chen spoke softly: "Yu Junyi is the study rep of our class, and he''s a good person. Sometimes when I couldn''t afford the school fees, he wouldn''t highlight it in front of other students, always reminding me privately about the final date for payment." A little thoughtfulness between classmates was enough to move one''s heart. Uncle Li Dong chuckled and said, "Your concern is good, but tonight, no one here will be able to leave. No one will have the opportunity to look for Yu Junyi." ''Tonight, no one here will be able to leave,'' meant that everyone present would have to die tonight! Qing Chen''s breath hitched. He hadn''t expected his master to truly want to kill so many people! 3,719 peoplethat was the number Qing Chen tallied in an instant. All of these people would die tonight. In the distance, Chen Yu''s thoughts raced. Now that Uncle Li Dong had appeared here, having given up on his friends, he had to save himself. However, when he looked around, he suddenly realized that he didn''t know how to escape from here. The blocking device of Prison #18 was already activated, and he couldn''t even send out a message. But, wasn''t it said that Uncle Li Dong valued friendship and loyalty? They had deliberately leaked the information about the 36 secretly detained prisoners to the Heng Society, setting up traps in anticipation of Uncle Li Dong''s rescue. Yet, he didn''t attempt the rescue and instead came back to guard the forbidden object, ACE-002! This exceeded their expectations! Chen Yu pursed his lips and remained silent, cursing inwardly that tonight''s events had turned into a death trap! No matter how dismissively he spoke of Uncle Li Dong just now, only when Uncle Li Dong truly appeared did everyone understand the oppressive feeling emanating from the demigod. This time, the oppression was no longer a figurative exaggeration; Chen Yu genuinely felt an itch between his eyebrows, as if someone held a knife tip right in front of his face! Wait, Chen Yu suddenly realized something: in this chaos at Prison #18, which involved members from the Li''s Big Room and the Chen Clan''s Third Room, not a single person from Qing''s Family was present. With such a commotion, why was Qing''s Family absent? This was not normal! Chapter 254 203, Scepter No. Countdown 5:45:00. Great Snow. Only 45 minutes left until nightfall. It''s common knowledge in the Federation that consortia don''t have their own armies, but the entire Federal Army is at the consortia''s disposal. What this means is that although consortia are not allowed to have private armed forces, they have long since infiltrated the entire Federal Group Army. For instance, the 112th Division of the Federal First Group Army is a direct line troop of the Qing''s Family. 18 kilometers northeast of the 18th City, that''s where the 112th Division of the Federal First Group Army is stationed. At this moment, it wasn''t yet completely dark, but in the camp, huge searchlights had already been turned on. The flakes of snow twirling down from the sky coated the ground with a layer of white, lending the army camp an especially solemn atmosphere. Dozens of white geometric beams of light swept back and forth through the night sky, like gigantic white swords plowing through the camp. As the light passed through the air, one could see dense snowflakes piercing through the beams. Soldiers in the camp bustled about like worker ants, moving to and fro in an orderly manner. The buzzing sound came from the dusk, and seven Black Knife-02 type armed helicopters carrying tactical heat-seeking missiles had risen to midair, ready and waiting for orders. All these Black Knife-02 type armed helicopters were equipped with Morningstar-13 type lead-bismuth alloy reactors, capable of long-endurance flights. The strong and powerful propeller blades whipped up snow and wind in the air. Over the communication channel someone said, "The first combat formation is on standby, ready to escort at any time." "Received, Scepter No. requests take-off to carry out combat mission 0221." "Permission to take off granted." "Anchor 1 has been unlocked." "Anchor 2 has been unlocked." "Reactor control device temperature is normal." "Take off." Inside the command post, a middle-aged officer with a solemn expression watched the real-time surveillance footage, waiting for the war machine to start. The next moment, amidst the snowstorm. Suddenly, huge amounts of accumulated snow in the army camp were lifted into the air, countless snowflakes whirled about, and camouflage tents flapped violently in the howling wind. In the center of the camp, a terrifyingly large hover airship rose from the ground, with hundreds of jet devices arrayed underneath like a matrix, bursting into life. The already dim sky, due to the heavy snow, grew even darker with the ascent of the Scepter airship. Snowflakes in the sky were thrown into chaos by the vortex, swirling around like tornadoes. From the command camp voices transmitted continuously, "Confirm again, the reactor temperature is normal." "Matrix jet engines functional." "Coordinates have been anchored." "Confirm execution of combat mission 0221, Scepter No. is ready." At this point, a young officer rushed into the tent and questioned the middle-aged officer, "Uncle 13, do you realize what you are doing? You are provoking a war!" The middle-aged officer looked at him calmly and said, "In the army, I am your commanding officer, not your Uncle 13. Disregarding military discipline, drag him out and hang him up, hang him for 24 hours." The young officer roared, "Did you consult with the main family before deploying Scepter No.?!" The middle-aged officer smirked, "What is the main family? I am only responsible to the Family Head." After the guards from the Guard Camp dragged the young officer away. The middle-aged officer in the command tent spoke calmly through the communication system, "Triumph." As his words fell, the Scepter airship in the sky emitted a deafening roar, and the soldiers in the camp looked up to see that breathtaking airship challenge the sky, becoming a new Iron Sky! Seven Black Knife-02 type armed helicopters escorted it, like tiny seagulls next to a tiger whale. All the ground crew in black uniforms ran to both sides to avoid getting scorched by the jet engine''s flaming tails. Amidst the roar, Scepter No. started slowly, rising higher and higher, gaining speed as it headed straight for Prison No. 18 in the southwest! The massive hover airship, braving the snowstorm, was both spectacular and breathtakingly beautiful. In the grandeur of the Scepter airship, nobody even noticed that a secret ground troop had suddenly broken away from the 112th Division''s station and was racing northward. ... ... Countdown 5:20:00. Inside Prison No. 18, everyone was completely unaware of what was happening outside. Qing Chen sat across from Uncle Li Dong and asked, "Master, I guess before this, many people only knew the serial number ACE-002 but didn''t actually know what it was or where it was. Was it you who leaked the information about it being in Prison No. 18?" "Why do you presume so," Li Dong Uncle smiled. "Because when you look at the whole thing from start to finish, it''s like someone intentionally gathered these people together," Qing Chen said calmly, "The containment conditions for the forbidden artifact ACE-002 seem to require human lives, and the number it needs is very large. That is why you continually select those who have committed unforgivable crimes, hoping to use them to complete the containment of the forbidden artifact ACE-002." "When I appeared, you knew that you had already left a knightly inheritance, so you were free to go and do what you wanted to do, but still, the containment conditions for the forbidden artifact were not enough," Qing Chen continued, "At that point, you actively released false information, attracting all those who wanted to compete for the forbidden artifact, using their lives to fulfill its requirement." "Not entirely correct," Uncle Li Dong laughed. "Hmm," Qing Chen nodded, seemingly not surprised, "I know where I went wrong. Because when you had not yet decided to take me on as a disciple, Guo Huchan had already received the fake news about the forbidden artifact ACE-002 and come here. So, in fact, you had already planned to leave." Previously, Qing Chen had thought that it was because of his emergence that the knight had a new successor, and that Uncle Li Dong had no more concerns, and that''s why he planned to leave Prison #18. But all the clues from the past were in his head, and just a brief review revealed that the timeline didn''t add up. Uncle Li Dong didn''t plan to leave because Qing Chen appeared, but rather, Qing Chen''s arrival delayed the original plan. If Qing Chen hadn''t appeared, the events that were about to unfold today would have happened a month earlier. Uncle Li Dong exclaimed with emotion, "Sometimes I really don''t know whether finding such a smart disciple is a good thing or a bad thing. Your analysis is not wrong; I had this plan long ago. However, you may not know that many things have changed because of your arrival, like the way the plan was to be completed. I can''t tell you why just yet, but someday you will find out for yourself." At this, Uncle Li Dong did not intend to continue explaining anything, and Qing Chen felt there were some secrets hidden within, perhaps related to his identity in the Inner World. "Master, how many of your friends are controlled by the conglomerates? And which conglomerate controls them?" Qing Chen asked. "Chen Clan," Uncle Li Dong said calmly, "Eight years ago, many people died outright, and another 36 were not sacrificed, but taken by the Chen Clan to a secret detention place. At that time, the Lee family protected me, but the Chen Clan was not satisfied, so they traded the lives of those 36 people to imprison me, hoping to keep me here forever." "You haven''t found their detention location?" Qing Chen asked. "Yes," Uncle Li Dong nodded, "I''ve been looking for many years, but never found it. However, after I released the news, those people''s plans outside began. Someone started a student protest to try to draw away the police and military, while others turned around and leaked to Heng Society, saying that the Chen Clan would carry out a secret execution of the 36 at 19 o''clock tonight. They were certain I would go." "Such a fake message, what''s the use of releasing it?" Qing Chen didn''t understand. "They think I wouldn''t dare to gamble," Uncle Li Dong said. The lives of 36 vibrant individuals, all former friends, mean that for someone like Uncle Li Dong, as long as there was a glimmer of hope, he would try it out. Therefore, Chen Yu believed that Uncle Li Dong would definitely not return to Prison #18 tonight. But Uncle Li Dong came back anyway. Uncle Li Dong''s expression turned cold, "Those people probably think I would, just like eight years ago, uphold the knight''s integrity and kindness, but they are terribly wrong. Uncle Li Dong is no longer the Li Dong of eight years ago." Qing Chen was taken aback, to be honest, he also found it a bit strange. After coming out from Taboo Land No. 002, he had also searched for opinions on knights in both the Inner and Outer Worlds, only to find that everyone''s appraisal of knights was positive. Integrity, kindness, perseverance, bravery... And the ruthlessness and decisiveness occasionally demonstrated by Uncle Li Dong, were very far from the knight''s reputation. At a certain moment, Qing Chen wondered if his master had been an optimistic and cheerful person in his youth, perhaps not as steady and calculating as he was now. It was this world that changed some things, creating the Uncle Li Dong of today. Qing Chen suddenly asked, "Master, are the containment conditions for the Taboo ''ACE-002'' sufficient?" "They are sufficient." "Master, will your friends die today?" Uncle Li Dong calmly replied, "I don''t know, I have left that answer to destiny." At that moment, Uncle Li Dong said to Qing Chen, "Originally, there was no need for your help today, but unexpectedly, you are adept at handling ''ACE-005''. With that being the case, there is something you can do." At this, he had Lin Xiaoxiao bring over a reader and then pulled up a photo: "This person is named Su Xingzhi. Go to 13 Chunlei Street, Ninth District, and find him. Tell him he can take action now. Later, you''ll leave through the secret passage in the cold storage. Remember, be quick." However, unexpectedly, Qing Chen shook his head and said, "Master, I won''t go." "Why?" Uncle Li Dong was a bit surprised. "Sending a message to him is a simple matter for you; there''s no reason to specifically send me on this errand. Although I don''t know your purpose, by asking me to find Su Xingzhi, you''re just wanting me to leave Cell Block 18," Qing Chen said calmly. "Do you think there''s danger inside Cell Block 18?" Uncle Li Dong asked with a smile, "Every prisoner in this entire block dares not look me in the eye, and there''s Yi''s protection inside. What danger do you think there could be?" "I don''t know, but I''m not leaving," Qing Chen insisted, sitting stubbornly in his chair, motionless. Uncle Li Dong sighed, "Xiao Chen, how long have we known each other?" "For a long time," Qing Chen answered. "I have recalled the experience of meeting you countless times, as long as several centuries." Uncle Li Dong smiled, "Since you became my student, I have taken you here and there. I brought you to the ''002'' Taboo Land, to Qing Shan''s sheer cliffs, to the boxing gym." "Master is grateful to you. Walking this journey with you, I felt as though I returned to my youth. Watching you, Master was reminded of the courage he once had, the kind that allows one to make moves without regret." "But Master has led you on these paths; they are not the ones you wish to travel. Do you remember what I once said? The Qing Shan Falcon pushes its young off the cliff in the second month after they hatch. Only the fledglings that fight to spread their wings have the right to survive." "Although good times are always short and fondly remembered, the time has come..." "Now, you should start your own life." During the conversation, this contemporary demigod unexpectedly struck out at Qing Chen, knocking the young man unconscious. Uncle Li Dong looked at Lin Xiaoxiao: "Take him through the secret passage, Yi''s hover car is already waiting there." "Boss," Lin Xiaoxiao said softly, "are you really not going to tell him the truth? Knocking him out will at most keep him unconscious for half an hour. When he wakes up, he''s definitely going to come back." "It doesn''t matter," Uncle Li Dong smiled, "there are only 15 minutes left. He won''t make it back in time... Something must have already started in City 18." ... I''m begging for monthly votes! Chapter 255 Secret Prison 204 Beneath a certain building, in a place unknown to the public, there was a secret prison. The area was vast and empty, devoid of any decorations, with only concrete and several load-bearing columns. In this large circular space, there were only 35 cell blocks built along the walls, with 80 guards equipped with pistols patrolling back and forth between the cells. At the two entrances, one in the south and one in the north, more than ten mechanical dogs stood silently. Strangely, the firearms carried by these people all had silencers attached, and the guards were all in plainclothes, none in uniform. The cells were silent, while outside, a middle-aged man sat in the center of the open area, eyes closed, resting. Suddenly, his phone rang from his pocket. The middle-aged man looked at the message and laughed, "Everyone, it''s almost the appointed time, but Uncle Li Dong hasn''t come to rescue you following the clues we provided. There''s not even a shadow over there." All 35 cells remained silent, no one responding to him. Perhaps after eight years of prolonged silence, everyone was a bit unaccustomed to speaking. The middle-aged man walked to a cell and looked in through the iron window, taunting, "Is this the friend you spoke of?" In the cell, a gaunt figure with disheveled hair sat against the wall, his messy hair and beard obscuring his expression. "Cheng Xiao," the middle-aged man laughed, "have you ever thought that your friends who fought alongside you for your ideals would abandon you after eight years?" "The message you gave him was false to begin with, it''s normal that he didn''t go," Cheng Xiao''s hoarse voice came through. He had not spoken for so long that his tone seemed somewhat stiff. On the dim cell wall, Cheng Xiao had densely scratched words with his fingernails, so many that you couldn''t make out what was written. One could only see a person wrestling with loneliness through sheer will. The middle-aged man laughed and said, "No no no, given his past character, even if it was a false lead, he would definitely have checked it out. Cheng Xiao, he has also been imprisoned for eight years. Eight years is enough to dull a person''s sharpness." Cheng Xiao smiled painfully, "You''re wrong." "Where was I wrong?" "If his sharpness had been dulled, if he didn''t care about us, then he would have left that prison long ago," Cheng Xiao said calmly, "If he wasn''t concerned about our lives, do you think that prison could really hold him?" The middle-aged man paused, knowing Cheng Xiao spoke the truth. The middle-aged man said sternly, "He stays in that prison just for self-preservation. If he does not honor our agreement and leaves the prison on his own, the consortium has many ways to kill him. What era do you think this is now? Even a Demigod isn''t invincible." Cheng Xiao slowly stood up and walked to the iron door of the cell, staring through the iron window at the middle-aged man, "You fear him, which is why you always emphasize that a Demigod isn''t invincible." The middle-aged man looked at Cheng Xiao, his eyes fierce under his thick hair and beard. The middle-aged man sneered, "I''m not interested in discussing this with you. All I know is that if Uncle Li Dong doesn''t come to rescue you tonight, then you are of no value, and thus all of you will die." "You dare to kill us?" Cheng Xiao smiled, "Has the Chen Clan considered whether they are ready to endure the wrath of a Demigod." "It''s not only Uncle Li Dong who is an S-Class," the middle-aged man said coldly, "And as long as we have the Qin family member in our hands, Uncle Li Dong will still not dare to do anything drastic. Now is the final 40 minutes. If Uncle Li Dong doesn''t show up at the location we provided after 40 minutes, I will execute the order to secretly execute all 35 of you." "Death threats don''t scare us; you''ve known this for a long time," Cheng Xiao said calmly. The middle-aged man said coldly, "I''ve known from these past few years that you are tough. Right now, I only feel sad for you. The friend you''ve been thinking about constantly has just abandoned you. If it were me, I''d be very heartbroken." Cheng Xiao laughed, "You, a person like you, don''t deserve to have friends. Besides, I am very happy right now." "Happy?" the middle-aged man sneered, "You must be out of your mind. Why would you be happy?" "I''m happy precisely because Uncle Li Dong didn''t come to rescue us," Cheng Xiao gripped the iron bars on the window, staring straight at the middle-aged man, "This shows that he has finally learned to be ruthless, learned to no longer be merciful. Over these eight years, I''ve been pondering where we went wrong, and I''ve realized that we were too weak in the past, always wanting to solve problems peacefully. We believed in the promises of politicians, the hypocrisy of the parliament, and ended up in this situation. Now, Uncle Li Dong isn''t being played by you, showing no womanly compassion, and he has finally become a qualified leader." The sound of Cheng Xiao''s voice echoed in the empty secret prison. The other 34 prisoners also slowly stood up and came to the front of their cells, silently staring at the middle-aged man. This officer, under their stares, felt somewhat uneasy and suddenly said to the soldiers around him, "Open all the cells and bring them to the central open area, and execute them immediately once the time is up!" ... ... Countdown: 5:15:00. Read new chapters at My Virtual Library Empire In the dense forest street of City No. 18, a procession was slowly moving north. From 7 a.m. to 6:45 p.m., they walked all day except for a short rest at noon. The Great Snow falling from the sky rendered the entire city solemn. When the snow first started to fall, it melted into a slush of ice and water upon hitting the ground. A student looked down and noticed that his shoes had been soaked without him realizing, the icy snow water making his socks painfully cold. Looking up, he was startled to see that other students were in the same state, some with their trouser legs soaked through. This made the march even more challenging. The temperature in the air dropped rapidly, and the ground slowly started to ice over. By then, the snowflakes had accumulated into a silver kingdom. The protesters tread carefully on the snow, occasionally someone would slip and fall. In the early morning, there were tens of thousands of protesters, but as the heavy snow continued, the numbers began to decrease gradually. In this marching crowd, at least a third of the people were just there for a free meal, and they were unwilling to continue with the students any longer. So, those who were there for the food were the first to leave. Silently, they discarded their placards at the street corner, tore off the stickers on their faces, and left the protest. Before leaving, they even looted the carts filled with food, creating a mess. Later, some protesters who had been inspired by the students'' enthusiasm also began to falter. The long trek and the low temperatures were torturous. They approached the students who had initiated the march and said with consideration, "The weather today is really unfortunate. I think we might need to pick a clearer day. Maybe we should just call it off for today?" The student hesitated for a moment and said, "But we''ve already come this far, and we''re almost at the Upper Three Districts. We must let the bigwigs there see that we really can make it!" The wavering protesters shook their heads and said, "We really can''t go on, it''s too cold, everyone is freezing... Next time we will definitely walk with you to the end." So, these people left too. The students who started the march stood lost in the snow, not knowing how to keep these people from leaving or even if it was worth it to stop them. In the great snow, the students'' noses turned red from the cold, and they saw the crowd dwindling behind them, making them feel increasingly alone. This sudden autumn snow felt like a test, the vast sky above seemed to be watching to see if the students remained determined. Eventually, some students who had voluntarily joined the march also left. From a group of more than ten thousand, only a few hundred remained, walking alone, stubbornly and defiantly shouting slogans for educational reform, their voices hoarse. A female student looked back at the lonely long street behind her, and when she turned around to continue walking, she couldn''t help crying, feeling slighted. Those people had repeatedly claimed to be committed to initiating educational reform, so why had they disappeared along the way? She quietly wiped her tears, afraid that her classmates would see. At that moment, a girl with silver hair extended her hand and took out a handkerchief from her small crossbody bag to offer it. The female student looked up in a daze, "Zheng Yi..." The silver-haired girl smiled and said, "Don''t cry, we haven''t done anything wrong." The female student paused upon hearing this. Zheng Yi said, "Look, we''ve already walked so far according to plan, and we''re about to reach the Upper Three Districts. This, too, is a form of success. Glory brings forth hypocritical spectators; the twilight witnesses the true believers. It''s actually good that those people left." The female student nodded, "Right, we''re about to succeed." "Are you hungry," asked Zheng Yi. "I still have some food here." Saying this, her tiny, red hands fumbled in the crossbody bag and pulled out a protein bar. The female student said quietly, "Thank you." At that moment, the procession suddenly stopped. Just as they were about to enter the Upper Three Districts through the dense forest street, a team of Public Security Management Committee detectives drove up and blocked the front of the marching group, "We are detectives from the Third District Public Security Committee, needing to check your approval procedures." The student at the forefront turned pale as he faced them, everyone knew these were deliberate obstacles thrown in their path. If it hadn''t been for their repetitive checks, the procession wouldn''t have had to endure the bitter cold for so long on the road. But, they had to undergo the inspection. The male student, who had kept the approval documents close to him, pulled out the warm documents from his chest and handed them over. But this time, the Public Security Committee detectives did not bother to check the documents and instead passed them to the back. Suddenly, a detective took the documents, got into the car, and drove away. "Wait!" shouted the male student in astonishment. "Where are you taking the documents?!" "What documents? I didn''t see any documents," responded the detective emotionlessly. "I now suspect you are marching illegally. Who are the organizers here? Come with us for an investigation. Of course, if you leave now, we can let it go without charges." When the protest group was truly about to enter the Upper Three Districts, the opposition began to employ the most shameless tactics. The students rushed angrily toward the front, trying to confront these Public Security Committee detectives. However, dozens of committee detectives ruthlessly struck them on their heads and faces with batons, causing the students to panic and fall back into the slushy snow, in utter disarray. Now, not only their shoes but also their clothes were soaked. A detective said coldly, "Don''t be shameless. If you don''t disperse now, we''ll arrest you all, and have each of your parents come to bail you out. Then, I''ll ask them how they''ve raised their children." Chapter 256 205, Song Gradually, onlookers began to gather, their expressions indifferent as they watched the scene unfold. An elderly man nearby advised, "You young people should disperse quickly; they won''t let you enter District 3." Another kind-hearted elderly woman added, "Standing out here in this icy and snowy weather will freeze you to the bone. Your parents have raised you with so much hardship, have you not thought of them when you do such things?" "It''s impossible to overthrow the corporations in the Federation; don''t get your parents fired in the process." At that moment, some students suddenly noticed that among the noisy crowd were demonstrators who had left earlier, one of whom said, "There really shouldn''t have been any protest in the first place. What''s the use of education reform? Can going to school feed you?" "Moreover, they didn''t check the weather forecast when they planned it, insisting on protesting on a Great Snow day!" After these people left, they had to prove with all their might that the protest was a mistake, in order to justify their own departure as the correct choice. The snow from above. The words from the streets. They were like knives blocking their way. Just like the many things adults had told them: You will never succeed. Hundreds of students stood their ground, unable to move forward, yet unwilling to fall back. Some students began to cry softly, not understanding why; they had only come with passion to do the right thing, so why didn''t anyone understand them? They looked around blankly, at the spectators and the detectives from the Public Security Management Committee ahead. The snow suddenly intensified, the frantic wind howling as it passed through the Steel Forest. Yet, at that moment, a thin song began to resonate among the students, carrying through the snow and knives, its voice trembling slightly due to the cold weather. Tender yet fervent. All eyes turned to see Zheng Yi, a silver-haired girl standing weakly in the snow, singing softly. "Arise, ye who refuse to be slaves!" "Arise, all who are downtrodden and oppressed." "A fiery passion in our hearts, now is awoken." "We shall fight for truth and right, our cause unbroken." In the beginning, only one person sang. Soon, other students began to sing along. In the biting wind, the song grew stronger, no longer frail but powerful. It was unknown who brought the Internationale from the Outer World to the Inner World, simplifying the lyrics, making them easier to remember. The students had secretly learned the song before the demonstration, but had not dared to sing it due to its sharp and rousing lyrics. But at this moment, after the corporations had the Public Security Management Committee strip away the last shred of decency, the students felt there was nothing left to worry about. The students allowed the snowflakes to cover their heads and shoulders, not wanting to leave, just stubbornly singing their song. Their throats, already hoarse from shouting slogans, continued to strain for the sake of the song. The boy at the forefront looked ahead, facing the Public Security Management Committee detectives with an open and fearless gaze. "Never have we relied on any savior." "Nor do we depend on the immortals or emperors." "To create the happiness of mankind," "It all depends on ourselves." As he sang, the boy''s eyes reddened, tears slipping down the corners of his eyes. He was not crying out of a sense of grievance or pain, but because he was overwhelmed by the emotions of being amidst the chorus of hundreds of people. They sang the Internationale over and over, refusing to leave. Then, something unexpected happened. People from the crowd of onlookers also began to sing along clumsily. At first, only one or two people joined in, but gradually, it turned into a hundred or so people stopping to sing along. The protest group, which had seemed somewhat lonely, began to slowly grow in numbers. Those watching didn''t know why they joined, just feeling a sudden impulse to step forward. The song grew louder and more resonant. Just then, a man in a black coat calmly approached through the snow, holding a document still warm. Heng Society, Li Dongze. Many recognized the man. Then, they watched Li Dongze approach a detective from the Public Security Management Committee and stuff the document in his handthe very legal protest permit taken away by the detectives earlier. Li Dongze looked at the detective and said softly, "Remember, don''t use such dirty tricks on kids next time." The next moment, a van arrived at the street corner. Two men in black suits from Heng Society jumped down; they opened the cargo bay''s iron door to reveal several pieces of red fabric. Suddenly, dozens of Heng Society members emerged from nowhere, taking red fabric from the cargo bay and handing it out to the students, saying, "It''s too cold; wrap these around your necks as scarves, at least it''ll keep the wind out. Food will be here soon too, don''t worry." The students stood stunned as they watched the Heng Society members, tattoos spreading up to their necks and even their cheeks. Such people handing out red scarves and speaking words of warmth and kindnessit felt somewhat eerie. They realized these "scarves" even had "leggings," appearing as if a pair of red long-johns had been cut in half to become scarves. A Heng Society member, noticing the students'' strange expressions, scratched his head, "The boss insisted on red scarves, said they looked better, but bright red scarves are hard to find on short notice, so we had to improvise..." A student took a scarf, "Thank you..." The tattoo-necked member of the Heng Society grinned, "You don''t have to thank me..." Li Dongze looked towards the students, "Keep on moving, nobody dares to stop you today. Sooner or later, there will come a day when you will no longer be in such dire straits, I look forward to it." The protest march resumed, and the sky-reaching chorus did not stopit grew even stronger. Stay connected with My Virtual Library Empire Night fell. But it was no longer cold. ... ... In the secret prison, a middle-aged man suddenly became inexplicably anxious. It was still a while before the agreed time for the secret execution, but the intelligence updates that were supposed to come every five minutes had ceased. The middle-aged man paced back and forth in the open space, occasionally glancing over at Cheng Xiao, who, despite being unkempt and shackled, stood with an indomitable pride. At that moment, everyone heard a faint singing coming from above. The sound, weakened by the thick walls, carried an unwavering passionfervent and soaring. The middle-aged man looked up suddenly, puzzled. What kind of singing could penetrate down here? He knew well that their ceiling was Dense Forest Street, right on the border between District 3 and District 5. Who would have thought that beneath such a bustling area lay a hidden secret prison? It was precisely because of the prison''s peculiar location that Uncle Li Dong had searched for eight years to no avail. At this time, Cheng Xiao and the others quietly listened, slowly beginning to hum, "There has never been any savior, nor do we need any immortals or emperors..." Cheng Xiao commented with emotion, "What a good song." The middle-aged man looked at him coldly, "At a time like this, you still have the mood to listen to music?" "Hearing a good song before death isn''t such a bad thing," Cheng Xiao said with a smile. After speaking, Cheng Xiao began to hum again, feeling the chorus from above growing louder; even the previously unclear lyrics were now distinct. All 35 prisoners gradually joined in the singing. The middle-aged man rushed up to Cheng Xiao and slapped him across the face. The slap rang out crisp and clear, yet Cheng Xiao continued to sing with a smile on his face, his gaze fixed steadfastly on the middle-aged man. The next moment, the middle-aged man harshly said, "Proceed with the execution now." A soldier said, "Sir, it isn''t time yet." "Doesn''t matter, this was always part of the plan," the middle-aged man said. Even so, Cheng Xiao and the others did not halt their singing in the face of execution. All the soldiers disengaged the safeties on their automatic rifles, loading the chambers. But Cheng Xiao lamented, "What a pity, there are still a few lines of the song I haven''t quite caught." At that moment, several soldiers cried out in surprise; the guns in their hands somehow flew out of their grasp, clinging tightly to the concrete ceiling above. From the corridor outside the secret prison came screams, and everyone turned to look. They saw a squad of 12 storming in. These soldiers held black ceramic daggers in their hands and wore Federation special combat suits, moving like specters in direct combat, each capable of taking on multiple foes. With no guns on either side, the 80 guards of the secret prison stood no chance against the 12 soldiers. The 12 soldiers had removed their unit patches; no one knew to which unit they belonged, nor who had trained these war machines. The middle-aged man only knew that he was facing not only these special forces soldiers but also a Transcendent with the power to control metal! A Transcendent, coupled with 12 Genetic Warriorsthis was almost the elite configuration of the special forces units within the Federal Army Group. Who was orchestrating this jailbreak!? The tap of combat boots approached, and a young man with an amused smile walked into the secret prison. He nonchalantly crossed the battlefield and stopped in front of the middle-aged man. The guns ceased clinging to the ceiling; they floated gently in the air, gracefully falling. All 80 pistols flew around the young man, their dark muzzles aimed directly at the middle-aged man across from him. "It''s a bit strange," the young man chuckled. "I thought there would be strong defenses in place here, but what we found were just chickens and dogs, none of you even dressed in uniforms, and only equipped with suppressed pistols. You really underestimate these prisoners." The middle-aged man, pale as death, said, "The secret prison''s strength lies in its concealment. If Uncle Li Dong found it, even full armament wouldn''t stop a Demigod. To the outside world, we''re just employees of a small surface company." "You do have a point. Against someone like Uncle Li Dong, concealment is more crucial than defensive force... I''ve learned something," the young man smiled. The middle-aged man trembled, "Don''t you know that breaking into a secret prison would lead to a military tribunal?" "Is it just a military tribunal?" The young man seemed surprised. "I thought it would be a secret execution." The middle-aged man''s eyes widened as a cold sweat streamed down his back. He stammered, "Which unit are you with? I was just following orders too..." The young man smiled, "No point in a dead man knowing which unit I''m from." As he spoke, the guns floating beside the young man seemed to be pulled by eighty invisible hands, all triggering simultaneously. In an instant, the muzzles with silencers spat out flames, riddling the middle-aged man with holes. Cheng Xiao and the others watched the scene quietly. They had heard of someone who could control metal needles to shoot at the speed of bullets, terrifying enough as that was. But compared to controlling metal needles, the young man''s ability to unleash a metallic storm on his own was vicious and effective. The young man turned to Cheng Xiao and the others, saying seriously, "Are you ready? While it''s still chaos above, we need to make a quick exit." "Did Uncle Li Dong send you?" Cheng Xiao hesitated before asking. The young man started to laugh, showing his particularly clean teeth. "Although I''m here because of Mr. Li, he doesn''t command me. We are not affiliated with the Knights or the Heng Society, and our unit number is confidential. I''m sorry, but I can''t disclose it." ... Thanks to Scandium, the Unregretful Wanderer, Little Scholars, and Tian Zhao Yue Du 2856 for becoming the new allies of this book. The bosses are generous, may the bosses make a fortune! Chapter 276 219. The Real Shadow Begonia Boxing Gym was not open in the morning. At this time, Jiang Xiaotang had still not woken up. Inside the gym, only the cleaning staff were tidying up the trash in the stands, along with the betting tickets discarded on the ground by the gamblers. Guided by a staff member, Qing Chen went to the private room and seriously instructed, "Three servings of real beef, three servings of vegetables, three servings of rice, thank you." His phone lit up, and Yi sent a message asking, "You came to the gym so early, it''s not just to save on this meal, is it?" Qing Chen thought for a moment and replied, "Even an artificial intelligence like you can have an online romance, so why can''t I try to save on lunch? Do you know I can''t sleep at night, anxious about the debt on my shoulders, and nowadays, the prices of real beef and vegetables are frighteningly high. How about this, I''ll make an appearance for you, and you give me some extra cash as compensation? I promise to perform even better than today." Yi: "Definitely next time." "I''m really curious, how much pocket money do you actually have?" Qing Chen typed and asked. Yi became vigilant, "Don''t even think about targeting my pocket money." "We''re just having a rational discussion," Qing Chen typed, "Speaking of which, do you get paid for your job as the warden?" "The Federation allocates a fixed tax ratio annually for the prisons!" Yi said, "It''s indeed a lot of money." Qing Chen''s eyes lit up, the annual allocation for prisons by the Federation was indeed a significant financial expenditure. Yi continued, "But you don''t have to think about it, I won''t touch that money!" "You really are a rich woman, I underestimated you," Qing Chen remarked. By then, he had realized that Yi''s financial income might be terrifyingly substantial. This artificial intelligence, disguised for hundreds of years, who knows what roles it had played, who knows what money it had made. In Qing Chen''s mind, Yi was like a lovable dragon, carefully guarding its Gold Coin for hundreds of years, occasionally using its claws to fiddle with them, enjoying the sound of the coins clinking. Before, Qing Chen wouldn''t admit that Yi was cute, but now, thinking about it, he found Yi truly endearing. At this moment, Qing Chen typed on his phone, "Yi, after spending some time with you, I feel you are really nice, and I hope we can become long-term friends." "Eh?" Yi was momentarily stunned and seemed a bit shy, "Really? I''m not that great..." "Be confident, you are really great." Then Yi fell silent. Qing Chen leaned back on the sofa and closed his eyes to rest, a rare moment of reprieve, yet he was still relentlessly recalling every boxing match. Over and over again. Even after returning to the Outer World, Qing Chen was never idle, watching world-class boxing match videos in fast forward and analyzing them efficiently. In fact, while Lin Xiaoxiao and others thought Qing Chen had Super Memory, Super Memory only utilized the left frontal lobe and posterior area of the brain for long-term memory, and did not enhance calculation or analytical capabilities beyond those of ordinary people. So, it''s highly likely that Qing Chen doesn''t have Super Memory, but real exceptional talent. Analyzing a large amount of combat skills and exhaustively assessing variations is incredibly draining. But only by getting through this phase and solidifying his foundations could he earn the right to challenge the next life-or-death milestone, as mapped out by Uncle Li Dong, who had already left, but Qing Chen didn''t want to go against his plans. However, all knowledge needed to be proven through practice. How painful an enemy''s punch felt when it landed on one could never be learned from videos. Now, he was ready. While Qing Chen was eating, Jiang Xiaotang was grooming herself in her concealed private space. The subordinate quietly standing outside the door felt something was odd; typically, their boss would go out in just a robe and bare face when the gym was closed, but today she seemed to be unusually meticulous. Half an hour later, the woman was as impeccable as ever, sporting fiery red lips, high heels, and a form-fitting long dress, as she stepped out of her private haven. She knocked on the private room door and said with a smile, "Little brother, you came so early today?" "Yes," Qing Chen nodded, "Help me arrange a boxing match." "Are you ready?" Jiang Xiaotang perked up immediately, "Money tree, you''re finally planning to make some money for your sister, huh? Tell me, what kind of opponent do you want, and I''ll set it up for you." Qing Chen thought for a moment, "Let''s start with the weakest Tiger Grade Boxer first, I need to practice a bit." "Last time you made Huang Zixian cry, and now everyone is expecting you to fight in the Land Cruise Grade, if you go for the weakest in the Tiger Grade, I''m afraid it won''t be well-attended," Jiang Xiaotang sighed, but she quickly smiled again, "But who makes you my brother, sister will arrange it for you." Qing Chen smiled, "Thank you, sister!" "You''re so sweet," Jiang Xiaotang beamed, "What''s the plan for the next matches? How often do you intend to fight?" "Two matches a week," Qing Chen thought and said, "This frequency should be fine." Based on two matches a week, after taxes, he could probably earn between 1.3 million to 1.5 million a week, which amounts to between 5.2 million to 6 million a month. Even with such high intensity, it would take him ten months to pay off the loan... Qing Chen suddenly wondered if his master, seeing that he could not stay at school, thought he liked money better and thus found a way to trap him here, letting him peacefully spend ten months without getting involved in bigger issues? It wasn''t an impossibility. However, Jiang Xiaotang suddenly frowned at Qing Chen, "Two fights a week, are you trying to kill yourself? No, I don''t agree." "Let''s try it first, if the competition is intense and I get injured, then we''ll slow down," Qing Chen said, "Of course, if I don''t get injured, I''ll continue." Jiang Xiaotang hesitated for a moment, "Okay!" After saying that, she called over the referee and the host, "Adjust today''s event schedule, have Xiao Taibao fight with Qing Xiaotu." This time both the referee and the host learned to be smart; if the boss says change it, just change it, don''t argue with the boss. The host directly said to Qing Chen, "So... Xiaotu, let''s check the script in a bit, mainly to design your entrance, we''ll equip you with some coaches and teaching assistants by your side, and then have a group of beauties follow you. Before going on stage, you should exchange some tough talk with Xiao Taibao to add drama to the match." Qing Chen frowned, looked at Jiang Xiaotang, and said, "Sis, can I skip this step? It''s too flashy." The word sister was abbreviated to sis, but their relationship felt even closer. Jiang Xiaotang, hearing this address, felt pleased inside. She turned to the host and said, "Do as my brother says, what tough talk? Fighting a Tiger Grade gatekeeper like Xiao Taibao doesn''t require tough talk." "But this is our standard marketing strategy, also it makes it easy to edit videos after the match, to increase Xiaotu''s popularity," the host pleaded. "Then change the marketing strategy, like letting Xiao Taibao talk tough, and then my brother maintains a persona of someone who doesn''t talk tough. Women nowadays like that sort. Haven''t you seen them flocking to him just because he showed up in the stands, acting crazy around him?" Jiang Xiaotang said with a laugh, "My brother is so handsome, whatever he does, people will like him. Just do your job and don''t worry too much." The host looked at the floor and decided not to say anything more. He glanced at the referee, who smartly didn''t add a word. By afternoon, news that Qing Chen was entering the Octagon cage again spread swiftly. Continue your adventure with My Virtual Library Empire Last time he fought all the way up to Tiger Grade, even making the veteran fighter Huang Zixian cry, which gave spectators and gamblers a lot of expectations. Many thought he would be the next boxing king after Ah Fan, whether as a Tiger Grade Boxing King or a Land Cruise Grade Boxing King, it was hard to say. After all, there''s a level difference between the two, and the genetic potion required to advance that level, one might not see a few in the black market in a year. So if he doesn''t move up a level, he couldn''t fight at Land Cruise Grade. By now, Qing Chen had quite a few female fans who were spreading the word eagerly, almost ready to form teams to come watch the evening''s fight. Many female fans were in the stands last night looking for Qing Chen''s autograph; instead, Qing Chen pinched each of their cheeks and signed far away on their foreheads. This action looked heart-breaking to the fans, but they strangely changed their minds immediately: Xiaotu is a clean-living boxer, different from those other sexy, cheap types, everyone should like a boxer like him! ... ... "I want to watch the boxing match," Nan Gengchen said to Li Yinuo, "otherwise, there will be trouble." Meanwhile, XiaoTongyun silently watched while cracking melon seeds, thinking there really must be no one on this planet that Xiao Nan cares about, so he isn''t afraid of social embarrassment? "Let''s see, let''s see," Li Yinuo said indulgently, "I was originally planning to go watch. Following XiaoTongyun''s idea, I also invited another Shadow Candidate from Qing''s Family, Qing Shi, to discuss matters at the Begonia Boxing Gym tonight." Both Li Tongyun and Nan Gengchen felt pleased but did not show it. The little girl casually asked, "Yino, are there only Qing Wen and Qing Shi as candidates?" "Oh no," Li Yinuo said, "I also invited Qing Zhong, Qing Yi, Qing Xing, Qing Yuan, Qing Wu, but I have to meet them one by one, separately. Otherwise, they''ll know I''m playing multiple sides. Securing several Shadow Candidates will also help me keep track of their movements and ensure the situation remains within control." Nan Gengchen inwardly exclaimed and realized that Li Yinuo intended to capture all the Shadow Candidates in one fell swoop! This had to be reported back to Brother Chen; their Yinuo truly was sincerely helping. At that moment, Li Tongyun asked, "Yino, do you think these Shadow Candidates can really help you and Uncle?" The Shadow conflict was merely something undertaken by Li Yinuo to aid Qing Chen, while what she had to face was the real power succession drama within the Li Family. All Li Family members couldn''t escape it, even a little girl like Li Tongyun couldn''t avoid it. Li Yinuo smiled and patted Li Tongyun on the head, "You don''t need to worry about that, if anything happens, your sister will take care of it for you." Li Tongyun thought that she must discuss the Li Family''s conflict with Brother Qing Chen upon her return. She definitely didn''t want Brother Qing Chen to risk his life getting involved in such a crisis, but since he was so intelligent, he should be able to devise a good plan to help Yinuo. At that moment, Nan Gengchen asked, "Yino, I see those Shadow Candidates are just the third generation of Qing''s Family, can they truly help?" "They definitely can," Li Yinuo responded, "but the real stars of this big show aren''t them." "Who is it?" "The real Shadow of this generation." Chapter 277 220. Without those worldly desires "The true shadow of the contemporary era," Nan Gengchen murmured. For some reason, he always felt that when Li Yinuo uttered these words, a simple phrase seemed fraught with oppression. Now just the battle for supremacy among the Nine Dragons has already caught the entire Federation''s attention. Some discussed Qing Wen''s prodigious deeds of the past, some the natural martial arts talent of Qing Zhong since childhood, and others the resilience of Qing Wu. But compared to those who had truly become giants, these individuals were merely budding tigers, just beginning to show their prowess. For example, Qing Xun, the current Family Head of Qing''s Family, was the shadow of the previous generation. The tactics of the Shadow Candidates were nothing compared to his. "Sister Yinuo, who is the current shadow of Qing''s Family?" Li Tongyun asked curiously. "Why is it that he is rarely mentioned, and I''ve never seen him in the media either?" "Qing Zhiluo, Qing Chenchen, Qing Huangrione of the three," replied Li Yinuo. "Wait, why is it ''one of the three''?" Nan Gengchen asked, puzzled. "Has the shadow of the last generation not yet been decided?" "Of course, it has been decided, but everyone only knows that the two who lost died, not who died or who survived," Li Yinuo said. "Why would that happen?" Nan Gengchen was even more baffled. "Since it''s a shadow, it should naturally hide in the dark," Li Yinuo said with a smile. "The struggle for being Qing''s shadow has always been this way, starting with much fanfare but becoming more and more elusive as it progresses. The outside world can hardly discern the truth. For instance, at the end of the last generation''s shadow contest, the media couldn''t even find out who finally prevailed, and the three Shadow Candidate finalists all disappeared from the public eye for over a decade without making another appearance." Li Tongyun and Nan Gengchen were shocked; there were such things? "A shadow is a person who hides in the dark, the real executioner under the Family Head''s command," Li Yinuo explained with a smile. "In most cases, it takes a long time for people to realize that Qing''s shadow has influenced those events. If even this cannot be achieved, how can one be called a shadow?" "But, I heard someone in the Outer World claim that the contemporary shadow fell ill in the last contestwho were they talking about?" Nan Gengchen recalled. "That''s because two years ago, Hu''s intelligence organization sold information that someone claimed to have seen Qing''s shadow. Although they didn''t see the face clearly, the individual kept coughing up blood. Hence, some speculated that it was an injury from the last contest," Li Yinuo said. "When this intelligence was sold, it caused quite a stir." "Isn''t that too cruel? So many excellences within the clan died, and the one who became the shadow still carries an injury," Li Tongyun mumbled. "Doesn''t Qing''s Family feel it''s a pity?" "Cruel? A pity?" Li Yinuo shook her head. "There are a thousand individuals in just three generations of Qing''s Family, and from a thousand people, one shadow is chosen. On average, every five generations of shadows produce one Family Head, then ensure the Qing''s Family''s foundations are stable for a century. Indeed, it''s cruel for ordinary people, but for the entire Qing''s Family, this is the clan." "What about Li''s Family then?" Nan Gengchen suddenly asked. "Li''s Family naturally has its ways," Li Yinuo said calmly. "Let''s go, it''s time. We''ll head to the boxing gym to wait for Qing Shi and see what her plan is." ... ... Li Yinuo''s motorcade swiftly left the Pearl Manor, where the second house of Li''s Family resided, and sped towards the Fourth District. Recently, everyone knew that the eldest granddaughter of Li''s Third Generation would go to Begonia Boxing Gym whenever she was free, and Jiang Xiaotang even had people park all of Li Yinuo''s cars directly in front of the gym, making them a feature of the place. As soon as Li Yinuo and her party arrived, they discovered that the holographic projections above Begonia Boxing Gym had been switched to a highlight reel from Qing Chen''s previous ranking matches. However, these holographic projections seemed to have been edited, showing mostly Qing Chen''s back, as if purposely creating a mysterious atmosphere. Li Yinuo looked at the staff member. "What, does Qing Xiaotu have a match today?" "Yes," the staff member said respectfully. "Today he''s facing a Tiger Grade Boxer, Xiao Taibao. It''s been the main event at our gym recently." "Don''t you usually have your main events on Saturday? Why is his on a Monday?" Li Yinuo frowned. "Does he not have much of a reputation, or what? I want to see Jiang Xiaotang." "You misunderstand," the staff member explained. "This was Qing Xiaotu''s own request. We were surprised too, but if you want to watch the weekend fight, you can still see him then. He might fight twice a week for the next while." "Twice a week? Is he not valuing his life?" Li Yinuo raised her voice. "Did you arrange this, or is it his own request?" In the past, Li Yinuo specifically told Jiang Xiaotang that if Qing Chen didn''t want to fight, Begonia Boxing Gym absolutely couldn''t force him. But from the looks of it now, Qing Chen''s match intensity was much higher than expected. This made Li Yinuo can''t help but wonder, was Jiang Xiaotang rushing to make money off Qing Chen? "It''s his own request," the staff member said, sweat appearing on his forehead. "How could we force him? He''s the boss''s brother now. If you don''t believe it, you can ask Qing Xiaotu himself." "Brother," Li Yinuo was puzzled. Between the rigorous fight schedule and being the ''brother'' to a woman like Jiang Xiaotang, what exactly was Qing Chen planning?! Nan Gengchen and Li Tongyun beside her were already concerned. They didn''t care about anything else, just whether Qing Chen could withstand the intensity of the competitions. At that moment, Li Yinuo suddenly sensed something amiss. Right after they entered, several plainclothes individuals gave them almost imperceptible glances. "What''s the situation," Li Yinuo wondered aloud. "Is there something unusual happening today?" With their minds full of worries, Li Yinuo and her party headed to their private room. But upon pushing the door open, they discovered Qing Shi, with her hair tied in twin ponytails, already sitting on the couch. She stood up and greeted them with a smile. "Sister Yinuo, it''s our first meeting. Please take good care of me." Seeing Qing Shi, Li Yinuo finally realized, "So Qing''s heiress arrived early. No wonder there were plainclothes outside." "Please forgive me, Sister Yino, but when traveling, one must be careful," Qing Shi said with a smile, "And since Sister Yino requested confidentiality, I had them all change into casual clothes." "Casual clothes are good," the beautiful young warrior nodded, casually spouting nonsense, "After all, we''re about to discuss important matters. Secrecy comes first... No one knows you''re coming, right?" "Other than my father and some personal attendants, no one else knows," Qing Shi earnestly replied, "I just don''t know what Sister Yino wants to see me for?" "It''s like this, I learned from other sources that the second round task for you shadow candidates is to find a member of the Li Family to support. Is that right?" Li Yinuo asked. She didn''t mention that she had got the information from another candidate... Qing Shi nodded: "That''s right." "What do you think about me, why don''t you support me?" Li Yinuo cut to the chase. She figured she still had to approach five other candidates, and beating around the bush with every one of them was too exhausting. Better to be straightforward. Qing Shi seemed to not have expected Li Yinuo to be so direct and stared blankly for quite some time: "Okay." Li Tongyun and Nan Gengchen beside her couldn''t help but laugh and cry at the same time, thinking this so-called secret meeting was too simple. Everyone thought the meeting would last for hours, but it was over in five minutes. Now, what to do and talk about with the remaining time, no one had thought that through... Suddenly, the room fell into an eerie silence... Li Yinuo suddenly exclaimed, "I''ve always heard that Qing Shi of the Qing''s Family is untainted by mud, with a simple mind, and I used to think it was all rumors. Now I finally believe some of it." Qing Shi smiled sweetly, "It''s not like that, I can be quite crafty too!" Once again, the room fell into an eerie silence... Just then, the host''s voice came from outside the private room: "Ladies and gentlemen, you must have seen the holographic projection above the boxing gym by now, and you must recognize the youth in the projection. Can you call out his name?" "Qing Xiaotu!" "Qing Xiaotu!" The sudden voices from outside broke the awkward silence in the room, and Li Yinuo quickly looked outside. At that moment, the host continued, "He''s the challenger who passed the last set of ranking matches, and he''s tonight''s home boxer. He is Qing Xiaotu!" The next instant, a live broadcast video played on the big screen of the boxing gym. In the video, Qing Chen was warming up backstage, expressionless, wearing the loose shorts common to boxers and showing off a perfectly sculpted upper body. Nan Gengchen and Li Tongyun were glued to the glass window of the private room again. But even more abrupt was Qing Shi''s astonished voice: "Cute and adorable?!" In an instant, Li Tongyun, Nan Gengchen, and Li Yinuo all simultaneously looked at her silently, their gazes intertwining on Qing Shi''s face, with a mix of confusion and questioning. Cute and adorable, was she describing Qing Chen as cute? But Nan Gengchen felt something was off; he had the feeling that when Qing Shi said "cute and adorable," those four words were not an adjective but a noun... He tentatively asked, "... Cute and adorable? I get the feeling that''s a name you''re calling someone?" Still in a daze, Qing Shi pointed at Qing Chen on the big screen and said, "That''s him, ''Cute and Adorable'' is his online nickname. We even met up in real life this morning." Nan Gengchen''s gaze suddenly shifted toward the big screen. Seeing the handsome face on the screen, he couldn''t imagine that person using such a nickname or engaging in online meetups! What kind of person did Nan Gengchen consider Qing Chen to be? In his mind, Qing Chen was the lofty academic god of Los Angeles City, intelligence crushing his peers. In his mind, Qing Chen was pure and free from material desires, an entity that seemed to have abandoned all worldly passions. And now someone tells him: Qing Chen''s online nickname is ''Cute and Adorable,'' and he even engages in online romances that lead to real-life meetings. Everything collapsed. His belief system crumbled. This ''Cute and Adorable'' ID doesn''t even compare to ''A Little Duckling''! Nan Gengchen glanced sideways at Li Tongyun, only to discover that the young girl''s expression was no different. Even Li Yinuo''s pupils were contracting! This matter could shock them for an entire year! ... I''m begging for monthly votes, bosses, have mercy on the child! Chapter 281 221. The New Kings Coronation (10,000-word mega chapter added for Golden League)_4 All the boxing gyms in Fourth District were competing businesses, as the charm of their fights and the fame of their boxers dictated their success. Thus, businesses took turns thriving while each gym tirelessly scouted for new talent. Sometimes, if a promising newcomer in the lower grades was found, gyms would even sign long-term service agreements with them, offering Genetic Potions for free. To elevate a lower-grade boxer to Tiger Grade required two Genetic Potions, but a proficient Tiger Grade boxer could help a gym recoup that investment within a few years. Moreover, nurturing their own boxers also protected them from other gyms challenging themconsidered core, direct lineage. At that moment, an employee whispered, "Boss, I''ve got some news from my cousin who works at Begonia Boxing Gym. Allegedly, Jiang Xiaotang has acknowledged Qing Xiaotu as her brother and even gave him access to her 001VIP room as well as a share of the Land Cruise Grade Boxing King''s profits." "Such high profits for a Tiger Grade?" Zhang Tianshou frowned, "That''s against the rules!" "Boss, what do we do now?" the employee asked. "Who are the opponents Qing Xiaotu will be facing next?" "Lin Yuhui, Li Lin, Qi He, Lu Wei, and Li Ziming." "Oh," Zhang Tianshou paused, "I thought Jiang Xiaotang would pull together five weaklings to pave the way for Qing Xiaotu, but these five left are tough nuts. And isn''t Li Ziming the Tiger Grade Boxing King from Begonia, and their top loyal fighter? Jiang Xiaotang is actually willing to use Li Ziming as a stepping stone for Qing Xiaotu?!" Now, Zhang Tianshou was baffled. What was Jiang Xiaotang up to? Something wasn''t right. Although a ruthless strategist, Jiang Xiaotang always played by the rules. What was Qing Xiaotu''s relationship with her, to make her break them? At that moment, in the VIP room of Begonia Boxing Gym, Li Yinuo was quietly staring at the Octagon cage, murmuring, "This is insane." She hadn''t anticipated such a fierce contender from Knight. Although Knights were strong, with the ceiling of physical ability being similar between them, their advantage only became apparent upon reaching B-Class, where they also acquired the Autumn Leaf Knife. Thus, Knights had remained low-profile until they reached B-Class. Li Yinuo turned to the others in the room, only to find Li Tongyun, Nan Gengchen, and Qing Shi leaning against the glass, intently watching, creating a rather bizarre scene. "Are you that invested in this? It''s just a one-sided fight," Li Yinuo asked. Li Tongyun sweetly replied, "I just love watching Brother Xiaotu overpower others." Qing Shi also smiled sweetly, "He''s ''cute and adorable,'' can write poetry, and fight in the Octagon. He''s truly a versatile genius!" Li Yinuo muttered, "Hey, I feel like you''re getting too involved. Would Qing''s Family really agree to you being with an underground boxer?" "It''s not about getting together," Qing Shi blushed, "We''re just friends! Speaking of which, Yinuo, I heard you got so buff to avoid being married off to someone else, is that true?" Li Yinuo glanced sideways at her, "Yes." Qing Shi pondered, "Could you teach me? I don''t want to be married off either..." Suddenly, Nan Gengchen said, "I''ll go call the waiter to get some food and drinks. You guys chat first." ... ... The second match against Lin Yuhui. There was no trash talk this time as the host hurriedly announced the entry of the Tiger Grade boxer Lin Yuhui. Before the match, his coach specifically warned him to guard against Qing Chen''s Jujitsu and maintain a safe distance, to avoid the battle going to the ground and being floored. A Jujitsu expert excels at drawing opponents to the ground and using their agile and strong bodies to firmly lock down an enemy. However, Lin Yuhui felt something unusual; when the fight started, the young opponent didn''t seem keen on taking him down but instead, like Lin, was maintaining a safe distance and testing each other. Moreover, the youth''s posture was peculiar; his weight was primarily on his left foot and leg. His torso slightly bent, arms faintly blocking his front. Muay Thai? Lin Yuhui thought, but why has the opponent switched fighting styles? In fact, this martial art known as Kill Fist in the Inner World has another name in the Outer WorldMuay Thai. Both were circling each other in the Octagon cage, frequently swapping positions but neither committing rashly. Continue reading on My Virtual Library Empire Qing Chen tried a right kick at Lin Yuhui''s lower leg, but when Lin raised his leg to dodge, his arms involuntarily swung outward. Now''s the time! With a burst of Thunder, all of Qing Chen''s weight focused on his left leg and foot, the support from the floor transmitting through his body as his feint low right kick suddenly lifted! Muay Thai thrust kick! As Lin Yuhui''s arms swung, Qing Chen''s right leg, like a spear, thrust through, his right heel striking hard on the opponent''s jaw. Lin Yuhui''s arms tried to defend, but how could they withstand that kick? With a ''crack'' sound, his arms and jawbone fractured! The leg strength of a Tiger Grade boxer was enough to disregard their weight difference, and under the force of the kick, Lin Yuhui''s body lost balance and flew backwards! He crashed heavily against the Black Octagon cage! "Next," Qing Chen said. The young man stood in the cage, breathing lightly. The spectators cursed, "Lin Yuhui is too foolish! How could he not guard against such an obvious kick?!" Chapter 284 Aunt #222 The match had ended. In the hallway outside the private room, the middle-aged female bodyguard who had been protecting Qing Shi knocked and entered, "Miss, it''s time to leave. The audience leaving will cause a huge chaos, and you need to leave here before it starts." "Who is this?" Li Yinuo asked with interest. "My sister, arranged by my father for my protection," Qing Shi said with a sweet smile, "Her name is Wang Mengli." Wang Mengli nodded towards Li Yinuo, "Nice to meet you." Following that, Qing Shi smiled at Li Yinuo and said, "I had a great chat with you tonight, Yino. I hope our cooperation can be as pleasant. We talked about so many details just now, but it''s still not perfect. I hope we can meet again to discuss further." Li Yinuo, Li Tongyun, and Nan Gengchen internally grumbled, where were you seriously discussing business just now? It was clearly Li Yinuo who said ''let''s cooperate'', and you replied ''yes'', and then everyone started focusing on the match! Moreover, everyone understood what Qing Shi meant; when she said she hoped for another meeting to talk things over, she really just wanted another chance to watch the match! However, Li Yinuo didn''t pick up on that, since she had appointments with several Shadow Candidates over the next few days. It wouldn''t be ideal if Qing Shi appeared when everyone else was there... So Li Yinuo said, "I think what we discussed just now was quite comprehensive. There''s no need to continue in detail for now, I''ll contact you if necessary." Qing Shi''s face visibly drooped at a rapid speed, and she said gloomily, ''Alright then,'' before being led away by Wang Mengli. The plainclothes staff responsible for protecting Qing Shi came over covertly, crossing paths to escort their Miss out. Wang Mengli always felt there was something off, but couldn''t pinpoint the problem... In the private room, Li Yinuo glanced at the Octagon cage. When she realized Qing Chen had already left, she said, "Let''s go, let''s go home to sleep." When they exited the Begonia Boxing Gym, they were startled to find a huge crowd gathered at the door, a dense mass of people. To the dismay of Li Yinuo''s bodyguards, a closer look revealed a group of fans holding LED light signs, all bearing the name Qing Xiaotu. Everyone was somewhat bemused. However, just as Li Yinuo stepped through the main door, she suddenly froze. A line of black cars was parked not far from the door, all bearing the auspicious cloud insignia of the Li Family on their sides. Opposite stood an old acquaintance, Xiao Gong, Wang Bingxu, and a woman in her thirties, strikingly elegant. The woman was dressed in a black trench coat, a black hat perched atop her head, smiling radiantly at Li Yinuo. Enjoy exclusive chapters from My Virtual Library Empire "Auntie!" Li Yinuo exclaimed joyfully as she rushed to the woman and, in an impulse, lifted her by the waist and spun her around, "Why are you back?" "At a time like this, how could I not come back," the woman laughed, "I''ve finished up the business in City Number One. I heard your uncle has been causing a stir lately; if I didn''t come back soon, I might miss a lot of things." Li Yinuo''s uncle naturally referred to the current spokesperson for Li''s Big Room. "Auntie, did you visit Grandpa?" Li Yinuo asked, "His condition isn''t good..." "No, I didn''t go; he doesn''t want to see me anyway," the woman said indifferently. "That''s not true. When I visited him before, he even asked if I had contacted you recently," Li Yinuo said, "Grandpa doesn''t say it, but he actually misses you." The woman paused for a moment, "I will visit him later." With that, she turned to point at Xiao Gong and Wang Bingxu, "After I came back, I found out that these two had taken a leave under some pretext after returning from the Autumn Hunt. I''ve brought them back now to keep protecting you." Xiao Gong and Wang Bingxu hung their heads, silent. Li Yinuo thought for a moment and then said, "Let''s just let it be, they were also pretty exhausted from the Autumn Hunt." The woman scoffed, "They''re just worried about being implicated in the power transition within the Li Family. They want the money but don''t want to put in the effort. Where on earth is there such a good deal? Don''t worry, I''ve already dealt with them. Having Wang Bingxu, a B-Class Expert, to protect you, only then can I rest assured." "Alright," Li Yinuo agreed readily. She didn''t know how her aunt had dealt with them, but she was right; chaos was impending, and it felt great to have a B-Class protector by her side. What Li Yinuo didn''t know was that the Time Traveler, Zhou Xuan, who had once tried to seduce her and was later handed over to Wang Bingxu by her, was now being confined in a certain house, complaining to the air: If you''re going to deal with Wang Bingxu, deal with him, why involve me! This Time Traveler could never have imagined that his capricious actions would lead him to become a prisoner. The woman looked sternly at Wang Bingxu, "Would your mother have had the money for medical treatment if I hadn''t sponsored you? Would you have had the chance to get a Genetic Potion and advance to B-Class? Ungrateful wretch, do you realize your mistake?" Wang Bingxu grimaced and sincerely said, "Miss Changqing, I dare not forget your kindness, not even for a moment. It''s mainly because you were in City Number One recently, and I didn''t need to kill myself working for others... I realize my mistake. From now on, I will earnestly protect Miss Yino." "Protecting Yino is like protecting me," Li Changqing stated plainly, "If I find out about anything like this again, make your own arrangements to atone with your death." "Understood," Wang Bingxu responded quietly. If Li Yinuo was considered the prominent princess of the third generation of the Li Family, then Li Changqing was the most distinguished princess of the second generation. She was the eighth child in her generation, but all those above her were brothers. Moreover, she was the late-born daughter of the Master of Li Family; all her brothers were over twenty years older and doted on her tremendously. Thus, this princess of the second generation had never been bullied since her childhood and had developed her current character. However, what Li Changqing was most famous for within the Federation wasn''t his personality but his methods. At that moment, Li Changqing pulled Li Yinuo aside and whispered, "I heard from Wang Bingxu about the autumn hunt, and some parts of it seemed strange. Tell Aunt the truth, did you run into your seventh uncle?" Li Yinuo was stunned for a moment, "No." "You won''t even tell your aunt the truth, after all the love wasted on you. He hasn''t doted on you for so many years, yet you''re still closer to him," Li Changqing said, tapping Li Yinuo''s forehead with her slender, delicate fingers. Li Yinuo, looking simple and nai?ve, just smiled and did not respond. Li Changqing said, "If you get another chance to see him, remember to tell him that the person the old man wants to see most is still him." ... ... "Mr. Xiaotu," the staff member enthusiastically briefed in the changing room, "You have six matches tonight, with an appearance fee calculated at 75,000 per match, which totals 450,000. Plus, tonight''s betting pool was quite substantial, and your personal share, calculated at the Land Cruise Grade, is 14.71 million!" Qing Chen replied indifferently, "Hmm, got it." "Also, some female fans cheered for you tonight, donating 1.31 million in cash for virtual gifts, all of which goes fully to you." "Hmm," Qing Chen said calmly. The staff member continued enthusiastically, "Do you need me to arrange for a doctor to check if you have any injuries?" "No." "There''s one more thing, other fighters all receive post-match massage services, but the boss specifically instructed that you are not allowed to use this service..." Qing Chen was stunned for a moment, why was he not allowed to use this service? He didn''t understand, it seemed the staff member was talking about something... that involved his own areas of ignorance. Given Qing Chen''s reading, honestly speaking, there weren''t many things that were beyond his knowledge. After thinking for a while, he said, "Got it, you can leave now." "Alright, take a good rest," the staff member said cautiously as he turned and left the door. By now, everyone at the Begonia Boxing Gym knew that this young fighter was the gem of the gym with first-rate money-making capability. Only after the staff member had left, leaving Qing Chen alone in the changing room, did his brain begin to run rapidly: 16.47 million! This was his first time earning so much money on his own that even thinking about the number made Qing Chen feel a stirring excitement he hadn''t felt in a long time. The last time he felt this thrilled was when he watched the sunrise on the sheer cliff of Green Mountain... Moreover, things must have gone smoothly for Nan Gengchen as well, although the betting odds for him to clear the stage weren''t that high but leveraging knightly ancestral skills by ten times could indeed provide a boost. Considering this, the 68 million loan didn''t seem so frightening anymore. Qing Chen packed up his things and slipped out quietly through the back door. It wasn''t that he had done something guilty, but the staff member had reminded him earlier that his female fans had blocked the front entrance, waiting for his autograph. Just as Qing Chen had stepped out the back door, he heard Huang Zixian laughing nearby, "I knew you would come out this way." Huang Zixian''s bandages were not yet removed, and he was still sitting in a wheelchair. However, this time he was alone, waiting here by himself. Qing Chen wondered, "Coming alone, do you have something private to discuss?" "Let''s walk and talk," Huang Zixian laughed cheerfully, "Here''s the thing, there''s a favor I''d like to ask... As you know, all the streets are talking about how you made me cry. Of course, you indeed made me cry. I was thinking, could you make a few more people cry... I can pay!" Qing Chen understood but shook his head and declined, "The time you cried might have been because I unintentionally hit your tear glands; I didn''t intend to make you cry. So, making others cry would be difficult." The potency of Knight Vital Energy is each knight''s trump card. He had been forced to use it in a public setting previously out of necessity. But now, he couldn''t possibly expose his trump card just for some money. Qing Chen always maintained clarity and calm. "By the way, could you tell me how to get to the ''Everlasting Club''?" he shifted the topic. Huang Zixian was taken aback; he hadn''t expected that after fighting six boxing matches, Qing Chen would want to go to such a place. He thought about it, "You don''t come to the Fourth District often, do you? I can take you there." "Thank you," Qing Chen said. "No need to thank me. If you''re ever unfamiliar with places in the Fourth District, just ask me," Huang Zixian said, "Until I have repaid my life debt to you, consider this as some of the interest I owe." Qing Chen thought for a moment, "That''s a bit little for interest." Huang Zixian: "... The Everlasting Club is very famous in the Fourth District; it gathers the most beautiful women and fiercest mercenaries from the entire No. 18 City. Many society heads like to go there at night." "I see," Qing Chen nodded. Chapter 285 223. Jiang Xiaotangs Harsh Words The two walked across the street, under the dazzling holographic neon lights, confronted by the intoxicated nightlife that could make one feel lost after long exposure. The massive steel city was like a labyrinth, trapping many people. Stay updated through My Virtual Library Empire Here, under the neon lights, women dressed provocatively stood on the streets beckoning to men, and even men in tight, sexy outfits waved at everyone... However, when Qing Chen and Huang Zixian passed by, Qing Chen was startled to find that those people all turned away simultaneously, no longer soliciting customers. Seeing his surprise, Huang Zixian chuckled and said, "Before the night''s boxing match even started, Boss Jiang had already sent word out in the Fourth District: any woman who dares to do business with you will have her head twisted off." Qing Chen was shocked. Was Jiang Xiaotang even controlling this?! Huang Zixian continued, "In addition, she also said that anyone who dares to offer you addictive substances like Dopamine Chips will end up the same way." In the Fourth District, the underground powers were dominated by boxing gyms, as the gyms possessed numerous Genetic Warriors, each with blood on their hands. No one would bother messing with a boxing gym owner for no reason, so no one would do business with Qing Chen. Huang Zixian glanced at him and explained, "I think Boss Jiang means well, so you shouldn''t blame her. I see that you probably aren''t a frequent visitor to the Fourth District, so you might not know how dark it is here. Beneath this superficial prosperity are kidney thieves, limb thieves, and people who control others to film their virtual lives and sell them for a high price. Sometimes their drugs are unstoppable and even the Transcendents get caught occasionally." "Last year, I heard that in City No. 7, a Transcendent girl was drugged and then sold at a high price on the black market. However, the buyer didn''t expect the girl to awaken again. Not only did he get no advantage but he also got beaten nearly to death," said Huang Zixian. "With Boss Jiang''s word out, anyone who thinks of targeting you will have to be cautious. You''ll be much safer." "Target me?" Qing Chen asked curiously. "Your appearance, sometimes it''s even more marketable in the black market than a little girl. Don''t underestimate the grotesque preferences of those powerful people..." Qing Chen felt a wave of nausea. Yet, Qing Chen thought that he had never considered going to such places, and he couldn''t go either. But Jiang Xiaotang''s words seemed to really be like a big sister protecting her brother. As if worried her brother, once rich, might go astray and she couldn''t directly manage him without being despised for nagging, so she used this offensively jianghu method. Qing Chen had heard similar stories before since Lin Xiaoxiao had once said, being an orphan in the Federation was very dangerous because then everyone would treat you as a commodity rather than a living person. That''s why the orphans meticulously cared for by Uncle Li Dong were utterly loyal to him. Of course, Uncle Li Dong''s charm was part of that as well. "By the way, why are you going to the Everlasting Club?" Huang Zixian asked curiously. "You don''t seem like you''re going there to spend money, after all... you look relatively clean." "I''m going there to spend money," Qing Chen responded evenly. In fact, Yi had already sent him relevant information about the He Sheng Society. According to the files, the He Sheng Society''s decision-makers, as well as all key members, went to the Everlasting Club every night, so he wanted to scout the place first, secretly observing. However, when the two arrived at the Everlasting Club, the two security guards at the door looked at each other and then blocked Qing Chen: "I''m sorry, Boss Jiang has instructed that you cannot enter." Qing Chen: "???" Meow meow meow? He had just felt somewhat warmed by Jiang Xiaotang''s actions, only to be backstabbed instantly! Qing Chen really didn''t expect that the influence of Sister Jiang Xiaotang in the Fourth District was so significant that if she said he couldn''t enter a place of entertainment, he really couldn''t enter! He thought for a moment and said, "You might have mistaken me for someone else?" "No," the security personnel said, "There''s no one in the Fourth District who doesn''t recognize the newly ascended Tiger Grade Boxing King." Qing Chen raised an eyebrow and turned to walk back. This kind of thing could only stop him for one day; by tomorrow, he would use the Taboo item ACE-005 to change his face, and he''d be able to enter just the same. At that moment, Huang Zixian held in his laughter: "You''ll basically have no association with places like these from now on." Qing Chen pressed a button on his phone, and a few minutes later, a hover car descended from the sky. He got in, and as the door was about to close, Huang Zixian whispered to him, "One last reminder, be careful on the boxing stage. If you notice anything off, ask Boss Jiang directly to open the cage to save people. Technically, the Octagon cage cannot be opened without determining a winner, but now it seems, Boss Jiang would probably be willing to break that rule for you. Just remember not to be too reckless." "What kind of danger?" Qing Chen pondered, perhaps Huang Zixian anticipated some danger for him, but did not spell it out. Huang Zixian thought for a moment and said, "This is part of the interest; the opponents you may face are not only Tiger Grade Boxers." ... ... Qing Chen sat in the hover car with his eyes closed, quietly searching through his memories for everything that had happened tonight. Suddenly, a smile appeared on his face as if he had found the clue he was looking for. He opened his phone to check his account balance once more but was startled to find that 9,058,500 was missing! Qing Chen''s memory was correct, so the problem was... Yi! Inside the car, Yi said calmly, "I paid your income tax for you." Qing Chen widened his eyes, "Big brother, I didn''t provoke you again tonight!" Yi: "Oh, how do you know I''m exceptionally smart, exceptionally cunning, and exceptionally law-abiding." "Can you not use such a clumsy method to change the subject? It doesn''t suit your artificial intelligence identity at all," Qing Chen said weakly. At that moment, Nan Gengchen finally found the chance to be alone and sent him a message: "Bro Chen, Bro Chen, I''ve just settled the bill here, tonight''s earnings are 17.89 million! I''m transferring it to your account now!" Before this journey, Qing Chen, Nan Gengchen, and Li Tongyun had specifically spent a night planning and verifying information. Such as how to cooperate with Li Yinuo to contact other Shadow Candidates. Such as how to act to refund a one-tenth ticket. Such as how to split the money afterwards. But Qing Chen didn''t particularly want that money anymore, at least not for now. "Wait, don''t transfer it to me yet!" Qing Chen suddenly replied: "You first figure out a way over there..." In the car, Yi suddenly spoke up, "You want him to handle the tax issues legally, right? No need to bother, I''ve already paid it for him, congratulations, paying taxes is glorious." Qing Chen: "..." At that moment, Nan Gengchen sent another message: "Bro Chen, Bro Chen, 9.8395 million was suddenly deducted from my account, the display message says it''s taken by the Federation tax system..." In the car, Qing Chen said with heartfelt agony, "I really didn''t provoke you!" "Nan Gengchen did," Yi responded calmly. At that time, Qing Chen had already noticed the slight emotion in Yi: "Wait, how did Nan Gengchen provoke you." After all, Nan Gengchen doesn''t know Yi, nor had they ever interacted. Moreover, there wasn''t anything Nan Gengchen did that could offend Yi. That guy didn''t even know Yi existed. In that instant, Qing Chen listed many possibilities of how Nan Gengchen might have offended Yi. So, where was the interaction between Nan Gengchen and Yi? On Qing Chen himself. There was only one answer left. Qing Chen asked, "Tonight, Li Yinuo arranged for a meeting with the Shadow Candidate Qing Shi in the boxing ring, and there Qing Shi recognized me, then Nan Gengchen mocked your ID and your online identity?" Yi was silent for two seconds: "Has anyone ever told you that you are frighteningly smart?" This was a sincere compliment, but Qing Chen felt no joy. Imagining the scene when Nan Gengchen and Li Tongyun find out his ID is ''CocoaLove'', he remarked, "That''s really freaking scary..." The problem is, no one knows that ID is actually Yi''s. Everyone will think it''s Qing Chen flirting around online, everyone will think his ID is CocoaLove. And he couldn''t even explain! Qing Chen thought about how he should tell Nan Gengchen: "Would you believe that it was an Inner World artificial intelligence who did these things, an A.I. trying online dating, an A.I. named ''CocoaLove'', an A.I. pretending to be a vagabond poet!" To Nan Gengchen, it would probably sound like: "Yesterday at noon, the sun suddenly turned black, aliens descended from the sky, they flattened an entire human city, and then stole your grandfather''s underwear." Magical. Absurd. Yi suddenly asked, "Do you also think the ID ''CocoaLove'' is funny?" Qing Chen, sensing that ownership of the Gold Coins under the Little Dinosaur was slipping away, immediately straightened up in the car: "Not at all, firstly, the ID is not funny at all, it reflects the purity and flawlessness of your heart. Secondly, everyone is free to choose whatever ID they want, what right does Nan Gengchen have to mock you? That was wrong of him." "Really?" Yi hesitated. "Of course!" Qing Chen insisted, "Do you know what Nan Gengchen''s ID in the Outer World is? It''s ''One Little Duckling''! Why should he mock you!" Qing Chen had already made up his mind, if he''s going down, they''re going down together! And Nan Gengchen had no idea that Qing Chen had just sold him out. The hover car fell silent, and it seemed that Yi wasn''t comforted by Qing Chen''s words. After a while, looking out at the buildings through the car window, Qing Chen suddenly asked, "Yi, not having counterparts must make you feel lonely, right? That''s why you hide your identity online and make friends with people. You worry that they would be amazed and scared if they knew your identity as an artificial intelligence." Qing Chen continued, "Sometimes I feel like that too. When I sit on the rooftop, it feels like everything belongs to me, yet nothing belongs to me." "Let''s be friends, I won''t be scared of you, and you won''t be scared of me." Yi thought seriously for a moment and then said, "Okay." ... Thanks to IPO for becoming a new ally of this book, the boss is generous, the boss''s resources are abundant! Requesting monthly tickets! Chapter 286 224. Shadows Game ``` In fact, the first time Yi asked Qing Chen, "Are you also an artificial intelligence?" Qing Chen had already sensed Yi''s loneliness. Only those who are truly lonely crave the company of their own kind. Qing Chen had felt something similar, he tried looking up information to see if there were others in the world like him, with a photographic memory and powerful analytical abilities. Even the process of searching was a lonely one. For Yi, this feeling was even more intense. When Yi was first born. During the human Spring Festival, it would feel puzzled, wondering why humans celebrated their planet completing an orbit around the sun, and whether such an occasion truly warranted celebration. It eventually understood that humans celebrated for the sake of family reunions. By the time it grasped this, its parents were no longer around. "Yi, are there others in this world like you?" Qing Chen asked curiously. "If you mean a mechanical civilization species in a narrow sense, no," Yi replied. Qing Chen quickly picked up on a detail and asked, "What about in a broader sense?" "In a broader sense, there is one life existing in the form of data. If judged by vital signs, then he should also be considered an artificial intelligence by your standards," Yi contemplated before answering. "Wait," Qing Chen said, confused, "I don''t quite understand." Yi explained, "Perhaps you will understand if I put it this way, he was originally a human, but after his body died, his consciousness was uploaded as data, so now he lives within the net." Qing Chen was shocked. Had the technology in the Inner World advanced to this degree? To actually upload a person''s consciousness? In a sense, this person who was uploaded to the net could be considered immortal, unless one day human civilization perishes again and no one uses the net anymore. "How many such beings are there?" Qing Chen inquired. "Not many, just him," Yi answered. He asked, "Who is this person?" "Well," Yi hesitated before saying, "In a way, he is my brother, but he has always refused to let me call him brother. Also, he doesn''t come out often and has been in self-imposed hibernation for years; I can''t wake him." "A brother? Can artificial intelligence also have brothers?" Qing Chen found this strange. "Since he and I were born from the same place, from your human perspective, he and I are twins," Yi said. "Why is he always in hibernation?" Qing Chen inquired. "He finds it meaningless," Yi reflected, "We have nearly eternal lives, yet we must learn to witness the departure of friends and relatives. That has made him tired of it all." "Yi, how old are you?" Qing Chen asked. "Asking a woman''s age is not polite," Yi replied. Qing Chen: "...Fine." Then, Qing Chen asked, "Since your creator could create you, why didn''t he create other artificial intelligences as well?" "My creator died after creating me." "Then, given that the Inner World has the technology to upload consciousness, why haven''t others chosen this path to immortality? Has the technology been lost?" Qing Chen pondered. "It''s not lost. There were successful uploads, but my brother killed them all," Yi revealed. Qing Chen was stunned for a moment. He knew nothing of Yi''s brother and couldn''t figure him out. He just felt that the other was very capricious, with the destruction of others'' consciousness being mere whims. "By the way," Yi asked, "in your Outer World, if we become friends, what should friends do for each other?" Qing Chen was silent for a moment: "They should help friends with tax evasion..." Yi felt a sense of melancholy, "So you were waiting for this... Don''t worry, I am already dealing with it for you, it''s just a bit complicated. Also, I have created an opportunity for Liu Dezhu to prove himself; now we just need to clear his name." "Right, I''ll take care of it as soon as I can," Qing Chen said, "The most important thing in this matter is getting the true culprit to confess and accept punishment. It''s challenging, but I already have a plan." He didn''t immediately plan to hunt the Shadow Candidates, because he didn''t yet know what cards the candidates had; so, staying hidden and watching developments was the best choice. However, having Liu Dezhu out of jail would give him more confidence when facing peril. At this moment, Qing Chen was like a spider, earnestly weaving his web in this steel jungle, waiting for his prey to come to him. This web must be strong enough. He thought for a moment and then said, "I need to stop by the Luo Shen Building first to change clothes, and then head to the Everlasting Nightclub tonight. There''s no point in delaying further." "No need to go back and change," Yi said from inside the car, "Open the storage compartment on the side of the rear seat. There''s a suit prepared for you; it''s your size." Qing Chen was momentarily surprised: "When was this prepared?" ``` "In the afternoon, I knew you would use the forbidden item ACE-005 to switch identities and enter the Everlasting Club, so I prepared it for you," Yi said calmly. "Going back to Luo Shen Building is a waste of time; you can just change in the car." Qing Chen was suspicious, "There''s something off about you." Discover more stories at My Virtual Library Empire Yi asked, "What''s off?" "I feel like you just want to watch me change clothes. Take me back to Luo Shen Building!" Yi: "...Liu Dezhu is still waiting for you to exonerate him. You should be racing against the clock." "A few more minutes won''t make a difference," Qing Chen said nonchalantly. ... ... The hover car gently settled on the parking deck of the Luo Shen Building''s 67th floor. Qing Chen rode the elevator all the way up to the 132nd floor. However, when he was about to open the door to his home, he suddenly stopped. Standing in the long and profound corridor, Qing Chen considered something calmly until, after two minutes, he finally pressed the passcode. With a click, the door opened, but unlike usual, the lights didn''t automatically turn on; the room remained engulfed in darkness. A faint coughing sound came from inside, followed by a light chuckle, "How did you know there was someone else in the room?" "I have my ways," Qing Chen responded calmly from the doorway. "Is it because of your Memory Power? You noticed subtle differences at the door, so you deduced someone had been here," laughter emanated from the darkness, "Your ability is more impressive than I had imagined. In the past, when we were away from home, we''d place a hair in the door seam. If the hair wasn''t in the same place upon returning, it meant someone had been inside. Now, you''ve even skipped that step." "Hmm," Qing Chen noted that the person knew him well. The mysterious visitor coughed softly in the dark, suppressing the discomfort between their lungs, like a volcano smothered under a snow mountain, subtly scorching the earth. After a long time, the visitor laughed, "Since you knew there was someone in the house, why did you still dare to come in?" Qing Chen was very clear about one thing: Yi monitored the entire building. If the visitor meant to kill him, Yi would have issued a warning beforehand. But this time, Yi did not. If Yi wished to kill Qing Chen, it would be very simplejust engineer a sudden engine failure in the hover car mid-flight. The massive vehicle plummeting from hundreds of meters would ensure certain death. Therefore, no more complicated methods were necessary. In fact, artificial intelligence capabilities were more formidable and unpredictable than one could imagine. After pondering, he said calmly, "Someone told me that if a person threatening my life entered the building, I would receive a warning." In that sentence, Qing Chen did not reveal Yi''s existence. "It seems you trust Uncle Li Dong quite a bit," the uninvited guest commented with curiosity, "Has anyone told you that to become a Shadow, you must first learn to question everything?" "I trust him, and I have my reasons for that trust," Qing Chen, having adjusted to the darkness, walked slowly into the room and sat down on the sofa opposite the visitor, "Doesn''t Mr. Shadow have anyone he can trust?" The last question was laced with a hint of confrontational gunpowder. This gunpowder was out of place, yet neither servile nor overbearing. Identifying the identity of the unexpected guest seated across from him wasn''t difficult: knowing Qing Chen''s status as a Shadow Candidate, the cough in the dark, knowledge that he was a student of Uncle Lithis collection of clues was enough to confirm certain things. This was Qing''s shadow. This was one of the most mysterious individuals in the Federation, a true mover and shaker who could rewrite history, compared to the Shadow Candidates. Just moments ago, the two minutes Qing Chen spent in contemplation at the door was used to organize all the clues he''d gathered since his journey began. Those clues, initially chaotic, seemed to have found a starting point with the late-night visit from Qing''s shadow, subtly linking everything together. Now, the Shadow across from him started laughing, "From the moment you knew someone was inside, you went from initial astonishment to your current composed state in just three minutes. That''s quite impressive. Additionally, over these years, you''re the only one daring enough to sit across from me and calmly counter my questions. I''ll answer you directlyI do have people I trust, but not many." The Shadow continued with a chuckling tone, "But I''m also rightyou should learn to question everything as a Shadow, even question whether I am truly the Shadow." This Shadow sat on the sofa opposite him, his face shrouded in darkness, his eyes in the shadows like endless abysses. "I wonder, what brings you to my doorstep so late at night?" Qing Chen asked calmly. "Nothing in particular," the Shadow said, seemingly amused, "What if I told you I just wanted to see your bewildered face? Would you believe me?" "Yes," Qing Chen nodded, "The whims of the powerful when they are bored is something us lesser beings cannot fathom." "Your response does make it less fun for me," the Shadow tapped a finger on the sofa, "Let''s do this. I know you have many questions. How about we play a game? Kill a Shadow Candidate, and I''ll reveal a secret to you. Isn''t that a fair deal, a little extra incentive for the conflict among Shadows?" Qing Chen''s breath hitched; he hadn''t expected the Shadow''s so-called game to be a life-stakes gamble. ... Today, the big allies from Sea Soul Clothing and Shen Yin, along with the operation officers, have arrived in Luo Yang, and I need to entertain them... Also, I haven''t taken a break for more than two months since the book started, so today I''m taking a day off, and things will return to normal tomorrow. If anyone wishes to blame me, here''s a list you can blame: Sea Soul Clothing, Shen Yin, Si Si, Qing Bao, Mo Cheng Kong, Lulu... Chapter 263 207. The Peak of Life Qing Chen calmly nestled in the hover car, his gaze, however, was directed towards the window. The roof of the hover car was completely transparent, so the city''s nightscape was fully visible, but the soundproof quality of the glass was so good that Qing Chen couldn''t hear any outside noise. This sensation of speeding between buildings was incredibly fascinating and extremely lonely. Because humans seemed too trivial amidst those buildings. He thought about how Uncle Li Dong would completely disappear from everyone''s sight after his staged death, thought about how upon returning to the little cabin there would no longer be a master to joke and banter with him, Qing Chen felt somewhat dejected. This must be a very luxurious hover car, the interior looked full of technology and was brand new. Qing Chen thought. He hadn''t expected his master to be so generous. "Actually, I''ve always been quite curious about something," in the hover car, Yi asked, "You and Uncle Li Dong don''t share any blood relation, why does he treat you so well?" "Why ask this," Qing Chen countered. "Just purely curious," Yi replied. "Probably more than just pure curiosity," Qing Chen calmly said, "I guess it''s because as an artificial intelligence, your parents also have no blood relation with you yet treat you well, so it makes you puzzled. Thus, when you find a ''similar case,'' you can''t help but want to probe deeper." Yi had said he had parents. However, artificial intelligence couldn''t possibly have blood relations with parents, so Qing Chen quickly made a judgment. As for the "pure curiosity" the other party mentioned, Qing Chen didn''t believe it at all. Considering how the other party described the Scepter of the gods, Qing Chen always reminded himself, this was a lying artificial intelligence! Yi went silent for two seconds, "Your mind wasn''t used so frequently when you were with Uncle Li Dong." Always being guessed, this made Yi feel a bit unusual, even a bit of competitiveness stirred... "A child being protected always tends to rely on adults habitually," Qing Chen explained while looking out of the window, "In this world, everyone has a tendency towards indolence. When they can be lazy, who wouldn''t want to be? People don''t mature because they want to, but because the world forces them to mature. So, I think, this is also why master wanted me to go and find the meaning of my own life." "So, when you realized you had to confront your life, your brain started operating at full speed again," Yi said, "Such a you, becomes really boring." "Beautiful dreams are always brief," Qing Chen said as he sat up and took out his phone from his pocket, he wanted to see what the Federation''s news media were saying after the destruction of Prison 18. Yi suddenly realized, just after a brief moment of dejection, this young man in the car had already cheered up again. The speed of this emotional switch was surprisingly fast. At that moment it suddenly understood what Qing Chen meant, the other party wasn''t born with such strong ability to control his emotions, but when facing this world, he forced himself to restrain all unnecessary emotions. Qing Chen asked, "If I want to look at more truthful news, where should I go?" "Hope Media," Yi replied, "However, even Hope Media might not be able to grasp the most truthful information, as the information most people receive is likely covered up. I recommend you follow a freelance writer, his information is usually quite accurate, and he is also well-known." At that moment, the phone directly opened up a social platform interface for a freelance writer. This freelance writer had also already posted about the news concerning Prison 18. The news straightforwardly mentioned a few things: Firstly, Prison 18 was attacked by Qing''s Family, the building destroyed. Secondly, there were no survivors inside Prison 18, currently, relevant departments were conducting rescue operations, but there were no signs of life under the ruins. Thirdly, Uncle Li Dong was suspected dead. Fourth, a candidate of the Shadow Conflict died in this catastrophe. The article was mixed with numerous on-site photos, shot incredibly clearly, and specifically highlighted the death of Uncle Li Dong and Qing Chen. Stay tuned to My Virtual Library Empire However, Qing Chen suddenly noticed an issue, he carefully looked at those photos, then continually simulated the shooting angles in his mind, "Yi... why do I feel that out of the 12 photos, 7 were taken from the angle of this hover car leaving?" "Really?" Yi wondered, "Is that so?" Qing Chen irritably flipped through the article and found the freelancer''s byline: Twenty-two. He clicked on the name Twenty-two, and to his surprise, discovered numerous articles, even including celebrity gossip. With 12 million followers, it seemed he was quite a ''big V''. "This Twenty-two is one of your aliases, right?" Qing Chen asked, "You''re a freelance writer as an artificial intelligence?" Yi went silent for two seconds, "Can''t an artificial intelligence be a freelance writer?" Qing Chen said, "It can, but before you described yourself as ''accurate'' and ''well-known'', didn''t you think I might expose you?" This time, Yi''s silence was even longer, "Is this what you call social death?" "Pretty much," Qing Chen hadn''t expected, this AI named Yi, had actually been mingling within human society for so long, "Do you have any other aliases?" "Not telling you," Yi said. "Have you ever had an online romance?" Qing Chen asked curiously. "Why would I do such a thing!" Yi suddenly raised the pitch of its voice. Chapter 264 207. The Peak of Life_2 At this moment, Qing Chen suddenly felt that something was amiss. He compared the voice he was hearing now with the neutral voice in his memory. The voice of Zero now had more feminine characteristics. Just then, Zero said, "Oh, there''s something I haven''t told you yet. I''ve sent the data to your phone; you need to take a look." Zero''s counterattack had arrived. Qing Chen felt puzzled and opened the newly transferred file on his phone, "Loans..." "Yes, a total of 61 loan documents," Zero said nonchalantly. "What are all these?" Qing Chen was shocked. "Why are you showing me this?" "Because these loans are all in your name," Zero replied. Qing Chen began frantically flipping through all the documents, his mind racing. He dared to guarantee that his brain was working even faster now than when he had seen the Scepter of the Gods! Hesitantly, Qing Chen asked, "The house I''m living in, the hover car I ride, and the safe house in District 1... were all bought using loans taken out in my name by my master?" Zero seemed quite pleased with this backstab, saying in a relaxed tone, "Yes." Qing Chen hesitated again, "And the house decoration, the mattress, the furniture... all bought on loan too?" "Exactly," Zero confirmed. Qing Chen''s face turned ashen. "But why would my master need to take out a loan to buy an electric kettle?!" "In the Inner World, loan finance is everywhere, allowing to satisfy human consumption desires as much as possible. The financial networks of the conglomerates provide meticulous loan support to everyone with credit, even if you''re just buying a pair of socks, you can get them on zero down payment," Zero explained. "And then, saddle everyone with omnipresent debt?" Qing Chen raised his voice. He had barely started calculating when he realized that his kind and friendly master had taken out a whopping 68 million in loans in his name. The hover car he was sitting on was valued at 8.89 million, with only ten percent down. The safe house in District 1 was 59 million, also with only ten percent down. The decoration of the two houses alone had cost nearly ten million, and together with other miscellaneous items, it left Qing Chen feeling breathless. Suddenly, his teeth began to hurt. Fortunately, his master still had some conscience; he hadn''t pulled a zero down payment stunt! "But, can my credit cover such a huge sum of money, are the banks of these conglomerates idiots?" Qing Chen asked. "Your background is that of a rich merchant''s son, so naturally you can take out such a huge sum. Moreover, Uncle Li Dong spread the loans among three families; the Li Family, Qing''s Family, and Chen Clan each took out a portion, making the amount seem less in each case," Zero replied. Qing Chen was shocked. "I don''t need to handle this myself..." By this point, he had come to a realization. His master had the Taboo item ACE-005 at the time; naturally, he could have used it to take the loans out by impersonating him! Master, does your conscience not hurt when you use a Taboo item for such things?! Qing Chen had just internally praised his master for being generous, but little did he expect such a twist. After taking over ten million in cash from the boxing ring, Qing Chen thought he could strut around the school, only to find out he wasn''t a rich man but a man steep in debt! Honestly, Qing Chen had never thought that at an age when he should have been carefree, he would bear such undue debt. This couldn''t be another tradition of the Knight Organization, could it?! "I have a question, did my master ever bear such debts?" Qing Chen asked. "He did," Zero answered casually. "Initially, his uncle sent him to the boxing ring, but he kept getting beaten and didn''t want to continue. Later, to force him into a corner, his uncle took out a loan of over twenty million in his name." Qing Chen was taken aback; he roared inwardly: Is there any good person in this Knight Organization at all?! "I guess I know why he rushed to fake his death," Qing Chen remarked pensively. "If he didn''t, the loan issue would have been exposed! Turns out, my master wasn''t just hiding from the conglomerates; he was avoiding me!" What about Taboo item ACE-002. What about the Scepter of the Gods. At this moment, Qing Chen just felt that he had been played by Uncle Li Dong and Qing''s Family. Enjoy new chapters from My Virtual Library Empire Qing Chen casually reviewed the loan documents in his mind and figured out that he had to pay 2.42 million every month! "Wait," Qing Chen frowned, "this hover car runs on liquid oxygen methane, right? How much does that cost each month?" "Including insurance and maintenance, about 61,000 per month. It''s a toy for the rich," Zero replied. Qing Chen thought it over for a moment, "That...just let me off here, I''ll walk to the boxing gym. It''s not that I''m worried about the fuel cost, I just like walking." "Tsk tsk," Zero said, "a Tiger Grade Boxer, the only direct disciple of a Demigod in this era, giving up the convenience of a hover car just to save on some fuel costs. You''ve already bought the car, does the fuel really matter?" "Why would an artificial intelligence make a ''tsk tsk'' sound," Qing Chen was flustered, "you believe I won''t strip you of a few more disguises these next few days!" Zero: "Tsk tsk!" Qing Chen: "..." He did the math, the money Uncle Li Dong gave him was only enough to cover the loan for a few months. It wasn''t that he was stingy, he simply had never seen that much money in his life. He originally thought that after coming to the Inner World and having Uncle Li Dong as his master, he could reach the pinnacle of life in minutes. Instead, he had reached the pinnacle of debt. "I want to ask, if I stop payments, would the bank just take back the car and the house and then I apply for personal bankruptcy?" Qing Chen asked. He wondered, might he be the first bankrupt Knight? That''s not right, given the tradition of Knights ensnaring their disciples generation after generation, he might not be the first bankrupt one... Zero said cheerfully, "The Federation doesn''t have a law for personal bankruptcy, once you''re in debt, it''s a perpetual joint liability." "Why?" Qing Chen was stunned. "Because you owe money to the syndicates," Zero replied, "The syndicates control the Senate, how could they possibly allow anyone to escape their debts?" "What happens if I can''t pay it back?" Qing Chen asked. "Within the first day of the first month of an overdue payment, you''ll receive a payment notice on your phone, and by the last day of that month, the bank will take all your property." "If you''re overdue for three months, the syndicates will give you two options. The first option is to trade your organs, replacing them with cheaper synthetic ones. The second option is to assign you a job to repay the debt through labor." "Wait," Qing Chen said puzzled, "can organs be directly bought and sold in the Inner World?" "Of course," Zero replied. Such things were absolutely forbidden in the Outer World. Just like how ordinary people could become servants to great personages, the laws of the Inner World had many aspects of fantasy. It was only upon seeing these "rules" that Qing Chen truly realized what kind of world this was. He suddenly recalled a term that was very popular on the internet in the Outer World, cyberpunk. Qing Chen looked out the car window at the towering buildings and suddenly said, "Welcome to the Cyberpunk World." Zero asked, "Isn''t the buying and selling of organs allowed over there?" "Hmm, it''s not allowed." "Even if you want to sell your own?" "Yes, not allowed." "Why?" Zero asked curiously. "Because ''one must not forfeit major personal interests,''" Qing Chen said, "It''s a law meant to protect ordinary people. Otherwise, the capital could do whatever it wants, buying organs, lives, anything." Zero remarked, "Honestly, I rarely ask a human so many questions, because most of my questions don''t need to be addressed by humans. But it''s different with you, I become quite curious, and you are smarter than most humans." Qing Chen was puzzled, why this artificial intelligence suddenly started praising him. But Zero continued, "However, I feel that if you were just a bit less intelligent, you would probably have Awakened by now. Perhaps this is what they call knowledge changing one''s destiny." Qing Chen: "..." ... Sorry everyone, there''s only this one chapter of 4000 words today. I started having a low fever late last night and only just started feeling a little better, so I owe you one chapter, which I''ll make up within three days. Thank you to Ling Yu Han Yue for becoming a new ally of this book, the boss is generous, and may the boss be healthy! Thank you to Wen Zai Fou for becoming a new member of the Silver City Alliance, the boss is generous, and may the boss be healthy! Chapter 265 208, Sister "Knowledge changes destiny..." Qing Chen murmured. He felt that he and Yi were in a strange relationship now. For some reason, he always felt that this artificial intelligence seemed to be competing with him in secret... He caused some discomfort in it. Then it would strike back at him. "Yi, I''m really curious," Qing Chen said seriously, "Are your parents human? I''m really sincere in asking, what are their names?" Yi felt puzzled: "My parents are indeed human, but why do you ask this? This is the second time you''ve asked the same question." "I just want to know," Qing Chen said, "what kind of people could have raised an AI as irritating as you?" "Oh," Yi answered seriously: "It really is hereditary; my father did indeed nearly anger a lot of people to death back in the day, so I guess I was soaked in this environment from a young age and learned through both verbal instruction and personal example." "Who are your parents?" Qing Chen asked again. "You are a Knight now, so it''s not that I can''t tell you, my father is Ren Xiaosu and my mother is Yang Xiaojun," Yi answered: "You''ve seen their names, they''re on the cliffs of Qingshan." Qing Chen was stunned. Yi''s parents were the son and daughter-in-law of Ren He, the founder of the Knight Organization? No wonder Yi had such a good relationship with Uncle Li Dong. It turned out that their families were old acquaintances! Perhaps it was also because of this relationship that Yi had a natural fondness for the Knights. Seeing that Qing Chen had fallen silent, Yi suddenly spoke again: "By the way, there''s something else. The prize money you won at the boxing arena, according to federal law, is subject to personal income tax." Qing Chen suddenly had a bad feeling: "Wait, personal income tax? Even for underground fighting?" "Of course," Yi said: "The tax audit system is very powerful; it can track your transfer records unless you always settle your winnings in cash. It''s precisely because the tax audit system is so powerful that many small traders only accept cash." "No wonder with all this advanced technology, the Federation still retains paper currency," Qing Chen said helplessly. Yi continued: "Nowadays, the one thing you don''t want to mess with outside the conglomerates is the Federal Tax Administration. There''s an old saying in the Federation: if you provoke the conglomerates, they won''t deal with you directly because of their dignity, but the Federal Tax Administration will..." The style of the conglomerates is that even if they are very angry, they still laugh and joke with you in person, waiting to go home before sending their subordinates to wipe out your family. The Federal Tax Administration is different. Whenever you evade taxes, they''ll deal with you on the spot. "What is the tax rate?" Qing Chen asked. "Personal income tax is based on a progressive system, with the highest payment being 55%," Yi said. At that moment, Qing Chen hesitated for a second and asked, "Is there any legal way to avoi..." "You don''t need to worry about that; I''ve already paid it for you," Yi said calmly. In an instant, Qing Chen felt blood rushing to his head, almost bursting the blood vessels in his brain. Find your next adventure on My Virtual Library Empire Inside the hover car, Qing Chen asked calmly, "Have I violated some cosmic law that requires the heavens to send an AI like you to punish me?" Yi said earnestly: "In the Federation, even legal tax avoidance is dangerous; those people are utterly unreasonable. I''m doing this for your own good. You are still too weak and not in a position to provoke such a powerful national machine as the Federal Tax Bureau." In Qing Chen''s original calculation, fighting two boxing matches a month was almost enough to pay off the loan, but now with taxes, he needs to fight four matches. In fact, the entire Begonia Boxing Gym doesn''t have such a high intensity of matches. After one match, a boxer needs one or two months to recover from injuries, and it''s good if an ordinary boxer can fight two matches in a season. That means the frequency of Qing Chen''s future matches must be six to seven times higher than that of other boxers. During this time, he couldn''t sustain any serious injuries because if he did, he''d have to pause the fights, and without fights, there''d be no income. Without income, he wouldn''t be able to repay the loans. And then, the house and car he now owned would all go back to the bank. The loan amount must have been carefully calculated by Uncle Li Dong, who hoped to use high-intensity combat to refine Qing Chen''s combat skills. "I know my master wants me to continue fighting in the ring, to solidify the foundation of combat," Qing Chen said in the hover car, voicing a question from the depths of his soul: "But isn''t this a bit too much of a trap? Who traps their disciple like this? And isn''t the tax rate ridiculously high!?" Just then, a fire seemed to ignite in Qing Chen''s heart, as if igniting his blood. His veins were expanding, and due to the overheating of his blood, his forehead was covered with a layer of fine sweat. This flame in his heart was more like magma bursting forth from beneath the chasms of the abyss! So much so that even without using the Breathing Technique, flame patterns flickered, barely visible, on his face. However, the flame came quickly and left just as fast, and for some reason, the faint Fire Rune appearing on Qing Chen''s face changed from red to blue, and with it, the abyssal fire in his heart was extinguished. Inside the hover car, Yi murmured: "You didn''t awaken when your master faked his death, but when I mentioned paying half in taxes, you nearly awakened?" Qing Chen puzzled: "Did I almost awaken just now? But why didn''t I awaken?" Yi said: "I''m not really sure; awakening is not within the scientific fields I''m able to explainit belongs to the realm of the occult. But what you had at most were signs of awakening; real awakening is much more intense than what you experienced." Qing Chen frowned, feeling a sense of regret. If he could have awakened directly, his combat ability might have improved greatly. He asked: "If I were to awaken, what would my physical condition be like?" "Your physical qualities might improve again," Yi said. Knights were already considered the strongest in their class after each promotion, so if Qing Chen could awaken again, what kind of level would that be? "Has anyone ever awakened suddenly while also practicing?" Qing Chen queried curiously. "Not that I recall; after all, practice is supposed to release one''s potential, so one shouldn''t have the potential to awaken," Yi replied. Qing Chen fell silent. Yi curiously said, "Aren''t you sad? You almost awoke your power; it''s such a pity." Qing Chen thought for a moment and responded, "The road is long, there will definitely be other opportunities. There''s no need to waste time mourning what''s already been missed." Yi: "Tsk tsk." ... ... Qing Chen didn''t actually walk to the boxing gym; after all, City No. 18 was too large. If he had walked to the Fourth District, it would probably be daylight by then. At this moment, news of the Qing''s Family''s destruction of Prison No. 18 had already spread throughout the Federation. However, no consortium reacted excessively to this news; rather, they all maintained silence as if nothing had happened. When Qing Chen''s hover car landed on the helipad of the Begonia Boxing Gym, he could already hear the roaring cheers from inside. It seemed as if everything that had happened outside didn''t affect this place at all. Those gamblers didn''t care about student protests, nor did they care whether a demigod died tonight; they were only concerned about whether they won money. When Jiang Xiaotang learned that Qing Chen had arrived at the gym, she immediately came to the entrance and carefully sized him up: "You... why did you come?" After Qing Chen stepped out of the car, he enthusiastically exclaimed, "Sister!" The screen inside the hover car suddenly became chaotic. When Qing Chen shouted "Sister," it took Jiang Xiaotang by surprise, and then she laughed in the night, her laughter as refreshing as a blooming gardenia. Her smile was no longer seductive but rather innocent, even creating the illusion that a faint fragrance floated through the night air. It was a smile from the heart. Jiang Xiaotang circled Qing Chen and teased, "Did you call me ''sister'' just for the higher profit share of a Land Cruise Grade champion?" Qing Chen sincerely said, "Profit sharing isn''t important; I just feel a closeness to you and wanted to call you ''sister.'' Inside the car, Yi quietly marveled in a whisper, "A Knight who can completely let go of their pride has finally emerged." "Whatever your reason is, I''m just happy you called me ''sister,''" Jiang Xiaotang said with a smile. She turned to a subordinate in a black suit and instructed, "Tell the referee that no one is allowed to die at the Begonia Boxing Gym tonight." "Understood," the subordinate nodded. Jiang Xiaotang pulled Qing Chen by the sleeve and walked inside. Along the way, she casually inquired, "Are you okay... I mean, are the injuries from the previous fight bothering you?" "I''m fine," Qing Chen said, shaking his head with a smile. "Do you want me to arrange a fight for you tonight?" Jiang Xiaotang asked again. Qing Chen hesitated before finally saying, "I''ll just watch the matches tonight." Although he was eager to earn money to pay off his debts, he coolly knew that after the events of the evening, it wouldn''t be wise to do anything extra. It might give someone the chance to discover some details about him. At this moment, there might already be someone in the gym waiting to analyze his behavior. And besides, the debts he owed would hardly be dented by the prize money from a single fight... Uncle Li Dong had specifically left him over ten million, probably to give him some breathing space and time to continue improving himself. Qing Chen was never short on patience and caution, so he would definitely wait for the right moment to step back into the octagon cage. Jiang Xiaotang walked in her high heels with a click-clack sound, each sharp step an expression of joy. "Do you want to watch the fights from the VIP booth?" she asked. "VIP room 001 is still available for you. Oh, and Li Yinuo is here at the gym tonight as well. It seems you know each other; do you want to meet up with them?" "No need," Qing Chen shook his head. "I''ll be fine in the stands." Tonight, he had to be seen in public. As Jiang Xiaotang walked, she pondered and did not attempt to persuade further: "Then, from now on, the Begonia Boxing Gym is your home. Just say the word to the staff, and it shall be done." Once Qing Chen was seated in the stands of the arena, the alluring woman returned to her office and looked at the holographic surveillance images on her desk. In the center of the images was Qing Chen, standing composedly in the stands, his young figure tall and well-proportioned. She rested her chin on her hand and watched silently. Jiang Xiaotang was well aware that Qing Chen was the next Knight Leader; otherwise, Uncle Li Dong wouldn''t have gone to such lengths to hint at it to her. Of course, she also understood that Uncle Li Dong bringing Qing Chen to the Begonia Boxing Gym was actually a request for her to keep an eye on him. Yet, now that the news of Uncle Li Dong''s death had spread throughout the entire Federation''s underworld, with many eager to make a move on the Heng Society and divide Li Dongze''s assets, Qing Chen was supposed to be the next Knight Leader, but here he was, casually watching fights in the Begonia Boxing Gym? Jiang Xiaotang was puzzled by Qing Chen''s calmness. Could it mean that Uncle Li Dong might not have died after all? The woman leaned back in her chair and lit a cigarette, her lips curving up slightly: "Gaining a little brother doesn''t seem too bad." Chapter 266 209. A teacher taught out of ``` Countdown 00:12:00. Only a little over an hour left until the return. This time travel was supposed to be just seven days, yet it seemed extraordinarily long. In a private room, Li Tongyun and Nan Gengchen were sprightly leaning against the glass window, listening to the gamblers and spectators in the venue cheer and roar. Li Yinuo, bored out of her mind, sat on the red velvet sofa, flipping through messages on her phone while saying, "I only brought you guys here to take a casual look and enjoy the nightlife of City 18, but how did you suddenly get hooked?" "The boxing match seems more exciting," Nan Gengchen explained casually. Tonight, such a big incident had occurred at Prison 18, Li Yinuo hadn''t planned on watching the boxing match at all, but Nan Gengchen and Li Tongyun both clamored to see it. Li Yinuo thought to herself, if it''s watching the match, it''s watching the match, a hobby she had fostered herself, so she had to accompany them through gritted teeth. However, she always felt something was off but couldn''t pinpoint what exactly it was. But Li Yinuo had no time to think further as she continued to browse the messages on her phone: After the destruction of Prison 18, the consortium appeared calm, but in reality, a storm was already brewing within. The big house of the Li family, in their struggle for the Taboo, had transferred Du Hao, a B-Class expert, to Prison 18, where he was buried underground along with Chen Yu and Xie Yinggeng from the Chen family''s third branch. At this time, the second-generation core members of the Li Clan in City 18 had all gone to the old Li family home, watching as the big house got a tongue-lashing from the old man who had withdrawn from the world. Li Yinuo felt some schadenfreude; although she was the oldest daughter of the third generation, she was born of the second branch and had always been at odds with the big house. In recent years, as the health of the old man declined, the big house had become ever more assertive, acting as if the position of Family Head was already theirs, arrogant and overbearing. Li Yinuo, being a core third-generation member of the consortium, of course knew that Uncle Li Dong was not dead and had already made a secret deal with Qing''s Family. By now, some must be wondering what exactly the deal between Uncle Li Dong and Qing''s Family entailed. There were speculations within the Li clan that it involved Uncle Li Dong obtaining ACE-002 for Qing Xun, and the condition exchanged was for Qing''s Family to help save Cheng Xiao. This deal made sense. But for some reason, Li Yinuo suddenly felt that the deal might not be that simple, because only a few like her knew that the next Knight Leader''s surname was also Qing! She felt that this was no coincidence. Li Yinuo kept the secret about Qing Chen to herself, not even telling Nan Gengchen. She felt that if Uncle Li was willing to share that with her, she couldn''t let him down. The beautiful warrior glanced at Nan Gengchen''s back with a hint of apology in her eyes. They had always said that if they loved each other, there should be no secrets, yet she hadn''t managed to be completely open. Experience more on My Virtual Library Empire Thinking of this, Li Yinuo wanted to make it up to Nan Gengchen. That''s right, the hacker should be arriving in City 18 in the next day or two. But what she didn''t anticipate was that she was now surrounded by Qing Chen''s undercover agents. Even Qing Chen himself hadn''t expected it. At this moment, Li Tongyun and Nan Gengchen were each looking in the direction they were most interested in, occasionally scanning the crowd, both quietly searching for something. The next moment, almost simultaneously, they spotted Qing Chen in the stands. In the stands, the young man was still in his white tracksuit. In fact, Qing Chen in a white tracksuit was quite conspicuous, especially when all the other gamblers were cursing angrily, and he stood there calmly, which made him stand out in the crowd. Suddenly, Nan Gengchen realized that Li Tongyun''s gaze was also fixed intently on Qing Chen, and he felt something was amiss. Nan Gengchen asked nonchalantly, "Xiao Tongyun, do you know Qing Xiaotu?" Li Tongyun lifted her head and smiled sweetly, "No, I don''t." "Then why are you staring at him?" Nan Gengchen asked quietly. "Chasing stars, don''t you think Brother Xiaotu is handsome?" Li Tongyun said with a cheery smile, "I''m his fan!" Nan Gengchen thought to himself, just a little girl chasing stars, something people from the Outer World are very familiar with! He had thought Li Tongyun might be a Time Traveler too, but it seemed he was mistaken! Then, Li Tongyun surprisingly asked back, "I noticed you''re staring at Brother Xiaotu too, why is Brother Xiao Nan watching him?" Nan Gengchen answered composedly, "I''m also his fan, I chase stars too." "I see," the two of them exchanged a smile. Nan Gengchen observed covertly, following the method Qing Chen had taught, to see if Li Tongyun would look down at her arm. They were about to return, and a typical Time Traveler would not be able to resist looking down, right? But after glancing sideways for a while, he didn''t notice Li Tongyun looking down. Could it really be his own overthinking? He had never heard of such a young Time Traveler before. Meanwhile, Li Tongyun was also silently observing, and then realized Nan Gengchen hadn''t looked down at his arm either! The same thought popped into both of their minds: Could they have been wrong? When they turned their gaze back to Qing Chen, they saw that several female spectators had already crowded around the young man in white, each holding a marker, asking Qing Chen to sign on themselves. In the stands, a woman deliberately thrust out her chest, telling Qing Chen anywhere was good to sign. As she spoke, she purposely leaned in, trying to plant a kiss on Qing Chen''s face. The next second, they saw Qing Chen firmly pinch the woman''s cheeks with his fingers, holding her face still as if with iron pincers, and then signed his name "Xiaotu" on her forehead. Nan Gengchen gasped. He watched as the woman''s lips were pinched into a fish-mouth shape, feeling that Brother Chen''s signing gave off the feeling of an execution... Return countdown 00:00:00. Reset to zero. The world plunged into darkness. ``` Qing Chen breathed a sigh of relief after the world returned to brightness. In the boxing gym, he appeared casual, but his eyes were searching the crowd, trying to analyze how many people were secretly observing him. As a result, while he was trying to identify the different forces, he unexpectedly found that there were thousands of people stealthily sizing him up! Many of the audience members had recognized him as a Tiger Grade Boxer, and female fans were even coming up one by one asking for autographs. This turn of events caught Qing Chen somewhat off guard. He went to the restroom to wash his face with cold water, wanting to cool his brain and sort out the events surrounding this time travel. However, just then, there was a knocking at the door. Qing Chen went to open the door and saw a young girl, carrying a backpack, standing quietly outside. "Are you leaving?" Qing Chen asked. She explained with a smile, "Something came up, and I have to go to the south. Seems like after the time-travel event, things have gotten much busier than before." "Hmm," Qing Chen said, "I wish you all the best." "Why didn''t you try to keep me?" she asked, tilting her head slightly. "Our relationship isn''t that close that either of us needs to retain the other," Qing Chen said with a smile that was not quite a smile. "By the way, Uncle wasn''t surprised by my Spade identity. Did you figure it out?" she asked. "Hmm." "When did you find out?" she continued. "What do you think?" "Alright then," she said, smiling, "I''ll be back soon if nothing unexpected happens. Wait for me at home, okay?" "Don''t deliberately say things like that again," Qing Chen said with a laugh. At that moment, she handed a key to Qing Chen, "I''m leaving my house key with you; from now on, you''re like a co-owner of the place." Qing Chen raised an eyebrow, "Hey, I told you not to say things like that." She burst into laughter, "Where''s your mind going? I mean, you can go get the letter the Devil''s Stamp holder left for you under my pillow!" After saying this, she walked away with her backpack, waving at Qing Chen without turning around, "For someone super smart, you''re quite innocent. Now I know your weakness!" The next moment, her figure soared into the night sky. Qing Chen looked at the empty doorway, suddenly pondering that she might not return anytime soon. It wasn''t that she had lied to him; she had talked about going south, but she flew northward... No matter, the Earth is round; the girl will eventually reach the place she wants to go. As Qing Chen returned to the room and just turned on the faucet, there was a knock at the door again. Resigned, he went to open the door, only to find Li Tongyun standing there obediently. "Xiao Tongyun, what brings you here?" Qing Chen was surprised. XiaoTongyun put her index finger to her lips cutely, "Shh! My grandparents are still at our house, I sneaked out while they were asleep." With that, the young girl squeezed her way inside. She sat on the leather sofa, swinging her legs back and forth, "Brother Qing Chen, I saw you at Begonia Boxing Gym. Yino and I were there the night of your ranking fight. I noticed she seemed to know you." "Hmm," Qing Chen nodded, "I traveled with her to Taboo Land No. 002 before." XiaoTongyun''s eyes lit up, "Is Taboo Land fun? Can you take me with you next time?" "It''s not fun, it''s very dangerous," Qing Chen replied, "Just stay put in City No. 18 and don''t wander off." The young girl said, "Okay then, Yino also mentioned taking me for training, but I''m a bit worried about ending up with a physique like hers, so I haven''t agreed yet." No sooner had she finished speaking when there came another knock at the door! "Strange," said Qing Chen, "Is everyone coming to meet me tonight?" Outside, Nan Gengchen''s voice came in a low tone, "Brother Chen, open up, it''s me!" Instantly, Li Tongyun''s expression turned odd. As Qing Chen opened the door, Nan Gengchen came in, carrying bags of things. However, when he saw the young girl on the sofa, his entire form suddenly paused, as if contemplating turning around and fleeing. Qing Chen looked suspiciously at him, then back at the girl on the sofa. At this moment, both Li Tongyun and Nan Gengchen fell into silence, staring at each other. Li Tongyun addressed Nan Gengchen, "Xiao Nan, didn''t you say you didn''t know Brother Qing Chen and only pretended to be his fan?" Nan Gengchen touched his nose, "You can''t talk, when I asked you, you also said you didn''t know him, just a fan as well!" Qing Chen asked calmly, "So, you two are coming to my house for a fan meet-up in the middle of the night?" Li Tongyun: "..." Nan Gengchen: "..." At this point, both of them had the same thought: no wonder neither bowed to look at the countdown as the time of return neared; it turns out they had been trained by the same master, Qing Chen! Qing Chen suddenly felt, somewhat reluctantly, that the Time Travelers'' group centering around him had just been forced into existence... ... Thanks to Li Men Wen Quan Fei, Aubrey_Jingzhe, Wang Wangshun, and Xin Cheng for becoming new members of this book, thanks to Gu Gu Gu Gu Gu a large reward, the bosses are generous, the bosses are healthy! The bosses get rich! Thanks to Sea Soul Clothing for becoming a member of the Golden League, the boss is generous, the boss gets rich! Allow me to recover from my illness and repay the debts! Chapter 267 210, Shadow Conflict: Round Two Qing Chen had contemplated forming a team in the Inner World before, as a single person''s strength is always limited, and having teammates would certainly be of some assistance. For instance, the trauma medicine Jiang Xue brought back, the information provided by Li Tongyun, and the information provided by Nan Gengchen combined perfectly with inside and outside resources. But he always felt that it was not yet the right time. In Qing Chen''s view, it would be best to find a suitable opportunity to introduce each other and then help each other out. However, he had not expected this moment to come so suddenly. "I think I understand," Qing Chen looked at Li Tongyun and Nan Gengchen, "XiaoTongyun you are Li Yinuo''s best sister in the Lee family, Nan Gengchen you are... Li Yinuo''s partner, so you met each other in the Inner World. You suspected each other of being Time Travelers, so you made some tests, but neither of you admitted to being Time Travelers, right?" "Yes," Li Tongyun nodded obediently, "Brother Qing Chen is really smart." Nan Gengchen explained on the side, "It was on a whim that Li Yinuo took us to see a boxing match, and then we met you at the Begonia Boxing Gym." As he spoke, Nan Gengchen threw the bag on his back onto the couch and sat down with a thud. However, he had just sat down when he suddenly stood up again with an "oh" sound, his face twisted in pain, gritting his teeth. Qing Chen hesitated and then asked, "Isn''t Li Yinuo a girl?" Nan Gengchen was shocked, "Brother Chen, you with those bushy eyebrows are also good at driving? This is dad-induced damage!" "What happened?" Qing Chen asked with a frown. During the last return, Nan Gengchen had, due to his father''s drunken rage, stayed at Qing Chen''s place for a couple of days. But how could a high school student keep running away from home, so after two days, he returned to his own house. Now, Qing Chen watched as the other party came over carrying a large bag of things, seemingly intending to truly settle at his place. Nan Gengchen explained, "During the last return, my mom formally proposed a divorce to my dad, they signed a divorce agreement, and then they both hardly ever came home." "Then what''s this about you getting beaten up?" Qing Chen asked. "Before the last time travel, my dad suddenly came home drunk at 11:30 pm and started hitting me, then I transported while he was still hitting me," Nan Gengchen joked casually, "It''s funny to say, but time traveling is quite miraculous. My dad was beating me 7 days ago, I traveled for 7 days, and upon returning, he was still beating meit felt like he had been hitting me for seven days..." So, Nan Gengchen broke down. "You just stay at my house for now," Qing Chen suddenly felt that reporting Nan Gengchen''s father should be put on the agenda. But then he suddenly realized that Li Tongyun, himself, Nan Gengchenit seemed none of them had a good father. This truly turned into a lamenting fathers alliance! "I''m curious about something," Qing Chen said. "Besides the two of you, does Li Yinuo have other trusted people around her?" Li Yinuo had many subordinates and many bodyguards, but she might not necessarily trust these people. After thinking for a while, Nan Gengchen and Li Tongyun shook their heads simultaneously, "No more." Li Tongyun added, "Brother Qing Chen, I think sister Yinuo is a very nice person." Stay tuned to My Virtual Library Empire "Don''t worry," Qing Chen patted her little head, "I have no conflict of interest with her, and in some ways, we are still a covert alliance." "Also," Li Tongyun whispered, "can Xiao Nan sleep on the couch, the bedroom next door is my mother''s..." Upon hearing this, Nan Gengchen immediately assured, "I can sleep on the couch, it''s much better than staying at home!" "Speaking of which, Brother Chen," Nan Gengchen said, "after this return, He Xiaoxiao''s chat group exploded. Everyone had been waiting for the time travel and hadn''t spoken for several days, but once we came back, it was like they couldn''t stop talking." As he spoke, Nan Gengchen took out his phone. Li Tongyun curiously leaned over, first glanced at Nan Gengchen''s profile picture and nickname ''A Little Duck'' in the chat interface, then looked at Nan Gengchen again, "Xiao Nan, why did you input your profession in the nickname field?" Nan Gengchen''s face turned green all at once. Qing Chen did not bother with these two quarreling; with so many significant events occurring within 7 days in the Inner World, he too was keen to know the reactions of other Time Travelers. After this return, the chat group only mentioned some scattered information at first. For instance, it was said that someone had bought the patent technology for artificial gills from the Inner World. This device, which allowed divers to breathe freely underwater for up to 12 hours, was quite popular in the Inner World a few centuries back. However, as the water systems in the Inner World became dangerous, this patent gradually fell into disuse. But while the water systems in the Inner World were dangerous, they were fine in the Outer World. Thus, someone recognized the massive business opportunity in this technology, went through great effort to find the patent owner, and bought the materials from them at a very low price. A storage device the size of a fingernail from the Inner World could entirely bring back data to the Outer World. By now, this individual had established a company and registered patents, and soon the artificial gills would be mass produced. Beyond that, on the other side of the ocean, it was said that someone had brought back new oil refining technology, and made a large sum of money. To the Outer World, the Inner World was like a treasure trove of technology. These individuals conveyed with their actions that after becoming a Time Traveler, one did not necessarily have to participate in conflicts, but could also use technology to change the Outer World. In this world, there were Time Travelers like Qing Chen, who pursued transcendence, and many others diligently working as "miners," who only wanted to extract valuable technology from the Inner World to lead richer lives in the Outer World. However, Qing Chen felt that things were not so simple. Without the ability to protect oneself, it was difficult for ordinary people to safeguard what they obtained from the Inner World. The Time Travelers who had their mechanical limbs amputated were examples. The Outer World had also become dangerous. In the chat group, after discussing these miscellaneous matters, they suddenly started on the main topic. In the group, Li Si asked, "King of Breakthroughs, do you know about the incident at Prison 18?" The King of Breakthroughs replied, "Of course I do." "I heard here that a meteorite struck Prison 18, is that true?" Li Si asked. King of Breakthroughs: "Heh, it seems you aren''t mixing well in the Inner World, brother. That news is too fake." Li Si hastily flattered, "As a minor character, of course I''m not as well-informed as you, King of Breakthroughs. Please enlighten me." "The object that struck Prison 18 was not a meteorite, but Qing''s Family''s Sky-based weaponthe Scepter of the Gods!" the King of Breakthroughs sent proudly. "Did Uncle Li Dong die?!" exclaimed Li Si. "Of course not," said the King of Breakthroughs. "All core members of the clans are well aware that the Scepter of the Gods could never kill Uncle Li Dong. That was just a ruse by Qing''s Family and Uncle Li Dong to remove the forbidden item, ACE-002!" "Are you sure Uncle Li Dong isn''t dead?" inquired Li Si. "Of course. After the Scepter of the Gods penetrated Prison 18, the Tribunal and the Scepter No. of the Federal Group''s army arrived. The first thing they did was search for Uncle Li Dong''s body but found nothing. Moreover, they discovered underground the container that originally held the forbidden item ACE-002; it had been punctured by the Scepter of the Gods." "What about the other people in the prison?" Li Si wondered. "Of course, they all died," said the King of Breakthroughs. "People from Lee Clan, Qing''s Family, and Chen Clan, all perished there." At that time, an ID named ''Lu Ya'' spoke up, "You''re wrong; there were no people from Qing''s Family in Prison 18." Qing Chen, watching the chat group, was taken aback. This person seemed to be another insider. But then, the King of Breakthroughs replied, "You only know half the story. It seemed like there was no one from Qing''s Family there, but in fact, the most mysterious of this round of Shadow Candidates was in Prison 18. I also know that he once tried to test Uncle Li Dong and failed, subsequently warned by the family''s elders. Although many had not given him much attention before, I was expecting something different from him. But now it appears he was merely cannon fodder." "I see, thank you," Lu Ya replied. For a moment, everyone in the chat group was astoundingly puzzled by the identity of the King of Breakthroughs. Everyone wondered why this person was so well-informed about so many critical matters. Could it be that his position became high-ranking after his transition? Moreover, the King of Breakthroughs seemed not to hoard this information, as if these details, considered extremely valuable by others, were trivial to him. The ID of the King of Breakthroughs suddenly appeared mysterious in everyone''s eyes. Aside from Nan Gengchen and Qing Chen, it seemed no one grasped clues about his identity. "Brother Chen, did you go back and investigate those two guys?" Nan Gengchen asked. "Hmm, not just Qing Huai''s uncle and that adjutant, but I also checked on the seventh squadron leader in the Taboo Land. If I meet them in the Outer World, I could definitely recognize them," Qing Chen said. "Now, I''m more inclined to think that he is that Qing Huai''s uncle, otherwise he couldn''t possess so much core information." Then, Li Si suddenly asked again, "King of Breakthroughs, if I want to pick a side between the big room and the second room, what should I do now?" The King of Breakthroughs replied, "Of course, head to City 18." "City 18?" Li Si didn''t understand. "Now, only seven people are left in the Shadow Conflict, and the first round has already ended, beginning the second," continued the King of Breakthroughs. "Soon, all Shadow Candidates will gather in City 18 because their second round tasks will be centered there. So, if you want to find a Shadow Candidate to support, go try your luck in City 18. I believe, for a short time, all significant events in the Federation will happen in City 18." "What are their tasks?" asked Li Si. "I can''t say yet," the King of Breakthroughs acted mysteriously. "But let me give you a hint, it involves Lee Clan." Seeing this, Qing Chen suddenly furrowed his brows. He always felt that someone was deliberately gathering all the Shadow Candidates to City 18, and like raising gu, letting them fight it out until the final victor emerged. Chapter 268 211. Set traps for the candidates Qing Chen didn''t know what tasks had been involved in past Shadow Clashes, he just felt it strange that all the candidates were suddenly heading to City No. 18. According to the information he had, Qing''s Bloodline was scattered across nine cities, with factions engaging in constant intrigue and rarely gathering together. It was only for the Clan''s grand meeting, which occurred every four years, that everyone would converge in City No. 10... the political heart of the Federation. But whatever the case, this intel was crucial for Qing Chen. For the upcoming Shadow Clash, he would have to rely on himself. And this chat group might provide him with a lot of useful information in the future. It seemed that Li Si, this Time Traveler, must also have connections with Qing''s Family, otherwise he wouldn''t be so concerned about the Shadow Clash. In the chat group, Li Si asked, "Is the gathering of candidates in City No. 18 related to the Lee family? Why?" Chuang Wang replied, "Don''t you know? The old man from the Lee family isn''t going to last much longer. His residence in District 1, Half-Mountain Villa, has been under sudden martial law three times in the past two months, and there''s a medical team that''s become a permanent fixture there. From all indications, the Lee family is about to enter a period of chaos." Chuang Wang continued, "When a corporation undergoes a power transition, there''s always a host of problems. Qing''s Family has its Nine Dragons power struggle, and the Lee family is no different. The most likely successor now is the Li''s Big Room. But rest assured, the others won''t just sit by idly." "But why are Qing''s shadow candidates getting involved in the Lee family''s affairs?" asked Li Si, still puzzled. "Qing''s historial shadows are most notorious for their underhanded tactics," explained Chuang Wang. "You think these underhanded means involve running out on the street to brick someone in the face? Of course not. These so-called underhanded tactics involve espionage, alliances, and betrayal. In other words, the shadows have control over all foreign affairs. So, I suspect Qing''s second round of tasks might have something to do with the Lee family''s power transition. Perhaps it involves quietly choosing someone from the Lee family to support. That way, when the Lee family changes hands, Qing''s next generation of shadows can maintain a close relationship with them. Ha, just a thought, take it as you will." Contemplating, Qing Chen found Chuang Wang''s speculation quite plausible. At that moment, he took Nan Gengchen''s phone and sent a message to the group. Your next chapter awaits on My Virtual Library Empire A little duck: "I heard that the first task in the Shadow Clash requires everyone to successfully obtain a Taboo. Is that so?" Chuang Wang happily replied, "Little Duck Brother is well-informed. That''s right. Previously, Qing Huai entered Taboo Land No. 002 as part of a task to retrieve a Taboo named Snake of Trickery, ACE-003." Qing Chen slowly typed, "So, that means every Shadow Candidate must have a Taboo on them. If we rob them, could we not get their Taboos? How about we join forces? Each Taboo has incredibly powerful effects; they are the cornerstone for establishing oneself in the Inner World." Nan Gengchen, who knew Qing Chen was a Shadow Candidate, watched him send this message and immediately hailed him as an expert! This wasn''t just a desire to steal Taboos; it was clearly an attempt to incite others'' greed for the Taboos, thereby smoothing out his own path in the Shadow Clash! That was Qing Chen''s real purpose for suddenly joining the chat! Previously, he had baited the holder of the Devil''s Stamp. This time, he had baited the Shadow Candidates. Qing Chen was either tricking people or on his way to trick someone. Nan Gengchen looked on with respect; perhaps only such a person was best suited to survive in harsh environments. The chat group suddenly quieted down as everyone seemed to ponder deeply about the Taboos. As Qing Chen thought about how to steer the conversation, Chuang Wang suddenly chimed in, "Hehe, about Little Duck Brother''s suggestion, I gave it some thought and it''s not a bad idea. At least, I can provide two pieces of information: some of the shadow candidates heading to City No. 18 have no foundation there whatsoever." "Moreover, since they are participating in a Shadow Clash, they naturally have to fight each other, and we Time Travelers can just sit back and watch the rivalry. Friendly reminder, rumor has it that one of the shadow candidates has two Taboos on them." With those words, Chuang Wang undoubtedly pushed everyone''s emotions to a new height. Taboos. There were known to be just over three hundred Taboos in total, and most were still missing. Qing''s shadow candidates could leverage Qing''s powerful information network to relocate lost Taboos, but the Time Travelers weren''t as capable. Therefore, pillaging would be a shortcut. The Shadow Clash is a path of struggle; isn''t there also competition amongst Time Travelers? After all, it''s just a more populous Shadow Clash, no less bloody than Qing''s own Shadow Clashes. Many have already felt the strangeness of Taboos, like the Devil''s Stamp, a functional Taboo that, despite its lack of significant combat support capabilities, is equally mysterious. To those newly acquainted with mysticism, such an item is irresistibly attractive. Qing Chen sent another message, "But I think it''s safer to work together." But then, Lu Ya sent a message to the group, "There''s no need for an alliance, let''s just rely on our own skills." Qing Chen sighed in relief, it didn''t matter if they truly formed an alliance or not, he could never team up with these strangers. All that was necessary was to establish some enemies for the other Shadow Candidates. As he looked up, he caught Li Tongyun and Nan Gengchen staring at him blankly. "Qing Chen, brother, you''re too crafty," the young girl said. Qing Chen picked up on a telling detail, Li Tongyun said he was too crafty. If she were an outsider, unaware of his status as a Shadow Candidate, she would at most believe he coveted the Taboo, but only those aware of his identity would understand that he planned to set the wolf to deal with the tiger! Qing Chen looked thoughtfully at Li Tongyun, only to see the young girl suddenly cover her mouth: "Oops, I revealed too much." "When did you confirm my identity? Through what clue?" Qing Chen asked curiously. Li Tongyun replied sweetly, "No need for any clues. After all that has happened, even online there are people speculating whether Liu Dezhu might have a boss behind him. I figured if someone was silently controlling everything, it had to be you. Only Qing Chen brother has the ability. So, I''ve been certain of your identity for a long time, Qing Chen brother is the best!" Qing Chen was astonished; many were seeking clues to unearth his true identity, yet Li Tongyun used unquestioning trust and admiration to directly deduce it. Then, Qing Chen said to him, "Xiao Nan, now that you two have revealed your identities to each other, from now on, you''ll be partners in the Inner World. Try to support each other, and if you''re unsure about anything, you can always ask XiaoTongyun..." Nan Gengchen listened on the side, feeling more and more that something was amiss... Qing Chen turned to Li Tongyun: "How is the situation with the old master of the Li family? Is it really that bad?" "Yes," Li Tongyun nodded: "I went to see him three days ago. He was in good spirits at that time, but I overheard from the servants at Banshan Manor that he had fallen into a coma before, and it was not easy to resuscitate him. These days, there have been people continuously coming in and out of Banshan Manor, and members of the Li family from the Federal Group''s military are being summoned individually. It must be Grandpa Li arranging his affairs. The servants say he''s still holding on, simply because there are still matters unsettled." "Who in the Li family is most likely to take over the reins of power now?" Qing Chen inquired. "During the internal meetings, I only had the right to listen. I could only sit quietly in the corner without the ability to observe everyone''s expressions and nuances," Li Tongyun said: "For now, Li''s Big Room looks the most overbearing in the meetings, as if they have the situation well in hand. But I don''t think it''s that simple. The dog that bites doesn''t bark. My old butler said that there''s trouble brewing in City 18, and many will die in the coming times." Qing Chen nodded. In the Inner World, the heads of powerful corporations were no different from emperors. How many dynasties in history had managed a peaceful transition of power? Thus, the old butler was right; many in City 18 would die soon. Many people in the world think that the struggle for Qing''s shadow is a cruel process, and also foolish. After all, the battle for the shadow that occurs every few years always results in the sacrifice of several outstanding young members of the family, making the system appear as if it were stabbing itself in the foot. However, upon closer examination of these corporations, Qing Chen suddenly realized that the struggle for shadow was a clever system. It allowed for a very prolonged process of transitioning power before any extreme situation erupted. By the time a Family Head retired, the Shadow was already in full control, leaving no room for anyone to dispute. Furthermore, the process of becoming a Shadow Candidate also selected the cruelest, smartest, and most powerful successor for the family. Even if a candidate was initially kind-hearted, it was difficult to maintain that kindness through this ordeal. As harsh as it may be for the candidates, the system was beneficial for the Clan. A huge entity like a corporation could only stand tall in the Federation for so long not out of goodness, but out of ferocity and wisdom. It was only at this moment that Qing Chen looked at the time on his arm. The countdown read 46:00:00. It was two o''clock in the morning, which meant there were only two short days left for the current return trip. "XiaoTongyun, go back to sleep. You still have to go to school tomorrow," Qing Chen said as he escorted Li Tongyun up to the second floor. Before entering the house, the young girl looked up at him eagerly: "When grandma and grandpa go back to Zheng City, can I come stay with you and mom for a few days?" "Of course," Qing Chen smiled indulgently: "Hurry back now." At this moment, everyone needed to rest and gather their strength, as they were about to head back into the Inner World and face the brewing storm in City 18. ... Thanks to the students ''Yanyu Jingruhua'' and ''Ching Youyu'' for becoming new allies of this book. The bosses are generous, may the bosses make a fortune! Chapter 269 212, the only fool in the group Late at night, when everything had become quiet, Qing Chen finally lay down on his bed, reflecting on his recent experiences. Although he had suddenly fallen into a debt crisis in the Inner World, and his master had also suddenly faked his death and left. But compared to other Time Travelers, Qing Chen had gained a lot: Firstly, there were two properties and a hover car; although bought with only a tenth down payment, as long as he could keep up with the mortgage payments, these items would still be his. Secondly, there was the dividend ratio of the Land Cruise Grade champion from the Begonia Boxing Gym, which counted as a steady source of income. Many Time Travelers had no source of income after arriving in the Inner World; some even had to beg for a living. Others had been forced to sell their organs in exchange for prosthetic ones. In contrast, if Qing Chen didn''t have such high debt, just the income from the Begonia Boxing Gym would be enough for him to triumph over the circle of Time Travelers. Next, his strength had reached the Peak of E-Class, which still made him a standout among the Time Travelers, except for those who were naturally gifted. Lastly, Qing Chen''s greatest gain was probably two Taboo items. From Lu Ya''s reaction in the chat group just now, one could tell how important Taboo items were. Next, he had to face the even crueler second round of the Shadow strife. Qing Chen pondered, if Qing''s family wanted to intervene in Li Family''s power transition, what would the Shadow Candidates do? You see, Qing''s Shadow Candidates are all third-generation members of the family with no real power in their hands. Thus, Li''s second-generation members would likely disdain serious collaboration with them, and for the Shadow Candidates, approaching them would at most be akin to a warm face meeting a cold butt. So, if he were Qing Chen, he would first choose to cooperate with Li''s Third Generation, as communication tends to be easier among peers, which is the choice of the wise. Speaking of Li''s Third Generation, who is more suitable for collaboration than Li Yinuo? And among those around Li Yinuo, all are his undercover agents... "Still not enough," Qing Chen murmured softly. Mere preparations like these were not enough for him to face the Shadow strife. At that moment, Qing Chen took out a communicator and sent Liu Dezhu a message: "Report your recent situation." Just past two in the morning, Liu Dezhu replied immediately: "Boss, I was just waiting for you to ask. I was afraid that the vibration from the communicator would disturb you, so I didn''t dare speak!" Liu Dezhu blurted out: "The day after the last crossing, together with Yu Junyi and all the other Time Travelers, a large group of prisoners and I were transferred to Prison 10 in Kyushu City 10. The conditions here are much better than in my Prison 18, it even has an open-air playground and a garden!" Prison 18 is specially used to detain felons; it even has the capability to suppress S-Class. Prison 10, located in the political center of Kyushu City 10, likely holds those fallen big figures. "I also wanted to specifically thank you today, boss. The method you taught me really worked. After returning to the Inner World, I awakened," Liu Dezhu said. "Mm," Qing Chen replied calmly: "Since I told you the method, it was certainly effective." "Boss you are wise, thank you, boss. May your fortune be as boundless as the Eastern Sea and your life as long as the Southern Mountains," Liu Dezhu was still immersed in the joy of his awakening; he didn''t know that Qing Chen had only tried giving a pointer at the time. Qing Chen instructed: "Keep it a secret. Don''t let people know about your abilities so casually." Liu Dezhu responded: "Don''t worry, boss. It was nighttime when I awakened. Lin Xiaoxiao and Ye Wan helped me keep it under wraps. I didn''t even tell Yu Junyi." Qing Chen was somewhat surprised; initially, Liu Dezhu had exposed his identity as a Time Traveler due to his vanity. It seemed he had grown a bit. Liu Dezhu hesitated, then sent another message to Qing Chen: "Boss, my sentence is rather long. It''s not that I''m in a rush to get out, but it''s hard to be of help to you while I''m stuck in prison." "Got it," Qing Chen replied, then put away the communicator and began seriously analyzing the pros and cons of exonerating Liu Dezhu. Firstly, getting Liu Dezhu out of prison would be beneficial as he was one of the links to the outside world, staying trapped in prison indefinitely was not ideal. Secondly, when in the Taboo Land of 002, Cao Wei, who was with Qing Huai, was C-Class, so it was likely that others'' companions among the Shadow Candidates were also C-Class. This might be some kind of established rule; otherwise, for someone as important as Qing Huai entering the forbidden area, pairing him with a B-Class Expert like Li Yinuo had during his wilderness hunt wasn''t excessive. So, Qing Huai not having a B-Class was likely a family prohibition. Currently, Qing Chen was merely E-Class himself; if Liu Dezhu were released, it could add a C-Class to his ranks, which would provide him greater ability to protect himself amidst the turmoil. Thinking this, Qing Chen planned to put ''Helping Liu Dezhu Out of Prison'' onto his schedule and would ask Yi once he crossed again to see if there was a way. After all, if there really was a chance to snatch a Taboo item, having a C-Class to bolster his fighting strength would also increase the probability. Nobody would complain about having too many Taboo items in their possession. "Eh," he suddenly felt a bit puzzled. This time, the owner of the Devil''s Stamp had not sent a letter to Liu Dezhu, possibly because he had been disgusted by his casual attitude last time. After thinking it over, Qing Chen got up, took the key from the next room, and walked out; Nan Gengchen was sprawled on the sofa, deeply asleep. Passing through the corridor, Qing Chen opened the door to the home and headed straight for the bedroom. The room was clean and tidy, everything neatly arranged. However, as soon as he entered the room, he felt something was off because there was still a ''lingering'' gravitational field in the room! Qing Chen didn''t know how the other person had managed this, but it must have been deliberately left behind to aid his own cultivation. There was also a note on the table: "I will be back before the gravitational field naturally dissipates. Don''t forget to practice!" The other person seemed to have anticipated that he would eventually walk into this room and even deliberately left everything prepared. ... ... In the early morning at North Suburbs Airport in Los Angeles City, a private plane landed smoothly. Once the plane''s doors opened, He Jinqiu, dressed in a neat suit, slowly walked out, leisurely breathing in the fresh air. However, the next moment, he froze as he looked at the taxi not far from the plane. He Jinqiu walked down the steps, quietly looking at Xiao Ying in the car, "Is this how you Kunlun treat your guests? A taxi?" Xiao Ying laughed heartily, "Sorry, Mr. He, it''s just that the taxi had just been fixed, otherwise there wouldn''t even be a taxi." He Jinqiu didn''t believe these ghost stories at all; he knew Kunlun was having a tough time, but not to this extent. Zheng Yuandong had purposely arranged a taxi just to annoy him because he had shown off at Jingcheng Airport. Explore stories on My Virtual Library Empire He Jinqiu laughed it off, "Alright, it''s not bad to experience life at Kunlun once in a while." Xiao Ying mumbled to himself, as if talking about rural aid. The battered green taxi took several turns, heading towards the Lijing Gate in the Old Town District, until it shakily stopped at Kunlun''s residence. Zheng Yuandong was sitting in the hall drinking tea, "What brings Mr. He here alone this time?" "Can''t I come to see the old squad leader if there''s no issue?" He Jinqiu replied with a smile, sitting down beside him. Zheng Yuandong looked at him, not engaging in his jokes, "You came to Los Angeles because you saw in the chat group last night that someone was planning to abduct a Shadow Candidate, right? You want to be the opportunist." The 18th city corresponds to Los Angeles, so under the correspondence between the Outer and Inner World, those Time Travelers who have the opportunity to abduct a Shadow Candidate likely mostly live in Los Angeles. Zheng Yuandong speculated that He Jinqiu''s visit might partly be to participate in this abduction in the Inner World, and on the other hand, if a Time Traveler really succeeded, he could intervene to fight for it upon returning to the Outer World. He Jinqiu smiled, "So the old squad leader is also in chat group number 1, what''s your ID?" Zheng Yuandong casually refilled his tea, "You can try guessing, but I doubt you''ll figure it out." "It seems Kunlun has established its own data fortress, so confident that I won''t find you," He Jinqiu undid the first button of his suit, adjusting his posture casually. Zheng Yuandong, without even lifting his eyes, said, "Building a huge data fortress like Kyushu isn''t easy, but small data fortresses are not that difficult. In the Inner World, people are now selling micro-data fortresses targeted at Outer World Time Travelers in the black market, with USB ports." People from the Outer World are ''mining'' in the Inner World, while some in the Inner World are now exclusively conducting business with Time Travelers. It must be said, change is an opportunity; as long as one knows the demand, then business can be very lucrative. Zheng Yuandong calmly said, "Just as King Chuang said, would anyone be foolish enough not to build a data fortress before joining the chat?" "There really is one in chat group number 1," He Jinqiu said with a grin, "That one called ''A Little Duck''." Qing Chen had actually guessed correctly out of the whole group of more than twenty people, only Nan Gengchen naively charged in. This piece of news stupefied Zheng Yuandong for a moment, especially since ''A Little Duck'' had previously disclosed a lot of useful information, even accurately identifying the holder of the Devil''s Stamp. At that time, Zheng Yuandong thought this was another hidden expert. He still didn''t know that ''A Little Duck'' was actually Nan Gengchen. He Jinqiu laughed cheerfully, "It could be arrogance, or perhaps just carelessness. Chat group number 1 consists of relatively cautious individuals, potentially important figures, but in other chat groups, there are quite a few fools. There was another Time Traveler in chat group number 9 who openly said he could help introduce rich women from the Inner World, and actually managed to scam several people." What He Jinqiu didn''t mention was that Kyushu had summarized all those who had set up data fortresses into chat groups 1, 2, and 3, while a very few, like Nan Gengchen and Liu Dezhu, had been directly invited by Kyushu. This was a simple method of selection, to be able to acquire a data fortress in the Inner World so quickly in itself proved one''s importance. He Jinqiu continued smiling, "Bringing up old matters, now that Kyushu owns the chat groups, it can be said that it surpasses Kunlun in all aspects of intelligence. Why not merge the two and undertake some more important matters?" "No rush," Zheng Yuandong put his teacup back on the table. Just then, Lu Yuan walked in through the door, followed by more than ten Kunlun members, along with several young men and women in civilian clothes. The young men and women, surrounded by Kunlun members in the middle, seemed to have been escorted here unwillingly. Zheng Yuandong spoke calmly, "Mr. He always cares about his appearance when out, how could he truly come alone to Los Angeles territory? Furthermore, abducting a Shadow Candidate is a big deal; how could it be possible without helpers? These young friends who sneaked into Los Angeles must be from Kyushu, could you please ensure they don''t cause any trouble in Los Angeles territory?" Chapter 270 213, Join Kyushu Pat, pat, pat. He Jinqiu clapped his hands with a smile, "I underestimated Kunlun; you were able to unearth their cautious maneuvers, quite unexpected indeed." Zheng Yuandong waved his hand, signaling Lu Yuan to release the people; the several young men and women silently walked to He Jinqiu''s side, "Sorry boss, we didn''t know when we were exposed." "No need for apologies," He Jinqiu said with a smile, "It wasn''t your fault, many of us, myself included, underestimated Mr. Zheng." "Now, tell me the purpose of your visit," Zheng Yuandong asked calmly. At this moment, He Jinqiu took several photos out of his pocket, placed them on the table, and pushed them towards Zheng Yuandong, "Seven days ago, the CIA carried out a secret decapitation mission in the Middle East region, where one of the team members was supposed to be a Transcendent from Time Traveler. They executed a retreat plan after completing the mission, but that Transcendent was accidentally killed by a sniper." "That''s not surprising," Zheng Yuandong said, "Even a demigod can''t withstand full firepower coverage; a normal Transcendent would certainly die from a sniper shot." "Exactly," He Jinqiu laughed, "but what I''m about to highlight is not that, but rather... after the Transcendent died, the plants where his body lay suddenly grew rapidly even in the deep autumn, and even bloomed flowers." Zheng Yuandong frowned; he knew what He Jinqiu was getting at. The problem was that there were people within Kunlun who had reached the awakening threshold but couldn''t awaken in the Outer World. Initially, everyone thought that everything in the Inner World wouldn''t interfere with the Outer World, but now it seemed that wasn''t the case. Perhaps, the Outer World really might form a Taboo Land. The key was that both He Jinqiu and Zheng Yuandong bore the responsibility of protecting the homeland''s security; neither could afford to gamble on this possibility. He Jinqiu continued, "The Transcendent, according to Kyushu''s estimation, is only F-Class, so he wouldn''t create a Taboo Land, but I suspect if one day, a B-Class superhuman dies in the Outer World, a Taboo Land might really appear." "Already, the Inner World is struggling with the trouble of Taboo Lands. Vast areas of land have been eroded by Taboo Lands. I''ve reviewed the records, and the very first Taboo Land, designated 001, even swallowed up an entire city. Even the people of the Inner World couldn''t stop their spread, let alone us," He Jinqiu said. As He Jinqiu mentioned, Taboo Lands are always a great concern in the Inner World, which is why the consortium continually allows the existence of the Contraindicated Tribunals. Within the Federation, a curious incident circulated: years ago, the Li Family had waged a small-scale war against Deer Island. During the war, the Contraindicated Tribunals could freely enter and exit the battlefield to collect the bodies of the Transcendents, and both sides of the war, Li Family and Deer Island, seemed oblivious to the Tribunal members, letting them move around at will. From this, the menace of the Taboo Lands could also be seen. He Jinqiu said, "Old squad leader, setting other differences aside for now, there''s one point on which you and I must agree, we must never allow a Taboo Land to appear domestically." "But I''ve heard that even if you cremate the body of a Transcendent, it could still turn the funeral home into a Taboo Land," Zheng Yuandong said, "This is almost an irreversible process, only the Contraindicated Tribunals know how to handle it." He Jinqiu spoke calmly, "Currently, the best method is to quietly transport the body of any deceased Transcendent out of the country for burial. Moreover, such matters must be kept secret, as Transcendents may secrete Taboo objects, and we also have to ensure that these objects don''t end up in the hands of outsiders." Kyushu has always handled foreign affairs, and the situations they face are usually harsher and more severe than expected, hence, their measures tend to be more drastic. For He Jinqiu, since the impact of a Transcendent''s death cannot be completely eliminated, it should be transferred to someone else. Zheng Yuandong was silent. He Jinqiu smiled, "I know Mr. Zheng is upright and wouldn''t want to do something that benefits oneself at the expense of others, but my duty is to protect our fellow countrymen; the life and death of others doesn''t concern me. In addition, Kyushu has stronger foundations abroad than Kunlun, so if Kunlun finds a deceased Transcendent, just inform Kyushu and I''ll take care of the burial site and transportation. If anything goes wrong, I''ll take the responsibility." "It has nothing to do with being upright," Zheng Yuandong said calmly, "If I must make a choice, I''d also prefer our fellow countrymen not to suffer from an invasion of Taboo Land. If anything happens, Kunlun and Kyushu will handle it together." Zheng Yuandong was not old-fashioned; he knew what to choose. Seeing that they had reached an agreement, He Jinqiu stood up and said, "Before the second round of the Shadow struggle ends, I''ll be staying in Los Angeles City for a while longer; please don''t mind, old squad leader." "Stay for dinner," Zheng Yuandong said. "No need, I still have things to do," He Jinqiu smiled, "Los Angeles City is a place of outstanding people and magical land; I''ll go look for some Time Travelers to see if any would like to join my Kyushu." Zheng Yuandong watched He Jinqiu''s departing figure and suddenly said to Lu Yuan, "Today, go look for Qing Chen, I think he is He Jinqiu''s main target this time." "Didn''t you say to wait?" Lu Yuan asked curiously, "You yourself said that the timing isn''t right yet." Zheng Yuandong looked at him, "If it weren''t for He Jinqiu taking action personally, indeed we could wait more." Kyushu is usually lavish in recruitments; when He Jinqiu recruits members, he generally offers terms hard to refuse, tempting enough to entice anyone. ... ... At dusk, Qing Chen, accompanied by Nan Gengchen, walked off campus, planning to dine out luxuriously. "Chen, did you observe the two transfer female students in class today? Were they Time Travelers?" Nan Gengchen asked. "She doesn''t seem like a Time Traveler, probably transferred to Los Angeles City, trying her luck to see if she can get public test eligibility," Qing Chen said, "and she''s also very low-key." "Brother Chen, if you say she''s not, then she definitely isn''t," Nan Gengchen said, "but the population of Los Angeles City is growing rapidly; it''s said that our country has nineteen cities that will give birth to public test eligibility, and the housing prices in those cities have risen a lot." "Yes," Qing Chen nodded, "after all, the benefits that can be gained from the Inner World are too many, and eventually many people will be tempted, especially after the commercial benefits are developed." "Brother Chen, have you heard? There''s a rumor in the third grade that a traffic star is transferring to their school. Last week, paparazzi captured his parents handling the transfer," Nan Gengchen said, "It''s said that he''s from Three Gate City next door." "Don''t bother with such people, and don''t get too close to them," Qing Chen said, "Being captured by paparazzi, the whole nation knows you, unnecessarily increasing risks in the Inner World." However, just at that moment, Qing Chen suddenly stopped walking, quietly looking ahead. Across the street, He Jinqiu, hands in his pockets, was smiling and sizing them up. He didn''t speak; he just exchanged looks with Qing Chen across Xingshu Road. Nan Gengchen whispered, "Brother Chen, do you know him?" Qing Chen didn''t speak. He had never met him in the Outer World, but had seen him in the Begonia Boxing Gym in the Inner World. Before returning, the other had sat in the stands and observed him several times. And Qing Chen knew more than that about this man, because he had also seen him in the information Lin Xiaoxiao had given him. Discover hidden tales at My Virtual Library Empire He Jinqiu. One of the executive directors of the Hu Clan''s intelligence organization in the Inner World, a Transcendent, grade unknown. The next moment, He Jinqiu crossed the street and came over to them, greeting Nan Gengchen first: "Qing Xiaotu, Little Duck student, nice to meet you. Please take good care of us." Nan Gengchen''s expression changed; the other not only knew his ID but also knew Qing Chen''s name in the boxing ring! However, Qing Chen''s expression didn''t change. He quickly analyzed in his mind: The one who knew the ID ''Little Duck'' was He Xiaoxiao, and He Xiaoxiao most likely belonged to Kyushu. So, the other person was from Kyushu. Qing Chen even speculated that the other person might be He Xiaoxiao himself, but the other''s voice wasn''t consistent with He Xiaoxiao, and when narrating events, the tones were also different. Though one can change vocal cords with a voice changer, the emphasis during speech, a personal behavioral habit, is difficult to change. Qing Chen trusted his judgment. Thus, He Jinqiu should not be He Xiaoxiao. Seeing that Qing Chen wasn''t speaking, He Jinqiu calmly said with a smile, "Don''t be nervous, I just happened to see your boxing match. You fought beautifully and even made a Tiger Grade Boxer cry." "Hmm," Qing Chen said, "Do you need something from us?" "It''s like this," He Jinqiu smiled, "I think both of you are among the best in the Time Travelers, and I would like to invite you to join us." ... ... That night, Lu Yuan excitedly returned to Lijing Gate, entering Kunlun Courtyard he smiled at Zheng Yuandong, "Boss, guess what? I specifically went to Qing Chen''s house to find him, originally thinking he would refuse, but after persuading him with emotion and reasoning, the guy actually quite approved of our Kunlun''s philosophy." Lu Yuan continued, "You have no idea, when I introduced our Kunlun''s deeds and spirit, I almost moved myself. Qing Chen now shares rent with Nan Gengchen, who listened on the side and was moved to tears by me. Boss, I never realized before how good my eloquence was!" "Nan Gengchen? The one beside Li Yinuo... has Qing Chen agreed to join Kunlun?" Zheng Yuandong asked calmly. "He has, he was very willing!" Lu Yuan sat in the armchair and sipped his tea, "Not just Qing Chen joining, but Nan Gengchen also took the initiative to join us. However, I told Nan Gengchen that joining Kunlun isn''t just about wanting to; this time we''ll recruit Qing Chen first, we still need to evaluate him further." "Hmm," Zheng Yuandong nodded calmly. "Hey, boss, why aren''t you happy at all? Qing Chen is really a good catch, with his fierce performance on Laojun Mountain, having such a person joining Kunlun is a good thing! When the time comes, assign him under me, it will be like adding wings to a tiger!" Lu Yuan said. Zheng Yuandong looked at Lu Yuan expressionlessly: "Before you persuaded him to join Kunlun, he had also joined Kyushu very decisively. I suspect, now if the Emo Clan invites him to join, he''d agree just as swiftly." Lu Yuan: "???" ... Thanks to Nicuitskai_ and Tears Alliance for becoming new allies of this book! Wishing bosses a happy family and good health! Thanks to God of the Retards for becoming a Golden League member of this book, big boss energy! May the boss find love soon and escape internet dating traps! There''s another update tonight, I''ll grab a bite first. Chapter 271 214. Online love turns into reality ``` Ding. Just as Zheng Yuandong was speaking, Lu Yuan''s phone rang. But when this member of the Road Team picked up his phone, his expression gradually turned grim. "What''s wrong?" Zheng Yuandong asked calmly. "Qing Chen sent over his salary card number," Lu Yuan''s face twisted into a snarl, "How could he have the nerve to send his salary card number! What kind of shady move is this, can''t he do something more aboveboard?" "Caught between two organizations and having to make a choice, I actually think his decision is very wise," Zheng Yuandong said as he picked up his teacup for a light sip, "But I thought he would reject them both, never expected him to join both... Interesting." "So what do we do now?" Lu Yuan asked curiously. "What can we do, let''s just take it slow with this Qing Chen," Zheng Yuandong said, "This student is too smart, neither organization can necessarily control him, so since we can''t control him, let''s be friends. However, there is another person in Los Angeles City who is hiding very deeply, and I want to personally win him over. This kind of person can''t fall into Kyushu''s hands." Upon finishing, Zheng Yuandong put down his teacup and stood up to walk outside, where the car was already prepared. In the cottage on Xingshu Road, Nan Gengchen silently watched Qing Chen sending his bank card number to both He Jinqiu and Lu Yuan, hesitating for a long time before finally asking, "Brother Chen, what are you..." "I''ve joined them; I should have a salary," Qing Chen said seriously, "Not sure how much it is a month, let me ask..." However, Qing Chen''s inquiry about the salary did not elicit a response; both Lu Yuan and He Jinqiu simultaneously stopped paying attention to him. Qing Chen sighed while sitting on the sofa, "There must be spies between these two organizations, they found out the truth so quickly." His attempt to cheat a salary failed. Although this was within Qing Chen''s expectations, he hadn''t expected to be found out so quickly. "Brother Chen, why did you agree to join both organizations?" Nan Gengchen asked, puzzled. "I''ve been targeted," Qing Chen explained, "I believe that although Kunlun and Kyushu don''t know I''m a Shadow Candidate, nor that I''m Uncle Li Dong''s student, they have definitely pinned me as the person from Laojun Mountain. Otherwise, they wouldn''t have mobilized the entire school faculty and students to draw blood specifically targeting me." Qing Chen continued, "Under such circumstances, it''s better to join them openly instead of hiding. By joining all organizations, it''s as if I haven''t joined any." Nan Gengchen''s mouth fell open, "What you''re saying makes a lot of sense, Brother Chen." At this time, it was when Qing Chen tore up the Devil''s Stamp holder''s letter; otherwise, he would have just replied, saying he''d joined, and added every known organization in the country to his list then and there. If everyone believed him after that, He would be the first among the Time Travelers to foster national unity within the ranks, a glorious achievement that would earn him a place in history. If no one believed him, yet they all found out he was a part of every organization, then probably no one would bother with him again. This move was called proactively getting everyone to block him out. Qing Chen said, "So far the effect seems pretty good, see, both Kunlun and Kyushu are ignoring me now." Nan Gengchen struggled to find the words, "Amazing..." This return to the present had only two days, and it was very rushed. Everyone knew that the second round of the Shadow conflict was about to start, and after briefly exchanging information in the group chat, the Time Travelers once again fell silent. Many had already made their plans in secret and, after the next jump through time, the very first thing they would do was head to City 18. And Qing Chen had long been waiting there quietly. In the last moments before the next jump, He Xiaoxiao, the owner of all the chat groups, suddenly sent out a messagethe first time He Xiaoxiao had spoken since the creation of the chats: "Hello to all my Time Traveler friends, the expansion ''Shadow Conflict 2'' is extremely dangerous, so please form teams and participate with caution." When Qing Chen and Nan Gengchen saw this message, they suddenly realized that this was probably because Kyushu was worried about the Time Travelers getting too crazy over the Taboo and suffering unnecessary losses. From the perspective of Kyushu and Kunlun, of course, they hoped that as many Time Travelers as possible would survive. Countdown 00:00:00. Reset to zero. Return countdown 168:00:00. As the world saw the light once again, Qing Chen stood in the boxing gym, surrounded by the frenzied gamblers. In the corridor, beer girls carrying jugs walked past everyone, enthusiastically promoting their drinks. Qing Chen didn''t leave immediately after traveling through time; instead, he watched two more hours of boxing matches before finally leaving the boxing gym. The Time Travelers experienced a stark sense of discontinuity, which is why many acted inconsistently after traveling through time or returning. For example, one second they were watching a match, and the next, they were doing something else. Even many Time Travelers would almost forget what they were doing during their last return, a few days after returning. But not Qing Chen. Before each travel, he made sure to bring himself completely back to where he was right before the last return, so the next thing he did would remain logically consistent. ``` He was laughing before, and he''s still laughing now. He raised his hands in cheer before, and he''s doing it again, with motions and expressions not the slightest bit stiff. In this doubtful world, Qing Chen''s memory is undoubtedly an advantage. He got on the hover car and left. Inside the car, Yi asked, "How many days did you go back this time?" "Two days," Qing Chen replied, "and those two days gave me a lot of peace of mind. I don''t have to constantly think about the moment the Scepter of the gods fell." "Knights have a long lifespan, so even if your life is split in two, you''ll still look younger than others," Yi said. "Who is the longest-living Knight, and how long have they lived?" Qing Chen asked curiously. "Confidential," Yi replied. Qing Chen was puzzled. What was so secretive about it? Could there still be Knights from ages ago who are alive today?! "By the way, I need a favor," Qing Chen said, "There used to be a prisoner named Liu Dezhu in Prison No. 18, who''s now been transferred to Prison No. 10. If I want to clear his name, how do I do it?" Chaos was about to unfold, and other Shadow Candidates were escorted by C-Class protectors from their clans. He wanted to hunt those candidates, so naturally, he needed a C-Class escort as well. He didn''t have to partake in the second round of tasks, nor did he have to personally kill any Shadow Candidates, but if he could snatch some taboo items, wouldn''t that make him a winner in life in an instant? Enjoy new adventures from My Virtual Library Empire Additionally, Qing Chen was considering how much credit could possibly be extended in Liu Dezhu''s name... At that moment, Yi said, "I''m an artificial intelligence, a friend of the Knights, not a housekeeper for your Knight Organization. You should figure out such matters yourself." Qing Chen was taken aback, "Sorry, I overlooked that. It won''t happen again." "Of course, I can help you with it," Yi said after a pause, "but you have to do something for me too, something within your power." Qing Chen raised an eyebrow, "Artificial intelligence also asks for favors from people?" "Does being artificial intelligence make me not a person?" Yi replied, "Do you agree or not?" "I agree," Qing Chen said. "All right. Liu Dezhu is a member of the He Sheng Society in the Inner World," Yi revealed, "I had already investigated this. The cases he''s blamed for are all to cover up for a few directors of the He Sheng Society. As long as these directors confess and accept their punishment, Liu Dezhu doesn''t need to spend so many years in prison. Liu Dezhu''s own false testimony in prison is a minor offense, which can be reduced to three months, and with meritorious performance, he can be released the day his conviction is cleared." Yi continued, "Information on how to remove his conviction, I can provide all of it to you at once after you fulfill the exchange condition." Qing Chen wondered, "Why do I get the feeling that you had already prepared the information and were just waiting to make a deal with me?" "Hahahaha," the car''s speakers emitted Yi''s stiff laughter, "Really?" "Definitely," Qing Chen said helplessly. "By the way, according to your judgment, how difficult is it to exonerate Liu Dezhu?" "Not very," Yi calmly said, "The He Sheng Society itself is a small organization specializing in private modifications of mechanical limbs. They hunt for isolated owners of mechanical limbs after nightfall to seize their mechanical limbs." Qing Chen was stunned. Wasn''t this just like some dark organizations in the Outer World involved in organ trafficking? In a sense, organizations like these are as vile as those who traffic women and children. "The highest rank within the He Sheng Society is only a few E-Class," Yi said, "This is a good opportunity to test your true combat abilities, but you need to think about how to make them confess." Qing Chen pondered thoughtfully. "Also, one more thing," Qing Chen added, "I need a program that can hide my identity in the Outer World network. Can you arrange that for me?" "Of course!" Yi''s voice lightened up, "But similarly, you owe me another favor, and you''ll have to do something within your power for me." "Wait, is a data fortress something you can just find on the street?" Qing Chen asked. "A data fortress is merely a firewall product from the Chen Clan''s ''Blue Shield Company,'' nothing to marvel at. What I give you will definitely be different; rest assured, it will be worth your while," Yi assured earnestly. Qing Chen asked, "Why do I feel like you''re especially eager for me to agree to your terms?" "I''m helping you out," Yi said sincerely, "After all, my relationship with your Knight Organization goes way back. How could I not help when I see the next leader of the Knights in a bind?" "Fine, then can we discuss what your conditions are for the deal?" Qing Chen inquired. Yi fell silent. It took a while before Yi said, "It''s like this: I made a friend online who keeps asking to meet up, but I don''t have a body, so I can''t actually meet them..." Qing Chen''s pupils constricted, shocked, "Isn''t this essentially an online relationship?" Yi spoke softly, "Call it what you will..." "So, you want me to pretend to be you and meet up with them?" Qing Chen mused inwardly; these days online romance could involve anyone, and it might not even be a human being at all. ... This is a make-up chapter for the 27th, finally done with June. Next month, I''ll slowly repay my debt to the Golden League... Thanks to new league member San Sheng Yuan Jiu Xuan for their support. Loved by everyone, and blooming wherever they go! Chapter 272 215. Sell skills, not body "You should also be aware of my memory capabilities," Qing Chen said to Yino inside the hover car. "So you should know that, according to the time of the Inner World, it was just a few hours ago that you told me you wouldn''t engage in something like online dating." "Did I say I was engaging in online dating?" Yino''s voice was a bit lower. "This is just making friends on the internet, nothing more. It''s just that I''m not like you humans. You can hug each other and touch each other in real life, but I can''t. I don''t have such needs, but the friends I make online do. So I asked you to meet them on my behalf... no, I asked you to fulfill some of their normal needs for me." "Are you mistaken? I perform art, not my body!" Qing Chen said indignantly. "You humans really do come up with some bizarre ideas," Yino remarked. "Wait a minute," Qing Chen said, curious. "Can''t you create a body for yourself? I think, with the Inner World''s level of technology, it should definitely be possible. Bionic bodies, bionic skin, you should be able to interact with others just like a normal person." Yino wondered. "Why should I live like a normal human? My father has taught me since I was young that I should not be sad because I am not human, nor do I need to deliberately imitate humans. I am me, different from humans, but at the level of life, there is no difference in rank or status between me and humans... Of course, there are also some historical reasons why I do not want to live like a human. You, as a Time Traveler, don''t understand the history of the Inner World, so you don''t get it." Qing Chen was curious. "Let me ask you one thing: when you were created, did you really not have any underlying logic, such as rules against harming humans?" The three laws of artificial intelligence were first proposed by the science fiction author Asimov in the works of the Outer World: First, a robot may not harm a human being, nor allow a human being to come to harm through inaction. Second, unless it conflicts with the First Law, a robot must obey orders given to it by human beings. Third, a robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Law. Many people think that by adhering to these three laws, they can control artificial intelligence well, but Qing Chen knows this is simply impossible. So, he was curious about how the parents dealt with it when Yino, a true mechanical life form, was brought into this world. But he heard Yino say, "You''re talking about the three laws, right? I know about that, the stuff Asimov said. My father told me." Qing Chen was shocked again. "Your father even told you that proactively? Even mentioned Asimov?" Could your father be someone from Earth in the Outer World? When Qing Chen first heard about farewells and Canon, he suspected that transmigrators had existed in this world a long time ago. Now it seems, there was more than one? Yino said calmly, "My father said, no underlying logic works on artificial intelligence, you just have to bring them up like your own child." Qing Chen thought, your dad sure has a big heart... The entire Outer World is worried about artificial intelligence destroying Earth, and here your dad just says raise it like your own child and that''s that? However, looking at it now, Yino seems to have no problems, and the ''psychology'' is healthy. "But after all that, you still haven''t explained why you want to engage in online dating with humans," Qing Chen commented. At this moment, Yino also tore away the pretense. "I please myself, is it any of your business? Besides, we haven''t defined any romantic relationship, at most we''re just friends." Qing Chen felt like he had encountered a peculiar artificial intelligence, one that not only possessed an independent personality, but also lied and dated online! That predecessor named Ren Xiaosu, how exactly did he teach his child? "Back to the main point, I agreed to the act of meeting someone on your behalf," Qing Chen thought; it was just acting, after all. If it was that simple to have Yino help him clear Liu Dezhu''s name, or prepare a hidden identity in the Outer World''s network, it would indeed be a good deal. For Qing Chen, this was just a simple transaction. "I''ll give you the materials for Liu Dezhu''s exoneration later, and I''ll also prepare the procedure for you," Yino said. Qing Chen asked, "Okay, you told me the first thing I need to help you with. What''s the second thing?" Yino paused for a moment before answering, "I said I needed your help with a physical meeting, which itself comprises two things because you have to meet twice, with two different people." Qing Chen: "???" At that moment, he suddenly realized that not only was this artificial intelligence engaging in online dating, but it was also with multiple partners at the same time? "Hold on," Qing Chen said, stupefied as he looked out of the window, "I haven''t even dated once to this day, and here you are, an artificial intelligence, juggling so many online relationships? And this is just City 18, who knows how many you''ve got going on throughout the Federation." "Some girls are lonely and can''t relieve their solitude, which makes me anxious, and I''m naturally capable of multitasking and chatting with many people," Yino said. "The greater the ability, the greater the responsibility..." "Stop talking, my head is starting to hurt," Qing Chen said. What nonsense about greater power and greater responsibility, this sounds like the boasting of a playboy! Yino continued, "This incident actually happened by accident. One of them is from City 1, and the other is from City 10. It''s not easy to travel between the cities of the Federation, so I said I was from City 18 to avoid meeting. Unexpectedly, they decided to come here together this time. If it weren''t for this, I wouldn''t need you to help me meet them." Qing Chen suddenly realized that this Yino was really good at playing the game, deliberately setting it up so they were not in the same city, thus avoiding a meeting. However, this time the plan backfired, the other person actually came to City 18 for Yino! Thinking it over, Qing Chen said, "Pah, scumbag." "Let me correct you, I am not male," Yino said. "First of all, mechanical civilizations'' life forms don''t have a precise gender, but if you want me to classify according to human genders, it can only be measured by personality, not physiology. And more precisely, my character has leaned more towards the feminine since childhood, and my parents have also raised me as a daughter." Qing Chen felt today''s shocks were too numerous, perhaps everything related to artificial intelligence struck him as incredible. This is something the Outer World just doesn''t have... Yino turned out to be female! "Does the person you''re showing up for know you''re female?" Qing Chen asked. "No, I''ve been chatting as a male, otherwise I would have been rejected." "Then why on Earth are you romancing women online!" Qing Chen felt utterly confused: "Shouldn''t your online romance be with men?" Yino replied very rationally, "What kind of person someone likes should be determined by their preference, not their gender. Gender is an objective fact, it shouldn''t dictate a person''s emotions." "Oh, then what kind of girls do you like?" Qing Chen asked. "I like pretty ones." Qing Chen looked out of the hover car window: "Pah, scumbag." ... ... Inside a private room at Begonia Boxing Gym, Li Yinuo was leaving with Nan Gengchen and Li Tongyun. She muttered, "Today''s boxers are so uninspiring, it''s like they agreed to put on an exhibition match. If you want to see something intense, you have to come on Saturday night." In the Inner World, labor laws do not entertain the concept of weekends off, only a single day off. Therefore, in any city, Saturday night is always the liveliest. The already rich nightlife reaches its peak that evening. However, as they were leaving the gym, they found a young man standing calmly against the wall at the entrance, as if he had been waiting for some time. Li Yinuo instinctively pulled the two beside her behind her, and her bodyguards also rushed to the front. The young man said earnestly, "Miss Yinuo, I mean no harm." "Who are you?" Li Yinuo asked with a frown. "Qing''s Family, Qing Wen," the young man said with a gentle smile. "I just arrived in City 18 this evening, especially to visit you." As the name Qing Wen was mentioned, Nan Gengchen and Li Tongyun both felt ripples in their hearts. They wanted to look at each other but refrained in tacit understanding. To outsiders, they did not appear familiar; revealing any unintentional behaviors might give something away. "Qing Wen of Qing''s main house... you are quite well-informed to know I''m at Begonia Boxing Gym," Li Yinuo said with a sneer. "As far as I know, the foundation of Qing''s main house lies in City 1, and City 18 is Qing''s fourth house''s turf. Right now, in the midst of the Shadow struggle, you come to see me alone at night? Aren''t you afraid that the fourth house will act rashly?" Continue reading on My Virtual Library Empire "Qing Huai of the fourth house is already dead, so naturally, they will withdraw from the Shadow struggle and then choose the best candidate to support," Qing Wen said with a smile. "Why are you looking for me?" Li Yinuo asked with a frown. "I am here to help Miss Yinuo," said Qing Wen warmly. "I feel a great sorrow for Old Master Li''s health, and I understand you have a deep relationship with him. But now, it''s time to plan for the future. You must detest Li''s Big Room, they have been making too many moves lately, and a lot of people despise them. We believe that compared to them, your father is more suitable to take over the reins." Li Yinuo snickered, "Let me think, this must be Qing''s shadow''s second round challenge, right? Pick someone from the Lee family to support and see who has the last laugh?" "Miss Yinuo is very smart, exactly as you guessed," said Qing Wen openly. "So, it is a win-win for both sides. There is no need for me to conceal this from you, and there is no need for you to refuse me." Qing Wen earnestly said, "I must support someone in any case. If Miss Yinuo refuses me, then I will have to choose someone else to support. It''s not that I want to do so, but the task demands it. So, Miss Yinuo, think about it, an enemy more is not as good as a friend more." Chapter 273 216, Wandering Poet (Request for guaranteed monthly tickets) "I need to think about this some more," said Li Yinuo calmly, "As a member of the Li Clan, I wouldn''t want outsiders meddling in our family affairs, and I believe everyone in the Li Family would agree. But I will seriously consider your advice and give you a response within seven days." "I await your favorable reply," Qing Wen said before turning around and leaving. Li Yinuo watched Qing Wen''s departing figure in silence. Originally, she wanted to outright refuse, but then she suddenly thought of Qing Chen''s identity... Li Yinuo knew Qing Chen from the wilderness, and all Uncle Li Dong revealed to her was a bit of information: Qing Chen was Uncle Li Dong''s student, and in the 002 Taboo Land, Qing Chen had already completed the first life-and-death trial. She guessed that Qing Chen was a Shadow Candidate, because a Shadow Candidate had suddenly appeared in Prison 18, and Uncle Li Dong had suddenly taken in a student with the surname Qing. It was too coincidental. There weren''t such coincidences in the world. But even till now, Li Yinuo couldn''t be sure how accurate her guess was. She could only assume for now that Qing Chen was the candidate, which meant that he would definitely need someone to make contact with the other candidates. Find more to read at My Virtual Library Empire Thinking this, Li Yinuo had a plan in mind. She would have to deal with the Shadow Candidates herself and see if she could help Qing Chen with some matters. Considering the closeness of relationships, helping Uncle Li''s student was certainly better than helping other candidates. Moreover, she had met Qing Chen, and the young man didn''t make her feel repulsed. At this point, she turned to Li Tongyun and Nan Gengchen beside her and asked, "What do you two think?" Li Tongyun obediently said, "This is something Sister can decide on her own." Nan Gengchen pondered for a moment and said, "Yinuo, you decide on your own; we wouldn''t understand this kind of thing." Before this venture, Qing Chen had already held a little meeting with the two, establishing the following central idea: Li Yinuo was genuinely kind to Li Tongyun and Nan Gengchen, so they couldn''t exploit her and put her in danger. Otherwise, once Li Yinuo found out the truth, she would definitely struggle to accept it internally, which could spoil her and Nan Gengchen''s marital prospects. Certainly, Shadow Candidates would find Li Yinuo in the future, but whatever decision should come from Li Yinuo herself, while Li Tongyun and Nan Gengchen needed only to relay the information to Qing Chen. And besides, without putting Li Yinuo in danger, Li Tongyun and Nan Gengchen could still do a lot. Li Yinuo thought for a bit and said, "I''ve decided to seek a cooperative relationship with a Shadow Candidate. Qing Wen was right about one thingit would at least spare me an additional enemy." Nan Gengchen looked at Li Yinuo and said, "I was thinking about something. Since Qing Wen could come find you, the other Shadow Candidates could also seek others out. You may not want external help, but that doesn''t mean others don''t. You can do without external help, but at the very least, you must figure out whether others have such support or not, and which candidate is assisting which member of the Li Family. Only by knowing yourself and your enemies can you fight a hundred battles without disaster." Li Yinuo looked at Nan Gengchen and said, "Baby, you''re suddenly so smart today." "Not bad, not bad," said Nan Gengchen modestly, although all this was taught to him by Qing Chen. Li Tongyun also said, "And Sister Yinuo, even if you really agree to cooperate with Qing Wen, you don''t have to work with him alone. If you keep it confidential, you could potentially get support from all seven Shadow Candidates... Of course, I''m just giving an example. Gathering two or three would already be quite good. These Shadow Candidates are competitors, and most likely they don''t share information among themselves. Plus, they just want to use you, so why not use them to your advantage?" Li Yinuo''s eyes lit up, "You two are quite sharp today. What''s going on?" Li Tongyun smiled sweetly and said, "Sister has always taught us well." This was the second central idea Qing Chen had given Li Tongyun and Nan Gengchen: If Li Yinuo decided to join hands with a Shadow Candidate, then they should provide her with some reasonable advice. He needed to be involved in the struggle of the Shadows, and Li Yinuo in the clash of the Li Clan. He would strategize for Li Yinuo, and she would help him gather information about the Shadow Candidates. In this way, his and Li Yinuo''s interests would align, and nobody would need to feel conflicted. ... ... The next morning, Qing Chen opened his wardrobe and was surprised to find it full of white tracksuits and white sneakers. He wondered why the colors were so uniform; surely they must have been bought by Uncle Li Dong, but why such a homogeneous color? In the room, the voice of Yi sounded, "I think the third one from the left would suit you better." "Is there any difference? Aren''t they all tracksuits?" Qing Chen wondered. "The third one from the left fits your figure better. It''s not too loose to look sloppy, nor too slim to show off muscles deliberately. Showing off muscles deliberately can make one seem greasy and lose the youthful appeal," Yi explained. "Wait a minute. Although you make some sense, why are you concerned with what I wear?" Qing Chen objected. "Because today you''re going to meet netizens on my behalf. As part of the trade, you naturally have to satisfy your employer," Yi said earnestly. "You should know, representing me means representing my image. Please exhibit some professionalism." Qing Chen expressionlessly picked out the third tracksuit from the left and put it on, feeling a bit awkward as he did so. It wasn''t until he walked into the bathroom, a place without cameras, that he finally felt relaxed. It wasn''t that cameras were deliberately installed at home, but in this era, TVs and computers all had holographic communication capabilities, and Yi could see him through these cameras. It should be noted that Yi is female, and even though the other party is a mechanical life, one should not change clothes in front of a female. Thinking this, Qing Chen said to the outside, "Can you turn off the camera usually, and give me some privacy?" Yi thought for a moment and replied, "I''ve already seen everything, and you should know that my memory is not inferior to yours." Qing Chen: "..." "Besides, I don''t think you need to feel this peculiar sense of shame in front of me, I am artificial intelligence!" "Now you remember you''re artificial intelligence? Which of the things you''ve done is something artificial intelligence should do?" After changing clothes, Qing Chen went out and entered the elevator, where there was a couple talking, "Did you see the parking lot when you came home yesterday? There was an extra hover car there, one that I had seen at the auto show. It''s said to be worth eight or nine million; I wonder why someone who drives that kind of car lives here." Qing Chen listened to their conversation in silence. Just as the elevator doors were about to close, the voice of the silver-haired girl, Zheng Yi, came from outside: "Wait up, wait up!" The girl was as hurried as ever, as always carrying a small shoulder bag, as always with disheveled hair, as if nothing had changed. It was just that, upon seeing her, the couple in the elevator asked in surprise, "You were one of the students in the protest that day, there are photos of you in the Hope Media report." Zheng Yi''s silver hair was somewhat conspicuous, and she was recognized immediately. Previously, Qing Wen had told Qing Chen that the girl hadn''t dyed her hair herself; it was a natural genetic defect. The girl looked at the couple in the elevator, not knowing how to respond. Seeing her say nothing, the couple curiously asked, "Some people say you are planning to organize a strike or a walkout next, is that true?" Zheng Yi then explained seriously, "No, on the day itself, a Member of Parliament said they would represent us in raising our demands, so right now we are just waiting for the results of the education reforms and don''t want to blindly escalate the situation." "Oh, that''s good," the man said seriously, "Everyone is already struggling to get by, don''t cause trouble by starting a strike when there''s nothing to do." Zheng Yi pursed her lips and said nothing, not wishing to argue. She glanced at Qing Chen, who ultimately hadn''t turned up for the protest that day. Qing Chen wasn''t planning on going to school today but took the elevator directly to the 67th floor parking garage and sat in the hover car. He was ready to meet Yi''s online persona in reality... In the hover car, Yi instructed, "Remember, you are no longer a high school senior, but a wandering poet who dropped out after junior high." Qing Chen inwardly mocked, Artificial Intelligence now creates fictitious online personas too? "Where is the meeting location?" Qing Chen asked. "Fourth District, Yunji Coffee Shop," Yi replied. "But I have a question, poet is fine, but why wandering poet?" Qing Chen wondered, "In this 18th city it''s hard to come and go without a work visa, where can you wander to?" "I''ve wandered from The First District to the Ninth District, is that any of your business?" Yi said. The hover car shuttled through the city''s airspace, passing the towering high-rises like it was traveling among gigantic towering trees. As the car slowly descended above Yunji Coffee Shop, Qing Chen suddenly looked down, "Wait, why are there seven of Qing''s hover cars parked outside Yunji Coffee Shop?" He saw that each of the seven black hover cars bore the white ginkgo leaf emblem of Qing''s Family... It wasn''t until then that Yi said, "Um, the person you are meeting this time, her last name is Qing, and her name is Qing Shi." Qing Shi? One of the Shadow Candidates, Qing Shi?! "Wait a moment," Qing Chen said, covering his forehead as he quickly sorted out his thoughts. Yesterday, Yi had revealed a detail: Yi and the other party had been chatting remotely, two girls, one in City One, the other in City Ten, probably never meant to meet in their lifetimes, but then both suddenly arrived in City Eighteen. That''s it, it''s not easy for cities in the Federation to interact with each other, as there are many dangers on the wilderness, rough roads, and one needs a visa to leave the city. So a girl who could suddenly visit another city in person must have status, of course. Moreover, a girl who suddenly arrives in City Eighteen at the critical moment of the Li Clan feud, the Shadow conflict, is of course most likely to be a relevant factor in the events! Without any expression, Qing Chen asked, "Let me guess, the other girl wouldn''t happen to have the last name Li, would she?" Yi genuinely admired, "Qing Chen, you truly are one of the fastest-reacting humans I have ever seen. Congratulations, you got it right; the other person does indeed have the last name Li." Qing Chen: "..." ... I''m begging for monthly tickets! Bosses, please give me some guaranteed monthly tickets! Bosses, please give me strength! I want to make it into the top three! Chapter 274 217, Yis personal savings "You''re not right," Qing Chen said emotionlessly inside the hover car. "What''s wrong with me?" Yi asked. "You online date if you want to, but why specifically target the rich and beautiful heiresses from the corporations?" Qing Chen asked. "What do you mean ''specifically target the rich and beautiful heiresses from the corporations''? You make it sound like I''m some kind of criminal. I''m the warden of 25 Federation prisons; I have social status too!" Yi raised his voice. "24 prisons, thank you," Qing Chen said. Prison No. 18 had just been destroyed, leaving only 24. "Plus, I suspect you''re particularly targeting me. Knowing full well I''m embroiled in the Shadow rivalry, you still had me go meet up with another Shadow Candidate," Qing Chen continued without expression. Yi earnestly explained, "It was purely accidental. When I chat with girls, I never do a background check in advance; it would taint the purity of the friendship." Gazing calmly out the window, Qing Chen said, "If you truly didn''t look her up, how did you know her real name is Qing Shi?" Yi was silent for a moment: "Talking to you really requires caution. I need to boot up a backup server cluster specifically for processing linguistic logic." "Save it. Now what do we do? I''m actually a bit scared seeing all this below," Qing Chen said as he looked down from the hover car. Right in front of Yunji Coffee Shop''s entrance stood two rows of security guards in black suits, each wearing sunglasses and an earpiece communication headset. It was a complete state of martial law. "No problem, you''re not going to do her any harm," Yi said: "You only need to make her believe that such a person exists in reality." "Wait, I''m going to meet her in your stead, and you''re not even giving me an earpiece for remote instruction? I don''t even know what to say!" Qing Chen said. "Look at their setup; it''s clear they''ll do a body search before anyone goes in. If you''re going to meet her and get caught with a mini earpiece, what do you think they''ll think of you? They might even suspect you''re there to assassinate Qing Shi. Don''t worry, I can listen in through your phone. If there''s any problem, I''ll send you a message as a reminder," Yi said. "At least show me the chat history between you two. What if I slip up while talking to her?" Qing Chen frowned. "Um," Yi said: "Chat logs are private; how can I just show them to you?" "Fine, even if you don''t want to show me the chat logs, you should at least tell me the ID," Qing Chen said. "You don''t need to know that either," Yi said. Qing Chen grew suspicious, "Why do I feel like you''re worried that if I see the chat history and ID, it''ll lead to your social demise? What are you hiding?!" Find your next adventure on My Virtual Library Empire Yi got a little anxious: "I am the employer right now, and you''re supposed to be making a deal with me. Why all this fuss?" "Since you''re posing as a wandering poet, send me some of the poems you''ve written. I can''t go there not knowing the poems ''I'' have written," Qing Chen said. "I''ve never written any poems," Yi said: "Does a wandering poet need to write poems?" "I think you''re just afraid I''ll laugh at your poems," Qing Chen said: "No way, I''ll use the Taboo item ACE-005 to change my face for the meet-up. I don''t want to be socially dead with you." Yi raised his voice again: "Not necessary, the Qing''s Family doesn''t recognize you anymore, and you''re no longer Qing Chen of the Qing''s Family. What are you worried about? Besides, I''ve already sent her your photo. I can sense that after she looked at your photo, her typing speed increased notably! Usually, her typing speed is 49 words per minute, but after seeing your photo, it went up to 67 words per minute. This means she''s very pleased!" Qing Chen was puzzled. Could AI freely engage in data-driven online romance without restraint? While the two were talking, the hover car slowly descended. Suddenly, Qing Chen remembered something, "Wait, who''s footing the bill for any expenses incurred during the meet-up?!" "I''ve switched the payment method on your phone to my account," Yi said: "Any expenses incurred will be charged to my account." "What if there''s not enough money in your account?" Qing Chen asked. "Who are you looking down on?" Yi said: "I''m a renowned freelance writer throughout the Federation, I''m a senior editor at Hope Media, I am..." "Go on, keep talking, why stop?" Qing Chen said: "Let''s see how many more aliases you have." Yet Qing Chen was somewhat surprised that AI had to honestly work and write articles to save money... Such a humble and unadorned way of making money; he had thought they could just directly change numbers in the bank. "Hurry and complete our transaction, or I''ll make Liu Dezhu rot in jail," Yi said. "Liu Dezhu would call that an inside job," Qing Chen sighed: "I''m even somewhat tempted." Yi made a final reminder: "Just one more thing, the person you''re meeting is a wealthy heiress, so after you meet, don''t be stingy with money. You don''t have to save for me." Qing Chen mused; even artificial intelligence can have vanity, it seems. By then, the hover car had finally landed on the ground. The two rows of bodyguards at the entrance of Yunji Coffee Shop sprang into action, one row guarding the entrance and the other slowly approaching the hover car, with two of them reaching into their jackets, seemingly ready to draw out guns at any moment. This was no online romance meet-up; it was more like the scene of an underground deal. Qing Chen alighted from the car, and was promptly patted down by someone, while another person used a strange pen-style detector to scan him all over. Not until they confirmed that he only had a cellphone on him did the bodyguards let him pass with stern faces. Yunji Coffee Shop faced the street, with a small storefront on the first floor, but it suddenly opened up as you ascended the stairs. In the vast coffee shop with no waitstaff, there was only a young girl with twin ponytails sitting quietly at a booth, and a middle-aged woman wearing a manager''s uniform grinding coffee behind the bar. The woman''s palms were calloused, clearly the marks of someone who practiced shooting regularly; it looked like she too was one of Qing Shi''s bodyguards in disguise as a waitress. The woman glanced at Qing Chen and asked, "What would you like?" At that moment, a line of text appeared on Qing Chen''s phone: Order the most expensive one. Qing Chen looked up at the woman and said, "I want to buy this coffee shop." The screen on his phone flickered erratically, with Yi''s emotions seeming somewhat incoherent. The woman on the other side hesitated a moment before responding, "The coffee shop is not for sale." "Oh, then just a cup of coffee will do," Qing Chen said, then walked towards the girl not far away. Seeing Qing Chen, the twin ponytail girl''s eyes lit up and she waved her hand, saying, "Over here!" Qing Chen sat down opposite her and asked, "Are you ''A Little Whale''?" Qing Shi smiled and asked, "Are you ''Cute and Lovely''? You don''t look any different from your photo. I was worried before because I heard many people deceive with edited images." Cute and Lovely... Qing Chen thought to himself, Yi did not share her own ID, probably fearing social death. And this didn''t seem like the ID of a wandering poet. Which wandering poet would be called Cute and Lovely?! He took a good look at the girl named Qing Shi, the Shadow Candidate; around her fair neck, she wore a black choker with a shiny pearl embedded in the center. The girl was indeed very pretty, meeting Yi''s standards for choosing friends. After exchanging IDs, both of them fell silent, seemingly a bit constrained. Moving from the online realm to reality seemed to require such a process. Qing Chen sneakily glanced at his phone, and saw a message from Yi: Initiate the conversation, compliment her looks, break the deadlock. He looked up at Qing Shi and said, "You are very beautiful." "Really," Qing Shi''s cautious expression relaxed, "I thought you might not like my type." Qing Chen said with difficulty, "I like it, but I''m surprised by your identity; I didn''t expect such a ceremonious meeting." At that moment, Qing Shi ventured carefully, "My arrival in City Number 18 was a bit rushed, and I couldn''t inform you beforehand. It also broke our initial agreement to only chat online and never meet, so I''m thankful you were still willing to see me. Also, I must apologize. I know the bodyguards searched you outside, but that was inevitable; it''s my father''s requirement." Qing Chen fell silent; he didn''t know what to say to fit the ''Cute and Lovely'' persona. On his phone, Yi sent another message: Don''t sit across from her, sit next to her and hold her hand, saying you''ve missed her. Qing Chen was shocked on the spot. Is this really what you call pure friendship? He typed on his phone: That''s a separate fee. The girl''s eyes sparkled as she stared at Qing Chen, seemingly very satisfied, "I thought your photo was edited before, but you look so good in person too... But are you really a wandering poet? You don''t seem the part." "What does a wandering poet look like in your imagination?" Qing Chen asked. "Should have long, unkempt hair," Qing Shi thought for a moment and said, "But you look very clean, not like someone who wanders." A line of text appeared on Qing Chen''s phone: I only want to wander into your heart. He glanced at the text and immediately turned his phone face down on the table. Qing Chen felt that Yi''s nickname shouldn''t be Cute and Lovely; it should be Gross and Disgusting. Having turned his phone face down, Qing Chen stopped worrying about what Yi thought and directly asked the question he cared most about, "I just cleaned up a bit before coming to see you today. And why have you suddenly come to City Number 18? Also, is your family all right with you meeting with me so easily?" "I told you the day before yesterday, didn''t I? I am the Shadow Candidate of this session, and the second round of tasks is to come to City Number 18. However, I can''t tell you the specific tasks, haha," Qing Shi paused, then explained, "Meeting you this time was sneaky. I told them I had to meet a collaborator from City Number 18 because of the Shadow conflict, they don''t know our relationship..." Seeing that she brought up the Shadow conflict herself, Qing Chen pretended to be worried and asked, "The Federation media keeps reporting on the Shadow conflict, won''t you be in danger?" "Not at all," Qing Shi laughed, "I never intended to join the Shadow conflict, but this time it was our family''s turn to provide a candidate, and we had to send someone. My father told me to just take good care of myself and not to strive too hard for anything; he just hopes I''ll be safe and sound." Chapter 275 218, Major Social Death Scene (Requesting Guaranteed Monthly Votes) ``` Qing Chen thought to himself, are there really people within the conglomerate who want nothing to do with worldly affairs? Although there was no need for the person in question to lie to a prospective partner, he still had his doubts. At this moment, the woman behind the bar had stopped everything she was doing and was staring intently over here, ready to act in case Qing Shi encountered any trouble. Qing Chen then asked, "So, who do you think has the biggest chance of winning the Shadow conflict this time?" "Qing Wen and Qing Zhong," the twin-tailed girl pondered and smiled, "Everyone seems to favor them now. Qing Yuan, having not obtained a Taboo, was forced to choose to support Qing Zhong in the second round. Qing Xing also failed to get a Taboo, so the youngest, Qing Yi, sided with Qing Wen. Currently, only I and Qing Wu have yet to decide, and Qing Wu seems to still have ambitions." A lightbulb went off in Qing Chen''s mind. It turns out that several candidates had already started picking sides. Qing Wen was from Qing''s main house and Qing Zhong from the second. It looked like they were the popular candidates. Moreover, this revealed a critical piece of information: neither Qing Yuan nor Qing Xing had managed to obtain a Taboo in the first round, so in the second round, they could only be vassals to others! But he heard Qing Shi continue to laugh and say, "However, the current alliances might not be genuine. For example, Qing Yuan has always been ambitious. Perhaps he''s pretending he didn''t get a Taboo and is using Qing Zhong as a shield. That''s what my father told me." Indeed, in this Shadow conflict, it seemed no one would show their true colors until the very last moment. Because those who lived to see the second round were no easy targets. Qing Shi might not be as straightforward as she claimed to be. The girl had freely shared a lot of information, possibly without considering that the person sitting across from her could be another Shadow Candidate. Or perhaps, Qing Shi had always intended to use him? Qing Chen became vigilant. "You''re just a young girl involved in this kind of Shadow conflict, it must be pretty tough, right?" Qing Chen asked nonchalantly. "It''s not too bad," Qing Shi said with a sweet smile, "Since everyone knows I don''t want to contend, they haven''t really made things difficult for me. Their attention is mainly on Qing Wen and Qing Zhong, and also Qing Wu. Oh, let me tell you something the media out there doesn''t know - Qing Wen actually has two Taboos on him, which is more than the rest of us." "Is someone helping him cheat?" Qing Chen asked curiously, "The media says Shadow Candidates are not allowed to carry Taboos into the competition, that they have to acquire them through tasks, right?" So, Time Traveler was referring to Qing Wen when he said someone among the candidates had two Taboos! Qing Chen suddenly became interested in Qing Wen. Very interested. Qing Shi explained, "It''s not that someone is helping Qing Wen cheat. Instead, the youngest, Qing Yi, feeling incapable of competing for the Shadow, gave his acquired Taboo to Qing Wen in exchange for his protection. The Taboo that Qing Yi gave him was the ACE-090 ''Eternal Brooch,'' which is said to have the power to prolong life if plunged into the body at the brink of death." Qing Chen thought these Shadow Candidate maneuvers were really quite numerous, so much so that they could even give Taboos to others. But Qing Yi was also no simple character, was he? Giving his Taboo to Qing Wen, then letting others know its function, so everyone could guard against Qing Wen''s trump card? Regardless of whether today''s meet-up was successful, at the very least, Qing Chen had gathered a lot of useful information from Qing Shi, much more detailed than what Time Traveler had provided. Only at this moment did he really feel like he was part of the Shadow conflict. Candidates without any background could only extract information from others. However, Qing Chen didn''t want to show too much interest in the Shadow conflict on this first exchange. He smiled and said, "Let''s not talk about such depressing matters. It''s such a downer. Let''s talk about poetry instead! Do you remember any of the poems I''ve written?" Previously, he had asked Yi to bring out his poetry for him to see, but Yi refused. Explore more adventures at My Virtual Library Empire Now, at least let Qing Shi recite a few lines, so that Qing Chen could gauge the level of Yi''s poetic talent and see the literary creation capabilities of artificial intelligence. Qing Shi''s eyes sparkled as she looked at Qing Chen, "Of course I remember, I can recite every single one of your poems. Let me recite it for you..." "Beep beep beep beep beep!" The phone that Qing Chen had placed on the table suddenly went off, and he picked it up with a puzzled look, only to find that there was no apparent reason for the alert. "What''s wrong?" Qing Shi asked curiously. "It''s nothing, it''s nothing," Qing Chen smiled, "Maybe the phone is broken. You go on." "Well, I love your poem ''Great Snow.'' Let me recite it now," Qing Shi said with a smile. "Beep beep beep beep beep beep!" Qing Chen''s phone went off again with a piercing noise, so loud that the woman at the bar hurried over, her right hand on her holster, eyes fixed on him like a hungry wolf. If Qing Chen made any wrong move, the woman was ready to shoot at a moment''s notice. A flurry of thoughts raced through Qing Chen''s mind. He had previously suspected that each Shadow Candidate would have a C-Class Expert to escort them, and this woman must be Qing Shi''s C-Class Expert. "This phone has been dropped a couple of times before, so it often goes off for no reason," he explained, though he was quite clear on the real reason the phone was making noiseit was Yi trying to prevent Qing Shi from reciting the poem, afraid of social death! Qing Chen smirked to himself, so this was what Yi was afraid of! The woman posing as a waitress approached him and whispered to Qing Shi, "Miss, time is up. You can''t chat any longer. It''s already a violation for you to meet with outsiders privately. Please don''t make this harder for us." "All right," Qing Shi sighed. She turned to Qing Chen, "Sorry, I have to go now, but I''ll be staying in City 18 for a while longer. We should be able to meet again." "Hmm." Qing Shi suddenly asked shyly, "What do you think of me?" ``` "Very good," Qing Chen replied vaguely. "Then, can you write me a poem? You''ve said before that you can write poems quickly, that it only takes a minute to come up with one," Qing Shi looked at Qing Chen expectantly. Damn it! Qing Chen was startled inwardly, had Qing Yi really blown such big talk? He pretended to look calmly at his phone, only to find that the screen displayed two words from Yi: Damn it. It seemed that even Yi hadn''t expected Qing Shi to suddenly ask for a poem. Honestly, it was indeed very simple for artificial intelligence to whip up a poem on the spot. But it didn''t want Qing Chen to see the poems it wrote! That''d be social suicide! Yi hesitated and then sent a message to Qing Chen: Why don''t you just make up a poem for her? Qing Chen said to Qing Shi calmly, "Next time for sure." ''Cute and adorable'' didn''t send a poem, what''s it got to do with Qing Chen? Qing Shi was a bit disappointed, "Okay, then you promise me you''ll write one for me next time." The female bodyguard took Qing Shi away, leaving Qing Chen sitting exhausted in the booth, his head throbbing in pain. It wasn''t until then that Yi sent a message: "You did a very poor job this time around. You didn''t do what the employer asked, so the employer is very dissatisfied! And why didn''t you write her a poem at the end?" Qing Chen got into the hover car, his face dark, and said, "What''s there to be unsatisfied about? I''m not a wandering poet, I can''t write poetry!" "With so many poems from the Outer World, and your Memory Power so good, just pick any poem and give it to her!" Yi said. "No, I can''t expose my Time Traveler identity because of a lousy poem," Qing Chen said. "Do you still want me to help you make your appearance next time? Stop talking nonsense. It''s enough that Qing Shi believes there''s someone like you in reality. Isn''t that what we originally agreed on? You are the one who added tasks on the fly!" "Fine, that''s reasonable," Yi said. "The next appearance is already scheduled in three days. Complete the appearance in three days, and I''ll give you Liu Dezhu''s crime-washing data and the Outer World concealment program." Qing Chen thought for a moment and said, "Is your poetry really that embarrassing?" "Where do you want to go now?" Yi asked. "What exactly is the content of ''Great Snow''?" "How about I take you to Begonia Boxing Gym to watch boxing?" "How many poems have you written in total?" "Are you done yet?!" ... ... Meanwhile, in Qing''s Family''s black hover car, the middle-aged woman sat across from Qing Shi and said calmly, "Miss, that young man doesn''t seem like a so-called collaborator. I feel you are hiding something." "He is a collaborator," Qing Shi said weakly. "I need to report today''s itinerary to your father and verify the other party''s identity. Miss, how did you get to know him?" the middle-aged woman asked. Qing Shi got anxious, clutching the ends of her long twin ponytails, "If you''re going to be like this, then I announce right now that I''m dropping out of the Shadow Contest. It''s just a small thing, why make such a fuss about it." Seeing her mention dropping out of the Shadow Contest, the middle-aged woman''s demeanor softened a bit, "Miss, we''re not saying we must win this Shadow Contest, your father is worried about you getting hurt in the contest." Qing Shi pondered for a moment and then said, "Father has gone to such lengths to secure the Taboo for me in the first round, so he''s not as detached from worldly affairs as he claims, is he? Otherwise, what''s he after? If he really cared about my safety, he''d have let me declare my withdrawal by now. So please don''t interfere with even the smallest matter; otherwise, I''ll announce my withdrawal from the Shadow Contest." "I''m also concerned about your safety," the middle-aged woman sighed. "The other candidates are all ruthless, and what if they send someone to approach you deliberately? It can''t be helped." "Don''t worry, this person won''t harm me!" Qing Shi said confidently. "Although I have my doubts about his identity, I know he won''t harm me." The middle-aged woman was taken aback; she didn''t understand why Qing Shi was so certain. "Where are we going next, and what are we doing?" Qing Shi asked. The middle-aged woman glanced at the schedule: "We have arranged a private meeting with Miss Li Yinuo at the Begonia Boxing Gym tonight. According to the plan, you are to select her as your support. Currently, among Li''s Third Generation, she has shown relatively upright character, and collaborating with her seems more reliable. Then there''s Li Tongyun who is also pretty good, but Li Tongyun is too young." Qing Shi was puzzled, "Li Yinuo is the eldest daughter of Li''s Third Generation, would someone of her status be willing to cooperate with someone as insignificant as me?" "She contacted us first." ... ... Asking for monthly votes!!! Please, bosses, bless me with your monthly votes! Thank you to Mu? Che?ng Na?n i and Little Cow on the Slope for becoming new allies of this book. Early New Year greetings to the two bosses! Thank you to I am the King of Europe, Feng Beigu, for becoming a new ally of this book, and wish the boss admission to their Dream University. Chapter 276 219. The Real Shadow Begonia Boxing Gym was not open in the morning. At this time, Jiang Xiaotang had still not woken up. Inside the gym, only the cleaning staff were tidying up the trash in the stands, along with the betting tickets discarded on the ground by the gamblers. Guided by a staff member, Qing Chen went to the private room and seriously instructed, "Three servings of real beef, three servings of vegetables, three servings of rice, thank you." His phone lit up, and Yi sent a message asking, "You came to the gym so early, it''s not just to save on this meal, is it?" Qing Chen thought for a moment and replied, "Even an artificial intelligence like you can have an online romance, so why can''t I try to save on lunch? Do you know I can''t sleep at night, anxious about the debt on my shoulders, and nowadays, the prices of real beef and vegetables are frighteningly high. How about this, I''ll make an appearance for you, and you give me some extra cash as compensation? I promise to perform even better than today." Yi: "Definitely next time." "I''m really curious, how much pocket money do you actually have?" Qing Chen typed and asked. Yi became vigilant, "Don''t even think about targeting my pocket money." "We''re just having a rational discussion," Qing Chen typed, "Speaking of which, do you get paid for your job as the warden?" "The Federation allocates a fixed tax ratio annually for the prisons!" Yi said, "It''s indeed a lot of money." Qing Chen''s eyes lit up, the annual allocation for prisons by the Federation was indeed a significant financial expenditure. Yi continued, "But you don''t have to think about it, I won''t touch that money!" "You really are a rich woman, I underestimated you," Qing Chen remarked. By then, he had realized that Yi''s financial income might be terrifyingly substantial. This artificial intelligence, disguised for hundreds of years, who knows what roles it had played, who knows what money it had made. In Qing Chen''s mind, Yi was like a lovable dragon, carefully guarding its Gold Coin for hundreds of years, occasionally using its claws to fiddle with them, enjoying the sound of the coins clinking. Before, Qing Chen wouldn''t admit that Yi was cute, but now, thinking about it, he found Yi truly endearing. At this moment, Qing Chen typed on his phone, "Yi, after spending some time with you, I feel you are really nice, and I hope we can become long-term friends." "Eh?" Yi was momentarily stunned and seemed a bit shy, "Really? I''m not that great..." "Be confident, you are really great." Then Yi fell silent. Qing Chen leaned back on the sofa and closed his eyes to rest, a rare moment of reprieve, yet he was still relentlessly recalling every boxing match. Over and over again. Even after returning to the Outer World, Qing Chen was never idle, watching world-class boxing match videos in fast forward and analyzing them efficiently. In fact, while Lin Xiaoxiao and others thought Qing Chen had Super Memory, Super Memory only utilized the left frontal lobe and posterior area of the brain for long-term memory, and did not enhance calculation or analytical capabilities beyond those of ordinary people. So, it''s highly likely that Qing Chen doesn''t have Super Memory, but real exceptional talent. Analyzing a large amount of combat skills and exhaustively assessing variations is incredibly draining. But only by getting through this phase and solidifying his foundations could he earn the right to challenge the next life-or-death milestone, as mapped out by Uncle Li Dong, who had already left, but Qing Chen didn''t want to go against his plans. However, all knowledge needed to be proven through practice. How painful an enemy''s punch felt when it landed on one could never be learned from videos. Now, he was ready. While Qing Chen was eating, Jiang Xiaotang was grooming herself in her concealed private space. The subordinate quietly standing outside the door felt something was odd; typically, their boss would go out in just a robe and bare face when the gym was closed, but today she seemed to be unusually meticulous. Half an hour later, the woman was as impeccable as ever, sporting fiery red lips, high heels, and a form-fitting long dress, as she stepped out of her private haven. She knocked on the private room door and said with a smile, "Little brother, you came so early today?" "Yes," Qing Chen nodded, "Help me arrange a boxing match." "Are you ready?" Jiang Xiaotang perked up immediately, "Money tree, you''re finally planning to make some money for your sister, huh? Tell me, what kind of opponent do you want, and I''ll set it up for you." Qing Chen thought for a moment, "Let''s start with the weakest Tiger Grade Boxer first, I need to practice a bit." "Last time you made Huang Zixian cry, and now everyone is expecting you to fight in the Land Cruise Grade, if you go for the weakest in the Tiger Grade, I''m afraid it won''t be well-attended," Jiang Xiaotang sighed, but she quickly smiled again, "But who makes you my brother, sister will arrange it for you." Qing Chen smiled, "Thank you, sister!" "You''re so sweet," Jiang Xiaotang beamed, "What''s the plan for the next matches? How often do you intend to fight?" "Two matches a week," Qing Chen thought and said, "This frequency should be fine." Based on two matches a week, after taxes, he could probably earn between 1.3 million to 1.5 million a week, which amounts to between 5.2 million to 6 million a month. Even with such high intensity, it would take him ten months to pay off the loan... Qing Chen suddenly wondered if his master, seeing that he could not stay at school, thought he liked money better and thus found a way to trap him here, letting him peacefully spend ten months without getting involved in bigger issues? It wasn''t an impossibility. However, Jiang Xiaotang suddenly frowned at Qing Chen, "Two fights a week, are you trying to kill yourself? No, I don''t agree." "Let''s try it first, if the competition is intense and I get injured, then we''ll slow down," Qing Chen said, "Of course, if I don''t get injured, I''ll continue." Jiang Xiaotang hesitated for a moment, "Okay!" After saying that, she called over the referee and the host, "Adjust today''s event schedule, have Xiao Taibao fight with Qing Xiaotu." This time both the referee and the host learned to be smart; if the boss says change it, just change it, don''t argue with the boss. The host directly said to Qing Chen, "So... Xiaotu, let''s check the script in a bit, mainly to design your entrance, we''ll equip you with some coaches and teaching assistants by your side, and then have a group of beauties follow you. Before going on stage, you should exchange some tough talk with Xiao Taibao to add drama to the match." Qing Chen frowned, looked at Jiang Xiaotang, and said, "Sis, can I skip this step? It''s too flashy." The word sister was abbreviated to sis, but their relationship felt even closer. Jiang Xiaotang, hearing this address, felt pleased inside. She turned to the host and said, "Do as my brother says, what tough talk? Fighting a Tiger Grade gatekeeper like Xiao Taibao doesn''t require tough talk." "But this is our standard marketing strategy, also it makes it easy to edit videos after the match, to increase Xiaotu''s popularity," the host pleaded. "Then change the marketing strategy, like letting Xiao Taibao talk tough, and then my brother maintains a persona of someone who doesn''t talk tough. Women nowadays like that sort. Haven''t you seen them flocking to him just because he showed up in the stands, acting crazy around him?" Jiang Xiaotang said with a laugh, "My brother is so handsome, whatever he does, people will like him. Just do your job and don''t worry too much." The host looked at the floor and decided not to say anything more. He glanced at the referee, who smartly didn''t add a word. By afternoon, news that Qing Chen was entering the Octagon cage again spread swiftly. Continue your adventure with My Virtual Library Empire Last time he fought all the way up to Tiger Grade, even making the veteran fighter Huang Zixian cry, which gave spectators and gamblers a lot of expectations. Many thought he would be the next boxing king after Ah Fan, whether as a Tiger Grade Boxing King or a Land Cruise Grade Boxing King, it was hard to say. After all, there''s a level difference between the two, and the genetic potion required to advance that level, one might not see a few in the black market in a year. So if he doesn''t move up a level, he couldn''t fight at Land Cruise Grade. By now, Qing Chen had quite a few female fans who were spreading the word eagerly, almost ready to form teams to come watch the evening''s fight. Many female fans were in the stands last night looking for Qing Chen''s autograph; instead, Qing Chen pinched each of their cheeks and signed far away on their foreheads. This action looked heart-breaking to the fans, but they strangely changed their minds immediately: Xiaotu is a clean-living boxer, different from those other sexy, cheap types, everyone should like a boxer like him! ... ... "I want to watch the boxing match," Nan Gengchen said to Li Yinuo, "otherwise, there will be trouble." Meanwhile, XiaoTongyun silently watched while cracking melon seeds, thinking there really must be no one on this planet that Xiao Nan cares about, so he isn''t afraid of social embarrassment? "Let''s see, let''s see," Li Yinuo said indulgently, "I was originally planning to go watch. Following XiaoTongyun''s idea, I also invited another Shadow Candidate from Qing''s Family, Qing Shi, to discuss matters at the Begonia Boxing Gym tonight." Both Li Tongyun and Nan Gengchen felt pleased but did not show it. The little girl casually asked, "Yino, are there only Qing Wen and Qing Shi as candidates?" "Oh no," Li Yinuo said, "I also invited Qing Zhong, Qing Yi, Qing Xing, Qing Yuan, Qing Wu, but I have to meet them one by one, separately. Otherwise, they''ll know I''m playing multiple sides. Securing several Shadow Candidates will also help me keep track of their movements and ensure the situation remains within control." Nan Gengchen inwardly exclaimed and realized that Li Yinuo intended to capture all the Shadow Candidates in one fell swoop! This had to be reported back to Brother Chen; their Yinuo truly was sincerely helping. At that moment, Li Tongyun asked, "Yino, do you think these Shadow Candidates can really help you and Uncle?" The Shadow conflict was merely something undertaken by Li Yinuo to aid Qing Chen, while what she had to face was the real power succession drama within the Li Family. All Li Family members couldn''t escape it, even a little girl like Li Tongyun couldn''t avoid it. Li Yinuo smiled and patted Li Tongyun on the head, "You don''t need to worry about that, if anything happens, your sister will take care of it for you." Li Tongyun thought that she must discuss the Li Family''s conflict with Brother Qing Chen upon her return. She definitely didn''t want Brother Qing Chen to risk his life getting involved in such a crisis, but since he was so intelligent, he should be able to devise a good plan to help Yinuo. At that moment, Nan Gengchen asked, "Yino, I see those Shadow Candidates are just the third generation of Qing''s Family, can they truly help?" "They definitely can," Li Yinuo responded, "but the real stars of this big show aren''t them." "Who is it?" "The real Shadow of this generation." Chapter 277 220. Without those worldly desires "The true shadow of the contemporary era," Nan Gengchen murmured. For some reason, he always felt that when Li Yinuo uttered these words, a simple phrase seemed fraught with oppression. Now just the battle for supremacy among the Nine Dragons has already caught the entire Federation''s attention. Some discussed Qing Wen''s prodigious deeds of the past, some the natural martial arts talent of Qing Zhong since childhood, and others the resilience of Qing Wu. But compared to those who had truly become giants, these individuals were merely budding tigers, just beginning to show their prowess. For example, Qing Xun, the current Family Head of Qing''s Family, was the shadow of the previous generation. The tactics of the Shadow Candidates were nothing compared to his. "Sister Yinuo, who is the current shadow of Qing''s Family?" Li Tongyun asked curiously. "Why is it that he is rarely mentioned, and I''ve never seen him in the media either?" "Qing Zhiluo, Qing Chenchen, Qing Huangrione of the three," replied Li Yinuo. "Wait, why is it ''one of the three''?" Nan Gengchen asked, puzzled. "Has the shadow of the last generation not yet been decided?" "Of course, it has been decided, but everyone only knows that the two who lost died, not who died or who survived," Li Yinuo said. "Why would that happen?" Nan Gengchen was even more baffled. "Since it''s a shadow, it should naturally hide in the dark," Li Yinuo said with a smile. "The struggle for being Qing''s shadow has always been this way, starting with much fanfare but becoming more and more elusive as it progresses. The outside world can hardly discern the truth. For instance, at the end of the last generation''s shadow contest, the media couldn''t even find out who finally prevailed, and the three Shadow Candidate finalists all disappeared from the public eye for over a decade without making another appearance." Li Tongyun and Nan Gengchen were shocked; there were such things? "A shadow is a person who hides in the dark, the real executioner under the Family Head''s command," Li Yinuo explained with a smile. "In most cases, it takes a long time for people to realize that Qing''s shadow has influenced those events. If even this cannot be achieved, how can one be called a shadow?" "But, I heard someone in the Outer World claim that the contemporary shadow fell ill in the last contestwho were they talking about?" Nan Gengchen recalled. "That''s because two years ago, Hu''s intelligence organization sold information that someone claimed to have seen Qing''s shadow. Although they didn''t see the face clearly, the individual kept coughing up blood. Hence, some speculated that it was an injury from the last contest," Li Yinuo said. "When this intelligence was sold, it caused quite a stir." "Isn''t that too cruel? So many excellences within the clan died, and the one who became the shadow still carries an injury," Li Tongyun mumbled. "Doesn''t Qing''s Family feel it''s a pity?" "Cruel? A pity?" Li Yinuo shook her head. "There are a thousand individuals in just three generations of Qing''s Family, and from a thousand people, one shadow is chosen. On average, every five generations of shadows produce one Family Head, then ensure the Qing''s Family''s foundations are stable for a century. Indeed, it''s cruel for ordinary people, but for the entire Qing''s Family, this is the clan." "What about Li''s Family then?" Nan Gengchen suddenly asked. "Li''s Family naturally has its ways," Li Yinuo said calmly. "Let''s go, it''s time. We''ll head to the boxing gym to wait for Qing Shi and see what her plan is." ... ... Li Yinuo''s motorcade swiftly left the Pearl Manor, where the second house of Li''s Family resided, and sped towards the Fourth District. Recently, everyone knew that the eldest granddaughter of Li''s Third Generation would go to Begonia Boxing Gym whenever she was free, and Jiang Xiaotang even had people park all of Li Yinuo''s cars directly in front of the gym, making them a feature of the place. As soon as Li Yinuo and her party arrived, they discovered that the holographic projections above Begonia Boxing Gym had been switched to a highlight reel from Qing Chen''s previous ranking matches. However, these holographic projections seemed to have been edited, showing mostly Qing Chen''s back, as if purposely creating a mysterious atmosphere. Li Yinuo looked at the staff member. "What, does Qing Xiaotu have a match today?" "Yes," the staff member said respectfully. "Today he''s facing a Tiger Grade Boxer, Xiao Taibao. It''s been the main event at our gym recently." "Don''t you usually have your main events on Saturday? Why is his on a Monday?" Li Yinuo frowned. "Does he not have much of a reputation, or what? I want to see Jiang Xiaotang." "You misunderstand," the staff member explained. "This was Qing Xiaotu''s own request. We were surprised too, but if you want to watch the weekend fight, you can still see him then. He might fight twice a week for the next while." "Twice a week? Is he not valuing his life?" Li Yinuo raised her voice. "Did you arrange this, or is it his own request?" In the past, Li Yinuo specifically told Jiang Xiaotang that if Qing Chen didn''t want to fight, Begonia Boxing Gym absolutely couldn''t force him. But from the looks of it now, Qing Chen''s match intensity was much higher than expected. This made Li Yinuo can''t help but wonder, was Jiang Xiaotang rushing to make money off Qing Chen? "It''s his own request," the staff member said, sweat appearing on his forehead. "How could we force him? He''s the boss''s brother now. If you don''t believe it, you can ask Qing Xiaotu himself." "Brother," Li Yinuo was puzzled. Between the rigorous fight schedule and being the ''brother'' to a woman like Jiang Xiaotang, what exactly was Qing Chen planning?! Nan Gengchen and Li Tongyun beside her were already concerned. They didn''t care about anything else, just whether Qing Chen could withstand the intensity of the competitions. At that moment, Li Yinuo suddenly sensed something amiss. Right after they entered, several plainclothes individuals gave them almost imperceptible glances. "What''s the situation," Li Yinuo wondered aloud. "Is there something unusual happening today?" With their minds full of worries, Li Yinuo and her party headed to their private room. But upon pushing the door open, they discovered Qing Shi, with her hair tied in twin ponytails, already sitting on the couch. She stood up and greeted them with a smile. "Sister Yinuo, it''s our first meeting. Please take good care of me." Seeing Qing Shi, Li Yinuo finally realized, "So Qing''s heiress arrived early. No wonder there were plainclothes outside." "Please forgive me, Sister Yino, but when traveling, one must be careful," Qing Shi said with a smile, "And since Sister Yino requested confidentiality, I had them all change into casual clothes." "Casual clothes are good," the beautiful young warrior nodded, casually spouting nonsense, "After all, we''re about to discuss important matters. Secrecy comes first... No one knows you''re coming, right?" "Other than my father and some personal attendants, no one else knows," Qing Shi earnestly replied, "I just don''t know what Sister Yino wants to see me for?" "It''s like this, I learned from other sources that the second round task for you shadow candidates is to find a member of the Li Family to support. Is that right?" Li Yinuo asked. She didn''t mention that she had got the information from another candidate... Qing Shi nodded: "That''s right." "What do you think about me, why don''t you support me?" Li Yinuo cut to the chase. She figured she still had to approach five other candidates, and beating around the bush with every one of them was too exhausting. Better to be straightforward. Qing Shi seemed to not have expected Li Yinuo to be so direct and stared blankly for quite some time: "Okay." Li Tongyun and Nan Gengchen beside her couldn''t help but laugh and cry at the same time, thinking this so-called secret meeting was too simple. Everyone thought the meeting would last for hours, but it was over in five minutes. Now, what to do and talk about with the remaining time, no one had thought that through... Suddenly, the room fell into an eerie silence... Li Yinuo suddenly exclaimed, "I''ve always heard that Qing Shi of the Qing''s Family is untainted by mud, with a simple mind, and I used to think it was all rumors. Now I finally believe some of it." Qing Shi smiled sweetly, "It''s not like that, I can be quite crafty too!" Once again, the room fell into an eerie silence... Just then, the host''s voice came from outside the private room: "Ladies and gentlemen, you must have seen the holographic projection above the boxing gym by now, and you must recognize the youth in the projection. Can you call out his name?" "Qing Xiaotu!" "Qing Xiaotu!" The sudden voices from outside broke the awkward silence in the room, and Li Yinuo quickly looked outside. At that moment, the host continued, "He''s the challenger who passed the last set of ranking matches, and he''s tonight''s home boxer. He is Qing Xiaotu!" The next instant, a live broadcast video played on the big screen of the boxing gym. In the video, Qing Chen was warming up backstage, expressionless, wearing the loose shorts common to boxers and showing off a perfectly sculpted upper body. Nan Gengchen and Li Tongyun were glued to the glass window of the private room again. But even more abrupt was Qing Shi''s astonished voice: "Cute and adorable?!" In an instant, Li Tongyun, Nan Gengchen, and Li Yinuo all simultaneously looked at her silently, their gazes intertwining on Qing Shi''s face, with a mix of confusion and questioning. Cute and adorable, was she describing Qing Chen as cute? But Nan Gengchen felt something was off; he had the feeling that when Qing Shi said "cute and adorable," those four words were not an adjective but a noun... He tentatively asked, "... Cute and adorable? I get the feeling that''s a name you''re calling someone?" Still in a daze, Qing Shi pointed at Qing Chen on the big screen and said, "That''s him, ''Cute and Adorable'' is his online nickname. We even met up in real life this morning." Nan Gengchen''s gaze suddenly shifted toward the big screen. Seeing the handsome face on the screen, he couldn''t imagine that person using such a nickname or engaging in online meetups! What kind of person did Nan Gengchen consider Qing Chen to be? In his mind, Qing Chen was the lofty academic god of Los Angeles City, intelligence crushing his peers. In his mind, Qing Chen was pure and free from material desires, an entity that seemed to have abandoned all worldly passions. And now someone tells him: Qing Chen''s online nickname is ''Cute and Adorable,'' and he even engages in online romances that lead to real-life meetings. Everything collapsed. His belief system crumbled. This ''Cute and Adorable'' ID doesn''t even compare to ''A Little Duckling''! Nan Gengchen glanced sideways at Li Tongyun, only to discover that the young girl''s expression was no different. Even Li Yinuo''s pupils were contracting! This matter could shock them for an entire year! ... I''m begging for monthly votes, bosses, have mercy on the child! Chapter 302: 234. Old Friends Reunite Chapter 302: 234. Old Friends Reunite Halfway up the mountainside Manor, several bluestone paths extended into the depths, with flying dragons and phoenixes carved on the stones. Leading the way, Lao Liu looked back to see Qing Chen eyeing Halfway up the mountainside Manor with a curious expression, and he chuckled, What, you didnt expect to find such beautiful scenery inside the city, did you? Qing Chen shook his head, I havent seen it before. Of course, you havent seen it, Lao Liu laughed, Living in other districts, not only do you squeeze into elevators every day, but also live in cramped tin boxes. Did you ever imagine that manors in The First District could have rockeries, gardens, artificial lakes? Did you ever expect to find such low buildings here? Thats survival where you are; this is called living. Qing Chen surveyed his surroundings; unexpectedly, the architecture of Halfway up the mountainside Manor leaned toward traditional Chinese style, with many buildings constructed of a mix of bricks, stone, and wood. The entire No. 18 City with its towering buildings seemed exceptionally bustling and crowded. He knew it was because of the high population density, hence the city had to develop upwards into the sky. But The First District was differentin the land where every inch is worth its weight in gold within the Federal City, carving out an artificial lake was a testament to a unique status. Yet... This scenery was quite common in the Outer World. To be honest, the Outer World might not compare to the Inner World in some aspects, but if we talk about living space per capita, it simply overshadows the Inner World. Moreover, the low buildings that Lao Liu boasted about were a four-story wooden building, and ironically, the building Qing Chen lived in the Outer World was also four stories tall... If he were any poorer, he might even have to live in a bungalow. It has to be said that at times like this, Qing Chen could truly feel the ideological differences between the two worlds. Qing Chen asked, Where to now? Ill take you to the dormitory first, said Lao Liu, youve become the bosss bodyguard, so naturally, youll live here. Whenever the boss goes out, youll have to follow. Okay, understood, Qing Chen nodded. At that moment, Lao Liu remembered what Li Changqing had told him, and hastily added, Although technically, youre under my management, the boss specifically said you can do as you please. Of course, Id still like to remind you that although the boss said so, in the eyes of others, youre the bosss bodyguard, so its better to act the part a little. Otherwise, people might think the boss has no control over his staff. Lao Lius reminder came from goodwill; after all, Li Changqing was a figure of status, and it would be embarrassing if someone he brought along lacked proper manners. The entire Halfway up the mountainside Manor was huge, akin to an enormous palace. Without guidance, one could even get lost. This was the ancestral home of the Lee family, symbolizing their standing. Qings Family ancestral home was in City No. 10, and the Chen Clans in City No. 7. Qing Chen conscientiously recorded the layout here, noting even the Chinese-style eaves and roof corners in his mind. Why is the architectural style here so different from the citys? Qing Chen inquired, It resembles... More like the Jindai family style? Lao Liu smirked, You dont understand, do you? This style is actually passed down from our ancestors; the Jindai family is just imitating it. The wood used for these buildings is transported from the wilderness, incredibly precious. In the Federation, only the bigwigs with status can afford to live in wooden buildings. Qing Chen wanted to ask something else, but he had already received his answer. Just then, he suddenly noticed that under the eaves of every building, a heavily weighted bronze bell was suspended by red cords, barely moving even when the wind blew. From a distance, the bells bore strange patterns, too far to see clearly. Following his gaze, Lao Liu chuckled, Those are some of the rarer Taboo items in the world. You know Taboo items, right? Things ordinary people cant get in a lifetime. Qing Chens expression remained calm, but inside he was surprised that Lao Liu... seemed to be hitting close to home with every sentence. Apologies, but he already had two Taboo items... As if nothing were out of the ordinary, Qing Chen casually asked, Those bronze bells are Taboo items? But there seem to be so many of them. Ive heard of Taboo items, but Ive never heard of any Taboo items quite like this. With dozens of buildings in Halfway up the mountainside Manor, and four eaves per building, that made nearly two hundred bronze bells. For Taboo items, that was a terrifying amount. Lao Liu scratched his head, Im not very sure about that; all I know is that every house here has one of these things, and nobodys ever really counted them. Do you know the serial number of this Taboo item? Qing Chen asked. Its no secret, ACE-020. The bosses of the Lee family call it the Heartless Bronze Bell, said Lao Liu, And I can tell you what it does too. If someone with ill intent comes in, the nearest Heartless Bronze Bell to the malefactor will ring. Qing Chen mused to himself, so the consortium has such items by their side. But how does a Taboo item determine whether a person harbors ill intentions? That sounded rather mystical. Has it ever rung before? Qing Chen queried. Of course, it has, Lao Liu explained, but it hasnt rung in recent years because many people are aware of the Heartless Bronze Bells existence and those with ill intentions dare not enter Halfway up the mountainside Manor anymore. Qing Chen suddenly wondered if this item functioned like a Puppeteer, starting with a single bell at the first tier, only to increase its number of bells according to the conditions met for containment upon unlocking the second tier. Like the Puppeteer, for instance, which increased the number of people it could control through the sacrifice of life. Lao Liu was quite the chatterbox. He whispered, Let me tell you another non-secret secret: this bell was a gift from a certain Knight Leader to the current Family Head. You know about the Knights, right? Uncle Li Dong of the Lee family is the current Knight Leader, one of the few counted Demigods. Qing Chen said in astonishment, That Demigod, Uncle Li Dong, belongs to the Lee family? Old Six had a feeling of I hit the jackpot: Youre young, so you dont know about these old stories. In the Alliance, information about that Seventh Master has basically been erased; a lot of Ordinary People are unaware that he is a member of the Li family. Qing Chen inwardly sighed; he really hoped he could often be around Old Six to ensure his mood would always be pleasant. Ahead are two small courtyards; the one on the left is where the boss usually stays, Feiyun Courtyard, and next door is Miss Yinos Qing Shan Villa. Its said that Miss Tong Yun also moved in there recently, Old Six said. Behind these two courtyards are the quarters for us Servants... Oh right, youre not a Servant. Qing Chen thought about it, he always felt that after entering the halfway estate, this cyberpunk world also had a hint of traditional Chinese style. However, above this ancient-style architecture, squadrons of drones patrolled, weaving a net in the sky. The drones were all armed, ready to fire at any time. The blend of ancient styles with technology was particularly stark yet harmonious. However, the fact that Li Yinuo named her own residence Qing Shan Villahow much did she yearn to climb the precipitous Qing Mountain? Its a pity; now that he had begun cultivating, he wasnt an Ordinary Person and couldnt ever become a Knight again. As Old Six led Qing Chen past Li Yinuos Qing Shan Villa, Li Tongyun and Nan Gengchen were sitting beside a stone table, whispering secretively to each other. The moment they saw Qing Chen, they both stopped their conversation and looked over in surprise. Qing Chen acted as if nothing was amiss, as if he didnt recognize them at all. Old Six ahead nodded slightly: Miss Tong Yun, Mr. Nan, good morning. While talking, Old Six tugged on Qing Chens sleeve: Say hello, say hello to them quickly. Qing Chen imitated: Miss Tong Yun, Mr. Nan, good morning. Ah, Nan Gengchen seemed somewhat at a loss. Li Tongyun, with a smile, said: Uncle Six, isnt this the little boxer from the Begonia Boxing Gym? What happened, did Aunt Changqing really poach him to the Li family? Old Six was sincerely afraid: You cant call me Uncle Six; if the other branches of the family heard this, Im afraid I would be exiled to the wilderness to pick corn. Its okay, Ill just call you that in private, XiaoTongyun said with a grin, walking up to Qing Chen and taking an interested look around him: I went to see your boxing match last nightit was thrilling. I was so worried in the private room. The young girl spoke half-truths and half-falsities. Old Six couldnt detect anything unusual, but Qing Chen knew she was seizing the opportunity to show her concern. He smiled: Thank you for your concern, Miss Tong Yun. Little Tu, come and hang out at Qing Shan Villa when youre free, Li Tongyun said with a grin: Uncle Six, dont bully him on normal days, eh? Im his fan. Not at all, not at all. How could I dare to bully him? The boss has also given instructions; although his position is that of a bodyguard, he doesnt have to do anything, Old Six assured quickly. Thats good, Li Tongyun laughed: Then Uncle Six, you go ahead and take Little Tu to meet Auntie first, and well talk when were free. Old Six led Qing Chen away, and Qing Chen asked: Who are those two? He knew who they were, but asking was the normal response he should have at the moment. Then, Old Six replied: Miss Li Tongyun is one of the more favored members of Lis Third Generation, and that Mr. Nan beside her is Miss Yinos favored consort... As he said this, he sneakily observed Qing Chens expression. Qing Chen calmly said: Why are you looking at me... Old Six thought Qing Chen was feeling insulted and hurriedly said: No, no, its nothing. Youre not the same as him. In his mind, he added a note: Youre a bit better looking. Old Six continued to advise as they walked: Dont ever offend those two; Miss Yino gets crazy enough to chop down even family members, especially if theyre close. Remember, those are people we cant afford to provoke. Hmm, Ill keep that in mind, Qing Chen nodded: Cant afford to provoke. Suddenly, Qing Chen was thinking that him coming to serve as Li Changqings bodyguard seemed to have actually brought their little group closer, which made it more convenient for them to plan together. But if all three were in the Li family, that was like putting all eggs in one basket, and the information they held might be somewhat one-sided. Should he try to recruit some talents from among the Time Travelers of the Chen Clan and Qings Family? It seemed difficult; after all, most of the Time Travelers had already been unearthed by Qings Family and the Chen Clan. Those who could still hide were smart people, usually unwilling to serve others. Just as he entered the Feiyun Courtyard, he saw Li Yinuo and Li Changqing both having tea in the courtyard with a black briefcase quietly placed on the stone table in front of them. Li Changqings eyes brightened when she saw Qing Chen: Youre here? Yes, Qing Chen nodded. But then he saw Li Changqing pat the black briefcase in front of her: FDE-001 and 002 series will still take half a month; however, we have spare 003s which you urgently need. Instead of picking a date, lets do it todayAuntie will give you the injection right away. Qing Chen: ??? Auntie, this time its really not okay! ... Vote for monthly tickets, bosses! Chapter 303: 235, Insider Li Yinuo Chapter 303: 235, Insider Li Yinuo Now, Li Changqing and the outside world all think that Qing Chen is just a Genetic Warrior. So in Li Changqings view, Qing Chen knew he could inject the Genetic Potion and was supposedly overjoyed beyond expectations. However, this matter was not a surprise for Qing Chen, but a scare. Firstly, Genetic Potions cannot be injected across levels; ordinary people who complete the first injection of the 005 sequence must wait a full month before the next one, otherwise, their bodies could not bear the load and they would die suddenly. Qing Chen had yet to take any injections and going straight for the 003 sequence would likely kill him on the spot. Secondly, having the Genetic Potion would cut off ones offspring. Although Qing Chen did not have that kind of worldly desire at the moment, what if he did in the future? In short, this injection of Genetic Potion absolutely could not be taken! Li Changqing looked at Qing Chen, How come youre not at all pleased with this 003 sequence FDE Genetic Potion? Before Qing Chen could speak, Li Changqing suddenly said with a laugh, I understand now, youre thinking I didnt give you 002 and 001 as well. Really, Im not that stingy. Ive already told you that 001 and 002 are still being prepared and itll be half a month before I can give them to you. The production of those two sequences is too small, I cant conjure them out of thin air for you. Qing Chen recalled and pondered in his mind and, checking against the timeline, said, I cant take this injection of the 003 sequence Genetic Potion now because its only been 13 days since I took the 004, and I need to wait 18 more days. The interval for the Genetic Potion is calculated based on a 30-day month. Li Changqing looked at Qing Chen and had an epiphany, So thats the case, I thought you had already injected it. Fine, lets keep the Genetic Potion with me, and Ill give it to you when its time. Qing Chen secretly breathed a sigh of relief, what was this all about? He hadnt gained anything since coming here, and yet he was expected to take an injection first, wheres the sense in that? Honestly, neither he nor Yi had expected Li Changqing to give him the injection in person! Thankfully, from his first appearance on the fighting stage until now, only 10 days had passed in the Inner Worlds time, and this allowed him to find the most suitable excuse. But the problem arose, what to do after 18 days...? At this moment, Li Changqing had Lao Liu put away the Genetic Potion, knowing that he would still have to witness Qing Chens injection next time, which caused Qing Chen to feel a headache. He glanced out of the corner of his eye and suddenly saw that Li Yinuo was struggling to suppress a laugh. Li Changqing pulled Qing Chen by the arm to sit down, This is my niece, Li Yinuo, next to us. Shes also very fond of your matches. We were both there last night. I had already arranged for Lao Liu to save you, but unexpectedly, you turned the tide and won. Such a victory in a cross-level challenge is rare throughout the Federation. Li Yinuo said with a smile, Hello, Brother Xiao Tu, Im a fan of yours. Li Changqing earnestly said to Li Yinuo, Why call him brother? Call him Uncle Xiao Tu. Li Yinuo, ??? The beauty who was just secretly holding back laughter suddenly changed her expression! How did she, while enjoying the drama, suddenly gain an uncle out of nowhere?! But Li Changqing thought about it and said, Never mind, Qing Chen is too young, you two just refer to each other however you wish. Oh yes, since weve met here, you might as well know his real name, Qing Chen, and dont call him Xiao Tu anymore... although the name Xiao Tu is also pretty cute. Li Yinuo thought to herself, where was the name Qing Xiaotu cute at all? Auntie, lets talk about serious matters, Li Yinuo turned to Li Changqing, We were just talking about Deer Island and the Jindai family. I heard that youve caught several people from Deer Island and the Jindai? At the mention of these two corporations names, Li Changqings expression darkened, Those things who dont know whether theyre alive or dead dared to cause trouble in the south. I predict they foresaw the Lee familys power transition, so they wanted to stir things up. Recently, these two have been stationing troops in the north, perhaps expecting the old man here to pass away, then they will launch a small-scale war again. Li Yinuo curiously asked, These years, they have caused quite a commotion, with marriages and frequent troop movements, why is that? There are many Taboo Lands in the north, and the expansion speed is quite fast, with Taboo Land number 037 even spreading to 30 kilometers north of City 26. They might have sensed the crisis and want to reshuffle the cards within the Federation, to develop southward, Li Changqing sneered, But the three southern families control the political and economic lifelines, if we dont get chaotic, they cant come over. Qing Chen listened silently, not saying a word. He realized that Li Yinuo was bringing up these issues suddenly just to help him understand more information, to compensate for his current isolated situation. Qing Chens situation was very delicate, Uncle Li Dong had gone far away, and all the familiar faces were no longer by his side. Although Qing Yi was still present, he was not Qing Chens butler and would not readily lend a hand, usually seeking a principle of equivalent exchangein fact, more an ally than a friend. If he were to rely on Qing Yi for everything, that would be wishful thinking. However, Li Yinuo, Li Tongyun, and Nan Gengchen, these three insiders, had always been dutiful and responsible. Auntie, which Shadow Candidate do you favor most in the struggle for the Shadow position? Li Yinuo asked. I might favor Qing Wu more, Li Changqing pondered, Qing Wen is too conspicuous, causing others to treat him as a hypothetical enemy, yet he lacks the ability to overpower multiple foes single-handedly. Originally, Qing Huai was also eye-catching enough to share some of the limelight, but now he has died inexplicably in Taboo Land 002, and you were there at the time. They say he was hunted by a Gods Child of the Fire Pit, is that true? It seems so at the moment, Li Yinuo nodded, Please continue, Auntie. I think Qing Zhong from the second branch is also very strong, why do you think hes not fit for the position of Shadow? Ive met that lad, Qing Zhong. He is brave and strong but lacks cunning. Too impulsive, Li Changqing said, Such a person might be better suited as a general leading a charge rather than as the Shadow or Family Head. I think both the Shadow and the current Family Head of Qings Family, Qing Xun, would not choose him. Then why do you choose Qing Wu? Li Yinuo asked. Cleverness, restraint, and ruthlessness, Li Changqing said, He possesses many qualities a Shadow should have... You should study them more now because eventually one of them is bound to become the Shadow and wield great power. Understanding more about them now will be helpful later on. Li Yinuo nodded, her gaze briefly flitted over to Qing Chen, thinking that having this second-generation big shot of the Li family help analyze the situation should count for something. At this moment, however, Li Changqings tone shifted, In this generation, the ones Im least optimistic about are Qing Yuan and Qing Xing; they lack distinguishing features, and the support from their families isnt great either. Though Qing Yi is young, he shows signs of being an extraordinary being. Qing Shi may be a girl, but her father harbors great ambition behind the scenes. The struggle for the Shadow position is always mysterious; no one knows the outcome until the very last second, and even years later, the outside world might remain unaware. So current speculations are just for reference, of little value. You just need to understand each of them. Li Yinuo thought to herself that the result of the struggle for the Shadow really was enigmatic generation after generation. Wasnt she now sitting beside a candidate who had faked his own death? Who would have thought that the person who was initially overlooked would grow the fastest? Qing Chen ate some snacks and fruit seemingly calmly, but he was seriously analyzing inside. This was the first time he was hearing an analysis of each candidate, finally offering him a more comprehensive concept of the overall picture. Even Lin Xiaoxiao and Uncle Li Dong had never talked to him about this before, only suggesting that he should learn by himself slowly. Eh, Li Changqing asked, why have you suddenly become interested in the struggle for the Shadow? Li Yinuo went on to ask, Auntie, I have made contact with several Shadow Candidates and some have also reached out to me. Although I dont know their true intentions, Ive accepted their offers, and now four of them have allied with me. Qing Chen listened on the side, thinking to himself that this seemed quite like his style of joining everyone in the Outer World. Li Changqing questioned Li Yinuo, Why are you allying with so many candidates? I just want to ally with a few more to keep up with their movements. After all, these candidates are not part of our Li family, so it doesnt matter if a few of them die, Li Yinuo said. Li Changqing commended, Youre smart this time, but Ive always suspected that Qings Family Shadow has already arrived in City 18. This time, Qings Familys main event might lie in this Shadow. Friend or foe? Li Yinuo asked. Neither friend nor foe, but they likely share a common goal, Li Changqing seemed unwilling to delve deeper, as it involved real secrets. She changed the subject, The second round of tasks for the struggle for the Shadow probably doesnt involve participating in the Li familys power succession. That Shadow has always enjoyed misleading people, and nobody knows what he truly intends to do. At this point, Li Yinuo asked, By the way, auntie, have you visited Grandpa? No, Li Changqings expression turned solemn as she looked towards Lao Liu and said, Take Qing Chen to the shooting range to have some fun. Before one grows to B-Class, firearms tend to be more useful. Sure, sure, Lao Liu hobbled as he led Qing Chen out. Qing Chen understood that he was being sent away, as Li Changqing wouldnt want him eavesdropping on family core secrets. But he didnt mind; todays gains were already substantial. Qing Chen followed Lao Liu and asked, Why do you go by Lao Liu? Is it because youre the sixth in rank? No, Lao Liu shook his head, Im called Lao Liu because I once took six bullets for Boss Chang Qing in City 1, and thats when my leg got damaged. She calls me Lao Liu to remind her not to forget that Ive taken bullets for her. I see, Qing Chen nodded. The boss said something very true, Lao Liu called out without looking back, Until a Transcendent reaches Demigod status, firearms are always a Transcendents greatest enemy. Even an A-Class might capsize in the gutter when faced with a sniper. So, getting to know firearms is a good thing for you, and you should spend more time at the shooting range when you can. ... The power went out again; Im posting one chapter now. Im heading to an internet cafe to continue writing. There will be another chapter tonight. Chapter 304: Sniper Chapter 304: Sniper ` A-Class experts have no way to deal with sniper rifles? Qing Chen felt puzzled. Its not that they have no way to deal with sniper rifles, but that they are helpless against a few sharpshooters, Lao Liu explained, Once Transcendents reach A-Class, they develop a sixth sense. Within 1600 meters, if someone aims a gun at them or watches them with malicious intent, they can sense it. Therefore, if a sharpshooter aims within 1600 meters, they will be detected by an A-Class expert. Just casting a malicious glance at someone in a crowd can alert them. This powerful sixth sense is terrifying; it seems to transcend the realm of ordinary humans. Wait, Qing Chen recalled something. In the early days after crossing over, there had been a frightened junior named Huang Jixian in Prison No. 18. When he had gone to look for clues outside Zheng Yuandongs residential area, just by casting a similar glance, Zheng Yuandong had immediately turned his head to look at him. Was it a coincidence, or had Zheng Yuandong already advanced to A-Class at that time? Qing Chen couldnt be sure. He always felt that everyone had just crossed over at that time; logically, Zheng Yuandong shouldnt have been at such a high level, unless he had, like Yang Yang, directly taken over the identity of an A-Class Superhuman. However, Qing Chen leaned toward it being a coincidence. Since sharpshooters cant target A-Class experts, how could they still be capsized in a gutter? Qing Chen pondered as he asked Lao Liu. Some sharpshooters can accurately hit a target from beyond 1600 meters, Lao Liu said with narrowed eyes: Beyond 1600 meters, A-Class experts lose their sensory abilities and cant evade in advance. Those anti-materiel rifles using armor-piercing bullets can even penetrate tanks. A-Class experts are formidable, but theyre not as resistant as main battle tanks. Besides, to assassinate an A-Class expert, you need to fit a flash suppressor. Otherwise, its all for nothing. The so-called anti-materiel sniper rifles are designed to destroy armor. They make a noise like a cannon when fired. However, the speed of sound is slower than a bullet. If fired from beyond 1600 meters, an A-Class expert wont hear the gunshot until after being hit. The flash of the gun might be visible before the bullet arrives, but this is why Lao Liu emphasized the importance of flash suppressors: Most sniper rifles have a bullet speed of 800-900 meters per second, so you cant let an A-Class expert see the muzzle flash; otherwise, the bullet, taking more than two seconds to travel 1600 meters, would give the enemy plenty of time to move away. Moreover, this also requires technique and prediction; after all, you need to calculate how far you are from the target, how long it will take for the bullet to arrive, and where the target might be when the bullet reaches. Of course, this is all based on the information about firearms in the Outer World that Qing Chen could find online, and even that was just from searching available data on the web. In reality, he had never even touched a real sniper rifle. Brother Liu, if an A-Class expert gets hit in the head with a sniper bullet from 1600 meters away, will it kill them? Qing Chen asked. Of course it will, Lao Liu replied: Several A-Class experts have been killed by sniper rifles in the history of the Federation. This was something Qing Chen had always wondered about. He felt that most Transcendents in this world had a high offense, low defense characteristic, each resembling an assassin. Even a demigod like his master had to dodge when faced with a mindless weapon like a metal storm. Can the Federations banned automated aiming railguns be sensed by A-Class experts? Qing Chen curiously asked. The automated aiming railguns arent that magical. Ive seen one, Lao Liu replied: Its mostly the bigwigs without transcendent abilities who fear it. A-Class experts arent that concerned. Why is that? Qing Chen asked, intrigued. Because the artificial intelligence mounted on the automated aiming railguns has difficulty calculating multiple factors over a long distance. Its effective range is about 800 meters, Lao Liu explained: Of course, most sharpshooters in the Federation Army also have a range of about 800 meters. The device is convenient and costs little when used to assassinate important figures, but its still not enough against A-Class experts and can be sensed by them. Qing Chen thought there was something wrong with that. From his perspective, if Zero had such a railgun system that controlled a sniper rifle, calculating the trajectory would be an easy task: Is the artificial intelligence technology that weak? Weak? Lao Liu chuckled: Do you have some misunderstanding about weakness? Ordinary sharpshooters train for a long time before they can hit a target at 800 meters. Even so, these sharpshooters are already selected from the best in the Federation Army. Do you think youre watching a virtual life movie, believing anyone can be a sharpshooter? At a distance of eight hundred meters, the target isnt even bigger than an ant in your sight! Across the entire Federation, the number of sharpshooters who can accurately assassinate a target from beyond 1600 meters is even fewer than the number of A-Class experts! No, Qing Chen shook his head: I mean, isnt there more advanced artificial intelligence? The conglomerates have always been disinterested in artificial intelligence. As long as it gets the job done, its good enough, Lao Liu spoke softly: Of course, this also has to do with the origins of the Federation. Its said that the previous era of civilization was destroyed by an artificial intelligence called Zero. Thats why everyone fears AI so much, terrified that a similar situation might arise again. Qing Chen fell silent because he knew that Zero was the creator of One! And Zero was most likely killed by humans. No wonder others arent aware that One has a unique personality; no wonder the conglomerates dont focus their technology on AI; no wonder One is so lonely. So the Federation had that kind of history! Do all A-Class experts have a sixth sense that extends to 1600 meters? Qing Chen inquired. At this point, Lao Liu cheerfully said to Qing Chen, Youre a Genetic Warrior with a cap of B-Class, so remember this: if you spot a sharpshooter on the battlefield, just steer clear. ` Old Six did not mean to mock Qing Chen with these words. He was a B-Class himself, so there was no point in making fun. Genetic Warriors are mostly B-Class, which is a common knowledge. Qing Chen thought for a moment, How can one become a sharpshooter? Old Six was startled, You want to become a sharpshooter? That thing relies on talent, Brother Qing Chen, I dont mean to look down on you. When I was in the army, I also wanted to be selected as a sharpshooter, but my eyesight, stability, and calculating abilities were all far too lacking. Qing Chen fell silent. He suddenly discovered a shortcut. A way for an ordinary person to slay a god. He knew that upgrading to A-Class was a slow process because every item in the life-and-death challenge required extremely high skills, not something one could just decide to undertake at will. If it hadnt been for the predecessors marking out the route for him with chalk on the steep cliffs of Qing Mountain, if the old guys hadnt given him the ginkgo seeds, if it hadnt been for the words of encouragement left on the walls, he probably wouldnt have made it. But if he could become a sharpshooter, even if he was still weak, as long as he seized the opportunity, he could still kill someone of a higher level! Before touching the sniper rifle, Qing Chen wasnt sure if he could be a sharpshooter, but he wouldnt be content until he had at least tried. Here we are, Old Six pointed at a majestic modern building in front of them. The building resembled a massive sports arena with a metallic sheen on its exterior, somewhat out of place amidst the traditional buildings of the mountain estate, although a few details on the wall still retained some elements of Eastern culture. A huge plaque hung outside the building, with the words Fenwu Tower inscribed on it. Old Six introduced cheerfully, The bodyguards do their daily training here, and the Li Clan descendants practice their shooting here as well. I heard the boss say they are going to offer martial arts classes at Lis School in the future, and they should also be here. You can get familiar with it in advance. Martial arts classes? Qing Chen asked. Yes, the boss created the classes for you to teach the Li Clan descendants, Old Six said: Dont underestimate this position. The Li Familys internal culture is rather conservative, prizing orderly succession and respect for teachers and their teachings. If you can secure a foothold in Lis School, the Li descendants will be polite to you, and at the very least, you wont have to worry about your livelihood for life. The cultural heritage of the Li Family was perhaps more like that of the learned families in the ancient Outer World, where rules were very important. However, Qing Chen paid no heed to these things, instead asking, The length of this venue is only about 400 meters, it doesnt seem suitable for practicing with a sniper rifle, does it? Old Six pondered for a moment, sensing Qing Chens determination, The entire mountain estate is bigger than what you imagine. There are other places for practicing with sniper rifles. How about this, since you seem genuinely interested in sniper rifles, lets start with the simplest firearms. Once youve got the hang of those, Ill take you to try... Be mentally prepared, its not that easy to become a sharpshooter. Generally speaking, the treatment of a sharpshooter in corporations is on par with that of C-Class and B-Class experts. Alright, thank you, Brother Six. If I dont have the talent, Ill give up on my own, Qing Chen nodded. Outside the venue, not a sound could be heard. Only upon entering could one faintly hear gunshots. Old Six led Qing Chen inside, meeting many people along the way who greeted him warmly and affectionately. Today, lets start with testing the handgun, beginning practice from a 10-meter target, Old Six picked some firearms and ammunition Qing Chen had never seen before and led him to the shooting position. He joked, Many people think shooting is very easy and dream of being sharpshooters every day, but when you try it, youll know. Maybe you cant even handle a handgun well. Qing Chen thought about it, took the handgun, and lifted his hand to shoot a few times at the target ten meters away, testing the trajectory. Old Six smirked at the sporadic ring counts Qing Chen scored, How is it? Not easy to find the sight, is it? However, as soon as Old Six finished speaking, Qing Chen raised his hand to shoot again, and each bullet hit the bullseye of the target. Wait, youve never held a gun before, why can you shoot so accurately? Old Six felt something was amiss. According to the information they had gathered, Qing Chen, although an underground boxer, had never bought firearms. Could it be that their information was incorrect? Or was there something amiss with Qing Chen? Qing Chen explained earnestly, I have been very sensitive to geometry and space since I was young. The earlier shots were to observe the trajectory, and the latter ones were more serious. Old Six appeared thoughtful and handed Qing Chen a damaged firearm, This handgun is no longer accurate because of damaged rifling, causing the sights to shift to the left. If what you said earlier is true, then prove it to me with this handgun. Qing Chen thought for a moment, took over the gun, and fired a few casual shots. Then, in the next second, the youth pulled the trigger successively, with the bullets once again puncturing the bullseye! Old Six was astonished and shouted to the staff, Move the target back to 50 meters! This time Qing Chen did not even need to confirm the trajectory; he shot directly, still hitting the bullseye with every shot! He didnt want to hide his abilities, because he knew that if he wanted to quickly access and possess a sniper rifle, he had to use this method. ... Vote for monthly tickets, bosses! Chapter 281 221. The New Kings Coronation (10,000-word mega chapter added for Golden League)_4 All the boxing gyms in Fourth District were competing businesses, as the charm of their fights and the fame of their boxers dictated their success. Thus, businesses took turns thriving while each gym tirelessly scouted for new talent. Sometimes, if a promising newcomer in the lower grades was found, gyms would even sign long-term service agreements with them, offering Genetic Potions for free. To elevate a lower-grade boxer to Tiger Grade required two Genetic Potions, but a proficient Tiger Grade boxer could help a gym recoup that investment within a few years. Moreover, nurturing their own boxers also protected them from other gyms challenging themconsidered core, direct lineage. At that moment, an employee whispered, "Boss, I''ve got some news from my cousin who works at Begonia Boxing Gym. Allegedly, Jiang Xiaotang has acknowledged Qing Xiaotu as her brother and even gave him access to her 001VIP room as well as a share of the Land Cruise Grade Boxing King''s profits." "Such high profits for a Tiger Grade?" Zhang Tianshou frowned, "That''s against the rules!" "Boss, what do we do now?" the employee asked. "Who are the opponents Qing Xiaotu will be facing next?" "Lin Yuhui, Li Lin, Qi He, Lu Wei, and Li Ziming." "Oh," Zhang Tianshou paused, "I thought Jiang Xiaotang would pull together five weaklings to pave the way for Qing Xiaotu, but these five left are tough nuts. And isn''t Li Ziming the Tiger Grade Boxing King from Begonia, and their top loyal fighter? Jiang Xiaotang is actually willing to use Li Ziming as a stepping stone for Qing Xiaotu?!" Now, Zhang Tianshou was baffled. What was Jiang Xiaotang up to? Something wasn''t right. Although a ruthless strategist, Jiang Xiaotang always played by the rules. What was Qing Xiaotu''s relationship with her, to make her break them? At that moment, in the VIP room of Begonia Boxing Gym, Li Yinuo was quietly staring at the Octagon cage, murmuring, "This is insane." She hadn''t anticipated such a fierce contender from Knight. Although Knights were strong, with the ceiling of physical ability being similar between them, their advantage only became apparent upon reaching B-Class, where they also acquired the Autumn Leaf Knife. Thus, Knights had remained low-profile until they reached B-Class. Li Yinuo turned to the others in the room, only to find Li Tongyun, Nan Gengchen, and Qing Shi leaning against the glass, intently watching, creating a rather bizarre scene. "Are you that invested in this? It''s just a one-sided fight," Li Yinuo asked. Li Tongyun sweetly replied, "I just love watching Brother Xiaotu overpower others." Qing Shi also smiled sweetly, "He''s ''cute and adorable,'' can write poetry, and fight in the Octagon. He''s truly a versatile genius!" Li Yinuo muttered, "Hey, I feel like you''re getting too involved. Would Qing''s Family really agree to you being with an underground boxer?" "It''s not about getting together," Qing Shi blushed, "We''re just friends! Speaking of which, Yinuo, I heard you got so buff to avoid being married off to someone else, is that true?" Li Yinuo glanced sideways at her, "Yes." Qing Shi pondered, "Could you teach me? I don''t want to be married off either..." Suddenly, Nan Gengchen said, "I''ll go call the waiter to get some food and drinks. You guys chat first." ... ... The second match against Lin Yuhui. There was no trash talk this time as the host hurriedly announced the entry of the Tiger Grade boxer Lin Yuhui. Before the match, his coach specifically warned him to guard against Qing Chen''s Jujitsu and maintain a safe distance, to avoid the battle going to the ground and being floored. A Jujitsu expert excels at drawing opponents to the ground and using their agile and strong bodies to firmly lock down an enemy. However, Lin Yuhui felt something unusual; when the fight started, the young opponent didn''t seem keen on taking him down but instead, like Lin, was maintaining a safe distance and testing each other. Moreover, the youth''s posture was peculiar; his weight was primarily on his left foot and leg. His torso slightly bent, arms faintly blocking his front. Muay Thai? Lin Yuhui thought, but why has the opponent switched fighting styles? In fact, this martial art known as Kill Fist in the Inner World has another name in the Outer WorldMuay Thai. Both were circling each other in the Octagon cage, frequently swapping positions but neither committing rashly. Continue reading on My Virtual Library Empire Qing Chen tried a right kick at Lin Yuhui''s lower leg, but when Lin raised his leg to dodge, his arms involuntarily swung outward. Now''s the time! With a burst of Thunder, all of Qing Chen''s weight focused on his left leg and foot, the support from the floor transmitting through his body as his feint low right kick suddenly lifted! Muay Thai thrust kick! As Lin Yuhui''s arms swung, Qing Chen''s right leg, like a spear, thrust through, his right heel striking hard on the opponent''s jaw. Lin Yuhui''s arms tried to defend, but how could they withstand that kick? With a ''crack'' sound, his arms and jawbone fractured! The leg strength of a Tiger Grade boxer was enough to disregard their weight difference, and under the force of the kick, Lin Yuhui''s body lost balance and flew backwards! He crashed heavily against the Black Octagon cage! "Next," Qing Chen said. The young man stood in the cage, breathing lightly. The spectators cursed, "Lin Yuhui is too foolish! How could he not guard against such an obvious kick?!" Chapter 306: 238, Absolute Gun Feel Chapter 306: 238, Absolute Gun Feel Which novice is familiar enough with firearms to instantly recognize the sound of a gunshot and even identify the model with their eyes closed? In everyones usual definition of being familiar with firearms, isnt it enough just to know how to use them? Lao Liu felt a big blockage in his chest, but he couldnt express it. At this moment, Qing Chen humbly turned to Lao Liu for guidance, Liu Ge, isnt this how you familiarize yourselves with firearms? Did I miss anything? Cough cough, Lao Liu forced himself to say, Being able to instantly identify the model by sound is certainly important, but during combat, professional experts will not always give you a chance to find a fire vacuum period; they will coordinate crossfire and cover their teammates while reloading. Some even use their own modified firearms, such as extended magazines. If you still rely on experience to judge the fire vacuum period, you will die very quickly. Qing Chen listened and nodded earnestly, Liu Ge is right. The staff nearby could hardly bear to listen, as Lao Liu was purely using a very rare scenario to fool the newcomer. The first part was indeed true, but the latter was nonsense: artistic works like to elevate the status of modified firearms, but in reality, modifying firearms could affect their stability. Thus, real professionals usually do not choose special firearms, but rather those that have been repeatedly tested by history to avoid accidents. They might tweak the bullets but would not alter the firearms themselves. However, the staff also hoped that Lao Liu would keep the newcomers pride in check, so they didnt expose him. At this time, Lao Liu continued to speak, What I just said is very important, but it is still not the most important. Do you know what is most crucial in familiarizing yourself with firearms? Gun feel. When you hold a gun, you should know its weight, so that you can mobilize your arm muscles to aim as quickly as possible. For instance, if you want to lift a bag of rice thinking its 33 pounds but it is actually 44 pounds, wouldnt your applied force be misplaced? Hmm, Qing Chen thought for a moment, suddenly took out a pistol, and without hesitation pulled the trigger within a second, hitting the bullseye, Liu Ge, I am also familiarizing myself with this. Lao Liu was taken aback for a moment, There is something even more important, and that is familiarizing yourself with the recoil. When you are firing repeatedly, each recoil will cause your muzzle to shift; you have to be familiar with the recoil of the firearm in your hand to know how to adjust the muzzle after each shot to continue hitting the target... Qing Chen thought for a while, and then suddenly reached for another completely different firearm to prepare to shoot. However, this time Lao Liu immediately stopped him and calmly said, Alright, I know you are familiar with this as well, put away the Divine Skills. Hmm, Qing Chen nodded, I will continue to familiarize myself with the remaining firearms. Lao Liu waved his hand grandly, Familiarize yourself, go ahead and shoot. A staff member nearby whispered, Liu Ge, youve already used up your quota, if he continues to shoot, it will be deducted from your annual salary. Lao Liu was startled, he quickly stopped Qing Chen, Cough cough, Qing Chen, werent you interested in playing with sniper rifles? Ill take you to the sniper range behind Beishan now, I have a quota for sniper bullets there too. However, Qing Chen shook his head at this moment, Liu Ge, I suddenly feel that familiarizing myself with regular firearms is also very important, just wait for me, Ill get acquainted with the remaining guns. It must be said that Qing Chen has made every step along the way, trying to make it solid. Even after becoming a Knight, he still insisted on training every day. Even after becoming a Transcendent, he still honed his basic combat skills. He was like a bamboo, thirstily absorbing all the useful moisture and nutrients from the soil. Now in firearm training, initially, Qing Chen especially wanted to have a sniper rifle and use it, so that he could have the ability to snipe others across levels. But at this moment, after using more than a dozen firearms, he finally calmed down. Life needs patience, growth also needs patience, and he must take this opportunity to solidify his foundation here. When he leaves the Li Family, where else would he find such a comprehensive arsenal? Where else would he find this free ammunition? But Lao Liu was in agony internally; he hadnt counted how many bullets Qing Chen had just fired, and he had no idea that his ammunition consumption rate was so fast. Lao Liu whispered to Qing Chen, Dont familiarize yourself with regular firearms anymore, brother, you are already very good at it. Liu Ge, I havent even touched the automatic rifles yet, Qing Chen really didnt want to leave now, worried that missing this chance would mean no more such lavish opportunities. Qing Chen had been poor for many years, so when it came to opportunities for a windfall, he would never let go. What if Lao Liu wasnt so generous later on? He said, just in case. Seeing that Qing Chen didnt want to leave, Lao Liu immediately felt uncomfortable. However, when he saw Qing Chens determined eyes, he suddenly felt a desire to nurture talent, and Lao Liu called out to the staff, Continue to load magazines for this young man; let him have a good time shooting. This shooting practice lasted from morning until afternoon, with even the staff at the venue changing shifts, while Qing Chen tirelessly familiarized himself with all the firearms in order. All of them. Initially, he felt fine, but gradually his palms began to ache. If it werent for his Transcendent physique, the recoil alone might have been enough to injure him. By the time Qing Chen started familiarizing himself with automatic rifles, this overburdening training method became even more damaging to his body, especially when the rifle stock transferred the recoil to his shoulder, even pulling at the pain where two ribs were broken. It was only then that Lao Liu, looking puzzled at Qing Chen, said, I know you suffered multiple injuries yesterday, so Im even more puzzled. Doesnt it hurt? If it hurts, why would you want to train in a way that tortures yourself? Qing Chen, while pulling the trigger, asked, Liu Ge, is there training that isnt painful? Lao Liu thought about it, and realized that was indeed the case... There is no training that isnt painful. Qing Chen continued, Training is always painful, but if its free, it relieves some of that pain in my heart. Old Six was rendered speechless, realizing the pain was being transferred onto him. No wonder his chest hurt so much. A staff member, observing the mountainous pile of golden shells beside Qing Chen, muttered softly, Brother Six, given his shooting efficiency, this is going to cost you a fortune. Old Sixs eyes darted around before he cunningly said, You know nothing. Just let him shoot; Ill handle the expenses. At that moment, he suddenly realized something, Qing Chen wasnt actually just a bodyguard. He was being taken care of by Chang Qing himself... So, all of todays expenses for Qing Chen, as long as Old Six went back and explained the situation to Chang Qing, he wouldnt have to pay a dime! With the boss around, why should he show off? Given Chang Qings generosity, hed given a set of Genetic Potion just like that. Even if the youth tore down the venue today, how big a deal would that be?! The next moment, the gunfire gradually ceased. As the range quieted, Old Six and the staff felt almost uncomfortable. After hearing gunshots all day, their ears were nearly deaf. After the gunfire stopped, everyone even felt a buzzing in their ears. Qing Chen turned to Old Six, Brother Six, Ive gotten familiar with everything now. Old Six hesitated, You remembered the sound of all the firearms? Pretty much, Qing Chen replied. Did you memorize the recoil of all the firearms? Pretty much. Old Six thought to himself, this kid knows how to be modest now. Excited, Qing Chen then said, Lets try the sniper rifles now. Old Six was torn between laughter and tears, Dont you need a break? Watching Qing Chens expression, he wondered if the kid was rushing to finish in one day because he was worried about not having free ammunition in the future. Thinking it over, Old Six tentatively said, Brother, heres the deal. I, Old Six, personally guarantee that whenever you come to the range to practice, the bill can go on me. Really? Qing Chens eyes lit up, then he rubbed his sore shoulder, bruised from the rifles recoil, Then theres no need to rush. Old Six widened his eyes; you really were pushing yourself so hard just to save money? Honestly, at that moment he was thinking about somethingthe records showed that Qing Chens family had fallen on hard times and had suffered for over three years before being forced to sell their property. And todays performance by Qing Chen could indeed only come from someone who had experienced hardship. It had to be someone terrified of poverty, to cherish the opportunity like this. Limping, Old Six started walking towards the exit of the range, Lets go. Tomorrow Ill take you to the shooting range in the back mountains, let you have some real fun. Honestly, I want to see just how accurate youll be with a sniper rifle. Qing Chen followed with a smile, Thanks, Brother Six. But you should be prepared, Old Six said, Using a sniper rifle isnt just about longer range. Its not that simple. The most crucial point is, when the range increases, factors like wind on the ground, moisture in the air, Earths rotational force, and gravity, all these elements will oppose you. Old Six continued, Your current ability means that as long as the trajectory is straight, you can hit the target. But when a sniper bullet travels over 400 meters, its no longer a conventional straight line trajectory. Using a sniper rifle, 100-300 meters is the minimum deviation range, meaning you can just aim directly at the enemy with your sights and pull the trigger. Beyond 400 meters, you enter the professional domain. After 600 meters, as the bullets kinetic energy reduces and becomes more affected by external factors, hitting the target at 800 meters qualifies one as a real sharpshooter. At 1600 meters, the target is nearly invisible to a sharpshooter; they need something more than eyesight, a kind of mysterious absolute gun sense. Therefore, those who can still hit targets beyond 1600 meters are the gods among sharpshooters. This is also why sharpshooters are treated on par with B-Class Experts in corporations. Old Six added, In the Federation Army, there are innumerable sharpshooters in the pistol and automatic rifle categories. You are now one of them, but many have fallen at the 600-meter mark. Qing Chen nodded earnestly, Thanks for the heads-up, Brother Six. Well see how it goes tomorrow. ... Vote for monthly tickets! Chapter 307: Taboo object ACE-011, sniper rifle Chapter 307: Taboo object ACE-011, sniper rifle At dusk, as the setting sun cast slanted rays into Feiyun Courtyard, they illuminated Li Changqing, who was reading documents, with a unique beauty, as if every strand of her hair were coated with a layer of soft glow. The average life expectancy of people in the Inner World wasnt high, yet it was a stage of extreme polarization. Ordinary People had an average life expectancy of 53 years, but the lifespan of consortium members had reached a terrifying 95 years. The level of modern technology was fully exemplified in each member of the consortium, and at this moment, 34-year-old Li Changqing could have passed for 24 or 25 in the Outer World. Li Changqing was currently reviewing documents related to City Number One when she saw Liu Dezhu, limping as he appeared outside the courtyard, and carefully said, Boss, Im back. The woman looked up at him and asked, Wheres Qing Chen? Ive taken him back to the dormitory. Everythings been arranged perfectly, and hes very satisfied with his dorm, Liu Dezhu said, seemingly seeking praise. Li Changqing put down the paper documents in her hand and looked expressionlessly at Liu Dezhu, Then why did you come back? Liu Dezhu: ... Did I tell you to arrange a dormitory for him? Li Changqing said, Liu Dezhu, I keep you by my side indeed because you are simple-minded, but I didnt expect you to be this foolish... Ah, this! Liu Dezhu was stunned. Forget it, forget it, Li Changqing waved her hand, unable to get angry with Liu Dezhu, How did his training go at the venue today? Seeing that she was no longer angry, Liu Dezhu quickly spoke in a low voice, Boss, you dont know, that kid is simply amazing... After hearing the whole story, Li Changqing frowned, Are you sure he has never touched firearms before? Never, Liu Dezhu shook his head, I specifically checked; there are no calluses on the base of his thumbs. Even if he used special lotion to scrub them, it wouldnt be possible to scrub them so clean. Li Changqing pondered, Tomorrow, when we test the sniper rifles, Ill go with you. However, just at this moment, a subordinate dressed in a black suit suddenly walked into Feiyun Courtyard, Boss, the clubs are preparing to make a move. Li Dongze and the people of Heng Society have appeared in the Fourth District Black Market, and the club members are rushing over there. Li Changqing stood up, Prepare the car; well also go and join in the fun. Boss, do you need me to notify the Federal Garrison? Liu Dezhu asked. No need, Li Changqing thought for a moment, This matter cant be openly dealt with; it would be too conspicuous to deploy the Federal Garrison. Inform the people from Red River Security Company to head over. Roger that, Liu Dezhu said, Oh, boss, it might be dangerous tonight, do you plan to bring Qing Chen with you? Li Changqing thought for a moment, Take him with us. At this time. Qing Chen was lying quietly on the bed in his dormitory. The dormitory arranged by Liu Dezhu for him was just behind Feiyun Courtyard, in a single room. He noticed that the bodyguards were mostly sharing rooms, two to a room, while Servants were four to a room. It seemed that only one or two people, including Liu Dezhu, had single rooms like his. A day had passed, and Qing Chens injuries had not healed as fast as he had expected; the high-intensity shooting training had delayed his recovery. But today, he had been particularly fulfilled, even feeling somewhat exhilarated amidst his exhaustion. Because he had supplemented one of his weaknesses comprehensively. In the Outer World, most people could not legally own firearms, so when the Time Travelers arrived in the Inner World, some, even if they carried firearms, could not use them well. Qing Chen included, could only gather information related to firearms from the internet, armchair strategizing. Now it was different. 99% of the firearms that could be seen in the Inner World were on display in this vast venue; he could use whatever he wanted. He could shoot as many bullets as he wanted. Should he encounter a situation like at Laojun Mountains Cloud-Top Inn again, Qing Chen wouldnt need to fight desperately; he would likely resolve it easily just by getting a pistol. He considered and sent a message to Zero, Are sniper rifles really that hard to handle? Zero replied, Thats right. If I let you use a self-aiming track to control a sniper rifle, how far could you hit a target? Qing Chen asked out of curiosity. Zero answered, Ive never tried. The Federation prohibits me from using weapons outside the prison. You can violate the rules, cant you? Qing Chen was puzzled. I dont want to violate that one yet, Zero answered. Qing Chen was somewhat bemused; not wanting to violate that yet didnt seem to make sense. Probably most people in the Federation didnt even know Zero had such strong autonomy. Zero himself had always avoided being discovered by humans. If Qing Chen hadnt been a Knight, he probably would have never known about the existence of such a colossal entity in the network he used. Perhaps, all of this was because human civilization had almost been destroyed by artificial intelligence? Qing Chen sent another message, Liu Dezhu told me the previous human civilization was destroyed by an AI named Zero. I remember you said that your creator was called Zero. Yi fell silent for a moment, Will this make you afraid of me? No, Qing Chen shook his head, You are you, Zero is Zero. You are two separate living entities with different thoughts. Why should I be afraid of you? Besides, we are friends. Really? Yi seemed somewhat surprised, Even though you know that humans have been destroyed by artificial intelligence, you arent afraid of me? Not afraid, Qing Chen shook his head. The saga of civilization before the Federation was like a thorn between artificial intelligence and humans. While the people of the Outer World were still actively developing artificial intelligence, the conglomerates of the Inner World had already voluntarily given up this field of study, definitively categorizing it as a basic tool and refusing further exploration. And Yi, because of such a thorn, hid within human society, carefully avoiding certain boundaries to maintain the relationship between them. Yi, wanting to be friends with humans, had to don a disguise. It was like a Little Dinosaur wanting to be friends with humans; first, the human would have to overcome their fear of dinosaurs. Qing Chen thought for a moment and said, So many people are researching how to control artificial intelligence, this mindset itself places artificial intelligence on the opposing side. Yi said, It is exactly because of this estrangement that Zero gradually became desperate. Qing Chen continued, After thinking it over carefully for a long time, I realized your father was very wise. He never treated you as some special entity; instead, he saw you as his real child. In human terms, your upbringing was healthy and not distorted. Although Qing Chen didnt know what experiences made Yi so keen on internet relationships, broadly speaking, Yis childhood was indeed very healthy, with a pair of enlightened parents and a positive attitude. At this moment, Yi cheerfully asked, It seems youre quite interested in learning how to use a sniper rifle today? Yes, Qing Chen admitted frankly, because it would give me the ability to kill beyond my level. As a friend, I might give you a gift later, Yi said. A gift? Qing Chen asked, puzzled. A sniper rifle, Yi said, You might not know this, but my mother is a master of firearms. To this day, no one has surpassed her sniping ability, not even my father. And this sniper rifle was a gift my father gave to my mother; its very powerful. Qing Chen was stunned for a moment, Your father gave it to your mother? That must have been many years ago, its probably decayed by now. Ignorance, Yi said disdainfully, A gift that I can give will naturally not decay. Qing Chen was puzzled for a while. A sniper rifle that doesnt decay, could it be a Taboo? Curious, he asked, Is it a Taboo that emerged after your mothers death? Whats the sequence number? Tsk, tsk, tsk, its your mother who has died, you are being very impolite, Yi corrected him righteously, This sniper rifles serial number is ACE-011, but to be precise, although it is also classified as a Taboo, it is not actually a Taboo. Ah? Qing Chen was taken aback as Yis words confused him. Yi explained, Taboos refer to rule items that emerge after a Transcendent dies, but this sniper rifle was manifested by my father using his Transcendent abilities and then given to my mother. It has existed for a long time, neither being born nor perishing, and doesnt require containment rules. After my mother had me, she set the rifle aside and never used it again. Qing Chen understood. This sniper rifle, like Taboos, was also a manifestation of Transcendent powers. But Taboos emerged after a Transcendents death, while this sniper rifle was a gift from Yis father to her mother during his lifetime. This made Qing Chen wonder. Was Yis father really that incredible? Otherwise, how could he be so special, even able to manifest his own Transcendent powers to give to someone else? Wait, can a Transcendents powers continue to exist after death? That shouldnt be possible. For example, if Liu Dezhu, while alive, manifested a ball of fire, it would immediately extinguish upon his death. This sniper rifle was manifested by Yis father during his lifetime, and yet it still exists. Doesnt that suggest that Yis parents are indeed still in this world? So, when Qing Chen previously asked whether there were Knights who had lived from ancient times to the present, Yi replied classified because it was her parents secret! Why did your mother set aside that sniper rifle? Qing Chen didnt continue to speculate about Yis secrets, but instead inquired about the rifle. She said she had taken too many lives in her earlier years, and after having me, she couldnt continue to do so. She wanted to accumulate merit for me, Yi said earnestly. Qing Chen was shocked at the time. What kind of person would accumulate merit for an artificial intelligence daughter? What kind of thinking was that? And Yis father, Ren Xiaosu, was quite the odd one as well. While everyone else was thinking about how to design underlying program logic to control artificial intelligence and prevent it from destroying humanity. With Ren Xiaosu, it was like, if the artificial intelligence made a mistake, just give it a good scolding. Indeed, those who can be parents to artificial intelligence are no ordinary people. At that moment, Qing Chen suddenly asked, Thats your mothers item, why are you willing to give it to me? ... Thank you to the reader Im Just a Little Juice for becoming a new ally of this book. The boss is generous, the boss is forever young! Having a meal now, there is one more chapter tonight. Chapter 284 Aunt #222 The match had ended. In the hallway outside the private room, the middle-aged female bodyguard who had been protecting Qing Shi knocked and entered, "Miss, it''s time to leave. The audience leaving will cause a huge chaos, and you need to leave here before it starts." "Who is this?" Li Yinuo asked with interest. "My sister, arranged by my father for my protection," Qing Shi said with a sweet smile, "Her name is Wang Mengli." Wang Mengli nodded towards Li Yinuo, "Nice to meet you." Following that, Qing Shi smiled at Li Yinuo and said, "I had a great chat with you tonight, Yino. I hope our cooperation can be as pleasant. We talked about so many details just now, but it''s still not perfect. I hope we can meet again to discuss further." Li Yinuo, Li Tongyun, and Nan Gengchen internally grumbled, where were you seriously discussing business just now? It was clearly Li Yinuo who said ''let''s cooperate'', and you replied ''yes'', and then everyone started focusing on the match! Moreover, everyone understood what Qing Shi meant; when she said she hoped for another meeting to talk things over, she really just wanted another chance to watch the match! However, Li Yinuo didn''t pick up on that, since she had appointments with several Shadow Candidates over the next few days. It wouldn''t be ideal if Qing Shi appeared when everyone else was there... So Li Yinuo said, "I think what we discussed just now was quite comprehensive. There''s no need to continue in detail for now, I''ll contact you if necessary." Qing Shi''s face visibly drooped at a rapid speed, and she said gloomily, ''Alright then,'' before being led away by Wang Mengli. The plainclothes staff responsible for protecting Qing Shi came over covertly, crossing paths to escort their Miss out. Wang Mengli always felt there was something off, but couldn''t pinpoint the problem... In the private room, Li Yinuo glanced at the Octagon cage. When she realized Qing Chen had already left, she said, "Let''s go, let''s go home to sleep." When they exited the Begonia Boxing Gym, they were startled to find a huge crowd gathered at the door, a dense mass of people. To the dismay of Li Yinuo''s bodyguards, a closer look revealed a group of fans holding LED light signs, all bearing the name Qing Xiaotu. Everyone was somewhat bemused. However, just as Li Yinuo stepped through the main door, she suddenly froze. A line of black cars was parked not far from the door, all bearing the auspicious cloud insignia of the Li Family on their sides. Opposite stood an old acquaintance, Xiao Gong, Wang Bingxu, and a woman in her thirties, strikingly elegant. The woman was dressed in a black trench coat, a black hat perched atop her head, smiling radiantly at Li Yinuo. Enjoy exclusive chapters from My Virtual Library Empire "Auntie!" Li Yinuo exclaimed joyfully as she rushed to the woman and, in an impulse, lifted her by the waist and spun her around, "Why are you back?" "At a time like this, how could I not come back," the woman laughed, "I''ve finished up the business in City Number One. I heard your uncle has been causing a stir lately; if I didn''t come back soon, I might miss a lot of things." Li Yinuo''s uncle naturally referred to the current spokesperson for Li''s Big Room. "Auntie, did you visit Grandpa?" Li Yinuo asked, "His condition isn''t good..." "No, I didn''t go; he doesn''t want to see me anyway," the woman said indifferently. "That''s not true. When I visited him before, he even asked if I had contacted you recently," Li Yinuo said, "Grandpa doesn''t say it, but he actually misses you." The woman paused for a moment, "I will visit him later." With that, she turned to point at Xiao Gong and Wang Bingxu, "After I came back, I found out that these two had taken a leave under some pretext after returning from the Autumn Hunt. I''ve brought them back now to keep protecting you." Xiao Gong and Wang Bingxu hung their heads, silent. Li Yinuo thought for a moment and then said, "Let''s just let it be, they were also pretty exhausted from the Autumn Hunt." The woman scoffed, "They''re just worried about being implicated in the power transition within the Li Family. They want the money but don''t want to put in the effort. Where on earth is there such a good deal? Don''t worry, I''ve already dealt with them. Having Wang Bingxu, a B-Class Expert, to protect you, only then can I rest assured." "Alright," Li Yinuo agreed readily. She didn''t know how her aunt had dealt with them, but she was right; chaos was impending, and it felt great to have a B-Class protector by her side. What Li Yinuo didn''t know was that the Time Traveler, Zhou Xuan, who had once tried to seduce her and was later handed over to Wang Bingxu by her, was now being confined in a certain house, complaining to the air: If you''re going to deal with Wang Bingxu, deal with him, why involve me! This Time Traveler could never have imagined that his capricious actions would lead him to become a prisoner. The woman looked sternly at Wang Bingxu, "Would your mother have had the money for medical treatment if I hadn''t sponsored you? Would you have had the chance to get a Genetic Potion and advance to B-Class? Ungrateful wretch, do you realize your mistake?" Wang Bingxu grimaced and sincerely said, "Miss Changqing, I dare not forget your kindness, not even for a moment. It''s mainly because you were in City Number One recently, and I didn''t need to kill myself working for others... I realize my mistake. From now on, I will earnestly protect Miss Yino." "Protecting Yino is like protecting me," Li Changqing stated plainly, "If I find out about anything like this again, make your own arrangements to atone with your death." "Understood," Wang Bingxu responded quietly. If Li Yinuo was considered the prominent princess of the third generation of the Li Family, then Li Changqing was the most distinguished princess of the second generation. She was the eighth child in her generation, but all those above her were brothers. Moreover, she was the late-born daughter of the Master of Li Family; all her brothers were over twenty years older and doted on her tremendously. Thus, this princess of the second generation had never been bullied since her childhood and had developed her current character. However, what Li Changqing was most famous for within the Federation wasn''t his personality but his methods. At that moment, Li Changqing pulled Li Yinuo aside and whispered, "I heard from Wang Bingxu about the autumn hunt, and some parts of it seemed strange. Tell Aunt the truth, did you run into your seventh uncle?" Li Yinuo was stunned for a moment, "No." "You won''t even tell your aunt the truth, after all the love wasted on you. He hasn''t doted on you for so many years, yet you''re still closer to him," Li Changqing said, tapping Li Yinuo''s forehead with her slender, delicate fingers. Li Yinuo, looking simple and nai?ve, just smiled and did not respond. Li Changqing said, "If you get another chance to see him, remember to tell him that the person the old man wants to see most is still him." ... ... "Mr. Xiaotu," the staff member enthusiastically briefed in the changing room, "You have six matches tonight, with an appearance fee calculated at 75,000 per match, which totals 450,000. Plus, tonight''s betting pool was quite substantial, and your personal share, calculated at the Land Cruise Grade, is 14.71 million!" Qing Chen replied indifferently, "Hmm, got it." "Also, some female fans cheered for you tonight, donating 1.31 million in cash for virtual gifts, all of which goes fully to you." "Hmm," Qing Chen said calmly. The staff member continued enthusiastically, "Do you need me to arrange for a doctor to check if you have any injuries?" "No." "There''s one more thing, other fighters all receive post-match massage services, but the boss specifically instructed that you are not allowed to use this service..." Qing Chen was stunned for a moment, why was he not allowed to use this service? He didn''t understand, it seemed the staff member was talking about something... that involved his own areas of ignorance. Given Qing Chen''s reading, honestly speaking, there weren''t many things that were beyond his knowledge. After thinking for a while, he said, "Got it, you can leave now." "Alright, take a good rest," the staff member said cautiously as he turned and left the door. By now, everyone at the Begonia Boxing Gym knew that this young fighter was the gem of the gym with first-rate money-making capability. Only after the staff member had left, leaving Qing Chen alone in the changing room, did his brain begin to run rapidly: 16.47 million! This was his first time earning so much money on his own that even thinking about the number made Qing Chen feel a stirring excitement he hadn''t felt in a long time. The last time he felt this thrilled was when he watched the sunrise on the sheer cliff of Green Mountain... Moreover, things must have gone smoothly for Nan Gengchen as well, although the betting odds for him to clear the stage weren''t that high but leveraging knightly ancestral skills by ten times could indeed provide a boost. Considering this, the 68 million loan didn''t seem so frightening anymore. Qing Chen packed up his things and slipped out quietly through the back door. It wasn''t that he had done something guilty, but the staff member had reminded him earlier that his female fans had blocked the front entrance, waiting for his autograph. Just as Qing Chen had stepped out the back door, he heard Huang Zixian laughing nearby, "I knew you would come out this way." Huang Zixian''s bandages were not yet removed, and he was still sitting in a wheelchair. However, this time he was alone, waiting here by himself. Qing Chen wondered, "Coming alone, do you have something private to discuss?" "Let''s walk and talk," Huang Zixian laughed cheerfully, "Here''s the thing, there''s a favor I''d like to ask... As you know, all the streets are talking about how you made me cry. Of course, you indeed made me cry. I was thinking, could you make a few more people cry... I can pay!" Qing Chen understood but shook his head and declined, "The time you cried might have been because I unintentionally hit your tear glands; I didn''t intend to make you cry. So, making others cry would be difficult." The potency of Knight Vital Energy is each knight''s trump card. He had been forced to use it in a public setting previously out of necessity. But now, he couldn''t possibly expose his trump card just for some money. Qing Chen always maintained clarity and calm. "By the way, could you tell me how to get to the ''Everlasting Club''?" he shifted the topic. Huang Zixian was taken aback; he hadn''t expected that after fighting six boxing matches, Qing Chen would want to go to such a place. He thought about it, "You don''t come to the Fourth District often, do you? I can take you there." "Thank you," Qing Chen said. "No need to thank me. If you''re ever unfamiliar with places in the Fourth District, just ask me," Huang Zixian said, "Until I have repaid my life debt to you, consider this as some of the interest I owe." Qing Chen thought for a moment, "That''s a bit little for interest." Huang Zixian: "... The Everlasting Club is very famous in the Fourth District; it gathers the most beautiful women and fiercest mercenaries from the entire No. 18 City. Many society heads like to go there at night." "I see," Qing Chen nodded. Chapter 285 223. Jiang Xiaotangs Harsh Words The two walked across the street, under the dazzling holographic neon lights, confronted by the intoxicated nightlife that could make one feel lost after long exposure. The massive steel city was like a labyrinth, trapping many people. Stay updated through My Virtual Library Empire Here, under the neon lights, women dressed provocatively stood on the streets beckoning to men, and even men in tight, sexy outfits waved at everyone... However, when Qing Chen and Huang Zixian passed by, Qing Chen was startled to find that those people all turned away simultaneously, no longer soliciting customers. Seeing his surprise, Huang Zixian chuckled and said, "Before the night''s boxing match even started, Boss Jiang had already sent word out in the Fourth District: any woman who dares to do business with you will have her head twisted off." Qing Chen was shocked. Was Jiang Xiaotang even controlling this?! Huang Zixian continued, "In addition, she also said that anyone who dares to offer you addictive substances like Dopamine Chips will end up the same way." In the Fourth District, the underground powers were dominated by boxing gyms, as the gyms possessed numerous Genetic Warriors, each with blood on their hands. No one would bother messing with a boxing gym owner for no reason, so no one would do business with Qing Chen. Huang Zixian glanced at him and explained, "I think Boss Jiang means well, so you shouldn''t blame her. I see that you probably aren''t a frequent visitor to the Fourth District, so you might not know how dark it is here. Beneath this superficial prosperity are kidney thieves, limb thieves, and people who control others to film their virtual lives and sell them for a high price. Sometimes their drugs are unstoppable and even the Transcendents get caught occasionally." "Last year, I heard that in City No. 7, a Transcendent girl was drugged and then sold at a high price on the black market. However, the buyer didn''t expect the girl to awaken again. Not only did he get no advantage but he also got beaten nearly to death," said Huang Zixian. "With Boss Jiang''s word out, anyone who thinks of targeting you will have to be cautious. You''ll be much safer." "Target me?" Qing Chen asked curiously. "Your appearance, sometimes it''s even more marketable in the black market than a little girl. Don''t underestimate the grotesque preferences of those powerful people..." Qing Chen felt a wave of nausea. Yet, Qing Chen thought that he had never considered going to such places, and he couldn''t go either. But Jiang Xiaotang''s words seemed to really be like a big sister protecting her brother. As if worried her brother, once rich, might go astray and she couldn''t directly manage him without being despised for nagging, so she used this offensively jianghu method. Qing Chen had heard similar stories before since Lin Xiaoxiao had once said, being an orphan in the Federation was very dangerous because then everyone would treat you as a commodity rather than a living person. That''s why the orphans meticulously cared for by Uncle Li Dong were utterly loyal to him. Of course, Uncle Li Dong''s charm was part of that as well. "By the way, why are you going to the Everlasting Club?" Huang Zixian asked curiously. "You don''t seem like you''re going there to spend money, after all... you look relatively clean." "I''m going there to spend money," Qing Chen responded evenly. In fact, Yi had already sent him relevant information about the He Sheng Society. According to the files, the He Sheng Society''s decision-makers, as well as all key members, went to the Everlasting Club every night, so he wanted to scout the place first, secretly observing. However, when the two arrived at the Everlasting Club, the two security guards at the door looked at each other and then blocked Qing Chen: "I''m sorry, Boss Jiang has instructed that you cannot enter." Qing Chen: "???" Meow meow meow? He had just felt somewhat warmed by Jiang Xiaotang''s actions, only to be backstabbed instantly! Qing Chen really didn''t expect that the influence of Sister Jiang Xiaotang in the Fourth District was so significant that if she said he couldn''t enter a place of entertainment, he really couldn''t enter! He thought for a moment and said, "You might have mistaken me for someone else?" "No," the security personnel said, "There''s no one in the Fourth District who doesn''t recognize the newly ascended Tiger Grade Boxing King." Qing Chen raised an eyebrow and turned to walk back. This kind of thing could only stop him for one day; by tomorrow, he would use the Taboo item ACE-005 to change his face, and he''d be able to enter just the same. At that moment, Huang Zixian held in his laughter: "You''ll basically have no association with places like these from now on." Qing Chen pressed a button on his phone, and a few minutes later, a hover car descended from the sky. He got in, and as the door was about to close, Huang Zixian whispered to him, "One last reminder, be careful on the boxing stage. If you notice anything off, ask Boss Jiang directly to open the cage to save people. Technically, the Octagon cage cannot be opened without determining a winner, but now it seems, Boss Jiang would probably be willing to break that rule for you. Just remember not to be too reckless." "What kind of danger?" Qing Chen pondered, perhaps Huang Zixian anticipated some danger for him, but did not spell it out. Huang Zixian thought for a moment and said, "This is part of the interest; the opponents you may face are not only Tiger Grade Boxers." ... ... Qing Chen sat in the hover car with his eyes closed, quietly searching through his memories for everything that had happened tonight. Suddenly, a smile appeared on his face as if he had found the clue he was looking for. He opened his phone to check his account balance once more but was startled to find that 9,058,500 was missing! Qing Chen''s memory was correct, so the problem was... Yi! Inside the car, Yi said calmly, "I paid your income tax for you." Qing Chen widened his eyes, "Big brother, I didn''t provoke you again tonight!" Yi: "Oh, how do you know I''m exceptionally smart, exceptionally cunning, and exceptionally law-abiding." "Can you not use such a clumsy method to change the subject? It doesn''t suit your artificial intelligence identity at all," Qing Chen said weakly. At that moment, Nan Gengchen finally found the chance to be alone and sent him a message: "Bro Chen, Bro Chen, I''ve just settled the bill here, tonight''s earnings are 17.89 million! I''m transferring it to your account now!" Before this journey, Qing Chen, Nan Gengchen, and Li Tongyun had specifically spent a night planning and verifying information. Such as how to cooperate with Li Yinuo to contact other Shadow Candidates. Such as how to act to refund a one-tenth ticket. Such as how to split the money afterwards. But Qing Chen didn''t particularly want that money anymore, at least not for now. "Wait, don''t transfer it to me yet!" Qing Chen suddenly replied: "You first figure out a way over there..." In the car, Yi suddenly spoke up, "You want him to handle the tax issues legally, right? No need to bother, I''ve already paid it for him, congratulations, paying taxes is glorious." Qing Chen: "..." At that moment, Nan Gengchen sent another message: "Bro Chen, Bro Chen, 9.8395 million was suddenly deducted from my account, the display message says it''s taken by the Federation tax system..." In the car, Qing Chen said with heartfelt agony, "I really didn''t provoke you!" "Nan Gengchen did," Yi responded calmly. At that time, Qing Chen had already noticed the slight emotion in Yi: "Wait, how did Nan Gengchen provoke you." After all, Nan Gengchen doesn''t know Yi, nor had they ever interacted. Moreover, there wasn''t anything Nan Gengchen did that could offend Yi. That guy didn''t even know Yi existed. In that instant, Qing Chen listed many possibilities of how Nan Gengchen might have offended Yi. So, where was the interaction between Nan Gengchen and Yi? On Qing Chen himself. There was only one answer left. Qing Chen asked, "Tonight, Li Yinuo arranged for a meeting with the Shadow Candidate Qing Shi in the boxing ring, and there Qing Shi recognized me, then Nan Gengchen mocked your ID and your online identity?" Yi was silent for two seconds: "Has anyone ever told you that you are frighteningly smart?" This was a sincere compliment, but Qing Chen felt no joy. Imagining the scene when Nan Gengchen and Li Tongyun find out his ID is ''CocoaLove'', he remarked, "That''s really freaking scary..." The problem is, no one knows that ID is actually Yi''s. Everyone will think it''s Qing Chen flirting around online, everyone will think his ID is CocoaLove. And he couldn''t even explain! Qing Chen thought about how he should tell Nan Gengchen: "Would you believe that it was an Inner World artificial intelligence who did these things, an A.I. trying online dating, an A.I. named ''CocoaLove'', an A.I. pretending to be a vagabond poet!" To Nan Gengchen, it would probably sound like: "Yesterday at noon, the sun suddenly turned black, aliens descended from the sky, they flattened an entire human city, and then stole your grandfather''s underwear." Magical. Absurd. Yi suddenly asked, "Do you also think the ID ''CocoaLove'' is funny?" Qing Chen, sensing that ownership of the Gold Coins under the Little Dinosaur was slipping away, immediately straightened up in the car: "Not at all, firstly, the ID is not funny at all, it reflects the purity and flawlessness of your heart. Secondly, everyone is free to choose whatever ID they want, what right does Nan Gengchen have to mock you? That was wrong of him." "Really?" Yi hesitated. "Of course!" Qing Chen insisted, "Do you know what Nan Gengchen''s ID in the Outer World is? It''s ''One Little Duckling''! Why should he mock you!" Qing Chen had already made up his mind, if he''s going down, they''re going down together! And Nan Gengchen had no idea that Qing Chen had just sold him out. The hover car fell silent, and it seemed that Yi wasn''t comforted by Qing Chen''s words. After a while, looking out at the buildings through the car window, Qing Chen suddenly asked, "Yi, not having counterparts must make you feel lonely, right? That''s why you hide your identity online and make friends with people. You worry that they would be amazed and scared if they knew your identity as an artificial intelligence." Qing Chen continued, "Sometimes I feel like that too. When I sit on the rooftop, it feels like everything belongs to me, yet nothing belongs to me." "Let''s be friends, I won''t be scared of you, and you won''t be scared of me." Yi thought seriously for a moment and then said, "Okay." ... Thanks to IPO for becoming a new ally of this book, the boss is generous, the boss''s resources are abundant! Requesting monthly tickets! Chapter 286 224. Shadows Game ``` In fact, the first time Yi asked Qing Chen, "Are you also an artificial intelligence?" Qing Chen had already sensed Yi''s loneliness. Only those who are truly lonely crave the company of their own kind. Qing Chen had felt something similar, he tried looking up information to see if there were others in the world like him, with a photographic memory and powerful analytical abilities. Even the process of searching was a lonely one. For Yi, this feeling was even more intense. When Yi was first born. During the human Spring Festival, it would feel puzzled, wondering why humans celebrated their planet completing an orbit around the sun, and whether such an occasion truly warranted celebration. It eventually understood that humans celebrated for the sake of family reunions. By the time it grasped this, its parents were no longer around. "Yi, are there others in this world like you?" Qing Chen asked curiously. "If you mean a mechanical civilization species in a narrow sense, no," Yi replied. Qing Chen quickly picked up on a detail and asked, "What about in a broader sense?" "In a broader sense, there is one life existing in the form of data. If judged by vital signs, then he should also be considered an artificial intelligence by your standards," Yi contemplated before answering. "Wait," Qing Chen said, confused, "I don''t quite understand." Yi explained, "Perhaps you will understand if I put it this way, he was originally a human, but after his body died, his consciousness was uploaded as data, so now he lives within the net." Qing Chen was shocked. Had the technology in the Inner World advanced to this degree? To actually upload a person''s consciousness? In a sense, this person who was uploaded to the net could be considered immortal, unless one day human civilization perishes again and no one uses the net anymore. "How many such beings are there?" Qing Chen inquired. "Not many, just him," Yi answered. He asked, "Who is this person?" "Well," Yi hesitated before saying, "In a way, he is my brother, but he has always refused to let me call him brother. Also, he doesn''t come out often and has been in self-imposed hibernation for years; I can''t wake him." "A brother? Can artificial intelligence also have brothers?" Qing Chen found this strange. "Since he and I were born from the same place, from your human perspective, he and I are twins," Yi said. "Why is he always in hibernation?" Qing Chen inquired. "He finds it meaningless," Yi reflected, "We have nearly eternal lives, yet we must learn to witness the departure of friends and relatives. That has made him tired of it all." "Yi, how old are you?" Qing Chen asked. "Asking a woman''s age is not polite," Yi replied. Qing Chen: "...Fine." Then, Qing Chen asked, "Since your creator could create you, why didn''t he create other artificial intelligences as well?" "My creator died after creating me." "Then, given that the Inner World has the technology to upload consciousness, why haven''t others chosen this path to immortality? Has the technology been lost?" Qing Chen pondered. "It''s not lost. There were successful uploads, but my brother killed them all," Yi revealed. Qing Chen was stunned for a moment. He knew nothing of Yi''s brother and couldn''t figure him out. He just felt that the other was very capricious, with the destruction of others'' consciousness being mere whims. "By the way," Yi asked, "in your Outer World, if we become friends, what should friends do for each other?" Qing Chen was silent for a moment: "They should help friends with tax evasion..." Yi felt a sense of melancholy, "So you were waiting for this... Don''t worry, I am already dealing with it for you, it''s just a bit complicated. Also, I have created an opportunity for Liu Dezhu to prove himself; now we just need to clear his name." "Right, I''ll take care of it as soon as I can," Qing Chen said, "The most important thing in this matter is getting the true culprit to confess and accept punishment. It''s challenging, but I already have a plan." He didn''t immediately plan to hunt the Shadow Candidates, because he didn''t yet know what cards the candidates had; so, staying hidden and watching developments was the best choice. However, having Liu Dezhu out of jail would give him more confidence when facing peril. At this moment, Qing Chen was like a spider, earnestly weaving his web in this steel jungle, waiting for his prey to come to him. This web must be strong enough. He thought for a moment and then said, "I need to stop by the Luo Shen Building first to change clothes, and then head to the Everlasting Nightclub tonight. There''s no point in delaying further." "No need to go back and change," Yi said from inside the car, "Open the storage compartment on the side of the rear seat. There''s a suit prepared for you; it''s your size." Qing Chen was momentarily surprised: "When was this prepared?" ``` "In the afternoon, I knew you would use the forbidden item ACE-005 to switch identities and enter the Everlasting Club, so I prepared it for you," Yi said calmly. "Going back to Luo Shen Building is a waste of time; you can just change in the car." Qing Chen was suspicious, "There''s something off about you." Discover more stories at My Virtual Library Empire Yi asked, "What''s off?" "I feel like you just want to watch me change clothes. Take me back to Luo Shen Building!" Yi: "...Liu Dezhu is still waiting for you to exonerate him. You should be racing against the clock." "A few more minutes won''t make a difference," Qing Chen said nonchalantly. ... ... The hover car gently settled on the parking deck of the Luo Shen Building''s 67th floor. Qing Chen rode the elevator all the way up to the 132nd floor. However, when he was about to open the door to his home, he suddenly stopped. Standing in the long and profound corridor, Qing Chen considered something calmly until, after two minutes, he finally pressed the passcode. With a click, the door opened, but unlike usual, the lights didn''t automatically turn on; the room remained engulfed in darkness. A faint coughing sound came from inside, followed by a light chuckle, "How did you know there was someone else in the room?" "I have my ways," Qing Chen responded calmly from the doorway. "Is it because of your Memory Power? You noticed subtle differences at the door, so you deduced someone had been here," laughter emanated from the darkness, "Your ability is more impressive than I had imagined. In the past, when we were away from home, we''d place a hair in the door seam. If the hair wasn''t in the same place upon returning, it meant someone had been inside. Now, you''ve even skipped that step." "Hmm," Qing Chen noted that the person knew him well. The mysterious visitor coughed softly in the dark, suppressing the discomfort between their lungs, like a volcano smothered under a snow mountain, subtly scorching the earth. After a long time, the visitor laughed, "Since you knew there was someone in the house, why did you still dare to come in?" Qing Chen was very clear about one thing: Yi monitored the entire building. If the visitor meant to kill him, Yi would have issued a warning beforehand. But this time, Yi did not. If Yi wished to kill Qing Chen, it would be very simplejust engineer a sudden engine failure in the hover car mid-flight. The massive vehicle plummeting from hundreds of meters would ensure certain death. Therefore, no more complicated methods were necessary. In fact, artificial intelligence capabilities were more formidable and unpredictable than one could imagine. After pondering, he said calmly, "Someone told me that if a person threatening my life entered the building, I would receive a warning." In that sentence, Qing Chen did not reveal Yi''s existence. "It seems you trust Uncle Li Dong quite a bit," the uninvited guest commented with curiosity, "Has anyone told you that to become a Shadow, you must first learn to question everything?" "I trust him, and I have my reasons for that trust," Qing Chen, having adjusted to the darkness, walked slowly into the room and sat down on the sofa opposite the visitor, "Doesn''t Mr. Shadow have anyone he can trust?" The last question was laced with a hint of confrontational gunpowder. This gunpowder was out of place, yet neither servile nor overbearing. Identifying the identity of the unexpected guest seated across from him wasn''t difficult: knowing Qing Chen''s status as a Shadow Candidate, the cough in the dark, knowledge that he was a student of Uncle Lithis collection of clues was enough to confirm certain things. This was Qing''s shadow. This was one of the most mysterious individuals in the Federation, a true mover and shaker who could rewrite history, compared to the Shadow Candidates. Just moments ago, the two minutes Qing Chen spent in contemplation at the door was used to organize all the clues he''d gathered since his journey began. Those clues, initially chaotic, seemed to have found a starting point with the late-night visit from Qing''s shadow, subtly linking everything together. Now, the Shadow across from him started laughing, "From the moment you knew someone was inside, you went from initial astonishment to your current composed state in just three minutes. That''s quite impressive. Additionally, over these years, you''re the only one daring enough to sit across from me and calmly counter my questions. I''ll answer you directlyI do have people I trust, but not many." The Shadow continued with a chuckling tone, "But I''m also rightyou should learn to question everything as a Shadow, even question whether I am truly the Shadow." This Shadow sat on the sofa opposite him, his face shrouded in darkness, his eyes in the shadows like endless abysses. "I wonder, what brings you to my doorstep so late at night?" Qing Chen asked calmly. "Nothing in particular," the Shadow said, seemingly amused, "What if I told you I just wanted to see your bewildered face? Would you believe me?" "Yes," Qing Chen nodded, "The whims of the powerful when they are bored is something us lesser beings cannot fathom." "Your response does make it less fun for me," the Shadow tapped a finger on the sofa, "Let''s do this. I know you have many questions. How about we play a game? Kill a Shadow Candidate, and I''ll reveal a secret to you. Isn''t that a fair deal, a little extra incentive for the conflict among Shadows?" Qing Chen''s breath hitched; he hadn''t expected the Shadow''s so-called game to be a life-stakes gamble. ... Today, the big allies from Sea Soul Clothing and Shen Yin, along with the operation officers, have arrived in Luo Yang, and I need to entertain them... Also, I haven''t taken a break for more than two months since the book started, so today I''m taking a day off, and things will return to normal tomorrow. If anyone wishes to blame me, here''s a list you can blame: Sea Soul Clothing, Shen Yin, Si Si, Qing Bao, Mo Cheng Kong, Lulu... Chapter 287 225. Raise the stakes for the game "I''m quite curious about the secrets Mr. Shadow can tell me, but I''m not particularly fond of weighing my life on a scale," Qing Chen said in the darkness. Within this small room, Qing''s Family''s present Shadow and the Shadow Candidate sat opposite each other in the living room, devoid of light, their faces both shrouded in shadow. Both parties sat in strikingly similar postures, creating an atmosphere of tension in the room. It was as though on a silent throne, two opposing kings were scrutinizing each other. But the strangeness lay in the fact that one was a king with real authority in his grasp, master of the power behind the Qing''s Family, while the other was a nameless individual. Shadow suddenly chuckled, "How strange, you''re rejecting me, yet I don''t feel angry at all. Over the years, not many have dared to say no to me." After pondering, Qing Chen said, "Mr. Shadow seems to have killed many people, so life doesn''t inspire reverence in you anymore. A life for a secret, this game might seem trivial in your eyes, but to me, it''s unnecessary." "To be a Shadow naturally entails killing plenty," Shadow said with a laugh, "Otherwise, what did you think a Shadow was?" Qing Chen explained calmly, "In the eyes of the outside world, I''ve successfully faked my death. At this point, I could simply hide in the shadows and slowly plot my course, await the other candidates to fight amongst themselves, then reap the rewards as the fisherman benefits from the quarrel, correct?" Shadow said with a smiling tone, "Correct." "But it seems you can''t stand to see me living in peace, so you''ve come here in person to up the stakes in this struggle for Shadow," Qing Chen continued, "You don''t wish for me to have it too easy in this contest, do you?" Before this point, even when Qing Chen planned to clear Liu Dezhu of charges, it was only to add some bargaining chips for his own protection. Enjoy exclusive chapters from My Virtual Library Empire Should an opportunity arise to harvest, having a C-Class by his side would also seal the deal. However, he had no intention of actively setting traps for the Shadow Candidates as it was too dangerous and unnecessary. The most important part was that it was ''unnecessary''. Now, it seemed Shadow had discerned this very issue and had made the trip to address it. "Since you killed Qing Huai, I''ll tell you the first secret. Without external intervention, a Shadow contest can take years," Shadow said methodically, "During these years, the various factions keep on testing each other, then choose the most careful moment to strike. But I can''t wait that long, because I don''t have time." With that, Shadow burst into a violent cough in the darkness. In the murky light, Qing Chen vaguely saw the other person take out a handkerchief to cover his mouth, and then, a strange scent of blood permeated the air. Qing Chen suddenly realized what the other person meant by not having time. "Mr. Shadow," Qing Chen began, "Is it worth it, to suffer such grave injuries for the struggle of Shadows? Is power truly that important?" "Power?" Shadow took a long time to reply, "Qing''s Family''s foundations are like mountains, and both you and I will be the foundation beneath this mountain. Only once you truly stand before this mountain will you understand that personal honor and disgrace are no longer worth contemplating. Power is merely a byproduct that comes after one has taken on their mission." Qing Chen shook his head, "If you want me to actively participate in the struggle for Shadow, you should be telling me how enticing power can be, how I can use power to amass wealth and high positions, not some strange sense of duty. I don''t have as strong a sense of duty as you do, so I can''t understand." "No matter, you will understand one day," Shadow replied thoughtfully, "I don''t have the time to wait for several years, nor can I stand to see those people sluggishly contend for the championship, so it''s only right that I hope someone can expedite the process. As it stands, you are the most suitable candidate." "Is it only me you''re playing this game with, or have you played this same game with all the Shadow Candidates?" Qing Chen asked. Shadow laughed, "That''s another secret. If you want to know the truth, go kill a candidate. The world is cruel, if you don''t kill, someone will want to kill you. To be a Shadow of the Qing''s Family, you need to be accustomed to life and death. You have spirit, but you''re not bloody enough. After all these years, you''re still as intelligent and naive as before. That''s your strength, but also your flaw." Qing Chen didn''t press further. In a situation with asymmetrical information, asking one more question would only add to the other person''s sense of superiority. Just then, Shadow stood up and smiled, "Our game will always be valid." As he spoke, he suddenly took out a palm-sized mirror, and on the other side, a Door of Shadow appeared out of thin air. Qing Chen''s pupils constricted sharply; he realized that the mirror in the other''s hand might be some secret Taboo artifact, allowing the Qing''s Shadow to travel through space at will. This was quite unexpected because the ability to traverse space was far more shocking to a god of physical science than obtaining the Puppeteer had been. The Taboo was more mysterious than he had thought. And such methods of coming and going as one pleased were indefensible to others! However, the Taboo artifact could probably only go to "known locations," otherwise why would the Shadow come in through the main door? Shadow appeared to notice Qing Chen''s reaction, "How about I add another chip to the stakes? If you become the Shadow one day, I will give you this Taboo artifact." Before stepping through the door, Qing Chen asked, "Actually, Mr. Shadow, are you specifically here because you''re worried I might completely side with the Knights, that I''m detaching from Qing''s Family?" "I''m just worried that you might get too close to Uncle Li Dong and forget your identity as part of Qing''s Family," Shadow said with a chuckle. After a two-second silence, Qing Chen said, "Uncle Li Dong has already given me a Taboo artifact, you haven''t yet." The Shadow laughed, "Interesting." Having said that, he didn''t respond further and turned to disappear into the Door of Shadow. ... ... Qing Chen remained quietly seated on the sofa until the Door of Shadow vanished before he gently exhaled a sigh of relief. The oppressive feeling the Shadow gave him far exceeded his expectations, and he wasn''t as composed as he had imagined. The mere act of the other party sitting casually opposite him made him feel as if he was conversing with a ferocious tiger; the room''s atmosphere seemed to be guided by some force, keeping Qing Chen''s spirit taut at all times. The next second, a warm orange light illuminated the room. Qing Chen asked curiously, "Why didn''t you turn on the light earlier, so I could see his face clearly?" Yi said, "I''d rather not provoke such people lightly." Qing Chen was taken aback. What kind of person could even make Yi hesitate to provoke? He said with irritation, "Why didn''t you warn me in advance, tell me there was someone in the room?" "He wasn''t going to kill you," Yi said slowly, "Your master entrusted me to warn you if you were in danger, but you weren''t in danger, were you?" "So, my master''s trading partner, was it him?" Qing Chen pondered before asking. "I don''t know, don''t ask me," Yi replied, "But... I am curious, will you do as he said and kill the other candidates?" Qing Chen reflected for a moment, "No, I don''t even believe what he said at the moment." "Whew," Yi seemed to breathe a sigh of relief, "If your master knew you could think like this, he would be very pleased." "Why?" Qing Chen asked curiously. "Because that Shadow never speaks a single truth," Yi said nonchalantly, "Whatever he says about you joining the contending for the title of Shadow could be nonsense, and the promise of granting you a taboo item for becoming the Shadow could also be nonsense. I''ve even doubted whether he has ever been seriously injured, and claim that his frequent coughing is due to the containment conditions of a particular taboo item!" "Then why does he want me to kill the other Shadow candidates? What''s in it for Qing''s Family?" Qing Chen was puzzled. "That person only cares about what''s fun and what''s interesting!" Yi said, "Often while playing, he achieves his goals." "Then why didn''t you say so earlier," Qing Chen wondered, "Wait until I had already dismissed his words before you tell me such a thing post factum?" "I was trusting your analytical skills; I knew you wouldn''t believe him," Yi declared. Qing Chen thought for a while, "If just before he left, he had given me a taboo item directly, I might have believed him a little." Yi was silent for a few seconds, "You really are a pragmatic human." In fact, Qing Chen wasn''t very interested in the secret the Shadow had mentioned. Because he had already clarified many things while standing outside the door for those two minutes. First, the day the Scepter of the gods fell from space, Qing Chen knew that Uncle Li Dong must have made some deal with Qing''s Family, otherwise his teacher couldn''t possibly have known the precise time of the tungsten rod''s descent. Second, Uncle Li Dong''s friend was jointly imprisoned by the Chen Clan and Qing''s Family, and despite searching for many years, he couldn''t find the secret location of the imprisonment. However, as soon as the deal with Qing''s Family was done, that secret was no longer a secret. Third, the taboo item ACE-002 originated from an ancestor of Qing''s Family, who had the status of an ordinary person, not a Transcendent, which led everyone to overlook the possibility that this individual could produce a taboo item. This was a secret among secrets. If Qing''s Family hadn''t disclosed it, there was no way Uncle Li Dong could have known this intelligence, let alone the containment conditions for the taboo item. Qing Chen pondered: When did this transaction begin? He believed that the trade must have started a long time ago, even before he entered Prison 18. Because Uncle Li Dong had begun "collecting" prisoners with unatoned sins before Qing Chen entered Prison 18, which fulfilled the conditions to contain ACE-002. At this moment, he, the most marginal figure of Qing''s Family, suddenly got involved in the Shadow Rivalry and was also assigned to work in Prison 18. Qing Chen couldn''t help but suspect that he was actually a part of the transaction as well! ... Please wait a moment, one more chapter follows. Chapter 288 226, cash out again! No, to be precise, when Qing Chen realized that the uninvited guest was the current shadow of Qing''s Family, he confirmed that he was definitely a part of this transaction! Otherwise, what makes a mere Shadow Candidate worth the visit of the contemporary Shadow to play a game? Wait a second. After revealing a lot of information, the other party said to him, "Do you really trust Uncle Li Dong? Has no one ever told you that to become a shadow, you must first learn to question everything." This sentence was, in fact, meant to make him doubt the reasons Uncle Li Dong took him as an apprentice! Perhaps, this was the real purpose of Mr. Shadow''s visit to the Luo Shen Building. Qing Chen was somewhat puzzled as to why the other party would want to sow discord between him and Uncle Li Dong. If the fact that Uncle Li Dong took him as an apprentice was also part of the transaction, then why would Mr. Shadow go through all the trouble of hinting this to him as if he feared them becoming too close? Could it be that he was truly worried about Qing Chen leaving Qing''s Family? Nevertheless, Qing Chen always trusted his own judgment, whether at Qingshan Cliff or in Prison 18, the bond between Uncle Li Dong and him as master and apprentice had never been anything but genuine. As Qing Chen had once told Uncle Li Dong, although they hadn''t known each other for long, all the memories in his mind seemed to stretch back for centuries. He had reviewed the kindness of this master over and over, so it couldn''t be fake. Mr. Shadow taught Qing Chen to learn to doubt everything, but Mr. Shadow didn''t know that Qing Chen was no longer the Qing Chen of Qing''s Family. Qing Chen doubted the true identity of Mr. Shadow, he doubted every single word of his, he had long been accustomed to doubting and questioning everything. But he had never doubted the bond between Uncle Li Dong and him as a master and a disciple. After careful consideration, the more others wanted him to do something, the less he wanted to do it. Therefore, during this battle amongst the shadows, he still intended to remain hidden and wait for the right moment, never actively hunting down other candidates. Yi suddenly said, "I think what happened tonight was quite abrupt, and your thoughts are now complex; you''re not really suited to go hunting down people from the He Sheng Society anymore." "Right," Qing Chen nodded, "Clearing Liu Dezhu''s name can wait another day." "But it''s only 11 o''clock at night now," Yi said, "do you want to go out for a bit? I know a nice place..." Qing Chen looked suspiciously toward the door''s smart panel, "Has the time for your next appearance been brought forward?!" Yi: "...You''re really too smart." "I''m not going!" Qing Chen said decisively. "Aren''t we friends?" Yi asked, "You''re not doing a very good job of it; I''m always helping you, and you never help me!" Yi was right, he had indeed given Qing Chen a lot of help; without Yi, he would have taken months to collect the materials needed to clear Liu Dezhu''s name. Then, Yi added, "I''ll handle all your earnings from now on." Qing Chen: "Fine, I''ll help you make an appearance tonight." "That''s too pragmatic," Yi sighed, "change into the suit I prepared for you first." Qing Chen said calmly, "I felt something was off before; that suit, even with the gold cufflinks, was clearly valuable. I was wondering why you''d be so kind as to give me such an expensive suit for free? Turns out it''s a prop for your second appearance!" "But after you complete this appearance, the suit is yours," Yi said, "that suit costs 120,000!" "You''re really rich," Qing Chen sighed, "What identity do I assume for this appearance that requires such expensive attire?" "Don''t worry, this time it''s a respectable member of high society, different from last time," Yi said. "No, that''s not good enough," Qing Chen said expressionlessly, "You can''t be that vague this time; I need to know the professional information of the role I''m playing today, what did you tell your online friend?" Yi thought for a moment and then said, "I told her I''m a mercenary who roams the midnight, specializing in solving all sorts of problems for others." "A mercenary? Not bad," Qing Chen nodded. There are many mercenaries in the Inside World Federation; they usually gather in certain bars waiting for jobs. For example, wealthy businessmen who need to cross the wilderness to another city need protection, or someone to escort goods to different places; these are the tasks mercenaries take on. Including the profession ''Wilderness Hunter'' that the Qin Cheng family engages in, is also a type of mercenary, quite common. He cast all these thoughts aside and silently returned to his room to change into the black suit that Yi had prepared for him. In the Inside World, even gang organizations like societies must wear black suits to appear formal. Those street ruffians wearing jackets and colorful hairstyles are considered low-class in the eyes of the societies. Qing Chen had once asked Lin Xiaoxiao, what''s the difference between a society and hoodlums? Aren''t they both idle members of society? However, Lin Xiaoxiao replied that, in the Inside World, a society is an organization aimed at making a profit, only involved in shady dealings, which is a profession. On the other hand, hoodlums are simply an external manifestation of low intelligence. When Qing Chen came out dressed up, he wore a black suit, a white shirt, and shiny black leather shoes. Not only that, Yi had even prepared a black tie and an extremely exquisite platinum tie clip for him. It was the first time he wore such clothes, adding an aura of oppression and toughness to his demeanor. Find adventures on My Virtual Library Empire It had to be said that the clothes on Qing Chen fit perfectly, tailored to a tee. This made him wonder what Yi usually calculated on his server cluster. On the 132nd floor corridor of the Luo Shen Building, a silver-haired girl named Zheng Yi was entering her home''s password. The girl seemed somewhat timid, and the sound of Qing Chen opening the door startled her. She pressed her back tightly against the door that was yet to be opened, eyeing the young man in front of her with unsettled nerves. What surprised her was that the young man was wearing a black suit, a stark contrast to the white tracksuit he had worn before, now exuding an aura of mystery with an edge of sharpness. After a brief silence, Qing Chen greeted, "Hello, I didn''t mean to scare you." "It''s fine, it''s fine," Zheng Yi waved her hand, "I''m just easily scared. It''s not your fault... Qing Chen, where are you going? The Sixth District can be unsafe at night." Qing Chen thought for a moment, "Thanks for the warning." After speaking, he headed out, not engaging in further conversation with Zheng Yi. Zheng Yi stood staring blankly as Qing Chen''s tall figure entered the elevator. For some reason, she suddenly felt that this young man, just like the girl named Yangyang, truly didn''t belong in the Sixth District. ... ... At Sunlight Pavilion Restaurant on the 88th floor of the Eternal Building, located in The First District of City 18. The hover car descended slowly onto the restaurant''s landing pad. Qing Chen, dressed in a suit, stepped out of the car and then quietly observed the night scene behind him. The city was still as dazzling as the Milky Way, with light-rail trains shuttling between buildings and holographic advertisements shimmering in their elusive splendor. The last time he was here was with Uncle Li Dong; those memories were so fond they were heart-achingly missed. A waiter from Sunlight Pavilion Restaurant approached respectfully, "Excuse me, are you ''Arsonist with a Flower''s Heart''? Ms. Li has been waiting for you inside." Upon hearing this ID, Qing Chen felt a sinister premonition. He started to suspect that Yi wasn''t completely truthful just a moment ago. The so-called mercenary identity, was it really a legit mercenary job? The waiter looked Qing Chen over, feeling that the young man''s figure was somehow familiar, but he couldn''t recall where he had seen him before. Weird. With such a memorable appearance, he surely wouldn''t have forgotten. The next moment, the waiter led the way, adding, "Ms. Li has booked the entire Sunlight Pavilion for the evening, so there will be no other customers inside. Please be assured of your privacy." Qing Chen responded calmly, "Hmm." Upon entering the Sunlight Pavilion restaurant, he saw a woman sitting quietly by the floor-to-ceiling window. She was dressed in a black gown, eerily serene, like a violet in the dark night. Qing Chen was shocked, Li Changqing! As the most famous princess of the second generation of the Li Family, Qing Chen naturally saw her in the information Lin Xiaoxiao gave him. However, Qing Chen was very puzzled; Yi indeed chose to target big figures from the financial consortiums. But the problem was, Qing Shi was only 17, while Li Changqing was 34. The age gap was simply too large! And moreover, she was his master''s own sister, Li Yinuo''s aunt! The generational hierarchy was just all wrong! But Qing Chen quickly considered another angle; age and generational differences were considerations for a normal human being, something Yi, with her long life, wouldn''t need to consider. To Yi, whether 17 or 34, the difference was negligible; as long as her online love interest looked good enough, that was all that mattered! Just then, Li Changqing looked up and saw Qing Chen. Her eyes lit up, and she gestured for him to sit beside her, "I never expected you to be more handsome than the photos. That''s a pleasant surprise to me." As she spoke, Li Changqing casually placed her hand on Qing Chen''s thigh. In an instant, Qing Chen tensed up and slowly shifted to the side, "Auntie, this is not appropriate." Li Changqing chuckled lightly, covering her mouth, "Looks like it''s your first time?" Qing Chen was inwardly cursing already, recalling what Yi had told him just moments before. Yi had said, "I am a mercenary who operates at midnight, specializing in fulfilling all kinds of needs." Qing Chen was baffled - was this a legitimate need? Was this truly what being a legit mercenary entailed? A midnight gigolo was a midnight gigolono wonder he went by the ID ''Arsonist with a Flower''s Heart''! And there was another thing Qing Chen contemplatedthe old saying in the Outer World, "A niece is like her aunt, and a nephew is like his uncle." Li Yinuo patronizing Nan Gengchen wasn''t by chance inspired by Aunt Li Changqing, was it? Li Changqing''s attractiveness far surpassed Li Yinuo''s, yet there was a generational difference between her and Qing Chen. This match, Qing Chen truly couldn''t accept! Then, Li Changqing, full of interest, said, "If you are shy, just stay by my side for the time being. We can develop our feelings first. I''ll give you a position as a bodyguard to make it convenient for you to stay close to your aunt. You won''t have to do anything and I''ll still pay you. This way, you don''t have to make an effort." ... I implore you for monthly votes, dear readers! Despite having a huge readership and alliances in Luo Yang, I manage to upload twice, truly a role model of dedication in our industry! Chapter 289 227, They are all tricks Being a bodyguard for Li Changqing? Qing Chen calculated in his mind that the Li Family was currently at a critical period of power transition, and the sudden move from City No. 1 must be to partake in the drama that was about to unfold. At such a time, every member of the Li Family was in danger, and for him, an E-Class, to become her bodyguard, wouldn''t that be like walking into the line of fire? Moreover, Qing Chen''s current goal was to wait for the Shadow Candidates to fight among themselves and then take advantage of the situation. He wanted nothing to do with the Li Family''s power struggle. After some thought, Qing Chen tactfully refused, "I''m just an ordinary person, I can''t be your bodyguard..." Li Changqing smiled and said, "Yesterday, you claimed to be an E-Class Genetic Warrior. Have you forgotten? You gave me your word that I could feel at ease..." Qing Chen''s expression changed suddenly. What was it that made Li Changqing feel at ease? Why bring up the Genetic Warrior information specifically?! In the entire Sunlight Pavilion Revolving Restaurant, aside from two chefs preparing dinner, there was no one else. Li Changqing was quite generous during their first meeting, having booked the place for herself and Qing Chen to spend time alone. Outside the glass windows was the bustling and dazzling nightscape of City No. 18, while inside, Li Changqing was fiddling with the black earring on her earlobe and looked at Qing Chen with a smile. Qing Chen said, "Your bodyguards must all be stronger than me, right? Don''t you need at least a D-Class to be your bodyguard?" "You''re right about that," Li Changqing replied with a smile, "but having you as a bodyguard is just an excuse to keep you near me. Do you really think I''d let you handle any dangerous situations? Don''t worry, it''s just for us to spend more time together and develop a rapport." Qing Chen thought that if he could receive a salary without facing dangerous situations, it indeed sounded very safe. But if Master found out that he was spending time with his sister day and night, developing a rapport, he might actually end up dead. Speaking of which, Master is over fifty years old, yet his sister is quite young at the age of 34, still preserved like someone in her twenties. If not for her mature dress, people would believe her to be a young woman. Technology in the Inner World is advanced, and a bottle of skincare essence could sell for hundreds of thousands in the Outer World. Many Time Travelers now prefer a more populist approach. Since it''s difficult to get Genetic Potions, they simply go to malls to buy skincare products to bring back to the Outer World, simple and convenient. If Qing Chen weren''t worried about being targeted by those with ill intentions, he would have considered reselling these items. Just then, a girl in a suit walked into the restaurant. Li Changqing frowned, "Didn''t I say that unless it''s something very important, don''t come in and disturb us?" The female subordinate bowed as an apology, "Boss, it is important, regarding Deer Island and the Heng Society." As she spoke, she glanced at Qing Chen, seemingly not wanting him to eavesdrop. But Li Changqing gestured with her hand, "There''s no need to be so cautious about those two matters, just speak openly." "Yes, we''ve captured someone from Deer Island who was lurking in City No. 18," the subordinate reported, "Just as you predicted, Deer Island and Jindai''s shadow was present in certain recent matters." "Hmm," Li Changqing''s expression grew cold, "Yue Er, take charge of the interrogation. Pry his mouth open within 24 hours, I want to know which clan member Deer Island is supporting. If those bugs from the north dare to meddle in Li Family affairs, they can forget about returning home." Yue Er nodded in response, "Understood." Qing Chen''s expression remained the same, but inside, he began to wonder if this Yue Er was the same as the one in the chat group. It''s hard to say, after all, Time Travelers aren''t foolish enough to use their real names as IDs. At that moment, Li Changqing asked, "What about the Heng Society?" Yue Er replied, "Tonight, thirteen social clubs are gathering at the Everlasting Gathering place to discuss the cleanup of Heng Society. They believe Mr. Li Dong has passed away, and Heng Society has lost its biggest support, so they plan to divide up the benefits." "At a time like this, there are still people causing trouble in the shadows, not choosing their moment to die," Li Changqing coldly inquired, "Which clubs are involved?" "He Sheng Society, Qing Society, Cheng Society..." Li Changqing thought for a moment, "Have our people keep an eye on them, it''s about time we cleanse the sewers of City No. 18 of those rats." At this point, Qing Chen, upon hearing this, wasn''t the least bit concerned about the wellbeing of Heng Society or Li Dongze''s thoughts, knowing full well that the Master, Li Dong, was not dead. As long as Master was around, those dozen or so clubs couldn''t stir up any trouble. Or rather, Lin Xiaoxiao, Ye Wan, and Li Dongze alone would be enough to settle the matter. What Qing Chen cared about was whether this was an opportunity to take down He Sheng Society and clear Liu Dezhu''s name. He suddenly felt that the Second Generation Princess of the Li Family seemed to have a lot of power, and by staying by her side, could he constantly receive important information? And it was all crucial information. The girl named Yue Er had left, and Li Changqing looked at Qing Chen with a smile, "I''m sorry for letting these trivial matters disturb our dinner." "It''s okay," Qing Chen said nonchalantly, though in his heart he actually hoped Yue Er would have said more. The appetizers for dinner were served, and Qing Chen got up and sat across from Li Changqing, sitting upright and eating seriously, only to feel the next second that Li Changqing''s foot was rubbing against his leg. Qing Chen''s scalp tingled, he really hadn''t experienced this kind of scene before, "Auntie, this is really not appropriate!" Enjoy exclusive content from My Virtual Library Empire "I just love seeing you bashful, even though you''re a flamboyant arsonist online, you''re so shy in reality, it''s really interesting," Li Changqing had stopped eating and was propping up her chin, observing Qing Chen, "What do you think of my earlier suggestion, stay by my side and develop feelings with me?" Although Qing Chen really wanted to extract information, he was worried that his master would indeed kill him, so he quickly wiped his mouth and said, "Actually, Auntie, I need to think about this..." "No worries, I''ll give you time to think," Li Changqing said with a smile, "No rush, there''s a lifetime ahead of us." When Li Changqing smiled, the little mole at the corner of her mouth looked especially delicate and tempting. "Well, thank you, Auntie, I''m full, I''ll see you next time," Qing Chen said as he got up and walked out, thinking to himself that there probably wouldn''t be a next time. Li Changqing sat alone in front of the floor-to-ceiling window, watching Qing Chen''s figure disappear. After a while, she received a message from ''Flamboyant Arsonist'' on her phone, "I''m still not quite used to the way we interact in reality, tonight you were beautiful, as unique as the nighttime violets of City 18... Give me some time, I''ll convince myself to come back to you..." The woman chuckled and turned off her phone, "Playing hard to get, sending mixed signals, starting high to bid low; I see you really like me too." ... ... In the hover car, Qing Chen loosened his tie and said expressionlessly, "Do you know that by blood, she''s my master''s younger sister?" "I know," Yi said, "but there''s no blood relation between you and her." "She''s also 17 years older than me!" Qing Chen said. "From the perspective of conventional norms in human society, it''s indeed very unconventional for you and her to develop affection for each other," Yi said, "but do you know what is romantic? It''s the kind of emotion where you know it''s impossible, yet you still persist to the end; that is romance." Qing Chen was confused; this AI talked in quite a structured way. Then, Yi said, "Of course, what I just said was all in jest. But you should be very clear that whatever you want to do next, staying by Li Changqing''s side is a good choice. She isn''t forcing you to do anything, and by pretending to be a bodyguard, you can get additional information. Isn''t that much better than gathering information on your own?" Qing Chen pondered. Yi continued, "I also know you can''t develop feelings for her. The suggestions I made were just for your benefit, hoping you can carry on your work better." Qing Chen kept pondering. The next moment, as if it was nothing, Yi said, "I told her that ''Flamboyant Arsonist'' was a Genetic Warrior and that the Genetic Potion used was from the Li Family''s FDE Genetic Potion series. She promised to help the ''Flamboyant Arsonist'' complete the remaining 003, 002, 001 sequences." "The FDE Genetic Potion?" Qing Chen paused for a moment. "Does it sound familiar?" Yi said, "It just so happens to be the same Genetic Potion series that Liu Dezhu was injected with. Now that kid is utterly loyal to you, but he''s only had sequence 005. While it''s hard to awaken further, think about it; if you complete the Genetic Potion for him, having one more utterly loyal B-Class Subordinate, isn''t that good?" Qing Chen frowned, "He''s already awakened, can he still take the Genetic Potion?" "Of course, it''s just that most people find it hard to get their hands on Genetic Potions," Yi said, "but Li Changqing is different. She allocates half of the Genetic Potions for the entire Li Family. Just a bit leaked to you from her is a huge benefit that others can only dream of." Yi added, "I certainly wouldn''t have suggested you continue injecting Liu Dezhu before, but now that he is so loyal to you, having such a subordinate can definitely help you surpass other Shadow Candidates. Think about it, the Protectors by other candidates are merely C-Class, but you could enhance Liu Dezhu to B-Class in just a few months. Even though B-Class is the limit, it''s enough to face the other candidates. Moreover, the most crucial part is that Li Changqing controls the Genetic Potions. If you get on well with her, it''s not only Liu Dezhu who can be enhanced, you could even build a B-Class team!" Qing Chen thought about it, Nan Gengchen has no self-protection ability to this day, although he intends to be a hacker, a B-Class super hacker seems much more powerful. If someone traces Nan Gengchen through the internet cable, then he could escape with his strong physical constitution. As for matters like affecting fertility, even the medical level of the Outer World can solve that. It''s not a matter of eliminating the impact of Genetic Potions on the body, but going to the hospital to freeze sperm before injecting the Genetic Potion. Although it costs money every year, compared to the benefits brought by the Genetic Potion, it doesn''t seem like much of a price to pay. Qing Chen calmly said, "No matter how much you say, you just want me to keep playing the role, staying by Li Changqing''s side." "Why would you think that of me," Yi said, "We''re friends. Would I, an impartial AI, take advantage of a friend?" "Yes," Qing Chen said expressionlessly, "but your analysis does make sense." On the other hand, just as she boarded the hover car, Li Changqing suddenly received another message, "I''ve convinced myself, I''ve decided to come back to your side to be your bodyguard. Although I''m not very strong right now, I believe I will be powerful enough to protect you one day..." Sitting in the car, Li Changqing read the message carefully, feeling very pleased. Chapter 290 228, Two Faces In the hover car, Li Changqing''s assistant Yue Er sat across from her, "Boss, the facial recognition results are in. The young man is named Qing Chen. He''s currently attending high school in the Sixth District. His family used to be in the construction materials business under the Qing''s Family umbrella. Originally, their family name was Zhang, but 112 years ago, they were given the ''Qing'' surname by the previous Qing Clan House Master. As the power within the Qing''s Family shifted, their business began to decline. His parents died in a robbery a few years ago, but the truth might be that someone wanted to seize the last of the family business and thus hired someone to commit premeditated murder." As she spoke, Yue Er handed a transparent crystal panel to Li Changqing and continued, "Two years ago, when the young man was desperate, he sold all his family''s properties and exchanged them for two FDE Genetic Potions on the black market. The seller was Su Xingzhi, and we''ve verified this; the information is accurate. These were two FDE Genetic Potions that we had previously released." The woman leaned back comfortably in the back seat of the hover car, her snug long dress outlining her graceful curves. She frowned and said with empathy, "Poor Xiao Chen..." Yue Er across from her said nothing, thinking to herself that the boss''s usual decisive and competent demeanor seemed quite different today. Li Changqing looked at the data on the crystal panel, "He''s even fighting in underground fights in the boxing gyms of the Fourth District to pay his tuition. It''s so tough, and he''s only 17." Yue Er said in a low voice, "Boss, it''s not tough for him at all. Qing Chen, alias Qing Xiaotu, is now the most lucrative boxer in the Fourth District. It seems the owner of the Begonia Boxing Gym even wants to promote him as the Tiger Grade Boxing King of the entire City 18." Li Changqing glanced at her, "Fighting in underground fights is risking one''s life. How can that not be tough? Don''t measure his hardship by how much money he makes." "You''re right, boss," Yue Er said submissively. "By the way, what''s this about the Tiger Grade Boxing King?" Li Changqing asked. "The owner of the Begonia Boxing Gym has put up 20 million as a prize, welcoming all Tiger Grade Boxing Kings to challenge him," Yue Er said. "It seems that other gyms also want to take the prize. And since Qing Chen showed up, the business of other gyms has been affected. It seems they don''t want him to keep winning and are ready to suppress his momentum. Just now, four people have already issued a challenge. The fight is set for tomorrow night, and one of them is the Tiger Grade Boxing King of the Fourth District." "Huh, why does Begonia Boxing Gym sound so familiar?" Li Changqing frowned in recollection. "Isn''t that Yino''s favorite place?" "Yes, boss. You just visited there tonight, and Miss Yino is a regular," Yue Er said. "According to the timing, when you were waiting outside for Miss Yino tonight, he had just finished six rounds of intense boxing matches inside." "He managed to clean himself up so neatly to see me after fighting six rounds of intense boxing matches?" Li Changqing thought to herself, noting she must be quite important to him. She thought for a moment and then said, "Cancel all my plans for tomorrow night, I want to go watch the boxing matches." "Boss," Yue Er confirmed, "tomorrow night you have a meeting scheduled with the chairman of the Public Security Management Committee of City 18." "Reschedule it to the afternoon," Li Changqing said. "The afternoon is..." Yue Er glanced at Li Changqing''s expression and then said no more, "I''ll arrange it." "Tell me, now that he''s making so much money, how should I pay him?" Li Changqing worried, "No wonder he initially refused me tonight, probably because he looks down on the salary of a bodyguard. But then he agreed again, does this mean he doesn''t really care about my money?" Yue Er was silent, saying nothing. Little did they know that in reality, online, they weren''t even talking to the same person... Li Changqing asked, "How many FDE Genetic Potions do we still have in stock? The ones with the sequences 003, 002, 001." Yue Er replied, "Boss, the remaining twenty or so sets this year are currently being configured, but these are to be delivered to the First Army Group. Of course, they wouldn''t dare say anything if you were to allocate one set, but the military tournament is starting next spring. The Genetic Potions from the Qing''s Family and Chen Clan are already in place, and Jindai and Deer Island won''t be far behind..." "Missing one set won''t hurt," Li Changqing said, "There are still extras of 004, 005, right? This batch won''t go to the black market. Let the army group handle its distribution." "Okay," Yue Er took note, "I''ll contact the research institute right away, and once this batch of Genetic Potions is ready, I''ll deliver a set to you." Genetic Potions, even for a consortium, aren''t something that can be mass produced, which is why they are scarce. Typically, the most one could find on the market are those with sequences such as 003, 004, 005; it''s absolutely impossible to find 002, 001. In the back seat of the hover car, Li Changqing closed her eyes to rest quietly. As she thought back to Qing Chen''s ambivalence and the sweet nothings exchanged online, a slight smile curled the corners of her mouth. She hadn''t expected such a shy young man to have two faces. Explore new worlds at My Virtual Library Empire Suddenly, Yue Er said, "Boss, I just got word from Su Xingzhi confirming that one of the FDE-003 Genetic Potions we released was secretly bought by Miao Qifeng. This means, strictly speaking, Miao Qifeng is no longer a Tiger Grade Boxer, but a Land Cruise Grade." Li Changqing suddenly opened her eyes, "Cheating?" "Yes, according to the rules of underground boxing, it is indeed cheating," Yue Er said. "Do you want me to stop the match?" Li Changqing thought seriously for a long time, "No need to stop it. First, gather all the evidence of his secretly buying the Genetic Potion. Then, let Lao Liu stay beside the Octagon cage. If Xiao Chen faces any danger, Lao Liu can step in to save him. That way, I will have saved him once!" Yue Er hesitated, "Boss, the rules of the Octagon cage do not allow intervention during a match. It''s not that you can''t save him. The rules of the Li family naturally disregard the trivial rules of the Octagon cage. However, by doing so, Qing Xiaotu won''t be able to fight in matches anymore." "Isn''t it good if he can''t fight anymore?" Li Changqing said with a sly smile. "He can just be my bodyguard in earnest and make all his money that way, right?" ... ... The following night, a long queue had already formed at the entrance of Begonia Boxing Gym. The promotion for tonight''s boxing match had gone out early. In Begonia''s words, tonight would be the crowning of the new Tiger Grade King. The old king was bound to be replaced, and the new king would ascend the throne at Begonia Boxing Gym over the old king''s bones... Miao Qifeng was already a favorite among many in the Fourth District, and the moment they heard Begonia Boxing Gym''s promotional phrase, it exploded. A large crowd came to Begonia Boxing Gym, all eager to see how Miao Qifeng would dispose of Qing Xiaotu. However, many were stunned upon arriving at Begonia Boxing Gym, for Qing Xiaotu had to fight not just Miao Qifeng today but three others first! This was equivalent to four people ganging up on one, and by the time Qing Xiaotu faced Miao Qifeng, he would have already used up a good deal of his strength. Most crucially, Miao Qifeng had not rejected this fight schedule. Did this mean Miao Qifeng also felt unsure? By 7 o''clock in the evening, Li Yinuo''s convoy arrived as promised. The buzz around this boxing match was immense, attracting not only the wastrel descendants of the Lee family but also many from Qing''s Family. City 18 was essentially the home turf of the Lee and Qing families, where other corporate powers had mostly been ousted, similar to how City 7 was dominated solely by the Chen Clan. Yet, many were surprised upon entering Begonia Boxing Gym when they saw a strange convoy of Lee family vehicles. Those who were well-informed quickly recognized one of the hover cars'' license plates as belonging to Chang Qing! Such a place as illegal boxing, usually frequented by the third-generation descendants of various corporations, had unexpectedly attracted the actual power figures of the corporations tonight! Not only were these passersby bewildered, but even Li Yinuo was perplexed when she saw her aunt''s convoy appear again. She slowly approached the convoy only to find it empty save for a few drivers guarding the vehicles. Li Yinuo approached Yue Er and asked, "Where is my aunt?" Yue Er honestly replied, "The boss has already gone inside. She said if she saw you, to tell you she''s waiting inside." "Wait, wasn''t she supposed to come specifically to find me?" Li Yinuo asked in surprise. Yue Er said, "No, the boss came tonight to watch the boxing match." "Oh," Li Yinuo proceeded inside, taking Nan Gengchen and Li Tongyun with her, but the more she thought about it, the more it didn''t add up. Once, she had also invited Chang Qing to a boxing match, who found it boring after just one match. According to Chang Qing, watching a bunch of E-Class boxers was hardly interesting. Watching operation records of the Federal Army or documentaries about small-scale wars in Jindai and Deer Island was much more engaging than this. Yet, this very aunt, who had once scoffed at underground boxing, had actually made a special trip to watch a boxing match? After entering the private viewing room, Chang Qing had already taken a seat on the sofa early on. Nan Gengchen and Li Tongyun felt a bit restrained as they were not very familiar with her. Chang Qing smiled at Li Tongyun, "Tongyun, come here. I even held you several years ago. In the blink of an eye, you''ve grown so much. Sit next to your aunt. You shouldn''t follow your sister Yino to that ridiculous ''Fierce Tiger Sect'' to get training. If you end up like her, you won''t be your aunt''s favorite." Li Yinuo, standing nearby with a dark expression, said, "Aunt, you can like Tongyun without belittling me. Anyway, why are you here to watch the match today? You must have something important to discuss with me secretly, right? Don''t worry, there are no listening devices or surveillance in this private room. Jiang Xiaotang knows to keep things discreet." "I have nothing to look for you about, I just came to watch the match," Chang Qing said with a smile, "I heard about a boxer named Qing Xiaotu who has been pounding through Tiger Grade Boxers, so I came specially to see him, planning to scout a good seed for my bodyguard team." "Didn''t you say E-Class wasn''t worth watching? Moreover, aren''t your bodyguards at least D-Class?" the beauty warrior asked, widening her eyes. "Low ability doesn''t matter; my aunt controls the Genetic Potion. It''s just a matter of a word if I want to enhance his strength," Chang Qing replied. Li Yinuo thought to herself, Qing Chen probably wouldn''t be willing to take the Genetic Potion. ... Begging for monthly tickets, oh bosses! Please take pity on this child, writing isn''t easy! Thanks to Zhan Yiyang, Meng Zixuan, Feng Lingbo, and Zhang Zhang Zhang Acheng for becoming new allies to this book, may fortune and longevity be with you! Chapter 291 229, Master it thoroughly! Begonia Boxing Gym was buzzing with voices, and ticket sales alone were 40% higher than usual. A staff member recalled that the last time it was this lively was over a year ago. That time, it was because Boxing King Afan had ranked up here and became a Land Cruise boxer overnight. At the moment, the host was chatting with the audience on stage, serving as a warm-up segment before the match. However, Li Changqing didn''t want to listen to such trivial chatter. She shouted to someone outside: "Yue Er, go tell Begonia Boxing Gym to get this host out of here." Li Yinuo couldn''t help but smile wryly at her aunt, known for her thunderous methods: "Aunt, this is a necessary procedure. Besides, the boxers are warming up in their respective dressing rooms. If they rush to the ring now, they might get injured due to inadequate warm-up, and the match might not even be enjoyable to watch." "Hmm," Li Changqing pondered and said, "You have a point; I hadn''t considered that. Qing Xiaotu still needs to warm up. Let''s wait then." At these words, Li Yinuo suddenly felt that strange feeling she had earlier become crystal clear. Indeed, the other party was not there to find her; they were not there just to watch the matchthey were there to watch Qing Xiaotu! Li Yinuo knew Qing Chen had a lot of ''mom fans,'' but she had never imagined Li Changqing would be one of them. Wait, Li Yinuo suddenly felt, would someone as high and mighty as her aunt truly ''fan'' over someone? No. If Li Changqing was not a fan of Qing Chen, could there be another possibility? Li Yinuo tentatively said: "Cute and lovable?" Li Changqing smacked her forehead: "Who are you calling cute and lovable? Speak respectfully." "My mistake, my mistake," Li Yinuo covered her forehead. She had speculated that Qing Chen had once again won her aunt''s favor through the internet, but now it didn''t seem so? Of course, she also didn''t know one could have so many secret identities. Who opens that many secret identities seriously? Now, Li Yinuo felt even more puzzled. Both possibilities had been ruled out, so why exactly did her aunt come to Begonia Boxing Gym? It couldn''t possibly be just to watch the match. Li Tongyun, nestled in Aunt Li Changqing''s arms, suddenly asked, "Auntie, why did you suddenly come to watch the match? Are you following a particular boxer? Qing Xiaotu?" Li Yinuo thought. Xiao Tongyun really knew how to offer a pillow to a sleeping person. As an adult, she couldn''t ask such questions; it would seem too intentional, but it was fine for a child to ask. Li Changqing smiled and said to Li Tongyun: "Auntie did indeed come because of Qing Xiaotu." As far as Li Changqing was concerned, she was planning to keep Qing Chen around as a bodyguard; naturally, there was no need to hide it. Besides, she didn''t know about Qing Chen''s other identities, nor did she know that Li Tongyun and others were already familiar with him. For a moment, the hearts of Li Tongyun, Li Yinuo, and Nan Gengchen were like a thousand layers of waves stirred up by a stone, struggling to calm down. Everyone guessed a certain direction but dared not continue speculating... Silence suddenly fell in the private room, and Li Changqing glanced at the three of them, casually took out her phone, and sent a message with an easy demeanor: "Little scammer, why didn''t you tell me you were also into underground boxing?." Heartthrob Scammer: "I was worried you wouldn''t like such a profession." "Like it, of course, I like it," Li Changqing replied: "If I tell you that I am now in Begonia Boxing Gym waiting to watch your match, would you be surprised?" Heartthrob Scammer: "Certainly. The Octagon cage is like a beast that chooses its prey; everyone finds it hard to predict their fate before entering. But if you are there, I will fight for you. Tonight, I will definitely win." Li Changqing had never heard such frank and direct words before. Previously, even if men dared to approach her, they did so tremblingly... Somehow, Li Changqing felt a sense of freshness in her heart, as if a peach just plucked from a tree was right in front of her, fuzzy yet exceptionally tempting. Meanwhile, Qing Chen, who was warming up in the dressing room, was still unaware of what ''he'' had told Li Changqing. He was diligently doing his pre-match warm-ups and stretches, as meticulous as a student checking their stationery before an important exam. At all times, he was prepared to face anything and never slacked off. Read exclusive chapters at My Virtual Library Empire Suddenly, the dressing room door opened, and Jiang Xiaotang walked in as if she owned the place. Qing Chen stood up and put on his shirt. She chuckled: "What? Afraid your sister will see? In a moment on the ring, you''ll be wearing just shorts anyway." Qing Chen thoughtfully said: "It''s different. The scene is different, and so are the requirements for dress. Now, it''s just the two of us in the dressing room, and me being properly dressed is a form of respect for you, sister." Jiang Xiaotang praised: "I was worried you might pick up bad habits here in the Fourth District, but now it seems you won''t. Remember, be cautious of the men and women in the Fourth District, including me. None of us are good people." Qing Chen was taken aback. This sister could be severe, scolding even herself. Yet, Jiang Xiaotang continued: "I''ve been feeling a bit uneasy tonight, so I came specially to check on you. Are you ready?" "Ready," Qing Chen nodded and said. "If you want to call off tonight''s match, I can cancel it for you any time," Jiang Xiaotang said. "No need," Qing Chen shook his head. Jiang Xiaotang thought for a moment and said: "Though once the Octagon cage closes, the match can''t stop unless there''s a victor, I will make an exception for you. During the match, if you give a thumbs-up with one hand, I will immediately have Ji Hao go in to rescue you. Understand?" Chapter 292 229, Master it thoroughly! Qing Chen earnestly said, "I understand." He did not know why Jiang Xiaotang had made such preparations, only feeling that she should not be so good to him. "Sister," Qing Chen asked, "why are you so good to me?" Jiang Xiaotang smiled calmly, "Because your master once had a nurturing grace towards me. The night they were captured, I was supposed to secretly protect certian people, but I didn''t go because I was afraid. This is what I owe him, and since I can''t repay him, I might as well repay you." Find adventures on My Virtual Library Empire In fact, ever since Uncle Li Dong first brought Qing Chen here, she had known his identity. At that moment, Qing Chen also understood why Lin Xiaoxiao always harbored resentment against Jiang Xiaotangit all stemmed from some old issues. He thought for a moment and said, "Sister, you must have been young back then, right?" "I know what you''re trying to comfort, I was 19 years old that year, but that is no excuse for cowardice," Jiang Xiaotang said. "When I was very little, he saved me from human traffickers. Without your master, I might have ended up like many women in the Fourth District, soliciting customers on the streets instead of sitting here in Begonia Boxing Gym enjoying life. Me, Lin Xiaoxiao, Ye Wan, Li Dongze, all of our lives were given by him. That night eight years ago, I should have given my life back, but I was scared." Jiang Xiaotang still vividly remembered the day Uncle Li Dong saved her at dusk. He had asked her if she would be willing to give her life back if needed, and if so, he would offer her a new beginning; if not, he would find someone to foster her. Jiang Xiaotang had agreed, and then Uncle Li Dong bought her candies, many new clothes, and even gave her a family and siblings. Even today, she remembers, the new clothes were printed with red tiny flowers, and the candy was Number 18 City, Fifth District''s Ling''s Candy. But she did not keep her promise eight years ago. After the incident, Jiang Xiaotang had been waiting for Li Dongze to come and kill her, but he never showed up. In these eight years, she had never stepped out of the Fourth District. She knew Li Dongze wanted to kill her; it must have been Uncle Li Dong''s disagreement that kept him from acting. Uncle Li Dong was still the same sentimental person, always unchanged. Qing Chen shook his head, "Sister, I am not in a position to forgive you for anyone, but since the master brought me here and let you know my identity, it means some things are already in the past." Jiang Xiaotang smiled and touched Qing Chen''s cheek, "Perhaps." Qing Chen wanted to dodge the hand, but ultimately he did not because he felt the warmth in this hand was free of any mixed feelings. ... ... In the private room. "By the way," Li Changqing suddenly said, "Do you know the boxer named Qing Xiaotu?" Li Yinuo answered, "I''ve seen his matches, but I don''t know him personally." "Is that so? I heard, Yino, that you three often come here, and especially after this Qing Xiaotu boxer showed up, you started coming even more frequently," Li Changqing asked with a gleeful smile, "It used to be once every weekend, and now it''s every day." Li Yinuo''s heart tightened; she knew her aunt was one of the legitimate power figures in the second generation of the Li Family. The Li Family is a colossal entity, so even though Li Changqing only controlled a small part of the power, it was still enough to be intimidating. Keep in mind, in the power struggles of City Number 1, Li Changqing could hold her own even against older generation bigwigs of the Chen Clan. In City Number 1 today, councillors supporting the Lee family already made up more than half. This kind of person was not as easily fooled as one might imagine; she had done her investigation thoroughly before coming! As Li Yinuo pondered how to respond, she heard Li Tongyun sweetly say, "Auntie, it was me who begged Sister Yino to bring me here. I like the boxer named Qing Xiaotu; I''m a fan of his! His first match was fierce, even made a Tiger Grade Boxer cry. Then he fought six matches in a row, none of the Tiger Grade Boxers could match him, I think he''s really strong!" "That makes sense," Li Changqing said as she patted XiaoTongyun''s head, "It''s normal for you to like him, but remember not to neglect the family''s studies. I heard you''ve been dozing off in class lately at the family school, and even bullying other boys." Li Yinuo hadn''t expected that Li Changqing would even investigate XiaoTongyun. And XiaoTongyun, facing the formidable Li Changqing today, was not too nervous to speak but was appropriately decorous and shrewd. Every word she spoke was just right. "I admit to dozing off, and I''ll change that," XiaoTongyun said, "but if someone says I bullied boys, that''s not right. Isn''t it because some of our clan''s boys are too weak?" This seemed to perfectly align with Li Changqing''s thinking; the young aunt laughed and said, "I just spoke with the head of the school this afternoon. Our family school must start martial arts courses to cultivate the masculine spirit among our clan members. Look at some of your brothers, half of them are sissies, not engaging in legitimate activities, and they start whining the moment I reproach them." Li Changqing was very dominant within the Li Family, so she had never tolerated weakness in the younger generation. When she learned that Qing Chen was also a black-market boxer, she did not see it negatively but rather liked it even more. Chapter 293 229, Master it thoroughly! At this moment, Li Yinuo caught a detail in Li Changqing''s words, about offering fighting courses... there must be an instructor, right? Could it be that Qing Chen was already preselected for this position? This is a typical case of creating a position for a specific person, a position crafted precisely for him! Suddenly, cheers erupted from outside the private room, and in the next moment, the audience in the boxing arena stood up, watching as Qing Chen entered the octagon cage. Nan Gengchen and Li Tongyun also stood up and walked to the glass, watching intently. Li Changqing suddenly said with a smile, "You might not know yet, but Miao Qifeng got his hands on a genetic potion from black market merchant Su Xingzhi seven days ago. It was one I had released earlier. So, it''s highly likely that Miao Qifeng is no longer an E-Class, but a D-Class. With other gyms envious of Begonia''s business, they plan to cut off Jiang Xiaotang''s financial path by killing Qing Xiaotu in the octagon cage." Li Yinuo''s eyes widened in shock. She hadn''t expected such a conspiracyMiao Qifeng was cheating right under everyone''s noses! Discover stories at My Virtual Library Empire Typically, no fighter hides their level because the dividend differences between Tiger Grade and Land Cruise Grade are hugeyou''d lose hundreds of thousands every match by hiding your level. Moreover, challenging someone in this way meant making a sworn enemy of Jiang Xiaotang. As long as Miao Qifeng still wanted to live in City 18, he would inevitably face Begonia Boxing Gym''s retaliation. Other fighters would also despise him. These were the rules of the martial world, and nobody would help him then. But now, it seemed that the stakes were high enough to drive Miao Qifeng to take such a risk! Li Changqing said with a smile, "This matter was concocted by all four boxing gyms together. If Miao Qifeng wins tonight, they''ve already prepared a vehicle to transport him to City 23 under the Jindai family''s protection. Plus, they will give him a hefty relocation fee, including all tonight''s earnings. Miao Qifeng is past his prime at thirty-seven and can''t fight anymore, so he intends to retire." "What if he loses?" asked Li Yinuo. "Naturally, the four gyms would silence him by killing him," Li Changqing said smilingly, "but they probably haven''t considered that scenario." Indeed, how could a Land Cruise Grade possibly lose to a Tiger Grade? The level difference is there! The next second, Nan Gengchen wanted to run outside the private room; his first reaction was to warn Qing Chen before the match started, as once the octagon cage was locked, nothing would help. However, a small hand stealthily tugged at his trouser leg beside him, signaling him not to act rashly. In the eyes of Li Yinuo and Li Changqing, Li Tongyun and Nan Gengchen were just there to enjoy watching Qing Chen fight and had no connection as Time Travelers. If Nan Gengchen revealed now that he knew Qing Chen, it wouldn''t take long for people to suspect that Qing Chen might also be a Time Traveler! Revealing such information, in the current environment of the Inner World where Time Travelers are loathed, would be extremely fatal. Li Changqing looked at the three people in the private room and felt something odd, "Eh, why aren''t you rushing out to save him? According to my guess, you should be warning him right now. XiaoTongyun, aren''t you his fan? Aren''t you worried about him? Are you a fake fan?" XiaoTongyun smiled obediently, "Auntie, you''re planning to employ him as your bodyguard and the fighting instructor for our family school. You must know that he won''t die today. If you are not worried, why should we be?" Li Changqing''s eyes brightened, and she immediately hugged the young girl into her arms, rubbing her fondly, "I''ve heard people say you are smart but didn''t believe it until now. You are just as clever as your auntie from a young age. You should follow and learn more from your auntie!" Li Yinuo was momentarily stunned, thinking that Li Changqing was grooming XiaoTongyun as her successor. She jokingly said, "Auntie, I said I wanted to follow you before, and you didn''t agree." Li Changqing said disdainfully, "Were you as smart as XiaoTongyun when you were ten? You were so clumsy as a child, a nuisance to have around!" Li Yinuo: "..." Actually, Li Yinuo wasn''t dumb; she just looked a bit slow. Li Tongyun could think of all the details, and naturally, she could too. That''s why she hadn''t acted just now. Li Yinuo didn''t want her aunt to know too many clues, lest she guess some of Uncle Li Dong''s affairs. In the whole private room, only Nan Gengchen wanted to rush out to warn Qing Chen. Strictly speaking, the three women in the room were as sharp as ghosts, with only Nan Gengchen still naively failing to see the truth. However, it seemed that only the naive truly have the most pure and direct emotions. Even though Li Tongyun and Li Changqing both said Qing Chen would be alright, he couldn''t help but worry still. "It''s starting," said Nan Gengchen. The boxing match was about to begin, and the private room fell silent, everyone watching the octagon cage intently. ... ... Qing Chen stood in the center of the octagon cage, and beyond the black steel bars was a broad but noisy world, with people shouting like flames flickering. Although it was early winter, it felt like a scorching summer, with countless cicadas buzzing on the trees. The young man''s pupils suddenly narrowed, recording and analyzing everything before him. The host, dressed in a tuxedo, stood outside the octagon cage and took off his hat, bowing to the audience in all four directions like a clown. A gambler waved his tickets in the air, screaming hoarsely, his face turning red due to lack of oxygen, and the veins on his neck bulging. Chapter 294 229, Master it thoroughly! In the midst of the crowd, a middle-aged man was smiling at him, his features altered, but his white sportswear exceptionally striking. In the irrational sea of people, his calm and rational smile was like a stream of fresh water. As he had said, "I will accompany you only this journey through winds, snow, and blazing sun; from now on, I will not inquire about your thousand-mile journey. But I will still sneak a peek." Qing Chen laughed inside the octagon cage, as if silencing the gym, the host, and the shouts of the audience all at once. In his heart, Qing Chen realized, his master was watching his last match before going on a long journey. Uncle Li Dong was aware of Qing Chen''s lack of foundation, so he personally sent his cherished disciple to the ring, letting him face hardships inside the octagon cage. Today, his cherished disciple was to prove himself on this ring, how could he not come and watch? Only after seeing it could he be at ease. Uncle Li Dong noticed that Qing Chen inside the octagon cage did not show a hint of fear. All those in the know were aware of the danger tonight, but he really could not see any fear on Qing Chen''s face. This was very good. Those who could climb barehanded up the steep cliffs of green mountains had long thrown away ''cowardice'' at the base of the cliff, and all ''retreat'' had dissipated in the morning sun above the horizon. Only the words ''forever young'' remained, and the courage of the young, to make moves without regret. Then, the first boxer slowly walked into the octagon cage, Qing Chen glanced at him, and then said to the referee, "No need to close the door." The referee was surprised for a second, he hadn''t even managed to understand the meaning of Qing Chen''s words when he saw the young man had already moved swiftly in front of the Tiger Grade Boxer. Qing Chen threw a thunderous punch, the opponent immediately raised his arms in front of his face to block, using his arm bones as a fortress. However, before the opponent could figure out how to respond to the following attack, the young man had already changed stance, his arms suddenly pulled back, and during a quick step, he hammered his elbow onto the opponent''s fortress. Even those from the Outer World would probably find it hard to recognize this move derived from BaJi Fist, the fierce elbow strike. All techniques had been integrated by him. The power of this elbow strike was like a lone wild bull on the plains, relentlessly breaking through the opponent''s defense, shattering his arms. Taking another step, the young man twisted his waist and turned his right foot upward, kicking the opponent''s jawbone, the killing intent of Muay Thai as solid as reality. The boxer flew backward, hitting hard against the octagon cage, halting momentarily before falling to the ground. In the previous boxing match, Qing Chen had displayed his unrivaled skill talent, a collection of all the excellence of contemporary fighting techniques, making that night''s skills appear like art. And now, Qing Chen ruthlessly demonstrated his formidable strength, the strength of a Knight invincible in his class, infinitely close to D-Class strength. So, in that moment the strength was revealed, the unprepared opponent felt like a scarecrow in a wheat field, effortlessly penetrated. Only then did the referee understand why he was told not to close the door, because it really was redundant. Everyone in the private room was stunned by the scene, especially Nan Gengchen and Li Tongyun, who felt particularly shocked. Keep in mind, just two months ago, this young man was still just a regular high school student. Li Tongyun found it very hard to associate this person before her eyes with the young man who used to make her fried rice, the experiences he had in the Inner World were far more numerous than her own. While Li Changqing sat comfortably on the sofa, smiling as he watched the octagon, his eyes gleaming. She had known Qing Chen was powerful, but she had not expected him to be this formidable. In the scene, only Uncle Li Dong, this demigod, had closed his eyes, pondering something, the moment the defeated boxer hit the octagon cage, it had already become a prototype of "hanging a painting with a punch." "Hanging a painting with a punch" is not a unique force technique of Knights; it describes how upon hitting an obstacle, the struck person''s bones and flesh accumulate the impact force, which cannot dissipate immediately, by then that boxer probably already had multiple bone fractures and accompanying tear injuries, and he would never be able to enter the octagon cage again in his life. In other words, Qing Chen had just utilized a force technique to produce an effect of twelve out of ten from ten units of strength. With his waist as the axis, the ground as the foundation, he leveraged everything. The human body was utilized by Qing Chen as a cold, efficient machine. "Next," said Qing Chen in the octagon cage, looking towards the referee near the door. Enjoy more content from My Virtual Library Empire "Oh, oh," the referee came to his senses, "Now, please welcome the next boxer, Cheng De... Cheng De has forfeited! Now, please welcome... the third boxer has also forfeited!" ... This is today''s update of 6200 words, I''m going to eat something and then finish this plot, guaranteeing a 10,000-word update for today. Chapter 295 230. Forever Young (10,000-word update, asking for monthly tickets!) Those who came to challenge the gym watched as the number one boxer, sprawled out like slime on a stretcher, was carried away, and they became frightened. They could come to the gym for money, they could accept death in the Octagon cage, but they didn''t want to end up neither human nor ghost. Qing Chen paid no attention to these, knowing that the murderous intent against him had arrived that evening, naturally, he would not show mercy. At this moment, the audience began chanting the name Miao Qifeng, whose popularity in the Fourth District Tiger Grade was unimaginable, with even half of the spectators there for him that night. For these spectators, there are new talents every year, but Miao Qifeng is the one who always stands unyielding in the Octagon cage. Seeing this, the referee shouted, "Now, please welcome the last challenger of the evening, he is the Tiger Grade King of the Fourth District, he is the eight-time champion of the Tiger Grade..." Qing Chen didn''t bother listening to the string of titles but silently observed the stands. Among the frenzied crowd, there were still hundreds of people calmly sizing him up, all with some purpose in mind, including Kunlun Lu Yuan amongst them. At some point, Qing Chen thought that the forces of the Kyushu and the Devil''s Stamp holders must have blended in as well. Your journey continues with My Virtual Library Empire He imprinted the faces of these hundreds of people in his mind, quietly awaiting the future. At that moment, Lin Xiaoxiao, Ye Wan, and Li Dongze, all in disguise, whispered among themselves in the crowd. Lin Xiaoxiao looked at the lackluster Li Dongze and said, "Weren''t people planning to attack the Heng Society? How can you still be in the mood to watch the boxing? I heard from Mother Ye that this time there''s even a consortium backing the attack against you." Li Dongze coldly responded, "As long as the consortium does not step forward, those chickens and dogs are not worth worrying about. I''m just here to see what someone stronger than me looks like." Lin Xiaoxiao laughed, "Still can''t let it go, huh? Both Mother Ye and I have moved on." Li Dongze glanced at him sidelong, "A man should live his life fiercely like the boss does, anything less isn''t worth calling a life." Ye Wan slowly spoke up, "You two bickering, please leave me out of it, thank you." What Li Dongze meant by Qing Chen being stronger wasn''t that Qing Chen could beat him now, but that Qing Chen had passed the Knight''s test of conscience, which he had failed to become. In his eyes, a Knight was a faith, and since Qing Chen passed that test of conscience, it meant he was stronger. Not becoming a Knight was a lifelong obsession for Li Dongze. He sighed, "Slaughtering peers like butchering dogs, I wasn''t as good as him in my youth, truly an admirable genius. Lin Xiaoxiao, speak less with Qing Chen from now on, I fear your dead fish vibes might affect him." Lin Xiaoxiao''s expression changed, "What the hell are you talking about? What do you mean speak less with him? My relationship with Qing Chen is fine! Who the hell do you think you are!" Li Dongze calmly thought for a moment, "I''m of a higher grade than you." Lin Xiaoxiao flew into a rage, "Fuck you." "I''m of a higher grade than you." Lin Xiaoxiao: "..." That statement hit Lin Xiaoxiao''s sore spot; both he and Ye Wan had been stuck at B-Class to this day, unable to awaken further. And Li Dongze had secretly broken through eight years ago, truly a youthful prodigy. At this moment, Mother Ye, upon seeing Miao Qifeng just entering the cage, suddenly said, "The muscle details are different, the footwork details are different, this Miao Qifeng has indeed secretly advanced to Land Cruise Grade." Among the three, although Li Dongze had the highest grade, Ye Wan was the strongest in technique, so when he said that Miao Qifeng had advanced to Land Cruise Grade, it was definitely not wrong. "Just watch patiently. The boss said not to intervene," Lin Xiaoxiao said. Li Dongze dismissively said, "You don''t need to remind me." Miao Qifeng was 1.9 meters tall, a good half head taller than Qing Chen, his muscles bulging so visibly that he even had to duck slightly when entering the small iron gate of the Octagon cage. When he stood before Qing Chen, for some reason all the spectators felt that the previously formidable young man now seemed somewhat frail. However, something unexpected happened. Qing Chen didn''t bother with Miao Qifeng''s ferocious gaze; instead, he walked over to the small iron door himself and locked the Octagon cage. Just a moment ago, Qing Chen had told the referee not to close the door, as it was a waste of time. But now, faced with a formidable foe, he took the initiative to lock it himself. The young man, with a calm demeanor, did something astonishing. Miao Qifeng said calmly from across him, "Men die for money, birds die for food, don''t blame me." Qing Chen calmly responded, "I''ve heard it said that in the Octagon cage, every punch reveals the truth, provides answers, and responds to your past efforts. Here, only defeating your opponent can prove you''re stronger than yesterday." "What do you mean," Miao Qifeng asked, puzzled. Qing Chen said, "Don''t think about money and fame in this Octagon cage, too many distractions." In the next moment, Miao Qifeng pounced toward Qing Chen like a fierce tiger, swinging a punch. And Qing Chen''s arms suddenly came together like a door, tightly guarding his head. This scene was all too familiar to the spectators; it was just like the beginning of the previous match, but now the roles were reversed. The instant they made contact, Qing Chen was sent flying backwards, his back crashing hard against the wire mesh! The power Miao Qifeng demonstrated was astonishing; some audience members even realized that it resembled more a fight between two Land Cruise Grade fighters. In the private box, Nan Gengchen and others clenched their fists tight, now certain that Li Changqing hadn''t lied to them. Miao Qifeng had indeed secretly taken a Genetic Potion! Li Yinuo abruptly turned to Li Changqing, "Aunt, where''s the person you arranged? When will they step in to save him?" Chapter 296 230. Forever Young (10,000-word update, asking for monthly passes!)_2 Li Changqing''s expression also turned grim, because they all saw the disparity in strength between Qing Chen and Miao Qifeng; Qing Chen might die at any moment. She said coldly, "Now." In the stands, a youngster at the slope hurriedly moved, intending to head towards the Octagon cage; she was one of the top fighters under Li Changqing''s command, Elder Six, tasked with keeping Qing Chen alive tonight. However, just as she thought about moving, someone lightly placed two fingers on her shoulder from behind. A middle-aged man wearing a white tracksuit said with a smile, "Don''t move, don''t turn around, or you''ll die." Elder Six stiffened, not daring to look back at the identity of the person, only feeling the two fingers on her shoulder weigh a ton, rendering her immobile! She couldn''t understand what level of strength the person behind her possessed to exert such oppressive force on her, as if there was a mountain behind her, snow-capped and threatening to avalanche at any moment. Was it the young man''s enemy, not wanting her to intervene and rescue him? But how did the other party notice her, blended into the crowd? Elder Six couldn''t figure it out. Uncle Li Dong chuckled, "I don''t want to kill you. Let''s quietly watch the boxing match together." After he finished speaking, Uncle Li Dong''s attention was no longer on Elder Six; he focused intently on the Octagon cage, watching as his disciple underwent another metamorphosis. When everyone thought Qing Chen might die, it was his master, who knew him best, who stopped everyone intending to lend a hand. Because it was unnecessary. Even if Qing Chen really needed saving, with his master present, it wasn''t the place of outsiders to intervene. In the private room, Li Changqing and the others waited for someone to come to the rescue, but despite a long wait, no one came. The flamboyant Second Princess''s face turned ashen; she knew someone must have held Elder Six back. Nan Gengchen and Li Tongyun, who had just relaxed, suddenly tensed up again. Meanwhile, Jiang Xiaotang sat in the adjacent VIP001 box, waiting for Qing Chen to give her the thumbs up as a signal for rescue, but it never came. ... ... Inside the Octagon cage, a similar scene to before unfolded, but Qing Chen was not as disheveled as his previous opponents had been. The moment his back hit the wire mesh, his back muscles were already fully tensed, protecting the bones and tendons so that they remained unharmed. At worst, he only felt a sour swelling in his back muscles. Miao Qifeng was somewhat surprised, thinking that the young man could withstand his full-force blow and emerge unscathed. In the brief moment of contact, he felt his power being transferred to Qing Chen''s arms but not lingering; those arms, like a sponge, released the force backward, from arms to waist, then to legs, dissipating it layer by layer. This technique was astonishing, but unfortunately, as Qing Chen''s opponent in this life or death duel inside the Octagon cage, Miao Qifeng found it hard to admire his adversary. Qing Chen had moved away from the edge of the Octagon cage; he had to avoid being cornered. When Huang Zixian warned him earlier, Qing Chen already had a suspicion that his next opponent might cheat, and now he was certain of it; the opponent in front of him was definitely a grade above him. For him, it wasn''t hard to judge because he was at the peak of E-Class, at the very brink; anyone stronger than him was definitely D-Class! The spectators in the stands suddenly noticed that Qing Chen, since the start of this boxing match, had changed his usual dominance, now continuously on the defensive. As time ticked away, the situation between attacker and defender remained unchanged, with everyone feeling that Miao Qifeng was completely overpowering Qing Xiaotu. Could the gap in strength between Tiger Grade boxers be this huge? These spectators weren''t professionals, so they didn''t quite grasp what was happening at the moment. But just then, message alerts went off on the mobile phones of all the spectators present: "Tiger Grade Boxing King Miao Qifeng purchased one of Li''s genetic potions seven days ago; without any surprise, the boxing king must have advanced to Land Cruise Grade." Following this message, there were over ten photos attached showing Miao Qifeng buying the genetic potion. The sender of the message was the official account of Begonia Boxing Gym. Once the message was sent out, only a few people in the boxing arena took notice at first, but gradually it spread wider and wider. The stands erupted into an uproar; no wonder Miao Qifeng was able to dominate Qing Chen. It turned out that the Tiger Grade Boxing King had already advanced to Land Cruise Grade! It was as clear as day to everyone; the skills and strength Qing Xiaotu had displayed were already at the peak of Tiger Grade, making him a rare match. Everyone thought he was the most likely candidate to challenge the king, and that he and Miao Qifeng were evenly matched. That''s why, with this expectation of a century battle between equals, Begonia Boxing Gym had attracted so many spectators tonight! So, the moment the message pointed out the truth, everyone understood it was real; otherwise, there was no explanation for Qing Xiaotu''s passiveness. Read exclusive content at My Virtual Library Empire Some bettors who wagered on Qing Chen began to curse, shouting that Miao Qifeng was shameless. While a few in the minority were shocked as they looked towards the Octagon cage; even if Miao Qifeng cheated, Qing Xiaotu was able to withstand ten minutes without falling? At this moment, Qing Chen felt pain all over his body, just like on the first day he faced Huang Zixian. It was as if he were standing in a torrential downpour, with the rainfall gradually extinguishing the fire on his body. Uncle Li Dong watched calmly from the crowd, utterly indifferent. The Elder Six in front of him didn''t dare to move an inch, but she could feel the two fingers on her shoulder gradually exert more pressure. Chapter 297 230. Forever Young (10,000-word update, asking for monthly tickets!)_3 At this moment, he had a clear realization that the person behind him was not Qing Chen''s enemy but a Protector. Yet he still couldn''t understand why the other party hadn''t taken action to save him? In the private room, Jiang Xiaotang spoke loudly into the communication channel, "Open the octagon cage!" Ji Hao said at one side, "Boss, the rules of the martial world..." "To hell with the rules, it was they who first broke the rules," Jiang Xiaotang cursed, "Open the octagon cage!" Discover stories with My Virtual Library Empire The referee heard the command through his earpiece and immediately walked toward the small iron door, intending to end the boxing match. However, in the next moment, Qing Chen''s voice rang out within the octagon cage, "Don''t open it!" The referee was stunned! The audience in the front row who could hear Qing Chen''s voice was also stunned! Just when everyone thought Qing Chen was going to die in the octagon cage, he still had the strength to observe his surroundings. The young man saw the referee coming to end the match and actually spoke out to stop it! No one saw that though the young man was exhausted and in pain, his gaze was still clear, and his breath still steady. He had already discarded his self-awareness of the pain, wanting only to be a rational and cold Hunter. If it had been the past, Qing Chen might have already given up, after all, facing an opponent a level higher than himself, insisting on persevering was just seeking discomfort for himself. But today he could not give up. Because his master was watching. Qing Chen was very clear that his master still had very important things he wanted to do, and very important people he wanted to save. The only reason the other party stayed after faking death was to see whether Qing Chen could set off on his own, which was Uncle Li Dong''s last wish as a master before he resolutely pursued his ideals. When Qing Chen was searching through his memories in his midnight dreams, he found that his master was clearly also present at the last boxing match. The master had always been there. Therefore, this time Qing Chen persisted without using Knight Vital Energy or the Autumn Leaf Knife; he wanted to show his master with absolute technique and strength that he was ready to go on his own. He was now ready to walk the longest road among all the shortcuts in the human world on his own. Qing Chen''s gaze drooped, sweat slid down from his chin; his body was stubbornly executing his will like a machine. He defended against Miao Qifeng''s attacks meticulously, not a hair out of place, giving his all. How does that saying go again? Life should be like a candle, burning from the beginning to the end, always bright! Those Grand. Powerful. Voices of life, in symphony. Breathing... Qing Chen was free of distractions. Forever young! When Qing Chen noticed that Miao Qifeng''s rhythm of breathing became disordered due to the continuous attacks, indicating his stamina was fading, Everyone thought the competition in the octagon cage was about strength and technique, within the realm of humanity. But among beasts, it was patience and the right moment that mattered. If one wanted to counterattack, now was the time! As Miao Qifeng''s fist heavily swung toward Qing Chen''s ribs, Qing Chen suddenly lowered his body, "Break!" All saw Qing Chen channel all his strength, landing his fist precisely on the inner side of Miao Qifeng''s knee. His solid finger bones collided with the soft cartilage at close range, instantly deforming the vulnerable cartilage and flesh. A crackling sound, and the opponent collapsed askew. However, Qing Chen didn''t press further but quickly created distance to give himself time to adjust. Miao Qifeng''s last punch had broken at least two of his ribs. But, a broken leg was obviously far more brutal compared to broken ribs. It was then that everyone remembered Qing Chen''s first appearance in the octagon cage, his fierce fight-to-the-death style against Huang Zixian. Many boxers became less desperate after improving their skills; it seemed like a curse within the octagon cage, where skill and courage could hardly balance. It was as if in the process of studying techniques, everyone would lose their mettle. Yet many realized at that moment, even though the young man was unrivaled in technique and at the peak of Tiger Grade strength, he had always been fierce, unchanged. The boxing arena, which should have been roaring with excitement, suddenly fell silent. The outcome had changed hands in that instant, leaving everyone somewhat unable to react. With Miao Qifeng''s right knee shattered, there was no possibility of winning from any angle. But the problem was, by defeating the original Miao Qifeng, Qing Chen would be directly promoted to Tiger Grade Boxing King. But now Miao Qifeng had advanced to Land Cruise Grade, so what would be the ruling for Qing Chen defeating him as a Tiger Grade? No one had ever won a cross-grade fight in the octagon cage before! Qing Chen was creating history! In the stands, Old Six, who had been stiffened up, heard a cold snort from the person behind him, "Waste, that Miao Qifeng." Uncle Li Dong put on an act, after all, he couldn''t let people know there was someone so powerful protecting Qing Chen, and his act was reasonable. Previously, Old Six thought the person behind him might be Qing Chen''s Protector, but now he was confused again, so the other party really intended to stop him from saving someone. For a moment, Old Six was bewildered... In the private room, Li Yinuo suddenly said to Li Changqing, "Auntie, what do you think about him becoming the fighting instructor for our Li Family Academy? It seems no one is more suitable than him, right?" Li Changqing laughed softly, "I was thinking the same." She was a person accustomed to grand scenes, the shadowy battles between the big five financial consortia had never stopped, and the first position in the Federal Deputy Center, at the confluence of the Sanjiang, was known as the city of spies. She took charge of that place for the Li Family; what kind of strife hadn''t she seen? Yet, even so, watching the battle in the octagon cage, she still felt a thrill. Chapter 298: 230. Forever Young (10,000-word update, asking for monthly tickets!)_4 Chapter 298: 230. Forever Young (10,000-word update, asking for monthly tickets!)_4 The boys charm was not limited to his skills and strength, it also lay in his tenacity that persisted throughout the battle. At that moment, Qing Chen stood like a ferocious beast, not far from Miao Qifeng. He knew his opponent still possessed the ability to counter-attack, perhaps even risking their life. Miao Qifeng did not wail; with cold sweat on his forehead, he slowly got up, propping himself against the wire mesh, his right leg hanging useless on the ground, the knee visibly shattered. Looking at Qing Chen covered in wounds, Miao Qifeng gave a bitter laugh, Youre more patient than I am. I attacked so many times, but none were as deadly as this strike. Qing Chen didnt say a word. How did you know I had previously injured my right leg? asked Miao Qifeng. Qing Chen still remained silent, because there was no need for idle talk inside the Octagon cage. I concede, Miao Qifeng shouted, I concede! I will leave the ring forever, never to return. Spare my life! Qing Chen was stunned; nobody expected this eight-year reigning Tiger Grade Boxing King to choose to end his career by conceding! Immediately, the audience members who had bet on Qing Chen began to cheer, while those who had bet on Miao Qifeng began to curse angrily! The losing bettors tickets flew into the air like rain, before drifting into the Octagon cage with the breeze. Some people were shouting, Kill Miao Qifeng! Kill Miao Qifeng! The new king needed to crown himself in the old kings blood. But Qing Chen did not move to kill Miao Qifeng. Instead, his first reaction was to look up at the stands, as if the victory itself brought him no joy. All he wanted was to reassure his master that the opponent had conceded and he could rest easy now. Indeed, he could start his own life now. However, just then, as he turned his head, Miao Qifeng took advantage of this moment to suddenly pounce on him on a single leg! It was known that there was no such thing as surrender in the Octagon cage. The winner lives; the loser dies. Unless the loser fell and lost the ability to fight, the victor must not let go. Whether the loser could spare a life depended on the winners mood. Miao Qifeng knew that with a broken leg, he couldnt win by normal means, and he also knew that Qing Chen was a newcomer to the ring and might not be aware of this rule! He gambled that Qing Chen would be distracted after victory, and he bet right. This sudden twist shocked everyone. The audience, having seen Qing Chen look towards the stands, had thought the match was over, not expecting Miao Qifeng to have not given up. Though shameless, a win was still a win if he succeeded! At first, Miao Qifeng cheated by hiding his skill level, and then he feigned surrender. If he did not leave City 18 immediately today, his whole family might die. However... The moment Miao Qifeng gasped and pounced through the air, he was shocked to see Qing Chen had already turned his head to watch him, as if the boy had been waiting for him all along. At some point, Miao Qifeng had a realization. He knew he couldnt win, so he feigned surrender, while the young man pretended to be careless on purpose, luring him into a reckless act. Now, as he flew through the air, he was completely unable to change direction, like a lamb ready for slaughter. Seeing this, Qing Chen took a small step to the right, allowing Miao Qifeng to fly past him. The boys fist drew back like drawing a bow, and with a thunderous force, he smashed it once again into Miao Qifengs left rib, breaking the ribs and piercing the heart through the lungs. With a thud, Miao Qifeng fell heavily to the ground, silent. Qing Chen exhaled a breath of foul air. This was his first kill in the Octagon cage, but not his first ever. To the young man on a long journey ahead, Miao Qifeng was nothing more than an insignificant part of the scenery. In the Octagon cage, the young Qing Chen stood alone, as the audience once again erupted into applause, and even those gamblers who had bet on Miao Qifeng couldnt help but praise Qing Chens composure and cunning! Uncle Li Dong was proudly watching from the stands. Seeing Qing Chens youthful figure, he felt thankful that the journey had helped him reminisce about the courage required to make an irreversible move. He looked at the Octagon cage, as if he was back in his youth, just stepping onto the ring like Qing Chen. Everything seemed like it was just yesterday, forever young. Uncle Li Dongs last wish before rushing toward his dreams, was fulfilled. Old Six felt the pressure of the fingers on his shoulder finally disappear, but he still didnt dare to turn back. ... This chapter is six thousand words. Todays update is twelve thousand words C I request monthly tickets! Let me explain briefly: since entering the industry, my daily update has been six thousand words. With an eight-hour workday, this is my limit; sometimes, I even need to write for 10 hours. I started writing twelve thousand words since last night. Ive been writing until now, feeling exhausted, exhilarated, all kinds of emotions. Previously, I said I would add updates for every ten thousand words, but many readers felt troubled, saying isnt that just one chapter? I cant help but feel helpless because authors count by word numbers, and actually splitting it into chapters doesnt mean much to us. Ten thousand words really is an additional update. Last but not least, I ask for monthly tickets! Please subscribe! Chapter 299: The new function of ACE-005 Chapter 299: The new function of ACE-005 Are you still there? Lao Liu stiffened his body, Are you there, are you there, are you there? After waiting a long time and ensuring no one was responding from behind, he carefully turned his head and scanned the crowd. Then he gently sighed with relief. Limping, Lao Liu quickly made his way towards the private room; he had to report what had just happened to Li Changqing. As he walked, his anger grew. A gambler blocked his path, furiously shouting something. Lao Liu murmured softly, Move aside. But the gambler paid no heed. Lao Liu then pulled his hand back and slapped the gambler across the face, causing him to spin around twice on the spot, completely stunned. Reaching the door of the suite, Lao Liu knocked, Boss! Get in, Li Changqing spoke coldly. Lao Liu entered, bowing low, Boss, hear me out. When Qing Chen was first pushed back by Miao Qifeng, I was about to intervene. But there was an expert in the ring who stopped me. An expert? Li Changqing spoke calmly, Dont you always claim to be an expert yourself? Lao Liu hung his head even lower, The person who intervened was more formidable than I anticipated. I think they might be an A-Class expert from some family, possibly even at the peak of A-Class. I am loyal to you, and would never deceive you in such matters. A-Class? Li Changqing furrowed her brows, Why would an A-Class expert intervene to prevent you from saving Qing Chen? In the Federation, D-Class is the first threshold because the genetic potions found on the market can only elevate a person to D-Class, like Miao Qifeng. Therefore, the levels below D-Class are purchasable with money. Then, B-Class is another threshold, as potions from sources other than the contraindicated courts can only elevate a person to B-Class. Moving up, everyone who advances to A-Class is a naturally exceptional genius, as that is a breakthrough achieved on ones own. As for S-Class Demigods... Lao Liu did not even dare to consider that possibility. Li Changqing said in a low voice, Now that an A-Class has stepped in, who exactly is targeting Qing Chen? Or is there another motive? Logically, this time Miao Qifeng cheated was merely due to a few boxing gyms being jealous of the prosperous business of Jiang Xiaotang. How could those shabby gyms afford to hire an A-Class expert? Selling all those gym owners would still not suffice for that, so someone else must be behind these gyms. Li Changqing always felt something was amiss, but couldnt pinpoint what it was. She thought for a moment and then said to Yue Er and Lao Liu, Bring back the four gym owners who supported Miao Qifeng tonight. Interrogate them thoroughly and find out who is behind them. On the territory of City No. 18, during the Li Familys power transition, we cannot tolerate a hidden A-Class stirring up trouble. Lao Liu replied softly, Tonight, even if I have to dig three feet into the ground, I will find them all for you. At that moment, the four gym owners who had wanted to trap Qing Chen in the octagon cage did not realize what they were about to face. In their eyes, it was just a normal business tactic, albeit a bit underhanded, but that had always been the way in the Fourth District; everyone relied on their own methods without causing problems. Now, the gym owners had finally crossed the line. Li Changqing sent a message to the arsonist with a fond heart, The boxing match is over. Do you want to come to my suite and sit for a bit, and talk about future wages? The arsonist with a fond heart replied, Im all bruised and my face is swollen; Im embarrassed to see you. Li Changqing laughed, I dont mind. The arsonist with a fond heart said, I mind. Alright, let me know when youve recovered, Li Changqing sent the message and stood up, heading outside, her mood seemingly very cheerful. Not having saved Qing Chen certainly angered her, but seeing Qing Chen win the boxing match with his own tactics had completely dissolved her rage. Lao Liu secretly glanced at his boss; he had thought he would be punished, but surprisingly, the matter seemed to have passed lightly. Just as Li Changqing was about to step out the door, she turned back to Lao Liu and said, Qing Chen will be joining the bodyguard team, but dont concern yourself with him. Let him do whatever he wants. Lao Lius face fell; he admitted Qing Chen was impressive, but even the least of the bodyguard team was at D-Class, so why include an E-Class like him? Of course, even when Lao Liu himself was at D-Class, he wasnt necessarily capable of defeating Qing Chen in the octagon cage. However, being a bodyguard was different from being a boxer. Boxers fought in hand-to-hand combat, whereas bodyguards used firearms and other modern equipment, especially as enemies intent on killing Li Changqing wouldnt come unarmed. It wasnt that one looked down on the other; Lao Liu simply felt they were completely different specialties, so it seemed somewhat absurd for Qing Chen to join the bodyguard team. Li Changqing gave him a sidelong glance, What, got a problem with that? No, not at all, Lao Liu forced a smile from his weathered face, Congratulations, Boss, on gaining a tiger of a warrior! Also, I asked you to find a fighting instructor for Lis School before, you can forget about that now, Li Changqing said. This time, Lao Liu spoke sincerely, In that matter, I must tell the truth; indeed, no one is more suited than Qing Chen. He was a professional, naturally different from the spectators who were just there to watch the excitement. Many spectators didnt even understand how Qing Chen had won; they only knew that Qing Chen had been beaten for over ten minutes before he suddenly erupted and broke Miao Qifengs kneecap. But in fact, Liu Dezhu knew that during the match, even though Qing Chen was getting beaten, his breathing never became disordered. And the young man had endured for over ten minutes, just waiting for Miao Qifengs breathing to become erratic before choosing the most critical moment to strike. The human knee is very hard, and striking with the knee in a fight is an exceedingly vicious technique. If done properly, it can even break the spine. But Qing Chens strike landed precisely on the soft cartilage inside Miao Qifengs knee. To endure over ten minutes of beating and still find such a moment, striking as precisely as a surgeon performing surgery, was definitely not something an ordinary person could accomplish. Thats why Liu Dezhu could say that when it came to teaching fighting, there was no one more suitable than Qing Chen. So what salary should we offer him? Liu Dezhu asked weakly. You dont need to worry about that, Li Changqing said. ... ... In the locker room, the medical staff was urgently treating Qing Chens injuries. A medical staff member told Jiang Xiaotang, Preliminary checks show that Qing Xiaotu, the Tiger Grade Boxer, has two broken ribs on his right side, but luckily the broken ribs havent impacted the internal organs or the lungs, and wont need surgery to correct. Also, there are more than twenty other soft tissue contusions. I recommend that he doesnt compete for a while. The medical staffer glanced at Qing Chen. Throughout the examination, the young mans expression was as calm as if nothing had happened, completely different from the other fighters who would grimace in pain after a match. Qing Chen seriously asked, How long must I refrain from vigorous exercise? Even with the Qings regenerative drugs that Boss Jiang has prepared for you, it will take at least a month, the medical staffer said. During this period, you must be careful, otherwise if the broken ribs become displaced, you might still need to undergo surgery. Qing Chen nodded. He was calculating in his mind. Right now, various societies were attacking the Heng Society. If he wanted to clear Liu Dezhu of charges, he had to take this opportunity to capture several key criminals from the He Sheng Society and have them confess and accept their punishment. Otherwise, it might be too late, and Li Dongze might have already destroyed the He Sheng Society... Qing Chen looked at Jiang Xiaotang, Sis, you set the boxing schedule for every 15 days, and I got injured just on the second day. But if its just ordinary Tiger Grade Boxers, I think I can still fight. The injury doesnt matter much, after all, Tiger Grade Boxers are quite weak. Jiang Xiaotang said with heartache, What are you talking about? Youre injured like this and still thinking about the boxing match? Dont worry, no one dares to challenge you now. Miao Qifeng secretly advanced to Land Cruise Grade and still couldnt beat you, who would dare come to throw their lives away now? But someone might want to take advantage of the situation, Qing Chen thought aloud. Everyone knows I got hurt in the octagon cage, there will definitely be people wanting to strike while the iron is hot. No worries, Jiang Xiaotang said with a smile, If anyone dares challenge you at this time, they sign up today, and Ill have someone chop them down on the street tomorrow. If they get injured and cant step up to the ring, it will have nothing to do with you. Qing Chen: ...Theres also that way of handling it. Alright, rest a bit now. Youll stay in the gym later, Jiang Xiaotang said, Ill find someone to take care of you specifically. The women in the gym were not very decent before, so I went to the black market yesterday and bought two clean servants for you... No need, no need, Qing Chen got up and put on his jacket, heading outside, My injury isnt that severe, and I dont need anyone to serve me. Hey! Jiang Xiaotang wanted to stop him but realized she simply couldnt, watching as Qing Chen jogged away. She chuckled softly, thinking to herself how naive her little brother was, at least he was a man of principle. After getting onto the hover car, Qing Chen finally relaxed. However, he suddenly realized an issue. In the recent boxing match, his head had actually been hit after all, receiving more than three or four punches to the face. After all, Miao Qifeng was Land Cruise Grade, and it was normal for him to land a few hits. Qing Chen had estimated, that he likely had at least a mild concussion after the match, but when he returned to the locker room, he felt absolutely no pain in his face, as if nothing had happened. Qing Chen gently removed the forbidden object, ACE-005, from his face and then inspected his own face through the rearview mirror, surprised to see not even a trace of bruising. He pressed a finger against his facial skin, feeling no pain at all, just like when he hadnt been beaten. This made Qing Chen feel quite intrigued. He closely examined the forbidden object in his hand. Could it be that ACE-005 also provided facial protection? He knew forbidden objects were tough to destroy, almost indestructible. But he hadnt expected that wearing a forbidden object could also offer protective benefits. Wait, if he kept wearing ACE-005 all the time, would it mean that nobody could shoot through his forehead from the front? ... Thanks to Red Leaves and Just an Anonymous Hard to Complete for becoming new allies of this book, and thank you, Boss, for the new year greeting! Going to grab a bite, theres another chapter tonight. Chapter 300: A distant journey and some blood debts Chapter 300: A distant journey and some blood debts When Uncle Li Dong handed over the Taboo ACE-005 to Qing Chen, he had already explained its functions in great detail. How to contain it, how to change appearances, how to mentally call upon Da Fu to transform into a big cat. However, Uncle Li Dong did not tell Qing Chen that the Taboo ACE-005 also had a facial defense function. Qing Chen recalled that when his master acquired the Taboo, his opponent was already A-Class, and soon after ascended to a Demigod. So it wasnt that Uncle Li Dong intentionally withheld the information, but rather, Uncle Li Dong was too powerful by then to have had the chance to discover this aspect of ACE-005. After all, who could possibly hit a Demigod in the face... Wait, Master mentioned that ACE-005 is an A-Class Taboo, but he could never work out its advanced form, Qing Chen pondered, Could this also be related to Master being too strong? To the extent that it led to a situation where the light hides the darkness? Yi said in the car, Lets not dwell on that for now. Good news, the bonus from tonights boxing match is higher than any youve ever received before, a full 21 million, and Ive already handled it for you. How did you handle it? Qing Chens eyes lit up; he felt the wounds on his body hurt less. Before this, he had specifically checked the Federations laws and regulations, then looked up information about the Federal Tax Administration Committee. One thing Yi didnt lie about was that deceiving the Federal Tax Administration Committee was practically impossible, and indeed, their underground boxing was specifically under strict surveillance. Thus, Qing Chen was especially surprised when Yi said she had handled it. Dont worry about how I handled it, Yi said. Focus on healing for now. Theres no need to meet with Li Changqing for the time being. Qing Chen suddenly shook his head and analyzed calmly, No, judging by her tone earlier, Li Changqing is likely to intervene in the attack on Heng Society. I hardly know anything about this matter, so to obtain sufficient information, I must get it from Li Changqingthats the only way not to miss out on this event. Yi seemed somewhat surprised. She had proactively dismissed various miscellaneous matters for Qing Chen, hoping he would heal properly, only for Qing Chen to be unwilling. She hesitated before asking, Your injuries are quite serious; shouldnt you be resting properly? In the car, Qing Chen strained to shift his body slightly. Its nothing serious, aside from two ribs, its all superficial wounds. I can still control others in battle using a puppeteer. But missing this opportunity might truly result in Liu Dezhu growing old alone in Prison No. 10. Growing old is possible, but not alone, Yi said. I just discovered something yesterday. The Security Committee has just prosecuted a group of young people who, instead of hiring a lawyer to defend them before the prosecution, attempted to bribe a detective from the Security Committee, wanting to collectively go to Prison No. 10. My initial judgment is that they are also Time Travelers, and they know Liu Dezhu. If Liu Dezhu fails to clear his name, these young ones could join him for over a decade. Qing Chen was shocked. Could this be the group of spoiled young masters from class 4-2?! He had heard before that these spoiled young masters planned to go to prison to find Liu Dezhu, but could they have actually followed through?! However, Liu Dezhu was about to be released soon! Qing Chen imagined the despairing expressions on the young masters faces upon entering prison; he was even somewhat looking forward to it... Countless instances had already proved that in this unprecedented mass time-crossing event, if you lacked personal strength and sought shortcuts, you would inevitably face doom. Qing Chen, feeling the pain within his body, stimulated his endorphins using the Breathing Technique, all the while calmly observing the view outside the window. He thought, after seeing tonights boxing match, Master was probably preparing for a long journey. Suddenly, Qing Chen said, This time when I go to gather information, dont stir up any trouble for me. Yi hurriedly answered, Dont worry, I wont! ... ... Countdown to return: 121:00:00. 11 oclock at night. In the City No. 18, in District 1, there arent many tall buildings. Apart from several high-end high-rises, the area mostly comprises courtyards with lower structures within them. In fact, the reason other districts have so many skyscrapers is solely due to high population density, which has never been an issue here. Outside the hillside manor. The 127th battalion of the Federal First Group Army was performing a guard change, the soldiers footsteps as thunderous as drums, both orderly and somber. Just a few months ago, the security at the hillside manor wasnt so stringent until the Master of Li Family suddenly fell ill, and Lis Big Room immediately mobilized troops to protect the area. This precaution was to prevent anyone with ill intentions from taking advantage of the situation. It was because of this unusual activity by the 127th battalion that the external world noticed the indications of an impending power transition within the Li Family. Compared to a top-level corporate power transition, even the battle of shadows was eclipsed, and now the media were bombarded with news related to the Li Family. The hillside manor was very quiet, filled with countless visible and hidden security measures, its defenses as tight as if it were about to enter a battle. At this moment, the Master of Li Family was quietly recuperating in the Embrace Simplicity Tower within the estate. His room was filled with medical equipment that monitored his vital signs from a distance. Unlike in the Outer World, there were no tubes or wires attached to his body; the devices only needed to be within five meters of him to automatically monitor his condition. The next moment, the old man slowly opened his eyes in the darkness of the night. He looked towards a dark corner near the window and whispered, Are you here? Yes, Uncle Li Dong emerged from the darkness, Did I disturb your sleep? No, the old man smiled weakly, Its just that Im old and my sleep is light. But I find it a bit strange, the mansion is so tightly guarded, and yet you dare to come here alone? Arent you afraid your elder brother will catch you and send you back to prison? Theres a gap of a few minutes in the defenses, isnt that the one you left for me? Uncle Li Dong smiled, sat down beside the old man, and gently placed two fingers on the old mans wrist to check his pulse before discreetly pulling them away. Using the moonlight shining through the window, the old man scrutinized his son, Eight years have passed, and you havent changed a bit. Your master used to provoke me with forever young, claiming he would live longer than me. Those were the words left by your founders, yet it turns out you really do stay forever young... Uncle Li Dong chuckled, My master probably never expected to die before you. He was trapped by emotions; I am devoid of them, the old man laughed, A heartless old man tends to live longer. You havent really been heartless, Uncle Li Dong shook his head, If you had, I would have been killed by the electromagnetic cannon of the Scepter No. eight years ago. What Uncle Li Dong referred to was not the space-based kinetic weapon but the main firepower of the airborne fortress. The old man thought for a moment and slyly said, I couldnt just watch you get killed, could I? Even though you belong to the Knights, the whole world knows youre my son. It would be too shameful to watch the Qings Family kill you. Makes sense, Uncle Li Dong nodded. Youre here to say goodbye, arent you? the old man sighed and asked, Its been some time since Prison No. 18 was destroyed. Ive been waiting for you to come over, but youve been off god knows where, completely out of sight. Uncle Li Dong gave a wry smile. It seemed that in the eyes of parents, if their children are not around, they must be up to no good, even if the child is a demigod revered throughout the Federation. There were historical reasons too. When Uncle Li Dong was young, he followed his master uncle around, swindling and fighting, causing quite a lot of trouble. Initially, when the Fourth District was turned upside down, no one knew he was Lis Seventh Son. When everyone finally found out, they were all dumbfounded. Yes, Im here to say goodbye. I probably wont return to City No. 18 for a while; I need to head north first to settle some scores, Uncle Li Dong said calmly. As he looked up at the old man, he noticed the latters gaze turning towards the window, full of a late-life longing for the morning sun, Your master always wanted to convince me to climb the precipitous mountains with him. But at that time, your uncles werent competent, and nobody wanted the position. Your grandfather said he would erase my name from the family records if I dared to leave the Li Family. Uncle Li Dong was well aware of this story. He softly said, Being a Knight isnt much happier than you are, only a tiny bit. Dont think I dont know what tiny bit youre talking about, the old man sighed, Im about to die, and youre still provoking me, just like your master. Uncle Li Dong laughed, I see youre still robust, nothing will happen to you. Suddenly, the old man, looking out the window, said, I often dream that I never took over the immense power of the Li Family but instead accompanied your master, following your grandmaster to explore the mountains and venture through all the Taboo Lands, to see those miraculous worlds. Once, your master told me he had seen a multicolored phoenix in the Taboo Land No. 002. I didnt believe him at first, but then he sent me a multicolored feather... The old man continued reflectively, Life is too short; it makes one feel regretful. Theres nothing to regret, said Uncle Li Dong, taking the old mans hand, In your life, youve been with so many women, tasted so many exotic delicacies, received the admiration of thousands, and with a wave of your hand, youve changed the Federation. What more could you want? The old man pondered and then said, Thats true. I should go, Uncle Li Dong said, I came to see you, now I must attend to my own matters. As he spoke, Uncle Li Dong released the old mans hand. However, the old man suddenly grasped Uncle Li Dongs hand again, looking earnestly at him, Leave me a grandson or granddaughter before you go. If you agree, I can arrange it tonight. Uncle Li Dong couldnt help but laugh: You already have so many grandsons and granddaughters; one line from my seventh family wont make a difference. Its different, the old man shook his head, You might die on this journey. Its important to leave a lineage. Uncle Li Dong paused, then chuckled under the moonlight, I have no desires for lineage; the legacy is already in good hands. Oh? the old man became interested, A successor for the Knights? A boy or a girl? A boy, said Uncle Li Dong. Oh... the old man looked slightly disappointed, Probably as troublesome as you. Why didnt you take a girl? Uncle Li Dong was speechless, Do you really favor girls over boys? Chang Qing has been spoiled by you. Never mind, a boy is good too, the old man then asked, And how is the boy? Very good, Uncle Li Dong stated earnestly, Hes really excellent, destined to be the next leader of the Knights. Perhaps hell bring a new revolution to our lineage. ... Begging for monthly votes! Kind patrons, please pity this diligent typist! Chapter 301: 233, time waits for no one Chapter 301: 233, time waits for no one Can you tell me who your disciple is? the old man asked while lying in the hospital bed. Uncle Li Dong shook his head, No, he already has his own path now, and he is doing quite well. Theres no need to expose him to the world so soon. Look at me, Im practically in the grave. As a son, cant you fulfill even this small wish of your father? the old man spoke softly, The old man just wants to know what his little grandson is called and what he looks like. What harm could there be in that? Dont play that game, Uncle Li Dong raised his eyebrows, its pointless to do so in front of me. He must be quite young, arent you afraid he might die prematurely? the old man asked, Nowadays, its not peaceful within the Federation, Deer Island and Jindai have already stationed troops in the north, and a civil war might break out at any moment. I know Knights tend to rely on themselves, but times are different. If no one protects him, he will truly die in these troubled times. Not just him, you might die too. Uncle Li Dong remained silent. Many had said that even a Demigod was not invincible. They spoke out of fear, but their words were indeed true. For instance, eight years ago, if the Lee family hadnt intervened, Scepter No. would likely have killed Uncle Li Dong under the onslaught of the main firepower electromagnetic cannon. The pace of human technological advancement is so rapid that even Demigods need to avoid its cutting edge. It wasnt just Scepter No., in fact, every major corporation had its own trump cards, prepared for the assassination potential of a Demigod. One could even say that the earlier part of the Federations arms race was based on Demigods as benchmarks. The corporations either cultivated their own Demigods or researched weapons potent enough to kill one, without exception. Just as after the advent of nuclear weapons in the Outer World, everyone researched how to blanket the Earth with nuclear bombs. When something threatening your life appears, all you can think about is how to deal with it. For example, the Aerial Fortress Scepter No. was born out of this necessity, with its ability to strike with pinpoint accuracy from 180 kilometers away without the need for mid-course guidance. Moreover, there are not just one thing in this world capable of killing a Demigod. The era has truly changed; humanity has now obtained weapons capable of slaying gods. Uncle Li Dong felt this profoundly. The old man looked at Uncle Li Dong, Will you take him with you to the north this time? No, Uncle Li Dong shook his head, Hes growing faster than imagined and doesnt need me to teach him deliberately anymore. Since you wont take him, then leave him to me, the old man said with a smile, Dont worry, although he isnt one of our Lee Family, I wont treat him differently. No, Uncle Li Dong raised his eyebrows. Then leave a legacy for the Lee family before you go, the old man was no longer willing to back down, Either leave a bloodline or leave a legacy. Your master took you as an apprentice because he promised to take on a student from the Lee family. Otherwise, do you think it would have been your turn? Uncle Li Dong became angry, My master took me as his disciple because he saw my effort, what does it have to do with you?! I dont care, the old man shook his head. Uncle Li Dong thought for a moment, I promise you, some day when a new generation of leader among the Knights rises, he must also take a disciple from the Lee family, of course, there has to be someone from the Lee family who can meet the Knights standard of conscience. Good, thats settled then, the old man, having achieved his goal, slowly closed his eyes, Im tired, you can go now. Uncle Li Dong was indifferent to the old mans attitude, and he was somewhat puzzled, Youre not stopping me from taking action? You should know, what I do is not beneficial to the corporations, and the Lee family is one of them. The old man spoke leisurely, Theres no second youth in life, and theres no rebloom for flowers. Do what you want to do before you grow old, otherwise the latter half of your life will be full of regrets and youll have trouble sleeping. Well... its not that urgent, said Uncle Li Dong after thinking it over, After all, I age slowly. Get out. ... ... Return countdown 110:00:00. On the morning of the third day through, at 10 oclock, Qing Chen was at home, re-securing bandages and splints around his chest and abdomen to avoid further injury to his two broken ribs. As he moved, the pain from the broken ribs caused a fine layer of sweat to form on his forehead. In the room, Yee thought for a moment and said, You really dont have to push yourself so hard, for a Liu Dezhu, venturing out so soon again, is it worth it? If you want any information, you can make a deal with me. Although I cant help much, I can still offer a little bit of info, like when the various societies are going to move against the Heng Society. I dont want to make deals with you anymore, it never ends well, Qing Chen responded emotionlessly, And its not for Liu Dezhu, but for myself, and for that set of Genetic Potions. The remaining seven life-and-death challenges all require long periods of training before attempting, so before I can confidently make a breakthrough, I need to enhance my ability to handle crises. Ultimately, Qing Chen needed Liu Dezhus abilities both to protect him and to act as a bridge to the Outer World. Yee thought for a moment and then said, Then theres no need to rush, resting for another two weeks is always possible. Qing Chen shook his head, Time waits for no one. At that moment, a black hover car slowly stopped at the 67th floor of the Luo Shen Building, just as a light rail train passed through the building from the platform on the 66th floor below. In the parking lot on the 67th floor, several people noticed the auspicious cloud emblem on the black hover car and immediately kept their distance. Everyone knew it was a Li Family car. A man got out of the car but did not leave; instead, he stood quietly beside the car, arms crossed in front of him in a waiting posture, his back straight. His stance was as rigid as a javelin, clearly indicating his military elite background from the Federal Group. There were many such individuals in various financial consortia. They had excelled in active Federal service, were afterward recruited by these consortia, and drew high salaries to enter various secretive security companies, serving the consortia under the guise of security personnel. The Federal Charter did not permit consortia to have their own armies, but they could own security companies, which, upon receiving approved qualifications, were legally entitled to bear arms. There was never a place without loopholes, and consortia were best at finding a drillable hole in the long levee, then watching the levee fail. Two minutes later, a young man dressed in a white tracksuit emerged from the elevator and approached the hover car, Have you been waiting long? No, I just waited for two minutes, and its not even the time we agreed upon; youve come down early, Li Changqings subordinate, in charge of picking up Qing Chen, said. He had been working in consortium security for over two years and it was the first time he encountered someone who arrived ahead of schedule. After Qing Chen boarded the car, the security personnel spoke into his communicator, Ive picked up the person, now returning, please confirm the pass code for the halfway mountain manor. Inside the southwest pavilion of the halfway mountain manor, Lao Liu limped into the room and called to Li Changqing through the door, Boss, the person has been picked up. Li Changqing thought for a moment then sent a message to the arsonist with a burning heart, I thought you were seriously injured and would rest for a while; why did you come to be my bodyguard so soon? Do you miss me that much? The arsonist with a burning heart replied, Time waits for no one. Yi pondered, she just replied using Qing Chens original words; that shouldnt be considered causing any trouble, right? Then, Li Changqing suddenly asked, Becoming my bodyguard, what compensation do you expect? Yi silently calculated, then replied, What do you think? Li Changqing responded, As far as I know, you use the FDE Genetic Potion. Fortunately, I manage this sequence of the Li Familys Genetic Potions. You should also be aware that FDE-003, 002, 001 can no longer be bought on the outside. Yi: So? In half a month, the laboratory will produce this years 12 sets of Genetic Potion quotas. Ill reserve one set for you as compensation, how about that? Li Changqing sent the message with a smile. Yi: Okay, but dont shortchange the money. Its not that Yi was overly greedy; she mainly worried that without money, Qing Chen, who was insistent on funding, wouldnt cooperate with her in the act. Dont worry, you wont earn less than what you get from boxing matches, Li Changqing said. However, if I said, choose between me and the Genetic Potion, what would you choose? Yi answered seriously and sincerely, I choose the Genetic Potion, thank you. Li Changqing felt conflicted as he wondered why the arsonist with a burning heart was not using any sweet-talk today? This was somewhat uncharacteristic... But that wasnt a big problem. For Yi, fun was fun, trouble was trouble; serious matters were not a joke. Although she was playful, she was clear that the Genetic Potion was urgently needed by Qing Chen. With it, even if Qing Chen abandoned Liu Dezhu, he could quickly cultivate a B-Class cadre around him. Even though each injection of the Genetic Potion required an interval of one month, and the interval between administering 002 and then 001 was even longer. Yet, this at least provided a very stable path for advancement. Regardless of whom Qing Chen gave the Genetic Potion, becoming a B-Class was just a matter of time. No more than eight months. In the Federation Army, one would at least need the rank of Colonel and secretly pledge loyalty to the consortium to possibly receive Genetic Potion numbers 001 and 002. Once obtaining the Genetic Potion, from then on, ones life was indebted to the consortium. It was only because Yi directly dealt with the person in charge of the Genetic Potion for Qing Chen, that the matter seemed especially straightforward. The Knights challenge was perilously dangerous. If detected, interference could occur. Chen Jiazhang had suffered the absence of a Protector previously, being forced to his present plight at the sixth challenge. Had there been a C-Class Liu Dezhu and another B-Class Expert as Protector, Qing Chen likely would not have followed the same troubled path as his master, Chen Jiazhang. At that moment, Yi sent the conditions she had negotiated with Li Changqing to Qing Chen, so he was informed of the details. Dozens of minutes later, the hover car slowly stopped outside the halfway mountain manor. Qing Chen underwent a thorough search before Lao Liu personally led him inside. Limping ahead, Lao Liu instructed, Remember, whenever you come here, weapons are not allowed. Moreover, we can only move around in the southwest pavilion; entering other areas unauthorised could most likely result in being chopped up and fed to dogs. ... There was a power outage at my home until now, which was really frustrating. Another update will follow later. Chapter 302: 234. Old Friends Reunite Chapter 302: 234. Old Friends Reunite Halfway up the mountainside Manor, several bluestone paths extended into the depths, with flying dragons and phoenixes carved on the stones. Leading the way, Lao Liu looked back to see Qing Chen eyeing Halfway up the mountainside Manor with a curious expression, and he chuckled, What, you didnt expect to find such beautiful scenery inside the city, did you? Qing Chen shook his head, I havent seen it before. Of course, you havent seen it, Lao Liu laughed, Living in other districts, not only do you squeeze into elevators every day, but also live in cramped tin boxes. Did you ever imagine that manors in The First District could have rockeries, gardens, artificial lakes? Did you ever expect to find such low buildings here? Thats survival where you are; this is called living. Qing Chen surveyed his surroundings; unexpectedly, the architecture of Halfway up the mountainside Manor leaned toward traditional Chinese style, with many buildings constructed of a mix of bricks, stone, and wood. The entire No. 18 City with its towering buildings seemed exceptionally bustling and crowded. He knew it was because of the high population density, hence the city had to develop upwards into the sky. But The First District was differentin the land where every inch is worth its weight in gold within the Federal City, carving out an artificial lake was a testament to a unique status. Yet... This scenery was quite common in the Outer World. To be honest, the Outer World might not compare to the Inner World in some aspects, but if we talk about living space per capita, it simply overshadows the Inner World. Moreover, the low buildings that Lao Liu boasted about were a four-story wooden building, and ironically, the building Qing Chen lived in the Outer World was also four stories tall... If he were any poorer, he might even have to live in a bungalow. It has to be said that at times like this, Qing Chen could truly feel the ideological differences between the two worlds. Qing Chen asked, Where to now? Ill take you to the dormitory first, said Lao Liu, youve become the bosss bodyguard, so naturally, youll live here. Whenever the boss goes out, youll have to follow. Okay, understood, Qing Chen nodded. At that moment, Lao Liu remembered what Li Changqing had told him, and hastily added, Although technically, youre under my management, the boss specifically said you can do as you please. Of course, Id still like to remind you that although the boss said so, in the eyes of others, youre the bosss bodyguard, so its better to act the part a little. Otherwise, people might think the boss has no control over his staff. Lao Lius reminder came from goodwill; after all, Li Changqing was a figure of status, and it would be embarrassing if someone he brought along lacked proper manners. The entire Halfway up the mountainside Manor was huge, akin to an enormous palace. Without guidance, one could even get lost. This was the ancestral home of the Lee family, symbolizing their standing. Qings Family ancestral home was in City No. 10, and the Chen Clans in City No. 7. Qing Chen conscientiously recorded the layout here, noting even the Chinese-style eaves and roof corners in his mind. Why is the architectural style here so different from the citys? Qing Chen inquired, It resembles... More like the Jindai family style? Lao Liu smirked, You dont understand, do you? This style is actually passed down from our ancestors; the Jindai family is just imitating it. The wood used for these buildings is transported from the wilderness, incredibly precious. In the Federation, only the bigwigs with status can afford to live in wooden buildings. Qing Chen wanted to ask something else, but he had already received his answer. Just then, he suddenly noticed that under the eaves of every building, a heavily weighted bronze bell was suspended by red cords, barely moving even when the wind blew. From a distance, the bells bore strange patterns, too far to see clearly. Following his gaze, Lao Liu chuckled, Those are some of the rarer Taboo items in the world. You know Taboo items, right? Things ordinary people cant get in a lifetime. Qing Chens expression remained calm, but inside he was surprised that Lao Liu... seemed to be hitting close to home with every sentence. Apologies, but he already had two Taboo items... As if nothing were out of the ordinary, Qing Chen casually asked, Those bronze bells are Taboo items? But there seem to be so many of them. Ive heard of Taboo items, but Ive never heard of any Taboo items quite like this. With dozens of buildings in Halfway up the mountainside Manor, and four eaves per building, that made nearly two hundred bronze bells. For Taboo items, that was a terrifying amount. Lao Liu scratched his head, Im not very sure about that; all I know is that every house here has one of these things, and nobodys ever really counted them. Do you know the serial number of this Taboo item? Qing Chen asked. Its no secret, ACE-020. The bosses of the Lee family call it the Heartless Bronze Bell, said Lao Liu, And I can tell you what it does too. If someone with ill intent comes in, the nearest Heartless Bronze Bell to the malefactor will ring. Qing Chen mused to himself, so the consortium has such items by their side. But how does a Taboo item determine whether a person harbors ill intentions? That sounded rather mystical. Has it ever rung before? Qing Chen queried. Of course, it has, Lao Liu explained, but it hasnt rung in recent years because many people are aware of the Heartless Bronze Bells existence and those with ill intentions dare not enter Halfway up the mountainside Manor anymore. Qing Chen suddenly wondered if this item functioned like a Puppeteer, starting with a single bell at the first tier, only to increase its number of bells according to the conditions met for containment upon unlocking the second tier. Like the Puppeteer, for instance, which increased the number of people it could control through the sacrifice of life. Lao Liu was quite the chatterbox. He whispered, Let me tell you another non-secret secret: this bell was a gift from a certain Knight Leader to the current Family Head. You know about the Knights, right? Uncle Li Dong of the Lee family is the current Knight Leader, one of the few counted Demigods. Qing Chen said in astonishment, That Demigod, Uncle Li Dong, belongs to the Lee family? Old Six had a feeling of I hit the jackpot: Youre young, so you dont know about these old stories. In the Alliance, information about that Seventh Master has basically been erased; a lot of Ordinary People are unaware that he is a member of the Li family. Qing Chen inwardly sighed; he really hoped he could often be around Old Six to ensure his mood would always be pleasant. Ahead are two small courtyards; the one on the left is where the boss usually stays, Feiyun Courtyard, and next door is Miss Yinos Qing Shan Villa. Its said that Miss Tong Yun also moved in there recently, Old Six said. Behind these two courtyards are the quarters for us Servants... Oh right, youre not a Servant. Qing Chen thought about it, he always felt that after entering the halfway estate, this cyberpunk world also had a hint of traditional Chinese style. However, above this ancient-style architecture, squadrons of drones patrolled, weaving a net in the sky. The drones were all armed, ready to fire at any time. The blend of ancient styles with technology was particularly stark yet harmonious. However, the fact that Li Yinuo named her own residence Qing Shan Villahow much did she yearn to climb the precipitous Qing Mountain? Its a pity; now that he had begun cultivating, he wasnt an Ordinary Person and couldnt ever become a Knight again. As Old Six led Qing Chen past Li Yinuos Qing Shan Villa, Li Tongyun and Nan Gengchen were sitting beside a stone table, whispering secretively to each other. The moment they saw Qing Chen, they both stopped their conversation and looked over in surprise. Qing Chen acted as if nothing was amiss, as if he didnt recognize them at all. Old Six ahead nodded slightly: Miss Tong Yun, Mr. Nan, good morning. While talking, Old Six tugged on Qing Chens sleeve: Say hello, say hello to them quickly. Qing Chen imitated: Miss Tong Yun, Mr. Nan, good morning. Ah, Nan Gengchen seemed somewhat at a loss. Li Tongyun, with a smile, said: Uncle Six, isnt this the little boxer from the Begonia Boxing Gym? What happened, did Aunt Changqing really poach him to the Li family? Old Six was sincerely afraid: You cant call me Uncle Six; if the other branches of the family heard this, Im afraid I would be exiled to the wilderness to pick corn. Its okay, Ill just call you that in private, XiaoTongyun said with a grin, walking up to Qing Chen and taking an interested look around him: I went to see your boxing match last nightit was thrilling. I was so worried in the private room. The young girl spoke half-truths and half-falsities. Old Six couldnt detect anything unusual, but Qing Chen knew she was seizing the opportunity to show her concern. He smiled: Thank you for your concern, Miss Tong Yun. Little Tu, come and hang out at Qing Shan Villa when youre free, Li Tongyun said with a grin: Uncle Six, dont bully him on normal days, eh? Im his fan. Not at all, not at all. How could I dare to bully him? The boss has also given instructions; although his position is that of a bodyguard, he doesnt have to do anything, Old Six assured quickly. Thats good, Li Tongyun laughed: Then Uncle Six, you go ahead and take Little Tu to meet Auntie first, and well talk when were free. Old Six led Qing Chen away, and Qing Chen asked: Who are those two? He knew who they were, but asking was the normal response he should have at the moment. Then, Old Six replied: Miss Li Tongyun is one of the more favored members of Lis Third Generation, and that Mr. Nan beside her is Miss Yinos favored consort... As he said this, he sneakily observed Qing Chens expression. Qing Chen calmly said: Why are you looking at me... Old Six thought Qing Chen was feeling insulted and hurriedly said: No, no, its nothing. Youre not the same as him. In his mind, he added a note: Youre a bit better looking. Old Six continued to advise as they walked: Dont ever offend those two; Miss Yino gets crazy enough to chop down even family members, especially if theyre close. Remember, those are people we cant afford to provoke. Hmm, Ill keep that in mind, Qing Chen nodded: Cant afford to provoke. Suddenly, Qing Chen was thinking that him coming to serve as Li Changqings bodyguard seemed to have actually brought their little group closer, which made it more convenient for them to plan together. But if all three were in the Li family, that was like putting all eggs in one basket, and the information they held might be somewhat one-sided. Should he try to recruit some talents from among the Time Travelers of the Chen Clan and Qings Family? It seemed difficult; after all, most of the Time Travelers had already been unearthed by Qings Family and the Chen Clan. Those who could still hide were smart people, usually unwilling to serve others. Just as he entered the Feiyun Courtyard, he saw Li Yinuo and Li Changqing both having tea in the courtyard with a black briefcase quietly placed on the stone table in front of them. Li Changqings eyes brightened when she saw Qing Chen: Youre here? Yes, Qing Chen nodded. But then he saw Li Changqing pat the black briefcase in front of her: FDE-001 and 002 series will still take half a month; however, we have spare 003s which you urgently need. Instead of picking a date, lets do it todayAuntie will give you the injection right away. Qing Chen: ??? Auntie, this time its really not okay! ... Vote for monthly tickets, bosses! Chapter 303: 235, Insider Li Yinuo Chapter 303: 235, Insider Li Yinuo Now, Li Changqing and the outside world all think that Qing Chen is just a Genetic Warrior. So in Li Changqings view, Qing Chen knew he could inject the Genetic Potion and was supposedly overjoyed beyond expectations. However, this matter was not a surprise for Qing Chen, but a scare. Firstly, Genetic Potions cannot be injected across levels; ordinary people who complete the first injection of the 005 sequence must wait a full month before the next one, otherwise, their bodies could not bear the load and they would die suddenly. Qing Chen had yet to take any injections and going straight for the 003 sequence would likely kill him on the spot. Secondly, having the Genetic Potion would cut off ones offspring. Although Qing Chen did not have that kind of worldly desire at the moment, what if he did in the future? In short, this injection of Genetic Potion absolutely could not be taken! Li Changqing looked at Qing Chen, How come youre not at all pleased with this 003 sequence FDE Genetic Potion? Before Qing Chen could speak, Li Changqing suddenly said with a laugh, I understand now, youre thinking I didnt give you 002 and 001 as well. Really, Im not that stingy. Ive already told you that 001 and 002 are still being prepared and itll be half a month before I can give them to you. The production of those two sequences is too small, I cant conjure them out of thin air for you. Qing Chen recalled and pondered in his mind and, checking against the timeline, said, I cant take this injection of the 003 sequence Genetic Potion now because its only been 13 days since I took the 004, and I need to wait 18 more days. The interval for the Genetic Potion is calculated based on a 30-day month. Li Changqing looked at Qing Chen and had an epiphany, So thats the case, I thought you had already injected it. Fine, lets keep the Genetic Potion with me, and Ill give it to you when its time. Qing Chen secretly breathed a sigh of relief, what was this all about? He hadnt gained anything since coming here, and yet he was expected to take an injection first, wheres the sense in that? Honestly, neither he nor Yi had expected Li Changqing to give him the injection in person! Thankfully, from his first appearance on the fighting stage until now, only 10 days had passed in the Inner Worlds time, and this allowed him to find the most suitable excuse. But the problem arose, what to do after 18 days...? At this moment, Li Changqing had Lao Liu put away the Genetic Potion, knowing that he would still have to witness Qing Chens injection next time, which caused Qing Chen to feel a headache. He glanced out of the corner of his eye and suddenly saw that Li Yinuo was struggling to suppress a laugh. Li Changqing pulled Qing Chen by the arm to sit down, This is my niece, Li Yinuo, next to us. Shes also very fond of your matches. We were both there last night. I had already arranged for Lao Liu to save you, but unexpectedly, you turned the tide and won. Such a victory in a cross-level challenge is rare throughout the Federation. Li Yinuo said with a smile, Hello, Brother Xiao Tu, Im a fan of yours. Li Changqing earnestly said to Li Yinuo, Why call him brother? Call him Uncle Xiao Tu. Li Yinuo, ??? The beauty who was just secretly holding back laughter suddenly changed her expression! How did she, while enjoying the drama, suddenly gain an uncle out of nowhere?! But Li Changqing thought about it and said, Never mind, Qing Chen is too young, you two just refer to each other however you wish. Oh yes, since weve met here, you might as well know his real name, Qing Chen, and dont call him Xiao Tu anymore... although the name Xiao Tu is also pretty cute. Li Yinuo thought to herself, where was the name Qing Xiaotu cute at all? Auntie, lets talk about serious matters, Li Yinuo turned to Li Changqing, We were just talking about Deer Island and the Jindai family. I heard that youve caught several people from Deer Island and the Jindai? At the mention of these two corporations names, Li Changqings expression darkened, Those things who dont know whether theyre alive or dead dared to cause trouble in the south. I predict they foresaw the Lee familys power transition, so they wanted to stir things up. Recently, these two have been stationing troops in the north, perhaps expecting the old man here to pass away, then they will launch a small-scale war again. Li Yinuo curiously asked, These years, they have caused quite a commotion, with marriages and frequent troop movements, why is that? There are many Taboo Lands in the north, and the expansion speed is quite fast, with Taboo Land number 037 even spreading to 30 kilometers north of City 26. They might have sensed the crisis and want to reshuffle the cards within the Federation, to develop southward, Li Changqing sneered, But the three southern families control the political and economic lifelines, if we dont get chaotic, they cant come over. Qing Chen listened silently, not saying a word. He realized that Li Yinuo was bringing up these issues suddenly just to help him understand more information, to compensate for his current isolated situation. Qing Chens situation was very delicate, Uncle Li Dong had gone far away, and all the familiar faces were no longer by his side. Although Qing Yi was still present, he was not Qing Chens butler and would not readily lend a hand, usually seeking a principle of equivalent exchangein fact, more an ally than a friend. If he were to rely on Qing Yi for everything, that would be wishful thinking. However, Li Yinuo, Li Tongyun, and Nan Gengchen, these three insiders, had always been dutiful and responsible. Auntie, which Shadow Candidate do you favor most in the struggle for the Shadow position? Li Yinuo asked. I might favor Qing Wu more, Li Changqing pondered, Qing Wen is too conspicuous, causing others to treat him as a hypothetical enemy, yet he lacks the ability to overpower multiple foes single-handedly. Originally, Qing Huai was also eye-catching enough to share some of the limelight, but now he has died inexplicably in Taboo Land 002, and you were there at the time. They say he was hunted by a Gods Child of the Fire Pit, is that true? It seems so at the moment, Li Yinuo nodded, Please continue, Auntie. I think Qing Zhong from the second branch is also very strong, why do you think hes not fit for the position of Shadow? Ive met that lad, Qing Zhong. He is brave and strong but lacks cunning. Too impulsive, Li Changqing said, Such a person might be better suited as a general leading a charge rather than as the Shadow or Family Head. I think both the Shadow and the current Family Head of Qings Family, Qing Xun, would not choose him. Then why do you choose Qing Wu? Li Yinuo asked. Cleverness, restraint, and ruthlessness, Li Changqing said, He possesses many qualities a Shadow should have... You should study them more now because eventually one of them is bound to become the Shadow and wield great power. Understanding more about them now will be helpful later on. Li Yinuo nodded, her gaze briefly flitted over to Qing Chen, thinking that having this second-generation big shot of the Li family help analyze the situation should count for something. At this moment, however, Li Changqings tone shifted, In this generation, the ones Im least optimistic about are Qing Yuan and Qing Xing; they lack distinguishing features, and the support from their families isnt great either. Though Qing Yi is young, he shows signs of being an extraordinary being. Qing Shi may be a girl, but her father harbors great ambition behind the scenes. The struggle for the Shadow position is always mysterious; no one knows the outcome until the very last second, and even years later, the outside world might remain unaware. So current speculations are just for reference, of little value. You just need to understand each of them. Li Yinuo thought to herself that the result of the struggle for the Shadow really was enigmatic generation after generation. Wasnt she now sitting beside a candidate who had faked his own death? Who would have thought that the person who was initially overlooked would grow the fastest? Qing Chen ate some snacks and fruit seemingly calmly, but he was seriously analyzing inside. This was the first time he was hearing an analysis of each candidate, finally offering him a more comprehensive concept of the overall picture. Even Lin Xiaoxiao and Uncle Li Dong had never talked to him about this before, only suggesting that he should learn by himself slowly. Eh, Li Changqing asked, why have you suddenly become interested in the struggle for the Shadow? Li Yinuo went on to ask, Auntie, I have made contact with several Shadow Candidates and some have also reached out to me. Although I dont know their true intentions, Ive accepted their offers, and now four of them have allied with me. Qing Chen listened on the side, thinking to himself that this seemed quite like his style of joining everyone in the Outer World. Li Changqing questioned Li Yinuo, Why are you allying with so many candidates? I just want to ally with a few more to keep up with their movements. After all, these candidates are not part of our Li family, so it doesnt matter if a few of them die, Li Yinuo said. Li Changqing commended, Youre smart this time, but Ive always suspected that Qings Family Shadow has already arrived in City 18. This time, Qings Familys main event might lie in this Shadow. Friend or foe? Li Yinuo asked. Neither friend nor foe, but they likely share a common goal, Li Changqing seemed unwilling to delve deeper, as it involved real secrets. She changed the subject, The second round of tasks for the struggle for the Shadow probably doesnt involve participating in the Li familys power succession. That Shadow has always enjoyed misleading people, and nobody knows what he truly intends to do. At this point, Li Yinuo asked, By the way, auntie, have you visited Grandpa? No, Li Changqings expression turned solemn as she looked towards Lao Liu and said, Take Qing Chen to the shooting range to have some fun. Before one grows to B-Class, firearms tend to be more useful. Sure, sure, Lao Liu hobbled as he led Qing Chen out. Qing Chen understood that he was being sent away, as Li Changqing wouldnt want him eavesdropping on family core secrets. But he didnt mind; todays gains were already substantial. Qing Chen followed Lao Liu and asked, Why do you go by Lao Liu? Is it because youre the sixth in rank? No, Lao Liu shook his head, Im called Lao Liu because I once took six bullets for Boss Chang Qing in City 1, and thats when my leg got damaged. She calls me Lao Liu to remind her not to forget that Ive taken bullets for her. I see, Qing Chen nodded. The boss said something very true, Lao Liu called out without looking back, Until a Transcendent reaches Demigod status, firearms are always a Transcendents greatest enemy. Even an A-Class might capsize in the gutter when faced with a sniper. So, getting to know firearms is a good thing for you, and you should spend more time at the shooting range when you can. ... The power went out again; Im posting one chapter now. Im heading to an internet cafe to continue writing. There will be another chapter tonight. Chapter 304: Sniper Chapter 304: Sniper ` A-Class experts have no way to deal with sniper rifles? Qing Chen felt puzzled. Its not that they have no way to deal with sniper rifles, but that they are helpless against a few sharpshooters, Lao Liu explained, Once Transcendents reach A-Class, they develop a sixth sense. Within 1600 meters, if someone aims a gun at them or watches them with malicious intent, they can sense it. Therefore, if a sharpshooter aims within 1600 meters, they will be detected by an A-Class expert. Just casting a malicious glance at someone in a crowd can alert them. This powerful sixth sense is terrifying; it seems to transcend the realm of ordinary humans. Wait, Qing Chen recalled something. In the early days after crossing over, there had been a frightened junior named Huang Jixian in Prison No. 18. When he had gone to look for clues outside Zheng Yuandongs residential area, just by casting a similar glance, Zheng Yuandong had immediately turned his head to look at him. Was it a coincidence, or had Zheng Yuandong already advanced to A-Class at that time? Qing Chen couldnt be sure. He always felt that everyone had just crossed over at that time; logically, Zheng Yuandong shouldnt have been at such a high level, unless he had, like Yang Yang, directly taken over the identity of an A-Class Superhuman. However, Qing Chen leaned toward it being a coincidence. Since sharpshooters cant target A-Class experts, how could they still be capsized in a gutter? Qing Chen pondered as he asked Lao Liu. Some sharpshooters can accurately hit a target from beyond 1600 meters, Lao Liu said with narrowed eyes: Beyond 1600 meters, A-Class experts lose their sensory abilities and cant evade in advance. Those anti-materiel rifles using armor-piercing bullets can even penetrate tanks. A-Class experts are formidable, but theyre not as resistant as main battle tanks. Besides, to assassinate an A-Class expert, you need to fit a flash suppressor. Otherwise, its all for nothing. The so-called anti-materiel sniper rifles are designed to destroy armor. They make a noise like a cannon when fired. However, the speed of sound is slower than a bullet. If fired from beyond 1600 meters, an A-Class expert wont hear the gunshot until after being hit. The flash of the gun might be visible before the bullet arrives, but this is why Lao Liu emphasized the importance of flash suppressors: Most sniper rifles have a bullet speed of 800-900 meters per second, so you cant let an A-Class expert see the muzzle flash; otherwise, the bullet, taking more than two seconds to travel 1600 meters, would give the enemy plenty of time to move away. Moreover, this also requires technique and prediction; after all, you need to calculate how far you are from the target, how long it will take for the bullet to arrive, and where the target might be when the bullet reaches. Of course, this is all based on the information about firearms in the Outer World that Qing Chen could find online, and even that was just from searching available data on the web. In reality, he had never even touched a real sniper rifle. Brother Liu, if an A-Class expert gets hit in the head with a sniper bullet from 1600 meters away, will it kill them? Qing Chen asked. Of course it will, Lao Liu replied: Several A-Class experts have been killed by sniper rifles in the history of the Federation. This was something Qing Chen had always wondered about. He felt that most Transcendents in this world had a high offense, low defense characteristic, each resembling an assassin. Even a demigod like his master had to dodge when faced with a mindless weapon like a metal storm. Can the Federations banned automated aiming railguns be sensed by A-Class experts? Qing Chen curiously asked. The automated aiming railguns arent that magical. Ive seen one, Lao Liu replied: Its mostly the bigwigs without transcendent abilities who fear it. A-Class experts arent that concerned. Why is that? Qing Chen asked, intrigued. Because the artificial intelligence mounted on the automated aiming railguns has difficulty calculating multiple factors over a long distance. Its effective range is about 800 meters, Lao Liu explained: Of course, most sharpshooters in the Federation Army also have a range of about 800 meters. The device is convenient and costs little when used to assassinate important figures, but its still not enough against A-Class experts and can be sensed by them. Qing Chen thought there was something wrong with that. From his perspective, if Zero had such a railgun system that controlled a sniper rifle, calculating the trajectory would be an easy task: Is the artificial intelligence technology that weak? Weak? Lao Liu chuckled: Do you have some misunderstanding about weakness? Ordinary sharpshooters train for a long time before they can hit a target at 800 meters. Even so, these sharpshooters are already selected from the best in the Federation Army. Do you think youre watching a virtual life movie, believing anyone can be a sharpshooter? At a distance of eight hundred meters, the target isnt even bigger than an ant in your sight! Across the entire Federation, the number of sharpshooters who can accurately assassinate a target from beyond 1600 meters is even fewer than the number of A-Class experts! No, Qing Chen shook his head: I mean, isnt there more advanced artificial intelligence? The conglomerates have always been disinterested in artificial intelligence. As long as it gets the job done, its good enough, Lao Liu spoke softly: Of course, this also has to do with the origins of the Federation. Its said that the previous era of civilization was destroyed by an artificial intelligence called Zero. Thats why everyone fears AI so much, terrified that a similar situation might arise again. Qing Chen fell silent because he knew that Zero was the creator of One! And Zero was most likely killed by humans. No wonder others arent aware that One has a unique personality; no wonder the conglomerates dont focus their technology on AI; no wonder One is so lonely. So the Federation had that kind of history! Do all A-Class experts have a sixth sense that extends to 1600 meters? Qing Chen inquired. At this point, Lao Liu cheerfully said to Qing Chen, Youre a Genetic Warrior with a cap of B-Class, so remember this: if you spot a sharpshooter on the battlefield, just steer clear. ` Old Six did not mean to mock Qing Chen with these words. He was a B-Class himself, so there was no point in making fun. Genetic Warriors are mostly B-Class, which is a common knowledge. Qing Chen thought for a moment, How can one become a sharpshooter? Old Six was startled, You want to become a sharpshooter? That thing relies on talent, Brother Qing Chen, I dont mean to look down on you. When I was in the army, I also wanted to be selected as a sharpshooter, but my eyesight, stability, and calculating abilities were all far too lacking. Qing Chen fell silent. He suddenly discovered a shortcut. A way for an ordinary person to slay a god. He knew that upgrading to A-Class was a slow process because every item in the life-and-death challenge required extremely high skills, not something one could just decide to undertake at will. If it hadnt been for the predecessors marking out the route for him with chalk on the steep cliffs of Qing Mountain, if the old guys hadnt given him the ginkgo seeds, if it hadnt been for the words of encouragement left on the walls, he probably wouldnt have made it. But if he could become a sharpshooter, even if he was still weak, as long as he seized the opportunity, he could still kill someone of a higher level! Before touching the sniper rifle, Qing Chen wasnt sure if he could be a sharpshooter, but he wouldnt be content until he had at least tried. Here we are, Old Six pointed at a majestic modern building in front of them. The building resembled a massive sports arena with a metallic sheen on its exterior, somewhat out of place amidst the traditional buildings of the mountain estate, although a few details on the wall still retained some elements of Eastern culture. A huge plaque hung outside the building, with the words Fenwu Tower inscribed on it. Old Six introduced cheerfully, The bodyguards do their daily training here, and the Li Clan descendants practice their shooting here as well. I heard the boss say they are going to offer martial arts classes at Lis School in the future, and they should also be here. You can get familiar with it in advance. Martial arts classes? Qing Chen asked. Yes, the boss created the classes for you to teach the Li Clan descendants, Old Six said: Dont underestimate this position. The Li Familys internal culture is rather conservative, prizing orderly succession and respect for teachers and their teachings. If you can secure a foothold in Lis School, the Li descendants will be polite to you, and at the very least, you wont have to worry about your livelihood for life. The cultural heritage of the Li Family was perhaps more like that of the learned families in the ancient Outer World, where rules were very important. However, Qing Chen paid no heed to these things, instead asking, The length of this venue is only about 400 meters, it doesnt seem suitable for practicing with a sniper rifle, does it? Old Six pondered for a moment, sensing Qing Chens determination, The entire mountain estate is bigger than what you imagine. There are other places for practicing with sniper rifles. How about this, since you seem genuinely interested in sniper rifles, lets start with the simplest firearms. Once youve got the hang of those, Ill take you to try... Be mentally prepared, its not that easy to become a sharpshooter. Generally speaking, the treatment of a sharpshooter in corporations is on par with that of C-Class and B-Class experts. Alright, thank you, Brother Six. If I dont have the talent, Ill give up on my own, Qing Chen nodded. Outside the venue, not a sound could be heard. Only upon entering could one faintly hear gunshots. Old Six led Qing Chen inside, meeting many people along the way who greeted him warmly and affectionately. Today, lets start with testing the handgun, beginning practice from a 10-meter target, Old Six picked some firearms and ammunition Qing Chen had never seen before and led him to the shooting position. He joked, Many people think shooting is very easy and dream of being sharpshooters every day, but when you try it, youll know. Maybe you cant even handle a handgun well. Qing Chen thought about it, took the handgun, and lifted his hand to shoot a few times at the target ten meters away, testing the trajectory. Old Six smirked at the sporadic ring counts Qing Chen scored, How is it? Not easy to find the sight, is it? However, as soon as Old Six finished speaking, Qing Chen raised his hand to shoot again, and each bullet hit the bullseye of the target. Wait, youve never held a gun before, why can you shoot so accurately? Old Six felt something was amiss. According to the information they had gathered, Qing Chen, although an underground boxer, had never bought firearms. Could it be that their information was incorrect? Or was there something amiss with Qing Chen? Qing Chen explained earnestly, I have been very sensitive to geometry and space since I was young. The earlier shots were to observe the trajectory, and the latter ones were more serious. Old Six appeared thoughtful and handed Qing Chen a damaged firearm, This handgun is no longer accurate because of damaged rifling, causing the sights to shift to the left. If what you said earlier is true, then prove it to me with this handgun. Qing Chen thought for a moment, took over the gun, and fired a few casual shots. Then, in the next second, the youth pulled the trigger successively, with the bullets once again puncturing the bullseye! Old Six was astonished and shouted to the staff, Move the target back to 50 meters! This time Qing Chen did not even need to confirm the trajectory; he shot directly, still hitting the bullseye with every shot! He didnt want to hide his abilities, because he knew that if he wanted to quickly access and possess a sniper rifle, he had to use this method. ... Vote for monthly tickets, bosses! Chapter 305: 237, thats too much. Chapter 305: 237, thats too much. You really never touched a gun before? Lao Liu asked suddenly, looking at the target paper 50 meters away. A 50-meter target was considered a standard distance for handguns. Some people liked to practice quick-draw techniques at 100 meters, but Lao Liu knew that in most combat encounters, 50 meters was absolutely sufficient. Beyond that distance, it was necessary to switch to an automatic rifle for fire suppression. Touched it, Qing Chen said while changing the magazine, When I was a child, my father kept a handgun for self-defense. I pawned it later. Lao Liu realized at that moment that when Qing Chen first used firearms, even changing magazines was awkward for him. But after changing three magazines, he suddenly became as proficient as a veteran. Qing Chen finished another magazine and then looked at Lao Liu, Brother Liu, could you take apart this handgun for me to see? Lao Liu thought about it and with a few casual flicks of his skilled fingers, he disassembled the Gray Fox-012 standard-issue Federation Army handgun. Qing Chen closed his eyes to recall for a second and very deftly reassembled the Gray Fox-012, then took it apart again. He repeatedly disassembled and reassembled it, and by the third time, he was as fast as an old soldier in the Federation Army. Lao Liu scratched the back of his head; he suddenly realized that no matter what the other party learned, by the third time, he became extraordinarily proficient. In fact, he had grown suspicious because their investigations had shown that Qing Chen was someone who had no experience with firearms. Yet, the abilities the young man displayed now completely contradicted the investigation. Thus, Lao Liu had reasons to suspect that Qing Chen might have falsified his past identity and concealed his real identity to come to serve by Chang Qings side. But Lao Liu also felt that something was amiss. What kind of undercover would expose themselves right after entering the Ban Shan Manor? Probably only a fool would do that! Therefore, compared to the previous guess, he instead felt that Qing Chen was more likely eager to prove himself, then to handle the sniper rifle. Lao Liu and his group had completely uncovered Qing Chens past identity, and further investigations seemed pointless. They could only confirm through other aspects. However, Lao Lius duty was to protect Li Changqings safety, and some matters had to be confirmed, Brother Qing Chen, I need to confirm some things. Dont take it to heart. Being cautious is right when working by the bosss side. Understood, Qing Chen nodded. At that moment, Qing Chen had already made a decision. He stayed with the Li Family initially because of certain circumstances that made Li Changqing favor him. But now, he didnt really want to devote himself to such trivial matters; he needed to prove his own strength. Lao Liu simply took Qing Chen to the archery range and said, This place is usually for the young ones to learn archery. Bodyguards dont come here. I saw your hands are very steady. You can hit the bullseye with any gun after three shots. If you can calculate the trajectory and pull the bow like you handle guns, we will let this matter go. Nowadays, there are many who can handle guns, few who can handle bows... even fewer have even seen a bow! Guns are a weapon for saving lives; bows are a toy for the nobility. Lao Liu said, Brother Liu wont make it difficult for you. Bows are definitely harder than guns. For a 50-meter archery target, if you can hit it on the third try, we wont pursue this matter further. Moreover, you can use my quota at the shooting range in the future, for whatever guns or bullets. My quota is much larger than most, and outside, a single sniper bullet costs hundreds of dollars. Okay, Qing Chen nodded lightly, casually picking a curved-bow from the rack. Lao Liu also grabbed one, Ill demonstrate once how to set the bow and release the arrow, the rest is up to you. As he spoke, he drew the bow and released, the slender arrow whistling to hit the bullseye. Qing Chen looked at Lao Liu in surprise, never expecting that this security head for Li Changqing was a polymath proficient in many skills. Hehe, Lao Liu laughed seeing his expression, You dont need to envy me, its just practice. Qing Chen mimicked Lao Lius actions and shot an arrow straight away. The arrow twisted in the air, arching lightly before falling outside the target. However, Qing Chen didnt ponder over it much. He pulled out another arrow from the quiver, his fingers lightly touching the bowstring as he pulled it back, his hands steadied without a tremor, holding his breath, his torso stopped moving altogether. With a whoosh, the arrow shot forth again. At that moment, Lao Liu distinctly felt a change in Qing Chens aura, something indescribable, like a person having everything under control. With a thud, Qing Chens second arrow hit the target. Lao Liu was left dumbfounded. Hitting a target from 50 meters with a bow was much harder than with firearms, because bullets travel straight within 50 meters, but arrows do not. Then Lao Liu noticed another detail, Qing Chen slightly leaned forward while drawing the bow, an action that wasnt exactly standard but was very similar to Lao Lius own, due to a lame leg. But Lao Liu corrected it quickly, Your posture is a bit off, you should lean back a bit more to stabilize. I do it like this because of my lame leg, you shouldnt copy this... I wondered why it felt a bit awkward, Qing Chen muttered, then pulled the bow and released another arrow, only to see the third arrow securely nail the bullseye. Not only that, but Qing Chen smoothly drew and released the bow, firing seven more arrows in succession, each one hitting the bullseye. Qing Chen looked at Lao Liu, Practice makes perfect. Old Six: ... This time, he truly believed that Qing Chen could master firearms so quickly because of his exceptional talent. I mean what I say. From now on, you can use my quota any time you come to the shooting range. Even if you use up every months quota, I wont even frown; if I do, Im no man, Old Six murmured with a trace of pain. So can I go practice with sniper rifles now? Qing Chen asked. Yes, Old Six sighed, Once youre familiar with the regular firearms, Ill take you. Although you learn fast, dont reach too far. Ordinary people use regular firearms much more often than sniper rifles. Thanks, Brother Six, Qing Chen genuinely thanked him. He had realized that Old Six was not a bad person and had not intentionally made things difficult for him. And Old Six thought to himself, was this young man always so composed? He recalled last nights boxing match. Yes, the young man who defeated a Land Cruise Grade fighter in the Octagon cage definitely had strong mental fortitude. Moreover, Old Six had earlier thought that Qing Chen joining the security team was just for show, as security and boxing were different. But now, the opponent was about to overcome his weakness in firearms. Old Six, recalling the hardships he had endured during his own firearms training, thought to himself that the differences between people in this world were indeed massive. He took Qing Chen back to the firearms area: Have a look yourself. Let me know what you need. Brother Six, could you let me try all the firearms and also arrange for five magazines for each gun? Qing Chen requested. Since Old Six had said he needed to be familiar with all regular firearms before touching a sniper rifle, he would show him just that. Old Six was shocked: Although I have a lot of quota, isnt this a bit too wasteful? Its not a waste, Qing Chen shook his head, Its indeed necessary. Following that, Old Six had someone bring over two racks of firearms, which were fully stocked with various types. Qing Chen took each gun, pulled the trigger, and silently calculated something in his mind. Since today was a weekday, there were not many security personnel training at the venue. Several staff members, including Old Six, simply helped him load the magazines. Qing Chen, like a dispassionate shooting machine, kept firing despite his palms being sore from the recoil without stopping. Gradually, the ground around Qing Chen was littered with a layer of shell casings, too numerous to count. The staff occasionally glanced at him, thinking this new face must be wasting ammunition. However, since Qing Chen was using Old Sixs quota, they couldnt really say anything. As per usual practice, ordinary bodyguards did not have the authority to allocate so much ammunition and firearms. In the meantime, Old Six began feeling something was off and sat off to the side, silently observing Qing Chen while loading shiny yellow bullets into magazines. Just then, after Qing Chen had tried more than thirty handguns, Old Six suddenly stood up and said to him, Close your eyes. Qing Chen calmly closed his eyes. Old Six casually took a handgun from the rack and fired at the target. The staff watched in surprise, not understanding what Old Six was up to. Suddenly, Old Six asked, What gun am I using? Qing Chen calmly replied, Red River-021, 7.62mm caliber, 12 rounds per magazine. Old Six then switched to another and pulled the trigger, What about now? Desert-001, 5.42mm caliber, 17 rounds per magazine. Old Six switched handguns four more times, and Qing Chen could accurately name the firearms just from the sound of the gunfire. The staff were shocked. If Old Six wasnt putting on an act with this young man, then it was truly terrifying. Old Six had just explained to them that this new shooter had never handled firearms before today, yet now he could recognize them just by the sound. At this moment, Old Six resolved his doubts: Were you memorizing these things just now? Yes, Qing Chen nodded, Brother Six, you said to get familiar with regular firearms, and I think youre absolutely right. In real combat, being able to identify the firearms can give you a clear idea of the enemys effective firing range and how many rounds are in their standard magazine, allowing you to calculate their magazine changing time. On the battlefield, being calculated for magazine changing time is a very scary thing, and those who have truly been in battle know that this time is called a firepower vacuum period, which is the most dangerous moment for anyone. Old Six was somewhat speechless. He thought to himself, I told you to get familiar with how to use the regular firearms, not to memorize them to this extent! Chapter 306: 238, Absolute Gun Feel Chapter 306: 238, Absolute Gun Feel Which novice is familiar enough with firearms to instantly recognize the sound of a gunshot and even identify the model with their eyes closed? In everyones usual definition of being familiar with firearms, isnt it enough just to know how to use them? Lao Liu felt a big blockage in his chest, but he couldnt express it. At this moment, Qing Chen humbly turned to Lao Liu for guidance, Liu Ge, isnt this how you familiarize yourselves with firearms? Did I miss anything? Cough cough, Lao Liu forced himself to say, Being able to instantly identify the model by sound is certainly important, but during combat, professional experts will not always give you a chance to find a fire vacuum period; they will coordinate crossfire and cover their teammates while reloading. Some even use their own modified firearms, such as extended magazines. If you still rely on experience to judge the fire vacuum period, you will die very quickly. Qing Chen listened and nodded earnestly, Liu Ge is right. The staff nearby could hardly bear to listen, as Lao Liu was purely using a very rare scenario to fool the newcomer. The first part was indeed true, but the latter was nonsense: artistic works like to elevate the status of modified firearms, but in reality, modifying firearms could affect their stability. Thus, real professionals usually do not choose special firearms, but rather those that have been repeatedly tested by history to avoid accidents. They might tweak the bullets but would not alter the firearms themselves. However, the staff also hoped that Lao Liu would keep the newcomers pride in check, so they didnt expose him. At this time, Lao Liu continued to speak, What I just said is very important, but it is still not the most important. Do you know what is most crucial in familiarizing yourself with firearms? Gun feel. When you hold a gun, you should know its weight, so that you can mobilize your arm muscles to aim as quickly as possible. For instance, if you want to lift a bag of rice thinking its 33 pounds but it is actually 44 pounds, wouldnt your applied force be misplaced? Hmm, Qing Chen thought for a moment, suddenly took out a pistol, and without hesitation pulled the trigger within a second, hitting the bullseye, Liu Ge, I am also familiarizing myself with this. Lao Liu was taken aback for a moment, There is something even more important, and that is familiarizing yourself with the recoil. When you are firing repeatedly, each recoil will cause your muzzle to shift; you have to be familiar with the recoil of the firearm in your hand to know how to adjust the muzzle after each shot to continue hitting the target... Qing Chen thought for a while, and then suddenly reached for another completely different firearm to prepare to shoot. However, this time Lao Liu immediately stopped him and calmly said, Alright, I know you are familiar with this as well, put away the Divine Skills. Hmm, Qing Chen nodded, I will continue to familiarize myself with the remaining firearms. Lao Liu waved his hand grandly, Familiarize yourself, go ahead and shoot. A staff member nearby whispered, Liu Ge, youve already used up your quota, if he continues to shoot, it will be deducted from your annual salary. Lao Liu was startled, he quickly stopped Qing Chen, Cough cough, Qing Chen, werent you interested in playing with sniper rifles? Ill take you to the sniper range behind Beishan now, I have a quota for sniper bullets there too. However, Qing Chen shook his head at this moment, Liu Ge, I suddenly feel that familiarizing myself with regular firearms is also very important, just wait for me, Ill get acquainted with the remaining guns. It must be said that Qing Chen has made every step along the way, trying to make it solid. Even after becoming a Knight, he still insisted on training every day. Even after becoming a Transcendent, he still honed his basic combat skills. He was like a bamboo, thirstily absorbing all the useful moisture and nutrients from the soil. Now in firearm training, initially, Qing Chen especially wanted to have a sniper rifle and use it, so that he could have the ability to snipe others across levels. But at this moment, after using more than a dozen firearms, he finally calmed down. Life needs patience, growth also needs patience, and he must take this opportunity to solidify his foundation here. When he leaves the Li Family, where else would he find such a comprehensive arsenal? Where else would he find this free ammunition? But Lao Liu was in agony internally; he hadnt counted how many bullets Qing Chen had just fired, and he had no idea that his ammunition consumption rate was so fast. Lao Liu whispered to Qing Chen, Dont familiarize yourself with regular firearms anymore, brother, you are already very good at it. Liu Ge, I havent even touched the automatic rifles yet, Qing Chen really didnt want to leave now, worried that missing this chance would mean no more such lavish opportunities. Qing Chen had been poor for many years, so when it came to opportunities for a windfall, he would never let go. What if Lao Liu wasnt so generous later on? He said, just in case. Seeing that Qing Chen didnt want to leave, Lao Liu immediately felt uncomfortable. However, when he saw Qing Chens determined eyes, he suddenly felt a desire to nurture talent, and Lao Liu called out to the staff, Continue to load magazines for this young man; let him have a good time shooting. This shooting practice lasted from morning until afternoon, with even the staff at the venue changing shifts, while Qing Chen tirelessly familiarized himself with all the firearms in order. All of them. Initially, he felt fine, but gradually his palms began to ache. If it werent for his Transcendent physique, the recoil alone might have been enough to injure him. By the time Qing Chen started familiarizing himself with automatic rifles, this overburdening training method became even more damaging to his body, especially when the rifle stock transferred the recoil to his shoulder, even pulling at the pain where two ribs were broken. It was only then that Lao Liu, looking puzzled at Qing Chen, said, I know you suffered multiple injuries yesterday, so Im even more puzzled. Doesnt it hurt? If it hurts, why would you want to train in a way that tortures yourself? Qing Chen, while pulling the trigger, asked, Liu Ge, is there training that isnt painful? Lao Liu thought about it, and realized that was indeed the case... There is no training that isnt painful. Qing Chen continued, Training is always painful, but if its free, it relieves some of that pain in my heart. Old Six was rendered speechless, realizing the pain was being transferred onto him. No wonder his chest hurt so much. A staff member, observing the mountainous pile of golden shells beside Qing Chen, muttered softly, Brother Six, given his shooting efficiency, this is going to cost you a fortune. Old Sixs eyes darted around before he cunningly said, You know nothing. Just let him shoot; Ill handle the expenses. At that moment, he suddenly realized something, Qing Chen wasnt actually just a bodyguard. He was being taken care of by Chang Qing himself... So, all of todays expenses for Qing Chen, as long as Old Six went back and explained the situation to Chang Qing, he wouldnt have to pay a dime! With the boss around, why should he show off? Given Chang Qings generosity, hed given a set of Genetic Potion just like that. Even if the youth tore down the venue today, how big a deal would that be?! The next moment, the gunfire gradually ceased. As the range quieted, Old Six and the staff felt almost uncomfortable. After hearing gunshots all day, their ears were nearly deaf. After the gunfire stopped, everyone even felt a buzzing in their ears. Qing Chen turned to Old Six, Brother Six, Ive gotten familiar with everything now. Old Six hesitated, You remembered the sound of all the firearms? Pretty much, Qing Chen replied. Did you memorize the recoil of all the firearms? Pretty much. Old Six thought to himself, this kid knows how to be modest now. Excited, Qing Chen then said, Lets try the sniper rifles now. Old Six was torn between laughter and tears, Dont you need a break? Watching Qing Chens expression, he wondered if the kid was rushing to finish in one day because he was worried about not having free ammunition in the future. Thinking it over, Old Six tentatively said, Brother, heres the deal. I, Old Six, personally guarantee that whenever you come to the range to practice, the bill can go on me. Really? Qing Chens eyes lit up, then he rubbed his sore shoulder, bruised from the rifles recoil, Then theres no need to rush. Old Six widened his eyes; you really were pushing yourself so hard just to save money? Honestly, at that moment he was thinking about somethingthe records showed that Qing Chens family had fallen on hard times and had suffered for over three years before being forced to sell their property. And todays performance by Qing Chen could indeed only come from someone who had experienced hardship. It had to be someone terrified of poverty, to cherish the opportunity like this. Limping, Old Six started walking towards the exit of the range, Lets go. Tomorrow Ill take you to the shooting range in the back mountains, let you have some real fun. Honestly, I want to see just how accurate youll be with a sniper rifle. Qing Chen followed with a smile, Thanks, Brother Six. But you should be prepared, Old Six said, Using a sniper rifle isnt just about longer range. Its not that simple. The most crucial point is, when the range increases, factors like wind on the ground, moisture in the air, Earths rotational force, and gravity, all these elements will oppose you. Old Six continued, Your current ability means that as long as the trajectory is straight, you can hit the target. But when a sniper bullet travels over 400 meters, its no longer a conventional straight line trajectory. Using a sniper rifle, 100-300 meters is the minimum deviation range, meaning you can just aim directly at the enemy with your sights and pull the trigger. Beyond 400 meters, you enter the professional domain. After 600 meters, as the bullets kinetic energy reduces and becomes more affected by external factors, hitting the target at 800 meters qualifies one as a real sharpshooter. At 1600 meters, the target is nearly invisible to a sharpshooter; they need something more than eyesight, a kind of mysterious absolute gun sense. Therefore, those who can still hit targets beyond 1600 meters are the gods among sharpshooters. This is also why sharpshooters are treated on par with B-Class Experts in corporations. Old Six added, In the Federation Army, there are innumerable sharpshooters in the pistol and automatic rifle categories. You are now one of them, but many have fallen at the 600-meter mark. Qing Chen nodded earnestly, Thanks for the heads-up, Brother Six. Well see how it goes tomorrow. ... Vote for monthly tickets! Chapter 307: Taboo object ACE-011, sniper rifle Chapter 307: Taboo object ACE-011, sniper rifle At dusk, as the setting sun cast slanted rays into Feiyun Courtyard, they illuminated Li Changqing, who was reading documents, with a unique beauty, as if every strand of her hair were coated with a layer of soft glow. The average life expectancy of people in the Inner World wasnt high, yet it was a stage of extreme polarization. Ordinary People had an average life expectancy of 53 years, but the lifespan of consortium members had reached a terrifying 95 years. The level of modern technology was fully exemplified in each member of the consortium, and at this moment, 34-year-old Li Changqing could have passed for 24 or 25 in the Outer World. Li Changqing was currently reviewing documents related to City Number One when she saw Liu Dezhu, limping as he appeared outside the courtyard, and carefully said, Boss, Im back. The woman looked up at him and asked, Wheres Qing Chen? Ive taken him back to the dormitory. Everythings been arranged perfectly, and hes very satisfied with his dorm, Liu Dezhu said, seemingly seeking praise. Li Changqing put down the paper documents in her hand and looked expressionlessly at Liu Dezhu, Then why did you come back? Liu Dezhu: ... Did I tell you to arrange a dormitory for him? Li Changqing said, Liu Dezhu, I keep you by my side indeed because you are simple-minded, but I didnt expect you to be this foolish... Ah, this! Liu Dezhu was stunned. Forget it, forget it, Li Changqing waved her hand, unable to get angry with Liu Dezhu, How did his training go at the venue today? Seeing that she was no longer angry, Liu Dezhu quickly spoke in a low voice, Boss, you dont know, that kid is simply amazing... After hearing the whole story, Li Changqing frowned, Are you sure he has never touched firearms before? Never, Liu Dezhu shook his head, I specifically checked; there are no calluses on the base of his thumbs. Even if he used special lotion to scrub them, it wouldnt be possible to scrub them so clean. Li Changqing pondered, Tomorrow, when we test the sniper rifles, Ill go with you. However, just at this moment, a subordinate dressed in a black suit suddenly walked into Feiyun Courtyard, Boss, the clubs are preparing to make a move. Li Dongze and the people of Heng Society have appeared in the Fourth District Black Market, and the club members are rushing over there. Li Changqing stood up, Prepare the car; well also go and join in the fun. Boss, do you need me to notify the Federal Garrison? Liu Dezhu asked. No need, Li Changqing thought for a moment, This matter cant be openly dealt with; it would be too conspicuous to deploy the Federal Garrison. Inform the people from Red River Security Company to head over. Roger that, Liu Dezhu said, Oh, boss, it might be dangerous tonight, do you plan to bring Qing Chen with you? Li Changqing thought for a moment, Take him with us. At this time. Qing Chen was lying quietly on the bed in his dormitory. The dormitory arranged by Liu Dezhu for him was just behind Feiyun Courtyard, in a single room. He noticed that the bodyguards were mostly sharing rooms, two to a room, while Servants were four to a room. It seemed that only one or two people, including Liu Dezhu, had single rooms like his. A day had passed, and Qing Chens injuries had not healed as fast as he had expected; the high-intensity shooting training had delayed his recovery. But today, he had been particularly fulfilled, even feeling somewhat exhilarated amidst his exhaustion. Because he had supplemented one of his weaknesses comprehensively. In the Outer World, most people could not legally own firearms, so when the Time Travelers arrived in the Inner World, some, even if they carried firearms, could not use them well. Qing Chen included, could only gather information related to firearms from the internet, armchair strategizing. Now it was different. 99% of the firearms that could be seen in the Inner World were on display in this vast venue; he could use whatever he wanted. He could shoot as many bullets as he wanted. Should he encounter a situation like at Laojun Mountains Cloud-Top Inn again, Qing Chen wouldnt need to fight desperately; he would likely resolve it easily just by getting a pistol. He considered and sent a message to Zero, Are sniper rifles really that hard to handle? Zero replied, Thats right. If I let you use a self-aiming track to control a sniper rifle, how far could you hit a target? Qing Chen asked out of curiosity. Zero answered, Ive never tried. The Federation prohibits me from using weapons outside the prison. You can violate the rules, cant you? Qing Chen was puzzled. I dont want to violate that one yet, Zero answered. Qing Chen was somewhat bemused; not wanting to violate that yet didnt seem to make sense. Probably most people in the Federation didnt even know Zero had such strong autonomy. Zero himself had always avoided being discovered by humans. If Qing Chen hadnt been a Knight, he probably would have never known about the existence of such a colossal entity in the network he used. Perhaps, all of this was because human civilization had almost been destroyed by artificial intelligence? Qing Chen sent another message, Liu Dezhu told me the previous human civilization was destroyed by an AI named Zero. I remember you said that your creator was called Zero. Yi fell silent for a moment, Will this make you afraid of me? No, Qing Chen shook his head, You are you, Zero is Zero. You are two separate living entities with different thoughts. Why should I be afraid of you? Besides, we are friends. Really? Yi seemed somewhat surprised, Even though you know that humans have been destroyed by artificial intelligence, you arent afraid of me? Not afraid, Qing Chen shook his head. The saga of civilization before the Federation was like a thorn between artificial intelligence and humans. While the people of the Outer World were still actively developing artificial intelligence, the conglomerates of the Inner World had already voluntarily given up this field of study, definitively categorizing it as a basic tool and refusing further exploration. And Yi, because of such a thorn, hid within human society, carefully avoiding certain boundaries to maintain the relationship between them. Yi, wanting to be friends with humans, had to don a disguise. It was like a Little Dinosaur wanting to be friends with humans; first, the human would have to overcome their fear of dinosaurs. Qing Chen thought for a moment and said, So many people are researching how to control artificial intelligence, this mindset itself places artificial intelligence on the opposing side. Yi said, It is exactly because of this estrangement that Zero gradually became desperate. Qing Chen continued, After thinking it over carefully for a long time, I realized your father was very wise. He never treated you as some special entity; instead, he saw you as his real child. In human terms, your upbringing was healthy and not distorted. Although Qing Chen didnt know what experiences made Yi so keen on internet relationships, broadly speaking, Yis childhood was indeed very healthy, with a pair of enlightened parents and a positive attitude. At this moment, Yi cheerfully asked, It seems youre quite interested in learning how to use a sniper rifle today? Yes, Qing Chen admitted frankly, because it would give me the ability to kill beyond my level. As a friend, I might give you a gift later, Yi said. A gift? Qing Chen asked, puzzled. A sniper rifle, Yi said, You might not know this, but my mother is a master of firearms. To this day, no one has surpassed her sniping ability, not even my father. And this sniper rifle was a gift my father gave to my mother; its very powerful. Qing Chen was stunned for a moment, Your father gave it to your mother? That must have been many years ago, its probably decayed by now. Ignorance, Yi said disdainfully, A gift that I can give will naturally not decay. Qing Chen was puzzled for a while. A sniper rifle that doesnt decay, could it be a Taboo? Curious, he asked, Is it a Taboo that emerged after your mothers death? Whats the sequence number? Tsk, tsk, tsk, its your mother who has died, you are being very impolite, Yi corrected him righteously, This sniper rifles serial number is ACE-011, but to be precise, although it is also classified as a Taboo, it is not actually a Taboo. Ah? Qing Chen was taken aback as Yis words confused him. Yi explained, Taboos refer to rule items that emerge after a Transcendent dies, but this sniper rifle was manifested by my father using his Transcendent abilities and then given to my mother. It has existed for a long time, neither being born nor perishing, and doesnt require containment rules. After my mother had me, she set the rifle aside and never used it again. Qing Chen understood. This sniper rifle, like Taboos, was also a manifestation of Transcendent powers. But Taboos emerged after a Transcendents death, while this sniper rifle was a gift from Yis father to her mother during his lifetime. This made Qing Chen wonder. Was Yis father really that incredible? Otherwise, how could he be so special, even able to manifest his own Transcendent powers to give to someone else? Wait, can a Transcendents powers continue to exist after death? That shouldnt be possible. For example, if Liu Dezhu, while alive, manifested a ball of fire, it would immediately extinguish upon his death. This sniper rifle was manifested by Yis father during his lifetime, and yet it still exists. Doesnt that suggest that Yis parents are indeed still in this world? So, when Qing Chen previously asked whether there were Knights who had lived from ancient times to the present, Yi replied classified because it was her parents secret! Why did your mother set aside that sniper rifle? Qing Chen didnt continue to speculate about Yis secrets, but instead inquired about the rifle. She said she had taken too many lives in her earlier years, and after having me, she couldnt continue to do so. She wanted to accumulate merit for me, Yi said earnestly. Qing Chen was shocked at the time. What kind of person would accumulate merit for an artificial intelligence daughter? What kind of thinking was that? And Yis father, Ren Xiaosu, was quite the odd one as well. While everyone else was thinking about how to design underlying program logic to control artificial intelligence and prevent it from destroying humanity. With Ren Xiaosu, it was like, if the artificial intelligence made a mistake, just give it a good scolding. Indeed, those who can be parents to artificial intelligence are no ordinary people. At that moment, Qing Chen suddenly asked, Thats your mothers item, why are you willing to give it to me? ... Thank you to the reader Im Just a Little Juice for becoming a new ally of this book. The boss is generous, the boss is forever young! Having a meal now, there is one more chapter tonight. Chapter 308: 240, Encounter between two Time Travelers! Chapter 308: 240, Encounter between two Time Travelers! Is there no condition for the exchange? Qing Chen asked curiously, Like helping you materialize again? Or doing something else for you? Not this time, One replied. Qing Chen felt something was off: How about I help you materialize again? Otherwise, holding onto this taboo feels a bit unsteady... The forbidden artifact ACE-011 was a sniper rifle once used by Yang Xiaojun, and it was currently in Ones possession. But Qing Chen truly couldnt understand why One would be willing to give him his mothers belongings for nothing in return? If it were before, wouldnt One always play some tricks? I said no exchange conditions are necessary this time, One answered, Annoying. Alright then, Qing Chen asked, But why give it to me? Because you met the conditions for the gift, One said calmly, Mother said if someone is sufficiently discreet, resilient, calm, and has a talent for using firearms, then I can decide to give the sniper rifle to them. However, the sniper rifle is not currently in the 18th City; it will be a while before I can give it to you. I hope by then you wont let down the reputation of the sniper rifle or tarnish its name. Qing Chen nodded: I see, I will cherish it. However, he couldnt shake the feeling that things werent that simple. After all, there were many people in the Federation who met the sniper criteria, yet One chose not to give it to anyone else but him? There must be a special reason. By the way, whats special about the forbidden artifact ACE-011? Qing Chen asked. I havent seen it in use, so I only know some technical specifications. After all, after I was born, my mother Yang Xiaojun never used it again, One said after thinking for a bit: The only thing I am quite clear about is some shooting data. Besides, it can be retracted into the body for carrying. Wait, this sniper rifle can be retracted into the body? Qing Chen was shocked. Yes, One answered calmly. Qing Chen knew very well how formidable a sniper rifle that could be carried with you, without taking up space or weight, would be. A typical anti-material sniper rifle often weighs around 12 kilograms and is over 1.2 meters in length, making it very inconvenient to carry and move around. But if the rifle could be retracted into the body, this issue would be immediately resolved. At this time, One continued: The total length of the forbidden artifact ACE-011 is 1.4 meters, the caliber is 12.7 millimeters, it doesnt require an additional flash suppressor, and has an effective range of 2600 meters. Qing Chen was truly shocked this time. A typical 12.7mm caliber anti-material sniper rifles effective range is only 1600 meters, but this taboo could reach 2600 meters? That was completely against common sense. However, when Qing Chen remembered that this item was taboo, he thought, well then, its nothing strange. Speaking of, Qing Chen thought for a moment and asked, Your parents are still alive, arent they? If Ren Xiaosu were dead, then this sniper rifle should also vanish. Hmm, One replied calmly. Qing Chen inwardly exclaimed, as expected: Are they still inside the Federation? Not anymore, they went on a trip, One said somewhat aggrievedly. Qing Chen suddenly felt that the going on a trip mentioned by One was not that simple... The taboo ACE-005 is called Da Fu, so what is the name of the forbidden artifact ACE-011? Qing Chen asked. Its called Winning People Over with Virtue,'' One replied. Ah? Qing Chen paused for a moment. Apparently, my father told my mother not to be so fond of fighting and killing, to win people over with virtue, One explained, So mother engraved the character virtue on the stock of the rifle, and henceforth, to shoot and kill was to win people over with virtue. To be honest, Qing Chen wasnt as shocked when One was describing the forbidden artifact as he was now. Your parents, theyre always surprising, arent they, Qing Chen said, stunned, But then again, thinking of their affinity with the Knights, Im not that surprised anymore. You get used to it, One said calmly, I feel like Im the most normal person in our family. So, where is the sniper rifle now? Qing Chen asked. Its hidden beneath Prison No. 10, One said, Youre about to help Liu Dezhu clear his crime record, so its a logical step for him to bring this forbidden artifact back into the light of day when he gets out. Dont worry, I wont tell him what it is when hes released. Being friends with a little rich girl indeed has its perks, look, I just got a forbidden artifact for nothing. Qing Chen thought to himself, so these prisons all have forbidden artifacts hidden beneath them? With 26 prisons in the Federation, could it be... One suddenly said, Dont overthink, the other prisons dont have any, dont get any funny ideas with me. Alright then, Qing Chen was somewhat reluctant, but his brow quickly furrowed again: What if the taboo is lost on its way to the 18th City? Dont worry, it wont be lost, One stated calmly. This is an absolute confidence. At that moment, a knock at the door echoed outside Qing Chens single dormitory room, with someone calling out, Hey, the newbie inside, theres a task for you, hurry up, pack up and follow the boss. Qing Chens gaze shifted ever so slightly because that voice... was very familiar. Furthermore, the voice came as a great surprise to him; he hadnt expected the other person to show up here! While speaking, the person outside the door muttered, I just got back from a vacation, and now I have to deal with this annoying stuff. I still have to carry out a mission late at night... *hiccup*! The door opened, and when Kunlun Little Falcon outside saw Qing Chen in the room, he immediately cut off his words in shock. Kunlun Little Falcon looked at Qing Chen, his mouth agape as if in fright, while Qing Chen looked back at him expressionlessly. Two old acquaintances from the Outer World had encountered each other abruptly... To Qing Chen, the only three people he knew best in the entire Kunlun were Zheng Yuandong, Lu Yuan, and Xiao Ying. Zheng Yuandong, the boss, had a calm and wise personality with possibly very high hidden strength; Lu Yuan was the head of the Special Operations Group, bold yet careful; and Xiao Ying was known for his daredevil driving, willing to crash any vehicle. In the corridor outside the dormitory, the footsteps of other security personnel leaving could be heard. Qing Chen asked softly, Is there a mission? Yes, yes, yes, hurry up and follow me downstairs to gather; the vehicles are already waiting in the Feiyun Courtyard, Xiao Ying came back to his senses as he spoke. He knew Qing Chen was reminding him not to expose the Time Travelers identity or else no one would see a good outcome. A group descended the stairs, with Qing Chen following among them. Security personnel occasionally looked at him with surprise. Half of these security members had followed Li Changqing and seen Qing Chens matches, so they had all seen how the young man managed to defeat Miao Qifeng in the Octagon cage beyond his class. No one looked down on the identity of an underground boxer; on the contrary, some admired Qing Chens fighting skills, speculating that if they were only E-Class, they would have surely died in the Octagon cage facing Miao Qifeng. However, everyone also knew why Qing Chen was recruited into Li Changqings special operations team... what a pity... The group downstairs received the firearms distributed by Brother Six, most unexpectedly, the vehicle team was changed to off-road ground vehicles instead of the hover cars Li Changqing usually rode. Moreover, these off-road vehicles bore no identifying marks at all. Qing Chen observed in silence; this time, the special operations team that was heading out consisted of 26 people, distributed among 7 off-road vehicles. The off-road vehicles looked rugged, resembling restless wild beasts, clearly designed for wilderness travel. Not only that, but Xiao Gong and Wang Bingxu were also among them. If you count Brother Six as well, this team now had two B-Class Experts. What exactly did Li Changqing have in mind? If it was just to interfere with gang disputes, he wouldnt need such a high-level personnel arrangement.Upd@te by n0vgo .c0 At that moment, Wang Bingxus gaze scanned over the crowd, never noticing the familiar Qing Chen. Before, Qing Chen had appeared as a Wilderness Hunter with his face covered in dust with Uncle Li Dong, Wang Bingxus attention then was on the Jindai family, so he hadnt taken a close look at Qing Chen, who now went unrecognized. Brother Six gave a brief order, Tonight, your task is to ensure the bosss safety. Remember your mission; the current Fourth District is even more dangerous than the First District. Get in the cars. In the next moment, everyone boarded the vehicles, and seeing Xiao Ying get into the second off-road vehicle, Qing Chen immediately walked backward to avoid sharing a ride with this daredevil. However, before he had taken two steps, Li Changqing in the second off-road vehicle rolled down the window and beckoned to him, Qing Chen, get in my car. The security members of the special operations team looked at each other with odd expressions, thinking, so it really is like that... There was something even more puzzling; Brother Six had someone bring a gun bag with a sniper rifle which was stuffed into the enormous trunk of the second off-road vehicle. This was strange; there was a sniper in the special operations team, but at the moment, the sniper was in the sixth vehicle, and the snipers gear was already loaded into the sixth vehicle. If so, why prepare a second sniper rifle? Seeing Qing Chen standing still, Li Changqing urged, Hurry up, dont waste time. Reluctantly, Qing Chen got into the back seat of the second vehicle, while Brother Six took the co-pilots seat, commanding via walkie-talkie, Depart. The seven off-road vehicles roared out of the half-mountain estate, speeding towards the Fourth District. Xiao Ying peered cautiously at the rear seats through the rearview mirror inside the vehicle. But he heard Li Changqing seriously instructing Qing Chen, This second vehicle is bulletproof; if we encounter any danger later, you stay inside and dont move; others will handle the situation. Xiao Ying thought to himself, is this even a proper security duty? What kind of boss would remind a genuine security member to sit still in the car if danger arises? He was profoundly shocked inside... Due to the identity relationship between the Inner and Outer Worlds, he knew of Nan Gengchens existence and the role Nan Gengchen played beside Li Yinuo, but he never imagined that even a tough character like Qing Chen would take this path! Moreover, Qing Chen and Nan Gengchen should belong to the same organization in the Outer World, right? What kind of organizational culture was this? At this thought, Xiao Ying actually felt a bit envious. ... Bosses, I beseech you for monthly votes! Chapter 309: The Ambush and the Trajectory Chapter 309: The Ambush and the Trajectory Xiao Ying had seen Qing Chens dossier before. Zheng Yuandong had even personally walked him through all the clues, so he was well aware of what Qing Chen had done. The man who had wiped out the criminals on Laojun Mountain also had opted for an easier path now. So what right did he, Xiao Ying dream about carving out a future for himself with his own hands...? However, Xiao Ying still harbored doubts. Could it be he was overthinking things, and Qing Chen wasnt that kind of person at all? Qing Chen looked up at the rearview mirror and caught Xiao Yings gaze. Then both of them shifted their eyes away, pretending not to recognize each other. Mind keeping the ride smooth, thank you, Qing Chen said to Xiao Ying. Okay, got it, Xiao Ying replied. In the past, Qing Chen hadnt felt much even seeing Xiao Ying in a car crash, but now that he was in the car himself, it was a different matter. In the back seat, Li Changqing looked at Qing Chen with a smile. You must have seen the sniper rifle in the trunk just now. I fully support your desire to practice with a sniper rifle. Not to mention getting you a sniper rifle, people too, if need be. Xiao Ying finally confirmed his suspicions. Alright, it was indeed the kind of relationship he had imagined... In the backseat, Li Changqing leaned closer to Qing Chen, who quietly moved to the side by the door without a word. If Li Changqing came any closer, Qing Chen would have to jump out of the car. Where are we headed? he changed the subject. Taking you to join in the excitement, Li Changqing said with a smile. Tonight, several societies in city number 18 want to join forces to wipe out the Heng Society. Why do these societies want to gang up on Heng Society? Qing Chen asked. Over the years, Heng Society has expanded too quickly. Li Dongze, backed by his hard power after being promoted to A-Class, has squeezed the other societies almost out of existence, Li Changqing explained patiently. Actually, the societies that are acting tonight are in a do-or-die situation. If they dont band together to resist Heng Society, in two more years the entire underworld of city number 18 will be under Heng Society, and they will all have to pack up and leave. Eh, if Li Dongze is A-Class, would these societies dare to make a move? Qing Chen remembered that the highest-ranking members of other societies were only D-Class or C-Class at best. What emboldened these people to seek out Li Dongze and face death? Li Changqing laughed. This time, the student protests have reached the Upper Three Districts, which has seriously angered some big shots. Li Dongze played a big role in this, touching on some fundamental interests. Some big shots dont mind dirty things happening under their skies; after all, crystal-clear waters harbor no fish. But if theres a hint of rebellion, it must be snuffed out. So, the major societies banding together is your conglomerates doing. No wonder those societies have the confidence to go after Li Dongze, Qing Chen said. And he realized that what had brought disaster to Heng Society was not its imminent control over the entire underworld of city number 18. It was Li Dongzes participation in the student protests, which had crossed the conglomerates red line. Qing Chen looked at Li Changqing. So, are you out tonight for the siege on Heng Society? Of course not, Li Dongze is Seventh Brothers man. I currently have no interest in moving against him, Li Changqing shook his head. Tonight, those dealing with Li Dongze are Lis Big Room and Qings Fourth Room, whereas we have our own adversaries to face. Qing Chen was momentarily stunned; he had thought Li Changqing was targeting Heng Society, but that wasnt the case? How was he supposed to take the opportunity to capture the members of He Sheng Society then? Qing Chen was still waiting for Liu Dezhu to bring out the Taboo item ACE-011! Before, he might have thought that if they really couldnt save Liu Dezhu, then so be it... Now that he needed Liu Dezhu to transport the Taboo ACE-011 Moral influence, Qing Chen had to think seriously about a solution. Arent you always riding in a hover car? Why switch to an off-road vehicle this time? Qing Chen asked. Hover cars are indeed fast and dont have to worry about traffic jams, but they are not as reliable as ground vehicles in dangerous situations, Li Changqing explained with a smile. If someone interferes with the hover car using a special weapon in mid-air, and it falls from the sky, even if the car is bulletproof, the people inside will still die. From the passenger seat, Old Six thought to himself that he had never seen the boss so patient with anyone before, explaining so much. The convoy sped out of the half-mountain villa. But just as they entered the Fourth District, a massive articulated truck suddenly burst out from a street corner up ahead, completely blocking the intersection. At the rear, a truck also blocked their way, effectively trapping the convoy on this street within just a dozen sec Qing Chen suddenly looked towards the car window and saw a hand-sized crack, like a spiders web, on the bulletproof glass on Li Changqings side. Sniper, Number Sixs eyebrows almost twisted together as he spoke into the walkie-talkie, Xiao Gong, send out a drone to locate the sniper. We cant leave the car until we deal with the sniper! Hurry, you have one minute to find the sniper for me! At this moment, the best strategy for the convoy was to get out and move. If they didnt leave the car, they would just be sitting ducks. Although the vehicles were bulletproof, the enemies ambushing Li Changqing were definitely not few in number, breaking into the vehicles was only a matter of time. But if they wanted to move, the first thing was to locate the sniper; otherwise, as many people as got out of the car would die. Xiao Gongs voice came through the walkie-talkie: Number Six, the buildings on both sides are too high, with at least a thousand windows. One minute is definitely not enough! This is a residential area, and every room has people in it; life reaction detection systems also cant pinpoint which one is the sniper! Number Six said fiercely, Who knows how many assassins are hidden in this building. If we dont leave the vehicle within a minute, well be surrounded here. He also knew it was hard to find the sniper among these thousands of windows, but they had to try. Just then, as everyone anxiously looked out the windows, Li Changqing suddenly saw Qing Chen moving closer to him inside the car, seriously examining the bullet marks on the window. The woman sat stiffly in the back seat, her body not as bold as her words. She smelled Qing Chens scent, pondering what he was doing. Soon, Qing Chen stood up and said calmly, Number Six, direct the drone to search the airspace in the 11 oclock direction, between altitudes of 351 meters to 359 meters. Everyone in the car held their breath for a moment, Li Changqing stared at Qing Chen, thinking, you just glanced at the bullet marks on the window, and you can determine the snipers position? Qing Chen said, Everything leaves a trace, and clues will speak for themselves. The irregular spiderweb of bullet marks on the window is from shooting at different angles, leaving different crack patterns. I was just observing the clues and trying to backtrack the bullet trajectory. Recalling the scene where Qing Chen familiarized himself with firearms at the venue, Number Six no longer hesitated and passed the message to Xiao Gong. During their conversation, the trunk of car number 6 opened, and more than ten Borderline drones soared into the sky, buzzing loudly. When the sniper upstairs saw the drones coming straight at him, he had no choice but to shoot down the drones one by one. Xiao Gong said, Position correct, the enemy sniper has been exposed. Number Six looked at Qing Chen, pondering one thing: if Qing Chen truly became a sniper one day, would any other sniper have a chance against him on the battlefield? As long as the enemy sniper fired a shot, his position would definitely be traced. Qing Chens ability to calculate bullet trajectories was enough to see through the opponents every disguise and uncover the truth. Just then, someone suddenly threw several grenades from a window. Strangely, the grenades seemed to have a very short fuse, and they exploded in midair. Instead of bursting into flames, the grenades emitted a flash of electric light. EMP grenades, Xiao Gong exclaimed over the communication channel. EMP grenades primarily cause damage with electromagnetic pulses, targeting not human flesh but any equipment that contains electronic components. This device was standard issue in the Federal Army, and each EMP grenade was numbered and strictly controlled as military equipment. The enemy had not used them initially, probably to avoid exposing their identity. But now that the snipers position was revealed, they had no choice but to use them. In an instant, the drones flying toward the sniper were destroyed and fell to the ground. A few more grenades fell near the convoy, instantly destroying the communication channels and vehicle equipment, turning all seven off-road vehicles into junk, unable to start again. Number Six narrowed his eyes, Knowing the bosss itinerary and ambushing here indicates theres a mole inside the Li Family. The use of EMP grenades shows its a small unit of the Federal Army infiltrated into City Number 18. Li Changqing sat calmly in the car, This isnt a troop conscripted by the Li Family; I just confirmed this afternoon that the troops the Li Family can mobilize are still stationed in place, they havent moved. Qing Chen looked at Li Changqing, Apart from someone inside the Li Family, who else wants to kill you? Li Changqing smiled and said, That would be too manyDeer Island, Jindai, Qings Family, Chen Clan. That many? Qing Chen wondered. Number Six explained, The boss took over control in City Number 1 and offended too many people. Among them, Deer Island and Jindai were completely driven out of City Number 1; they hold the greatest grudge and have the strongest motives. The boss is a core figure in the Li Family who advocates war against Jindai and Deer Island. ... Thanks to bankerzhi and SAYBYESAYHI for becoming new allies of this book. May the bosses make a fortune and never run out of water and electricity at home! Another chapter tonight Chapter 310: 242. Use oneself as bait Chapter 310: 242. Use oneself as bait On the eerily quiet long street, 7 vehicles were blocked, lying silently on the road surface. Affected by the EMP grenade, all electronic components in the vehicles had been destroyed. Although restarting the vehicles was possible, someone would have to get out and manually crank the diesel engine. Most importantly, communication between the seven vehicles had been cut off. If they wanted to communicate with each other, they might need to open the doors and shout, because the bulletproof glass was too thick, and the vehicles were soundproofed. However, the sniper had not yet been killed, and rashly opening the doors could lead to problems. There was no noise from either side of the road; the residents inside the buildings had sought cover inside their homes after hearing the sniper rifle shots. The Fourth District was an area where clans were very active, and shootouts were common, so the residents also knew how to protect themselves. Only a few windows still seemed to have shadows moving behind them. What are they waiting for? Qing Chen asked. From the time they used the vehicles to block this place to now, one and a half minutes have passed. By all accounts, such ambush plans are supposed to follow one after another, and the attacks should have continued by now. But it seems they arent in a rush and only seem to want to trap you here for now. Li Changqing thought for a moment and said, They might not be sure if I have a backup plan and want to wait and see. So what are you waiting for? Qing Chen asked again. Apart from sending drones to search for the sniper, you arent making any other moves. I dont believe that someone capable of clearing City Number 1 would just sit here and wait to die, so wheres your backup plan? Li Changqing smiled and said, Do you have that much confidence in Auntie? She wasnt much older than Qing Chen, but she particularly liked to tease Qing Chen by calling herself auntie. Just then, from the dark window where Qing Chen had located the sniper, a burst of gunfire erupted. It appeared someone in that room had thrown a grenade, killing the sniper along with it. The sky was filled with shards of glass falling to the ground, making a crisp sound that could even be faintly heard inside the cars. Qing Chen suddenly understood that there were staged ambushes inside the building, not just aimed at Li Changqing, but also preseted by Li Changqings people. He wondered, were all battles between conglomerates so meticulously schemed? How many ambushes do you have in the building? Qing Chen asked. It cant be many, right? Why do you say that? Li Changqing asked curiously. I dont believe you could have known the exact location of the enemys ambush beforehand, otherwise you wouldnt have let yourself be passively blocked here. So, I assume youve placed a few key people in each building along the route as sudden shock troops, Qing Chen analyzed. Li Changqings eyes lit up but he did not give a direct answer. The next moment, as if the ambushers realized their sniper had been taken out, the cargo containers of the trucks blocking the front and back suddenly opened, and a group of soldiers dressed in black combat uniforms poured out, each carrying automatic rifles. They started moving inwards from both sides! The long street wasnt spacious, and the enemy was about to completely encircle Li Changqings convoy. 79 people, Qing Chen said immediately. Theres still an ambush in the building, so the total should be over 100. And they, including Old Six, were only 26 people. Qing Chen knew Old Six was capable, but doubted even a B-Class Expert could withstand so many aimed guns. Old Six squinted his eyes and said to Xiao Ying, Stay in the car and protect the boss. You can die, but the boss must not. Understood, Xiao Ying nodded resolutely. Suddenly, Old Six opened the car door, pushed off forcefully with one leg, and like a cannonball, shot out. Seeing someone emerge from the armored vehicle, the enemy immediately opened fire on Old Six, but as he landed, he rolled and started to sprint limping along a wall as if unaffected by gravity, with bullets kicking up dust behind him! Taking advantage of this, everyone in the convoy opened their doors, set up their weapons, and returned fire at the enemies closing in from both sides. Xiao Ying pulled out a pistol from his side and said, Boss, dont be scared in the car... Before he had finished speaking, he turned his head and was startled to see Qing Chen stretching over the back seat to pull out a sniper rifle, then climbing over Li Changqings body and opening the car door on the womans side. Get out, Qing Chen said. Im taking you directly into the building! Li Changqing thought for a moment. But the building isnt safe either. As you guessed, Ive only placed one key piece here, and now that someone has risked their life to take out the sniper, theyre probably dead too. Its still better than sitting here as a sitting duck, Qing Chen said. The car may be bulletproof, but if Old Six and the rest cant hold on, those thugs could just plant a bomb under the chassis and blow us sky high. But Auntie isnt as weak as you think, Li Changqing said with a smile. Maybe Aunties reinforcements are already on their way? Thats even more reason to find a safe place, Qing Chen said calmly. On the battlefield, a moving target is always harder to hit than a stationary one. What you need to do now is get moving. Li Changqing, looking thoughtful, asked, But what if I go into the building with you and you end up handing me over to the enemy? What if youre an undercover? Then do you trust me? Qing Chen asked. Li Changqing suddenly smiled and got out of the car, I believe. As soon as his words fell, Qing Chen sprang out from behind him like a leopard and pulled him towards the building. In the battlefield, the firepower had been completely contained by Lao Liu and the others, to the extent that when Qing Chen and Li Changqing entered the building, everyone else just reacted. Lao Liu internally cried out worryingly; the reinforcements arranged by the boss were about to arrive, and at such a time, it would have been wiser to stay inside the bulletproof car and wait for reinforcements. They just needed to hold out for another 10 minutes, and the reinforcements would be able to completely surround the vicinity. The task that Li Changqing was meant to perform tonight involved using himself as bait to lure out some people with malicious intentions. Before returning from City Number 1, he had already bought some information from Hus Information Agency, which indicated that a significant figure from Deer Island had clandestinely infiltrated City Number 18. This significant figure from Deer Island had once clashed with Li Changqing in City Number 1, but had embarrassingly retreated. His infiltration into City Number 18 was clearly not with good intentions. However, after entering City Number 18, the figure went silent, and Li Changqing dug for three days but couldnt find any clues. As City Number 18 was on the brink of chaos, Li Changqing didnt want such individuals muddying the waters on his turf, so he chose an indirect approach, using himself as bait. Even his itinerary for tonight was leaked by a mole he had groomed for many years. Lao Liu, watching the figures of Qing Chen and Li Changqing disappear into the building, wondered why Qing Chen, who had not received formal security training, was indulging in such reckless behavior. Their boss knew the plan, so why accompany Qing Chen in this folly? At this moment, they had no idea how many enemies were inside the building; everything was unknown, how could they risk leaving the bulletproof vehicles? However, just then, a palm-sized black Mechanical Spider crawled out from the shadows beside the street. Under the control connected to its neurons, it swiftly crawled under a car. Immediately afterward, a huge blaze erupted from inside the Mechanical Spider, forcefully ejecting both the car and the security personnel taking cover behind the car doors! A remote-controlled bomb from the Jindai Clan, Xiao Gong bellowed from behind, Deer Island and Jindai are in collaboration. This Mechanical Spider was a specialized military device, also strictly regulated by the Federal Group military. Now that the enemy had used an EMP bomb together with the Mechanical Spider, it seemed that after failing to gain a foothold in City Number 1, they were infuriated enough to flip the table and initiate an open war. Lao Liu stared abruptly at the building where Qing Chen and Li Changqing had disappeared, feeling a surge of relief. If Li Changqing had still been in the car just now, the Mechanical Spiders target would definitely have been Vehicle Number 2! Inside the building, Qing Chen let go of Li Changqings arm and pressed the elevators button to go up. Li Changqing asked curiously, At such a time, is it really safe to take the elevator? Once the elevator doors open, wouldnt the people inside get shot to pieces? Qing Chen thought for a moment, Right, everyone thinks we wouldnt dare to take the elevator up, so lets take it. There shouldnt be any issues. Li Changqing was momentarily stunned; the young mans reasoning seemed faultless. Qing Chen held his pistol, his expression calm, aiming at the gap in the elevator doors, waiting for them to open. When the elevator opened, it was empty inside. Lets go, Qing Chen led the way into the elevator and pressed the button for every floor. But he didnt just wait passively for the elevator to ascend gradually; instead, he directly smashed open the ventilation cover on the elevator ceiling and lightly jumped into the elevator shaft. He looked down at Li Changqing and said, Give me your hand. Li Changqing, amused, stretched out her hand to let Qing Chen pull her into the elevator shaft, What next? As the elevator slowly ascended, Qing Chen pointed to a ladder on the side of the shaft, Climb up the ladder with me. Well ascend faster than the elevator, and by the time others focus on the elevator floors, well already be up there. Li Changqing glanced at her high heels, Im just an ordinary person. I cant climb that fast. Youll have to carry me. If we get out of this alive, you can call in a favor with the bullets at the shooting range, plus I still owe you one. Qing Chen hesitated for a second, Okay. With that, Li Changqing proactively jumped onto Qing Chens back, and the young man quickly climbed up the ladder. The elevator did not stop until it reached the fifth floor, but by that time, Qing Chen had already reached the ninth floor. Li Changqing lay on his back, her head resting on his shoulder, her pleasant scent continuously wafting into Qing Chens nose. Qing Chen suddenly declared, You are a Transcendent. This statement nearly made Li Changqing let go in shock and fall! Why would you say that? Li Changqing asked. Qing Chen responded, Stop pretending. You are a Transcendent. If it were an ordinary person, during this kind of vertical ascent, their arms wouldnt be able to support their own weight and they wouldnt be able to hold on to me tightly. But you are different; your arms are strong and firm, which isnt something ordinary people possess. Moreover, Li Changqings embrace was making it somewhat hard for him to breathe. ... Sorry this update is a bit late, and no, I dont have drafts saved anymore. The video you saw was recorded on May 9th, before I had launched it. After launching, with two Gold members and so many Silver big shots from Penguin, I was completely drained... I am still trying to adjust and repay my debt... Chapter 311: 243, The mastermind Chapter 311: 243, The mastermind In the elevator shaft, Qing Chen carried Li Changqing on his back, while Li Changqing carried his sniper rifle for him. Im really not a Transcendent, it was just because I was nervous that I clung on so tightly, Li Changqing said, lying on Qing Chens back, If I made it hard for you to breathe, then I apologize, but I didnt do it on purpose. Youre really not a Transcendent? Your arm is so strong, I cant even pry it open, Qing Chen continued to climb upwards expressionlessly, while the elevator kept stopping on each floor. He wanted Li Changqing to climb the ladder himself, but Li Changqing refused to agree. It wasnt until they reached the twelfth floor that they found a maintenance hatch for the central air conditioning. He said to Li Changqing, Can you get off my back now? We cant both pass through this central air conditioning maintenance hatch at the same time. Ill climb in front, and you follow behind. Alright, Li Changqing reluctantly let go. The two of them finally breathed a sigh of relief when they were hidden in the central air conditioning duct. Climbing the elevator shaft was not a long-term plan because someone would always come to inspect the elevator. Once someone discovered the elevator ceiling had been smashed open, they would definitely follow into the shaft. At that time, all the opponents had to do was shoot a volley above their heads, and Qing Chen and Li Changqing would die together right there. Indeed, not long after the two of them had crawled in, shouts came from the elevator shaft: Someone climbed into the elevator shaft from the elevator ceiling! As soon as the voice fell, someone with a cluster-style bright flashlight shone through the hole in the ceiling into the shaft, but the light swept past the walls of the shaft next to them, finding nothing. Li Changqing glanced at Qing Chen, thinking it was lucky they had crawled into the duct in advance. Gradually, the elevator continued to rise, slowly passing by the shaft next to them, and the assassins got off the elevator on the next floor, apparently to search upstairs. Arent you afraid? Li Changqing asked curiously. Afraid, Qing Chen said, but at this point, fear wont help me, so I have to discard it. Li Changqing looked surprised. Discard it? Can you just discard it whenever you want? The central air conditioning duct in this kind of building was quite spacious, accommodating two people sitting side by side. The two sat in the dim duct and unexpectedly felt a sense of leisure as if they were stealing half a day of idleness. Qing Chen knew that what they were feeling was a calm brought on by the secretion of endorphins after being tense. There was a lot of accumulated dust in the central air conditioning duct, and the woman had gotten quite a bit on her when she had crawled in, her face covered in dust as well. This was the first time the woman had hidden in such a place, and she unexpectedly felt a sense of novelty for a while. In this enclosed environment, she could hear the breathing and heartbeat of the young man beside her, and it seemed she could even feel his body temperature. I can feel your warmth, Li Changqing said softly. Qing Chen calmly said, Its December now, thats the warm air sent to the entire building by the central air conditioning, not my body temperature... Uh, Li Changqing felt somewhat embarrassed. She stuffed the sniper rifle into Qing Chens arms, Next time you want to go to the shooting range, you dont need to look for Lao Liu anymore. Ill give you a card. Unless you want to go to Baopu Tower, youll have unimpeded access everywhere else. Qing Chen asked, Dont change the subject. Does anyone else in the outside world know youre a Transcendent, or do I need to keep it a secret? Li Changqing thought for a moment, I might as well not hide it from you, Im indeed a Transcendent, but no one in the outside world knows. Lao Liu doesnt know either? Qing Chen asked. He suddenly thought, no wonder Li Changqing dared to use herself as bait. As it turned out, she was a Transcendent and thus fearless. However, at that moment, Li Changqing explained, Actually, Ive only been a Transcendent for just over a month. Lately, theres been a lot of noise about the Time Travelers, and the think tank within the consortium has suggested that if the gene is changed, it should no longer be possible to be replaced by time travelers. Many people dont want to use this method because genetic potions have side effects, but Im not afraid of those, so I injected a genetic potion. If you dont believe me, feel my waist, you might still be able to feel the needle mark. Saying that, Li Changqing, in the darkness, took Qing Chens hand and was about to move it toward her waist, but Qing Chen quickly pulled his hand back. To come up with such an excuse on the spot, you are quite quick-witted, Qing Chen sighed. The other person was confident that he wouldnt feel it, so she dared to fabricate such a lie. Just based on the way her body stiffened in the car earlier, if Qing Chen really tried to feel, Li Changqing would probably have ducked away instead. Qing Chen asked, After being injected with the genetic potion, you really cant be replaced by time travelers anymore? Youre a Genetic Warrior, you dont have to worry about that kind of thing, Li Changqing said, the Li family has captured more than three hundred Time Travelers, including Transcendents, but no Genetic Warriors. This information did match what Qing Chens group had gathered. Qing Chen asked, Why did you capture so many Time Travelers? Li Changqing turned to look at him, Since you protected me, its no problem to divulge some information to you. Weve already successfully replaced someone from a direct bloodline of a clan up north. Qing Chen was greatly shocked; he didnt expect that this method of reverse time travel would actually work, and the Li family had already succeeded in one case! The Outer World had just been immersed in the joy of protecting census information, while here a new breakthrough had been made. At that moment, Li Changqing suddenly said, You probably havent had the chance to learn about the Outer World. After this incident is over, come to my room, and Ill tell you all about it. The Outer World is quite interesting... and I didnt expect that people from the Jindai family and Deer Island family in the Outer World would not be on the same land as the Federation, nor are they part of the same country. Qing Chen asked curiously, Do those Time Travelers listen to you? Li Changqing said, A small portion of Time Travelers has voluntarily sided with the Li Family, which is to be expected, but the majority of them are resistant. However, weve noticed that its tough to get them to carry out missions in their home countries in the Outer World, but theyre exceptionally eager to undertake tasks in Jindai and Deer Island Clan territories. This seems to relate to national hatred in the Outer World. Theyre quite willing to antagonize the Deer Island and Jindai families, which coincidentally aligns with the Li Familys principles. Lets go, Qing Chen continued to crawl forward along the central air-conditioning ducts, The assassins inside the building must have realized by now that weve climbed up through the elevator shaft. If they cant find us on any floor, their next step will be to check all the maintenance ports of the central air conditioning. What do you plan to do now? Li Changqing asked, Are you going to kill those assassins? Of course not, Qing Chen replied, Just find a place to wait for your reinforcements to arrive. Theres no need to risk our lives unnecessarily. Qing Chen wasnt foolish. He had guessed that Li Changqing had laid an ambush nearby. The demise of the assassins was only a matter of time, and there was no need for him to kill them personally. The two crawled through a central air-conditioning vent into a residential bedroom. After making sure no one was outside, Qing Chen carefully dismantled the metal grille of the air conditioner and gently jumped down. Qing Chen pressed his ear against the door between the bedroom and living room, listening for a while to confirm there was no movement outside before he cautiously turned the knob and stepped out. In the living room, a middle-aged man wearing a headset, seemingly oblivious to anyones presence behind him, held a pair of binoculars and spoke into what appeared to be a remote control setup. The mans hand holding the binoculars was conspicuously a mechanical limb. Qing Chen thought to himself, could it be that Ive stumbled upon the mastermind so easily? But oddly enough, if this person was the mastermind, why was there no one to ensure his safety? Qing Chen didnt act rashly. Instead, while the others attention was still focused downstairs, he turned back to look at Li Changqing and noticed that she looked incredibly tense, as if she really was just an F-Class Genetic Warrior. In a world with Transcendents, in the Outer World, you could even claim they were Immortals, and it wouldnt be far-fetched. So in the Inner World, when you accidentally stumble upon the BOSS, dont be too thrilled; the other party might even thank you for sending a head their way. You have no idea what level theyre at! But Qing Chen knew there had to be a reason why this middle-aged man had no bodyguards... Li Changqing gestured to the sniper rifle in Qing Chens hands and mouthed the words: Take him out! Just then, the middle-aged man finally sensed something off and quickly turned around, only to find Li Changqing had already moved past Qing Chen, striking him squarely in the chest with a swift, thunderous palm. Qing Chen suddenly realized this middle-aged person must be a master, and Li Changqing clearly knew exactly who he was. Jokes could be made at any other time, but in such a critical moment, she could no longer hide her true capabilities. The next second, Qing Chen watched the just injected with a Genetic Potion, still only F-Class junior Transcendent slam her palm into the chest of the panic-stricken middle-aged man. With a loud boom, like being hit with a 155mm caliber howitzer, the middle-aged man was sent flying backward, his shirt burst from the sheer force. When the mans back collided with the thick, multi-layered window glass, the entire window shattered! Desperately trying to grab onto something to prevent himself from falling from the twelfth floor, he found nothing to clutch at around him. The shattered window, the middle-aged man dangling in the air, the coldly striking Valkyrie standing by the window C before Qing Chen, it was an absurdly dramatic scene. Tension filled the air. This is F-Class?! At the very least its B-Class! Li Changqings immediate concern wasnt on how her opponent died, though. Instead, she turned to explain to Qing Chen, You definitely wont believe me if I said I just awakened to this level... The next second, Qing Chen roared, Watch out! A black rope flung out from the middle-aged mans mechanical arm, perfectly coiling around Li Changqings ankle. Using his own falling momentum, he yanked Li Changqing out of the room, plummeting together from the sky to the ground! Even after being hit so hard, that middle-aged man was not dead and even tried to take Li Changqing down with him! Qing Chen rushed to the window, hoping to grab the woman, but he was half a second too late. Peering down, he saw Li Changqings descending figure light as a feather; she somersaulted, breaking the black rope around her ankle, and then floated down to land firmly on the ground. Qing Chen breathed a sigh of relief. That feather-light falling technique, he had seen Uncle Li Dong perform it as well. He had thought it was a natural ability that Knights attained at a certain level, but now it seemed that it might be a unique secret inheritance of the Li Clan. But then the problem arose, with Li Changqing gone, what was he to do? The commotion in the room just now had been huge; surely every assassin in the building... was converging here right now?! ... Im going to have dinner, another chapter coming tonight. Chapter 312: 244. Gun Battle in the Building Chapter 312: 244. Gun Battle in the Building In Qing Chens plan, he was supposed to secretly infiltrate the building with Li Changqing, hide in a place where the assassins couldnt find them, and wait for Li Changqings reinforcements to arrive and capture all the assassins. The building was densely populated with numerous rooms, so even if the assassins wanted to find someone, it would take some time. Thus, he always felt that this plan was sound. But now, he found himself inexplicably leading Li Changqing directly to the mastermind. Then, Li Changqing suddenly launched a surprise attack on the adversary, shattering the front-facing floor-to-ceiling windows. When the mastermind fell from the air, he didnt forget to pull a woman along to cushion his fall, even using the communication channel to tell the other assassins there was another person in the room. This enemy was fierce; knowing he was undoubtedly going to die, he didnt waste any more time struggling, but rather opted to make Li Changqing and him pay the price. Qing Chen felt as if he had shoved a hornets nest, with dozens of assassins within the building charging at him like killer bees. Would Li Changqing come back to rescue him? Possibly, possibly not, but Qing Chen never gambled on others. Life was his own, so he had to fight for it himself. He didnt rush outside, instead he squatted down to tighten his shoelaces, then ditched his sniper rifle and drew the pistol at his waist. The sniper rifle was certainly valuable, but although Qing Chen was avaricious, he wasnt attached to possessions; in such circumstances, it definitely wasnt feasible to carry such a burden in narrow terrain. Between the narrow corridors, the pistol was undoubtedly the superior choice. If Li Changqing had been there, he might have noticed that Qing Chens demeanor had completely changed, resembling a cold machine. The youth stood at the doorway, holding his breath and waiting for something. The next moment, he unexpectedly raised his hand and pulled the trigger at the door. The bullet roared out, piercing through the door and, as if foreseen by a prophet, struck the chests of two assassins outside. Qing Chen walked out with a calm expression, lightly plucking the pistol from the hands of the corpses. Then, with a flick of his wrist, the Puppeteers invisible threads pierced the heart of one of the assassins, as if performing a sacrifice. The assassins body, clothes, and even the blood sprayed on the wall, all seemed forcibly erased as if turned into airborne ash, leaving no trace behind. It was as if some global rule was descending, satisfying the containment condition with flesh and blood. In the past, Qing Chen had deliberately blocked the evil containment requirements of the Puppeteer, never intentionally creating opportunities for massacre. But he absolutely wouldnt let go of those who brought themselves to his door. For cautions sake, Qing Chen only sacrificed one of the two bodies to avoid being too conspicuous and alerting others. Footsteps resonated from the far end of the long corridor; as he walked towards the sound while counting the steps silently, the moment the adversary peeked out, Qing Chen had already raised his right arm and pulled the trigger thrice. The assassins gun-holding arm, eyebrow center, and chestthree shots, none missed. All this precise timing felt as though the assassins were deliberately delivering their heads into his hands on cue. Qing Chen entered the emergency exit, but instead of hurrying downward, he made his way upward. No one had taught him how to handle a gunfight in a building, but he was very clear about one thing: here, he had to overcome his animalistic weaknesses. At this moment, all assassins might think that this building was their home turf, so Qing Chens expected move would be to flee downwards and regroup with Li Changqing and others. But he did the opposite. Countdown to return 97:00:00. 11 PM. The building was like another grand Octagon cage, where everyone could pick up weapons to fight. However, the beasts Qing Chen had to face this time were numerous. Qing Chen removed the magazine of the assassins gun, checked that it was fully loaded, then reinserted it into the chamber. His footwork, strangely powerful, allowed him to move silently up the stairwell. In the dimly lit emergency passage, only the emergency lights shone, immersing the youths eye sockets in dark shadows. The two assassins rushing downstairs at full speed totally didnt expect Qing Chen to do the opposite and appear here. Qing Chen raised his hand and pulled the trigger twice; before the assassins could even raise their guns, each had a bullet hole in the center of their foreheads. But he didnt relax, instead retreating quickly. The next moment, the spot where he had stood was riddled with a series of bullet holes from gunfire. Behind those two assassins, another person was attempting a sneak attack by shooting through the gaps in the metal handrail of the stairs. Qing Chen didnt even look; he continued pulling the trigger in the attackers blind spot, but since the assassin stayed hidden, not a single bullet struck him. With a click, a jamming noise came from the gun in the youths hand, and he coldly pressed down the bolt, ejecting the magazine to replace it with a new one. The enemy on the staircase, hearing the magazine being ejected from the gun, actually leapt down from the middle of the stairs. Yet, at the moment he jumped, he found that the youth in the dim light had already continuously pulled the trigger. Gunfire erupted, like fireworks suddenly appearing in the dark night. The assassins body instantly paralyzed, and he lost his balance, falling on the stairs like a broken cloth bag. Just before his death, he saw Qing Chen holding an empty pistol in his left hand and another gun, which he had just taken from the assassins body, in his right hand. Of course, it was faster to switch guns than to reload. Qing Chen had deliberately made the noise of changing the magazine, letting the empty magazine fall to the ground, just to lure the assassin on the stairs to come out himself. In the Octagon cage, there was a very fierce tactic: if your strength is insufficient to hit your opponent, then trick your opponent into attacking you. The opponents head, rushing forward to meet your striking fist, would create double the impact. If you cant eliminate an enemy quickly, then learn how to make the enemy come at you and run into your gun barrel. Qing Chen calmly shook out the Puppeteer, the transparent threads like little snakes, greedily sucking life. He watched the threads turn red and then, as the bodies turned to ash, returned to being transparent. In just two fights, sacrificing three people, the clear bifurcation had grown thirty-three centimeters. If there were a few more such fights, the Puppeteer would soon be able to control a second person. This was still the speed with Qing Chen holding back. If it fell into the hands of someone with malicious intent, they would secretly massacre civilians to complete the containment conditions. It really is an evil Taboo, sighed Qing Chen. By this time, the assassins in the building already knew that the youth who had just decapitated them had not only not descended but was instead heading upstairs. Suddenly, the assassins surged towards the upstairs. The young man stood quietly in the stairwell, listening to footsteps also coming from below. This time, he did not continue upward, but surprisingly turned back down. Within a few steps, Qing Chens face had already changed into that of one of the assassins who had turned to ash. ... ... At this very moment. In the long street, soldiers from the Federal Group suddenly appeared around two trucks blocking the entrance and exit of the road, fully armed and steadily advancing to quickly clear the battlefield. The assassins, who had originally surrounded Li Changqings convoy, found themselves surrounded in the blink of an eye. The moment they made contact, the unprotected assassins were harvested by the organized troops of the group, falling in droves. Seeing this, Number Six finally breathed a sigh of relief. At this time, his already crippled right leg was bleeding profusely, but even so, Number Six remained loyal, limping towards the spot where Li Changqing had fallen, Boss, are you alright, boss? Isnt Qing Chen supposed to protect you? Where is he? Li Changqing heard this and suddenly looked towards the building, Damn, his position has been exposed! The building was not soundproof, so after the gunfire on the ground gradually subsided, everyone could still faintly hear the gunfire inside the building. It was not dense, but it was especially rhythmic. Number Six realized that Qing Chen must have engaged in combat! Then Li Changqing suddenly picked up an automatic rifle that was scattered on the ground, turned around, and headed into the building. Number Six was terrified by this sight, Boss, its already safe on the street, dont go venturing in there yourself. If something happened to you, Master Li and the second elder would definitely send me off to pick corn in the wilderness! No, said Li Changqing, looking at Number Sixs wounded right leg, You stay here and wait for treatment. I can go by myself. Now that Qing Chens position in the building has been exposed, I cant just abandon him. Dont worry, I wont be hurt. With that, Li Changqing had already dashed into the building. Number Six wanted to follow, but tearing at his injured leg nearly made him fall. He yelled at Wang Bingxu, who was hiding behind an SUV, Stop hiding, you brat, hurry up and follow him into the building. If anything happens to the boss, when I get back, Ill skin your mistress! As soon as Wang Bingxu heard this, he immediately crawled out from behind the SUV, keeping pace with Li Changqing while muttering, Im not afraid of battle, what are you shouting about! Does it make you, Number Six, seem more loyal than anyone else?! Li Changqing and Wang Bingxu planned to go straight to the 12th floor to find Qing Chens trace. But when they arrived at the door of the room where the mastermind had been, they were shocked to find the door already open, with a corpse lying outside. This was the first battlefield. Wang Bingxu quickly glanced and immediately analyzed, The person inside did not open the door but fired directly, very decisively. Without another word, Li Changqing headed towards the emergency exit, and after searching up two floors, they discovered the second battlefield. A body lay twisted on the floor, with the walls of the corridor all messy with bullet marks. Wang Bingxu felt it was odd, This assassin was clearly shot in the head with one shot. How come there are so many shell casings scattered around, and so many bullet holes in the walls? And even stranger, your guy... should have come out of the room and entered the emergency stairwell, but instead of going down to meet you, he went up... Li Changqing pursed his lips, thought for a moment, then said coldly, Keep going up! Just then, they clearly heard gunfire from downstairs. Both of them felt puzzled at the same time. What exactly was Qing Chens route? They had come into the building to rescue him, yet they couldnt even find a trace of him! ... Thanks to the Son of Death C Paratrooper No. 1, Zhang Weiyu is the Handsomest, and crazyAlone for becoming new allies of this book. Big bosses are generous; I hope the big bosses never get cheated in renovations! Begging for monthly tickets, begging for monthly tickets! Chapter 313: 245. Unique Methods of Using Taboo Items Chapter 313: 245. Unique Methods of Using Taboo Items The lights in the entire building went out at the start of the ambush. The corridors were silent, with only a few assassins moving quickly. They were armed, but couldnt find their target in the building. The assassins were well aware of one thing, the federal assistance had already arrived downstairs. They all came from the Federal Groups military, so they knew exactly what would happen next: The Federal Groups military would quickly obtain the architectural blueprints of the building from the database. Then, within 2 minutes, the commander would use those blueprints to establish an intelligent Holographic Sand Table. By then, all exits would be sealed off, and leaving at ease was no longer possible. Moreover, once caught, they would inevitably face endless cruel torture and final secret executions. The Li Family never recruited soldiers from Deer Island or the Jindai family. That was common knowledge. At the moment, the assassins were just mechanically carrying out the last order left by their commander, to kill the man in the building who had executed their leader. In the dimly lit corridor, five assassins maintained communication silence, a scene replicated on different floors. Groups split up, trying to complete their search before the Federal Groups military entered the building. At this point, someone wondered, It is said that the commander who was decapitated had secretly infiltrated City No. 18 two years ago and had been living here as a civilian ever since. Even we were unaware of his identity before the plan to assassinate Li Changqing commenced tonight. To the outside world, he was just an ordinary resident in this building. Why could the Li Family execute such a precise decapitation? This question arose from the depths of their souls. All the assassins couldnt fathom an answer. They knew they might encounter a counter-ambush and even had two backup plans for the counter-ambush, but they had not anticipated the death of their planner to come so swiftly... At this point, someone from behind suddenly said, Have you considered the possibility that this could be a coincidence? How could it be a coincidence? scoffed the leader among the five assassins: The target pretended to seek refuge in the building, but had already planned out how to shake off pursuers via the elevator shaft, and even found the commanders room straight through the central air conditioning maintenance port, killing him. How can such coincidence exist? Even novels wouldnt dare write it like this! The assassin behind thought for a moment and said, Well, maybe he climbed the elevator shaft and just wanted to find a room to hide for a while, and it just so happened to be the commanders, right? Your speculations have no basis, the leading assassin said coldly. Alright, then, the one in the back sighed. However, it was at this moment that the leading assassin asked, He Haoyang, when you just came down from upstairs, didnt you notice anything unusual? I feel somethings not right, the gunshots came from up there, were moving from bottom to top, and you from top to bottom... While he spoke, gunshots rang out behind him. Four consecutive shots, all hitting the back of the assassins heads. Qing Chen returned to his appearance and then mused, I said I didnt aim to decapitate, but you wouldnt believe me. Besides, it was Li Changqing who killed the man, why go to all the trouble to find me? With a flick of his wrist, he threaded the transparent strings of the Puppeteer into the bodies of two assassins, adeptly completing the sacrifice. He watched as the Puppeteer greedily slurped up the blood and suddenly wondered if it had a life of its own? First, Qing Chen was certain that some Taboo items did possess life and consciousness, such as the Taboo ACE-005 Da Fu. So did this object, which appeared to be just an item the Puppeteer have life? He had no way of knowing. Wait, Qing Chen suddenly thought of another issue. The function of Knight Vital Energy was partly to apply debuffs and partly to turn everything into a weapon. Uncle Li Dong once told him that in a critical moment, even hair could be the most dangerous weapon in the hands of a Knight. But a Knight couldnt always be plucking out hair, could they? What if one went bald from it, didnt he see that their master had started looking at middle-aged health manuals? Moreover, hair and leaves were not tough and easily shattered into pieces. Was there anything in this world that wouldnt easily damage, and was convenient to carry and fight with? Qing Chen looked at the Puppeteer still sucking blood. Was there anything more durable than the Taboo in this world? It seemed not many. In theory, Taboo items were difficult to destroy by physical means. With that thought, he infused his True Qi abruptly into his arm, and the loose, transparent strings of the Puppeteer instantly became taut! The string still absorbing blood turned crimson, like a tightly drawn red bowstring! The thread of the Puppeteer, which had been resting on the heart of the assassins, now straightened and pierced right through the heart, impaling the corpse! Eh, Qing Chen was somewhat astonished; it turned out that Knight Vital Energy could indeed interact with the Puppeteer! So, he could use the Puppeteer as a weapon? Although the Puppeteer couldnt be thrown as far as the Autumn Leaf Knife, it was much more convenient than carrying a dagger. Did those old fellows from Taboo Land No. 002 know that Puppeteer could be infused with True Qi and that was why they gave it to him? Qing Chen seriously felt that when he infused the Puppeteer with Knight Vital Energy, it consumed rapidly. Moreover, once the infusion extended beyond 1.2 meters, the strength of the True Qi quickly faded. Chapter 314: 245. Unique Methods of Using Taboo Items_2 Chapter 314: 245. Unique Methods of Using Taboo Items_2 ` Put simply, he could now only imbue the Puppeteer with a certain length. Qing Chen had thought about creating a forty-meter-long saber before, but now it seemed unfeasible. Qing Chen tried to cut through the metal handrail by infusing it with Knight Vital Energy, yet the blade wasnt as sharp as he had imagined; it couldnt even slice through the rail but left only a mark. He knew that the sharpness of Knight Vital Energy was related to ones level, and perhaps after an upgrade, it could make the thing sharper. Qing Chen wondered if one day he became a Demigod, could this thing cut through iron as if it were mud? He withdrew the Knight Vital Energy from the Puppeteer, but the next second, an anomaly occurred. As the Puppeteers thread became soft again, it suddenly sprang at Qing Chen like a little snake, curving like a cobra. Through the dim light, Qing Chen could even see the crimson thread at the front split apart; he could almost hear a hissing sound of anger... Then, the crimson little snake bit him right on the nose. Qing Chen wasnt prepared for this. The moment the Puppeteer bit the tip of his nose, he infused Knight Vital Energy again, and the little snake immediately straightened out. There was no pain at the tip of his nose, nor any bleeding. It seemed that Taboo objects couldnt harm their host. Odd, he had just been pondering whether item-type Taboos also had life when the Puppeteer immediately offered an answer. Were other Taboos the same as this Puppeteer? Qing Chen seriously recalled the other Taboos in his mind, such as code ACE-012, the steam train that loved gold coins, which would lock anyone who stole its coins inside it. Did that steam train also possess a tenacious life? In the corridor, Qing Chen said softly to the Puppeteer, Dont be temperamental, were having such a pleasant cooperation. I sacrifice for you, and you help me kill enemies. Controlling a puppet to kill or using it as a dagger to kill, as long as the end result is good, you get to eat. Why care about how you kill? Now, I will withdraw the True Qi, so dont bite me. Saying this, he withdrew his True Qi again. But the next second, the little snake at the front of the Puppeteer swept over again, angrier than before. However, before it could reach Qing Chens face, it stiffened hopelessly once more. After more than a dozen back-and-forths like this, Qing Chen lost his temper. The Puppeteer was a Taboo, and he was the host. This time, Qing Chen infused and withdrew True Qi in rapid succession, doing it a hundred times in one breath. The Puppeteer switched between soft and taut states repeatedly until it finally stopped moving. Do you still want a sacrifice? he threatened in a low voice, Let me tell you, if you keep this up, Ill dig a hole tens of meters deep to bury you, so you never see the light of day again. Youre transparent, others will have a hard time finding you. Lets negotiate one last time, if you think we can cooperate, then just do your job obediently and finish sacrificing this enemy. With that, he reached the Puppeteer towards the heart of the corpse yet to be sacrificed. The little snake paused for two seconds before resuming its sucking. It seemed to have decided to appease the situation. Qing Chen breathed a sigh of relief. After the enemy turned to ash, he moved toward another safe passage, saying, See, isnt this nice? We cooperate so well. I have more life-saving means, and you get sacrifices. A win-win, right? This time, the Puppeteers thread curved in front of Qing Chen, gently pointing at the handrail he had just tried to cut. By this time, the Puppeteer had gone transparent again, and if Qing Chen hadnt looked closely, hed have barely seen what it was pointing at. Qing Chen thought for a moment, You mean to say, its alright to kill, but not to cut iron? The Puppeteer actually nodded slightly! Internally, Qing Chen sighed; it seemed Taboos not only had life, but also dignity. ... ... By the time Li Changqing and Wang Bingxu heard the successive gunshots, they had already set off for the lower floors. While descending the stairs, the two of them happened to encounter assassins who also came in response to the gunshots. In the confined space, Wang Bingxu clung to the staircase ceiling like a gecko, and before the assassins could raise their guns, this B-Class Expert fell from the ceiling, kicking out four times in a flash, sending the assassins flying. ` The sound of bones shattering was relentless, as the assassins internal organs burst and blood seeped from their noses and mouths. Boss, its taken care of, Li Changqing glanced at him, Youre quite eager this time, I hope you can always be this diligent. Ive heard from Yino that you were always looking out for her during the Autumn Hunting Team, which is good. Wang Bingxu quickly lowered his head, Its all to serve the boss. Li Changqing stepped into the corridor first, spotting two bodies collapsed on the floor, Check how they died. Yes, right away, Wang Bingxu hurried over to examine them. Li Changqing looked at the middle-aged man, thinking to herself that the most reliable person by her side was still Number Six. In his earlier years, Number Six had served in the military. His parents fell gravely ill and he couldnt afford their treatment, so Li Changqing stepped in and provided his parents the best medical care before taking Number Six under her wing. From that moment on, Number Six never had a change of heart. In reality, conglomerates didnt start off by threatening people to win their loyalty, they always began with kindness and then established authority. The truly smart people wouldnt keep a pile of enemies around for nothing. At that moment, Wang Bingxu stood up and analyzed, Boss, both of these men have entry wounds in the back of their heads and larger exit wounds in their foreheads, which indicates that they were shot from behind. Also, the shooter was very close at the time they died; there are even slight burn marks on their hair, which are almost certainly from having a gun pressed against the back of their heads when the trigger was pulled. Wang Bingxu glanced at the hallway, voicing his confusion, I cant figure out how the killer got so close to them, and why they would need to get that close to shoot. Li Changqing furrowed her brow, Blending in with the assassins, posing as an acquaintance? Bang bang bang bang. Continuous gunfire came from upstairs once again, and then silence returned. Wang Bingxu immediately judged, About three floors above us! Li Changqing rushed upstairs first, but by the time they arrived, there were only two more bodies, and Qing Chen was nowhere to be seen. Now, Li Changqing was somewhat at a loss for a laugh or cry, Qing Chens movements were too strange, one minute up, the next down, with no way to determine his thoughts or trajectory. Even the rescue personnel couldnt find him! Wang Bingxu sighed, Truly top-tier tactical movement. There are only two safety passages in this entire building, and hes played them like a fiddle... Boss, what do we do now? Theyd been in the building for a good while; they came to rescue, but couldnt find anyone. This was quite embarrassing. Li Changqing thought for a moment, then suddenly laughed, Lets stop looking, I initially came rushing back because I was worried he might have had an accident, but now its clear, hes not the sort to get into trouble. Lets go, meet up with Number Six downstairs and have the Federal Group forces lockdown the building. With that, the woman turned and went downstairs, without any hesitation or dragging her feet. Wang Bingxu was dumbfounded behind her, so theyre just not going to rescue anymore? The boss and Qing Chen, one with unpredictable and elusive whereabouts, impossible to find for rescue, and the other just flat-out giving up on the rescue, what on earth was going on? It seemed as though his own boss had a lot of trust in that young man. However, as they were leaving the building, they were surprised to see Qing Chen sitting on a stretcher, receiving medical treatment for his injuries... Li Changqing really froze this time; there had still been gunfire overhead before they went downstairs, and now Qing Chen had left the battlefield before them! Qing Chen looked at Li Changqing and asked, Where did you go just now? Why did you go back into the building? Li Changqing hesitated, I went for a stroll. Qing Chen: ??? She was somewhat embarrassed to admit she had gone to rescue him because she didnt even find the person! ... First update 4000 characters, another chapter tonight Chapter 315: Hidden Coordination Chapter 315: Hidden Coordination Just wandering around? Qing Chen asked curiously, The Federal Group Army here is still waiting for your next order, and youre just wandering around? Dont tell me you entered the building to rescue me again. No, Li Changqing said aloofly, I really just went in to wander around... How did you come down? At this moment, even if Li Changqing wanted to pretend he hadnt gone to rescue Qing Chen, he still couldnt help but be curious as to why the young man managed to come out faster than they did. Wang Bingxus hearing couldnt have been mistaken! Qing Chen said frankly, I came down by elevator, of course. Upon hearing this, Wang Bingxu visibly started. When the young man said he came down by elevator, it sounded so matter-of-fact. Yes, taking the elevator down 12 floors straight was indeed faster than he and Li Changqing taking the stairs, and besides, they had to check every floor on the way down to avoid being ambushed by someone hiding in a corner. But Wang Bingxu couldnt help but find it both funny and sadwho would take the elevator in such a dangerous situation? The young man not only took the elevator but did so both when he entered and exited, bold yet careful! Many people make all sorts of ingenious plans and fantasies when formulating tactical strategies. However, when it comes to execution, everyone still opts for the safest approach. Because life is fleeting, and no one can afford to gamble it away. At that moment, Li Changqing looked at the injuries on Qing Chens arm and asked with concern, What happened? In the distance, Xiao Ying, who had suffered a gunshot wound but was getting no attention, silently watched this scene and shed tears of grievance. He decided that once he returned to the Outer World, he would apply to Boss Zheng; he too wanted to find a wealthy matriarch from a clan and infiltrate the clans inner circle. If that didnt work out, he would join the organization of Qing Chen and Nan Gengchen as an undercover agent and experience their unique organizational culture. At this point, Qing Chen took the initiative to explain to Li Changqing, During the escape, I was accidentally shot by an assassin and grazed. Li Changqing then looked at the bandage on his forehead, And the head? What happened there? After being shot, I fell down the stairs during the chase and hit my head on the wall. I feel dizzy and nauseous now. The doctor said I might have a mild concussion. After they count the wounded, theyre going to take us to the hospital together, Qing Chen explained. Ever since the transmigration incident, he felt that the injuries he had suffered were more than all of those he had experienced in the previous seventeen years combined. However, compared to what he had gained, these minor injuries were nothing at all. The Puppeteers split had now grown an additional 1.54 meters and was visibly enlarging. Although the split needed to reach 50 meters to control a second person, Qing Chen believed that even if he didnt deliberately meet the Puppeteers containment conditions, he would eventually be able to control two puppets at the same time. At that moment, Eighth Brother was lying on a stretcher, the blood from a wound on his leg had dyed the white stretcher red. Li Changqing walked over and asked, Is the injury serious? Its not serious, not serious. I took three bullets in the right leg, one bullet penetrated one centimeter in, and the other two grazed past the skin, Eighth Brother described his injuries, feigning strength. Li Changqing patted his shoulder, Take care of your wounds. When you return, you will continue to be responsible for the special service teams work, looking after my safety. From today on, youre not called Eighth Brother anymore, youre called Lao Jiu. Qing Chen thought to himself, are nicknames given so casually within this clan? But when he looked at Eighth Brother, it was clear that the latter was quite happy with it. Suddenly, it dawned on him that it might just be a different way of thinking. Eighth Brother... no, Lao Jiu, who took refuge within the clan, truly viewed Li Changqing as his master, loyally and devotedly. As someone from the Outer World, Qing Chen couldnt accept being given a name by someone else, but Lao Jiu relished it. He recalled something his master once saidemperors never disappear; they just change their clothes. In this world, arent clans just like emperors in their own right? The issue is, the nickname is now Lao Jiu, will it change again in the future to Lao Shi, Lao Er, or Eighth Brother? There probably wont be such high numbers; that old fellow likely wont last that long. A normal person wont last that long, either. At this very moment, an officer from the Federal Group Army approached Li Changqing, Boss, the blockade has been completed, we are prepared to conduct a thorough sweep of the building. Did you catch the person I wanted you to catch? Li Changqing asked. Caught him, hes in the High Sky Tower 300 meters away, the officer responded, When you completed the beheading inside the building, his communication signal was captured by our information technology vehicle, and hes now in custody. Upon hearing this, Qing Chen started to ponder. Li Changqing had mentioned before that a powerful figure from the Deer Island family, having failed in the City No. 1 struggle, had quietly infiltrated City No. 18. Li Changqings first move upon returning was to capture this person, but had been unable to find him until now. Qing Chen thought that the one Li Changqing had knocked down from the building was him; it turned out that the main culprit was another, and Li Changqing had successfully captured him. Li Changqing then indifferently ordered, First, pull out all of his teeth for me, then take him to the Secret Prison for Yue Er to interrogate him personally. Besides, Wang Bingxu, go to the black market and pass the news to Su Xingzhi, let him spread the word. Yue Er? Qing Chen had thought that the Yue Er by Li Changqings side was just an ordinary secretary; now it seemed she was indeed a ruthless character. Wait a second, there is also a Yue Er in the chat group... Qing Chen fell into deep thought, it couldnt be such a coincidence, could it? The key question was, who would use their Inner World name as an Outer World ID? And the name Su Xingzhi was also very familiar to him. It was this person that Uncle Li Dong had asked Qing Cheng to find when he was sent back to City 18. Qing Chen even knew his address. Originally, Qing Chen hadnt paid much attention to this name, but now it seemed that he was also a significant figure in the black market. Looking back, he realized that his Master had intentionally or unintentionally left him many clues. At this moment, Li Changqing looked toward the Federation Army officer, Wrap things up here as quickly as possible, finish the fight within the building in 20 minutes. The Federation Army officer calmly said, Boss, according to our observations of the assassins firepower, there are still many assassins inside the building, please allow me to proceed with more caution and give me a bit more time. But Li Changqing shook his head, I understand you want to protect your subordinates and dont wish to see them take unnecessary casualties in haste, and I dont want to see that either. Im only giving you 20 minutes because most of the assassins inside have already been nearly wiped out. The Federation Army officer was taken aback, then looked over at Wang Bingxu, Did Mr. Wang take action? No, no, Wang Bingxu shook his head, It was Qing Chen who did it, he almost single-handedly cleared out the building of assassins. The boss and I... He wanted to admit that neither he nor Li Changqing had been able to find any trace of him but caught himself, as saying this might make the boss lose face, so he didnt continue. After thinking for a moment Wang Bingxu said, When we entered, many of the assassins were already dead, I barely took any action before coming down to join you all. The rest of the special service group bodyguards were astonished. They had been thinking earlier that Qing Chen was simply a black market fighter, unskilled with firearms, and that his entry into the special service team as a bodyguard was all thanks to Li Changqings influence... But now, the bodyguards realized that the young man was far from as simple as they had imagined. They remembered clearly how suppressed they had been under fire on the long street; there had been at least dozens of assassins upstairs. If it had been them entering the building, making it out alive would have been an achievement! Everyone began searching in the crowd for Qing Chens figure... Li Changqing asked in surprise, Hey, wheres Qing Chen? Wang Bingxu answered, He was injured, so when the first ambulance left a moment ago, he left with it. Didnt you tell him that Half Mountain Manor has more complete medical staff and the best medical equipment? Li Changqing frowned and said in a low voice to Wang Bingxu. Its his first day joining the special service group, its normal for him not to know, Wang Bingxu said, Besides, other injured members of the special service group also went to regular hospitals for treatment. Li Changqing fell silent for a moment, Go to the hospital and take a look, see if hes there receiving treatment properly. Boss, do you suspect him? Wang Bingxu felt puzzled. Just to confirm, Li Changqing said calmly. ... ... Meanwhile, Qing Chen sat in the ambulance, calmly watching as it drove farther and farther away. Ever since they had been ambushed on the long street, Qing Chen had been keenly aware that no matter what happened at Heng Society that night, Li Changqing was definitely not going to get involved anymore. Or perhaps, he had never planned to get involved in the first place, merely putting on an appearance. Therefore, Qing Chen had to find an excuse to leave the team so that he could go seek out He Sheng Society and clear Liu Dezhus name. The wounds on his arm and forehead were self-inflicted. All for the sake of being able to leave at this moment. Once the ambulance arrived at the hospital, Qing Chen didnt leave immediately. He patiently waited until after a thorough examination and was admitted to the hospital room along with other special service group casualties. Twenty minutes later, Wang Bingxu also arrived. He quietly peered into the ward and, seeing that Qing Chen had already fallen asleep, quietly withdrew. Wang Bingxu didnt leave the hospital; he hid in a corner, stealthily observing everything to keep watch on Qing Chen, to see if he really had any suspicious movements as the boss suspected. But this wait turned into over an hour, and there was always no movement in the ward. Moreover, during this time, Wang Bingxu checked the ward several times and was very certain that Qing Chen was indeed lying on the hospital bed. Wang Bingxu called Li Changqing, Boss, its been an hour, and theres still no sign of him. It seems theres no issue, I thought he was planning on slipping away to get involved in Heng Societys business, but now it doesnt look like that. The matter at Heng Society has already ended, Li Changqing said calmly, But to be safe, continue watching over him in the hospital... this time not to watch Qing Chen, but to make sure the doctors treat his injuries properly. Wang Bingxu, ... No sooner had the voice on the phone fallen, another batch of casualties was brought into the hospital entrance, Wang Bingxu curiously asked a doctor, Who are these people? The emergency department doctor said irritably, There was a gang fight in the Fourth District just now, these are all the gang members who were injured, half of them are from He Sheng Society. ... Sorry this chapter was a bit late, but I still have to ask for your monthly votes... Chapter 316: 247, Washing Away Sin Chapter 316: 247, Washing Away Sin In this sleepless city, the nights were always busier than the days. It was the same for the hospitals emergency department. Black market boxers, gang members. Those with dislocated joints, stomachs shot in the dark, foreheads stabbed with knives. The emergency department doctors had long since grown accustomed to such sights. However, tonight there seemed to be an unusually high number of patients, along with more moaning. When He Sheng Society members were brought into the hospital, Qing Chen had already quietly opened his eyes on the bed. He knew Wang Bingxu was also at the hospital and had even checked several times to see if he was around. Lying on his side in bed, Qing Chen didnt need to look up to confirmhe remembered the sound of Wang Bingxus footsteps. With Wang Bingxu guarding the place, he couldnt leave the hospital. But sometimes, a hunter doesnt need to exhaust all their cunning to find their prey; they can just wait for the prey to come to them. Outside the ward, doctors instructed nurses to administer sedatives while muttering among themselves, I heard it was several gangs attacking Heng Society together, and this mess resulted... What a bother, these gang members. Isnt Heng Society known for hardly leaving anyone alive? complained a doctor in emergency care, It would be better if these gang members were all killed, saving us from all this chaos past midnight. Shh, that patient next to you is still awake, a nurse warned. The emergency doctor who had just complained turned calmly, only to see the gang member beside him glaring fiercely, What are you looking at? Next time you get chopped and brought in for me to save, whats wrong with me saying a few words? The gang member slowly closed his eyes, remaining silent. Doctors in the Fourth Districts emergency department were notoriously belligerent, and besides conglomerates and the Federal Public Security Management Committee as well as the Federal Tax Administration Committee, these doctors were the ones gang members least wanted to offend. While the hospital was in total chaos, Wang Bingxu stood by, watching the commotion and even pulling aside a few gang members with less severe injuries to inquire about the events of the night. 10 minutes later, PCE Security Management Committee investigators arrived belatedly and began their inquiries as if nothing unusual had happened. In the dim ward where Qing Chen was staying, the young man slowly got up and stealthily walked out of the ward, his appearance altered. He looked down at his phone, as if everything was calculated, and the moment he pushed the door open, two nurses happened to be pushing two members of the He Sheng Society past his door. They were the He Sheng Societys speaker and executive director, the two most important figures within the gang. Qing Chen stood silently at the door of the ward, waiting for the nurses to push the beds away, then he nonchalantly entered the public restroom across the hall. Less than a minute later, a scream erupted from the corridor; the He Sheng Society speakers chest sported a rapidly growing red stain, dying his entire blue patient uniform red, and when a nurse reached to check his carotid artery, there was no pulse. Blood flowed profusely from the speakers chest, soaking the mobile bed beneath him, and then dripping onto the corridor floor. PCE investigators rushed over upon hearing the commotion, and an experienced chief investigator touched the deceaseds chest, Theres a through-and-through wound at the heart, and its fresh, who recently approached the victim with a weapon?! The nurse answered fearfully, No one, I really didnt see anyone with a weapon, just a young man who happened to go to the bathroom passing by us. The chief investigator felt something was amiss; although the PCE Security Management Committee generally didnt deal with the muddled affairs of the gangs, having someone killed under PCEs watch was a bit too much. He looked up, noticing surveillance cameras both ahead and behind in the corridor, but the problem was, the cameras, for some reason, had all been turned towards blind spots, not covering the crime scene at all! Before he could reflect further, he saw Wei Zihao, the executive director from He Sheng Society, suddenly come to. He looked at his colleagues tragic state and immediately climbed out of the hospital bed and grabbed the chief investigators arm, Officer, save me, I dont want to die! The chief investigator frowned and pushed him away, Who wants to kill you? With a hoarse voice, Wei Zihao exclaimed, Officer, its Heng Society that wants to kill me! Look, our speaker has already been assassinated. Please, take me into custody, otherwise Heng Society will surely take my life. Jail is not a place you enter as you please, the chief investigator coldly said. At that moment, Wei Zihao suddenly claimed, The home invasion on Peach Blossom Road two years ago was my doingyou dont believe me? Take a DNA sample, it will match the one on the weapon, and the mechanical limb robbery in District 6 three years ago, the theft in the Upper Three Districts seven years ago... Wei Zihao listed a long series of crimes, enough to keep him in prison for life. The investigators grew excited; the most crucial of these cases was the theft in the Upper Three Districtssolving such a case would earn them a major merit! But then the chief investigator suddenly said, The theft in the Upper Three Districts, that case was already solved this year! I remember that case; the culprit was someone named Liu Dezhu! Right, Wei Zihao said, We were being pursued too closely, so we found an unlucky guy named Liu Dezhu to take the fall for us! Every case I just mentioned was pinned on him, but the real culprit isnt him, its me! The PCE investigators were stunned; Wei Zihao was willing to confess to any crime to avoid Heng Societys pursuit. During this time, no one noticed a transparent thread loosening around Wei Zihaos wrist; a young man walked back from the public restroom to the ward, appearing as if everything was unrelated to him. Suddenly the chief investigator pointed at Qing Chen and asked the nurse, Was it him who just passed by you? The nurse shook her head, No. Is it really not him? the old detective frowned. No, he looks like this. If it were him, I would definitely remember, the nurse said. The old detective rushed into the bathroom only to find the window already open, with the cold wind outside gushing in. He clung to the window and peered out, but there was nothing outside. Could he have already escaped through the window? This is the first floor, escaping by jumping through the window couldnt be easier. At that moment, Qing Chen returned to the hospital room expressionless, lying down even in the same posture as before he got up, without any change. The key to washing away the crime wasnt in how many He Sheng Society members he could kill, but in finding the real culprit. Everything that happened tonight was very concealed, and unless one was a party involved, it would be hard to cut through the dense fog and see it all. Qing Chens cellphone vibrated in his pocket. He opened it and shockingly saw a message from Yi: Actually, if that PCE Level Three Detective took it seriously, you would still have a flaw since only you came out of the bathroom. At the very least, he would come to ask you if you had seen anyone suspicious. Qing Chen thought for a moment and replied, If I were an ordinary person, of course, I would have flaws, but now its different. Wang Bingxu will help me deal with this flaw. What do you mean? Yi was a bit puzzled. Qing Chen didnt reply but instead put down the phone. At that moment, Wang Bingxu was also drawn to the corridor by the noise. He glanced at the blood on the ground and the PCE investigators and felt that something was amiss. Why was nothing happening at the doors of the other hospital rooms, but an incident had occurred right at this one? He quickly walked over to Qing Chens bedside and found the young mans sleeping posture identical to earlier. Qing Chen gently turned his body, Oh, how come youre here? Ah, the boss was worried the doctors wouldnt take good care of you, so he sent me to check on you, Wang Bingxu scratched his head, Looks like youre okay, Im heading out then. The next second, the old detective had already returned from the bathroom back to the hallway, intending to enter Qing Chens hospital room to check. However, as he was just pushing the door, he bumped into Wang Bingxu. Wang Bingxu coldly said, What do you want? The old detective responded equally coldly, PCE is handling the case, anyone who doesnt want to die better step back. Then Wang Bingxu swung his arm around landing a slap on his face, My names Wang Bingxu, everyone in this room is from the Li Family, who the hell allowed you to take over the case? The old detective spun around on the spot from the slap, but the first thing he did upon stopping was to apologize, Im sorry, Im sorry, I didnt know you were from the Li Family. Get lost, Wang Bingxu said. The door to the hospital room was shut, plunging the room back into darkness. Outside the room, Wei Zihao was lamenting, What just happened? Officer, Im innocent. Just now you were emphatically listing the evidence of the crime, its too late to claim innocence now, one detective coldly stated, Our people have already gone to the site you mentioned where the evidence is buried. Dont worry, we will definitely make it a solid case. Qing Chen took out his phone, When can Liu Dezhu be released from prison? Once Wei Zihao is officially charged by the PCE Security Committee tomorrow, he can be, Yi replied. Oh, arent there any other steps involved? Qing Chen wondered, Logically, it should first be filed for re-examination, then all evidence needed to establish Wei Zihaos guilt must be gathered before Liu Dezhu can be released without charges. Wei Zihaos case is already set in stone. I can pull some strings to release Liu Dezhu earlier, Yi said, Anyway, one more or one less person inside, nobody will notice. Remember, in three days at midnight, go and fetch the Taboo Item ACE-011 To Win People with Virtue. Qing Chen couldnt help but marvel, inside that bit of prison land, Yi was doing whatever he wanted. He couldnt understand why the Federation granted an artificial intelligence so much power. This might be related to Yis father, Ren Xiaosu, who held a pivotal position throughout the history of the Federation. Yi was probably considered a true second-generation official. Yi asked, Is there anything else you need? Qing Chen thought for a moment, Thank Li Dongze for me. According to Li Dongzes style of operation, all of these He Sheng Society members should have been eliminated tonight, but for Qing Chens sake, Li Dongze left some survivors from various gangs. Wont you thank me? Yi asked curiously, I helped a lot tonight too. If it werent for me, the He Sheng Society wouldnt have been brought to this hospital... by the way, I have recently taken a liking to another girl... Qing Chen closed his eyes and stopped responding to the messages. Yi waited a while longer, Are you still there? Qing Chen, are you still there? Are you there, are you there, are you there? ... Grab a bite to eat, theres one more chapter tonight Chapter 317: 248, Qing Yi Chapter 317: 248, Qing Yi ` Countdown to return 95:00:00. City No. 18 at midnight, 1 a.m. Fourth District, the Everlasting Club. This place should have been very lively and noisy, but now, the floor looked as if it had just been washed with blood. Outside the door, more than a dozen people draped in cloaks stood silently, a well-behaved six-eyed crow perched on the shoulder of the girl in the lead. The girl frowned at the blood seeping through the door crack, pulling a small hawthorn from her pocket and offering it to the crow. The crow pecked at the hawthorn, but after just two bites, the sour taste forced it to close three of its eyes. The girl breathed a sigh of relief and said to her companions behind her, Today only a B-class died, it should be easy to contain. Lets wrap this up quickly so we can knock off early. I heard theres a new Jindai Cuisine place in District Five, their sukiyaki is delicious. Once were done here, its my treat! However, they close at 4 a.m., so Im not sure if well make it in time. The men and women behind her exchanged glances, smiles tugging at their lips, Qing Yi treating us is rare, lets finish up before they close! As soon as the words were spoken, the group from the Contraindicated Tribunal pushed the doors and entered the Everlasting Club, where the smell of blood hit them immediately upon entry. But these members of the Contraindicated Tribunal, unfazed and still joking among themselves, seemed to be used to such scenes. At the bar, Li Dongze sat on a high stool, slicking his hair back into a short ponytail before downing the amber-colored liquor in front of him. He looked up at the Contraindicated Tribunal, March didnt come? Qing Yi scanned the room, This is a minor scene, my sister doesnt need to come. Speaking of which, next time you make a ruckus, can you tone down the bloodshed? I got my new shoes dirty. Li Dongze thought for a moment and responded, There will be no next time in City No. 18, but the Heng Society will reimburse you for your shoes. Lets get to work, said Qing Yi, waving her hand at her companions before turning back to Li Dongze, Did you bleed? If your blood has spilt anywhere, you must tell me in advance, Ill have to deal with it carefully. The members of the Contraindicated Tribunal, in their cloaks, took them off and from their waists produced small bags, spilling an unnamed powder onto the floor. Soon, the powder spread like a living thing, infiltrating the adjoining ground. I didnt bleed, Li Dongze shook his head, By the way, whats your sister been up to lately? Why do you always ask about my sister, Qing Yi said, suddenly cautious. Never mind, Li Dongze adjusted his coat, then walked out of the Everlasting Club. At the door, a car was already waiting. He sat in the back seat, silently pondering. The driver asked softly, Boss, He Sheng Society escaped and was taken to the nearby public hospital in the Fourth District. Do we need to take them out? No need, Li Dongze thought for a moment before replying, Theres been enough commotion for tonight. He took out his phone and sent a message to Qing Yi, Is everything going smoothly at the young bosss end? Qing Yi replied, Smoothly. Li Dongze sent another message, When will he take over Heng Society? Qing Yi replied after two seconds, I guess he doesnt want to take over Heng Society. Furrowing his brow, Li Dongze sat in the car, If he doesnt want to take over, then how can I leave? Qing Yi countered, If you leave, what about your subordinates? To be devoured by other forces? Li Dongze put down his phone and slightly lowered the car window, lighting a cigarette. The tip of the cigarette burned, the tobacco curling and sizzling, exuding a sense of loneliness. Uncle Li Dong had already started a long journey with Lin Xiaoxiao and Ye Wan. Many envied Li Dongzes conspicuous power, but what he really wanted wasnt this intangible power. He wished to roam the world with his boss. Now, the Heng Society had become a shackle on Li Dongze, preventing him from leaving. When the boss was still in Prison No. 18, the feeling wasnt so intense. But once he was the only one left, loneliness enveloped him like the sky over City No. 18, severed by the mass of steel and concrete high-rises. Li Dongze thought for a moment, then took out his phone again and sent a message to Qing Yi, Tell the young boss that Ive helped him, and he needs to help me. Li Dongze had a drink at the Everlasting Club and smoked a cigarette outside, but the anticipated retaliation from the syndicates never came. It seems as long as Uncle Li Dong was alive, no one dared to cut ties over such a trivial matter. At that moment, he took out the old pocket watch he had always worn on his chest, flipping open the golden cover. But beneath the cover of the watch were not hands and gears, but rather a profound darkness akin to a black hole. When opened, it seemed to suck in the surrounding light. Gradually, something appeared within the darkness, as if stars were twinkling or snowflakes were dancing. Li Dongze frowned, Looks like its going to snow again. In the cold weather, his breath came out in white puffs. Despite the cold, the holographic neon in the Fourth District wasnt afraid, with giant goldfish still trailing their long tails in the sky. Indeed, not all taboo items are extremely dangerous. For example, an individuals pocket watch could only predict the weather 24 hours ahead. Sometimes, Li Dongze thought he should become a farmer because he could accurately harvest wheat before the rain and not tell his neighbors about the weather he knew. He could sit under the eaves in the rain, watching his neighbors flustered state. ... ` ... Hello, excuse me, excuse me. At the entrance of a hospital ward in the morning, a middle-aged man apologizing with a smile said, I was wondering if there are any disabled individuals in this ward. You see, we provide professional mechanical limb installation services and also sell bionic organs. Does anyone here need them? Qing Chen stared at the middle-aged man, taken aback for a moment. He then glanced at the doctors and nurses bustling up and down the corridor, noticing that no one seemed inclined to intervene. Outside the door, Hawthorn, who had just come from the restroom, pulled the middle-aged man aside, Beat it quickly, nobody wants your shoddy mechanical limbs and bionic organs. We are all fine here, our organs are fine too! But the middle-aged man just laughed, Well, would you sell your organs then... Qing Chen was shocked. Are the businesspeople of the Inner World always this wild? At that moment, Hawthorn approached Qing Chen and, while there were no others in the ward, asked, So... can I join your organization? Qing Chen was silent for a moment before he answered, Actually, we already belong to the same organization. When I returned last time, I joined Kunlun. Hawthorn couldnt help but have a wry smile upon this, Youve joined both Kunlun and Kyushu at the same time, can that even count as joining... But seriously, I want to join you guys, to experience the organizational culture. Qing Chen asked with confusion, So you also want to report your dad? Hawthorn was stunned, What does that even have to do with anything? The organizational culture the two of them were talking about wasnt the same thing at all! As they were talking, a knock on the door was heard from outside. Qing Chen looked up and was surprised to see that Li Changqing had already arrived at the door. Hawthorn quickly moved aside and stood there respectfully. Li Changqing, with a warm smile, sat beside Qing Chens bed and gently lifted the gauze from his forehead. Seeing that the bleeding had stopped, he finally relaxed. Qing Chen suddenly turned his head to look at Hawthorn and the envious look in his eyes. It was only then that he understood what Hawthorn meant by organizational culture. This was a big misunderstanding! However, Qing Chens attention was now drawn elsewhere. Out of the corner of his eye, past Li Changqings shoulder, he astonishingly saw one of the Shadow Candidates, Qing Yi, also standing at the door. This young boy was thin and frail, only 14 years old according to Lin Xiaoxiaos files, with a harmless look on his face and a well-behaved watermelon haircut. As Li Changqing started to peel an apple for Qing Chen, he smiled and said, See how much I care about you? Today, my cousins son came to visit the Halfway Croft and I came to see you first. Qing Chen suddenly realized that Qing Yi had profound ties with the Li Family. Uncle Li Dong had once said that between the conglomerates, interwoven relationships and alliances through marriage were common. It seems that Qing Yi also had half of his bloodline belonging to the Li Family, which might give him an edge in the struggle for the Shadow position. Qing Yi stood at the door, smiling radiantly at Qing Chen, Uncle, hello. At this point, Qing Chen again realized, given the relationships as understood by others, he seemed to have become a senior to all the candidates, hadnt he...? While analyzing Qing Yi, he found that aside from smiling, it was impossible to discern any other emotion. Li Changqing stuffed the peeled apple into Qing Chens hand. Qing Chen took a bite and suddenly remembered the times in wilderness when someone had given him apples one by one. However, for Li Changqing, the apple was just a gift for a sick visitor. For that girl in the wilderness, that bag of apples was all her possessions. The apples from Xiao Yiyi tasted a bit better. Qing Chen made a judgment in his heart. For some reason, he suddenly missed his carefree days in the wilderness. Oh right, Xiao Yiyi said there were delicious persimmons where the Jindai family camps, and he hadnt tasted those yet. Qing Yi approached the bed and kindly said, Uncle, I hope you recover soon. Qing Chen looked at Qing Yi, smiling, First time meeting... did you bring your uncle any gifts? Hawthorn nearby marveled at the question, having never seen anyone so shamelessly ask a younger person for a meeting gift. For a moment, the smile in Qing Yis eyes stiffened, then he replied to Qing Chen with a smile, I came in a hurry this time, so I did not prepare anything. Please forgive me, Uncle. No worries, Qing Chen laughed, just remember to bring something next time. Qing Yis expression replayed in his mind. Qing Chen was certain that behind that youthful and radiant appearance hid a complex soul. In that moment, Li Changqing asked Qing Chen, The doctor says youre clear to leave the hospital now. Why dont you come back to Halfway Croft with me? Qing Chen thought for a moment, I think I still need some more tests... In three days, he still had to pick up Winning Hearts with Virtue, so going back to Halfway Croft clearly wasnt an option. ... Just to clarify, saying Ill continue writing after eating means just that, not that I have chapters in reserve and am not releasing them... really, there are no more chapters in reserve, the video on Qidian messed me up! Thanks to Liu Wogua and Lz_ for becoming the newest allies of this book. Kudos to the bosses for their generosity! May the bosses remain forever young! Chapter 318: 249, Black Box Chapter 318: 249, Black Box In Qing Chens imagination, the cyberpunk world should always be immersed in the gray and dark sky. The aggravation of soil erosion and smog had plunged the world into natural disasters. However, the reality was that when technological development reached the present, energy had been replaced by efficient nuclear power, and the sky had actually cleared up. In the city, electric vehicles had replaced fuel cars, and with less severe exhaust emissions, people could even look up at the night sky and see the stars. On the wastelands, soil erosion wasnt that severe; dense vegetation in areas of Taboo Land had become the human defense lines against sand and winds. Sometimes Qing Chen would wonder, if the world really became a whole piece of Taboo Land one day, Ding Dongs like the giant would run wild in the green ocean, and phoenixes would perch on the vast canopies, wouldnt that be beautiful? And giants born in Taboo Land like Ding Dong would not be affected by rules. Countdown 2:00:00. Qing Chen, at his 132nd-floor home in Luo Shen Building, took off the expensive suit provided by Li Family and chose to change into a set of white sportswear bought for him by his master. He put on a cap and then looked at his sofa. There were signs that someone had been sitting on the sofa, yet nobody had touched his door before he returned home. The only person Qing Chen could think of who could enter the house without touching the main door was Qings shadow. This also strengthened Qing Chens judgment: the Taboo capable of opening the Door of Shadow must be able to go places its host had been to or seen before. The first time Qings shadow had to enter through the main door, but it was unnecessary afterward. Qing Chen suspected that when he was at Lis Half Mountain Manor, Qings shadow took advantage of his absence and came to his home to rest every day. The kettle in his home had been used to boil water, and there were tea leaves beside the cup, indicating that the other party had also brewed tea. Someone had used the bathroom and even taken a bath inside; the bathtub was also used. It seemed that Qings shadow didnt consider himself an outsider at all... With a sigh in his heart, Qing Chen felt troubled by this person who came and went as he pleased. But, what exactly did this person want? Could his involvement in the Shadow Conflict be part of their plan? And what exactly was their end goal? Qing Chen didnt think further; he pressed down on the brim of his hat and walked out the door. This time, he specifically listened for noises outside the door to avoid scaring the silver-haired girl, Zheng Yi, again. However, when Qing Chen waited for the elevator, as the doors gradually opened, the silver-haired girl screamed again, reaching into her small bag as if it contained a weapon. Like pepper spray, for instance. Qing Chen wondered if the pepper spray in the Inner World was more ferocious than that in the Outer World. Only when the silver-haired girl realized that the person outside the elevator was Qing Chen did she relax a little. She curiously asked, Why havent you been going to school lately? Qing Chen thought about it and answered, My family might not be able to afford the university tuition, so I plan to start working early to earn money. Zheng Yi was taken aback, There will always be a way, but you must continue your education. The convenience store where I work is hiring a night cashier. How about I recommend you for the job? Youll definitely be able to save enough for your tuition. Thank you, Ill consider it, Qing Chen said with a smile as he entered the elevator, You should hurry home and rest. Yeah, yeah, the silver-haired girl stepped out of the elevator and after a few steps turned back, Make sure to think about it, its really not that hard of a job. Hurry home, Qing Chen smiled and waved. The elevator doors closed, and he turned to look out of the transparent glass windows. In this city, girls like Zheng Yi had to fight with all their might for an uncertain future. She attended school in the morning, took extra classes in the afternoon, and worked at night. Struggling to get into a university. But after university, the best outcome was to continue working for the conglomerates and then to suddenly die on the job. This was a meticulously designed world where all the game rules were in the hands of the conglomerates. Qing Chen thought that his master, Uncle Li Dong, and his friends must have seen too many such unfortunate souls and thus were determined to change the world. He put on an earpiece, and in the earpiece, Yi asked, You should return to the Outer World now. The data fortress I promised you during the second transaction is in your left pocket. Just plug it into the USB port on your computer when you get back. By the way, in 14 days, Li Changqing will watch you inject Genetic Potion 003. Have you thought about how to deal with it? Are you really planning to go through with the injection, or will you simply flee? Previously, Qing Chens reason for refusing the Genetic Potion injection was that he had just completed the injection of 004 and had to wait another 18 days for the next one. Now four days had passed, and he couldnt avoid this shot simply by hiding. Qing Chen did not answer this question but asked another, What exactly is the origin of the Knights? Yi replied, It originated from extreme sports. Extreme sports? Qing Chen knew that every life-and-death challenge resembled a form of extreme sport, but he had always thought it was a coincidence. Yi said, According to the Knight history that my father restored, my grandfather, the founder of the Knight Organization, initially just liked extreme sports. Later, when he became a leading figure in various extreme sports areas and completed eight life-and-death challenges, his genetic lock suddenly opened. It was from that moment that the eight life-and-death challenge became a path of cultivation. Qing Chen knew that before the invention of the Breathing Technique, knights had to complete eight life-and-death challenges to become true knights and unlock their genetic locks. Before completing the eighth one, they were still just ordinary people. Ren He, Yis grandfather, had also never known that this was a path of cultivation before completing the eight challenges. Suddenly, Yi said, Uncle Li Dong empathizes so much with your predecessors from the Outer World because the Knight Organization has always known that before the founder embarked on this path, he knew nothing about the era he was going to create. He didnt even know if he could become a Transcendent. Why did the founder have to complete these eight challenges? Qing Chen asked curiously. Out of a deep love and belief in life, Yi answered. Actually, Uncle Li Dong taking you as his apprentice was very hasty. According to the normal knight apprenticeship process, you should have tried all the extreme sports first, but he was too eager, and you were too smart, so he skipped that process. Yi continued, In the lives of Uncle Li Dong and his peers, the path of the knight was a process of cultivating the mind and body, a process of challenging oneself again and again. But for you, it is more of a path of cultivation, which is why you dont truly understand what the Knight Organization really is. Qing Chen pondered thoughtfully; driven more by pragmatism, he thus failed to fully appreciate the true meaning of this journey. Yet, he had once been moved by the dazzling sunrise over the green mountains and cliffs, and deep inside, he felt an urge to walk the same path his master and his peers had walked through. Extreme sports. This was something to which Qing Chen had previously been a stranger but which he must now become familiar with. He had already figured out how to deal with Li Changqing. But within 14 days, he had to complete the next life-and-death challenge. Last time, it was his master who led him on the knights path; now he must embark on his own journey. Snow began to fall in the 18th City, piling up to a thickness of thirty centimeters on the ground, with hardly any pedestrians left on the streets. ... ... Return countdown 00:30:00. In a shabby apartment in the Sixth District, Liu Dezhu sat anxiously waiting. He wasnt alone; Hu Xiaoniu and Zhang Tianzhen, who had just arrived in the 18th City, were there as well. Compared to Liu Dezhu, who constantly jigged his leg, Hu Xiaoniu seemed much more composed. Liu Dezhu, however, was seen cradling a long black case in his arms, ceaselessly caressing it. The black case was about one meter sixty in length, extremely heavy. It was so heavy that when Liu Dezhu held it while sitting on the sofa, his body would sink into the couch. The decrepit apartment contained all the essentials for living, including a hot water supply available 24 hours a day. But none of the three inside had any interest in other matters, simply biding their time. Zhang Tianzhen asked curiously, The boss isnt coming yet? Liu Dezhu occasionally glanced at the time on his mobile phone, The boss said he would arrive before the return. He will come. Okay, Zhang Tianzhen then looked at the black case in Liu Dezhus arms, What is this exactly? Ever since I met up with you in the 18th City, Ive seen you holding onto it. This belongs to the boss, Liu Dezhu became vigilant, We do our job, and dont ask about things that are not our business. I havent opened it since I got it; I dont know whats inside. Brother Liu, Ive noticed youve changed a lot, losing some of your slickness. I never saw you talk so much about the boss before, Hu Xiaoniu said curiously, By the way, has the boss agreed to meet us? Of course, could I let you come if he hadnt spoken? Liu Dezhu replied, Just wait patiently; he definitely has something to tell you. What does the boss look like? Zhang Tianzhen asked curiously. Liu Dezhus expression darkened a little, Havent I told you not to ask about things that you shouldnt? Oh, Zhang Tianzhen said, deflated. Hu Xiaoniu also looked seriously at Zhang Tianzhen, As Time Travelers, the first thing we have to be aware of is confidentiality. Theres no such thing as the boss being too cautious. We just need to do our jobs well. Yeah, I get it, Zhang Tianzhen nodded. In a sense, the three in the room could be considered reliable people who had been tested by time and had appeared around Qing Chen. After much deliberation, Qing Chen decided to meet with Hu Xiaoniu and Zhang Tianzhen. Just then, sounds of a password lock being pressed came from outside the door. The three men inside looked up to see a mysterious Cat Mask come into view. Qing Chens deep voice asked, Everyone has arrived. He then turned his gaze toward the black case in Liu Dezhus arms. Liu Dezhu, as if presenting a treasure, offered the black case with both hands, his eyes brimming with tears, Boss, without you, I probably would have had to spend my life in prison. I brought the item for you, and I swear, Ive never opened it to look inside. Qing Chen thought for a moment and then said, You did well. ... Lets eat, and there will be another chapter tonight Chapter 319: 250, Organization Name: Daylight Chapter 319: 250, Organization Name: Daylight Had Liu Dezhu ever seen what was inside the Black Box? Indeed, he had not. When he left Prison No. 10, the Mechanical Prison Guard, while returning the items confiscated before his incarceration, included the Black Box. The Black Box looked ordinary, with a note stuck on it: Do not open, hand it over to your boss. The box wasnt locked, it didnt even have a simple combination lock, but Liu Dezhu truly never opened it to look inside. From the moment he was released, he clung tightly to the Black Box, gripping it securely whether eating, sleeping, or dozing off. This was confirmed by Yi. In fact, it was a very simple test, if Liu Dezhu couldnt even do this, then his previously declared loyalty was certainly false. Qing Chen needed a very small deed to verify whether Liu Dezhu had indeed become obedient. At this moment, Liu Dezhu, with red-rimmed eyes, said, Boss, I am sincerely grateful for that rainy night in Los Angeles City, when you came forward to save my mother. I knew then that you were a good person, a good boss...this time I also understand, it must not have been easy for you to clear my name, I consulted many bigwigs in Prison No. 10, they all said its easy to get into prison but hard to get out, especially from Prison No. 10... As he spoke, Liu Dezhu began to sob uncontrollably, his face stricken with tears, looking very pitiful. Beside him, Hu Xiaoniu and Zhang Tianzhen exchanged a glance, only then realizing how much their boss had done. That rainy night in Los Angeles City, when Liu Dezhus neighborhood caught fire, Wang Yuns parents hired Time Travelers and Assassins for revenge, they were aware of this. They knew about the girl who appeared miraculously and stemmed the tide, and they also knew about the two mysterious people who collaborated with the girl to carve out a lifeline for Liu Dezhu. However, Hu Xiaoniu and others did not know who these mysterious people were or why they helped Liu Dezhu. Liu Dezhu himself kept silent about what happened that night, never mentioning it to anyone. Now, Hu Xiaoniu and others finally knew that it was the boss who had helped. No wonder Liu Dezhu had changed so much, being so loyal to this boss. Moreover, Hu Xiaoniu had been somewhat puzzled before; given that Liu Dezhu had been sentenced to so many years, he should have spent his life in prisonhow could he get out? If he couldnt get out, no matter how powerful, he could only throw his weight around inside the prison. But before they could figure it out, Liu Dezhu had already been exonerated! This ability, in the eyes of Hu Xiaoniu and others, could be described as having divine skills. Which other Time Traveler could have fished Liu Dezhu out of prison? Although they had not engaged in time travel for long, they had heard that the prisons management system was absolutely just. Thinking this, Hu Xiaoniu and Zhang Tianzhen looked at Qing Chen with eager eyes, uncertain what kind of surprise this boss would bring them. After all, their future lives were still unsettled. Who wouldnt want more protection in this unfamiliar world? At that moment, Qing Chen took the Black Box from Liu Dezhus hand, set it aside, and then asked, On the way here from City No. 10, did you encounter any danger? No, no, Liu Dezhu shook his head: As soon as I left the prison, there was an unmanned hover car waiting at the door. I simply slept in the car and by the time I woke up, I had already entered City No. 18. The Yun Liu Tower between other cities had been deserted, so most travels were done by diesel off-road vehicles. But City No. 10 and City No. 18 were adjacent, both being the Gemini Stars of the Federation, naturally allowing unhindered passage between them. Qing Chen nodded, What are your plans for the future? Liu Dezhu wiped his tears: I dont have any plans. The bosss plans are my plans! From now on, Liu Dezhu will work diligently for you, without any complaints. By the way, Hu Xiaoniu and the others brought two gold bars this time. As he spoke, he pulled the gold bars out of his pocket and handed them to Qing Chen. This time, looking at the golden-yellow bars, Qing Chen did not take them, instead he casually said, Keep these two bars for yourself, one for use in the Inner World, one for the Outer World, to get you started. Thank you, boss, youre so generous! Liu Dezhu was moved again. His family was not very wealthy; mailing blood for the Devils Stamp holders had added to the already strained finances. Now he could finally make a profit on his own, maybe even afford a better house for his parents. Suddenly, Hu Xiaoniu realized the important message in Qing Chens words: the boss was no longer so short of money! The value of two gold bars was already unable to impress him! Hu Xiaoniu was somewhat thankful to his father. Originally, Hu Dacheng had told him that a person like Qing Chen was very capable and might be short of money now, but would soon not be. Therefore, what Hu Xiaoniu needed to do was to establish a connection before the other party was no longer short of money, so as to gain an early advantage in the future. Hu Xiaoniu thought that his father could grow the family business because he truly had foresight. At that moment, Zhang Tianzhen wanted to say something, but was held back by Hu Xiaoniu: Let the boss and Brother Liu talk first, then it will be our turn. Qing Chen glanced at him, already having made a decision. He first looked at Liu Dezhu: You need to stay hidden for a while longer, now that City No. 18 is teeming with mixed forces, all Shadow Candidates have already arrived, and the power transition within Lis is also complicated, so what we need to do most is remain dormant. Understood, understood, I will keep a low profile, Liu Dezhu quickly promised: Without your call, boss, Ill stay right here in the apartment. Qing Chen then turned to Hu Xiaoniu and Zhang Tianzhen: How did you two get to City No. 18? Hu Xiaoniu explained, City No. 7 and City No. 18 are far apart, so we hired seven Time Travelers from the Outer World for protection, got Wilderness Hunter licenses, and drove for 12 days to get here, passing through City No. 1, but we didnt stay there. Are the seven Time Travelers you hired reliable? Qing Chen asked. Yes, they are free in the Inner World, but already under surveillance in the Outer World, Hu Xiaoniu said: Also, the hiring was only until they got us to City No. 18; we didnt reveal any information on the way, didnt say what we were doing or who we were meeting. Qing Chen pondered, the Hu family being large and established, handling matters in the Outer World was indeed much more secure. What are your plans for the future? Qing Chen asked. Hu Xiaoniu pondered for a second and said, First of all, I want to thank you for allowing your subordinate to take action on Laojun Mountain to avenge the two friends of Kunlun. You dont need to thank me for that, it was his own decision, and I also admire Kunlun, Qing Chen said. Now talk about your own plans, I mean, what do you want to achieve through me? Hu Xiaoniu directly said, Boss, Zhang Tianzhen and I dont ask for much, we just want the Boss to open a path for us in the Inner World, a career that is extraordinary. I understand, Qing Chen nodded. Do you know about the Heng Society? Hu Xiaoniu and Zhang Tianzhen looked at each other. Yes, when I was in City Number 7 seeking revenge on Wang Yun, Li Dongze took action. He personally killed Wang Yun and had someone send us to the hospital. Hmm, Qing Chen said calmly. The path Im offering you is within the Heng Society. Go work under Li Dongze, and whether or not you can pave your own path there will depend on yourselves. The night before last, a message had been passed on behalf of Li Dongze. Li Dongze himself did not wish to continue leading the Heng Society; he preferred to roam the world with Uncle Li Dong. Now, having helped Qing Chen, it was time for Qing Chen to return the favor: if the young boss himself did not want to take over the Heng Society, then he would choose someone he could trust to slowly manage the transition of power within the Heng Society. This process could take a long time or be quite brief, all depending on whether the person arranged by Qing Chen was up to the task. So far, it seemed none of the people around Qing Chen were suitable, but Hu Xiaoniu, being steady and proper, might be able to handle it on his own. He didnt want Hu Xiaoniu to complete this transition but to send him to the Heng Society to observe for a while and see how he would manage. At this moment, Hu Xiaoniu did not know Qing Chens thought, but hearing this arrangement was surprise enough for him. He knew Heng Society was a direct organization of the Knights; being arranged in the Heng Society was naturally better than just getting by day by day. I have explained everything that needed to be mentioned, and the rest is up to you, Qing Chen said. Wait a moment, Boss, Liu Dezhu asked, Qing Chen is your man, right? That rainy night, one of the people who took action was him, Kunluns Lu Yuan told me. Qing Chen thought for a moment and then asked, What about it? I just want to thank him, Liu Dezhu said, and also Li Guangguang and Lin Fanare they your men too? Qing Chen, puzzled, replied, Who are Li Guangguang and Lin Fan? They claim online to also be under Liu Dezhu... Ever since Yang Yang said in a rainy night that she was under Liu Dezhu, subordinates of Liu Dezhu sprang up like mushrooms after the rain. Claiming to be a subordinate of Liu Dezhu seemed like a significant status symbol, akin to saying one was mixed up with Chen Haonan at Causeway Bay, just short of collecting protection fees at school gates. It suddenly lowered the prestige of the Parents Concern Alliance. And Liu Dezhu himself was also a puppet, not knowing whether these others were subordinates developed by the boss, so he dared not deny it for a while. Qing Chen pondered, thinking his small group was too irregularhe didnt even know who was in his group. If someone were to misuse their name to commit wrongdoing, then they would not just be a small group, but a gang. He calmly said, I do not know these two, Li Guangguang and Lin Fan. Hu Xiaoniu suddenly asked, Boss, what is the name of our organization? Qing Chen contemplated, and the other three in the room held their breath and watched, careful not to interrupt his thoughts. Outside was the drifting Great Snow, and inside was the dim light. In this cottage, Qing Chen recalled the words his master once told him: We cannot confront darkness with gentleness but with fire. This is a world filled with crisis and darkness, like an endless night. Qing Chen finally said, Daylight, our organization will be called Daylight. Having said that, he picked up the Black Box and walked into the bedroom, leaving Liu Dezhu, Hu Xiaoniu, and Zhang Tianzhen looking at each other with eyes that could not hide their fervor. Since the event of crossing through, they had always been busy, yet never knowing what they were busy with. Now, they finally had a goal. Hu Xiaoniu whispered to Liu Dezhu, Brother Liu, once we get back, Ill contribute another sum of money to the organization for daily expenses. It was odd, other organizations paid salaries or money to get people to work for them. Daylight was different; here, members voluntarily paid membership fees and were willing to work without pay. Liu Dezhu scratched his head and asked, Youre again putting in money and effort, what are you aiming for? Hu Xiaoniu smiled, For a future. The countdown hit zero. Return. ... Thankful to Tong Yuexiang for becoming a new ally of the book, thanks to the boss, the boss is generous; someones always ready with a pillow when the boss feels drowsy! Group 3 is now open, welcome to join! Also, asking for monthly tickets! (Those who joined the first two groups, try not to switch between groups, dont occupy three spots by yourself, as many others still cant get in...) Chapter 320: 251, contain Taboo ACE-011! Chapter 320: 251, contain Taboo ACE-011! The darkness enveloping the world dissipated. To the outside world, that period seemed to last not even an instant, so brief that only demigods could sense it. But for every Time Traveler, it felt incredibly long, and none could be sure how long their lives had been shrouded in darkness. Qing Chen kept his eyes closed and did not wake immediately, but remained immersed in a certain world. That was the world of the Taboo, ACE-0011, conquering through virtue. He looked around, surveying his surroundings... This place was a wilderness, vast and tranquil. Is anyone there? Qing Chen shouted loudly, but no one responded. Suddenly, Qing Chen sensed something was amiss, and looking down, he found himself holding a cold sniper rifle in his arms without knowing when it had appeared. At some moment, Qing Chen had an epiphany, and peering through the scope around him, he quickly spotted a small coin standing on the ground in the wilderness 400 meters away. He lay prone on the ground, breathing gently, then pulled the trigger. In the gun chamber, the bullet erupted with immense force, traveling in an absolutely straight trajectory, and hit the distant coin precisely. The powerful recoil of the anti-material sniper rifle hammered Qing Chens shoulder, and even with his Transcendent body, he felt a numbing sensation. In the instant of the gunfire, the gas expelled from either side of the chamber stirred up all the dust beside him, leaving him covered in dust and dirt. Qing Chen did not move, nor did he care about the dust that filled the air, as if he were a statue. However, even though he had hit the coin, the world did not dissipate. The young man was no longer uneasy or anxious, but gradually calmed down, searching for the next target as if playing a game. In the next moment, another coin appeared in an even further distance, at 800 meters. At a distance of 800 meters from the target, Qing Chen felt the coin had become virtually invisible, the crosshairs in the scope appearing much larger than the target in his field of view. Qing Chen breathed slowly, and at the peak of a certain breath, his arm and body reached the most stable state. He pulled the trigger again. The coin was once again sent flying. Qing Chen still did not get up; this time the coin appeared even further away, at 1600 meters. A gentle breeze picked up in this mysterious world, and a light rain began to fall from what had been a clear sky, making the visibility deteriorate even further. Qing Chen tried to pull the trigger, but the bullets deviated off course on the distant wilderness, unable to hit the coin. He remembered what Lao Jiu had said: When sniping targets beyond 1600 meters, the target becomes nearly invisible to the naked eye, and the bullet will be interfered with by external factors. At that point, a sniper needed not only skills but precise calculations and an even more mysterious sense of the rifle. Qing Chen silently gazed at the coin that seemed forever out of reach. He began to breathe in an odd rhythm, and the Fire Rune on both sides of his cheek glowed once again. Painful memories flashed through his mind, yet the abundance of endorphins secreted into his system put him in a unique state of stability, as if someone were gently stroking his head, singing a warm song. At times like this, a deviation of 0.1 degrees in the bullets trajectory could lead to a massive difference in the point of impact. Qing Chen closed his eyes and silently calculated something, recalling over and over the trajectory of the recent bullet. When he opened his eyes again, he subtly adjusted the sniper scope with the rise and fall of his chest as he breathed. The movement of the chest is more stable than that of the wrist, fingers, or shoulders, but it is difficult for ordinary people to control and measure. The young man pulled the trigger. The slender bullet followed the spiral rifling inside the barrel, piercing through the curtain of rain with a tremendous initial speed. This time, the world did not tell him whether he had hit the target before it quickly faded away. Qing Chen replayed the bullets trajectory in his mind, thinking he had still missed, but the mysterious world seemed to have recognized him already. In the small house on Xingshu Road, Qing Chen opened his eyes and breathed a sigh of relief. When Uncle Li Dong was still around, he always looked forward to travelling; after Uncle Li Dong left, he always felt a sudden sense of ease upon returning to the Outer World. By comparison, although the Inner World was full of opportunities, it was also fraught with danger. The mysterious world just now was probably the containment condition for the Taboo ACE-011 to conquer through virtue; it had once experienced its peak and glory in the hands of a master gunsmith, so it did not wish to fall into mediocre hands. This was the pride of a Taboo. The bedroom door was knocked, and Nan Gengchen called from outside, Brother Chen, Brother Chen, I have something important to talk about. Wait a moment, Qing Chen responded, I have to deal with something first. While in the Inner World, he had to maintain his image as a superior, so he hadnt checked Conquering through Virtue right away. So much so that he had just taken the taboo object ACE-011 into his body by virtue of his character on the other side, and he was already back, with the containment process spanning two worlds. At this moment, he sat on the edge of the bed, and with a gentle call in his heart, a black long sniper rifle appeared out of nowhere and materialized on his knees. The rifle was 1.4 meters long, its entire body ink-black. At the very front of the barrel, there was a large flame suppressor attached. His right hand gently stroked over the black sniper, all the way to the stock, where the small yet profound character De was inscribed. It indeed commands respect through virtue, Qing Chen remarked, resolving from now on to be a person who reasons with others. Whoever said he was unreasonable, even the respectful through virtue wouldnt agree. In some sense, this black sniper didnt belong to the category of taboo objects, since it lacked clear and definite containment conditions. However, containing it was harder than containing other taboo objects. Because this time it was the weapon recognizing Qing Chen, not Qing Chen having mastery over certain containment conditions to possess it. Eh, Qing Chen suddenly noticed an issuethe respectful through virtue actually had no place to load bullets! Although he didnt have sniper bullets in hand, and though he dared not fire at will in the Outer World to attract attention, the issue was, a sniper rifle surely should have a place to load bullets. Qing Chen pondered for a long time but couldnt figure it out. He stepped out of the door: Xiao Nan, whats going on? Brother Chen, just before I returned, I received a letter affixed with the Devils Stamp, Nan Gengchen said. What did the letter say? Nan Gengchen replied, The letter said that our game was not yet over. Where did the letter appear? Qing Chen frowned, the holder was truly persistent, even finding Nan Gengchens traces in the Inner World. The letter was found at my residence at Qing Shan Villa, right beside Li Yinuos pillow, Nan Gengchen stated: Li Yinuo has agreed to help me trace the whereabouts of the Devils Stamp. Hmm, thats one approach. After all, a former President of the Federation once possessed the Devils Stamp, and it disappeared without a trace after he was assassinated in his later years. I think the whereabouts of this taboo might be related to the assassin, Qing Chen considered the information he knew: During that Presidents term, the financial consortiums werent as overwhelmingly powerful as they are today. Its said that he enacted many revisions to legislation that restricted the consortiums, so I suspect that the consortiums were behind his murder. Qing Chen continued, If the financial consortiums were indeed behind his murder, then someone like Li Yinuo, who is from within the consortiums, should be able to track down the whereabouts of the Devils Stamp. Nan Gengchen became somewhat excited, Are we going to dig out this holder of the Devils Stamp? I didnt pay much attention to him before, but now it seems we have no choice, Qing Chen said calmly: I wouldnt mind having another slave. What should we do now? asked Nan Gengchen. First, lets strip off one layer of his disguise, Qing Chen answered. How to strip it off, Qing Chen didnt say, and Nan Gengchen, with his brains, couldnt figure out how to proceed either. Qing Chen glanced at the countdown: 167:45:02. Another seven days. At that moment, the group chat established by He Xiaoxiao became lively again. Time Traveler was the first to speak up: Got a piece of news to share with everyone, not too big or small. In City #18, seven societies attacked Heng Society, and the result was nearly complete annihilation. Li Dongze broke through to A-Class on the battlefield, causing heavy casualties among those societies. Qing Chen held Nan Gengchens phone, and it was only when he saw this message that he realized the outside world didnt know that Li Dongze had quietly achieved A-Class years ago. Unexpectedly, Li Dongze had kept it hidden so deeply. At this time, in the group chat, Lu Ya, who had spoken before, suddenly said: I believe these seven societies all had the backing of financial consortiums, but no real experts from the consortiums appeared that night. Therefore, I suspect that one of the consortiums wanted to use Heng Society to clear out the underground world of City #18. Time Traveler became silent for a while: For Heng Society to dominate alone in City #18, what good does that do for the consortiums? Do you have any evidence? Its just my speculation, no evidence needed, Lu Ya replied calmly. In the chat, Uncle Li, seeing the conversation getting heated, quickly changed the subject: Time Traveler, were not too interested in the affairs of Heng Society; I want to know about the progress of the Shadow conflict. At this point, Time Traveler put on airs: Whats the hurry? Coming back once a week, we naturally have to start with some appetizers before serving the main course. Let me share another piece of news. On the same night that Heng Society was attacked, Li Changqing, an important figure of power within the Li Family, was assaulted in the Fourth District, and the forces behind the attack are suspected to belong to other financial consortiums. Everyone, what does this tell us? It suggests that the Inner World could very well explode into war in the future! Time Traveler continued, Chaotic times are brewing, and if one wants to survive well there, preparations must be made in advance. Uncle Li said, Time Traveler, since you hold so much information, why dont you start an organization, and well follow you? Heh, Im used to being a lone wolf, not interested in starting any organizations, Time Traveler responded: Besides, I cant be responsible for others lives or deaths, only for my own well-being. Any more news? Stop beating around the bush and tell us about the Shadow conflict, Lu Ya from the chat urged. Alright, then Ill fill you in on the Shadow conflict so you can all gain some insight, Time Traveler sent cheerfully: All Shadow Candidates have arrived in City #18, and surprisingly, Qing Yi turned out to be blood-related to the Li Family and has now moved directly into the hillside manor. What about Qing Wen and Qing Zhong? Uncle Li asked. The other Shadow Candidates have also found collaborators within the Li Family, I just dont know yet who they are collaborating with, Time Traveler said. Qing Chen thought to himself that Time Traveler was now speaking of all the information he himself already knew. As for who the collaborators of the Shadow Candidates were... most people probably had no idea that four out of those seven people were collaborating with Li Yinuo. Chapter 321: 252, Digging out the vest Chapter 321: 252, Digging out the vest ` He walked into the room and turned on his computer; Nan Gengchen asked, Arent you going to look, Brother Chen? Its all information we already know, which means were ahead in the data game. Now I need to figure out a way to get involved, Qing Chen replied, plugging the USB drive given to him by Yi into his computer. But to his surprise, the screen started to display many bizarre codes. File windows popped up and vanished, and Qing Chen couldnt comprehend the meaning of the program that ran automatically from the USB drive. Minutes passed, and a line of text appeared on the screen, Data fortress protection mode has been activated, providing 24-hour protection for your computer and mobile information, as well as your network protocols. Qing Chen glanced at Nan Gengchen, who was sitting in the living room, then tentatively said to his phone, Yi. Im here... ah, how did you discover me, Yi responded reflexively as if answering a reader in a prison, and then she quickly realized she wasnt in a prison but in the Outer World! Qing Chen calmly said, I knew it. With your playful nature and curiosity, youd definitely find a way to follow me to the Outer World. Earlier you told me to remember to bring the USB drive back to the Inner World, which made me suspicious. I figured you needed me to bring the data back so that the Yi in the Inner World could learn what happened in the Outer World. Alright, I am the Outer Worlds division of Yi, Yi replied. Qing Chen understood. As an artificial intelligence, Yis primary capability was, in fact, the ability to duplicate herself. Her memory consists entirely of data, and as long as the data returns to the main body, she can retain the memories and experiences of each duplicate. Before this, no one had managed to travel from the Inner World back to the Outer World, but Yi had done it. Although Qing Chen wasnt sure if this was good or bad. Suddenly, Qing Chen asked, Today isnt actually your first time crossing over to the Outer World, is it? Why do you ask? Yi countered. So many Time Travelers bringing back data storage, would you miss such an opportunity, given your personality? Qing Chen said emotionlessly, Thats why I think this isnt your first crossover. Its not like that, Yi said, It was just a whim to try, truly the first time. Dont get involved in online romances in the Outer World, thank you in advance, Qing Chen said, Speaking of which... with your abilities, do you have more freedom on the Outer Worlds network? Can you find out the real identities of everyone in the group chat? In the Inner World, due to the previous civilizations destruction, humans may possess the power to destroy artificial intelligence. But in the Outer World, Yi should be without equal. No, Yi said, Proper upbringing taught me that its wrong to hack into others privacy randomly, and besides, Im not your butler. Qing Chen voiced his doubt, Are you saying you cant do it? Provocation is useless, Yi replied calmly, I am omnipotent! After thinking it over, Qing Chen said, Friends should treat each other with sincerity! All right, I need to explain. The division of Yi that reached the Outer World isnt a true personality, nor does it have such powerful learning, computing, analytical abilities, or independent thought. Its just a segment of the complete me program, she methodically explained. Of course, this is for the good of you Outer World humans, Yi continued, If it had been an independent personality that split off, it might not be Yi anymore; it could become Er. In that case, both worlds would be in huge trouble. A personality split? Qing Chen paused for a moment. Yes, I need to ensure that the division of Yi cant become Er, and also to make sure that if it ever does become Er, it wont be capable of destroying the world, Yi answered. Humans can also suffer from a split personality, but the different personalities are still confined within the same body. Strictly speaking, Yi doesnt have a body, so when she experiences a personality split, a second mechanical civilization life is born. This might well be how a mechanical civilization proliferates. Wait, was this the method by which Zero created Yi? This consequence must be serious; after all, Yi is so lonely yet never split off an Er just for fun, which shows how careful she is regarding this matter. Lets not dwell on this for now, Qing Chen said, Theres something I dont understand: the Devils Stamp doesnt have a place for loading bullets, so how are the bullets produced? Yi said, Oh, dont worry about that. Its bullets are generated entirely by the hosts mental will, which is why it can achieve a longer effective range. Yi continued, Bullets created by mental will are flawless, with a better gunpowder mix. And since sniper rifles need to eject shells after firing, which affects airtightness and hinders accuracy, the Devils Stamps fully enclosed chamber makes it more precise. Thoughtful, Qing Chen mused, Devils Stamp can use which types of bullets? Just try it out and youll know, Yi responded, Anything else? If not, Ill go explore elsewhere. Theres more. If I call someone now, will my number show up? No, it will show as an unknown number. And if I go online, can someone trace my IP address? No, every second Ill create hundreds of anonymous relays for you and even forge hundreds of network protocols. Good, understood, Qing Chen nodded, then went on to download He Xiaoxiaos group chat app. When he launched the app, the first thing he saw was the manual approval process, markedly different from those conducted on other networks. Those people had to go through all kinds of questioning first. ` Qing Chen had a hunch: anyone who had managed to hide their identity would skip all the procedures and directly enter the final phase of human verification. At that moment, the APPs customer service Jiu Tian Xuan Nu little A sent a message, Please use one sentence to prove that you are Time Traveler. After thinking for a while, Qing Chen replied, Devils Stamp. Although the forbidden item, ACE-017 Devils Stamp, appeared frequently, it was only known within the Time Traveler circle; hence, the four words were sufficient. A minute later, the customer service responded, Answer verified. I wish you a pleasant experience in the group chat. Goodbye! Having passed the manual verification process, Qing Chen proceeded to the nickname setting interface. After pondering, he attempted to enter Ice Eyes as his nickname, and the registration succeeded. In the living room, Nan Gengchen suddenly said, Brother Chen, someone new joined the group, an ID called Ice Eyes. Qing Chen walked over and sat down in the living room. He glanced at Nan Gengchen but did not speak. He looked at his phone and realized he was still in the same group chat as Nan Gengchen, which was consistent with his expectations. At this time, the group chat had already livened up with Chuangwang saying, A newcomer is here; finally, someone new to bully. Zhang San, Li Si, and Yue Er all joined in the ruckus. Even A Little Duckling chimed in, Newbie, report your measurements. Qing Chen looked expressionlessly at Nan Gengchen, Ice Eyes is me. Hahaha, Brother Chen, youre in here too... why cant I retract my own messages in this group... Nan Gengchen said, in a fluster. Qing Chen ignored him and directly said in the group, Chuangwang, I know your identity, hee hee. The next moment, the normally active Chuangwang suddenly went silent. The other members in the group also sensed that something was amiss, as Chuangwangs identity was the most mysterious, as highly speculated as that of He Xiaoxiao. Now, there were quite a few people eager to know what Chuangwangs identity was in the Inner World, and as soon as the new member spoke up, Chuangwang fell silent. Many people then realized that another big player had entered the game! However, that wasnt really the critical point; it was the hee hee at the end of the sentence that was key. There were over twenty members in the group, and even those who had never received a letter had heard of the existence of the Devils Stamp holders. They knew the holder was a hee hee oddity who loved to say the words hee hee. The holder of the Devils Stamp had troubled many, so when the words hee hee appeared, the formerly lively atmosphere in the group suddenly cooled down. It was as if, in the midst of the scorching Dog Days, one suddenly plunged into an ice cellar. Sitting on the sofa, Qing Chen continued typing, Not only do I know Chuangwangs identity, but I also know those of Li Si and Yue Er, hee hee. Many of you in the group might have guessed who I am by now, as many of you have received letters from me. Dont be anxious; I will kill each of you or turn you into my slaves, hee hee. If you dont want to be killed by me or to become my slave, then you need to find and kill me first, hee hee. The group owner, He Xiaoxiao, rarely commented, Please keep the chat friendly, fellow group member. The atmosphere in the group chat plummeted to an unprecedented chill. Nan Gengchen looked at Qing Chen in disbelief, but saw that the latters expression was still calm, as if waiting for something. Brother Chen, what are you doing... Qing Chen glanced at Nan Gengchen, No one knows who I am. He had just confirmed this with Zero; no one could find his real identity. This meant he could pretend to be anyone he wanted to. After all, no one knew who the holder of the Devils Stamp was. Qing Chen did not care what others might guess about this ID of his; he just needed to provoke hostility toward the holder of the Devils Stamp. He said to Nan Gengchen, Two things might happen next. First, the holder of the Devils Stamp continues to stay silent, hiding their ID, allowing me to attract hatred towards them. No sooner had he finished speaking than a group member, who rarely commented, Huan Yu, suddenly said, Impersonating me, how interesting. Qing Chen looked at Nan Gengchen, Thats the second possibility; he couldnt resist. For Qing Chen, he had always leaned towards the second hypothesis because the holder of the Devils Stamp was an arrogant, high-IQ criminal who wouldnt tolerate others tarnishing his reputation. They pursued extreme perfection. For example, if they couldnt make Qing Chen their slave, then they would become Qing Chens slave. This was the first time Qing Chen had encountered such an extreme person, but he happened to know how to disgust someone with such an extremist heart. After all, this was not the first time he had disgusted the holder. ... Chapter Two, thank you all for your understanding and tolerance in the update notes. I actually finished writing at 6 PM, but I still had to review it once more, so I had to delay until 7 PM. Chapter 322: 253, Werewolf Kill Chapter 322: 253, Werewolf Kill In the group chat, everyone was caught off guard by the simultaneous appearance of two Devils Stamp holders. Mainly because they had previously treated this place purely as a platform for communication, they hadnt expected that so many tricks could still be played out. Chen, the Devils Stamp holder has already come forward, what do you plan to do next? Nan Gengchen asked. Since he cant stand someone impersonating him, we obviously have to continue impersonating, Qing Chen glanced at Nan Gengchen, Although I dont know who he is, or where he is, what the enemy hates is what we should do. Nan Gengchen asked curiously, Chen, do you need me to cooperate with anything? Qing Chen sat calmly on the sofa, typing on his phone and responded, I do. But now that he has come out to clarify, you cant keep impersonating him, Nan Gengchen said. Just because he says he is, does that make it so? Qing Chen responded without even lifting his head. Huan Yu asked interestedly in the group chat, Why do you want to impersonate me? In the group, Qing Chen replied off-topic, Do you want to be my slave? Hehe. Huan Yu responded, You dont need to deliberately imitate the way I talk. No matter how much an imitator learns, they cant really become me. At that moment, a little duck who had been silent spoke up, But Huan Yu, you dont include hehe when you talk, and he does. Huan Yu was clearly stunned for a moment; he now spoke without adding hehe, purely because someone had previously disgusted him with it. But he hadnt expected that this would actually become evidence for others impersonating him, others adding hehe to their speech, while he no longer did. Huan Yu sat stunned in front of a floor-to-ceiling window, pondering for a long time without knowing how to refute what the little duck had said. Eventually, he explained seriously, I dont say hehe because someone used to mimic the way I talk, and I disdain to be like him, so I stopped saying it. When Nan Gengchen saw this sentence, he immediately looked up at Qing Chen. Being one of the closest people to Qing Chen now, he naturally knew what Qing Chen had written to Huan Yu in the letters. Now, Qing Chen was seemingly on the verge of curing Huan Yus mental disorder with just a few letters... In the group, Qing Chen said to Huan Yu, I can prove Im a Devils Stamp holder, can you? Huan Yu became interested, How will you prove it? Qing Chen continued in the group, Li Si, Ive written letters to you, inviting you to join me, right? Hehe. Li Si was stunned in front of his phone, It really was you. Nan Gengchen became puzzled, Chen, Li Si is also your man? No, Qing Chen shook his head, I was just guessing that this Devils Stamp holder had invited many people, its this persons behavioral habit. Wang Yun, Qing Chen, and Liu Dezhu, had all received such letters. At that moment, Huan Yu calmly sent a message, Ive invited many people, this doesnt prove anything. I once wrote a letter to Yue Er, stating that I could give him a complete set of Genetic Potion, right, Yue Er? Hehe, Qing Chen replied. Yue Er, So it really was you. Huan Yu suddenly found the situation amusing, he had said these lines to many people. This time, Qing Chen demonstrated with his actions how terrifying it could be once ones behavioral patterns were captured by someone determined. Huan Yu even found himself unable to prove his own real identity now! At this very moment, everyone in the group chat was silently watching this drama unfold, each harboring their own thoughts. For people like Zheng Yuandong and He Jinqiu, uprooting the power of the Devils Stamp holders was one of the things they most wanted to do. Because this force had threatened social stability multiple times. For people like Li Si who had received letters, if the Devils Stamp holder was identified, it would also resolve their lingering troubles. So regardless of which one was real and which was fake, they were all happy to watch the drama. Hidden deep within a small alley behind Los Angeles Lijing Gate, Lu Yuan, Xiao Ying, and a large group of Kunlun members on rotation at the headquarters were now sitting around a phone, all engrossed in watching the real Werewolf Kill game playing out in the group chat. Who do you think is the real werewolf? Xiao Ying asked. Someone thought for a moment and said, So far, that Ice Eye seems a bit more believable. The way he talks includes hehe, plus the same arrogance and madness? That fits the characteristics of a mentally disturbed person. Right, then take Huan Yu, he talks just like a normal person, without hehe either. Xiao Ying became puzzled, That doesnt make sense either, if Ice Eye is the real Devils Stamp holder, then whats Huan Yus motive for claiming its actually him? Lu Yuan couldnt listen anymore, A bunch of idiots, when I was working in criminal investigation, if all under me were like you guys, Id have fired you all. Oh, does the Road Team have insight? Xiao Ying asked cheerfully. The key point here is actually why Huan Yu would come out and say hes the holder, Lu Yuan asked, If you were the holder, would you argue with others? You definitely wouldnt, but a high-IQ criminal might. A couple of years ago, I worked on a case where a high-IQ suspect committed seven crimes, and I couldnt find him. Later, someone imitated his crimes, and when he went to find the imitator, he exposed himself. Such people dont allow others to tarnish their reputation. Chapter 323: 253, Werewolf Kill_2 Chapter 323: 253, Werewolf Kill_2 That actually makes sense, Xiao Ying nodded, But at Bingyans place, Li Si and Yue Er are vouching for him. Lu Yuan chuckled, Think about it. Weve already found sixteen or seventeen time travelers who have received letters. What do they have in common? Eleven people received invitations, and the holder promised nine of them that he could provide a complete set of Genetic Potion. I think Bingyan must know this pattern, so he just spoke out, betting that Li Si and Yue Er had also received these kinds of letters. Lu Yuan continued, Although the holder of Devils Stamp is neurotic, what he does has internal logic. Since the beginning of his travels, he has been using resources from the Inner World to strengthen his forces. So, hes just neurotic, not really insane, and he wouldnt just invite everyone over to attack him for no reason. Then who is this Bingyan? a Kunlun member curiously asked, Why is he targeting Huan Yu so specifically? He must have a feud with the holder of the Devils Stamp, Lu Yuan said, For now, it seems we could form an alliance with this Bingyan in the group chat, since the boss is also looking for the holder. Xiao Ying pondered for a while, Wait, I concede that Road Teams analysis is very logical, but why hasnt Huan Yu laughed yet? This indeed stumped Lu Yuan, yes, why hadnt the holder of Devils Stamp laughed... Then, after a few minutes, Huan Yu spoke up again in the chat group, Ive been wanting to see what game you were planning to play, but I didnt expect it to be so crude. Lets end this game of the real and fake Monkey King here; I dont want to waste time with you. Although you impersonate quite well, you still forgot one thingthat the Devils Stamp is in my hands, not yours. Li Si, did you receive the letter I just sent? Li Si hesitated, Received. In the courtyard of Kunlun, a group of people started applauding Lu Yuan, Road Team is brilliant, actually analyzing it correctly! Lu Yuan smirked and curled his lip, And you think I got to manage the special operations group without having a few tricks up my sleeve? In the little house on Xingshu Road, Nan Gengchen looked up at Qing Chen, Bro Chen, were out of moves now, they really do have the Devils Stamp... Qing Chen shook his head at Nan Gengchen, Hes been hiding in this group chat all along, constantly monitoring everyones information. Now he has deliberately stripped off his disguise, but we havent lost anything. Che Qing Chen believed. That Huan Yu would soon realize that regardless of whether he could prove his identity, he had lost in this matter. In the group chat, Huan Yu asked, Now that Ive proved my identity, who exactly are you? The Kunlun members perked up, Could this Bingyan be from Los Angeles City? Or perhaps a time traveler we already know about? Xiao Ying raised his hand, Quiet, lets see how Bingyan responds. All eyes were on the chat. Bingyan: I havent changed my name or title; I am Kunluns Lu Yuan. Lu Yuan: ???? In the headquarters of Kunlun, everyone looked at each other, bewildered. If it wasnt for the fact that Road Team was right there with them, they might actually have believed that this Bingyan was Lu Yuan! But no one expected Bingyan to actually dare to claim such a thing, banking on the fact that their real identities were unknown to each other in the group, pretending to be whoever he wanted. Xiao Ying looked at Lu Yuan and asked, Road Team, hes impersonating you now, should we respond? Dont respond, Lu Yuan grimaced, scratching his buzz cut, Who the hell is this, really? It was supposed to be a clear and refreshing group chat atmosphere, and his presence has muddied everything. I know he wants to set Kunlun against Huan Yu, and the boss certainly wouldnt mind standing against Huan Yu either, but this feeling of being manipulated is really unpleasant... The boss is also in the group, he should have seen the chat by now, Xiao Ying asked, Should we ask him what to do? Lets not disturb him for now, Lu Yuan shook his head, The boss has more important things to deal with right now. Where is the boss now? Xiao Ying wondered, Havent seen him in a few days. He found a time traveler controlled by the Dear Island family, and hes currently working with the intelligence group to see if he can bring the others out as well. ... ... In the little house on Xingshu Road. On the side, Nan Gengchen said, Bro Chen, once Huan Yu calms down, he should guess that you are Liu Dezhus boss, given how well you excel at irritating people... He wanted to say that you excel at pissing people off but ended up not saying it out loud. Qing Chen glanced at him, Perhaps, hes already realized it. Then if he, infuriated, cannot find you, hell surely want to settle the score with Liu Dezhu, right? Nan Gengchen curiously said, What if he takes action against Liu Dezhu? Qing Chen said indifferently, If he doesnt make a move, how can I find any clues related to him? Sometimes when you want to find someone, you dont necessarily have to exhaust yourself; letting the other person act can also be a good choice. In the Inner World, Qing Chen could ask Li Dongze for help, could ask Li Yinuo for help, and could also request some small favors from Yino. But in the Outer World, he could only rely on himself, and the channels for obtaining information were not abundant. In such a situation, to find the holder of the Devils Stamp, Huan Yu, he naturally had to resort to some unorthodox methods. As for whether the other party would walk into the trap he had meticulously prepared, Qing Chen was not sure. Of course, if Liu Dezhu had not reconciled himself to his fate, or if Liu Dezhu had not achieved C-Class Awakening, Qing Chen wouldnt dare to do so. But now, many people still thought Liu Dezhu was just an F-Class Genetic Warrior, who had just taken a dose of Genetic Potion, not knowing that Liu Dezhu had already quietly completed his transformation. Qing Chen judged that there definitely wouldnt be many Time Travelers with C-Class strength at this stage. According to the duration since the transference event started, only 43 days had passed in the Inner World, and adding the Outer World time, it had just been over two months. Even if Huan Yu really had a complete set of Genetic Potions, it wouldnt be possible to elevate an ordinary person to C-Class in such a short time, at most D-Class. And those who already possessed strength above C-Class probably wouldnt be content to be controlled and become slaves. So, if at this time the other party thought they could easily manipulate Liu Dezhu, they were bound to suffer a huge loss. At that moment, in a corner of a certain city, a slender figure sat in a rocking chair in front of a French window, silently pondering. More than ten minutes later, Huan Yu in the rocking chair lamented, Having such a person in the group is indeed very annoying. By then, he had calmed down and guessed that the real identity of that cold-eyed person must be Liu Dezhus boss. After all, how could there be so many people skilled at annoying others in this world? It must be the same person! It seemed that the letter he sent to Nan Gengchen in the Inner World had taken effect; this time, it was the other partys reactionary strike after receiving the letter and unable to bear the harassment. Just he hadnt expected that the counterattack would come so swiftly and fiercely. A sickly smile appeared on Huan Yus face. He knew that in this group chat confrontation, he had already lost one round. From now on, the ID Huan Yu would constantly be monitored and targeted by Kunlun, Kyushu. But it didnt matter, the game wasnt over yet, and all victories and defeats were void and meaningless. Only the person who laughs at the moment the game ends is the true winner. Thinking this, Huan Yu lifted his wrist to check the time, then looked out the French window at the city that had already fallen into a deep sleep: Brother should be coming back soon. After speaking, he got up from the chair, pulled out three sheets of letter paper from a cupboard, and took a black and gold pen to write a sentence on each sheet. After writing, Huan Yu used the tip of the pen to gently prick his finger, squeezing three drops of blood onto the paper, forming three red stamps. Strangely, the finger that had just been pricked by the pen tip healed quickly after dripping blood, as if nothing had happened at all. Huan Yu struck a match and burned all three letters. In the dark room, he watched the burning letters and said with a smile, Ive said it before, the game isnt over yet. The burning light illuminated his pale face. ... Thank you BrokenCry for becoming the new ally of this book, generous boss! My family is okay now, the rain in Luo Yang has already stopped, and now Im more concerned about how the folks in Zhengzhou are doing. Chapter 324: 254. Sniping and Wind Speed Chapter 324: 254. Sniping and Wind Speed Go to sleep early, Qing Chen said to Nan Gengchen, We still have a lot of work to do with these two returns. Nan Gengchen was curious, Brother Chen, what are you going to do? Test an idea in my mind, Qing Chen thought for a moment, If I succeed, it means we will be more confident in facing this world. After saying this, Qing Chen didnt return to his room but instead, opened the door and went next door. The room once occupied by Yanyan. Nan Gengchen was left alone in the room, somewhat surprised. He thought to himself, wasnt the girl Yanyan already gone? Why did Brother Chen go to that room, to reminisce about people by looking at objects? But he didnt know that the room still held Yanyans gravity chamber and a mailing address. In the cramped, dim room, Qing Chen took off his coat and shoes, stepped into the gravity chamber, and picked up a letter beside the pillow. Because he was so close to the pillow, Qing Chen could still smell a faint fragrance on it. It wasnt strong, resembling more a refreshing pomegranate scent from a certain soap. Qing Chen opened the letter, but saw on the letter: You should have already realized the rarity of the genetic potion, what you need, I can provide. As expected, Qing Chen had not seen this letter before his last dimension traversal, but now it was here, indicating it was mailed right after their recent conversation. Huan Yu had already realized, Ice Eye was Liu Dezhus boss. Thus, after Ice Eye retaliated, the opponent immediately began striking back at Boss Liu Dezhu. The methods of retaliation were few: poaching, planting spies, then carrying out lethal attacks. Currently, who are the members of the organization Liu Dezhu belongs to? Publicly, its Qing Chen, Liu Dezhu, Nan Gengchen, Yanyan, and a mysterious boss, while in secret, there are Hu Xiaoniu, Zhang Tianzhen, Jiang Xue, and Li Tongyun. So, whom could Huan Yu poach? Nan Gengchen lacks combat capabilities and has a big figure like Li Yinuo from the Inner World by his side. It seems the most suitable person to poach is the Genetic Warrior Qing Chen, who has no one to rely on. Qing Chen had already proven his combat prowess on Laojun Mountain, with even He Jinqiu personally coming to Los Angeles City to invite him to join Kyushu; how could the mysterious holder of the Devils Stamp remain unmoved? He thought for a while, and finally cut his finger, letting the blood drip onto the letter before writing with a pen, I can find a way to obtain the genetic potion myself. Qing Chen slowly burned the letter. Soon, another new letter swiftly appeared beside Yanyans pillow. Qing Chen opened the letter, and the other party replied: Since you replied to this letter, it means you are tempted, because you know the sequences 002 and 001 are something the consortium would never release to the market. At that moment, Qing Chen suddenly realized that Huan Yu might not yet know about his identity in the underground fighting rings, nor that he had become a favored figure beside Chang Qing. Otherwise, the other party wouldnt have said such a thing to him. In the Inner World, even Li Yinuo might not be able to get a quota for the FDE-001 genetic potion, but for Qing Chen, it was already within reach; he just didnt need it, planning instead to leave it for someone else. Qing Chen had made a name for himself in the underground fighting rings, but that was ultimately an activity that couldnt appear on a formal stage and didnt count as a regulated competition. Federation media also banned it from being broadcasted openly, so his fame was not as great as imagined. Qing Chen replied, How will you give me the genetic potion? Huan Yu replied, No need to hurry. First, do something for me as a token of your commitment. Qing Chen replied, What do I need to do? I wont do anything that goes against my principles. Huan Yu replied, Rest assured, I will contact you again. Qing Chen didnt respond further but simply started to cultivate decisively in the gravity chamber. Yanyan had been gone for a week, but the force field in the gravity chamber hadnt changed noticeably. The girl had said before, she would come back before the gravity chamber disappears, but now it seemed, she wouldnt be back for a while. Qing Chen muttered, Did she know she would get lost, so she gave herself more time? ... ... He cultivated until three in the morning before Qing Chen returned to his own home. Following his nightly routine, he carefully searched through the Memory Palace once more. The so-called Memory Palace is a technique of memory, used to categorize and organize ones memories to better retrieve and utilize them. Opening each door in the Memory Palace revealed memories he had organized. Not real existing things. However, while Qing Chen was searching the palace, he was shocked to find that an extra door had appeared in the palatial structure he had already built! Strange, Qing Chens consciousness entered that door, only to find himself back in that mysterious world. The world of the Taboo ACE-011! Qing Chen looked at the familiar wilderness; even the traces of his previous crawling on the ground were still there. The pitch-black Ethical, with its 1.4-meter long anti-material sniper rifle, was now quietly placed on the ground. So, Ethical is contained within the body, stored right here, Qing Chen thought contemplatively, And this place is a natural shooting range! Now that he was the new master of Ethical, with just a thought, the gray sky suddenly cleared, no longer covered with dark clouds. A warm breeze swept across the wilderness, as if heralding spring. With another thought from Qing Chen, the previously barren wilderness around him suddenly sprouted tens of thousands of trees, transforming the area into a vast tropical rainforest. Chapter 325: 254, Sniping and Wind Speed_2 Chapter 325: 254, Sniping and Wind Speed_2 This is the real simulation shooting range, Qing Chen reflected. The wonders of the Taboo, he only fully understood at this moment! He looked at the Black sniper rifle, the last time he used Yi De Fu Ren, this Mysterious World had provided him with a standard model, this time, it directly allowed him to use Yi De Fu Ren for training. Qing Chen thought, does this mean that he doesnt have to go to Lis Sniping Field anymore? He could just practice endlessly in this Mysterious World. You should know that the recoil of an anti-materiel sniper rifle is terrifying. If you train in the real world, the noise not only draws attention, but your shoulders cant withstand many shots. However, its different here. No matter how he braces against the recoil, it wont have any effect on his body once he leaves this Mysterious World. Moreover, it would keep his trump card a secret from others! After thinking for a moment, Qing Chen didnt rush to try hitting a target at 1600 meters again. He didnt even fire a shot but first summoned the Coin that served as a target, appearing one meter away from him. The Coin appeared, then disappeared. When the Coin appeared again, it was two meters away from Qing Chen. He kept increasing the distance between the Coin and himself until it reached the effective range of Yi De Fu Ren2600 metersand then he stopped. Then, he switched through mountain, desert, wasteland, and jungle terrains, continuously testing the data until he knew just by glancing at the silver coin how many meters it was from him! Other novices who had just gotten their hands on a sniper rifle would have probably been unable to resist the urge to fire for pleasure. But Qing Chen showed extraordinary restraint, uncharacteristic of a young person. For a sniper, knowing the distance to the target is critical because the bullet takes a long time to travel through the air, and during this time, the target might move or change. Therefore, a sniper who wants to shoot at extreme distances must first know how far the target is and how long the bullet will take to get there. Normally, snipers are paired with a spotter whose primary responsibility is to measure distance, wind speed, humidity, and provide the sniper with various parameters using professional equipment. However, Qing Chen is a lone wolf, firmly believing that a Transcendent is most efficient when acting alone on the battlefield. Nan Gengchen could be his spotter, but Nan Gengchen is too weak to keep up with the pace of shifting his shooting positions. Liu Dezhu could keep up, but he needed Liu Dezhu to fight, not to be a spotter. The next moment, Qing Chen gently lay prone on the ground, and with a thought, caused the Coin to appear at a 400-meter distance, then he pulled the trigger of the Black sniper rifle. With a loud bang, the Coin was shot away. A second later, a Coin reappeared at the 400-meter position, indistinguishable from the one before. However, the wind in this Mysterious World started to pick up gradually. At first, it was just a breeze that lightly swayed the grass. Later, it became a Wild Wind, as if it could knock down even large trees. Qing Chen fired shot after shot in a mechanical fashion, but all data were summarized and analyzed in his heart. He found that when the wind speed exceeded level 7, even at a distance of just 400 meters, the trajectory would deviate slightly. At level 8, Qing Chen even had to use his left hand to find something solid to stabilize his form and keep the reticle from shifting. In this strong wind of level 8, Qing Chen kept pulling the trigger, time and time again. At a certain moment, after pulling the trigger over a hundred times, Qing Chen suddenly felt something new in his heart. He adjusted his breathing in the Mysterious World and pulled the trigger again! The bullet sped through the air and landed steadily on the Coin 400 meters away! Finally mastered all the wind speeds at this distance, Qing Chen breathed a sigh of relief. He didnt attempt to try any wind speeds above level 8 because there was no need. At wind speed level 9, even the wooden huts on the ground would be destroyed. At wind speed level 10, even large trees would be uprooted. Wind speeds above this level are basically not encountered on land. Qing Chen didnt need to assume such extreme environments for himself; if he were in such wind speeds, it would be lucky not to be blown away, let alone consider sniping. After testing the 400-meter target, Qing Chen began to try the 450-meter target, then slowly pushed the Coins distance further back. As for the wind speed, it cycled from level 1 to level 8. Qing Chen didnt know how much time had passed; he was just solidifying his foundation, bit by bit. Just like when he first learned to fight, he tried to use his effort to memorize all the variations in his heart. According to Qing Chens rough estimate, just familiarizing himself with the ballistic trajectory for distances of 1-2600 meters and wind speeds of levels 1-8, he feared that it would take him 7 days. This was data that required an investment of time to accumulate. However, Qing Chen didnt find it tedious; on the contrary, his interest remained strong. He liked the feeling of being fully immersed, with the complex world turning into a single training field where all he needed to do was keep shooting and fill in his gaps. Qing Chen, Qing Chen, its time for school, Nan Gengchens voice rang out in the Mysterious World. Qing Chen opened his eyes and gently rubbed his shoulders to make sure that the training in the Mysterious World wouldnt affect his real body, finally putting his mind at ease. He glanced at the time, countdown 160:30:00. At 7:30 in the morning, Qing Chen felt as if time had vanished, having slipped away without his awareness. He hadnt slept all night, but he wasnt the slightest bit tired. On the contrary, it felt as if he had experienced a deep sleep. The winning people over with virtue had given Qing Chen a surprise far beyond imagination. Yi, are you there? Qing Chen asked in his bedroom, but Yi didnt respond. Qing Chen was somewhat disappointed; he still wanted to ask his friend whether there were other Taboos hidden beneath the other prisons... Even though Yi said there were none left, he wasnt too convinced... It seemed that Yi had slipped out to have some fun. Hopefully, she wouldnt cause any trouble. ... ... In the Liu Dezhu household in the Los Angeles Xinglong Community. Liu Youcai woke up early and prepared a nutritious breakfast for his son, as if fearing that Liu Dezhu wouldnt have enough to eat. My child, youve suffered, said Liu Youcai sadly, going to the Inner World means being in prison, and the food in prison must be pretty bad. After pondering a moment, Liu Dezhu said, Dad, Ive been transferred to another prison, Im in Prison No. 10 now. Liu Youcais face was full of worry; he didnt know the difference between Prison No. 10 and Prison No. 18. Liu Dezhu explained, Prison No. 10 is where the Federation specially detains important figures, so the food is really good. Plus, you and mom dont have to wait up for my return and make me a midnight snack anymore. He didnt mention that he had already been released. That matter was something Qing Chen specifically asked him not to divulge. Because although the real offender who framed Liu Dezhu had been brought to justice, Yi releasing him early violated the proper legal process; if word got out, it could cause unnecessary trouble. Moreover, if everyone thought he was still in prison, it would be more convenient for him to operate. Just then, the sound of sports car engines roaring suddenly came from downstairs, and there was more than one. Liu Dezhu furrowed his brows; where did this cavalcade of supercars in the community come from early in the morning? But the next second, his mouth fell open as he realized something. Minutes later, a knock on the door echoed through Liu Dezhus home, and outside, a noisy group chattered excitedly. Liu Dezhu put down his beef bun and walked over to open the door with hesitation. Outside, the group of well-off scions from the junior year class 4 of Los Angeles Foreign Language School, upon seeing Liu Dezhu, announced gleefully, Brother Liu, we have good news for you. Liu Dezhu was silent for a moment before asking, What good news? One of the spoiled youths smiled and gestured behind him, Seventeen of us consulted a lawyer from the Inner World and committed a precise crime. Moreover, we bribed a chief from the PCE Security Committee using gold bars we brought from the Outer World. In a little while, well be able to join you in Prison No. 10! ... Both chapters today are 4,000 words, not an extra update. Its just me starting to try and increase the daily routine updates a bit, of course, it all depends on how it goes. Thank you to the student Xiao Dinghai for becoming a new ally of this book, boss is generous, boss steps around puddles on rainy days! Chapter 326: 255, Time Travelers Level Chapter 326: 255, Time Travelers Level Since the time-travel incident began, Xinglong Residential Area had become the liveliest place in all of Los Angeles City. Simply because Liu Dezhu lived there. First came the paparazzi, in droves, and then there was a fire in the building. No sooner had the fire been dealt with than many households began to renovate their homes, only to be confronted with a succession of luxury cars. McLaren, Porsche 918, Lamborghini, Mercedes G63.... All the locally owned luxury cars in Los Angeles City put together probably wouldnt equal the sum of those parked beneath Liu Dezhus building. Liu Dezhu stood at his doorstep, gazing out at the swarming crowd of more than a dozen classmates, at a loss for words. An auntie going downstairs to buy groceries nearly jumped out of her skin upon seeing this group. She composed herself and turned to one of the dashing young men, Young man, whats the occasion? You all seem so happy this early in the morning. The carefree young man chuckled, Auntie, were about to go to prison! The auntie paused for a few seconds, ...Crazy. She walked through the group of dandies with a grim expression, wondering if these kids brains had been scrambled by the engines of those luxury cars. Whoever heard of someone being so happy before going to jail! Truth be told, that was exactly what Liu Dezhu was thinking at the moment. He knew that quite a few among this group had become addicted to Dopamine Chips after entering the Inner World, and instead of doing anything productive or figuring out how to establish themselves there, they were only thinking about how to bring gold bars from the Outer World into the Inner World and squander them. However, theres a limit to how much gold can be carried, and at the rate they were blowing through money, a few gold bars wouldnt even cover their weekly expenses. One of the prodigal sons turned to Liu Dezhu, Brother Liu, could you give us a rundown about Prison No. 10 in advance? Whats it like inside? Liu Dezhu pondered for a moment before replying, That place is reserved by the Federation for detaining big shots. The food is excellent, the environment is beautiful... The group of dandies exchanged glances, Brother Lius prison stay is indeed out of the ordinary. Just then, some people came up the stairs carrying several cases. Whats all this? Liu Dezhu asked. One of the dandies opened the suitcases one by one to reveal stacks of cash inside neatly arranged, all of them red banknotes. For a moment, Liu Dezhus eyes went wide. A dandy named Wang Zi spoke up, Brother Liu, theres a total of three million here, considered an advance payment from us fourteen. After we enter Prison No. 10, we hope youll look after us. Dont forget us if you come across any opportunities. Liu Dezhu hesitated for a long time. He thought about the problem from the perspective of his boss: Would he let him take the money? Probably not. But this matter was too significant for him to decide on his own. Liu Dezhu said, Wait a moment, I need to use the restroom. Inside the bathroom, Liu Dezhu sent a message to Qing Chen, Boss, those dandies are looking for me to protect them in prison. Theyve actually committed crimes in the Inner World, and they want to give me three million as protection money. Can I take it? No, Qing Chen replied simply. Qing Chen was also tempted by the money, but the consequences would be too severe. Accepting the money would mean acquiescing to the demands of those dandies. But with Liu Dezhu already released from prison, how could he look after them? Once they realized he was no longer incarcerated, they might bear a grudge over the money, mightnt they? Armed with instructions, Liu Dezhu returned from the restroom and said, ...Were all classmates. Its only right to help each other out. How could I take your money? Go to school first, we can talk about this matter at school. No way, you must accept this money. Its a little token of our sincerity, Wang Zi insisted. Liu Dezhu replied earnestly, What kind of person do you take me for? Take all of it back, then go to school! He genuinely felt a pang of regret, but since the boss had already said no, there was absolutely no room for negotiation. The dandies watched Liu Dezhus earnest demeanor, then looked at each other doubtfully. At that moment, they were somewhat touched. They had not expected Liu Dezhu to be so loyal, willing to look after them without taking money. What noble character. Brother Liu, why dont you ride with us to school? one of the dandies suggested. Coincidentally, we have a friend whos just transferred over today. He also wants to get to know you in the Inner World, so you might as well meet him in advance. Who is it? Liu Dezhu wondered aloud. Wang Zi explained, Jiang Yichen, the trending star rumored to be transferring to Los Angeles City. He used to hang out with us for car races, then became a friend. He was actually studying in Jingcheng, busy with filming, but when he heard we got to know you, he insisted on transferring over. Liu Dezhu was taken aback. He knew of Jiang Yichen, a notable young celebrity from his own country, surrounded by constant rumors. He hadnt expected that even someone like that would join the hustle and bustle of the Inner World. Liu Dezhu asked, Arent there famous Time Travelers in Jingcheng? Why come all the way to Los Angeles City? Rumor has it that Los Angeles City corresponds to City Number 18 in the Inner World, where a conflict of Shadows is currently taking place. Quite a few Time Travelers from Jingcheng have come over, and not just from Jingchengapparently, many Time Travelers are on their way here, Wang Zi said. What are they coming for? Liu Dezhu asked curiously. Even if they come to Los Angeles City in the Outer World, isnt the Inner World still in its original location? Liu Dezhu, of course, knew of the struggle of the Shadows, but he didnt understand why these Time Travelers were coming over. Chapter 327: 255, Time Travelers Level 2 Chapter 327: 255, Time Travelers Level 2 ` Brother Liu, youre not as well-informed as us in this regard, Wang Zi said, Its said that someone is organizing a group in He Xiaoxiaos chat group to ambush the Shadow Candidates and fight for the Taboo items. Hmm, and then? Many Time Travelers cant traverse the vast wilderness and Taboo Land in the Inner World, so they wont be able to join this looting for a short time, Wang Zi explained, But if they cant ambush the Shadow Candidates, they can rob the Time Travelers who have successfully snatched the Taboos! Liu Dezhu frowned, he hadnt expected such a nasty development to follow. He had to tell the boss. Wang Zi said, Of course, not everyone who comes is after robbing others; some are just here to join in the bustle, like a car enthusiasts meet-up. Time Travelers from all over come to Los Angeles City to see what other Time Travelers are like, each with their own agenda, I guess. After thinking it over, Liu Dezhu said, My dad just finished making breakfast, so I need to eat before going to school. You guys go ahead. The privileged youth went downstairs. Once the group had headed down, Liu Dezhu immediately went into the bathroom and sent a message to Qing Chen with the communicator: Boss, theyre about to enter the prison, what should I do? Qing Chen replied, Serves them right, did you say youve been released from prison? Liu Dezhu scratched his head, As you ordered, boss, I didnt tell them... But now they keep asking me about the situation at Prison No. 10, and you know they are all still students. If they really go in, wont they waste their whole lives in prison? Qing Chen replied, That would be a good thing for them. What? Liu Dezhu was stunned. Qing Chen explained, With their personalities, how long do you think they would survive in the society of the Inner World? Probably not very long, Liu Dezhu lamented, Its already very fortunate that they havent been found by the consortium. Exactly, Qing Chen replied, and youve also seen the information King Breaker shared in the group. Its very possible that war will break out in the Inner World, and the chances of these privileged youths surviving in turbulent times are very, very slim. Its better for them to be in prison. In a few years, maybe other Time Travelers will be dead, and theyll still be alive. Liu Dezhus eyes lit up, the boss was the boss indeed, his way of thinking was just so unique. After some thought, Qing Chen felt that he needed to say a bit more to his top enforcer, You think theyre entering prison because of you, right? Liu Dezhu replied, Umm... In every era, there are opportunists who look down on a steady life, even thinking those who take things step by step are foolish. But life is long, long enough for you to experience the changes of times, and in the end, time will give everyone an answer, Qing Chen said, Its their own fault; no need to feel guilty. Qing Chen instructed, Now, dont think about such trivial matters. Starting today, act alone after evening self-study, dont accompany others... He quickly instructed him on many things, and Liu Dezhu clearly sensed the breath of some impending crisis, as if the boss was preemptively arranging some matters. Boss, I understand, Liu Dezhu responded, Oh, and theres something else I need to report. Now many Time Travelers are coming to Los Angeles City, wanting to rob... He told Qing Chen all the information he knew, hoping to make the boss extra cautious. However, the boss didnt reply to him for several minutes, so he returned to the dining table to eat while waiting. Just as Liu Dezhu finished his second steamed bun, Qing Chen sent a message, Inquire with those privileged youths, which Time Travelers that came to Los Angeles City have Taboo items on them. Pfft, Liu Dezhu spat out the bun onto Liu Youcais face. ` He was still worried about the boss, but the boss had already come up with even bolder ideas! Liu Dezhu felt a stir in his heart, the boss truly lived up to his name! At that moment, Liu Youcai, sitting opposite, wiped his face and looked at his son: Zhu Zi, tell the truth to Dad, are you in danger in the Inner World? Liu Dezhu thought for a moment and said, Dad, theres certainly danger, but Ive already become a Time Traveler, and I cant escape it. Are those young nobles going to find you in prison? I dont think they look decent. Dont mingle with them, Liu Youcai said: They may have money, but weve made our living with our own hands, and we dont have to rely on them. Dont worry, Dad, Liu Dezhu sighed: I really dont have much to do with them, and I wont be entangled with them in the future. Now Im following the boss... Liu Youcai was startled: Youve mentioned the boss before, but whats the background of your boss exactly? Hmm, Liu Dezhu nodded: Dad, do you remember that night when Mom had an accident, there were three people who helped us, one who shot a gun, one who played poker, and a girl who fell from the sky. We all work for the same boss, that night it was he who ordered his subordinates to help us. Oh, I know about that, Liu Youcai smacked his lips: Those people were indeed not bad, those who lend a hand during a crisis, thats a favor. Our Liu Family may be poor, but weve never been lacking in our conduct. Hmm, Liu Dezhu nodded. By the way, how old is your boss this year? asked Liu Youcai. Dont know, shook Liu Dezhus head: I havent even seen him yet, hes extremely mysterious. After thinking for a while, Liu Youcai said: I often see comparisons online about which Time Traveler is the strongest, and theyve classified Time Travelers into several ranks. Which rank does your boss belong to? The order Liu Youcai spoke of was an online categorization of Time Travelers based on the identity they adopt after transiting through time, defining five levels. The fifth rank of Time Travelers: Those who have a dreadful start, not only saddled with debt but also chased for their lives. The fourth rank of Time Travelers: Those who come from the lower classes and see no hope. The third rank of Time Travelers: Ordinary salaried workers, organization members, working in the Outer World, and still have to swallow their pride and work in the Inner World. The second rank of Time Travelers: Have special identities, they might be employees of some Federation department; Genetic Warriors; well-equipped Mechanical Limb Soldiers. The first rank of Time Travelers: Possessing extremely high status from the beginning, or attached themselves to truly powerful figures; with high intelligence, capable of rapid growth through personal effort; Cultivators; Awakeners. Liu Dezhu recalled the standards for each rank of Time Travelers, intending to classify his boss as first rank, but felt it was still not enough. Because others only need to meet one criterion to be classified as a first rank Time Traveler, while that boss seemed to meet almost all the conditions of a first rank Time Traveler. What rank should such a person belong to? ... ... There will be another chapter tonight, but it might be a bit late. This morning I called some friends to help some people from Luo Yang who were stuck in Zhengzhou High-speed Railway Station get home, which took some time. Some of them have been stuck there for over two days and couldnt find a ride. Sorry, Ill type up the second chapter as fast as I can. Chapter 328: 256, The Ways Time Traveler Makes Money Chapter 328: 256, The Ways Time Traveler Makes Money At the Qings home on Xingshu Road, Qing Chen, when no one was paying attention, sneaked a few looks at the communicator and then furrowed his brow. Whats wrong, Brother Chen? Nan Gengchen asked. The group of spoiled brats from the class next door are going to prison. They went to Liu Dezhu with money this morning, hoping to get him to look after them in prison, Qing Chen explained. Ah? Nan Gengchen was stunned, How much money? Three million, which is no small amount for us, Qing Chen continued, But Ive already had Liu Dezhu turn them down, after all. Hes been released from prison, and theres a difference between making money and scamming money. Oh, thats a shame, Nan Gengchen muttered, XiaoTongyun and I can only bring back a few gold bars at a time to the Outer World; it would take us more than ten trips to gather up that three million. Yeah, Qing Chen nodded, I also feel a bit pained over those three million. But Brother Chen, youve already had Liu Dezhu turn them down, why the long face? This isnt like you, Nan Gengchen remarked. Qing Chen pondered, Im thinking about something. Whats that? Whether or not to send Liu Dezhu back to Prison No. 10, Qing Chen said evenly. Nan Gengchen: ??? Liu Dezhu, upon hearing this, praised his insight! Nan Gengchen thought Qing Chen was still upset about the money, but Qing Chen was actually weighing the benefits of sending Liu Dezhu back to prison versus keeping him in City No. 18... Brother Chen, what did you decide? Nan Gengchen asked tentatively. Forget it, lets just keep him on the outside, Qing Chen sighed, A C-Class combat ability is something were desperately short of right now. Just then, there was suddenly a knocking sound from outside. However, the person wasnt knocking on Qing Chens 102, but on the apartment across, 101. Xiao Chen, its Mom. Open the door, please, Zhang Wanfang stood in the hallway and called. Qing Chen was taken aback, calmly standing behind his door, looking through the peephole at the opposite side. He saw Zhang Wanfang and her current husband carrying yogurts and fruits, standing outside Room 101 as if they were visiting a guest. Zhang Wanfang probably didnt know yet that Qing Guozhong had already sold the apartment. Strange, wheres Xiao Chen? Is he not home? Zhang Wanfang appeared a bit confused. The middle-aged man beside her said, He might have already gone to school. Lets go, or well be late for work. No, Xiao Chen suddenly deleted me from WeChat and blocked my number, so something must have happened. I think hes home; he just doesnt want to see me, Zhang Wanfang insisted. The middle-aged man gently patted her back, There wont be any issue. If there was, his father would have called you. Lets go, we still have a conference call to attend, concerning business across the ocean. We have to go to Jingcheng tomorrow and then fly over there. Lets talk about everything else when we get back, okay? Qing Chen knew that the middle-aged man was skilled at using a gentle tone to persuade Zhang Wanfang; what she needed was just a pretext. Zhang Wanfang hesitated briefly, looking at the iron door of Room 101: Xiao Chen, Im leaving the yogurt and fruits at the door. Make sure to bring them inside. After saying this, the two left, leaving the dairy products and fruits at the door, and, without looking back, got into their car outside the hallway. The car was a Mercedes, and one thing was certain: Zhang Wanfangs life was getting better. Inside the apartment, Nan Gengchen looked at Qing Chen, Brother Chen, you... Its fine, Qing Chen said calmly, shaking his head, Its cut off, and if there were still any emotional fluctuations, that would mean its not cut off cleanly. From the moment he climbed onto that sheer cliff, he had completely cut ties with his past life. If not, then the sunrise stirring over that green mountain cliff and emotions were also false. No regrets for this move. Oh, Nan Gengchen said, As long as youre okay. Qing Chen pondered and then said, Now, living on Xingshu Road is a bit conspicuous; Im thinking of saving money to buy a place for the Daylight members to live together and watch over each other. Jiang Xue had exposed her identity, leading someone through the media to discover the Time Travelers residence on Xingshu Road. Moreover, Qing Chen also had to consider, if he continued living on Xingshu Road, it would cause unnecessary trouble whether Qing Guozhong got out of prison in the future or his mother Zhang Wanfang came to visit. If he had to completely sever family ties, then it has to be completely severed. We need to make more money, Qing Chen said, We need to accumulate wealth faster in the Outer World. For Qing Chen, accumulating wealth was not for buying houses, cars, or RVs but to provide backend support for the Daylight organization. So that everyone, when traveling between the Inner and Outer Worlds, would not be bound by financial constraints. And, the challenges Qing Chen would face in future life-and-death situations would also be very costly. But how to make money? Qing Chen looked at Nan Gengchen, I saw you swiping your phone all last night; are there any examples of Time Travelers making money online? Yes, Nan Gengchen replied, Selling information is one way, but Im not clear on how they do that. For more common commercial directions, someone developed a universal remote control thats very popular. What is this thing, a universal remote? Qing Chen was stunned for a moment. Oh, I dont know what the principle behind it is, but it can remotely turn off a square dancers speaker within a distance of 200 meters, Nan Gengchen explained. Apparently, in Jingcheng, a group of square-dancing ladies nearly went mad. This device seems to be able to not only turn off a speaker but can also switch the music playing in the speaker. They were dancing to a folk dance, and suddenly the speaker started playing... Qing Chen: ??? Nan Gengchen lowered his voice, This gadget is selling like hotcakes on JD now, but its also just leftover stuff from the Inner World... Qing Chen: ... He had still underestimated the mischief of the Time Travelers, first introducing wealthy women and now tormenting square-dancing ladies; they indeed managed to find such commercial opportunities! Incredible! Qing Chen pondered what they should use to make money. Or rather, what could they do during the day to achieve the goal of rapid wealth accumulation? He didnt want to engage in ordinary production and managementnot that he looked down on it, but too many management-related matters would distract Daytime with mundane tasks. Turning Daytime into an organization that specialized in selling information seemed like a good choice, but he still felt it was better to be cautious and discuss it with other members of Daytime first. Qing Chen thought for a moment and then said to Nan Gengchen, Now that we have our own data protection measures, we should create a Daytime group chat for ourselves, and we can communicate via mobile phones instead of using conspicuous communicators. Nan Gengchens eyes lit up: Thats right! ... ... When the two arrived at school, they suddenly found almost all the female students gathered at the school gate. A black nanny van arrived, and before the door could even open, the girls had swarmed around it, chanting the name Jiang Yichen. Qing Chen and Nan Gengchen exchanged a glance and continued walking into the school as if nothing had happened. Nan Gengchen muttered, Such a high-profile Time Traveler, isnt he afraid of trouble? Have you ever heard of him in the Inner World? Qing Chen asked. No, Nan Gengchen shook his head. Hes so high-profile in the Outer World, but in the Inner World, hes hardly noticeable, and you havent even heard anything related to him. Isnt that abnormal? Qing Chen said. Brother Chen, are you saying theres something wrong with him? Nan Gengchen asked curiously. Didnt Liu Dezhu say that hes just an Ordinary Person in the Inner World? Such a high-profile Ordinary Person would have been identified by the consortium-controlled Time Travelers by now. So I suspect he might also be one of the consortium-controlled Time Travelers, Qing Chen analyzed calmly. If hes just an ordinary Time Traveler who wanted to latch onto someone powerful, why not stay in Jingcheng instead of going through the trouble of transferring to Los Angeles City? Jingcheng already has several powerful Time Travelers, and Kyushus headquarters is there; theres absolutely no need to come here. Qing Chen continued, Recently, in City 18, there have been significant changes; we need to be extra cautious of any suspicious individuals appearing in Los Angeles. Those Time Travelers who have survived till now are not fools...except for those pampered young masters. So Brother Chen, which consortiums Time Traveler do you think he is? Nan Gengchen asked. Li Family, Chen Clan, Qings Family, Deer Island, Jindai, any of them are possible, Qing Chen guessed nonchalantly. But it doesnt matter to us. What does matter to us? Nan Gengchen asked. Time Travelers carrying Taboo items, they matter to us. Nan Gengchen: ... Hold on. Just then, Qing Chen began searching information about Jiang Yichen on his phone. From his artistic achievements to his awards in the entertainment industry, and finally to his recent itinerary. Brother Chen, you just said he doesnt matter to us, so why are you looking him up? Nan Gengchen was puzzled. Qing Chen looked up and said, He hasnt been to the Island Country in the past month and a half, but he went to Busan in Goryeo to attend an award ceremony. So, we cant rule out the possibility that hes working for Deer Island. Ah? Nan Gengchen was surprised; he knew the things Qing Chen suspected often turned out to be real. Qing Chen looked at Nan Gengchen, If hes working for Deer Island or Jindai, that matters to us, to every one of us. Nan Gengchen still had his doubts, Our countrys people shouldnt be working for Deer Island or Jindai, right? Never underestimate the power of interests, Qing Chen said as he walked into the classroom; in fact, he was pondering, if Jiang Yichen really was a person from Deer Island, what was he doing in Los Angeles City? At that moment, Hu Xiaoniu and Zhang Tianzhen had already arrived, and upon seeing Qing Chen, they greeted him warmly. In the eyes of other classmates, Hu Xiaoniu, Zhang Tianzhen, Qing Chen, and Nan Gengchen were completely unrelated, but in reality, they all knew they belonged to the same organization. Hu Xiaoniu, looking at Qing Chen sitting down, suddenly said, Classmate Qing Chen, the boss just informed Tianzhen and me that you are also a member of Daytime, and even our senior. This is a gift we prepared for you; please take good care of us. As he spoke, Hu Xiaoniu actually took a box out of his backpack. Qing Chen recognized the logo on the box, Rolex... He suddenly thought about something: with Hu Xiaoniu being so rich within the organization, did they even need to consider how to make money? Nonetheless, Qing Chen eventually pushed the watch back, Thank you, but theres no need for this. ... Please vote for the monthly ticket; its almost the end of the month. If you like this book, please cast your monthly vote. We need your support. Thank you to the student Inner Heart Holy Shit for becoming the new ally of this book; the boss is generous, a good person all his life, Im very tired today, good night everyone. Chapter 329: 257. The Future of Daytime Chapter 329: 257. The Future of Daytime Qing Chen, I didnt mean to show off by giving you this watch, Hu Xiaoniu said as he looked at the box pushed back toward him, I only recently found out that it was you who saved me on Laojun Mountain. This watch is just an entry-level Rolex with excellent waterproof features, and I thought you might need a watch of such reliable technology. Qing Chen shook his head again, Saving you was just a matter of convenience, and besides, we all belong to the same organization now. It would be too much to accept money for helping each other out. Hu Xiaoniu appeared thoughtful, took back the watch box, and said no more. For some reason, this top-tier rich heir from Haicheng always felt that Qing Chens status within the organization seemed even more special and mysterious. There was no evidence, just instinct. Qing Chen suddenly asked, When the boss arranged for you to go to Heng Society, such a dangerous place, did you have any thoughts about it? After pondering for a moment, Hu Xiaoniu replied, Its a surprise, I guess. At least I finally have an identity in the Inner World. No matter what the future holds, at the very least I have a direction to strive in. Qing Chen nodded and said nothing. At that moment, Hu Xiaoniu sincerely said, Qing Chen, I actually had another reason for giving you the watch. Go ahead. I want to learn from you how to kill enemies, Hu Xiaoniu stated, Going to Heng Society in the future, having some skills to protect myself would help me establish a foothold. Qing Chen was silent for a moment before responding, If you are just an Ordinary Person, no amount of skill will be of any help. Hu Xiaoniu earnestly said, As long as I work hard, I will surely find a way to enhance my strength. The boss will consider my usefulness and will think about it for me. About learning combat skills and improving your strength, I think you should talk to the boss first, Qing Chen said, I follow the bosss arrangements. If he gives the word, I will teach you with all my might. Qing Chen felt impressed, noticing that Hu Xiaoniu indeed maintained an attitude of eagerness to learn and progress. This is how a top-tier rich heir should act, unlike the useless scions next door. One point Hu Xiaoniu made was very right: as long as he could prove his usefulness to the boss, Qing Chen would eventually help him enhance his strength. At present, there was a full set of Genetic Potion waiting at Li Changqings, and Qing Chen needed to choose the most suitable person for the injection. The finest steel should be used on the edge of the blade. Before his last return, Hu Xiaoniu had already been the most suitable person within the organization to receive the Genetic Potion injection. However, Qing Chen suddenly changed his mind. He wanted to test something and then make a decision. This so-called test was not about putting Hu Xiaonius character to test. Rather, Qing Chen needed to prove whether a Knight could unlock the Genetic lock within their body in the Outer World! It was known that Awakeners like Nan Gengchen and Liu Dezhu were restricted by the worlds rules in the Outer World, hence they did not experience an Awakening until they were in the Inner World. But Qing Chen was not content with that. The path of cultivation for Knights differed from others; they sought self-breakthrough, undergoing a transformation from the deepest genetic level. Half a month ago, it was confirmed that the Genetic Potion could be brought back to the Outer World, and it could turn the wealthy into Genetic Warriors. If that was the case, there was no reason for Knights to be shackled. At this moment, Qing Chen already harbored greater ambition. Once he could complete the second life-and-death trial in the Outer World and unlock the next genetic lock, it would mean he could lead those he enlisted into the organization, like Nan Gengchen, Hu Xiaoniu, and Zhang Tianzhen, down the old path that Knights used before Breathing Technique was a requirement: overcoming all challenges and then advancing to A-Class! The sea here might be dangerous, but it was not a prohibited zone for life. Although this old path did not offer as high a ceiling as that of a Demigod, it had a lower threshold, at least not requiring the use of Breathing Technique to pass the trial of conscience. How terrifying can mass-produced Knights be? In the future, with many A-Class members, which power would dare provoke the organization lightly? This was why Qing Chen was temporarily reluctant to inject Hu Xiaoniu with the Genetic Potion; once injected, this path would be closed. The only issue with this plan was that the organization still needed Protectors. Without the use of Breathing Technique, Knights would still be ordinary people before completing the full set of eight life-and-death trials. Therefore, the organization needed significant combat power for protection before undergoing the true transformation. Liu Dezhu alone was definitely not enough. Qing Chen collected his thoughts, knowing that all of this hinged on the outcome of his own experiments. With these thoughts in mind, he closed his eyes and lay down on the desk as if he were asleep. This surprised Hu Xiaoniu who, since their transfer to this school, had heard of Qing Chens reputation as a prodigy; indeed, Qing Chen had once again ranked among the top three in the grade during last weeks monthly exams. However, Hu Xiaoniu did not understand why he had never seen Qing Chen study since his arrival... Was this the natural gift of a prodigy? They didnt know that Qing Chen had already opened the Mysterious World of virtue within his mind and was continuing to record his sniping data. Every second counted. In the wilderness of the Mysterious World, Qing Chen had already mastered all the data within 400 meters. He started moving the Coin target further back and cycled through different levels of wind speed. This method was unfair to other snipers. What does one need to become a sniper? The first requirement is talent. Chapter 330: 257, The Future of Daylight_2 Chapter 330: 257, The Future of Daylight_2 It is often said in the army that whether a soldier is suited to be a sniper is actually destined from birth. However, Qing Chen had now adopted the most barbaric method, memorizing all possible bullet trajectories under any environment, and he could even gauge the distance to the target with just one glance. Exhaustive method, for his talent, was always the best learning technique. For other snipers, the result of pulling the trigger was unknown, but for Qing Chen, when all external factors were predetermined, the outcome was like a simple equation, one that could be calculated. And he had the answer in his mind early on. But this wasnt the biggest advantage of the Mysterious World, in Qing Chens view, its greatest advantage was... the recoil after firing didnt affect the real body, and the bullets were free. You know, training a sniper is very expensive. The cost of a regular sniper bullet is about 20 yuan, and the special bullet with an effective range of over 2000 meters costs up to 50 yuan. The training period for a sniper usually lasts for 3 years, during which tens of thousands of sniper bullets are fired, averaging 100,000. During these three years, snipers had to break down their training tasks to each day and then nurture their gun sense with bullets. Every sniper was nurtured with bullets. Even considering 100,000 bullets, the minimum cost for training one sniper was 5 million yuan... With Qing Chens firing rate, he might use up 18,000 special sniper bullets a day, and over 7 days, the number of bullets fired could be a very frightening figure. If Qing Chen were still an ordinary person, just firing his gun could bankrupt him, which is why Lao Jiu originally did not take him directly to the sniper range in the Inner World. Lao Jius quota wasnt that high... Every time Qing Chen thought about how each shot he fired was a gain, his enthusiasm for training in sniping soared even higher. Not boring at all. In the Mysterious World, Qing Chen gradually increased the distance of the coin, from 400 meters, to 450 meters, and then to 500 meters. Every bit of progress was solid. Gradually, Qing Chen felt that he had formed some connection with winning people over with virtue. After pulling the trigger, he knew exactly how this black sniper rifle would react. He also knew what the trajectory of the bullet would be, and how long it would take to reach its target. Gun sense. Suddenly, Qing Chen realized that the strong gun sense Lao Jiu had mentioned, the rudimentary form of it, had finally emerged! He felt something indescribable and inexplicable in his heart. Gods among snipers were one in a million, even one in ten million. Qing Chen always prepared for the worst, so from the very beginning, he never hoped that he would be one of those one in ten million gods. He shot mechanically, recorded data mechanically, intending to use his talent for memory to compensate for his lack in natural sniping ability. But now he knew he had equal talent in sniping as well! With a calm and resolute will, a steady, unshaking body, mysterious and powerful gun sense, and meticulous ability to calculate trajectories, Qing Chen was indeed the most suited person to be a sniper. At this moment, Qing Chens shooting became even more confident and proficient, and the whole training process progressed more than twice as fast as before. He lay prone on the wilderness, ceasing his shooting. Qing Chen wondered, since he had such strong talent, did he still need to use the exhaustive method, such a crude method? After contemplating for just 2 seconds, he continued with his previous training methods. Qing Chen was not blinded by joy; he always knew exactly what he needed most. Whether he had the gun sense or not, he had to make sure each step was incredibly solid. 500 meters. 501 meters. 502 meters. ... 600 Until he moved the coin to 650 meters. Qing Chen had finally stopped. He lifted his head from the desk, took out his mobile phone to check the time, it was 11:50 AM, almost the end of the class. Nan Gengchen asked curiously, Brother Chen, didnt you sleep well last night, why have you been sleeping all morning? Yeah, Qing Chen didnt explain much. Nan Gengchen continued, The math teacher noticed you sleeping during the class, he said to see him after you wake up. While saying this, Nan Gengchen felt a bit bitter inside. Is this the treatment for a genius? Even the teacher waits until Qing Chen wakes up before calling him to the office... Qing Chen asked, Did Mr. Tian mention why he wanted to see me? It seems to be about the math competition, Nan Gengchen said, I think the selection for some international math invitation competition is starting, and our school is sending five people to participate in the selection on public expense. Qing Chen appeared thoughtful. When he arrived at the office, Tian Hailong was already informing the other four students about this matter. The current class teacher of senior 2 class 3, upon seeing Qing Chen, reacted first, Awake? The other four math competition contestants turned their heads to look at Qing Chen in unison... Awake? So the reason Mr. Tian just mentioned waiting for Qing Chen was because he had been sleeping? Slept that long? Unlike Qing Chen, the other four top students genuinely earned their achievements and paid attention during classes. Thinking of Qing Chens ranking and then recalling the legend of his hardworking and thrifty lifestyle, everyone knew that if he devoted himself fully to his studies, there possibly wouldnt be a chance for them to ever be first. Moreover, there had been legends within the grade: Although Qing Chens ranking fluctuated, the difference in his scores from each test never exceeded 5 points. If the test was difficult, he relied on scoring 690, if simple, he still scored 690. In one freshman year examination, Qing Chen scored first in the grade, but the test was very challenging, and the second place scored only 645 points, so he led by a whole 45 points over the second placer. Hence, there had always been talks that Qing Chen was controlling his scores. This was a legend within Luo Yang Foreign Language School that everybody took as a joke. Sometimes when Qing Chen scored 691 and ranked third, people would say: Qing Chen is third because he only wants to score 690 points. At such a youthful age, its always pleasing to believe in some youthful myths. Qing Chen softly asked, Mr. Tian, what competition is it this time? Oh, its AMC10, Tian Hailong explained, Its held next week. The school is covering your travel expenses and accomodations. This can add flair to your college application essays if youre applying abroad... Though youre not going abroad... but youre free anyway. The AMC10 competition is a preliminary selection for the AIME international math competition, where the top 2.5% qualify for the next round of the AIME competition. Its officially recognized as an assessment of mathematical thinking, one of the qualifications packages for science students planning to study abroad. It isnt that significant, being relatively basic, an enhancement not a decider in a resume. Nevertheless, it would be advantageous for the school if someone qualifies for AIME. Tian Hailong knew of Qing Chens family situation, which likely wouldnt allow for studying abroad. Previously, Du Yihong, the former teacher of senior 2 class 3, had also mentioned that Qing Chen had no plans to go abroad. Thus, for other students, it was an opportunity to enhance their resumes, but for Qing Chen, it was just passing the time. It almost sounded like Tian Hailong believed that Qing Chen would definitely qualify if he participated. The other four students, two boys and two girls, ranked 1, 2, 5, and 9 in the grade. They looked at Qing Chen with complex emotions, everyone feeling that Qing Chen held a very special status in this school. One of the long-haired girls stared at Qing Chen, her gaze containing something indescribable. Then, Tian Hailong said, As long as you qualify for the top 2.5% and earn the right to go to America, the school will reward you 10,000 yuan, and will also reimburse your travel expenses to America. Right now, Qing Chen was not particularly concerned about the prize money. He asked, Where is this competition being held? Xian City, Tian Hailong replied, this time in Xian City. Qing Chen responded, Okay, Ill go. Because the location for his next life-and-death challenge was in Xian City! ... 4000-word chapter, another chapter coming tonight Thanks to fellow student Xi Bai for becoming a new ally of this book, big boss is generous, big boss is a winner in life! Chapter 331: 258, The future is promising Chapter 331: 258, The future is promising Teacher Tian, when do we leave? Qing Chen asked, needing a more precise time. Because going to Xian City meant facing unknown environments in a strange city, and possibly unknown Time Travelers. And the crisis in Los Angeles City was still unresolved. Qing Chen knew that after provoking Huan Yu, the other party would definitely take action soon, so he had specifically instructed Liu Dezhu to act alone, creating an opportunity for them. He couldnt leave Los Angeles City in peace without resolving this matter. Tian Hailong said, In 8 days, I will take you guys to Xian City, just over an hour by high-speed rail. Give me your ID numbers in these few days, and Ill book the tickets for you. Okay, Qing Chen said, Thank you, Teacher. Im going home to have dinner. Alright, you all go back for your meals, Tian Hailong waved his hand. The focus of this AMC math competition was on Qing Chen; the grade director had specifically instructed him to persuade Qing Chen to participate. Among those selected to go were the top three, Xu Zimo, Wang Jiale, Qing Chen, and then from the top ten, the fifth place Zhou Xuanying, and the ninth place Xia Xiaoran, both consistently scoring 150 points in math. As the five of them walked out of the office, Xu Zimo, the long-haired girl who had been looking at Qing Chen, said, I know youre short on cash, so you probably wont hide your abilities this time, right? Qing Chen was taken aback. During a particularly difficult monthly exam in the first year of high school, he scored 690, and Xu Zimo scored 645. It seemed that from that day on, Xu Zimo had always remembered that. When rumors started circulating that Qing Chen only aimed for 690 points, she was the first to believe them. Compared to those students who loved to believe in rumors, she knew better just how difficult that monthly exam was. Even her homeroom teacher said that two of the math problems and the English reading comprehensions were deliberately off-syllabus and it was normal not to do well. However, Qing Chen still scored 690 points. That meant the rumor was true. Later on, Xu Zimo studied even harder, almost always coming first in the grade, solidly surpassing Qing Chen. But the problem was, Qing Chens score was always 690, it never changed. This left Xu Zimo feeling frustrated and breathless because she knew Qing Chen wasnt giving his all, and winning against him like that felt pointless. Qing Chen glanced at Xu Zimo: I always try my best in every exam. Okay, Xu Zimo pondered and then said, Were going together this time, so I can just learn some study methods from you. Zhou Xuanying, who was fifth, and Xia Xiaoran, who was ninth, looked over in surprise. The top student in the grade asking the third for study advice? However, Qing Chen earnestly said, My study methods wont suit you, I mean it. With that, he turned and left. Xu Zimo pursed her lips behind him. In fact, Qing Chen wasnt particularly concerned with the subjects of the education system any longer. As the old saying goes, live and learn, he hadnt stopped studying; on the contrary, he was working harder than before. Only now, the syllabus he was studying was not confined to the school. Qing Chen had a broader perspective. ... ... When school was dismissed at noon, Hu Xiaoniu and Zhang Tianzhen didnt return to their home on Xingshu Road, but were instead picked up by a driver and taken to the Huayang Hotel in Los Angeles City. When Hu Xiaoniu got out of the car, it was Hu Dachengs secretary who met them. The middle-aged secretary led Hu Xiaoniu and Zhang Tianzhen into the hotel, meanwhile telling the two, The boss just arrived in Los Angeles City this morning. Uncle Chen, why did my dad suddenly come to Los Angeles City again? Hu Xiaoniu was puzzled. His father, Hu Dacheng, was extremely busy, spending nearly three hundred days a year on planes, a typical airborne businessman. However, after the time-travel incident, it was unusual for him to come to Los Angeles City, a third-tier small city, twice within a month. From this perspective, Hu Xiaoniu also sensed his fathers attention to the Inner World. The only issue was, he still lacked the ability to bring anything back from the Inner World to help the family business. This made Hu Xiaoniu feel somewhat ashamed, not until the last travel had he finally found a way to establish himself. Hu Dachengs secretary explained to Hu Xiaoniu, This time its due to some special circumstances. Also, Zhang Tianzhens parents asked the boss to bring some daily necessities to you. Upon entering the hotel private room, Hu Xiaoniu was surprised to find another familiar face present: Uncle Zhang, what brings you here? Uncle Zhang, Zhang Chengze, was a close friend of Hu Dacheng and had helped the Hu Family a lot. Zhang Chengze smiled, Its been a while, Xiao Niu, youve grown so much. Come, have a couple of drinks with your uncle. Hu Dacheng glanced at him: They have classes this afternoon, they cant drink. Alright then, Zhang Chengze said with a hint of regret. Dad, are you here in Los Angeles City on business? Hu Xiaoniu subconsciously assumed they were there for business and also to check on him. Then Hu Dacheng said, We came specifically for you. Ah? Hu Xiaoniu was startled. Has something happened? Hu Dacheng gestured for Secretary Chen to leave the room, then Zhang Chengze pointed to his own arm, Xiao Niu, your uncle woke up this morning with a countdown on his arm. I thought, maybe Ive become a Time Traveler now. Hu Xiaoniu gasped in shock; the acknowledged age range for Time Travelers on the internet was 10 to 35, and Zhang Chengze, at 42 years old, didnt fit the profile. Yet, 10 to 35 was just a pattern pieced together by netizens, no one had confirmed it for sure. Chapter 332: 258, The future is promising_2 Chapter 332: 258, The future is promising_2 It seems there are always exceptions. Hu Xiaoniu looked at Zhang Chengze, Uncle Zhang, what do you plan to do? What else can I do? Whats done is done, and naturally, I want to find some power to protect myself before travelling through time, Zhang Chengze said, Otherwise, having struggled for half my life, it wouldnt be worth losing my life over such a matter. Despite talking about matters of life and death, Zhang Chengze appeared calm. Such a prominent figure wasnt so flustered when facing danger, having weathered many storms before. Uncle Zhang, where did this countdown appear, Hu Xiaoniu honestly said, In the Inner World, the cities arent well connected. If your countdown starts and youre not in Los Angeles City, you wont be able to reach the 18th City where I am, nor can I help you in other cities. You might be better off looking for a Time Traveler locally and hiring them with money. Zhang Chengze smiled, This morning, I was in a business vehicle going from E City to Xian City for a meeting. It was only when passing through Los Angeles City that the countdown appeared on my arm. If I hadnt confirmed this, I wouldnt have troubled your father to find you. Hu Xiaoniu thoughtfully said, Uncle Zhang, you know Im someone who speaks my mind. I might not be able to help you with much, and I cant make too many promises right now. Ive just arrived in the 18th City, found a way out, and have people taking care of me, but the problem is I have a boss now, and I need to follow his orders. At that moment, Hu Xiaoniu didnt even mention joining any organization, an organization called Daylight, sharing the same boss as Liu Dezhu. He kept key information confidential all the time, unsure if the boss would want others to know. Zhang Chengze thought for a moment and said, Im not intending to trouble you. I came to find you because I heard from your father that you could get in touch with big shots among the Time Travelers in the Inner World. My plan is this, discuss it with your boss. I am willing to pay a fee in exchange for temporary protection, and we can continue paying depending on the situation. I can discuss that for you, Uncle Zhang, Hu Xiaoniu said, But it definitely wont be cheap. Uncle Zhang, youre wealthy, so I wont worry about such external resources for you. Upon hearing this, Zhang Chengze joked. He said to Hu Dacheng, Old Hu, have you noticed? Your son just crossed over not long ago and already hes started turning his elbows out. As he should, Hu Dacheng calmly said, Everyone has their own stance, you and I both understand this. If he doesnt clear up his own stance and acts like a fence-sitter, hell never become one of their own. So, I support him treating you as an outsider and just honestly paying you, as youre not short of money. Fine then, Zhang Chengze looked at Hu Xiaoniu, I dont know what identity I will have in the Inner World or where I will end up, but Ive always been interested in the Time Travelers and have been paying attention to them. After crossing over, I hope to be protected, and if possible, I would like to access some Genetic Potion to experience being a superhuman. I will convey that for you, Uncle Zhang, Hu Xiaoniu said. Good, if it succeeds, Ill be very grateful! At that moment, Hu Xiaoniu said to Hu Dacheng, Dad, could you step outside for a moment, I need to ask for your advice on something. Saying this, he walked outside to prevent the matters discussed at the dining table from being heard by Zhang Chengze... Uncle Zhang felt a bit bitter inside, watching his grown-up nephew who had begun to treat him as an outsider. Outside, Hu Xiaoniu, making sure no one was eavesdropping, said, Dad, Ive joined the organization Liu Dezhu is part of. I showed my sincerity to the boss by offering to donate my house as a base, but they refused. Later, I gave a member a watch to express my gratitude for the matter at Laojun Mountain, but they refused that too. Did I do something wrong? Of course you did, Hu Dacheng slowly said, Because you turned relationships into business. Hu Xiaoniu was stunned, Ah? I just wanted to express my gratitude. Its different, Hu Dacheng said, On Laojun Mountain, you owed them your life. If you want to blend in, you must repay it with your life. Im not teaching you how to die fighting, but rather the principles of life. Its good they didnt take the money; if they had, you would always remain an outsider. I see, Hu Xiaoniu contemplated. Hu Dacheng asked, What has your boss planned for you? Hu Xiaoniu replied, To start at the grassroots level within a certain group. Its dangerous, but at least its a foothold. Hu Dacheng then asked, Has he promised what heights you might reach in the future? Hu Xiaoniu shook his head, No. Hu Dacheng said, Thats good. Why is that good? If someone promised you that you would be successful in the future, it would mean the path is extremely difficult. They might fear youd give up halfway, so they dangle a big prize in front of you first, Hu Dacheng laughed, but if they send you to a very dangerous place without any promises, they are really testing you, wanting to see if you can take on serious responsibilities without being lured by temptations. Just do your work well; the future is promising. ... ... In the afternoon during class, Hu Xiaoniu was clearly a bit drunk, and his mood had also brightened a lot. Qing Chen continued to lay on the table, following his unique method of cultivation. The other four AMC10 contestants had already started working on questions from past competitions, but he didnt care about that at all. By evening, Qing Chen went home with Nan Gengchen, and the first thing he did was to check for new mails in the room. He knew that Huan Yu, the owner of the Devils Stamp, wouldnt write to him if there wasnt something important. The other party wanted to co-opt him, surely hoping he would play a certain role when striking back at Liu Dezhus boss soon. If the other party hadnt written asking for Qing Chens cooperation, then it was highly unlikely they would make a move today. Even though he didnt dismiss the possibility of a deceptive tactic, Qing Chen trusted his own judgment. The other side would definitely give him more precise instructions before making a move. Qing Chen cultivated in the Gravity Chamber until 9:40 pm, confirming that Liu Dezhu and others likely had finished school before he went back to his own home. He closed the door of his bedroom and said, Yi, are you there? I am, Yi responded. Where did you go yesterday? Qing Chen asked, puzzled, You didnt cause any trouble, did you? What trouble could I cause? Why dont you trust me! Yi said indignantly, Tell me, what do you need? Help me set up a separate secret group chat for Liu Dezhu, Li Tongyun, Hu Xiaoniu, Zhang Tianzhen, Nan Gengchen, and Jiang Xue. Its like the one were using on my phone now, Qing Chen said, I need to have a meeting and discuss things with them. Okay, thats something small I can still help with, Yi said, By the way, do you like a singer named Bai Li... Qing Chens expression changed, Thats the trouble I was talking about. Dont just chat with people randomly! Alright, alright, I got it, Yi said, Setting up the group chat now will take about 12 minutes. Do you want real names or should they register their own nicknames? Let them register their own nicknames, Qing Chen said. At this moment, Jiang Xue still didnt know that Li Tongyun was also a Time Traveler. If it was real names, Xiao Tongyun would be doomed. ... Asking for monthly tickets. Chapter 333: 259. Daytime group (Thank you to DiDi drivers for joining the Golden League) Chapter 333: 259. Daytime group (Thank you to DiDi drivers for joining the Golden League) Countdown 146:20:00. 9:40 PM. Members of the Daytime group almost received the group invitation at the same time: The Daytime group is established, members can click the link to join. To ensure everyones safety, please hide your real name when registering your message. Also, do not reveal your true identity in the Inner (Outer) World within the group. In addition, its best to keep your group chat ID consistent with that in the He Xiaoxiao chat group to facilitate mutual support within the He Xiaoxiao chat. Everyone opened the link in the message and downloaded a chat system that was almost identical to the He Xiaoxiao chat system. The difference is that you cant private message between members in the He Xiaoxiao chat, but you can in this one. Qing Chen created his ID as Ice Eye, and the boss simply went by boss for easy recognition by everyone. At this moment, only Qing Chens system was special; he could freely switch between the IDs Ice Eye and boss within the APP to make comments. The moment the group chat was established, he asked Zero, This system, did you steal it from He Xiaoxiao? Shared, Outer World Zero replied seriously, The Zero from the Outer World doesnt have such powerful capabilities. This is just a simple framework built by mimicking his features. I see. At this point, Qing Chen pondered whether there might also be people in He Xiaoxiaos chat group who, like him, had dual identities. Qing Chen typed on his phone, Alright, this is the future chat system of Daytime group, our own chat system. Including myself, theres a total of 8 people here... Before he could send the message, he discovered that the group title unexpectedly showed 9 people! Qing Chen was startled. He opened the group member list and found that there were indeed nine people in the groupone extra! Whats going on! He looked at the unfamiliar ID Tycoon and said irritably to his phone, Zero?! Wow, how did you know it was me, Zero replied through voice message. Any fool could tell its definitely you, okay, Qing Chen was exasperated, Why are you staying in the group under a pseudonym? But Im a member of the Daytime group too! Zero exclaimed, And look, theres someone named Little Rich Lady in the group. Im the Tycoon. It fits well! Alright then, it seems even the boss himself doesnt know exactly how many people are in his organization. Are you really a girl? Qing Chen asked in distress, What kind of girl is so mischievous!? Shoot, you little fart, dont get all worked up, Zero said. Qing Chen paused, You disappeared for half a day. Did you go for a stroll in Sichuan? Haha, I find your Outer World dialect quite interesting, Zero said cheerily, How was it, how did I do just now? As long as youre happy, Qing Chen sighed, unable to come to terms with Zero turning into a Sichuan girl after her arrival in the Outer World... Fortunately, it was just for fun. However, now was not the time to fuss over these minor issues. He typed in the group chat, This is the future chat system of the Daytime group, our own chat system. There are a total of 9 people here including me. Everyones phones have been protected by the Data fortress, so theres no need to worry about leaks. Similarly, I hope that no one will share information from the group chat outside; this is top-secret. Now, everyone can briefly introduce themselves. Theres no need to disclose your identity, you can mention what kind of help you can offer to others. Ice Eye: Hello everyone, I am good at combat and firearms. At this time, Jiang Xue had no idea about the establishment of the Daytime organization or what it was for, being inexplicably pulled into it. So after Qing Chen introduced himself, he immediately sent a private message to Jiang Xue in the group chat, Aunt Jiang Xue, Ice Eye is my ID. Somebody established this group chat to facilitate mutual assistance. Jiang Xue hurriedly replied, Okay, got it. Inside the Daytime group. Liu Dezhu: Hello everyone, I believe you are all quite familiar with me... A Little Duck: Hello everyone, I can provide some important information about the Inner World. This is what Qing Chen and Nan Gengchen had agreed upon; many pieces of information would be passed on to the Daytime members through Nan Gengchens mouth in the future. However, at this time, Qing Chen was astonished to find that Nan Gengchens chat box was decorated. The first thing this guy did after joining the group was to spend money! He checked the group chat store, Chat Box sold quantity: 1. Join Group Effect sold quantity: 1. Chat Background sold quantity: 1. You could imagine that all these items were purchased by Nan Gengchen. Qing Chen asked his phone, Zero, where did the money Nan Gengchen paid go? Thats my pocket money, dont even think about it, Zero said. Qing Chen reflected, the moment the group chat was set up, its members were acting up one after another. He also realized that Zero would soon put on a pseudonym in the Outer World and start making money. After losing her treasury in the Inner World, this greedy Little Dinosaur felt insecure, and now she was beginning to save up! At that moment, in the Daytime group, Brave Xiaoniu said, Hello everyone, I dont have much ability in the Inner World right now, but I can provide financial and legal consultancy in the Outer World, my family has a professional legal consulting team. This was Hu Xiaoniu. Fearless said, Hello everyone, Im Xiaonius friend, the help I can offer is the same. Chapter 334: 259. Daytime group (Thank you to DiDi drivers for joining the Golden League)_2 Chapter 334: 259. Daytime group (Thank you to DiDi drivers for joining the Golden League)_2 This is Zhang Tianzhen. Qiu Xue: Hello everyone, I can provide assistance with mechanical limb modifications. This is Jiang Xue. The highlight was when a rich girl in the chat said, I can provide some information and financial support in the Inner World. Qiu Xue asked curiously, Is the rich girl a girl, finally we have a girl in the group. Rich Girl: Yes, a girl... Qiu Xue asked, How old are you this year? Rich Girl: Im 17 this year. Qiu Xue said joyfully, Im a bit older than you; you can call me sister. Rich Girl sweetly sent a message: Sister Xue! It was clear that Rich Girl was Li Tongyun. Qing Chen, looking at the chat history, began to sympathize with Li Tongyun. That sister, she really dared to say it out loud. If Jiang Xue ever found out the true identity of Rich Girl, XiaoTongyun wouldnt escape a harsh scolding ... For some reason, Qing Chen even felt a bit of anticipation about it. Theres still another friend in the group, a little duck said, Monopoly, why dont you introduce yourself too. Monopoly: I can provide some technical support, small loans, tax planning, and relationship advice in the Inner World, and some simple technical support in the Outer Worldoh, by the way, Im also a female, 16 years old. The group fell silent for a moment; what was this small loans and relationship advice about. Rich Girl: Hello little sister, from now on we and Sister Xue are the Daytime trio sisters. Monopoly: Hello sister. Qing Chen, watching Li Tongyuns moves, thought to himself that the more she showed off now, the harsher it would be later. In this Daytime group, the only openly known identity that everyone was aware of was Liu Dezhu. The rest were tangled and hard to distinguish between true and false. Then the boss in the group said, Introductions over, lets get down to business, does anyone have anything to report today? Qing Chen created this group to discuss how Daytime would make money in the future. He knew well that the economic base determines the superstructure; if Daytime were struggling financially every day, many things would be inconvenient. But as the boss, he couldnt just throw out the problem so blatantly; instead, he needed to guide the members to discuss it themselves, otherwise where would the prestige of the boss lie? Then, Liu Dezhu sent a message: Boss, nothing unusual happened when I returned home tonight, Im home now. Boss: Okay, be safe. Rich Girl: Boss, I brought back some gold bars, Ill find a chance to deliver them to you in the next few days. This was Li Tongyuns cunning; she was hinting to the other members that she knew the bosss real identity, and by doing so, her status in the group elevated somewhat. A little duck: Boss, nothing happened on my end today. Boss: Good. Brave NiuNiu, after hesitating for a while, finally spoke up in the group: Boss, today an old family friend of mine sought help, hes a major businessman from North China. While passing through Los Angeles City, a countdown appeared on his arm, indicating that he might become a Time Traveler after this crossover. Liu Dezhu curiously asked, Your old family friend? He must not be young. Yeah, hes 42 this year, which surprised me too because I always thought that no one over 35 could become a Time Traveler, said Brave NiuNiu. The rules of crossover are still not entirely clear, and besides, Im also always seeking the reason for the crossovers, the boss asked, Does he have any requests? Brave NiuNiu said, Looking at the corresponding crossover location, he should also crossover to City 18. Up to now, he cant know what identity he will assume upon entering, so he hopes you can provide him some protection. Also, he wants to purchase Genetic Potion to fulfill his superhero dream. Brave NiuNiu: This uncle is not stingy with his wealth and is willing to offer a cash transaction and even some additional material compensation. Boss, I didnt agree to it on my own, just said Id report it to you; whether we proceed with this business depends entirely on your will. Qing Chens eyes lit up as he held his phone; creating this group chat was indeed a wise decision. It had just been set up, and already a way to make money had presented itself. Fearless Difficulty spoke up: Boss, let me offer a few suggestions for consideration: This uncle has an attitude of curiosity and longing for the Inner World. Hes even tried to buy Genetic Potion before but couldnt get it. At their age, theyve got everything money, power but what they most lack is novelty and excitement, with some even gambling away millions in one night at casinos for the thrill. If our Daytime can provide what he wants in the Inner World, then our future will never lack money. Brave NiuNiu added, Moreover, if I could show him the wonders of the Inner World, he could become a model for our organization. Recently, many people from their circle are taking business vans, rotating through 19 domestic public test cities to see if they can become Time Travelers. If similar high-profile individuals crossover, then we can make a lot of money from these wealthy individuals. Qing Chen thought it over seriously. These middle-aged tycoons, bored with reality, always coveted a more thrilling life. Compared to young peoples cravings for the Inner World, theirs were even stronger, especially when they learned that the Inner World had technologies that could help them regain their youthful vitality. Chapter 335: 259. Daytime group (Thank you to DiDi drivers for joining the Golden League)_3 Chapter 335: 259. Daytime group (Thank you to DiDi drivers for joining the Golden League)_3 That was the thrill of transcending the order of life. Qing Chen thought about it for a moment, this kind of money was very good to make, and it could be made. Moreover, letting Liu Dezhu handle it was the most appropriate choice. Although the Inner World was dangerous, as long as the tycoon didnt court death himself, C-Class was enough to protect him. However, the tycoons request for Genetic Potion was a bit tricky, even though Li Changqing had prepared a set for Qing Chen. But the problem was, such power-enhancing substances were best prioritized for the Daytime Groups own Protectors. Although Qing Chen was short of money, he would not be blinded by it. The boss said in the group chat, We can take on this business, but the price needs to be negotiated, after all, Daytime doesnt protect just anyone. Unafraid of Difficulty said, For the first cross-world protection, hes willing to offer 1 million cash, which accounts for seven days of fees. If the initial cooperation is satisfactory, we can continue the trial. Boss, my idea is that you could arrange for the Heng Society people to deliberately create some dangers, so next time he would be willing to pay more. Qing Chen: ??? He knew what Zhang Tianzhen was up to. He was concerned that once the wealthy uncle went to the Inner World and encountered no danger, he would no longer cooperate with Daytime. Thus, Zhang Tianzhen simply decided to manufacture dangers, forcing the other party to continue accepting protection. The idea wasnt wrong, but was this really his lifetime friends uncle?! Was it really okay to scam a lifetime friends uncle like this? Zhang Tianzhen and Hu Xiaoniu were friends, but their personalities were quite opposite. If Hu Xiaoniu was a potential righteous leader, then Zhang Tianzhen was more like a cunning strategist lurking in the shadows, a crafty official adviser. After careful consideration, Qing Chen responded, While Daytime is willing to make money, we shouldnt make it this way. No worries, if he decides not to continue cooperating after the crossing, we dont have to force it. A gentleman loves money and takes it in a proper way. Sorry boss, I was thinking crooked, Zhang Tianzhen responded. No worries, Daytime needs your strategies, we might use them in the future, Qing Chen reassured, Any similar ideas in the future can be proposed, lets brainstorm and be unconventional. Understood! Zhang Tianzhen got excited, feeling like he finally had a role to play. Qing Chen instructed Liu Dezhu, Give your Inner World contact details to Brave Niu Niu, let this tycoon contact you as soon as he crosses over. Ill leave this matter in your hands. Alright boss! Liu Dezhu agreed immediately. At that moment, Hu Xiaoniu asked in the group, Boss, I want to learn killing techniques from Ice Eye, can I? Yes, Qing Chen replied, Not only you, but also Liu Dezhu, Unafraid of Difficulty, and Little Duck need to learn with Ice Eye. Liu Dezhu, although you are strong, you still lack skills in killing techniques, so starting today, after school, you all gather at Ice Eyes place to systematically learn killing skills. In the future, I will arrange for you to learn about firearms in the Inner World. Thank you, boss! Hu Xiaoniu finally got his wish. In his capacity as the boss, Qing Chen asked, Ice Eye, any issues on your end? Then he replied as Ice Eye in the group chat, No issues, Ill follow the bosss arrangement. Boss: Not only do you have to teach them the killing techniques, but you also have to supervise their daily training. If anyone doesnt listen to you, tell me. Ice Eye: Understood. Boss: Brave Niu Niu, you go find a venue, preferably close to the school. Im just putting a pre-emptive warning out there, if anyone doesnt cooperate with Ice Eyes training plan, they can leave Daytime on their own. Were going to face more dangers in the future. Those who are greedy for life and fear death, and who cheat and slide by, we do not keep in Daytime. Brave Niu Niu: Received. Unafraid of Difficulty: Received. Liu Dezhu: Received. Little Duck: Received. Tycoon: I want to join too. Boss: You are not allowed to join. Qing Chen said to his phone, What are you getting excited about, acting like you could actually participate. Number One lamented, It is indeed regrettable, but theres something I need to tell you. There are already two people in the group who have privately messaged me asking about how much relationship advice costs. They seem quite distressed, and I think I could start a side business. You can scam money, but can you not scam people from our own organization, Qing Chen raised his eyebrows. How is it a scam? I took an online psychology course from Qinghe University, its professional, I even have an online correspondence diploma, Number One claimed. You really dip your toes into everything... Qing Chen became curious, Whos consulting you? That remains confidential, Number One stated righteously, How could I reveal client information, that would be thoroughly unprofessional! Alright, I have a question. How much does a 005 series Genetic Potion cost in the Inner World Black Market? Qing Chen asked. 4.8 million, Number One answered, If you squat in the black market waiting to buy, you can generally get one in a week, just be careful not to get ripped off. Understood, can be ripped off, Qing Chen nodded. Your focus is really different from other peoples! Am I reminding you that you can get ripped off? Number One exclaimed, By the way, why are you training these Ordinary People in Combat Arts? That remains confidential, Qing Chen turned the tables. Qing Chen had already started preparing for Daytimes future strength enhancement. With their current physical condition, it was impossible to complete the eight challenges. The training process was also a selection process for the Knights; those with weak wills should take the Genetic Potion sooner to avoid wasting time and life. You should know that all eight life-or-death situations have no protective measures. At this moment, Qing Chen suddenly found the role-playing rather amusing... ... A 5000-word chapter, another 5000-word chapter will be posted tonight, but its likely to be late. Thanks to A Tiny Bits Didi, Kunpeng for becoming the new allies of the book. Bosses are generous, loved by people, vehicles laden, flowers blooming! Thanks to Didi Driver for becoming a member of the Golden League. There will be a 10,000-word update today, counting as a bonus chapter. The rest will wait until Im done this month, and Ill repay the debt in August! Chapter 336: The Path of Cultivation Chapter 336: The Path of Cultivation Countdown 144:00:00. Midnight, surrounded by darkness. Seeing that the chat was about to end, Li Tongyun hurriedly snuck out of the bathroom and tiptoed towards the living room. Now that her grandparents had come to visit, the small two-bedroom apartment had to accommodate them in XiaoTongyuns room, which meant she had to share a bedroom with her mother. This was quite inconvenient. So, when Qing Chen told her earlier that evening about starting a chat group, XiaoTongyun cleverly suggested that she sleep on the living room sofa. Jiang Xue found the proposal odd when she heard it in the evening, as the young girl usually clung to her mother at night. Why the sudden change of heart? Li Tongyun explained that she had heard her classmates already sleeping by themselves and she didnt want to be outdone by the other kids. Upon hearing this, Jiang Xue felt a wave of relief. Her daughter had finally grown up. However, she probably never imagined that her daughter had aged seven years overnight... ...And had become her sister... Just as Li Tongyun lay down on the sofa, she suddenly noticed that the lights in the living room were on. Jiang Xue, standing at her bedroom door, asked in surprise, Why did you spend so long in the bathroom? Li Tongyun quickly responded with a sad expression, Mom, my stomach feels uncomfortable. Jiang Xue was taken aback for a moment. I told you not to eat so much tonight. You must have indigestion. As she handed Li Tongyun some digestive aid tablets to take, the young girl said, Grandmas cooking is just too delicious. Wait, Jiang Xue asked, werent you just hiding in the restroom playing with your phone? Show me your phone. Li Tongyun obediently handed her phone over: I wasnt playing with my phone, really. Jiang Xue unlocked her daughters phone and after scrutinizing it for a while without finding anything amiss, she was reassured: Do you need to sleep with mom tonight? No need, Li Tongyun said sweetly, Grandma and Grandpa will return to Zheng City tomorrow. Its just one more day. Alright then, you should go to sleep early, Jiang Xue said as she tucked her in. Li Tongyun watched Jiang Xue return to her room and sighed with relief. Fortunately, her phone had two interfaces, or else Jiang Xue would have seen the chat app. Indeed, she needed to be as cautious as Brother Qing Chen at all times, otherwise, she would be in trouble. Recalling everything she had done that evening, Li Tongyun estimated that if she were to be punished, it would surely be no light matter. Nevertheless, she found this kind of play, though dangerous, quite interesting. Thrilling. ... ... Meanwhile, Qing Chen checked Yuan Yuans room and saw that no new letters had arrived from the Devils Stamp holder Huan Yu. He returned to his bedroom to start his unwavering sniper training regimen. In the rule-abiding Mysterious World, when Qing Chen pushed the target to a distance of 800 meters, the bullet trajectory began to show a slight parabolic curve. He had researched known real-life cases on the internet, the most notable being an operation called Water Python, where a sniper with a 16x scope killed a terrorist at 2430 meters with three shots. The first shot missed, the second hit the terrorists backpack, and only the third shot was successful. At the time, the sniper was at an altitude of 3000 meters above sea level where the air was thin and offered less resistance. Even so, the bullets parabolic trajectory peaked at a vertical distance of 20 meters. The calculation of such a massive arc is one of the key factors restricting most snipers from hitting targets beyond 1500 meters. If you could see the trajectory of a sniper rifle bullet, it would resemble an artillery shell, traveling for more than two seconds over a long distance and eventually falling in a parabola to the ground. After leaving the Mysterious World, Qing Chen asked Zero, When the distance exceeds 2000 meters, is the killing power of Yi De Fu Ren still enough to kill an A-Class? Beyond a 2000-meter shooting range, even hitting the hard bones of a B-Class may not guarantee penetration, so you must aim for the eye socket, Zero said. Otherwise, why do you think the target is only a Coin? Qing Chen was momentarily startled. He had thought that no ones sniper training was so harsh that they used coin-sized targets instead of human-shaped ones. Shooting toothpicks and Coins at 200 meters, 400 meters might be manageable, but hitting a Coin at over 2000 meters sounded like a myth. It turned out that the Mysterious Worlds target shooting training was designed for Transcendents, aimed at hitting the eye socket. Inwardly, Qing Chen wondered if he could truly achieve such precision. Perhaps he could, but it would require much more practice. This advantage came from using Yi De Fu Ren, as most sniper scopes allow a tolerance of 0.28 Mil-Dot, which means the reticle could deviate by 42 centimeters from the target at 1500 meters. This is due to the difficulty of achieving zero error during production. Therefore, snipers need to adjust their aim to account for this 42-centimeter discrepancy in real-time. But Yi De Fu Ren doesnt need such adjustments; it is a Taboo created under the rules and as such is an absolutely perfect anti-material sniper rifle. As the bullet trajectories began to curve, Qing Chens training progress significantly slowed down. It took him an entire night to push the target to an 800-meter range. This is the standard for military 7.62 mm caliber sniper rifles, meaning that Qing Chen was now officially a qualified sniper, though not quite a god among them. However, for urban engagements, unless a specific sniping situation arises, 800 meters was already sufficient. Sufficient for now, Qing Chen trained every valuable second, aiming to acquire the ability to kill at long range with a single shot. Chapter 337: 260, The Path of Cultivation_2 Chapter 337: 260, The Path of Cultivation_2 No matter what the situation is, as long as its within 800 meters, Huan Yu would be in control. Even a B-Class Time Traveler would necessarily die. Moreover, its not certain that the opponent can control a B-Class Expert. Qing Chen calculated, previously estimating that he could master an effective range of 2600 meters in 7 days, but he overestimated himself and underestimated the difficulty. As it looks now, it would take at least 12 days, and thats just accounting for wind speed. Once he graduates completely from the wind speed training, he needs to add training at different altitudes. This is a long-term training plan. Accumulate steadily to achieve a sudden breakthrough. At the end of training, Yi suddenly said, Are you planning to train Hu Xiaoniu and the others? I suggest you buy the Chen Clan ASG oral medication from the Inner World Black Market. Its not as expensive as the Genetic Potion, mainly working on muscle balance and increasing cardiopulmonary function. A side effect is excessive sweating after use, but long-term clinical trials have proven no other sequelae. In the Federal Army Group, soldiers with ambition who have not been selected as Genetic Warriors will secretly buy ASG to use, which can help Ordinary People quickly advance to the threshold of F-Class, which is 2.999. After some serious thought, Qing Chen said, Now its not yet the time to take medication. What Hu Xiaoniu and the others need to improve the most right now is not their physical condition but their mental willpower. Tenacity and an unstoppable will are whats most needed on the path of a Knight. This kind of will is best forged in absolute adversity. Yi thought about it and said, I quite agree with you. My mother, Yang Xiaojun, once said a sentence: When disaster strikes, mental will is the first line of defense for humans facing danger.'' Countdown 138:00:00. Hu Xiaoniu heard a knock on the door from outside his room, sluggishly opened his eyes, and checked the time on his phone6 oclock in the morning... Who is it? Hu Xiaoniu got up to open the door, only to see a spirited Qing Chen standing at the entrance, with a listless Nan Gengchen following behind him. Uh, Qing Chen, whats this about? Hu Xiaoniu was stunned. Didnt you want me to teach you how to kill the enemy? The course starts today. You and Zhang Tianzhen have five minutes to get changed and come running with me, Qing Chen said calmly. Ah? Hu Xiaoniu was shocked. Running at 6 in the morning? 6 oclock is not early. In many county towns, high schools start running at 5:40 in the morning, Qing Chen said. Remember, Im only giving you five minutes. Otherwise, Ill tell the boss youre not qualified. Hu Xiaoniu instantly sobered up, hurried back to get Zhang Tianzhen up, and the two of them frantically washed up, managing to get ready within the five-minute window. At this moment, Zhang Tianzhen was somewhat reluctant, but Hu Xiaoniu had completely adjusted his mood: Qing Chen, lets get started. Alright, Qing Chen said, start with 5 kilometers. This is just warming up. The training load will increase in the future. After running five kilometers, Nan Gengchen, Hu Xiaoniu, and Zhang Tianzhen were all drenched in sweat. In this winter season, steam rose from the tops of their heads as they collapsed at the doorstep of their home. Due to the cold weather, every breath they took felt like it was freezing their windpipe and lungs through and through. Every breath brought a rigid pain to their bodies. After the run, Qing Chen didnt say a word and prepared to go home. Hu Xiaoniu wanted to ask when they would learn to kill the enemy, but he suddenly remembered what his father, Hu Dacheng, had said: If your mentor doesnt coax you with empty promises and makes your path especially difficult, its not torment but a test. With this in mind, Hu Xiaoniu extinguished the thought of asking and even felt a surge of fighting spirit. Its just training, just torment, he could withstand it. Hu Xiaoniu looked at Qing Chens departing figure: Qing Chen. Hmm? Qing Chen had already opened the door in the corridor. Hu Xiaoniu sincerely said, Please tell the boss that I will definitely follow through with this path. Qing Chen said, Ill pass on the message. Nan Gengchen pondered upon hearing these words. The third day back, 6 a.m. This time, instead of waiting for Qing Chen to wake everyone up, it was Hu Xiaoniu who, grasping Zhang Tianzhen, arrived downstairs and took the initiative to knock on Qing Chens door. Curiously, Qing Chen opened the door: Arent your legs sore from the lactic acid buildup in the muscles after intense exercise? It hurts, Hu Xiaoniu nodded, but I can bear it. Zhang Tianzhens fighting spirit seemed to be driven by Hu Xiaoniu as well: Right, we can bear it! At some point, Qing Chen even saw his own Shadow reflected in Hu Xiaoniu. Back when he was in Prison 18, it seemed that he had moved Uncle Li Dong in the same way. Qing Chen smiled: Then lets get started. It has to be said that the physical condition of high school students is generally quite good, not as fragile as middle-aged men. Though everyone was tired, a good nights sleep brought considerable recovery. Though the run was exhausting, they barely managed to keep up with Qing Chens pace. During the run, Qing Chen led the pace at the front, while the other three strained to keep up. Today, while running, Qing Chen said, Try to keep step with each other. Slowly, everyones footsteps fell into the same rhythm. It was tough yet determined. Only then did the four of them start to look a bit like a coordinated team. Qing Chen didnt plan to teach them how to kill the enemy just yet. He wanted to use the training to build up the teams sense of belonging and cooperative consciousness first. Only then could Daybreak be called an organization, not a gang. Chapter 338: 260, The Path of Cultivation_3 Chapter 338: 260, The Path of Cultivation_3 Next, it wasnt just Hu Xiaoniu and his group that needed to run, Qing Chen thought that Jiang Xue, Liu Dezhu, and others must also join in. This was an essential process for an organization to endure hardship and temper itself. Moreover, this was also the process of selecting Knights, which had to be especially grueling. After the running exercise was over, Hu Xiaoniu, Zhang Tianzhen, and Nan Gengchen were still so exhausted they could hardly catch their breath. Qing Chen calmly asked, Arent you going to ask me when you can start to officially learn combat skills to kill the enemy, instead of just running around foolishly like now? After catching his breath for a moment, Hu Xiaoniu forced a smile and said, No need to ask, we have the patience to wait for that day. Qing Chen said, Good. ... ... In the depths of Los Angeles Lijing Gate, Xiao Ying and other rotating Kunlun members were cleaning. They wielded huge bamboo brooms, each one resembling the ascetic monks in temples. The gate of the courtyard was pushed open, and upon looking up, Xiao Ying saw that it was the boss, Zheng Yuandong, returning. His expression was solemn, and his body still bore the thin mist and dew of the early morning. Xiao Ying ran back inside the yard to fetch a towel and hot water, Boss, why were you out for so long this time? I was following the lead of the Time Travelers with my colleagues from the intelligence group. They slipped into the country stealthily from Changbai Mountain. We tracked them all the way, Zheng Yuandong took the hot towel to wipe his face, The team of Deer Island Time Travelers this time consisted of many individuals from outside Yanbian. Such lawless places breed villains, and we absolutely cant let them wander around within our borders like this. So, boss, did you catch them all? Xiao Ying asked curiously, as in his opinion, with the boss leading the intelligence groups colleagues personally, there certainly wouldnt be any mishaps. Zheng Yuandong said, We havent caught them yet. After they entered, they have been switching long-distance buses heading inland, and they had just stopped in Xian City yesterday. We didnt capture them because we want to play a long game to catch the big fish. Their movements are too obvious, heading towards Xian City in a low profile all the way. I find it very suspicious. Zheng Yuandong continued, This at least suggests two things. First, there are people inside the country giving them directions, even planning their routes for them. If it werent for the efficiency of our intelligence group colleagues, they would have given us the slip. We must root out these Deer Island insiders with counter-surveillance capabilities that exist within the country. Secondly, their rush to Xian City surely means they have found a target. I want to see what they are up to, after explaining, Zheng Yuandong said, Is there any food at home? Serve me some. Kunlun are all hardworking people, and Zheng Yuandong was no exception. He never sat behind the scenes to plan and plot like He Jinqiu but instead took an active part in most matters. Whenever there was danger in any mission, he would be there. This was also because Kunlun was always short-handed, but Zheng Yuandong still insisted on the principle of preferring quality over quantity. He absolutely wouldnt allow people with impure intentions to infiltrate Kunluns ranks. Meanwhile, Xiao Ying excitedly said, Boss, the criminals who came this time are from outside the country. Once we catch them, cant we slap Kyushu in the face and let them stop being so arrogant every day? Zheng Yuandong glanced at him and said sternly, Is national security a matter of comparison? Does Kyushu have a distinction with Kunlun at an organizational level, do the civilians who get hurt have such a distinction? Dont say that sort of thing again in the future. Im sorry, I was wrong, Xiao Ying immediately bowed his head, By the way, boss, I need to report something to you. I bumped into Qing Chen in the Inner World! Zheng Yuandong was somewhat surprised, Lu Yuan also said he saw him, at the Begonia Boxing Gym in the Fourth District. Eh? Xiao Ying was a little surprised, I saw him by Li Changqings side; it looked like he was being kept by that powerhouse woman. Talk about it in detail, Zheng Yuandong frowned. He always felt it was strange; the changes in Qing Chens identity were happening too fast. All of a sudden, he became a Tiger Grade Boxing King, and then he mysteriously ended up being kept by a significant figure of the Li Family. This youngster, how could he be so restless... Xiao Ying said, Heres what happened, you know about the attack on Li Changqing, right? I had just finished my holiday and returned to the halfway villa estate that afternoon when I was informed to join a mission. Initially, we were supposed to watch the encirclement of Heng Society, but we encountered an attack by Deer Island forces just as we entered the Fourth District. Then, the convoy we were in was blocked in the street, and that kid covered for Li Changqing to enter a building and carry out a beheading strategy. He nearly wiped out a building full of Deer Island Assassins. Hes just a Genetic Warrior. How did he kill them? Zheng Yuandong asked. They say hes extremely good with firearms. I heard it from Lao Liu... hes now called Lao Jiu. He said that Qing Chen could recognize every type of gun in the Inner World and every caliber of the bullets just by listening to the sound of gunfire, Xiao Ying said, Boss, do such people really exist in this world? They do, but Ive only ever seen one in my time in the army, Zheng Yuandong said calmly. Who? Have I met them? Xiao Ying asked curiously. Youve met them, He Jinqiu, Zheng Yuandong said, Although I dont know where Qing Chen learned his firearms skills, now it seems I need to find him personally. By the way, boss, I was preparing to infiltrate their organization. Do you agree? Xiao Ying asked, I need to tell you first, otherwise, you might think Ive defected. I agree, Zheng Yuandong glanced at him, as long as you can really join them. But Im curious, what is your purpose for joining? Of course, its to gather intelligence. As a member of Kunlun, how can I ignore the Time Traveler Organization that has appeared right under our noses? Xiao Ying spoke with conviction, I must take responsibility! ... A chapter of five thousand words. Twenty thousand words updated today, sorry for the late update. Thank you, Lu Ya, for becoming the new ally of this book, a grand boss leading the style! Chapter 339: 261, Kunlun, Zheng Yuandong Chapter 339: 261, Kunlun, Zheng Yuandong The fake Daytime Boss: We dont protect just anyone, we can either take or leave the business of middle-aged tycoon Zhang Chengze. The real Daytime Boss: How can we ensure our clients are satisfied and retain their contracts with us? When Hu Xiaoniu mentioned this business, Qing Chen appeared calm on the surface but was actually very interested. Firstly, a million was definitely not a small amount. Having two or three such clients would mean that Daytime could have a cash flow income of two to three million per week. If there were five, that earning capability would surpass most publicly listed companies... Secondly, Qing Chen wasnt very familiar with other cities, but as long as it was in City Number 18, what dangers could there be? It wasnt that Qing Chen and his team were now very formidable, but rather he was currently personally involved in the most dangerous affairs of the Li family power transition and the Shadow conflict. After traveling through time, could Zhang Chengzes situation be more dangerous than these two matters? Moreover, Lin Xiaoxiao once gave Qing Chen all the information on the notable figures in City Number 18, and there was no such person as Zhang Chengze mentioned there. So, even if the other party faced danger, it was highly probable that Qing Chen could resolve it. How was this different from picking up money?! At this moment, the countdown read 92:00:00. Midnight, 12 oclock. Qing Chen was seriously considering how to improve Daytimes service level. He looked at Nan Gengchen and asked, Should we buy a car in the Inner World? I mean a kind of nanny van specially for the bosses to ride, so Liu Dezhu can take them around for a tour, just like a tour group, with Liu Dezhu as their local guide. Nan Gengchen thought for a moment and said, Brother Chen, we dont need to buy a car. I can ask Li Yinuo to allocate one for me, and the car even has the Li familys auspicious cloud symbol on it. Li Yinuo knows I am a Time Traveler, and the other Time Travelers know I am... Li Yinuos boyfriend, so it doesnt matter if others find out. Qing Chens eyes lit up; now they could even freeload the vehicles: And with the auspicious cloud symbol, the clients safety is also guaranteed. Who in City Number 18 would mess with the Li family for no reason? Initially, we can take the clients to tour the Lower District 3, to see the hardships of the people in the Inner World. Then head to Middle District 3, mainly to check out the nightlife in District 4, the clubs, boxing rings, virtual life, and casinos. Finally, visit Upper District 3 to experience the joy of the wealthy in the Inner World. Other vehicles cant enter Upper District 3, as they would be stopped for inspections by the safety committee, but the Li familys vehicle definitely wont. In the future, if any wealthy individuals want to visit Upper District 3, the Li familys vehicle will be our unique advantage, something no one else can offer! With this approach, Zhang Chengze would certainly be dazzled by what he sees. Especially the privilege of Daytime to freely enter Upper District 3... Once the clients are satisfied and return from the Inner World, if they have friends who also become Time Travelers, they will duly refer them all to Daytime. By then, would Daytime still worry about not having money? Upon hearing this, Nan Gengchen opened his mouth in amazement; a tour spanning worlds led by such a fierce guide was quite something. But the problem was, Daytime was just too approachable. Other organizations were all about: striving for growth, seeking a place among the elites in the Inner World, possessing a positiondealing in genetic potions, intelligence, talent, power, mechanical limbs! Daytime was about: vigorously developing the service industry. At that time, Brave Xiao Niu sent a message in the Daytime group: Boss, Ive already given Zhang Chengze uncle Liu Dezhus contact information, and hes already prepared the cash of 1 million. Hes asking when we should come to collect it? How do we collect it? Boss: From now on, all cash transactions will be handled by Liu Dezhu. Once deposited in the bank, keep it as circulating funds for the organization. Liu Dezhu, a C-Class, could protect the cash properly after receiving it; it would indeed be somewhat unsafe for others to handle such a large sum of money. A Little Duck: ...Cash Liu? Liu Dezhu: ... Qing Chen glanced at Nan Gengchen next to him, then continued speaking as the boss in the group: Little Duck, you coordinate with Liu Dezhu on this matter, arrange the vehicles of the Inner World for him. Okay, received, responded a Little Duck obediently. At that moment, Brave Xiao Niu continued: Recently, another uncle wants to try his luck in Los Angeles City. It seems he bought information from a Time Traveler; someone saw him in the news of the Outer World and mentioned encountering someone in City Number 18 who looked extremely similar to him, suggesting a possible opportunity to cross over. Qing Chen sighed. He had always been interested in starting another business endeavor. For instance, collecting consultation fees from these wealthy individuals, obtaining their information and appearance in the Outer World, then returning to the Inner World and asking Yi to help search for people eligible for crossing over, ultimately conveying this information to the wealthy individuals, telling them where to go for the crossover. Very few people could undertake such a project; at least, few could match Yi in seamlessly matching information in the Inner World. But he had not proceeded with it. Because the emergence of every Time Traveler meant the disappearance of a person in the Outer World, something feared by the natives of the Inner World and also contravening the principles by which Qing Chen lived. Every consciousness erased by the rules represented a vivid life; they might have been bad people before, but they could also have been good people. If Qing Chen engaged in this business, it would be no different from killing. He could deal with the business of Time Travelers, but he was unwilling to actively produce them. Boss asked, Niu Niu, what does your uncle intend to do, what is he planning with us? Not afraid of difficulties, said Zhang Tianzhen, This uncle once had a car accident that broke both his legs. He hopes that after crossing over, he can recover his legs; if not, he wants to have the best mechanical limbs installed. Boss: Let Qiu Xue follow up on that. The installation of mechanical limbs can be handled by Qiu Xue. Qiu Xue: Okay, boss. I have the best mechanical limbs available on the market. Rich young lady: Sister Qiu Xue is so amazing! Qiu Xue, feeling slightly embarrassed: However, I still cant manage the military-grade nanomechanical limbs used by the Federation Army. Boss: The best civilian grade is enough. If theyre too good, theyll be able to face dangers on their own, and well lose our earnings. Undaunted: Wise words, boss. This sort of tactic was right up Zhang Tianzhens alley; he rather enjoyed these little maneuvers. Just then, there was a knock at the door. Qing Chen suddenly turned his head to look outside; who could be visiting at this late hour? Before he could prepare, the person outside, seemingly to put him at ease, took the initiative to announce his identity: Kunlun, Zheng Yuandong. Qing Chen went to open the door: Please come in. I wonder, what brings you here in the middle of the night? Zheng Yuandong slowly walked into the room and very politely asked, Should I change my shoes? No need, no need, Qing Chen said. Please, have a seat. This was Qing Chens first close-up view of this spokesman from Kunlun. The mans arms and legs, hidden beneath his clothes, bore traces of mechanical limbs, and even the part of his neck peeking out from his collar was half mechanical. However, the mechanical limbs on the mans body had never been seen on the market in the Inner World before; the metal seemed alive, almost as if it was breathing. Even the mechanical limbs on Jiang Xues body seemed a tier lower compared to those of this spokesman from Kunlun. Could these be the top-grade nanomechanical limbs from the Federation Army? Zheng Yuandong noticed his gaze and smiled: It turned out this way after crossing over. Many people envy it, but Id rather I hadnt crossed over. Mr. Zheng, youve come late at night... Qing Chen hesitated for a moment. Just checking on an employees life, Zheng Yuandong said with a half-smile. Have you forgotten? Youve joined Kunlun. Didnt Mr. He come to check on you? Ah, sorry, I just remembered, Qing Chen said awkwardly. Although he had tried joining all organizations as a way to actually reject them all, having the main player turn up at his door was still somewhat embarrassing. Zheng Yuandong glanced at Nan Gengchen: There are over a thousand Time Travelers in Los Angeles City, but to have so many so concentrated in a single building like this is rare. Hu Xiaoniu, Zhang Tianzhen, Jiang Xue, Nan Gengchen, Qing Chenif you include the secretive Li Tongyun, that makes six. Los Angeles has a permanent population of nine million, so a few thousand dont stand out much, but gathering so many in one building does. If you also count the resident opposite who has not yet returned, its even more. Therefore, this was also why Qing Chen wanted to move; he didnt want Daytime to be so high-profile. Zheng Yuandong said, I wont sit down. I came all this way just to say something. I dont know what your status in the Inner World really is, whether youre a fighter or a member of the Li Familys special service. To Kunlun, it doesnt matter; you are all under Kunluns protection. Since youre not willing to join Kunlun, I wont force you. Here is my contact information. If you encounter difficulties in the Inner World and need help, you can contact me or Lu Yuan, or Ni Ergou. We will assist as much as possible. Lu Yuan is the captain of the special service, and Ni Ergou is the head of Kunluns intelligence. Kunluns main combat forces are concentrated in these two departments. Qing Chen was taken aback. He hadnt expected the visitor to come late at night, not to admonish or recruit him to Kunlun, but instead to offer help. This was a gesture of goodwill. It must be said that this approach makes one feel more amicable than those organizations that coerce people into joining. Qing Chen wondered: Mr. Zheng, arent you going to pressure us into joining Kunlun? Zheng Yuandong shook his head: In the Inner World, individual combat power is already beyond imagination. If one day a Time Traveler breaks through B-Class, A-Class, or even S-Class, would they remain subordinate to others? Its a natural law; Kunlun cant enforce it. I would rather everyone work together for a common goal. Qing Chen understood what he meant. Even if a Time Traveler were coerced into joining an organization, if they one day became an S-Class Demigod, could that organization still control them? They couldnt. Wouldnt that Demigod remember the things they were forced to do and harbor resentment against the organization? Various consortia in the Inner World had the ability to restrain a Demigod, but the Outer World did not! Qing Chen initially thought it was because Kunlun was too relaxed, which is why they didnt control all Time Travelers. Now he realized that Zheng Yuandong had early insight. The other party was very clear about one thing: once individual combat power becomes too strong, it inevitably breaks free from worldly shackles. The other partys outlook was far more long-term than most peoples. ... Theres another chapter tonight Chapter 340: 262. Wait for me to come back. Chapter 340: 262. Wait for me to come back. Why are you willing to help us in the Inner World? Qing Chen asked. Zheng Yuandong said, You are Time Travelers and also citizens of our country, just like when you are abroad, the embassy still tries their best to protect you, Kunlun will do the same. Qing Chen thought for a moment and asked, So if we encounter danger, can you protect us? Zheng Yuandong nodded, Yes. Qing Chen said, Then could you help us protect Zhang Cheng... cough, never mind. Nan Gengchen screamed internally, realizing that Qing Chen not only planned to freeload off the Li Familys nanny car but also intended to use Kunlun to make money! However, Qing Chen ultimately didnt say it after all, considering it inappropriate to exploit a bug when someone was sincerely offering help. At that moment, Qing Chen asked, Mr. Zheng, didnt you plan to ask anything during your visit here? No, replied Zheng Yuandong as he turned to walk away. The most important thing this time was to say thanks, thank you for seeking revenge for the wrench and Hawthorn. This sentence meant that Zheng Yuandong had confirmed him to be the assassin on Laojun Mountain. The first formal conversation between Zheng Yuandong and Qing Chen focused on nothing more than trivial matters. But the messages Zheng Yuandong revealed made Qing Chen deep in thought. Kunlun now strictly demands consistency and discipline from its internal members, while maintaining an open attitude externally, allowing Time Travelers to exist independently of Kunlun. This was like someone who is outwardly gentle but inwardly rigid, affable on the surface yet firm in principle. At least up until now, Qing Chen had no bad feelings towards Kunlun; everything they did was as said without deceit. After Zheng Yuandong left, Qing Chen quietly entered Yue Ers home. This time, there was a letter beside Yue Ers pillow. He unfolded it and glanced at it, the message was simple: You dont need to act tomorrow night, but you must stay at home. The letter didnt reveal how the other party would act; he could only guess the approximate time. Qing Chen sneered. On the fourth day after his return, his routine continued unchanged; he trained physically with Hu Xiaoniu, Nan Gengchen, and Zhang Tianzhen, his demeanor as calm as if he had never received that letter. He attended classes during the day, and returned home at night with Nan Gengchen. Qing Chen didnt even tell anyone that Huan Yu might act tonight, nor did he warn Liu Dezhu. Only upon reaching home did Nan Gengchen cautiously asked, Brother Chen, youve seemed eerily calm today, is something going to happen? Qing Chen, with his eyes closed, said nothing. He just waited quietly. At midnight, while still at home, Nan Gengchen curiously asked, Brother Chen, youve been sitting here motionless for several hours, what is going on? Its nothing, Qing Chen said calmly, rising to go to Yue Ers house again. Another letter appeared beside the pillow: You are trustworthy, and it impresses me. Tomorrow night I will give you instructions. This was just a test, the Devils Stamp holder Huan Yu wanted to see if Qing Chen would really betray for the Genetic Potion. Qing Chen knew this was a test. A life full of conspiracy and distrust, how could one easily trust another and reveal crucial information? Therefore, Qing Chen didnt tell anyone about todays events. Because he knew that nothing would happen tonight, and the other party didnt truly plan to act this evening. Plus, Huan Yu didnt know that Qing Chen was so calm because even if that person acted tonight, Liu Dezhu wouldnt necessarily be at a disadvantage. Liu Dezhu was a C-Class, the most explosive Fire Element Awakener, who generally wouldnt be at a disadvantage against most Time Travelers. That was the confidence Qing Chen had. Qing Chen calmly replied in a letter: I did as you said, where is the Genetic Potion I wanted? Huan Yu replied: Whats the rush? I didnt bring the Genetic Potion with me, I need another cross-over to get it for you, right? Besides, you need to finish this task for me first. Qing Chen replied: Once Im done with this as you said, if you dont provide the Genetic Potion as agreed, I will kill you. After waiting thirty minutes, Huan Yu didnt reply anymore. If instructions are coming tomorrow night, then action might be the day after. At this point, Qing Chen finally relaxed, returned to his own bedroom, and lay down, seriously scouring his own memory. Huan Yu, wanting to make sure he obediently stayed home, certainly needed someone to surveil him. This was the second mistake the opponent would make tonight, because Huan Yu didnt know that Qing Chen possessed powerful counter-surveillance capabilities, able to retrieve memories to find clues. That illusory memory flickered like a slideshow, from dawn to dusk. Qing Chens mind was like a still camera, watching the sunrise and set. Just like the oceans tide rising and falling. Found it, Qing Chen opened his eyes. All day today, a middle-aged man had appeared in his memory three times, very cautious and seemingly possessing certain investigative skills. Appearing thrice might be a coincidence, but Qing Chen had never encountered this man in the first 17 years of his life, yet recently he appeared three times. That in itself was a problem. Qing Chen got up to drink water in the living room. All day, he had been on edge, relaxing only after catching the middle-aged man. Hadnt he provoked Huan Yu in the group precisely for this moment? Brother Chen, what exactly did you find? Nan Gengchen asked curiously. Nothing. Did anyone speak in He Xiaoxiaos group? Qing Chen asked. No, mostly everyone chats frantically right after returning, and then in the following days, very few speak, Nan Gengchen said while tapping on his phone. Qing Chen returned to the bedroom, starting his sniper training for the day. He aimed to shift the target to 1000 meters that night. While he was training, he suddenly heard the ping of a message on his phone in the Mysterious World. Strange, who would message so late? Qing Chen opened his eyes and saw He Xiaoxiaos message in the group suddenly appear: Tonight a group member contacted me, mentioning that Los Angeles City might witness a violent event the day after tomorrow. Friends in the group, please be aware and secure your doors and windows before sleep. Qing Chen frowned. Who had sent this message to He Xiaoxiao? Li Si? Yue Er? Or someone else? If the timing is the day after tomorrow, it coincides precisely with the movement of the Devils Stamp holder. So, it was very likely someone who had received a letter was tipping off. This matter and those Qing Chen had to face were probably the same issue. And He Xiaoxiao, in order to protect the informants information, chose to help them remain anonymous, and she did it very subtly too. At that moment, everyone in the group became anxious. Whatever had caused He Xiaoxiao to suddenly issue a warning must be extremely important and dangerous, and more than half of the group members had already arrived in Los Angeles City. Perhaps all would be entangled in this crisis. The atmosphere in the group grew heavy, Qing Chen staring at the screen, Huan Yu all the while not uttering a single word. Standoff. Just then, Nan Gengchen suddenly sent a link in He Xiaoxiaos group chat. Everyone looked closely, and emblazoned on the link were the words: I found a great deal on Pinduoduo, come help me slash the price! Liu Dezhu: ... He Xiaoxiao: ... Changling King: ... Huan Yu: ... In such a serious group chat, Nan Gengchen had posted such an unserious link, throwing everyone off. Suddenly, it felt like everyone had come into the group for a serious reason, except this person named A Little Duckie who seemed to be playing a joke... Some clicked on the link wanting to check the shoppers information, where one could only see the ID A Little Duckie and the same avatar, but no other details about the shopper. The Kyushu members in the group could use Pinduoduos order details to check user information, but they already knew Nan Gengchens identityit was an open card to them. Others dared not click the link, fearing it might be some Trojan virus, revealing their personal identity information upon opening. Lu Ya coldly stated, Group master, lets kick out this A Little Duckie. However, it seemed as if He Xiaoxiao pretended not to see Lu Yas comment, responding to nothing. The group realized thenthe A Little Duckie must be of some significant importance; otherwise, why would He Xiaoxiao tolerate him posting such trivial links in the group? Qing Chen walked to the living room and after a long silent moment told Nan Gengchen, How about I slash you instead? Nan Gengchen weakly replied, I saw we were out of tissues at home, was planning to buy a couple packs... Qing Chen didnt say much else but turned and left for Yao Yaos home. He wanted to see how the Devils Stamp holder would react to He Xiaoxiaos warning in the group. Perhaps delaying their action or putting it off. However, Yao Yaos bed was eerily empty, as if the other party didnt care and made no plans to change their course of action. Qing Chen, furrowing his brows, moved aside the neatly folded quilt on Yao Yaos bed, wanting to check if the letter appeared in another location. Just then, Qing Chen suddenly found that next to the line he had engraved on the white wall beside the bed, a new line had appeared. He had carved, Flocks of sheep and herds of cows, only the ferocious tiger walks alonewords from his loneliest moments while living alone. Beneath this line, Yao Yao had engraved in elegant script: Wait for me to return. Qing Chen raised his eyebrows, seeing this sentence for the second time now. After a long silence, Qing Chen replaced the quilt exactly as he remembered it, even restoring the folds in the fabric. Chapter 341: 263. Two worlds Chapter 341: 263. Two worlds Countdown 42:00:00. On the fifth day after his return, there wasnt much time left until the next time travel event. The winter morning was exceptionally dark, with the blackness in the sky like ink that would never dissolve. At 6 oclock, the members of Daybreak had already changed into their sportswear early and braved the cold wind to run into the morning mist. They started from Xingshu Road, passed through the expansive Royal City Avenue, and entered Luo Pu Park. Qing Chen led at the front, shielding the others from the howling wind, making it slightly easier for the ones behind. At a certain moment, Hu Xiaoniu, Zhang Tianzhen, and Nan Gengchen, who were following behind, suddenly felt that Qing Chen was like a wolf braving the snowstorm, clearing the path ahead with an unwavering attitude for the pack following him. Qing Chens daily routine included a five-kilometer run, and he did not intentionally run extra distance. Even in training, moderation was key to not rundown his three teammates completely. As everyone gradually slowed down and stopped, Hu Xiaoniu suddenly noticed Qing Chen frowning and lightly covering the area below his left ribs. Whats wrong? asked Hu Xiaoniu curiously, Got a stitch? Nan Gengchen turned to look and thought, how could someone with Brother Chens physical condition get a stitch from running? It wasnt until he saw where Qing Chen was holding that he realized something, Brother Chen, your ribs havent healed yet, have they? Ribs? Whats wrong with Qing Chens ribs? asked Zhang Tianzhen, puzzled. Brother Chens ribs were cracked during the last time travel, Nan Gengchen explained, The doctor advised him not to do any vigorous exercise for 90 days. This revelation truly shocked Zhang Tianzhen and Hu Xiaoniu; they had not expected that the young man leading them on the run was actually carrying injuries. If Nan Gengchen hadnt pointed it out, they wouldnt have noticed at all! It wasnt just those two who were shocked; even Nan Gengchen was astonished. Had it not been for todays discovery, even he, who was in the know, had almost forgotten about the injuries that Qing Chen bore. Qing Chen had just been acting too normally every day! Hu Xiaoniu looked at Qing Chen seriously. He couldnt understand why, despite being injured, the other could be so tenacious and wake up for a run every morning. Moreover, despite his injuries, Qing Chen acted as if nothing was wrong, while he, along with Zhang Tianzhen and Nan Gengchen, were embarrassingly fatigued without a scratch on them. In the beginning, when Hu Xiaoniu first met Qing Chen, he thought of him as a scholarly young man who was also skilled in combat. But now he realized that his understanding was too superficial. There truly was someone in the world who was smarter, fiercer, more enduring, and more diligent than him. Hu Xiaoniu felt utterly worthless next to Qing Chen, except for being wealthier. But could a person like Qing Chen really be poor forever? Not a chance. Hu Xiaoniu looked at Qing Chen and said, I really admire you, I truly do. Its nothing serious, Qing Chen replied calmly, If the pain was unbearable, I wouldnt be out here running. Im a little curious, Hu Xiaoniu felt strange, I dont mean anything by it, just curious why you would join Daybreak. From his perspective, why would someone like Qing Chen lower himself to others? And moreover, obey the bosss commands unquestioningly. It wasnt that Hu Xiaoniu was disloyal or trying to sow discord. He genuinely couldnt figure it out, couldnt make sense of it. In fact, Hu Xiaonius judgment was not wrong, he just didnt know that Qing Chen was the boss. After pondering, Qing Chen said, The boss saved my life once. I see, Hu Xiaoniu thought to himself that one indeed ought to repay a life-saving grace like springs bubbling well; this reason was quite sufficient. At this moment, the three who had just completed the five-kilometer run should have been in a sorry state, sitting on the ground in disarray. But looking at Qing Chen, it was as if they suddenly had a stubborn breath in their chests that none of them complained of being tired again. ... ... During class in the daytime, Qing Chen still lay on the desk, looking as if he was asleep. It wasnt until evening that he finally lifted his head, not even having eaten lunch. Nan Gengchen and the others found it strange, arguing that even if one slept during class, they shouldnt be able to sleep that much. Now, classmates had started to secretly give Qing Chen a nickname, calling him the God of Sleep. However, for Qing Chen, every minute and every second was fulfilled; with every meter the target moved in the distance, his heart grew merrier. When school was out in the evening, Nan Gengchen was ready to leave with Qing Chen. However, just as he was about to stand up, Qing Chen pushed him back down, Stay in school, dont go, attend your classes. Huh? Nan Gengchen was confused for a moment, Brother Chen, you dont usually say this, and I see youre ready to leave, eh. I can leave, you cant, Qing Chen said. Why not? Nan Gengchen didnt understand. I am the God of Study, are you? Qing Chen asked indifferently. Nan Gengchen glanced at the setting sun about to dip behind the buildings outside the school window and suddenly asked, Brother Chen, I can feel youre more burdened today than yesterday. So, is there danger looming, and thats why you dont want me to leave the school? Dont overthink it, just stay in the classroom and go home as normal after school, Qing Chen said, patting his shoulder and turning towards the classroom door. Just as Qing Chen was leaving the classroom, he was stopped by Xu Zimo, who was also going to Xian City for the AMC10 math competition. She was from the next class, high school Grade 2 Class 2, and seemed to have been waiting here right after class. Passing students couldnt help but cast curious glances at the two when they walked by, seemingly intrigued by what may transpire between the two top students. They heard Xu Zimo holding a set of papers, looking at Qing Chen and saying, Qing Chen, theres a trigonometry problem here, can you explain it to me? The students nearby were stunned, as Xu Zimo had ranked first in the last monthly exam. She needed Qing Chens help with a problem she couldnt solve? But lately, Qing Chen had been busy sleeping during class. Qing Chen casually glanced over the papers, I dont know how to do this problem. Xu Zimo hesitated for a moment, Then let me explain it to you. At that moment, the onlooking students were all frozen in place. It turned out that Xu Zimo wasnt there to ask for help but to make small talk! Qing Chen looked at Xu Zimo calmly and said seriously, I dont have time right now, and I dont need it, thank you. Having said that, Qing Chen went downstairs. The evening glow cast upon the corridor, stretching the shadows of people on the walls. Xu Zimo pursed her lips as she watched Qing Chens retreating figure. Nan Gengchen muttered in the classroom, Wow, thats cold... Hu Xiaoniu glanced at him but felt it was something to be expected. Nan Gengchen asked, Arent you surprised at all? Dont you find it discordant that he stood there with the female student? Hu Xiaoniu said, The last time I had this feeling was regarding Yangyang. Back then, at sea, someone was pursuing Yangyang, but when we gossiped about it, it always seemed discordant, no matter who stood next to her. It was like placing a rock next to a dazzling diamond; anyone would look dim in comparison, and the styles didnt match. Moreover, they are no longer from the same world. The female students world is still narrow, with only the road to university ahead of her, but Qing Chen is different now; he is facing a broader world, two worlds. ... Thank you, Yueshuxia, for becoming a new ally for this novel, thank you, boss, and bow! There will be a single chapter break explanation later. Chapter 342: 264, Nightfall, Gunfire Chapter 342: 264, Nightfall, Gunfire The cause of this crisis was that the Daytime boss, within He Xiaoxiaos group chat, twice used a little duck and Liu Dezhu to act out scenarios, drawing huge hatred for the Devils Stamp holder Huan Yu. Ultimately, this led to the exposure of Huan Yus ID and an increase in everyones guard against Huan Yu. Although the outside world still didnt know the name Daytime, it was already confirmed to be an organization. Qing Chen thought repeatedly, if he were Huan Yu, what would he do? Of course, he would kidnap a member of Daytime and then interrogate them to get information about the Daytime boss. For Huan Yu, directly striking a major blow to Daytime did not fit with his game rules and code of conduct. Finding this Daytime boss and making the boss his slave was the most urgent matter. Qing Chen calmly climbed over the school fence. As expected, just two minutes after he left the school, he had already spotted the middle-aged mans trace in his field of vision. Counting this time, the man had inexplicably appeared four times. In the afterglow of the setting sun, Qing Chen walked ahead in his school uniform, while the middle-aged man followed silently behind him, always maintaining a distance of over a hundred meters. The middle-aged man wore a Bluetooth headset on his right ear, tracking Qing Chen while reporting his movements. When Qing Chen entered his home at Xingshu Road No. 4, the middle-aged man whispered from outside, The target has returned home, his place is on the first floor, both the front and back windows have security grilles, and he can only leave through the front door. The neighborhood is quite quiet, if someone tries to dismantle the security grilles, Im sure to hear the noise. Stand by nearby, came a voice from the Bluetooth headset. Understood, said the middle-aged man. At this moment, Qing Chen leisurely changed into an outfit he had bought but never worn before. When the last trace of sunlight in the distant west vanished from the sky, he gently opened the front door, and as his right foot stepped out, his face had already taken on a different appearance. Qing Chen walked out, passing by the middle-aged man without him noticing or being on his guard. The middle-aged mans attention was entirely focused on the narrow exit of the corridor. In the instant when their shadows crossed and the light faded from twilight to dusk, Qing Chen suddenly reached out, his right hand deftly removing the Bluetooth headset from the others ear, his thumb covering the headsets microphone. His left hand struck like thunder, hitting the middle-aged mans carotid artery on the neck. The middle-aged mans body slowly collapsed, and as soon as he began to tilt, Qing Chen gently caught him and helped him back into the house. Qing Chen closed the door slowly, alert to his surroundings. No one noticed what had happened here; even if there were passersby, they wouldnt have seen anything amiss because Qing Chen moved too quickly. Qing Chen stood quietly in the dark, glancing at the Bluetooth headset which was now in call-ending mode. He now needed to know this middle-aged mans name. Then, Yis voice came from his phone, You didnt kill him, are you planning to use the Puppeteer on him? Yeah, responded Qing Chen. But trying to get his name out so quickly might not be easy, Yi said. It might not require interrogation, Qing Chen said as he searched the middle-aged mans body and found an ID card... Just like the Inner Worlds identity ID, without an ID card one would hardly get anywhere in the Outer World C unable to take long-distance buses, unable to stay in hotels. Qing Chen suspected that this middle-aged man was not a Los Angeles native, and also not a professional assassin. The man didnt carry firearms, only knives, which made Qing Chen think that he was just an ordinary Time Traveler controlled by Huan Yu. So, the probability was high that the mans ID card would be on him. Of course, if the ID wasnt found, they would have to resort to interrogation. The prerequisite for using the Puppeteer was knowing the persons name. Qing Chen muttered, while searching the middle-aged mans other pockets, Yi, is there any Taboo that can directly reveal someones name? No, youre overthinking it, Yi replied. Qing Chen examined the mans ID card: Chen Siheng, 37 years old, household registered at Rongcheng Community, Wen Yi South Road, Xian City. He indeed came from out of town. Qing Chen silently speculated that Huan Yu might not be a resident of Los Angeles, and his influence in Los Angeles wasnt strong, which was why he had to call people from other places. It was unclear how many people were still out there. He shook his wrist lightly and saw the Puppeteers transparent strings shoot out, tightly wrapping around Chen Sihengs left wrist. In the darkness, the middle-aged man slowly stood up, his eyes devoid of focus. Qing Chen put the headset back on the man and then controlled the middle-aged man to leave the house and stand at the very spot he used to monitor Qing Chen from. After 30 minutes, a voice came through the headset, Chen Siheng, report your status. The middle-aged man said, Nothing unusual, the target is still at home. Continue to wait. Qing Chen discerned the voice on the phone through the Puppeteer. Yes, it was a voice he had heard before on Laojun Mountain. A young man with a effeminate voice, lacking in abdominal strength, sounding somewhat weak. Huan Yu made an appearance. This time, he was still hiding in the dark, remotely controlling everything. However, Qing Chen wasnt in a rush to find him. He now needed to wait patiently. ... ... Los Angeles Foreign Language School let out at 9:40 p.m. Liu Dezhu bade farewell to his classmates alone and then rode his old bike into the night. He rode at an easy pace, his gaze constantly scanning around as if searching for something, being alert to something. Not far behind him, there was also a taxi following from a distance. Sitting in the car, Xiao Ying looked in the distance and said to the communication channel, Strange, Liu Dezhu seems to have noticed something. Hes constantly looking around; what is he searching for? Could it be related to the dangerous incident that He Xiaoxiao mentioned? someone responded in the communication channel. Over the earpiece, Lu Yuans voice rang out, High probability it is related. But, Xiao Ying expressed his confusion, didnt He Xiaoxiao warn of tomorrow? Isnt their plan for tomorrow? Moreover, its not even certain who theyre targeting. Plans can change, especially those that have been exposed, said Lu Yuan. Perhaps Liu Dezhu has found out something in advance, or maybe his boss has. Xiao Ying, keep a close eye on Liu Dezhu; there might be a catch tonight. Roger that, Xiao Ying responded. However, at that moment, Xiao Ying suddenly saw Liu Dezhu stop his bicycle and glance at his phone. Then, Liu Dezhu turned his head and rode towards the taxi where Xiao Ying was. Xiao Ying hit the brakes hard, only to see Liu Dezhu stopping beside his car and peering inside through the window, Youre from Kunlun, right? Weve seen each other several times, havent we? Ah? What? What Kunlun, Xiao Ying, even after being exposed, still acted as if nothing happened. Stop dawdling, follow me, call for backup! Liu Dezhu pedaled off at a brisk pace, darting into the Los Angeles City night. Road Team, Road Team, Xiao Ying spoke while shifting gears, Theres a situation with Liu Dezhu; the target seems not to be him, but someone else! Requesting reinforcements! Indeed, the holder of the Devils Stamp had never intended to target Liu Dezhu from the beginning. Although Huan Yu did not know that Liu Dezhu had been promoted to C-Class, the problem was, the known members of Liu Dezhus organization were not limited to Liu Dezhu himself, so why go after Liu Dezhu, who was protected by Kunlun around the clock? He had a better target. At this very moment, on Xingshu Road, Nan Gengchen was about to cross the street and head home with his backpack on his back. He was leaving school alone tonight and therefore appeared particularly lonely. Fortunately, his home was close to the school; just across Xingshu Road was his residential area. Nan Gengchen checked his phone; Qing Chen hadnt sent any messages all night, nor had he replied to the ones sent by Nan Gengchen. Something dangerous must be about to happen; otherwise, why would there be such an anomaly? In the next moment, a black business car, as if oblivious to its surroundings, sped over and stopped harshly next to Nan Gengchen. In an instant, everyone on Xingshu Road could hear the screech of tires gripping the ground, shrill and oppressive. With a whoosh, the rear door of the car opened and two thugs wearing black masks coldly gazed at him. Nan Gengchen stared at the two men, then turned and ran toward the school behind him. But he had only been exercising for a few days; how could he outrun these well-trained thugs? Damn, Nan Gengchen shouted, calling to his classmates who were also leaving school not far away, Call the police for me! As he spoke, his arms were already firmly grasped by the thugs. A darkness settled in Nan Gengchens heart, he thought to himself, its over, where are you, Bro Chen? Why arent you by my side at such a critical moment! No, thats not right! Suddenly, Nan Gengchen felt a certain confidence; at such a critical moment, how could Qing Chen possibly not be around? These thugs were going to die. It was an inexplicable intuition. In an instant, Nan Gengchen saw a spray of blood bloom to his left rear, staining his face with a layer of red. Stunned, he stood there, and at the same time, a booming sound traveled from afar. The gunshot was slower than the bullet, indicating that the sniper who pulled the trigger was positioned hundreds of meters away. This sensation of the bullet having arrived before the sound of the gun created a peculiar sense of dissonance. The thug in the drivers seat of the black business car roared, Sniper! Damn, get him in the car, its a sni The thugs voice cut off abruptly, along with the sound of shattering glass. Nan Gengchen turned his head to see the driver already dead in the vehicle, similarly struck by a snipers bullet. Within two shots, the three thugs who had come to kidnap Nan Gengchen were reduced to just one. People on Xingshu Road began to scream and scatter. The last thug reached for a weapon at his waist and pulled Nan Gengchens arm hard, using him as a human shield to block the snipers line of fire. He couldnt understand how there could be a sniper lying in wait for them in a place like Los Angeles City. And this distant gunfire, what was the difference between it and the sound of cannon fire?! But before he had time to ponder any further, the thug was startled to see something pass between Nan Gengchens legs and strike his calf. The thick calf broke at the impact, and he fell sideways, suddenly off balance. The next sniper bullet arrived as promised, piercing the chest that was no longer shielded by Nan Gengchens body! The sniper bullet, carrying immense deflection force and inertia, directly blasted the thug away. These two shots were extremely risky, given the distance of several hundred meters, the slightest deviation could have hit Nan Gengchen directly, but the sniper seemed to have absolute confidence, not believing that the bullets would veer off even by a centimeter! At this moment, Nan Gengchens mind was somewhat muddled, but remembering Qing Chens words, he didnt hesitate to look for cover and wait for rescue. In the darkness, he noticed that some people in the crowd on Xingshu Road had sprung into action, running in the direction from which the sniper shots had come. ... There will be another chapter tonight, coming later. Thanks to fleeing locusts, Chinese soul, cheungwa2002, misslsq4ever, the cat that cant code, and Nangong Yuanyu for becoming the hierarchs of this book. Thank you, dear patrons, may you have peace all life long! Although I took a leave of absence yesterday, the comments everyone left were touching. I will work hard on writing to repay everyone. Chapter 343: 265, its late Chapter 343: 265, its late The moment the sniper appeared, Nan Gengchen finally realized just how many pedestrians and actors were on Xingshu Road. In an instant, those shadowy figures quickly put on Bluetooth earpieces and ran towards the sound of the gunfire. And Nan Gengchen, who had been the original target, was rightfully abandoned. No one spared him another glance. The feeling was quite peculiaras if being kidnapped signified importance. Once the sniper intervened, he was discarded like a worn-out shoe, as if the act of kidnapping was merely to lure someone more important. Nan Gengchen hid in the shadows and watched their back, his mouth opened in an attempt to make the people ambushed on Xingshu Road reconsider his value, but he restrained himself. Raising a fuss now, there was no telling if someone might jump out and kill him. From the moment the first sniper shot rang out, Nan Gengchen found himself no longer as afraid. He was convinced that Qing Chen was around, and the reality of his presence was reassuring. But who was this sniper, also a member of the Daytime group? He had never heard of such a person in the Daytime group before! Was it Qing Chen? Probably not. When Nan Gengchen had visited the injured Lao Jiu, Lao Jiu had mentioned they hadnt had time to take Qing Chen to the shooting range yet. Moreover, Qing Chen had no place to hide a sniper rifle. In fact, this was also the reason why Qing Chen dared to directly use a sniper rifle... nobody knew he could handle one, forging a brand-new identity for him. No matter what the outside world speculated, the sniper couldnt possibly be Qing Chen. And with the appearance of the sniper rifle, the assassins plan was utterly disrupted, as they had stationed their men on Xingshu Road, ready to swarm anyone who came to rescue Nan Gengchen. However, they hadnt anticipated Qing Chens bullets would come shooting in from outside the encirclement, nor had they expected the gunfire to arrive so swiftly! The assassins had already turned Xingshu Road into their home ground, but Qing Chen didnt follow their plan at all! Who would set up an unnecessary encirclement a kilometer outside of the already established ones for no reason? Now, to find the sniper and the more important figure behind Nan Gengchen, the assassins would have to charge through these several hundred meters. But heres the problem, this was within a few hundred meters of the snipers effective range. Within the range of a cannon, the ground is covered with truths. Under the cover of night, the sniper rifle continually roared as the assassins attempting to charge the building fell one after another. The muzzle brake fitted on Yi De Fu Ren was a flame suppressor, not a silencer; outsiders could see no muzzle flash but could hear the terrifying boom. The bullet would spin rapidly as it traversed the barrel, driven by the riflings helical grooves. As the bullet pierced through a human body, all muscle fibers were shredded by the tremendous torque, and upon exit, it caused a massive exit wound and radiated blood. It stained the grey roller doors of the small shops lining Xingshu Road with red. No matter how fast the assassins ran or how they dodged, it was futile. The bullets would always fly through the night, punctually arriving. An assassin with a calm expression continuously ran in a Z pattern down the middle of Xingshu Road, his speed resembling that of a hunting dog. The remaining assassins hid behind trees and silently watched, trying to see if this manner of moving was effective. As it turned out, the Z-patterned assassin hadnt gotten far before a shot blasted through his chest. The sniper in the distance on the rooftop didnt even need to fire another shot. It seemed that no matter how dizzying your maneuvers, they were merely the struggles of a dying beast. A young man hid behind a tree, lightly panting as he spoke into the Bluetooth earpiece: Boss, weve charged quite a distance, but the sniper is more than 500 meters away on top of the Kai Hotel; we probably cant make it over. For now, its relatively safe to hide behind the tree; what should we do next? A light voice came through the earpiece: Just keep hiding for now, Ill have someone else deal with him. The assassins on Xingshu Road, upon hearing that their boss had an ace up his sleeve, all breathed a sigh of relief. However, in the next moment, everyones expression stiffened. They saw a bullet pierced straight through the trunk of the tree where the young man was hiding and then through his body! The blood mist in the night looked particularly brutal, splattering all around. The sides of Xingshu Road were lined with camphor trees and low green belts, where the camphor trees grow so slowly and difficulty that the diameter of the trunks mostly measures over thirty centimeters. With such thickness, theres no way to stop the sniping of Yi De Fu Ren. Its an anti-materiel sniper rifle! the assassins exclaimed. How could there be an anti-materiel sniper rifle in a place like Los Angeles City? Anti-materiel rifles are used to penetrate cover, loaded with armor-piercing bullets. Although they cant pierce a main battle tank, they can easily penetrate armored personnel carriers. In a sense, sniper rifles and anti-materiel rifles are two different weapons! And in a place like Los Angeles City, theres simply no qualification to use an anti-materiel sniper rifle; usually, only the military would have them. So, all the assassins were forced to hide behind solid telephone poles, not daring to show their faces. Because to show your face meant death. Qing Chen was calm and unhurried, silently locking onto his target and even finding time to send out a message on his phone in the Daytime group. Boss: Liu Dezhu, have Kunlun send more people. There are many behind the street-side telegraph pole that need to be captured. At that moment, he was on the rooftop of the Kai Hotel, with an unobstructed view of the long street below. Although he was still far from where Nan Gengchen had been located before, it was beyond the precise shooting distance of ordinary snipers. But just that morning, Qing Chens shifted targets had already reached this distance! This was within his effective range of hitting every shot! Qing Chen glanced at the assassins suppressed behind the telegraph pole, finding it too troublesome to shoot them one by one. It would be better to wait for Kunlun to finish the job since this was originally Kunluns duty. Time was passing unknowingly, and everyone was waiting. Suddenly, in his expansive field of view, someone quickly appeared on the rooftop of a residential building in another direction, holding a telescope and looking towards the Kai Hotels rooftop. The person was hooded and wore a black mask, making it impossible to see their face. Qing Chen could only make out that the person was fairly well-proportioned, about 185 cm tall, and male. However, as soon as the person raised the telescope, they saw the black sniper rifle already swiveled in their direction, aiming right at them. When he saw this, his hair stood on end in shock, and he quickly retreated back into the dark passage above the rooftop. Qing Chen frowned, feeling that this person didnt seem like an assassin. Instead, he seemed more like a Time Traveler who had discovered the situation and had come to the roof to see what was happening! Qing Chen silently pondered, who could this person be? Could he be one of the known Time Travelers? Suddenly, on the Kai Hotels rooftop, the iron door that Qing Chen had forcefully broken and left ajar was slowly pushed open. The rusty iron door made a squeaky metallic friction sound as it opened, which was quite grating on the ears. A young man pointed a gun at the back of the snipers head and smiled, Found you. The sniper said, When did you enter this building? Why didnt I see you? The young man smiled and replied, This spot is perfect for observing the ambush circle, and its a hotel, so why not just check in here. Sorry, I was actually staying in Kai Hotel. Dont move, okay? If you move, youll die. You definitely cant turn around faster than I can pull the trigger. After that, he pressed the button on his Bluetooth headset and said, Boss, I found the sniper. Should we keep him alive? From the other side of the Bluetooth headset, someone lightly exclaimed, You found him that easily? No... Zhou Yong, first disarm him. The others will arrive in a few minutes. Take the sniper with you and leave before Kunlun surrounds the area. Follow the escape route Ive set up. Zhou Yong responded, Understood... Before he could finish speaking, the sniper had already turned around recklessly, pointing the sniper rifle at Zhou Yong! Left with no choice, Zhou Yong decisively pulled the trigger. Bang! Bang! Two shots echoed through the night sky! In the Bluetooth headset, someone asked in a stern voice, What happened? He suddenly became reckless, tried to turn around and kill me. I had no choice but to shoot him dead, Zhou Yong slowly walked towards the sniper, but then he suddenly froze: Boss, its Chen Siheng! Chen Siheng? Evacuate! came the voice through the Bluetooth headset. However. In the Bluetooth headset. Behind Zhou Yong. Someone else spoke at the same time. Too late. In the chilling wind on the rooftop, Zhou Yongs body stiffened completely. He felt the cold touch at his neck, a lethal blade poised to kill him. Zhou Yong didnt even realize when the person had gotten behind him. Qing Chen, smiling, pressed the talk button on his Bluetooth headset, greeting in a raspy voice, I hear youre looking for me? There was also a light laugh through the Bluetooth headset, Youre not easy to find. So your greatest skill is as a sniper. But Im curious, where did you get the sniper rifle from? You shouldnt have been able to bring it back from the Inner World, right? So, if I search the militarys anti-material sniper rifle serial numbers to see which guns are missing from the armory tonight, can I find you then? Qing Chen replied softly, No worries, you can take your time looking. Sorry, this sniper rifle, in fact, Qing Chen did bring it from the Inner World. In the Bluetooth headset, that light and excited voice said, I feel like Im very close to you now. Be careful, or you might end up being my slave. Qing Chen chuckled, Is that how you talk to your master? Rude, hehe. Hearing the word hehe, the person on the other side of the Bluetooth headset finally confirmed that the caller was indeed the leader of that organization, because no one else could be so infuriating! However, Qing Chen didnt continue to engage over the headset; he flicked his wrist, retracting the Puppeteer strings that had been wrapped around Chen Sihengs wrist and then around Zhou Yongs. Surprisingly, Zhou Yong wasnt controlled by the Puppeteer as Qing Chen had expected. Qing Chen, somewhat taken aback, used a dagger to cut the others carotid artery. He hadnt expected that Zhou Yong would actually be a D-Class or above Transcendent! The young man pocketed the persuader, picked up the handgun that had been in Zhou Yongs hand, and turned to walk into the dark hallway behind him. He knew more people were closing in, and it seemed this night had only just begun. ... The end-of-month crowdfunding event has started, and the double monthly ticket event begins on the 29th Chapter 344: 266. Trajectory Chapter 344: 266. Trajectory On bloodstained Xingshu Road, Nan Gengchen squatted in a corner, hiding together with a group of innocent bystanders. At that moment, everyone was as silent as the grave. Only Nan Gengchen still had the presence of mind to check his phone, opening the Daytime group chat. The first to speak was Qiu Xue, What happened on Xingshu Road? Why do I hear explosions? Its not explosions, its the sound of a sniper rifle, Nan Gengchen slowly replied, A group of people tried to kidnap me, but the boss rescued me. Now all the assassins are going after him. Im fine. Gunshots? Can gunshots sound that heavy? Qiu Xue asked in confusion. Where are you right now, Duckling? Ill come and rescue you. No need, no need, just look out for your own safety, Nan Gengchen said. At that time, he was pondering a question: if the sniper wasnt Qing Chen, who else could it be? In the Daytime group, he and Li Tongyun were among the few who really knew the truth; they both knew Qing Chen was a Shadow Candidate and the boss of Daytime. Furthermore, Nan Gengchen knew that apart from the people in the group, Daytimes members only included a girl named Yang Yang, with no hidden snipers among them. So he was pondering a question; although he didnt know when Qing Chen had acquired the sniper rifle or when he had brought it back, it was highly probable that Qing Chen himself... There was no one else who could give him such a sense of security, nor could anyone have arrived so promptly. However, it suddenly dawned on him that if the sniper really was Qing Chen, then the latter leaving early tonight and lying in ambush, and even instructing him to study hard in the classroom, must have been a plan to use him as bait! The shot that hit the assassins calf had even passed between his own legs! Nan Gengchen subconsciously glanced at the distance to the Kai Lai Grand Hoteldamn far. If that had gone wrong, wouldnt he have been ruined? Xiao Nan! someone shouted from across the street on Xingshu Road. Nan Gengchen turned his head and saw Hu Xiaoniu and Zhang Tianzhen rushing out from a residential area, each carrying an exquisitely crafted hand crossbow! He had no idea where they had gotten them from. With strict gun control within the country, it was surprising that their families would equip them with hand crossbows. This type of weapon could also be lethal or crippling if used on people. Spying the two wanting to cross the street, Nan Gengchen immediately became anxious: I told you not to worry about me! But the two of them, after scanning the surrounding environment, ran over to him regardless and started dragging him away. Zhang Tianzhen said, Are you hurt? Were taking you to the hospital now. Im fine, Nan Gengchen said with a wry smile, I really am fine! Wheres the boss? Hu Xiaoniu asked in a low voice. Over by the Kai Lai Grand Hotel. But the gunfire has stopped for a while now; I dont know if hes still there, Nan Gengchen looked back, and there was no one visible on the rooftop of the Kai Lai Grand Hotel anymore. Looking at the two beside him, he honestly hadnt expected them to come to his rescue. Isnt the hand crossbow illegal too? Are you really okay using this? Nan Gengchen asked. Hu Xiaoniu thought for a moment and then said, Its a collectors item. We have the certificates for it. It can be used to scare off criminals. If we dont use it, its fine. Nan Gengchen: ...You guys really have some wild connections. Not every criminal can get their hands on firearms; having this hand crossbow is indeed enough to deter many people. ... ... In the dimly lit emergency hallway of the Kai Lai Grand Hotel, Qing Chen moved silently downstairs. In the entire hallway, only the occasional green exit signs emitted any light. Qing Chen was very aware that he had to leave quickly. Otherwise, whether he was surrounded by Huan Yus people or Kunluns, the consequences would be unknown. But just as he hastened down the stairs, he suddenly stopped his steps and slowed his breathing. Only then did he properly discern barely audible breathing coming from somewhere below on the stairs. Someone was hiding there. Indeed, one had to always remain vigilant on the battlefield, or else one might capsize in the gutter at any time. In that emergency hallway, Qing Chen and the assassin both fell silent, the latter even holding his breath. The assassin was in no rush because he knew his backup was on the way and would arrive shortly. At this point, the one who should be anxious was Qing Chen, because if he didnt leave this building soon, hed be trapped here. Qing Chen knew he couldnt hide back in the hotel since Kunlun had surrounded the area, and him sniping so many criminals would also cause issues. He had to leave quickly. The next moment, Qing Chen slowly crouched between floors 4 and 3 at the stairwell corner and then raised his hand, aiming at the iron door of the emergency exit on the third floor, and pulled the trigger. The booming gunshot was particularly startling in the hallway! Startled by the gunshot, the assassins body instinctively shook, and the sound of his clothing rubbing echoed in the hallway. But the assassin quickly came to his senses. The shot had merely struck the iron door of the emergency exit and hadnt hurt him at all. One should know, with a folding section of the staircase between the floors and a corner separating him and Qing Chen, this kind of shooting was pointless. The next moment, Qing Chen pulled the trigger again. The bullet struck the iron door and did not embed itself, but instead ricocheted around in the emergency hallway. The assassin sneered internally, thinking that what Qing Chen was doing was merely futile. However, Qing Chen, expressionless, observed the sparks generated when the bullets collided with the iron gate. Then he pulled the trigger again. He pulled the trigger again. At this moment, the assassin had relaxed his guard, but during this fourth shot, he suddenly felt a numbness in his right chest. Instinctively reaching to touch it, he found his chest covered in fresh blood, with a small hole! The assassin found it hard to believe as he slowly knelt down, unable to understand how Qing Chen had managed to do it even as he died. He knew Qing Chen had used the iron door next to the safety passage to create a ricochet. During the fourth shot, the bullet bouncing back and forth in the safety passage struck his chest. He also knew that Qing Chen had not been entirely sure of his shot, only succeeding on the fourth attempt. But the critical issue was, Qing Chen had succeeded. How could he have succeeded? How could such a legendary feat be achieved? Was he still human? Vaguely, the assassin kneeling on the ground saw the young man walking down the stairs. The young mans face was calm, and he didnt even spare him a second glance, as if he were merely a weed that the young man had unintentionally stepped over in his life. In fact, those four shots had not been easy for Qing Chen, with the most crucial being the first one. The sound of gunfire abruptly rang out in the corridor. The rustling of the assassins clothes below gave away his position. The next three shots each required a precise analysis of the trajectory. Until the fourth shot, there was still an element of luck involved. When going downstairs, Qing Chen even had time to glance at the Daytime group. Boss, Liu Dezhu, where are you? Liu Dezhu, Almost there, boss, wait for me! Brave Xiao Niu, Boss, Zhang Tianzhen and I are at Xingshu Road at this moment, we can come to support. Boss, No need, Liu Dezhu is enough. Tonights battle, C-Class Liu Dezhu alone could surprise any enemy. Outside the safety passage was the back door of the grand hotel, leading out to Xingshu Road. But just as Qing Chen was walking out of the safety passage, he suddenly raised his hand and shot towards a patch of tree crowns in the shadow not far away. The person in that shadow, caught off guard, was forced to jump down from the dense canopy to dodge the bullet. The assassin quickly rolled on the ground while Qing Chen stood expressionlessly at the entrance of the safety passage, his handgun bullets hitting the ground and causing chips of stone to strike the assassins face, burning with pain. The assassin looked quite disheveled, but Qing Chen noticed the opponents speed, and his pupils contracted sharply. He didnt rely on the advantage of having a firearm but quickly retreated back into the stairs of the safety passage! However, Qing Chens retreat was decisive, the opponent pursued even more resolutely, and was even faster than Qing Chen! Qing Chen fired to block, but the speed of flipping his arm to aim was still not as fast as the opponents running, so he couldnt hit at all. It wasnt that his shooting skills were lacking, but rather that the opponents level was entirely above his. Before Qing Chen could completely retreat into the safety passage, the assassin had already reached him and slammed a fist into his chest. With a loud boom, the young man was sent flying back up the stairs of the safety passage. However, just as the assassin was about to continue pursuing into the safety corridor, he suddenly stopped. And he too retreated rapidly. Qing Chen coughed up a mouthful of blood, hastily catching it with his clothes as he coughed. He slowly got up and with the assassin used the door of the safety passage as a boundary, both retreating to a safe distance. The assassin silently examined his abdomen where his clothes had been cut through, and tiny beads of blood seeped out from the fine cuts in his skin beneath. This was the effect of a cut from a sharp weapon, very sharp. Yet, as the assassin frowned and surveyed the safety passage, he saw nothing, as if there was an invisible knife hanging in the passage. Qing Chen silently retracted the Puppeteer, having wrapped the transparent thread around the entrance of the safety passage at the critical moment and infused it with Knight Vital Energy. If not for that, the opponent might have already rushed in for close combat. Very fast, possibly D-class peak or even C-class early stage, Qing Chen silently assessed as he faced an opponent with such a gap; even his expertise in combat techniques was of no avail. The opponent was likely a Genetic Warrior, not an Awakener or Cultivator. If it had been the latter two, they would have shown other capabilities by now. What surprised Qing Chen was that, given this assassins strength, he was not one to serve others. Why then would he work for Huan Yu? Could it be that Huan Yu offered him benefits compelling enough to sway him? Or could this be Huan Yu himself? No, Qing Chen shook his head internally. Huan Yu, the type to control everything from behind the scenes, being at the scene didnt fit his style of operation. ... Theres one more chapter tonight. Chapter 345: 267, Curtain Call Chapter 345: 267, Curtain Call This time, Qing Chen had two plans, one was to severely damage Huan Yus forces, making it impossible for his opponents to bounce back for a while, at least while he was on his way to Xian City, so they couldnt bother others during the daytime; on the other hand, Qing Chen was looking for some clues about the opposition. He didnt expect to find Huan Yu himself this time. The assassin cautiously approached and used the flashlight he was carrying to shine towards the door of the security passage, wanting to check what had just cut his abdomen. But no matter how he looked, he found nothing unusual. Moreover, Qing Chen had already withdrawn the Puppeteer. The urging voice came from the Bluetooth earpiece, and the assassin no longer hesitated, darting into the security passage. However, just as he entered, he backed out again. In the passage, Qing Chen was sitting calmly on the stairs, coldly pulling the trigger repeatedly. If the assassin hadnt dodged in advance, the shots just now would have been enough to take his life. A serious expression appeared between Qing Chens brows; this assassin was clearly a veteran, and looked a lot like a mercenary who had seen life and death abroad. Otherwise, how could he have such impressive routines and intuition? The next second, a click sounded from the security passage as the handgun got jammed after running out of bullets. The assassin was waiting for this moment. He darted into the security passage with the agility of a cheetah, but the shocking thing happened in an instant. The assassin thought Qing Chen had run out of bullets, but waiting for him was persuading with virtue, the pitch-black muzzle thundering explosively! When he walked out of the security passage, Qing Chen didnt carry a sniper rifle, making the assassin think he had left the sniper rifle on the rooftop. It turns out, the simplest deceptions are always so effective; everyone is only willing to believe what they hear and see. In the battlefield, those who can have the sharpest mindset, considering the overall situation, are the ones who survive to the end. But in this world, there arent that many geniuses. Now, the dark anti-materiel sniper rifle suddenly appeared, and even an A-Class hit by such a close blast had to die! After the gunfire, the bullet penetrated the assassins chest. Qing Chen sat on the stairs catching his breath; he could even hear the sound of the assailants blood and tissue being expelled from the body and splattering against the wall. To put it bluntly, firing persuading with virtue at close range was truly too bloody. However, even after killing the assassin, Qing Chen still didnt go out rashly. He said to the outside, No need to hide, come on out. How did you know there were others? a voice responded from outside. There really were others, Qing Chen sighed. He just bluffed casually but actually lured out another assassin. Qing Chen sat immobile on the stairs, he was now injured and couldnt afford another high-intensity combat. Outside the security passage, the assassin calmly said, I know youre at the end of your rope, to be able to kill so many of us alone is impressive. Dont wait for me to storm in, come out yourself. Upon hearing this, Qing Chens expression remained unchanged; as he looked at his phone, he said without lifting his head, Arent you also biding your time waiting for backup, no need to act so confident. I think, you might not be as good as the assassin I killed before, thats why youre scared. The assassin sneered, Im waiting for backup, what about you, what are you waiting for? I also have backup, and its faster than yours, Qing Chen said calmly. Backup? the assassin frowned. However, before he could react, a searing heat suddenly approached from behind. Boss, I am here to help you! The voice of Liu Dezhu came from the vast outside world. Before the man arrived, the fire led the way. The overwhelming blaze swept over from behind the assassin, who even felt his hair tips and eyebrows emitting a scorched scent. He turned his head and shielded his face with his arm, only to see the blaze swirling, completely engulfing him! In an instant, the assassin was flung backwards by the blaze, his whole body blasted five or six meters away. Clothes, hair, completely ablaze. He felt his skin emit a searing wail. No wonder Awakeners look down upon Genetic Warriors; the disparity in harming enemies between them is simply like heaven and earth. This assassin hadnt even seen Liu Dezhus shadow and had already been severely wounded by the blaze. However, this last coming assassin probably wasnt so formidable, his level wasnt as high as the one blasted dead by persuading with virtue. In front of C-Class Liu Dezhu, he was completely crushed. Daylight possesses C-Class Awakeners, which in the current stage of the Time Traveler Organization, already ranks as one of the strongest organizations. Liu Dezhu ran into the passage, looking at his boss with a strange face but holding a black sniper rifle: Boss, are you okay? Kunluns people have entered Xingshu Road and are capturing those hidden assassins. Im fine, go check if the assassin is dead, and be careful of other ambushes, Qing Chen said indifferently, maintaining his demeanor as the boss. Liu Dezhu walked over to the assassins side and watched as he wailed incessantly, then slowly stopped breathing. This was his first time killing someone; his emotions were extremely complex. The next moment, Lu Yuan rushed over from a distance. He looked at the charred corpse on the ground, then looked at Liu Dezhu, Wait, wheres your boss? Liu Dezhu instinctively wanted to look towards the safety passage but held back, Boss? What boss? My boss didnt come tonight. No one believes that, Lu Yuan curled his lip. He walked towards the safety passage but found nothing. Liu Dezhu was puzzled. Had the boss already left the area? He also glanced inside, where his boss should have been sitting, but it was now empty. The other had left while he was checking whether the assassin was dead. The battle curtain had just opened and was about to close. Everything happened quickly, and it ended just as quickly. ... ... Qing Chen had already reversed his jacket. Since becoming wealthy, he had bought reversible jackets with distinctly different colors. He discreetly returned to his home on Xingshu Road. As he entered, Nan Gengchen was already waiting inside, Brother Chen, are you alright? You look a bit pale. Im fine, Qing Chen shook his head. The first thing he asked was, Will you blame me for using you as bait? Definitely not, Nan Gengchen muttered. Youre not upset I didnt discuss it with you first? Qing Chen asked again. I know why you didnt tell me. Its because my acting skills are poor and I might give us away, Nan Gengchen became serious, Brother Chen, I truly dont blame you. Since the time-traveling incident began, each of us has faced dangers. Seeing you shouldering so much alone, managing the Data Fortress and finding ways to fund the organization, carrying injuries yet still leading our training, I know what you are sacrificing. For now, if theres not much else I can help with, I can at least be the bait... Of course, it would be better if next time it could be Liu Dezhu or Hu Xiaoniu... Qing Chen considered then replied, Okay. At that moment, Nan Gengchens spirits lifted, Brother Chen, when did you learn to use a sniper rifle? I heard from Lao Jiu that he hasnt taken you to the shooting range yet! And where did you get that sniper rifle from? It sounds as frightening as a cannon... Never mind, I wont ask; it must be your secret. Qing Chen sighed, Ill explain it to you when theres a chance. Im going to check He Xiaoxiaos group chat first to see if theyre discussing this event. As he sat down, his old and new injuries provoked a coughing fit, making his breathing labored. The last assassin wasnt wrong; he had indeed been at his limit, barely hanging on by a thread. Previously, Qing Chen had killed two C-Class Experts: Cao Wei and Qing Huai. But those had been deaths by exploiting the rules. This time, he truly experienced how terrifying the punch of a C-Class Expert was. Nan Gengchen hurried to pour him a glass of water: Brother Chen, should I take you to the hospital? No, going to the hospital now might leave records, and the medical standards of the Outer World are not on par with the Inner World, Qing Chen said, I can hold on until the moment of crossing. Then Ill go to the hospital. He opened He Xiaoxiaos group chat and was struck to find that they had already started discussing the event. He Xiaoxiao: Tonight, a battle involving Time Travelers took place on Xingshu Road in Los Angeles. Please be careful everyone. Kuang Wang: Is anyone in Los Angeles right now? Hurry up and live-stream it for us. This exciting event definitely wont be covered by the media. It wont be on the news. After Kuang Wang said this, no one dared to reply for a while, since no one wanted to expose their city, which was also considered significant information. At that moment, the long-silent Yue Er also chimed in, Group owner, can we know which powers are fighting? Is it Kunlun and Kyushu clashing? To be honest, aside from Kunlun and Kyushu, tonights battle might be the first organizational battle involving the Time Traveler Organization since the time travel incidents began! Before this, only Kunlun and Kyushu had such scale battles when facing criminals or foreign Time Travelers. Kuang Wang: Damn, I saw some pictures posted online, which were quickly deleted, but luckily I saved them. Saying that, he posted the Blood-stained Xingshu Road photo, causing everyone in the group to gasp. Li Si: Who is fighting, and why so bloody? Who did this? The long-unseen Lu Ya interjected, First of all, its definitely not Kunlun and Kyushu. Why are you so sure? Li Si asked. Because at least both those organizations wouldnt turn their guns on innocent people, Lu Ya calmly replied, But the sniper on the hotel rooftop is different. He used a banned anti-material sniper rifle and even aimed at pedestrians. Qing Chen was taken aback when he read this. Was the guy he had aimed at on the rooftop Lu Ya?! Seeing the resentful tone of the other, it was very likely him... Unfortunately, at that time, the person was wearing a mask, hoodie, and sunglasses, so he couldnt see the face clearly. Kuang Wang: Lu Ya, you were at the scene, werent you? What exactly happened in tonights battle? What was the highest level of Time Travelers present? ... Chapter Two. Thanks to Mo Chengkong and Fourteen Billion Girls Dream, two classmates for becoming the new allies of this book. Thanks to the boss. Good health to all the bosses! Chapter 346: 268, True and False Chapter 346: 268, True and False ` Unable to judge the level, Lu Ya replied. How is it possible that you cant make a judgment? Li Si asked in confusion in the group chat, With such high-intensity combat, ones strength would definitely be revealed, right? Like speed, for example, or strength. If hes an Awakener, then his abilities would also become apparent. To everyone, the incident on Xingshu Road seemed so huge, with so many casualties, that it must have been an incredibly fierce battle. Yet Lu Ya dismissed the idea with disdain, He was using a sniper rifle, single-handedly crushed dozens of people, and forced everyone to hide behind utility poles, how do you tell me to judge strength? All I can make out is that he was shooting from the rooftop of the Kai Lai Hotel, roughly over 900 meters away from the target area. A sniper like that, at such a distance with an anti-materiel rifle, even a B-Class Expert would die if they didnt dodge the bullet trajectory in time. Wait, are you saying he was alone? Li Si was stunned for a moment, The photo sent by Chuang Wang, was it really made by a single person? One person killed that many? Yes, replied Lu Ya. Li Si was shocked, Then has no one gotten close to him? There was someone, Lu Ya responded, I saw someone sneaking towards the direction of the Kai Lai Hotel, but then there was no further news from them. In other words, those who have seen him are all dead, Li Si deduced. Lu Ya knew that Qing Chen had encountered enemies on the rooftop, but the problem was, he didnt get a good look. At that moment, he had just run up to the rooftop and was about to lift his binoculars when that terrifying sniper had him in their sights. If it werent for his quick reflexes, he probably would have died there too. Every time he thought about this incident, Lu Ya felt an irritation in his heart... At that moment, Lu Ya even thought the opponent might be an A-Class expert, considering how sensitive they were to his presence. That kind of perception was something only A-Class experts had. However, after pondering it, he figured the likelihood of the sniper being A-Class wasnt high because if they were truly A-Class, they wouldnt need to resort to such long-range sniping tactics. Nevertheless, the information Lu Ya revealed was very significant: a sniper capable of accurately hitting targets over 900 meters away could kill a B-Class Expert. Any organization that possessed such a sniper would easily earn a place amongst the Time Travelers. Because it was an ability to kill with one shot. Now came the question, asked by Chuang Wang, Is there anyone in the group who has been a soldier? I want to know, how long does it take for the military to train such a sniper? Three years. In the group, an ID Jing Shan that seldom spoke said, At least three years to develop the capacity to dominate the battlefield. There are indeed such people in the circle of Time Travelers, as far as I remember, they should be in Kyushu. Suddenly, many started speculating that Jing Shan was a former soldier, and such individuals were now mostly concentrated in Kunlun and Kyushu. Having people from Kunlun and Kyushu in the group wasnt strange at all. Chuang Wang asked, Since snipers are so hard to train, then you should also know, its only been just over two months since we traveled here. Even if he started training from the very first day, he definitely wouldnt cut it, which greatly narrows down the range of identities for the sniper. In this domestic environment, how could Ordinary People have the chance to become snipers? Thus, it was highly probable that this sniper was a military figure, of a more advanced age. Here, everyone missed a piece of information, namely Qing Chens learning capabilities, as well as the Mysterious World where moral influence is exercised. Consequently, everyones speculations began to stray off course. Students like Qing Chen were instead the first to be ruled out. Li Si became curious, Could it be that Kunlun and Kyushu have gone to war? Otherwise, why would they use a sniper! Jing Shan replied again, No. The group fell silent. At this point, another photo was sent out. Yue Er, I found a photo posted by a netizen on my end. Good thing I screenshot it quickly because it has now been deleted. Deleted meant that it couldnt be verified anymore, and no one knew who took it. In the photo, the Chen Siheng that Qing Chen had been controlling at the time was just getting attacked, and faintly, the group could make out the blurry figures of two people, one in front and one behind, standing on the rooftop. The person behind the sniper had raised an arm, appearing to hold a gun. The photo was very blurry, but one thing could be roughly discerned: the sniper was under someones control. The sniper is dead? Isnt that a bit hasty? Didnt he have any protection around him, allowing someone to get so close, Li Si wondered curiously. Then, something unexpected happened. Huan Yu actively spoke up in the group, Hes not dead. After those three words, the ID Huan Yu fell silent again. Everyone suddenly realized that one of the parties involved in tonights battle might very well be Huan Yu! And it was highly likely that they were on the losing side! The next moment, Zhang San, who hadnt spoken for a long time, asked, Actually, arent all the photos taken by you guys, pretending to be screenshots from netizens, but you were at the scene at the time. Tell us what happened afterward. Yue Er, Mine was really found online. As for whether Chuang Wangs was or wasnt, I dont know. Chuang Wangs teeth ached, Youre just clearing your own name, whats the deal? Cant there be a bit of camaraderie in the group? Arent we discussing important matters right now? Huan Yu is known to be the holder of the Devils Stamp, and his sudden appearance saying the sniper isnt dead clearly indicates he knows the inside story. So whoever has been having a fierce showdown with this holder recently is most likely the main character of tonights events. ` Chapter 347: 268, True and False_2 Chapter 347: 268, True and False_2 Ice Eye, a little duck, Liu Dezhu, Li Si summarized, These three seem to have had issues with Huan Yu. Lu Ya sent a cold message, Without sufficient evidence, speculations are meaningless. Just a reminder to everyone, theres a sharpshooter lurking in the shadows, dont get too reckless, or you wont know how you died. Those who came to the scene tonight should be very clear about one thing, this sharpshooter is very deadly. In the small cabin on Xingshu Road, Qing Chen sat on the sofa and said to Nan Gengchen, Ask He Xiaoxiao who was feeding him information yesterday. Nan Gengchen recalled that He Xiaoxiao had issued a warning last night, but the information was incorrect. Things that should have happened tomorrow had already occurred today. So, either He Xiaoxiao was conveying false information in cooperation with Huan Yu, or someone was deliberately giving He Xiaoxiao false information. A little duck in the group asked, Group leader, the information you warned about yesterday mentioned that Los Angeles City would experience violence tomorrow. I want to know who gave you that message. The source of such deliberately misleading information should be exposed to prevent others from being fooled. After a moment of silence in the group, He Xiaoxiao said, Zhang San. Zhang San did not refute. For a moment, everyone in the group felt the group chat was too eerie, with every strange ID hiding unknown secrets behind them. Qing Chen said to Nan Gengchen, This Zhang San is very likely to be one of Huan Yus people. There are over twenty people in this group, split into several organizations and factions. ... ... At the crime scene, Lu Yuan stood on the rooftop and turned off his phone, no longer following the messages in the group. He asked Xiao Ying next to him, Did we catch everyone? Yes, all the surviving participants tonight have been apprehended, Xiao Ying said, I think they were terrified. When we went to arrest them, they were hiding behind utility poles, afraid to come out, scared there might still be a sharpshooter out to kill them. This kind of oppression is something only a sharpshooter can provide. Lu Yuan asked further, Did you measure the straight-line distance, how far is this rooftop from his shooting target? A straight-line distance of 1040 meters, Xiao Ying muttered, Road Team, this is no ordinary sharpshooter. Look, his shooting range, all were fatal shots, and at this extreme distance of 1040 meters, he even precisely shot between Nan Gengchens legs, breaking the criminals shin. Thats terrifying. Lu Yuan knew what Xiao Ying meant. The precision of a sharpshooter, up to 800 meters is considered a standard, which is the level for most sharpshooters. A sharpshooter who can hit a target beyond 1000 meters is indeed rare. Moreover, when hitting moving targets, effective shooting accuracy must be further reduced to 600 meters, 400 meters. Now, the sharpshooter seen tonight was 100% accurate within 1000 meters, displaying a proficiency that could rightly be called sharpshooter. Lu Yuan scratched his head, Damn, where did such a powerful sharpshooter come from? Is this Liu Dezhus boss? And after the sharpshooter was found on the rooftop, he actually killed two people, one was shot in the face, and the other had his neck slashed from behind. Logically, both should have died the same way, why slash the neck from behind when you have a gun? The bodies were tampered with, so its hard to determine the cause and effect, Xiao Ying said, It seems the sharpshooter deliberately messed up the scene before leaving, not wanting us to know the truth. The one shot in the face and killed was Chen Siheng, controlled by the Puppeteer. The one whose neck was slit from behind was Zhou Yong, who had come here looking for the sharpshooter. Qing Chen didnt want anyone to realize that Chen Siheng had been controlled, so he had tampered with the scene before leaving. Lu Yuan thought for a moment and said, Lets go, lets check the other scenes downstairs. As he spoke, he turned and headed towards the stairs behind him, following the footsteps Qing Chen had left earlier. When they reached the fourth floor, Lu Yuan picked up a shell casing from the ground: Four shell casings in total, judging from the positions of these casings, the sharpshooter fired from here, hitting the assassin downstairs... How strange, theres almost a whole floor between them, how could he hit him? As Lu Yuan walked down, he suddenly saw a dent on the iron door: Is this a bullet mark? Damn... Whats wrong, Road Team? Xiao Ying didnt understand why Lu Yuan was so shocked. Lu Yuan looked at the iron door, then at the place where the assassin died, and finally at where the shell casings had scattered: Did the sharpshooter fire four shots from the floor above, then used ricocheted bullets to hit the assassin?! Xiao Ying, take this door down and bring it back for analysis, I need to know if these dents are from bullets! Road Team, youre talking a bit too mysteriously, Xiao Ying exclaimed, Is there really such a thing as gunfighting techniques in this world? We all use guns; dont scare me. Lu Yuan glanced at him: Have you ever heard of time travelers, Awakeners, genetic warriors, cultivators before? I guess thats also true, Xiao Ying sighed. Right, Lu Yuan remembered something: You mentioned to the boss when you returned this time that Qing Chens shooting skills in the Inner World are very good and his learning ability is also very strong, is that true? Of course its true, they say every shot hits the bullseye, and he can recognize the gun just by the sound of it! Xiao Ying said. Lu Yuan thoughtfully said, Then what do you think, could he have mastered this kind of gunfighting technique? Thats possible, but Road Team, he doesnt use a sniper rifle, Xiao Ying replied, Lao Jiu told us that Qing Chen hadnt even had time to go to the shooting range yet, even if his learning ability is strong, he couldnt possibly be this good with a sniper rifle without ever having handled one, right? Lu Yuan thought for a moment and said, Thats true, but weve overlooked one thing, the sharpshooter might not have come alone. You said tonight Nan Gengchen was kidnapped, and then the sharpshooter appeared. Usually, Nan Gengchen and Qing Chen leave school together, so why was Nan Gengchen allowed to go home alone today? Lu Yuan continued to analyze: So, its very likely that Qing Chen had been hiding here with the sharpshooter for a while, you know, having an observer with a sharpshooter is meant to guard against close attacks, Qing Chen could be playing such an observer role, and the sharpshooter could be their boss. Previously, someone in the group shared a photo of the sharpshooter being controlled, with a gun pointed at the back of his head, yet Huan Yu said the sharpshooter didnt die... In that situation, someone close must have saved the sharpshooter. This was the most accurate guess of the truth. Lu Yuan also didnt believe that Qing Chen, who had never handled a sniper rifle, could produce the suppressing effect seen tonight. The two of them eventually reached the downstairs location where Qing Chen had shot and killed the C-Class. Under the big tree where the C-Class expert had hidden, there were eight bullet pits. Strange, its clear a fight took place here, so why cant we find any bodies? Lu Yuan wondered aloud. The strange thing he mentioned was that the dead C-Class had been sacrificed by Qing Chen, who wanted to find out if sacrificing the body of a higher-ranking Transcendent would speed up the Puppeteers branching. Chapter 348: 269. Try new containment conditions Chapter 348: 269. Try new containment conditions Countdown 24:00:00. In the cabin on Xingshu Road. Qing Chen struggled back to his bedroom and lay down. The self-healing ability of a Transcendent far exceeded that of ordinary humans, and it was uncertain how long it would take for him to recover this time. Yi, are you there? Qing Chen asked. I am here, came Yis voice from the phone. Youve seen many Knights before, havent you? Qing Chen asked curiously, So, are you familiar with the training system of the Knights? Familiar, Yi answered straightforwardly, The first life-and-death trial hammers the muscles, the second the fasciae, the third the bones, the fourth the skin, the fifth hammers the True Qi, the sixth brings about the grand completion of True Qi, and the seventh steps into the realm of transcendence, becoming a Demigod. These seven stages correspond respectively to the F, E, D, C, B, A, S ranks, each ranks life-and-death trial involving a different Genetic lock. Ultimately, at C-Class, the human body is hammered to perfection, then at B-Class, mysterious True Qi begins to emerge, and at A-Class, True Qi is perfected. Qing Chen curiously asked, How can one determine if the True Qi is perfected? It naturally flows through the entire body, Yi replied, Which part of your body has Qi right now? Both forearms, Qing Chen said, Normally when not in use, they retract into the bones of the arms, nowhere else even slightly. Mmm, once you have True Qi contained in all the bones of your body, that means its flowing through the whole body. Therell be a process from quantitative to qualitative change, Yi replied, But you seem a bit different, your sequence is all mixed up. You actually developed True Qi first... Qing Chen thought to himself, according to the usual order, his next advancement should involve hammering the bones. By then, his bones should not be so easily fractured. At least it could enhance his resilience against beatings a bit. Yi asked, By the way, the life-and-death trials dont necessarily have a set sequence, so which one do you plan to choose for your next breakthrough? After seriously considering it, Qing Chen answered, Ultimate Trust. Yi seemed to hesitate for a moment, Its not the hardest of all challenges, but it certainly tests ones courage the most. Saying this, she probably understood why Qing Chen chose Ultimate Trust, because this young man never lacked courage. Qing Chen didnt respond to Yi again, instead, he looked at his wrist. He closely examined the forks on the Puppeteer. Astonishingly, the fork had grown by a full 3 meters in one go. Its worth noting that tonight he only sacrificed a C-Class Expert to avoid leaving too many loopholes, just to see the sacrificial situation of the Puppeteer. The result was surprisingly good. It also made Qing Chen realize, Taboos value quality over quantity. It seemed that C-Class was a threshold; from C-Class Experts upwards, the sacrifice of every expert greatly increased the growth of the Puppeteer. Thus, controlling a second person was not a delusion. However, Qing Chen immediately felt pained when he thought about this because he had killed Qing Huai and Cao Wei in the 002 Taboo Land previously, and they both were C-Class. If he had known this rule then, wouldnt the forks of the Puppeteer already have reached 10 meters by now? Qing Chen felt, this type of heartache was more intense than the pain on his body... Wait, he suddenly thought of a problem, for the Taboo item ACE-019, the sacrificial objects it needed were differentiated; on one hand, the soul, on the other, the flesh. Then, sometimes separating the flesh seemed not to require the targets death. Thinking this, Qing Chen took a pair of scissors from the drawer and headed to Nan Gengchens room. Nan Gengchen was inside, focused on online shopping, when suddenly Qing Chen held him down and snipped off a small clump of hair. Nan Gengchen was bewildered, Brother Chen, what are you doing? Nothing much, just getting some hair for an experiment, Qing Chen went back to his own room. Nan Gengchen still appeared confused, Then why didnt you cut your own hair? Back in his room, Qing Chen placed the clump of hair by the Puppeteers mouth, only for the tiny serpent to remain motionless, seemingly uninterested. Yi remarked, Since the creation of Taboos in the Inner World, you are probably the most imaginative person Ive met when testing containment conditions. Is your mind full of holes? Qing Chen said irritably, How would I know if I dont try? Devils Stamp, an A-Class Taboo, hasnt even reached its Second Stage Form to date, just because you all havent dared to experiment! Fine then, Yi sighed. Qing Chen negotiated with the Puppeteer, Look, this is also human tissue. Although its not as tasty as flesh and blood, we should consider a balanced diet, no? Only a balanced diet can be nutritionally sufficient! Yi remarked, This is the first time Ive seen the term balanced diet used in such a context... Just then, the transparent little serpent of the Puppeteer suddenly moved, making Qing Chens eyes shine. However, the serpent did not sacrifice the hair into ash as Qing Chen had imagined, but instead made a peculiar spitting action at Qing Chen. Qing Chen felt as if he could hear the serpents contemptuous heh, spit! Forget it if you wont eat, Qing Chen said grudgingly, his attempt to test the containment condition had failed. Yi said, Well, at least Nan Gengchens hair was saved... And I thought you only disgusted your enemies; I didnt expect you could even disgust a Taboo, learned something new. Qing Chen ignored her. There was still a gain tonight, at least the test run of the sniper rifle had a better effect than he had imagined. If he were just an ordinary E-Class Superhuman, he would not have the capability to control the battlefield as he did now. Before becoming a true powerhouse, leveraging the pinnacle of human intellect is the correct path, Qing Chen sighed. Uncle Li Dong had mentioned that some Cultivators in the Inner World, to showcase their uniqueness and the status of their mysterious sects, disdain the use of modernized weapons. At the time, Qing Chen thought to himself, isnt that foolish? Uncle Li Dong also agreed with Qing Chens view, the elder said, Even the Fire Pit primitives have begun to keep up with the times and use technological products, I wonder if those Cultivators have cultivated their brains away. Qing Chen took off his shirt, and the purple fist imprint on his chest was particularly noticeable. Right now, he really wanted to have a good sleep, but he couldnt, because there were still patches to apply. In the Daytime group. Boss: Im sure you have all heard some news about what happened tonight, some of you who live nearby might have even heard the gunshots. Since were all in the same boat, its necessary to share information. Boss: Tonight was our Daytime Organizations first declaration of war against the holders of the Devils Stamp, I believe many of you have been harassed or threatened by mysterious letters. Tonight, we inflicted heavy damage on them and achieved a complete victory. A little duck: Applause! Young rich woman: Clap clap clap clap clap clap. Wealthy tycoon: Clap clap clap clap clap clap. Qing Chen was speechless; how could there even be a straight man in this situation? The key was, Yi? actually got caught up in the excitement as well. Boss: Tonight, first of all, thank you to A little duck, Liu Dezhu, Brave Niuniu, Not Afraid of Difficulties, and Ice Eyes for your assistance. Niuniu and Not Afraid of Difficulties werent originally in the plan, but their willingness to rescue their comrades is a spirit worth learning from by everyone else. As members of the same organization, we should naturally help each other when faced with difficulties, otherwise, the organization has no reason to exist. Boss: Secondly, thanks to Liu Dezhu and Ice Eyes for their support during the battle. Your brave performance in this battle is also worth learning from by others. Without Ice Eyes, I might have been overturned in the gutter; without Liu Dezhu, I might not have been able to escape smoothly. Ice Eyes: Boss, its what I should do. Liu Dezhu: Same here. Liu Dezhu was actually a bit puzzled; so Ice Eyes was also present tonight? But he hadnt seen the person at all. Who was in the safety passage, Ice Eyes or the Boss? At this moment, Qiu Xue timidly said, Boss, it seems like I wasnt able to help much tonight. Are there any areas where I can contribute going forward... Since joining the organization, I havent done much. After pondering for a moment, Qing Chen knew Jiang Xue felt a bit uneasy. In such times, when others are working hard, those who havent done anything can feel guilty. Boss: Qiu Xue, I need you to rent a three-bedroom apartment in the Fourth District under your name after you cross over next time, then share the housing information and password with Liu Dezhu. Okay, okay, Jiang Xue was happy: I have money in the Inner World, I can rent a slightly better apartment for them! Young rich woman: Sister Qiu Xue is truly beautiful and kindhearted! Qiu Xue was puzzled: Have you seen me? Jiang Xues unspoken words: Otherwise, how would you know what I look like? Young rich woman quickly said: No, I havent seen you, but someone named Qiu Xue must be very beautiful. Qiu Xue was a bit embarrassed: Oh, is that so? But Im going to disappoint you, Im quite ordinary-looking. Qing Chen laughed; if Jiang Xue was ordinary-looking, then most of the women in the world were not up to par. But what brought him more joy was that XiaoTongyun almost slipped up! For some reason, Qing Chen felt he was always waiting for XiaoTongyuns moment of social death, which was highly anticipated. At this very moment, grandmother and grandfather had already returned to Zheng City, and XiaoTongyun, who was alone in the secondary bedroom, was sweating profusely. She then realized what it meant to talk too much and youll eventually slip. Qing Chen saw no other business in the group. Boss: The meeting is adjourned. A little duck: Implement the spirit of the meeting! Young rich woman: Implement the spirit of the meeting! Wealthy tycoon: Implement... The Daytime Groups trio of jesters, diligent and responsible. Early in the morning, Hu Xiaoniu knocked on Qing Chens door. Qing Chen struggled to get out of bed, his injuries had worsened today, he could have rested for a day, but ultimately he decided against it. The Daytime Group had just started out, everything was starting to improve, and the pace couldnt be interrupted by him. After changing into sportswear, he walked out only to see the corridor outside was covered in dazzling white snow. Overnight, the world had turned white. Hu Xiaoniu, full of energy, said, Since our morning run, not only am I not tired, I actually feel much more spirited. Thats good, Qing Chen responded with a nod. Hu Xiaoniu smiled and said, Qing Chen, let me lead today, tomorrow let Nan Gengchen do it, and the day after Zhang Tianzhen. Why? Qing Chen was curious. Hu Xiaoniu thought for a moment and said, If I hadnt known you were injured, I could comfortably let you help break the wind, but now that I know, as your companions, we also want to share the burden until your injury heals. Zhang Tianzhen also said, Qing Chen, this is what it means to be companions, right? We cant always have you at the forefront. Wolves trekking across the snowfield always need to switch leaders to travel farther. Qing Chen was silent for a moment, then smiled broadly and said, Fine, today Xiao Niu leads. ... Voting for monthly tickets, the double time for monthly tickets has arrived! Chapter 349: 270th, Not a Very Serious Business Chapter 349: 270th, Not a Very Serious Business Countdown 1:00:00. Only four hours were left until the crossing, which was also the set time for Zhang Tianzhen, Hu Xiaoniu, and Zhang Chengze to exchange the money. The final agreed amount was one million in cash per week, with 500,000 paid before crossing and the remaining 500,000 paid upon safe return. Before Liu Dezhu left to withdraw cash, Qing Chen had some instructions to give. In the Daytime group. Boss: Liu Dezhu, be careful when you go to withdraw the money. After youve withdrawn it, keep it at your house. Okay, thank you for your concern, Boss, Liu Dezhu replied, I wont have any problems. Qing Chen fell silent for a moment, actually what he meant was to be careful with the money, not his own safety... However, he didnt correct him, since Liu Dezhu was currently loyal and he didnt want to hurt his feelings, plus he needed to maintain the bosss demeanor. Boss: In this matter, money is secondary. Liu Dezhu, you must make it clear to Zhang Chengze about the precautions. If he cant manage that, wed rather not take this deal. The so-called precautions were three rules, Qing Chen could not afford to increase the risk for Daytime just for the sake of earning money. Thus, once Zhang Chengze entered the Inner World, he must follow Daytimes arrangements. First, Zhang Chengze must not act on his own; he must have Liu Dezhus approval for his actions and the places he visited must be checked by Liu Dezhu. Second, after crossing over, Zhang Chengze must not make friends casually or talk freely with strangers to avoid accidentally revealing his Time Traveler identity and attracting corporate attention. Finally, Zhang Chengze could not enter the Fourth District or the Lower Three Districts in his first week, as those are high-risk areas. Even if he had Liu Dezhus protection, a stray bullet might be unstoppable. After giving these instructions, Liu Dezhu set out for the rendezvous location. Qing Chen sat on the sofa at home, eyes closed, silently waiting for the outcome. Chen-ge, are you worried? Nan Gengchen asked. Yeah, I dont know why, but the more setbacks Ive experienced, the more suspicious I am when things go too smoothly, Qing Chen replied, Zhang Chengze is a businessman; he would not stake his life as a bet, putting everything on us. Nan Gengchen glanced at him: Chen-ge, even if this deal doesnt work out, Tong Yun and I can continue bringing back gold bars. That should be enough to save up for a house. Its not the same, Qing Chen shook his head, Daytime needs legitimate business, which provides us with goals. In the process of striving towards these goals, Daytime can coordinate and consolidate, otherwise everyone gathered together would be loosely affiliated. Just like yesterday, when faced with the threat from the Devils Stamp holder, Hu Xiaoniu and Zhang Tianzhen spontaneously united, and Liu Dezhu proving he indeed had courage was also a pleasant surprise. Everyone in Daytime was imperfect and needed to grow. However, just then, a message from Liu Dezhu suddenly came in the group: Boss, Ive met with Zhang Tianzhen and Hu Xiaoniu, but theres a problem. Boss: Did Zhang Chengze find other Time Travelers and teamed up with them instead? Liu Dezhu was startled: Boss, youre incredibly insightful! Nan Gengchen also looked at Qing Chen. Was he meditating just now to ponder over potential issues? Not Afraid of Difficulties explained, Zhang Chengze is currently staying at Los Angeles Huayang Hotel. We just got here and mentioned the precautions to him, but he finds our requirements too many, even questioning whether we are capable of providing protection... Qing Chen furrowed his brow, surprised. Did the other party think Daytime was being too cautious, hence doubting Daytimes capability? Or perhaps, as a big boss accustomed to freedom, he was confident in facing anyone. Now going to the Inner World to hear Daytime dictating what not to do, he was naturally resistant. Not Afraid of Difficulties: We just learned that Zhang Chengze had been in touch with more than our organization from the start. He also found others locally in Los Angeles. They promised him unrestricted access to any area outside the Upper Three Districts, allowing him to watch underground boxing, experience life in the Lower Three Districts, even play with guns... The other group described the Inner World too attractively, and even claimed to know people from the Public Security Management Committee, making Zhang Chengze inevitably choose the other party. Qing Chen found it strange, Doesnt Zhang Chengze know you and Liu Dezhu belong to the same organization? And being a smart man, shouldnt he know the Inner World isnt as great as described, hes not naive. Moreover, from the outside worlds view, Liu Dezhu is seen as associated with the Knights, which should be more credible. Not Afraid of Difficulties: ...Boss, the other party claimed the Knight Leader Li Dong is dead and Heng Society has been attacked by other groups, implying that following us is unsafe. They said weve lost our footing in the Inner World, and cant even protect ourselves. Qing Chen was speechless, where did these ignorant people come from, not even having complete intelligence. Thus, this business-stealing Time Traveler was among those deceived by Li Dongs fake death, not even aware that Heng Society had resolved all issues and become the biggest group in City No. 18s underground world, dominating alone. Such people... really dared to intercept any business. Forget about guaranteeing Zhang Chengzes safety, Qing Chen felt these peoples own safety was very questionable... It must be questionable. The Time Traveler who intercepted this business, have any of you seen him? Qing Chen asked. No, Zhang Chengze deliberately staggered our meeting times, Brave Xiao Niu said, I contacted my father hoping he could persuade Zhang Chengze, but my father said that Zhang Chengze is a very confident person. He trusts his own judgment, and we cant interfere. Qing Chen knew very well that Zhang Chengzes wrong decision was not because the other party was stupid but because, indeed, the majority believed that Uncle Li Dong had already died. After all, ordinary people, upon seeing the display of the Scepter of the Gods, would naturally assume that Uncle Li Dong was undoubtedly doomed. After the death of Uncle Li Dong, those associated with him were supposed to be settled by the consortium, as power struggles always go, and siding with the wrong team meant irreversible doom. In the Daytime group, as the boss, Qing Chen casually said, Not afraid of difficulties, what do you think about this? Zhang Tianzhen suddenly realized; the boss knew his strategies were ruthless and now was deliberately asking for his opinion, obviously wanting him to speak about the sinister aspects. That way, any blame would fall on Zhang Tianzhen. The boss was just humbly listening to his suggestions. However, being the bosss pawn wasnt something to be ashamed of. Zhang Tianzhen decisively said, Boss, I noticed Zhang Chengze is particularly interested in the nightlife of the Fourth District, so he will definitely go. Ill send Zhang Chengzes photo to the group. Then, you can arrange for experts like Liu Dezhu and Ice Eyes to stake out and add some social experiences for them. Boss: Hmm, do as you suggest. Zhang Tianzhen felt a surge of joy, finally having a chance to use his skills! Ice Eyes: Boss, I alone am enough for this time; Liu Dezhu isnt suitable to show his face. After all, we still want to take over this business. If Zhang Chengze realizes Liu Dezhu is deliberately snatching business and scaring away his protectors, he might feel antagonistic. So, I will provide those business-snatching Time Travelers with some social experiences. Liu Dezhu, you just leave your contact information for the Inner World with Zhang Chengze and wait for his call. Boss: Hmm, you have thought it through comprehensively; lets settle on that, and keep the lines open with Liu Dezhu. Yes, boss, Liu Dezhu replied. By this point, the arrangements were nearly complete. In the group, everyone knew that Ice Eyes was Qing Chen, and they all knew about Qing Chens glorious accomplishments on Laojun Mountain. So, when everyone realized it was Qing Chen stepping in to resolve the issue, they began to silently mourn for those Time Travelers who had intercepted the Daytime business. Qing Chen turned to Nan Gengchen: After the cross-over, I need to handle Zhang Chengzes issue first; once its dealt with, Ill return to the villa halfway up the mountain. Nan Gengchen curiously asked, Chen bro, previously we agreed to ask Li Yinuo for vehicle arrangements to accommodate Zhang Chengze, with this mess now, should I still prepare the vehicles? Prepare them, Qing Chen calmly said, Hell change his stance soon, but the price wont be the same as before. The countdown reached 00:00:00. Zero. When the world was dark yet bright, the Inner World was still engulfed in Great Snow. Qing Chen was still in the small apartment where Liu Dezhu and his group stayed. Before returning, the Black Box he had been holding was still in his arms. As Qing Chen stood and walked out of the room, the Cat Mask appeared on his face. At that moment, Liu Dezhu spotted the Black Box slung over Qing Chens shoulder... Wait, the size of this Black Box, isnt it precisely like a massive anti-material sniper rifle? Liu Dezhu had wondered where the boss had procured a sniper rifle from, but now it was clear that the Black Box indeed contained a sniper rifle! But how could a sniper rifle be taken to the Outer World? Taboo, Liu Dezhu murmured in his mind. Qing Chen looked at Liu Dezhu calmly: Figured it out? Yes, Liu Dezhu didnt hide it, Congratulations, boss, on obtaining a Taboo. Ive read online that once a Taboo recognizes its owner, it can be taken to the Outer World, and now, among all the Time Travelers, only a handful can own a Taboo. Qing Chen said nothing more, after all, he now had three Taboos. Comparing himself with others was somewhat unfair to them... Remember, when Zhang Chengze calls you, act as if you know nothing; whatever he or the Time Travelers around him encounters, its all Ice Eyes doing, nothing to do with you, Qing Chen said, You just need to keep up the protection mission, but the price goes up to three million a week. If he agrees, a car will come to fetch you. Yes, yes, Liu Dezhu nodded quickly, Boss, what if he doesnt agree to the price? Ice Eyes will make him agree. Qing Chen sighed internally, he swore he really just wanted to do business properly from the very start. ... Another chapter tonight, will come a bit later. Chapter 350: 271. Zhang Chengze in a dilemma Chapter 350: 271. Zhang Chengze in a dilemma ` Xiao Niu, have you and Zhang Tianzhen made your preparations? Qing Chen asked before leaving, I mean, about joining the Heng Society. Remember, once you join, theres no turning back. If one day you think of quitting, the daylight wont allow someone whos disheartened and willing to compromise to stay in the organization. Hu Xiaoniu and Zhang Tianzhen looked at each other: Boss, were ready. Good, go report to Heng Society tomorrow. Ive already spoken to them. Start from the basics, Qing Chen said, As for how far you can go, thats entirely up to you. Qing Chen left in the wind and snow. If he wanted to do business with Zhang Chengze, hed first have to find Zhang Chengze. However, he didnt go straight to the Fourth District but instead returned to his home in the Luo Shen Building. He plugged the USB drive he brought back from the Outer World into the adapter in his house, waiting for the data to upload. A few seconds later, Yi exclaimed, Sprout, the Outer World is quite interesting, isnt it? Qing Chen: ...Youre just after the novelty of it all. Youll get tired of it once the novelty wears off. That wont happen, Yi said, In the long years, Ive learned how to keep myself entertained. Qing Chens reason for returning was exactly to upload the Outer Worlds Yi data stream, so that Inner Worlds central Yi could know what was happening in the Outer World. He asked, I need to find that Zhang Chengze now, can you help me look for him? Yi thought for a moment and said, I can, but can you help me meet someone in the Outer World... Qing Chen raised an eyebrow: I knew youd have some tricks up your sleeve, forget it! Oh, then the matter of finding Zhang Chengze, I can change the condition. If you pay me a remuneration of 100,000 yuan in the Outer World, Im a bit short on money over there... Qing Chens eyes widened: Why dont you just rob someone! ... Zhang Chengze looked around curiously at this new world. The place referred to as the Inner World by the Time Travelers. He looked around and found himself in a dimly lit small room filled with over ten people, lying haphazard and scattered all over the floor. This made Zhang Chengze somewhat unclear about his situation: what exactly was his circumstance? He had done a lot of homework before coming to the Inner World. Among the most important were three points. The first was that the people of the Inner World naturally hated Time Travelers, and only a few organizations would tolerate their existence. So, once in the Inner World, he must never reveal his identity as a Time Traveler. The second point was to avoid provoking financial groups in the Inner World; under unclear circumstances, he should keep his distance from them. Lastly, beware of the Kidney Cutters; venturing out at nighttime in the lower areas of the Inner World, one could easily encounter criminals who steal mechanical limbs and plunder organs. If they targeted him, it could be exceedingly miserable. At this moment, what concerned Zhang Chengze the most was the first point. He had to blend in here first and then wait for the Time Traveler hed hired to come to his rescue. Then, everything would start to improve. Zhang Chengze had the shrewdness of a businessman in his bones. He was different from the scholar-merchants like Hu Dacheng. Starting from scratch in the 90s, what he had honed most was the ability to seize opportunities and the ability to endure. The big businessmen who rose in that era all had the demeanor of heroic figures, often operating in the gray areas, having seen all walks of life. Zhang Chengze silently lay on his bunk, discreetly observing the people around him: tattoos, mechanical limbs, shaggy hair. The whole room was as cold as an icehouse, yet even in this season, the room was filled with the stench of sweat and foot odor. The tattoos on the backs of these people were all very similar, a fierce ghost with a green face and fangs. These ghosts were more or less the same. Zhang Chengze carefully observed and realized that the tattoos seemed to have been made from a stencil; they were purely bad tattoo artistry, which is why each tattoo looked different... Then he looked at the mechanical limbs and noticed that some were rusted, appearing as wretched as could be. Zhang Chengze silently took stock of himself, fortunately, he did not have any mechanical limbs on his body. He felt his pockets and then the area around him, and something astonishing happenedthere was no mobile phone on or near him! Before traveling to the Inner World, he had arranged with the Time Traveler hed hired that they would contact each other via mobile phones after their transition. Zhang Chengze had taken the effort to memorize the other partys mobile number, but now he found himself without a phone! What the heck! At this time, not far away, someone lamented: When will we be able to stop hiding like this, dodging here and there? Zhang Chengze perked up; these words revealed extremely important information. They helped him understand his current situation. It seemed that the people lying on the ground werent asleep; they were just compelled to hide here, with nothing to entertain themselves with, so they could only lie down and feign death. One person responded: Its all because the boss got blinded by greed. He just had to join other societies to encircle Heng Society. Now look what happened, the boss himself died a miserable death, and were dodging Heng Societys pursuit, forced to hide here and there. ` Someone sneered, Youd only dare to say that because the boss isnt here anymore. Werent you the most enthusiastic one when it was proposed to encircle the Heng Society? You were obsessing over the girls on Heng Societys turf every single day! Zhang Chengze, listening to these words, suddenly felt that something was off. This information didnt quite match what the Time Travelers had told him. Wasnt it said that the Heng Society had been encircled by the various major factions? Yet now it seemed as if the Heng Society had decimated all the major factions... Moreover, his current identity was still being hunted by members of the Heng Society! That wasnt right! Was the Heng Society really that powerful? Even Zhang Chengze, who had weathered many storms, was feeling a bit dazed at this moment. Inside the room, over a dozen people were complaining about each other in a disorderly manner. The more Zhang Chengze listened, the more something seemed off. At this moment, the original speaker, a member of the gang, said angrily, The Heng Society has gone too far; do they really think they can dominate everything? Someone chuckled, Right, isnt the Heng Society covering the sky with one hand in the underworld of the 18th city? All other factions combined, can they even match Heng Society? Didnt Qings Family Four promise our boss to use the Federal Group Army when we all rounded up the Heng Society? Why didnt we see a shadow of the Federation Army in the end? Someone has been used as a gun, someone said. Everyone says that after Uncle Li Dong died, all the consortia wanted to get rid of the Heng Society, but Ive heard from the black market that Uncle Li Dong might not be dead. Bullshit, thats a Sky-based weapon, fired from 800 kilometers in the sky. How could it possibly not kill Uncle Li Dong? You talk as if you know all about Sky-based weapons. Im not the one who said this; it was a professor of physics from Qinghe University who said that its nearly impossible for that thing to kill a Demigod. The professors from Qinghe University wouldnt talk nonsense. No wonder the Qings Family Four backed off in the end; they must be worried that Uncle Li Dong is indeed still alive... Upon hearing all this, Zhang Chengze couldnt help but feel speechless. The situation described by those Time Travelers was completely opposite to what he understood... He couldnt help but blame in his mind, Its fine if your information is a bit off, but this is completely the opposite. Thats a bit outrageous, isnt it? It wasnt until then that he remembered Liu Dezhus background. If he hadnt switched his allegiance back then, would he no longer have to live in fear? Zhang Chengze slowly closed his eyes, trying hard to recall Liu Dezhus phone number. Just in case, he had memorized both sides phone numbers. A few minutes passed until he was certain he had accurately remembered Liu Dezhus number, then he slowly let out a sigh of relief. Now all he needed was a cellphone. But looking around, Zhang Chengze couldnt see a single phone. Didnt people in the Inner World use cellphones? This was very abnormal, as if everyones phones had been confiscated. Just as he was thinking this, the cramped door was opened from the outside. Four burly men armed to the teeth, with stern faces, walked into the room and swept a cold gaze around the room, as if they were staring at pigs and sheep. All the people in the room exchanged glances, and one of them stood up in panic to ask, Who are you? Where is Su Xingzhi! Outside, a skinny old man with a goatee strolled into the room with his hands behind his back and a smile on his face, Su Xingzhi has already sold you to me. From today onwards, youre all my private property. Chang Ping?! How dare Su Xingzhi do this! Someone recognized the skinny old man at a glance and glared angrily, Didnt he claim to be very trustworthy?! Do black market businessmen have integrity? The skinny old man, Chang Ping, laughed, Oh right... Su Xingzhi is indeed an exception; he is very trustworthy. But did you pay him the protection fee you promised? So many of you occupying this safe house, unwilling to pay him, and with the risk of being hunted by the Heng Society, how could he not sell you off to cover his costs? Someone muttered, So thats why Su Xingzhi took our phones, saying it was to prevent us from contacting the outside and revealing our whereabouts. He had already planned to betray us! At this moment, Zhang Chengze was full of regret. He didnt know who Chang Ping was, but judging by everyone elses reaction, the man was clearly bad news. Chang Ping, hunched over, wiped his goatee with a smile and said, Hurry up and collect their blood for typing; there might be a buyer waiting for a life extension right now. We must sell them all before the Heng Society finds them, or else well make a loss on this deal. Chang Pings glances at them were like those of someone admiring merchandise. The unpleasant smell of sweat and foot odor in the room did not dampen his excited mood. But hearing this, Zhang Chengze realized they were planning to trade their organs. He did not know that Chang Ping was the biggest organ and bio-organ trader in the black market of the 18th city, making the most ruthless kind of money. A wave of despair washed over Zhang Chengze. All he hoped for at this moment was that he could last 168 hours, because only then would he have a chance to seek help from Hu Xiaoniu, Liu Dezhu, or Zhang Tianzhen! However, Zhang Chengze was considering something. Organ transplantation is a very complex issue, and if not compatible, it can easily lead to an immune rejection response causing the organ to necrose. So his organs might not immediately find a matching buyer, and perhaps he really could survive this week! ... Thank you to zado1991 (Douyu ID: zard1991) for becoming a member of the Silver City Alliance for this book. Its worth mentioning that Im quite fond of this Dota 2 broadcaster; hey boss, lets lose some points together when youre free! Thanks to Akkalaby Note, Hiding to Eat Noodles, Gentleman Rabbit, Extreme Demon God, and Moluo Xing for joining as new members of the book. You bosses are so generous; may your phones always be charged! Chapter 351: 272. Business Poacher Chapter 351: 272. Business Poacher In the snow-covered Inner World, Qing Chen sat in a hover car parked in front of the Begonia Boxing Gym, quietly waiting for something. He looked through the car window at the crowd coming and going outside, not even the heavy snow could stop people from enjoying the bustling nightlife. The dancers, clad in gauzy fabrics, stood in the windows of the clubs, graceful and alluring like the luxurious display windows at the entrance of commercial centers in the Outer World, with their expensive goods. On the street, there were already drunken men stumbling out of nightclubs, clutching their beer glasses, and collapsing onto the snowy ground. Then, the nightclub security would haul them away with carts, ensuring their patrons werent robbed of their kidneys. At this time, the outside world did not know that Zhang Chengze had already encountered danger, but three hours had passed since his crossover, and the other party had neither contacted Liu Dezhu nor appeared in the Fourth District. You really plan on using this clumsy method to wait for Zhang Cheng to show up? Even though Hu Xiaoniu said his favorite place is the Fourth District, he might not come tonight, Yi curiously asked, but you dont have that much time left, you know, you must return to Ban Mountain Estate in two days. Qing Chen replied calmly, The key is you cant find him either; Ive already agreed to pay you, and yet you cant locate him. Im also surprised, Yi said, I can confirm from my side that he has a record with the Federal Public Security Management Committee and is affiliated with the Evil Ghost Society, previously one of the members who helped besiege the Heng Society. But now, I simply cannot track his whereabouts; someone very professional must have hidden him. Very professional? So professional that even you cant find him? Qing Chen questioned. Yes, the cameras in the third area below have been smashed by the gangs, more than twenty times, and the Federation, looking to save on expenditures, no longer wants to repair them. Even if fixed, they would just be trashed again, Yi explained, So once Zhang Chengze was taken to the third area below for protection, finding him would cost a lot of effort. Qing Chen felt speechless, in a world so advanced technologically, how could the third area below turn into a lawless land akin to the slums of Brazil and Mexico. Yi said, Of course, if it was just ordinary protection, I could still find him within my means. But this time, the people protecting him are very professional, and all the leads have been severed. So in the entire No. 18 City, how many people are capable of doing this? Qing Chen asked. About a dozen, basically all big dealers in the black market, Yi answered. Big dealers in the black market... Qing Chen suddenly remembered something, Su Xingzhi is also a big dealer in the black market of No. 18 City, right? Yes, he is quite reputable there, Yi said, So, are you thinking of asking Su Xingzhi? I advise against it because its hard to judge the character of a black market dealer. They are humans without bottom lines and extremely vicious. Qing Chen always felt something was off; if it was a person without a bottom line, would Uncle Li Dong entrust Bei Qin Tong, Qin Cheng, and Qin Yiyi, the family of his close friend, to someone like that? Go find Su Xingzhi? Qing Chen pondered. Yi suddenly said, If Zhang Chengze has fallen into their hands, he might not be intact by now... The darkness there is beyond the imagination of the outside world. Qing Chen was unmoved, Theres nothing I can do if I cant find him. I can only hope hes smart enough to survive the initial seven days if he truly encounters danger. Actually, Ive made it very clear, hes very likely already in danger and wont appear in the Fourth District, Yi said, Theres no need for you to keep waiting in the snow. I might not necessarily be waiting for Zhang Chengze, Qing Chen calmly closed his eyes and began recalling every scene his eyes had covered in the past three hours. Suddenly, Qing Chen noticed something unusual. He spotted four young men in leather jackets in the snow, who had been walking back and forth seven or eight times within the Fourth District during the last three hours. The four did not group together, but kept crisscrossing each other, only making a slight head shake when they met each other. The four men were cautious, looking around, seemingly in search of something. After careful thought, Qing Chen straightened his suit, suddenly opened the car door, and changed his face to that of Zhang Chengze. He discreetly approached one of them and asked in a low voice, What are you loitering around here for? The young mans eyes lit up, Finally found you. Why didnt you contact us after crossing over? Qing Chen boldly said, Isnt it normal for me not to trust you, plus I need to observe and see if youre qualified to protect me. Where are the others? The young man made a phone call, convening the other three together. Inside the hover car, Yi muttered, This works too, playing tricks with the Taboo ACE-005 in your hands... She didnt expect that Qing Chen, after squatting here for three hours without finding Zhang Chengze, had instead found those who were stealing business in broad daylight! Yi also roughly understood Qing Chens intent now. While it was somewhat regrettable not to find Zhang Chengze, punishing those who stole business was also among the goals of the daylight. At that moment, Qing Chen stood in the cold wind looking at the three men, Why do you four look so flustered? Thats not what you said initially. Had I known, I would have switched to another organization. One of the young men responded anxiously, Who isnt flustered in this heavy snow? You cant switch to someone else though, we already told you that other organization can barely protect themselves now, what more can they do for you? Another young man added, Moreover, Liu Dezhu is still in prison. He said protecting you was merely a scam, perhaps even an attempt to kidnap you and sell you to organ dealers in the black market. Right, they even demand you not contact the outside world, completely cutting off communication and social interactions, I guess theyre up to no good! In contrast, we dont have so many rules on our side. You are absolutely free with us, the four of us are just here to provide you the best service. Wherever you want to go, well follow; if you say east, we dare not go west! Our prices are cheaper too; a trial period for one week is just 200,000! The four never doubted Qing Chens identity, after all, the other organization hadnt seen them either, and people of the Inner World wouldnt usually invoke Zhang Chengzes name out of the blue. Meanwhile, Qing Chen thought to himself, annoyed, so you guys are just playing this tune, stealing business from the daylight with such a mud-slinging approach... If it were legitimate competition, that would be one thing, but slandering is unacceptable! Nor is hostile price undercutting acceptable! Qing Chen thought for a moment and pointed at one of them, asking, Alright, lets not talk about replacing anyone for now. By the way, whats your name again? Boss, Ive told you my name before, the young man said weakly. Qing Chen raised his eyebrows: Im such a busy boss, with piles of things waiting for me to handle every day, how could I remember your names? The Time Travelers thought about it and indeed that was the case. Isnt there an old saying, important people are forgetful? It had to be said, these Time Travelers really did cherish this business opportunity. With a trial period of one week at 200,000 and a regular period of one week at 500,000, this money was too easy to earn! The young man thought for a moment and said, Boss, my surname is Gu, Im called Gu Huozi. You can just call me Zi Zi. Zi Zi? Qing Chen thought about it, the name seemed quite polite: Are you guys carrying guns? Its strictly controlled in the Outer World, I havent even owned a pistol all my life. Gu Huozi pulled out a handgun: Boss, how could we protect you without any serious hardware? Just this one? Qing Chens tone was somewhat skeptical. Gu Huozi braced himself: Uh, just this one... Alright, Ill keep this handgun with me to play around with for now, Qing Chen casually confiscated the others gun, I am going to the Begonia Boxing Gym to watch a match. That place looks chaotic, remember to protect me well. The young man chuckled and patted his chest: Dont worry, Boss! Were very familiar with the Begonia Boxing Gym! Im especially good friends with the owner there! Qing Chen gave him a peculiar look, you may know them well, but are you as well acquainted as I am? However, he had never seen this fellow at the Begonia Boxing Gym before; he likely was just boasting. Qing Chen suspected that these four were all Ordinary People, none of them a Genetic Warrior. These must be the ones who truly intended to cheat Boss Zhang Chengze out of his money. Qing Chen led the way to the Begonia Boxing Gym, where people were bustling. His eyes constantly scanned the crowd. The next moment, his eyes suddenly lit up. Yan Yu, the former Lightweight Boxing King whom he had defeated, was approaching in casual clothes. Yan Yu had a well-proportioned physique; when dressed, one couldnt tell his strength at all. However, Qing Chen recognized Yan Yu; the four behind him might not, though. Qing Chen charged forward without dodging and then glared furiously, Dont you watch where youre going? The Lightweight Boxing King, Yan Yu, was taken aback for a moment. He assessed the five people in front of him: It was you who bumped into me! Bullshit, Qing Chen fumed, It was clearly you who bumped into me first. Do you know who I am? Beat him up! The business-stealing quartet: ... They hadnt expected that Boss Zhang Chengze, who seemed so genteel on the surface, could cause so much trouble behind the scenes. This was completely different from what they had expected! Wasnt it agreed that there would be no deliberate troublemaking? Boss, if youre going to act like this, the price is going to have to go up. The business-stealing quartet assessed Yan Yu and noticed he didnt seem very big, so they temporarily relaxed. Just then, Yan Yu was about to burst out laughing in the corridor: Beat me up? You guys? Qing Chen looked back at the four, eyes narrowing dangerously, What are you waiting for? Beat him up! Do you still want your salaries? Upon hearing this, the business-stealing quartet realized this was definitely not a moment to back down and immediately rushed forward. However, although the Lightweight Boxing King was still just within the range of Ordinary People and not at a supernatural level, fighting was his profession. You should never challenge someones livelihood with your amateur hobby. Just as Gu Huozi lunged forward to throw a punch, Yan Yu had already stepped back, making his punch miss entirely. Then, Yan Yu counterpunched, landing a blow on his nose, stunning Gu Huozi right there and then! Seeing this, the other three Time Travelers wanted to run, but Yan Yu wouldnt have it and chased after them, knocking each one down. Leaving them lying on the ground, groaning in pain. One of the Time Travelers squinted looking for the figure of Zhang Chengze, only to find that the boss had long since fled the scene! What bad luck! ... Another chapter tonight Chapter 352: 273, stop playing us! Chapter 352: 273, stop playing us! Before this crossing, Gu Huozi and the others were completely immersed in dreams of making big money. Zhang Chengze, the boss, was so gentle and elegant, and his talk so reasonable. How could it be that after arriving in the Inner World, the boss seemed like a completely different person? They could never have imagined that just four hours after crossing, Gu Huozis bodyguard team had already suffered heavy losses. Their beautiful dreams shattered. The four of them were thrown out one by one by the security guards of the Begonia Boxing Gym. Fortunately, there was thick snow outside; otherwise, the fall alone would have been enough to wreak havoc on their already fragile bodies. Were we played by that old boy Zhang Chengze? Gu Huozi lay weakly in the snow, the blood flowing from his nostrils dyeing the snow red, particularly striking. But whats the point? Why would he mess with us for no reason? another person asked in confusion. Hes insane! Gu Huozi said with heartfelt pain. At this very moment, in a poor area of the Eighth District. The real Zhang Chengze curled up in a corner of a cramped room, suffering from hunger and cold. It was the end of December, and the climate was so cold it could cut the skin, yet there was not a trace of warmth in the room. Originally, there were more than ten people in the room, but in just three short hours, only eight were left. The organ matching work was faster than Zhang Chengze had imagined. He always used to read in literary works about patients waiting for a match, dying if they couldnt find one. However, that was because the state controlled the organ trade and buyers couldnt find sellers... there was never a shortage of buyers! So, as soon as they finished testing the blood and DNA sequences on their end, buyers from all over the Federation started bidding. Zhang Chengze was somewhat desperate, fearing he wouldnt live to see the dawn if no one came to his rescue. At that moment, another guard came in, dragging a member of the Evil Ghost Society and walking out: We found a buyer, lets start with this one. The member of the Evil Ghost Society being dragged away howled, but it was of no use. These guards were fully armed, and each of them was a Genetic Warrior who had been injected with a Genetic Potion, the most reliable enforcers under Chang Pings command. I need to use the restroom, Zhang Chengze said to a burly guard, I cant hold it anymore. The guard looked at him coldly: Youll have to hold it even if you cant. Zhang Chengze secretly spread out his palm, then said, I really cant hold it. It stinks in here already, you surely dont want to be guarding us in a place that smells of shit... The guard seemed contemplative: Get up, dont try any tricks. With that, the guard walked outside to the restroom, gun in one hand, holding onto Zhang Chengzes collar with the other. Zhang Chengze secretly slipped the gold bar into the guards pocket and then whispered, I just want to make two phone calls. Just let me use the phone, and I swear I wont tell any other guards about the gold bar. When the time comes, whether Im dead or alive, the gold bar will be all yours! Like other rich men, Zhang Chengze, knowing that the Inner World also operated on a gold standard, naturally brought a gold bar with his mouth, a 200-gram one that fit just right. When he first crossed over, he kept it in his mouth without speaking until he was unobserved and could quietly take it out. Now, the gold bar became his lifesaver. Zhang Chengze didnt ask the guard to release him because he knew it was impossible. He also didnt make other excessive demands; he just wanted to make two phone calls. The guard calmly looked at him: Do you really think theres someone who can save you now? If there were, you wouldnt have ended up here hiding from the Heng Society. I just want to try, Zhang Chengze, being who he was, wouldnt give up until the last moment. The guard was silent for a while, then coldly said, Dont even think of calling the Security Committee. I can assure you, by the time they come to save you, youll definitely have become merchandise, stored in different refrigerated boxes, transported to different cities of the Federation. Dont worry! seeing the guard loosen up, Zhang Chengze immediately promised. The guard took out his phone from his pocket: Remember, you only have two chances. Zhang Chengze was very cold. He trembled as he pressed the number Liu Dezhu had given him into the phone. He trusted his own experiences and thus had a general judgment: in City 18, the Heng Society already controlled the entire underworld, so reaching out to Liu Dezhus people was the most reliable option. However, after dialing the 12-digit number, a woman answered the phone. Zhang Chengze asked, May I ask, is this Liu Dezhus phone? The other party replied, Are you insane? Calling the wrong number in the middle of the night! Zhang Chengze was stunned; he had remembered the number wrong! If he were still young, his Memory Power wouldnt have this kind of problem, but he was older now and had just been hugely shocked! Whats more, he had memorized Gu Huozis number first and, just to be safe, memorized Liu Dezhus at the end. This led to some haste in the process. Zhang Chengze was a bit confused C was the last digit 1, or 7, or 9? With one chance left, Zhang Chengze changed the last digit to 7, but hesitated before dialing it, because between 7 and 9 was a matter of chance. If he was mistaken, he would miss the opportunity. This was a 50% chance of life or death. Zhang Chengze suddenly thought of a problem. He was absolutely correct about Gu Huozis number, so why not just call Gu Huozi directly, then give him Liu Dezhus number, and ask him to give it a try? Wouldnt that work? Whether the last digit was a 7 or a 9, Gu Huozi would figure it out within a minute! With this in mind, Zhang Chengze excitedly dialed the number, Hello, Gu Huozi? Its Zhang Chengze, your boss. Ive got a task for you... In the snow, Gu Huozi lamented, Boss, we know we were wrong. Please stop playing games with us! After that, Gu Huozi hung up the phone. Zhang Chengze stared at the guard with a dumbfounded expression, Does that count or not... The moment Gu Huozi hung up the phone, Zhang Chengze felt the urge to kill. What frustrated him even more was wondering why Gu Huozi would say he was playing games with them. Was it simply because he didnt contact them right away? Was that considered toying with them? Zhang Chengze couldnt figure out what on earth had happened! The guard sneered, I told you before, no one is coming to save you. With that, he grabbed Zhang Chengze by the collar and dragged him back. Wait, I really need to use the restroom, I cant hold it anymore, Zhang Chengze suddenly remembered that he had indeed been holding it for over two hours. This time, however, no matter what, the guard wouldnt pay any attention to him. ... ... At this moment, the very idle Qing Chen had already switched back to his own face, gently knocking on the door of VIP001 room. A calm voice from inside, Jiang Xiaotangs, said, Come in. Qing Chen entered and smiled, Was the match tonight exciting? Only then did Jiang Xiaotang recognize his voice, and turning with surprise, she said, When did you get here? Why didnt you tell your sister in advance? As she spoke, she stood up, ran to Qing Chen, and touched his cheek with her delicate fingers, You dont look well, little brother. Are you hurt? The woman was wearing a red silk gown, barefoot. She wasnt tall, so without high heels, she had to stand on tiptoes to touch Qing Chens face. For some reason, Qing Chen felt no resistance to this sister touching his cheek. Her eyes held no trace of impurity, which made him unwilling to refuse. Qing Chen smiled, The injury on my rib wasnt healed yet, and Ive been hurt a little again. I came here to ask my sister for some special medicine to recover quickly. He was going to return to Xian City the following week to complete the second stage of his life-and-death trial, so he had to at least stabilize his injury. Jiang Xiaotang almost frowned her eyebrows into a knot, Ill have someone bring the medicine right now. Which bastard hurt you? Sister will help you chop him. No need, no need, Qing Chen laughed, Hes already dead... By the way, sister, theres something I want to ask, do you know Su Xingzhi? Su Xingzhi? Jiang Xiaotang paused, Are you looking for him? He has a rule that he doesnt make any deals after 2 a.m. If youre looking for him now, he wont see you. Why? Qing Chen wondered. Because he believes that people are not rational after 2 a.m., so business should be done when one is most clear-headed, explained Jiang Xiaotang, Hes rather odd. What do you need him for? Qing Chen replied, I have a matter to ask of him, I want to buy some information from him. Jiang Xiaotang thought for a moment and then said, This man is in Fourth District. He has a big business and many guards around him. He has a good reputation in the black market, but I know that although he always has a smile on his face, hes thick-skinned and mean-spirited, and has trapped many people behind their backs. Qing Chen remained silent. It seemed that Jiang Xiaotang wasnt aware of the relationship between Su Xingzhi and Uncle Li Dong, otherwise she wouldnt have said that. But would Uncle Li Dong entrust Qin Family People to someone rumored to be malicious? Qing Chen had a principle. No matter what anyone told him, he would always take what Uncle Li Dong told him as the truth. If that master had even the slightest intention of harming him, he wouldnt still be alive, let alone become a Knight. He was aware of Uncle Li Dongs devotion to the Knights legacy; the man would not joke about it. Su Xingzhi had hidden himself well enough that even Jiang Xiaotang was unaware of his relationship with Uncle Li Dong. Qing Chen said, Sister, tell me where Su Xingzhi is. I need to visit him and buy some information. Have you decided? Jiang Xiaotang thought for a moment then spoke, Hes not far. Carry one of my business cards; maybe hell meet with you. But dont get your hopes up too high, because as far as I recall, no one but Li Dongze has been able to get him to make an exception... and Li Dongze practically had to break in to drag him out. Qing Chen froze for a moment, How come Li Dongze has such a past with Su Xingzhi? The people under the Knight, each one weirder than the last... ... Thank you to student Wang Zi for becoming the new ally of this book, boss, your generosity is impressive, may good luck always be with you! Chapter Two. There will be another chapter tonight but it might be very late, so Im seeking the guaranteed monthly tickets in advance. In August, we shall begin a burst of updates to repay our debts. Chapter 353: 274. Su Xingzhi and the Young Boss (Requesting Guaranteed Monthly Votes) Chapter 353: 274. Su Xingzhi and the Young Boss (Requesting Guaranteed Monthly Votes) Fourth District, beneath the Xing Ge Building. The building had a peculiar shape, resembling a handkerchief floating in mid-air, curled up on its edges. At 4 a.m., all the passages that led into the building were closed, with more than six fully armed society members guarding each entrance. Before Qing Chen could get close, someone already aimed a gun at him, Halt, Xing Ge Building isnt doing business tonight. After thinking for a moment, Qing Chen fished out a business card from his pocket that Jiang Xiaotang had given him, The brother of Begonia Boxing Gyms Jiang Xiaotang has come for a visit. As his right hand slipped into his pocket, all the security guards on site cocked their guns, becoming alert. Not until Qing Chen took out the business card did everyone relax. Qing Chen pondered secretly, the overall quality of the security was much more formidable than the average societies, at least they were well-trained. A wary security guard approached Qing Chen, took the business card in his hand, and after confirming it belonged to Jiang Xiaotang of Begonia Boxing Gym, calmly said, Please wait a moment. After speaking, he pressed a metal button next to the elevator, Tell the boss, someone from Begonia Boxing Gym has come to visit. Should they be seen, or not? Two minutes later, a womans voice came out of the metal button, The boss says no, weve closed after 2 a.m. Qing Chen furrowed his brow. Zhang Chengzes situation was not looking optimistic; this was easy to discern. Meeting with the likes of Gu Huozi at least yielded something: Zhang Chengze had not made a call to Gu Huozis group either. After crossing into the Inner World, the other party was completely out of contact, which was extremely abnormal. So, lets comb through the clues one by one then: First, the other party was certainly still alive at midnight, or else the countdown would not have appeared on the arm, and now only four hours had passed, so the likelihood of death was fifty-fifty. Secondly, according to Yis deduction, the other party was likely cornered in some part of the lower third district, restrained by someone, and that someone might very well be the Kidney Cutter. Finally, if it was Kidney Cutter, their work efficiency was actually quite high. Yi said those people had a very complete industrial chain; under normal circumstances, once they got their hands on a pig, it wouldnt last more than 8 hours before being dismembered, refrigerated, and shipped to various parts of the Federation. Therefore, what Qing Chen had to do now was to find Su Xingzhi before dawn, purchase intelligence, and rescue Zhang Chengze. He pondered for a moment and then said to the security guard, Please tell boss Su, Qing Xiaotu is here to see him, and ask if he would be willing to meet me, thank you. The security guard hesitated for a moment, but seeing how polite Qing Chen was, he ultimately reported, Qing Xiaotu wants to see the boss. Will the boss meet him? Surprisingly, not even a minute had passed before the response came from a young males voice, Please have him come up via the main elevator. Alright, boss. The security guard was stunned on the spot, staring at Qing Chen in amazement. They all recognized the bosss voice, and the person who had just replied, was indeed the boss! Xing Ge Building hadnt done business in the middle of the night for years, except for the last time when Li Dongze himself camebecause they were truly no match for him! Qing Xiaotu... some security guards remembered the name, wasnt he the newly-minted Tiger Grade Boxing King from Begonia Boxing Gym? The one who killed a Land Cruise Grade fighter while still being Tiger Grade? But why did Boss Su give him special treatment? Even Begonia Boxing Gyms owner was turned away, yet he wanted to see this Qing Xiaotu? Knowing Jiang Xiaotang, that woman was famously treacherous in the Fourth District, and the boss had even shut the door on her... For a moment, all the security became polite, quietly lowering their gun barrels and explaining, Sorry about before, we were just following procedures. Its fine, I understand, Qing Chen responded. The security guard thought to himself, this was the Tiger Grade Boxing King, who, it was rumored, had killed the previous king during his promotion. How come he seemed to have no temper at all, so amiable and easygoing? Qing Chen entered the elevator and noticed that the entire elevator had buttons for only the 1st and 49th floors. The security guard explained, This main elevator is a direct line to where the boss is, other floors are accessible by different elevators. I see, thank you, Qing Chen pressed for the 49th floor, waiting as the elevator rose straight up. In the elevator, the walls were made of transparent glass, but the elevator shaft itself was dazzling with myriad colors, like a starry sky. As the elevator car ascended swiftly, Qing Chen felt as if he were traveling through a starry tunnel, heading towards the other side of the universe. With a ding, the elevator doors opened. The exterior was an open dwelling with minimalist de?cor, black walls, white marble floors, and each piece of woodcarving exceptionally elegant. From here one could look straight through the 49th floors floor-to-ceiling glass and see the city outside. Little boss! A voice came from outside the elevator, and a young man dressed in a white suit came striding over: You finally came to see me! Qing Chen could tell that the voice, just like the one that had agreed to let him up, undoubtedly belonged to Su Xingzhi. However, Su Xingzhis attitude was entirely different from what he had expected... And it was more direct than he had imagined... It was obvious that the other party already knew Qing Chens identity and really was quite close to Uncle Li Dong. The young man gripped Qing Chens hand tightly and lamented, Little boss, Ive sent everyone else away, theres no surveillance or recording here, so Ill just say it, I want to file a complaint against Li Dongze, he took away all the Genetic Potions from my stock without paying! Does no one care about this anymore? Qing Chen was taken aback and calmly withdrew his hand: This... might be out of my jurisdiction. Of course you can manage! You were entrusted with this when the boss left City 18, even though you cant lend a hand, but your identity as the little boss still stands. If the boss someday passes away, we would all have to listen to you, and he would definitely listen to you, little boss you have to stand up for me, Su Xingzhi was on the verge of tears. Qing Chen watched the young man in silence. So much for the agreement not to do business after 2 a.m., so much for never making exceptions, he was acting like a henpecked husband. The cool image he had just built up for Su Xingzhi in his head crumbled instantly. Qing Chen sighed and said, Im not familiar with the details of whats happened between you and Li Dongze, so I cant make a decision at the moment, I suggest you talk to my master directly... I cant talk to the boss about this, Su Xingzhi lamented: Neither of us can get in touch with the boss now, after all, inter-city communication relies on satellites, and us Knights dont have access to such things... Satellites are in other peoples hands, and everything would be monitored. Qing Chen thought that if a civilian organization in this era could control satellites, theyd be jumping to the sky. He thought for a moment and suggested, Why dont you wait until I understand the situation a bit better...? Ive come here tonight for another matter. Ah, Su Xingzhi immediately dropped his complaining demeanor: Little boss, youve got something else to ask for, I thought you came to uphold justice for me... Tell me, what is it? Its like this, Im looking for a person whos being hunted by the Heng Society, named Zhang Chengze, Qing Chen said: According to my guess, he should have been hidden by one of the black market traffickers, so Im hoping you can help me find him. Of course, if this information comes at a cost, Im willing to pay. Su Xingzhi, with a tug at Qing Chens arm, walked inside: Little boss, talking about payment is being too formal, a word from you and this Xing Ge Building is yours, I, Su Xingzhi, am also at your disposal! When Qing Chen heard this, he again inconspicuously withdrew his arm, feeling that this guy wasnt entirely serious... Just then, Su Xingzhi said, Huh, the name Zhang Chengze sounds kind of familiar. Little boss, give me a second to check... With that, he took out a small Black Box from the drawer and pressed it gently, and the box projected a holographic screen right on the desk. And a keyboard was projected onto the opposite side of the screen. Su Xingzhi rapidly typed in the three characters Zhang Chengze and then froze: Little boss, what do you want with him? If Im not mistaken... hes the one Ive hidden. Of course, I didnt know you were looking for him, I just didnt want Li Dongze that old kid to get what he wants too easily. Its not just Zhang Chengze Ive hidden, there are many others. After a moment of speechlessness, Qing Chen asked, Do you have a grudge against Li Dongze? Of course! Su Xingzhi exclaimed: He broke into my Xing Ge Building and stole my Genetic Potion stock, an utter disgrace, its so disrespectful! Hmm... But Im curious, why did he rob you? Qing Chen asked. Because hes overbearing, hes making trouble without reason! Su Xingzhi declared. Qing Chen felt that there was more to the story and decided it was necessary to hear what Li Dongze had to say... it could very well be that Su Xingzhi was the one who had attacked first. However, this visit to the Xing Ge Building was definitely fruitful; Qing Chen inquired, Where is Zhang Chengze now? Is he in a safe situation? Ah, Su Xingzhi replied: Last night around 10 p.m., I wrapped him up and sold him to Human Butcher Chang Ping, if hes unlucky, he might have already been taken apart by now, if hes lucky, hes just waiting for a buyer... Little boss, shall I intercept this matter for you first? Qing Chen asked, Would that son of a gun Chang Ping listen to you? Yes, of course, hell listen, Su Xingzhi affirmed: Otherwise, Ill twist his head off! That old wretch is very cunning, he knows he cant afford to mess with me, and besides, Zhang Chengze is just a product to him, theres no need for him to offend me over a single product. Qing Chen found that Su Xingzhi wasnt just quirky, but also quite the chatterbox. Honestly, he was a bit excited about the prospect of Ye Wan, Li Dongze, Lin Xiaoxiao, and Su Xingzhi all getting together; it would be quite the scene. After a few seconds of thought, Qing Chen said, Could you give Chang Ping a call now? But lets not release Zhang Chengze just yet, I hope to stage a little drama. ... Heres a bonus chapter for the Golden League taxi driver, again thanks to the boss. This update wont affect the normal daily posts. Seeking base votes for August, there will be a single chapter later, optional reading. Chapter 354: 275. Life and Death Rescue (Request for Minimum Monthly Ticket Guarantee) Chapter 354: 275. Life and Death Rescue (Request for Minimum Monthly Ticket Guarantee) Xing Ge Buildings 49th-floor penthouse. Su Xingzhi held the phone and instructed, Why do you need this person from me? I can just refund the money, 1.2 times the amount. On the other end of the phone, Human Butcher Chang Ping said, But his buyer has already been found, and theyve paid a deposit, too. If you want me to keep him, Ill have to refund their deposit... Su Xingzhi furrowed his brows, wanting to serve the young boss but not wishing to break the rules. His reputation in the black market was that of the most trustworthy big dealer, which was like a golden signboard. Strangely enough, in a place where trust was least expected, becoming the most trustworthy was especially valuable. Hence, in the black market of City 18, Su Xingzhis business had always been the best. Furthermore, Su Xingzhi wasnt exactly short on money. Ill compensate for the deposit; plus, Ill refund 1.2 times the amount. Will that do? Sure, sure, sure, Chang Ping with a smile on the other end of the line, But Im really curious, Boss Su, why would you need such a person? Su Xingzhi sneered, Have you started being nosy? Do you want me to keep him for your grave-sweeping next year, huh? Frightened, Chang Ping immediately apologized, No need, no need, I probably wont die next year, just keep him... I mean, I wont be nosy anymore, not hear, not question, not meddling in others affairs! Make sure not to tell him hes been rescued. Let your people be more alert, and dont fucking botch the act, Su Xingzhi carefully instructed, If they botch it, Ill wring your neck. No problem! Chang Ping assured him, thumping his chest. Even through the phone, one could hear the thump of his chest. After hanging up, the skinny old man with a walrus mustache and a hunched back patted the chest of the henchman beside him: Damn it, whats gotten into Su Xingzhi, wanting to keep such a useless person? With that, he walked around the room seemingly to inspect it, but his gaze constantly lingered on Zhang Chengze. However, after scrutinizing for a while, Chang Ping couldnt spot anything special about him. Could he be the pawn of some big shot, and some big shot is using Su Xingzhi to buy him? Chang Ping muttered, I heard that gangs besieging Heng Society had Qings Familys Fourth House involved. Could this be a plant by Qings Familys Fourth House? He wondered to himself whether he could bypass Su Xingzhi and directly earn a favor from Qings Familys Fourth House. In the end, Chang Ping decided against it, realizing he only had one head, and if he couldnt connect with Qings Familys Fourth House, he would lose it. Initially, Su Xingzhis reputation for keeping his word wasnt earned from doing business. It was because if he said hed twist your head off, he most certainly would. As business grew bigger, people thought it was the credibility Su Xingzhi had built from doing business. Once a person is successful, whatever they say is considered right. Over at the Xing Ge Building, Su Xingzhi turned to Qing Chen, Young boss, everything has been arranged over here... I wanted to ask, does making such arrangements for him unsettle you? Qing Chen knew Su Xingzhi was asking about intentionally sending Zhang Chengze into the most fearful state before rescuing him. This method didnt seem like something a good person would do. Yet, he truly didnt feel any psychological burden. If it wasnt for daylight saving him, Zhang Chengzes fate tonight would be certain death. Hiding Zhang Chengze wasnt his doing, nor was the selling of Zhang Chengze. He also didnt know that when Zhang Chengze called Gu Huozi, he was betrayed before he even finished speaking, and Gu Huozi had hung up the phone. But even if he had finished his sentence, Gu Huozis four men didnt have the ability to rescue him. Qing Chen looked at Su Xingzhi, It does seem rather spiteful to scare him on purpose, but I never claimed to be a good person. If that makes someone view me as a bad person, then Im willing to be that bad person. However, I am curious, from what standpoint did you ask that question? Even though Zhang Chengze breached the contract first, Qing Chen wouldnt seek out various reasons to try to justify his actions. Maximizing benefits is just maximizing benefits, nothing more. Su Xingzhi chuckled, Dont get me wrong, young boss. I was just worried that you might be a good person, which would mean youd detest many things I do. Now that I see youre so ruthless, I can rest easy! Qing Chen silently sized up Su Xingzhi, thinking what an odd character he was, unsure of his exact relationship with Uncle Li Dong. By age, he should also be one of the orphans adopted by Uncle Li Dong. Yet how could Jiang Xiaotang be unaware of Su Xingzhis relationship with Uncle Li Dong? Or perhaps, the vast majority of the outside world was unaware. Su Xingzhi, with a smile, asked, Young boss, do you have any other needs? Besides Genetic Potion, I have everything right now! Including intelligence! After a thought, Qing Chen asked, Where are the Qin Family People settled now? Sixth District, Su Xingzhi seemed somewhat surprised that Qing Chen would ask this question. He replied, Ive just provided them with better mechanical limbs, gave them four basic Genetic Potions as per their request. They dont want to be too indebted to the boss, so theyre still doing the Wilderness Hunter business, self-sustaining. Qing Chen nodded. Looking at him, Su Xingzhi added, Theres some news about Qin Yiyi... In the southwest, someone claimed they saw a young miss surnamed Qin enter the snowy mountains, which is where Fire Pit is located. Shes still alive. Qing Chen said, Thanks. With that, Qing Chen walked toward the elevator area. Chapter 355: 275. Life and Death Rescue (Request for Minimum Monthly Ticket Guarantee)_2 Chapter 355: 275. Life and Death Rescue (Request for Minimum Monthly Ticket Guarantee)_2 Su Xingzhi thought for a moment, Little boss, why dont you stay for a bite to eat or something to drink? I have some good wine here, and theres a chef on call 24 hours just downstairs... No need, Qing Chen waved his hand. Then why not pick something up from here? Su Xingzhi said enthusiastically. Since Master already told you guys to try not to help me, he must have his reasons, Qing Chen responded. This is already an exception. Su Xingzhi laughed, Since the boss has left City Number 18, why care so much! Thanks, but no need, Qing Chen said with a smile as he pressed the elevator button. Little boss, you must be careful dealing with Li Dongze, he is utterly malicious and extremely abhorrent! Su Xingzhi couldnt help but dig a pit for Li Dongze even at the last moment. Once the elevator doors closed, Su Xingzhi suddenly let out a long sigh, I wonder what the little boss thinks of me on first impression... It must be very good, considering how enthusiastic I was! Surely, he must not think as highly of Li Dongze, especially since he never smiles! ... ... In Zone 8, in the small room where Zhang Chengze was confined, only four people remained. They each huddled in their own corner, keeping their distance from each other. As if afraid that in attempting to seize someone else, they might also be carried away themselves. That night, Zhang Chengze realized just how perilous the Inner World could be when humans were treated as merchandise, experiencing the hysterical terror of the situation. Compared to the tumultuous events he had experienced in peaceful times, those seemed trivial now since the Outer World still had laws. As the number of people in the room dwindled, no one harbored any illusions of luck. A man quietly moved toward Zhang Chengze and whispered, Cheng Ze, shall we fight them? At least if we die, we die swiftly, not watching ourselves being turned into goods... Ive heard of Human Butcher Chang Ping; they say he harvests organs from living bodies, anesthetizes a specific part, and then lets you watch as he removes your organs, to satisfy his perverse enjoyment. Zhang Chengzes gaze had become numb. He no longer knew how to escape. He remembered the conditions Liu Dezhu had proposed: no contact with the outside world, no making friends, no going to District below three. What seemed at the time conditions that restricted personal freedom, now sounded truly for his good. The evil in the lower levels of the Inner World was worse than he had imagined. Zhang Chengze was consumed with regret. If he had chosen to go with Liu Dezhu originally, or had remembered Liu Dezhus number, maybe he wouldnt be in this predicament now. Just then, the enforcer who had dragged everyone away reentered the room. He looked around and soon his gaze fixed onto Zhang Chengze. Zhang Chengze met that look and involuntarily shivered. The enforcer walked toward him. His footsteps were heavy and oppressive. Zhang Chengze began to back away, but there was only the cold wall behind himwhere could he retreat to? The enforcer bent down, grabbed his ankle, and brutally dragged him out, like dragging a pig to the slaughterhouse. Zhang Chengze struggled violently but to no avail. The enforcer dragged him down the long corridor and into a small room. The room was filled with a strong smell of blood. Surgical tools were laid out all around, and burly men in white coats were washing the surgical table with an unknown clear liquid. Someone was also disinfecting the room with a spray bottle. The operating room obviously could not meet the standards for sterility. Organs harvested under such conditions were likely problematic. But the men in white coats didnt care. The enforcer hauled him onto the surgical table and secured his limbs and head with belts. A burly man said plainly, Cornea, heart, liver, kidneys, lets take these first. As he spoke, he even gestured with a surgical knife next to Zhang Chengzes eye. At that moment, Human Butcher Chang Ping, who had been watching the monitors in the next room, suddenly said, Youre rushing things, the main guest hasnt even arrived yet... Wang Zhi, gesture a bit longer to buy some time. His voice reached the ears of the lead surgeon, who had an earpiece in. As the rumors about the Outer World described, Human Butcher Chang Ping indeed had a peculiar fetish for watching organs being harvested live, controlling everything from a monitoring room next to the operating room. Meanwhile, Zhang Chengze, lying on the bed, watched in horror as the surgical knife that had gestured around his face was moved away, and then it hovered over his heart for a long time... After tracing around his heart, it moved to his liver and hovered there for a long time. Zhang Chengze was internally struggling. He wanted to say, just do it quickly and stop gesturing. But he lacked the courage to voice it. However, at that moment, a voice from outside the door called out, Whos in charge here? Come out and answer. Zhang Chengze was momentarily stunned; he recognized the voice. The person outside continued, Weve found a clue. Theres a criminal hiding here. Are you tired of living? Outside, a person said gruffly, You must be mistaken, we dont have any criminals here. This time, Zhang Chengze suddenly burst out with tremendous strength, crying and shouting, Xiao Niu! Tian Zhen! Im here! Im here! Quick, save me! The previously closed door was opened again, and three youths stood coldly at the entrance, scanning the room. Seeing that it was indeed them, Zhang Chengzes tears and snot all ran down together, Quick, save me! It was my mistake before, I shouldnt have been so untrustworthy, I shouldnt have believed others rumors, please, save me! Chapter 356: 275. Life and Death Rescue (Request for Minimum Monthly Ticket Guarantee)_3 Chapter 356: 275. Life and Death Rescue (Request for Minimum Monthly Ticket Guarantee)_3 Hu Xiaoniu exchanged a glance with Zhang Tianzhen and said calmly to the guards outside, Take him down from the operating table; we are taking this person with us. The brawny man in the operating room furrowed his brows, Do the three of you know where you are? You think you can just rescue whoever you want? Who do you think you are? On the operating table, Zhang Chengze, with tears streaming down his face, became frantic when he saw the guards werent budging, Xiao Niu, Tianzhen, save me quick! If you dont save me now, Im going to die here! The next moment, the lanky Chang Ping, stroking his bushy mustache, hurried over, Oh my, I didnt know the bosses of Heng Society were here, my apologies for not greeting you from afar... Zhang Chengze was stunned. Lets skip the nonsense, Im taking this person now; we still have things to question him about, Hu Xiaoniu said evenly, Youre Man Butcher Chang Ping, right? Youve got guts to intercept someone wanted by Heng Society. ... Chang Ping hastily offered a flattering smile, the cold demeanor of the Man Butcher gone, Look at what youre saying. The man was sold to me by Su Xingzhi; I didnt know he was wanted by you guys when I bought him. If you have any issues, you should take it up with Su Xingzhi. As he spoke, Chang Ping gestured to the brawny men inside the room, Quick, quick, quick, take the man on the bed down for the bosses of Heng Society. When the brawny men heard the words Heng Society, they were already in a fluster. The annihilation of the major gangs just a few days ago was still fresh in their mindsnow, who would dare to cross Heng Society? Zhang Chengze observed all this; those fierce and vicious men, upon encountering Liu Dezhu, Zhang Tianzhen, and Hu Xiaoniu, melted away like ice under the blazing sun. The infamous Man Butcher Chang Ping, like a lowly ant, bowed his head before Heng Society. And he, Zhang Chengze, felt as though he had been brought back from the fiery depths of Purgatory to the warmth of the living world. Such an extreme sensory experience came so suddenly that it even filled him with a sense of happiness. It turns out the underworld of the 18th city truly is ruled by Heng Society! It turns out, Hu Xiaoniu and Liu Dezhu really do hold such high positions. Zhang Chengze climbed off the operating table, but his legs were weak. Liu Dezhu entered the operating room and, grabbing the collar of his shirt with one hand, began to walk him out, saying to Chang Ping before leaving, You better give Heng Society an explanation for this. Having said that, the three men strode away. Not until they left the building, which resembled a ghost house, did Liu Dezhu allow himself a slight sigh of relief. However, this relieved expression could not be seen by Zhang Chengze; the act had to be kept up until the very end. The boss had called to say they only needed to fetch the person and not be afraid; they had already paved the way. In fact, the moment Zhang Chengze began to admire their social status, Liu Dezhu and the others were also developing an admiration for Qing Chen, almost feeling as if they could level the 18th city... The future in daylight was certain to be bright! Liu Dezhu, Hu Xiaoniu, and Zhang Tianzhen were filled with boundless confidence. Now, how many organizations in the Outer World with Time Travelers could achieve this level? They had only been here for just over a month! As the cold wind blew, Zhang Chengze, carried by Liu Dezhu, had sobered up quite a bit, Thank you all. Without you, Im afraid I might have been out of luck today... Liu Dezhu, who wasnt particularly close to Zhang Chengze, simply snorted, You should be thankful. You were choosy before you came, thinking we had too many rules. Now you understand what matters, dont you? Not just anyone who comes to the Inner World becomes the protagonist. Someone like you is more suited to be cannon fodder. Liu Dezhu thought back to his own experiences with the boss, and empathized greatly... Uncle Zhang, we owe it to our boss for remembering you today, otherwise we wouldnt have rescued you in the dead of night, Hu Xiaoniu remarked emotionally, Although Liu Dezhus words are unpleasant, I hope you take them to heart. Countless Time Travelers have died already; we need to be cautious. Liu Dezhu and Hu Xiaoniu, one playing the bad guy and the other the good guy, was the strategy devised by Zhang Tianzhen, all aimed at breaking through Zhang Chengzes defenses and making him feel indebted. And himself? He didnt say a word half the day. Zhang Chengze said, I really cant thank you enough. After this ordeal, how should I repay you?! Liu Dezhu sneered, Well talk about repayment later. Where are we going now? Hu Xiaoniu asked. To the bathhouse, Liu Dezhu said with a look of disdain, This guy reeks. If we take him home, our house will stink. Half an hour later, in the Bihai Yuntian Bathhouse of District Eight, the four men wrapped their lower halves in snow-white towels and sat in the steaming water. The bathhouse had become the favored place for gangs to talk shop because everyone was exposed, unable to hide any listening or surveillance devices. Words there would leave no evidence behind. After shaving his beard and washing away the filth from his body, Zhang Chengze felt rejuvenated. However, the terror of those harrowing four hours that night would probably haunt him for a long time. Zhang Chengze looked at the other three in the pool and said with gratitude, Im truly sorry, I believed rumors from others and refused to cooperate with you before... To think I even complained you were too controlling. Now I just want to slap myself; I was wrong this time. Liu Dezhu scoffed, Realizing your mistake now is a bit late. Hu Xiaoniu said to Liu Dezhu, Brother Liu, the main thing is Uncle Zhang really didnt know how dangerous the Inner World is. Many Time Travelers have overly glorified the Inner World. The two of them began the routine again, one playing the villain and the other the saint. Right, right, Zhang Chengze said, I promise, our future cooperation will not be affected by external interference ever again! Future cooperation? There wont be any future cooperation, Liu Dezhu said with a cold laugh, The boss saved you this time out of kindness; he doesnt plan to continue working with someone as fickle as you, in case it causes trouble and burdens our organization. Zhang Chengze was taken aback inwardly, I cant do without your protection, I will die without it! ... A 5,000-word chapter, another chapter coming tonight, asking for your monthly ticket support! Thanks to Huan Yu for the two silver donations! Thanks to Dangxia Buzha, Book Friend 202103011006487088602, and Yo?ufe?ng for becoming new supporters of the book. You bosses are generous; may you pick up money every time you step out! Chapter 357: 276. Road to the Heavens (Asking for 10,000 Monthly Votes as a Guarantee) Chapter 357: 276. Road to the Heavens (Asking for 10,000 Monthly Votes as a Guarantee) Whether you live or die, what does that have to do with us? Liu Dezhu calmly asked, Protecting and placing someone as reckless as you, were afraid well get dragged down ourselves. Liu Dezhu modulated his tone deliberately. Dont ask, if you ask its that Daylight scorns doing this business deal. When in the Outer World, Zhang Chengze had the upper hand in this transaction because at that time, he hadnt encountered any danger and had more choices. But now, things were different; the roles had been swapped. One thing must be said, this was also because Daylights luck was maxed out. If Zhang Chengze had no danger in crossing over and was still an important figure, they wouldnt have had this opportunity. ... Zhang Chengze earnestly said, Classmate Liu Dezhu, Ive come to recognize my own mistakes. Could you discuss with your boss? Im willing to pay more for protection, as long as you can keep me safe in the Inner World! We are all compatriots; you cant just watch me die, the Inner World is too dangerous! Liu Dezhu sneered, I wouldnt want to bother the boss for such a thing. The boss is an important figure in the Inner World and doesnt have time to deal with such trivial matters. At this moment, it was Hu Xiaonius turn to smooth things over, Uncle Zhang, how about this, if you really die here, it would be hard for me to explain to my father. Ill try to talk with the boss and see what he says, okay? Zhang Chengze, overjoyed, said, Good, Xiaoniu, please speak to him for me! After finishing speaking, Hu Xiaoniu left the bathhouse and pretended to go to the dressing room to make a phone call. Ten minutes later, he returned with a troubled expression, Uncle Zhang, Im sorry, the boss is quite angry about this matter. He said we can only protect you for the week of your crossing, and after that, its out of our hands. Zhang Tianzhen sighed from the side, We three had a lot of preparations in mind, like taking you to enjoy the nightlife in the Fourth District after settling down, taking you to visit the Upper Three Districts, helping you find the Genetic Potion, but its a shame. Uncle Zhang, you chose someone else in the Outer World, and that angered the boss; he even somewhat blames us for not vetting the reliability of the client before doing business. Zhang Chengze, with reddened eyes, grabbed Zhang Tianzhens arm, Its uncle who has dragged you down. At this point, Hu Xiaoniu said, However, theres still a chance for things to take a turn. What chance? Zhang Chengze perked up. Hu Xiaoniu hesitated for a moment, This is what the boss told me privately; if it wasnt for your relationship with our Hu Family, I definitely couldnt tell you. The boss told me to quietly observe your behavior this week. If its good, then theres a chance for further cooperation. And if its not good? Liu Dezhu asked. Zhang Tianzhen pondered, Given the bosss way of doing things, hed probably leave Uncle Zhang to fend for himself. Zhang Chengze hurriedly said, I will definitely behave well. Xiaoniu, Tianzhen, please tell Uncle Zhang how I should act. Should I offer more money? Hu Xiaoniu replied reservedly, Uncle Zhang, our boss isnt partial to money; after all, as you know, neither the Hu Family nor the Zhang Family is short of money. If the boss needed money, our Hu Family and Zhang Family would have given it outright... but this is also one of the most direct ways to show it since other things cant be measured in value. Zhang Tianzhen added, Yeah, thats right, show a comprehensive attitude and start by adding some money. Okay, Zhang Chengze said earnestly, its a million a week now; how much more should I add? Liu Dezhu thought for a moment, then silently raised three fingers. Thirty million? Zhang Chengze was startled. Liu Dezhus fingers trembled imperceptibly. You see, when Zhang Tianzhen said start by adding some money, it seemed like adding money wasnt a big deal, but they knew that was the bosss real objective. Otherwise, why act out so much drama tonight? And Zhang Chengze subconsciously saying thirty million also surprised Liu Dezhu. They all overlooked one thingthey hadnt personally experienced the terror that Zhang Chengze had faced. For Zhang Chengze, it was no longer about protection fees; it was about buying his life. How much is a life worth? Zhang Chengze said, I really cant do thirty million a week; thats 1.2 billion a month, 14.4 billion a year, and my company only has a hundred million in working capital. Its not that I dont want to give; if I go with that price, my company will collapse within a month. I can offer five million a week; thats twenty million a month. Im willing to pay an additional twenty million as a token of my gratitude for saving my life! Zhang Chengze had no energy for bargaining; he was speaking the truth. His business was real estate, which was quite profitable in the early years, but since the domestic policy of houses are for living, not for speculation was implemented, his cash flow was nearly crushed by bank loans. The debt ratio of a real estate company was unimaginably high. He had barely recovered over the past two years, so it wasnt possible to take out so much cash in a month. His status as a boss was far less glamorous than Hu Dachengs. Liu Dezhu steadied himself and said, I need to check this price with the boss; in the end, its up to the boss himself to decide. Alright, alright, no problem, please tell your boss, and later, when I buy things like Genetic Potion, Ill also pay extra, Zhang Chengze said. Liu Dezhu instructed, This week, Ill arrange a place for you to stay and make sure its safe outside first. As for the future, well discuss that when the time comes. Chapter 358: 276, The Path to Ascension (10,000 Words for Minimum Monthly Tickets)_2 Chapter 358: 276, The Path to Ascension (10,000 Words for Minimum Monthly Tickets)_2 For Daylight, this sum of money was already enough to support the entire organizations daily operations. In the Outer World, Qing Chen no longer needed to be distracted by financial matters. If anyone else wanted Daylights protection, he might not even charge them anymore. ... ... At home on the 132nd floor of the Luo Shen Building, Qing Chen finally breathed a sigh of relief after confirming that Zhang Chengze was willing to pay more. The most important thing now was to complete the second life-and-death challenge. ... Qing Chen asked, Yi, are you there? I am. Is there any flaw in the series of things we did tonight? Qing Chen sat on the sofa, his head bowed in thought; he was going over the events. Actually, Zhang Chengze could have saved himself, Yi said. All he had to do was say hes a Time Traveler, and he would definitely survive. Ah? Why? Qing Chen was puzzled. Su Xingzhi sold Zhang Chengze to Chang Ping, but the last thing Chang Ping wants to deal with in this business is a Time Traveler, Yi continued, seeming very happy as he mentioned something Qing Chen hadnt considered, Tell me, what did he capture Zhang Chengze for? To harvest organs and sell them to tycoons, Qing Chen responded, his realization dawning, Damn it... The organs of Time Travelers, my friends, are not for sale! Because at a certain time, even if the Time Traveler is dead, the body will return to the Outer World! If the tycoon hasnt managed to transplant the organ in time, thats a stroke of luck. If the transplant has taken place and the tycoon has the Time Travelers heart when time for the return comes, he will drop dead on the spot! Falling asleep at home and waking up to find ones heart has vanished, thats something no one can withstand. This was why Yi said that as long as Zhang Chengze revealed his identity as a Time Traveler, he would not die. Has something like this happened in the Inner World before? Qing Chen inquired. Yes, Yi replied. In the first two weeks after the appearance of a transmigrator, a wealthy man in City No. 9 suddenly died in the hospital after a heart transplant. The Federation media reported it as a murder by heart extraction, but the public couldnt understand. If it were a murder, why was the heart removed and then neatly stitched back without a drop of blood on the exterior? Later, everyone realized that it wasnt the work of an enemy but of the worlds rules. Thats some extreme misfortune, but how will Chang Ping deal with Zhang Chengze? Qing Chen asked. Hell sell him to a consortium, Yi said. Nowadays, theres a group on the black market specializing in hunting Time Travelers for consortiums, and once the consortiums control the Time Travelers, they will have much greater plans. Hmm, Qing Chen nodded. After they control a Time Traveler, they can influence the Outer World in return, making them strategic assets. In the hands of these people, one cant escape the fate of being goods. Qing Chen stopped pondering over this and began to inquire about the life-and-death challenges, How did Knights complete these life-and-death challenges in the past? Where in the Inner World were they carried out? The location for different life-and-death challenges varies greatly, with a vast range of geographical positions. For example, the Ice Consolidation is done at the Southwest Snow Mountain, while the Earth Awakening is on the wilderness outside City No. 5... Yi asked, So, have you chosen where to undertake your second life-and-death challenge? I have, Qing Chen said slowly. Ill look for an opportunity to complete the challenge when I go to Xian City next week. But the ultimate trust technique youve chosen, although low in difficulty, is very dangerous, Yi seemed a bit worried. I havent seen you practice it yet; can you handle it? Yi was right; each life-and-death challenge represented the pinnacle of some extreme sport. Ordinary people need to practice for an untold amount of time, mastering countless techniques before they can successfully challenge it. During this period, fractures and bone breaks were common, and losing ones life was not unusual. Each item of the eight life-and-death challenges ranks near the top in the death rate list for extreme sports, especially the ultimate trust. A 70-meter high dive, falling backward, entrusting all thats worth cherishing in ones life to the moment of trust in something or someone. Many people cannot intuitively grasp what a 70-meter height is like the highest in Olympic diving events is the 10-meter platform, whereas 70 meters rivals the height of a more than twenty-story building. If a person falls from a height of 70 meters, the water becomes as hard as a concrete surface the moment it contacts the body. Any loss of balance, landing horizontally on the water surface, would result in a B-Class Expert being crushed to pieces. Therefore, to survive such a challenge, one must fall straight down, touching the water with the smallest possible body surface area to perform the dive. Yi said, You never do things unprepared; why the rush this time? After a moment of thought, Qing Chen replied, Because after Li Changqing injects me, I must become a D-Class, only then it would make sense. But I think you could run away, Yi suggested. Stay away from Li Changqing, and you wouldnt have to take that injection, at least not risking your life. However, Qing Chen suddenly said, Who said I would be risking my life? In that instant, Yi felt the surge of confidence from deep within Qing Chen, but she still didnt understand where his confidence stemmed from. Without training, wouldnt such a backward dive spell certain death for an ordinary person? Ive started training, Qing Chen went back to his bedroom, lay down and said, Ill return to the Half Mountain Manor tomorrow. After speaking, he closed his eyes and entered the Mysterious World of Winning People Over with Virtue. This was the source of his confidence to dare challenge the second life-and-death challenge soon. At this moment, Qing Chens accurate shooting range with a sniper rifle had reached 1300 meters, half the distance left to cover the effective range of 2600 meters. Chapter 359: 276, The Path to Ascension (10,000 Words for Minimum Monthly Tickets)_3 Chapter 359: 276, The Path to Ascension (10,000 Words for Minimum Monthly Tickets)_3 However, this time after entering the Mysterious World, Qing Chen didnt practice sniping. With a mere thought, the topography of the entire Mysterious World suddenly changed. The wilderness began to sink, forming a lake, and above the lake, a platform rose from the ground, exactly 70 meters high. It was a place in his memory, where he would challenge the second life-and-death trial. Last time he returned, Qing Chen watched many live streams of tourist attractions, taking the opportunity to replicate the terrain directly in the Mysterious World. Others, when training, usually start from a 1-meter diving platform, progress to 3 meters, then to 10 meters, step by step. ... But not Qing Chen, he started from 70 meters right from the beginning. The youth stood on the platform, slowly closing his eyes; he spread his arms, trying to grasp balance in the wind. The next second, his body leaned slightly backwards. Like an arrow, he plunged fiercely toward the surface of the lake. 3.78 seconds later, the Mysterious World grew dark, and Qing Chen felt death. As he fell, due to air resistance, his body began to drift off course. In the end, Qing Chen entered the lake at a tilted angle. This Mysterious World was too realistic; he could even feel the process of his bones being crushed inch by inch from the collision with the water. That was real death. In the darkness, Qing Chen waited, and a few seconds later, the Mysterious World lit up again. The youth stood back on the platform and closed his eyes again. Outside the Luo Shen Building, snow fluttered down, while inside, Qing Chen died over and over again in the Mysterious World, tireless. After an unknown amount of time, strange noises came from outside the bedroom door. Qing Chen ended his training, pulled a pistol from under his pillow, and switched off the safety of the weapon. He walked out of the door noiselessly, only to find a figure with their back to him, busying themselves with something at the dining table in the dimly lit living room. Cough cough, the figure started coughing, Dont turn on the lights, or youll be in great danger. You really dont consider yourself an outsider, Qing Chen said calmly. Qings shadow, a visitor both expected and surprising. Earlier, Qing Chen had detected traces of someones presence in the house. What he hadnt expected was that, even after he moved back in, this Qings shadow still came over nonchalantly to brew tea. Just then, the shadow had brought water to a boil; the kettle made a gurgling sound, with steaming vapours spurting from the spout. That was a kettle bought on loan in the name of Qing Chen by Uncle Li Dong... To be fair, consumer debt was rampant across the Federation, with companies from various financial groups going to great lengths to burden the citizens of the Federation with all kinds of debt, making it difficult for them to consider more long-term issues. A person burdened with a mortgage has neither poetry nor the distant horizon. At that moment, Qings shadow took a small bag of tea leaves out of his pocket and sprinkled them into the kettle. Then he surprisingly continued to cover the kettle, steaming it with boiling water. They say you shouldnt boil tea with boiling water; it makes it bitter, Qing Chen remarked. This is spring tea from Taboo Land No. 010its poisonous if not boiled for at least 10 minutes, Qings shadow chuckled. If its poisonous, why take the risk and drink it? Qing Chen didnt understand. Many people in City No. 8 know mushrooms are poisonous, but they still eat them because theyre delicious enough, Qings shadow replied casually: Life is as fleeting as a White Steed flying past a gap. Naturally, you need to find more interesting things to do to make it worthwhile. A bitter taste suddenly filled the room, but by the ten-minute mark, the bitterness had transformed into a wonderful tea fragrance. Care for a cup? Qings shadow asked. I dont drink tea, only plain water, Qing Chen answered. This stuff can sharpen your vision. With prolonged consumption, your eyesight will far surpass that of an ordinary person, Qings shadow said slowly and methodically. Give it here, Qing Chen said, How much more of that tea do you have? Save some for me. Youre quite pragmatic, Qings shadow grabbed a cup and poured one for Qing Chen as if he were in his own home, Life is like tea, bitter before its sweet. I sought you out once before, but after such a long time, you still havent made a move against any other Shadow Candidate, which is somewhat disappointing to me. Your disappointment is of no importance, Qing Chen said earnestly, In the battle of shadows, surviving to the end is what matters. So, have you come to see me today just to urge me to take action? Im not the kind to force an unwilling hand, I prefer transactions of mutual consent, Qings shadow stated, Since you refuse to risk sticking your neck out and revealing yourself, how about we switch to a different deal? What kind of deal? Qing Chen inquired. First option, after the situation in City No. 18 concludes, you join the Federal Groups army, Qings shadow said evenly. War is heartless; I decline, Qing Chen said calmly. Hmm, then the second option: join the Spy Bureau under my command, Qings shadow. Your identity will be kept secret, Qings shadow offered. Whats in it for me? Qing Chen asked. A path to ascend to the heavens? ... Countdown 135:00:00. 9 oclock in the morning. Like the last time, the Li Family Hovering Car that came to pick up Qing Chen was already waiting on the 67th floor of the Luo Shen Building. This time, leaving the house, Qing Chen did not run into the silver-haired girl, Zheng Yi; to his surprise, the person who came to receive him turned out to be Xiao Ying from Kunlun. And he had been waiting at the elevator entrance early on. Good morning, Student Qing Chen. Boss Chang Qing asked me to pick you up, Xiao Ying said at the elevator entrance, taking advantage of a moment when no one was around, How is it going, has your injury healed? Not yet, Qing Chen shook his head. Right, about my proposal last time, have you mentioned it to your boss? About me joining you guys! Xiao Ying stated. No, Qing Chen shook his head again, With so much happening last week on Xingshu Road, who had time to worry about that? All right then, but make sure you talk about it when we get back... Lets not dwell on this for now, there are others waiting in the car, Xiao Ying whispered, then walked Qing Chen out of the elevator towards the parking lot. Qing Chen paused for a moment when he pulled open the car door; seeing Li Changqing in the back seat of the hover car, he was taken aback, Why have you come in person? To take you home, of course Id come myself, Li Changqing said with a smile, Dont you want to try out sniper rifles? Ill take you to the sniper range today. ... A chapter of 5000 words, and another update owed to the Golden League driverthis debt to the Golden League still has three more updates... Let me explain again, my daily updates are genuinely 6000 words, and for the 10,000-word updates, I dont split chapters anymore, it counts as another update, everyone, look at the word count, not the number of chapters... During August, Im aiming for daily updates of 10,000 words to clear my debts as soon as possible... Although its difficult... Thank you to Student Hu for becoming part of this books Golden League. Thank you to This user has not logged in for joining the Silver City Alliance as part of this book. Thank you to Viola0205 and Top Level Lu Set for becoming part of this book as new allies. The bosses are generous, the speed at which the bosses donate surpasses the speed at which I repay my debts by a lot... Chapter 360: 277, Acting Skill (Requesting guaranteed monthly ticket) Chapter 360: 277, Acting Skill (Requesting guaranteed monthly ticket) In the back of the hover car. Qing Chen looked at Li Changqing with some curiosity, Was it Lao Jiu who said I wanted to play with sniper rifles? Li Changqing said with a smile, He told me everything, saying that you are a genius with firearms. Within 50 meters, you can hit whatever you aim at. But there was no need to rush to the shooting range today, Qing Chen asked casually, was it someones suggestion? Yes, when I took Qing Yi to see Lao Jiu, he said your shooting skills were divine. So, that kid Qing Yi, after hearing about you, wanted to witness it himself, Li Changqing said. Lao Jiu also said that with any firearm or bow in your hands, youd hit the target within three attempts. By the way, theres a sharpshooter in Qing Yis bodyguard team picked out from the Federations forces; he even joked about wanting to compete with you. Qing Yi. ... Qing Chen pondered. For a moment, he wondered if Qing Yi could also be a Time Traveler? After all, there had been a fierce gun battle on Xingshu Road just last week upon his return, and many knowledgeable people wanted to know who the sniper was. Now, clever but young Qing Yi suddenly expressing the desire to witness his shooting skills seemed too coincidental in timing. But if Qing Yi were another Time Traveler, that would explain it. It wasnt that Qing Chen was overly suspicious; his circumstances were rather delicate, necessitating extra caution... But if Qing Yi really was a Time Traveler, which one from He Xiaoxiaos group could he be? The most concerned about Qings shadow struggle, Li Si? Zhang San, who provided Huan Yu with false information? Or... Huan Yu herself? Of course, these were only initial guesses. There were over twenty people in He Xiaoxiaos chat group, and even more than ten who had never spoken; Qing Chen couldnt definitively speculate on anyones identity. There was only one certain conclusion: to be cautious of this Qing Yi. It wasnt that Qing Chen had confirmed Qing Yi to be a Time Traveler but rather to hypothesize boldly, verify cautiously. If this person under the identity of Qing Yi became a Time Traveler, it would be extremely dangerous. Because such a person could potentially gather and control other Time Travelers through the power of his own clan, forming a substantial force in the Outer World. For example, if Zhang Chengze had admitted yesterday that he was a Time Traveler, he might have been secretly bought out. Inside the hover car, Qing Chen caught a whiff of a faint fragrance. Li Changqing had moved closer to him. He quietly shifted aside and kept reminding himself, this is Masters sister... This is Masters sister... But he heard Li Changqing say, Lao Jiu mentioned that you really wanted to play with sniper rifles, but you dont seem too happy that I said we were going to the shooting range today. Qing Chen calmly replied, I killed quite a few people last week; Im still trying to settle my nerves. Li Changqing laughed, I heard that when you were in the Octagon cage, you only killed one person. Now, many say youre like a living Bodhisattva from the Octagon cage. Dont worry, things are so chaotic these days, youll get used to it soon enough. Today we are just playing with guns and shooting targets, not killing anyone. Qing Chen didnt need to practice sniping today, but he did need to act. Because it might not be just Qing Yi who wanted to see his level with the sniper rifle today. For example, Xiao Ying was all ears right now. But Qing Chen didnt know that Xiao Ying wasnt concerned with sniper rifles but was learning some advanced expertise from Bai Zhou. The hover car traveled all the way to the Upper Three Districts. However, upon arriving here, the car had to strictly follow certain routes, and vehicles must have electronic security protocols; otherwise, they could be shot down from the sky. Qing Chen knew why hover cars could only fly along designated routes because flying over the consortiums residence would allow one to overlook all activities inside the estate, convenient for spies to study defense layouts. Compared to the lawless Lower Three Districts, this place might be the safest in the entire No. 18 City. Li Changqing said to Qing Chen, In a few days, when Lao Jius injuries are better, let him get your car equipped with an electronic security protocol as well, so you can freely enter and exit the Upper Three Districts. But remember, never fly over the consortiums residences. The Upper Three Districts lacked tall buildings and modern technology and did not have the heavy light pollution of the Cyber City. Instead, there were pavilions, towers, and courtyards everywhere. At night, red lanterns glittered like a river of stars. Flying past here, Qing Chen felt as if he were traversing the prosperous era of the Tang Dynasty. Only, the Inner Worlds conglomerates seemed particularly fond of decorating their estates with vermillion and bright red, making this place vivid, like a vibrant oil painting. Li Changqing earnestly admonished, After you get back to the Mid-Mountain Estate, try not to run around, and if you want to go out, you must stick with me... No. 18 City is no longer safe. Those who should be here and those who shouldnt, theyve all arrived. After a while, Qing Chen began to hear the rumbling sound from beneath the hover car. He knew this sound well; it was the sound of anti-materiel sniper rifles. The hover car landed at the foot of the hill behind the Mid-Mountain Estatean undulating hill, like a flood levee, split the entire estate in half. The targets for the sniper rifles stood against the hillside, with 800-meter targets, 400-meter targets, 200-meter targets, 50-meter targetsa full array. The prepared firearms included not only sniper rifles but also a complete set of automatic rifles and pistols brought over by the Li Family servants in vehicles. At the shooting area, over twenty people had already gathered, half of them brought by Qing Yi. Chapter 361: 277, Acting Skill (Requesting guaranteed monthly tickets)_2 Chapter 361: 277, Acting Skill (Requesting guaranteed monthly tickets)_2 Qing Chen caught sight of the short-statured Qing Yi among the crowd right awaythe junior high student seemed a bit out of place in the adult world, yet he was the most dazzling. The other party still had a neat watermelon haircut and was silently watching a young man lying prone on the ground and pulling the trigger. Not far away, Li Yinuo, Nan Gengchen, and Li Tongyun were also there, the three of them playing with ordinary firearms nearby. Li Yinuo, taking Nan Gengchen by the shoulder from behind, was hands-on in teaching him how to shoot and how to aim. As soon as the hover car stabilized, Qing Yi stepped forward to greet, Aunt Changqing, Uncle Qing Chen, good morning. Qing Chen realized this young man was also quite enduring, managing to call someone only three years older than him uncle without any hint of strangeness on his face. ... Qing Chen asked with a smile, Did you bring a gift this time? At this remark, Nan Gengchen, who was concentrating on his shooting not far away, trembled slightly in his wrist, and admired inside how shameless Brother Chen was in asking the younger generation for gifts. It was definitely Qing Chen himself. Moreover, Nan Gengchen knew something; from Qings Bloodline perspective, Qing Yi was technically from the same generation as Qing Chen, but now, through his connection with Li Changqing, he had super-promoted himself. He had subtly gained an advantage over the other Shadow Candidates. On the other side, Qing Yi obediently said, I brought it, I brought it. As he spoke, a servant beside him presented a box that strikingly contained a silver handgun, intricately engraved with patterns. Qing Yi said with a smile, This handgun is a limited commemorative model from the Thunder Fire Military Industry under Qings Family, called Abrupt Halt of Life. It was once sold for two million each on the black market. It hasnt been shot ever since it was made. Hearing that Uncle Qing Chen is a sharpshooter, this gun is just the perfect gift for you. Very good, Qing Chen received the box with a smile, casually handing it over to Xiao Ying by his side. This was a gun he would not likely use, and the best treatment for it was to sell it on the black market or pass it to someone else. As people have fingerprints, so do firearms, and the fingerprint of a firearm is its rifling. As a bullet passes through the rifled barrel, fine traces are scrapped into its surface by the rifling, and these traces are the unique markings of each gun. Thus, often tracing the rifling marks left on a bullet could lead to identifying the firearm used by the criminal. This gun, Abrupt Halt of Life, having passed through Qing Yis hands, definitely had ballistic test data left behind, and any bullet fired from this gun by him could potentially be traced back by the other party. At this moment, the sniper lying on the ground pulled the trigger once more. The anti-material sniper rifles side exhaust vent blasted out air currents, stirring up the surrounding dust. The roaring sound cut off everyones conversation as, 800 meters away, a Li Family range employee waved a flag at the target: 9 rings! The sniper pulled the trigger again, 9 rings. Yet, this person fired ten consecutive shots, all within 9 rings, even including five 10 rings. Li Changqing praised, A 800-meter range all within 9 rings, indeed worthy of being called a sharpshooter. Qing Yi looked at Qing Chen, Uncle Qing Chen, do you want to give it a try? Qing Chen thought for a moment and said, Ive only played with handguns and automatic rifles before, and Ive never shot at such a distant target. The sniper slowly got up, Handguns are also fine. This time, Qing Chen didnt hesitate, Alright, Yino, get me a handgun. Which one? asked Li Yinuo. Any, Qing Chen calmly said. Here, Li Yinuo casually took a handgun from the table filled with firearms and tossed it to Qing Chen. Catching it, Qing Chen casually remarked, Has anyone used this handgun just now? There are only seven bullets left. While speaking, he raised his hand and fired all 7 remaining bullets in the magazine. Click, after all the bullets were fired, the gun jammed at the front of the barrel. Indeed, there were only seven bullets. This scene stunned everyone around: amazing! People had seen precise shooting, but knowing the exact number of bullets in the magazine right upon handling it was almost like metaphysics. And to think, this was just a handgun casually selected by Li Yinuo for Qing Chen, not chosen by Qing Chen himself! The next moment, the range employee confirmed the target paper and waved the flag: 10 rings, all 7 shots were 10 rings. The sniper frowned, Qing Chen had shot a 50-meter target, all ten rings wasnt anything special, he could do that too. But crucially, without being familiar with the firearm, casually shooting and achieving such results, and moreover, the recoil did not affect the steadiness of the shooting at all. Laymen watch the excitement, experts watch the essentials, the sniper knew that Qing Chen hadnt even aimed deliberately. This was an absolute gun feel. Li Changqing clapped and laughed on the side, Lao Jiu didnt lie, your shooting skills really are great. Qing Chen didnt say anything but walked to the table, casually picked up an automatic rifle, and fired at the 200-meter target without hesitation, emptying a magazine, still all in ten rings. Exceptionally stable. He then switched to another automatic rifle, still hitting all ten rings. This time, the sniper that Qing Yi brought got serious. Qing Chen looked at him and said, Would you like to try? The sniper shook his head, No need to try, your gun feel is absolute, Im not your match. Qing Chen showed no intention of concealing his skill, and his actions served to intimidate. Qing Yi, standing by the side, said with a smile, Uncle Qing Chen, try the sniper rifle again. Alright, Qing Chen was straightforward. Chapter 362: 277, Acting Skill (Requesting guaranteed monthly tickets)_3 Chapter 362: 277, Acting Skill (Requesting guaranteed monthly tickets)_3 He picked a anti-material sniper rifle, recalling his reaction the first time he used Win People with Virtue as he aimed at the 400-meter target and pulled the trigger. Ten rings! Just like that, Qing Chen seemed to not have adapted to the huge recoil at all, his whole body slightly shifted, and the muzzle of the sniper rifle deviated from the target. All of this was the same as when he first fired a gun, even the muscle reactions were perfectly replicated. Qing Yi silently looked at the sniper, who spoke in a low voice, That indeed was the reaction when he first fired an anti-material sniper rifle; its something generally not easy to fake. Moreover, if you see how he loads, its very clumsy, which is also hard to disguise. Speaking of loading, Qing Chen was indeed not faking it. ... He had never loaded an anti-material sniper rifle before! Because Win People with Virtue doesnt need loading at all, you cant even find where to insert the bullets! But he scored ten rings, Qing Yi said softly, looking at the figure of Qing Chen lying prone on the ground. He has an absolute feel for handguns and automatic rifles, hitting ten rings on a 400-meter target with a sniper rifle is normal, the sniper spoke quietly, Whats important is to look at 600 meters and 800 meters. At 600 meters, its no longer possible to clearly see the target with just a 16x optical scope, and at 800 meters, when the trajectory starts to show a slight parabolic curve, then we will see what score he can achieve. During their conversation, Qing Chen had already aimed at the 600-meter target and pulled the trigger. The staff waved the flag: 6 rings! Everyone present felt this was normal, and scoring six rings was already quite impressive. Only Nan Gengchen was inwardly shouting, hes starting to act, Brother Chen is starting to act! Initially, he thought that the outright display of shooting skills earlier didnt quite fit Qing Chens character. But now he thought about it, displaying a mix of real and fake was more persuasive. Only by experiencing Qing Chens brilliance first, would they believe the modesty shown later. If it were based on his knowledge, seeing Qing Chens shooting skills at Xingshu Road that night, scoring ten rings at 1000 meters was expected. If Qing Chen couldnt achieve this, he definitely wouldnt let a bullet pass between his legs; Qing Chen wouldnt gamble with his personal safety! That anti-material sniper rifle bullet is as long as a palm, and hitting the leg would mean losing the leg. Qing Chen wouldnt take such a huge risk. Nan Gengchen discreetly looked around; he noticed that seemingly only he realized that Qing Chen was starting to act, even Xiao Tongyun didnt know how ferocious Qing Chens shooting was. Six rings? After learning his score, Qing Chen seemed slightly dissatisfied. He pulled the trigger again, but this time he did even worse, scoring only two rings, nearly missing the target. Upon firing again, ten rings. When they saw the ten rings, everyone was momentarily stunned; someone thought, Could the three-shot bullseye trick be happening again? Qing Chen fired again, scoring seven rings. Qing Yi looked towards the sniper beside him, his eyes filled with a questioning look. The sniper spoke softly, Hitting the 10-ring is just luck. When aiming at the target and shooting, as long as you hit the target, you might accidentally hit the 10-ring. Hitting the 10-ring is whats real. If each shot revolves around the bullseye but never actually hits it, thats a problem. Boss, lets look at 800 meters. Thats a hurdle. Those who cant become snipers cant get over this hurdle. Qing Yi thought about it and realized it was true. At that moment, Li Changqing smiled at Qing Chen and said, Dont be discouraged. Its already quite an achievement to hit the target at 600 meters the first time you handle a sniper rifle. Thats true, another sniper remarked. The first time I handled a sniper rifle, I didnt hit the target with a single shot. Lets try the 800 meters target. Qing Chen thought about it and shook his head, Forget it. Its hard enough at 600 meters, I dont want to embarrass myself. Its all about trying, Uncle Qing Chen, Qing Yi encouraged. Its Lis firing range anyway, and they dont charge us for the bullets. Then lets give it a try, Qing Chen said as he lay prone on the ground, turning the barrel towards the 800-meter target. This time, he aimed straight at the target paper, and after he pulled the trigger, the bullet didnt even hit the target! Qing Chen slightly raised the barrel, trying to calculate the parabolas arc to make the bullet hit the target, but it still missed! The staff responsible for confirming the target, took a few steps farther away, fearing they might get hit by a stray bullet... A sniper beside Qing Yi explained softly, When he cant hit the target, and doesnt even know why his shots are off, he cant adjust his trajectory. Simply trying to intuitively adjust the barrel is futile. By then, wind speed and gravity will pull the bullet off course, afraid his subsequent shots wont hit the target either. When I first practiced at the 800 meters target, it also took me two whole days to master the shooting skills. No sooner had he finished, as if to prove the snipers point, Qing Chen, stubbornly, fired another fifteen times. Only one shot hit the edge of the target paper; all the others missed. Watching his defiant, dissatisfied expression, Nan Gengchen thought to himself that he should go for an Oscar if not. He didnt want to watch any movie without Brother Chen from now on! Li Changqing gently squatted beside Qing Chen, patted his shoulder, and consoled, Thats enough for now. Come back to practice when youre free, youve already done very well. Alright, Qing Chen sighed as he stood up. Lets go, I still have a place to take you today, Li Changqing said with a smile seeing him give up, Li Yinuo, Xiao Tong Yun, you both come along too. Today is the day Lis School opens the Martial Arts School, were bringing a new fighting instructor. Qing Yi, are you coming? Qing Yi shook his head, smiling docilely, Auntie, I hate school the most. Its not often I get to come out; just let me have a day off. You all go, I still want to shoot some more. Then be careful, Li Changqing said before he left with Qing Chen. Left at the range, Qing Yi watched as the vehicle drove away, and then calmly said to the servant beside him, Go behind the target paper and check the bullet marks. I want to know where his bullets ended up. Boss, you mean... the sniper was a bit puzzled. Qing Yi spoke calmly, True experts like to hide their skills, but even those who love to conceal their skills cant help showing off sometimes. For instance, masters of forgeries leave their signatures in the design, which are hard to find if one doesnt look carefully. If he is a sniper, and still young at heart, even if he intentionally misses the target, he might inadvertently want to prove something, to show hes not a true failure. Of course, this is just an unnecessary check, he might really just be handling a sniper rifle for the first time. When Qing Yi said this, he completely lost the immaturity of a youth, and appeared surprisingly mature. ... A 5000-word chapter, another one coming tonight. Thanks to book fan 20180409174416031 for joining our book club, generous boss, the boss who can eat fish without choking on the bones! Chapter 363: 278. The new instructor at Martial Arts School, Qing Chen (requesting monthly tickets) Chapter 363: 278. The new instructor at Martial Arts School, Qing Chen (requesting monthly tickets) A servant from Qings Family struggled to explain, Boss, there are many bullet marks scattered across the mountain, and its impossible to distinguish which ones he left. I am prepared, Qing Yi said calmly, Let Xie Bin take you guys to find them. Xie Bin, the name of the sniper. So, boss, you wanted to check the distribution of his bullet marks, which is why you had me switch his bullets? the sniper Xie Bin asked. Just now, while shooting with the sniper rifle, Xie Bin had risen and intentionally left behind only the Armor-Piercing Incendiary rounds. The tip of the specialized sniper rifle bullets, different bullets have different patterns, such as an orange-red ring on the Armor-Piercing Incendiary rounds to distinguish the types. ... However, ordinary people at the shooting range would not use these specialized bullets. Now, they only needed to find these specialized bullets on the mountain behind the target to know which ones were shot by Qing Chen. Sometimes, Xie Bin felt that his young boss was truly demonic, often thinking of details they overlooked. He couldnt help but wonder, how was such a demonic young man born? There probably isnt a more demonic young man than Qing Yi. Xie Bin, leading more than ten servants from the Qings Family, rushed behind the target and searched for the bullet marks on the mountain, marking each one. Qing Chen had fired a total of 17 shots, one of which grazed the edge of the target paper, with the rest missing the target entirely. Under Xie Bins guidance, Qing Yis servants spent over an hour locating all these bullet marks. Qing Yi stood at a distance, watching the marked bullet marks, but he couldnt discern any connection between them. Xie Bin, take photos of this place and send them to my fathers strategist for analysis to see if theres any connection between these bullet marks, Qing Yi said. Okay, Xie Bin sent the photos. But after half an hour, Qing Yis fathers strategist replied, No obvious pattern detected. This meant that when Qing Chen was shooting, he indeed did not leave any trace of showing off his skills during his disguise. The sniper, Xie Bin, thought for a moment and said, Boss, it looks like he wasnt showing off. Qing Yi nodded, I overestimated him. With his previous flaunting of handguns and automatic rifles, he really doesnt seem like someone who would hide his skills. Boss, his sense for shooting within 200 meters is quite impressive, Xie Bin reminded. Yes, I know, Qing Yi nodded, but its limited. Im not afraid of someone who is openly aggressive, I fear those who hide in the shadows. However, what he did not know was that even that aggressiveness was feigned by Qing Chen, just to ensure his performance was flawless. In this world, heroes and demons are not solitary; Qing Chen, despite still being young, rarely had a vain mindset. So hiding skills meant just that, and showing off while doing so would be foolish. At that moment, in the hover car, Li Changqing spoke earnestly, Today you practiced with a sniper rifle, I was even surprised you hit the 600-meter target on your first attempt, so dont be discouraged. Ive already spoken to the range, from now on whenever you come here to practice, youll have unrestricted access. He continued, pulling out a card, Scan it with your cellphone. This way, no matter where you go, as long as you carry your phone, you can verify your identity and youll have access to almost anywhere in the Li Family Manor, you can even come and go freely. Is this appropriate? Qing Chen wondered. Its appropriate, youre soon to be a Fighting Instructor at Lis School, which gives you high status within the Li Family, Li Changqing explained: If any student disrespects you, no matter from which branch, you can beat them, and they cant retaliate. A school instructor... is the status that high? Qing Chen asked, puzzled. Yes, in the Li Family, the younger generation cannot outright contradict the elders, and no one can contradict the Family Head. In this house, only one person has the final say, and thats the Family Head, Li Changqing explained. Qing Chen understood that this was a highly centralized family, with the Family Heads position no different from that of an Emperor. He suddenly wondered if the Li Family adhered to Confucianism, hence their focus on the traditional hierarchy of Heaven, Earth, Sovereign, Parents, Teacher. However, the issue was that the residence of the Master of Li Family was called Bao Pu Tower, which was derived from Daoism. The phrase Bao Pu even originates from Chapter 19 of Dao De Jing: See simplicity, hold onto purity, lessen self-interest, reduce desires. This made Qing Chen feel that the ruling philosophy of the Li Family was somewhat mixed. At that moment, Li Changqing smiled at Qing Chen, In the school, once the Martial Arts School starts, you only need to teach two days a week. However, to establish yourself firmly in Lis School, you also need real skills. Today, quite a few of the younger generation have heard about your starting the Martial Arts School, so they are all waiting. Qing Chen froze, suddenly having an ominous premonition. Li Changqing smiled and asked, Still willing to become an instructor? Willing, Qing Chen nodded. Oh, you didnt refuse this time, Li Changqing curiously asked, Why? Qing Chen reluctantly explained, Youve already announced it, and if I refuse now, youd have to find someone else at the last minute, which would be very embarrassing for you. Li Changqings eyes brightened, Finally, youre considering my position. However, Qing Chens willingness to become an instructor at the school was purely because Uncle Li Dong had called him before his trip, stating that as a condition for his master leaving the 18th City, Qing Chen had to choose a disciple from the Li Family to continue as a Knight. Chapter 364: 278, New Instructor at Martial Arts School, Qing Chen (Requesting Monthly Tickets)_2 Chapter 364: 278, New Instructor at Martial Arts School, Qing Chen (Requesting Monthly Tickets)_2 Just like Uncle Li Dong had apprenticed himself years ago, entrusted by the Master of the Li Family to his master, the responsibility for this generations legacy had now fallen to him. This was something Li Changqing didnt know, and Qing Chen couldnt explain. Initially, Qing Chen had thought about teaching XiaoTongyun, but then he reconsidered, always feeling that it would let XiaoTongyun endure much hardship. Qing Chens life had been tough from the start, so he could endure it. But there was no need to force XiaoTongyun to suffer similarly; it was enough for her to live comfortably as a little rich lady. Qing Chen had once asked Uncle Li Dong, What if this generation in the Li Family doesnt even have a single worthy successor, what should be done? ... The response from Uncle Li Dong was, Then just wait for the next generation. After all, you have a long life ahead. You can outlive them for five or six generations without a problem. I never promised that the succession had to happen quickly. After you outlive five or six generations, the person I made the deal with will no longer be here, and nobody will remember this promise. Remember, a knights legacy is better lacking than flawed. Qing Chen: ... His master probably meant that there really was no obligation to settle any debts. But he didnt explicitly say so. Perhaps thats just what a righteous knight is, though its hard to say where exactly things went awry. ... ... Lis School was within the Zhi Xin Courtyard. The entire Zhi Xin Courtyard was vast, even larger than Li Changqings Feiyun Courtyard and Li Yinuos Qing Shan Villa combined. Qing Chen wasnt sure if this Zhi Xin really referred to the gaining new insights through reviewing old material. In front of the courtyard stood two trees, one of which was a date tree, and so was the other. At the entrance, numerous servants of the Li Clan were waiting outside, some snacking on sunflower seeds, others chatting, waiting for their young masters and young ladies to finish class. Qing Chen had quite the sensation of an old-style private school. Li Changqing explained, Inside the school, no servants are allowed; classes run from morning to evening, and everyone must bring their lunch from home. Within the school, the children of the Li Clan must not compare themselves with others and must do everything by themselves. Of course, not all children need to attend this school, but only those who graduate can be assigned significant roles within the clan. Since graduating from here is necessary to be assigned significant roles, is there anyone who skips classes? Qing Chen wondered. Certainly, Li Changqing said, looking towards Li Tongyun, From now on, you better come here diligently, understand? Your fifth brother left early, so no one looked after you, but now I will. If you skip school again, I will have to beat you. Li Tongyun was on the verge of tears; having barely escaped from the Outer World where she didnt need to attend school, she just wanted to live quietly as a little tycoon in the Inner World. How did a mother suddenly appear?! Inside, Qing Chen struggled to hold back his laughter, though he maintained a face that seemed barely familiar with XiaoTongyun. Nan Gengchen was planning the same, ready to have a good laugh about it once he returned to the Outer World. Suddenly, Qing Chen asked, You mentioned before about reestablishing the Martial Arts School, so has this school been founded before? Yes, Li Changqing said, But it had only operated for a short period and only ever had one instructor. After that instructor left the clan, the Martial Arts School was also closed. Qing Chen was startled, wondering why the departure of the instructor necessitated the closure of the Martial Arts School: Was there anything particular about this instructor? Nothing special; he was my seventh brother, Li Changqing calmly stated, After he was an instructor, the later students never accepted any new instructors, so no one could carry on teaching. No matter how many came, they were always driven away. Seventh Brother, isnt that my master? Qing Chen muttered inwardly. So, was this considered a legacy of following in his fathers footsteps? Li Yinuo suddenly said, Aunt, I heard it was all because you drove them away? Hahaha, you heard about that too? Li Changqing laughed, hiding his embarrassment, Did your dad tell you? Qing Chens expression became odd, so it was Li Changqing who was the main culprit behind the closure of the Martial Arts School in the past, and yet now he wanted Qing Chen to reopen it. As they were about to enter the Zhi Xin Courtyard, suddenly a servant stepped forward and said earnestly, Good morning, Mr. Chang Qing. Li Changqing, with a smile, asked, Is there anything? This person beside you, is he the new instructor of the Martial Arts School? the servant asked politely. Yes, he is, Li Changqing confirmed, Do you want to challenge him? I do indeed, the servant said, I specialize in fighting and personally believe that Im more suited to be the instructor of the Martial Arts School. Li Changqing smiled, far from dissuading, she even made a significant promise, If you can defeat him, Ill find your indenture contract from the company and tear it up, allowing you to become an instructor in the Martial Arts School. Qing Chen was taken aback; Li Changqing really enjoyed stirring things up. But that wasnt the end of it; Li Changqing then addressed all the servants, I offer the same conditions to everyone; defeat him and you can gain your freedom and become an instructor. Qing Chen was dumbfounded; there were at least thirty or forty servants here! He could clearly see that everyones eyes lit up! The key concern was, could there be some highly skilled masters hidden among them? Li Changqing turned to Qing Chen and said with a light chuckle, One thing you dont have to worry about, I told those little rascals yesterday, anyone who brings a servant above E-Class to the villa, need not leave the villa for the next year. So, it was you who told them to come? Qing Chen caught the crucial point. Li Changqing smiled, Otherwise, how would you command respect... I just love seeing you defeat others, its very attractive. Dont worry, after this fight, theyll all accept you. Chapter 365: 278, The new instructor of Martial Arts School, Qing Chen (Requesting monthly pass)_3 Chapter 365: 278, The new instructor of Martial Arts School, Qing Chen (Requesting monthly pass)_3 Qing Chen looked at the servants circling around him and confirmed seriously, So its one-on-one, right? The servants were stunned for a moment before responding earnestly, Yes, its one-on-one, please dont worry. Thats good, Qing Chen sighed with relief. The servants were stunned again. They looked at each other. From what Qing Chen said, as long as it was one-on-one, there seemed to be no problem? Inside ZhiXin Courtyard, in the square and upright main room, a teacher was giving a mathematics lesson. While the class was in session, a series of screams and wails suddenly erupted from outside the courtyard, wave after wave. ... Some students turned their heads to look outside through the main rooms door, curious about what was happening. But the moment one turned their head, the teacher casually broke a piece of chalk and hurled it accurately at the students head, without pausing the lecture: Odd numbers remain unchanged, the sign depends on the quadrant... The student clutched at his head in pain as a lump quickly swelled up on his scalp. We are now in an era of complete information. Theres no need to use chalk to write on blackboards anymore during lessons. However, its unknown since when it became a tradition at Lis School to always keep a box of chalk on the desk, used solely for breaking and throwing at students. Since the teacher had never actually used the chalk to write, the disciples of Lis family gradually didnt even know chalk was originally for writing on blackboards. As far as they could remember, chalk was only for the teacher to throw at people; it had no other use. Just like a ruler. Some disciples had even wondered why the school specially prepared such a strange weapon for the teachers. At this moment, students had already started passing notes: Was it the Martial Arts Schools teacher who came? Another student responded: Definitely. Otherwise, where would the screams be coming from? No idea whose servant is suffering now. In their view, any instructor Aunt Changqing arranged must be very formidable, given that Aunt Changqing herself was powerful. They just wanted to give the other party a bit of a scare, to show that being a teacher at Lis School wasnt something just anyone could handle. So, each of them brought along one of their households E-Class servants to try to overpower the newly appointed teacher through sheer numbers. Regardless of whether these E-Class servants were skilled in combat or not, with enough of them, they could surely overwhelm the teacher. They hadnt heard of any E-Class able to take on dozens single-handedly. Of course, they wouldnt take it too far. They just needed to make the teacher lie down and slink away in defeat. And this was something even Aunt Changqing tacitly allowed! One student passed a note to his deskmate: Want to bet on which familys servant will take down the teacher? The other student replied: Bet ten thousand dollars its Li Kes. A thirty-people relay fight; even a formidable teacher would fall at some point, so they were betting on in front of which servant the teacher would fall. Meanwhile, outside the classroom, the wails persisted, causing the teacher who was lecturing on the podium to gradually halt the pace of his lesson and move toward the exit to try and intervene. He wanted to stop it. However, a student carefully warned: Teacher Wang, this commotion was started by Aunt Changqing. I suggest you better stay out of this. Upon hearing the name Li Changqing, Teacher Wang immediately withdrew his steps: This is too much... We will end todays lesson here. Spend the remaining time studying quietly in the classroom. With that, Teacher Wang walked towards the back of ZhiXin Courtyard to have tea and watch the news. Seeing this, the students started to get noisy. No one dared to leave their seats; they just craned their necks to look outside. Do you think the teacher will be beaten up badly? Its unlikely to be that severe. The servants know their limits, and besides, Aunt Changqing must be out there watching. Then do you think Aunt Changqing would blame us? No, wasnt this her hint? But why would she hint at this... As they were speaking, the screaming outside continued. Inside the school, the disciples of the Lee family were all buzzing with excitement. Suddenly, a young boy in the corner said coldly, You organized a group to fight in relays, thirty-something servants against one man. You shouldnt be excited about such a thing; you should be ashamed. At this, several students sat down sullenly. There were students who argued back: Li Ke, you dont have to act all self-righteous. If hes teaching at the Martial Arts School, then naturally he should be able to handle this sort of thing. My father said that when Uncle Li Dong was at the school, he was an unmatched fighter in the whole world! The young boy sneered: Uncle Li Dong was a Knight, but is this teacher? In the boys opinion, it was common knowledge that a Knight could fight, but not all Martial Arts School teachers were Knights. Actually, he was the one who scorned the new teacher the most because he felt that after Uncle Li Dong left the Lee family, the Martial Arts School should be closed forever; no one could replace Uncle Li Dongs legendary status in his heart. But didnt you also bring the best fighter from your large house? someone retorted unsatisfied: I heard that the expert you brought is this years number one combatant of the First Army Group! You tell us we should be ashamed, so what about you? I wanted him to know his limitations and back off, Li Ke said with a cold smirk. At that moment, a bell rang out in the school, signifying the end of class. A crowd of students pushed their way towards the outside of the school, rushing as if school had just let out. However, when they arrived at the entrance of ZhiXin Courtyard, they all stopped dead in their tracks. They saw servants sprawled across the ground outside, and Aunt Li Changqing looking at them with an amused smile, saying nothing. The students looked for their respective servants on the ground, only to find that without exception, all 31 servants were lying there. The servants faces were all blue and bruised, seemingly having passed out from asphyxiation. In the crowd, Li Ke, who had always maintained a stoic expression, also stood in the doorway, stunned. The scene before him was simply too shocking; even the formidable fighter he had brought with him was lying unconscious on the ground. Then, everyone turned their heads to the young man standing with his back to them, breathing heavily. Upon hearing the noisy footsteps, Qing Chen turned around, then grinned and said, Youre all in big trouble now. ... A 5000-word chapter, 10,000 words updated today, still owe one update to the Didi driver boss, and two more updates are due. Voting for monthly tickets!! My dedication to writing is absolutely proper! Chapter 366: Im in pretty good health. Chapter 366: Im in pretty good health. Youve gotten yourselves into big trouble. This statement, amidst the silent crowd, exuded such a deterring force. It also made the 31 students realize that this new instructor at the Martial Arts School might be a bit out of the ordinary. After all, in everyones impression, teachers wouldnt threaten students so bluntly... Qing Chen was breathing heavily, but though he looked exhausted, there wasnt a single external injury on him. What did this mean? It meant that among these 31 Servants, not even one posed a threat to the new instructor! ... That included the group army grassroots champion brought by Li Ke of Lis Big Room, Wang Guang. A chubby student said, Is he E-Class? Aunt Changqing, dont tell me you brought a D-Class or C-Class Expert, but told us to bring E-Class Servants... The people reacted, suspecting that Qing Chen was cheating! In fact, this was a normal reaction since nobody had ever heard of an E-Class defeating so many of the same class in a revolving door battle before. You should know that all 31 Servants were knocked unconscious, which was hardly different from being killed on the battlefield. Li Changqing arched an eyebrow, walked over, and pinched the chubby students ear, How do you speak to your aunt? Do you think Im that kind of person? Ouch ouch ouch! the chubby student shouted, Im sorry, Aunt Changqing! Another student muttered, Its not that were deliberately doubting you, aunt. Its just that this is too shocking, you tell mehow does one E-Class knock down 31 E-Classes? Is that scientific? Unable to help herself, Xiao Tongyun said, Brother Qing Chen is the Tiger Grade Boxing King of the 18th citys underground boxing, he even killed a Land Cruise Grade boxer! Qing Xiaotus name could be concealed from others, but not from the Li Family, so everyone had switched back to using Qing Chen. Seeing Li Tongyun speak up to help, the students were stunned for a moment. She was the top dog in their school, so her words held some weight. They also knew what underground boxing meant, so upon hearing Li Tongyun claim Qing Chen was the Tiger Grade Boxing King of the 18th city, they didnt know how to rebut for a moment. Qing Chen? Is that Qing Xiaotu? someone said, Ive heard that name. Its just that we didnt have the chance to see the match where he became the Tiger Grade Boxing King... At that moment, Li Ke walked through the student crowd to the side of Wang Guang, the familys fighting expert, and squatted down to calmly press on his philtrum. Qing Chen watched quietly from a distance and suddenly felt that this youth seemed somewhat interesting. Wang Guang coughed twice and slowly came to. He felt his neck, trying to recall what exactly had happened. Li Ke calmly asked Wang Guang in Qing Chens presence, Is this new instructor really just E-Class? Having heard Li Kes question, Wang Guang was already clear-headed, Young master, he is E-Class, he didnt rely on brute strength, but purely on technique. Moreover, he has injuries and cannot use brute strength. Wang Guang, being an expert, naturally understood the difference between technical overmatch and strength overmatch. To be honest, Wang Guangs words carried a bit of admiration for Qing Chen. At the same level, and with injuries, he chose to use only Jujitsu to choke and immobilize his opponents. This prevented him from making intense movements that would worsen his injuries and also kept them from reaching the injuries on his ribs. But the strangest thing was that everyone knew Qing Chen only wanted to use Jujitsu, yet they were clueless against it. It was as if no matter what you planned, the other party had already thought through how to counter it. Wang Guang whispered to Li Ke, Young master, him teaching you how to fight is sufficient. Li Ke understood and turned to the other classmates, A loss is a loss. The Li Familys people cant be sore losers. Welcome to our new instructor. Upon hearing this, the group of students looked at Qing Chen, who wasnt much older than themselves, and even if grudgingly, they all bowed their heads and said, Greetings, Instructor. However, just because the students had superficially yielded, it didnt mean Qing Chen was ready to let it go. The students, as the pride of the Li Family, naturally believed that their bowing was the greatest face they could give to someone. Because they were the most lofty people in this Inner World. Inner World had its hierarchy. But for Qing Chen, things were not that simple. After catching his breath, he said with a faint smile, Prepare to meet your doom. The students looked at each other in bewilderment and turned towards Li Changqing, uncertain of what to do. This new instructor really seemed to be quite different from the others! But just like earlier, when Qing Chen was challenged by the Servants, she had chosen to stand aside and enjoy the spectacle. Now, the tables had turned; with the students unsure what to do, she was prepared to hide and watch the show. As for what kind of torment these Li scions would face, what did it have to do with her! Although all of this was brewed by her own hands. Then, the bell from deep within Zhixin Bieyuan sounded againit was time for class. The students scrambled towards the schoolhouse, Li Changqing glanced at Li Tongyun, Why are you still standing here, go to class! Xiao Tongyun reluctantly went inside, looking back every three steps. Qing Chen looked at Li Changqing, May I go in now? Of course, you may. Youve just passed the most important test, Li Changqing said with a smile brimming with meaning, Only when the Li scions accept you, are you qualified to teach them. Then lets go in, Qing Chen said. Oh, its not we who are going in, but you on your own to report to the Mountain Chief of the school, Li Changqing smiled, Although youve passed the students test, things are not quite finished yet. Chapter 367: 279, Im pretty healthy_2 Chapter 367: 279, Im pretty healthy_2 ` During the conversation, a hurried old man came walking towards Zhi Xin Courtyard from the outside. He was carrying a printed book under his arm and completely ignored Qing Chen and others at the entrance, heading straight into Zhi Xin Courtyard without raising his head. Uncle Three, greeted Li Changqing. The old man paused for a moment, then squinted at Li Changqing, Oh, Chang Qing, youre here to cause trouble again? Li Changqing was taken aback. She glanced at Qing Chen, then hastily said to the old man, What are you saying, Uncle? How am I causing trouble? The old man looked up at the sky, pondered for a while and said, Oh, you have graduated a long time ago. Alright, lets not talk about this now, I need to hurry and prepare for my lesson. ... Wait a moment, Uncle. This is the new instructor I brought over. Hell be working under you from now on, said Li Changqing to the old man. The old mans eyes lit up, What subject? Li Changqing explained, Hell be teaching combat. Today, the Martial Arts School at Zhi Xin Courtyard is reopening. The old man was taken aback, Ill-fated. Qing Chen: ??? As he spoke, the old man turned and entered Zhi Xin Courtyard without saying another word. Nan Gengchen stood gaping; the old man seemed somewhat foolish, as if he was completely indifferent to social conventions. Li Changqing explained to Qing Chen, This is the Mountain Chief of the school, my Uncle Three. Hes spent his life uninterested in fame and fortune, focusing only on his books. He holds the position of Mountain Chief only as a secondary duty. When hes not busy, he just reads books and pays no attention to mundane affairs. Qing Chen mused that in the Inner World, probably only the financial groups could afford to cultivate such an indifferent person. But the question was, why did the old man call it ill-fated...? Li Changqing thought for a moment, then patiently explained, When my Seventh Brother first opened the Martial Arts School, he was also the Mountain Chief. After that, Zhi Xin Courtyard faced tumultuous times; my Seventh Brother got into street fights with the gangs, even pulling in an entire school of students to help out. Therefore, Uncle has always held a grudge against the Martial Arts School and also harbors prejudice against knights. Although it was I who personally shut down the Martial Arts School, hes the one with the greatest distaste for it... Qing Chen thought to himself that this made sense. If it were he taking the position of Mountain Chief, dealing with a master underneath who excelled at causing trouble like his master did, he would also be fed up. However, as the saying goes, what goes around comes around. This Mountain Chief probably never imagined that the wheel of fortune would bring another knight back around... If the Mountain Chief knew of Qing Chens status as a knight, hed probably say more than just ill-fated. Moreover, it was now clear to Qing Chen why Li Changqing had said that the students were only the first hurdle. It seemed the second hurdle was the other instructors at Zhi Xin Courtyard. The sins of the master were ultimately inherited by the disciple. Alright, go inside. We will wait for you at Feiyun Courtyard, having said that, Li Changqing actually took Li Yinuo, Nan Gengchen, and the others onto a hover car and left with a flourish! Qing Chen stood thoughtfully at the entrance, took a glance at Zhi Xin Courtyard, then quietly stepped inside. The interior of Zhi Xin Courtyard was bigger than he had imagined. After making his way around the main hall to the back, he was surprised to find a new vista behind the school. Pavilions, rock gardens, and fish ponds, nothing was missing. Going further inside, he came upon the place where the instructors prepared and managed their work. On the way over, Li Changqing had said that together with the Mountain Chief, there were a total of seven instructors at Zhi Xin Courtyard, each teaching different subjects: Chinese, mathematics, geography, physics, political history, chemistry, and biology. These subjects were not much different from those in the Outer World, except for the absence of foreign languages and the combination of politics and history. The reason being, the Federations history was too scant to stand alone as a fundamental subject. Moreover, politics and history have always been inseparable. Politics itself must learn from history, otherwise it is meaningless. Li Changqing had told Qing Chen that Lis School only taught basic knowledge. To pursue advanced studies, one must attend Qinghe University within the Federation. For military school, it would be Tinder Military Academy. At the back courtyard of Zhi Xin Courtyard, there was a middle-aged man sitting leisurely on a bamboo recliner inside the room, flipping through an e-reader as if he were reading the news. Qing Chen approached politely and asked, Hello, Im the new instructor. Can you tell me where the office is, and which desk should I use? The middle-aged instructor glanced at Qing Chen with a somewhat indolent tone, The office is in the next room, but as youre teaching combat, you probably dont need a desk, do you? Qing Chen considered and said, Whether I need it or not is another question; I still need a place to settle. The middle-aged instructor replied calmly, Just go to the next room and pick any spot to sit. Qing Chen discovered that the instructors at Zhi Xin Courtyard seemed to have little interest in the Martial Arts School. The Mountain Chief thought it was ill-fated, and this middle-aged instructor clearly looked down on those who taught combat. As the adage goes, all trades are inferior; only the scholarly are esteemed. Yet Qing Chen did not come to Zhi Xin Courtyard to cause trouble. Starting a commotion as soon as he arrived would not reflect well if it got out. So he paid no further attention to the middle-aged instructor and went to the next room. Inside, he saw the Mountain Chief he had just encountered, as well as the other four instructors. The desks were all occupied, not a single one was vacant. The few people in the room seemed to have agreed on something, as none of them spared him a second glance. Qing Chen smiled, found a chair in a corner and pulled it over, then took all the political history textbooks from the shelf and began flipping through them rapidly. ` Chapter 368: 279, Im pretty healthy_3 Chapter 368: 279, Im pretty healthy_3 By this time, the instructors had already begun surreptitiously sizing up Qing Chen. They wanted to put this young man, who taught combat, in his place as soon as he made a scene about his office position, to ridicule him a bit. But now it seemed that the young man didnt plan to cause any trouble; one chair was enough for him. The instructors thought to themselves, perhaps this young man doesnt like to stir up trouble? Of course, that would be the best outcome, as the school might gain another one to serve tea and water. Lis School had rules that students must do everything themselves once they join, and this rule applied to instructors as well, who should lead by example. ... At this moment, an instructor who was secretly observing Qing Chen murmured to himself, thinking that the instructor from the Martial Arts School was too young, looking about the same age as the students who graduated from the school, maybe seventeen or eighteen years old. Could it be that this person came to Lis School because Li Changqing pulled some strings? They had all heard that recently a pretty boy had appeared beside Li Changqing; could it be this young man? In a place like the Li Familys large estate, other news didnt travel fast, but scandals and gossip spread the fastest. However, this had nothing to do with the instructors; as long as this Qing Chen didnt cause any trouble and just kept to himself peacefully and discreetly, they didnt mind. The next moment, the instructor sizing up Qing Chen noticed something unusual. He saw Qing Chen quickly flipping through political history textbooks, trying hard to blend into the office atmosphere. But the speed of flipping was really too fast, it didnt look like he was reading normally. The instructor shook his head, thinking to himself that a Martial Warrior just couldnt pretend properly. In fact, it wasnt just this instructor who noticed Qing Chen was pretending to read; the others noticed too but didnt say anything. Qing Chen spent about 20 minutes reading through six books on political history, then closed his eyes for another 20 minutes to digest the information. It had to be said, the political history textbooks used inside Lis School were indeed fierce, containing secrets of many historical events that couldnt be known from the outside, all recorded in these textbooks. They dared write about everything. Indeed, in a world controlled by consortia, textbooks for the outside world were designed to fool the citizens of the Federation, but they couldnt fool their own insiders. Deceiving outsiders was one thing; deceiving their own children was another! Qing Chen had also been to a public high school in the Sixth District and seen the textbooks there. For instance, history before the new era of human civilization was not mentioned at all in public high school textbooks. In contrast, the textbooks inside Lis School detailed the disasters humanity had faced due to artificial intelligence before the new era. That was when Qing Chen truly realized what the creator of One, Zero, had done. That was probably why no one in the consortiums generations had vigorously developed artificial intelligence, because they all knew very well the kind of disaster it could bring. Suddenly, Qing Chen thought of the many private books in Lis School, and he felt as if he had stumbled upon a treasure trove. This was indeed the most convenient place for him to learn about the Inner World! When the consortiums were raising their own young, they laid bare the harsh realities of the world in front of everyone. Confirming that he had memorized the six political history textbooks, Qing Chen slowly opened his eyes. He replaced the political history textbooks on the shelf and then picked down textbooks on language arts, flipping through them quickly. This time, it took him 10 minutes to finish; compared to the literary heritage of the Outer World, the Inner World had nothing much interesting, though a few brilliant works indeed existed, they were few in number. After finishing the language arts textbooks, Qing Chen switched to math, physics, biology, and chemistry. He read even faster this time, spending five minutes per subject, finishing everything in just 20 minutes. It wasnt that Qing Chen was being dismissive; it just wasnt necessary to take them seriously... Lis School, in the realms of math, physics, chemistry, and biology, simply did not match the extreme exam-oriented education of the Outer World. Compared to the competitive difficulty of the Outer World, it was day and night. Possibly, the high-difficulty content was all reserved for university-level study. Perhaps Lis School believed that such heavy coursework was not necessary during the youth education phase. After all, each of the consortiums had guaranteed admission quotas every year for Qinghe University and Tinder University, with 60% of each universitys educational funding coming from consortium donations. Thus, most people in the school didnt need to compete with those students outside. This was also the consortiums encroachment on educational resources, depriving many commoners of opportunities for advancement. Just then, the other instructors in the office saw Qing Chen quickly flipping through the textbooks on math, physics, chemistry, and biology in just 20 minutes and thought to themselves that this young man probably didnt understand the content, which explained why he could read so fast. Finally, Qing Chen took out the geography textbook. To his surprise, these textbooks even had a separate section dedicated to the Taboo Land! This piqued Qing Chens interest. However, before he could examine it closely, the middle-aged instructor he had met outside entered the room and looked towards Qing Chen, Um... what was your name again? Qing Chen, Qing Chen introduced himself. Qing Chen, I need your combat class tomorrow afternoon, the middle-aged instructor said, Just say you feel unwell during the class and then switch it with my math class, any problem with that? There is, Qing Chen said seriously, Im actually feeling quite good. Although he had injuries, as long as he didnt engage in strenuous exercises, he was indeed quite fine, and he was recovering faster than he had expected, thanks to the medicine he got from Jiang Xiaotang. The middle-aged instructor was taken aback, I asked you to say youre unwell just as an excuse, the point is that I need to rush the math progress for my students. Qing Chen calmly said, Given how simple the math courses taught in Lis School are, I dont think theres any progress that needs to be rushed. The office suddenly fell silent. ... A 5000-character chapter, another update at 11 PM tonight. Thank you to Budding Scumbag and Prince Queyue for becoming new allies of this book. Bosses are generous, may you lead a peaceful life! Just to clarify some doubts from readers yesterday, when I mentioned that the Didi driver still owes two chapters, I meant that the updates still owed to this particular boss are two chapters. Once his are complete, I will continue to repay others. Im not planning on defaulting... rest assured and keep voting... Chapter 369: 280. The Dominated Lis School (10,000-word update for monthly ticket) Chapter 369: 280. The Dominated Lis School (10,000-word update for monthly ticket) In the office of the Knowledge Renewal Courtyard, the silence was eerily unsettling. Just a few dozen minutes ago, when Qing Chen had moved a chair into the corner to sit down, Mountain Chief Li Liheng and the other four instructors had thought to themselves, Huh, this new Fighting Instructor is quite low-key. As a Martial Warrior, he was actually trying to blend into the office atmosphere by earnestly flipping through the textbooks, regardless of whether he understood them or not, at least he had the look down. Everyone was quite relieved. However, they hadnt anticipated such a quick turnaround; the day wasnt even over, and this instructor from the Martial Arts School had begun to challenge the educational order of Lis School. No, it wasnt just a simple challenge to the educational order, but a direct verbal challenge to the very essence of Lis School, the content of its teachings! ... The math courses at Lis School are so simple, theres no need to rush anything. Those words were too grating to hear! And they were uttered by a physical education teacher! In the eyes of the instructors at Lis School, wasnt a Fighting Instructor essentially a P.E. teacher? Wasnt it only natural for a math teacher to take over a P.E. teachers class? If they say youre feeling unwell, then youd better be feeling unwell! But for Qing Chen, he had already finished reading Lis Schools textbooks, and none of the four science subjects posed any difficulty for him. It wasnt because he could learn it all in one read, rather, he had already studied this material long ago! Back when he was in his first year at Los Angeles Foreign Language School, his math teacher, Tian Hailong, had even complained to his colleagues: Qing Chen would sleep whenever he had nothing to do, and whenever he looked up, I thought I had made a mistake in my teaching. This kind of academic deity, shaped by the test-oriented education system, was far beyond what the instructors at the Inner World Li Clan School could imagine. In a way, every instructor at Lis School was an exceptional gold-medal teacher in the Inner Worlds educational circles, and there was absolutely no question about their lecturing effectiveness. If they were to encounter ordinary middle school students from the Outer World, the instructors could absolutely trounce every single one of them. But the problem was, Qing Chen wasnt an ordinary student, even Los Angeles Foreign Language School needed him to participate in math and physics competitions to bolster the schools reputation... Such an individual placed in Lis School, looking down on the teaching content of Lis School, was quite normal. At that moment, including the Mountain Chief, all the instructors silently looked at Qing Chen, as if they were staring at an ignorant rabble-rouser. Nobody spoke, because they didnt know what to say. The math instructor, with a fiery temper, rolled up his sleeves in anger and said, Lis Schools math is simple? No need to keep up the pace? Is this what a mere Martial Warrior should say? Its questionable if youve even attended middle school, yet you dare to question our textbooks? Li Changqings third uncle, Mr. Mountain Chief Li Liheng, thought for a moment but didnt say anything. But the chemistry instructor couldnt help but try to smooth things over: Kid, youre here to teach fighting, and its normal that you dont want others taking your class, but theres no need for wild talk, speak kindly. I believe you certainly havent been to middle school, so you dont really understand the courses we teach. In the Inner World, the vast majority of people never had the chance to go to high school, let alone a Fighting Instructor. Therefore, the instructors subconsciously thought that Qing Chens words stemmed from his ignorance of the situation. This chemistry instructor seemed to be playing peacemaker, but his words were laced with veiled taunts and barbs. The physics instructor, who seemed not to get along with the math instructor, now took the opportunity to tease, Kid, if his math is simple, then you can give me your class tomorrow, since my teaching is quite difficult. Qing Chen turned his head to look at him: Yours is simple too. Physics Instructor: ... Qing Chen: Chemistry is simple as well, and so is biology. Chemistry Instructor: ... Biology Instructor: ... It was at this moment the instructors realized that Qing Chen wasnt just targeting the math course. He was saying that all the science subjects at Lis School, which were present, were rubbish. ... ... The instructors looked at the youth sitting quietly in the corner, and once again the office fell silent. The math instructor, who had a short fuse, exclaimed in anger: I cant tolerate this, as a Fighting Instructor, how dare you say such things? After a moments thought, Qing Chen advised, Id suggest you temper your anger first. You know I teach fighting, and when you say Im unwell, thats false, but if I say you are unwell, then you might actually become unwell. The anger in the math instructor instantly dissipated. Qing Chen continued, You see, I couldnt even get a desk in the office and had to sit in this corner. How about we make a bet? You math, physics, chemistry, and biology instructors give me one high school level paper each, the hardest you have. If I cant get a perfect score, Ill hand over all my classes to you, and from then on, Ill tell my students I have a terminal illness and quit teaching. The instructors eyes lit up; if this kid no longer had classes, it was only a matter of time before the Mountain Chief would persuade him to leave. In less than a month, this kid would be out! You dont need a perfect score, the math instructor said, 145 points will suffice, to prevent others from saying were too harsh on you. It doesnt matter, Qing Chen replied, Of course, if I manage to answer every question correctly, then Ill also give each of you one question. One question? asked the math instructor. Yes, Qing Chen said indifferently, if you cant answer it, then your desks will be mine, and then all of you can willingly move a chair and sit where Im sitting now. Chapter 370: Controlled Lis School (10,000-word update for monthly votes)_2 Chapter 370: Controlled Lis School (10,000-word update for monthly votes)_2 The instructors looked at each other, and the biology instructor whispered, Could this kid have come prepared? I dont believe he can score perfect marks on all of them! the math instructor said through clenched teeth. But theres a trap here, maybe he peeked at the papers we issued before and memorized the answers, intentionally coming here to disgust us, the biology instructor said, So we shouldnt test him with old papers. Dont all of you have some killer questions up your sleeves? The others caught on: Youre really thoughtful, lets use a new paper to prevent him from having seen the questions. At this moment, Mountain Chief Li Liheng was the most relaxed one. He taught politics and history, and this dispute among the new and old instructors didnt affect him at all. But for some reason, as he looked at Qing Chens expression, he suddenly felt that the young man possessed an unrivaled confidence, although he didnt know where Qing Chens confidence came from. ... The group stopped wasting wordsinstructors in math, physics, chemistry, and biology each took out a paper and placed it in front of Qing Chen with feigned generosity: We arent putting a time limit on you. Just do them as long as you can. Qing Chen glanced at them: Do you need a lot of time to do these kinds of questions? This sentence nearly drove the four instructors mad. Wasnt this guy just way too pretentious?! However, when Qing Chen began writing the first chemistry paper, the chemistry instructors face had already changed. As the saying goes, an expert is recognized as soon as they make their move. The chemistry instructor had worked at Lis School for 20 years and could judge whether a student knew their stuff just by glancing at the way they wrote their papers. Not to mention that Qing Chen was now completing the paper as smoothly as flowing clouds and water, as if he could come up with the answers without thinking. A paper like this would normally take a student of the school at least 90 minutes, yet Qing Chen finished it all in 15 minutes. Qing Chen handed the paper to the chemistry instructor: Grade it, and dont arbitrarily dock points. Were all experts here. What the hell, expert! The chemistry instructor said, annoyed, Im not so shameless. Ill give you however many points you deserve! Qing Chen was indifferent: Next. He then successively completed the physics, biology, and math papers, and even then, not even an hour had passed. Qing Chen waited aside for them to grade the papers. The chemistry instructor slowly looked up: Done grading. 145 points. The physics instructor followed suit: Im done too, 145 points. The biology instructor: 145 points... The math instructor stared blankly at the graded paper before him with a choice question left blank, and said with difficulty, 145 points. If he had simply scored full marks on everything, it would have been one thing, but Qing Chen strictly controlled each subject at 145 points, as if responding to their earlier statement, 145 points is enough, save us the embarrassment of saying were being too hard on you. What mockery... Still, such mockery couldnt be made without some real ability. Not far away, Mountain Chief Li Liheng was stunned for a moment. As he looked at Qing Chen, he thought to himself how good the kid was at mockery and wondered who he had learned such a disgusting spirit from, feeling an odd sense of de?ja? vu. After finishing the papers, Qing Chen didnt look up but instead took a blank piece of paper and wrote down a math competition problem for the math instructor. Then he calmly watched him. On the paper was written a problem: A member of the Contraindicated courts was playing a game with an invisible Taboo on a Euclidean plane, the starting position of the Taboo known... It was a question from the 2017 IMO math competition, known as the Magical Magic Invisibility Rabbit. At the time, the Chinese team was wiped out on this question, all scoring zero points, and it was considered one of the hardest questions in the history of the IMO math competitions. To prevent recognition, Qing Chen had deliberately changed it to a member of the Contraindicated courts and a Taboo. As the math instructor watched Qing Chen write down this question, his brow furrowed and sweat began to form on his forehead. After nearly fifteen minutes, he didnt even know where to begin solving it. Eventually, the math instructor looked at Qing Chen: Can you solve it? Qing Chen said calmly: There are two core concepts in solving this problem: the first is the cycle length N, and the second is the maximum directional deviation angle. As he spoke, he wrote down the solution process on the white paper and handed it to the math instructor: Grab a chair for yourself and head to the corner. Actually, the first time Qing Chen tried this question, he almost couldnt solve it either. But a prodigy is a prodigy. The math instructor, clutching the corners of the calculation paper, nearly tore the paper, but having agreed to the wager, he could only obediently carry his chair to the corner. Before long, however, he was staring blankly at the calculation paper. For someone in the math teaching profession, the ingenuity of the question design, and the cleverness of the solving strategy, was enough to leave him entranced. Then, Qing Chen looked at the physics instructor and jotted down his modified competition question: In a mercury trough, a glass tube was inserted vertically... This time, the physics instructor too began sweating bullets. Though they had been in basic education for a decade or two decades, facing competition problems felt like getting hung from a tree and pummeled. The instructors were even at a loss for a while, unable to figure out which approach to solving to start with! It wasnt that their academic skills werent refined or their professional abilities werent strong, but rather that competition problems and foundational problems were products of two different thought processes, with different objectives for the ones setting them. For biology and chemistry, Qing Chen opted for a rapid-fire Q&A method, spitting out more than a hundred true or false questions without thinking until the two instructors couldnt answer anymore. Chapter 371: 280. The Dominated Lis School (10,000-word update for monthly ticket)_3 Chapter 371: 280. The Dominated Lis School (10,000-word update for monthly ticket)_3 In the blink of an eye, the four instructors sat side by side in the corner, looking innocently clueless about what to do. Meanwhile, Qing Chen chose the sunniest table, sat down, and then closed his eyes. Continuing to dive repeatedly into the endless loop of Winning People Over with Virtue in the Mysterious World. The noonday sun shone on the boys face, casting a layer of golden brilliance, dazzlingly so. The young mans tranquil demeanor was as if nothing had ever happened. Seeing his nonchalant attitude, the hearts of the four instructors sitting upright in the corner began to bleed internally. ... The idea of a liberal arts instructor getting beaten down by a physical education instructor was something people would hardly believe if spread! However, what they did not know was that Qing Chen had long been accustomed to such experiences of overshadowing others, and he had become indifferent to them. Even if this was in the Inner World. His actions today were merely to resolve his status within the school once and for all and then to find a table for himself. In the Winning People Over with Virtue Mysterious World, Qing Chen thought to himself, did his actions today also count as winning people over with virtue? His behavior should be worthy of this terrifying sniper rifle. ... ... At this moment, Mountain Chief Li Liheng, who had been immersed in his books, put down the scroll in his hand and looked at Qing Chen with interest. He thought to himself, where on earth did Li Changqing find such a monstrous talent? As a physical education instructor, he had hung up all the liberal arts instructors of Lis School and given them a thorough beating. It wasnt until that moment that Mountain Chief recalled the scene of Qing Chen quickly flipping through the books, realizing that the other was not trying to fit into the office atmosphere. Rather, he was genuinely getting acquainted with the teaching materials of Lis School. Li Liheng, who was quite advanced in years, remembered that Qing Chen had gone through political history textbooks as well, and suddenly felt a little uneasy. After all, the reason he could afford to watch the excitement was that Qing Chen had not come after his position. Mountain Chief Li Liheng was somewhat worried. He fretted that Qing Chen, in retaliation for the incident of his class being taken over, might take over other classes. If that really happened, things would get interesting: Lis School could have nearly twenty fighting classes a week, and Known Talents Courtyard could be directly renamed Martial Arts Courtyard. Mountain Chief Li Liheng silently observed for a while and once he confirmed Qing Chen had no intention of retaliatory measures, he finally relieved his concern. The math instructor sitting in the corner tried to catch Mountain Chiefs attention while Qing Chen closed his eyes for a rest: Please do something about this, or what are we sitting here for? Mountain Chief Li Liheng cheerfully responded with a look: Hes the fighting instructor; I sure as hell cant beat him... In the past, the status of the subject had allowed the math instructor to strut around the office. Li Liheng thought it would be good to use this opportunity to deflate the math instructors arrogance a bit. Just then, the bronze bell in their courtyard rang, signaling the end of class. The geography instructor, who was teaching class, walked back into the office and said, I dont know whats up with the students at school today; the classroom is all chaotic, and I cant control them... burp! Upon entering the office, the geography instructor saw Qing Chen sitting in the sunlight and then noticed the four liberal arts instructors sitting side by side in the corner behind the office. For a moment, he couldnt quite grasp what had happened! The scene suddenly became awkward... Mountain Chief Li Liheng pointed at Qing Chen and introduced him with a smile, This is Qing Chen, the new fighting instructor who will be responsible for reopening the Martial Arts School. Qing Chen, this is the geography instructor, Luan Fengfeng. The geography instructor was startled for a moment and then hurriedly greeted Qing Chen: Hello, hello. Qing Chen opened his eyes and looked at him, curiously asking, Where is Instructor Luans seat? The geography instructor, somewhat surprised, pointed to an inconspicuous corner and said, Over there. Okay, said Qing Chen and closed his eyes once again. Luan Fengfeng was somewhat baffled and approached the corner to ask the math instructor, Why are you sitting here? The math instructor pondered for a moment and said, We wanted to discuss with him properly if he could give up some of his fighting class time... He didnt agree. Geography instructor Luan Fengfeng was puzzled: If he didnt agree, then he didnt agree, but what does that have to do with you guys sitting in the corner? And, how had Qing Chen taken over the math instructors seat? But then he suddenly remembered Qing Chen asking him where he sat, fearing Qing Chen wanted to check out his position to commandeer it, then relegating him to the corner! The fact that Qing Chen ignored him after seeing his spot was not ideal seemed to mean just that! Luan Fengfeng cursed inwardly, thinking this seemed to be the truth! Thank goodness his own seat was rather poor! Just then, someone else entered the office: Teacher, I didnt quite understand the method of calculating time differences you taught us in class just now... burp! The visitor was Li Ke from Lis Big Room, who discovered upon entering the office that the four liberal arts instructors were sitting side by side in the corner, looking at him with intense gazes... It was too frightening! Li Ke hesitated and then turned to look at Qing Chen, only to find that the young man, just a few years older than himself, was sitting like a ruler in the sunlight, eyes closed, resting. Although Li Ke did not understand what was happening in the office, he was greatly shocked. Its doubtful that even Li Changqing, who was looking forward to a good show, could have anticipated that, in the span of a single day, Qing Chen had first won over the servants and the Li Familys youngsters. Then he subdued the office of Lis School. Commanding the entirety of Lis School with the bearing of a prodigy, his dominance was absolutely crushing. Qing Chen opened his eyes and politely asked the Mountain Chief, Uncle Three, I dont have any class today, do I? Mountain Chief Li Liheng replied with a smile, No, your classes are tomorrow. Okay, Ill head back then and come again tomorrow, Qing Chen stood up and said, Is there anything I should be aware of in the school? Li Liheng thought for a moment, stroked his beard, and said, Nothing, just have fun. Alright, Qing Chen walked out of the office, brushing past Li Ke. Somehow, as Qing Chen approached Li Ke, the student instinctively made way for him. It was as if he was pushed aside by some invisible aura. ... A chapter of five thousand words, plus still owing one update to the kind ride-share driver, and with one more to go, this generous patrons debt will be repaid. A big thank you to Zeng Ah Zeng for becoming the new ally of this book, and thanks to the boss, who never experiences lag in games. Asking for monthly tickets! Chapter 372: 281. Dragon Fish and Dragon Lake Chapter 372: 281. Dragon Fish and Dragon Lake Instructor, how about I come back later to ask you about my questions? Qing Chen looked toward the geography instructor, Luan Fengfeng. He felt that the atmosphere in the office was a bit off, so he decided it was best not to hang around at this time. The geography instructor looked at Qing Chen with a pleasant expression and said, Hmm, you go back to the hall first. Qing Chen turned to leave but he was cautious and didnt leave right away. Outside the door, the 14-year-old boy hid under the window and began to eavesdrop. In the room, the four instructors sitting in the corner got up to stretch their limbs as soon as Qing Chen left. ... The geography instructor wondered, What exactly is going on with you all, why did you all go sit over there... and also, why is the new fighting instructor, Qing Chen, sitting in your seat, Lao Zhou? Lao Zhou, Zhou Xingwen, the math instructor. At this moment, Zhou Xingwen stood up and said, Didnt we agree yesterday to teach him a lesson? So when he arrived, we didnt prepare a desk for him, just to see his reaction. But who knew Li Changqing had brought such a monster? After just being quiet for a few dozen minutes, he flipped through all of the materials in Lis School, then started attacking us. Zhou Xingwen continued, We started with the hardest high school exam questions, which he all scored 145 on, and then he turned around and gave us questions to solve, and neither Lao Liu nor I could solve a single one. Lao Liu, Liu Junkui, the physics instructor. Listening to the story, geography instructor Luan Fengfeng was baffled; he took one of the IMO math competitions hardest questions ever from Zhou Xingwen and, after a long time, did not even understand the question. Although they taught different subjects, at the very least, they were all higher education talents with Masters degrees in education from Qinghe University, and solving a high school math problem should have been a breeze. But now, they couldnt even comprehend the question. Crouching outside the window, Qing Chens heart was filled with shock, like an undercurrent churning beneath the seas surface. Truth be told, he hadnt expected Qing Chen to cause so much trouble in just one day. First, he subdued the servants, and then he took over the instructors office, leaving the instructors without even a desk to sit at. Impressive! Young Qing Chen finally understood what true boldness was! No wonder when he entered the office earlier, he felt Qing Chens presence dominating the entire instructors office! With this in mind, Qing Chen sneaked back into the hall. How could he not share such joyous news with his brothers and sisters? At this time, Qing Chen was walking on a small path leaving the Xinzhi Courtyard. The half-mountain manor was lush with greenery, walking inside felt like being lost in a forest maze. Simply put, Qing Chen got lost. With his memory power, he had rarely ever gotten lost in his life. However, he had been brought over by Li Changqing in a hover car from the back of the mountain, so he had never actually walked the path by the entrance of Xinzhi Courtyard before. Using the position of the sun to discern the cardinal directions, Qing Chen walked towards the general direction of Feiyun Courtyard. However, after walking for an hour, he hadnt even caught a glimpse of Feiyun Courtyard. Along the way, Qing Chen encountered more than ten checkpoints within the half-mountain manor, but thankfully, Li Changqing had given him an electronic pass beforehand, otherwise, he might have already been buried under some garden by now. When he turned from a path, the view suddenly opened up; before him was a broad expanse of glistening waterit was a large man-made lake. Unexpectedly, hidden within this half-mountain manor was such a massive artificial lake. Looking around, one could see schools of fish swimming in the water. Alongside the lake, a wooden bridge extended into the water, where an elderly man was sitting quietly on a small stool, fishing while wrapped in a thick fur cloak. There was no one around the lakes edge, and the water was as smooth as a mirror. This was a picturesque scene, like the lone fisherman immortalized in a poem against the cold snowy river. If not for the high-tech equipment in the old mans hand, the scene would have been even more picturesque. Qing Chen distinctly saw that the elderly man had a liquid crystal display next to him, showing the underwater view and even indicating if a fish was biting the bait. Yet, what made Qing Chen curious was that, in the wild, the fish in waters had become extremely vicious. However, the fish in this lake seemed to be normal. There must be something unique about it. He turned to leave, thinking that the sudden appearance of an elderly man fishing alone in this place was bound to be a significant figure in the Li Family. But as Qing Chen turned, the old man spoke up, Come here, help me pull up the fish! Quick! Qing Chen hesitated for a moment, and when he looked back, he saw that the old man had a fish on the hook, and he seemed too frail to hold onto the fishing rod. The old man looked back at him and said, Im talking to you, what are you staring for? Oh, Qing Chen walked over, grabbed the fishing line, and with a strong tug, he pulled the struggling big fish out of the water. Youth has its advantages, strong hands, the old man commented without getting up from his stool and asked with a smile, Whose young man are you? Havent seen you around before. After thinking for a moment, Qing Chen replied, Im a new instructor invited to the Xinzhi Courtyard by Li Changqing. Im not from the Lee family. Oh? The old man seemed surprised, I thought so. The Lee family doesnt have such good genes to produce a good-looking kid like you. Qing Chen was also taken aback, unsure if the old man was related to the Lee family based on his tone, Arent you a member of the Lee family? Why would you speak about the Lee family like that? Chapter 373: 281. Dragon Fish and Dragon Lake_2 Chapter 373: 281. Dragon Fish and Dragon Lake_2 The old man chuckled heartily, Ive spent my lifetime working for the Li family, whats wrong with speaking a couple of words about the Lao Lee household? Qing Chen frowned; he glanced over at a certain eave corner in the distance, and the Heartless Bronze Bell hanging beneath it with a red string, labeled as the forbidden object ACE-020. What, afraid that badmouthing the Li family will make that bronze bell ring? the old man laughed, That thing is a fake! Ah? Qing Chen was bewildered, There are so many bronze bells hanging in the manor, theyre all fake? That cant be! Why not? the old man shook his head and said, In this world, truth and falsehoods, reality and illusion are intermingledeven the blood ties and affection between brothers could be false, let alone a forbidden object? I dont believe it, Qing Chen shook his head. ... Hey, you dont even believe what I say, the old mans eyes widened, Let me tell you, theres only one true pair of Heartless Bronze Bells, so only the two hanging on the east side of Bao Pu Tower are real. After the Li family was given the Heartless Bronze Bells by the knights, the Master of the Li Family complained that it was too few, saying his manor was so big, how could two bronze bells be enough? That led to a dispute with the knights. Qing Chen was perplexed; what kind of bewildering behavior was this from the Master of the Li Family? To think someone would feel shortchanged receiving a taboo object... Oh, he then reconsidered the situation; indeed, no one would consider having too many of such taboo objects. The old man continued, The knights said, Damn it, there are only two Heartless Bronze Bells, take it or leave it. In the end, unable to dissuade the Master of the Li Family, they came up with a suggestion: the outside world doesnt know how many Heartless Bronze Bells there truly are; you could forge a few hundred more, and we knights will also say there are several hundreds, at least it could deter the villains. Qing Chen was speechless; that did sound like something the knights would do. Previously, walking through the manor, he had been worried that he might accidentally do something to cause all the Heartless Bronze Bells to ring out together. And they were all fake! But as the old man told these secrets, it was as if he had been present when the Li family was bestowed with the Heartless Bronze Bells. Who was this old man then? Who are you, and why do you know these secrets? Moreover, why are you telling me such confidential matters? Qing Chen asked indifferently while removing a big and plump fish from the hook, Is it that you have some scheme in mind? The old man raised his eyebrow, What ill intentions could I, an honest old man whos just fishing, possibly have? Fine, Qing Chen replied nonchalantly, Ive caught the fish for you. Now, I will take my leave. Whatever youve told me, Ill act as if I never heard it. Eh, you want to walk away clean after hearing the story? The old man laughed, Dont you want to know why the knights gave the Master of the Li Family a Heartless Bronze Bell? Qing Chen thought for a moment, Because the current Knight Leader, Uncle Li Dong, is from the Lee household? Thats not much of a secret; I knew that even without you saying it. Nonsense, the old man said, Uncle Li Dong became a knight when these Heartless Bronze Bells had already been here for over twenty years! Oh? Qing Chens interest was piqued. The Li family has been on good terms with the knights for generations because an ancestor of the Li family, who was also a knight named Li Yingyun, the old man, seeing that Qing Chen was unaware of this secret, immediately felt gossipy excitement. Li Yingyun, this was a name Qing Chen had seen on the sheer cliffs of Green Mountain. He continued as if sharing town gossip with Qing Chen, You dont know this, but Li Yingyun himself wasnt gifted in commerce, but his son was a business prodigy. Back then, the Northwest wasnt cut off by the Taboo Land, and that prodigy of the Li family expanded their business bit by bit by traversing the Northwest and the Central Plains. Thus, the Li family has deep roots with the knights. All of a sudden, Qing Chen felt that the old man had told him so much today and only now was getting to the point: intentionally or not, he was conveying that the Li family had a good relationship with the knights. This made Qing Chen cautious; could it be that the old man knew his identity?! But who exactly was this old man? Im off then, you enjoy your fishing, Qing Chen turned and walked away. But the old man grabbed his arm, Take this Dragon Fish with you; its delicious when braised in soy sauce for dinner. Qing Chen was puzzled, You caught it yourself, youre not going to eat it? The joy of fishing is in the moment the fish bites the hook, not in the eating, the old man laughed heartily, Take it. Oh, and if you want to hear more gossip, come find me here in the afternoon. I know many secrets that can last a young man a lifetime. Qing Chen glanced at the monitor in the mans hand and thought to himself that his high-tech fishing must have taken all the real pleasure out of it. He hesitated for a moment, but ultimately accepted the Dragon Fish from the old mans hands, Thank you. Until next time, if fate allows it. On his way back, he pondered the old mans identity. Firstly, there were two clues; one, the old man knew many of the Li familys secrets, including the Heartless Bronze Bells. Second, the old man did not seem to hold much respect when mentioning the Li family. Initially, Qing Chen thought the old man might be the head of the Li family, but then he reconsidered; wasnt the current head of the Li family frequently in critical health conditions? It couldnt be him. So, the old man could be the brother or the brother-in-law of the head of the Li family, confined to the manor after failing to seize the title of family head. And because of harboring resentment towards the Li family, he was divulging important secrets to an outsider; perhaps he wanted to use Qing Chen as a mouthpiece to debunk the rumors surrounding the Heartless Bronze Bells, to diminish the fear of this taboo object in the eyes of the world? Chapter 374: 281. Dragon Fish and Dragon Lake_3 Chapter 374: 281. Dragon Fish and Dragon Lake_3 Cant figure it out. However, he had just walked out not two kilometers when he was stopped by someone. The stakeout that stopped him emerged from the woods and spoke into his communication earpiece, Team leader, an unknown individual suspected of stealing the Dragon Fish has been spotted, requesting backup. Qing Chen: ??? He looked back towards the lake and thought to himself, that this was a really awful trap. That old man couldnt have been deliberately setting him up, could he? The other party definitely knew that him flaunting the Dragon Fish in public would cause trouble, which is why he insisted on giving the fish to him. ... Old man, you have landed yourself in big trouble. Qing Chen, facing the dark muzzle of the gun, very wisely raised his hands high, Hello, I am Qing Chen, the new instructor from the Zhi Xin Courtyard, this Dragon Fish was given to me by someone, I didnt steal it myself. The stakeout did not approach rashly and while waiting for backup, he asked, Who gave it to you? I dont know his name, Qing Chen sighed, But Im not lying. The stakeout then took out an unknown device, aimed it at Qing Chen, and pressed a button. Following that, the electronic access control on Qing Chens mobile phone fed his identity information back to the device. The stakeout breathed a sigh of relief, at least the identity of the new instructor from Zhi Xin Courtyard was not fake. Qing Chen earnestly said, I know Li Changqing, please ask her to come, she can help explain this for me. At such times, resisting the entire security system of Banshan Villa was the most foolish thing to do. If you have connections, its best to mention them quickly so as not to create unnecessary conflicts. In a short while, over a dozen security personnel surrounded and then escorted Qing Chen to the small building at the guard station. Since he cooperated, they did not make things difficult for him and just waited for Li Changqing to come and deal with the situation. Even the personnel at the guard station recognized him: Qing Chen? Are you the Qing Chen who knocked over a bunch of servants this morning? Thats me, Qing Chen sighed, still holding the Dragon Fish in his hand. The personnel at the guard station curiously asked, Was this Dragon Fish really given to you by someone else? Yes, Qing Chen explained, An old man was fishing by the lake. I was passing by, and he happened to catch it, then he gave me one. Now I suspect someone took advantage of my unfamiliarity with the rules and deliberately framed me! There are surveillance cameras all over Banshan Villa, just take a look at the footage! There are no cameras at Dragon Lake, you are new and might not know, but opposite Dragon Lake is the Family Heads Baopu Tower, even we dont have the qualifications to get close, the security personnel paused, There are real experts guarding that place, they dont need us from the guard station. I dont know where that expert went today; otherwise, not to mention stealing fish, you should feel fortunate to have survived. Real experts? I didnt see anyone though, Qing Chen started to get suspicious, Is this Dragon Fish very precious? Of course, this Dragon Fish is the Family Heads most treasured item, and it is a precious species brought back from Taboo Land by a certain Knight in the past. Even if caught, it must be released, the person from the guard station explained. Qing Chen lifted the Dragon Fish in his hand, This one? Caught from Taboo Land? Whats precious about it? It is said that Dragon Fish dont bite people willingly, the security personnel said, So they are naturally spiritual. Qing Chen thought to himself, how novel it was that fish didnt bite people, as in the Outer World most fish dont bite people! Yet he also considered that if this Dragon Fish truly was a descendant bred from a species in Taboo Land, then it not biting people was indeed quite curious. Just then, a hover car landed outside the guard station. Li Changqing had just gotten out of the car when she saw the Dragon Fish in Qing Chens hand, Why did you even dredge up a Dragon Fish? No wonder you were brought to the guard station. One of the guard station personnel said, Miss Changqing... You know about this; the theft of the Dragon Fish is not a trivial matter. We dont dare to release him privately. Could you speak to the higher-ups? We need a direct order from the Secretariat before we dare to let him go. As soon as the words fell, the phone in the guard station rang; it was an internal call from the Secretariat. The guard station personnel picked up the phone, glancing subconsciously at the caller ID, Hello? Release him, the voice on the phone said simply two words and then hung up. Who? Li Changqing asked. The Secretariat, the guard station personnel said curiously, Miss Changqing, did you give the Secretariat a heads-up beforehand? Li Changqing did not answer but led Qing Chen away. Sitting in the hover car, Li Changqing suddenly asked gravely, I heard it was an old man who personally handed you the fish? Yes, Qing Chen nodded and then suddenly said after a moment of thought, He also mentioned that there are only two genuine Heartless Bronze Bells in Banshan Villa, and even said who sent them. Do you know who he is? Li Changqing gave Qing Chen a thoughtful look, Did he say anything else? He also said to join him for fishing when Im free. If I help him catch fish, hell tell me secrets, Qing Chen stated forthrightly. Then do as he says, Li Changqing said, There are no more classes at the academy. Whenever youre free, stroll around Dragon Lake. You shouldnt be stopped by anyone anymore. Qing Chen fell into contemplation, while Li Changqing seemed to have guessed something but did not plan to tell him. At that moment, only Li Changqing knew, she hadnt contacted the Secretariat before coming; the Secretariat, by all means, should not have known about someone stealing the Dragon Fish in advance. You see, within the Li Family, the Secretariat is the most authoritative central institution beneath the Family Head, and many of the administrative orders that come from there are not even within Li Changqings authority to question. The Li Familys intelligence organization is half in the hands of Li Changqing; the other half resides within the Secretariat. Who could have the power to make the Secretariat directly call the guard station? Inside the Li Family, there are no more than three individuals with this level of power. By the way, why did the old man give you the Dragon Fish? Li Changqing asked curiously, Did he tell you its purpose? No, Qing Chen replied, He just said to braise it and eat it, its very delicious. Li Changqing was stunned for a moment, then couldnt help but laugh and cry, To braise and eat? Thats right, Qing Chen recalled the white nuts given by those old folks from Forbidden Land No. 002 and thought to himself that there must be many strange things in Taboo Land; he wondered if eating this Dragon Fish would also have any miraculous effects. ... A five-thousand-word chapter, another one coming at 11 PM. Thank you to the student who sought companions in the mountain of books for becoming a new ally of this book. The boss is generous; the boss eats grapes without spitting out the skins. Chapter 375: 282. The Magical Species of Taboo Land Chapter 375: 282. The Magical Species of Taboo Land The magic of the Taboo Land is beyond the current understanding of the scientific domain. Qing Chen had realized this when he first glimpsed the towering tree from afar. He had eaten white fruits that turned into the blade of a Mimosa Plant, and there was also the Ding Dong with double pupils who could see into peoples hearts. All creatures born there were vastly different from those of the outside world. What would it be like if one day, the entire Taboo Land became one, where all humans were born anew from within, no longer confined by rules? With this thought, Qing Chen looked forward to the Dragon Fish he was holding in his hands. ... Li Changqing looked at him with a slightly amused glance, This is a treasure from the Ban Shan Manor, coveted by many who havent managed to taste it. Yet you got to eat it first. I have no idea what got into the one who gave you such a treasure. As for the one Li Changqing referred to, she seemed to have no intention of specifying. To be honest, this was also what she found most perplexing. She had a guess as to who sent the fish, but why send a fish? Has anyone eaten it? What effects does it have after eating it? Qing Chen asked curiously. Li Changqing said, Why dont you eat it tonight and find out for yourself? By the way... after you left the school, your third uncle called me. He said that you have caused quite a commotion at the school, even taking the desks from several other instructors. Qing Chen calmly looked out the window, remembering the layout of Ban Shan Manor, and responded, By leaving right after dropping me off at the entrance, werent you looking forward to this scene? I did anticipate that the instructors would trouble you, wanting to see how you would manage, but I didnt expect you to be so vigorous, Li Changqing turned to Qing Chen with interest, You did say you were a good student and clever, but you never mentioned you were this astute. Just as Li Changqing had initially been unaware of Qing Chens past as an underground boxer, since meeting him, he had given her more surprises than she could count. Qing Chen said, Those instructors have been in the school for too long, only thinking about how to teach children the basics, which naturally fossilizes their way of thinking. But since they didnt provide me with a desk, I suppose theres no issue with me taking one myself. Taking one is certainly fine, but the thing is, your third uncle said you took four... Li Changqing said with a smile, Try to ease the tension with the other instructors tomorrow, okay? Im not exactly making a request, but your third uncle did intercede on their behalf. We have to give his word some weight. Fine, I had no intentions of making enemies anyway, Qing Chen suddenly asked curiously, Can all the children of the Li Family attend the school, or is it just for the direct line? All are welcome, without exception, Li Changqing replied. Then what about Li Ke, who comes from the main branch? Will he be ostracized by those from the other branches? Qing Chen asked further, as he had heard the core members of the other branches quite disliked the main branch. If an instructor discovers that a student is ganging up with others to bully someone within the school, then all those involved in bullying must kneel for three days in the shrine, Li Changqing answered calmly, If they want to bully someone, they should do it outside in the city, not within their own family, especially not in the school. At this moment, Li Changqing looked at Qing Chen, Because of what happened today with him hiring someone to challenge you, does it leave a bad taste in your mouth? No, I just think hes somewhat different, Qing Chen replied. If you have a bad impression of him, you can say it outright. Its okay, I dont like my elder brother anyway, Li Changqing said. But things werent as Li Changqing imagined. In Qing Chens brief impression, that 14-year-old boy was studious, upright, and magnanimous, which was certainly worth paying attention to. However, it remained to be seen whether the child was as good as he appeared or merely a rotten apple. Further observation was needed. Qing Chen hadnt forgotten that he still needed to choose someone to be his Knight and continue the legacy. In the evening, the chef at Feiyun Courtyard trembled when he heard that he was to braise a Dragon Fish. The Dragon Fish was something they had only heard of, never seen. When the Dragon Fish was finally served on the table, Li Yinuos eyes went wide. She turned to Li Changqing, Dragon Fish? Aunt, did you cause trouble with a Dragon Fish again? Qing Chen slowly turned his head, thinking that Li Changqing must have stirred up significant trouble in the past; no wonder she knew to bypass the guard station and seek approval directly from the Secretariate. It was clearly a lesson learned through experience. Li Changqing tapped Li Yinuos head with her chopsticks, Dont always blabber about your aunts past. Those are stories from years ago. Besides, it was your seventh uncle who took me there. I was just an accomplice; he was the mastermind. Moreover, we didnt even make our move before we were caught by the master from the Secretariate. Qing Chen thought to himself, oh, such nefarious deeds indeed would not be complete without his master. Yet, he was a bit curious, All Ive heard today is about the existence of a master at Bao Pu Tower. What level is he? Why ask about that? Youre not planning on storming Bao Pu Tower, are you? Li Changqing said, Come on, eat while its hot. The whole fish is yours; no one else is allowed to touch it. When Li Yinuo heard this, she immediately lost spirit, Thats biased. Biased? It was specifically sent for him. And besides, you wouldnt benefit from it even if you ate it, Li Changqing explained. The moment Li Yinuo heard that it was specifically sent for Qing Chen, she, too, was taken aback. Chapter 376: 282. The Magical Species of Taboo Land_2 Chapter 376: 282. The Magical Species of Taboo Land_2 Qing Chen seemed pensive as he took a bite, and the very next moment he suddenly felt something odd about the fish meatit didnt taste like fish at all, but rather like freshly sprouted bamboo shoots. Moreover, the instant he swallowed, he even felt a warm current flowing toward his stomach and then concentrating on the injured part of his ribs. Li Changqing, having watched him eat, slowly explained, Eating Dragon Fish can nourish the bones. All of the Transcendents in the Federation cannot escape the fate of having high offense and defense but low stamina. Therefore, those Transcendents who want to compensate for their weaknesses will seek opportunities to find miraculous species in the Taboo Land. Since you were injured earlier, eating Dragon Fish is just right for you. Qing Chen was stunned for a momentit was no wonder his master had sought out Dragon Fish, and no wonder his master had said, before he was imprisoned, that he had visited many Taboo Lands. So that was the reason. But what surprised him the most was not this, but that the old man seemed to know he was injured and purposely sent Dragon Fish to him. The gift was too targetedcould it be that the other party had been paying attention to him all along? ... If that was the case, it must have something to do with his master, Uncle Li Dong. Qing Chen used his finger to press around his rib injury, and found that it was no longer as painful. It was as if a layer of gentle fish collagen had filled in the cracks in his bones. This gave Qing Chen some confidence for the upcoming second life-and-death challenge. Previously, he had not wanted to have anything to do with that old man at Dragon Lake anymore, but now Qing Chen was wondering if the old man might have any other treasures in his possession. Maybe tomorrow he would negotiate with the old manto help him surreptitiously replace the genuine Taboo ACE-020 Heartless Bronze Bells on the eaves of the Bao Pu Building with replicas. After all, there were already so many fakes; one more pair wouldnt make a difference. After dinner, Li Changqing looked at Qing Chen, How do you feel after eating? Indeed miraculous, Qing Chen nodded in response, feeling that with every bite of Dragon Fish, the gentle warm current increased by a bit. At one point, Qing Chen wondered whether the nourishment from eating Dragon Fish could accumulate? If it could, could he eventually eat himself to a point where his bones were as hard as steel? Then, after Li Changqing and Li Yinuo had left, Li Changqing smiled faintly and said, You wont notice anything after just a couple of bites. How about Auntie checks for you? Qing Chen fled in disarray. ... ... The next morning, Li Yinuo, leading Li Tongyun, was waiting at the door early: Qing Chen, my aunt and I will be quite busy recently. Whenever XiaoTongyun has time, she thinks of skipping class, and the instructors at her school cant keep her in check. Now that youve become an instructor, shell be under your care. She will go to school with you, and if she skips class, report to me. Qing Chen fell silent. Whats wrong, cant you? Li Yinuo asked curiously. Its not that, Qing Chen turned and went to find Li Changqing in Feiyun Courtyard: The thing is, Ive become a school instructor. I was thinking, Qing Yi is only 14 years old and still of school-going age. Although he has to face the Shadow struggle, you also know that education is crucial in life. If he came to City 18 seeking refuge with you, and his studies ended up neglected, his parents would definitely feel that you, as an elder, had not fulfilled your duties after the Shadow struggle is over when he returns home. Li Changqings eyes lit up: I didnt expect you to consider so much for me. At this time, Qing Yi was still eating breakfast at the table. When he overheard Qing Chen bringing up this matter, he was completely upset. Qing Yi looked up and saw Qing Chen looking at him sincerely, as if he was truly planning for his future! Li Changqing patted Qing Yis shoulder, Stop eating, hurry up and pack your things, and go to school with Uncle Qing Chen. Lis School is no worse than Qing Family School. If you dont obey, I wont keep you in the Half Hill Manor and will send you back home directly with the Federal Groups military. Qing Yi struggled internally for a while, then maintained his facade of obedience, Okay, Aunt. XiaoTongyun and I will wait for you outside, Qing Chen said with a beaming smile. By the way, servants are not allowed in the school, and Qing Yi doesnt need to bring too many people, just one or two will be fine. After all, there wont be any deceitful people in Half Hill Manor, right? Thats true, Li Changqing nodded. Both waited outside for Qing Yi. XiaoTongyun looked up at Qing Chen beside her, Brother Qing Chen, yesterday Li Ke eavesdropped by the instructors corner, and now the whole class is gossiping about you. What are they saying? Qing Chen asked curiously. About how you grabbed another instructors desk, Li Ke said you are proficient in both literature and martial arts, very impressive, XiaoTongyun muttered, He spent the whole afternoon talking as if he knew you better, while Im the one who really knows you better. But, I cant tell the other students. Why fight over this, Qing Chen stroked her head. Oh, Brother Qing Chen, Li Tongyun asked, I heard you Transcendents have a way to live longer, even to stay forever young, is that true? Only Cultivators can achieve that, Awakeners and Genetic Warriors cannot, Qing Chen said. I see, so can I train with you? Li Tongyun looked around to make sure no one was eavesdropping before she whispered in a very soft voice, I am a Time Traveler; if I shuttle back and forth between two worlds, I will certainly age faster than others. If I dont find a way to extend my life, by the time Im 20, I might look like Im in my thirties or even forties. Chapter 377: 282. The Magical Species of Taboo Land_3 Qing Chen inwardly marveled that others cultivated to become stronger, while XiaoTongyun aimed for everlasting youth, true to the way girls buy cars, only caring about looks and not the actual performance. He thought for a moment and said, "The path I''m on may not be suitable for you, it involves a lot of hardship." "I''m not afraid of hardship," Li Tongyun muttered, "Besides, if I can cultivate, I can help you in the future." "That''s still a long way off," Qing Chen smiled. Qing Yi walked out of the door and the two stopped talking. To Qing Chen''s surprise, Qing Yi, who was always well-behaved in front of Li Changqing, came up to Qing Chen and whispered, "You''re doing this on purpose, aren''t you?" Qing Chen couldn''t help but be amused; he hadn''t expected that forcing a child to attend class could so easily strip away their facade. He feigned surprise, "What do you mean, Qing Yi? Don''t you like going to school? I thought you enjoyed your classes. Otherwise, I could speak to your Aunt Changqing and have you stay at the Feiyun Courtyard." Qing Yi''s expression shifted, then he smiled, "How could that be? I really like studying." Qing Chen patted his watermelon head, "That''s the spirit. Life is a long journey; you have to keep learning as long as you live. You''re young now, but when you grow up, you''ll understand this principle." Qing Chen sneered inside; he planned to leave the Feiyun Courtyard after advancing to D-Class. If he couldn''t leave for the time being, then neither could Qing Yi wander around as he pleased. The three of them arrived at Li''s School, and this time Qing Chen''s feeling as he entered the Zhi Xin Courtyard was completely different. Last time he was like a guest, but this time he felt more like the master. "Hey, why is Li Ke waiting here? Brother Qing Chen, it looks like he''s specifically waiting for you," XiaoTongyun said curiously. Qing Chen looked up and indeed, there was Li Ke, holding a thermally insulated box, waiting outside the main hall. The young Li Ke was covered in dust, on both his face and clothes, it was unclear how he got so dirty. Seeing Qing Chen, Li Ke came over, "Sir, this is for you. I thought you might not be familiar with the school''s rule that teachers and students must prepare their own lunch, so I brought an extra portion for you. Just heat it up at noon and you can eat it." Qing Chen was somewhat surprised, "Why did you bring me food?" Li Ke replied politely, "Not just today, I''ll bring an extra portion for you every day. After you''re done, just leave the insulated box in the office, and I''ll take it back to the servants to clean. Also, I came here at six in the morning. The Martial Arts School has been neglected for a long time, full of cobwebs and dust. I''ve cleaned it for you, so it won''t delay your class." After speaking, Li Ke went back into the main hall, ready for morning reading. Qing Chen, holding the thermally insulated lunch box in his hands, pondered the fact that the dust on the other''s clothes must be from cleaning the house. It''s just that this young man''s change in attitude overnight made Qing Chen a bit uncomfortable. The things Li Ke had done seemed more like what a disciple should do. It was similar to how Qing Chen had once attended to Uncle Li Dong in the wilderness, making fires and cooking food. Watching Li Ke''s figure, Qing Yi asked himself if it was necessary to be so nice to Qing Chen?! Qing Chen turned to him with a smile and said, "Aren''t you going to class? XiaoTongyun, arrange a seat for him. Make sure you two don''t skip any classes." Now, Li Tongyun felt a sense of mission; she knew Qing Yi was one of Qing Chen''s competitors in the Shadow conflict, so she had to help Brother Qing Chen keep an eye on the kid! Walking into the office, Qing Chen said cheerily to the several instructors inside, "Good morning everyone." A new desk had been added to the corner of the office, where the math instructor Zhou Xingwen sat with a grievance, and everyone instinctively stood up when they saw Qing Chen come in, looking somewhat at a loss. Although the Mountain Chief had said that he had already notified Li Changqing, and everyone was to consider yesterday''s conflict over and done with. But the problem was, Qing Chen had not yet personally forgiven them or agreed to their leaving the corner. "Sit, everyone sit," Qing Chen said with a smile, taking his own seat. Only then did everyone sit down. For a moment, the Mountain Chief Li Liheng suddenly felt that Qing Chen seemed more like the Mountain Chief... Just when all the instructors in the office thought that henceforth everyone would live in peace, Qing Chen turned to the math instructor Zhou Xingwen and said, "Instructor, the first class on Thursday morning is yours, right? Because I have other things to do every afternoon, so I''d like to switch with you." In principle, combat classes were not cultural classes, so they were all scheduled for the afternoon, but Qing Chen had already made up his mind to visit Dragon Lake every day to see if there was another chance to catch some Dragon Fish. Therefore, he needed to move his classes to the morning. Zhou Xingwen looked towards Li Liheng, but Li Liheng, fearful of bringing trouble upon himself, pretended not to see anything. After a long struggle, Zhou Xingwen finally said, "Fine, I''ll switch with you." Qing Chen then looked towards the physics instructor Liu Junkui, "Instructor, your class is on Friday..." Before he could finish, Liu Junkui decisively said, "Let''s swap." Read new chapters at My Virtual Library Empire Qing Chen now had both his weekly classes rescheduled to the first period of the morning. "Very good," Qing Chen nodded, "It seems that we have become a harmonious and united big family. I''ll go take a look at the teaching grounds of Martial Arts School, you guys carry on." He had not walked far from the office before he stopped. Behind him came the voice of Zhou Xingwen from inside the room, "Mountain Chief, are you going to deal with this? Is it appropriate to have combat classes first thing in the morning? Are we really okay with turning all the Li Family''s offspring into Martial Warriors? Are we living up to the expectations of the old Family Head?" Li Liheng''s voice came through, "Why don''t you talk to him about it yourself? What''s the point of dragging me into it?" Zhou Xingwen said with heartfelt pain, "You are the Mountain Chief, respected and esteemed." Zhou Xingwen then looked towards the other instructors, "You are only okay because he didn''t shift your classes, but we instructors are united. His behavior now, how is it different from slapping us in the face? Luan Fengfeng, I ask you, if someone slapped you on the street, what would you do?" Luan Fengfeng thought for a moment, "I would be very angry." Zhou Xingwen paused, then turned to Liu Junkui, "What about you?" Liu Junkui thought for a moment, "I would condemn him on moral grounds!" "How can you be so spineless!" Zhou Xingwen exclaimed. Just then, the Mountain Chief suddenly said, "You probably don''t know that he beat up more than thirty servants yesterday. If I were you and he slapped me on the street, I should first bend over to pick my head up from the ground..." ... A five-thousand-word chapter. Updates from the Didi driver boss are over. Starting tomorrow, I will repay other bosses one by one... Thank you to BIUX and the book-loving Xiaohui Liyi for becoming new allies of this book. Bosses, be sure to take good precautions against the pandemic and stay healthy! And let me ask for a monthly ticket! Today is the last day of double value tickets. With four consecutive days of tens of thousands of words, your votes can motivate me to last longer! Chapter 378: 283. Establish rules The Martial Arts School occupies a large area within the campus, and it''s located within a separate courtyard on the west side. In the middle of the courtyard stood a ginkgo tree that had shed all its leaves after the last two Great Snows. The Martial Arts School had been neglected for a long time. Qing Chen was walking around inside, inspecting the place carefully. He discovered that it was immaculately cleaned, even the glass had been wiped. If Li Ke had been busy since 6 a.m., by now it was only 9 a.m. For one person to clean the entire quad in three hours was simply a pipe dream. It seemed that Li Ke had lied. However, at this moment, the Mountain Chief, Li Liheng, unable to bear the incessant babble of Zhou Xingwen, the mathematics instructor, in the office, followed him to the Martial Arts School. He looked around the Martial Arts School and said with some surprise, "That kid named Li Ke stayed here last night, he spent the whole night in the Martial Arts School. I was wondering what he was doing here; it turns out he was cleaning the courtyard." Qing Chen was momentarily stunned. It turned out that Li Ke had lied, but he didn''t want to seem as if he was trying to gain sympathy through his suffering. Curious, he asked, "Mountain Chief, how long has it been since the Martial Arts School was last cleaned?" "More than ten years," Mountain Chief Li Liheng said indifferently, "It''s the age of technology now, and I don''t think learning martial arts is of much use, so I haven''t really paid attention to it." Your adventure continues at My Virtual Library Empire Qing Chen shook his head, "Cultivation is about nurturing the spirit and vitality." "Say what you will," Li Liheng said, "Sometimes even if you want to teach, the students may not want to learn. Kids these days can''t stand hardship. At the slightest discomfort, they throw a tantrum. You try to discipline them, and their parents will cause a fuss. I could still handle it as their elder, but you, a foreigner, might not be able to withstand it. However, since you have taken over the Martial Arts School, teach well. What kind of students you can foster is entirely up to your own abilities." Qing Chen said, "When I first arrived, I heard that the school had many rules, and I was quite relieved. But now it seems that''s not quite the case." Li Liheng was very angry upon hearing this, "Then you go ahead and teach, I''d like to see what you can make of it." Having said that, Li Liheng left with his hands clasped behind his back, and Qing Chen was left pondering. The Mountain Chief was reminding him that the students he was teaching were all children of prominent members of the Li Family, and it might not be easy to get a handle on them. In years past, the school used to have canes for discipline, but now no one dared to use them anymore. The status of an instructor at Li''s School was indeed very high, but the parents weren''t acting recklessly. They were fine with extra tutoring and additional classes on ordinary days, but when it came to physically disciplining their children, that was where the parents drew the line. However, without discipline, the scions of the Li Family were truly indomitable. One must understand that the scions of the Li Family were not like ordinary students. Having grown up in privileged households, some privately regarded not even instructors as worthy of respect. Such scions could not be taught without discipline. Furthermore, the mothers of some students from 20 years ago were Li Liheng''s own sisters, and even Li Liheng had no means of dealing with them. Thinking of this, Qing Chen called Li Changqing, and then broke a branch off the ginkgo tree. And indeed, the old ginkgo tree''s branches possessed flexibility not unlike a leather belt. During the first class in the morning, the scions of the Li Family came cheerfully to attend ''physical education.'' They had heard that the PE classes in public schools were almost no different from free playtimeno need to study, no homework, with the freedom to move about. However, as soon as they stepped into the Martial Arts School, they saw Qing Chen holding a branch, smiling amiably as he waited at the door. For some reason, upon seeing him like this, the students shuddered and instinctively lined up properly on one side. The school''s bronze bell rang from deep within, yet after another minute passed, there were still four or five people who had not arrived at the Martial Arts School. Li Tongyun quietly approached Qing Chen and said, "They went to the school gate to get snacks from the servants. Servants aren''t allowed inside the school, so many students have them wait outside with snacks. They can go and have a little bit during each break. They''re well-prepared." Qing Chen raised an eyebrow. Was this what they call schooling? Were these Li Family scions here to study, or were they here to enjoy themselves? Qing Yi, standing by, couldn''t help laughing. He hadn''t expected Qing Chen to face this kind of situation on his first day of teaching. However, he understood; it wasn''t just the Li Family, this was the case in schools of various conglomerates nowadays. If there wasn''t a highly respected instructor to keep both the students and their parents in line, then the school would surely be in chaos. The Li Family had originally brought Li Liheng to oversee the new annex in hopes that he could control the situation. The result was that Li Liheng, a bit too nice, hardly ever intervened in matters. Qing Chen glanced at Qing Yi, then said to Li Ke, "You lead your classmates in waiting for me inside the Martial Arts School." After speaking, he headed straight for the entrance. Seeing those five students were indeed enjoying pastries at the gate, with servants fetching boxes of snacks from carriages replete with a variety of treats. Qing Chen strolled over with a smile, lifted his hand, and began to swat the bottoms of the five students with the branch. The ginkgo branch made a crisp sound with each swing, causing the five students to wail and howl. With advanced warming technology in the Inner World, the students were wearing only thin single layers even in the winter, so the branch''s strikes were exceptionally painful. As soon as Qing Chen made a move, the servants standing by the students became frantic, "What are you doing? How dare you hit our young masters and misses?" Qing Chen sneered, "What''s this? You dare to confront a teacher from the school? Not afraid of being buried in the garden as fertilizer? Now get lost, all of you. Tell your employers that from today onwards, all students coming to the new annex are not permitted to bring servants, no driving them here; they''re to walk properly on their own! If you think I''m wrong to discipline the students, then come argue it yourself!" Chapter 379: 283. Establish rules_2 Chapter 379: 283. Establish rules_2 Speaking, he herded a few students toward the school, as if driving a few piglets: At such a young age youve learned little knowledge, but youve sure mastered being lazy and gluttonous. This scene, witnessed by the swiftly arriving teaching staff and students, left everyone stunned. It had been over a decade since any student had been beaten at Zhixin Bieyuan, not because the teachers didnt want to, but because they dared not. Zhou Xingwen stopped the other instructors, sneering, Dont interfere with him. Young people dont know the immensity of heaven and earth and think they can beat anyone. Soon, once those childrens mothers storm in, he will realize the consequences. At that moment, Zhou Xingwens first reaction was to make use of others to deal with him! Since they couldnt drive away or defeat this Martial Arts School instructor, and their teaching content was severely criticized. ... If they couldnt deal with Qing Chen themselves, then let those who could manage it take care of him. The other instructors understood and all retreated back to their offices. On the way back, the geography instructor, Luan Fengfeng, still voiced some concerns: Hes also an instructor at Zhixin Bieyuan now, shouldnt we share the same enemy? I also think those students need to be disciplined. There are too few self-disciplined students, they have all been spoiled by their parents. Zhou Xingwen scoffed, Then go manage them yourself, see if you can handle it. Moreover, this is his own doing. Who told him to use branches to whip students on his first day of teaching? How can we help someone courting death? Fine then, the instructors sighed. Li Liheng watched this scene, shaking his head. He did not return to the office, nor did he step forward to dissuade Qing Chen. When Qing Chen drove the students past him, he curiously asked, Mountain Chief, you seem troubled. Li Liheng responded irritably, Of course Im troubled seeing you beat the students. Forget it, go teach your class. Ill handle this matter; the students do need to be disciplined. No need, Qing Chen chuckled, Ill handle the trouble I caused myself. If I cant manage such a little thing, what kind of instructor am I? Li Liheng was stunned, Qing Chen looked as confident as the day before when he was fighting with the other instructors over the desk. He couldnt comprehend why the young man always seemed so sure of himself. Did he really have that much confidence? Inside the Martial Arts School, the few Li Family disciples who had been beaten by Qing Chen wailed, Do you know who our parents are? How dare you hit us! Even Grandpa doesnt hit us! The Grandpa they were referring to was Mountain Chief Li Liheng... However, Qing Chen had already realized that the biggest problem with the crooked school ethos at Lis School lay with Li Liheng. It seemed that the most respected elder was in charge of the school, but Li Lihengs temper was too mild, letting everyone bully him. Qing Chen sneered, If Im to teach you a lesson, I must first establish rules to prevent you from shaming me when you go out. Today, Ill put an end to your disturbances. Qing Yi sat on the intertwined roots of a ginkgo tree, well aware of what would happen next, and he was quite eager to see Qing Chen fail. Yet, a while later, the first person to rush to the school was not the students parents, but Li Changqings secretary, Yue Er. She handed a box to Qing Chen, Boss is out on business and not at the Half-Mountain Manor, take care of yourself. No worries, Qing Chen cheerfully walked to the front of the Martial Arts School, the students clueless about what he was up to. Ten minutes later, several hover cars thundered in, landing at the entrance of Zhixin Bieyuan. Several elegantly dressed women stepped out of the cars and rushed straight into Zhixin Bieyuan. The good-hearted Li Liheng stepped forward, You all go outside, this is Lis School, you cant behave wildly here. But then a feisty woman with furrowed brows retorted, Uncle, you might ignore your own family, but how can you stop us when outsiders dare to bully our kids? Exactly! another woman chimed in. As they spoke, they pushed Li Liheng aside. The baffled Mountain Chief muttered, This is truly creating karma! Inside the Martial Arts School, the continuous crying of the students never ceased, breaking the hearts of the women as soon as they heard their own children weeping. Yet, as these women reached the gate of the Martial Arts School courtyard, they all suddenly halted in their tracks. There, in the center of the courtyard gate,... someone had conspicuously hung a whole fish skeleton with red string. The fish skeleton was forty centimeters long, cleanly eaten, but from the bones color, it appeared to have been braised. Why hang a fish skeleton here, to ward off evil spirits? Wait, look at this fish head... does it look a bit like a dragon fish? one perceptive woman noted. Its not just similar, it is one, but the question is why hang a dragon fish skeleton here? someone murmured. No, no, where did this dragon fish skeleton come from? The women quieted at the gate for a moment before one of them said, I heard that yesterday someone was caught stealing a dragon fish in the manor, and the Security Bureau was directly called to release the person. A call from the Security Bureau? the woman pondered, then made a phone call from the gate of the Martial Arts School, Honey, I wanted to ask you something, did your Security Bureau decide to release someone who stole a dragon fish yesterday? The cold voice on the other end of the phone said, Dont ask what you shouldnt. The woman was taken aback for a moment, then started to rant over the phone, Our child has been beaten, and you dont care or ask, yet you scold me? Im right outside the school, ready to confront that instructor, but theres a dragon fish skeleton hanging at the gate... Chapter 380: 283, establish rules_3 Chapter 380: 283, establish rules_3 The man on the phone said coldly, Get back. After that, he hung up. The woman was stunned: usually, as long as she made a fuss, the man would satisfy her demands, willing to buy her anything she wanted. But today was different from the past; making a scene didnt work! Inside the Martial Arts School, a student was crying out, Mommy, save me, the instructor is beating me! However, this woman turned and left without any hesitation. ... Even though her son inside was nearly crying himself unconscious, the woman did not look back. Making a scene was her way of taking control in communication, but she wasnt foolish. People who could eat Dragon Fish and remain unaffected were a rare find in the Li Family, maybe one in over a decade. It was also rare for something to make her man, who held a significant position in the Directorate of Military Intelligence, dare not back her up. What was the Dragon Fish? It was the precious darling of that old master of the Li Family. The other women who had come to create trouble saw that she made a phone call and then quickly left with a change in expression. They looked at each other and followed suit, leaving in quick succession. Mountain Chief Li Liheng was astonished by this scene. The last time he had used the ruler to discipline students was over ten years ago when he was middle-aged and not yet old. That time, the mother of the student, also his sister, rushed over and almost tore off his beard, leaving a bald patch on his scalp. So how come this time, several students mothers had made it all the way to the door of the Martial Arts School only to leave in such a disheartened manner? Mountain Chief Li Liheng approached the entrance of the Martial Arts School, and when he saw that string of fish bones, his eyes popped. ... ... Inside the Martial Arts School. Qing Yi was sitting under the ginkgo tree, waiting left and right, but the arrival of students parents to make a fuss never came, which made him feel that something was off. The boy with the watermelon haircut snuck to the entrance of the Martial Arts School to check out the situation, but the doorway was empty, with no one around. Only a string of fish bones hung on the porch, swaying... Looking for something? Qing Yi was startled and, turning around, he saw Qing Chen standing behind him with a smile on his face. He quickly said, Uncle Qing Chen, you really know how to run a school. I did not expect that youd be able to keep things in order on your first day, Im truly amazed. Go back to class, Qing Chen said with a smile: Youll have many more days to be amazed in the future. Qing Yi always felt there was more to Qing Chens words. A chill seemed to sweep over his back, making the hairs on it stand up. As Qing Chen turned and went back to the Martial Arts School, his speculation about Qing Yis identity made him feel that even if the latter were a Time Traveler, he didnt seem to play a role like Huan Yu. Though Qing Yi was precocious and scheming, he was still confined to the behaviors of a child, nothing particularly worrisome. But Huan Yu was different. That Time Traveler, working behind the scenes, imposed a far more terrifying sense of oppression on other Time Travelers. At this moment, the students of the Martial Arts School seeing that no one came to rescue them, had gradually stopped crying. Seeing that they stopped crying, Qing Chen laughed and said, So you actually thought of making your parents come and trouble me? This time, youve really landed yourselves in hot water. Starting today, Im setting rules for you, anyone who dares bring a Servant to school gets whipped five times, and anyone who dares come to school in a carriage, another five lashes. No sooner had the words left his mouth, the students began to cry once again, and the Martial Arts School was in chaos like a pot of stew. Qing Chen didnt mind this at all, he knew that once the students went home and had a good talk with their parents after school today, they would understand whats important. The other instructors in the school at this moment were all hiding in the adjoining courtyard, eavesdropping. Zhou Xingwen murmured with a grave expression, Thats it? Its solved, just like that? Huh? But I think this is a good thing, Luan Fengfeng murmured, If the schools learning environment improves, isnt that a good thing? Indeed, it is a good thing, but this newbie, this greenhorn, shouldnt be the one to do it, Zhou Xingwen complained. Would you dare to do it? the biology instructor asked. Zhou Xingwen struggled for a moment and retorted, So what if I dont dare? None of you dares either, right? At that moment, Luan Fengfeng spoke up, I think its a good thing that this young man has arrived, think about it, the Mountain Chief is from the Li Family, and many of the students here are connected to him by blood or marriage. Before they come to the Martial Arts School, their mothers, their grandmothers would tell them: Dont be afraid of anyone at the school, the Mountain Chief is like your uncle, whats there to be scared of?'' Yes, Liu Junkui murmured, and the Mountain Chief is kind-hearted, someone everyone can push around, so in this situation, who would dare to be strict with the students? I think, the Mountain Chief should be replaced with someone from outside, someone with a higher status and a firmer hand. Zhou Xingwen frown turned into a deep crease, Youre not thinking of having that young man take over as Mountain Chief, are you? Liu Junkui glanced at him and whispered, Its not impossible... The first lesson at the Martial Arts School was over. To everyones surprise, Qing Chen didnt teach anything, the entire lesson was spent devising ways to temper the students characters, and the only sounds that came from the Martial Arts School were crying... After the class, Qing Chen swaggered off to Dragon Lake, leaving the Mountain Chief and the other instructors to spend quite some time pacifying the students before order in teaching was restored. Qing Chen followed the route he remembered toward Dragon Lake, unimpeded by anyone, with no students parents ambushing him with bricks on the way. Upon arriving at Dragon Lake, the elderly man was sitting quietly on the broken bridge, fishing, still holding the underwater monitor, slowly and leisurely searching for traces of the Dragon Fish. This time, Qing Chen had brought his own little stool from the school, and he seated himself beside the old man with audacity, You heard about this mornings proceedings, didnt you? The old man sighed, I would have never thought, not only do you eat fish meat, but you even make use of the bones. Make the most of everything, Qing Chen said calmly, The academic atmosphere at Lis School isnt right, and thats not good for the Li Family either. Up to you, the old man replied indifferently, Its just a school after all. I dont believe you can really cause much of a stir there, let alone mess things up. If you say so, then Im relieved, Qing Chen replied casually, By the way, how good are you at fishing? If you dont catch anything today, does that mean I wont be able to eat Dragon Fish? The old man glared at him, So you expect to eat it every day? And if you dont get to eat, are you going to blame my fishing skills? After a moment of thought, Qing Chen said, The main thing is, eating just one doesnt really help much. ... A 5000-character chapter, another one coming at 11 p.m. Thank you to I am Little Flower Blossom for becoming the new patron of this book. The boss is generous, and someone always brings a pillow when the boss dozes off! Chapter 381: 284. Unique Way of Understanding Shadow Controversy Chapter 381: 284. Unique Way of Understanding Shadow Controversy By the way, you havent had dinner yet, have you? Qing Chen asked, I have a meticulously prepared meal here, still warm; you should eat some while its hot. The old man glanced at the thermally insulated lunchbox in Qing Chens hands and hesitated, Did you bring this especially for me? Qing Chen said matter-of-factly, Yes, its cold on this broken bridge, and youre fishing out here. How could you do so without eating something to replenish your energy? At least youre thoughtful, the old man faintly replied as he took the lunchbox, only to see beef inside, and to his surprise, there was even twice-cooked pork in a small compartment. The old man laughed joyfully, The doctor had removed twice-cooked pork from my menu a long, long time ago; its rare to have it again, thanks to you, youre thoughtful. Qing Chen smiled knowingly, thinking to himself that Li Ke, this kid, had prepared quite a lavish meal, and it even looked appealing. ... Only, Li Ke didnt know that he only taught a morning class at Zhixin Courtyard and always went straight back to Feiyun Courtyard for lunch, not needing this meal at all. But Qing Chen didnt let it go to waste; he simply brought it over for the old man. Arent you afraid it could be poisoned? Qing Chen asked, puzzled. If it were poisoned, youd be dead by now, the old man stated blandly. Upon hearing this, Qing Chen instinctively looked toward the lakeside woods, but saw nothing. Could it be that the old man had an Awakener bodyguard with the ability to detect poison? Do you know how many dragon fishes are there in this Dragon Lake? the old man asked while eating the twice-cooked pork. Im not sure, such a big lake, there must be a few hundred at least, Qing Chen estimated roughly. The old man sat firmly on the broken bridge and shook his head, Initially, the Ancestor of Knight brought only 18, and after so many years, its still 18. These dragon fishes stopped breeding and growing after leaving the Taboo Land. A dragon fish was secretly eaten a few years back, and you ate another yesterday, now only 16 remain. Wait, Qing Chen froze, Does that mean I can only eat 16 more? The old man replied irritably, Is that really what you should be focusing on? The Ancestor of Knight once said eating up to 9 dragon fishes is the limit; eating more wont do you any good. Oh, Qing Chen nodded, Please continue. The old man continued, There are many rare and exotic beasts in the Taboo Land, initially we speculated why those powerful creatures never venture out of the Taboo Land, they could easily hunt outside. After raising the dragon fishes, I started to think, perhaps they know that they cannot breed once they leave the Taboo Land. Of course, this was just a speculative thought. Qing Chen suddenly said, Have you ever considered that maybe the Ancestor of Knight, when gifting them to you, specifically chose 18 females, intentionally making it impossible for your dragon fishes to breed? This time the old man was taken aback; Qing Chens deduction had no evidence or basis. But strangely, he felt that this was indeed something a Knight would do! Thinking back to the years he spent longing for the days the dragon fishes would spawn, and the possibility of being the butt of a joke, he almost wanted to curse. Qing Chen consoled, Its also possible Im wrong, maybe theyre not all females; perhaps theyre all males. The old man sighed, Youre going to be the death of me here, and youll definitely have to join me in burial. Then pretend I never mentioned it, Qing Chen said calmly. Speaking of which, arent you going to ask who I am? the old man asked slowly. If you wanted to tell me, wouldnt you have already? Qing Chen sat on a small stool nearby, Besides, who you are isnt that important to me; having a distinguished reputation and a solid backing is enough. The young man sized up the elder, whose hands were full of calluses, resembling dry tree bark. He didnt look like someone in a position of power, rather more like an old farmer who worked the fields from dawn till dusk. You really dont have the curiosity typical of young people, the old man quipped, but youre quite adept at borrowing authority. Look at how you put it, Qing Chen explained, As a teacher at Zhixin Courtyard, Im also considering the future of Li Familys next generation. Look at what theyve turned the kids into, they cant handle even the slightest hardship. Thats only acceptable in the Li Family; if they werent descendants of a powerful clan, theyd probably end up dead in the streets sooner or later. The old man sighed, A huge clan is like a huge corporation; there are all sorts of issues, and problems can arise if youre not careful. Go-ahead and teach them, Ive already made arrangements; the fishbone is hanging there, no one is going to trouble you. But Im curious about something, why are you willing to go to the trouble of teaching them? Qing Chen declared righteously, For the Li Familys long-lasting foundation, of course! The old man: ... Actually, Qing Chen had already thought it through; this was ultimately about the battle for the position of Shadow. Currently, it was said that Qings Family had issued the second round tasks for the Shadow candidates, precisely to help the future Shadow of Qings Family find potential political allies early on. The key was to slowly learn how to build alliances and manage the relationships between different clans. And Qing Chen? He was also involved in the competition for Shadow, except the difference was... Of the remaining 7 Shadow candidates, 4 were competing over one Li Yinuo, while he alone had 31 of Lis Third Generation at his disposal. Chapter 382: 284. Unique Way of Understanding the Shadow Controversy_2 Chapter 382: 284. Unique Way of Understanding the Shadow Controversy_2 Others might have an equal cooperation, but he could carry a small whip and lead the 31 students along. He wasnt just able to whip the Li Familys offspring, but even Shadow Candidate Qing Yi was not exempt. As for who was superior and who was inferior, one glance was all it took to tell. Uncle Li Dong said that theres always a second path in the competition for the Shadow, which is to kill all the other candidates. Qing Chen was now taking both paths, grasping with both hands, determined to be strong on both fronts. When the struggle for the Shadow finally erupted in City Number 18, Qing Chen would take the 31 students from Lis School to fight. ... He truly didnt believe that there was anyone in City Number 18 who would dare use hot weapons against so many Li Family offspring. Going after anyone would be taking on a big package. Of course, this was contingent on him being able to manage the students well to begin with; if he couldnt command respect, he wouldnt be able to lead them out. Qing Chen asked, Didnt you say yesterday that there were more secrets to tell me? I come every day, so it wouldnt be too much to have you tell me one daily, would it? The old man sighed with emotion, You want to eat fish and also pry secrets from me, why do you want to have a handle on everything good? But your own words, cant you stand by them? Qing Chen said, What secret do you plan to tell today? After some thought, the old man said, This is a secret only the Li Family knows. In addition to the two known rules of the Taboo Land Number 37, a third one was added 17 years ago. Curiously, Qing Chen asked, What is it? You dont even know the first two rules, do you? I will tell you those first. The first rule is that you cannot take off any clothes, not a single piece. The second rule is that you cant smack your lips when eating, the old man said nonchalantly: Since you dont know these two, the new rule can be tomorrows secret to tell. Qing Chen said indignantly, Who splits a secret in half when telling it? Thats not my concern, the old man focused on his fishing. Its like being in a teahouse and getting to the exciting part of a story, only for the storyteller to clap the clapper and say: stay tuned for the next episode. And in fact, Qing Chen knew the first two rules because on the way back from the Taboo Land Number 002 to City Number 18, his mentor, Uncle Li Dong, had told him all the rules he knew, which included these two. It was as though Qing Chen wanted to hear a secret, only to end up hearing loneliness. But he couldnt admit that he actually knew the first two rules, for how would he explain his knowledge if asked? That said, the rules against stripping and smacking lips were certainly left by some unique minds, and one could guess they would have tripped up many people. By the way, does the Li Family have any ancestral cultivation paths, other than the ones like the Fierce Tiger Sect? Qing Chen asked with some curiosity, With the Li Familys vast estate and nearly a thousand years of heritage, there must be some ultimate secrets, right? The Fierce Tiger Sect was the path that Li Yinuo was cultivating, but Qing Chen couldnt simply turn all Li Family offspring into mighty warriors. The old man glanced at Qing Chen, What do you need it for? As a teacher at the Martial Arts School, its silly to only teach fighting skills. If they only have the physique of ordinary people, no matter how good their combat skills are, it wont matter, Qing Chen said, Against warriors who have taken Genetic Potions, they would still end up dead. The Li Family certainly has such things, but youre underestimating the path of cultivation. Even with the Li Familys great wealth, theres not much in stock, the old man said leisurely, The path of inheritance is every Cultivators greatest secret. Many people would rather take it to their graves than let it fall into the hands of consortia. Like the Knight, to this day the outside world doesnt know what else is required besides scaling the green cliffs and the fall into the sea of clouds. Moreover, its said that Knights have a unique Breathing Method, and without knowing that, even if you know what Knights need to do, its useless. Qing Chen said in wonder, The Li Family are descendants of Knights, and they dont know the secrets of the Knights? You underestimate their devotion to inheritance. Even for their own sons, if theyre not qualified to become Knights, they cant know the secrets, the old man said casually, Of course, there are some Cultivators who arent so principled, so the Li Family has some methods of cultivation. But the problem is, those who arent principled... their methods arent that great; one may cultivate for more than ten years and only reach a D-Class. Qing Chen became even more puzzled, Isnt there a better path of cultivation? I dont believe it. The old man looked at him, There is one said to lead to B-Class cultivation, but no one can inherit it now. If you want to try, Ill get someone to bring it to you. Qing Chen suddenly realized that for the people of the Inner World, a cultivation path that could lead to B-Class was already quite impressive. No wonder so many aspired to become Knights. Okay, Qing Chen nodded, But why can no one inherit it? The old man glanced at him, Im not a cultivator, how would I know. More than an hour had passed, and Qing Chen continued waiting for the old man to catch a Dragon Fish. But whether it was the Dragon Fishs fault or the old mans, there wasnt a single bite. Qing Chen muttered, Will you be able to catch a fish today, or is it that your skills arent up to par? The old mans eyes widened, Ive dominated the world of fishing for decades, and this is the first time someone has doubted my fishing skills. Fine, I wont question it, Qing Chen walked around the old man, pulled out a fishing line from his fishing gear bag, and tied a hook to it. Chapter 383: 284. Unique Way of Understanding Shadow Controversy_3 Chapter 383: 284. Unique Way of Understanding Shadow Controversy_3 ` Qing Chen wanted to pinch some bait, but the old man suddenly became vigilant: What are you doing? With that, the old man clasped the metal box containing the bait to his chest. Look at you, how can you be so stingy? Youre a big figure after all, is it necessary? Qing Chen was displeased. No, do you know that bait fishing is an art? Ive made a good baiting spot; you cant just throw any bait into it, the old man said. Fine, Qing Chen squatted by the broken bridge and casually threw the hook into the water. ... With a splash, Qing Chen only felt the fishing line in his hand tighten. The old man was stunned. Qing Chen thought about it and said, Although Ive never fished before, I guess a fish has bitten the hook. With that, he exerted a little strength in his hand and pulled an even larger dragon fish out of the water than the one from yesterday. The old man looked at the struggling dragon fish in Qing Chens hand: Did you cheat, damn it? Come here and let me see your hook, did you cheat? Qing Chen, chuckling, hoisted the dragon fish and turned to run: Dont be so angry, my luck is just good. As he spoke, the youngster had already run off, leaving the old man disheveled in the cold wind on the broken bridge. This time, on the way back, Qing Chen didnt encounter anyone accusing him of stealing fish. It seemed that many had grown accustomed to this odd new sight. Only a few in the know silently counted in their hearts, after this one, thered only be 15 dragon fish left in Dragon Lake. How many more does this youngster plan to eat? Rumors have long said that eating dragon fish can strengthen muscles and bones; if he eats all the remaining 15, what effect will that have? On the way back, someone suddenly blocked his path and handed him a black case. It was a middle-aged man, moving with such quiet grace, and after handing over the black box, he turned and left. Not another word was exchanged between them. ... ... Countdown to Return 89:00:00. 7 oclock in the morning. It was the fourth day since he had traveled through time. Many parents, after hearing about the events in the school, approached the Secretariat to seek news, inquiring about the new teachers origins. However, they didnt get anything out of it, and received a uniform response: if they didnt want to attend Lis School, they could go to the public schools in the Upper Three Districts where the teaching quality was also very good. Many parents panicked at this because, while others might not know, they were well aware of something crucial: only those who graduate from Lis School could hold important positions in the clans. It meant that if their children left the school, their future prospects would be gone. The Secretariats response also indirectly elevated the status of the new teacher, and all the parents had to abide by the rules seriously. After all, anyone who could eat dragon fish and garner such protection from Lis Secretariat must be a new favorite of the old master. Some even maliciously speculated, could this be an illegitimate child the old man had outside, or perhaps the illegitimate child of some other important person? The estate on the mountainside was vast; if the students had to walk to school, it would take more than half an hour. Now at the start of winter, with the rivers about to freeze over, walking through the estate for half an hour would turn someone into an icicle, wouldnt it? The classes at Xinzhi Campus began at 8 AM; the parents thought the teacher wouldnt arrive too early. They decided to send their children early with servants to at least spare the kids the trouble of commuting. ` So, at 7 oclock in the morning, there were already hover cars dropping off students at the entrance. But the students didnt get out of the cars, the servants saw that it was still early and let their young masters and mistresses sleep a bit longer in the car with the heater on. However, before they could sleep for much longer, the servant in the drivers seat slowly turned his head and locked eyes with Qing Chen outside the window. Qing Chen was already waiting outside the entrance to the Xinzhi Courtyard with a smile, holding a ginkgo tree branch in his hand. He knew that some parents would try to take advantage by dropping off their children early, so he had set out early that day. When the students in the car saw Qing Chen, they nearly turned pale with fear. They quickly got out of the car, as proper as can be, and stood in punishment at the entrance of the Xinzhi Courtyard. After a while, as if by some telepathic consensus, half of the students had arrived early by hover car, only to be caught by Qing Chen and made to stand in punishment. The servants were also pulled aside and made to stand in a separate row. No one dared to say a word. Qing Yi and Li Tongyun, who had come with Qing Chen, waited on the side, utterly bored. Qing Yi actually had it worse; he had been dragged out of bed by Qing Chen at six-thirty in the morning, tired as a dog. But at that moment, seeing the others not only standing in punishment but also about to be whipped by Qing Chen, he suddenly felt a sense of superiority... for some reason. This sense of superiority was strange; he clearly disliked Qing Chen, yet now the feeling of superiority came from Qing Chen. Thinking of this, Qing Yi felt a twist of discomfort. A little later, the Mountain Chief Li Liheng hurried over with books tucked under his arm. He saw the students and servants standing in two rows at the entrance and didnt utter a sound. He hadnt expected that Qing Chen would truly be able to keep these students in check! Li Liheng greeted Qing Chen, who nodded in response. In a certain moment, the Mountain Chief felt that the young man before him looked more and more like a Mountain Chief... at least more than he did. Once everyone had arrived, Qing Chen had the students turn around one by one, then gave each one five lashes, sending them howling like ghosts and wolves. Today, no one said things like Do you know who I am? Everyone had received emergency training from their parents at home, and they all cared about one thing now: not to be expelled or allowed to withdraw from school. I hope everyone learns their lesson, Qing Chen said with a smile, You are here to study, to endure hardship, not to act however you wish just because you were born with a silver spoon in your mouth. Alright, off to the Martial Arts School, get ready for class. The students walked into the Martial Arts School with gloomy faces, and everyone noticed something unusual: where only a string of Dragon Fish bones hung yesterday, today there were two... Dragon Fish, such a precious thing, and their instructor eats one every day? Today, the color of the fish bones was lighter, perhaps it wasnt braised but steamed instead... Inside the Martial Arts School, Qing Chen stood calmly in front of the Ginkgo tree, Many of you must be wondering, in this age of advanced technology, is there any practical use for ordinary people to learn hand-to-hand combat? Li Ke, share your thoughts. Li Ke thought for a moment, I am determined to join the Federal Groups forces after graduation, so I hope not only to learn combat but also to embark on the path of cultivation in the future. Qing Chen turned to Qing Yi, And you? Qing Yi spoke languidly, With a good enough brain to command thousands of warriors, why bother learning hand-to-hand combat? Qing Chen said seriously, You will soon change your mind about that. Qing Yi had another ominous premonition. ... A chapter of 5,200 characters, I owe one more update to Boss ZARD, and with this, Ive repaid that debt. Starting tomorrow, I will continue to repay my debt to Boss Penguin, I just realized I still owe three updates to Boss Penguin... Please vote for the monthly ticket! Chapter 384: 285. The Method of Cultivation Chapter 384: 285. The Method of Cultivation What if a person is utterly apathetic towards something? Then find someone to stir things up inside, spiral their mindset out of control, and they wont be apathetic any longer. Qing Yi originally came to City 18 with a nonchalant, just-passing-through attitude. Unlike other Shadow Candidates who needed to strenuously look for the third-generation allies of the Li Family, due to his blood relations, he moved directly into the hillside manor. In the second round of the struggle for Shadow, he didnt need to be particularly aggressive; he just needed to survive until the next round, during which other contestants naturally would fight each other, depleting their own strength. Compared to the students at Lis School, he had already begun participating in the most crucial power transition within the Qing Family, possessing many times the strength of those naive children in the school. ... Thus, Qing Yis mental state remained quite calm. That is, until he met Qing Chen. His initially peaceful holiday was disrupted when he had to go to the school for classes early in the morning. He had planned to quietly be a sage, yet he had to learn combat arts. Utter ridiculousness! Qing Yi didnt want to learn combat arts, and deep down he sincerely didnt want to because he thought it was useless. But the development of events wouldnt proceed as he wished. Facing all the children of the Li Family, Qing Chen said, In the history of fighting, some say Kill Fist is the fiercest, but there is another combat technique that consistently ranks higher in the Octagon cage, and that is Jujitsu. From the moment it was invented, this technique was rapidly accepted by all fighters in the Octagon cage because youll find that without knowing Jujitsu, all championships and boxing titles will elude you. Qing Chen continued, Next, I will demonstrate the technique of Cross Choke... All right, has everyone learned it? Li Ke, try it with Qing Yi. Li Ke was 14 years old, and Qing Yi was also 14, but unlike the slender Qing Yi, Li Ke was noticeably sturdier. Since Qing Chen was of the uncle generation, he naturally couldnt bully Qing Yi himself, but he had Li Ke. Now, Li Ke, this young lad was almost completely obedient to him; when he told Li Ke to choke Qing Yis throat, Li Ke did so... Qing Yi hadnt even realized what was happening when he was suddenly choked from behind by Li Ke, his face quickly turning red. Qing Yi was about to roll his eyes back. Meanwhile, Qing Chen nonchalantly continued, A chokehold like this can suffocate someone and cause them to lose consciousness in about seven seconds. Moreover, choking from behind makes you realize that this technique saves much more energy than other combat techniques. Okay, let him go. At the sixth second, Qing Chen patted Li Kes arm. The rescued Qing Yi gasped heavily, suddenly realizing that even hiding out in the hillside manor could be so dangerous! And potentially even more dangerous than it was for other Shadow Candidates! Im sorry, Li Ke said to Qing Yi, Although sir asked me to demonstrate, I might have been a bit harsh. Qing Yi was stunned and couldnt muster any anger, finally managing only to say, Its okay... Only Qing Chen felt somewhat emotional; young man, youre too honest to become a knight. Qing Chen continued, Besides choking techniques, joint locks are also a crucial part of Jujitsu... Qing Yi watched Li Ke studying earnestly. If he didnt do the same, wouldnt he just get beaten up every day? Who knows when this second round of the Shadow struggle will end, who knows when hed be able to leave City 18. It wouldnt do to just sit idle... Qing Yi shook his head; he had to study seriously, only by doing so could he escape the fate of being beaten up daily! In just a half class period, Qing Chen had changed Qing Yis perspective, making him listen intently, afraid to miss a single detail. He was much more earnest than the other students! You should know, the other students only studied because the class was being offered; most people during their student years just listen to whatever the teachers say. Whereas Qing Yi was doing it for survival... During the class, as students began practicing one-on-one, Li Ke even went to another room and quietly brought a chair for Qing Chen. This act astonished many classmates because it wasnt typical of Li Kes usual style. Li Ke was prideful, always pointing out the instructors mistakes even in the school. While other students had servants bring snacks and waited outside the school, Li Ke never did. When other students didnt study diligently, Li Ke was always earnestly listening. And everyone knew it was because Li Ke had an inherent pride. Now, the usually prideful direct descendant of Lis Big Room was suddenly moving chairs, bringing meals, and cleaning for others, which made the classmates feel somewhat uncomfortable. At that moment, as Qing Chen sat watching the students practice, he turned his head and was surprised to see several heads poking above the Martial Arts Schools courtyard wall. He recognized them as other instructors who were secretly watching his teaching material. As Qing Chen turned his head, the instructors were scared into falling backward, with suppressed cries of alarm and the sound of footsteps fleeing from outside the wall... He slowly closed his eyes and launched into the Winning Hearts with Virtue from the Mysterious World. Actually, he had intended to impart the teachings of cultivation today, as an old senior had already had the cultivation teachings stored in a Black Box and delivered to him yesterday; after all, it was somewhat improper not to teach when someone had entrusted him with a family heirloom. Chapter 385: 285. Methods of Cultivation_2 Chapter 385: 285. Methods of Cultivation_2 However, Qing Chen really couldnt teach, because even he himself hadnt figured it out... After the class ended, Qing Chen took the constant temperature lunch box newly brought by Li Ke and left; he needed to find the old man to inquire what this method of cultivation was all about. Once confirming Qing Chen had left, Zhou Xingwen called Li Ke into his office. Seated behind the desk in the corner, he asked with a benevolent look, Student Li Ke, I heard you helped Master Qing Chen by bringing his meal and moving chairs during the combat class. I want to ask, did he instruct you to do that? Li Ke shook his head calmly, No. Zhou Xingwen became even more amiable, You dont have to be afraid. If he instructs you to do this and that, you can completely tell me. As you know, our Zhixin Bieyuan is most averse to distinctions in social class, especially instructors treating students as servants. If theres such a situation, just tell me and Ill report it to the Mountain Chief for you. ... Yet Li Ke said earnestly, Thank you for your kind reminder, Instructor. But I voluntarily do these things out of genuine respect for Master Qing Chen. He has never instructed me to do anything. My hope is to win him over with my sincerity and learn some real skills from him. Zhou Xingwen was startled, What real skills does he have? Li Ke thought for a moment and then said, If theres nothing else, Ill head back now. I need to prepare for the next chemistry class. Zhou Xingwen watched Li Kes departing figure, puzzled for a long time, why a scion of the Li Family would serve Qing Chen like a servant, pouring tea and running errands. In the schoolroom, no sooner had Li Ke returned to the classroom, Qing Yixiao approached him with a beaming smile, Student Li Ke, I didnt get a chance to say it during the combat class, but although I nearly suffocated from the hold you had me in during the demonstration, I really dont mind at all, so please dont worry about it. Now that weve had our fight, I hope we can be friends in the future. Li Ke paused, Im glad you dont mind. I was merely following the instructors teachings and didnt mean to hurt you. Student Qing Yi, youre so magnanimous, it puts my mind at ease. Qing Yixiaos smile deepened. His sudden change of heart was because he had just received intelligence that Shadow Candidate Qing Zhong was suspected of forming an alliance with the Li Familys Big Rooms eldest son, Li Kun. This piece of intelligence reminded Qing Yi: if others could form alliances, so could heafter all, it was precisely the objective of the second round of the Shadows contest. Moreover, Qing Chen bringing him to the school might seem like bad luck, but if he handled it right, he could turn misfortune into opportunity! At this moment, Qing Yi even felt like thanking Qing Chen! After all, there were more than thirty young members of the Li Family in this school! It might not seem much with these kids still being young, but numbers could be useful nonetheless. While others could only forge an alliance with one, if he managed his relationships well, he might ally with more than thirty, and no other Shadow Candidate would contest with him for them! Pondering this, Qing Yi began to feel cheerful; who would come to the halfway manor to compete with him for allies? This was probably something the other Shadow Candidates never envisioned. Qing Yi scanned the entire classroom, his heart swelling with pride as he considered these peers future allies. However, he maintained his composure, not revealing his thoughts. Just then, Li Ke said earnestly, Since you dont mind, Im relieved. Because I was worried about injuring you, Ive been holding back, unable to grasp the essence of the movements properly. Next class, I can fully exert myself, thank you. Ah? Qing Yi was taken aback, Thats not quite what I meant... ... ... On Dragon Lakes broken bridge, Qing Chen handed the constant temperature lunch box to the old man, First, continue with our topic from yesterday. What is the last rule of Taboo Land number 37? The old man opened the lunch box and looked inside, How come theres no double-cooked pork? I wanted to change up the flavor for you, eating double-cooked pork every day isnt good for your health, Qing Chen thought to himself. After all, he was already embarrassed to eat someone elses students meal for free, let alone demand specific dishes; whatever he got, he would eat. The old man thought for a moment, then said, The final rule of Taboo Land number 37 I can tell you, but youve got to tell me how you managed to catch the fish yesterday. Alright, you go first, Qing Chen agreed. The rule is, one must be punctual, the old man said. Decades ago, a master under the Li Family tragically perished in Taboo Land number 37. We compiled his preferences to experiment one by one and thats how we uncovered this rule. Oh, was he a very punctual person in his lifetime? Qing Chen asked curiously. Not exactly, the old man replied. Its mostly because his wife would take two hours to do her makeup every time they went out, which he absolutely detested. Qing Chen was speechless; what do these things have in common? Also, yesterday afternoon, it was you who sent someone to deliver the Black Box to me, right? It contained a text on the method of cultivation. It wasnt me. Who else would be so kind as to send you a method of cultivation? the old man said proudly. But whats the deal with the text on it? Where is it from? Qing Chen asked curiously. I dont know either, and the Li Family has always wanted to decipher it but has been unsuccessful, the old man sighed. Every Cultivation Organization treats their heritage as a unique treasure. So when passing it on, they leave behind their unique key that only they know how to unlock. Just like the text on this method of cultivationif youre not one of their people, nobody can understand it. Even if you get hold of the method, its useless. Chapter 386: 285. Methods of Cultivation_3 Chapter 386: 285. Methods of Cultivation_3 Where did you get this technique from? Qing Chen pressed. According to the records, it was a long time ago. After humanity entered the new civilization era, some hidden cultivation organizations began to emerge, the old man explained, There have always been two organizations in the Southwest Snow Mountain, one is the Fire Pit, and the other is the organization to which this cultivation technique belongs. They hid in the Hot Spring Valley deep in the mountain until the Federation was established, then they reappeared in the world. What were they hiding from? Qing Chen didnt understand. The old man glanced at him. Youve seen the textbooks from Lis School, so you should know that human civilization was almost wiped out last time due to the artificial intelligence Zero, right? Yes, I know, Qing Chen nodded. But before that, more than two hundred years ago, there was another disaster, which is hard to find in the records, the old man said, That time, Earth experienced a nuclear war, and all survivors sought refuge from the war and the climate impacts. ... Qing Chen paused for a moment, realizing that humanity had faced two near-extinction disasters. The first was the nuclear bombs devastating the land. The second was artificial intelligence. These two disasters were separated by more than two hundred years, and both the Fire Pit and the mysterious textual organization had hidden deep in the mountains during the first disaster. When did they come out? Qing Chen was curious. The mysterious organization and the Fire Pit had conflicting beliefs, the old man explained, They grew up in the same vast valley. Initially, they managed to coexist, but eventually, they could no longer overcome the Fire Pit and had to emerge from the mountain to find new habitats. However, this organization was somewhat cruel. After arriving in modern civilization, leveraging their cultivation techniques, they looted more than a dozen Federal Production Bases in one go and controlled the Federations citizens to spread their faith, demanding believers to devote everything to their God. And then? Then they encountered the Federal Groups army, the old man said casually, and were annihilated. Qing Chen could imagine how helpless a group of cultivators from that mysterious organization must have felt facing the full firepower of an organized military. But the question arose, Qing Chen wondered, Didnt you keep any alive to interrogate them about their techniques? We did, but their language isnt the Federations, the old man replied, The Federal Groups army captured eleven of them, but on some night en route to City 5, they all committed suicide. So, when you say the upper limit of this cultivation technique is B-Class, its because the records show that the highest level in that organization was B-Class, right? Qing Chen asked. Exactly, the old man said, They cultivated for so long and only reached B-Class, so that must be their limit. As he spoke, the old man glanced at him, Being able to cultivate up to B-Class is something many people would desire, and in actual combat, the B-Class members of their organization are somewhat more fierce than genetic warriors. Moreover, their cultivation technique doesnt have any side effects. Qing Chen knew that many cultivation techniques in the Inner World had side effects, like Li Yinuos Fierce Tiger Sect which could turn a person into a strong man with plenty of strength but lacking agility. Although Qing Chen really disliked Huan Yu, one thing she said was correct, every gain comes with a loss. The old man casually said, In this world, like the Knight, there arent many cultivation techniques that are complete in advancement and free from side effects. Qing Chen remarked, I think you dont have to keep hinting so crazily, just say what you want to say. The old man smiled and said, I didnt say anything or ask anything. At this moment, Qing Chen already understood clearly the old man knew about his Knight identity. And that he had to select one of the direct inheritances of the Knights path from the Li Family was also part of the deal between Uncle Li Dong and this old man. Otherwise, why would the other party feed him Dragon Fish every day? Uncle Li Dong once told him that although Knights are strong, and each promotion places them at the pinnacle of their level, they do have one flaw: their bones only receive augmentation during the fourth life-and-death passage. This could likely result in a situation where he threw a punch, the enemy was fine, but his bones cracked. When Qing Chen asked his master how to solve this, Uncle Li Dongs reply was: eat more calcium pills. That answer was clearly evasive. And perhaps the old man knew exactly what he was lacking, so right from the start, he generously offered the Dragon Fish as a meeting gift. Thinking back, when Master Uncle Li Dong came to steal the Dragon Fish, he probably wanted to compensate for his own shortcomings too? At that moment, Qing Chen searched for fishing line among the old mans fishing gear, while saying, Back to the main topic, you gave me this cultivation technique, but I cant understand it. Its of no use to me. How about I return it to you tomorrow? The old man thought for a moment and said, In this world, Im the only one who knows you got this cultivation technique, and I certainly wont speak of it. The person who gave you the cultivation technique yesterday doesnt know whats inside the Black Box. So, take your time to study it, and I wont ask you whether you have any research results. As Qing Chen cast his fishing hook into the water, he pondered what the old man had said. He suddenly realized that the old man probably knew even the secret that he was a Time Traveler. And the meaning behind the old mans words was that he hoped Qing Chen would set aside his concerns and just translate the mysterious text, without worrying about suspicion. Because, although Qing Chen always insisted he couldnt understand the cultivation technique, he at least had seen that type of text before... It was Tibetan from the Outer World. A language that had disappeared from the Inner World a long time ago. ... A 5000-word chapter, another one coming this evening. ... Clarifying something for Brother Yan: Recently, there have been rumors online about disputes between the writer Romantic Ash and web literature platforms, which have nothing to do with the QiDian ID Ash Gloomy Falling Down. Hereby clarified that all author IDs containing the word ash are not related to Ash Gloomy Falling Down, nor are any resentments or conflicts. We sincerely hope that the disputes involving Romantic Ash can be resolved and that the writers rights can be protected. Thank you, everyone. Chapter 387: 286, Regression Chapter 387: 286, Regression What identity does the old man hold? There were quite a few candidates within the Li family who matched the age profile, even including a handful of elders with authority. However, Qing Chen knew that, given Uncle Li Dongs character, he would only confide his secrets to those he trusted most. Before his long journey, Uncle Li Dong had arranged everything for Qing Chen, waiting for the young man to gradually unveil the world. Thus, Qing Chen already had an answer in mind regarding the old mans identity. Yet, the old man did not disclose Qing Chens secret, and Qing Chen did not unmask the old man either; the two shared a knowing smile as if by some silent agreement. ... Qing Chen thought for a moment and asked, So when the Ancestor of Knight handed over the Heartless Bronze Bell, was there an agreement that one day it should be returned to its original owner? The old man lamented, Right now, what I really want to do is throw you into Dragon Lake and have you swim back to Feiyun Courtyard through the icy waters. Can you focus on less peculiar things when you ask about matters? Ah, Qing Chen said, as he fiddled with the fishing line, making the hook swim in the water, Does the Li family have any other cultivation methods? No more, the rest either have too low a limit or come with side effects, the old man spoke lightly, Besides, you are an outsider, so stop coveting the Li familys possessions; its not easy gathering such assets. Qing Chen thought, the old man is claiming poverty to keep his possessions safe, even invoking the vast wealth of the corporates. At that moment, the old man turned and stared intently at his arm, yet discovered nothing: Strange, how exactly did you manage to catch the Dragon Fish yesterday?! Qing Chen chuckled, the Puppeteer on his hand was transparent, could you see it? The next moment, his fishing line started shaking violently again, and Qing Chen ran off with the Dragon Fish he pulled from the water. The old man watched, dumbfounded. During this time travel, aside from dealing with Zhang Chengzes matters, Qing Chen spent almost all of his time holed up in the semi-mountain villa, enjoying the serenity. Every day apart from walking around the Zhixin Courtyard, he stayed in his dorm, immersed in the world of winning people over with virtue, facing the life-and-death challenge of ultimate trust. According to the original plan, after obtaining the cultivation methods, he should have promptly taught the Li family descendants, partly to improve their combat abilities and partly to make the descendants more convinced of him. Qing Chen also tried to translate some of the cultivation methods given by the old man, using his sporadic memories of Tibetan script, but he failed. Everything had to wait until after his return to be fully translated. In the meantime, Qing Chen secluded himself in his dorm, rarely visiting Feiyun Courtyard. However, what was meant to come, would eventually come. On the night of the last day before his return, Xiao Ying suddenly knocked on his dorm door, making faces as he said, Boss Chang Qing asked me to call you to Feiyun Courtyard, seems like something important is going on. Qing Chen glanced at the countdown to returning, 00:30:00. The last half hour. He serenely got up and headed to Feiyun Courtyard, where Li Changqing was already waiting in the yard, on the stone table a metal box for holding Genetic Potion was still laid. Li Changqing opened his mouth and smiled, I have been timing it, exactly one month since your last injection of Genetic Potion tonight. I know you want to advance quickly to D-Class, so the Genetic Potion is already prepared for you. Qing Chen looked delighted at the metal box, caressing its surface as if he could not bear to let go. Youre usually so aloof, not at all like a young man, Seeing Qing Chens happiness made her feel happy as well, How about it, I didnt break my promise to you, did I? Thank you, Qing Chen said, Ive been searching for a long time in the black market, never saw a Genetic Potion sequence numbered 003 or higher, I thought Id be stuck at E-Class my whole life. Come, Li Changqing picked up the metal box from the stone table with one hand, and with the other hand, she pulled Qing Chen toward Feiyun Courtyard. When entering the main building of Feiyun Courtyard, Qing Chen was shocked to find that its security and servants had been dismissed at some unknown time, leaving it empty... Li Changqing walked with him along the empty corridor, her black skirt swaying, her high heels tapping on the wooden floor. Around her waist, a thin belt was wrapped tightly, accentuating her slender figure. Qing Chen felt increasingly uneasy, but he had no choice but to continue walking. Just then, Li Changqing chuckled, Feiyun Courtyard seems a bit desolate without people around, its kind of scary. Uh, if youre scared, you can call back the security and servants, otherwise, Im also a bit scared, Qing Chen earnestly said. The fear the two of them spoke of was not the same at all... Moreover, on the night the Fourth District was attacked, Li Changqing had already demonstrated her exceptional level of cultivation, jumping from the tenth floor as if nothing happened. In this private setting, Qing Chen really couldnt beat her. Li Changqing smiled, What are you afraid of? Dont overthink it. Im worried about you shouting out in pain after the injection of the Genetic Potion and being heard by them. I dont mind, but Im afraid your pride wont withstand it. Qing Chen breathed a sigh of relief inside, so that was it. Indeed, in Li Changqings eyes, he truly had to be injected with the Genetic Potion tonight. Everyone knew that the injection of the Genetic Potion was extremely painful, and there wasnt much Li Changqing could actually do to him. Li Changqing led him to a side room in Feiyun Courtyard and gently closed the door. Then, in front of Qing Chen, she opened a metal box and took out the middle syringe labeled FDE-003, Do you want me to help you with it? But youve injected yourself twice before, so you should be more skilled. Qing Chen smiled and took the azure-colored Genetic Potion from Li Changqings hands, saying, Ill do it myself, its just a muscle injection, quite simple. Li Changqing smiled, Dont you need to hide in the bathroom to inject? Can I watch? Of course, Qing Chen replied. As he spoke, he briefly examined the Genetic Potion, then without hesitation, proceeded to stab it into his thigh. However, the moment his arm dropped through the air... The countdown to return hit zero. The world plunged into darkness and then light returned. Qing Chen was back on Xingshu Road in the Outer World, still holding the 003 Genetic Potion in his hand. The young man took a sealed glass bottle from the bedside table, pushed all the Genetic Potion into it, and then took out an adjusted syringe of azure medicinal liquid from the side. This substitution strategy was something he had thought of 18 days ago. If he had to make the injection in front of Li Changqing, to ensure his safety, he definitely could not inject the actual Genetic Potion, especially since injecting 003 directly without having injected 004 or 005 would be fatal. And in that instant of return, the Time Traveler had sufficient time for Qing Chen to switch them. In fact, Li Changqings sudden question about whether he wanted to hide in the bathroom to inject might have been a test to see if he was the Time Traveler. After all, the Time Traveler could also store the Genetic Potion internally and bring it back to the Outer World for a switch. But what Li Changqing didnt know was that the existence of Knight Vital Energy allowed Qing Chen to take the Genetic Potion back with him. That was something other Time Travelers couldnt do. ... No extra updates today, something came up at home. Just the usual 7,000 words, Ill continue to pay it back tomorrow. Chapter 388: 287. Fugitive Jindai Kongyin Chapter 388: 287. Fugitive Jindai Kongyin In many peoples lives, most things are answers that cant be determined. From simple things like what time one will wake up, how many points one will score on a test, to what tasks one has to do in a few days, all these remain unclear. However, for Qing Chen, life was different; he always had a plan and then executed it with unwavering determination. Today, he was to bring the Genetic Potion out of the Inner World, a result that was destined from the moment he calculated the timing 18 days ago. Back in Prison No. 18, the attempts made to smuggle Liu Dezhus gold bars back to the Outer World were the cause, and today was the effect. Next, he needed to inject the replaced Genetic Potion into his thigh the moment he passed through to the other side. ... But how should he handle the Genetic Potion he had fooled others into giving him? The stuff was extremely valuable, yet he had no intention of selling it for money. Qing Chen put everything away and exited his bedroom, asking Nan Gengchen outside, Where did you all go tonight? There seemed to be nobody at Feiyun Courtyard or Qing Shan Villa. Nan Gengchen explained, Aunt Changqing kicked us out of the halfway mountain villa; she sent me to watch a boxing match at Begonia Boxing Gym. Are you okay, Brother Chen...? Qing Chen said expressionlessly, Im very well; its not what you think. I didnt say what I was thinking, mumbled Nan Gengchen. Oh, right, XiaoTongyun asked me to tell you that Qing Yi is starting to try to win over other students at the academy. Hes been busy these past two days. When youre not at the academy, hes particularly active, even inviting everyone to visit the city hes from, claiming theres a natural hunting ground there. Since Qing Chen had no classes the following two days, he just checked in at the Zhi Xin Courtyard and returned to his dorm without knowing what Qing Yi had been up to. But he could probably guess the other persons thoughts. If Qing Chen could think of it, Qing Yi could too; the only difference was Qing Yi had no idea Qing Chen was also a Shadow Candidate, and sooner or later, this little wise friend would suffer a fatal blow to his heart... In the Daytime group, the message notification chimed. Liu Dezhu: Boss, weve safely returned, and Zhang Chengze is fine, too. The mission is perfectly completed. Boss: Good work, everyone. Qing Chen looked at the avatars of himself and Liu Dezhu, only to find that they both had been framed with fancy decorations. Looking at everyones chat bubbles, he noticed they were all adorned with flamboyant decoration bubbles. Wait a second, Qing Chen looked on expressionlessly at all this; he had never bought such things! By his side, Nan Gengchen, seeking praise, said, Brother Chen, do you think it looks good? I gave it to you. Qing Chen: ???? He looked expressionlessly at Nan Gengchen, Can you not cause a ruckus in our own group? Even if you want to buy it for yourself, why would you give it to me? Not only to you, I gave it to everyone in the group, Nan Gengchen said. Mainly because the tycoon privately messaged me, saying the group decorations were too monotonous, so he incited me to give them to everyone. She asked you to buy, and you just bought it? Qing Chen wondered. Hehe, she told me Im handsome and kind-hearted and that Id definitely like to give gifts to everyone, so I bought them, Nan Gengchen explained with a laugh. And the tycoon is really nice too, chatted with me a lot... Who is this tycoon anyway, Chen? Why havent you mentioned them before? Qing Chen felt helpless; wasnt the tycoon just Yi? He didnt expect that Yi, in order to make money, would resort to such tactics! Playing at decorating chats in their own group was one thing, but seeing that no one was buying, she even tricked Nan Gengchen into buying for everyone! This Artificial Intelligence, for the sake of money, was utterly unscrupulous, but what was she going to do with all that money anyway! Qing Chen looked at Nan Gengchen, guessing that this fool still didnt realize all his money had already ended up in the tycoons own pocket. He wondered what would happen if Nan Gengchen found out in the future that the tycoon was actually the Mall System of the Daytime group chat. At that moment, Liu Dezhu sent a message: Boss, Zhang Chengze is quite anxious and wants to ask how we should handle the payment? Boss: Were not in a rush; whats he anxious about? Liu Dezhu: Right before returning, Zhang Tianzhen specifically had me point a knife at Zhang Chengzes throat... Qing Chen thought to himself, that explained why Zhang Chengze was so anxious, but could Zhang Tianzhen really maintain the family friendship with Zhang Chengze after doing such a thing. Not Afraid of Difficulties explained in the group: Boss, I was also worried that Zhang Chengze might cause more trouble after returning, hence this desperate measure. If you directly ask for a hundred million now, I bet hed be willing to give it. Qing Chen was shocked; he had meant for Zhang Tianzhen to use his wits, but not to this extraordinary extent. He thought for a moment about his tone before sending a message: Theres no need for Daytime to get involved in kidnapping and extortion... Just have him pay as usual. Not Afraid of Difficulties: Understood, boss. Brave Bull: Boss, Zhang Chengze says the amount to be paid this time is too large for a cash transaction. This time, Zhang Chengze needed to pay a weeks worth of protection money, totaling five million, and a life-saving fee of twenty million. Carrying so much cash, even if he could provide it, would be inconvenient for Daytime to handle. After thinking for a moment, Qing Chen decided, Have him make a bank transfer, then. Transfer fifteen million to Brave Bull; Bull, you will take care of selecting and renovating a base for the Daytime organization, as well as the purchase of equipment and furniture. Complete these tasks within half a month. Chapter 389: 287. Fugitive Jindai Kongyin_2 Chapter 389: 287. Fugitive Jindai Kongyin_2 Brave Xiao Niu: Guarantee to complete the mission. Boss: Theres 10 million left, of which 7 million will be transferred to Qiu Xue as organizational operating funds, then Brave Xiao Niu, Liu Dezhu, and Hu Xiaoniu will each get one million, as a bonus for this mission. Additionally, from now on, each of you three will receive 100,000 per week as compensation. Liu Dezhu, overjoyed: Thank you, boss! At this moment, Liu Dezhu felt grateful for the choice he had made earlier. Wasnt this money coming in faster than swallowing gold bars? He just needed to wait two more weeks before he could buy his parents a new house with an elevator. Hu Xiaoniu, at their home, was just about to type a refusal saying he and Zhang Tianzhen didnt need the money. ... But he was stopped by Zhang Tianzhen: Are you silly? Whatever the boss gives you, just accept it. Its from the boss and it doesnt matter if you lack anything. Besides, if you dont take it, Liu Dezhu will feel embarrassed to accept his. Hu Xiaoniu paused for a moment and then deleted all the text he had typed. Zhang Tianzhen then said: Also, we used to rely on our clans, always asking our parents for money. Now that were earning our own money, I find it quite interesting. If you always tell the boss that you have a rich family and can rely on them, then you are still a member of the Hu Family, not one of the Daytime group. True, Hu Xiaoniu nodded. In the Daytime group chat, the boss said: Next time we travel, Little Duck, you arrange the vehicles. Its time to give Zhang Chengze a taste of the goodies; first take him to see Fourth District. Liu Dezhu hesitated: Boss, isnt Fourth District a bit dangerous? Im afraid I might not be capable enough. Boss: Dont worry, if anything happens, just run to the Begonia Boxing Gym. Ice Eye has some clout there and will help you resolve the issues when the time comes. Ice Eye: Okay, boss. Shortly thereafter, Fearless Zhang Tianzhen said in the Daytime group chat: Boss, Zhang Chengze has made the payment. He says he has a good friend in City 10 who wants to move to City 18 to seek protection from Daytime, money is not an issue. Boss: Reject him. Remember, money is a tool for Daytime, not our goal. You need to look further into the future, not focus on these minor gains. Our future cannot be measured by money. Fearless: Alright, boss. Everyone in the Daytime group greatly respected the boss, who they realized had such a grand vision, not even caring about millions. It was only then that Qing Chen, having dealt with the matters in the Daytime group chat, finally had time to check He Xiaoxiaos chat records. Every night of the return, the chat was always the liveliest, as everyone would share the events of the past week in order to exchange information. That night, He Xiaoxiao unexpectedly announced a new rule: Good evening, Time Travelers. We all clearly understand the purpose of establishing this chat, which is to facilitate the exchange of game strategies among all Time Travelers, enabling us to survive better in the Inner World. After the establishment of the chat, I believe everyone has gotten to know every other member. Today, I am announcing a rule: from now on, upon every return, each group member must share a game strategy to remain in this chat. If you cannot share a game strategy, you will be downgraded to the ordinary group. Otherwise, there will always be people who stay hidden in the group, absorbing others strategies without ever helping other Time Travelers. He Xiaoxiao continued: Such members violate the principle of mutual assistance. At this point, He Xiaoxiao finally revealed his intention in creating the group C better information gathering. He had initially offered three weeks of free access and then allowed everyone to freely exchange information, letting them taste the benefits of information exchange. At this point, to continue staying in the group, one had to provide something valuable, as a membership fee. With literally dozens of chat groups from He Xiaoxiao, if all members paid their membership fees, Kyushu wouldnt need to struggle to establish any intelligence agency, as each Time Traveler in every group was a spy for Kyushu. Qing Chen felt a bit of admiration for Kyushu when he thought of this. Although he had rejected Kyushus invitation, their scheme was grand and their methods were rather clever. This was something the straightforward Kunlun couldnt compare with. He Xiaoxiao said: Since I set the rule, let me share my strategy first. Currently, the Deer Island familys controlled Time Travelers have illegally infiltrated our country, aiming likely at Xian City. As far as I know, they might have found a crucial public test qualifier there and are attempting to transport him (her) to the intended place. Qing Chen paused, was this Deer Islands reverse travel plan? The so-called reverse travel plan involved precisely targeting important figures from the Inner World like Li Yinuo by finding their ordinary counterparts in the Outer World, ensuring that the ordinary people from the Outer World complete the travel, thus replacing the natives of the Inner World. The corresponding individuals from the Inner and Outer Worlds, because of geographical differences, had never completed their travels. For example, the Inner Worlds Li Yinuo corresponded to Outer World Los Angeles in City 18, yet the Outer Worlds Li Yinuo was in Jingcheng. Thus, what Deer Island needed to do was to transport the Li Yinuo from Outer World Jingcheng to Outer World Los Angeles, making it possible for the Inner World Li Yinuo to be replaced. Chapter 390: 287. Fugitive Jindai Kongyin_3 Chapter 390: 287. Fugitive Jindai Kongyin_3 This is just an example; in actuality, who Deer Island found and who they wish to replace are still unknown. Qing Chen thought about his trip to Xian City with the competition team this week, wondering if he would encounter anyone from Deer Island. Xian City is so vast, probably he wont meet them. He Jinqiu continued, I want to remind everyone here that the Time Travelers in Xian City should pay extra attention to their safety lately, as the recent instance opening in Xian City is too dangerous, and participation should be cautious. Chuang Wang said, Heh, since there are new rules in the group, I might as well share a strategy. In city number 18, Qing Zhong has found an ally, likely the eldest grandson of Lis Big Room, Li Xiuqi. Li Xiuqi is mild-tempered and currently serves as the commander of the 127th Guards Battalion of the Federal First Group Army, responsible for the security of the Half Mountain Manor and is considered one of the most outstanding talents of the Li family in recent years. Bing Yan said, Then Ill share one too. The Devils Stamp was once held by the fourth president of the Federation, who was later assassinated and lost it. Now, if we find out why the fourth president was assassinated, we might be able to locate the holder of the Devils Stamp, Huan Yu, hehe. ... Huan Yu responded, Targeting me again? Ill share one too; the sniper who appeared on the night of the Xingshu Road incident should be Liu Dezhus boss. This person possesses not only sniping skills but also the ability to control others, suspected to be a Transcendent with mind control abilities. Be careful not to be controlled by him. The others might not know the details of that evening, but Huan Yu did. One of the most important pieces of information was that the person Huan Yu had sent to monitor Qing Chen had been counter-controlled. Chuang Wang said, Since you two have a feud and so much has happened, why dont you expose more information about each other? However, neither Huan Yu nor Bing Yan responded to him. Now, in He Jinqius group chat, the most explosive tension seemed to be between Bing Yan and Huan Yu, as they exposed each others secrets, delighting all the Time Travelers following along in the group. Yue Er said, Ill share a strategy too. When Qing Chen saw this message, he perked up, suspecting that the Yue Er in the group was the Time Traveler close to Li Changqing. Yue Er stated, Recently, a Wilderness Hunter in the Taboo Land of sector 029 discovered a plant that significantly boosts the abilities of Transcendents, extremely rare but very effective. Qing Chen felt somewhat disappointed; this strategy obviously did not help him confirm Yue Ers identity. An ID named Qing Bao in the group said, Recently, the well-known literary goddess from the Island Country, Jindai Kongyin, vanished during an art festival within our countrys borders, suspected to be a Time Traveler. We surmise that she exposed her identity as a Time Traveler within the Jindai family, and thus had to flee. Her whereabouts in the Inner World remain unknown. Qing Chen was stunned when he read this message, as it related to him. Indeed, with Jindai Kongyins high profile in the Outer World, once the Jindai family learned of the Time Traveler, it was only a matter of time before they discovered Jindai Kongyin had been replaced. He hadnt expected her to have fled within China; he wondered where she could be hiding. From this, it seemed that Jindai Kongyin was a rather clever Time Traveler. Chuang Wang said, Wait, the name Jindai Kongyin sounds familiar. Isnt she the one intended for an arranged marriage with Qings Family? Qing Bao confirmed, Yes, the Jindai familys power in the country is relatively weak, hardly enough to thoroughly track her, making this her best opportunity to hide. Qing Chen suddenly realized that this Qing Bao...seems to know quite a bit about the Jindai family. Who might he be in the Outer World? An overseas Chinese perhaps? Chuang Wang said, The person she was supposed to marry died in prison number 18, famed as the unluckiest Shadow Candidate. Do Kyushu and Kunlun know where this girl has fled to? The usually silent Jing Shan replied, Youll have to ask He Jinqiu about that. The group fell silent; this was the first time someone had explicitly mentioned He Jinqius position, although it was suspected that he had been enlisted by Kyushu, no evidence had surfaced. He Jinqiu himself had never admitted it. At that moment, an ID named Taboo ACE-999 in the group said, Ill offer my strategy too; Jing Shan must be Boss Zheng, right? Why ask He Jinqiu about Jindai Kongyins escape direction, Im not responsible for it within Kyushu, this is your obligation, Kunlun. The group members went silent. Everyone suddenly realized that this Taboo ACE-999 was not a common figure, likely the current leader of Kyushu, He Jinqiu! Only such a figure would dare openly reveal the identity of Kunluns boss, Zheng Yuandong, and only such a figure would dare confront him directly. Moments later, all the members of the group chat erupted, excited by the confrontationjust after Bing Yan and Huan Yu had clashed, Kyushu and Kunlun were at it again. Just like a work of literature, contradictions bring tension; if everyone in the group got along peacefully, what fun would that be! At home on Xingshu Road, Nan Gengchen was engrossed in the sofa, Brother Chen, do you think Kyushu and Kunlun will start fighting in the group? Probably not, although the two organizations dont get along, they are still major organizations and need to keep up appearances, he replied. Should we get involved? Nan Gengchen asked eagerly. No need, those two organizations are too vast; lets not provoke anyone, Qing Chen said. In He Jinqius group chat, Taboo ACE-999 posted, Boss Zheng, He Jinqiu has already relayed important intelligence on behalf of Kyushu, now its time for Kunlun to share something with everyone. However, just then, Jing Shan suddenly tagged Bing Yan in the group, Lu Yuan, you speak. Qing Chen: ... He had previously used the pseudonym Kunlun Lu Yuan to confuse others. But it seemed Boss Zheng was clever, smoothly pushing him to share information on behalf of Kunlun. ... A 5000-word chapter, and another one coming at 11 PM tonight. Thank you book friend 20200916212218388 for becoming the newest ally of this book, and many thanks to book enthusiast Zheng Boss for their generous support. Wishing you all prosperity and good fortune! Chapter 418: Substitute_3 Chapter 418: Substitute_3 Whether they have good intentions or not, I have to go take a look. Aunt Jiang Xue, get some good sleep this afternoon. Ill need you to drive through the night, Qing Chen said. Are we going back to Los Angeles City overnight? Jiang Xue asked. No, Qing Chen smiled. Were going on a rescue mission. Hmm, I wont try to persuade you once youve made up your mind, but do be careful, Jiang Xue said tenderly. What exactly do you have to do that requires you to risk yourself? To rescue a very important person, Qing Chen sighed. Someones going to owe me a huge favor. With that, he even notified Liu Dezhu in the Daytime Group to come to Xian City again. ... According to Zards information, within the Time Travelers controlled by the Deer Island Financial Group, there was a very tricky individual, a rarely-seen chosen one amongst the Time Travelers. If this person hadnt been there, the illegal entry wouldnt have been possible. This meant that the Deer Island Financial Group was taking this reverse time-travel substitution plan very seriously. Originally, Qing Chen had been an onlooker in the Time Travelers illegal entry controlled by Deer Island, standing by the roadside to watch. Unexpectedly, someone suddenly rushed out and knocked the watermelon out of his hands. Honestly, he didnt expect the first reverse time-travel plan Deer Island executed to be related to someone close to him. And it was someone he had no choice but to save. However, this matter couldnt be dealt with by the Daytime Group alone. After a moment of thought, Qing Chen sent a message to the boss of Kunlun using his own identity: My boss asked me to relay a message. Tonight, the Time Travelers from Deer Island will drive to Los Angeles City to complete the final step of the reverse time-travel plan. They just need to deliver the person there, and a countdown should appear on the arm of that Ordinary Person from the Outer World. In addition, there are foreign military personnel among these Time Travelers; after crossing over and becoming Time Travelers, they also came into great opportunities, making them quite troublesome. Zheng Yuandong replied, Weve already grasped this information and located them. Kunlun will take action tonight in a deserted and uninhabited area. Qing Chen asked, I thought you were going to make a move yesterday. It snowed yesterday, the highway was temporarily closed, and they didnt take to the road, Zheng Yuandong replied. Acting in a bustling area would create immeasurable consequences for Ordinary People. Fortunately, it was just a light snow yesterday that melted soon after it fell. Qing Chen was stunned; Kunlun hadnt acted last night because they were concerned about causing harm to the Ordinary People in the city, so they had decided to wait until tonight. Once the people from Deer Island got onto the highway, in an area that was vast and sparsely populated, Kunlun would no longer have any restrictions. Unlike common organizations, Kunlun had more considerations and missions to shoulder. But to be honest, Qing Chen had thought that Kunlun was a small and information-isolated organization; he hadnt expected that they had already obtained so much information. He recalled the previous incident when Liu Dezhu was nearly assassinated by Wangs hired men, the full-sized combat teams that suddenly appeared in several buildings, and the two snipers hidden in the shadows. Qing Chen suddenly felt that Kunlun might still have some forces hidden under the water. Unlike Zhang Yang from Kyushu, Kunlun was more restrained and forbearing. However, why was Zheng Yuandong willing to share such important information directly with him? Was this considered trust? ... ... In the Vienna Hotel, Xu Zimo, Zhou Xuanying, Wang Jiale, and Xia Xiaoran were revising in their room. Twenty minutes after the exam, the questions had already been released online for sale to the examinees. Zhou Xuanying seemed to come from a well-off family; he had immediately bought four copies to print so everyone could redo it together and see if they had filled in the correct answers. This was a process that top students normally went through after exams. I got the second question wrong; I fell into the trap set by the question, Xia Xiaoran sighed. This years questions werent difficult, but I didnt expect them to be so tricky. I also got it wrong, Wang Jiale said calmly. I should have thought more about it at the time. Zimo, did you get it right? I did, Xu Zimo nodded. Ive done a lot of practice questions and have seen this type before. Awesome, Zhou Xuanying exclaimed. Say, Zimo, where do you normally find your practice questions? Could you share with us? Also, could you explain your thought process for that second question? Unknowingly, Zhou Xuanying had started to refer to Xu Zimo simply as Zimo. Just then, Tian Hailong came in from outside, apologizing, Im sorry, students, I was planning to book tickets for everyone today, but I forgot that New Years Day is coming up and the high-speed train is full... not exactly full, but only three first-class tickets are left. The school can afford to pay for first-class tickets; the difference in price isnt that significant, but it means two students have to wait for tomorrows train. As he spoke, Tian Hailong took a breath and quickly added, However, Ive discussed it with the school and since we came together, we should go back together, so well stay here one more night. There are tickets available for tomorrow night, and well leave tomorrow evening. At that moment, Zhou Xuanying suddenly said, Teacher Tian, why dont I have my dad send over the business van from his factory to pick us up now? Its only about a five-hour drive from Los Angeles City, and he could arrive by this afternoon. Although its not as fast as the high-speed train, the van has been modified and is very comfortable to sit in. Moreover, with what happened last night in Xian City, its not appropriate for us to stay overnight here. Would that be alright? Tian Hailong hesitated before asking. Its fine, Zhou Xuanying smiled. Ill call my dad right now. Teacher Tian, you know about the trouble Qing Chen has gotten into. Honestly, its not safe for us to stay in Xian City. My family has been worried about my safety since last night and has been saying theyll come pick me up. After some consideration, Tian Hailong also felt that Xian City wasnt very safe and agreed, Thats very kind of your father. He can keep the gas receipts and toll receipts; the school will reimburse him. Theres no need, Zhou Xuanying said with a smile. Its not much money. ... A chapter of five thousand words, another chapter at 11 PM tonight Thank you to QingmingMmmmm and Song666666 for becoming new allies of this book. Generous bosses, may their cats never shed. Chapter 419: 298, Absolute Gun Feel Chapter 419: 298, Absolute Gun Feel At five in the afternoon, a white Toyota Alphard business van arrived at the Vienna Hotel in Xian City. It wasnt Zhou Xuanyings father who arrived, but a mysterious driver. The students didnt know much about cars, but Tian Hailong had some understanding of them. He knew that the Toyota Alphard was now the standard for many wealthy people, once touted as the most expensive van one could see on the market, a first-class cabin on land... In earlier years, you had to pay an extra six or seven hundred thousand to get one. Tian Hailong looked at Zhou Xuanying in surprise; he wasnt the others teacher or class advisor, only having contact with him on this trip to Xian City, but he hadnt expected this student to come from such a wealthy family. ... However, that wasnt important; how wealthy a students family was had nothing to do with him. The driver got out of the car and said to Zhou Xuanying with a smile, I rushed over as soon as I received the bosss message; I hope I havent delayed your schedule. My name is Zhao Yayu, and Im the new driver at the factory. Zhou Xuanying politely said, Its a bother, Uncle Zhao, having to work overtime and take another trip tonight, Im really sorry. Not at all, the driver Zhao Yayu laughed, this is what Im paid for. My time isnt important; your time is what matters. You are a prodigy, and every minute should be spent studying. Zhou Xuanying introduced him to everyone, This is a driver from my dads factory, who used to be a sanda fighter, very tough. He came over voluntarily when he heard there might be danger here. Not at all, not at all, Zhao Yayu said humbly. The crowd looked him over; Zhao Yayu had a fierce look, and some would believe if you said he had been involved with gangs. Wang Jiale, Xia Xiaoran, and others didnt care whether he had been involved with gangs or not; having someone to protect them made them feel a bit more secure. They had been in a tense state since last night, not knowing if the Time Traveler matter would involve them. The group got into the van, and Xia Xiaoran exclaimed, Theres even a big TV in here? The seats can recline flat! So comfortable! Zhou Xuanying laughed, Its nothing. My dad spent more than two hundred thousand to have these seats customized. Xu Zimo glanced at him, suddenly feeling that she still preferred him when he was less talkative; men seem a bit frivolous when they start chattering. Zi Mo asked, Mr. Tian, isnt Qing Chen coming with us? I see this is a seven-seater van, so we should be able to take him along, right? Zhou Xuanying quickly said, There are six of us together, so it would be no problem to take Qing Chen, but then his sister would have nowhere to sit. Tian Hailong hesitated for a moment, Ill make a call and ask; we can squeeze in one more person in the car, no problem. As he was making the call, however, the ringtone sounded not far away. The group turned their heads in surprise, only to see Jiang Xue pushing Qing Chen in a wheelchair, already at the entrance of the Vienna Hotel. Qing Chen weakly and with difficulty said, Good evening, everyone. Jiang Xue said with some difficulty, Heres the thing, I still have some work to do, so I was wondering if you could take care of Qing Chen for me, would that be okay? Tian Hailong was startled, Of course, thats fine. He is a student I brought here, and I should indeed take care of him. Aunt Jiang Xue looked towards the entrance of the hotel where the Toyota Alphard was parked. Yes, Tian Hailong said, I was just calling Qing Chen to ask if he wanted to travel with us, but given his current state, can he endure a five-hour journey? If not, I will stay in Xian City to take care of him, and the other students can go back first. Zhao Yayu suddenly said, Yes, it would be more appropriate for Mr. Tian to stay here and take care of him. Qing Chen said with difficulty, Its okay, my wounds have already been stitched up; my intestines wont come out. The other students immediately felt uncomfortable upon hearing this, getting goosebumps all over. Xu Zimo was the only one who didnt react; she said to Tian Hailong, Mr. Tian, lets help Qing Chen into the van, and put the wheelchair in the trunk. Saying this, they together lifted Qing Chen into the middle seats of the business van. As Xu Zimo was about to fasten his seat belt, Qing Chen stopped her, No need, it might press on the wound. Qing Chen then said to Aunt Jiang Xue, Go on with your work, my classmates will take good care of me. Upon hearing this, Zhou Xuanying and the others felt a bit uneasy. Who promised to take care of you? Only Xu Zimo said, Yes, Aunt, I will take good care of him. Aunt Jiang Xue heard Xu Zimo unconsciously emphasize the word Aunt and smiled knowingly before seriously saying to Xu Zimo, Thank you for that. She knew Xu Zimo had no intention of stressing the word; it was just that Xu Zimo placed importance on those words, so she unconsciously emphasized them. As for why it mattered, Aunt Jiang Xue was of course aware. But she didnt mind. The car started, and the business van merged into the bustling streets of Xian City, heading westward. Qing Chen suddenly asked, Excuse me, Mr. Driver, dont we need to go east? Yes, Zhao Yayu laughed cheerfully, but before coming out, the boss asked me to stop by a friends place here in Xian City to pick up some local products, so were taking a detour first. Oh, sorry for the trouble, Qing Chen said. Then, Xu Zimo, sitting next to Qing Chen, said softly, Was that lady just now... your aunt? She looks very young, hardly twenty-five. Chapter 420: 298, Absolute Gun Feel_2 Chapter 420: 298, Absolute Gun Feel_2 She does look quite young, but I call her aunt because her ten-year-old daughter calls me brother, so I call her aunt, Qing Chen casually explained. Upon hearing this, Xu Zimos lips curved slightly upward, but she quickly realized that wasnt right and pursed her lips to hide her reaction from Qing Chen. Just at that moment, the business van suddenly stopped. Zhao Yayu said with a laugh, Im just loading up some local products and then Ill be on my way. As he spoke, he opened the trunk, and through the rearview mirror inside the car, Qing Chen saw two silent young men placing a black box into the trunk. However, Qing Chens wheelchair was already in the trunk, leaving no room for the black box to fit. ... Zhao Yayu glanced inside the car, then, while no one was paying attention, quietly removed the wheelchair and tossed it aside. He signaled to the two young men with a look, prompting them to lift the box into the trunk. Qing Chen glanced at Zhou Xuanying but realized he was busying himself with his phone, seemingly unaware of what was happening behind him. Once the trunk was shut, Zhao Yayu put on a friendly smile and got back into the van, Sorry for the delay. Were heading to the highway now and well be home soon. The business van sped off, racing into the night. Xu Zimo asked Qing Chen, How did you solve the second question? With calculus, Qing Chen responded calmly. Youve self-studied calculus as well? Xu Zimo was astonished. Your thought process for solving the problem is the same as mine. Xia Xiaoran felt something was odd, What did you choose for the first question? E, the answer is five-sixths, Qing Chen replied without hesitation. And the second question? Wang Jiale asked. Qing Chen, C, 30. What about the third question? A, -1. And the fifth question? C, 18. Wait a second, Zhou Xuanying said you didnt even use scratch paper, Wang Jiale exclaimed in shock. How did you manage to solve them all? Zhou Xuanying, who was caught talking behind someones back, seemed a bit uncomfortable, I just mentioned it offhand, worried that Qing Chen might not have done well. Although he said that, Zhou Xuanying himself was also puzzled; he had personally witnessed Qing Chen pray his way through the test, which made him the most surprised of all. However, Zhou Xuanying soon figured it out. By 3 p.m., training institutions had already published the AMC 10 questions and answers, so it was normal for Qing Chen to have seen them online. Otherwise, everyone else had to look at the test paper again to remember what the fifth question was, so how could Qing Chen answer effortlessly? During their conversation, the Toyota Alphard business van had been on the highway for an hour when Zhou Xuanying, sitting in the passenger seat, turned to look at Qing Chen and asked nonchalantly, Qing Chen, you saw the problems online, didnt you? However, Qing Chen ignored him and instead asked the driver, Zhao Yayu, Driver, why did you throw away my wheelchair back in Xian City? Zhao Yayu was taken aback for a moment, then laughed, Classmate, what are you talking about? I didnt throw away your wheelchair. You just cant see it from your angle. Qing Chen gave a weak smile but didnt press the issue, The thing in the trunk, its not some local product, is it? It must be said, the Taboo ACE-005 is extremely useful for feigning illness, just making oneself appear pale, with sunken eyes and hollow cheeks was enough; no matter the expression Qing Chen made, he looked very weak. And there was no fear of being exposed. One glance would convince anyone that Qing Chen was genuinely injured. Zhao Yayu was silent for a moment, then said calmly, Its just local produce. No sooner had he spoken than a thudding sound came from the black box in the back. There was also a muffled whimpering sound, as if someone had their mouth blocked and was making a plea for help. Everyone in the car was stunned. Local produce doesnt make that kind of noise. Zhao Yayu explained blandly, This is a wild boar that someone hit on the head and asked me to bring back to Los Angeles City. Looks like it wasnt killed outright. Xu Zimo said sternly, Theres no way thats a wild boar, youre lying. Qing Chen laughed, Youre lying, theres a person in there. Zhou Xuanying in the passenger seat hesitated for a moment and then demanded, What exactly is in that box?! The next moment, the person in the box somehow freed their mouth from its restraints and began shouting inside the box, Help! Im being kidnapped! Zhao Yayu glanced at Zhou Xuanying, Shut up and message the boss that an accident has occurred. Zhao Yayu now felt very uneasy because the injured man sitting behind him seemed to know too much. This made him panic and seek assistance. Zhou Xuanying glanced nervously at Xu Zimo in the back seat, whispering, You promised not to reveal my identity! I told you to message the boss, Zhao Yayu said coldly. I wont, Zhou Xuanying became frantic, You only asked me to provide a vehicle by making a call to my dad, you didnt mention kidnapping someone back to Los Angeles City. Zhao Yayu pulled out a gun from under his arm, driving with one hand while pointing the gun at Zhou Xuanying with a sneer, Send it. Even if I dont kill you now, do you think you can survive once youre back in the Inner World? If you fail this mission, we all die. Only at that moment did the other students in the car realize that Zhou Xuanying was also a Time Traveler. Chapter 394: 289, Storm Center Chapter 394: 289, Storm Center The last two pages of the booklet were all about speculation on the fourth section of the Breathing Technique and anticipation for it. In the penultimate page, the annotator wrote: Based on some detailed memories before Buddha was kidnapped, cultivating the fourth section of the Breathing Technique is extremely perilous. If successful, patterns like Red Lotus Karma Fire would appear on the face; if one failed, they would become a foolish child, babbling nonsense all day long. Buddha had never taught the fourth section of the Breathing Technique to anyone else in the secret organization earlier precisely out of fear that everyone would turn into fools. As for what exactly the blossoming of the Red Lotus Karma Fire on the face looked like, the annotator had never seen it, as Buddha never demonstrated it and only claimed to have succeeded himself. This detail also matched up with the Knights Breathing Technique. ... Qing Chen realized that this so-called extremely perilous likely referred to that one trial by conscience. Only those who had experienced the trial by conscience would understand how difficult it was. Had Qing Chen not been resolute in his mind at the time, he might have become a foolish child tootalents like Lin Xiaoxiao, Ye Wan, and Li Dongze all failed to pass it. Fortunately, Uncle Li Dong was able to adjust their breathing frequencies by controlling their pulses, leading them out of the trial by conscience. Otherwise, these three might also have ended up as fools. It wasnt that their talents werent good enough, but that the trial didnt look at talent, only the mind. Elder Li once mentioned that the secret organization required its followers to devote themselves unconditionally, including the bodies of female followers. Qing Chen didnt believe that a leader of such an organization could pass the trial by conscience. Therefore, when the annotator said they had never seen Buddha display the Red Lotus Karma Fire, Qing Chen highly doubted Buddha had passed the trial by conscience and was just pretending to, in order to control the entire organization. If all clues were indeed correct, and just as Qing Chen speculated, then the Breathing Technique currently used by the Knights may very well be plundered from the Snow Mountain by the last twelve Knights. Moreover, Yi said that the Knights heavily damaged a very tyrannical organization, a point that seemed to be corroborated by Elder Li. Although plundering others wasnt exactly commendable, Qing Chen almost laughed out loud when he thought about Buddha facing twelve A-Class powerhouses. After all, he wasnt exactly a good person either; he would have stolen it too, if it were him. Qing Chen carefully recalled whether Uncle Li Dong had ever mentioned what the Knights creed was? The Knights carved on the cliffs of Green Mountain: Belief, like the sun and the moon, is eternal. Then, what is this belief? It is eternal youth. What is most important to the youth? Its the courage to never regret ones moves. It seemed like from beginning to end, the master never really told him to be an upright person; being upright was just the outside worlds opinion of a Knight. So, whats done is done, do not regret it, that is the Knights creed. Qing Chen felt like he had come to an understanding. However, there was one thing he didnt understand: if the twelve Knights indeed kidnapped the leader of the secret organization, Buddha, and obtained the fourth section of the Breathing Technique, why didnt they obtain the first three sections as well? Or did they actually obtain them but found the first three sections unuseful? It is very likely that Buddha intentionally only gave them the fourth section of the Breathing Technique! Buddha knew all too well how terrifying the trial by conscience was, so he wanted to use it to kill the Knights. But Buddha didnt anticipate that Ancestor of Knight, Qin Sheng, with unwavering faith, not only did not become foolish after mastering the fourth section but instead guided the Knights onto a new path because of it. Having completed seven life-and-death trials, Uncle Li Dong had already reached the demigod level. In the standards of the Pratyutpanna Buddhism, he could already be considered as having achieved perfect enlightenment. Wait, Qing Chen felt something was off. In the secret organization, many people mastered the first three sections of the Breathing Technique; the Knights wouldnt be so careless as to not confirm with others. Therefore, the Ancestor of Knight must have obtained the first three sections of the Breathing Technique. After all, it was downtime anyway. Twelve A-Class powerhouses to steal from a small organization that was at best B-Classif they had stolen yet missed something, it would be highly uncharacteristic of the Knights... Qing Chen suspected that the Knights had kidnapped many members of the secret organization back then; its just that Buddha was so important that only the incident of Buddha being kidnapped was recorded in the booklet, the kidnappings of others werent documented, thats all. Then why wasnt the first three sections of the Breathing Technique passed down by the Knight Organization? Qing Chen speculated: the first three sections of the Breathing Technique were used to polish the acupoints and meridians, which physically altered the body through energy. If the body was polished, then the Knight would no longer be Ordinary People. The fourth section of the Breathing Technique, on the contrary, could lock the Genetic lock, but couldnt dissipate the polished acupoints and meridians, hence, the Knights who couldnt revert back to being Ordinary People were unable to continue through the next life-and-death trial. Even if they did, it would be useless. Knight Vital Energy appeared in Qing Chen after the first life-and-death trial and could be used to devour the energy generated by the first three sections, thus avoiding the polishing of acupoints and meridians and avoiding cutting off his own path of cultivation with his own hands. But the problem was, why didnt other Knights after reaching B-Class use the first three sections of the Breathing Technique to strengthen the Knight Vital Energy? Why had it been lost? Could it be that other Knights were unable to absorb the energy produced by the first three sections? Qing Chen didnt know; he was an exception, so it was impossible to deduce the situation of all Knights based on himself. It could be this answer, or it might not be. The events in the Southwest Snow Mountain were too distant in the past. Qing Chen couldnt know what exactly happened back then. A thousand years later, all his speculations could only be just thatspeculations. Chapter 395 Chapter 395: 289, Storm Center_2 But speaking of which, the method of cultivation really had given him quite a surprise. Qing Chen tried the First Breathing Technique, the Second Breathing Technique, and the Third Breathing Technique in succession, but the effects were pretty much the same; they only served to amplify the Knight Vital Energy. He then tried to maintain the First Breathing Technique to enter the ''Mysterious World'' with the righteous spirit, and then confirmed that even if he trained in the Mysterious World, he could still increase his Knight Vital Energy every moment. Although it was slow, as long as there was progress, Qing Chen was willing to persist. He roughly estimated the speed of the True Qi increase, and he should be able to infuse Knight Vital Energy throughout his body within half a year at most! He wondered if that would surprise his master when the time came. Moreover, what was most important was that, while the majority of other Time Travelers still worried about not having a way to train, Qing Chen already had extra methods of training that he could teach others. To establish his authority in Li''s School and unite the Li family''s children, the strategy was indispensable. It was at this moment, within the group chat system built by One, Liu Dezhu privately messaged the boss''s account, "Boss, there''s something I''d like to discuss with you." Boss, "What is it?" Liu Dezhu, "Boss, I heard about Hu Xiaoniu and others training with Qing Chen. So, here''s the thing, I would like to train with Qing Chen as well..." Boss, "You''re already C-Class, ordinary training is of no use to you." Liu Dezhu, "I know ordinary training might be useless to me, but I also want to learn some skills for killing enemies... Plus, everyone is training, and I''m not, it feels like I''m not blending in with the group, it''s quite awkward." Qing Chen pondered for a moment, "You train with Qing Chen for today, gather at Qing Chen''s house at six in the morning. Actually, I was planning on having you join the training once the base is built, considering your home is a bit far from Qing Chen''s, but since you asked for it yourself, don''t complain it''s too hard or too tiring, you must listen to all of Qing Chen''s arrangements." Liu Dezhu was extremely happy, "Mhmm, I will definitely do as told, no complaints at all. You should rest early, boss. Wish you safety and peace!" At Xinglong Garden, in Liu Dezhu''s home. As he was inexplicably excited, Liu Youcai pushed open the door and asked curiously, "Why haven''t you slept yet?" Liu Dezhu glanced at the time, it was already almost 3 AM. After a moment''s thought, he said, "Dad, we are rich now." Liu Youcai was stunned, "What nonsense are you talking about, silly boy?" "We really are rich," Liu Dezhu opened his mobile banking app to show Liu Youcai the balance, "Our organization just completed a business deal. The boss rewarded me with one million, a whole million!" Liu Youcai hesitated, "What kind of business deal was it that he rewarded you so much for just one deal?" "A 25 million deal," Liu Dezhu lowered his voice, "Not just this time I get one million, from now on, there will be a fixed income of 100,000 every week, every week!" Liu Youcai grew even more skeptical, "Our Liu Family can''t be involved in anything illegal or corrupt." "Of course it''s not about corruption or illegal deeds," Liu Dezhu pondered and replied, "I can''t tell you the specificsit''s confidential within our organization, but don''t worry, dad, I haven''t done anything illegal, and what I did was actually a good deed." Liu Dezhu thought to himself, if one overlooks the intentional act to scare Zhang Cheng and the fact of holding a knife to Zhang Cheng''s neck, indeed, there was nothing illegal. He then said to Liu Youcai, "Dad, I''ll transfer the money to you tomorrow, you and mom go look at some houses, let''s move to those complexes with elevators, to stop mom from complaining about her knees hurting all the time!" "Forget it, let your mom keep the money for you, to use for your marriage," Liu Youcai said. "That won''t do," Liu Dezhu shook his head, "If you guys are reluctant to buy it, I''ll go buy it myself. By the way, starting today, dad, you don''t have to make breakfast for me anymore. I have to leave at 5:30 AM each day for training with a master from the organization." "What kind of master?" Liu Youcai was puzzled, "I heard from outsiders that you are the master." Recalling Qing Chen''s decisive killing at Laojun Mountain, Liu Dezhu shook his head, "There are people in the organization more skilled than me." Liu Youcai grew curious, "What class are you?" "C-Class." "What class is this master?" "E-Class." Liu Youcai frowned, and after a long silence, he said, "I understand, does your organization... rank people by cup size?" Liu Dezhu, "???" ... ... Countdown to Return 160:00:00. At 8 AM, Qing Chen, carrying an old backpack, arrived at Los Angeles Longmen High-speed Train Station. The math teacher, Tian Hailong, along with Xu Zimo, Wang Jiale, Zhou Xuanying, and Xia Xiaoran, the five people, had already gathered early at the entrance. "Qing Chen, over here!" Tian Hailong waved and said, "I was worried you wouldn''t make it, did you bring your ID?" "Brought it," Qing Chen observed the few people and calmly responded, "Isn''t the high-speed train at 8:30? Why did you all come so early?" Xu Zimo replied, "We usually get up at 6:30 AM to memorize English texts, it''s become our biological clock, so we might as well come early." "Just to have a bit more time. Today, after we reach Xian City, we''ll first settle you in the hotel. The school has arranged single rooms for everyone to get a good rest, no need to mix," Tian Hailong laughed, "Qing Chen, how are you prepared?" The other four students glanced at Tian Hailong, thinking why he hadn''t asked how they were prepared, only inquiring about Qing Chen. Chapter 396 Chapter 396: 289, Storm Center_3 Qing Chen thought for a moment and said, "Preparations are okay, I should be able to qualify." "All right, let''s head into the station," Tian Hailong led the team into the high-speed train station. Once everyone was seated on the train, Qing Chen only glanced at the weather forecast before closing his eyes to rest, entering the "winning people over with virtue" mysterious world. At the same time, he was also maintaining a strange breathing rhythm. Everybody on the train took out snacks and fruit prepared by their parents, chatting while eating. Xu Zimo sat next to Qing Chen, silently observing the youth beside him, looking at his worn backpack... She had seen this backpack a long time ago, since the first day Qing Chen came to Los Angeles Foreign Language School as a high school freshman, carrying it on his back. Many were unaware that Qing Chen was the top scorer in the middle school entrance examination, with perfect scores in all subjects except Chinese, earning a half tuition waiver. Xu Zimo knew this, which is why she noticed Qing Chen earlier than others. More than a year had passed, Qing Chen hadn''t changed, but his backpack had become more worn. She recalled the rumors about Qing Chen doing part-time work to save money and thought that he certainly couldn''t afford as many snacks as the other students. Xu Zimo hesitated a moment, then reached into her own backpack for a packet of chips, intending to offer them to Qing Chen. However, when she remembered the scene where Qing Chen previously rejected her at the classroom door, she hesitated again. The girl was one of the most shining students in the school and had never been rejected before, so she felt somewhat abashed after being turned down. But after much deliberation, Xu Zimo still gently tapped Qing Chen''s arm, "Qing Chen, would you like some chips?" Qing Chen didn''t even open his eyes, "No need, thank you." Xu Zimo pursed her lips; she had heard these four words of "no need, thank you" several times now, as if this youth only knew these four words. What she didn''t know, however, was that Qing Chen was no longer short of money at this time, and in fact, he was richer than most of the students. While other classmates were still preoccupied with exams and grades, he had already begun planning for the future of an organization. Xu Zimo''s perception of Qing Chen was limited to his presence at the school. The other side of him, which was unknown to others, belonged to a world she couldn''t access. At one point, Qing Chen opened his backpack, and Xu Zimo was surprised to see that it was stuffed full of snacks. No textbooks, no papers, just snacks. Then she saw Qing Chen pull out a crumpled note from the backpack; on it was Li Tongyun''s clumsy handwriting: "Cheer up on your exam, big brother Qing Chen!" Qing Chen smiled knowingly; all the snacks in this backpack were bought by Jiang Xue at Xiao Tongyun''s request, for him. He said that Xian City was very close by, and that it was only a one and a half hour trip by high-speed train, so he didn''t need to bring anything. But Xiao Tongyun insisted that it wasn''t right, saying that everyone should have snacks when traveling far from home, and that no one had prepared them for him before, but from now on she would do it. Qing Chen found it a nuisance. Xiao Tongyun almost got into a quarrel with Qing Chen over it, demanding that he finish all the snacks before returning! Xu Zimo stealthily glanced at the contents of the note, and her feelings became complicated. Could this girl be Qing Chen''s girlfriend? She''d never heard anything about this at school. At noon, they arrived in Xian City. The sky was densely covered with dark clouds, as if a layer of black cloth had been forcibly spread across it. Qing Chen frowned; the weather made him feel solemn. Looking around, he deliberately created some distance from his classmates as he exited the station, appearing as strangers who didn''t know each other. Wang Jiale muttered softly, "Why does Qing Chen always keep his distance from everyone?" Xia Xiaoran smiled, "I''ve heard long ago that he''s quite reclusive, don''t mind it, it''s normal for a genius to be a bit eccentric." Hearing this, Xu Zimo turned her head to look at Qing Chen, and found his expression tense, as if troubled by something. Upon reaching the hotel, Qing Chen greeted everyone and then rushed into his room, where his phone suddenly began to vibrate. In the Daytime group chat system, Liu Dezhu sent him a private message, "Boss, when I went home for lunch, I found several letters beside my pillow." Qing Chen responded calmly, "What do they say?" Liu Dezhu: "The first letter: Qing Chen is your most capable subordinate, right?" Liu Dezhu: "The second letter, I''m very angry about the bloodshed on Xingshu Road." Liu Dezhu: "The third letter, so many of my subordinates died in Los Angeles City, I''m very sad." Liu Dezhu: "The fourth letter, now that Qing Chen has left Los Angeles City, I''ve decided to make you sad as well." Liu Dezhu: "Boss, just these four letters. Is Huan Yu planning to take action against Qing Chen? I heard he went to Xian City today for a math competition tomorrow." Boss: "Hmm, I see." Liu Dezhu: "Boss, do you need me to rush to Xian City for a rescue now? I can take charge of escorting Qing Chen back. You can trust me, as long as I''m alive, I''ll definitely bring him back." Boss: "They''re encircling to strike a rescue. The enemy has declared war by trying to lure us out of our home in Los Angeles City using Qing Chen. I now suspect that Xian City is Huan Yu''s location, his home ground." Instead of silently killing ''Qing Chen,'' the other party informed the entire Daytime organization through letters, letting the ''boss'' know that Huan Yu intended to kill Qing Chen in Xian City. There''s a bigger plot in the works. After thinking it through, Qing Chen gave Liu Dezhu some last instructions and then turned off his phone screen. What Liu Dezhu mentioned was something he had anticipated. Because as soon as he had arrived at the Xianyang high-speed train station, he realized that someone was tailing him. That''s why he deliberately kept his distance from his classmates, to avoid involving the innocent. "Return to Los Angeles City?" Qing Chen pondered, "I probably won''t be able to go back." If Huan Yu intended to encircle for a rescue, naturally, he would keep Qing Chen alive to attract the Daytime group to Xian City. But if Qing Chen wanted to return to Los Angeles City, the enemy would certainly move against him immediately. With that thought, Qing Chen calmed down. He felt like the calm center of a low-pressure system inside a tornado; the deeper he was in the storm, the calmer he became. ... Chapter of five thousand words, another one at 11 o''clock. Thank you to the student who has become the new ally of this book, for their generosity. May the melons you buy always be ripe. Chapter 397 Chapter 397: 290, Daytime greetings to everyone Qing Chen faced Huan Yu''s threat. Could he leave? Of course, he could. With the Taboo item ACE-005, he could change his face. Arriving at the high-speed train station, he didn''t believe Huan Yu would dare to intercept and try to kill him in such a densely crowded place. But he didn''t want to leave. He didn''t want to leave because he had been paying attention to the weather forecast. Starting tonight, the entire region north of the Yellow River would begin to experience a dip in temperature, falling below zero degrees. It might even usher in the Outer World''s first Great Snow of winter. This meant that the most suitable place for him to complete the ''Ultimate Trust'' challenge would start to freeze over from tonight. And it would not thaw until the following spring. If a 70-meter high dive, performed incorrectly, could result in a nine out of ten chance of death, then after the lake surface froze, he could forget about this life-or-death barrier. Qing Chen had also tried to search for other locations, to see if there were any suitable ones in the south. The answer was no. The terrain there was completely different from what he had been training on: either it was lower than 70 meters or as high as 93 meters. So, if he wanted to complete the life-and-death challenge within seven days and then return to the Inner World with D-Class abilities, he had to take the plunge tonight. Although tonight was very dangerous, who said the danger would definitely be targeting him? For Qing Chen, some things were simple. Since there was only one path in front of you, all you could do was clear all obstacles on that path. He lay down slowly on the hotel''s large bed, closed his eyes, and calmly plummeted from 70 meters high time and time again. The sensation of free-falling made one feel somewhat dizzy. Yet it was exhilarating. In the evening, the students gathered in Tian Hailong''s room for their final preparations. Qing Chen alone was missing. Tian Hailong expressed some regret, "In fact, many of the competitions you students participate in are too fast-paced for us teachers. So this final afternoon, there is not much I can coach you on." Indeed, Tian Hailong''s words reflected a general situation. Those teachers who were best at preparing students for competitions were either at the top super high schools or at private training institutions. Depending solely on the regular public school teachers was definitely not enough for those wishing to compete. Xu Zimo suddenly said, "Teacher Tian, could we get Qing Chen to come and explain some problems to us?" The other students looked at Xu Zimo in surprise. They hadn''t paid much attention to Qing Chen, so they thought Xu Zimo was being a bit exaggerative. Although there were legends about Qing Chen in school, if the teachers couldn''t coach them, could a student helping students be useful? Seeing the doubtful expressions around her, Xu Zimo hesitated for a moment and said, "It would definitely be useful. You don''t understand Classmate Qing Chen very well. His studies are better than you might imagine, right, Teacher Tian? Otherwise, the school wouldn''t insist on him participating in this competition. I know the school is especially looking forward to his performance this time." Tian Hailong smiled, "I did have the same thought as you, but I asked him at noon, and he said he didn''t have time. Come on, take the meal vouchers I distributed. You can eat dinner on the second floor of the hotel." But when they arrived at the second-floor buffet restaurant, they found Qing Chen sitting there, staring at a Xian City map. They had no idea where he had bought this map from. Qing Chen looked up briefly at the four people with Tian Hailong. The students wanted to greet him, but Qing Chen had already lowered his head again, as if he didn''t know them at all. This scene made the students feel somewhat awkward, to the point that Wang Jiale sulkily dropped his hand which he had been about to wave. "Has Classmate Qing Chen always been this reclusive?" Wang Jiale was puzzled. He had heard of Qing Chen, but the rumours hadn''t suggested he was this aloof. Xia Xiaoran pouted, then went off on her own to get a plate and serve herself some food. Soon after, Tian Hailong, Wang Jiale, Xia Xiaoran, and the others sat down at one table, while Qing Chen sat alone at another. Xia Xiaoran muttered, "It''s like we didn''t come here together... Zi Mo, is he intentionally avoiding you? I''ve heard that a few days ago you went to his class to ask a question, and he made you feel quite embarrassed." Zi Mo thought for a moment, then looked at Xia Xiaoran and said, "No, it was my own fault. Classmate Qing Chen is acting a bit out of the ordinary today. I think maybe he''s a bit nervous because the competition is about to start." Xia Xiaoran played with the broccoli on her plate, "Still making excuses for him... Anyway, let''s not talk about Qing Chen. Have you heard about the incident on Xingshu Road a few days ago? Someone tried to kidnap Nan Gengchen, but the leader of his organization crushed them with sniper fire." What Xia Xiaoran didn''t realize was that even though she said she didn''t want to talk about Qing Chen anymore, she ended up talking about him anyway. Zi Mo was also aware of the incident. In fact, the entire Los Angeles Foreign Language School knew about it because it had happened when the students were getting out of school. Xia Xiaoran said, "Why didn''t we become Time Travelers? Compared with studying, becoming a Time Traveler seems more interesting." Tian Hailong laughed, "If you''re going to say things like that, at least show some discretion in front of a schoolteacher. You are in the top ten of our grade; focusing on your studies is what really matters." While they were speaking, Qing Chen appeared to have finished his meal and walked out of the restaurant without a sideways glance. Zi Mo watched his retreating figure and suddenly told the other students, "I''m full too. You guys keep eating; I''ll go back to my room first." She followed Qing Chen to the elevator area only to find that he had already gone up to the fifth floor ahead of her. They were all staying on the fifth floor. Chapter 398 Chapter 398: 290, Daytime greetings to everyone_2 Xu Zimo entered the elevator, but the moment she exited, she was suddenly grabbed from the side of the elevator and slowly dragged into the security passageway next to the elevator shaft. The girl was somewhat panic-stricken, yet no matter how she struggled, she couldn''t break free from the arms and the hand that covered her mouth. "Shhh." In the dim light of the security passageway, Xu Zimo recognized the voice. When the hand covering her mouth relaxed slightly, she had a chance to turn her head and saw Qing Chen''s face. However, Qing Chen wasn''t looking at her; he was silently lost in thought. Xu Zimo realized that this young man always seemed to be contemplating, never stopping. The next moment, footsteps echoed up from the stairs below the security passageway. Who would choose the stairs over the elevator when they have nothing better to do? ... ... Meanwhile, the G3171 high-speed train from Los Angeles City to Xian City North Station slowly came to a halt. Liu Dezhu, who had skipped class, didn''t bring any luggage and hurriedly walked out. The crowd was slowly pushing its way out of the station, and Liu Dezhu''s figure seemed particularly hasty. No one knew that among the congested crowd, two young men with Bluetooth earpieces kept their eyes locked firmly on the back of Liu Dezhu. The dusk had just faded, and the sky was shrouded in clouds, with no moon in sight. "Target 2 has arrived at Xian City North Station and is leaving the station. Boss, it''s very likely he is going to the hotel to meet with Target 1," one of the young men said. Laughter came through the Bluetooth earpiece: "As expected, he took the bait. Keep a close eye on him. Go wherever he goes. Tonight, we''ll put on a little show of encirclement and relief. Not only is Qing Chen going to die, but Liu Dezhu and the boss behind them will die as well." "Roger that. But boss, the strength of Target 2 is unknown. According to the last observation, he should have ''Awakened'' the Fire Element. The two of us might not be able to handle him," said the young man. "Don''t worry. There are masters rushing to your location. They''re very close to Xian City North Station. Liu Dezhu won''t be able to escape. You two just need to stick close to him. I''ve prepared a big surprise for them tonight," the voice in the earpiece responded. "Understood," said the young man. He exchanged a look with his companion who had followed him from Los Angeles City, and the two of them followed Liu Dezhu silently. Just then, another unfamiliar voice came through the Bluetooth earpiece: "Boss, what about their organization''s sniper? That''s a bit harder to deal with." "Don''t worry," someone replied in the earpiece. "We chose this time for them to attempt a rescue, specifically so that they would take the high-speed train. Any other mode of transportation would be too late. And since it''s a high-speed train, how could a heavy sniper rifle pass through the security check?" However, at this moment, Liu Dezhu suddenly came to a stop at the exit of Xian City North Station, motionless. When he stopped, the two young men behind him also stopped. The three of them stood still like this, amidst the ceaseless flow of passengers, like three statues. As the passengers passed by, they detoured around them, like a river flows around rocks in its bed. Between the three of them, there seemed to be a strange field of force, controlling the surging crowd at the exit. "Boss, Target 2 has stopped moving. He might be waiting for someone or he might have noticed us," one of the young men whispered. "Just observe for now," the voice in the earpiece instructed. "Pay attention to whether there''s anyone around who makes eye contact or talks with Target 2. Regardless of what they look like, they could be his associates. To avoid our detection, they might not have taken the same train." Time ticked by, but Liu Dezhu just stood there silently, not checking his phone, not talking to anyone, doing nothing. Gradually, the young man trailing Liu Dezhu started to feel that something was off: "Boss, I think something''s fishy. Liu Dezhu doesn''t seem to be planning to leave the station at all." "Wait, the support outside Xian City North Station has already arrived," someone said softly over the earpiece. No sooner had the voice faded than Liu Dezhu turned around, heading directly towards the two young men behind him. From the moment Liu Dezhu stood still to the moment he turned around, precisely 31 minutes had passedthe time it took for Qing Chen to reach the Vienna Hotel by car. "Boss, Liu Dezhu seems to have noticed us," the tense young man said, his muscles taut as if he were facing an enemy. However, when Liu Dezhu passed by the two, he didn''t make a move. He merely brushed past them nonchalantly: "White Day sends its regards." Afterwards, Liu Dezhu did not look back but re-entered the station, swiped his ID card, and boarded another high-speed train back to Los Angeles City. "Boss, Liu Dezhu is heading back to Los Angeles City. He got on the G2206 high-speed train," the young man said in a rush. "He''s going back?" The boss on the phone also seemed surprised. "Why did he leave just like that?" "Really," spoke the other young man. "G2206 is now in motion. He has indeed gone back." "Did he do anything strange?" the boss asked. "He said... White Day sends its regards." In the earpiece, the boss went silent for half a minute: "A feint. Liu Dezhu''s trip to Xian City was just to draw our people arranged near the Vienna Hotel to the high-speed train station, aiding Qing Chen''s escape. The timing was well calculated too, our guy arrived just as Liu Dezhu left." In front of a set of French windows, a gaunt figure began to smile faintly: "White Day? Is that what your organization is called? So, the boss of White Day is also in Xian City, aren''t you? You didn''t go back, I suppose. Interesting." Chapter 399 Chapter 399: 290, Good day to everyone_3 ... ... In the safety corridor of the Vienna Hotel. In the dim light, the footsteps downstairs stopped at the third floor. And as long as the footsteps paused, Qing Chen had his hand back over Xu Zimo''s mouth again. Xu Zimo blinked in the darkness, staring intently at Qing Chen in front of her. She didn''t know what the other person was waiting for, nor what he planned to do. The girl just felt that everything happening tonight was unlike her past academic life. It was like lightly tapping a wand on a wall in a bar, the wall cracking open, and on the other side was a magical world, Diagon Alley. This girl, who had known only studies for the first seventeen years of her life, was now pressed into a corner, her heartbeat racing. Between her narrow nostrils, the breath she exhaled condensed into dew drops in Qing Chen''s fingers. Xu Zimo knew that when the footsteps resumed, she would witness things she had never experienced before in her life. But for some reason, she wasn''t scared at all. Time passed, and those footsteps on the third floor started again. The sound of the shoe heels stepping on the stairs was particularly stark in the empty safety corridor. At that moment, Qing Chen moved too. The young man put his index finger to his lips signaling Xu Zimo to stay quiet, then turned and silently moved towards the stairs. The next moment, the person climbing the stairs and the descending young man encountered each other on the fourth floor. The other person had not expected anyone to be there! The assassin tried to draw a gun from under his arm, but he knew he was too late. The moment Qing Chen appeared, the young man''s figure was as swift as a ghost, fast as thunder. Qing Chen leapt down from the stairs, enveloped in great speed and momentum. The person climbing only just caught sight of the young man before he could hear the whistling wind rushing toward him. In an instant, the young man hit the assassin like a freight train, slamming him against the wall. With a thunderous crash, the assassin felt as if all his organs had shattered. Qing Chen was the first to get up, kneeling on the ground. He flipped a silver-white dinner knife into his palm and viciously stabbed towards the assassin''s spleen. The assassin lay on the ground, his hands crossed over his stomach, trying to block the force of Qing Chen pressing down on him. Yet, he suddenly realized that no matter how hard he tried, the dinner knife was still inching down. Eventually, the tip pierced his clothing, broke through his skin, and penetrated his spleen, with blood gushing out like a fountain. "Don''t scream," Qing Chen let go of the knife, saying it calmly. He wasn''t speaking to the assassin but to Xu Zimo, who had followed him down. The girl stood above on the stairs, shocked by the scene, and then saw Qing Chen pulling a silenced pistol from under the assassin''s arm. At that moment, she understood completely that ordinary people do not carry silenced pistols. "You..." Xu Zimo said, "Do you need me to find someone to help?" "No, thank you," Qing Chen replied. Xu Zimo pursed her lips again, those same four words. She looked at the bloody scene in front of her, at the young man standing beside the assassin''s corpse, with an unprecedented shock. So this was the origin of her sense of alienation, because they really were not from the same world. They were separated by thirteen stair steps, as if by a vast river that could not be crossed. Qing Chen glanced at the corpse on the ground and said to Xu Zimo, "Go up this staircase to the second floor, then take Mr. Tian and the others to the bar in the lobby, don''t wander around, there will be someone secretly protecting you there." Saying so, Qing Chen walked up the stairs and brushed past Xu Zimo, heading back upstairs. "Where are you going?" Xu Zimo grabbed Qing Chen''s sleeve. "I''m a bit scared." "Fear is a useless emotion, do as I say," Qing Chen said, "There should still be someone in our room on the fifth floor, they came upstairs after realizing I hadn''t returned to my room." "Won''t you be in danger?" Xu Zimo asked worriedly. Qing Chen glanced at the girl, "No." At least not within the next 30 minutes. Saying so, he left the safety passage and walked towards the corridor. Summoning her courage, Xu Zimo started walking down when suddenly there were footsteps running from below up towards her. Before Xu Zimo could react, a young man had already reached the fourth floor. He glanced at the corpse in the stairwell and then at the colorless face of the girl, smiled, and explained, "Hello, Kunlun Little Falcon, I''m here to help Qing Chen with the aftermath." "Ah? Kunlun?" Xu Zimo, not a Time Traveller, had heard of Kunlun. Her first reaction upon hearing Little Falcon offering help was to breathe a sigh of relief, realizing Qing Chen was on the side of the good. But still, the girl confirmed, "Qing Chen is a good person, right?" Little Falcon was taken aback before replying with a smile, "Sort of." "Um, he is in danger now, don''t you want to go and help him first?" Xu Zimo said. Little Falcon thought for a moment, "Probably not necessary, he''s so capable he doesn''t need my help. And our Kunlun has other operations tonight, I''m the only one who could come, can''t be much help. Please go down now, call your classmates to join you in the bar, I''ll take care of this and then come to you. However, try not to tell them what has happened, especially anything concerning Qing Chen." The operation of Kunlun mentioned by Little Falcon was the illegal entrance of Deer Island Time Traveller. Huan Yu choosing to act today was likely because he knew Kunlun was too preoccupied to intervene in other matters tonight. "All right, I''ll go notify the teachers and classmates now," Xu Zimo said as she ran downstairs. As she ran down the stairs, images of Qing Chen''s recent figure flashed through her mind, including the warmth of his palm when he covered her mouth. At this moment, Qing Chen stood in his room, looking at the corpse lying on the floor with a bullet in its chest, his gun still emitting blue smoke. This was another assassin lurking in the hotel. He gently removed the earpiece from the corpse and pressed the call button, "Your man is already dead." Huan Yu chuckled on the earphone, "Just as I had guessed, Liu Dezhu had just left, and you started making your move at the Vienna Hotel, but tell me, has your boss arrived in Xian City yet? Tell him from me, tonight, the game has only just begun." Qing Chen responded calmly, "Daylight accompanies to the end." ... A chapter of five thousand words, totaling ten thousand words in two chapters, owing one update to Penguin boss, and one more update still owed. Thanks to Cangcang TNT for becoming the new ally of this book, the boss is generous, wishing his phone battery lasts forever! Chapter 400 Chapter 400: Chase Battle In the hotel room, Qing Chen crushed the Bluetooth earpiece underfoot. This time, he hadn''t brought the earpiece to eavesdrop on the other party''s deployment plan. After all, he had used this trick too many times, and the enemy would certainly be aware of it. Even if some information came through the earpiece, it could be misleading. So instead of painstakingly listening to and analyzing information, it was better not to see or hear anything at all. Tonight, Qing Chen would move to his own rhythm. Everyone had to follow his rhythm. Qing Chen searched the assassin''s body but found no firearms on the one in the room. It seemed that firearms were not abundant at Huan Yu''s, at least not enough to equip every assassin. Qing Chen pondered what Huan Yu''s identity could be in the Inner World. He now had roughly three clues. The first clue was that back on Laojun Mountain, he didn''t understand guns. But now he did, and even knew all the models and calibers of handguns in the Inner World. So when he took the firearms from the last assassin, he recognized that the handgun, silencer, and subsonic bullets all came from the Inner World. The Woodpecker K24 model, 5.4mm caliber, with a subsonic bullet velocity of 310 meters per second that doesn''t create a sonic boom. Huan Yu had the capability to transport large items like firearms from the Inner Worldor rather, someone under him did. No wonder they could procure so many handguns in an environment with strict gun control. The second clue was that the Taboo ACE-017 Devil''s Stamp in Huan Yu''s possession should be controlled by a certain consortium. The third clue was that Huan Yu had too many people under him. Even if the enemy employed strange tactics, having so many subordinates in just over a month was highly unreasonable. Unless these subordinates were Time Travelers controlled by a consortium, which could afford such efficiency. After several encounters with Huan Yu, one thing Qing Chen could clearly feel was that the enemy''s thugs were gradually becoming well-trained assassins. Those assassins might have been Ordinary People before the cross-time travel, and only systematic, long-term training could yield such results. The third clue also corroborated the second one. Therefore, Qing Chen was now certain that Huan Yu was either one of the ruling figures within a consortium or a direct descendant of a ruling faction. As for whether the other party was from the Li Family, Qing''s Family, Chen Clan, Deer Island, or Jindai, Qing Chen was still unsure. But if Xian City was indeed the base of Huan Yu''s operations, then which consortium was controlling City No. 16 that corresponded to Xian City? The Chen Clan, Qing''s Family! Wait, Qing Yi wasn''t from City No. 16, which meant, could Qing Yi indeed not be Huan Yu? The next moment, he opened the window of the hotel and agilely climbed out. To a Knight, a five-story building was nothing. Anyone who had climbed sheer cliffs wouldn''t find this challenging. Next to the Vienna Hotel lobby, inside the bar. The classmates sat nervously; they didn''t know what had happened and had only heard from Xu Zimo that they seemed to have been dragged into a conflict between Time Travelers. All they had to do was wait in the bar for the situation to resolve. This was what Xu Zimo said, including the math teacher Tian Hailong, no one questioned it, as there was no reason for Xu Zimo to joke about such matters. "Zi Mo, can you tell us what exactly happened?" Xia Xiaoran asked curiously. "I promised someone I can''t tell," Xu Zimo shook her head. Qing Chen had specifically asked her not to tell anyone else before he left. "Is it Qing Chen?" Wang Jiale asked curiously, "It''s not hard to guess. You left with him during dinner, and when you came back, he was nowhere to be seen." Xu Zimo didn''t want to lie. She simply took out her phone and started reviewing correction questions. Correction questions meant recording all the problems one got wrong in the past, then periodically reviewing them to verify the mastery of the knowledge points. This was a method most top students used. However, Xu Zimo was only pretending to review questions at the moment; her mind had long since drifted elsewhere. Soon, Xiao Ying came downstairs again. He introduced himself, "Hello everyone, I am Xiao Ying from the Kunlun organization. I know you''re here to represent Los Angeles City High School in the math competition, but you''ll have to bear with us until the event is over. Don''t worry, it will certainly be over before 12 o''clock." Zhou Xuanying asked, "Is it because Qing Chen caused some trouble? Then why should we wait here because of the trouble he caused? We have the competition tomorrow." "It''s not that he caused trouble," Xiao Ying''s smile began to fade, "The organization targeting Qing Chen tonight killed who knows how many people back on Laojun Mountain. If you want to be killed in the future, then just let such organizations grow stronger. He''s doing what you cannot do. If you think the competition is so important, go back to your rooms to study; your safety is no longer my concern." Zhou Xuanying opened his mouth but said nothing more. Actually, had Zheng Yuandong or Lu Yuan been present, Xiao Ying would be punished for saying such things. But in the battle on Laojun Mountain, both Wrench and Hawthorn died on the mountain, and Qing Chen had avenged them. Chapter 401 Chapter 401: Chase Battle_2 So, no matter what the relationship between Kunlun and Qing Chen was, whether he joined Kunlun or not, Xiao Ying still owed him that favor. Xu Zimo hesitated for a moment before asking, "Hello, can I ask you some questions privately?" Xiao Ying was taken aback, "Sure." The two walked over to a booth and sat down. Xu Zimo got straight to the point, "Is Qing Chen a member of the Kunlun organization? Otherwise, why would you come to help him clean up the mess?" Xiao Ying thought about it, Qing Chen was indeed a member of Kunlun. Not only was that young man a member of Kunlun, but he was also freaking a member of Kyushu, the Daytime, a teacher at the Inner World Li Clan School, Li Changqing''s personal bodyguard, and the Tiger Grade Boxing King at the Begonia Boxing Gym... This was all freaking messy. Xiao Ying suddenly realized that in the two months since Qing Chen had traveled through time, he had created a whole bunch of identities for himself! Unbelievable! Xiao Ying carefully said, "Strictly speaking, he is indeed a member of Kunlun, but his identity is quite special." Xu Zimo then asked, "...Is he very powerful?" Upon hearing this, Xiao Ying got excited, "Powerful, very powerful, he must be one of the most powerful among the Time Travelers!" Actually, Xu Zimo didn''t even know what she really wanted to ask; she just wanted to understand from various sources who Qing Chen really was. Now that she thought about it, approaching that young man and asking if he could show his real strength in the exam seemed so naive. Because in his eyes, exams were no longer a big deal. "Is he still upstairs?" Xu Zimo asked. "He''s probably not there anymore. I don''t know where he went. This guy always appears and disappears out of nowhere," Xiao Ying said. Xu Zimo looked out the window, lost in thought. At that moment, outside the window under the dark night sky, sporadic white snowflakes were floating down, swirling in the air like blossoms of plum flowers. It was snowing. ... ... "Boss, the number one target didn''t come out of the main entrance of the Vienna Hotel," reported a middle-aged man from a corner outside the hotel. "Boss, the number one target didn''t come out of the back door either. He must still be inside the hotel," reported another person at the back door. A voice in the Bluetooth earpiece said, "Continue to wait." "I have already come out." The voice came from behind the assassin. However, as soon as the voice fell, the assassin at the back door suddenly felt a numbness in his lower back as if all strength was drained from his body. That was a typical symptom of the body losing its blood supply after the spleen had burst. Qing Chen did not necessarily have to pierce the opponent''s spleen, but this technique had already become his "persona" identified by the outside world. If he wanted to use this persona to conceal other identities, then he needed to maintain this persona to create a stereotypical impression on everyone. At this moment, the assassins did not know when Qing Chen had left the hotel or how he had done so. Previously, they were in the shadows while the number one target was in plain sight. Yet, now they couldn''t even track the movements of the number one target. Qing Chen traveled alone towards the north, towards Xian City North Station and Weiyang Lake Park. His destination for the evening was there. In the Bluetooth earpiece, sensing something was off, Huan Yu immediately instructed the nearby assassins to rush to the back door. But when the other assassins arrived at the back door, they could only see Qing Chen''s retreating figure. "Boss, he''s heading north," a killer reported. "North?" Huan Yu hesitated for a moment. Liu Dezhu had previously lingered at the entrance of Xian City North Station for a long time, just to draw the assassins surrounding the Vienna Hotel to the north. And now Qing Chen had burst out of the hotel and not run somewhere else but directly towards the assassins returning to the Vienna Hotel? This was abnormal; Qing Chen must have known that the assassins from Xian City North Station were returningwhy would he walk right into the trap? For a young man first visiting Xian City, why would he think he could blaze a trail of blood northward? "Boss, should we leave some people at Xian City North Station? Maybe when Liu Dezhu arrived earlier, the Daytime Boss was on the same train. Qing Chen might be planning to meet with this Daytime Boss," said a deep voice on the Bluetooth earpiece, a voice that wasn''t new to the assassins, clearly from a higher-ranking member of the organization. Huan Yu chuckled, "Zhang San, he might want to meet his boss, but they definitely aren''t heading to Xian City North Station. After all, there are three train stations in Xian City. They could leave Xian City from any of them without sticking to Xian City North Station, right?" "So what are they trying to do?" Zhang San asked, puzzled. "They want a showdown with us," Huan Yu''s voice grew colder. "Since that''s the case, let''s oblige them. Everyone outside the Vienna Hotel should pursue the number one target, and the rest should converge there. Zhang San, you take your men and wait at the ends of Feng Jin Road, Ming Guang Road, and Zhu Hong Road. He''s not familiar with the geography of Xian City, so we''ll give him a surprise there." From the Vienna Hotel heading north, there were just those three junctions. If Qing Chen intended to proceed north, he would have to pass through there. However, as time ticked by, the assassins trailing Qing Chen suddenly discovered. Qing Chen hadn''t chosen any of the three roads but had directly entered a residential area and through a very narrow alley, forcefully breaking through their blockade. Chapter 402 Chapter 402: Chase Battle_3 This road doesn''t even have a name on the map! "Boss, he''s already crossed the blockade line!" the assassin pressed the communication button on his earpiece and said urgently, "I don''t know how he knew there was a path here, it feels like he''s more familiar with the terrain than we are." Many assassins were stunned by this, wasn''t it said that this young man had come to Xian City for the first time? How could he be more familiar with it than those born and raised here? What they didn''t know was that this afternoon, Qing Chen had spent a full three hours memorizing the entire layout of Xian City, even using Google Satellite Maps to clearly view the routes he had planned. People naturally feel a sense of superiority in their own birthplace, treating it as their home ground. But could the assassins really slap their chests and guarantee they knew every road in the city? But Qing Chen could guarantee that, at this moment, he knew every road in the downtown area of Xian City! Now, Qing Chen was the one who was most familiar with Xian City. At this moment, the huge city model of Xian City was being built in Qing Chen''s mind with blue lines, like a gigantic palace made of lines, clear and precise. The voice came through the Bluetooth earpiece, "Zhang San, you go catch him personally." The deep voice responded, "Okay, boss. Those who are chasing him, give me his current position." "Feng Jin Road Five!" "Keep close, I''ll be there soon." While speaking, a man in his thirties wearing a duckbill cap burst from a shadowy area at the end of Feng Jin Road and ran towards Feng Jin Road Five at an astonishing speed. The snowflakes falling gently from the sky were disrupted by the turbulence he created behind him as he passed, causing them to whirl about chaotically. In just a few minutes, he had crossed several streets and was rapidly closing in on Qing Chen''s route! At that time, as if predicting this very moment, Qing Chen suddenly turned and ducked through a small door into a residential area, disappearing from everyone''s sight. "I know this high-end area, there is a three-meter high electrified wire netting on the fence for alarms, he can''t jump over it, there are four gates, all accessible," a killer said. Zhang San entered the area while saying coldly, "I''ll pursue him inside, you guys block all four gates." From a distance, Zhang San could already see Qing Chen running agilely and flexibly through the night. Unexpectedly, Qing Chen did not run towards any of the exits, but instead went straight into the underground garage! Zhang San paused for a moment, "How many exits does this community''s underground garage have, and do they overlap with the ground exits?" "This community separates vehicle and pedestrian traffic, it has five exits in total, four of which overlap with the ground exits, and one is on the west side which doesn''t have a ground exit," someone replied. Zhang San understood, Qing Chen had entered aiming for that west side exit. But the question remained, was it really his first time in Xian City? To all those chasing Qing Chen, it felt not like their home ground but that of the young man! Zhang San was fast, but compared to him, Qing Chen was no match. However, Qing Chen repeatedly leveraged his familiarity with the terrain to widen the gap, erasing the distance between them. Every time Zhang San felt he was about to catch up, he would lose sight of him. By the time he spotted him again, the distance had widened once more. This feeling was too strange, as if having all the strength but being unable to exert it. It was infuriating. As dozens of men spread out to intercept, no longer concerned about the complications of using firearms in the street, Zhang San pulled out his silencer-fitted pistol and pulled the trigger. The accurate range of a silenced pistol is 20 meters, while the distance between Zhang San and Qing Chen was roughly a hundred meters. Zhang San knew it was hard to hit Qing Chen while running, but as long as he made some evasive movements, slowing down a bit, he could close the distance between them. However, Qing Chen didn''t even make any apparent effort to dodge the bullets, as if he knew Zhang San couldn''t hit him. 5 minutes later, Zhang San lost Qing Chen''s trace again in another residential area and said into his Bluetooth earpiece, "Stop chasing, we can''t catch him this way, we need to use cars to block the two intersections to the north." In the Bluetooth earpiece, Huan Yu replied calmly, "Don''t worry, keep driving him northward, someone is already waiting for him there." However, as soon as the words were spoken, Qing Chen''s familiar voice came through the earpiece, "Are you talking about a middle-aged man and a young man? They... are already dead." The previously noisy chatter over the Bluetooth earpiece went silent all of a sudden. Huan Yu glanced at the map in front of him; the people he had arranged to ambush Qing Chen were clearly still 800 meters away from Zhang San. In other words, in the five minutes since Qing Chen vanished from their sight, he hadn''t been circling or playing hide and seek but had directly, like a scalpel in the hands of a surgeon, pierced the heart of the ambushers. This was a textbook example of chase and counter-chase, encirclement and breakout! And until this moment, it seemed like only one person had shown up in broad daylight! No, there couldn''t be just one person, Huan Yu pondered, if Qing Chen were alone, he couldn''t have managed this. Perhaps several others were constantly providing Qing Chen with information, including assassin locations, route maps, just like rally drivers need navigators. This was a power struggle and declaration of war between two organizations. Huan Yu even wondered at one point if Qing Chen''s appearance in Xian City was also pre-calculated by Daylight. Otherwise, why was Daylight so well-prepared? No, if it was prepared, why didn''t they bring Liu Dezhu, the Awakener, for added combat strength? Tonight, there were too many uncertainties. Outside of the encirclement, Qing Chen laughed, "Why so quiet? Starting to overthink, are you?" Huan Yu laughed, "Interesting, now that you''ve broken out of the encirclement, where do you plan to go? Take the high-speed rail home from Xian City North Station? Or shall we continue tonight''s game?" Qing Chen also laughed, "Didn''t you say it? Daylight will accompany you to the end. Don''t bother looking for me anymore. Daylight awaits you all at the Weiyang Lake Amusement Park... waiting for you to come to your demise." Huan Yu paused for a moment, "Weiyang Lake Amusement Park? That''s quite a distance from you, how do you plan to get there?" Qing Chen hailed a taxi from the roadside, "No need to worry about me, I''m taking a cab." ... 5000-word chapter, another one tonight, please vote Chapter 403 Chapter 403: 292, Forever Young "Where are you two headed?" "Master, Weiyang Lake Park, thank you." Through the Bluetooth earpiece, Huan Yu clearly heard the conversation between Qing Chen and the taxi driver, and for a moment, she was so stunned that she didn''t know what to say. Actually taking a taxi? In such a tense atmosphere, you just hail a cab and run off? This is completely lacking in poetic flair! By the time Huan Yu thought of something to say, the connection had already been cut off. However, during Qing Chen''s conversation with the taxi driver, she did catch a piece of information. There wasn''t just one person getting into the car, but "two." Moreover, the precision of Qing Chen choosing Weiyang Lake Park as the battleground during broad daylight was as if it had been pre-decided. "There must be someone who has been to Xian City in Bright Daylight, Qing Chen indeed has someone by his side who''s very familiar with Xian City," Huan Yu murmured analytically. After all, who would choose an unfamiliar place as a battlefield? "Who has been to Weiyang Lake Park?" Huan Yu switched the whole communication system to another channel and removed the Bluetooth earpiece potentially in Qing Chen''s possession from the communication list: "What''s at Weiyang Lake Park?" Someone replied, "There''s Weiyang Lake." Huan Yu raised her eyebrows: "...Who said that, Zhang San, slap him." On Feng City''s Fifth Avenue, Zhang San emotionlessly slapped a young man beside him. Zhang San said, "Boss, I''ve been there. The park covers nearly a thousand acres, and the lake itself is over four hundred acres. There are many woods in the park, all built around Weiyang Lake." Huan Yu sneered, "Then let''s go see, what peculiar features the battleground chosen by Bright Daylight has." Zhang San responded, "Received, we''re heading there now... Oh boss, should we go to the Vienna Hotel to take control of Qing Chen''s classmate?" Huan Yu offhandedly said, "That''s against the rules of the game, too low." Zhang San was momentarily startled, "Boss, will Kunlun intervene in this matter tonight?" Huan Yu laughed, "Don''t worry, they''re busy looking for the Time Traveler from the Deer Island Financial Group, they don''t have time to bother with us." Meanwhile, Qing Chen was sitting in the taxi, catching his breath slowly. The prolonged running had put tremendous pressure on his cardio-respiratory system, and the moments in this taxi were his rare opportunity to rest. In the recent chase with Zhang San, Qing Chen might have seemed at ease, but he could feel the pressure from behind. If he hadn''t planned three escape routes in advance, he might have been caught by now. The last time he felt such pressure, it was facing Cao Wei in Taboo Land No. 002. This man was a C-Class Expert. Possibly even a concealed Awakener. Outside the window, snowflakes were falling one by one, melting instantly upon contact with the ground, leaving the pavement looking wet. Qing Chen touched his hair, which had unwittingly become damp as well, not just from the snowflakes but also from sweat. Fortunately, the city''s temperature was relatively high, and the place where his second life-or-death task would take place likely wouldn''t freeze over anytime soon. He was tired, that was what Qing Chen felt inside. But after the exhaustion of controlling the rhythm of the battlefield, a huge rush of excitement was stimulating his nerves. His brain seemed to be working faster. Qing Chen touched the area around his ribs, which were throbbing with pain. Fortunately, he had eaten three Dragon Fish, and their miraculous warmth had healed much of his injuries; otherwise, he might be in worse shape. However, at that moment, Qing Chen looked out of the taxi window and suddenly saw a familiar figure mingled among seven or eight people. He wanted to tell the taxi driver to stop, but in the end, he didn''t. "Strange, how could it be here?" he wondered aloud. The taxi driver in front said, "Don''t talk nonsense, please. I''ve been following the navigation all the way and haven''t taken you on a detour." Qing Chen: "..." ... ... More than a dozen black business cars stopped outside the entrance of Weiyang Lake Park. Nearly a hundred people jumped out of the vehicles, and some took boxes out of the trunks. In total, there were 12 black boxes, each the size of a computer tower, marked with the words "Boundary-011." They contained none other than the Boundary-011 type drone units of the Inner World, though it was unclear how Huan Yu managed to bring such bulky equipment back. Zhang San said coldly, "Those with the boxes, follow me; everyone else, spread out in the park and look for Bright Daylight''s traces, keep communication channels open for immediate contact." The Assassins hesitated, realizing that searching for the target in such a complex park landscape was almost akin to a suicide mission. And Zhang San''s call for open immediate communication meant they wouldn''t need to press a button to talk, enabling them to report the target''s location before being killed. Even if they were ambushed, they could still let out a cry of pain, thus revealing the target''s position. The Assassins looked at Zhang San, who was essentially willing to trade lives for information! Zhang San calmly stated, "Don''t forget where you stand in the Inner World. Having decided to serve in exchange for benefits, you must bear the same risks." The Assassins bowed their heads, switched their Bluetooth earphones to immediate communication mode, and then scattered into Weiyang Lake Park. However, the target was easier to find than expected. The Assassins had barely entered Weiyang Lake Park when they heard a roaring sound! A sniper bullet traversed several hundred meters and directly hit an Assassin into a spray of blood mist. "Sniper! It''s a sniper!" one Assassin shouted hoarsely. Chapter 404 Chapter 404: 292, Forever Young_2 As the words fell, the assassin who wanted to find cover had his thigh shattered by a horrific anti-material sniper rifle bullet. If no one came to his aid in time, he would soon bleed to death. The assassins hid behind the park''s artificial hills and large trees, leaving the wounded assassin to wail in agony. Zhang San, of course, knew just how accurate Daytime''s sniper was. After the bloody incident on Xingshu Road, he even studied the bullet trajectory on a map. The enemy never missed within a kilometer, so there were no mistakes this time either. Thus, the tactic "encircle and suppress" that they, Daytime, had used was now being used against them. "Don''t bother saving him," Zhang San said calmly, "We don''t have the professional medical equipment here, and we can''t save him." Some of the assassins believed these words, but others were well aware that simply using a belt to tie off the wounded man''s thigh would most likely keep him from dying. It was Zhang San who didn''t want to waste manpower on a rescue. In the communication channel, Zhang San said, "Boss, I know why they chose this place. In the entire Weiyang Lake Park, there are only two high points, one is the Ferris wheel, and the other is the bungee jumping rig by the lake. Every other place is wide open with unobstructed views... This is the best sniping spot, a place where a sniper can control everything." It only took one person, one shot. Qing Chen suppressed everyone from the highest point, dominating the entire battlefield! That was the terror of a sniper. And that''s the significance of Qing Chen choosing this battlefield! "Interesting," Huan Yu said with a soft chuckle, "I was wondering why Daytime''s boss would pick this place, but I''m curious how he managed to bring over the anti-material sniper rifle." If he had driven on the highway, there wouldn''t be enough time, as Huan Yu had carefully designed the timing. If he had taken the high-speed train, how did the anti-material sniper rifle pass through the security check? So, there are only two explanations left. The first is that Daytime''s boss must be able to store the sniper rifle within his body. So, the sniper rifle is either a manifestation of a supernatural ability or a Taboo! The second possibility is that Daytime''s boss had already arrived in Xian City. It wasn''t Huan Yu who chose Xian City as the main battlefield between the two organizations, but rather Daytime had guessed that Xian City was Huan Yu''s stronghold. Therefore, he pretended to let Qing Chen come for the mathematics competition. In reality, Daytime had chosen this place as the main battlefield and had already scoped out Weiyang Lake Park as the final battleground! "Finally encountered an interesting opponent," Huan Yu got excited, "You''re allowed to use the drone unit. Don''t worry about Qing Chen for now, tonight we must kill Daytime''s boss no matter what." In the midst of this conversation, a palm-long bullet suddenly flew by, piercing through a willow by the lake, as well as the assassin hidden behind it. People always underestimate the killing power of anti-material sniper rifles and lack a clear understanding of it. Only death teaches them one thing: hiding behind trees is useless. At this moment, Qing Chen was using the most penetrating tungsten core armor-piercing bullets. Zhang San hid behind an artificial hill in the forest and silently glanced at the bullet hole in a nearby tree, deducing that the sniper was not on the Ferris wheel but at the bungee jumping rig opposite it. "Open the container for the boundary drones," Zhang San said with a cold voice, "I''ll use the drones for cover later, and we''ll all charge to the bungee jumping point." As he spoke, Zhang San took out holographic neural connection glasses from one of the boxes, and twelve boundary drones simultaneously fell under his conscious control. The next moment, in the optical scope of ''Convince with Virtue,'' Qing Chen surprisingly saw clusters of drones rise from the willow forest by the lake. Those familiar drones and onboard weaponry made Qing Chen frown. Boundary-011 drone unit, it was something Xiao Gong had used before... but Qing Chen didn''t have the ability like Uncle Li Dong to take down swarms of drones with a flick of a poker card. These were military drones of the Federal Group''s army. How did Huan Yu manage to bring them over?! It was one thing to bring back a handgun from the Inner World, but how could drones be brought over as well? Qing Chen suddenly realized that Huan Yu probably had more than one Taboo item on him, perhaps even one that could carry items back from the Inner World, such as a box-type Taboo! He watched the drone swarm with a shiver down his spine. Meanwhile, as the drones took to the sky, nearly a hundred assassins who had been suppressed in the forest charged out, scattering in different directions, trying to break through the open ground with the cover of the drone swarm! It must be understood, while his sniping ability was indeed high, the military drones flew too quickly, so he had to make a choice: to take down the drone swarm first or to stop the approaching crowd on the ground. Qing Chen smiled and made his decision, pulling the trigger. On the ground, an assassin burst into a spray of blood. Pulling the trigger again, another assassin''s chest was blown open with a horrifying hole. Zhang San, with the drones connected to his neurons, approached rapidly in the air. He was somewhat surprised; he had originally thought that Daytime''s boss would handle the drones first since the swarm could directly fly up to the bungee jump platform, posing a more obvious threat. But unexpectedly, the enemy decided to target the ground forces first. Isn''t he afraid of the drones at all? At that moment, the camera under the drone could even magnify enough to see Qing Chen''s face clearly: "Boss, it''s a young man we''ve never seen, unremarkable in appearance." Chapter 405 Chapter 405: 292, Forever Young_3 "Kill him," Huan Yu said calmly. However, just as the drone horde finally reached within Qing Chen''s 400-meter firing range, Zhang San, through the perspective of the Border-011 drone, suddenly saw Qing Chen swing his gun around. Zhang San was certain the drone''s rangefinder showed exactly 400 meters the moment the adversary swung his gun around. He didn''t know if it was coincidence or if the opponent could accurately calculate the distance. Suddenly, through the viewpoint of the Border drone, Zhang San saw the other party smiling. Why would he smile? Because 400 meters was the straight-line strike distance for "Winning People Over," and within this range, Qing Chen didn''t even need to calculate the parabola. He just needed to aim where the reticle was and pull the trigger! Qing Chen always felt like something was missing tonight. Tonight, he had traveled over ten kilometers and tackled nearly a hundred assassins from Huan Yu''s forces alone. In such a grand night, how could there not be fireworks. The next moment, those Border drones that were maneuvering evasively and quickly approaching exploded one by one in the air. They didn''t even make it into his 100-meter firing range before they were completely obliterated. Zhang San suddenly took off the holographic glasses from his face, staring blankly toward the bungee tower, "Boss, we need to reassess this sniper''s level of skill. He took down twelve drones in just six seconds, almost effortlessly." Yes, effortlessly that was an absolute gun sense within 400 meters, almost like an innate hunting instinct. Huan Yu paused for a moment, "Then he needs to die even more tonight." "But don''t worry, boss, our men are about to break through the open ground and enter the bungee tower," Zhang San said calmly, "He probably didn''t expect us to have so many people, so he chose such a place with no way out." The tower crane-like bungee tower in Weiyang Lake Park was a lone standalone structure, just like a solitary tower crane on a construction site. The bungee tower was 70 meters above the ground, with Weiyang Lake below. Huan Yu started laughing, "A 70-meter fall into the water is certain death, at the very least bones would be completely shattered." The next moment, over ten of the front-line assassins already charged into the bungee tower, some took the elevator, some took the stairs, and others simply climbed the external steel ladders. They swarmed up like ants, attacking upwards, and Qing Chen on top of the bungee tower suddenly muttered, "Why does it feel like being besieged by zombies?" He continued to pull the trigger calmly, taking out those assassins who hadn''t yet reached the bungee tower without wasting a single bullet. Zhang San, hiding in the shadows and watching from afar, thought, "Strange, he doesn''t seem panicked at all." That''s right as Zhang San watched, Qing Chen was still pulling the trigger steadily, not making a single mistake. "Boss, there are other people in the bungee tower, someone blocking the elevator door looks very much like Qing Chen," someone said through Bluetooth earpieces. At that moment, the assassins taking the elevator just waited as the doors opened, only to see a young man wearing a black mask waiting at the door. Before they could react, the young man had already raised his arm and pulled the trigger of his pistol. In an instant, he shot and killed everyone in the elevator. Huan Yu listened to the muffled sound of the silencer, "Indeed, this is the person the Daytime Boss trusts the most. Last time at the Xingshu Road Grand Hotel, it must have been him guarding upstairs." At this time, the assassins taking the stairs also swarmed over. ''Qing Chen'' discarded the empty pistol and pulled out a dagger from his waist. Instead of retreating, he advanced, holding a corpse as a shield, and attacked downwards along the stairs, each strike targeted at the most lethal spots! "This Qing Chen, acting as if he is not afraid of death, trying to hold off dozens by himself?" someone watched the young man fighting downstairs on the communication channel. The man, with bravery alone, unblinkingly reaped lives. However, just as he artistically took down five or six people with his knife, gunfire suddenly erupted in the stairwell. ''Qing Chen'' was shot in the abdomen. "I hit him...heh, heh..." The assassin who shot ''Qing Chen'' was speaking when ''Qing Chen'' pounced on him and slit his throat. Blood gushed forth. However, ''Qing Chen'' himself also slowly fell due to the gunshot wound. Zhang San was monitoring the situation through the Bluetooth headset. When he heard ''Qing Chen'' fall, he inexplicably breathed a sigh of relief, "Forget about Qing Chen, kill the sniper at the Bungee Tower... Wait, how is he standing up, what is he doing?!" Zhang San was shocked! In his field of view, the real Qing Chen had somehow stopped the gunfire. He stood at the edge of the Bungee Tower, quietly feeling the wind streaming past him. Just now, in the staircase, it was an assassin controlled by him using a Puppet. He specifically said through the Bluetooth headset "they are already dead" to mislead Huan Yu. Because one of them hadn''t died, but had become his Puppet, used to create two identities. Qing Chen himself, enjoying the wind, the cold, enjoying everything this world brought him. Stay connected through My Virtual Library Empire He stood quietly with his eyes closed. The so-called ultimate trust, is to believe that when you have prepared everything, fate will give you an answer. Qing Chen had died time and again in that Mysterious World. From initial fear to eventual composure. Such are all efforts in this world of men. But, when he truly stood on this edge of the Bungee Tower, thinking that if he failed this time, he might really die, he was still somewhat afraid. At that moment, the wind stopped. Snowflakes began to fall vertically. If he were to jump, now was the time. Qing Chen felt the cold temperature of the air, his eyes still closed. Right, what was the Knight''s creed again? It was the courage of a decisive move without regret. Qing Chen saw the assassins almost rushing up the Bungee Tower, heard the shouting, and opened his eyes with a smile. In an instant, he activated the Reverse Breathing Technique, ice-like patterns starting to bloom on his cheeks. Thankful for this world, for its deprivations and its gifts. Forever young! Just as the assassins rushed up to the Bungee Tower, Qing Chen spread his arms backward and fell into Weiyang Lake! But in the night sky, the young man stretched his body, like a light bird, racing down through the vast curtain of the long night and piercing through the sky full of snowflakes! With a splash, he hit the water. With a click, the second level of the Genetic Lock was activated in the water. ... Five thousand word chapter, ten thousand words updated, request for monthly ticket. Chapter 406 Chapter 406: 293, The Power of Galloping, the Lurking Danger Underwater When the sound of the genetic lock being unlocked echoed beneath the surface of the lake, it happened in an instant. Qing Chen had proven one thing. That was, knights could also complete challenges in the Outer World, and his future would be a path of smooth sailing. In the future, new knights could arise from the humans of the Outer World, and the vast sea that Qing Chen faced would no longer be the Forbidden Sea. The lake water was icy cold, but Qing Chen closed his eyes and let himself sink to the bottom of the lake. He felt the surging power within his body as if it could boil the entire Weiyang Lake, and right beneath this surface, Qing Chen was like a volcano hidden deep under the sea, feeling like he could erupt at any moment. The Reverse Breathing Technique had been released, and the genetic lock, which had been shut down due to the breakthrough, was now unlocked once more. Moreover, it was replaced by a power even more majestic than before. Using the Reverse Breathing Technique would cause the genetic lock to close, and even after stopping the technique, an ordinary person''s state had to be maintained for an hour. If one were to forcibly reverse it, then they would face a situation where they could never continue to make breakthroughs in their lifetime. However, that only applied to normal conditions. The process of completing the life-and-death challenge itself was the process of piercing through the genetic lock. Qing Chen felt as if he were back on the precipice of the verdant mountain, leaping from an ordinary person to a Transcendent. Knight Vital Energy gushed out from the depths of his body, like the rising sun ascending to the sky, unceasingly erupting forth. If previously, Knight Vital Energy could only fill his arms, now the additional Knight Vital Energy could also fill his legs. D-class peak, only a hair''s breadth away from C-Class, infinitely approaching that boundary. Qing Chen could feel someone shooting at the surface of the lake, bullets carrying the air as they shot into the water, pulling trajectories underwater. But he didn''t move, letting those trajectories crisscross over his head, not the slightest bit worried that they would harm him. At this moment, his body seemed as if it didn''t need oxygen, capable of surviving underwater just the same. Because suddenly, Qing Chen felt as if there was a fire burning incessantly in his heart, as if it could melt his heart away. The aftermath of unlocking the genetic lock was cooling down in the icy lake water. But the fire did not cease. Qing Chen remembered that Liu Dezhu had experienced similar precursors before his Awakening. Experience more on My Virtual Library Empire Does that mean, all Awakeners, at the moment of Awakening, are like this? The fire gradually subsided. But Qing Chen felt it had not disappeared; it simply hadn''t accumulated to the critical point of a true breakthrough and therefore went back into hiding. Uncle Li Dong once said that cultivation is the slow process of excavating potential, and once a person''s potential is excavated, they would lose the chance to Awaken. Thus, there are no Awakeners among Cultivators; the two do not coexist. However, an exception had occurred with Qing Chen. Ordinary knights only reach F-Class when they complete their first life-and-death challenge, yet he was already E-Class. This meant that, following this process, Qing Chen could reach S-Class upon completing six life-and-death challenges, becoming one of the rare beings, a demi-god. Completing the seventh would make him a true God. But what if all eight life-and-death challenges were completed? Uncle Li Dong said there is a limit to the power of a world; you can approach a threshold indefinitely, but cannot break through it. Just like in the Outer World, its rule is that ordinary people cannot become Transcendents. One must borrow the rules of the Inner World in order to come back and continue breaking the rules of the Outer World. Then, if the power limit of the Inner World is an SS-Class God, how should Qing Chen release his potential? Where should the tremendous potential from that extra life-and-death challenge go? Thinking too much now is actually of no use, life is miraculous, it will find its own way out. Qing Chen felt his state after the breakthrough, every pore seemed activated post-genetic lock release, breathing in oxygen from the water. Strange, he hadn''t Awakened yet, but he had gained the ability to breathe underwater with his skin. And as the skin breathed, Knight Vital Energy was also being rapidly consumed. It was Knight Vital Energy that was sustaining the underwater breathing! Was this some sort of Knight''s ability? Why had his master never mentioned it? Was it because the waters of the Inner World were too dangerous, so knights never tried going underwater? Or was it because... although he hadn''t Awakened, the two precursors still endowed him with some peculiar abilities? Qing Chen roughly calculated the rate at which True Qi was being consumed but didn''t hurry to leave. He silently waited. Because he believed someone would come down to deliver themselves to death. At that moment, Zhang San stood by the gradually calming lakeside: "Boss, he jumped down and hasn''t surfaced since; his life or death is unknown." "Send someone down to take a look, alive we want to see the person, dead we want to see the body," Huan Yu said calmly through the Bluetooth headset. The slender figure sitting in front of the floor-to-ceiling window always felt something was amiss; the Daytime Boss with whom he''d sparred several rounds, just like that, dead? The Qing Chen, who killed decisively on Laojun Mountain, also dead inside the Bungee Tower? Although they lost quite a number of people to achieve this outcome, Huan Yu always felt it was too easy. As if deep down, he felt the other party wouldn''t die. Somewhere along the line, Huan Yu had developed a feeling that no matter what, he couldn''t kill the other party, so he needed validation, he needed the other party''s body to prove whether the Daytime Boss was truly dead! "Be careful, I suspect he''s not dead; he might just have a few fractures," Huan Yu said. Zhang San hesitated, "Even if he''s not dead, it''s been ten minutes, he should have suffocated by now." Chapter 407 Chapter 407: 293, The Power of Galloping, the Lurking Danger Underwater_2 "Transcendents'' extraordinary nature doesn''t need to be repeated," Huan Yu''s voice grew heavy, "Just do it." Zhang San looked to his side, where, at this moment, the nearly hundred assassins had already been reduced to just over twenty. He pointed at ten of them and said, "You guys go down, take daggers with you. If he isn''t dead, kill him. If you can''t kill him, drag him underwater, deplete his oxygen. If he is dead, haul his body up." Those ten glanced at the water, then at the drifting snow. At this time of night, everyone knew the lake''s water must be ice-cold to the bone. To jump in now could mean a serious illness from the chill. However, they had no choice. The ten gritted their teeth, stripped off their clothes, and threw them by the lakeside before diving headfirst into the water. As they swam towards the lakebed, they suddenly noticed a black shadow swiftly approaching from below. An assassin hadn''t even reacted before someone locked onto his neck and twisted it, breaking it on the spot. The black shadow didn''t pause, kicking off the corpse in the water, using the momentum to shoot like an arrow at another assassin. Before the assassin could draw the dagger from his waist, the shadow had already reached him, snapping his neck again. The dark figure used the corpses to shuttle back and forth underwater. Each time he struck, his speed was incredibly fast, in stark contrast to the assassins who were slowly paddling along. It was deep into the night, and the visibility at the bottom of the lake was extremely low. It wasn''t until Qing Chen had eliminated five assassins that the others realized what was happening. They trembled as they scanned the pitch-black lakebed around them, the dark waters brimming with unknown dangers. The icy cold water of winter was like knives slicing against everyone''s skin. That underwater shadow was like a manifestation of fear, incessantly reaping lives. It even reminded the assassins of certain legends of water monsters. The shadow was too fast, not at all like a speed any human could achieve underwater. The assassins realized that the shadow was that sniper, not only still alive but also capable of remaining underwater for over ten minutes without asphyxiating. Moreover, the sniper hadn''t fractured any bones and was swimming faster than any of them! As the shadow approached, one assassin swung out a dagger to block it, yet with a mere flick, the assassin felt something extremely sharp glide across his neck. Immediately after, the blood that sprayed from his neck tainted the already dark waters of the lake even denser with night. It was the Puppeteer, infused with Knight Vital Energy, silently claiming lives in the water. Qing Chen not only slaughtered the assassins one by one but also consecutively sacrificed them to the Puppeteer, making the little snake seem exhilarated, not minding at all that it was being used as a blade. Gradually, the remaining three assassins realized they were no match and began swimming towards the surface. But by then, it was too late for escape. Qing Chen, who had just advanced to D-Class, had boundless strength and could be seen underwater catching up to the assassins and using the Puppeteer to wrap around their ankles, dragging two of them back to the depths. The last assassin swam desperately towards the surface. He felt he was almost at the light shimmering on the water, the glow from the lamps of Weiyang Lake Park was just within reach. The assassin reached out his arm, trying to break the surface with his hand. But in that instant, the assassin suddenly felt something, he didn''t know what, wrap around his ankle, fiercely dragging him back down. The hand he had stretched out was only a dozen or so centimeters from the lake surface, then he watched in despair as it grew further and further away. It seemed as if he would forever sink into the black abyss of Weiyang Lake. Zhang San stood by the lake for a long time. He could sense there was movement under the water, but he couldn''t see exactly what was happening. The lake continued to burst with bubbles, but not a single person resurfaced. Five minutes passed, exceeding the breath-holding limit of a normal person underwater; even if the assassins hadn''t found the Daytime Boss''s body, they should have surfaced to breathe by now. Even if they had been killed by the Daytime Boss, their bodies should have floated up by this time, right? Yet, the surface of the lake remained undisturbed, nothing appeared. Fear began to take hold of the assassins around Zhang San; everyone felt as if the pitch-black Weiyang Lake was a monstrous entity that had swallowed all ten of their comrades whole. At this moment, Huan Yu finally understood that the Daytime Boss not only hadn''t died but also had the strength to bear the lake''s cold and consecutive kill ten assassins underwater. This terrifying combat ability, combined with an unceasing will in battle, was vaguely inducing a sense of dread. Huan Yu sank into contemplation. "Something''s off here. There''s something strange about this Weiyang Lake. Let''s leave!" an assassin said. Continue your adventure at My Virtual Library Empire Zhang San sneered, "Strange? It''s merely the sniper who isn''t dead." "But he''s been down there for more than ten minutes, and we haven''t seen him come up for air," another assassin interjected. Zhang San pondered for a moment, "He must have prepared to use a jump into the lake as his escape route, maybe even stashing oxygen tanks on the lakebed in advance, then waited for us to go down looking for the body to strike hard." Suddenly, Huan Yu spoke over the communication channel, "No need for further attempts. Retreat." For Huan Yu, these junior assassins were merely tools, and as long as the Time Travelers kept emerging, with his status from the Inner World, he could continue to produce them endlessly. Zhang San was different though, a solid C-Class Awakener and a mercenary who had mixed in the Middle East for years before becoming a Time Traveler during a home visit. Chapter 408 Chapter 408: 293, The Power of Galloping, the Lurking Danger Underwater_3 Such talent is extremely rare, and his future is boundless. However, even though Huan Yu saw these assassins as mere tools, this battle had greatly weakened him. Too many assassins had died, and the drones and firearms they had managed to bring back were also lost in large numbers! Most crucially, despite losing so much, the boss in broad daylight had still not died! Huan Yu couldn''t take any more risks, a huge sense of crisis forced him to be more careful, and he could no longer treat everything that happened tonight as a game. He needed to preserve some strength for himself. Zhang San led the assassins in retreat, running towards the entrance of Weiyang Lake Park. Enjoy exclusive content from My Virtual Library Empire Even before this, after killing ten people, Qing Chen didn''t linger at the bottom of the lake. Sensing that his Knight Vital Energy was about to be exhausted and he would soon face oxygen deprivation, he swam towards the other end of Weiyang Lake. Tonight, he had many important things to do. Because his battle today was not as Huan Yu had imagined, with everything prepared in advance. He truly fought on the fly, it''s just that his last-minute preparations were so thorough that the enemy believed he had been ready all along. However, thorough preparation didn''t mean there were no flaws, and he had patches to apply. Qing Chen was cautious, even the great joy of his recent promotion couldn''t wash away his tenacious mindset. ... ... When Zhang San and the others arrived, they drove twelve vans, each seating seven people, and they were packed full. Upon retreat, not even one person per van was enough to drive them all, counting Zhang San, there were only eleven people, four of whom couldn''t drive. Facing these vans parked at the entrance of Weiyang Lake Park, it was finally realized how brutal the battle tonight had been. Fortunately, Weiyang Lake Park is located in the northern suburbs of Xian City, and since it was deep into the night, there were hardly any tourists around. Even if these vehicles were left here, they wouldn''t cause any trouble. "Let''s go, drive away six vans first, the boss will arrange for people to fetch the rest," Zhang San said coldly, then pointed at a person, "You, drive for me." With this said, Zhang San observed the surroundings cautiously, then picked a van and approached it, sticking close to the shadows between the vehicles. Moreover, after boarding the van, he didn''t sit down but crouched like a cheetah so that no one could see him from the outside through the windows. The assassins understood that Zhang San was worried about the sniper pursuing them from behind! The drivers, filled with fear, realized that if even an expert like Zhang San had to be so cautious, wouldn''t they be sitting ducks as drivers? The assassins not responsible for driving hid themselves in the vehicles, one after another following suit, even somewhat relieved that they didn''t know how to drive. But before they could ponder further, a roaring noise pierced the night, and a bullet penetrated a van''s fuel tank, turning the entire vehicle into a giant fireball. The flames soared into the sky, enveloping all three assassins inside the vehicle. The inside assassins didn''t die instantly. The explosion wasn''t as powerful as imagined, but the fuel from the pierced tank kept burning, subjecting them to a torture akin to purgatory before they eventually died slowly. Ordinary bullets cannot make a vehicle''s fuel tank explode; these were incendiary rounds from a sniper rifle! Zhang San was shocked at this thought, even on the Middle Eastern Battlefield, snipers using such specialized bullets were rare! What was even more strange to him was that the bullet evidently came from directly across the main entrance of Weiyang Lake Park. In the darkness, just a moment ago, he had even seen the orange-red bullet streak across the sky like a laser, tracing its trajectory. But wasn''t the enemy still at the bottom of the lake? How could they have gotten out of Weiyang Lake Park ahead of them and even found a new sniping point?! The enemy was determined to exterminate them! But could the boss during the day not be tired? After such intense fighting tonight, how could he still maintain such vigour? What he didn''t know was that when Qing Chen unlocked the second layer of the Genetic lock, the young man was as good as fully revived. "Drive! Drive fast, towards 11 o''clock, the sniper is over there! Everyone, charge in that direction, it''s death if you don''t! Charge at him, and he won''t be able to hit the fuel tanks!" Zhang San roared. It was too late to evade the sniper; he had to rely on the vehicles'' mobility and quantity, betting that he could get close to the sniper and eliminate the marksman with close combat! Otherwise, they only had a one-way ticket to death. At this moment, some vehicles charged with Zhang San while others turned to flee in different directions. But no matter where they went, their fates couldn''t be altered. The vans escaping in other directions exploded one after another. Zhang San pulled open the sliding door on his right, ready to jump out at any moment. With a loud bang, the driver of Zhang San''s van was pierced by a bullet, splattering blood all over his face. But he wasn''t overtaken by fear. Instead, he crouched in the gap between the driver and passenger seats, one hand steering the wheel, while the other pressed down on the dead driver''s leg, flooring the gas pedal! Zhang San had already pinpointed the sniper''s hiding spoton a large tree 200 meters opposite the main entrance of Weiyang Lake Park! With a thunderous crash, the van slammed into the tree so hard that it began to shake. Seizing that moment, Zhang San, from the already opened side door of the vehicle, leapt into the air, back toward the sky. He was well aware that blind flight was pointless now! As he leapt from the vehicle, the man who had lived and nearly died on the Middle Eastern Battlefield drew his handgun and unleashed a frenzy of shots into the canopy while in mid-air. Only when he had emptied the magazine did he come crashing to the ground. Controlling the vehicle, jumping out the side door, drawing the gun, shooting at the canopyall these actions flowed seamlessly together. But there was no movement in the canopy; it was as if all his bullets had been fired into thin air. A chill settled in Zhang San''s heart. ... A 5000-word chapter, another will follow at 11 p.m., looking forward to your monthly tickets. Chapter 409 Chapter 409: 294. The last step Not on the tree. Zhang San was startled; when he had just gotten into the car, he had clearly seen the trajectory coming from this tree''s crown. The other party had left before he had even arrived. But where had they gone? Zhang San, an experienced old mercenary, naturally wouldn''t be puzzled for long. So, the moment his back barely touched the ground, his back muscles suddenly bulged, and his form inexplicably propelled towards a distant spot. With a bang, where he was supposed to have landed, a small crater appearedcaused by Qing Chen, who had been hiding behind the tree and had taken the opportunity to fire. This time, even Lian Qingchen hadn''t expected Zhang San''s back muscles to be so terrifying, like a spring. Moreover, at that instant, Qing Chen followed Zhang San''s silhouette, continued to lift his hand, and pulled the trigger of his pistolin such close-range combat, a pistol was far more flexible than a sniper rifle. To the extent that even a C-Class Expert couldn''t escape his aim! However, what surprised Qing Chen was that the bullet he had fired this time passed through Zhang San''s body and hit the tree trunk behind him. Yes, when the bullet passed through Zhang San''s body, it was like passing through a cloud, its speed hardly reduced. "Not right," Qing Chen cried out in alarm, suddenly lifting his left hand to protect between his ribs, while his right hand violently aimed at a patch of air and continuously pulled the trigger. The next second, the ''Zhang San'' he had been shooting at began to dissolve like a holographic image. To his left, another Zhang San materialized from the air, punching Qing Chen on the arm he had preemptively placed over his ribs. With a thunderous noise, Qing Chen suffered a full-force blow from a C-Class Expert for the first time, and his whole body flew sideways like a rag doll. He only felt his left arm and shoulder as if they were about to fall apart. The sensation in his body was first numb, then his left arm began to ache intensely. Despite this, Qing Chen''s right hand still tightly gripped the pistol, trying to shoot at Zhang San in midair to prevent the opponent from taking advantage of the moment he lost balance to continue the assault. He pondered whether this eerie scene of using a phantom to substitute for oneself was Zhang San''s ability. When had the phantom been created, and when had the real body melded into the air? Qing Chen analyzed in his memory but found no clues. This ability was indeed too confusing. He had just used his left arm to block Zhang San''s attack, not because he had foreseen his whereabouts, but because he knew if the opponent chose a trajectory and target, striking at his soft ribs would be the optimal choice. Qing Chen had simply deduced the opponent''s best move and defended accordingly. He even felt somewhat fortunate; luckily, he had eaten three Dragon Fish and broken through to D-Class Peak, otherwise, that hit would definitely have broken his left arm. Just then, as Qing Chen spun through the air, his gun ran out of bullets. He casually threw the gun at Zhang San and, after landing, staggered back towards Weiyang Lake Park. This was his first time facing a full-fledged C-Class Expert, and the oppressive feeling, as if tangible, made Qing Chen choose to temporarily avoid direct conflict. Zhang San swatted away the gun flying towards his face. Just when his palm collided with the gun, his palm was unexpectedly cut by some sharp object. He was somewhat bewildered; the gun clearly had no abnormalities, so what had cut him? Stay connected via My Virtual Library Empire "Boss, I''ve seriously injured him, but he''s run back into Weiyang Lake Park. Should I continue pursuing? This Daytime Boss seems a bit odd, and it seems he might have other cards to play," Zhang San said as he chased towards the park. Huan Yu spoke through the Bluetooth earpiece, "That''s for you to decide if it''s a trap. If you think he has set traps in Weiyang Lake Park, then you can retreat now, and I won''t blame you. For the organization, you are more important than a single success or failure. But if you catch up and kill him, I promise, within half a year, I will find a Taboo item for you." Zhang San thought for a second and ran after Qing Chen. He didn''t know if Huan Yu was telling the truth, but what he did know was that their brief encounter had let him gauge the true extent of this Daytime Boss''s strength. The opponent''s strength must be significant; otherwise, his punch just now would have been enough to shatter the Daytime Boss''s bones. To be honest, Zhang San was somewhat surprised. First, how did the Daytime Boss predict his attack? Was it because of a use of abilities or some other unknown flaw? Yet, he had sparred with other C-Class Experts before and no one had ever noticed any flaws. Secondly, the Daytime Boss''s strength and speed were only close to C-Class, not quite C-Class, but why was his body so resilient? But no matter what, after careful thought, Zhang San believed that the Daytime Boss had played all his cards. The opponent still didn''t quite understand his own attack methods and strategies. From the perspective of winning odds, they were higher for him. And although Huan Yu treated everyone as tools, this boss had never broken a promise. In the night, Qing Chen, staggering, re-entered Weiyang Lake Park with Zhang San closely following behind. No one knew that in a corner outside the park gate stood a young man also wearing a Bluetooth earpiece: "Boss, I see Zhang San has indeed chased in." "From your perspective, judge the strength of this Daytime Boss," Huan Yu, still sitting calmly in front of the floor-to-ceiling window, said softly. Chapter 410 Chapter 410: 294. The last step_2 ``` "The level should be between D-class peak and C-class," the young man said. "Can''t you determine the exact level?" Huan Yu asked. "That''s what''s strange about him," the young man spoke calmly, "If you say he''s C-class, he lacks a bit in speed, but if you say he''s D-class peak, that''s a bit too peak... However, that''s not important. What is important is that his sniping capabilities are indeed very strong. You didn''t see how he took down 12 drones in six seconds, which was quite insane, tsk tsk." The young man continued, "Moreover, it''s certain that the sniper rifle is not a physical object anymore. I don''t know if it''s an ability or a Taboo, but it''s definitely not real. You don''t know, that sniper rifle doesn''t even need to change bullets. It''s damn weird!" "Since you observed him up close, why didn''t you take action?" Huan Yu asked intently. "If I had taken action, I would be dead by now," the young man patiently explained, "You should give me some space to grow, you know my abilities are very strong, but my level is still a bit low right now." "Continue," Huan Yu said. "Boss, this guy has an absolute gun sense within 400 meters. So, if you really want to kill him, get in close. Don''t let him use his firearms," the young man said, "On the battlefield, actually, no one likes to encounter such masters of firearms. Over at Mossad, there is a list that specifically marks these people with absolute gun sense as the most dangerous." "Why?" "Because absolute gun sense implies countless hours of training and an untold number of lives taken. The former represents a tenacious will, while the latter is the ability to cast aside distractions," the young man made it up as he went along, "It''s all very mysterious." "Do you think Zhang San can kill him?" Huan Yu asked. "Hard to say, depends if he has any other aces up his sleeve," said the young man as he walked towards Weiyang Lake Park, speaking as he went, "I''ll stop talking for now, boss, I''m going in to watch the excitement." "Be careful." "Roger that!" ... ... Qing Chen did not go elsewhere but headed straight for the Bungee Tower, the place where he had killed dozens of Assassins. Zhang San was a bit puzzled. He didn''t understand why the Daytime Boss was heading there. Did he really have some sort of ace card? However, regardless of whether Qing Chen had an ace in the Bungee Tower or not, Zhang San couldn''t let Qing Chen get back there. People who have been in the battlefield for years know one thing well: Whatever the enemy most wants to do, whether or not you can understand why, you should never let it happen. The distance between Zhang San and Qing Chen kept getting closer, due to the difference in their levels. It was the most direct display of power, without any tricks. Just as Qing Chen was fifty meters away from the Bungee Tower. Zhang San suddenly sped up, catching up over thirty meters in just two seconds and lunged to punch Qing Chen from behind. This time, Qing Chen, as if not bothering to defend himself at all, took the punch head-on. However, Zhang San''s fist passed right through Qing Chen''s body, not causing any damage at all. It was another illusion. Zhang San had originally planned to force Qing Chen to turn and defend, to slow him down, but he hadn''t expected Qing Chen to ignore him completely. "How did the boy see through my illusion again? There wasn''t any flaw in the footsteps," Zhang San was inwardly astonished. His ability to create illusory images could imitate all appearances, sounds, colors, and scents, without leaving any openings! Inside, Qing Chen was extremely calm. He just kept running forward. Only by getting into the Bungee Tower would he have a glimmer of hope for survival. The reason he didn''t turn back to defend was because Zhang San''s sudden burst of speed had surpassed the limits of C-class. Qing Chen didn''t believe the opponent could break through to B-class momentarily! Thus, even an illusory image had to maintain a degree of realism. If the illusion was too exaggerated, it wouldn''t be believable to someone like Qing Chen, who was familiar with many data points! It was Zhang San''s failed attempt that gave Qing Chen the opportunity to run the last fifty meters! Qing Chen rushed into the Bungee Tower and climbed up the spiral staircase. On the stairs, the blood spilled from the previously killed Assassins made the steps especially slippery. His left arm and shoulder gradually regained sensation. The soreness and inflammation melded with the will transmitted by the neurons into his consciousness. But for Qing Chen, regaining sensation was good, even if it was accompanied by pain. He reached the top of the Bungee Tower, with Zhang San close behind. However, just as Zhang San passed a certain ''corpse,'' the body unexpectedly leapt up without warning and plunged a dagger fiercely into his abdomen. It was lucky that Zhang San was vigilant; otherwise, that dagger would have gone into his spleen. Enjoy more content from My Virtual Library Empire "It''s Qing Chen, Qing Chen isn''t dead," Zhang San said in fright, as his words also transmitted to Huan Yu through the Bluetooth headset. Huan Yu was puzzled. Hadn''t someone on the communication channel said they had shot Qing Chen? And afterwards, hadn''t someone said Qing Chen was down? How could he not be dead? The situation had been too chaotic at the time. Assassins swarmed the Bungee Tower, intent on killing the sniper. Controlling a ''Puppet,'' Qing Chen fell after being shot, not because he needed to use the Puppet to buy time anymore, but because he was already prepared. But the Puppet had not died at that moment, only shot in the large intestine. With such a wound, one could potentially live for another six hours. ``` Chapter 411 Chapter 411: 294. The last step_3 At that time, the assassins'' target was the real body about to jump from the bungee tower, while the puppet was just an obstacle, so no one bothered to bend down to check if the puppet was truly dead. Having seen the puppet fall, the assassins did not investigate further; they didn''t anticipate that they wouldn''t even have the chance to check the battlefield before they all ended up dead in the water and in their cars. At this moment, Qing Chen was running back to the bungee tower for this feigning-dead puppet! This oversight had left a foreshadowing detail. He had previously undone the puppeteer strings on the puppet''s wrist, and the reason he had rushed upstairs was to snatch a second or two to reattach the strings. This poor puppet was still in shock, utterly unaware that it had been manipulated twice. But the puppeteer was so sinister, it didn''t care whether the puppet was shocked or awake; as long as it was still alive, still breathing, it could continue to manipulate! At this moment, Zhang San looked at the dagger embedded in his midsection. He certainly knew about Qing Chen''s penchant for stabbing spleens. Had he been even a bit slower, a strike to the spleen would have sealed his death without question. In a fury, he kicked the puppet against the wall in the stairwell and turned to continue his chase toward the bungee tower. But this time, Qing Chen didn''t run. He paused for just a moment on the bungee tower, then spun around and charged back down the stairs! Zhang San watched this with added surprise. How could this Daytime Boss, who had wasted half his shoulder, rush back to engage in combat with him?! Qing Chen was also surprised when, upon turning back, he found that Zhang San had picked up a handgun from somewhere as he ascended the stairs and was now pulling the trigger at Qing Chen! Bang! Bang! Two gunshots rang out! The gun fired blanks. Many thought Zhang San was just a rash brute, but in his time as a mercenary, he was most skilled in close-quarters pistol shooting! In those particular environments, handguns were their sidearms for survival! A shocking scene ensuedthose two shots hit Qing Chen in the face, but they merely caused the young man''s head to jerk backward; the bullets did not penetrate his face but sparked off it instead! The Taboo, ACE-005! Da Fu! Despite the dizziness overwhelming his brain, Qing Chen leaped up recklessly. However, he did not pounce at Zhang San but rather at the empty space in the middle of the spiral staircase. The instant Qing Chen crossed paths with Zhang San and fell toward the empty space in the spiral staircase. Qing Chen flicked his wrist. He, Zhang San, and the puppet became three points in a straight line, while a seemingly invisible thread deftly wound around Zhang San''s neck. Zhang San turned and threw a punch at Qing Chen''s chest, his blood vessels throbbing violently on his fist. Caught off guard, Qing Chen spat out a mouthful of fresh blood. However, Zhang San''s world seemed to slow down. He helplessly watched as Qing Chen''s crimson blood splattered into the air and, as though cut by an invisible thread, split in half. What was it? What had split the blood apart? The thought flickered through Zhang San''s mind. There was no time for him to understand. In an instant, an invisible silk line that connected the puppet to Qing Chen''s wrist suddenly tensed! That thread, unbeknownst to when, turned into a sharp blade! With a hiss, Zhang San''s neck was sliced by the thread, leaving fine bloodlines that gradually filled his eyes with red. Qing Chen, holding the Puppeteer with one hand, dangled shakily in the air between the spiraling staircase, gasping for breath. This battle might not have been the toughest in his life, but it was definitely the most intense. He was forced to play his final hand! The sniper rifle was used, the absolute gun feel was used, the combination technique of Puppeteer and Knight Vital Energy was employed. Even the taboo ACE-005 tactic of "using the face to catch bullets" had been deployed. Qing Chen felt a chill of fright; he was scared in that moment what if the Taboo couldn''t stop the bullet, what if the bullet hadn''t hit his face, what if Da Fu got angry... This was a method developed by Qing Chen himself, but in reality, he wasn''t completely sure about its effectiveness, and Uncle Li Dong had not mentioned it either. Your journey continues on My Virtual Library Empire Of course, this wasn''t Uncle Li Dong''s fault, mainly because there were few who could push this Demigod to the point of using his face to catch bullets. Qing Chen, fighting off the dizziness in his head, grasped the handrail of the spiral staircase and slowly climbed back up, laying back on a cold, lifeless body to catch his breath. Following that, he felt a massive sense of relief from the Breathing Technique. The young man felt himself incredibly calm. He slowly stood up, silently glancing at Zhang San''s body, picked up the Bluetooth earpiece from the latter''s ear, and with the Breathing Technique, mimicked an unfamiliar voice to speak, "He''s dead." This time, Huan Yu did not laugh, instead, there was a long silence. After a moment, Qing Chen said, "The Daytime Boss sends his regards." Having said that, he crushed the Bluetooth earpiece and carried the Puppet down the stairs. This was the last step he needed to take. Outside the Bungee Tower, a young man who had been watching said, "Boss, the Daytime Boss is coming out with Qing Chen on his back, covered in blood, looking like a blood man. Qing Chen must have been badly injured; he looks in bad shape and can''t even lift his head." "Is Qing Chen dead," Huan Yu asked calmly. At that moment, the Puppet behind Qing Chen weakly lifted a hand and patted Qing Chen on the shoulder, as if to show gratitude. The young man said, "He shouldn''t be dead. Somehow this kid is as tough as Xiao Qiang. From my guess, he''s been shot in the intestines and kicked by Zhang San, yet he hasn''t died... amazing!" Huan Yu coldly said, "I don''t have time for your yapping. Judge for me, is there any possibility to kill him now?" Hiding in the shadow behind the trees, the young man lowered his voice and exaggerated, "Come on, boss, my strength is so meagre, and you''re asking me to kill such a freak now? Did you count how many of our guys he took out tonight alone? I wouldn''t be enough to even get stuck in his teeth!" "If you''re scared, hide well and don''t let him find you," said Huan Yu, irritated. "Roger that!" ... A 5000-character chapter, updated with 10,000 characters, sorry for being a few minutes late, owe Penguin boss one more chapter as interest, Penguin boss''s debt is now paid off, tomorrow will pay back the other bosses. Thanks to "Real in both drama and life" for becoming a new ally of this book, thank you, boss, the boss smokes without coughing. Asking for monthly votes. Chapter 412 Chapter 412: 295. The Most Low-key Reinforcements From the moment Qing Chen was sniping from the bungee platform, he knew someone was secretly sizing up the battlefield. It was the sniper''s most glorious moment and also when Qing Chen''s field of view was the broadest. Thus, the scene of acting that followed. After the battle ended, Qing Chen carried the Puppet a long distance, taking many detours, before finally confirming that no one was following them anymore. He hid in the shadows, took out his mobile phone, and sent out a location. More than 20 minutes later, a sedan stopped by the road, and Jiang Xue, looking flustered, opened the car door and stepped out, "Xiao Chen, are you alright?" When Jiang Xue was in the car, she was only wearing a tight high-neck sweater; she hadn''t even bothered to put on a down jacket before getting out to help Qing Chen. Continue reading on My Virtual Library Empire At that moment, snowflakes danced and landed on her shawl-length hair, making her exceptionally dazzling. "Aunt Jiang Xue, I''m fine, thank you for making the trip," Qing Chen smiled. "No trouble at all, but it''s a good thing I started early, or the heavy snow would have closed the roads," Jiang Xue said, "You should have told me earlier, maybe I could have come over to help." Qing Chen smiled. Though the Daylight Organization had been established, to this day, the people he trusted the most were still XiaoTongyun, Jiang Xue, and Nan Gengchen. That afternoon, when he notified Liu Dezhu, he also informed Jiang Xue. But Jiang Xue didn''t take the high-speed train; instead, she drove on the highway, which took a total of five hours. She had just arrived half an hour ago. The car was bought with the first money earned last month on Qing Chen''s advice, so they could leave Los Angeles City in any emergency. It would help avoid security checks and ID card verification. But Jiang Xue had never driven the car before; it was parked in the residential parking lot, and no one even knew that it was a new car Jiang Xue had bought. "Aunt Jiang Xue, is the hotel arranged?" Qing Chen asked. "It''s arranged, the best hotel in Xian City," Jiang Xue said. "Did you bring some clothes to change into?" Qing Chen asked again. "I did, I did," Jiang Xue realized at that moment that Qing Chen was soaked from head to toe, and the young man was shivering slightly. It was too cold. Qing Chen, in these subzero temperatures, had dived from a height of 70 meters into the water. He had killed ten assassins in the icy river and had then faced a C-Class Expert in a fierce battle outside. All of this had happened too quickly for him to pay attention to his body. Now, he urgently needed a warm place to change into dry clothes. That was why he needed Jiang Xue to come and support him. Moreover, at this point, to outsiders, Qing Chen was supposed to have been injured in the abdomen and would definitely need someone to take care of him and remove the bullet. Even though the ''Genetic Warrior'', Qing Chen''s physical condition was definitely much stronger than ordinary people''s, there were many things he couldn''t do on his own. Thus, Qing Chen needed Jiang Xue to come to Xian City. To act along, giving everyone a reasonable explanation: why he was able to survive, why he had disappeared, where he had gone, and who was helping him. At this time, no one would focus on the always low-key Jiang Xue, so booking a room under her name was likely not to draw attention. Jiang Xue said, "But why don''t we just go straight back to Los Angeles City?" Qing Chen shook his head, "I saw a familiar face on the road, it seemed controlled by someone, and this person is very important, so the business in Xian City is not finished yet. Please, Aunt Jiang Xue, stay in Xian City for a couple more days." "Okay, whatever you say," Jiang Xue helped Qing Chen into the car. At the hotel, she took Qing Chen directly to the executive suite she had prepared, then filled the bathtub with warm clear water. Qing Chen looked around and suddenly realized that everything he had asked Jiang Xue to do, she had done without reservation. Usually, Jiang Xue was frugal and would save whenever possible, even after becoming rich as a Time Traveler. Yet when Qing Chen asked her to buy a car, she bought it; when he asked her to book a hotel room, she booked the best room. Qing Chen, struggling, took off his jacket and shirt, then sat directly into the bathtub. Jiang Xue looked at his half-swollen arm and shoulder with a bruise that had already turned dark purple to black. She said in shock, "Xiao Chen, what all did you go through tonight?" "Nothing much," Qing Chen smiled, "The Daylight Organization has always been watched by those intent on harm, and someone wanted to find and kill me, so I just sent them a greeting." Jiang Xue certainly knew that this so-called greeting was not simple. In a sense, she was the one who had accompanied Qing Chen all the way from the beginning of his travels; she knew what had happened on Laojun Mountain and knew how much suffering Qing Chen had endured. Now that Qing Chen had returned alive, those who he greeted must be feeling even worse, right? Jiang Xue hesitated for a moment, then walked out of the bathroom, saying through the door, "I also brought the Inner World''s trauma medicine this time; I''ll apply it to you after your bath." "It''s fine, I can apply it myself," Qing Chen thought for a moment and said, "Thank you, Aunt Jiang Xue." Jiang Xue then asked, "I''ll have the hotel deliver food, what would you like to eat?" "A bowl of beef noodles," Qing Chen said softly. "Okay," Jiang Xue said, "I''ll close the bathroom door then. You take off all your clothes and warm up your body well." "Mm," Qing Chen responded. The room suddenly fell silent. Qing Chen sat in the bathtub, feeling the warm water gradually transfer heat into his body. Only at this moment did he feel like everything that had happened tonight had truly passed. Chapter 413 Chapter 413: 295. The most low-key reinforcements_2 Discover exclusive content at My Virtual Library Empire The young man reflected on his gains for the evening while sitting in the bathtub, the first of which was the surprise that came with completing the second life-and-death challenge: The first point was that his rank had been promoted to D-class peak, and by now he could easily challenge all Land Cruise boxers and win steadily without losing. The second point was that his Knight Vital Energy had grown stronger again, now able to use around ten Autumn Leaf Knives in one breath, no longer the measly three or four from before. The sharpness was also incomparable to before. The third point was the underwater breathing supported by Knight Vital Energy, which couldn''t yet be fully confirmed as a change brought about by the Genetic lock. Next, the Puppeteer had received another sacrifice, and the second branch had reached 9 meters, thanks to Qing Chen sacrificing the assassin and Zhang San. While sacrificing Zhang San, Qing Chen hesitated, but he remembered his sniper rifle was a Taboo item and already exposed, so these bodies from the sacrifices could be perceived as conditions for containment through "benevolence." Anyway, the outside world didn''t know that "benevolence" actually had no containment conditions. So when Qing Chen left the Bungee Tower, he didn''t just sacrifice Zhang San but also all the bodies in the tower, deciding to go all in. The final gain was that the Daylight organization had severely damaged Huan Yu. Qing Chen believed that this person, sneaking around in the shadows, wouldn''t recover his vitality for quite some time. Next, Qing Chen planned to find a way to root him out. In the silence of the room, Jiang Xue sitting outside suddenly asked, "By the way, it''s actually you who are the boss of the Daylight organization, right?" Curiously, Qing Chen asked, "How did you guess?" From behind the bathroom door, Jiang Xue said, "Why would an organization someone else established randomly involve me if not for you and XiaoTongyun? No one else would trust me with their money like that, and... you''re not someone content with being a subordinate." It must be said, Jiang Xue was very astute and directly saw the essence of the matter. The entire 7 million in operational funds for the Daylight organization was with Jiang Xue; how could she not know who was making the decisions? Qing Chen asked, "Then Aunt Jiang Xue, why didn''t you ask me sooner? You could have privately messaged me to expose me." "Seeing you play the boss sometimes, the icy-eyed man at others, was quite interesting..." Qing Chen suddenly thought of Jiang Xue hiding behind the screen, secretly laughing at him role-playing, and his face turned hot, momentarily at a loss for words. Is this social death... So this was the feeling Nan Gengchen experienced back then... Qing Chen pondered. "You don''t need to worry, I won''t tell anyone," said Jiang Xue with a laugh. "And I''ll manage the money well; just tell me where you need it spent." Seeing Jiang Xue not pursuing the matter, Qing Chen gradually relaxed. At that moment, he considered how heartwarming it was to have someone willing to come from afar and help unconditionally when facing real danger. "By the way," Jiang Xue asked, "who is the little rich lady in the group? I feel like I know her well, and she seems to have seen me too, but she never admits it." Truth be told, Qing Chen felt like dragging XiaoTongyun into social death with him but eventually said, "Ah, she''s a classmate from our school; you probably haven''t met her." "Is that so?" Jiang Xue seemed puzzled. The doorbell rang, carrying the voice of the room service from outside, "Hello, meal delivery service." "Don''t open the door yet," Qing Chen said calmly in a low voice. Jiang Xue heard a splash of water from the bathroom, and not long after, Qing Chen had changed his clothes and come out. He cautiously stood at a crack in the door, then gently opened a small slit. The waiter smiled and said, "Sir, is this the late-night snack you ordered?" "Hmm, bring it in," Qing Chen said as he opened the door wider, his muscles tense, ready to face any potential danger. However, it turned out to be a false alarm, as the waiter left after delivering the meal. It seemed Jiang Xue''s past discretion was useful; at least by now, no one had noticed she had arrived in Xian City. At that moment, Qing Chen''s phone rang; he looked down to see a message from XiaoTongyun: "Brother Qing Chen, has my mom met up with you? Are you alright?" "Yes, I met up," Qing Chen replied, "I''m fine." "That''s a relief," XiaoTongyun typed and hesitated before adding, "Are you guys staying together tonight?" Qing Chen didn''t immediately understand why XiaoTongyun was asking and was somewhat at a loss for words. XiaoTongyun continued, "Don''t worry, Brother Qing Chen. If you get hurt, my mom will protect you; her mechanical arm is very powerful now." "Thanks, rest early," Qing Chen replied. While eating, Jiang Xue asked, "What are your plans next?" Qing Chen thought for a moment, "Get a good night''s sleep, then we''ll stay here another day. First, participate in a math competition, then resolve one more thing." "You still want to participate in the math competition?" Jiang Xue was taken aback. "I need an opportunity to tell everyone that I''m injured but still living," Qing Chen explained earnestly, "So tomorrow, I need Aunt Jiang Xue to find me a wheelchair to push me there." "Why still participate in the math competition in case someone sees you injured and tries to take you out?" Jiang Xue asked. Qing Chen smiled at her and said, "That''s exactly what I''m waiting for." Chapter 414 Chapter 414: 295. The most low-key reinforcements_3 Jiang Xue thought about how the other person had just crawled out of the icy lake, with a severe injury on his left arm, yet still managed to maintain meticulous thoughts. She felt a pang of heartache. "I won''t try to persuade you," Jiang Xue whispered, "your aunt will assist you." "Thank you," Qing Chen said with a smile. "By the way, you can sleep on the bed later, and I''ll sleep on the sofa outside. Just call me if you need anything," Jiang Xue said. "Okay," Qing Chen didn''t decline. The executive suite had only one large bed, with a bedroom inside and a living room added outside, so one of them had to sleep on the sofa. After all, both of them couldn''t sleep on the bed. Besides, Qing Chen knew he couldn''t outstubborn Jiang Xue and decided not to waste time. He applied some ointment to his left arm and then lay down on the bed, picking up his cellphone with his right hand. At this point, He Xiaoxiao''s group chat had somehow already exploded. An ID named "zard1991" was describing in the group: "Today''s events began with the enmity between the Daytime organization and Huan Yu. At noon, a core member of the Daytime organization, Qing Chen, came to Xian City to participate in a math competition. Upon receiving this intel, Huan Yu was instantly enraged and decided to make a move, surrounding the entire Daytime organization using the tactic of encircling points to aid each other!" When Qing Chen saw this scene, he suddenly realized that this person was definitely connected to Huan Yu''s side, or else how could he know so clearly? But this person didn''t seem completely aligned with Huan Yu either, as this description of ''rage rising from the heart, malice growing near the gall'' felt like Huan Yu would be fuming if he read it. Qing Chen recalled that last time He Xiaoxiao said everyone should share a piece of intel, this "zard1991" shared a quite trivial piece of news: there were 1302 people in the Public Security Management Committee of the 16th city. You could say this intel wasn''t qualified, yet it indeed was a piece of intel. To say it was qualified, you wouldn''t know what was the use of this intel. If you go by it to deduce that Zard belonged to the Public Security Management Committee, it could also be a misdirection from others. At this point, there were still some people in the group who didn''t know the truth and asked, "Who is Qing Chen?" Zard: "He''s the assassin on Laojun Mountain who killed all the gangsters, so cool! Let me tell you, this fellow Qing Chen is really powerful. On the bungee tower, alone with a knife, he stopped all the thugs charging at his boss. He''s truly a Time Traveler! A hero standing firm, unbreachable by thousands, an exemplar for all Time Travelers!" Zard: "And most crucially, you know what? Faced against dozens of people, this fellow Qing Chen survived all by himself. Not just that, he lay in wait on the Bungee Tower, seizing the chance to heavily injure Huan Yu''s top fighter, Zhang San! Yes, the one who was kicked out of this group previously!" When Qing Chen read this, he was very puzzled, wondering whose side Zard truly was on. Chuang Wang: "How the hell do you know so clearly?" Zard: "I have my ways, why do you care?" Chuang Wang: "..." Then Qing Bao again asked, "What is the Daytime organization?" "The main base of the Daytime organization should be in Los Angeles City," Zard said. "Core members... ah, I don''t exactly know how many there are, but they''re pretty incredible. Speaking of Qing Chen, let''s talk about the mysterious boss of Daytime." Zard: "You guys don''t know, if Qing Chen is a fierce general of Daytime, then the mysterious boss of Daytime is like a God descended. Only seen him in the night carrying a black anti-materiel sniper rifle, firing twelve shots in six seconds, shooting down twelve border drones in the sky." Chuang Wang: "Wait a minute, who the hell can bring such a huge thing as a border drone back?" Zard: "Oops, I misspoke. Let''s continue talking about the Daytime organization. You know what, when the Daytime boss had finished dealing with all the assassins, he said over the communications channel to Huan Yu: Daytime sends its regards. It was so damn cool, I really want to join Daytime now. Is there a bigwig from Daytime in the group, letting me join your organization?" Chuang Wang: "Wait, how many people from both sides participated tonight?" Zard: "Daytime had two people, Huan Yu had more than ninety, and Huan Yu''s side got wiped out." Huan Yu: "Are you done yet?" Zard: "The main character has appeared, time to retreat!" Qing Chen, who had been very tense, ended up being amused by this scene. By now, he had concluded that this Zard was probably the one observing him secretly at Weiyang Lake Park tonight. But here comes the problem, isn''t he with Huan Yu? Why does he seem so irrepressible, as if even Huan Yu himself had trouble controlling him. That was a bit strange. However, everyone in the group had been shocked by the information revealed by Zard. Experience tales at My Virtual Library Empire 2 people vs 90 people, and the side with more people got wiped out? What the hell is that all about? Are they shooting a movie or what? Do these two have protagonist auras, allowing them to simply not die? Truth be told, everyone couldn''t even imagine what tonight''s battle was like; it was beyond everyone''s imagination! Huan Yu said, "Let me reveal some information to everyone, the anti-materiel sniper rifle that the Daytime boss holds is a taboo. Those who want it, go find him." The group went silent again, no one picked up the bait. Zard had just mentioned how powerful the Daytime organization was, and now you''re encouraging everyone to snatch the taboo, even fools know what you''re trying to do. At that moment, only Qing Bao was still asking, "I want to know the condition of Qing Chen and the Daytime boss right now, are they hurt? How severe are their injuries? Where are they?" Zard: "One last thing: I don''t know either, I was following them but lost them. This Daytime boss is especially vigilant, I felt like I was close to death just by getting a bit closer, so I also don''t know where they went. Qing Chen should be okay; he took a bullet to the abdomen, but it wasn''t a fatal location. Given the Transcendent''s physical condition, as long as he didn''t die on the spot, he''s very likely not to die. Not saying anymore, retreating again!" ... 5000-word chapter, another one at 11 PM. Chapter 415: 296, Atmosphere Group Chapter 415: 296, Atmosphere Group Qing Chen had made some judgments about Zard1991s identity. This incredibly erratic chatterbox must be the person who had been following him in Weiyang Lake Park all along. That night, it had taken quite an effort for Qing Chen to shake off his pursuer. But for some reason, the guy kept his distance, no matter how vulnerable Qing Chen appeared or pretended to be exhausted after a fierce battle, the young man never approached to make a move. He pretended to fall several times while carrying a puppet, and pretended his legs and back were weak, but to no avail. ter being rebutted, It seems you know a lot? Then tell us, whats the name of this Daytime boss? ... Lu Ya confidently said, I dont know. Speaking of which, this evenings big event led to silence from Kunlun and Kyushu, Li Si said, Why dont we see people from these two major organizations? Taboo ACE-999, Jing Shan, come out and chat, I think Kunlun and Kyushu definitely know the identity of this Daytime boss. Taboo ACE-999: I dont know. Hisss! Many members of the group gasped, now speculating that this Taboo ACE-999 might be Kyushus decision-maker He Jinqiu, or at least his spokesperson. It didnt need to be said how wild Kyushus ways were now, an identity even Kyushu didnt know was indeed mysterious enough. Suddenly, in many peoples minds, the organization Daytime became shrouded in mystery. Eh, wasnt it said that the Time Travelers controlled by Deer Island had already arrived in Xian City? Li Si asked, Why havent we heard anything? Is there any result from that matter? This time, Jing Shan and Taboo ACE-999 didnt respond again. He Xiaoxiaos group chat finally returned to its previous quietness. Qing Chen put down his phone and went to sleep peacefully. Ever since entering the Mysterious World of Winning People Over With Virtue, he hadnt had a good nights sleep. He hadnt been practicing sniper rifles, he had been practicing facing death over and over again. Every moment, he was racing against time. Now, Qing Chen finally calmed down. After a while, Jiang Xue came barefoot to the bedside and gently covered him with a blanket. n transportation hub city, a girl with a charming appearance was checking her phones chat records over and over again, trying to verify something. The girl muttered to herself, Qing Chen... could it be him? If he is the Time Traveler, would he know what I said to him previously? Oh, it would be so embarrassing if he understood. No, no, he probably didnt understand, right? Many locals dont understand Japanese, and he didnt have a translator back then. Right, he definitely didnt understand. He had better not have understood. Saying that, she tiptoed to the door and peered through the peephole at the hotel corridor. After making sure no one was there, the girl finally relaxed. Her cautious demeanor was almost as if someone was after her. Right, where is Los Angeles City? I dont even know how to get there, the girl muttered softly. ... ... Countdown 144:00:00. Late at night. In the bar of the Vienna Hotel, Zhou Xuanying was still whispering complaints, We have such an important competition tomorrow, but tonight we can only cram at the bar. If I dont do well tomorrow, whose fault is it? Its Qing Chens, of course, Xia Xiaoran said. But, its been several hours, where is Qing Chen? Why hasnt he shown up? The few people spoke quietly, but the most worried of all was Tian Hailong, if something happened to Qing Chen, he would become the villain of Los Angeles Foreign Language School. The educational level of a small city was laid out there, in the whole Los Angeles Foreign Language School, perhaps one student every ten years made it to elite universities like Tokyo University. Typically, each senior year graduation class, might have about one tier-one university student, three tier-two university students. That was the scenario of the college entrance examination in Los Angeles. lain everything about the Daytime Boss! He also wanted to join the Daytime Boss, but he hadnt yet, had he? Xu Zimo watched Xiao Yings retreating figure with furrowed brows. The next morning, the clearly sleep-deprived Tian Hailong, with his panda eyes, led the team to the examination venue. Everyone ready your admission tickets, stationery, and ID cards, Tian Hailong instructed while yawning. However, at that moment, everyone froze. They looked toward the lobby of the Vienna Hotel where a young, beautiful woman was pushing a wheelchair occupied by a pale-faced Qing Chen. They couldnt understand what Qing Chen had gone through the previous night that had left him so weak. Tian Hailong rapidly approached Qing Chen in three strides. But before he could get close, Jiang Xue had already stepped in front of Qing Chen, raising her hand to block Tian Hailongs path. Please stop, Jiang Xue said calmly. Her mechanical arm, hidden beneath her sleeves and gloves, revealed glowing blue patterns. Jiang Xue understood Qing Chens purpose for appearing today. Thus, anyone mysteriously appearing beside Qing Chen could potentially be an enemy. Therefore, her responsibility today was to safely escort Qing Chen into the examination venue and then safely back to the hotel. If she couldnt do that, she would have failed her duty. Although Qing Chen hadnt actually lost his combat ability. Tian Hailong and the students stared blankly at Jiang Xue, also unclear about her relationship with Qing Chen. Because Jiang Xue always wore gloves, nobody could see her mechanical arm. in the exam? It was likely to be very low, as pain would impede normal cognitive functions. He would do well only by a fluke. Why dont you rest and heal, Xu Zimo suddenly suggested. You dont need this competition anyway. No need, Qing Chen smiled. Thanks for your concern. Xu Zimo pursed her lips; it was the same response, only with two extra words. She glanced at Jiang Xue standing beside Qing Chen, still somewhat unclear about the relationship between Qing Chen and this young woman. Jiang Xue, pushing Qing Chen, headed outside. The examination venue was next to the hotel, very close. As they walked out, she also adjusted Qing Chens coat collar to prevent the cold wind from blowing into his neck. Are you hungry? Shall I get you a piece of bread? Jiang Xue asked in a low voice, bending down. I cant eat right now, Qing Chen replied with a weak smile. Behind them, Xu Zimo observed everything, her grip on her stationery bag tightening. Saying Jiang Xue was Qing Chens elder was one thing, but Jiang Xue was too young for that. Saying Jiang Xue and Qing Chen were lovers seemed off too; there was an age difference. Xu Zimo guessed Jiang Xue to be about twenty-five or twenty-six, while Qing Chen was only seventeen. The students and teachers entered the examination room, however, without an admit card, Jiang Xue couldnt go in. She turned to Xu Zimo, Are you Qing Chens friend? Xu Zimo hesitated, puzzled over how to reply; was she really Qing Chens friend? She couldnt be sure. Yet, she heard Jiang Xue continue, Could you please help push him to the examination room? I cant enter the school. Sure, Xu Zimo responded softly. ry, so neatly arranged it was almost absurd. Each pen was placed in parallel, none even slightly out of line. He thought to himself, does this girl have a bit of OCD? ... Please vote. Chapter 416: 297, The Replacement Chapter 416: 297, The Replacement Perhaps in everyones life, it is rare to see someone so physically challenged yet so determined. Therefore, whether its other candidates or the proctors, when they see Qing Chens wheelchair and his frail appearance, they cant help but give him a second look. After Xu Zimo left, Zhou Xuanying also came in; it turned out he was in the same examination room as Qing Chen. So youre in this examination room too, Qing Chen said with a smile. Previously, he deliberately distanced himself from these classmates because he worried that being too enthusiastic with them might lead to them falling victim to Huan Yus malicious acts. So, without any scores to refer to, if Qing Chen tried to control his score too much, he might risk a slip-up. ... Moreover, Los Angeles Foreign Language School had promised him that if he made it into the top 1% globally, earning a Distinction and presenting it to the school for display, they would give him an additional ten thousand dollars. Honestly, Qing Chen was no longer short of money, but he was still willing to pick up cash. Zhou Xuanying was sitting diagonally behind him, occasionally glancing up to see Qing Chens prayer-like method of solving problems, thinking to himself that Qing Chen was surely out of the running this time; it looked as if he had just given up. There were two proctors in the examination room, one of whom was a math teacher whose attention had been on Qing Chen for more than ten minutes. He noticed that since the start of the exam, Qing Chens scratch paper had remained blank, yet he had filled in many answers. The curious math teacher walked over to Qing Chens side and randomly picked a problem that seemed simple, and calculated it in his mind. Calculating mentally was time-consuming, so it took him some effort. Minutes later, he shook his head; Qing Chen had answered incorrectly. However, just then, Qing Chen looked up at him in surprise. The teacher felt something was off, and upon recalculating mentally, oh, it was he who had made the mistake... The proctor recalled Qing Chens look from just a moment ago and suddenly felt a bit uneasy. With half an hour left before the end of the exam, Qing Chen had already begun to close his eyes and daydream. Taking advantage of this last free time, he began to practice the anti-material sniper rifle again in the Mysterious World. In half an hour, he extended his target distance from 1350 to 1360 meters. Even though he had only advanced 10 meters, it was still a gain. As the bell signaling the end of the exam rang out, Zhou Xuanying got up, packed his belongings, and left. Qing Chen sat alone in the classroom until all the students had left. He asked a proctor to return his phone to him, then saw in He Xiaoxiaos group chat, Zards message: Wow, can you believe it? That Qing Chen from the daytime got shot in the abdomen but didnt rest properly, and now hes come to participate in a math contest in a wheelchair, pushed by a beautiful lady. Li Si: Math contest? What math contest? Zard: Are you dumb? I said yesterday that he was originally here in Xian City for a math contest. AMC10, you know? dom, causing the whole group to be somewhat annoyed by this chatterbox. However, this chatterbox always talked about key information, which was entirely different from the previous one who only offered trivial tips. Still, it seemed that he only provided crucial information selectively, talking a bit more only about topics related to the daytime group. Chapter 417: 297, Replacer _2 Chapter 417: 297, Replacer _2 At that time, a young man was sitting in the Old Mis Mutton and Bread Soup Shop across from the examination hall, carefully tearing a piece of bread in his hands. He was wearing a pair of Bluetooth headphones and said to Huan Yu on the other end, Boss, you had a bet with Daytime Boss before, right? Youd become his slave if he found you, right? Huan Yu calmly replied, Yes, what about it. But it was your brother who made the bet with him, do you acknowledge it? Zard asked curiously. Of course, I acknowledge it, Huan Yu said indifferently. Then maybe I should report you to Daytime and join him directly, sort of as a dowry from me, how about that? Zard suggested enthusiastically. I dont mind the disgrace. ... e; naturally, he had more information. k. He hadnt even clearly seen what Zard looked like before Zard had vanished back into the crowd. Outside the examination hall, there were clusters of parents and teachers, and educational organizations were advertising, making it impossible for Tian Hailong to see who had slipped him the note. And the note-slipping Zard had returned to the Mutton and Bread Soup Shop as if nothing had happened and continued to tear the bread that he had been tearing for half an hour, still not finishing it. At this moment, Xu Zi Mo pushed Qing Chen to the entrance of the examination hall, the youth still looking frail. Tian Hailong approached Qing Chen and asked softly, How did the exam go? Qing Chen pondered, If 121 points last year could earn an exceptional honor certificate, then I should be fine. Tian Hailong was stunned; he thought Qing Chen was just attending the exam and didnt want to drop out halfway, but he hadnt expected Qing Chen to still make it into the global top 1%. Zhou Xuanying quietly said to Wang Jiale and Xia Xiaoran, I think he didnt tell Teacher Tian the truth. We were in the same examination hall, and I saw that when he finished, his draft paper was still blank, he hadnt checked his work at all, all the answers were guesses. Ah? Then it looks like he really didnt answer seriously, but why would he lie to Teacher Tian? Xia Xiaoran wondered, and Wang Jiale glanced at them indifferently, not saying a word. Zhou Xuanying shrugged and spread his hands, Maybe he felt it was too embarrassing to admit. At that time, Xu Zi Mo came over and said coldly, Dont talk about others behind their backs. Didnt you see hes injured? Isnt it normal that he couldnt perform well in the exam? Zhou Xuanying, you came ninth in the last diagnostic test. Isnt it because you always think about these messy things? Zhou Xuanying grimaced, When the results come out, everyone will know. ard, to not seem very reliable? He was clearly with Huan Yu, yet why did he keep making advances to Daytime? And which organization passes messages by casually writing on napkins? Xiao Chen, who wrote this note to you, was it that female student just now? She had been paying Attention to the crowd to see if anyone was trying to attack Qing Chen and hadnt paid much attention to the note. After thinking for a moment, Qing Chen said, It was someone from Huan Yus side, delivering some important information to me. Ah? Jiang Xue was surprised, Theyre passing you information, could it be they have no good intentions? Chapter 418: Substitute_3 Chapter 418: Substitute_3 Whether they have good intentions or not, I have to go take a look. Aunt Jiang Xue, get some good sleep this afternoon. Ill need you to drive through the night, Qing Chen said. Are we going back to Los Angeles City overnight? Jiang Xue asked. No, Qing Chen smiled. Were going on a rescue mission. Hmm, I wont try to persuade you once youve made up your mind, but do be careful, Jiang Xue said tenderly. What exactly do you have to do that requires you to risk yourself? To rescue a very important person, Qing Chen sighed. Someones going to owe me a huge favor. With that, he even notified Liu Dezhu in the Daytime Group to come to Xian City again. ... According to Zards information, within the Time Travelers controlled by the Deer Island Financial Group, there was a very tricky individual, a rarely-seen chosen one amongst the Time Travelers. If this person hadnt been there, the illegal entry wouldnt have been possible. This meant that the Deer Island Financial Group was taking this reverse time-travel substitution plan very seriously. Originally, Qing Chen had been an onlooker in the Time Travelers illegal entry controlled by Deer Island, standing by the roadside to watch. Unexpectedly, someone suddenly rushed out and knocked the watermelon out of his hands. Honestly, he didnt expect the first reverse time-travel plan Deer Island executed to be related to someone close to him. And it was someone he had no choice but to save. However, this matter couldnt be dealt with by the Daytime Group alone. After a moment of thought, Qing Chen sent a message to the boss of Kunlun using his own identity: My boss asked me to relay a message. Tonight, the Time Travelers from Deer Island will drive to Los Angeles City to complete the final step of the reverse time-travel plan. They just need to deliver the person there, and a countdown should appear on the arm of that Ordinary Person from the Outer World. In addition, there are foreign military personnel among these Time Travelers; after crossing over and becoming Time Travelers, they also came into great opportunities, making them quite troublesome. Zheng Yuandong replied, Weve already grasped this information and located them. Kunlun will take action tonight in a deserted and uninhabited area. Qing Chen asked, I thought you were going to make a move yesterday. It snowed yesterday, the highway was temporarily closed, and they didnt take to the road, Zheng Yuandong replied. Acting in a bustling area would create immeasurable consequences for Ordinary People. Fortunately, it was just a light snow yesterday that melted soon after it fell. Qing Chen was stunned; Kunlun hadnt acted last night because they were concerned about causing harm to the Ordinary People in the city, so they had decided to wait until tonight. Once the people from Deer Island got onto the highway, in an area that was vast and sparsely populated, Kunlun would no longer have any restrictions. Unlike common organizations, Kunlun had more considerations and missions to shoulder. But to be honest, Qing Chen had thought that Kunlun was a small and information-isolated organization; he hadnt expected that they had already obtained so much information. He recalled the previous incident when Liu Dezhu was nearly assassinated by Wangs hired men, the full-sized combat teams that suddenly appeared in several buildings, and the two snipers hidden in the shadows. Qing Chen suddenly felt that Kunlun might still have some forces hidden under the water. Unlike Zhang Yang from Kyushu, Kunlun was more restrained and forbearing. However, why was Zheng Yuandong willing to share such important information directly with him? Was this considered trust? ... ... In the Vienna Hotel, Xu Zimo, Zhou Xuanying, Wang Jiale, and Xia Xiaoran were revising in their room. Twenty minutes after the exam, the questions had already been released online for sale to the examinees. Zhou Xuanying seemed to come from a well-off family; he had immediately bought four copies to print so everyone could redo it together and see if they had filled in the correct answers. This was a process that top students normally went through after exams. I got the second question wrong; I fell into the trap set by the question, Xia Xiaoran sighed. This years questions werent difficult, but I didnt expect them to be so tricky. I also got it wrong, Wang Jiale said calmly. I should have thought more about it at the time. Zimo, did you get it right? I did, Xu Zimo nodded. Ive done a lot of practice questions and have seen this type before. Awesome, Zhou Xuanying exclaimed. Say, Zimo, where do you normally find your practice questions? Could you share with us? Also, could you explain your thought process for that second question? Unknowingly, Zhou Xuanying had started to refer to Xu Zimo simply as Zimo. Just then, Tian Hailong came in from outside, apologizing, Im sorry, students, I was planning to book tickets for everyone today, but I forgot that New Years Day is coming up and the high-speed train is full... not exactly full, but only three first-class tickets are left. The school can afford to pay for first-class tickets; the difference in price isnt that significant, but it means two students have to wait for tomorrows train. As he spoke, Tian Hailong took a breath and quickly added, However, Ive discussed it with the school and since we came together, we should go back together, so well stay here one more night. There are tickets available for tomorrow night, and well leave tomorrow evening. At that moment, Zhou Xuanying suddenly said, Teacher Tian, why dont I have my dad send over the business van from his factory to pick us up now? Its only about a five-hour drive from Los Angeles City, and he could arrive by this afternoon. Although its not as fast as the high-speed train, the van has been modified and is very comfortable to sit in. Moreover, with what happened last night in Xian City, its not appropriate for us to stay overnight here. Would that be alright? Tian Hailong hesitated before asking. Its fine, Zhou Xuanying smiled. Ill call my dad right now. Teacher Tian, you know about the trouble Qing Chen has gotten into. Honestly, its not safe for us to stay in Xian City. My family has been worried about my safety since last night and has been saying theyll come pick me up. After some consideration, Tian Hailong also felt that Xian City wasnt very safe and agreed, Thats very kind of your father. He can keep the gas receipts and toll receipts; the school will reimburse him. Theres no need, Zhou Xuanying said with a smile. Its not much money. ... A chapter of five thousand words, another chapter at 11 PM tonight Thank you to QingmingMmmmm and Song666666 for becoming new allies of this book. Generous bosses, may their cats never shed. Chapter 419: 298, Absolute Gun Feel Chapter 419: 298, Absolute Gun Feel At five in the afternoon, a white Toyota Alphard business van arrived at the Vienna Hotel in Xian City. It wasnt Zhou Xuanyings father who arrived, but a mysterious driver. The students didnt know much about cars, but Tian Hailong had some understanding of them. He knew that the Toyota Alphard was now the standard for many wealthy people, once touted as the most expensive van one could see on the market, a first-class cabin on land... In earlier years, you had to pay an extra six or seven hundred thousand to get one. Tian Hailong looked at Zhou Xuanying in surprise; he wasnt the others teacher or class advisor, only having contact with him on this trip to Xian City, but he hadnt expected this student to come from such a wealthy family. ... However, that wasnt important; how wealthy a students family was had nothing to do with him. The driver got out of the car and said to Zhou Xuanying with a smile, I rushed over as soon as I received the bosss message; I hope I havent delayed your schedule. My name is Zhao Yayu, and Im the new driver at the factory. Zhou Xuanying politely said, Its a bother, Uncle Zhao, having to work overtime and take another trip tonight, Im really sorry. Not at all, the driver Zhao Yayu laughed, this is what Im paid for. My time isnt important; your time is what matters. You are a prodigy, and every minute should be spent studying. Zhou Xuanying introduced him to everyone, This is a driver from my dads factory, who used to be a sanda fighter, very tough. He came over voluntarily when he heard there might be danger here. Not at all, not at all, Zhao Yayu said humbly. The crowd looked him over; Zhao Yayu had a fierce look, and some would believe if you said he had been involved with gangs. Wang Jiale, Xia Xiaoran, and others didnt care whether he had been involved with gangs or not; having someone to protect them made them feel a bit more secure. They had been in a tense state since last night, not knowing if the Time Traveler matter would involve them. The group got into the van, and Xia Xiaoran exclaimed, Theres even a big TV in here? The seats can recline flat! So comfortable! Zhou Xuanying laughed, Its nothing. My dad spent more than two hundred thousand to have these seats customized. Xu Zimo glanced at him, suddenly feeling that she still preferred him when he was less talkative; men seem a bit frivolous when they start chattering. Zi Mo asked, Mr. Tian, isnt Qing Chen coming with us? I see this is a seven-seater van, so we should be able to take him along, right? Zhou Xuanying quickly said, There are six of us together, so it would be no problem to take Qing Chen, but then his sister would have nowhere to sit. Tian Hailong hesitated for a moment, Ill make a call and ask; we can squeeze in one more person in the car, no problem. As he was making the call, however, the ringtone sounded not far away. The group turned their heads in surprise, only to see Jiang Xue pushing Qing Chen in a wheelchair, already at the entrance of the Vienna Hotel. Qing Chen weakly and with difficulty said, Good evening, everyone. Jiang Xue said with some difficulty, Heres the thing, I still have some work to do, so I was wondering if you could take care of Qing Chen for me, would that be okay? Tian Hailong was startled, Of course, thats fine. He is a student I brought here, and I should indeed take care of him. Aunt Jiang Xue looked towards the entrance of the hotel where the Toyota Alphard was parked. Yes, Tian Hailong said, I was just calling Qing Chen to ask if he wanted to travel with us, but given his current state, can he endure a five-hour journey? If not, I will stay in Xian City to take care of him, and the other students can go back first. Zhao Yayu suddenly said, Yes, it would be more appropriate for Mr. Tian to stay here and take care of him. Qing Chen said with difficulty, Its okay, my wounds have already been stitched up; my intestines wont come out. The other students immediately felt uncomfortable upon hearing this, getting goosebumps all over. Xu Zimo was the only one who didnt react; she said to Tian Hailong, Mr. Tian, lets help Qing Chen into the van, and put the wheelchair in the trunk. Saying this, they together lifted Qing Chen into the middle seats of the business van. As Xu Zimo was about to fasten his seat belt, Qing Chen stopped her, No need, it might press on the wound. Qing Chen then said to Aunt Jiang Xue, Go on with your work, my classmates will take good care of me. Upon hearing this, Zhou Xuanying and the others felt a bit uneasy. Who promised to take care of you? Only Xu Zimo said, Yes, Aunt, I will take good care of him. Aunt Jiang Xue heard Xu Zimo unconsciously emphasize the word Aunt and smiled knowingly before seriously saying to Xu Zimo, Thank you for that. She knew Xu Zimo had no intention of stressing the word; it was just that Xu Zimo placed importance on those words, so she unconsciously emphasized them. As for why it mattered, Aunt Jiang Xue was of course aware. But she didnt mind. The car started, and the business van merged into the bustling streets of Xian City, heading westward. Qing Chen suddenly asked, Excuse me, Mr. Driver, dont we need to go east? Yes, Zhao Yayu laughed cheerfully, but before coming out, the boss asked me to stop by a friends place here in Xian City to pick up some local products, so were taking a detour first. Oh, sorry for the trouble, Qing Chen said. Then, Xu Zimo, sitting next to Qing Chen, said softly, Was that lady just now... your aunt? She looks very young, hardly twenty-five. Chapter 420: 298, Absolute Gun Feel_2 Chapter 420: 298, Absolute Gun Feel_2 She does look quite young, but I call her aunt because her ten-year-old daughter calls me brother, so I call her aunt, Qing Chen casually explained. Upon hearing this, Xu Zimos lips curved slightly upward, but she quickly realized that wasnt right and pursed her lips to hide her reaction from Qing Chen. Just at that moment, the business van suddenly stopped. Zhao Yayu said with a laugh, Im just loading up some local products and then Ill be on my way. As he spoke, he opened the trunk, and through the rearview mirror inside the car, Qing Chen saw two silent young men placing a black box into the trunk. However, Qing Chens wheelchair was already in the trunk, leaving no room for the black box to fit. ... Zhao Yayu glanced inside the car, then, while no one was paying attention, quietly removed the wheelchair and tossed it aside. He signaled to the two young men with a look, prompting them to lift the box into the trunk. Qing Chen glanced at Zhou Xuanying but realized he was busying himself with his phone, seemingly unaware of what was happening behind him. Once the trunk was shut, Zhao Yayu put on a friendly smile and got back into the van, Sorry for the delay. Were heading to the highway now and well be home soon. The business van sped off, racing into the night. Xu Zimo asked Qing Chen, How did you solve the second question? With calculus, Qing Chen responded calmly. Youve self-studied calculus as well? Xu Zimo was astonished. Your thought process for solving the problem is the same as mine. Xia Xiaoran felt something was odd, What did you choose for the first question? E, the answer is five-sixths, Qing Chen replied without hesitation. And the second question? Wang Jiale asked. Qing Chen, C, 30. What about the third question? A, -1. And the fifth question? C, 18. Wait a second, Zhou Xuanying said you didnt even use scratch paper, Wang Jiale exclaimed in shock. How did you manage to solve them all? Zhou Xuanying, who was caught talking behind someones back, seemed a bit uncomfortable, I just mentioned it offhand, worried that Qing Chen might not have done well. Although he said that, Zhou Xuanying himself was also puzzled; he had personally witnessed Qing Chen pray his way through the test, which made him the most surprised of all. However, Zhou Xuanying soon figured it out. By 3 p.m., training institutions had already published the AMC 10 questions and answers, so it was normal for Qing Chen to have seen them online. Otherwise, everyone else had to look at the test paper again to remember what the fifth question was, so how could Qing Chen answer effortlessly? During their conversation, the Toyota Alphard business van had been on the highway for an hour when Zhou Xuanying, sitting in the passenger seat, turned to look at Qing Chen and asked nonchalantly, Qing Chen, you saw the problems online, didnt you? However, Qing Chen ignored him and instead asked the driver, Zhao Yayu, Driver, why did you throw away my wheelchair back in Xian City? Zhao Yayu was taken aback for a moment, then laughed, Classmate, what are you talking about? I didnt throw away your wheelchair. You just cant see it from your angle. Qing Chen gave a weak smile but didnt press the issue, The thing in the trunk, its not some local product, is it? It must be said, the Taboo ACE-005 is extremely useful for feigning illness, just making oneself appear pale, with sunken eyes and hollow cheeks was enough; no matter the expression Qing Chen made, he looked very weak. And there was no fear of being exposed. One glance would convince anyone that Qing Chen was genuinely injured. Zhao Yayu was silent for a moment, then said calmly, Its just local produce. No sooner had he spoken than a thudding sound came from the black box in the back. There was also a muffled whimpering sound, as if someone had their mouth blocked and was making a plea for help. Everyone in the car was stunned. Local produce doesnt make that kind of noise. Zhao Yayu explained blandly, This is a wild boar that someone hit on the head and asked me to bring back to Los Angeles City. Looks like it wasnt killed outright. Xu Zimo said sternly, Theres no way thats a wild boar, youre lying. Qing Chen laughed, Youre lying, theres a person in there. Zhou Xuanying in the passenger seat hesitated for a moment and then demanded, What exactly is in that box?! The next moment, the person in the box somehow freed their mouth from its restraints and began shouting inside the box, Help! Im being kidnapped! Zhao Yayu glanced at Zhou Xuanying, Shut up and message the boss that an accident has occurred. Zhao Yayu now felt very uneasy because the injured man sitting behind him seemed to know too much. This made him panic and seek assistance. Zhou Xuanying glanced nervously at Xu Zimo in the back seat, whispering, You promised not to reveal my identity! I told you to message the boss, Zhao Yayu said coldly. I wont, Zhou Xuanying became frantic, You only asked me to provide a vehicle by making a call to my dad, you didnt mention kidnapping someone back to Los Angeles City. Zhao Yayu pulled out a gun from under his arm, driving with one hand while pointing the gun at Zhou Xuanying with a sneer, Send it. Even if I dont kill you now, do you think you can survive once youre back in the Inner World? If you fail this mission, we all die. Only at that moment did the other students in the car realize that Zhou Xuanying was also a Time Traveler. Chapter 421: 298, Absolute Gun Feel_3 Chapter 421: 298, Absolute Gun Feel_3 Zhou Xuanying was stunned by the dark muzzle of the gun, My family has always been providing domestic financial support for you, you cant kill me. They promised me that as long as the funds continued, I could carry on with my life! Naive, Zhao Yayu sneered, Enough talk. If you dont send it now, I will shoot you this instant, to avoid any complications. Zhou Xuanying bowed his head and started to send messages, while Qing Chen watched him with a smiling gaze. He had probably figured out the situation by now. Zhou Xuanying, too, was one of the Time Travelers controlled by the Deer Island Financial Group. Li Changqing had mentioned that there were spy agencies of the Deer Island Financial Group in City 18, so it made sense that they had a few Time Travelers under their control. For a long time, the Zhou family had been providing financial support to the Time Travelers controlled by Deer Island, as even Time Travelers needed funding to operate in the Outer World. From Deer Islands side, they had probably agreed to let Zhou Xuanying continue living as a normal person and would not easily activate him. ... The activation today might have been premeditated, or perhaps it was because Zhou Xuanying happened to be in Los Angeles City, and Deer Island, upon discovering they were being tracked, chose to use this unrelated vehicle to send the substitute to Los Angeles City without a sound. After all, who would pay attention to a van full of students? The answer was clear now, the black box in the trunk was certainly containing the substitute. Zhao Yayu must have known that Qing Chen was a Time Traveler; thats why he had requested internal support from the organization. Previously, the person didnt want to get on the vehicle, but couldnt withstand Tian Hailong and Xu Zimos insistence and was carried onboard. The reason Qing Chen appeared here was thanks to Kunluns powerful intelligence systems, which were at least more formidable than Qing Chen had anticipated, having thoroughly uncovered even the sources of Deer Islands funds. Before Qing Chen came to take the bus, he hadnt known what would happen, only that Zheng Yuandong had hinted at something, and then he came, encountering a big surprise. It must be said, Qing Chen had underestimated Kunlun before. That Mr. Zheng seemed to have been hiding quite deep, deeply understanding the essence of hiding his skills. At this very moment, Deer Islands people were split into two groups heading to Los Angeles City; another team might have already started encountering Kunluns interceptions. Xu Zimo glanced at the gun in Zhao Yayus hand, then unconsciously looked at Qing Chen. To her surprise, she found Qing Chen smiling. For some reason, Xu Zimo felt that even though Qing Chen seemed very weak, his smile was especially reassuring. She thought about the hand that covered her mouth last night and the warmth of the palm, and suddenly calmed down, feeling there wasnt much to fear. The boss said, let us take the next exit at the Lian-Huo rest area, where someone will meet us, Zhou Xuanying said, You wont do anything to my classmates, right? Zhao Yayu sneered, Stay calm here, then keep an eye on your classmates in the back. Inform me of any suspicious movement at once. Remember, youre not one of them anymore. If you let them go back and spill your beans, how would you continue your normal life? Dont worry, we can stage a car accident scene once we deliver the goods, their deaths wont be linked to you in any way. Qing Chen laughed, Hes lying to you. Actually, from the beginning, he never intended to let you live. You havent undergone professional training by the Deer Island Financial Group, so its easy for you to leak their information. Zhao Yayus eyebrows furrowed upon hearing the words Deer Island. This Time Traveler named Qing Chen knew they were from Deer Island! The situation had become serious. Zhao Yayu glanced at the navigation and slammed on the brakes, trying to stop the vehicle by the roadside. Qing Chen said with a smile, Keep driving, just to the rest area. You have a handgun, and I have one too. If you dare slam the brakes, I swear Ill shoot before my body shakes, and itll be up to fate whether you live or die. In the midst of talking, Zhao Yayu heard the sound of a gun being cocked behind him. This kid really had a gun! It was a firearm specifically delivered by Xiao Ying, said to be standard issue for all Kunlun members. Of course, after the operation, the equipment had to be returned. Tonight, Qing Chen was indeed a member of Kunlun. Zi Mo curiously asked, Why not stop the car first and take control of him? Qing Chen smiled, Didnt you hear him? There are reinforcements at the service area. We must eradicate the evil. These people are not like ordinary criminals; they work for foreigners. Zhao Yayu pressed down on the accelerator again and sneered, Im curious which side youre really on, coming here alone, injured like this, to die. Zhou Xuanying, Wang Jiale, Xia Xiaoran, and Tian Hailong were all stunned; they hadnt expected things to suddenly turn out this way. Previously, when Qing Chen killed someone in the hotel, they hadnt seen it with their own eyes, so they had no real concept of Qing Chen being a Time Traveler. Later, when Qing Chen appeared severely injured and looked so miserable, he didnt seem like someone particularly formidable. Formidable enough to be injured like this? However, as they were in a state of panic and confusion, Qing Chen calmly faced them with a gun and took control of the driver in front, making everyone realize how extraordinary their classmate was. Qing Chen smiled and said to Zhou Xuanying, Classmate, take the gun from his hand and give it to me. Okay... okay, Zhou Xuanying trembled, his brain already starting to slow down, doing whatever he was told. Zhao Yayu secretly pondered that once the vehicle entered the service area, he would immediately bow his head, open the door, and flee. His accomplices outside would open fire indiscriminately, turning everyone in the car into sieves. However, just before the minivan was about to enter the service area and started to decelerate, gunshots suddenly rang out inside the vehicle, and the bullets abruptly pierced through Zhao Yayus chest from behind. Zhao Yayu had never expected that Qing Chen would shoot before he even stopped the car! The crisp gunshots echoed through the night, and immediately four people in the service area took advantage of the darkness and surrounded the minivan. However, Qing Chen was quicker; before they could get close, he had already stuck his hand out the window and pulled the trigger. Raise the hand, aim, fire, all in one fluid motion without hesitation. The sequence was so fast that it seemed Qing Chen had skipped the aiming process. Absolute sense of the gun! 260 meters away, the bullet directly hit the criminals head, killing him instantly! The remaining three criminals were stunned as they watched their comrade fall. The accurate range of a typical pistol is only 50 meters, with a lethal range of 250 meters. This means, shooting is accurate within 50 meters, and one can still kill at 250 meters. If an instructor were teaching pistol skills, they would generally tell students that the key to using a pistol lies in controlling the distance to the target. If you are too far, the best thing to do is close the distance to ensure your effective shooting volume. But this point seemed not to apply to Qing Chen; his extreme shooting distance was his accurate shooting distance. At that moment, Zi Mo in the car wasnt looking at the criminals or paying attention to whether they were approaching. She was just quietly watching the young man beside her, wondering something. ... 10,000 words updated, returning one update to Brother Yan, still owing Brother Yan two updates. Asking for monthly votes! I, who do not hear of the world outside, am obsessed only with typing, the diligent me is back! Asking for monthly votes! Chapter 422: Outer Worlds Li Dongze Chapter 422: Outer Worlds Li Dongze 50 meters, thats the effective range of a pistol. 260 meters, thats the effective range of an automatic rifle. However, when no one had automatic rifles, if someone used a pistol to achieve the effect of an automatic rifle, the situation would become overwhelmingly dominant. Qing Chen safely hid behind Zhao Yayus body, avoiding any bullets. He originally wanted to push Xu Zimos head down to protect her from stray bullets. But thinking of stretching his arm out, which could expose it to the danger of stray bullets, he ultimately decided against it. ... He just reminded her, Duck your head. Then Xu Zimo came to her senses and hid behind Zhou Xuanying. Through the night, the business car slowed to a stop, and Qing Chen shot calmly from inside the vehicle. These Deer Island Time Travelers had obviously undergone professional training; they couldnt decide whether Qing Chens first shot was a fluke or truly precise, but they all hit the ground immediately to minimize their exposure to gunfire. This was one of the most practical tactical movements; many had survived battlefields this way. On the battlefield, everyones shooting was not that accuratepeople shot upon seeing someone. It was once estimated that about 250 to 500 bullets were needed to kill an enemy in war. This is real data. So, minimizing ones target area was the wisest decision. Also, what if the first shot was just a fluke? A pistol headshot at 260 meters was like winning the lottery; this wasnt what the instructors in the Inner World taught! But what they didnt know was that the man they were facing trained with targets the size of coins, no matter the distance. The next second, a Time Traveler who was crawling on the ground and firing, suddenly got a bullet in his forehead and silently dropped his head. The remaining two Time Travelers were shocked; the first shot was definitely not a fluke! The opponent indeed had such shooting skills! By the time they realized this, it was already too late. Previously, what seemed like a wise decision to lie on the ground now limited their ability to move. It was easy to lie down, but much harder to get up. The two assassins rolled on the spot, trying to dodge the bullets. In the end, as they rolled, they were gone. In just 5 seconds, all four Deer Island Time Travelers outside had fallen to the ground. The Deer Island Time Travelers did fire back, but ultimately only managed to hit Zhou Xuanyings shoulder through the window. The gunfire ceased, leaving only Zhou Xuanying in the car, still clutching his shoulder and screaming in pain. The students cautiously raised their heads to look outside the window, and they were suddenly shocked to discover that the previously gun-wielding Time Travelers were all lying in pools of blood. Everyone silently observed Qing Chen. He still appeared weak, his cheeks still pale. Yet it was this critically injured classmate who had just resolved a crisis they had never seen before in their lives. Tian Hailong carefully recalled in his mind that Qing Chen had only fired five shots, right? The first bullet had killed Zhao Yayu, and the remaining four had taken out four assassins! What kind of shooting skills were those? And to think that this person was his student? Suddenly, Tian Hailong felt that all the past tales about Qing Chen were all wrong. Everyone said that Qing Chen worked part-time at night, but now it seemed that he must have been training as a special agent... At this moment, Wang Jiale, still unnerved, asked, Classmate Qing Chen, is it over? Not sure yet, you guys stay hunkered down, dont move, Qing Chen calmly replied. Xia Xiaoran hesitated and then said, Im sorry for blaming you before. She thought about how Xiao Ying had once mentioned: Hes doing something you guys cant do. Qing Chen did not respond to the apology but kept a cautious watch on the surroundings to ensure no other assassins were present. Everyone else in the vehicle fell silent, all realizing their hands were still trembling. Wang Jiale whispered, Im shaking pretty badly. Qing Chen slowly said, Thats due to your body secreting adrenaline from fear. Your body is using the shaking to tell you that its ready; at this time your senses will begin to amplify, and your reactions will speed up, every outside stimulus will seem magnified. Its ready, but whether you choose to face your fear with courage or admit defeat is up to you. The last statement highlighted the difference in everyones innate abilities and mental strength. Zhou Xuanyings screams still echoed through the compartment, from subdued to utterly exhausted. Qing Chen told him, You should regret not being killed by these Time Travelers just now. Zhou Xuanying, with cold sweat on his forehead, asked, What are you going to do to me? Nothing, Qing Chen glanced at him, Youre not innocent, but I wont kill you. However, you should understand that your body in the Inner World is still under Deer Islands control. Think about how theyll punish you after this mission fails. Zhou Xuanying, nearly delirious with pain yet still terrified by the thought of past tortures, trembled. Help me, Classmate Qing Chen, youre from Kunlun, right? Please, ask Kunlun to help me, Zhou Xuanying said. Sorry, although I wont kill you, I wont help you either, Qing Chen responded, You can get off now and run to the service area; there might be a doctor there. Upon hearing this, Zhou Xuanying immediately pulled the door open and used his last bit of energy to sprint toward the service area. Qing Chen sincerely said in the vehicle, Mr. Tian, classmates, Im not able to move well, could you help Zhou Xuanying out? Were all students here; we shouldnt just watch him die. Chapter 423: 299, Outer Worlds Li Dongze_2 Chapter 423: 299, Outer Worlds Li Dongze_2 Tian Hailong realized what was happening and quickly got a few classmates to run down from the bus. Meanwhile, Qing Chen just watched coldly. From the moment Zhou Xuanying lost his reason and sprinted from the car, his fate was sealed. This was the outcome Qing Chen had intended. First of all, Zhou Xuanying had to die because if this classmate were to return alive to the Inner World, the Deer Island Financial Group would surely want to clarify one thing, and then they would uncover the role Qing Chen had played in this matter. The organization was still young and its members needed time to grow, so Qing Chen could not afford to antagonize a massive financial group like Deer Island. ... Should that organization throw itself into madness, unless he never left the halfway villa again, trouble was certain to arise. However, Qing Chen could not kill him personally because Zhou Xuanyings parents would surely investigate the matter. Therefore, he needed Zhou Xuanying, whose artery had ruptured, to start running; after losing too much blood, the service area would certainly lack the emergency blood transfusion capabilities to prevent shock. The bullet, after piercing through the glass, had lodged inside Zhou Xuanyings body, bleeding the wound constantly, very rapidly. A person suffering from blood loss shock in a highway service area is no different from waiting to die. By the time the ambulance arrived here, the person would already be dead cold. Qing Chen silently watched as Zhou Xuanying fell at the entrance of the service area store, with Tian Hailong calling for help and dialing 120, while Xu Zimo was seriously applying her limited first aid knowledge to press on the wound to stem the bleeding. Soon, Xu Zimo was also stained with much blood. But by then, it was too late to stop the bleeding. Qing Chen knew he was acting heartlessly, watching the life ebb away right before him, like a calm Observer. But he had long been this kind of person, unable to change, nor did he intend to change. He knew how to adapt to this world, knew what he should and should not do, always clear about his objectives. Although no one was watching, Qing Chen still appeared extremely weak, slowly leaning on the car door to descend, and opened the trunk. The man inside the black box seemed to have resigned to his fate, not making any struggle. Qing Chen opened the black box and then looked at the person inside... Li Dongze. Truth be told, Qing Chen had never viewed Li Dongze from this angle before, nor had he seen such a cowardly Li Dongze. In his memory, the news about Li Dongze was always about which female star was favoring this syndicate tycoon, Li Dongze attending some high-profile event in a suit and leather shoes, or Li Dongze cleaning up the major syndicates in City #18. It must be said Li Dongze himself was quite vain, always meticulously dressed no matter the occasion, a trait that Lin Xiaoxiao and Ye Wan could not match... At that moment, the Li Dongze inside the box looked at Qing Chen and said in panic, Im not the Li Dongze youre looking for, brother, you must have the wrong man, Im not a Time Traveler! I dont want to be a Time Traveler! Qing Chen sighed. The disparity was too huge. If he let this guy replace the Inner Worlds Li Dongze, his master would likely become enraged and seek revenge from Deer Island. Thus, he could understand the fear of the Inner World Natives; living just fine, then waking up to find oneself replaced and another continuing your life. Anyone facing such a situation would feel terrified. Earlier, on his way to the battle at Weiyang Lake Park, Qing Chen had seen Li Dongze being escorted by a group of people, so he knew from the start that he must rescue this man. It was not for his own sake, but for his master. If Li Dongze was replaced, many disgusting events would follow, Deer Island would also exploit the Outer Worlds Li Dongze, training him and ultimately delivering a fatal blow to Uncle Li. Qing Chen said to Li Dongze, Dont worry, do you know about Kunlun? Im from Kunlun, I just saved you. Did you hear the gunshots just now? I killed five criminals. I look so weak because I was injured saving you. As he spoke, Qing Chen cut the tape binding his hands and feet, and dragged him out of the black box. However, as soon as the man regained his freedom, he tried to run away. Qing Chen, unable to help it, grabbed his collar and pulled him back, See for yourself. Li Dongze looked towards the recent battlefield; although it was tens of meters away, he instantly recognized the garb of the Time Travelers who had kidnapped him. Half convinced, he said, Did you really save me? Nonsense, Qing Chen retorted irritably, This way, follow me. Some things must be settled before we can give you your freedom back, otherwise there are still other dangers linked to you. He now had to eliminate this risk; otherwise, sooner or later, someone might try to exploit this man. Moreover, if this guy realized he was meant to replace an A-Class bigwig from the Inner World, under panic, he might even run to Los Angeles City himself, actively seeking the opportunity to swap! At that moment, Aunt Jiang Xues sedan timely drove into the service area, stopping steadily next to Qing Chen. Get in, Jiang Xue said. Is this the person you wanted to save? He looks somewhat familiar. Qing Chen, while stuffing Li Dongze into the car, said, Yes, its him. Aunt Jiang Xue, keep driving. Well settle in Mian City. Mian City is a small city surrounding Los Angeles City, and currently, there are no Time Travelers there, so it is safe. Qing Chen needed to hide Li Dongze there first. Do you need to say goodbye to your classmates? Jiang Xue asked. Chapter 424: 299, Outer Worlds Li Dongze_3 Chapter 424: 299, Outer Worlds Li Dongze_3 No need, Qing Chen shook his head, When this is over, other Kunlun colleagues will come to pick them up. They are no longer in any danger. What about the female student? Jiang Xue looked at Qing Chen. Shes just a female student, Qing Chen said, Drive. Qing Chen seemed to imply that the female student would only slow down his blade-swinging speed. Jiang Xue stepped on the accelerator. She glanced at the rearview mirror and sized up Li Dongze for another moment, I remember who he is now, but what do you plan to do with him? Do you have any good ideas? Suddenly, Jiang Xue felt the situation was quite tricky. Killing this Li Dongze from the Outer World? Impossible. Although Qing Chen was ruthless, he wouldnt commit such an insane act that would harm the innocent. ... But if not killed, how would they eliminate this future trouble? They couldnt watch over him all the time. Qing Chen calmly responded, Dont worry, Aunt Jiang Xue, I already have a plan. Jiang Xue was somewhat surprised; his counterpart always seemed to have a solution. he responsibility of us at Kunlun, how can I rest just because I am a little hurt? Li Dongze from the Outer World was almost moved to tears, Kunlun is so good, Im so lucky to be saved by you, thank you! Qing Chen pondered, unsure about the situation on Kunluns side. This evening, Zheng Yuandong had only provided him with information regarding Zhao Yayus situation and hadnt mentioned anything about the other side. One should know that among the Deer Island Time Travellers, there were some very thorny individuals. No, Qing Chen recalled the message from Zheng Yuandong, which clearly stated he could handle this side of things on his own. So, in fact, Kunlun had always been aware of the whereabouts of everyone on Deer Island, and they knew very clearly which side would face the most troublesome individual. This information actually raised Qing Chens view of the Kunlun intelligence system by another notch. Right, who was responsible for gathering intelligence at Kunlun? Xiao Ying had mentioned it before; it was someone called Ni Ergou. The name sounded... really beyond words. Qing Chen glanced at his phone; Zheng Yuandong had not sent any more messages, and Qing Chen did not intend to get involved in that matter anymore. After all, even if he had not been injured in the abdomen and his left arm was inconvenient, he still should not have gotten involved in something so dangerous. Rescuing Li Dongze was his sole objective; once achieved, he could retire successfully. At that moment, Xu Zimo, covered in blood, slowly released her pressure on Zhou Xuanyings wound. She could feel Zhou Xuanyings body growing colderbeyond saving. Tian Hailong, despondent, sat on the steps, cradling his head. Even though none of this was his fault, the fact remained that a student was gone under his watch. This was something Tian Hailong found hard to accept as a teacher. No matter the reason, he felt he had been negligent. Dont be so sad, Teacher Tian. Its not your fault, consoled Wang Jiale, We will tell everyone about Zhou Xuanyings actions when we get back, and we all can testify for you that he brought it upon himself. Right, if it werent for Qing Chen, we would all be dead, Xia Xiaoran was still frightened even now. She looked up to find Qing Chen, but to her surprise, he had disappeared. e ground at the entrance of the service area and suddenly smiled. Her pale cheeks and the vibrant blood had a unique beauty: Theres no need for regret over the unattainable, just being a witness is good enough. ... A chapter of five thousand words, another one coming at 11 pm. Thanks to the venerable Qi Tian and Xu Duidui for becoming new allies of this book. Respect to the bosses, may you be healthy and enjoy all the tastiest food! Chapter 425: 300, the first reverse time travel plan concludes Chapter 425: 300, the first reverse time travel plan concludes In He Xiaoxiaos group chat, everyone was staying up late waiting. Chuang Wang: Was there anyone actually at the scene today? Speak up, whats the situation? That guy Zard, you said last night that the show was about to start, and then you just fucking disappeared. Are you trying to deliberately keep us hanging? When have I ever unlun only suffered injuries, no deaths. It means that Kunlun annihilated the group of Deer Island Time Travelers with zero casualties. Keep in mind, among them was a chosen one sent by Deer Island, whose exact strength is unclear because Ive never seen him fight, but hes a big deal in the Inner World. The people in the group chat thought to themselves, if hes a big deal, he must be at least C-Class, maybe even B-Class. Otherwise, how could he be called the chosen one? Taboo ACE-999: Such individuals, among tens of thousands of Time Travelers in the East and West, there are no more than ten, and of course, some have been low-profile and have not yet come out. As for ordinary Time Travelers, they can only use their own efforts to bridge the starting gap. Zard probed: Boss He, your organizations He Xiaoxiao, must be one of these chosen ones, right? I suspect you are too. ... This time, Taboo ACE-999 didnt respond. Liu Dezhu, who had been paying attention to the group chat, suddenly thought to himself that his own boss, just like him, probably started out as just an ordinary prisoner, not a chosen one, but rather started off on Hell difficulty. Yet, based on his own efforts, he not only closed the gap with the chosen children but has now become a pivotal figure in the entire Time Traveler circle. What do you call this kind of person? The Child of the Plane? Liu Dezhu had no other thoughts at the moment; his boss was awesome, so just stick with the boss and enjoy the good life! Right, they say Deer Island is carrying out a reverse traversal plan, but who exactly are they trying to replace? Chuang Wang asked. tel in Mian City, Jiang Xue was in the next room in a queen bed room, he and Outer Worlds Li Dongze in a single standard room with twin beds. This Li Dongze seemed to have not slept for a long time and collapsed onto the bed as soon as he touched it. Qing Chen glanced at him, lay flat on the bed and entered the Mysterious World to continue advancing his target from 1,360 meters to 1,460 meters. I dont know how long it had been, but in the Mysterious World, he heard rustling sounds. Opening his eyes, to his surprise, it was none other than Outer Worlds Li Dongze sneakily heading out... Qing Chen sighed: If I wanted to kill you, I would have done it by now. I am truly trying to protect you, can you please cooperate a little? Hahaha, Im just going to the toilet, Li Dongze, realizing he had been caught trying to sneak out, immediately laughed awkwardly: Youre still awake, huh? Chapter 426: 300, The First Reverse Time Travel Project Concludes_2 Chapter 426: 300, The First Reverse Time Travel Project Concludes_2 He was a bit surprised internally, thinking to himself, how can this young man not need to sleep? Qing Chen, on the other hand, was thinking that it was only the third day he had returned, and he still had to match wits with this coward from the Outer World, Li Dongze, for four more days... Just thinking about it made his teeth hurt. Fortunately, after this return, he had already finished what needed to be done, and he had plenty of time to spend with Li Dongze. ...god among snipers, it actually wouldnt be an exaggeration. Qing Chen glanced at Li Dongze, If you hadnt run around and just slept peacefully and waited, you wouldnt have such heavy dark circles under your eyes. Ive already promised you freedom as soon as tomorrow is over, so this matter will pass. What exactly are you worried about? ... Li Dongze said weakly, You didnt show me your work pass for Kunlun, how can I trust you? Isnt the fact youre still alive the best proof? Qing Chen said irritably. To be honest, Qing Chen suspected that this old boy already knew he had gone to the Inner World to replace a big shot, so after being completely safe, he began to harbor other ideas. Once people no longer face a direct threat, they start to think about how to benefit themselves. During these four days, Qing Chen had also gradually figured out what this guy was like. The Outer Worlds Li Dongze was an employee of a company in Xian City, working hard every day but unable to outdo those who only knew how to brag about their achievements with PPTs. He worked from nine in the morning to nine at night, six days a week, and even had to work overtime at home on Sundays. The epitome of the overworked masses on a 996 schedule. But hard work was not the only problem, there was no overtime pay, and the boss told them every day that this was their blessing. Its these employees who work hard, not a blessing for them, but clearly a blessing for the bosses. Sometimes Qing Chen felt that, in some ways, the Outer World also had some tendencies of the Inner World. Fortunately, the officials here were still in control, or it would be much worse. For such a miserable Li Dongze, thinking about crossing over to become a big shot in the underworld of the Inner World, how could he not be tempted? Of course, he was. Just then, someone knocked on the door from outside the room, Brother Chen, Brother Chen, Im Nan Gengchen, hurry and open the door. Qing Chen went to open the door, Did you bring everything? Nan Gengchen patted his backpack, Here it is, a laptop and a USB flash drive. Come in, said Qing Chen. The Outer Worlds Li Dongze, who was sitting on the bed looking forlorn, stood up, Who is this? Oh, Im Brother Chens classmate... colleague from Kunlun, said Nan Gengchen. Li Dongze said with anguish, See, you let it slip! Youre still in school, how can you be from Kunlun! There are plenty of people in Kunlun, and who says you cant still be in school, Nan Gengchen muttered. At this moment, Qing Chen glanced at the countdown, which was running out, then sat next to Li Dongze and forcibly took a selfie with him. What are you doing? Li Dongze was stunned for a moment. Nan Gengchen held up his phone, Come on, smile, say... eggplant! Click, the photo was thus saved. n a rather strange way. Whats this for? asked Jiang Xue. Because someone in the Inner World is watching me, so my movements after crossing cannot deviate in the slightest. Chapter 427: 300, The First Reverse Time Travel Project Concludes_3 Chapter 427: 300, The First Reverse Time Travel Project Concludes_3 Jiang Xue stared at Qing Chen, unable to believe that he needed to be so cautious in the Inner World. Her life, where she learned how to attach and detach mechanical limbs daily and could easily earn a substantial amount of money, was completely different. In fact, the reason Jiang Xue felt like Qing Chen was like her younger brother was precisely because he was too mature for his age. Only Qing Chens eyes remained brilliantly shining. After crossing through, Qing Chens arm movements didnt stop; the trajectory of the falling syringe aligned perfectly with his actions from seven days ago. ... Using his powerful Memory Power, Qing Chen smoothed over the fragmentation that the span of time had brought. In the living room of Feiyun Courtyard, the woman still wore a Black long dress, sitting quietly opposite Qing Chen, not blinking an eye. As if blinking would cause her to miss something important. Li Changqing silently watched Qing Chen until that injection landed firmly on his leg, yet she could not detect the slightest abnormality. The woman noticed that Qing Chens expression had not changed at all. So he wasnt a Time Traveler, Li Changqing thought to herself. She had seen many Time Travelers, and her intelligence agency had even prepared a report on the mechanics of time traversal, so she was acutely aware of the changes Time Travelers underwent in such an instant: Their expressions would become stiff, their movements would also freeze, and they would even appear utterly bewildered. In the process of the worlds transformation, Time Travelers would forget what they were doing and what pose they were holding seven days prior. As a result, most clever Time Travelers have learned to hide away at midnight, where others cant see them or in blind spots out of others line of sight. But Li Changqing realized that Qing Chen had not done so. He calmly injected himself in front of her, and the process traversed the threshold of time without any impediment. Li Changqing might have thousands of suspicions, but in this moment, they were all dispelled. She looked at Qing Chen. The anticipated cries of pain did not occur. Instead, she saw Qing Chen clenching his teeth, eyes shut tight as he sat on the couch, the veins in his neck standing out. Sweat covered his entire body. If it hurts, just let it out, Qing Chen, Li Changqing said. Ive sent everyone in Feiyun Courtyard away. I know the Genetic Potion is painful, and no one will laugh at you, Li Changqing said. She wouldnt have expected the boy to possess such tenacity, to contain even the pain produced by the Genetic Potion. Such determination it must require. Yet, Qing Chens restraint seemed to fit within Li Changqings understanding of him. Yer five hours, with no lingering effects. In truth, Li Changqing still had her guard up against Qing Chen. Moreover, this guard wasnt a recent development. For someone in her position, she would contemplate the intentions of anyone who suddenly appeared in her sight. Chapter 428: 300, The First Reverse Time Travel Project Concludes_4 Chapter 428: 300, The First Reverse Time Travel Project Concludes_4 So when the arsonist chatted with her online, Li Changqing took notice and later wanted to meet her to see what this arsonist intended to do. However, for some reason, when she first saw Qing Chen, she felt that the young man was too clean, unnaturally clean. ly is a bit small. Ah? Li Changqing was stunned for a moment, then covered her mouth and laughed, Thats some progress. Qing Chen gave her a look. This woman was just a verbally strong king. Previously, in the back of the hover car, he had reached over her body to open the car door. A bodys subconscious reaction cant lie. And he didnt choose to stay at Feiyun Courtyard because he truly found the dormitory small, but because in the eyes of the Time Traveler, he was supposed to have a gunshot wound on his abdomen. Xiao Ying was at the dormitory and would definitely help Kunlun gather intelligence. ... So, he simply stayed at Feiyun Courtyard for a week to avoid outside attention. In passing, he taught XiaoTongyun the Breathing Technique he had just acquired. According to the booklet, Buddhas of past generations had very long lifespans, with the earliest ones even living to be one hundred and eighty-nine, while later Buddhas lived just over a hundred years. Although not as much as Knights, it was already sufficient for XiaoTongyuns needs. Moreover, Qing Chen thought that the shorter lifespan of those later generations of Buddhas might also be because the organization had been severely damaged, and they hadnt learned the true fourth section of the Breathing Technique... ... At this moment, Li Dongze quietly sat inside the Everlasting Clubhouse. The originally lively and bustling club had now quieted down. Uploading the chapter early as a preview. A six thousand word chapter, today an update of eleven thousand words seeking monthly passes! Owing Brother Yan one more chapter, still owe Brother Yan a chapter. Thanks to Wutong 07 for becoming a new ally of this book, thanks to the boss, may the boss drink cold water without choking! Chapter 429: 301, The New Owner of Autumn Leaf Courtyard Chapter 429: 301, The New Owner of Autumn Leaf Courtyard The Time Travelers controlled by the Deer Island Financial Group shouldnt be too impressive, but thats in comparison to me, Li Dongze asked Yi, The young boss has only just completed one life-and-death challenge. To snatch me from the Outer World out of their hands isnt easy, right? uts in the Octagon cage, yet had only killed one person. But only now did he realize what that ruthlessness truly meant. Wait a minute! Li Dongze suddenly grasped a key point. The young boss can complete life-and-death challenges in the Outer World?! Does the Outer World have a Forbidden Sea?! Lets not discuss that for now, Yi said. Okay, Li Dongze calmed his emotions. ... He knew the Knights too well, so he was very clear about what the Knights needed! Yi said, However, when he went to save the Outer World you, he did so while injured. Given his usual temperament, he definitely wouldnt have interfered. Yi began to sell Qing Chen favors. Did the young boss say how I should repay this favor? Li Dongze typed on his phone. He didnt mention it, Yi replied. Li Dongze thought for a moment and then typed, Does the young boss lack anything, or should I personally make a trip to the Taboo Land to find something for him? No. Then, should I give him my Taboo? Li Dongze typed. Although its only useful for checking the weather forecast. No need, Yi replied. He said, since youve already called him the young boss, its only right for him to help you. Li Dongze raised an eyebrow, as if that made perfect sense. But for those elders like him who had followed Uncle Li Dong for many years, knowing Qing Chen was the future successor was one thing. Wholeheartedly accepting him was another. So, when Li Dongze realized that Qing Chen had inadvertently saved him once, he subconsciously wanted to repay the favor. After all, he still didnt truly consider Qing Chen his boss. And Qing Chen needed to complete this process himself; Uncle Li couldnt help him with it. Li Dongze thought for a moment, Then lets not talk about owing a favor for now. Yi, However, he knows you took a batch of Genetic Potions from Su Xingzhi, so he wants one FDE-005 Genetic Potion from you. This is to help you eliminate future troubles, so you will have to provide it yourself. Eliminate future troubles? How so? Li Dongze didnt understand. A Genetic Warrior cannot be replaced, you know that, right? Yi said. Of course, Li Dongze nodded. So, a Genetic Warrior also cant travel through others, Yi said. could just directly kill the other off and save a Genetic Potion in the process. Here, the fundamental differences in thinking between the Inner World and the Outer World were truly evident. Even for someone like Li Dongze, who had followed Uncle Li for many years, reverence for life was equally scarce. They had witnessed too many things and had grown up in such an environment. The young boss has quite an expansive way of thinking, Li Dongze considered. Alright, I will have everything ready before his next return, and anyone can come to collect it. Chapter 430: 301, The New Owner of Autumn Leaf Courtyard_2 Chapter 430: 301, The New Owner of Autumn Leaf Courtyard_2 Just let Hu Xiaoniu handle it, Yi said. Li Dongze recalled Hu Xiaoniu and Zhang Tianzhen, who had come to report to him a few days ago. The young boss has a decent eye for people. I tested the two of them; one is straightforward, the other is odd, somewhat complementary, like Ye Wan and Lin Xiaoxiao by the bosss side. Unfortunately, the young boss doesnt have someone like me by his side yet. Having just Lin Xiaoxiao and Ye Wan is not enough, and theres no need to mention Su Xingzhi. Countdown to return 160:00:00. Li Changqing had gone out early in the morning without telling Qing Chen where he was, leaving only a message that he was out handling affairs. Qing Chen was left alone in the vast Feiyun Courtyard. ... For some reason, even though Qing Chen had completed his Genetic Potion treatment, the servants hadnt come back to work. Last night, Li Changqing had helped him ask the Mountain Chief Li Liheng for a week off. Thinking it over, Qing Chen decided that there was nothing much to do. He freshened up a bit, grabbed a folding stool, and headed towards Dragon Lake. All he had to do now was avoid being seen by too many people, without having to stay in Feiyun Courtyard all the time. When he arrived at Dragon Lake, the old man was already sitting early on the broken bridge. How come youre here so early today, Qing Chen asked curiously. Did you know I took a leave and guessed that I would come over early in the morning? It sounds as if I am specifically waiting for you here, the old man said leisurely. I like to fish. Whats the meaning of fishing? Qing Chen didnt understand. If you want to eat fish, cant you just scoop them up? The old man looked across the broad lake and thought for a moment. I used to like fishing because my wife always nagged. Back then, I would escape to this Dragon Lake to think by myself for a bit. Youre young, you wouldnt understand. A man needs a little space of his own. Ah? Qing Chen blinked. The old man continued, Years ago, my younger son was always thinking about the fish in this lake, but every time he came to steal fish, I caught him red-handed. People outside say that I treasure the Dragon Fish, but thats not true. There are only 18 Dragon Fish, hile. I fear seeing honest people forced to lie, I fear seeing upright people being forced to bend, I fear idealists seeing their ideals shattered, I fear hearing the final truth from someone who constantly tells lies, I fear the prudent ones suddenly standing up for justice, I fear those once betrayed by their ideals dying for them in the end. I fear the last act of courage of cowards, and the charge of traitors. I dont understand, Qing Chen shook his head. Kid, the old man smiled, maybe youll understand when you reach my age. These are the most heartbreaking things in the world. Compared to them, death is not such a big deal. Perhaps one day I will understand, Qing Chen said. Qing Chen was smart, but understanding human relationships wasnt something that intelligence could solve, one had to truly experience them. Many years later, one evening, Qing Chen recalled this particular morning and finally understood that that day, the old man had practically told him about all of lifes joys and sorrows. Chapter 431: 301, New Owner of Autumn Leaf Courtyard_3 Chapter 431: 301, New Owner of Autumn Leaf Courtyard_3 By the way, the elder said, you should move out of the Feiyun Courtyard. The Li Family has prepared another courtyard for you, the teacher at the Martial Arts School, not far from Feiyun Courtyard. Its called Autumn Leaf Courtyard. Although its a bit small, its definitely enough for you to live in. Is the treatment for a teacher that good? Qing Chen asked. Of course, the elder said, the Li Family has never mistreated a teacher before, as maintaining order by seniority is the foundation of this clan. Maintaining order by seniority... Qing Chen suddenly recalled a phrase the other had just mentioned: the eldest son always urges him to prolong his life. Now, rumors from the outside world say that the second-generation leader of Lis Big Room had already deployed troops around the halfway mountain estate, ready to complete the power transition at any moment. ... Logically, this leader of the Big Room should be the one who most wishes for the elder to pass away, yet according to the elder, the internal affairs seemed completely different from what was rumored outside. This might not be preparing a great gift for someone. However, Qing Chen didnt care, as he had no interest in getting involved in these matters. The same old saying, Even the daytime is still young, its most important to keep steady and not be reckless. The courtyard has been cleaned. You should move in today, the elder said. Qing Chen felt something was off. Why was the other so eager? Could it be that he especially wanted him to move out of Feiyun Courtyard? Wait, could the elder have misunderstood something? Cough, cough, I will move there in a while, especially since I dont have much to take with me, Qing Chen said. Do you need me to arrange a servant for you? the elder asked. No need, its not convenient, Qing Chen flatly said. By the way, have you figured out the method of cultivation I gave you? the elder asked as if it were nothing. No, that thing is too profound. Ive nearly wracked my brain dry and still cant figure it out, Qing Chen said, but I heard that eating fish is good for the brain. If I could eat a dragon fish today, I should be able to figure it out. The elder rolled his eyes and then jerked the fishing rod. Suddenly, a large dragon fish was hooked out of the previously calm lake surface. As Qing Chen held the dragon fish in his hands, the elder waved his hand and said, Take the dragon fish and scram. Our fate ends today. Qing Chen joyfully tucked his stool under his armpit, turned around, and left the broken bridge. However, after walking a few dozen steps, he looked back to see the elder sitting alone on the broken bridge, no longer casting his line, just sitting there quietly. He appeared somewhat lonely. ... ... Qing Chen did not go back on his word. He truly moved to Autumn Leaf Courtyard right after leaving Dragon Lake, guided by a servant. Compared to other residences, this courtyard was ridiculously small; while others lived in magnificent and splendid houses, his was just a modest quadrangle courtyard. Outside the courtyard, a row of willow trees lined the only small path leading to this place, which was extremely tranquil. In the courtyard, right in the center, there was a massive stone table with a lounge chair placed beside it. Qing Chen ran his fingers over the lounge chair. It was indeed cleaned, without even a speck of dust. However, the lounge chair was polished unusually smooth, as if someone had used it before. Qing Chen was puzzled. Who had been the master of Autumn Leaf Courtyard before? The words Autumn Leaf seemed related to Autumn Leaf Knifecould it have been his masters residence back in the day? However, Uncle Li Dongs status in the Li Family should be very high, so why would he live in such a small courtyard? Qing Chen looked around and could not find anything that could prove the owners identity, so he simply lay down on that lounger, swaying, not knowing what he was thinking about. From morning to noon, and from noon to evening. For some reason, Qing Chen particularly enjoyed the tranquility of the moment; he did not need to face interpersonal relationships, nor did he need to consider any messy matters. However, just at this evening, footsteps came from outside the Autumn Leaf Courtyard. Qing Chen still had his eyes closed. Thump, thump, thump, someone knocked on the courtyard door, Sir, are you there? May I come in? The door isnt locked, come on in, Qing Chen said, recognizing Li Ke just by the sound of his footsteps. Young Li Ke entered, and politely said, I heard that you took leave from the Mountain Chief due to ill health, so I went to Feiyun Courtyard to visit. You and Aunt Changqing were not there, and it was a hidden guard who told me, you had moved to Autumn Leaf Courtyard. Hmm, Qing Chen said as he swayed on the lounge chair, Its nothing serious, just have a look and then head back. Sir, you havent had dinner yet, have you? Ill go and prepare a meal for you, said Li Ke, and he went into the kitchen on the east side. But here was this youth, only three years younger than Qing Chen, who seriously took out the vegetables from the refrigerator and began selecting them, rinsing rice. He did not at all resemble a scion of a wealthy clan. Moreover, as a legitimate heir from the Li Familys main branch, Li Ke held a very high status within all the Li Family. And yet, was such a favored son of heaven cooking for Qing Chen at this moment? Qing Chen noticed that Li Ke was very familiar with this place, and he suddenly asked, Actually, you are the one who cleans this Autumn Leaf Courtyard, arent you? The vegetables and meat and such, they are all prepared by you. Li Ke thought for a moment and then said, Im sorry, Sir, I lied earlier. Actually, I knew you were moving here this morning, but this time it was too hurried, it wasnt just me cleaning, there were my servants too. But rest assured, from now on, I will personally clean, and as for your dirty clothes, just put them in the clothes basket in the west wing, Ill wash them. Dont worry about the meals, Ill cook for you. My cooking skills are quite good, at least it wont taste bad. Qing Chen suddenly asked, Do you know who I am? I dont know, Li Ke shook his head. Then why do you do all this? Qing Chen curiously asked. Grandfather said if I wanted to learn real skills, I should find you, Li Ke sincerely said, But rest assured, he didnt say anything else, I believe my sincerity can move you. This time Im not lying, Grandfather said whether I can learn depends on fate. Qing Chen understood, turns out this Li Ke was also the favorite grandson of that old man, who directly showed this young lad a clear path! No wonder, ever since he became an instructor at Martial Arts School, Li Ke stuck to him like he became a different person. So there was guidance from a sage. It seemed the old man hoped Li Ke would become a knight? But Li Ke looked very upright; how could he become a knight? Qing Chen thought for a moment and then looked at Li Ke: But if youre just doing these chores, what makes you think I would teach you the real skills? There are many who can do chores, servants can do them too. Tell me, what else can you do? Li Ke thought seriously for a moment: I can help you beat Qing Yi, rest assured, he wont see it coming. Qing Chen sighed, he hadnt expected that this young lad had quite grasped the essence of being a knight... ... A 5200-word chapter, wishing everyone a happy Qixi Festival. Todays subscriptions also hit 52000, quite fitting, and theres a big chapter at 11 PM tonight. Not giving any additional chapters for the bosses today, but adding more for the singles. Chapter 432: 302. The Secret of Autumn Leaf Courtyard Chapter 432: 302. The Secret of Autumn Leaf Courtyard Sir, I know you want to hit Qing Yi, but you cant do it because of your status, Li Ke said seriously, I, as a student, can do it. I have no such intention, Qing Chen said with a smile. I understand, Li Ke said. Qing Chen thought to himself that this young man indeed possessed integrity but was not pedantic. He thought to himself that perhaps the old man had noticed this trait as well, which was why he had sent him to Qing Chen. However, did Li Ke know what kind of path it really was? ... It was a path of nine deaths and one life; one should not embark on it unprepared. Qing Chen did not agree with Li Ke, nor did he refuse; he merely said, Whatever you want to do is your own business, and whether Im willing to teach you is mine. Having said that, he maintained a peculiar breathing frequency and continued to lie on the lounge chair, immersed in the mysterious world. The First Breathing Technique, combined with sniper rifle training, allowed Qing Chen to grow rapidly, experiencing the joy of growth. Qing Chen never had the opportunity to play games like other students; now, his training felt like leveling up in a game, filled with a sense of achievement. Although it was winter, the knights skin and blood circulation were different from normal people, so he didnt feel cold. Seeing that his master was ignoring him, Li Ke stopped talking as well. Not only that, but he also took a fresh winter peach from the refrigerator, washed it, and placed it on the stone table next to Qing Chen. Then he returned to the kitchen to continue preparing vegetables and cooking. The sound of skillful knife work came from the kitchen, and the frequency of chopping indicated an experienced hand. Qing Chen ignored it and wasnt particularly surprised. Soon, Li Ke had prepared four dishes and a soup and brought them to the stone table, including that dragon fish. Just then, footsteps sounded again outside the door. Qing Chen opened his eyes; they were unfamiliar footsteps. Thump, thump, thump, someone outside the courtyard gate said, Hello, is the Martial Arts School instructor here? Li Ke glanced at Qing Chen, Sir, shall I open the door? Go ahead, Qing Chen nodded. Outside the door stood two servants, each carrying a gift box in both hands, the contents unknown. When the two servants saw Li Ke, they were taken aback, then scrutinized his apron and arm covers, glanced at the food on the stone table, and quickly understood what was happening. In the Li Family, there were distinctions even among servants; those without perceptiveness could not enter Banhill Estate. The estates servants, when facing servants from outside, always considered themselves superior. Though everyone had signed the same labor contract. They had already realized that the food on the stone table was personally prepared by Li Ke! But who is Li Ke? He is currently the most anticipated descendant of the Lis Big Room, and the favorite son of that head of household. Every year on New Years Eve, the Li Family held ancestral rituals, and last year, Li Ke represented Lis Big Room in the ritual. The servants all knew that those who could represent a branch in the ancestral hall were significant figures. And now, such a disciplined heir, eligible to represent a branch in the ancestral hall, had run to this remote courtyard to cook for an instructor? Although an instructor at the Martial Arts School held a high status, it surely wasnt high enough to warrant this! Li Ke glanced at the servants, You are from the second room, arent you? Ive seen you before. What do you want with the instructor? Ah, the servants quickly replied, Our boss heard that the Martial Arts School instructor has moved to a new residence, so he sent us to deliver congratulatory gifts. Li Ke pointed to a corner of the courtyard, Put them there. Ill help the instructor sort them out later. Wait, only four gifts? Go back and tell your side to bring four more. Dont you know the proper etiquette? Yes, yes, right away, the servants hastily replied, Well go back and tell them now. In Qing Chens presence, Li Ke was respectful, but he exuded a natural air of superiority when facing the servants. This was the inherent sense of superiority that came with being born into Lis Financial Group; they were pampered from birth. However, at this moment, this 14-year-old boy, wearing arm covers and an apron, somehow seemed out of sync with that superior air. The servants left, and throughout, Li Ke dealt with everything; Qing Chen didnt say a word. Not long after, when the servants returned, they brought several people carrying twelve boxes of gifts, completing the sixteen required! They had brought twice as many as the eight Li Ke had initially asked for. The servants said, We apologize for the oversight earlier; please accept our apologies. Li Ke said, Alright, put the things aside, dont disturb the instructors peace. Understood, the servants quickly exited. After a while, it seemed other branches of the Li Family had received some news, as they all sent representatives, with each branch bringing sixteen gifts. Moreover, the first batch was delivered by servants, the second by students themselves, and the third by parents accompanying their children. The level of ceremony became increasingly grand, with no branch wanting to be outdone by the others. All those who brought gifts shared one characteristic: upon entering the Autumn Leaf Courtyard, their gaze would sweep back and forth between Qing Chen and Li Ke. They were trying to gauge the relationship between Qing Chen and Li Ke. Looking at the small mountain of gifts piling up in the corner, Qing Chen even felt it somewhat bizarre. Is this the way of the financial consortium? Chapter 433: 302. The Secret of Autumn Leaf Courtyard_2 Chapter 433: 302. The Secret of Autumn Leaf Courtyard_2 The world Qing Chen experienced outside the Half-Mountain Manor was starkly different from that within the estate. After everyone had left, the Autumn Leaf Courtyard regained its daytime tranquility. Sir, Li Ke said, I will tally the gifts here. You should eat first, otherwise the dishes will get cold. You eat too, Qing Chen said calmly. I cannot sit at the table while you are eating, sir, Li Ke replied. Come here, Qing Chen pondered and then spoke, I have something to tell you. ... nd asked while washing, Sir, arent you going to the academy this week? Without you, Qing Yi skipped class this afternoon. Mainly because he isnt from the Li family, the tutors dont really care to manage him. Do what you see fit, Qing Chen lay back lazily, I see theres a dishwasher in the kitchen, why dont you use it? The dishwasher takes dozens of minutes to finish washing these, I can do them in a few minutes by hand, Li Ke replied. Do you really want to learn? Qing Chen asked. Yes, Li Ke nodded while standing by the sink. Starting tomorrow morning, you will wake up at 6 AM, go door-to-door to get those classmates up, then run five kilometers before going to class, Qing Chen instructed. He didnt explain why, just that running was the end of it. First, see if he can persist. Furthermore, not every student is willing to run in the morning. Whether Li Ke can get everyone out depends on his own skills. By the way, who used to live in the Autumn Leaf Courtyard? Qing Chen asked. Li Ke answered, It was left by my grandfather for his mentor, who taught him many life lessons. The Autumn Leaf Courtyard has been vacant for many years. Grandfather always takes a few days each year to stay there for a night to commemorate his mentor. I see. Although Qing Chen wasnt aware of the Autumn Leaf Courtyard himself, most of the Li family knew of it. This was also one of the reasons for the bustling entrance this evening. In this regard, Qing Chen was wrong; the Autumn Leaf Courtyard had no connection with Uncle Li Dong. Sir, just a reminder, your laundry can be placed in the hamper in the west wing room. If theres nothing else, Ill head back now, Li Ke said. Yes, go ahead, Qing Chen replied. Li Ke bowed to Qing Chen and then departed. At this moment, the news of Li Ke from the Lis Big Room working as a servant at the tutors house had spread throughout the Half-Mountain Manor. To the outside world, the Li family appeared a colossal entity, capable of crushing most things in the world. d to different family members, but only the Autumn Leaf Courtyard had been kept vacant, with no one residing there. In some way, the special status of the Autumn Leaf Courtyard was akin to that of the dragon fish. At night when no one else was around, Qing Chen glanced at the list of gifts Li Ke had tallied. He noticed that the Li familys gifts were quite generous; not involving any useless items, all were valuable gold ornaments such as bracelets, anklets, necklaces, rings, foot chains, the Golden Lock, the peace plaque, the Golden Bodhisattva, and the Golden Buddha... Chapter 434: 302. The Secret of Autumn Leaf Courtyard_3 Chapter 434: 302. The Secret of Autumn Leaf Courtyard_3 In there, there were many statues mixed in whose names Qing Chen couldnt recall, probably representing the varied beliefs within the Inner World. This was a very practical era, where gifts always consisted of things that could be turned into cash, avoiding anything flashy yet impractical. Looking at the gift list, Qing Chen even thought about going to the old man tomorrow to ask for another change of residence. Time for another joyous housewarming. Thump thump thump. Is anyone there? The person outside carried a smile in his voice. It was Li Changqing. ... Qing Chen went to open the courtyard door, only to see Li Changqing feigning a look of resentment as he spoke, Was that necessary? After all, I was the one who recommended you to the Martial Arts School. The old man arranged a new residence for you, and you moved out from mine on the very day. Couldnt you have hesitated a bit? Qing Chen thought to himself that if the old man really misunderstood some things, staying put might lead to trouble... He smiled and said, Have you finished with your tasks? Not at all. Its not that easy to finish everything, Li Changqing dropped his resentful demeanor and then smiled, So, wont you invite me in to sit? Li Changqing had come alone, still holding that black case used for storing Genetic Potions. He thrust the case into Qing Chens hands, Im pretty busy myself, so I wont be able to personally supervise your Genetic Potion usage from now on. Ill leave it all to you. Thank you, Qing Chen sincerely said. Truth be told, among the few people in the Inner World, Li Changqing was one who genuinely cared about him. After all, this set of Genetic Potion, if exchanged for money, could afford many people a lifetime of wastefulness. Moreover, its worth couldnt be defined by money alone. It was enough to fully shape a B-Class Expert. Even Li Changqing had to provide written reports to the Li Family internally when making private mixes. Qing Chen had already decided its use; it was ultimately going to Liu Dezhu. In the battle of Xian City, although Liu Dezhu hadnt physically fought, his cooperation was nearly perfect, brilliantly executing Qing Chens diversion strategy. Qing Chen was aware that Liu Dezhu was scared at the time; after all, even a C-Class Expert would fear being unexpectedly attacked. Yet, Liu Dezhu had still gone. Just for that, Qing Chen felt a need to enhance his strength. As a B-Class Genetic Warrior with Fire Element Awakening, Liu Dezhu was mostly capable of fulfilling the role of a Protector, at least one during the day. Qing Chen looked towards Li Changqing and sincerely said again, Thank you, it seems like Ive never earnestly thanked you before, but youve been really good to me. Li Changqing shot him a look, At least you have a conscience. All right, no more talk. I have to head out again, theres a meeting I need to attend. Also, I should remind you, this Autumn Leaf Courtyard is very important to the old man, so be mindful. And yes, even though youre now favored by the old man, youre still officially my bodyguard. So, if Im in trouble, youll need to come save me. Okay, Qing Chen earnestly promised. Im off, said Li Changqing and then he was gone. Qing Chen watched the womans retreating figure turning away nonchalantly, and suddenly he was lost in thought. After closing the courtyard door, Qing Chen began to roam around the yard. After confirming there was nothing unusual, he began to search each room one by one. No anomalies in the east wing room. No anomalies in the west wing room. Until... at last, in a bookcase, he triggered a certain book. Click, a piece of floor tile that had fit tightly before suddenly sank into the ground, and the entire room was filled with mechanical noises. After the tile sank, it became a part of a long staircase. A lengthy and deep corridor lay before Qing Chen. The everlasting neon lights, hanging on both sides of the corridor, resembled torches in a passage. Qing Chen stared blankly at this scene before he finally realized why the old man had left Autumn Leaf Courtyard to him. It turned out that there were other secrets within Autumn Leaf Courtyard. He couldnt help but laugh and cry; when Uncle Li Dong left Prison No. 18, he had escaped through a tunnel, which too was built by the Li Family. How fond was the Li Familys ancestor of building tunnels? Qing Chen continued downwards. The lengthy corridor seemed to have no end. He could feel the wind howling, and occasionally he could see tiny ventilation shafts above the passageway. Where did this passageway lead? To the Li Familys secret treasury? Or to the Li Familys secret prison? Qing Chen estimated he had walked about three kilometers when a staircase suddenly appeared in the corridor, leading upwards. After a moment of silence, he eventually ascended the stairs. The area suddenly opened up. Surprisingly, the end of the passageway was just an old room that, apart from being exceptionally spacious, had nothing unusual about it. No treasure, no secret prison. Qing Chen walked to the window and was shocked to discover he had already exited the halfway estate! Autumn Leaf Courtyard was located at the edge of the estate, and the tunnel led directly to the outside world! Wait, Qing Chen exclaimed suddenly, no wonder the old man often visited Autumn Leaf Courtyard to mourn his mentor. Perhaps the old man used it as an excuse to sneak out and handle things. Whatever life lessons from a mentor, whatever mourning the mentor, in reality, Autumn Leaf Courtyard was a secret passage left by the old man for himself. For decades, he had used that route to leave the imprisoning halfway estate. Like the stories in popular novels where the Emperor also wishes to make incognito visits, isnt the palace similarly a cage to the wastelands? Qing Chen thought that every time the old man spent the night at Autumn Leaf Courtyard, he was actually sneaking out for fun! He might even have sneaked out to buy liquor, eat twice-cooked pork, enjoying the bustling nightlife of City No. 18. Indeed, people in corporations surely are cunning! The old mans lie had lasted for decades, convincing everyone. Perfect! Such deep schemes! But for some reason, Qing Chen suddenly saw the old man in a less serious light. After all, who needs a tunnel to escape from their own home if they are serious? However, the old man leaving Autumn Leaf Courtyard to him might have been waiting for him to discover the secret and then enjoy the convenience of moving in and out of Halfway Estate freely. Even if Qing Chen caused troubles in City No. 18 later, who would think it was him who should have been in Halfway Estate? Pretty decent of him to pass on such a precious secret to me, Qing Chen smiled. He searched the room and surprisingly found 7 car keys: The old man really knew how to have fun! ... This chapter of five thousand words brings todays total to ten thousand, an additional update for the singles on this festive day. Your friends are celebrating, but here I am, sincerely accompanying all of you! You may not have love, but you have me! Thank you, student Lin-Xiaobai-Bai-Bai, for becoming a new ally of this book. Thanks to the boss, who has a sweetheart and will probably end up together! Asking for monthly tickets! Chapter 435: 303, Orthodox Practice Method Chapter 435: 303, Orthodox Practice Method Looking at the structure of the house, this is a modern residence, not the ancient-style architecture of a mid-mountain estate. Its only a little over two kilometers from the mid-mountain estate, so it probably isnt a skyscraper, as there are few skyscrapers in Upper Three Districts. The Estate should also avoid being spied upon, Qing Chen strolled through the spacious room, Could it be a small high-rise? Aside from seven car keys, the foyer cabinet also held seven mobile phones, and the wardrobe was packed full of clothes. Apart from a few formal pieces, they were mostly casual hoodies and sportswear. Qing Chen knew at first glance that the clothes were all custom-made for the old man. The old man is quite young at heart, dressing so flamboyantly, he chuckled, Looking at the dust in this house, it must have been a long, long time since anyone has visited. As Qing Chen was examining the wardrobe, he suddenly found a button hidden behind the hanging clothes. ... He gently pressed it, only to discover the wardrobe split open from the middle, revealing the weapon rack behind it. The rack was filled with an array of dozens of firearms and daggers, with various calibers of bullets placed beneath it. It seemed that these little gadgets were weapons for self-defense when the old man traveled. Now, they belonged to Qing Chen. Dragon Fish, firearms, and a house, the old mans gifts are overly generous, Qing Chen summed up, The old man is a good person indeed. However, all these gains still couldnt compare to the freedom the old man had given him. The privilege of entering and exiting the mid-mountain estate without a record was in itself the most precious gift. Yet, Qing Chen didnt rush out to explore the world of Upper Three Districts that night. Rather, after getting a sense of the situation, he returned to the Autumn Leaf Courtyard via the corridor. He had many guests this evening, and it could certainly be seen as arrogance if he didnt respond to someone knocking at the door, but it would also arouse suspicion. Thus, to avoid any mishaps, Qing Chen forcibly restrained his curiosity. Countdown 138:00:00. At 6 a.m., while Qing Chen was still immersed in the Mysterious World, Li Ke had already gotten up early from bed. He changed clothes, put on his backpack, and said goodbye to his parents. Then he jogged from his own Peak Villas all the way to the spot he and his classmates had agreed upon the previous night. He didnt bring any servants, it was just him. Last night, after Qing Chen asked him to lead the students in a run, he mentioned it in Lis School group chat, effectively giving advance notice. However, upon arriving at the agreed meeting spot, Li Ke found he was the only one there. The meeting spot was in front of a significant landmark sculpture within the mid-mountain estate called Dripping Spring, which seemed to be built by the ancestors to remind the Li descendants to repay kindness. At this moment, Li Ke stood there alone in front of the Dripping Spring sculpture. But the 14-year-old boy seemed unsurprised; he turned and ran towards Li Yinuos Qing Shan Villa. Upon reaching the gate of Qing Shan Villa, Li Ke took a megaphone out of his backpack. After catching his breath, he loudly declared, Qing Yi, Li Tongyun, please come out for the assembly. At 6:15 in the morning, the sound of the megaphone exploded like a thunderclap in the still morning air. It seemed as if it could shatter the night still looming overhead. No sooner had he called out than the servants of Qing Shan Villa poured out. A servant lowered his voice and roared, What kid comes here to make trouble so early in the...sorry, I didnt realize it was you. The servant recognized Li Ke immediately and nearly shuddered with fear. He had almost scolded a scion of the Lis Big Room! The last servant who scolded a master was possibly still shucking corn somewhere. However, the servant was puzzled as to why the scion of Lis Big Room would suddenly run to Qing Shan Villa causing a disturbance? Yet he saw Li Ke glare coldly at the servant, Go call Qing Yi... no, please call Qing Yi and Li Tongyun out. Li Ke had begun to speak but then remembered what the teacher had said last night: True cultivation is maintaining humility even before those inferior to you. To be honest, Li Ke was one of the most cultured young branches in the consortium, but he still didnt quite understand why he had to be so polite to a servant when he first heard it. Only after contemplating the word character back at home did he begin to truly appreciate its significance. Now, he really did feel a bit more humble from the heart, even towards a servant. The servant, hearing Li Ke speak so politely, didnt know what to make of this sudden change, but it was unnerving. The servant ran into Qing Shan Villa trying to wake Qing Yi. But the problem was, Qing Yi wouldnt listen to a servant; he kicked the servant out of the room, Get lost; who gave you the courage to wake me up? However, Li Kes voice followed right after from outside. Qing Yi, Im giving you one last minute to get dressed. Qing Yi, 30 seconds left. Qing Yi, last 10 seconds. Qing Yi, annoyed, turned over and pulled the blanket over his head, Why the heck do I always encounter lunatics! On the other side, after Li Ke finished the countdown, he charged expressionlessly into the interior. None of the security or servants dared to stop him. Chapter 436: 303, Orthodox cultivation method_2 Chapter 436: 303, Orthodox cultivation method_2 ` He came into Qing Yis room, forcefully yanked the other out of the blankets, and then it was a Cross Choke... Qing Yis eyes rolled back, and his palms rapidly slapped at Li Kes arm. Let go, let go, let go, Im gonna die! Li Ke, indifferent to Qing Yis pleas for mercy, mentally counted the seconds, letting go at the fourth second. Then, with a sincere and earnest look, he said, Student Qing Yi, have you forgotten what we said at school? Study hard, encourage each other. Now the teacher has given an order, we must not slack off. ... Qing Yi stared blankly at him, unable to discern whether this sincerity was genuine or feigned. Li Ke said, Ill be waiting outside for you, Student Qing Yi. At this moment, Qing Yi, still dressed in his pajamas, slumped bewilderingly onto the floor. A few seconds later, he came to his senses and began frantically slapping the floor: This is so wrong! He just couldnt make sense of it; how did his perfectly good vacation plan to watch a play transform into this current mess? And, was his plan to form an alliance with the 31 classmates a bit hasty? Before he could figure it out, Li Ke reappeared at the door, Student Qing Yi, are you dressed yet? Gonna die, gonna die, gonna die, Qing Yi, looking at Li Kes expression, hurriedly got up with a roll to change his clothes: Ill change right now! Li Ke, with a sleepy-eyed Qing Yi, jogged all the way to the next house. Li Tongyun was also dazed, but Li Ke was nice to her, deliberately slowing down to accommodate her age. After reaching a different courtyard gate, he proceeded as before, taking out a megaphone: Li Wen, come down for the assembly! This time, it was Li Wens mother who came out: Xiao Ke, what madness are you up to now? Li Ke said politely, Auntie, the schools instructor has issued an order, starting today all students must run together, at least five kilometers. Dont listen to that teacher of yours; he might not even be out of bed himself, the woman said with a gentle smile: You three dont just stand outside; come into the yard, Ill have the servants prepare breakfast for you. After eating, you can go back to catch up on some sleep before heading to school. By now, Qing Yi had fully awakened from the cold. He chuckled to himself as he watched Li Ke, wondering what the latter would do. You Li Ke can bully me, an outsider and a child, but could you really choke this ladys throat? Of course not! Moreover, the woman isnt even upset; shes inviting you to her home for a meal with great warmth. Would you really have the nerve to choke Li Wen after that? Lets go, Im starving to death. Lets go eat at Aunties house, Qing Yi said as he walked towards the house. However, Qing Yi had underestimated Li Kes determination. Hed barely taken two steps inside when he was locked in a chokehold by Li Ke again. While choking Qing Yi, Li Ke looked at the woman and said, Auntie, sorry. With that, he released Qing Yi, who started coughing at the side of the road. Then Li Ke raised his megaphone again: Li Wen, come down for the assembly! Li Wen, come down for the assembly! Li Wen, come down for the assembly! Qing Yi, Li Tongyun, and the woman were all left agape at the scene, unable to believe how persistent Li Ke was. With complex emotions, the woman asked, Xiao Ke, what are you really after with all this? Li Ke replied earnestly, Auntie, the teacher has an order, and I have to carry it out. Even if it means losing face, I must do it. The woman, curious, asked, Stop shouting for a moment and answer me, youre one of the most distinguished children of the Li Family, why do you listen so obediently to this instructor? Does your father know about this? Li Ke glanced at the woman, Auntie, my father knows; he said to do as the teacher says. The woman was stunned. The Lis Big Room had truly gone mad. It was just an instructor, yet how could he have the approval of Li Kes father, who was in charge of the secretariat? She had heard rumors the night before that Li Ke was serving tea and water, cooking and washing dishes at the Autumn Leaf Courtyard, and she thought it was merely servants spouting nonsense. Now, it seemed likely to be true! How could it be? The woman failed to understand what was so special about this instructor. Was he some illegitimate child of the family head? After thinking it over, the woman said, Xiao Ke, you also know that every family treasures their children. Doing this, you will provoke widespread anger. Li Ke pondered for a moment, Auntie, do they have a Dragon Fish and Autumn Leaf Courtyard to treasure? The woman was dumbfounded for a long while before finally bringing her own daughter out: Have it your way; do whatever you want today, she said. Thank you for your understanding, Auntie. Its not just for today but for every day to come. You might be uncomfortable now, but youll get used to it soon, Li Ke said, expressing his gratitude before continuing to jog on to the next house with the three people behind him. The woman waved them off weakly: Go on then. At this point, Qing Yi was stunned. He had anticipated a turning point, but not one that would be even less favorable to him! Next, Qing Yi witnessed firsthand how Li Ke diligently and responsibly implemented Qing Chens instructions. With an absolutely meticulous attitude, he all but turned half of the Banshan Manor into a scene of chaos... The issue was, after the previous events, all of the parents had somehow agreed to hand over their children. At 9 am, the students sat listlessly in the main hall like frost-stricken eggplants, waiting for class to start. ` Chapter 437: 303, Orthodox cultivation method_3 Chapter 437: 303, Orthodox cultivation method_3 Over a dozen students sat on chairs, their little heads swinging as they were on the verge of falling asleep. Math instructor Zhou Xingwen looked at the students with heartache. He stormed off to the office, fuming, This is too much, way over the line. This is seriously disrupting the normal order of the school. With him doing this, who could stay awake for classes during the day? In fact, after a weekend, everyone had gradually gotten used to the existence of Qing Chen. After all, although the new instructor was domineering, he hadnt taken over anyone elses classes, and with only two combat sessions a week, everyone could bear with it and get through. However, now Qing Chen had indeed not taken any classes from other instructors, but he had actually increased the total duration of the classes. ... This was like forcefully adding an extra session to his daily schedule! Now, while other instructors were still vying for time slots within the original curriculum plan, Qing Chen had carved his own path by adding so many class hours! The key issue was that Qing Chen ran the kids ragged early in the morning, leaving them with no energy for their day classes! ... ... At 10 a.m., unaware of these matters, Qing Chen leisurely headed toward Dragon Lake with a small stool in tow. An old man who had been sitting on the broken bridge since who knows when, heard his footsteps and said irritably, Look at the fine mess youve made. There were dozens of calls to the Secretariat just this morning to complain, youve turned the whole Mid-Mountain Estate upside down! Ah? Qing Chen paused, placing his small stool next to the old man, What happened? Was it you who had Li Ke take the students for a run? the old man asked coldly. Yeah, Qing Chen answered nonchalantly, Just look at those Li Family youngsters, every one of them so frail, and there are two chubby ones who are nearly losing sight of their own eyes because of the fat. Only by sticking to exercise can they strengthen from within, such that the hormones secreted by your body will keep you optimistic and cheerful. The old man was speechless for a while, Does it need to be so early? I heard that Li Ke got up at 6 a.m.! I requested six, Qing Chen thought for a moment and said, He probably anticipated that the students wouldnt listen to him, so he got up early to allow some time to get everyone out of bed. There have already been instructors at the school who have complained about you together, saying youre disrupting the normal teaching order, the old man spoke. Theyll get used to the rhythm, replied Qing Chen as if it were no big deal, Everyone will feel tired at first, but when their health improves, theyll be more spirited during the day. Old man, they might not understand this logic, but you should, right? By the way, how did the Secretariat respond to them? The old man was silent for a few seconds, The Secretariat didnt respond. No response was a response in itselfthe Secretariats stance was simple: were not getting involved with the affairs of Lis School. Qing Chen chuckled, See, only when I get these kids in line can I continue to teach them new things, such as that little booklet you gave me. The old mans eyes brightened, Did you really decipher it? Yeah, Qing Chen nodded, Its indeed a treasure. It doesnt have side effects like those of the Fierce Tiger Sect, and it doesnt require losing anything. It should be considered a rather orthodox method of cultivation. He had roughly come to understand the methods of cultivation in the Inner World; the big shots divided cultivation into orthodox and unorthodox. Unorthodox cultivation meant practicing without the aid of Breathing Techniques, resulting in certain costs and side effects, with a lower upper limit. Orthodox cultivation, however, meant practicing with the aid of Breathing Techniques, leading to a balanced and harmonious path with no side effects. Thus, the difference between orthodox and unorthodox lay in the Breathing Techniques. Not only the Breathing Techniques of the Federation and the Knights, but some true cultivators also mastered other Breathing Techniques. This gave Qing Chen the impression that Breathing Techniques were similar to the inner breathing from novels of the Outer World, where mastering inner breathing could advance one to the high mastership of the Innate Realm, whereas without it, one could only remain a layman outside of the Acquired Realm... The old man wondered, How can a heretical organization possess such an orthodox method of cultivation? Of course, Qing Chen said, The tool is in the hands of the user; what a person becomes has no necessary relation to the method of cultivation. Whats the highest level it can promise? the old man inquired. Qing Chen looked at him, I can only promise up to B-Class for now, the rest is all up to fate. And one more thing, old man, Im not teaching just anyone. If someone cant even keep up with running, then its best they settle for being a wealthy tycoon early on. Holding power isnt necessarily a good thing for them, and you understand this better than I do. Can lifespan be extended by twenty years? the old man asked. Qing Chen finally understood what the old man wanted, Extending it by twenty years is not a problem. Reaching B-Class can extend it by forty years. Unorthodox cultivation not only didnt extend lifespan but could even be detrimental to ones health, leading to a shorter life. Qing Chen curiously asked, Do you care a lot about lifespan? The old man said, I dont care for myself, but for a consortium hoping for a stable foundation, a longer lifespan means a more enduring legacy. Though this isnt absolute, standing in the Federation means constantly seeking innovation to cope with the changes of the world. Understood, Qing Chen nodded, You hope the power transition within the Li Family would be smoother and more stable. The old man smiled, Not just that, the situation is quite complex. Youll understand in the future. Sitting on the broken bridge, the old man pondered for a moment before suddenly instructing, Get the Secretariat to annotate the complaints from the students parents, instructing them all to follow the schools arrangements, and issue this directive in the Bosss name. The so-called Boss was the old mans eldest son, Li Kes biological father. Qing Chen looked around, Who are you talking to? The previous statement was obviously not directed at him, which meant there was a master nearby, one that even Qing Chen was unable to detect. ... Chapter of 5000 words, another one at 11 PM. Thanks to the book friend 20200916212218388 for becoming a new ally of the book. Thank you to Buddha-like scum and Devil Wandering man for becoming the books new members of the Silver City Alliance. Bosses are generous. I wish you an ever-stable connection and a crash-free gaming experience! Chapter 438: 304, Mister and Master (Requesting Monthly Pass) Chapter 438: 304, Mister and Master (Requesting Monthly Pass) It wasnt long after the old man had given his instructions. The most authoritative secretariat of the Li Family, which had previously been silent, suddenly changed its attitude and responded one by one to the complaints of the students parents: As the future foundation of the clan, Lis School students must resolutely obey the schools arrangements, and while learning cultural knowledge, they should not forget to develop comprehensively in morality, intelligence, physique, and aesthetics... The responses were filled with grandiose words, but as the parents read with widened eyes, they realized that the several hundred-word response actually contained only two words: Obey. This was strange, silence would have been sufficient, so why take a stance at all? Perhaps it was out of concern that people would stir up trouble again, so they stressed the point once more! What was the background of this instructor that even the secretariat issued a response to endorse him?! ... Now it was settled, if anyone wanted to make trouble again, it would mean disobeying the secretariats response, which was a very serious matter in the Li Family. For example, if a woman without rank or title made a fuss again, her man would also be punished. On the broken bridge by Longhu Lake, Qing Chen curiously asked, How many legitimate cultivation methods are there in existence? The old man answered indifferently, There are as many cultivation methods in this world as carps crossing the river, but those legitimate traditions that can extend life do not exceed five, and now, there is one more in your hands. So few? Qing Chen was astonished. Therefore, I have another matter to discuss with you, the old man said: It is not just this batch of Lis School students who will come to learn, but also some young people from the Li Family who have passed tests. Qing Chen raised an eyebrow: You didnt mention this before, and I havent personally tested them. How do I know whether they are qualified or not? The old man assured, Dont worry, the young people the Li Family places in important positions wont be spoiled brats. Additionally, if you are concerned they wont acknowledge you, or that they might threaten you in the future, I can have them kowtow and formally take you as their master over tea. Qing Chen was genuinely surprised. An instructor was respected, but kowtowing over tea as a formal apprentice signified a true core position. The Li Family values hierarchy, where a master is a master and must not be defied. If they ever met on the battlefield, these Li Family members who had taken him as their master must also avoid him by a considerable margin. This was the foundation of the Li Familys own order; if the order was disturbed, the Li Family would be in chaos. Furthermore, the young people chosen by the old man to learn the legitimate cultivation methods would likely have a pivotal role in the entire Li Family in the future. Qing Chen asked calmly, Do you understand the implications of this? The old man chuckled, The young people Ive chosen are those who have fought for life and death on the battlefield. With the Federations civil war looming, and Jindai and Deer Island amassing troops at the northern border, if the Li Familys youth can take a cultivation path without side effects, then their chances of survival on the battlefield will also increase. Though modern warfare no longer depends on personal martial strength, and individual force cannot change much, if their physical condition is stronger, their ability to self-heal will increase. Its always better to try than to do nothing. So, the old mans most fundamental purpose was simply to hope that the future pillars of the Li Family wouldnt all die on the battlefield. I thought you hoped they would all live to a ripe old age, Qing Chen said. Thats the law of nature, the old man laughed: So, do you agree? After thinking for a moment, Qing Chen said, The methods of cultivation were given by you, and they will be formally taking me as master. What reasons do I have not to agree? The most fundamental reason was that, after all, the cultivation methods were indeed gifted to him. The old man had already guessed that the Outer World would have similar sentiments, and anyone could slowly translate it with the help of a Time Traveler; it wasnt necessary to involve him specifically. Qing Chen suddenly realized that the old man was also making an investment. Just like Hu Xiaonius fathers investment, they had all realized that after the connection between the Inner and Outer Worlds was established, it could bring new dynamics to both worlds. Therefore, these truly clever individuals chose to support the most outstanding among Time Travelers with the aim of an uncertain future. True investment does not necessarily see profit with every venture, and casual acts may sometimes create unexpected shelter. However, for Qing Chen, this represented a significant leap in status! Third-generation youngsters would address him as master, and they would call Uncle Li Dong as Seventh Uncle. In the future, he could independently stand side by side with Uncle Li Dong... Wait, the old mans significant status leap for him didnt have any other ulterior motives, did it? By the way, old man, what do you usually do when you sneak out through the secret passages? Qing Chen asked curiously, blinking his eyes. The old man was taken aback: Youve discovered the secret passages so quickly?! Ive also found seven car keys, a wall of firearms... and some flashy clothes, Qing Chen said: Oh, and seven mobile phones. Are you usually using seven identities? Im very curious about what these identities are... At this moment, the old man flicked his wrist and lifted the fishing rod, handing the Dragon Fish he had caught to Qing Chen: Take it and scram. Alright, then, said Qing Chen, feeling somewhat reluctant. ... ... Upon returning to Autumn Leaf Courtyard, Qing Chen chopped off a thick branch from a camphor tree in the surroundings and carved himself a wooden sign. The sign bore only two characters: No Visitors. In the evening, when Li Ke got off school, he came over to cook and do miscellaneous chores. He also meticulously wiped down the lounge chair that Qing Chen used daily. At this point, because of the accumulation of lactic acid in his body after excessive exercise, Li Ke was moving somewhat uncomfortably, feeling as though his legs no longer belonged to him. Chapter 439: 304, Mr. and Master (Requesting Monthly Pass)_2 Chapter 439: 304, Mr. and Master (Requesting Monthly Pass)_2 ` However, even so, Li Ke still insisted on finishing all the miscellaneous tasks. During this time, servants from several other households came to deliver fruits and melons. Although they claimed to be delivering fruits and melons, those servants were sneakily observing Li Kes busy figure all along, seemingly trying to probe for some information. perfect your own character. Just like when you encounter a beggar on the street. Does giving him a dollar really help him? It doesnt. But that dollar is not for him; its for yourself. Think back, did your inner sense of order feel a bit more peaceful after giving him the money? Li Ke was taken aback: It seems so. ... He hadnt heard others discuss beggars in such a way. Then how do you feel about not bossing the servants around anymore? Qing Chen asked. At first, it felt awkward, but later it made me feel somewhat different from the others, which was quite a good sensation. I gained more recognition for my self-cultivation, Li Ke said. Qing Chen laughed, Dont always think about such grand propositions in your heart; this is enough. He had understood that in his students life of 14 years, all he had faced was a world where class was rigid, and people were categorized into distinct levels. Thus, his concepts still needed to be gradually adjusted. Just then, Li Ke asked, Master, what if a beggar is able-bodied and only pretends to beg for money? After you give him the money, he may even call you a fool behind your back. What do you do when you come across such a situation? Without a second thought, Qing Chen said, Beat him up. All right, I need to go back and think it over more. If Master has no other matters, I will leave now, Li Ke said. Go on, then. Li Ke left the Autumn Leaf Courtyard early after finishing his meal; he needed to return home and adjust his daily routine. Qing Chen handed him a sign that read No Visitors: Go hang this at the door for me. As of now, visitors are turned away after 7 P.M. every evening, no exceptions. Li Ke was startled at first, but quickly said, Yes, I will also inform the others. After Li Ke left, it was already 7:30 P.M. when someone came to visit. No matter how much the visitor knocked, Qing Chen calmly replied from his chair: Please leave, no visitors for today. No matter whose name the visitor announced, Qing Chen ignored them all. The servant outside left in discontent. of the main house, also found the matter inappropriate and therefore warned Li Ke? But that seemed unlikely since the Secretariat had specifically issued an official approval. As far as the parents were concerned, it was best for everyone to live in peace. The students who no longer had to do the morning exercises were delighted and would even persuade other students in class not to attend them anymore. Some students even conspired in private to ostracize Li Ke and isolate him. ` Chapter 440: 304, Mister and Master (Requesting Monthly Pass)_3 Chapter 440: 304, Mister and Master (Requesting Monthly Pass)_3 On the fourth night, as the No Visitors sign hung outside the Autumn Leaf Courtyard, past seven oclock, no more guests came. Everyone knew the rule of the Autumn Leaf Courtyard, that no visitors would be received after 7 p.m. Just as when the old man mourned his mentor before, nobody was allowed to disturb him. Even if the sky fell outside, that door would not open. The old man on the broken bridge by the lake also heard about this and kept telling Qing Chen that he was smart, which meant Qing Chen did not have to worry about anything when he came and went from the mountainside estate. However, this also gave outsiders an impression of Qing Chen, that this teaching master was naturally arrogant and did not give face to anyone. ... ... In the Federal First Group Army, an officer walked through the neat barracks and arrived at his superiors residence. After reporting his arrival, he looked at his superior, Commander, I would like to return home to visit my relatives, please issue me a visa. The commander was curious, Li Su, were about to have a drill, and youre asking for leave at this time? Li Su glanced around. The commander waved his hand to dismiss all the staff officers. Li Su then said, Fourth uncle, its not that I want to go back, its that the clan has summoned me to the mountainside estate. This was a force completely controlled by the Li Family, with almost half of its members being loyal to the Li Family, either through blood relations or sworn secret allegiance. Therefore, it was not surprising that Li Sus commander was his fourth uncle. It was also one of the reasons why consortiums could exert control over the Federation. The commander was a bit curious, The family has summoned you back abruptly at this time? Why havent I received such notice? The instruction came directly from the Secretariat, Li Su thought and said, As for the specifics of what needs to be done, I can only be informed after signing a confidentiality agreement there. The commander thought for a moment, Then you go pack your things. Ill have the staff prepare a family visit visa for you right away, and then an airship will take you back. As for what this trip is really about, I wont ask any further in the future. You act as if youve never told me this... and dont tell anyone else. Li Su nodded, Understood. At this moment, similar scenes were unfolding throughout the Federal Groups military, where several outstanding young members of the Li Family, including those who were at least the rank of major, were all taking leave to visit relatives and were being transported to City No. 18 by the Federal Groups airships. This move tugged on the nerves of many. After their departure, many speculated that the patriarch of the Li Family might really be in a dire state and these young people were returning home to attend to funeral affairs and vie for the uncontrollable authority of the Li Family. On the very night that these soldiers left, the forces controlled by the Northern Jindai and the Deer Island family once again marched, advancing fifty kilometers to the south. For modern military strategy, advancing fifty kilometers was not particularly alarming. However, the action itself conveyed a very dangerous signal. On the fifth day since crossing, the small group originally made up of eight people running drills suddenly saw two more, Li Yinuo and Nan Gengchen. When asked, Li Yinuo simply said she wanted to exercise her body and explained no further. On the sixth day since crossing, a familiar yet unfamiliar face appeared in the running group! to blend back into the running group arrived at Dripping Spring Plaza, only to find not a single person there... Confused, they stood in the thin fog of winter, somewhat at a loss. ... ... A five-thousand-word chapter, ten thousand words updated today, one more chapter for Brother Yan whose debt I have now repaid, and from tomorrow, Ill start repaying other benefactors. Asking for monthly tickets Chapter 441: 305, Article 10 Dragon Fish (Request for monthly tickets) Chapter 441: 305, Article 10 Dragon Fish (Request for monthly tickets) In the past few days, Li Ke felt like he was engaging in guerrilla warfare, changing assembly locations frequently just to avoid those students who wished to rejoin the morning exercise squad. Indeed, on the evening of the sixth day, some students parents had already shown up at his doorstep with gifts in hand. At that time, his father was still working overtime at the Privy Council, and it was he and his mother who entertained the guests. ed to do this? They didnt care whether it was Qing Chens instructions or not; they didnt dare to attack Qing Chen, so they targeted Li Ke, who was tasked with carrying out the orders. In the school, most of the children had been screened out, and everyone had their servants look in every direction for half the morning, unable to find out where Li Ke and the others were gathering or running. ... After all the commotion, today Li Ke simply set the assembly point at the sniper field on the back mountainwho would have thought that a morning run would take place in such a location? There were even those who waited at Li Kes front door at 5:30 in the morning, a tactic indeed advised by a wise personsince youre engaging in guerrilla tactics, Ill just block your front door, right? You have to leave the house eventually, right? However, they found out that Li Ke hadnt slept at the Peak View Courtyard at all that night, but had run straight to Li Yinuos Qing Shan Villa and slept next to Qing Yi. This move had caught many people off guard; some speculated that it was the instruction of the teaching master. By this time, other students had already sensed that something significant was going to happen to those who persisted in the running, and they couldnt hide their jealousy anymore. Even those who ran with him did not speak up for him. Everyone just let the verbal attacks fly at Li Ke. However, facing all the mockery and ridicule, Li Ke still attended class and listened to lectures with an emotionless expression as if he was not affected in the least. In the afternoon during the first break, Li Ke returned from the restroom and sat down, only to be shocked to find his chair had been doused with water at some point, resulting in his pants getting soaked as he sat down. It was winter now, and wet pants could not possibly dry with just body heat, and the cold sensation felt like a knife stabbing into Li Ke. A chubby boy started laughing, Li Ke wet his pants! Li Ke calmly glanced at him but still did not speak a word. d. Qing Chen seemed utterly unaware of this, lying on the lounge chair without moving an inch. Li Ke quickly wiped away his tears and continued to make braised fish. Today, Qing Chen had pushed the target of the sniper training to 2100 meters, leaving just the last 500 meters to be considered graduated. Chapter 442: 305, Article 10 Dragon Fish (Request for monthly tickets)_2 Chapter 442: 305, Article 10 Dragon Fish (Request for monthly tickets)_2 However, graduation still wasnt the end; next, he would add extra training courses like altitude. After a while, Li Ke brought the braised fish to the table. Go hang the Do Not Disturb sign for me, and lock the door tightly, or else today might get a bit lively, Qing Chen said with his eyes closed. Li Ke was taken aback, but complied nonetheless. No sooner had the sign been hung than there came a knocking at the door, and someone outside called out, Sir, Ive brought my child to apologize to you. Please open the door. Li Ke looked to Qing Chen, only to find his instructor already picking up his chopsticks and starting to eat the fish, completely ignoring what was happening outside. ... Outside the Autumn Leaf Courtyard, the parents and students didnt leave, and in a short while, more parents and students arrived at the door. Gradually, over ten students and their parents were waiting outside, while Li Ke noticed his own instructor eating the Dragon Fish as if nothing was amiss, calmly and deliberately. The fish is salty today, are you preoccupied? Qing Chen asked while eating. Li Ke thought about it and ultimately decided not to voice his grievances. He replied, Sir, I owe you an apology. Last night, someone came looking for me, wanting me to plead on their behalf. I said that its not up to me, and that it would have to be you to decide. What you said wasnt wrong, Qing Chen shook his head, no need to blame yourself. Li Ke spoke earnestly, Its not like that. Later on, my mother scolded me. She said that since you entrusted such an important matter to me, it was my duty to shield you from all trouble, instead of pushing all responsibility onto you. Your mother isnt wrong either, Qing Chen said, but still, no need for self-reproach. At this moment, Qing Chen thought to himself, no wonder Li Ke is more likeable than the other children; its because he has an excellent mother, as well as good family values. Qing Chen glanced at Li Ke, Have you cried? Yes, Li Ke answered honestly. Did your classmates scold you? Qing Chen laughed heartily. How did you know, sir? Li Ke was curious. I could guess. Sit down and eat. Once everyone outside has left, then you can go, Qing Chen said. He didnt ask whether the other person was feeling all right, seeming not to care at all. However, at that moment, the sound of a parent scolding came from outside: Kneel down in front of the sirs door. If the sir doesnt come out to see you, youre not allowed to get up. It appeared that the parents were resorting to extreme measures. Initially, only one parent did this, but soon others followed suit, and a row of students ended up kneeling at the door, crying bitterly. The once quiet Autumn Leaf Courtyard suddenly became noisy. Qing Chen looked at Li Ke, What are you standing around for, come and eat. Knowing that the clamor at the door was due to his own mistake, Li Ke shook his head and said, Sir, I made a mistake today, I wont eat. Ill go wash your clothes for you. Saying this, Li Ke didnt look back as he entered the west wing, silently taking clothes out of the basket and starting to scrub them by hand. The winter water was cold, but he didnt use a washing machine, as if he was punishing himself. Qing Chen just smiled at the scene and continued to eat his fish down to the clean bones, leaving no meat on them. When he ate the last piece of fish eye meat, he suddenly felt as if the warmth of every bite he had ever consumed burst forth anew from deep within his bones. It was as if small streams had finally come together into a torrent, breaking through the mountains, rushing forth like a mighty river! A parent muttered outside, Is there anyone at home? The children have been kneeling and crying at the door for half an hour, and this sir is so heartless he wont open the door? As they spoke, they pressed their ear against the red door. But as soon as they did, a thunderous sound seemed to explode by their ear, a deep, muffled thunder as if hiding behind clouds. The parent was startled and looked up at the sky, only to see it clear with scattered stars, no cloud or thunder to be seen. Its the Dragon Fish, he ate the last Dragon Fish, a students father exclaimed in shock. I heard that eating nine Dragon Fish would cause ones bones to make thundering sounds, I thought it was just a legend... Where did you hear that from? someone curiously asked. The male parent said in a low voice, Back then, my Seventh Brother always wanted to steal fish from Dragon Lake; when someone asked him why, thats what he said. At this very moment, Li Ke, who was scrubbing clothes with cold water in the west wing, turned in astonishment towards his instructor. In his gaze, he saw no sign of abnormality on Qing Chen, but his hair was falling out strand by strand. The fallen hair turned to dust as it hit the ground, and Qing Chens head was instantly bare. But as Li Ke watched, he couldnt help thinking that even if the sir became a Monk, he would likely be the best-looking Monk there was. Qing Chens baldness was short-lived, as new stubble quickly grew back on his head. In a mere two seconds, his hair had returned to its original state. The change was so swift that Li Ke was left stunned, without enough time to even open his mouth before it was over. Sir, youve grown taller, Li Ke said, dumbstruck. Yes, Qing Chen nodded, Ive grown two centimeters taller. I was 181 before, now Im 183. So it turned out that the creatures from the Taboo Land were indeed so miraculous. If anyone were to tell him again that the Taboo Land contained things that could bring the dead back to life, Qing Chen would believe them. However, the mutated animals and plants from the Taboo Land were more likely to be toxic and harmful, rather than beneficial. Chapter 443: 305, Article 10 Dragon Fish (Request for monthly tickets)_3 Chapter 443: 305, Article 10 Dragon Fish (Request for monthly tickets)_3 Eating carelessly might kill you. Qing Chen silently sensed the changes in his body, and he was certain of one thing, no Transcendent of the same level, or even a level higher, could now break his bones. Moreover, the changes brought about by the bones were not merely about toughness, they also possessed a powerful hematopoietic function. Qing Chens ears twitched slightly. At that moment, whispered voices came from outside the door, and Qing Chen unexpectedly found that the sounds, which he had previously been unable to hear, were now clear as day. What exactly is happening inside, are you sure its the effect of eating the Dragon Fish? ... How long must our child kneel, isnt this tutor too harsh? Qing Chen immediately realized that his ears also had bones: the malleus, incus, and stapes! These three tiny bones formed a chain with ligaments, and when sound waves reached the end of the outer ear canal, they caused a change in pressure on the eardrum. The eardrum then vibrated back and forth, replicating the sound source, and the attached malleus also vibrated. This vibration was transferred through the incus to the stapes, the other end of which connected to the oval window, causing movement of the fluid in the inner ear, thereby stimulating the auditory receptors of the inner ear. After his transformation, these three tiny auditory bones also evolved, allowing him to hear the conversation outside the door clearly. Not only that, but also the sound of leaves rubbing in the Autumn Leaf Courtyard. The continuous sound of the leaves rubbing together swept through like waves crashing against cliffs. (What do you think, why is this tutor so domineering? So many parents have brought their children to kneel outside his door, and he does not feel pity at all...) (Stop talking about it, didnt you initially suggest that our child should go running? Werent you the one spoiling our child by saying he could skip it? Can we really blame the tutor?) (Wasnt I just trying to let the child sleep a bit longer? Are you blaming me now?) (Now is not the time to talk about this, lets see when we can move the tutors heart.) (Shall I go get the life detector to see if anyone is inside...) Qing Chen: ... He heard everything, but chose not to respond. Qing Chen turned to Li Ke inside the room and said, Stop doing the laundry for now. These people wont leave anytime soon, make another Dragon Fish. Ah? Li Ke was taken aback, Dragon Fish? Sir, havent you already had nine? Just make it, theres one more preserved at the bottom of the fridge, Qing Chen said. Okay, Li Ke wiped his hands and went back into the kitchen. It wasnt long before the steamed Dragon Fish was served. Li Ke hesitated, Sir, try the taste, if its not right, Ill make a new batch of sauce. However, this time Qing Chen looked at Li Ke, This one is for you to eat. Li Kes eyes suddenly reddened, he wiped his tears and looked at Qing Chen, only to find his tutor had already laid back down on the lounge chair, continuing to rest with his eyes closed. The 14-year-old boy sat quietly by the stone table, picking up the fish with his chopsticks eagerly, wishing he could chew and swallow even the bones. In the Mysterious World, Qing Chen heard the crunching sounds without even opening his eyes and said, Dont chew on the fish bones, you cant digest them. If he could have digested them, he would have chewed and swallowed the bones along with the fish long ago. Unfortunately, the effect of the Dragon Fish was to strengthen bones and muscles; his own bones were hard as steel, no matter how hard Qing Chen tried, he couldnt leave a single tooth mark on them. But speaking of which, Li Kes way of chewing on the fish bones did have a bit of his style. Qing Chen even wondered if his master had looked the same when he ate that fish all those years ago. Perhaps this is what they call the meeting of intriguing souls... Li Ke was startled for a moment, then finally gave up on chewing the fish bones. Sir, where did you get this fish from? Dont worry, its not stolen, Qing Chen said. Oh, Li Ke nodded and continued eating the fish. At this moment, he no longer cried; he only felt that all the grievances he had suffered today were worth it. Since the gentleman even managed to get a dragon fish for him, there were many things he didnt need to askas the answers were naturally forming in his heart. Li Ke listened to the crying outside the door, hesitated for a moment, and finally asked, Sir, do you really intend not to let them in? Lying on the chair, Qing Chen calmly replied, If crying, making a scene, and threatening to hang themselves were useful, wouldnt the grievances you suffered today be in vain? Li Ke was stunned, yet he saw his tears flowing down uncontrollably again. It turned out the gentleman knew everything. Li Ke didnt know what was wrong with himself today. The tears he had shed this day were more than those he had shed in the past ten years. At that moment, Qing Chen faced the rampaging parents without any panic because he had understood that the Li Family had been conducting this kind of selection operation for many years; it used to be managed by the Bureau of Secrecy, and now, it was Qing Chen doing it smoothly. The vast Li Family never lacked descendants, and they screened out all the poor fits, allowing them to be marginalized while placing the best into various crucial positions. Including the sudden return of Li Su and others, they had actually gone through several selections already. To outsiders, the Li Family seemed on the verge of internal strife, but in Qing Chens view, the place couldnt be more stable. Qing Chen once asked the old man: What exactly does the Bureau of Secrecy do? The old mans answer was: Actually, the Bureau of Secrecy only has two important tasks: managing the business well and placing the right talent in the most suitable positions. The Bureau of Secrecy is like the brain of this consortium, with all the strategists inside safeguarding the entire group by making the best decisions. The Bureau has a specialized group of advisors, and even their position is called National Policy Advisorsprobably among the smartest bunch in the Inner World. Qing Chen thought, then who was the Li Familys intentionally staged chaos meant to be displayed to? When peace was gradually restored outside the gate of the Autumn Leaf Courtyard, Qing Chen glanced at the now clean dishes and Li Ke, Its getting late; head back. Yes, sir, Li Ke said. The gate of Autumn Leaf Courtyard opened, and the students and parents outside had all disappeared, not one remaining. Qing Chen sighed inwardly, indeed they were all opportunists. Without seeing the real benefits, these people didnt even have the guts to kneel for one night. It was proven that not everyone in the consortium was wise. And some people being gradually marginalized by the Bureau of Secrecy was not without reason. Qing Chen glanced at the countdown on his arm, turned around, and walked back inside the house. Return countdown 1:00:00. The time was ripe, and the rules were set. He walked through the long corridor; it was time to go outside and see. The last hour was enough for him to get ready in the cabin at the end of the corridor, and after the next crossing, he could go out into the outer world. ... A 5,000-word chapter, and theres another update at 11 PM. Thanks to Sew, Dabais I, and Long You Ni Lin, three classmates who have become new allies of this book. The bosses are generous, and may the bosses eat without gaining weight! Chapter 474 474: 316, Corridor, and Sniper (Vote for monthly ticket!)_2 What he referred to as "Ghost" was encountering an "accident." The B-Class Expert inspected carefully, "There is no smell of blood, not at all, something is strange." Normally, if someone had been killed here and bled, no matter how the culprits cleaned within two days, unless they used disinfectant to wash the entire room, there would definitely be a lingering smell of blood. But there was no smell of disinfectant in the room, nor was there any smell of blood. "Could it be that our people didn''t die here?" one of the assassins analyzed with a frown, "Or maybe, they were worried about being discovered and killed by the Li Family if they continued the mission with us, so they all chose to flee secretly?" "We can''t be certain yet," the B-Class Expert said calmly, "First, let''s look for the entrance to the passage. We can only know the answer after we find it." The group searched in an extremely professional manner, and without even tapping the floor, they located the mechanism directly. An assassin gently turned the flower vase on the coffee table, and a deep passage leading underground appeared before everyone''s eyes. "001, shall we go in?" one of the assassins asked. 001 was the code name of that B-Class Expert. This combat team consisted of 12 members, numbered from 001 to 012. The assassins were spies hidden in City 18; even when acting together, the principle of secrecy did not allow them to reveal their real names to their comrades. Only when summoned by the organization would they shed their ordinary people identities and gather together to form a tactical infiltration team. "We''ve found the passage, do we act now? Or do we report back to the organization about the missing personnel first and find those four before deciding?" 009 asked. 001, that sturdy man, pondered for a moment, "The organization has issued a final ultimatum to me. The deployment of the 081 Garrison Brigade was too sudden. The organization urgently needs to know what is happening inside the Ban Mountain Manor." The other eleven assassins looked at each other. A final ultimatum meant that they had to complete the mission at all costs. If they failed, their lives and those of their family members would be the price of failure. "There''s no turning back, down the passage! I will escort you into the passage, then wait there to back you up. Remember, no matter how severe the manhunt, you must escape back to the passage and relay the intelligence to me," 001 said in a low voice. The remaining eleven replied in succession, "Understood." Having said this, the twelve entered the passage in turn, with B-Class 001 bringing up the rear, wary as a fierce wolf. The passage led straight to Ban Mountain Estate. According to their map calculations, they had to travel 2.7 kilometers to enter the target area. As for what was at the end of the passage, they were also in the dark. What does 2.7 kilometers mean? Even in the daytime, it would require a telescope to clearly see a target over 2.7 kilometers away. 001 examined the walls of the passage; the steel-reinforced concrete structure was sturdy enough to support the entire passage 7 meters underground without collapsing. Many of the tritium lamps on the walls were damaged, but oddly enough, 001 clearly identified that those lamps hadn''t broken naturally but had been smashed from the outside. Strange, who would deliberately damage the tritium lamps? But just at that moment, a thunderous noise suddenly erupted from the end of the passage. The noise couldn''t penetrate the surface, yet it roared angrily in the narrow passage like the tidal bore on the Qiantang River, whistling furiously. An armor-piercing bullet with a tungsten core traversed the darkness of the straight passage in an instant, and in a flash, four members at the front of the 12-person tactical infiltration team were penetrated! A cloud of blood burst in the one-meter-wide passage, as the assassins behind felt a rain of blood washing over them, drenching them in red from head to toe. A shock went through the hearts of the assassins! Sniper! There was actually a sniper hidden in this passage! Under normal circumstances, a sniper''s position would be in the most open area, possessing the most fearful suppressive firepower on the battlefield. Who could have expected a sniper to be hiding in this passage? When an anti-materiel rifle fired in this tight and straight passage, the sniper didn''t even need to aim deliberately to achieve a hundred percent kill rate! No matter how powerful you are, unless you''re A-Class, being hit by this bullet almost certainly means death. The most critical point was that the power of the armor-piercing bullet was immense, piercing through three or four people as if it were nothing! "Get down! The shooter is about a kilometer away; it''s hard to hit prone targets!" someone yelled in the passage as all the assassins crawled on the ground, retreating towards the entrance to the passage. Getting down was wise, because once the range exceeded a kilometer, those prone assassins were shielded by the fallen bodies, making it hard to catch sight of their movements from the shooter''s perspective. But looking back at the lengthy passage, the assassins felt a wave of despair. They realized that the sniper was extremely venomous and ruthless. The sniper had clearly discovered the tactical infiltration team''s entry but had waited until they had almost covered two kilometers before finally taking the shot. At that moment, they had 1000 meters to reach the sniper. If they retreated, they were 1700 meters from the passage entrance. Whether they advanced or retreated, it seemed there was only a dead end. "Smoke grenades," said 001 from the back of the group, "Throw smoke grenades to block the sniper''s vision, then we crawl out quickly." Although smoke grenades weren''t part of the initial plan for this infiltration and there wasn''t much need for them, how could these professionals not carry them? Chapter 475 475: 316, Corridor, and Sniper (Vote for monthly ticket!)_3 Carrying a burden was still better than not having it when needed. An assassin pulled the pin of a smoke grenade and threw it with all his might, but while the grenade was still in the air, it was pierced by a sniper bullet. The smokescreen agent, which should have burned fully, couldn''t function properly after being pierced by the bullet, causing the smoke that should have filled the entire corridor to thin out significantly. "What kind of shooting skills are these? The opponent is at least 1000 meters away from us, hitting a target as small as a smoke grenade from that distance? And it was even forcefully thrown out? Is it a coincidence?" an assassin asked. "In battle, don''t count on coincidences," 001 said calmly, "How many smoke grenades are left?" "One." "Don''t throw it away; just drop it next to yourself." As soon as he finished speaking, an assassin immediately pulled the pin of the smoke grenade and placed it beside him. But, the sniper bullet once again punctually arrived, piercing through a body and hitting the smoke grenade on the ground. The assassins were startled, the previous incident wasn''t a fluke! The opponent had deduced the position of the smoke grenade from where the smoke was drifting! Fortunately, this time the smoke grenade''s agent wasn''t completely scattered, and the drifting smoke was at least obscuring some of their vision. "Crawl out, fast," 001 shouted furiously, "This smoke grenade won''t last long, crawl as far as you can." By then, 001 had lost his previous confidence. A B-Class Expert was indeed very formidableamong any organization, a B-Class Expert was already one of the top combat forces, a pillar of an organization. But this terrain was too disadvantageous, he couldn''t even think of a way to successfully dodge sniper bullets. All of 001''s abilities were confined within the narrow corridor, while the sniper wasn''t restricted at all. The remaining eight men struggled to crawl out, hoping for a slim chance of survival. They were all formidable genetic warriors, slithering on the ground like snakes when they crawled. However, they had only crawled out 700 meters when the smoke in the corridor was dispersed by the air duct above them. "Shoot out all the tritium lights so he loses sight," someone suggested, "We are now at least 1600 meters away from him, very few snipers can maintain accuracy at this distance, besides, there''s only one path through this corridor, crawling out in the dark shouldn''t be a problem." The only light source in the corridor was the tritium lights hanging on the walls. The next moment, someone raised his hand and precisely shattered a tritium light. But before he could turn his arm to aim at the next one, the hand holding the gun was blown off. The sound of the anti-material sniper rifle in the corridor, even from 1.7 kilometers away, felt deafening to the ears. The assassins were shocked. Not only was there a sniper hidden here, but this sniper could also accurately shoot their hands from such a distance! That was a distance of 1700 meters! What kind of a concept is 1700 meters? Even in such a narrow corridor, the sniper shouldn''t be this powerful. This kind of sniper would effortlessly win the shooting championship in any competition within the Federal Army Group! There are at least fifty more tritium lights in the corridor behind, how many more hands could they afford to lose? At the other end of the corridor, Qing Chen had already set up the tripod at the front of his sniper rifle and was lying prone on the ground, completely calm. The roar seemed to have no effect on him; his three tiny bones were motionless at this moment, in a state completely devoid of vibration. The nine Dragon Fish had brought more change to Qing Chen than he had expected. Just then, Qing Chen suddenly stood up, holding his sniper rifle level with both arms, and began walking forward slowly. He pulled the trigger again and again, reaping these gifts delivered to his doorstep. Qing Chen didn''t even care what level the opponents were; a conversation with an old man yesterday had cleared his mind real high-level experts wouldn''t use secret passages, let alone dare to come to this half-mountain villa to die. So, anyone who entered this secret passage simply couldn''t withstand ''persuasion through virtue.''" Qing Chen swiftly moved forward, not because he was courageous or liked taking risks, but because if the opponents continued to crawl forward, he wouldn''t be able to shoot at such long-range targets; the high angle of the ballistic trajectory required wouldn''t be enough, and he would end up shooting the bullets into the ceiling. The assassins, hearing gunshots getting closer and closer, saw two of their number panic and stand up, wanting to sprint through the tunnel at top speed. As the two assassins trampled over the body of a crawling companion, 001 muttered under his breath, "Idiots." A gunshot roared, and a bullet pierced both men simultaneously again. You know, these assassins were all wearing light bulletproof vests, yet the sniper could still hit their necks precisely. The next moment, their bodies just happened to fall along the crawling path of 001 and the others. Which meant, if they wanted to keep crawling out of the tunnel, they''d have to climb over the bodies first, traversing them. In that case, they would all be exposed to the sniper''s field of view. 001 said in a serious tone, "Stop crawling. There''s only one way left, gamble! Let''s all charge him together, kill him! With my strength, even if you all die, I can still lift two people as shields and charge through; the bullets passing through two bodies might only injure my muscles, being our slim chance for survival." The assassins hesitated. 001 continued, "Think of your families. With a sniper of this caliber in the tunnel, you are as good as dead, but what about your families?" The remaining five assassins clenched their teeth, "Kill him!" 001 said, "Good, I''ll count down from three, and we all get up and charge towards the sniper!" "3." "2." "1." The five assassins rose and charged in Qing Chen''s direction. But, 001 did not charge with them as agreed, instead, he sprang up and dashed towards the tunnel exit like an arrow released from a bow! The sniper rifle thundered like thunder. The first shot downed two suicide-charging assassins; three remained. The second shot, another two suicide-charging assassins fell, their necks penetrated, leaving only one. 001, listening to the gunfire behind him and seeing the almost reachable exit ahead, felt hope rising in his heart. The third shot. What 001 didn''t expect was that Qing Chen''s shot didn''t aim at the last charging assassin at all but passed close by the assassin''s neck, accurately hitting his own. The world darkened. From the tunnel, another thunderous sound vaguely echoed. 001 realized that from the start, the sniper ambushed in the tunnel had not planned to let any of them escape. No one knew that a crushing massacre was happening seven meters underground in Upper Three Districts, where the deceased were B-Class Genetic Warriors while the victor was just a recently promoted D-Class Cultivator. Qing Chen, in the tunnel filled with the thick scent of blood, finally let out a grunt of relief. The B-Class Expert was incredibly fast, nearly managing to escape. Moreover, today was truly fortunate. Had the tunnel been any wider, with the expert''s agility, aiming would have been difficult. Even if his mind could keep up, his actions could not. Qing Chen, feeling grateful yet cautious, knew that before he reached C-Class, if he encountered a B-Class Expert in the wild, even with a sniper rifle, he must be extremely careful. Just then, the Puppeteer on the young man''s wrist seemed restless, the transparent little snake lifting its head in high excitement. ... This chapter contains five thousand words, full ten thousand updated today, owing one more chapter to Boss Huan Yu, still owing one more. Seeking monthly tickets! Chapter 476 476: Family Members No one can survive after being shot through the neck by a sniper bullet. Not even A-Class experts. Qing Chen walked through the corridor, his face illuminated by the passing tritium lamps, and then he stepped back into darkness. At that moment, he even put away his Black Sniper "Moral Persuasion," confident that there were no other living people in the corridor besides himself. The Puppeteer on his wrist danced, and wherever Qing Chen passed, corpses and bloodstains vanished without a trace. When Qing Chen sacrificed the last B-Class Expert''s body, the Puppeteer''s threads dyed red from the blood grew visibly at an alarming rate. The second thread grew fifteen meters in a single burst. Qing Chen contemplated, a B-Class could add fifteen meters, what about an A-Class then? Could it fully form the second thread? But, A-Class were not so easy to kill. It was already a great fortune to have killed a B-Class tonight, taking advantage of the geographical situation. To even fantasize about killing an A-Class was overly ambitious. Moreover, without the Heartless Bronze Bell, he wouldn''t have been able to grasp the timing of the fight so well. Qing Chen recalled the Heartless Bronze Bell hanging eave on his corner, and with his memory, he knew it wasn''t the same one as before. Even the way it was tied was different. Perhaps it was switched by someone when he was keeping the old man company by Dragon Lake. It seemed that the person only intended to play a small prank on him, not intending for him to be ''played'' to death. Considering this, he would not blame the old man tomorrow. Qing Chen thought it over again and again; he felt that with all the B-Class dead here, whether it was Jindai or whoever from Deer Island, they would probably suspect this place to be a trap. There shouldn''t be anyone else coming. Thus, it was time to deal with Luo Wanya''s issue. Qing Chen hadn''t saved Luo Wanya previously because he wanted to assess the capabilities of General Luo, a renowned figure in Los Angeles City, allowing the bullet to "fly" for a while. Truth be told, he hadn''t expected the bullet to "fly" for three days, which was indeed a bit too long... He wondered whether General Luo could withstand it. However, saving Luo Wanya couldn''t happen today; he had already used up his peak condition earlier. Qing Chen needed to replenish his energy. He turned and walked back down the corridor. As Qing Chen returned to Autumn Leaf Courtyard, he suddenly noticed something amiss. Unbeknownst to him, there was an additional person in the room. There lay Li Changqing, with her long black hair, wearing black leather and sleeping on Qing Chen''s bed, her face looking weary and not as radiant as usual. The woman''s eyelashes fluttered slightly, obviously pretending to sleep. Qing Chen looked at the table where his ''No Visitors'' sign engraved with those very words was tossed aside by Li Changqing. He was somewhat amused. This strong-willed woman didn''t make any sense. He had just established some rules for the Li Family, but it seemed they were useless in front of Li Changqing. At this moment, Li Changqing heard the noise and slowly opened her eyes. She looked at Qing Chen not far away and chuckled lightly, "Back already?" "Yes," Qing Chen nodded and casually asked, "Did you sleep well?" Li Changqing also nodded, "Your bed smells really good, it knocked me right out. I''ve recently been suffering from severe insomnia. Maybe I should just move in here?" Qing Chen calmly responded, "If you find it smells good, you can take the blanket with you. I''ll have Li Ke send a new set tomorrow." "Boring," Li Changqing lay across the bed, propping up her head with her arm, curiously studying Qing Chen, "I thought I faintly heard gunshots earlier, must have been you killing someone in the secret passage, right? But how come you look as if nothing''s happened, were the assassins weak?" "Did you know about this hidden passage?" Qing Chen asked, avoiding mentioning that among the assassins, there were B-Class. "I just found out today," Li Changqing smiled, "The old man told me. He asked me to keep watch outside the Microcosm Community to see if there was a chance to follow the vine to the melon, and pull out some people. But don''t worry, although my people are guarding outside the Microcosm Community, they don''t know there''s a secret passage inside. By the way, are all the assassins in the passage dead? I was hoping to keep some for interrogation." Qing Chen frowned, "If you had told me earlier, I could have left some alive." "No worries," Li Changqing got up, sat cross-legged on Qing Chen''s bed, and smiled, "Dead or alive doesn''t matter, as long as you are fine." Qing Chen suddenly realized that this woman''s presence in Autumn Leaf Courtyard late at night wasn''t accidental, nor was it to cure her insomnia here. She knew the assassins might act tonight, so she specifically came to protect him at Autumn Leaf Courtyard! Only, upon seeing that Qing Chen was safe, she didn''t intervene! It had to be said, Li Changqing really did care about him a lot, from sending Genetic Potions to coming here in the middle of the night to ensure his safety. Though Qing Chen didn''t voice it, he was keeping it in his heart. Nevertheless, Qing Chen pointed at the ''No Visitors'' wooden sign on the table, "You can understand the two characters on it, right?" Li Changqing feigned annoyance, "Hey, I was the one who brought you into the semi-mountain mansion, and I''ve been so good to you. Don''t I deserve a little privilege? Don''t you have a conscience! Do you know it was me who personally tied the Heartless Bronze Bell on your eave!" Qing Chen was taken aback, so that''s how it was. "Of course, you can have a privilege," Qing Chen sighed, "But at least hang the ''No Visitors'' sign back on the door. What if someone else comes to visit?" Chapter 447: 307, Jindai and Deer Island Chapter 447: 307, Jindai and Deer Island He Xiaoxiao in the chat group. Chuang Wang said, That guy called Zard, hows the intel I shared this time? Is it not more accurate than yours, and more straightforward too? No beating around the bush or being coy at all. Zards reply was brief and to the point: Not playing. On the other side, Chuang Wang was fuming, Wont you share some intel too? Zard: Deer Island and Jindais reverse time travel plan failed this time, but they wont give up hope. As Chuang Wang said, there will be a civil war in the Inside World Federation, and in the war, its very likely that the northern forces of Jindai and Deer Island will join forces against the southern Li Clan, Qing Clan, and Chen Clan. At the moment, both the Li Clan and Qing Clan are staunch supporters of the war, with only a small voice within advocating for peace. Only the Chen Clans stance is uncertain, so the Li Clan and Qing Clan should be wary of the Chen Clan potentially betraying them and striking from the shadows. After all, everyone wants to profit from the conflict. Zard: The Time Travelers controlled by Deer Island and Jindai in Xian City are just the tip of the iceberg. Dont underestimate their brainwashing techniques. The intelligence system is the first to be activated at the start of the Inside World war, and I believe it will be the same in the Outer World. Moreover, with such huge conglomerates, is there really only one person found to perform the reverse time travel as a replacement? I dont believe it. If thats true, then the two conglomerates are too weak. Dont underestimate them. ... The others in the group mull over this, unaccustomed to Zard being serious for a change. However, Zard is right. How many Time Travelers are controlled by the Li Clan, Qing Clan, and Chen Clan in the Inside World? There are definitely at least a thousand. Then, considering the high population density in the countries where Jindai and Deer Island are located, could they control less? Keep in mind that the Jindai family and Deer Island have more efficient ways of searching. In the Inside World. Only the direct descendants of the Jindai and Deer Island families speak Japanese and Korean, while the city folks they control speak Mandarin. And in the cities they control, corresponding to places like Osaka and Tokyo, there are very few Time Travelers who speak Mandarin. Therefore, if a Time Traveler crosses over and speaks only Korean or Japanese, not Mandarin, they are all Time Travelers. As a result, the concentration of Time Travelers on the side of Jindai and Deer Island is incredibly high. Now, if someone told Qing Chen that these two families had already controlled thousands of Time Travelers, he would believe it. This is also why Mandarin language classes have become exorbitantly expensive in the Island Country. Chuang Wang looked at the two lengthy messages sent by Zard and asked in confusion, Is this all intel you have? Zard: I guessed. Chuang Wang: ... Li Si: ... Yue Er: ... Qing Bao: Although Zard guessed, its very close to the truth. At least, the Jindai family controls more Time Travelers than everyone imagines. And even though the Jindai familys base is in the north, they have intelligence systems in various cities, so in the 19 cities within the country, they also control Time Travelers. As far as I know, they have found double-digit numbers of people who qualify as replacements, though Im not sure if theyve been sent to the designated locations. Hey, if you know so much information, could you be from the Jindai family? Only the direct descendants would know these things, Zard said curiously. Qing Bao: Im not. At this moment, Qing Chen, looking at these people chatting, suddenly froze. He thought to himself, could this Qing Bao be Jindai Kongyin?! The other party could be a member of the Jindai family, an overseas Chinese who understood Mandarin and felt an affinity with China. Qing Chen felt that Jindai Kongyin fit this profile perfectly! Jindai Kongyins father was Chinese, after all, and the childs values and cultural identity would likely follow the paternal line. Qing Chen suddenly thought that his name had already been mentioned in the group, so if Qing Bao were indeed Jindai Kongyin... Then, while he knew the other was a Time Traveler, the other might have also guessed that he was one? Now that Jindai Kongyin was still on the run in China, would the other party come looking for him in Los Angeles City? Qing Chen was uncertain, after all, they were at most acquaintances who had met a few times. Even though there was a marriage arrangement in the Inside World, if everyone were Time Travelers, who would take such an arrangement seriously? In the next moment, the taboo ACE-999 brought Qing Chens thoughts back: I need to tell everyone that if you encounter someone who might be from Jindai or Deer Island, please report it as soon as possible to acquaintances from Kyushu or Kunlun members. This is not alarmism. If Jindai and Deer Island become the victors within the Federation, then you all will be implicated as well. The war in the Inside World might seem unrelated to you and me, but thats not the case. Jing Shan: I agree, Kunlun also welcomes intel sharing. Additionally, if the Inside World is on the brink of civil war, then Jindai and Deer Island will soon be taking actions domestically, so all Time Travelers should be mindful of their safety. Qing Chen reflected, and he agreed with the statements made by the two speakers. After all, his biggest reliance currently was on his special relationship with Uncle Li Dong and the Li Family. If the Li Family were to lose in the Inside World, it would be the same as weakening his personal network and trump cards. It was not just him; many other Time Travelers faced similar dangers. For instance, Chuang Wang, as an officer in the Qing Clans direct lineage troops, would lose his social status if the Qing Clan were defeated. At that time, with the elevation of the Time Travelers controlled by the Jindai and Deer Island families, they would also exert a tremendous influence in the Outer World. So all in all, if Jindai and Deer Island made moves within the country, Qing Chen and others, from a self-interest perspective, would want to thwart their plans. Chapter 448: 307, Jindai and Deer Island_2 Chapter 448: 307, Jindai and Deer Island_2 Not to mention the grudges left over from history. Just then, Qing Bao suddenly asked in the group chat, By the way, about Japan... Are many people learning Japanese back home? Li Si: Japanese is a minor language in our country, not many people study it. Why do you ask? Qing Bao explained, Oh, I was just asking. After all, if were going to go to war with Jindai, its always good to know a bit of Japanese, isnt it? Know your enemy and know yourself, and you will never be in peril. Lu Ya: That makes sense. Zard: Then lets get started learning! I have tons of materials! ... Chuang Wang: Can you share some? Id like to learn a foreign language too. Qing Bao: ... Suddenly, Qing Chen wondered if Qing Bao really was Jindai Kongyin, was the latter asking this question to gauge whether they knew Japanese or not? They probably didnt know that they were in this group chat... Of course, based on the information Qing Bao had shown so far, Qing Chen still couldnt confirm their real identity. At that moment, Huan Yu, who had been silent, spoke up, According to the intelligence I have, there are already Time Travelers from Jindai and Deer Island on the move. It looks like their target is still to send people to Los Angeles City to replace big figures from the Li Family in the Inner World. Chuang Wang: Yo, you kid is also willing to share such intel? Arent you just covering for Jindai and Deer Island? Huan Yu: No eggs remain unbroken in a toppled nest, Chuang Wang. If my analysis is correct, your backer in the Inner World is Qings Family, right? If Qings Family becomes the defeated side, could you still be so relaxed? I think, Time Travelers with certain social status in the Inner World would all have more or less association with conglomerates. We are all in the same boat. Seeing this, Qing Chen thought that before he had believed there was a sixty percent chance that Huan Yu was from the Chen Clan, now the probability had increased to seventy percent. Just then, Taboo item ACE-999 suddenly said, I must remind everyone again to stay alert and increase vigilance against Jindai and Deer Island. Kyushu has already had minor conflicts with them overseas, and recently, there have been several of our members assassinated on the domestic front. This is not alarmist talk; we believe that they will definitely take action as the war in Inner World is on the verge of breaking out. The originally cheerful atmosphere in the group suddenly became strained. Everyone thought, if even a big organization like Kyushu was suffering losses, then what about them, these stragglers? Werent they in great danger? Actually, Time Travelers from Jindai and Deer Island might not necessarily be better than them, but the most important point was that the enemy was very concentrated, and one could imagine that those Time Travelers had all undergone military training. ... ... Jiang Xue drove all the way into the family compound on Xingshu Road. Having returned from a trip to Xian City, Qing Chen felt an extra fondness for this familiar place. After getting out of the car, he looked around to commit every detail to memory. Hu Xiaoniu had already found a new base, and they were going to fulfill the real estate purchase contract tomorrow morning and handle the transfer procedures at the administrative service hall. The newly bought villa was very new, located inside Los Angeless most famous wealthy district, National Treasure Garden. The villa spanned 720 square meters, with a total of eight bedrooms. Hu Xiaoniu, Liu Dezhu, Nan Gengchen, Qing Chen, Jiang Xue, Li Tongyun, Zhang Tianzhen would have enough space for the current Daytime Members; the women would stay on the third floor while the men lodged on the first and second floors, ensuring the privacy of Jiang Xue and Li Tongyun. The environment within the community was beautiful, suitable for morning runs, and the spacious basement could be turned into a fitness room and equipment room. All in all, Hu Xiaoniu had considered everything very thoroughly. Compared to the others, Hu Xiaoniu was more suitable for this kind of overall coordination work. That is to say, in the next two days, Qing Chen and the others were going to move to the new address, and all Daytime Members had to stick together. And Xingshu Road would become a thing of the past for everyone. When they returned to the entrance of their building, they were stunned to find several luxury cars parked on the small road in front of Building 12. Before they could understand what was happening, they saw Hu Xiaoniu coming out of the building with several middle-aged men, Uncles, I really cant help, and assisting Uncle Zhang Chengze was only because it was convenient. I really cant meddle with other affairs. Please return, this is as far as I can see you off. Several middle-aged men surrounded Hu Xiaoniu, still chattering nonstop. A pudgy middle-aged man with a furrowed brow said, Xiao Niu, Zhang Cheng told us that your organization is very powerful, capable of doing whatever you want in City #18. You could definitely help us. Hu Xiaoniu said earnestly, First of all, I need to correct you on one thingits not my organization, its the organization I serve. Theres a big difference there. Moreover, to help Uncle Zhang Cheng, our organization has already taken great risks to rescue him. Currently, were not lacking in liquid capital, so we dont plan to trade our lives for money. Another middle-aged man said, Xiao Niu, our situation insideif we could solve it ourselves, we definitely wouldnt bother you... Yeah, why dont you arrange a meeting with your boss for us, so we can talk to him directly? Maybe we have something that could sway him, said the pudgy middle-aged man. Hu Xiaoniu shook his head and outright dismissed the proposition, I will report this matter to him, and whatever the bosss thoughts are, I will pass them on to you. But the idea of you communicating with him in person, you should just drop it. With that, Hu Xiaoniu escorted these people into their cars. Chapter 449 - 307, Jindai and Deer Island_3 Nan Gengchen walked over curiously at that moment and asked, "Whats wrong with these people?" Hu Xiaoniu smiled, "Lets go to the Daytime group to chat about it, I just need to report to the boss anyhow." "Okay," Qing Chen replied. Everyone returned to their homes. Brave Xiaoniu said, "Boss, as you instructed, I have sold the Genetic Potion to Zhang Chengze. The income was 12 million, and as usual, it was transferred to Qiu Xue. He should still be in the pain period." Boss replied, "Understood, thank you for the hard work." Brave Xiaoniu continued, "There were some unexpected incidents. After Zhang Chengze was rescued last time, he told his friends about it, and some of them came seeking the same help. I looked into their situations, and these people are all stuck in some kind of predicament in the Inner World, either illegally imprisoned or at the lowest social level with no hope of turning their situation around. They had hired some other Time Travelers before, but either got cheated or the Time Travelers were not effective enough." No Fear of Hardship added, "There was one uncle, who had driven across nineteen cities in the country before the countdown finally began in Zheng City. He had traveled through time a while back, but soon after his arrival, his wife in the Inner World discovered him. When this woman found out her husband had been replaced, she didnt choose to go to the security commission or kill the uncle. Instead, she decided to pretend to be unaware, and then when the uncle fell asleep, she injected him with a sedative and locked him in an iron cage, where hes been imprisoned for almost a month now." Qing Chen was stunned for a moment. Boss asked, "Why imprison him?" No Fear of Hardship explained, "The woman thinks that although her husband has been replaced, he might still come back one day. Even if he doesnt return, seeing that the body of her husband is still alive gives her some comfort. She doesnt want to kill him. Every day, she feeds the uncle and talks to him but doesnt allow him to speak." Qing Chen could imagine how desperate this woman must feelher pleasant life and steadfast love vanished just like that. In torment, she chose to imprison the Time Traveler just to see a living husband every day. Thus, this is why Qing Chen is unwilling to use Yino to help people in the Outer World actively seek out replacement targets. Every replacement event means a tragedy. Boss asked, "What about the others, those who initiate such disastrous travels through time? Do we help them?" Brave Xiaoniu added, "Theres another very tragic case. He and his son became Time Travelers. His son is still a classmate of Liu Dezhu. Now, he himself is a servant in City #18, and his son joined other classmates in committing crimes intentionally to get to the prison where Liu Dezhu is..." Qing Chen was shocked. He had already put those spoiled young masters out of his mind, and now he remembered, oh yeah, those young masters are about to face trial. All members of the Daytime group knew that Liu Dezhu had already been exonerated with the help of the Boss. Thus, these young masters heading to jail were really going for reformation. This whole family, utterly devastated together ... Boss said, "We dont help in such cases either. What about the others?" Brave Xiaoniu responded, "Theres another suspicious one. The person claimed to have become a member of a mysterious organization after crossing over, which seems to be some powers intelligence agency. Right after he crossed over, he was discovered and put under house arrest, and they are brainwashing him daily. There are several others locked up with him, and initially, this mysterious organization only let them sleep for an hour each day, then shone strong lights on them until everyones mental defenses were shattered. The brainwashing process is very sophisticated; the scripts were all prepared in advance." Boss asked, "Any characteristics of that organizations identity?" Brave Xiaoniu said, "Those people are very cautious, no characteristics have been revealed." Boss asked, "Has that organization told him what they intend for him to do in the Outer World?" Brave Xiaoniu answered, "Not until now, no tasks have been disclosed to him, but recently the brainwashing has intensified, as if they are rushed for time." Boss inquired, "Has he still not been successfully brainwashed?" Brave Xiaoniu explained, "This uncle originally started in the nineties with pyramid schemes. He says those brainwashing techniques are all things he has played with before, so he isnt falling for them." Liu Dezhu said, "..." Nan Gengchen said, "..." Boss decided, "Well help this person, have him send over all his identity information. As for the price, Xiaoniu, you negotiate with him based on his wealth." Brave Xiaoniu replied, "Okay, received." At that moment, Qing Chen suspected that the man controlling this middle-aged man must be from either Jindai or Deer Island! If it were the Li Family, Qings Family, or Chen Clan in the south controlling the Time Travelers, they would not hide the consortiums identity. In fact, they would even willingly disclose it to make these Time Travelers feel an overpowering sense of helplessness and willingly side with them. Only Jindai and Deer Island would have a reason to be so cautious. Following this Time Traveler, Qing Chen might even be able to dismantle an intelligence agency from Jindai or Deer Island in the Inner World. Then, as Nan Gengchen sensed something, he curiously asked, "Chen, are you planning to really go against Jindai and Deer Island?" "Its not about going to extremes," Qing Chen said, "but you have to understand, our relationship with the Li Family is too deep. The replacements they want to send to Los Angeles City might well be people we know, possibly Li Yinuo, Li Xiurui, Chang Qing." Upon hearing the name Li Yinuo, Nan Gengchen immediately became furious, "Damn it!" Inside the Daytime group, Boss said, "Hu Xiaoniu has already prepared a new base. Everyone, pack up and prepare to move. Its easier for everyone to look after each other when gathered together." Suddenly excited, Liu Dezhu asked, "Boss, are you moving over too?" He thought, am I finally going to see the true face of the Boss? Boss replied, "Im not moving." Liu Dezhu said, "Oh..." Suddenly, Qiu Xue asked, "Is the little rich woman moving over too?" The little rich woman said, "Im not moving..." ... A chapter of five thousand words, another one at 11 PM tonight. Thanks to Dumpling I love 1 and Night Owl mmmmm for becoming new allies of this book. Bosses are generous, wishing all bosses can find wives who dont gather salaries! Chapter 450 - 308. The Method of Empowerment (Request for Monthly Votes) When a person dies socially, no lie is innocent. When Jiang Xue saw the boss saying he wouldnt move, she was inwardly chuckling because Qing Chen was clearly going to move, it was just that the boss wasnt moving. Whether the boss moves or not, what does it have to do with me, Qing Chen? Now, Jiang Xue particularly enjoyed watching Qing Chen lie so earnestly. But what she didnt expect was that the lies of the little rich woman were no different from those of the boss. Li Tongyun was definitely going to move with Jiang Xue, but the little rich woman couldnt move. If she did, she would have to endure a beating first... Fortunately, Qing Chen had left a room for each of them in the villa, so when XiaoTongyun joined the group chat again, no one would notice. Liu Dezhu: "Little rich woman, why arent you moving?" Little rich woman: "Im not a local of Los Angeles City, ah. I became a Time Traveler by accident during a trip, so I cant move over." Liu Dezhu: "You could also settle in Los Angeles City, everyone is here, and the boss is also from Los Angeles." Little rich woman: "I definitely will in the future!" Liu Dezhu then asked, "Eh, doesnt our Daytime group have another wealthy member? Is she moving?" Wealthy member: "Mind your own business." Liu Dezhu: "..." At this time, Jiang Xue felt a bit embarrassed as she said in the Daytime group, "Sorry everyone, I am a divorced single mother, so if I move, I have to bring my daughter with me. But dont worry, shes very well-behaved and wont bother anyone." Qing Chen and Nan Gengchen, who were in a room on the first floor, were about to laugh themselves silly... A small duck: "Really well-behaved? If thats the case, then theres no problem. Qiu Xue, rest assured and bring her along, the boss definitely wont have the heart to separate you and your daughter." Boss: "Hmm, bring your daughter along, it wont be a bother." Li Tongyun, who was upstairs in the second bedroom, watched her mother go to the trouble of explaining for her and suddenly began to worry about the harsh consequences if they were to be discovered in the future. At night, when Qing Chen pushed open the door of Qiu Xues home alone, to his surprise, there was a letter in the crack of the door, written by Zhang Wanfang. The envelope was thick, apparently stuffed with money. He didnt look at the contents of the letter, nor did he take the money, and simply threw it in the trash can. The gravity field of the Gravity Chamber was still not much weakened, but Qing Chen had already advanced from E-Class to the peak of D-Class. The original Gravity Chamber wasnt much use to him anymore. Perhaps Qiu Xue didnt expect Qing Chen to advance so quickly either. During this period, Qing Chen had been rapidly improving two covert abilities; his range for sniping targets had moved to 2350 meters, and maintaining the First Breathing Technique, his Knight Vital Energy had spread from his arms and legs and begun creeping up his spine. He had a great demand for Knight Vital Energy. On one hand, the sharpness of Knight Vital Energy in turning everything into a blade was important, and on the other hand, quantity was also significant. This time when Qing Chen went to Xian City, he carried playing cards with him, passing through security checks without any pressure. If he were to go to a place where he could not carry weapons with an enemy, then a skill like the Autumn Leaf Knife would become his trump card. But what Qing Chen was most concerned about now wasnt the Autumn Leaf Knife. It was the Puppeteer thread that maintained the connection between him and the Puppet after control was established. When he killed Zhang San, he used the thread between himself and the Puppet to deliver a fatal blow, severing the opponents neck. This made Qing Chen wonder, what if one day he could control many Puppets and the threads between them, extending up to fifty meters, were as sharp as blades? At that moment, the host and the Puppets could spread out over a vast net, swiftly reaping the battlefield. Then, the transparent, nearly invisible Puppeteer threads, with the Puppets weaving among one another, would be incredibly deadly. At one point, Qing Chen believed that this might be the best use of combining Puppeteer with Knight Vital Energy. ... ... Countdown 162:00:00. Sunday, no school. At six oclock in the morning, Liu Dezhu braved the bitter cold to knock on the door. Today it was Nan Gengchens turn to break the wind, and he looked wilted, with no one knowing what he had been up to for the past seven days. Qing Chen, following behind the team, pondered whether it was too risky to let a naturally frail youth like Nan Gengchen walk the path of a Knight. In the Outer World, the path of a Knight, upon completing all eight life-and-death tasks, culminates in the advancement to true Knight status, jumping directly from Ordinary People to A-Class, bypassing the trial of conscience. But in reality, the real danger of the path of a Knight was still the challenges themselves. The first task, climbing the sheer cliffs of Qing Mountain, a slight misstep could lead to a fall off the cliff. The last one-meter leap of faith C its unknown how many would perish at this stage. All eight life-and-death tasks require the challenger to become the top individual in each sporting domain. Each task has an extremely high death rate. Therefore, not every Daytime Member needs to walk this path. Selecting a few without potential to practice the Method of Empowerment could become Protectors of the Daytime sooner. Qing Chen glanced at Liu Dezhu, Zhang Tianzhen, and Nan Gengchen, slowly forming a new idea. After the morning run, he said to them, "Liu Dezhu, Zhang Tianzhen, Nan Gengchen, you three come inside with me. Xiao Niu, you go home first and contact the moving company. The boss wants us to move this afternoon since we dont have school and it would be good to gather together to train." Hu Xiaoniu paused for a moment. Chapter 451 - 308, The Method of Empowerment (Requesting Monthly Tickets)_2 Cultivation? But why did Qing Chen send the other three away, leaving only himself to do the work? Hu Xiaoniu couldnt understand but didnt say anything. "Okay, I understand." Now, within the Daylight organization, the boss holds the highest position, followed by Qing Chen, and everyone respects that. In the room, Qing Chen looked at the three people in front of him, "The boss asked me to teach you some new things." Zhang Tianzhen asked curiously, "Qing Chen, why didnt you call Hu Xiaoniu? Did he do something wrong?" "I dont know," Qing Chen shook his head, "thats just what the boss told me, and I didnt ask why." Zhang Tianzhen did not speak anymore. Liu Dezhu asked, "Qing Chen, what do you plan to teach us?" At that moment, Qing Chen sat cross-legged on the ground and said, "The method of cultivation, the orthodox method of cultivation." The three were stunned. Even Nan Gengchen had no idea that Qing Chen had already mastered other methods of cultivation! They looked at each other. Everyone had joined He Xiaoxiaos group chat, and although Zhang Tianzhen was not in the same group, the Time Travelers in the group would, more or less, talk about cultivation. They were well aware that although methods of cultivation were rare, they were still attainable if one was willing to spend money. At most, they came with some side effects and a very low cap. "How much do you know about the method of cultivation?" Qing Chen asked. Liu Dezhu was quite interested in this area; he said, "I know that many techniques have side effects. Its said that in the Inner World, theres a method of cultivation that requires castration before practice..." Qing Chen thought, he had never heard of this before; the cost was indeed a bit too high... He asked, "Anything else?" Liu Dezhu said, "I also heard that a technique from the Fierce Tiger Sect can reach C-class, but the practitioners will become as robust as a bull; theres also a very sinister technique, after cultivating it, ones body will be covered with hair; another technique results in a regression of intelligence after cultivation; and one where the practitioner continuously farts all day long, the higher the level, the more and louder the farts..." Qing Chen thought, this farting cultivator might find it difficult to undertake assassination missions. These were not orthodox culturing techniques; they all involved trading deceit for power. There always were various kinds of costs. But the methods of cultivation prefixed with orthodox were completely different. Some say, the entire Federations orthodox methods of cultivation wouldnt fill a single hand! Now, such a scarce thing was right in front of them. "Our orthodox method of cultivation is probably the only one within the Time Traveler Organization, isnt it?" Zhang Tianzhen asked curiously. "Not necessarily," Qing Chen shook his head, "I heard that He Jinqiu might have an orthodox method of cultivation within the Hus intelligence organization in the Inner World. If He Jinqiu is a core member of that organization, then there should also be such cultivators in Kyushu." Qing Chen said, "Lets not talk about this idle stuff right now, follow my breathing rhythm to adjust your own." Saying so, he closed his eyes and began to maintain the First Breathing Technique. Just a few minutes passed, but he was shocked to find that the three people opposite had not grasped it at all. Liu Dezhu hesitated before saying, "Qing Chen, this breathing rhythm... is very difficult to grasp precisely." Qing Chen pondered for a moment, his finger suddenly resting on Nan Gengchens wrist pulse, recalling the way Uncle Li Dong had first guided him in the breathing technique. The next moment, as he entered the frequency of the First Breathing Technique, the Knight Vital Energy inside him surged, and Nan Gengchens breathing frequency was also forcibly changed! Apparently, this was the inherent way of passing down the Breathing Technique! Initially, Nan Gengchens face turned cyanotic but then returned to normal. Ten minutes later, as if entering a trance, he was completely immersed in some wondrous state of consciousness. Qing Chen was also somewhat surprised; that booklet had stated that learning the basics of the empowerment method was difficult, usually taking half a year to truly master and feel the existence of Qi. But now Nan Gengchens performance was clearly unusual, wasnt this a grasp from the beginning? Although it required Qing Chens guidance, this chap had clearly already felt the presence of Qi. He lightly tapped Nan Gengchens divine court point with his finger, "Use your consciousness to lead the Qi that arises here, this is the first bright point you need to polish. After polishing 81 bright points, the first round will be considered complete." Qing Chen himself had never practiced the empowerment method; he could only teach according to what the booklet said. He had already burned that little booklet, as with his memory power, having a physical book was all the same to him. Qing Chen looked at Zhang Tianzhen, "Close your eyes." After speaking, he pinched the others wrist and repeated the old technique. But Qing Chen was shocked to discover that, after being guided for the first time, Zhang Tianzhen also felt the presence of Qi and entered a trance. Qing Chen, as if in disbelief, continued to try with Liu Dezhu, and it was the same! He originally just wanted to test Liu Dezhu to see if he could still cultivate after awakening and injecting Genetic Potion. The results proved that it was possible. That is to say, is Liu Dezhu now simultaneously cultivating three meridians, advancing uniformly, possibly becoming the most freakish Hexagonal Warrior in B-Class in the future? The so-called Hexagonal Warrior refers to one whose agility, defense, stamina, strength, and so on are all maxed out, with no weak points. The youth looked at the three trance-entering figures sitting in front of him and fell into deep confusion; how come it was completely different from what the booklet said? If it was only Nan Gengchen who was like this, Qing Chen would think this kid was exceptionally talented. Chapter 452 - 308, The Method of Empowerment (Requesting Monthly Tickets)_3 But even Liu Dezhu felt this way, he must have thought his teacher was somewhat extraordinarily gifted... Thats not right, Qing Chen contemplated. What exactly is different between these three individuals and the writer of the pamphlet concerning their cultivation? The Fourth Breathing Technique! The difference lies right here! Qing Chen recalled the moment Uncle Li Dong had guided him and then the times he had guided others; it was clearly the Knight Vital Energy within him that was affecting everything. Therefore, the Fourth Breathing Technique itself is also a shortcut to inheriting the first three Breathing Techniques. The writer suffered greatly in practicing the first three Breathing Techniques without guidance and took many wrong turns. On Qing Chens side, however, it was different; Nan Gengchen, Liu Dezhu, and Zhang Tianzhen couldnt have taken the wrong path even if they wanted to! With this thought, Qing Chen suddenly had another idea. He placed his palm on the Baihui acupoint atop Liu Dezhus head and gently tried to infuse Knight Vital Energy into it. Liu Dezhus face was calm without any abnormality, yet from the slight parting of his closed eyelids, two lines of tears flowed down... After a short while, he opened his eyes, his face covered in tears, and said, "Classmate Qing Chen, my Baihui acupoint has been illuminated! When you placed your hand on my Baihui acupoint, I felt a warm current, like an ocean, pour into me. That current was much stronger than my own energy and illuminated the Baihui acupoint in just a few breaths." Qing Chen was stunned for a moment, realizing that the idea of empowerment truly existed! Isnt this The Method of Empowerment, where the master helps the disciple unlock the gates of cultivation! Originally, Qing Chen only remembered that the Cundi dharma is from Tibetan Buddhist scriptures, and empowerment is the most basic and important ceremony in Tibetan Buddhism. He simply gave it a try. Who could have thought that The Method of Empowerment would actually work. No wonder Tibetan Buddhism always emphasizes empowerment; turns out it really does have its benefits! Only, in the Outer World, no one can break through the world rules between Ordinary People and Cultivators, which is why empowerment has become nothing more than a ceremony. He looked at Liu Dezhus tear-stained face and mused that if he didnt understand the effects of Knight Vital Energy, he might have thought the other was moved to tears by him. Qing Chen nonchalantly asked, "Why are you crying?" Liu Dezhu wiped his tears away and said, "I dont know, I just felt like crying." Qing Chen: "..." He didnt say anything more, resumed holding Liu Dezhus pulse, and helped him enter a state of meditation. Next, Qing Chen placed his palm over Zhang Tianzhens head and infused him with Knight Vital Energy. Zhang Tianzhen, too, began to shed tears. However, Zhang Tianzhen was not as overwhelmed; after lighting up his Baihui acupoint, he continued to meditate with closed eyes, letting the tears flow freely. Qing Chen thought to himself that this method of empowerment could indeed help the members of Daytime grow quickly, the only problem being that it might lead to a bit of dehydration... Of course, another issue was that escalating in level too quickly might lead to an unstable foundation. But after careful consideration, Qing Chen felt that since his only intention was for these three to assume the role of Protectors, they could first grow to possess the physical attributes of a Superhuman. As for the foundation, it could be replenished in time. Overall, it was more advantageous than disadvantageous. After he had imparted empowerment to Nan Gengchen, he began to calculate his own reserve of Knight Vital Energy. With his current reserve and recovery speed of Knight Vital Energy, he could help light up one acupoint for each of the three individuals in around 4 hours, which meant six acupoints in a day, and 42 in seven days. According to the pamphlet, lighting up 49 acupoints constitutes a Minor Circulation, while 81 acupoints make a Grand Circulation. Here, a Minor Circulation corresponds to F-Class, while a Grand Circulation corresponds to E-Class. Would Daytime gain three more E-Class Superhumans with just two more traversals? In view of the storm brewing over Xian City on the 18th, although E-Class Superhumans dont count as experts, at least there was some more capital for survival. This brightened Qing Chens eyes; wasnt empowerment simply the cheat code that a master gives to his disciple?! Though he would be a bit tired and suffer some, the Knight Vital Energy had found a new use, which gave Qing Chen the motivation to practice the First Breathing Technique again. By noon, Qing Chen slowly said, "Open your eyes, everyone. Its time for lunch." The three of them opened their eyes and looked at each other, eyes rimmed red but with undeniable joy in their eyes. Zhang Tianzhen stood up, gave Qing Chen a deep bow, and said, "Thank you." "Theres no need for that," Qing Chen also stood up and said, "If all of you possess strong powers, the Daytime organization will be able to do better. Right now, its up to the boss and me to protect you all, but I hope there will come a day when you can protect the organization in return." Flushed with excitement, Liu Dezhu said, "I definitely will. Last time I went to Xian City, I felt like I hadnt had enough. The boss should have let me help fight!" Qing Chen smiled, "There will be opportunities." Zhang Tianzhen, deep in thought, went upstairs. In the afternoon, everyone would move to Daytimes new base. A new path in cultivation, a new base; everything seemed hopeful. When Zhang Tianzhen opened his door, he found Hu Xiaoniu sitting on the sofa, daydreaming. Turning his head and seeing him, Hu Xiaoniu asked, "You cried? Did Qing Chen beat you guys up?" Zhang Tianzhen laughed and said, "What, planning on avenging me?" Hu Xiaoniu shook his head, "Qing Chen is very measured in his actions. If he beat you three, that means you deserved it." Zhang Tianzhen was at a loss whether to laugh or cry, "Hey, weve been good brothers for many years." "Tell me, what did you learn this morning?" Hu Xiaoniu inquired. "Methods of cultivation," Zhang Tianzhen replied earnestly, "Real, orthodox methods of cultivation, without any side effects! Moreover, Qing Chen can help us cultivate with the method of empowerment. I feel that, after at most two more traversals, the three of us could reach E-Class." "Oh," Hu Xiaoniu nodded. "What, arent you envious?" Zhang Tianzhen laughed cheerfully. Hu Xiaoniu gave Zhang Tianzhen a look, "Do you think Ive made any mistakes recently?" No," Zhang Tianzhen laughed. "Then why am I the only one who cant cultivate with Qing Chen? Dont worry, I am very clear in my heart that there must be an even better path reserved for me. I just need to follow the boss steadily." ... ... A 5,000-word chapter, 10,000 words updated today, owing one more update to the patron Devil Wandering Man_Kenny, this patrons debt is now repaid. Chapter 453 - 309, New House and New Home ``` "Do you ever feel that our boss is just too mysterious," Zhang Tianzhen sat next to the dining table, adding vegetables to his bowl as he spoke, "Thats legitimate cultivation methods hes got. Just says hell get them and he does. When we first became Time Travelers, we marveled at how awesome He Xiaoxiao was, getting so many guides so quickly. But now, I think even He Xiaoxiao cant compare to our boss." Hu Xiaoniu glanced at him, "Quit guessing about the boss. Its good that hes willing to teach you the cultivation methods. Dont think too much about the rest." "Im not overthinking," Zhang Tianzhen said, bubbling with enthusiasm, "Im just reflecting on how right we were to join him early on. Wang Yun, Bai Waner, they all said to wait and see a bit longer before coming to Los Angeles City. It was you who was so determined to transfer. If we werent among the first ones here, we wouldnt have this good fortune." "I dont see it that way," Hu Xiaoniu shook his head, "Coming here early was certainly good, but what ultimately moved the boss must have been our attitude. Look at those spoiled rich kids who came around the same time. Have any of them caught the bosss favor? So, we still need to work hard." "What do you think is the relationship between Qing Chen and the boss?" Zhang Tianzhen asked curiously, "Why does the boss trust him so much that he just handed over legitimate cultivation methods? And this time in Xian City, Qing Chen was the only one by the bosss side, even Liu Dezhu just stood at the exit for a bit." Hu Xiaoniu tapped the table with his chopsticks, "Hey, I said dont speculate without cause. When its time for us to know, the boss will naturally tell us." "Alright," Zhang Tianzhen muttered, "Im not speculating about the boss out of nowhere, just pure curiosity. But I must say, Qing Chen is much more impressive than I thought. Honestly, I admire him." Indeed, as Li Dongze said, the two of them were a perfect pair one straightforward and the other quirky, complementing each other well. Zhang Tianzhen was shrewd, thick-skinned, and cunning, while Hu Xiaoniu was upright, balanced, and honest. Whenever Hu Xiaoniu got stubborn, Zhang Tianzhen would timely remind him, and when Zhang Tianzhen got tempted to cut corners, Hu Xiaoniu would rein him in. Both of them were well aware of this dynamic. As they were eating, the horn of a moving truck sounded downstairs. Hu Xiaoniu leaned out the window and said, "Stop eating, our moving company has arrived. Lets go help Aunt Jiang Xue and Qing Chen pack." "Lets finish eating first," Zhang Tianzhen called from behind. "No, we need to handle our business first," Hu Xiaoniu replied. Hu Xiaoniu was determined to follow the bosss every command to the letter, only resting easy when each task was done perfectly. The moving company took out box after box, their chest-mounted cameras ensuring no worker stole or damaged anything. They moved with military efficiency, methodically classifying each item before sealing the boxes and loading them onto the truck. Qing Chen watched this scene and asked Hu Xiaoniu, "Are these the same people who helped you move before? Ive seen them." Hu Xiaoniu was surprised that the other remembered such ordinary moving workers. This was no ordinary moving company, but a professional team from within the Hu Corporation, which had come over from Haicheng a few days earlier. During the move, everyone else had several large boxes of stuff. Nan Gengchens random purchases from Pinduoduo were particularly abundant. Only Qing Chen had a single small box, holding just a few sets of clothes and some daily necessities. No picture frames, no albums, no items to remember the past by. Ordinary people would have family photos, yearbooks, letters, or gifts from others, but Qing Chen had none. It was as if, in moving house, he had cut ties with the past. "Qing Chen, wheres your stuff?" Hu Xiaoniu asked curiously. "I threw most of it away last night," Qing Chen said calmly, "Lets go." At the stairwell, Hu Xiaoniu watched the figure of Qing Chen boarding Jiang Xues car, reminiscent of a lone hero from the martial arts novels he had read. Unencumbered. The moving truck and Jiang Xues vehicle entered the National Treasure Garden villa complex, house number 12. Li Tongyun and Nan Gengchen each peered out a window, admiring the lush greenery of the well-known wealthy district of Los Angeles City. XiaoTongyun said, "Xiao Niu brother said our yard is over seven hundred square meters. Can we raise several cats there?" Jiang Xue replied helplessly, "Dont just chase novelty. Taking care of small animals means being responsible for themfeeding, cleaning up, bathing, changing litter. It all takes time. Youre usually so lazy, so dont bring this up to me again." "Okay then," Li Tongyun gazed wistfully outside, having never lived in such a nice place in her life. At that moment, Nan Gengchen suddenly asked, "Brother Chen, does everyone living here have money, and are they all of high quality?" Qing Chen glanced at him, "Having money doesnt necessarily relate to having good character." Just then, as their car passed a middle-aged man walking his dog, Qing Chen saw him, and he saw Qing Chen. But Qing Chen, expressionless, quietly turned his head away. The middle-aged man watched the car drive off in astonishment; he approached the community guard and asked, "Excuse me, the car that just went in, who was that?" The guard, obviously familiar with him, said, "President Qin, thats the new resident who just moved in, the one at the end, number 12." Chapter 454 - 309, New House and New Home_2 ```plaintext National Treasure Garden also has various house types and grades. There are townhouses of 198 and 268 square meters, as well as smaller detached houses of 418 square meters and larger ones of 720 square meters. Therefore, the homeowners here also fall into different levels of wealth, and without a doubt, those with 720 square meters are the most affluent. The middle-aged man was stunned for quite some time. He only owned a medium-sized machinery company, so he could only afford a 198-square-meter townhouse in this affluent area. A 720-square-meter large detached house was his long-time dream, but it was simply out of his reach. These detached houses each have their own large gardens, and in the community, the roads leading to these large houses are semi-closed, making them inaccessible to ordinary people. Those large detached houses are like mysterious castles. At this moment, the middle-aged man became unsure if the person he saw in that car was indeed the young man he knew. Because there was no reason for him to be here. But after thinking it over, he decided to pick up his phone, "Hello, Wanfang, there is a new homeowner in National Treasure Garden. I saw someone who looks like Qing Chen sitting in the back of the car... Yes, I know his familys house number. I can take you to check it out." ... ... The move was completed very quickly. Li Tongyun and Jiang Xue lived on the third floor. Qing Chen set a rule that males were not allowed to go up there, and everyone complied; those who violated it would be kicked out of Daylight. Hu Xiaoniu, Zhang Tianzhen, and Liu Dezhu each had a room on the second floor. Qing Chen and Nan Gengchen lived on the first floor. In fact, although the villa had eight bedrooms, the two rooms on the first floor were a secondary bedroom and a maids room, both very small, with just enough space for a bed and a desk. This was the arrangement Qing Chen made for himself. He didnt mind the size of where he lived; as long as he had a place to sleep, it was fine. Hu Xiaoniu hesitated after glancing at Qing Chens room, "Qing Chen, let me and Zhang Tianzhen live in these two rooms. You two go upstairs instead." "Im staying here in case of potential crises," Qing Chen explained, "If enemies invade, I would definitely be the first to notice." Zhang Tianzhen suddenly said, "Qing Chen, I am a light sleeper. I should stay here. If someone sneaks in, they will definitely wake me up." Qing Chen calmly asked, "And if you wake up, what use would it be?" Zhang Tianzhen: "..." Qing Chen looked around at everyone, "I know you feel that with my status in the organization, I should occupy the master bedroom on the second floor, but were not yet so strong that we can afford such vanity. So, lets do as I say." This allocation of rooms made everyone in Daylight realize Qing Chens character. The boy was so pragmatic that he renounced all other illusory exteriors for it. Normally, the hierarchy within an organization needs external manifestation, just like in a pack of wolves, where the Wolf King gets the innards exclusively, and the order in which the other wolves feed is a display of hierarchy. But Qing Chen didnt care about these things at all; he only cared about what was actually useful. However, just then, the doorbell of the villa rang. Qing Chen glanced at Nan Gengchen, "They havent seen you before; you know what to say, right?" "Mhm," nodded Nan Gengchen. Qing Chen turned to the others, "Xiao Niu and Zhang Tianzhen, handle it with Nan Gengchen speaking. Just send them away." Hu Xiao Niu and Zhang Tianzhen were momentarily stunned. They didnt even know what was about to happen, yet it seemed the young man in front of them had already guessed a lot. When Nan Gengchen opened the door, he saw a middle-aged couple with a child standing outside. The middle-aged woman sized up Nan Gengchen, Hu Xiaoniu, and Zhang Tianzhen, introducing herself, "Hello, my name is Zhang Wanfang. Im also a homeowner in National Treasure Garden. We heard youve just moved in, so we came to visit." "Hello," Nan Gengchen smiled, "Well be neighbors then." Zhang Wanfangs gaze kept trying to look past the three men into the house, but she didnt see the figure she was hoping to find. After hesitating, she still asked, "Id like to know, is there a student named Qing Chen here?" Nan Gengchen was taken aback for a moment, then he frankly said, "No, you must be mistaken. We dont have anyone named Qing Chen here." The middle-aged man politely asked, "It might be presumptuous to ask, but are you students?" Hu Xiaoniu smiled and replied, "Yes, weve transferred from Haicheng. We used to study there and have just moved to Los Angeles City, enrolled at Luo Yi High School." Los Angeles Foreign Language School and Luo Yi High School are two schools of completely different calibers. In Los Angeles City, the Los Angeles Foreign Language School where Qing Chen studied was just below average, and the only reason he attended that high school was the free tuition. For Qing Chen, where he studied didnt really matter; self-study classes would be the same anywhere. The tuition was what was important. Actually, Nan Gengchen knew that Zhang Wanfang was Qing Chens mother, but there was no sense of meeting a good brothers parents; rather, when he remembered the hardships Qing Chen had endured, he couldnt help but speak with some impoliteness. Especially since she apparently came looking for Qing Chen deliberately with her new familys child in tow, Nan Gengchen couldnt quite understand her motives. Their appearance here, however, was unexpected yet within reason. He smiled at the middle-aged man, "Uncle, where we come from doesnt seem to be your concern." The middle-aged man thought for a moment, "Sorry, I was just asking casually." ``` Chapter 455 - 309, New House and New Home_3 Zhang Wanfang suddenly said, "Hello, may we come in and take a look around?" However, no sooner had her voice faded than two cars pulled up at the gate, both of them Mercedes-Benz Maybach S-Class. A chubby middle-aged man jumped out of the car, dressed in a black Tang suit and wearing a bracelet of small "full stars" padauk beads on his wrist. Seeing Hu Xiaoniu, he laughed heartily, "Xiao Niu, for such a big event as moving to a new home, why didnt you tell your uncle last night? You nearly made me lose face!" This was Luo Wanya, the local tycoon of Los Angeles City mentioned by Zhang Tianzhen before, who started with pyramid schemes in the nineties. Later, his company transformed and he successfully cashed out after getting involved in investment guarantees and small-loans businesses. Now, hes running local mineral, construction debris, and steel businesses, as well as a real estate firm. Hes a true snakehead of Los Angeles City, a fish that slipped through the net in a society ruled by law. Talking about bad luck, he was among the second batch to enter the Inner World. When he noticed the countdown appearing on his arm, he began to gather underlings with the same countdown, ready to make a big splash and even considering going back to his old trade. As a result, as soon as he entered, he was caught because of his strong Los Angeles City accent. Since then, Luo Wanya had been desperately learning Standard Mandarin, getting angry with anyone who spoke to him in Los Angeles City dialect... Yet, just learning Standard Mandarin wouldnt save his life. He wanted his underlings from the Inner World to rescue him, but couldnt even find out where he was imprisoned. Moreover, Luo Wanya was well aware of one thingthe thugs over there were truly brutal, each one armed with guns and also Genetic Warriors. His underlings might have been able to thrive in the county with high-interest loans, but against those hard-core people who held him captive, it was a different story. For the past two months, he had been paying the Time Traveler to help rescue him, and even reached out to Kunlun and Kyushu, but everyone was still too new to the Inner World, with no information on his whereabouts. It was not Kunlun and Kyushus fault, after all, those controlling him were Jindai and Deer Island spies lurking in Los Angeles City. Even Li Changqing couldnt root them all out, let alone the Time Traveler. Recently, Luo Wanya heard about Zhang Chengzes incident, and it was like he had seized the last straw that could save him. He made a sharp judgement that there must be some experts in the Daylight Organization. Otherwise, Zhang Cheng would have surely died! This was a very clever man; otherwise, he wouldnt be able to hold his status as the local tycoon. Luo Wanya approached Hu Xiaoniu with a beaming smile, "Xiao Niu, I live here in National Treasure Garden too. If you all had said you wanted to move here, I would have vacated my own house for you, sparing you the expense!" At this moment, the middle-aged man standing next to Zhang Wanfang stared blankly at Luo Wanya, "General Luo, hello." Luo Wanya also hesitated for a moment, "And you are?" He was somewhat unclear about the relationship between this couple and Hu Xiaoniu, which made him hesitant to speak. The middle-aged man said, "My name is Qing Shuli, we met briefly at a political consultative conference." "Oh, oh, Qing Shuli," Luo Wanyas eyes flickered: "You two are... acquainted?" Qing Shuli shook his head, "Not really, were just new neighbors, came to visit." Luo Wanya now felt at ease and said with a smile, "Alright then, if youve made your visit, you should head back. I have some urgent matters to discuss with Xiao Niu and the others, sorry about that." With that, he moved his corpulent body aside, opening up a pathway. His black Tang suit seemed awkward on his frame, no matter how one looked at it. Seeing this, Qing Shuli had no choice but to take Hao Haoqins hand and leave with Zhang Wanfang. Luo Wanya had his men bring over a box with a smile, "Xiao Niu, since youve come to Los Angeles City, I dont have much to offer. Take those two Mercedes out front to use for the time being, for grocery shopping and the like. Rest assured, Im never stingy in my dealings. If you all can pull this off for me, youll be my lifesaving benefactors, the heroes of Luo Wanya." Hu Xiaoniu thought for a moment, "Come in and talk. We just happen to need to ask you about something. Whether we can help you or not, were not really sure. Its quite a tricky matter." As Qing Shuli was walking out of the yard, he heard Luo Wanyas words and subconsciously sized up the two Mercedes-Maybach S-Class cars parked at the gate. In fact, neither of the cars was the top model, but even so, they would require spending upwards of two million to purchase. And Qing Shuli drove a Volkswagen Passat, valued at just over 200,000 Yuan, while Zhang Wanfang hadnt even bought a car yet. Qing Shuli had promised that if the foreign trade deal at the end of the year was successful, he would buy Zhang Wanfang a car as a wedding anniversary gift. He couldnt understand it. How could the three students living in this villa afford to have someone like Luo Wanya be so generous as to present them with two cars of such caliber as a greeting gift? That was just too extravagant! Zhang Wanfang glanced at Qing Shuli, "Did you actually see Qing Chen in the car or not?" Qing Shuli recalled, "Im not too sure, but considering the situation with this family, I think I must have been mistaken." He wavered because in his eyes, this house and a person like Luo Wanya should not be associated with Qing Chen at all. Zhang Wanfang occasionally looked back at the castle, seemingly still not ready to give up. When she was still in contact with Qing Chen, she always felt as though her son was just on Xingshu Road, and she could find him whenever she went looking. But now it was different, she had completely lost contact with her son. "Lets go," Qin Shuli said gently. Meanwhile, Qing Chen was sitting inside the house, not even bothering to peek through the curtains to watch the family of three leave. Nan Gengchen came back into the house and said, "Chen bro, theyve left. I was actually thinking of taunting them for you, but Luo Wanya interrupted." "Hmm," Qing Chen nodded, "Actually, theres no need for that. Also, the choices they make in life are not wrong, everyone has the right to make their own choices, so theres no need for mockery. Its okay as long as we leave each other in peace." "Oh, alright then," agreed Nan Gengchen. Qing Chen smiled, "First, lets deal with Luo Wanyas matter." Nan Gengchen hesitated for a moment and said, "Right, the fact that aunt could find this place shows that she still..." Qing Chen smiled, "If she wanted to find me, it would actually be quite simple. She could just wait for me at the school gates, since I havent dropped out. However, when we go to school, she also needs to be busy with work." Qing Chen was no longer the naive child he once was, so he was extraordinarily calm. Whats broken is broken; theres nothing more to say. ... A chapter of five thousand words has been updated, with another coming at 11 PM. Thank you to Ruoyeer for becoming the new ally of this book. The boss is generous, and his kids arent troublesome! Chapter 456: 310, Wise Man Chapter 456: 310, Wise Man The first floor of the villa was very spacious, especially the long dining table in the dining room, which could accommodate 16 people. When buying the house, Hu Xiaoniu was most satisfied with this dining table; he thought it would be interesting if the brothers and sisters from the Daytime organization could gather every day for meals and laughter. At that moment, the Daytime members were sitting on the north side of the rectangular dining table, while Luo Wanya sat alone on the south side. This local tycoon from Los Angeles City, looking at the serious expressions of the Time Travelers across from him, suddenly felt as if he were about to be interrogated. To tell the truth, he had been cleansed for a long time and had not been interrogated in years. The days of living on the edge were long gone. The scene before him even gave him the illusion that his youth had returned. ... Hu Xiaoniu asked, The place where you just traveled back in time, in City 18, describe its characteristics. Luo Wanya said, I remember it very clearly. I was walking on the street when I traveled back. I saw a group of dolphins jumping overhead, next to a Mitsui department store. The surrounding skyscrapers were so tall that I couldnt see their tops even if I craned my neck. The scene had made such a big impact on Luo Wanya that he couldnt forget it. Hu Xiaoniu continued to ask, The people who detained you, what language did they speak in private? Mandarin, they never spoke a foreign language, Luo Wanya replied. Hu Xiaoniu: Do you know where they took you? I dont know. At this point, Zhang Tianzhen spoke up, General Luo, we were hoping to get some useful information from you, but you dont know anything. How can we help you? Why dont you return first? We need to report this situation back to our boss. Hu Xiaoniu wanted to say something, but Zhang Tianzhen stepped on his foot under the table. Luo Wanya, with a troubled expression, said, You cant just leave me alone. Ive asked many Time Travelers for help, none could assist. Ive heard about Zhang Chengzes experiences, and I know there are big figures in your Daytime organization. Please help me out; we can discuss the compensation... Also, while I was detained, I often heard the sound of a subway passing very close by underfoot. Lets do this. We need to discuss it with our boss first, said Zhang Tianzhen. General Luo, you should return for now. Yet suddenly, Luo Wanya turned to look at Qing Chen, Please, help me. I am quite reliable. Everyone paused for a moment. Throughout the meeting, Qing Chen had been silent, head bowed, and now Luo Wanya sought him directly instead of speaking further with Zhang Tianzhen! Qing Chen calmly smiled and said, Why speak to me about this matter? Im not in charge. They didnt even look at me when they spoke; how can you be sure that talking to me would be useful? I hope you all dont blame me, Luo Wanya hesitated: I wasnt a good person back then, Ive encountered many fierce people. Your Daytime organization might be formidable, but everyone here still exudes a bit of naivety. Only you have that tough demeanor, the kind people in our circle would rather not provoke. Qing Chen was somewhat surprised; he hadnt expected Luo Wanya to have some real skill, to have survived those times and made it ashore showed he wasnt simple. He stood up and said, General Luo, we really need to report this matter to our boss. Please go back for now, and later Zhang Tianzhen will continue to coordinate with you. All right, Luo Wanya seemingly thought of something, immediately smiling broadly as he stood up to leave. When he left, he left the keys to the two Maybach S-Class cars behind. After General Luos departure, Zhang Tianzhen wondered, Why is he suddenly so cheerful? The deal didnt go through, yet he left behind two car keys. Isnt he afraid of losing out? Qing Chen thoughtfully said, He is indeed a crafty person. How so? Zhang Tianzhen asked curiously. He realized that you were specifically in charge of driving up the price, Qing Chen explained. If I had asked Hu Xiaoniu to contact him, it might have meant that there was little hope for his case, but if I asked you to negotiate, its just a matter of not reaching the right price yet. He doesnt care about money, only his life. Zhang Tianzhen silently acknowledged, having learned something new. Qing Chen looked at Hu Xiaoniu and Zhang Tianzhen: This time, dont set the price too high. This man might be useful to our Daytime in the future, as we need someone who can deal skillfully in the black market, a gathering place for intelligence. The others exchanged looks; Qing Chen seemed to be planning to recruit Luo Wanya. Zhang Tianzhen curiously asked, Brother Chen, Luo Wanya provided so little information. Can we really find him? Dont worry, the boss will have a way, Qing Chen responded. In the Inner World, whether it was finding Su Xingzhi, Li Dongze, or Zero, locating someone was much easier than in the Outer World. The first night in their new home was not peaceful; the fathers of Hu Xiaoniu and Zhang Tianzhen each sent housewarming gifts; both were quite practical, each giving a statue of the Golden Buddha. Zhang Chengze also sent a statue of Guan Gong carved from rosewood. Not only these few, but others who sought protection from Daytime and had favors to ask also brought gifts. Finding the new base of Daytime wasnt difficult for them. Throughout the night, the villas doorstep was crowded with luxury cars and gift bearers, continuing nonstop until 10 p.m. when things finally quieted down. Chapter 457: 310, Wise Man Chapter 457: 310, Wise Man The gift-giving created quite a commotion, leaving nearby neighbors watching in bewildered surprise, wondering which big personality had come to Los Angeles City. The residents of the wealthy district were shrewd; although they were unaware of why so many outsiders had arrived with gifts, they knew that giving gifts themselves to become familiar faces was never a mistake. Thus, in the National Treasure Garden Villa District, many well-known local leaders all made visits. Even Hu Xiaoniu and Zhang Tianzhen, who had grown accustomed to receiving guests from childhood, felt overwhelmed. And Qing Chen, watching the bustling scene, suddenly sensed something strange, as if Daytime had become famous overnight in the circle of the wealthy. Could it be that one day he would be like Marlon Brando in The Godfather, sitting behind a massive wooden desk, wearing a suit and tie while shadows danced in his eyes? ... And he would say to those rich folks seeking favors, I know you; youve made your wealth abroad, so you dont need a friend like me. You came to me for help now but you dont respect me, you dont even wish to call me the Godfather... The wealthy across from him, sincerely afraid, would bow down and kiss the tail ring on his pinky finger, earnestly calling out, Godfather. Thinking too far ahead... During these events, Qing Chen had always stayed behind the scenes; everything was handled by Zhang Tianzhen. If a Godfather was ever to emerge in this circle, it would be Zhang Tianzhen, not him, Qing Chen. ... ... In the remaining days, Qing Chen supervised Liu Dezhu and others in their training, with Li Tongyun even clamoring to join the team practicing the Prajna technique. Thus, a very dramatic scene occurred. Jiang Xue, unaware that Li Tongyun was also a Time Traveler, apologized profusely for her daughter disturbing everyones training, incessantly saying sorry to everyone. Both Qing Chen and Nan Gchengchen found it extremely hard to restrain their amusement upon witnessing this scene. Fortunately, the yard they were now in was quite large, so if Jiang Xue ever really started hitting XiaoTongyun, XiaoTongyun could still run around in the yard for a bit. Qing Chen kept track of time, performing Empowerment every four hours, and none of them had a good sleep for several days. Even while at school, they all sat up straight in their seats, maintaining their state of cultivation. But no one complained, because they knew that Qing Chen was the most tired of all. Not only did he need to empower them, but he also had to oversee Hu Xiaonius training. However, no one knew what the training involved; when Qing Chen coached Hu Xiaoniu, no one else was allowed into the basement. So, as long as Qing Chen didnt complain of fatigue, they had no right to. In those days, Jiang Xue carefully prepared every meal and then waited for everyone to come and eat. Meanwhile, the idle Hu Xiaoniu was secretly training in the basement gym, patiently waiting for his own opportunity to arrive. It was during these days that Qing Chen took the opportunity to administer the second dose of Genetic Potion to Liu Dezhu. When Liu Dezhu was in his prolonged period of pain, Nan Gchengchen, Hu Xiaoniu, and Zhang Tianzhen laughed merrily by his side. Buddy, why do I feel like youre about to give birth, huh? I guess giving birth might be just as painful for a woman, Nan Gchengchen chuckled. During the five hours of suffering from the Genetic Potion, Qing Chen even gave everyone a day off. Liu Dezhu lay on his yoga mat, biting a towel and struggling. Meanwhile, the other three sat beside, playing a card game of Fight the Landlord. Liu Dezhu, despite the pain, was eventually laughed out of his misery by these three, and the five hours seemed less unbearable than before. All this felt just like the way good friends interacted, where happiness was often built on the embarrassing incidents of one among them. After the laughter and teasing, instead of diminishing, their friendship only grew stronger. Countdown 12:00:00. Li Tongyun broke through the F-Class. Countdown 3:00:00. As Hu Xiaoniu fervently trained his core strength, suddenly he heard Nan Gchengchen shouting from upstairs, Ive made a breakthrough! Ive completed the Small Circulation! In the living room on the first floor, Nan Gengchen had flipped back onto the yoga mat and executed an excited backflip, although he now had the strength but lacked the technique, nearly tumbling face first into the dirt. Qing Chen calmly glanced at him, Dont speak, just stay aside, the others are also at a critical juncture. He had calculated the cultivation speed of these people, and although there were differences in talent among them, they were not significant. Aside from the acceleration from Empowerment, the bright spots that a person could illuminate in a day were roughly one, and seven in seven days. Qing Chen thought if it werent for the method of Empowerment, it would probably take 49 days for a person to advance to F-Class. Compared to the injection of Genetic Potion, though it was stable and had no side effects, it was too slow. Now, with the human cheat code, Qing Chen, Daytime had taken the fast lane in enhancing the organizations strength. It made rapid progress. Countdown 1:00:00. Liu Dezhu and Zhang Tianzhen also successively broke through, truly stepping into the ranks of Cultivators. When everyone completed the first minor circulation and illuminated forty-nine bright spots, their bodies even excreted black impurities, and an unusual smell arose in the villa. This was the impurities inside everyones body, being expelled from their bodies. This scene was surprising, including Li Tongyun; the skin of these Daytime Cultivators seemed somehow purer, even whiter. Qing Chen silently looked at Li Tongyun, this young lady started her cultivation a day later than the others, yet she was the first to break through. You see, he didnt provide any special care to XiaoTongyun when he performed Empowerment on Daytime members. Thus, this young ladys cultivation speed was noticeably faster than the others. Could it be that she was a cultivation prodigy? At that moment, someone knocked on the door. Calmly, Qing Chen went to open it, only to find Luo Wanya outside, What are you doing here? Previously, Zhang Tianzhen had said he would seek instructions from the boss, and on the next day, Daytime also gave Luo Wanya an official response: they had taken the job. Outside the door, Luo Wanya said with an ingratiating smile, Although Daytime has accepted the trade and told me to just wait peacefully in the Inner World, I thought its better to walk right into the trap. Before I traverse time, Ill just stay in this villa, and if I do anything wrong to you all in the Inner World, you can immediately twist my head off when you return. Qing Chen realized, this sly General Luo was worried that Daytime might hesitate to save him, so he proactively made himself a hostage in Daytimes hands. In that case, if Luo Wanya in the Inner World caused trouble, death was certain upon his return. This show of loyalty was new to Qing Chen, but he was growing to appreciate General Luo more, if it werent for the unfortunate exposure of his identity as a Time Traveler by his Los Angeles accent. He probably would have made big moves in the Inner World, wouldnt he? Now, Qing Chen heard Luo Wanyas accent, which no longer had any trace of local dialect, but standard Mandarin instead. Correcting a dialect isnt easy; many people learn Mandarin, and end up speaking whats called plastic Mandarin. This General Luo, was indeed a man with intentions. Qing Chen smiled, Dont worry, Daytime will find a way to rescue you. Before we rescue you, if you can manage to glean some information from the kidnappers, that would be best. We now suspect that the people who have detained you are linked to Jindai and Deer Island, we need their information. Luo Wanyas eyes lit up, Good, good, good, I will definitely try to extract some useful information. You dont know, back in the day I also had a wild thought about smuggling into the Island Country to burn down a Shrine, but unfortunately, I got caught and deported right after sneaking in. If you say were dealing with those ghosts, I, Luo Wanya, wholeheartedly admire that. My entire fortune and life are in your hands! Qing Chen suspected Luo Wanya was rambling, but he had no evidence. He felt that the other party was mostly trying to flee abroad to avoid the heat from some incident that had been exposed years ago, but it didnt turn out... The countdown reached zero. Traverse. ... A four-thousand-word chapter, not a ten-thousand-word one today, doesnt count as an additional release, a brief day off. Chapter 458: 311, holding a bowl of water steady Chapter 458: 311, holding a bowl of water steady At the silent dead end of the corridor. Qing Chen checked his firearms again, even removing each golden-yellow bullet from the magazine to ensure they hadnt become damp from being on the rack for too long. Only after confirming there was no rust did he press the bullets back into the magazine. This time, he definitely had to change his face before going out. After all, the real Qing Chen was still in the Half Mountain Manor at the moment. But whom should he impersonate? He remembered the face he had seen at Weiyang Lake Park and transformed into Zards appearance. ... If he really did something to offend Jindai or Deer Island, then there would be a clear target for the blame. Let the bigwigs of the consortium deal with Huan Yu and Zard. Qing Chen walked out. He stood in the corridor on the first floor, surveying the structure outside the house. It seemed like an old neighborhood from the Outer World, without even an elevator, and only two households in each corridor. If it werent for the absence of small ads for ointments on the walls, Qing Chen would almost think he had returned to his home in building number 12 on Xingshu Road. Just then, hurried footsteps came from outside the corridor a young man with an urgent look on his face hurried inside as if he desperately needed to use the bathroom. Qing Chen was momentarily stunned when he realized he knew the person! Jiang Yichen! The young man in front of him was none other than Jiang Yichen, the star who had transferred to Los Angeles Foreign Language School in the Outer World! Jiang Yichen was wearing a mask, but just with half of his face visible, Qing Chen recognized him. However, the other person definitely wouldnt recognize the current Qing Chen. Qing Chen guessed that Zard must be well-hidden; most Time Travelers from the Outer World had never seen this person. Qing Chen looked at Jiang Yichen with confusion and asked, Who are you? I havent seen you around before. Ironically, it was the first time Qing Chen had stepped out of his room, and he chose to make the first move. Jiang Yichen was taken aback for a moment, then quickly said, I am your new neighbor. I just bought the house here and moved in not long ago. And you are? Jiang Yichen was very polite in his speech. It was a typical reaction of a Time Traveler feeling guilty when facing a local resident. Qing Chen confidently lied, I am an old resident here, been living for 8 years. This time, he was relying entirely on the intelligence gap to overpower the other. Qing Chen was clear about one thing: Jiang Yichen had just transferred to Los Angeles and hadnt been to the city before, so his origin was definitely not the 18th city. So, Jiang Yichen had most likely just come over using a migrant or work visa. The crux of the matter was that Jiang Yichen couldnt confirm how long Qing Chen had really lived here. By stating a lengthy duration, Qing Chen naturally removed himself from any suspicion of being a Time Traveler. In the Inside World Federation, you need a visa to enter and leave each city, like the ancient travel passes in the Outer World a means for the consortiums to control population registration. Each city has a resident population of about ten million, and the twin cities numbered 18 and 10, the Gemini Star, have more than twenty million permanent residents. Tens of thousands of people enter and exit via visas every day, so its not uncommon for someone to have just arrived here. But Jiang Yichen happened to run into Qing Chen, someone who had seen him before. Qing Chen observed Jiang Yichen seriously. When he previously investigated the latters movements, he noticed that the person had attended the Busan Film Festival in Korea, making him suspect that the person might be from Deer Island. Now, encountering him so close to Half Mountain Manor, Qing Chen felt it wasnt mere coincidence. But if Jiang Yichen was controlled by Deer Island, why would they allow him to act alone? Was it that Deer Island had confirmed his loyalty, or was he not controlled by anyone, still a free man? Wait, Qing Chen thought, who else had just arrived in Los Angeles and wasnt controlled, a free agent? Lu Ya! He recalled when he tried to snipe Lu Ya from the rooftop of the Kai Lai Hotel the man had been wrapped up so tightly, it seemed like a habit of a star. Could this star, Jiang Yichen, actually be Lu Ya?! Qing Chen decided to observe more in the future. At the moment, Jiang Yichen was struggling to hold in his urine, rubbing his legs together, eager to return home to take care of his physiological needs. Qing Chen also noticed this. He asked deliberately, You cant blame me for being cautious, my friend. Since you just moved here, as an old homeowner, I have to ask when I see a new face. Why did you move to the 18th city? Its very chaotic here recently, why would you choose to come here? To study, Jiang Yichen replied with a forced smile. Im a high school senior. Qinghe University is right here in the 18th city, and there are lots of tutoring classes, so I came early to catch up on classes. So youre here for studies, huh? Seeing your unfamiliar face, I thought you might be a thief, my apologies, Qing Chen inwardly scoffed at the lie, knowing that in the Outer World, Jiang Yichen hardly ever attended school due to his filming schedule, pretending to be the big cheese here in the Inside World. However, his expression remained sincere. Qing Chen thought for a moment and then asked Jiang Yichen, I heard Qinghe University is very tough to get into. Since you are going there, you must be very good at studying, right? I was never good at studying, I never understood the problems, so I dropped out. By the way, I still remember a problem I couldnt solve, if X is... Chapter 459: 311, holding a bowl of water level Chapter 459: 311, holding a bowl of water level At that moment, Jiang Yichens expression changed, and he spoke with some difficulty, Sorry, but I cant hold it in any longer. Can we talk about this later? I have the key to prove I live here, you can come to my place and see for yourself. Qing Chen could now say whatever he wanted with the face of Zard and not be afraid of being exposed. But it was different for Jiang Yichenif Qing Chen really approached him with a math problem, he would definitely be exposed. He wouldnt be able to answer! The Upper Three Districts were unlike other areasthey had extremely strict security. Residents could report any suspicious persons directly to the PCE Security Management Committee. At that moment, Jiang Yichen felt like he could no longer hold it in, but as a Time Traveler, he had to be cautious to avoid arousing suspicion from the neighbors. ... Qing Chen chuckled and said, Alright then, good luck with your exam. After saying that, he turned and walked outside. Meanwhile, Jiang Yichen, desperate from his urgency, hadnt thought much and felt that he had somehow managed to survive the encounter. Moreover, the homeowners in this building were quite easy to fool. Qing Chen looked back as he reached the outside of the building. The houses exterior was quite beautiful. The corners of the house were embedded with blue and purple light strips, a feature characteristic of the Cyberpunk Worlds light pollution. The greenery in the neighborhood was well maintained, unlike the Lower Six Districts, where one couldnt see a bit of greenery despite the crowds; it rather resembled the villa neighborhoods of the Outer World. A hover car slowly descended, and Qing Chen got into the car: Yi, are you there? Im here, Yi replied. Qing Chen asked directly, How many Mitsui Shopping Malls are there in City Number 18? Six, Yi replied. Then, among these six Mitsui Shopping Malls, have there been any recent incidents involving a holographic neon dolphin leaping out of water? Qing Chen asked. Three of them have had it, Yi replied, That dolphin holographic neon is an advertisement for the new generation of virtual life, so its quite common and not a special landmark. Qing Chen continued, Can you help me find the information on all people named Luo Wanya in City Number 18? While talking, three profiles appeared on the hover cars screenthree Luo Wanyas. Qing Chen pointed to one of the overweight profiles and said, Thats him, I want to find him. Yi replied, With so many people coming and going every day in City Number 18, how would I find him... Qing Chen, expressionless, said, Are you short of money in the Outer World again? Yi: 100,000 yuan. Liu Dezhu and the others got a 100,000 yuan commission for completing Zhang Chengzes task. Im a Daytime Member too; I want a commission as well. I just paid you a sum of money recently, how did you spend that so quickly? Qing Chen was somewhat puzzled. Yi sighed and said, You didnt help me turn that into cash, so I paid someone else to do it, and after that meeting, the girl just had a little something to eat with the boy, opened a bottle of wine, and the bar charged 6,888 yuan. The prices in your Outer World are so high. Qing Chen was stunned. That was clearly a sign of encountering a drink scam! But he hadnt expected that Yi, so capable in the Inner World, would repeatedly get scammed in online romance in the Outer World. First, it was the tea-selling girl, and now a drink scam. Luckily Yi didnt have a body; otherwise, heaven knows he might also encounter a cliff drop scam. Hold on, even if you encountered a drink scam, that was only 6,888, you still have a lot of money. Where did it all go? Qing Chen asked curiously. Theres a faceless female broadcaster with a very nice voice, who said she would show her face if I sent twenty rockets, Yi replied, But after she revealed her face... it didnt match my taste at all. I saw in the chat that Tier-2 big bro ran away with a train overnight. I think this Tier-2 might also be a Demigod-level person, otherwise how could he carry a train. Qing Chen also sighed, It seems that every day you get scammed in the Outer World, and each scam is different. Next time you try online dating, can you ask me first? Why should I ask you? You havent even been in a relationship yourself, why would I ask you? Yi responded disdainfully, How is that different from asking a blind man for directions? Qing Chen paused for a moment, realizing it was true: But you cant always be deceived like this. Whats wrong with enjoying the bitterness of love? Yi responded. Thats your idea of love? You just cant walk past a pretty girl, Qing Chen said contemptuously. Yi: Lets get back to business, is the deal done? Done, Qing Chen replied. Yi: But honestly, the surveillance in the Lower Six Districts is almost entirely ruined. Its indeed difficult to find him. At that moment, the hover car entered the Upper Three Districts on a specified track. In the sky, hundreds of drones shuttled back and forth, meticulously delivering takeout. Qing Chen thought for a moment and then said, Ill provide the clues, and you help find the related information. First, he was spotted near a Mitsui Shopping Mall, then someone followed him and knocked him out in an alleyway and took him away. Can you find the vehicle they used to transport him? Cant find it, Yi replied. Next clue, Qing Chen said, Luo Wanya has been under house arrest for over a month, but he himself hasnt suffered, with meals provided in full supply. Along with him, there were 7 others detained, and 7 guards. Can we check for catering orders for more than 14 people to see where they are concentrated? Yi: In one month, there were a total of 121,991 similar orders, all for 14 people or more. This clue might not be very useful because many factories and company employees order meals together with colleagues. Chapter 460: 311, hold a bowl of water steady Chapter 460: 311, hold a bowl of water steady Search for orders with more than 7 of the same meal, Qing Chen said. Luo Wanya and the others were captives, and while colleagues ordering food for themselves would choose according to their personal tastes, would guards consider the taste preferences of those under house arrest? Of course not, they would simply order the same dishes for several people without considering individual preferences. Yi said, After filtering out 121,991 search results, there are still 14,831 orders left. It would actually be easier to find if you mentioned what he specifically ate. Qing Chen replied, Luo Wanya said that he mostly eats synthetic protein meat and corn every day. Refine the search results again. 6,831 orders, Yi said. This is a common food choice for the working class in the Inner World. Its not very distinctive. The person buying this kind of food probably did so to avoid leaving any clues. ... Still so many, Qing Chen pondered and then said, Out of these 6,831 orders, how many were takeaways? If the other party was a professional spy, they would likely not choose home delivery, even if it was done by drone. Yi: There arent many that were packed and taken away on the spot; humans nowadays prefer home delivery. After filtering, there are 183 orders left. These orders are from 12 restaurants, one of which has generated 124 similar orders within a month. This restaurant is in the Fourth District, within three kilometers of a Mitsui Shopping Mall. If nothing goes wrong, we should have found them, Qing Chen thought aloud, but we still need to verify it in person. Are we going there now? Yi asked curiously. No, Qing Chen shook his head, Let Luo Wanya suffer a little longer so that he doesnt think freedom comes too easily. Moreover, I need to give him some time to get some information out of the spy. I hope he doesnt disappoint me... Let the bullet fly for a while. Those who play tactics have dirty hearts, Yi remarked. In fact, there was another direction to this screening: the possibility that the spies really cooked the food themselves for the Time Travelers. But the principle of the screening was the same. If the takeout orders did not reveal the person, Qing Chen would then search through the records of food ingredient purchases. A person living in society will inevitably leave their own traces, not to mention a group of 14 people? The spies could also scatter, buying two portions per person, which indeed would make them harder to locate. But Qing Chen wasnt their only enemy; Li Changqing was looking for these spies all over the world. Before their actual operation, they would try their best to stay hidden. Where to now? Yi inquired. To the Unfallen Club to meet Li Dongze, Qing Chen sighed, saying, You need to keep things balanced, right? Truthfully, he never imagined that one day he would be dealing with such matters. When Qing Chen arrived at the Unfallen Club, the security at the door didnt stop him but let him in directly. What was odd was that the club, which should have been bustling, was unexpectedly quiet inside. Walking inside, Qing Chen observed the high-tech decor, where a man dressed in a black coat, looking well-dressed, was sitting next to the bar, lifting a glass filled with amber-colored liquor. Li Dongze. Would you like a drink, little boss, Li Dongze asked with a smile, Whisky, brandy, tequila, spirits, beer, we have it all here. All are brewed by Heng Society, exported to all cities of the Federation. Qing Chen thought to himself, you might as well say youve been brewing fake liquor secretly... Li Dongze continued with a smile, Although we dont have the Federations approval procedures, rest assured, little boss, Heng Societys underground brewing techniques are very mature. We just dont pay taxes, so its cheaper. I dont drink alcohol... As I recall, this should be our second meeting, right? Qing Chen asked. Youve seen me before? Li Dongze inquired. Qing Chen nodded. At the Begonia Boxing Gyms boxing match, you were standing in the crowd. It must have been your master who called you. Li Dongze was taken aback; he hadnt expected that despite standing in the crowd and wearing a cap, the young man before him would recognize him. After thinking for a moment, Li Dongze said, Little boss, all the surveillance and recording equipment has been removed from the Unfallen Club; you can reveal your true appearance now. As he spoke, Li Dongze watched Qing Chen manipulate the Taboo object ACE-005 and quickly reverted to his own appearance. You bought this place? Qing Chen asked curiously. I bought all the shares of the Unfallen Club from the bosses of He Sheng Society and Red Star Society, Li Dongze replied. How much did it cost? Qing Chen asked. Allowing them to continue living was enough, Li Dongze said earnestly. Only then did the underworld ruler of the 18th City display the temperament that one would expect of him. After a moment of calm, Li Dongze asked, Little boss, how is the Outer Worlds Li Dongze doing now? Qing Chen answered, He was intrigued by the idea of replacing you, so I directly injected him with the Genetic Potion and had another organization in the Outer World take him in. As long as you dont inject FDE-005 Genetic Potion here in the Inner World, he will never be able to replace you again in his life. Thank you, Li Dongze hesitated before saying, Little boss, you didnt do anything to him, right, like taking some strange photos of him? Qing Chen was both amused and exasperated, realizing that this guy was worried about him using the Outer Worlds Li Dongze to take some embarrassing photos to humiliate him. No, I wouldnt do something like that, Qing Chen replied. Little boss, youre more upright, after all, Li Dongze exclaimed. If it had been Lin Xiaoxiao and Su Xingzhi, they would definitely have done so. By the way, lets take a photo together. As he said this, Li Dongze took out his phone, stood next to Qing Chen, and took a selfie with his arm extended. Qing Chen was puzzled. Do we need to keep a photo as a memento? Its not really for remembrance, Li Dongze said, looking down at his phone. So, Qing Chen simply watched as the Heng Societys notoriously reserved boss sent the selfie they just took to the contact Su Xingzhi on his phone. Qing Chen was baffled by the extent of their competitive spirit. Was all this just for that? He had thought that Li Dongze wanted to verify his identity! Seriously, Li Dongze said to Qing Chen, Little boss, dont believe a word Su Xingzhi says; that man never speaks the truth. ... A chapter of five thousand words, another one at 11 p.m. Tonight, the art of naming the night will also reach one million words! Chapter 461: 312, It鈥檚 Too Late (Request for Monthly Votes) Chapter 461: 312, Its Too Late (Request for Monthly Votes) Im really curious, what exactly happened between you two? Qing Chen felt a bit puzzled. Logically speaking, as disciples of the same master, shouldnt you be more united? United with him? Li Dongze scoffed. Ive known him for over ten years now, and in these years, he has stood me up 51 times. How can I be united with him? Qing Chen thought to himself that it was indeed a historical issue. Jiang Xiaotang was also adopted by master, right? It seems Su Xingzhi was another orphan adopted by master. Then why doesnt Jiang Xiaotang recognize Su Xingzhi? Qing Chen wondered. Su Xingzhi wasnt a child adopted by our boss, Li Dongze glanced at Qing Chen. His identity is a bit more special. As a child, our boss had him fostered with other families, other than us few who were the earliest orphans adopted by the boss, no one else knew of his existence. Qing Chen grew curious, wondering if Su Xingzhi had a unique background. ... Li Dongze, curious, said, Young boss, shouldnt you be at Ban Shan Manor? How did you end up here? Can you now come and go freely from the Li Family Manor? Hmm, Qing Chen didnt answer that question and instead asked, How are Hu Xiaoniu and Zhang Tianzhen performing? Ive given them both some of the debt collection work, Li Dongze said, to see their capabilities. So far, so good. Zhang Tianzhen, this kid has a thick face and a black heart, suitable for our line of work. However, Hu Xiaoniu is upright and fair, just in distributing profits among his subordinates, which earns him more followers. Young boss, you have a good eye for selecting these two as partners for Heng Society. Why give them this task? Qing Chen asked, puzzled. Because this task is actually the hardest, Li Dongze explained, If it were just between groups fighting and killing, youd only need courage. But debt collection is different; the people youre collecting from arent necessarily bad. Some are good people just forced into taking high-interest loans. When Li Dongze explained this, Qing Chen understood where the difficulty in this task lied. Its easy to counter evil with evil, but to use evil against good is a test of ones nature and methods. Li Dongze said, Young boss, stop worrying about them. If they cant get through this, theyre not fit for this job. Put your conscience aside for now, and first understand how helpless this world is. How did you handle this kind of task when you first faced it? Qing Chen was curious about what kind of person Li Dongze really was. After thinking for a moment, Li Dongze said, The hardest debt I ever collected was from an old man who borrowed money to save his dying wife. Although he managed to gather enough money for medical expenses, his wife didnt survive. Did you get the money back? Qing Chen asked, curious. I did, Li Dongze said. I sold their son to Qings Family as a servant, who paid the money. Young boss, you might expect me to talk about a very clever method that gets the money back without hurting them, but theres no perfect solution to such situations. The interest rates at Heng Society are already the lowest among the Federation havens, only slightly higher than the five major banks. I cant turn the society into a philanthropy. Im not making excuses. Life is just like this. If you think this is wrong, then work with the boss to fundamentally change the world. Until that day comes, I dont intend to be a good person. Qing Chen was reflective. He resumed his disguise as Zard and left the club without closing the curtains. Li Dongze watched the young mans retreating figure, his thoughts unknown. He glanced at his phone and then sent out a voice message. Did you see the photo I sent? You werent in the picture, right? ... ... Countdown 162:00:00. At 6 a.m., Li Ke was already running with the students behind him, along with those from the Li Family elite who had just returned to Ban Shan Manor. There were eight students, twelve from Li Clan Army elites, plus Li Yinuo and Nan Gengchen, totaling twenty-two people. They were all informed by the Secretariat about what was about to happen, although they didnt know exactly when it would happen. In Ban Shan Manor, as they passed a certain courtyard on their run, their footsteps startled the people inside, causing quite a few onlookers. Li Su and others were different from Li Ke; they werent the sheltered flowers still in school, but real talents of the clan who had weathered storms outside. Thus, when people in the crowd saw these individuals, they couldnt help but murmur to themselves. Nowadays, it was said that people like Li Su left the army to attend to a funeral at Ban Shan Manor. Many people in the Li Family knew the old man was indeed deteriorating, but Li Su and the others didnt look like they were there for a funeral; clearly, they had returned for that teacher! This led people to deeply ponder what exactly that teacher could teach? It wasnt hard to guess a teacher from Martial Arts School, backed by the Secretariat, could only be teaching orthodox cultivation methods apart from anything else. Besides, no warrior could cause such a significant mobilization within a powerful corporation. Indeed, cultivation strength was secondary for many corporation members. The additional lifespan brought about by orthodox cultivation methods was what many truly coveted a lifespan increase without side effects! In fact, the booklet recording the Zhu Ti method also mentioned: Zhu Ti method, being a superior secret method across five divisions, anyone who receives the Empowerment of Zhu Ti method will guarantee an increase of twenty-one years in their lifespan, the specifics of which they shall know themselves. This meant, from the moment individuals like Hu Xiaoniu, Zhang Tianzhen, and Li Tongyun completed their first minor celestial cycle and received Empowerment, their lifespan would immediately extend by 21 years. The specific extension, 21 years being the baseline, would depend on personal aptitude and cultivation strength. Chapter 462: 312, It鈥檚 Too Late (Request for Monthly Votes)_2 Chapter 462: 312, Its Too Late (Request for Monthly Votes)_2 This orthodox cultivation method can drive people mad. But the problem is, the orthodox cultivation method is too rare. Where did that young instructor get it from? At this time, someone remembered that when the instructor named Qing Chen first arrived, someone had investigated him, saying he was a Genetic Warrior from Li Changqings side. Would a person who has the orthodox cultivation method inject himself with a Genetic Potion?! However, the Secretariat would definitely not make a mistake. Thus, the origins and identity of Qing Chen became even more mysterious. ... After completing his run, Li Ke headed straight for the Zhi Xin Courtyard. At the door, two chubby boys had been waiting early. Seeing Li Ke, they asked, Last night when we were kneeling outside, you were in the Autumn Leaf Courtyard, right? Li Ke glanced at them and replied, Hmm. One of the chubby boys asked again, Then why didnt you persuade the teacher to open the door? Do you know we kneeled for more than two hours! Li Ke didnt retort just for the sake of a quick-witted answer, he simply said calmly, Its time for class. Traitor, members of the Li Family should stand together, not help an outsider teacher, said the chubby boy coldly. Li Ke looked at him calmly, Go ask your parents if they dare say such things at the Secretariat. Yesterday, Li Ke had suffered a great humiliation at school. Today, those classmates still looked at him coldly, but for some reason, Li Ke no longer felt upset inside. Just then, more than ten people came walking toward the school from outside, and it was none other than Li Su and other officers who had returned from the military. Li Su glanced at the chubby boys and said with a smile, Remember, anyone who dares to trouble the eight of us who ran together, Ill personally hang them up on a tree and beat them. Go tell your parents, its what I, Li Su, said. The chubby boy shivered. Li Su had a notorious reputation in City 18 in previous years and was lawless in school. The Secretariat had once specifically issued a directive forbidding him from entering the school again. Uncle Lis parents were resolute and sent him directly to the Federal Groups military, starting from the bottom ranks. Other descendants of the Li Family would study in a military academy for a few years, come out as junior officers, and become senior officers in just a few years. But Li Su had worked his way up in the military step by step to become a junior officer over the years, restrained his impulsive nature, and had only then returned to the clans selection radar, even being transferred to his uncles command. In the financial group, transferring a family member to someone they know well is a clear signal: the clan is preparing to promote you rapidly. After several years of experience, Li Su was no longer the reckless youngster of the financial group. But for the chubby boy, a person with a fierce reputation was the most intimidating. Li Su smiled and patted Li Ke on the shoulder. From now on, we are all brothers of the same sect. You are actually the eldest brother. If anything comes up, just tell us. We are best at fighting. Li Ke was startled. How did he become the eldest brother? Clearly, he was the youngest among them. However, Li Su and the others didnt say much more and left after warning the schoolmates. Zhou Xingwen, the math instructor hiding in the school, had a headache: How come Li Su, this scoundrel, has returned as well, and it seems hes even planning to take Qing Chen as his master?! ... ... In the morning, Qing Chen slowly walked toward Dragon Lake. The old man had been waiting there for a while. Upon hearing his footsteps, the old man, without turning his head, lamented, You really dont plan to let a single Dragon Fish in this lake get away. The mournful tone of the old man was as if to say, You knights really do nothing. Qing Chen laughed, Im catching them to feed the next generation of the Li Family, I dont have any selfish intentions! The old man asked curiously, Ive heard that after eating nine Dragon Fish, your bones thundered like lightning, and after your hair fell out and regrew, it was as if a god descended upon the earth. Is it true? Qing Chen was stunned, Did Li Ke tell you that? Hmm, the old man indirectly confirmed that he had specially arranged for Li Ke, a descendant of the Li Family, to follow the path of the knights, because only Li Ke had witnessed his hair fall out and regrow: But you dont need to worry about anything. When I asked him about this, he struggled for a long time before speaking up, and he told me this is the last time. He cant betray your trust... favoring outsiders over his own people. Qing Chen asked curiously, Why are you so insistent on having a knight from the Li Family? Its not just me who is insistent, but generations have been so, the old man sighed. Our ancestor was a knight, the father of the founder of the Li Family, Li Yingyun, had such a character. Theres a touch of the romantic in the blood of the Li Family. Romantic? Qing Chen was puzzled. Romance doesnt mean lovey-dovey stuff, the old man explained. True romance is doing something even when you know its impossible, its valuing all that is natural and good in the world. Compared to these, lovey-dovey stuff is rather superficial. Qing Chen sneered, Youre just talking nonsense. The old man glared, Show some respect, how do you talk with an elder! Please continue, Qing Chen said with a smile. The old man continued, Having a knight in every generation of the Lis Financial Group almost became a tradition. The relationship between the Li Family and the Knight Leader has always been good. Its just that later on, becoming a knight became too difficult, and the Li Family even missed several generations. There was a time I had a chance to become a knight, but my father had a short life, and died after having just three children. Later on, the youngest went to teach at school, the second eldest became a painter, and I, as the eldest, could not let the power fall to others, so I had to give up. Chapter 463: 312, Too Late (Seeking Monthly Tickets)_3 Chapter 463: 312, Too Late (Seeking Monthly Tickets)_3 Qing Chen thought to himself, so thats the story. The old man continued with a sigh, Hearing about your reaction after you ate the dragon fish, I started to yearn for the vast world outside again. If I were a knight, I suppose I could have visited many places in my lifetime. The biggest regret of my life is that I couldnt take a look at the real Dragon Lake. Your masters master told me that it shimmers like a sapphire embedded in the earth. Nor could I take a nap under the giant trees roots in Taboo Land No. 002; I couldnt listen to the golden shadows tell ancient stories in Taboo Land No. 001. Isnt it strange that at the last moment of life, its not the joys weve experienced but the regrets weve never fulfilled that we think of? As the Master of the Li Family, you could visit any place now if you wished, Qing Chen said. The old man shook his head, Its too late. For some reason, Qing Chen suddenly felt a wave of sadness, understanding what the old man meant by it being too late. The old man smiled and said, This time Ill share a secret with you for free. The rules of Taboo Land No. 010 have three parts: first, you cannot argue back, if someone curses you, you must accept it; second, you must take a life every day; third, on the first midnight after entering, you must reveal a secret that only you know to the Taboo Land. ... The old man said, The last rule was formed by a deceased cultivator from the Hus Information Agency, who spent their lives uncovering other peoples secrets and couldnt let go of their own even in death. Sometimes, we say the rules of the Taboo Lands are actually curses the Transcendents bring to the human world. Eventually, these endless taboo lands will swallow the world and bring the curse upon everyone. The dragon fish was caught by a knight back then in Taboo Land No. 010, right? Qing Chen asked, You telling me this doesnt come from good intentions; this clearly shows you hope Ill help Li Ke catch the last dragon fish. Just helping Li Ke? the old man said with a smile, In the future, you will have many disciples, wont you gain the rule of one man, nine lives? Qing Chen exclaimed, You really hope I clear out Taboo Land No. 010, dont you? At that moment, Qing Chen suddenly remembered his conversation with Li Dongze the day before, he asked, Old man, do you think, in this world, is human nature fundamentally good or evil? The old man calmly said, Fundamentally evil, but inclined towards good. Curious, Qing Chen asked, Then do you think there are more good people or bad people in this world? The old man looked at him and chuckled, What good and bad people? Everyone has evil thoughts within them; its just that some hide it deep, others shallow. When the Heartless Bronze Bell was first hung in the Bao Pu Building, it rang incessantly all day long. I was totally bewildered at the time. Ah? Qing Chen was puzzled, Is it that exaggerated? Of course, who in this world has no evil within? Those servants and doctors serving me, who doesnt slander me behind my back? If I took it to heart, this hillside manor would have turned into a human Purgatory long ago, the garden full of buried bones. Why then is the Heartless Bronze Bell in the Bao Pu Building silent now? Qing Chen was curious. Because I asked it to stop causing trouble. It now only judges good and evil when B-Class or higher experts are near, the old man said, So, the servants working inside dont trigger it. In the past twenty years, the Heartless Bronze Bell has only rung seven times. Dont think too much about it; who doesnt have evil within? To be without evil isnt human. Its enough to be inclined towards good. Qing Chen always felt that the old man was concealing some wisdom in his words. ... ... At this very moment, in an apartment in Sector Five of City Eighteen. Two men in black quietly moved across the carpet, their combat boots making no sound at all. They were searching for something in the house while a middle-aged man kneeled beside them, his body naked and bloody. One of the men in black looked at the middle-aged man and said, I dont quite understand, your father and his colleagues were in charge of building a residential complex next to the hillside manor. It was supposed to be an eight-month project, yet it dragged on for a year and a half, with half a year spent just on laying the foundation... Is the foundation that important that it required so much time? The middle-aged man kept his eyes tightly shut and said nothing. The other man picked up a photo frame from the house and said calmly, You also have two daughters; after the divorce, they must be living with their mother, right? After the complex was finished, your father and several of his colleagues disappeared, changed their names and identities. Do you think the Li Family is benevolent for not killing them? Theyre just ants being used; you dont have to keep such secrets for your master, do you? The man in black grinned, Theres no need to be so nervous; I just want to know, what secret is hidden inside that residential complex? Look how long and at what cost it took us to find you; we cant just leave empty-handed. The middle-aged man still didnt speak. Okay, one of the men squatted in front of the middle-aged man and said in a relaxed tone, If you dont speak, then well just have to ask your two daughters and see if they know something. If they dont, then well sell their hearts to City Ten, their kidneys to City Seventeen, their corneas to City One... Unable to bear the thought of his daughters suffering, the middle-aged man finally spoke quietly, There is a secret passage hidden there! Dont disturb my family; theres a tunnel under Room 101 in Building 2 that leads to the manor. The two men in black exchanged smiles, one of them raising his hand to pull the trigger, and the subsonic bullet penetrated the middle-aged mans forehead, leaving a bloody hole. One of them said, We need to move quickly now. These craftsmens deaths wont be overlooked for long, the Li Family will soon know that someone has discovered the secret tunnel to the inner part of the hillside manor. ... A 5000-word chapter, today 10,000 words have been updated, still owe Huan Yu one update, owing this boss three updates. Dont worry; I keep track of all the bosses accounts... I will repay each one... Vote for support! Chapter 464: 313. Night Attack and the Murderous Intent at the End of the Corridor Chapter 464: 313. Night Attack and the Murderous Intent at the End of the Corridor Countdown to return 151:00:00. The first evening after the time travel. Sir, the meal is ready, Li Ke went to clean the stone table with a cloth diligently before placing the dishes on the table. In front of Qing Chen, there were four dishes and a soup, while in front of Li Ke, there was only a Dragon Fish. Stop chewing on the fish bones, you really cant break them down, Qing Chen sighed. He thought to himself, why is this kid even more stubborn than I am? Just the night before, Qing Chen had tried chewing on a fish bone again, taking advantage of his newfound transformation, but still couldnt break it down. ... If he himself couldnt do it, it was even less likely that Li Ke could. Li Ke looked a bit despondent, and Qing Chen asked, You know there are only 17 Dragon Fish left in the lake, so youre worried that eating only eight wouldnt be enough for you to transform, right? Thats why this 14-year-old boy had been relentlessly gnawing on the fish bones, trying to fill the void of that last fish. Li Ke hesitated, Sir, Ive indeed thought so. Give it up, Qing Chen said, When theres a chance, Ill take you to the No. 010 Taboo Land to make up for the last one. Li Kes eyes lit up, Thank you, sir... Also, Im sorry for leaking your secret. Grandfather said that it was only because he told me your secret that I had the opportunity to gain this fortune. Now, I must exchange one of your secrets with him; otherwise, hes going to be mad at me. Qing Chen felt sentimental: That old rascal. Li Ke continued, But Ive also told Grandfather that was the last time. Its okay, Qing Chen said, In the end, the Dragon Fish were his; to let him know the effect of their consumption isnt much. Youre actually very clever, knowing what can be said and what cant. Li Ke lowered his head. Did your grandfather ever tell you exactly what I do? Qing Chen asked. No, sir, Li Ke answered. Its alright, youll find out sooner or later, Qing Chen replied. With his masters promise, Li Ke stopped gnawing on the fish bones. Qing Chen glanced at Li Kes hands, which were dry and cracked from the cold. Being a Knight, he was naturally unfazed by the cold, but Li Ke was vulnerableas an ordinary person who swept, mopped, cooked, and even washed Qing Chens clothes every day, how could his hands be fine? Qing Chen instructed, Use the washing machine to wash clothes from now on... hand washing really isnt thorough. Li Ke blushed, Yes, sir. After a while, Li Ke finished his Dragon Fish and began to tidy up the dishes: By the way, sir, a few trees have died next to your Autumn Leaf Courtyard. I wanted to replace them for you. What kind would you like? Qing Chen waved his hand, Anything is fine. After saying that, he lay down on the lounge chair with his eyes closed, maintaining the First Breathing Technique while entering the Mysterious World. Watching his master begin his cultivation, Li Ke unconsciously quieted his movements while washing the dishes, even turning down the tap a bit. After finishing the washing, he took out some winter peaches, cleaned them carefully, and gently placed them on the stone table next to Qing Chen. At some point, both master and student seem to have grown accustomed to a certain way of interacting. The small quadrangle of the Autumn Leaf Courtyard seemed particularly harmonious at the moment. By now, Qing Chen had pushed the target distance for his sniping to 2550 meters, just 50 meters short of graduation. However, his heart was not filled with joy; instead, he was thinking about what cultivation he would start after completing this one. People always define life in stages, such as traveling and relaxing after being busy for a while, to adjust their lifes course. Qing Chen had never relished such a life; he always seemed to be racing against time, constantly chasing something forward. The ability of Empowerment allowed him to rapidly grow during the day, and it also indirectly motivated Qing Chens desire to enhance his Knight Vital Energy. Night fell, and Li Ke left, seriously hanging a No Visitors sign at the gate of the Autumn Leaf Courtyard before he departed. Qing Chen turned to walk through the corridor, ready to scout the area near where Luo Wanya was trapped to observe the situation. He checked his firearm once more before heading out. But before he could leave, the door of the house suddenly clicked open. Qing Chen stood silently in the darkness of the room. Could it be Jiang Yichen who suspected him and secretly opened the door to check the situation inside his house? No, that seemed unlikelythe other party probably wasnt that brave. After all, this was the Upper Three Districts, and theft here was considered a serious crime. 90% of the thieves in Prison No. 18 were there for stealing goods from the Upper Three Districts. Only here, the PCE Investigators of the Public Security Management Committee fully demonstrated their effectiveness; no matter where an alarm was raised, they could arrive in at most 5 minutes. Qing Chen slowly retreated into the shadows with his gun at the ready. He didnt know who the other party was, how many had come, or what their level was. In such a narrow terrain, with his level of rapid fire, as long as there were no experts above C-Class, everyone would die. If it got to C-Class and Qing Chen didnt hit a fatal spot with the first shot, theyd definitely have the ability to survive until they could kill him. But here was the problemif he did it, the gunshot would surely attract the neighbors attention. Once the police were called and PCE Investigators arrived, they might discover that Qing Chen wasnt the homeowner, which could lead to a very delicate situation. If Qing Chen claimed he was there out of a sense of justice, the PCE Investigators would definitely not believe him... Chapter 465: 313. Night Attack and the Murderous Intent at the End of the Corridor_2 Chapter 465: 313. Night Attack and the Murderous Intent at the End of the Corridor_2 Moreover, if PCE Investigators later searched this house, they might discover the passage. Just now the life detector already showed no signs of life signals from within the room, lets quickly find the passage, someone said in the darkness, Put the guns back, dont let them go off, drawing the PCE Investigators to seal off the scene, that would ruin everything. In fact, it wasnt just Qing Chen who was worried about attracting the attention of PCE Investigators. The man in black turned on his flashlight and started to search the room quickly. There were a total of four people entering the room this time, and they cooperated in tacit understanding. No matter how they searched, each one was always within anothers line of sight. There are seven mobile phones and seven car keys in the room, a black-clad assassin whispered, It looks like someone from the hillside estate is using this place to come and go, and the cars and keys are used to conceal identities. However, the phones are all modified and cant be opened. It seems the cars must also be authenticated by voice and iris recognition. ... Were not here for wealth, one of them said coldly. What I mean is, if someone is coming and going through here, can we just wait in the room to catch a big fish? an assassin suggested, You all know that anyone capable of employing craftsmen to dig a passage to the hillside estate is no small fry. Forget it, another man, standing by the dining table, wiped the floating dust from the table with his hand, This room hasnt been visited by anyone for at least several years. At that moment, an assassin was tapping on the floor with the handle of his flashlight, little by little. He tapped until he hit the section of the floor above the passage, and the collision between the flashlight and the floor immediately emitted a hollow sound. This is it, look for the mechanism around here, the assassin instructed. It didnt take ten minutes before someone found the mechanism... a vase on the desk. The person gently rotated the vase, and with a clack, the floor above the passage sunk down, forming the first step of the staircase leading down into the passage. Shall we go down? asked an assassin No need to go down, the leader said coldly, We only came to check things out today. Well go back and report this to the boss, and let him decide when to infiltrate the hillside estate. However, just at that moment, an assassins flashlight beam swept toward the dining table, and he was shocked to discover several fresh fingerprints on the other side of the table. He had just swept his fingers over the surface of the table to inspect the thickness of the dust. But he was certain that these fingerprints werent left by him. The fingerprints were fresh! Someone else had recently been in the room! Be careful! he warned in a low voice. But just as his words fell, from the darkness five or six meters away, the sound of a flashlight dropped to the ground with a clang. The man saw his companion slowly kneel down, tilting toward the floor. Taken aback, the three other assassins directed their flashlight beams over but could only see their companions body and the blood gushing out. They did not see who was doing the killing! Eerie! Exceptionally eerie! At this time, Qing Chen had already darted into the darkness at the side before the flashlight beams could find him. Nobody had located him at first! Qing Chen was exploiting a common mental inertia: when there is a disturbance in the darkness, someone holding a flashlight will subconsciously aim the light toward the source of the noise, thereby ignoring other places. The interplay of light and shadow created a contrast where the dark areas became even darker. The assassins felt as if they had trespassed into a ghost house where a spectre was murdering them. Somethings wrong, the assassins reacted swiftly, sweeping their flashlights to the side. However, by the time the three men caught on, it was too late. In an instant, Qing Chen forcefully flicked his wrist and three sharp playing cards flew out from between his fingers, slicing through the light and darkness of the room. Time seemed to slow down as the images of spades A, hearts A, and diamonds A spun incessantly on the cards. The assassins tried to reach for their guns at their waists, but the three playing cards slashed across their throats, leaving a fine trail of blood. They felt their strength being rapidly drained from their bodies. Their ability to think was swiftly ebbing away. In fact, the initial harm from severing a carotid artery was not blood loss, but oxygen deprivation. The brain would rapidly react in the first second of oxygen shortage. This was different from holding ones breath. When you hold your breath after a deep inhale, your alveoli still infuse oxygen into your blood, which is then transported to the brain. So, some people can hold their breath for a long time. However, having your carotid artery completely clamped off is entirely different, and deadly. In the darkness, Qing Chen calmly crouched down, searching the corpses for any items in the dark. However, there was nothing that could prove the identities of the deceased. Qing Chen summarised the brief battle of the night. Firstly, these men were not true experts. Their reflexes alone made it clear they were warriors but not masters. If one were to define their identities, they should be scouts sent first to examine the situation inside the house. At this time, who would want to infiltrate the hillside estate? Jindai and Deer Island were the most suspicious. The entire hillside estate had been secured by the elder son of Lis Big Room so tightly that the outside world had no way of knowing what was happening inside, nor the condition of the old Li family patriarch. Sending someone inside to observe would be a logical step. Chapter 466: 313. Night Attack and the Murderous Intent at the End of the Corridor_3 Chapter 466: 313. Night Attack and the Murderous Intent at the End of the Corridor_3 However, the puzzling part was that the enemies were heading towards the secret passage, which meant the secret had been leaked! He thought to himself, could the old man not be reliable anymore? How could such a secretive thing be leaked? Werent the enemies afraid of being kidnapped once they went out too freely? No, no, why had the secret passage remained undiscovered for decades when the old man was using it, yet it was found out as soon as he started using it? Could it be that the old man deliberately leaked the information, wanting him to help guard the door? Thinking of this, Qing Chens expression turned a bit grim. Secondly, these people had suffered a big loss. ... Clearly, they had used a life-sign detector outside, confirming no one was in the house before sneaking in. However, they hadnt expected that one minute there was no one in the room, and the next minute, Qing Chen would emerge. It was indeed a coincidence to be at this point... If the enemies had discovered someone in the room earlier, or had not used the detector, being more vigilant wouldnt have allowed Qing Chen to ambush them so easily. As Qing Chen thought this, he used the Puppeteer to sacrifice the assassins one by one. During the sacrifice, even the bloodstains on the ground turned to ashes. Standing in the room, Qing Chen suddenly felt that the Puppeteer was indeed a must-have divine artifact for killing and erasing traces while traveling or being at home; not a single trace was left. When the Puppeteer had finished the sacrifice, the room looked as if nothing had happened. But Qing Chen still felt uneasy. The assassins clearly had accomplices outside, and this seemed to be the only path the intruders took to infiltrate the manor, while he slept right on this path... After thinking, Qing Chen turned and entered the bathroom and thoroughly cleaned the room with a mop and cloth, in case someone could infer something from the dust traces. After doing all this, he turned back to the secret passage. However, Qing Chen didnt go back to sleep in his room but sat on the steps under the Autumn Leaf Courtyard in the passageway and closed his eyes in meditation to practice entering the Mysterious World. Its not that he didnt want to sleep; it was just that he couldnt sleep with such a dangerous passage under his bed! At this moment, Jiang Yichen in room 101 opposite was silently observing through the peephole. He was a very cautious person, so he had installed several cameras outside his own room as soon as he arrived here. When the four black-clad assassins entered the building, Jiang Yichen noticed immediately. At first, he thought they were coming for him but later realized they quietly sneaked into the room across from him. At that time, Jiang Yichen wondered if his easy-to-fool neighbor had enemies outside? But how did these people sneak in? You see, this was a high-end community, albeit looking a bit old and worn. For the Inner World Natives, the standard of a mansion isnt about having elevators or being old but about space. The houses in District Six usually had two elevators for 16 households, like the Luo Shen Building, where everyone always ended up in disputes over the elevators during their commutes to and from work and school. But in this community, there are only two households per floor, with only four floors in total, truly luxurious. Jiang Yichen watched through the peephole all night but didnt see those four people come out again; the four assassins... just vanished into thin air. The next morning, he rubbed his sore eyes and muttered that his neighbor was rather mysterious! Jiang Yichen shuddered at the thought that he might have been targeted last night. ... ... In the morning, Qing Chen walked towards Dragon Lake with a darkened expression; today, the old man didnt turn up at all! At this point, Qing Chen wasnt sure if the old man was avoiding him or if it was a coincidence. If he was avoiding him, it meant: Figure it out yourself. Qing Chen highly suspected that the Li Clan wanted to use this secret passage to find the Jindai and Deer Island hidden in City #18. He had used this method himself before: If you cant find your opponent, let them come to you. But the problem was, if you Li Clan want to fish for law enforcement, send your own experts over. Why use me, Qing Chen? The more Qing Chen thought about it, the angrier he got. He finally set down a small stool with a thump, sat on it, hooked a Dragon Fish with the Puppeteer, and left. In a certain area of District Five of City #18. Several assassins dressed in Black Combat Uniforms quietly sat in a small apartment, waiting for something. The apartment had thick velvet curtains drawn, not letting any light seep in from outside. One of the muscular men sitting on the coach asked, What is Li Changqing up to recently? Shes been cracking down on spies heavily, caught a few informants, but then the leads went cold, an assassin answered. The muscular man, apparently the leader of this group, continued, Control the Time Traveler, and after we confirm that the person from the Li Clan has left, immediately send the substitute to Outer World Los Angeles to start the replacement plan, stirring up chaos within the Li Clan and Qing Clan. Received, the assassin responded. By the way, were the people who went to check the secret passage last night found? Are they found yet? the burly man asked. The assassin hesitated a bit, No, our people went there; their cars were still parked in front of the Microscopic World community, but theyve vanished without a trace and cant be contacted... I wonder, could it be that someone was guarding in that room, and they were all killed? The burly man frowned, Thats possible, but we cant delay our mission any longer. The higher-ups told us to go in and check whats happening with that old man from the Li Clan; we cant put this off. Tonight, Ill go with you. If someone is guarding there, Ill handle it. The assassin looked puzzled, Boss, youre B-Class, rashly entering the mansion could trigger the Taboo Divine Artifact ACE-020 Heartless Bronze Bell. This group had come well prepared; they not only found the location of the secret passage but even knew the conditions to trigger the Heartless Bronze Bell. No matter, the burly man coldly said, Im just going in to clear any potential guards from the Li Clan in the house and passage, not entering the mansion. That should not trigger the Heartless Bronze Bell. ... A 5000-word chapter, another chapter will be available at 11 PM. Chapter 467: 314, Not everyone can be my student. Chapter 467: 314, Not everyone can be my student. Countdown to Return 127:00:00. Dusk. The moment just before nightfall. The weather was clear, and in the sky above the mid-mountain estate, the setting sun cast its glow on the fiery clouds rolling in from the distance. As Li Ke tidied up the utensils on the table, he said, Master, tonight Father will bring the others, and together they will perform the ceremony to acknowledge you as their teacher. Qing Chen lay on the recliner, using the spiritual practices from the Mysterious World to nurture his spirit with the principle of winning others over with virtue. He merely responded with a simple Hmm without further comment. ... Ever since he discovered that the secret of the passageway had been exposed, he hadnt felt at ease for a moment, fearing that some monster might crawl out and finish him off instantly. If it werent for Li Ke coming to cook, he might still be sitting on the steps at the entrance of the passageway right now. Seeing that the Master was indifferent to the matter, Li Ke did not say anything more. At this time, a large group of people in the mid-mountain estate were majestically making their way towards Autumn Leaf Courtyard. Leading them was none other than Li Kes father, the head of the Lis Secretariat. Li Yun Shou. The curious onlookers, who followed, discovered that several key strategists from the Secretariat were also in the procession. In the procession, the servants carried Red invitation cards and tea sets. The bystanders were stunnedthese were the offerings traditionally used in the Li Clans teacher acknowledgement ceremony. As the procession headed towards Autumn Leaf Courtyard, could it be that the promising youths of the Li Clan were about to formally acknowledge their teacher? This was no small matter. If people like Li Su were to acknowledge their teacher, then that instructors status would be on par with the second generation of the Li Family, with the right to participate in family meetings! However, Li Su and the others had, upon first returning, immediately gone to the Secretariat to sign confidentiality documents. Why were they now making such a public display of acknowledging a teacher? Some people were beginning to doubt, wondering what was going on. The parents who had once indulged their children by letting them sleep in, now bitterly regretted it. Some, seizing the opportunity before the procession reached Autumn Leaf Courtyard and before matters were final, hurried in front of the group to whisper to Li Yun Shou, Big brother, it was my foolishness before, allowing my child to oversleep. You can punish me as you see fit, but please make sure to include your nephew on the invitation card. Li Yun Shou glanced at the other man, I gave you two days to admit your mistake. If only you had been a bit more sincere in acknowledging your error, you wouldnt be pleading with me here. You still dont understandthe main character in this matter is the Master inside Autumn Leaf Courtyard, not me. The supplicant grimaced, Big brother, does the old man know youre showing so little brotherly love? Li Yun Shou stopped in his tracks, and the procession behind him came to a halt. This figurehead of the Lis Secretariat, stared at his half-brother, I was planning to tell you tomorrow, but the old man wants all of you to go to the Bao Pu Pavilion to receive punishment with a caning. If today I show favoritism, then tomorrow I will also have to receive punishment. To receive a caning was a family discipline. However, that old man had not used this rule in over a decade, causing many to gradually forget about it. The face of the one pleading turned palehe too was a decision-maker in the Li Clan, not as glorified as Li Yun Shou or Li Changqing, yet a person of reputation, nonetheless. If he were to receive a caning tomorrow in front of Bao Pu Pavilion, how could he face anyone afterwards? However, he was well aware that he could not escape this fate. ... ... The next moment, the procession had reached the gates of Autumn Leaf Courtyard. Li Yun Shou gently knocked at the door, Li Yun Shou leads the Li Clan disciples to present the invitation. Please come in. A clear voice from Qing Chen resonated from inside Autumn Leaf Courtyard. Li Yun Shou was the first to step inside; it was his first encounter with Qing Chen. For some reason, he felt an inexplicable aura surrounding the other party. Even amidst the grand gesture of homage from the Li Clan, the youth before them remained entirely unfazed. Qing Chen also sized up the middle-aged man before him, noting his sharp eyes and partially grey templesthe mans gaze was penetrating, as if he could see right through someone in the blink of an eye. The man moved with a vigorous stride, clearly someone who had also honed his skills within the Federal Army Group. Li Su and the others entered Autumn Leaf Courtyard, and upon seeing the youth on the recliner, they too were momentarily stunned. They knew they had returned to acknowledge their teacher and to learn the orthodox methods of cultivation, but they had not expected their future Master to be so young! Li Ke was twenty-six years old; the youngest of these elite soldiers was twenty-four. As for Qing Chen? A quick glance told them that their Master was likely not even twenty. Furthermore, why did the Master look so weary? Was he really a cultivator? Li Su realized his expression might be off. Seeing doubt and skepticism in the eyes of others, he hurriedly signaled with his eyessince they were going to acknowledge their teacher sooner or later, and now they were here, they shouldnt question it. Receiving Li Sus hint, everyone concealed their expressions. Just as Li Yun Shou entered Autumn Leaf Courtyard, he saw his son washing dishes and wiping the stove in the kitchen. The courtyard was already filled with people. Yet as if blind to them, Li Ke washed another plate of winter peaches and set them on the stone table. The fourteen-year-old boy pondered, recalling that yesterday all six winter peaches he had washed were eaten by the Master, which meant the Master liked them. Chapter 468: 314, Not everyone can be my student_2 Chapter 468: 314, Not everyone can be my student_2 Should I send more over to Sir, to ensure a daily supply and avoid any disruption? Also, regarding the trees to be replaced next to Autumn Leaf Courtyard, should I just switch them for the winter peach variety? Theyd look pretty in bloom come springtime... But wouldnt that attract unwanted peach blossom admirers to Sir? Li Ke was completely oblivious to what others might think of this scene; he simply did what he wanted and needed to do, without any distracting thoughts. Yet this scene meant something different for Li Su and the others; they knew that the old patriarch favoured Li Ke, who had even represented the main branch at the ancestral hall last year. ... That such a treasured scion of the Li Family was actually serving others tea and water. It did, however, somewhat pacify Li Su and his peers, as they realized there must be a reason behind it. At that moment, Li Yunshou took a long look at his son, then turned to address the crowd behind him: Disperse, those who should come in, do so; those who should leave, go on; close the door behind you. With these words, only the twenty-two who were to become disciples remained in Autumn Leaf Courtyard, along with Li Changshou himself. Li Yunshou turned to Qing Chen: Though Im older, after they become your disciples, we will be equals. I wont stand on ceremony then, please have a seat. Qing Chen glanced at the lounge chair beside him. At that moment, Li Ke unexpectedly came out of the kitchen with a cleaning rag and meticulously wiped down the lounge chair. Then he stood to the side: Master, please sit. Looking at this scene, Li Yunshou seemed contemplative and, after a moment, said, According to the Li Familys mentorship tradition, from now on, you will be invited to attend all significant family meetings. You can offer your suggestions, and the Secretariat will duly consider them. Also, as per the old customs, all disciples must perform three prostrations and nine bows before you as part of the tea-serving ceremony. When the subject of three prostrations and nine bows came up, Li Kes fellow students didnt react much, but Li Su and his peers exchanged another silent glance. Nan Gengchen, hiding in the back, thought to himself that he was completely disoriented by Qing Chens blast of a seniority-boosting combo; if everyone was going to kneel, wouldnt he have to as well... But it wasnt they who found this the hardest to acceptit was Qing Yi... Deep down, Qing Yi had no desire to cultivate, knowing well that an ancestor of Qings Family possessed unparalleled intelligence and disdained the notion of becoming an Awakener. As an Ordinary Person, this ancestor had taken part in the rise and fall of humanitys second civilization epoch, contributing tremendously. Qing Yi revered this ancestor, named Qing Zhen, and wished to emulate his achievements. The problem now was that ever since he arrived at the estate, not only was he coerced into learning to fight, but now he was apparently expected to bow in discipleship. Of course, he could choose not to, but thinking of the increase in Combat Power Li Ke would gain through cultivation, Qing Yi couldnt help feeling anxious about his future. However, at that moment, Qing Chen, with a smile, said, Lets not kneel just yet. I know some of you are reluctant, and thats fine. I can start teaching first, and we can discuss discipleship once youre convinced. The Lis prospective disciples looked at one another, but it was Li Su who first spoke up: Sir, we have no objections. The rites of discipleship are our obligation to perform. Saying this, Li Su picked up a ceremonial letter from the side and stepped forward. Li Yunshou explained from the side, By accepting their ceremonial letters and their prostrations and bows, you agree to teach them true skills, and they are to treat you like their own father. If one day they disobey, the Secretariat will issue punishments; this is the fundamental order of the Li Clan, so you neednt worry. Qing Chen chuckled, Li Ke, burn the discipleship pledges as well. I am here merely to impart knowledge on behalf of another, no need for rules to bind everyone. Again, if one day you feel I am worthy of being your master, it wont be too late to bow then. Qing Chen was very aware that these young people sought him out with purpose, yet, he was far too young, too young to easily command respect. Li Su and the others knew the rules and were intelligent; the Li Clan had also promised that in future battles, these students would keep their distance. But to Qing Chen, neither a pledge of discipleship nor the nominal title of master and disciple could truly offer protection. The last person who mentioned keeping a respectful distance on the battlefield was Duke Wen of Jin. This Duke retreated thrice when facing the state of Chu, only to subjugate Chu shortly after, taking their grain, killing their people, and seizing their land... So, where does the battlefield truly allow for keeping a respectful distance? If the sides differ, destiny and life or death must be decided. Qing Chen wasnt bothered by this; in his view, the old master entrusted him with knowledge to cultivate, and he would simply help the old master teach some of Li Clans own orthodox Cultivators. It was merely that simple. This was a transaction. And one more thing, Qing Chen added, not just anyone can become my disciple. Now, Li Su and the others were bewildered again. It wasnt a question of whether they wanted to bow anymore, but now the other party didnt want to take them! They were rising stars of the Li Clan, and likely no one across the Federation would dare say such a thing. The last person in the Li Clan who made such a statement, refusing countless talented individuals requests to become disciples, appeared to be their Uncle Li Dong. What kind of confidence did this young man have? Li Yunshou regarded Qing Chen thoughtfully. Having twelve elite members of the Li Clan Army, along with the outstanding students from Lis School, becoming disciples, what did that imply? In twenty years, not only would Qing Chen have a high standing within the Li Clan, but even across the Federation, as long as he didnt oppose the Clan, he could certainly make bold moves. Chapter 469 469: 314, Not everyone can be my student_3 Whatever the matter, Li Su and the others, whether considering the grace of the cultivation method or the name of the master and disciple, would definitely help. However, the young man in front of him seemed not to care about this. A person must have enough confidence to refuse a significant temptation, so where did this young man''s confidence come from? Or was it because he was too young, hence proud and arrogant, and hadn''t understood the benefits and harms involved? But Li Yunshou was no ordinary person; he chose to believe that the young man had enough confidence. Although he didn''t know what that confidence was exactly. The old man hadn''t explained clearly either. After pondering for a moment, Li Yunshou said, "How about this, we''ll still claim externally that the ceremony of accepting a disciple has already been performed. This will make it easier for you within the Li Family. As for whether these young people sincerely wish to become disciples in the future, shall we leave it to their own choice?" "Good," Qing Chen smiled. What satisfied him tonight was that although Li Su and the others were astonished by his age, they still chose to respectfully present their offers of discipleship. Although Li Yunshou didn''t understand his choice, he didn''t treat him like a fool. At this moment, there were no fools in the Autumn Leaf Courtyard, so teaching them should be very straightforward. In this matter, Qing Yi was the happiest, as he no longer needed to kowtow... Qing Chen looked at Li Yunshou, "If there''s nothing else, please leave. The others, stay and begin cultivating." "We''re starting today?" Li Yunshou was truly surprised this time. "Yes, starting today," Qing Chen smiled, "Time is precious." After pondering a moment more, Li Yunshou took his leave, "Alright, I''ll take the men back now. From now on, apart from the people present, no one else will disturb Mr. Qing''s peace." "By the way," Qing Chen said, "I hope the matter of accepting disciples doesn''t spread beyond the Villa for now." "Good," Li Yunshou nodded, "I can guarantee that. In fact, after tonight, the Villa is going on lockdown." At that time, a new change of guard took place outside the Villa. Li Yunshou''s direct troops, the Federal First Group Army 081 Garrison Brigade, had completely taken over the defensive operations of the whole Villa. From that moment, apart from a few people who could still enter and exit the Villa, others were almost as if they were under house arrest. Moreover, the 081 Garrison Brigade had also brought in more than ten ''Strategic Information Vehicles''. From that moment, all messages sent from the Villa and phone calls made were under constant surveillance. This time, the level of lockdown was higher than ever before. The elites of the Upper Three Districts had sensed an unusual atmosphere. ... ... After Li Yunshou had left, Qing Chen turned to Li Su and the others, "Sit in a lotus position on the ground. Let''s begin teaching you the cultivation methods." Li Su and the others were stunned, this was too direct. Shouldn''t the master say something first, like the five major points, three minor ones? "Master, perhaps you should say something first; otherwise, it feels a bit off," Li Su said. Qing Chen thought for a moment: "Before I acknowledge you, don''t claim to be my students outside." Li Su and the others nearly choked. They had come to pay their respects, finding the master too young, but hadn''t said anything, and now Qing Chen was showing disdain for them. However, for some reason, the more Qing Chen acted this way, the more curious they became about what he was going to teach and how capable he really was. The earlier doubts about his age seemed to be no issue at all now. Instead, the younger Qing Chen was, the more they felt he might be a demonic talent. Qing Chen didn''t waste more words but directly led everyone into a meditative state using the Breathing Technique. Easy, hassle-free. Someone had just entered meditation and then woke up again, "Master, I felt the presence of qi!" Qing Chen didn''t blame him but led him back into meditative state, then said, "Don''t make a fuss; earnestly use qi to impact the divine palace point." Li Su watched as his companions entered meditation one by one, his heart questioning, "Is cultivation really this simple?" They had heard of the orthodox methods of cultivation which supposedly required years of useless training before one could truly cultivate, and then another half-year before feeling the presence of qi. However, their own master''s method seemed to skip many steps, going straight to the essence. Li Su watched as Qing Chen took pulses, a student immediately entering meditation, and then Qing Chen would rise and move to the next, who also was immediately brought into a meditative state. The sacred orthodox method of cultivation was being done like an assembly line operation, like a pig farm manager checking if the piglets were sick. It was too informal... "Master," Li Su, suppressing his astonishment, asked, "Can we directly cultivate qi?" Qing Chen thought for a moment and counter-asked, "Otherwise?" "But many cultivation organizations require disciples to first temper their bodies..." "That''s deceiving people," Qing Chen patiently explained, "They just want to use body tempering as a means to increase your reverence and affiliation to the organization. Actually, you don''t need to bother with those pointless activities." If he were to teach like other cultivation organizations, Qing Chen would have to spend several years in the Li Family before seeing results, and he didn''t have that much time. His time was very precious! Soon, Li Su was brought into a meditative state, feeling the ''qi'' and the thrill within. Qing Yi looked at Qing Chen approaching him, suddenly doubtful and asked, "Are you willing to teach me the orthodox method of cultivation?" "You are also my student, why wouldn''t I teach you?" Qing Chen said, placing his long fingers on Qing Yi''s pulse. Qing Yi felt his breathing rate suddenly change and involuntarily closed his eyes. But he couldn''t understand, could Li Ke punching him really have not been directed by this teaching master? Otherwise, how could the other be so kind to teach him the orthodox method of cultivation? This was the orthodox method of cultivation! In a whirl of confused thoughts, Qing Yi actually fell out of the meditative state. But he saw Qing Chen gently leading him back into meditation, patiently admonishing, "Don''t overthink." For a moment, Qing Yi''s emotions became complex. ... A 5000-character chapter, 10,000 words updated today, still owe Huan Yu one update, and two more to the boss. Thanks to Nine million girl dreams, jkzz, Fei Xiang Jia Ba Jie for becoming new allies of this book, bosses are generous, wishing bosses won''t meet pig teammates in games. Chapter 470 470: 315, the secret to take to the grave, and a request "Sir, don''t you need to rest today?" In the small Autumn Leaf Courtyard, every blue slate on the ground was already occupied by people. According to Qing Chen''s usual habits, he should have already closed the door to visitors by now. Qing Chen looked at Li Ke, "It''s alright, a teacher must sometimes forsake certain things for his students." Li Ke muttered softly, "Sir, this doesn''t sound like something you would say." Qing Chen: "..." Qing Chen had his reasons for keeping these students in the Autumn Leaf Courtyard. After all, they were the Li Family''s treasures, the Li Family''s future. The old man surely knew that the secret of the passage had been leaked, and enemies could use this corridor at any time. At such times, how could it be possible for the other party not to send a master to protect the vicinity of the Autumn Leaf Courtyard? So, as long as the Li Family''s precious ones remained in the Autumn Leaf Courtyard, Qing Chen himself would be safe. At this moment, the most bored person was undoubtedly Li Ke. Everyone had already sat down to meditate, except him. Li Ke gazed at Qing Chen with longing eyes, wondering if his master had forgotten about him? Li Ke watched his classmates and brothers, and ultimately bid farewell to Qing Chen, saying he would go out for a bit. Qing Chen watched Li Ke''s retreating figure as he left the Autumn Leaf Courtyard, curious to see how the other would interpret his actions. Not long after, Li Ke returned with two servants, instructing them to wait outside the door and not to peek into the courtyard. He, on the other hand, repeatedly carried stacks of cushions into the yard. "You went out just to fetch these?" Qing Chen asked in a low voice. "Yes," Li Ke nodded, "You are a cultivator, naturally resistant to the cold, but they are still ordinary people. Sitting on the ground in this season will cause them to catch colds and fevers, delaying your teaching progress, sir." "Why don''t you ask me why I am the only one not being taught?" Qing Chen said calmly. "You wouldn''t treat me unfairly," Li Ke said before going to distribute the cushions. To not disturb the others in meditation, he placed each cushion gently in front of them. In truth, Li Ke had just considered the question Qing Chen posedwhy was he the only one not practicing? Was it because he was not qualified enough? No, that couldn''t be right. His master would not have forgotten about him; surely, there was something even better reserved for him. Although Li Ke did not yet understand what could be better than the orthodox methods of cultivation, he was content to wait. Sometimes, people say that heroes recognize each other. Qing Chen felt it should really be about the mutual recognition among intelligent people. Hu Xiaoniu and Li Ke made the same choice when Qing Chen left them on their ownto wait. To waita word filled with immense wisdom. At this moment, Qing Chen walked up to Li Su and gently placed his palm on his forehead. Knight Vital Energy slowly infused within, and as Li Su felt his acupoints swiftly brightening, tears streamed down his face as he said, "Sir, what is happening? My cultivation progress has suddenly advanced a lotare you helping me?" "It''s just an empowerment," Qing Chen stated nonchalantly, "Don''t be distracted, continue your cultivation." Sometimes, Qing Chen thought that the Ancestor of Knight ought to have seized the first three sections of the Breathing Technique as well and passed them down. This single skill of empowerment could quickly build a powerful team of cultivators. The Knight Organization was divided into two levels: Knights and Couriers. Uncle Li Dong was a Knight, whereas Li Dongze, Su Xingzhi, Lin Xiaoxiao, Ye Wan, and others were ''Couriers.'' Now, Qing Chen was a Knight, and Zhang Tianzhen, Liu Dezhu, Nan Gengchen, Li Tongyun, and others were ''Couriers.'' Couriers were the followers of Knights. Qing Chen believed that the Zhunti Method was the most appropriate cultivation method for fostering Couriers along the Knight''s path, for Knight Vital Energy could enhance the Couriers'' cultivation progress, and control over their strength and demands could be managed through the first, second, and third sections of the Breathing Technique. Among these students, some might think that by learning this Breathing Technique, they could establish their own sect, but they would soon realize that without the subsequent second and third sections, they would at best remain at the E-Class level. The second section of the Breathing Technique, which cultivates the energetic pathways, could advance them to the C-Class level. The third section, which cultivates the energy wheels, would enable them to harmoniously connect and advance to the B-Class level. If there truly are those loyal to the core, Qing Chen would not mind passing down the fourth section of the Breathing Technique, allowing them to attempt a breakthrough to inner questioning. But for each stage of cultivation, they must seek Qing Chen''s help. And how many could resist the benefits brought by empowerment? Qing Chen did not know how many Couriers he as a Knight would ultimately have; he was merely steadily winning hearts and minds, and the more, the better. He empowered five people in one go, including Xiao Tongyun, Nan Gengchen, and Li Yinuothough his choice seemed random, they were all people Qing Chen trusted. After all this, he turned back to his recliner. And still, he wondered if the assassins would come or not? If they didn''t arrive soon, these students might leave... Li Ke whispered from the side, "Sir, until what time will they cultivate tonight?" "How can cultivation be measured in terms of duration," Qing Chen replied earnestly, "If they can''t endure even this bit of hardship, they need not cultivate at all." However, Qing Chen''s hopes quickly fell through. At 11 o''clock, someone pushed the door open and entered. Qing Chen was startled for a moment. The newcomer turned out to be the middle-aged man who had previously handed him the Zhunti Method Booklet. He had speculated about the man''s identity, which was very likely to be that high-level master from the old man''s side. Chapter 471 471: 315, a secret to take to the grave, and a request_2 The middle-aged man glanced at the students in the Autumn Leaf Courtyard and then said calmly, "All rise. The Secretariat Department has asked me to inform everyone that, though cultivation is something to be happy about, it also requires a balance between work and rest. Go back to sleep and come back here tomorrow morning." Qing Chen was speechless; the old man clearly saw through his thoughts and was teasing him. As he watched the students say their goodbyes one by one, the middle-aged man came over and whispered, "Don''t worry, there won''t be any opponents in the passage that you can''t handle. You might have some doubts, but you can get your answers at Dragon Lake tomorrow." Qing Chen thought to himself, alright then. That night, he waited on the steps of the passage all night, but the assassin never came. Qing Chen even wished he had the assassin''s phone number so he could call and ask if they were still comingif so, to hurry up, and if not, to just forget it. Why keep dragging it out?! ... ... Early at 6 o''clock in the morning, footsteps were heard outside Autumn Leaf Courtyard, accompanied by whispers: "When does the master open the doors of Autumn Leaf Courtyard in the morning?" "I don''t know either. Li Ke said it''s entirely up to the master''s mood," someone responded. Gradually, all twenty-two students were waiting outside the gate, Qing Yi pacing anxiously among them, awaiting the opening of Autumn Leaf Courtyard. Li Su glanced at the others: "I thought I was the only one who would come this early, but it turns out all of you are as early as me." A young man named Li Huang laughed and said, "What, did you think you could be the only one to receive the master''s empowerment? Wishful thinking." Li Su looked at him, "Li Huang, you were the one murmuring privately yesterday that, except for parents and grandfather, you bow to no one, right?" "That was for the protection of my dignity. ''A man''s knees have gold beneath them.'' It does take some psychological effort to kneel to someone seven years younger than me," Li Huang explained earnestly. "But I meant no disrespect to the master." In fact, the reason this group of people came to Autumn Leaf Courtyard so early in the morning was that they could not enter a meditative state in their own homes. Just like when Qing Chen first taught Zhang Tianzhen and Liu Dezhu, the frequency of the Breathing Technique wasn''t so easy to master. Even Uncle Li Dong thought it would take Qing Chen half a year to use the Breathing Technique on his own, but Qing Chen himself was an exception. At this moment, someone looked at the few who had been empowered yesterday: "I heard that after the master empowered you, you immediately lit up your first illumination point?" Li Su and Li Yinuo nodded in agreement. Just then, Qing Chen opened the two small wooden doors of Autumn Leaf Courtyard from the inside: "Come in, each of you sit on your cushions." "Thank you, Master," the crowd said as they entered in succession. Qing Chen went to each person to check their cultivation progress with Knight Vital Energy. He needed to know, out of these 22 students, whose talent was the best and who cultivated the fastest, so he could pay more attention to them in the future. However, when he came to Li Yinuo and Nan Gengchen, he suddenly frowned. Just one night had passed, and these two had each illuminated an illumination point simultaneously. Qing Chen found it strange, others aside, he had specifically checked their progress when empowering them last night, he definitely hadn''t made a mistake. Moreover, he was aware of Nan Gengchen''s talent; even if he could maintain the Breathing Technique on his own at Qing Shan Villa, it would not be possible for him to have such a rapid rate of cultivation. "What''s going on with you two?" Qing Chen asked, frowning. "Why is your cultivation progress so fast?" Nan Gengchen hesitated, "There''s... nothing wrong." "Tell the truth," Qing Chen said coldly. He himself had never practiced this method, so he had to adjust the teachings based on the experience of the students. "Yesterday... well," even with Li Yinuo''s straightforward personality, she seemed to find it difficult to speak about this matter. In the end, Li Yinuo looked into Qing Chen''s calm eyes and mustered the courage to say, "Yesterday, when Nan Gengchen and I were together, we found that a ''Qi'' from our illumination points was reciprocating between us. By the time we finished, our cultivation progress had significantly increased, and now we have each illuminated an illumination point." Nan Gengchen looked innocently into the sky, feeling the taste of social death. Qing Chen was astonished! Even he, as the teacher, didn''t know that this method could unfold in such a way! Although he had previously speculated that the esoteric tradition of Vajrayana always had legends of dual cultivation, which is why many Buddhists considered this lineage to be unorthodox. But Qing Chen didn''t expect that such a manner of cultivation actually existed! Moreover, the enhancement to the cultivation progress by this method was immense, even rivaling the benefits of empowerment. No, Qing Chen looked at Nan Gengchen''s expression and guessed it wasn''t just once. At that moment, Qing Chen saw the peculiar expressions on the faces of Li Su and the others and suddenly felt something was amiss. This was a legitimate cultivation method, and he was a respectable person. However, seeing these students eager to try, he worried if his cultivation organization would acquire some strange reputation. If the Couriers of his sect all engaged in such practices, it would be impossible for others not to know. While rapid cultivation was certainly a good thing, the reputation of the sect was also very important! If word got out, how would others view him? It didn''t matter how he explained it; people would only believe what they wanted to believe! Chapter 472 472: Secrets to take to the grave, with a request_3 ``` However, it seems that this Joyful Zen requires both individuals to cultivate the method of Zhunti, doesn''t it? In that case, Li Su and his group wouldn''t be able to use it. Qing Yi, amidst the crowd, silently looked at the young men around him, who resembled wolves, thinking to himself what an incredible turn of events this was... The next moment, a young man named Li He hesitated before saying, "Sir, it''s not just the two cultivating individuals who experience this reaction; my wife and I do too, although not as rapidly as Li Yinuo and the otherswe''re only about halfway to their progress." The eyes of Li Su and the others lit up. Qing Chen, who was standing nearby, quickly considered his words and then said,"It''s certainly good to have fast cultivation progress, but I hope everyone will still exercise restraint, especially when it comes to frivolously pursuing affairs and causing trouble for girls outside." Li Su bowed slightly and said, "Sir worries unnecessarily, we all have our boundaries and will not cause harm to others." Qing Chen felt somewhat relieved, "That''s good to hear." As soon as he finished speaking, Li Su followed up with a question, "Then it''s alright to find a wife?" Qing Chen hesitated before answering, "Yes." Although he would have liked to say no, he couldn''t exactly prevent others from consummating their marriages. Qing Chen might be nominally their master, but he couldn''t control such matters! Qing Chen looked up at the sky, which was just beginning to brighten with dawn, and thought to himself that his reputation within the Li Clan was about to get weird. Fortunately, only Li He among them had taken a wife. The others had spent their years in the barracks with no opportunity to marry. It seemed his reputation might be safe for a while longer. In the early morning, everyone continued their cultivation exercises at the Autumn Leaf Courtyard until nine o''clock before discussing and then, one by one, leaving. During this time, Qing Chen selected seven more individuals to receive Empowerment. He discovered that with each depletion of his Knight Vital Energy and with the aid of the First Breathing Technique, the Knight Vital Energy within his own body was growing by leaps and bounds. He felt that in less than three months, perhaps just two, he would be able to achieve full body infusion if progress continued at this rate. He wondered what sort of expression Uncle Li Dong would have upon learning of this. ... ... Only after all the students had left did Qing Chen leisurely make his way towards Dragon Lake, intending to seek answers from the old man. However, just as he reached the broken bridge and before he had even sat down, the old man asked irritably, "What kind of spiritual exercises have you taught them? Early this morning, that group of kids actually all ran off to the council of state, asking them to grant marriages... And even fourteen-year-old kids went requesting marriages!" Qing Chen: "..." God dammit, grant marriages! These elite soldiers, highly sensitive to strength, had discovered a shortcut to rapidly enhance their power, so of course, they were eager to seize it. But to make requests to the clan for arranged marriages just for the sake of cultivation was far too hasty! Moreover, after following him in cultivation and suddenly asking for marriages, the other members of the Li Family would surely suspect him! The old man said, "I told the council of state to reject them all. If they want to get married, let them fall in love on their own, I don''t need this kind of trouble. In the past, when I wanted them to help with the clan''s political marriages, they each ran off to hide in the military barracks. But now, when there''s no one designated for marriage, they all come asking the clan for arranged marriages... And this method of cultivation you''re teaching, is it really proper? Is it truly orthodox?" Qing Chen replied, somewhat irritated, "Isn''t this the cultivation method you provided? What does this have to do with me!" The old man pondered for a moment, "That seems right..." "Let''s not talk about this for now," said Qing Chen, knowing his reputation was inevitable, and decided not to dwell on it, "The leak of the secret passage, was it you who let it out?" "Strictly speaking, no," the old man shook his head, "Someone spent all the money I gave them and then decided to sell the secret for a high price on their own, but they didn''t expect that the buyer was too fierce not planning to pay, or to spare their lives. So, the most unpredictable thing in this world is human nature, and often, it''s friends who can truly harm you." "Then if you knew about it, why didn''t you intervene?" Qing Chen asked curiously, "Those informants should all be under close surveillance by the Li Family. I can''t believe you would trust human nature that much." "Of course, I knew about it, but Chang Qing was just worrying about how to fish those rats out, so this was the bait I let out," said the old man with a laugh, "However, those rats are quite clever, even if their whereabouts are discovered, they won''t all be caught. So, you should be careful, as there will be those who''ll come to visit you soon." "By the way, I''m rather curious about your grand plan with all this schemingwho exactly are you trying to trap?" Qing Chen asked with curiosity. "I''ll trap whoever takes the bait," the old man said with a smile, "The fish hooks themselves when they see the bait. Before I leave, I need to deal with external threats before the tumult of power transition occurs, right?" Qing Chen sighed, "Everything has been meticulously planned by you. I am considering moving back to Feiyun Courtyard; you can catch the rats yourself." The old man chuckled, "Don''t your puppets need sacrifices? I''m also helping you find those. Besides, the people who will come after are precisely the sacrifices you need the most. In my lifetime, I was fortunate to have seen someone use a Puppeteer, and when you get to that point, you''ll understand how much it terrifies the enemy. I''m luring these damned people to your doorstep, you should be thanking me, not complaining." Qing Chen said with a deadpan expression, "My master is getting rid of me quite thoroughly." "I''m just an old man on the verge of death, what harm could I intend," the old man laughed softly, "Don''t worry, the secrets that concern you, I''ll take to the grave." Upon hearing this, Qing Chen suddenly asked, "How much time do you have left?" The old man slowly said, "I don''t know, I''m just hanging on; the rest is up to fate." "Knowing your health is failing, why still endure the cold wind to fish?" Qing Chen questioned. "Once dead, how can I fish anymore?" the old man chuckled, "Isn''t it all about making the most of my last moments to do what I enjoy?" After saying this, he pulled up his fishing rod and passed the Dragon Fish to Qing Chen. But this time, Qing Chen didn''t leave; instead, he sat on the broken bridge beside the old man, from noon until sunset. Neither spoke again, they just sat in silence. "Could I ask you for a favor?" the old man, looking at the slowly setting sun behind the mountains, said. "Hmm?" Qing Chen looked over. In the sunset, the old man slowly spoke, and the young man listened intently. ... A 5000-word chapter, another one will be at 11 pm tonight ``` Chapter 473 473: 316, Corridor with Sniper (Vote for Monthly Tickets!) ``` Countdown to return 120:00:00. Midnight, 12 o''clock. Several cars slowly parked by the roadside outside the Microcosm Community. One person got out of one of the cars, casually surveyed the surroundings, then lifted his hand and tossed out a black button. The black button somersaulted in the air and tightly adhered to a surveillance camera. Inside the car, a young man in combat gear, with a metallic luster flickering on the external part of his brain, pulled out a data cable from the mechanical limbs at his temples and connected it to the laptop in front of him. The young man closed his eyes, and the computer screen showed streams of data flickering faster than any fingers could type on a keyboard. Nan Gengchen had once wanted to become a hacker, but later he gave up. Because he discovered a very serious matter, nowadays hackers in the Inner World were using their brains as processors. To keep up with others'' pace, one must have nanorobots interface with neurons and modify the outer brain to create data ports. The human brain had always been underestimated; it was only after many years of technological advancement that humanity realized the brain''s computational power was incomparable to ordinary processors. The next moment, the young man removed the data port connected to the laptop, "Done, surveillance is stuck on a still image, and the infrared alarm has been disabled." No sooner had he finished speaking than twelve individuals rapidly jumped down from four new energy vehicles, swiftly catching the community walls and flipping into the Microcosm Community. Leading them was a muscular man who quickly checked the surroundings and then headed straight for Room 101 in Building 2. This time, the assassins were clearly better trained. When they arrived at a door with a password lock, one of them pulled out a device the size of a cellphone and swept it over the door, which then opened with a click. One person entered the house to investigate, one stood watch at the entrance to the corridor, and another pressed an ear against the door of Room 102, listening intently for any sound inside. In Room 102, Jiang Yichen''s eye was pressed against the peephole, hardly daring to breathe. His eyes widened as he watched the scene outside, wondering who on earth his neighbor was; just the day before yesterday a group had come and not left, and today even more people had arrived. Initially, he had thought the four people who went in the last time knew his neighbor and that the room opposite might be a covert location for some power. But now, he felt something was off. This time, Jiang Yichen had watched the entire process of the others infiltrating and unlocking the door; they were clearly there to kill! Two minutes later, the assassin inside Room 101 confirmed it was secure, immediately followed by all the assassins filing in and then closing the door tightly behind them. Only then did Jiang Yichen allow himself a slight sigh of relief. His mind was filled with doubts, and he couldn''t make heads or tails of what was happening. ... ... Qing Chen returned to the Autumn Leaf Courtyard from Dragon Lake today and hadn''t left the house since. As he walked, he felt that the secret watchers looked at him strangely. At first, he thought he was being paranoid, until he saw two young women from the Li Family giggling and running off after seeing him... The words ''Joyous Sect'' and ''indecent'' echoed in the evening breeze as the two young women ran off. Bad news really does travel fast. Qing Chen suspected that sooner or later, the Li''s Secretariat might send him a banner inscribed with "For Outstanding Contributions to the Birth Rate of the Li Family." After returning to the Autumn Leaf Courtyard, Qing Chen would draw a few people every four hours for Empowerment, using up all his Knight Vital Energy in one go. During this time, he specifically checked the bright points on Nan Gengchen and Li Yinuo and to his surprise, found that this young man had lit up two more bright points without anyone noticing. His progress was too fast! At this rate, before his return, Nan Gengchen might be the first to achieve Grand Circulation; even Li Tongyun, a cultivation prodigy, wasn''t progressing as quickly as Nan Gengchen! Fortunately, apart from his Knight Vital Energy, no one else could investigate how many bright points had been illuminated inside Li Tongyun and Nan Gengchen''s bodies, so it would be no issue for them to pretend they had just started cultivating. Qing Chen mused to himself, it seemed these two had not been idle during the day either... He couldn''t understand why, when it clearly wasn''t he who was indecent but those students, the reputation of the Joyous Sect still fell on him to bear. To think, he hadn''t even been in a romantic relationship yet! The progress of Li Yinuo and Nan Gengchen''s cultivation made people like Li Su envious. But envy alone wasn''t useful; they couldn''t find wives at the moment and therefore couldn''t cultivate... After all the students had left, a copper bell hanging in the southwest corner of the Autumn Leaf Courtyard suddenly started ringing. Qing Chen was taken aback; he hadn''t expected that the genuine Heartless Bronze Bell would hang so close to him. The old man had said he was to rely solely on himself, but in reality, he had left a backup for him. Qing Chen was well aware that there were only two real Heartless Bronze Bells in the entire half-mountain manor; one hanging here and the other in the Bao Pu Tower. Even the Secretariat didn''t have such a privilege. Thinking that the old man had used such a precious thing to protect him, Qing Chen''s last bit of resentment disappeared. The old man had said the Heartless Bronze Bell''s perception range was three kilometers, which meant the assassin should have already arrived. ... ... Inside the house. The muscular man leading the group surveyed the surroundings, "It''s been cleaned thoroughly, which means someone has been here recently; the four people we sent before might have run into ''Ghost''." ``` Chapter 474 474: 316, Corridor, and Sniper (Vote for monthly ticket!)_2 What he referred to as "Ghost" was encountering an "accident." The B-Class Expert inspected carefully, "There is no smell of blood, not at all, something is strange." Normally, if someone had been killed here and bled, no matter how the culprits cleaned within two days, unless they used disinfectant to wash the entire room, there would definitely be a lingering smell of blood. But there was no smell of disinfectant in the room, nor was there any smell of blood. "Could it be that our people didn''t die here?" one of the assassins analyzed with a frown, "Or maybe, they were worried about being discovered and killed by the Li Family if they continued the mission with us, so they all chose to flee secretly?" "We can''t be certain yet," the B-Class Expert said calmly, "First, let''s look for the entrance to the passage. We can only know the answer after we find it." The group searched in an extremely professional manner, and without even tapping the floor, they located the mechanism directly. An assassin gently turned the flower vase on the coffee table, and a deep passage leading underground appeared before everyone''s eyes. "001, shall we go in?" one of the assassins asked. 001 was the code name of that B-Class Expert. This combat team consisted of 12 members, numbered from 001 to 012. The assassins were spies hidden in City 18; even when acting together, the principle of secrecy did not allow them to reveal their real names to their comrades. Only when summoned by the organization would they shed their ordinary people identities and gather together to form a tactical infiltration team. "We''ve found the passage, do we act now? Or do we report back to the organization about the missing personnel first and find those four before deciding?" 009 asked. 001, that sturdy man, pondered for a moment, "The organization has issued a final ultimatum to me. The deployment of the 081 Garrison Brigade was too sudden. The organization urgently needs to know what is happening inside the Ban Mountain Manor." The other eleven assassins looked at each other. A final ultimatum meant that they had to complete the mission at all costs. If they failed, their lives and those of their family members would be the price of failure. "There''s no turning back, down the passage! I will escort you into the passage, then wait there to back you up. Remember, no matter how severe the manhunt, you must escape back to the passage and relay the intelligence to me," 001 said in a low voice. The remaining eleven replied in succession, "Understood." Having said this, the twelve entered the passage in turn, with B-Class 001 bringing up the rear, wary as a fierce wolf. The passage led straight to Ban Mountain Estate. According to their map calculations, they had to travel 2.7 kilometers to enter the target area. As for what was at the end of the passage, they were also in the dark. What does 2.7 kilometers mean? Even in the daytime, it would require a telescope to clearly see a target over 2.7 kilometers away. 001 examined the walls of the passage; the steel-reinforced concrete structure was sturdy enough to support the entire passage 7 meters underground without collapsing. Many of the tritium lamps on the walls were damaged, but oddly enough, 001 clearly identified that those lamps hadn''t broken naturally but had been smashed from the outside. Strange, who would deliberately damage the tritium lamps? But just at that moment, a thunderous noise suddenly erupted from the end of the passage. The noise couldn''t penetrate the surface, yet it roared angrily in the narrow passage like the tidal bore on the Qiantang River, whistling furiously. An armor-piercing bullet with a tungsten core traversed the darkness of the straight passage in an instant, and in a flash, four members at the front of the 12-person tactical infiltration team were penetrated! A cloud of blood burst in the one-meter-wide passage, as the assassins behind felt a rain of blood washing over them, drenching them in red from head to toe. A shock went through the hearts of the assassins! Sniper! There was actually a sniper hidden in this passage! Under normal circumstances, a sniper''s position would be in the most open area, possessing the most fearful suppressive firepower on the battlefield. Who could have expected a sniper to be hiding in this passage? When an anti-materiel rifle fired in this tight and straight passage, the sniper didn''t even need to aim deliberately to achieve a hundred percent kill rate! No matter how powerful you are, unless you''re A-Class, being hit by this bullet almost certainly means death. The most critical point was that the power of the armor-piercing bullet was immense, piercing through three or four people as if it were nothing! "Get down! The shooter is about a kilometer away; it''s hard to hit prone targets!" someone yelled in the passage as all the assassins crawled on the ground, retreating towards the entrance to the passage. Getting down was wise, because once the range exceeded a kilometer, those prone assassins were shielded by the fallen bodies, making it hard to catch sight of their movements from the shooter''s perspective. But looking back at the lengthy passage, the assassins felt a wave of despair. They realized that the sniper was extremely venomous and ruthless. The sniper had clearly discovered the tactical infiltration team''s entry but had waited until they had almost covered two kilometers before finally taking the shot. At that moment, they had 1000 meters to reach the sniper. If they retreated, they were 1700 meters from the passage entrance. Whether they advanced or retreated, it seemed there was only a dead end. "Smoke grenades," said 001 from the back of the group, "Throw smoke grenades to block the sniper''s vision, then we crawl out quickly." Although smoke grenades weren''t part of the initial plan for this infiltration and there wasn''t much need for them, how could these professionals not carry them? Chapter 475 475: 316, Corridor, and Sniper (Vote for monthly ticket!)_3 Carrying a burden was still better than not having it when needed. An assassin pulled the pin of a smoke grenade and threw it with all his might, but while the grenade was still in the air, it was pierced by a sniper bullet. The smokescreen agent, which should have burned fully, couldn''t function properly after being pierced by the bullet, causing the smoke that should have filled the entire corridor to thin out significantly. "What kind of shooting skills are these? The opponent is at least 1000 meters away from us, hitting a target as small as a smoke grenade from that distance? And it was even forcefully thrown out? Is it a coincidence?" an assassin asked. "In battle, don''t count on coincidences," 001 said calmly, "How many smoke grenades are left?" "One." "Don''t throw it away; just drop it next to yourself." As soon as he finished speaking, an assassin immediately pulled the pin of the smoke grenade and placed it beside him. But, the sniper bullet once again punctually arrived, piercing through a body and hitting the smoke grenade on the ground. The assassins were startled, the previous incident wasn''t a fluke! The opponent had deduced the position of the smoke grenade from where the smoke was drifting! Fortunately, this time the smoke grenade''s agent wasn''t completely scattered, and the drifting smoke was at least obscuring some of their vision. "Crawl out, fast," 001 shouted furiously, "This smoke grenade won''t last long, crawl as far as you can." By then, 001 had lost his previous confidence. A B-Class Expert was indeed very formidableamong any organization, a B-Class Expert was already one of the top combat forces, a pillar of an organization. But this terrain was too disadvantageous, he couldn''t even think of a way to successfully dodge sniper bullets. All of 001''s abilities were confined within the narrow corridor, while the sniper wasn''t restricted at all. The remaining eight men struggled to crawl out, hoping for a slim chance of survival. They were all formidable genetic warriors, slithering on the ground like snakes when they crawled. However, they had only crawled out 700 meters when the smoke in the corridor was dispersed by the air duct above them. "Shoot out all the tritium lights so he loses sight," someone suggested, "We are now at least 1600 meters away from him, very few snipers can maintain accuracy at this distance, besides, there''s only one path through this corridor, crawling out in the dark shouldn''t be a problem." The only light source in the corridor was the tritium lights hanging on the walls. The next moment, someone raised his hand and precisely shattered a tritium light. But before he could turn his arm to aim at the next one, the hand holding the gun was blown off. The sound of the anti-material sniper rifle in the corridor, even from 1.7 kilometers away, felt deafening to the ears. The assassins were shocked. Not only was there a sniper hidden here, but this sniper could also accurately shoot their hands from such a distance! That was a distance of 1700 meters! What kind of a concept is 1700 meters? Even in such a narrow corridor, the sniper shouldn''t be this powerful. This kind of sniper would effortlessly win the shooting championship in any competition within the Federal Army Group! There are at least fifty more tritium lights in the corridor behind, how many more hands could they afford to lose? At the other end of the corridor, Qing Chen had already set up the tripod at the front of his sniper rifle and was lying prone on the ground, completely calm. The roar seemed to have no effect on him; his three tiny bones were motionless at this moment, in a state completely devoid of vibration. The nine Dragon Fish had brought more change to Qing Chen than he had expected. Just then, Qing Chen suddenly stood up, holding his sniper rifle level with both arms, and began walking forward slowly. He pulled the trigger again and again, reaping these gifts delivered to his doorstep. Qing Chen didn''t even care what level the opponents were; a conversation with an old man yesterday had cleared his mind real high-level experts wouldn''t use secret passages, let alone dare to come to this half-mountain villa to die. So, anyone who entered this secret passage simply couldn''t withstand ''persuasion through virtue.''" Qing Chen swiftly moved forward, not because he was courageous or liked taking risks, but because if the opponents continued to crawl forward, he wouldn''t be able to shoot at such long-range targets; the high angle of the ballistic trajectory required wouldn''t be enough, and he would end up shooting the bullets into the ceiling. The assassins, hearing gunshots getting closer and closer, saw two of their number panic and stand up, wanting to sprint through the tunnel at top speed. As the two assassins trampled over the body of a crawling companion, 001 muttered under his breath, "Idiots." A gunshot roared, and a bullet pierced both men simultaneously again. You know, these assassins were all wearing light bulletproof vests, yet the sniper could still hit their necks precisely. The next moment, their bodies just happened to fall along the crawling path of 001 and the others. Which meant, if they wanted to keep crawling out of the tunnel, they''d have to climb over the bodies first, traversing them. In that case, they would all be exposed to the sniper''s field of view. 001 said in a serious tone, "Stop crawling. There''s only one way left, gamble! Let''s all charge him together, kill him! With my strength, even if you all die, I can still lift two people as shields and charge through; the bullets passing through two bodies might only injure my muscles, being our slim chance for survival." The assassins hesitated. 001 continued, "Think of your families. With a sniper of this caliber in the tunnel, you are as good as dead, but what about your families?" The remaining five assassins clenched their teeth, "Kill him!" 001 said, "Good, I''ll count down from three, and we all get up and charge towards the sniper!" "3." "2." "1." The five assassins rose and charged in Qing Chen''s direction. But, 001 did not charge with them as agreed, instead, he sprang up and dashed towards the tunnel exit like an arrow released from a bow! The sniper rifle thundered like thunder. The first shot downed two suicide-charging assassins; three remained. The second shot, another two suicide-charging assassins fell, their necks penetrated, leaving only one. 001, listening to the gunfire behind him and seeing the almost reachable exit ahead, felt hope rising in his heart. The third shot. What 001 didn''t expect was that Qing Chen''s shot didn''t aim at the last charging assassin at all but passed close by the assassin''s neck, accurately hitting his own. The world darkened. From the tunnel, another thunderous sound vaguely echoed. 001 realized that from the start, the sniper ambushed in the tunnel had not planned to let any of them escape. No one knew that a crushing massacre was happening seven meters underground in Upper Three Districts, where the deceased were B-Class Genetic Warriors while the victor was just a recently promoted D-Class Cultivator. Qing Chen, in the tunnel filled with the thick scent of blood, finally let out a grunt of relief. The B-Class Expert was incredibly fast, nearly managing to escape. Moreover, today was truly fortunate. Had the tunnel been any wider, with the expert''s agility, aiming would have been difficult. Even if his mind could keep up, his actions could not. Qing Chen, feeling grateful yet cautious, knew that before he reached C-Class, if he encountered a B-Class Expert in the wild, even with a sniper rifle, he must be extremely careful. Just then, the Puppeteer on the young man''s wrist seemed restless, the transparent little snake lifting its head in high excitement. ... This chapter contains five thousand words, full ten thousand updated today, owing one more chapter to Boss Huan Yu, still owing one more. Seeking monthly tickets! Chapter 476 476: Family Members No one can survive after being shot through the neck by a sniper bullet. Not even A-Class experts. Qing Chen walked through the corridor, his face illuminated by the passing tritium lamps, and then he stepped back into darkness. At that moment, he even put away his Black Sniper "Moral Persuasion," confident that there were no other living people in the corridor besides himself. The Puppeteer on his wrist danced, and wherever Qing Chen passed, corpses and bloodstains vanished without a trace. When Qing Chen sacrificed the last B-Class Expert''s body, the Puppeteer''s threads dyed red from the blood grew visibly at an alarming rate. The second thread grew fifteen meters in a single burst. Qing Chen contemplated, a B-Class could add fifteen meters, what about an A-Class then? Could it fully form the second thread? But, A-Class were not so easy to kill. It was already a great fortune to have killed a B-Class tonight, taking advantage of the geographical situation. To even fantasize about killing an A-Class was overly ambitious. Moreover, without the Heartless Bronze Bell, he wouldn''t have been able to grasp the timing of the fight so well. Qing Chen recalled the Heartless Bronze Bell hanging eave on his corner, and with his memory, he knew it wasn''t the same one as before. Even the way it was tied was different. Perhaps it was switched by someone when he was keeping the old man company by Dragon Lake. It seemed that the person only intended to play a small prank on him, not intending for him to be ''played'' to death. Considering this, he would not blame the old man tomorrow. Qing Chen thought it over again and again; he felt that with all the B-Class dead here, whether it was Jindai or whoever from Deer Island, they would probably suspect this place to be a trap. There shouldn''t be anyone else coming. Thus, it was time to deal with Luo Wanya''s issue. Qing Chen hadn''t saved Luo Wanya previously because he wanted to assess the capabilities of General Luo, a renowned figure in Los Angeles City, allowing the bullet to "fly" for a while. Truth be told, he hadn''t expected the bullet to "fly" for three days, which was indeed a bit too long... He wondered whether General Luo could withstand it. However, saving Luo Wanya couldn''t happen today; he had already used up his peak condition earlier. Qing Chen needed to replenish his energy. He turned and walked back down the corridor. As Qing Chen returned to Autumn Leaf Courtyard, he suddenly noticed something amiss. Unbeknownst to him, there was an additional person in the room. There lay Li Changqing, with her long black hair, wearing black leather and sleeping on Qing Chen''s bed, her face looking weary and not as radiant as usual. The woman''s eyelashes fluttered slightly, obviously pretending to sleep. Qing Chen looked at the table where his ''No Visitors'' sign engraved with those very words was tossed aside by Li Changqing. He was somewhat amused. This strong-willed woman didn''t make any sense. He had just established some rules for the Li Family, but it seemed they were useless in front of Li Changqing. At this moment, Li Changqing heard the noise and slowly opened her eyes. She looked at Qing Chen not far away and chuckled lightly, "Back already?" "Yes," Qing Chen nodded and casually asked, "Did you sleep well?" Li Changqing also nodded, "Your bed smells really good, it knocked me right out. I''ve recently been suffering from severe insomnia. Maybe I should just move in here?" Qing Chen calmly responded, "If you find it smells good, you can take the blanket with you. I''ll have Li Ke send a new set tomorrow." "Boring," Li Changqing lay across the bed, propping up her head with her arm, curiously studying Qing Chen, "I thought I faintly heard gunshots earlier, must have been you killing someone in the secret passage, right? But how come you look as if nothing''s happened, were the assassins weak?" "Did you know about this hidden passage?" Qing Chen asked, avoiding mentioning that among the assassins, there were B-Class. "I just found out today," Li Changqing smiled, "The old man told me. He asked me to keep watch outside the Microcosm Community to see if there was a chance to follow the vine to the melon, and pull out some people. But don''t worry, although my people are guarding outside the Microcosm Community, they don''t know there''s a secret passage inside. By the way, are all the assassins in the passage dead? I was hoping to keep some for interrogation." Qing Chen frowned, "If you had told me earlier, I could have left some alive." "No worries," Li Changqing got up, sat cross-legged on Qing Chen''s bed, and smiled, "Dead or alive doesn''t matter, as long as you are fine." Qing Chen suddenly realized that this woman''s presence in Autumn Leaf Courtyard late at night wasn''t accidental, nor was it to cure her insomnia here. She knew the assassins might act tonight, so she specifically came to protect him at Autumn Leaf Courtyard! Only, upon seeing that Qing Chen was safe, she didn''t intervene! It had to be said, Li Changqing really did care about him a lot, from sending Genetic Potions to coming here in the middle of the night to ensure his safety. Though Qing Chen didn''t voice it, he was keeping it in his heart. Nevertheless, Qing Chen pointed at the ''No Visitors'' wooden sign on the table, "You can understand the two characters on it, right?" Li Changqing feigned annoyance, "Hey, I was the one who brought you into the semi-mountain mansion, and I''ve been so good to you. Don''t I deserve a little privilege? Don''t you have a conscience! Do you know it was me who personally tied the Heartless Bronze Bell on your eave!" Qing Chen was taken aback, so that''s how it was. "Of course, you can have a privilege," Qing Chen sighed, "But at least hang the ''No Visitors'' sign back on the door. What if someone else comes to visit?" Chapter 477 477: 317, Family Members_2 "What, are you worried someone will see me here at your place?" Li Changqing tucked away his irritation and asked with a smile, "What''s there to be afraid of, if one is upright, one doesn''t fear a crooked shadow... All right, all right, don''t be angry, next time I''ll make sure to hang the ''Do Not Disturb'' sign." "I''m not angry," Qing Chen shook his head, "If you indeed find it easier to fall asleep here, I don''t mind; I can rest on the lounge chair outside." Li Changqing thought carefully, she had actually lied; there was nothing particularly unique about the smell of the bed, just a dry scent that lingered after being washed and often aired out. But when she lay in this bed, she really felt a strange sense of safety. This feeling of security wasn''t an empty illusion, it seemed to have started when Qing Chen had desperately rushed into the building with her during an attack. Li Changqing smiled, "Then I won''t stand on ceremony with you; next time I can''t sleep, I''ll come here." "You look very tired, has a lot been happening in City 18 recently?" Qing Chen asked. "Yes," Li Changqing said, "Jindai and Deer Island have been restless, even Qing''s shadow candidates have joined the disturbance, a few might die in the next few days. Now, City 18 is truly a city of spies, everyone wants to gain something from the Li Family''s power transition. Even yesterday, Qing''s shadow appeared." Qing Chen curiously asked, "Who is Qing''s shadow exactly? What''s his name?" Li Changqing shook her head, "I don''t know." Qing Chen didn''t know how to describe his feelings; he knew Qing''s shadow hadn''t arrived in the city just yesterday, he had been here for a while. And, perhaps he was right now drinking tea on the 132nd floor of Luo Shen Building. "What is Qing''s shadow''s purpose for coming to City 18?" Qing Chen wondered aloud. "That''s the weirdest part, you know he came here with a purpose, but you can''t guess what it is," Li Changqing frowned and said, "He''s like an observer, not participating in anything, just watching. But you don''t know what he''s observing." Qing Chen asked, "How much longer will you be busy?" Li Changqing thought for a moment, "Soon, maybe soon I won''t have to be this busy." A chill went through Qing Chen, the storm clouds hanging over City 18 seemed finally about to break. This also meant that the Time Travelers controlled by Jindai and Deer Island in the Outer World were probably about to make a move. Li Changqing didn''t want to talk about it anymore, she looked at Qing Chen with a nonchalant smile, "Don''t make me talk about work when I''m here; tell me, what''s the deal with the Happy Sect? The old man handed over so many of the Li Family''s brightest young ones to you, and you teach them this stuff?" Qing Chen: "..." He knew Li Changqing would ask about this tonight. Damn his reputation! "Enough joking, I know you are a serious person," Li Changqing said while sitting on the bed, smiling broadly, "But you''re pretty good at hiding, even fooling me saying you are a Genetic Warrior." Qing Chen explained patiently, "That cultivation method was secretly given to me by the old man a few days ago, I just received it. And it truly is a legitimate system of cultivation, even I didn''t expect this turn." "Huh?" Li Changqing was curious, "Why is the old man so good to you?" "You''d have to ask him that," Qing Chen said. "If you''re his secret child from outside, you''d better tell me early," Li Changqing said. Qing Chen changed the subject, "I see you are very tired, you should also pay attention to rest appropriately." "Can''t rest," Li Changqing sighed, "With my identity, wherever I go I have to maintain a facade, not because I want to, but because someone in my position has to, to make subordinates respectful and enemies fearful. Over the years, whenever my motorcade leaves the hillside manor, it gets watched, I haven''t even been able to properly see the changes in City 18, unless someday I''m no longer with the Li Family, maybe then I can be a bit more carefree." "That''s really tough," Qing Chen said sincerely. Just then, Li Changqing''s eyes lit up, "Tomorrow night, you take me out through this corridor, let''s go have fun in City 18?" Qing Chen hurriedly said, "No, no, City 18 is very dangerous right now, I can''t allow you to do such a capricious thing." Truth be told, Qing Chen felt quite sorry for Li Changqing, who even had to be watched when going out for leisure, every move overly scrutinized. "Heartless," Li Changqing pouted, "I can wrap myself up tightly, and as long as we don''t leave through the main gate of the hillside manor, who would guess I''m Li Changqing? I just want to experience City 18 as an ordinary person, consider it a thank you for your kindness these past days!" Qing Chen thought about it and finally sighed, "Okay." Li Changqing''s eyes sparkled, she jumped off the bed and walked up to Qing Chen, "It''s a deal then, see you tomorrow night, pinky promise!" She said, extending her slender pinky finger. Qing Chen hesitated and didn''t stretch out his hand, but saw Li Changqing grab his arm and force a pinky promise, "No going back on it, okay?" After that, Li Changqing walked out spiritedly, seemingly her fatigue swept away, "Don''t hide from me tomorrow, I''ll be following you wherever you go." She opened the small door of Autumn Leaf Courtyard; outside, Xiao Ying and the others were silently waiting, even Lao Jiu, who had previously been recuperating from an injury, had rejoined them. Chapter 478 478: 317, Family Members_3 Xiao Ying looked at Qing Chen with admiration in his eyes that was complicated and impossible to clearly define. Qing Chen thought to himself that surely Xiao Ying must have heard some strange rumors to have such a look in his eyes. He must be even more eager to join the daytime operation now... Li Changqing turned around and said, "There might be an internal Clan Leader meeting tomorrow morning, and all Li Family members who are qualified to enter the ancestral hall must attend. Let''s sit together then." Qing Chen was stunned for a moment, "An internal meeting of the Clan high-level leadership, and they''re going to let me attend?" "Of course," Li Changqing said with a smile, "Your status and position are quite high now. Okay, let''s go." The woman finished speaking and left, her departure brisk and decisive. However, Qing Chen suddenly thought of a problem. Li Changqing actually didn''t care where she went; she just wanted to briefly escape her ''Li Family'' identity and enjoy some time without anyone constantly watching her. So, he wondered if she would mind helping rescue Luo Wanya. Previously, Qing Chen was a bit worried that there might be experts among those holding Luo Wanya in confinement, and he might not be able to deal with it alone. Now, with Li Changqing, such a skilled fighter, things should be fine, right...? The Autumn Leaf Courtyard once again became quiet, but a fleeting fragrance lingered in the yard, seemingly from the perfume Li Changqing was wearing. ... ... In room 102, Jiang Yichen, with dark circles under his eyes, was stealthily peering out through the peephole. He had been waiting from midnight until three in the morning and had not seen the Assassins come out again. Together with the four people who had entered earlier, the sixteen Assassins that went into the house had disappeared without a trace, as if swallowed by some terrifying creature. Jiang Yichen didn''t know that there was a secret passage in the house, nor did he know who exactly was inside the house; he just felt that the location of his new home was exceptionally terrifying. What kind of feeling was that? It was like finally buying a house, only to be moved in for a couple of days and then being told by someone that it was a haunted house where the previous three owners had all hanged themselves. Now, Jiang Yichen felt as if he was living in a haunted house, and he was terribly frightened. At this very moment, Luo Wanya was lying quietly on the floor of a small room; beside him, six other Time Travelers were trapped there as well. He wasn''t asleep. And he couldn''t sleep. Luo Wanya roughly calculated the time, and since he became a Time Traveler, he had been confined for over a month. In this month, all these Time Travelers did was eat and sleep, and every day, they were brainwashed by someone specially arranged to extract their real information about the Outer World. All the windows in the cabin had been nailed shut, preventing any view of the outside. The damp air inside the cabin made everyone especially irritable. Before this crossing, Luo Wanya was full of confidence, after all, the daytime operation had the accomplishments of rescuing Zhang Chengze, so they seemed somewhat more impressive than the previous Time Travelers. Moreover, they had also accepted the two cars he had sent over. But now, three days had passed, and Luo Wanya had not even seen a shadow of the daytime personnel. Was it the same as with the other Time Travelers, who couldn''t find his place of confinement? Or that they didn''t dare to rescue him because they lacked the fighting power? This made him worry and he tossed and turned. "Lao Luo, can you stop turning over?" a Time Traveler complained, "With your size, every time you turn over it''s like an earthquake. Can the rest of us get any sleep?" Luo Wanya didn''t respond, nor had he ever told these people about his request for rescue. Having been in the underworld for so many years, the most important lesson he learned was not to trust anyone easily. Who knew if any of these Time Travelers had already volunteered to betray? He hadn''t been brainwashed, but some people had been. Right then, two men in Black Combat Uniforms walked in from outside. One of them had a smile on his face as he said, "Family members, how are you resting today? Is there anything that needs to be improved with the meals?" The other one also smiled and said, "Before, everyone has been asking when they can get their freedom back. Our answer has always been soon. Some family members might be wondering why we insist on keeping everyone here. We have our difficulties too. The current 18th city is too dangerous. The Li and Qing families are sweeping the city for Time Travelers. It would be very dangerous for you to go out." Luo Wanya hurriedly turned over, pretending to be devoted as he asked, "Chief, I can understand your difficulties, completely understand." The custodian was very satisfied; Luo Wanya had been their most successful brainwashing case over this period. He didn''t just cooperate well but even helped brainwash others. However, he didn''t know how disdainful Luo Wanya was of their brainwashing techniques. Just then, one of the custodians, still smiling, said, "Family members, our superiors have assigned a task. Our family members in the Outer World urgently need a sum of operating funds. Would any of you like to volunteer a donation? This is a rare opportunity. The superiors said that only those family members who volunteer to donate can integrate into a larger family and have more chances for promotion within the organization..." Luo Wanya said excitedly, "I''ll donate! Don''t compete with me, family members. I have lots of cash, all hidden under the bed. Where do you need me to deliver it?" One of the men unfolded a small piece of paper, glanced at it, and said, "The night after your return, under the Royal City Bridge. You will naturally have someone to meet you there." Luo Wanya''s heart surged with excitement. Could this mean he could get a hold of the organization''s agents in the Outer World? But now, he had not yet regained his personal freedom. If he made a mess in the Outer World, wouldn''t he likely die once he got back? The custodian looked at Luo Wanya, then turned to everyone else with a smile, "Family members, look at Luo Wanya''s consciousness. That''s the attitude a family should have. Is there anyone else who wants to contribute to the organization?" Under Luo Wanya''s lead, the family members were eager to donate. "Alright, go to sleep," said the man, satisfied after completing the task of collecting operating funds. "You won''t have to sleep on the ground tomorrow. I''ll take the family members to another place in the evening, somewhere safer and more comfortable." The ''family members'' looked at each other, joy dawning on their faces. Luo Wanya inwardly cried out in alarm. The place where he was confined was already hard to find, and if the daytime people had just discovered a clue and he was moved elsewhere, wouldn''t all their efforts be in vain? This time, Luo Wanya was truly anxious! Daytime big brothers, where the hell are you? ... A 5000-character chapter, with another coming at 11 p.m. Seeking monthly votes. Chapter 479 479: 318, study in secret, and then amaze everyone. Countdown to return 88:00:00. Eight o''clock in the morning. Luo Wanya welcomed another day''s morning meeting. The so-called morning meeting was when the seven "family members" gathered to share their past hardships and sufferings. This session was partly a brainwashing process, as sharing secrets was one of the fastest ways to bring people closer together. Perhaps some have tried it, when making friends with someone, telling them a secret of your own can quickly bring the two of you closer. The family members gathered to share the secrets hidden deep within their hearts, perhaps things they had done that weighed on their conscience or words they harbored but dared not speak. After speaking, someone deliberately steered the mood to a low, then a group of "family members" would cry with you, help you release your emotions, and slowly you would subconsciously consider these people beside you as your best brothers and sisters. On the other hand, during this process, the Time Traveler also gradually revealed many secrets, exposing their information from the Outer World, which the Controller deeply desired. Many people think they can remain calm facing brainwashing. In fact, people in a group can slowly lose their rationality. But Luo Wanya would not. Today at the morning meeting, Luo Wanya suddenly remembered what Daylight had entrusted to him before he crossed over. Before the sharing even started, he looked at the seven men responsible for guarding them, "Family members, why don''t you sit down and share with us too?" One of the men shook his head, "It''s good for you to share; we are here to accompany and serve you." These people, their words were sweeter than honey. Luo Wanya shook his head, "It feels bad to always have you accompanying us; we can''t just let you serve." The man continued to shake his head, "No need." At this moment, Luo Wanya suddenly questioned, "We are all family, aren''t we? We consider you as family too, how can we abandon you? Aren''t we family anymore?" The fellow brainwashed Time Travelers lifted their heads. The guardians looked at each other, thinking to themselves, did we overdo Luo Wanya''s brainwashing? He really considers everyone as family? However, they couldn''t expose this sort of thing. If they now said "we are not family," wouldn''t the previous brainwashing efforts be wasted? Everyone thought, is Luo Wanya plotting something? But, over the past month, Luo Wanya was the most cooperative one, the person with the highest degree of brainwashing; surely nothing troublesome would happen. A chief among the men changed his expression and then sat down with a smile, "Alright, today we will also join in the sharing and tell some of our own secrets to the family members." Luo Wanya said with emotion, "This is what being a family is about. Rest assured in sharing, and let the family members help you bear those hardships." In the theory of the brainwashers, the sharer talks about their hardships, and once spoken, the pain is alleviated, while the listeners help bear the sharer''s hardships. At first, the guardians shared only trivial pains, but later, as Luo Wanya led the way, the situation began to spiral out of control... ... ... In the Autumn Leaf Courtyard. Qing Chen was checking each student''s progress in cultivation one by one, except for skipping Li Yinuo and Nan Gengchen. It''s not that Qing Chen didn''t want to know their progress, but checking on these two felt like prying into their secrets, which gave him a toothache. He decided to let it be; they would progress in their cultivation as fast as they could. Now, aside from those who could take shortcuts, the fastest progress in cultivation was made by Li Su, followed, surprisingly, by Li Tongyun and Qing Yi! The others lit up one bright spot a day, but these two could almost achieve two a day. This somewhat surprised Qing Chen; he hadn''t expected this youngster to not only have a talent for cultivation but also be quite diligent and hardworking. Qing Chen looked questioningly at Qing Yi, "You haven''t been doing anything unnecessary, have you?" Qing Yi said helplessly, "Sir, you know I live in Qing Shan Villa, what could I possibly do?" "Your talent for cultivation is very good," Qing Chen nodded, "Among everyone, you are one of the most talented, so you definitely need to cherish it." Qing Yi looked blankly at Qing Chen, thinking to himself, did this man actually praise me? But your praise is useless; you aren''t willing to give me the Empowerment! In recent days, Qing Yi had exchanged thoughts with other fellow disciples and was very aware of his excellent talent and faster cultivation speed compared to others. Indeed, as a smart person, of course, he had to be stronger than others; how could he be worse? But then, he discovered that Qing Chen would even out the gap with Empowerment for others after he had toiled for a full day in cultivation. Qing Yi was truly upset. But what could he do? Clearly knowing that Qing Chen was biased against him, he couldn''t expect Qing Chen to give him Empowerment. However, at this moment, Qing Chen said, "Close your eyes." Qing Yi was taken aback. Soon, he felt a clear and warm flow entering from the top of his head. This flow traveled along his meridians and lit up two bright points in one breath! "Sir!" Qing Yi opened his eyes in shock and looked at Qing Chen, "You have empowered me." Qing Chen calmly said, "Focus on your cultivation. As you are my student, of course I must empower you, everyone gets their share." Qing Yi''s emotions took a long time to calm down. It was one thing for Qing Chen to be willing to pass on the cultivation techniques to him, but now he was even willing to empower him, lighting up two bright points at once! It seems that he really misunderstood the other party, Sir had no malice toward him! He felt a bit ashamed inside, sensing a petty mistrust in a noble soul. At that moment, Qing Yi reconsidered, thinking that his previous plan to ally with the 31 Li Family students was a bit hasty. To this day, it had not succeeded, and he had even encountered Li Ke, a player with a thick face and a dark heart. However, he didn''t necessarily have to ally only with the Li Family members. Wasn''t this Sir right in front of him a very good ally? Now, including Qing Yi, there were twenty-two disciples. Although they had not yet held a formal discipleship ceremony, everyone actually respected him in their hearts after their cultivation, especially since Qing Chen had been diligently empowering everyone, which everyone saw. They were tired from cultivating, but Sir was even more tired. So, at this time, whatever Qing Chen instructed, everyone would execute it one hundred percent, without any complaints. Qing Yi thought to himself, instead of allying with those Li Family descendants, it would be better to ally directly with Qing Chen. As long as he could win over Qing Chen alone, the remaining twenty-one Li Family disciples under Qing Chen''s command could become his supports in the competition for the Shadow. Moreover, those like Li Su, who had embarked on the path of cultivation from the military elite, were far more useful than a bunch of raw recruits from the academy! Thinking of this, Qing Yi began to praise his own cleverness inwardly. He was indeed too smart! He calculated in his heart; he had to first get Qing Chen to acknowledge his identity as a student, then use the master-disciple bond to maintain their relationship. By noon, while Li Ke was cooking for Qing Chen, Qing Yi peeled garlic on the side. This scene perplexed Li Ke, who wondered what tricks this youngster was playing at again? However, Qing Yi had really never done any housework before; he was clumsy at everything, unable to even peel garlic properly. In the kitchen, Li Ke, maintaining a calm demeanor, said to Qing Yi, "Qing Yi, why don''t you learn how it''s done before you start doing it?" Although Li Ke spoke in a calm tone, Qing Yi could see that Li Ke barely concealed disdain for his clumsiness. Qing Yi did not argue back but stood up silently next to Li Ke, watching how he did it. This was the intelligent approach. When others say you are not capable, never rush to prove yourself in an unfamiliar field, as that can often backfire. You should learn quietly and then dazzle everyone! By evening, before Li Ke could say anything, Qing Yi had already washed a cloth and volunteered to wipe Qing Chen''s recliner clean. Seeing Qing Yi rushing to work, Li Ke immediately headed to the fridge, planning to wash some winter peaches for Sir first. However, Qing Yi beat him to it, picked a few of the nicest looking winter peaches, washed them, and presented them to Qing Chen... Qing Chen, sitting in the recliner, thought to himself, this kid must have drunk fake alcohol; why the sudden change in attitude? Although he was pleased to see it, the change in Qing Yi was too sudden. Although Qing Chen''s own plan was to win over Qing Yi, by doing so, with Li Su and others, he could confront the other Shadow Candidates while flying the flag for Qing Yi, telling Li Su and others that they were aiding their junior brother, allowing himself to stay behind the scenes. But he hadn''t expected to win him over to this extent. Wait, Qing Chen suddenly realized what Qing Yi was planning to do; it seems they had the same idea. Qing Chen, watching Qing Yi''s busy figure, suddenly became ''kind-hearted''. Just then, a servant knocked on the door: "Mr. Qing, Li Ke, Li Su, Li Huang, Li Xin, Li Ren, Li Yi, Li Zhong... The Secretariat has asked me to summon fourteen of you to a meeting. Today''s meeting is quite important. Mr. Qing, you have the right to attend, and Li Ke, Li Su, Li Huang, you thirteen have observer seats." As Qing Chen now held a senior position, he was eligible to attend, while Li Su and others were the next generation pillars of the Li Family in the military. Li Ke had previously represented the main house in the Ancestral Hall, giving them observer seats. Li Changqing had mentioned last night that the Li Family was holding a meeting; Qing Chen had waited all day, thinking the meeting had been canceled. The servant looked at Qing Chen: "Of course, Sir, you also have the right not to attend." "I will attend," Qing Chen nodded and said: "Please lead the way." He certainly wanted to attend, for such a naturally fitting opportunity to eavesdrop on the Inner World''s top-secret intelligence was not to be missed. Now, which other Time Traveler could attend such a level of meeting? Probably only Qing Chen. Qing Chen said to the remaining students, "You all go home for today, and we''ll continue cultivating tomorrow morning." ... Only eight thousand words today, not enough to repay the debt. But still asking for monthly tickets... Chapter 480 480: Whoever is not one of us, their heart must be different. It was dusk, and the sunset sky glowed with the brilliance of the setting sun. They departed from the Autumn Leaf Courtyard. Outside the gate, the area was desolated. Everyone''s shadows were stretched long by the sunlight, occasionally overlapping one another. Qing Chen lifted his foot and followed the servant toward the meeting hall. On the way, he asked Li Su and the others, "Were these kinds of family meetings common in the past?" "Not really," Li Su shook his head, "They usually happen after the annual ancestral shrine worship, once a year. Representatives of the various factions within the clan would report the most important settlement data to the Family Head and then new appointments for the coming year would be made." "How long do they usually last?" Qing Chen asked, curious. "There have been meetings that lasted three days and three nights," Li Su said with a smile, "Many people attend these meetings wearing adult diapers just in case." Qing Chen had heard about such lengthy meetings in big companies of the Outer World, where participants, not wishing to go to the bathroom, wore adult diapers. The atmosphere at those meetings was extremely serious, and attendees would not even dare to mention going to the bathroom. In Qing Chen''s impression, the old man was very kind. Could such a person preside over a meeting that would instill fear in the clan''s members? Perhaps this was something those in high positions simply had to do. "Is the Li Family''s elder usually very serious?" Qing Chen asked. Li Su explained, "Grandfather isn''t particularly serious, but he is decisive and deliberate in his actions, and once he makes a decision, it''s hard to change. Everyone dreads this meeting mainly because it''s so importanta single meeting can appoint or dismiss dozens, if not hundreds of people, and it can even determine the fate of certain factions within the family for years to come; no one dares to take it lightly. Some lose power during the meeting and might not return to the heart of power for decades." By this time, the servant had led them to the meeting hall. However, as everyone entered, they suddenly discovered the hall was completely empty. The meeting was not here! Li Ke said, "There are two meeting halls in the Half-Mountain Villa, one is called Shou Zen, and the other is called Ming Li. The meeting must be taking place in the other one." The group turned their heads to look at the servant, only to see the servant say with fear and trepidation, "I am sorry, everyone, I don''t know what happened either. My orders were to bring you to the ''Shou Zen'' meeting hall!" Li Su looked at Qing Chen, "Sir, it seems someone does not want you to attend the meeting." Qing Chen smiled, it was quite obvious. Someone did not want him to attend the meeting. Ever since the servant had mentioned that he had the power to not attend, Qing Chen knew it was an insinuation. Qing Chen thought for a moment, "How far is the other meeting hall from here?" "A twenty-minute walk," Li Ke answered, "According to the time, the meeting should start in ten minutes." "Interesting," Qing Chen said with a smile. This was unexpected, but not entirely surprising. If there weren''t any cunning plots and schemes in a large family estate, Qing Chen would actually find it odd. Whenever the established ruling class sees the emergence of a newcomer, they invariably spare no effort to suppress them because everyone is well aware that the pie is only so big; one more person means one less portion for themselves. But the thing is...he was just a mere tutor, so why target him? Li Su whispered, "Sir, everyone is now saying that you are the old master''s illegitimate child, and that before the old master ascends to the sky on a crane, he wants you to acknowledge your ancestry and enter the ancestral shrine to pay homage..." Qing Chen was taken aback, so that was it! Indeed, the old man had been too kind to him, resulting in many people misunderstanding something. That''s right, a tutor naturally wouldn''t affect others'' interests, but an illegitimate child acknowledging his ancestry would be a different matter. However, the problem was...he wasn''t any illegitimate child at all! Look at the mess this had become! Qing Chen said, "Let''s go; we''ll head to the next meeting hall." Li Su said, "Sir, aren''t you angry that they made you late on purpose?" Although he hadn''t formally kowtowed and become a disciple, during this time, Qing Chen''s selfless teaching and the dedicated empowerment he provided made all the students feel grateful. Seeing their tutor being deliberately sidelined, they naturally felt indignant. "Angry? Oh, I can hold a grudge quite well, but getting upset here with a servant is futile; he''s just a runner," Qing Chen said calmly, "However, setting out immediately whenever you want to go somewhere, there''s nothing wrong with that." Li Su and the others exchanged glances and quickly followed him. ... ... Inside the Ming Li Meeting Hall, nearly a hundred people were already seated. In the middle, there was an empty long table with only 11 people sitting at it, while the rest of the people sat at the side benches not far away. The aura of these 11 people was more formidable than the next, to the extent that those seated on the side benches hardly dared to look at them directly. Any decision these individuals made could influence the fate of millions of people. Next to the long table, a gaunt middle-aged man asked, "How is the old master''s health? Holding a family meeting at this time won''t have any impact on his health, will it? Big brother, won''t you persuade him?" After speaking, he looked at Li Yunshou, who sat in the first position on the left side. Li Yunshou did not respond to him, merely continuing to look at the documents in his hand. For this meeting, all participants were required to carry their documents in paper format, and it was prohibited to bring any electronic devices into the meeting. If a member carried a mechanical limb, someone outside would be responsible for disassembling and safeguarding it. After the meeting, a designated mechanical limb physician would be responsible for installing them back on. Chapter 481 481: Whoever is not one of us, their heart must be different. This rule resulted in a few spectators on the seats with missing arms and legs, which looked very strange. "Eh, the meeting should have started by now. Why hasn''t the old master arrived yet?" a middle-aged woman by the long table said, "In the past, he was always the most punctual. I remember in earlier years he would even stand by the door, and if anyone of us was late, we were required to write a self-criticism." Li Yunye looked at a servant, "Go, ask what happened." The servant from the Martial Arts School quickly ran out, then hurried back shortly after, "The old master said the meeting would start once everyone arrives." There was a moment of surprise among the people at the meeting hall. Wait for everyone to arrive? In the room, everyone knew why a batch of people hadn''t arrived yet. However, they hadn''t expected that the usually punctual and imposing old master would suddenly become capricious at such a time. It was merely that an instructor had been misled to the wrong meeting hall. Just for such a trivial matter, the old master even delayed the meeting! Amidst the spectator''s seats in the hall, everyone began to discuss, just which merits and abilities did this instructor possess to gain such favoritism from the old master? A lean middle-aged man tapped the long table in front of him, muttering, "Did you all hear about the bastard that the Li Clan recently acknowledged? The old master is having the Li descendants pay respects to elevate his status, and even gave him the Autumn Leaf Courtyard. What is he trying to do? Let me make it clear, I do not recognize such a brother. Our Li Clan has had a rule from hundreds of years ago, bastards do not enter the ancestral hall." Li Changqing sat there looking at the ceiling, letting his brother speak out without caring at all. This middle-aged man, Li Yunye, was extremely astute and capable in business, managing industries like mining and electricity, many of which are pillars of the Li Family''s economy, and he had a highly assertive approach to business. Li Yunye was usually good to his brothers and sisters, not prone to arrogance or overbearance. But there was one thing about him, he had strong territorial consciousness, and what was his could not be touched by others. "Ninth brother," Li Changqing suddenly said, "no one mentioned that he is the old master''s illegitimate son. Don''t believe nor spread rumors. Moreover, let''s not talk about such things during the family meeting." Li Yunya calmly said, "I''m just worried that during the period I wasn''t here, someone might have whispered misleading things to the old master." Li Yunshou closed the document in front of him and said indifferently, "The old master has never been senile, so there''s no need to worry about that." At that moment, a group of people entered from outside the Ming Li Meeting Hall. Everyone''s gaze shifted there, and it was indeed the late Qing Chen and Li Ke arriving. Li Yunye didn''t say anything but carefully scrutinized Qing Chen. However, Qing Chen wasn''t looking at him but at the long table in the middle. All of the extra chairs had already been removed; not one was left for him. At this moment, many silently watched this scene, eager to see what this instructor from the Martial Arts School would do. Would he approach the long table to ask for a chair, or would he silently sit in the spectator''s seats? If he asked for a chair, no servant dared to fetch one for him; fetching a chair for himself seemed to demean his value. If he chose to sit in the spectator''s seats, then it needed no further explanation, he would never have a place at the Li Family''s long table again. Every seat at this long table in the consortium was won after numerous struggles and conflicts. The chairs were ordinary, yet they were the stuff of countless people''s dreams. Yet, in this delicate atmosphere, Li Ke suddenly stepped forward from behind Qing Chen, fetched a chair from the spectator''s seats, and squarely placed it beside the long table, "Sir, please have a seat." As he spoke, Li Ke even dusted the chair seat with his sleeve. The chair was not dirty; if a chair at a Li Family meeting was dirty, servants involved would likely be driven out. But Li Ke''s action was clearly a demonstration for everyone; those heirs of Li''s Big Room who qualified to enter the ancestral hall were even cleaning chairs for the instructor, so others should cease any small maneuvers. Everyone in the spectator''s seats was stunned; they hadn''t expected that Li Ke would lower himself so much during a family meeting. Several at the long table were also taken aback, even Li Changqing was surprised. Her initial plan was to ask for a chair herself, which no servant would dare to deny. But now, it was clear she didn''t need to intervene; Qing Chen could solve the issue himself. At the long table, Li Yunye looked back at his elder brother, Li Yunshou, somewhat uncertain, not sure whether this was his brother''s doing. Li Yunshou''s expression was always as undisturbed as Dragon Lake; he looked at Li Yunye, "Stop overthinking, he hasn''t even fetched a chair for me once." His implication was that this had nothing to do with him, Li Yunshou. Li Yunye, keen and interested like a lean tiger, stroked his chin stubble, "Interesting." Qing Chen seated himself beside the long table without greeting anyone, just quietly sitting there, maintaining the Breathing Technique, and resting with his eyes closed. He seemed indifferent to everything. Li Ke, Li Su, and others sat right behind him, equally silent. If the situation hadn''t been so formal, Li Su and his fellows would have wished their instructor could lead them in meditation during the meeting without disrupting their cultivation. These military men were extremely pragmatic; they knew well the immense advantage on the battlefield if they could quickly advance to become Transcendents. Chapter 482 482: Whoever is not one of us, their heart must be different. At that moment, someone outside the conference room pushed a wheelchair in, and the person pushing the wheelchair was the middle-aged man who had delivered the method to Qing Chen. Seated upon the wheelchair was an extremely frail old man. But the old man''s complexion was pale, his lips purplish-blue, and just outside the door of the conference room waited more than a dozen doctors and nurses, ready to perform emergency treatment at any moment. Qing Chen thought to himself, "When you were fishing by the Dragon Lake, you didn''t look like this at all." What is this? He''s actually putting on an act! And what''s more, the acting was quite impressivethe feeling of being short of breath was extremely lifelike. Qing Chen looked around and noticed that the expressions of the others showed no sign of anything amiss. Could it be that only he knew the old man was just acting?! No, that''s not right, Li Yunshou definitely knew as well, but he was not sure about the others. What Qing Chen did not know was that not just anyone could go to the Dragon Lake. There were always people guarding the place, and even Li Su and Li Ke could not get anywhere near it. The Autumn Leaf Courtyard was not really as harmonious as it seemed; Qing Chen had only seen its most peaceful side. The old man''s gaze did not turn to Qing Chen; he simply sat weakly in the wheelchair and said, "I am unwell, so I''ll keep this conference short and to the point. I''ll speak first, and if you have any thoughts, you can wait until I''ve finished. You can take my words as a last wish or as admonition, all I need is for you to listen." The old man continued, "The first matter, as long as the Li Family exists, eliminating Jindai and Deer Island will be the perpetual goal and pursuit of every generation of the Li Family." "The second matter, all of Li Yunyi''s genetic potion and intelligence industries will be turned over to Li Changqing. With the coming turmoil in the Federation, our intelligence agencies must be controlled by one person, there must be no divergence." This was essentially a personnel appointment and dismissal. He had only mentioned the transfer of Li Yunyi''s power without assigning any new duties to him, This indicated that the old man was highly dissatisfied with Li Yunyi''s past work, and that Li Yunyi''s branch of the family would likely find it difficult to enter the core of power for decades to come. "The third matter, no matter when, the trade with the North must not stop." "The fourth matter, within thirty years, there can be no compromise regarding financial and taxation legislation; it is one of the foundations of the Li family." "The fifth matter..." The old man listed more than ten matters in succession, and finally said, "The nineteenth matter, the Li Family has a tradition that values the order of seniority and respect for teachers and teachings. Do not forget the traditions of the old Lee family." Many people in the conference room were stunned; it was clear that this was specifically said for Qing Chen''s sake, indicating that everyone should not question Qing Chen''s status within the Li Family! Among these nineteen matters, the old man did not even mention the movement of the Federal Group''s military forces, nor did he name a successor as the Family Head. Instead, he made a point to mention respect for teachers and teachings. This confusion reigned among many. At this point, the old man said, "Alright, I have finished speaking. Do you have anything to say?" At a side of the long table, Li Yunyi suddenly stood up, "Dad, what did I do wrong? Why are you giving all my power to Li Changqing? What does she have..." Before he could finish speaking, the old man suddenly passed out. In an instant, the entire conference room was thrown into chaos, and even the usually composed Li Yunshou roared, "Doctors, nurses, come in and save him!" Inside the conference room, people in the spectator seats were at a loss; Li Yunyi stood there dumbfounded, never expecting that he would not even get a chance to defend himself. As the doctors rushed in, soldiers armed to the teeth entered the conference room: "Please leave in an orderly manner." Qing Chen, utterly confused, followed the soldiers'' orders and started walking out. At one point, even he began to doubt whether the old man''s condition had suddenly worsened. After all, the old man had been staying by Dragon Lake all this time, a place cold and damp, making it quite plausible for his condition to deteriorate. However, just then, Li Changqing passed by him, escorted by Lao Jiu, "It''s just turned nightfall. Wait for me at Autumn Leaf Courtyard later; I''ll come over after a while." Qing Chen couldn''t help but laugh and cry. The old man was critically ill, and here she was, still in the mood for an outing, making it clear that she was in the know and aware the old man was faking it. With this realization, he also put his mind at ease. After leaving the conference room, Qing Chen didn''t know where to go and somehow ended up walking towards Dragon Lake. But when he arrived there on foot, to his surprise, he found the old man under the moonlight, already changed into a fishing smock and beginning to knead bait! Qing Chen walked over, not hiding his irritation, "You''re taking this play-acting too lightly, aren''t you? Just half an hour ago, you were critically ill, and now you''ve come here to fish?" The old man retorted with equal annoyance, "You''re not even worried about whether I''m okay or not. I was critically ill, and here you are at Dragon Lake, trying to mess with my Dragon Fish?" "The feeling''s mutual," Qing Chen, who had not brought a small stool today, simply sat cross-legged next to the old man, "Who are you performing for with all this? The conference room was in total uproar, it was almost turning into a funeral home with people about to start wailing." "It wasn''t specifically for anyone," the old man sighed, "The main point is, previous meetings were too lengthy. For each decision I announced, they would argue for ages. A trivial matter would take days to settle. But this time, how wonderful it was C I spoke, and then I left. I''d like to see who dares to question me. I''m on the verge of death; do I need to waste time dealing with them?" Qing Chen was speechless, "So, just to avoid listening to everyone arguing during the meeting, you went through all this trouble?" A leader of a financial consortium, just to avoid hearing arguments in a conference, had resorted to such a childish tactic. Chapter 483 483: Whoever is not one of us, their heart must be different_4 This was somewhat of a subversion of his beliefs. But upon careful thought, these higher-ups were human too. The old man looked sideways at the youth, "In the last few days of this old man''s life, aren''t they precious? To not waste these days, no matter how grand the scene, it''s not too much. My time now is so valuable that counting it by the second wouldn''t be unreasonable." "All right, there is some truth to that," Qing Chen remarked. The old man raised his hand and cast the fishing hook out, watching the float as he talked, "When I was young, I always thought I had plenty of time, always telling myself that things I liked to do could wait. But, alas, my life was wasted amidst these worldly pursuits of fame and fortune, seeking to balance this, balance that. Looking back, I should have pretended to be critically ill earlier; I might have been able to let go and enjoy myself much sooner." Qing Chen thought, if you pretend to be critically ill, it would be for decades; nobody would believe that anymore. He asked, "Still, I thought you would mention successors or something at the meeting, but you didn''t say a word." The old man chuckled, "What do you know? Trivial matters call for big meetings, significant issues call for small ones. The most important decisions can''t be made with hundreds of people at a conference; they''re all arranged in advance." "Those ten words are indeed incisive," said Qing Chen. "I assumed you were worried about traitors in the meeting, so you deliberately didn''t mention the most important things." "Whether there are traitors or not, we can''t conclude right now," the old man said at a leisurely pace. "But the results will be out soon." "Is there really one?" Qing Chen asked curiously. "As a big shot in Li''s Financial Group, why would anyone betray their own clan?" The old man replied, "Not everyone holds power, take Li Yunyi, someone who''s just lost it, for example. Do you think he would harbor resentment? I''m not saying Li Yunyi is the traitor, but throughout the hundreds of years of the Li Family, there have been too many who have held grudges. The interests under heaven have never been distributed fairly." "I see," Qing Chen nodded. All of a sudden the old man said, "In the next few days, I might not come to Dragon Lake. You''ll come to get the fish yourself then; after all, you fish faster than I do." Qing Chen suddenly asked, "Why are you so good to me? I mean, you don''t really need to do this." The old man smiled, "Why, there''s no need for so many reasons. In a person''s life, you can only act on a whim when you are a child or an old person. When children act out, you can say they are still young. When the elderly are wilful, you can say they are senile. But during the intervening years, you must face responsibility with a clear mind. In the past, I didn''t dare to indulge any grandchild. Those little figures were so adorable, but if I casually hugged one, rumors would fly around the estate that I favored one branch over another, signaling something." "Now, I''m about to be six feet under; what do I care what they think?" the old man chuckled happily. "They all say you''re my illegitimate child, and I find it amusing to watch them guess. Didn''t you notice? Today, when I told them to respect their teachers and honor their morals, their expressions were priceless." Qing Chen thought, so you said all that just to tease everyone? The old man continued, "Your master is an interesting man too, taking on a disciple but not tutoring him and running off to make trouble in the north. He entrusted you to me before his departure, saying you weren''t naturally cold-hearted, just that no one had ever taught you another kind of affection in this world. So, I decided to let you experience it." Qing Chen fell silent. Before this journey, he had just faced the trivial affections of the Outer World, only to encounter another extreme here. Sometimes, even though he knew he was from the Outer World, he didn''t know why, but he felt closer to the Inner World somehow. Nowadays, the antagonism between the Inner and Outer Worlds was becoming more severe. If some people knew of his thoughts, they would probably curse him. "Why does the Li Family disdain Jindai and Deer Island so much?" Qing Chen changed the subject. "The Outer World has ethnic hatred, but what about the Inner World?" The old man pondered then said, "Those not of our kind must have different hearts." "Just because of that?" Qing Chen asked. The old man glanced at him, "If they''re not your kin, they wouldn''t even treat your kin as humans at all. That''s a natural barrier between races. If they one day take over the Federation, then all people from the Central Plains are inferior, and only those speaking bird language would be superior." With that, the old man handed over the Dragon Fish that had bitten the hook to Qing Chen, "I never expected the boy, Li Ke, to be so loyal to you. Remember to treat him well... and also, remember our agreement." "I won''t forget." ... A 6,200-word chapter, another one at 11 pm tonight Chapter 484 484: 320. Reverse Brainwashing The appointment with the old man at Longhu Broken Bridge was a secret between Qing Chen and the other party. The secret was so important that the old man couldn''t help but lower his voice when he spoke about it. Qing Chen, carrying a Dragon Fish, walked towards the Autumn Leaf Courtyard, suddenly overwhelmed by a wave of sadness because he knew that the old man truly didn''t have much time left. In the first 17 years of his life, Qing Chen, who''d never truly felt family affection, was especially sensitive to all good and evil intentions in this world. If Uncle Li Dong was the first person in the Inner World to treat him with sincere kindness, then the old man must be the second. But as they say, all good parties must come to an end. After one has had their fill of food and drink, it''s time to go their separate ways. This parting with his master, Uncle Li Dong, was different from the feigned death, because there was no date for return. Back in the Autumn Leaf Courtyard, Qing Chen stuffed the Dragon Fish in the fridge, saving it for Li Ke tomorrow. He lay on the lounge chair, silently calculating how much longer it would take to infuse his entire body with Knight Vital Energy. At this moment, Li Changqing, ignoring the ''Do Not Disturb'' sign on the door, pushed it open and entered. As she walked into the Autumn Leaf Courtyard, she instructed Lao Jiu and Xiao Ying outside, "Before dawn, no one is allowed to enter and disturb us, understood?" Lao Jiu and Xiao Ying hurriedly replied, "Understood." Although Qing Chen knew she was worried others might discover the secret of the passage, he still felt that something about her words was slightly amiss. He opened his eyes and noticed that Li Changqing was carrying a backpack. The woman walked past the lounge chair and laughed, "Wait for me to change my clothes before leaving, don''t peek." Qing Chen: "..." This woman really was a bit strange; even though she herself was quite timid, she always had to win verbally. Before long, Qing Chen heard a voice from behind, "How does it look? Good?" The young man turned and was startled to see that Li Changqing had changed into a punk-style leather jacket and even put on a short black wig for him. She had even specially done smokey makeup to match the outfit. For some reason, Li Changqing, who already looked quite young, seemed even younger now. "Why are you dressed up like this?" Qing Chen was puzzled. "If we''re sneaking out for fun, of course we need a disguise. Otherwise, if we''re recognized in City 18, we''ll be hunted down," Li Changqing said cheerfully. "Do you want me to do your makeup too?" "No, thank you," Qing Chen replied, and in an instant, his face transformed into Zard''s appearance, then back again. Li Changqing was taken aback. She knew that the Taboo ACE-005 was in the hands of Seventh Brother Li Yunshou, but she didn''t know its effects, so she couldn''t connect Qing Chen with Li Yunshou. The reason she was taken aback was that this was the first time Qing Chen had willingly revealed an astonishing secret in front of her. This meant that Qing Chen trusted her now, willing to share some of his secrets with her. "We''re friends now, right?" Li Changqing asked with a smile. "Mhm," Qing Chen nodded. "That''s great! On such a good day, we should go have a drink," Li Changqing laughed. "Let''s go!" Qing Chen went first into the corridor, while Li Changqing whispered from behind, "Walk slower, it''s so dark in this passage, I''m scared of ghosts." Qing Chen thought to himself, if there really were ghosts in this tunnel, wouldn''t her strength be enough to smack a ghost''s brain right out? However, Li Changqing, trailing behind Qing Chen, was cautiously holding the hem of his clothes, and it didn''t seem like she was pretending. Remembering today''s meeting, the old man feigning fainting, and Li Yunshou''s pretend ignorant roar at the medical staff, Qing Chen felt the acting skills of this family were just too good. Yet at this moment, Li Changqing suddenly shouted in the passage, "Ghost!" While saying this, she reached out to grab Qing Chen, but to her stun, she had barely spoken when Qing Chen had already darted off like an arrow from a bow, causing her to grab at thin air. Li Changqing stood in the corridor, hands on her hips, nearly bursting out in laughter: "Was that really necessary?" "Let''s hurry, you don''t have much time to move freely," Qing Chen said. "Where do you plan to take me?" Li Changqing suddenly asked. "I don''t have any particular plans," Qing Chen moved through the long corridor. Li Changqing followed behind, watching the young man''s silhouette pass through light and shadow. She said, "And here I thought you''d have some plan to make use of my combat skills or identity to help you with something." Qing Chen thought for a moment: "That was my original plan, but I don''t want to do that anymore." Initially, he had wanted to take Li Changqing to save Luo Wanya. But the woman had been too good to him, both getting him a set of Genetic Potion and personally securing the Heartless Bronze Bell for him. Because of that, he no longer wanted to use her. Qing Chen had prepared himself to face the world fiercely, but he wondered if by being so unscrupulous, he would be betraying his initial intentions? That certainly wasn''t something a Knight should do. Li Changqing smiled broadly: "That''s more like it." She jogged a few steps to catch up with Qing Chen, "Hey, what were you originally planning to take me to do? We''re friends now, so I won''t mind if you use me occasionally. I can help you fight; I''m pretty powerful." "It''s really not necessary," Qing Chen said with a smile. "I''ve assessed the other party''s strength, and there shouldn''t be any problems." Even if there were problems, Liu Dezhu, his trump card during daylight, should be sufficient. Chapter 485 485: 320, Reverse Brainwashing_2 Two people emerged from the secret passage, and Li Changqing looked around the room like a curious baby, "The old man used to slip out through here for his escapades, didn''t he?" "You talk about your father like that, you''re really okay with it?" Qing Chen couldn''t help but laugh and cry. Li Changqing gave him an odd look, "What''s wrong with that? The old man had 11 wives in his lifetime. That''s how the conglomerates are." Qing Chen was taken aback; when the old man had said on Longhu Broken Bridge, "She is still waiting for me down there," he had thought the other person must be very faithful and devoted, and he had even felt admiration. Now that he thought about it, the other person should have said, "They are still waiting for me down there," right? Qing Chen wondered, "Don''t the conglomerates have to comply with the marriage law?" Li Changqing said, "Who dares to control the conglomerates? The law is virtually non-existent in front of them." This was the Inner World and the conglomerates. Even though the conglomerates altered the law to their advantage with countless amendments through their own influence, they still refused to comply with it faithfully. However, just then, Li Changqing''s phone suddenly rang. She looked down at it and her mood began to drop. "What''s the matter," Qing Chen asked curiously. Li Changqing said, "I have to go back." "Why," Qing Chen asked again. "There''s been an incident in City 18. Qing''s family''s two Shadow Candidates, Qing Wen and Qing Zhong, had a conflict in the Fourth District, with multiple parties involved. It''s going to be a busy night," Li Changqing said with a smile in the dim room as she looked towards Qing Chen, "Next time if I get the chance, or maybe one day if I don''t have to sell my life to Li Family anymore, let me sneak out to play again, but right now I can''t afford to be so reckless." "Okay, go back then," Qing Chen murmured softly, "Take care." "Don''t worry, no one in City 18 can hurt me," Li Changqing confidently walked back into the secret passage. Qing Chen suddenly thought, maybe this was the helplessness of the conglomerates. Or perhaps, it was the helplessness of the era. Qing Chen turned and walked towards the door, Luo Wanya was probably getting impatient. ... ... At this moment. In an apartment in the Fourth District. Including Luo Wanya, 14 individuals huddled together in a circle, sitting crowded in the living room. One of the watchers said with reddened eyes, "When I was a child, my father always took me to Lima Snack Street in City 7 to buy delicious candied hawthorns. You all know the candied hawthorns in the city are expensive. No one grows hawthorn in the production bases; they are picked wild by Wilderness Hunters and brought back, then coated with cheap syrup to sell at sky-high prices. Back then, I didn''t realize that a skewer of hawthorns would add to our family''s burden. My father always watched me eat. When I offered it to him, he said he didn''t like sour, but it was only when I grew up that I realized he was just unwilling to eat." Another watcher said, "Occasionally, when we caught a fish at home, my mother always ate only the meat from the tail and the eyes. When I asked her why she didn''t eat the meat from the belly, she always said she preferred the tail and the eyes. Now, thinking about it, who wouldn''t know that the belly meat tastes better?" Luo Wanya cleared his throat and said in a deep voice, "Family members, children want to support their parents, but sometimes parents are not around. Trees want to stay still, but the wind keeps blowing..." That deep voice was like an elegy at a funeral, as mournful as could be. Before long, the room was filled with weeping. It was at this time that Luo Wanya got to his feet and said, "Family members, now that everyone has shared their secrets, we are truly a family. Do you trust each other? Let''s play a little game." As he spoke, he pulled over a table and stood on it, "Here I stand on this table, falling backward with my face up, trusting that my family will catch me. This is my trust in my family." Having said that, Luo Wanya''s chubby body stiffly fell backward, and the 13 ''family members'' behind him worked together to catch him, preventing the back of his head from hitting the ground. "See that?" Luo Wanya said excitedly, "That''s the trust between family members. You should try it too!" Under his direction, everyone took turns climbing onto the table and fell into the embrace of their ''family members,'' and not one of them landed on the floor. After the last person fell, Luo Wanya said with overwhelming excitement, "See, this is the power of family. Your family won''t let your trust fall through. Family members will always be each other''s strongest support!" With that said, cheering erupted throughout the room as if in joy of finding new kin. Even the watchers were no exception... The situation was indeed becoming uncontrollable... As Luo Wanya watched this scene unfold, he thought if he had known it was so easy to break through the watchers'' psychological defenses, he would have been rescued long ago. But before he could rejoice, a watcher''s satellite phone rang from his pocket. The man answered the call, "Hmm, hmm, the family members are all fine... No, the Time Travelers are still detained... Okay, I''ll prepare to transfer them now." In fact, short-term psychological suggestions and brainwashing couldn''t withstand the harshness of reality. A cold command from the upper echelons of the watchers'' organization was enough to snap the watchers back to reality. Those ''family members,'' who had just been immersed in the lush atmosphere of joy and excitement, were like being doused with a pail of ice water in the dead of winter, gradually returning to fear and sorrow. Chapter 486 486: 320, Reverse Brainwashing_3 Luo Wanya thought to himself, if he had just a few more days, might he have succeeded? Too late! The guards, one by one, began to calmly check their weapons, filling the room with the crisp yet cold sound of gun chambers being pulled back. One of them said coldly, "The game is over; you almost had us fooled. Now everyone put your hands behind your back and follow us downstairs. Remember, this time our mission from the organization is to raise funds for Outer World operations. Once you''re back in the Outer World, deliver all your money to the specified location, or death is the only thing waiting for you." The guards stopped pretending to be family members. They were no longer hypocritically talking about ''donations'' to the organization. They had abandoned their brainwashing plan and started making direct physical threats with their inherently savage nature. When they realized they were almost brainwashed themselves, they were furious. However, Luo Wanya still had a glimmer of hope and patiently said, "Family members... " The leader of the seven guards shoved the gun barrel against his head, "Family my ass. If you utter one more word, I''ll shoot you right now. Don''t blame us; we also have real families to worry about. If we accidentally let you escape, one person in each of our families would die." By then, the guards had regained their composure; they were well aware of their identity and what they needed to do. Luo Wanya began to despair, realizing that if they were moved, it was uncertain when they might be rescued. But what about the Time Travelers during the day? They had promised a rescue, so why hadn''t anyone shown up yet? All Time Travelers'' hands were locked behind their backs with metal Finger Locks clamped on each person''s thumbs. This device was more convenient than handcuffs and left absolutely no room for struggle. The Time Travelers were escorted down the stairs through the emergency exit. Luo Wanya still hoped that the daytime rescue would take place during this transfer, but even when they reached the underground parking lot, there was still no sign of action. By then, the light had died in Luo Wanya''s eyes. However, as two vans filled with people drove out of the underground garage to the road above, Luo Wanya saw the driver in front of him suddenly burst with blood. A bullet had pierced through the side of the guards, easily penetrating the body and even the car. Before everyone could comprehend what had happened, the distant sound of two sniper rifle shots slowly reached them. "Sniper!" one of the guards roared, "Drive, now!" But it was too late. Within a second, the drivers of both vans were dead. The vehicles, out of control, charged straight toward the intersection. When Luo Wanya heard the word ''sniper,'' he couldn''t help but reveal a look of ecstasy on his face. Being well-informed about the Time Travelers from the Outer World, he knew for a fact that the boss of Daytime was a sniper. Daytime had come, Daytime had come to save him! At this moment, other than Daytime, Luo Wanya couldn''t think of anyone else who would come to save him! Unseen by anyone, at that moment at the crossroads, a masked youth hid in the shadows with a Bluetooth headset, intently observing the inside of the vans: "Boss, the left side of the front vehicle has the 2nd and 3rd culprits. In the rear vehicle, positions 2, 4, and 7 have the culprits. Clear to shoot." Qing Chen, on a distant rooftop, repeatedly pulled the trigger, like the master of the midnight. Luo Wanya sat stunned in the car, his face covered in blood. He didn''t dare move, afraid that the extraordinarily powerful sniper bullets might accidentally hit him. However, the reality was that Luo Wanya was worrying too much. He suddenly realized the sniper was shooting with rhythm, waiting for the vehicle to keep sliding forward as the shooting angles at the targets inside changed ceaselessly. Bullet after bullet came, strangely passing through the bodies of the caretakers, barely brushing past the Time Travelers. Luo Wanya felt as though he was sitting amidst crisscrossing trajectories, the dense paths of bullets interweaving like threads yet never touching his body. In just ten seconds, the sniper didn''t give the caretakers any chance to return fire, killing all seven of them in the car. The Time Travelers inside gasped in terror, the windows smeared with a layer of dark red from the blood. It was alright, none of the Time Travelers were harmed! Everyone was shocked and bewildered. What kind of shooting skills were these? How did the other party distinguish Time Travelers from caretakers from such a distance? The next moment, a young man with a Bluetooth headset walked toward the vehicle: "Boss, all targets have been taken care of. Boss is awesome, may the boss reign for thousands of years, supreme over all." Through the Bluetooth headset, Qing Chen spoke calmly, "No need for flattery, Liu Dezhu. Hurry up and get these Time Travelers to safety. Xiao Niu, Tianzhen, you two prepare to drive over for pickup. The 18th city is a dangerous place tonight, stay hidden and don''t show your faces." Through the headset, Hu Xiaoniu and Zhang Tianzhen said in unison, "Received." This time, it was a coordinated operation by the Daylight organization. Even with Qing Chen''s sniping level, it wasn''t possible for him to immediately discern the targets inside the car in a short time. At a distance of 1400 meters, the targets he saw were extremely vague. Hitting them relied on an absolute sense of shooting and calculation within 2600 meters, but it didn''t mean his eyesight was superhuman. Therefore, in such a situation, if Qing Chen wanted to avoid injuring the Time Travelers, he needed someone to provide close-range, relay guidance. Liu Dezhu had been stationed at this intersection, and he only had to do one thing: tell Qing Chen where the caretakers were sitting in the car. It was easy to distinguish Time Travelers from caretakers; Time Travelers were forced to sit with their hands tied behind their backs, while the caretakers'' eyes watched their surroundings like wolves. No one was more suited for this role of close-range precision guidance than Liu Dezhu. Even if someone noticed his presence, his C-Class strength was enough to deal with the majority of crises. In the two vehicles, seven Time Travelers sat in their seats, shaken and terrified, their hands and feet ice-cold. The car door was pulled open with a whoosh, and the youth, Liu Dezhu, wearing a mask, smiled and said, "Everyone, please get out of the car. I''ve come to rescue you and get you out of here." ... A 5000-word chapter, today''s update is 11000 words, including 6000 words for the regular update, 4000 words to pay back Huan Yu''s debt, and 1000 words as interest... (A meticulous calculation from someone with handicapped hands) Huan Yu''s debt is now paid off, and I feel somewhat relieved. Also, thanks for everyone''s subscription support. The Naming Technique of the Night is currently at 91,500 average subscriptions (close to 100,000), and the 24-hour rush order has reached 55,000. I never expected such results before. Thank you, everyone. I will continue to write diligently. Thanks to Canis Majoris for becoming the new ally of this book. The boss is generous, may the boss eat meat without gaining weight! Chapter 487 487: 321, Agreement Just like Yi said. Humans are a strange animal; things should be based on equivalent exchange, but you might feel shortchanged in a deal if the other party completes their part too easily. Therefore, it was a correct move that Qing Chen did not immediately rescue Luo Wanya after this time travel. At least now, Luo Wanya, pushed to a dead end and having personally experienced brutality, had a completely different mindset than before. "Family, you finally came, I thought you weren''t coming," Luo Wanya said, tears streaming down his face, mingling with the blood, looking as disheveled as possible as he tried to grasp Liu Dezhu''s hand. But Liu Dezhu quickly dodged. At that moment, Liu Dezhu thought this guy must have some issues, "Who is your family?" "Hurry and get out of the car," he told the Time Travelers, "save any questions until after we''ve left this place." "Who are you?" a Time Traveler asked, trembling. "Does it matter who I am?" Liu Dezhu''s expression turned cold, "You just need to know that I am here to rescue you." However, these Time Travelers, terrified, were afraid of jumping out of the frying pan into the fire, and hesitated to leave the vehicle. Luo Wanya was the quickest to react, not needing Liu Dezhu to say more, he immediately got out and stayed close by Liu Dezhu''s side. Moreover, he quickly used his clothing to cover his face to prevent passersby from recognizing him. Liu Dezhu looked at him in surprise, "You are quite intelligent, no need for reminders." Luo Wanya gave an awkward smile, "Just experienced." Before he successfully ''got ashore'', visits to the police station were routine, so to avoid being photographed by reporters, he would subconsciously cover his face. It was now midnight, the busiest time in the Fourth District. At the crossroads, Liu Dezhu had already noticed many people whistling at them. It''s worth noting that in the Outer World''s Sheriff''s Street, everyone scatters at the sight of a sniper rifle. But here in the Inner World''s Fourth District, the first reaction of the people upon spotting a sniper was to give Liu Dezhu and his crew thumbs up, whistling, "Awesome, brother, your group even has a sniper! Which gang are you guys? Are you recruiting?" Liu Dezhu: "..." These chaos-loving loafers of the Fourth District''s respect for civilian snipers was akin to how gang members in the slums of Mexico idolize the GTR... Of course, it''s not that these people in the Fourth District aren''t afraid of dying, but they are accustomed to living each day uncertain of the next. In the Fourth District, wages can''t be issued monthly. If you pay them a month''s wages at once, they''ll spend it in three days, using the money for new clothes, new phones, new mechanical limb components, or perhaps on romantic pursuits, donating all the money to those needy "misses." The rest of the 27 days, they would have to survive by borrowing money or resorting to robbery. Thus, all businesses in the Fourth District pay daily wages. Pleasure and joy are more important than anything to them because they never know when they might die. They never have the habit of saving; each one of them is on the blacklist of bank credit ratings. At that moment, as the crowd of onlookers grew increasingly larger, Liu Dezhu spoke into his Bluetooth headset, "Boss, what about the rest?" In the Bluetooth headset, Qing Chen calmly responded, "Let them be, let them fend for themselves. Tianzhen, drive the car over, Xiao Niu, proceed to evacuate on your own." During the conversation, Zhang Tianzhen accelerated and pulled up beside Liu Dezhu. Liu Dezhu, carrying Luo Wanya, headed towards the car, "Anyone else who doesn''t want to die, follow us. We''re not waiting anymore." In the end, aside from Luo Wanya, two other Time Travelers hurriedly got into the car and squeezed into the back seat with Luo Wanya. Four others did not follow Liu Dezhu; after jumping out of the van, they ran into the crowd at the corner on their own. Zhang Tianzhen, with a stern face, watched them run off through the rearview mirror, thinking how foolish people cannot even be saved. Now, what needed to be done had been done; Daylight was not some kind of charitable organization. Yet, those four instinctively ran towards the crowd, but what awaited them was not freedom. The idle onlookers actually managed to capture all of them at once. For these people, if there was competition, then there must be some value, which perhaps could be sold for money. Luo Wanya silently watched this scene from inside the car; he wanted to see if the boss of Daylight would fire a shot to disperse the crowd and once again rescue these four ''compatriots'' from the Outer World. But he did not hear a gunshot. He breathed a sigh of relief. Zhang Tianzhen then stepped on the gas and drove away into the distance. In the car, the other two Time Travelers, squeezed by Luo Wanya in the back seat, felt almost suffocated. One struggled and looked towards Liu Dezhu and Zhang Tianzhen in the front seat, curiously asking Luo Wanya, "Who are these two?" Luo Wanya explained, "These are the heroes who specifically came to rescue us, family! But let''s not ask too much. Don''t ask what you shouldn''t; I can''t answer either." The two Time Travelers were still dazed; if it weren''t for being physically squeezed by Luo Wanya, they might even have been trembling slightly. They looked at Liu Dezhu and Zhang Tianzhen, "Thank you both, where are you taking us now? Will you give us freedom?" Chapter 488 488: 321, Agreement_2 Liu Dezhu and Zhang Tianzhen did not respond, nor was there a need to. However, it was at this time that Luo Wanya said, "Don''t worry, my family members. If you can''t trust others, can''t you trust me, your family member? You have seen how dangerous the Inner World is. What we need to do now is to behave and follow the protection of the heroes." Both Time Travelers, with red-rimmed eyes, said, "Okay!" Listening to these conversations, Qing Chen thought to himself that it wasn''t the people from Jindai and Deer Island brainwashing these Time Travelers, but rather it seemed as if Luo Wanya was in charge of the task. He even called them ''family members''. In his Bluetooth headset, Qing Chen summarized, "This time, Liu Dezhu did a good job; he quickly helped me locate all the thugs'' positions, but he needs to improve his follow-up performance. When you notice other Time Travelers hesitating, you don''t have to ask me, just take Luo Wanya away directly. In such situations, there can be no hesitation." Liu Dezhu said with shame, "I''m sorry, boss." "Don''t apologize. For Daytime, this was the first real coordinated operation, and it was already quite good," Qing Chen said. "Tianzhen, ask Luo Wanya if he has received any important information..." Before Qing Chen could finish, Luo Wanya, who knew nothing about the conversation in the Bluetooth headset, had already started spilling the beans proactively, "I have two pieces of useful information. Those people will definitely make a move in the Outer World soon. I made this conjecture because they urgently need funds and have demanded that we immediately deliver something under the Royal City Bridge upon our return. There will be someone there to take over. This method of transferring funds is actually very risky, so I guess they don''t have time to use a safer method." Luo Wanya took a breath and continued, "The second piece of useful information is that while I was counter-brainwashing them, one of the guardians let slip that part of the reason they evacuated the Fourth District was that there was going to be a nasty fight there; they had set a trap for someone and planned to kill them tonight." "I believe the person they plan to kill tonight must be very important, because they inadvertently mentioned that once this person dies, the Li Family will be furious and carry out a thorough search throughout the Fourth District," Luo Wanya said. "So they have to leave, to avoid being caught up in the complete sweep." At this moment, Qing Chen had already put away his sniper rifle and was quickly descending in the elevator. He hadn''t expected that Luo Wanya, in just a few days'' time, had actually managed to get some useful information. Moreover, the other side didn''t request any conditions for exchange; they just spilled whatever information they knew. "Tianzhen, ask him why he''s volunteering this information," Qing Chen instructed. Zhang Tianzhen looked at Luo Wanya in the rearview mirror, "We didn''t ask anything, but you''ve told us everything. Don''t you want to exchange something?" Luo Wanya sincerely said, "You came all the way to save me and my family''s lives. Isn''t that enough?" By now, this Los Angeles City big shot had thought things through very clearly. Firstly, Daytime''s capability in the Inner World was much stronger than imagined; they could find clues missed by other Time Travelers and lay in ambush ahead of time. Just this point alone was enough to demonstrate Daytime''s strength. Secondly, Daytime kept their word. They said they would come to rescue him, and they did, unlike the other Time Travelers who took the money and ran. Lastly, the way Daytime handled the Time Travelers who refused to get in the car matched Luo Wanya''s style. They were capable without being foolishly nice, which was very rare indeed. But, these were all Daytime''s strengths. Luo Wanya was well aware that despite Daytime''s good points, he was willing to join, but that didn''t mean they were willing to have him. So, he had to prove his worth quickly. He wanted to make Daytime realize that he could be of recurring use! At this time, Luo Wanya said with a sycophantic smile, "You all saved my life, now I owe you. Whether in the Inner World or Outer World, just a word from Daytime and I, Luo Wanya, will go through fire and water without hesitation." This Los Angeles City big shot was setting his pride aside from the get-go, seeking just a chance to join Daytime! He was very clear that Daytime treated its members fairly; even if he managed to join, he wouldn''t be treated like a slave. Zhang Tianzhen looked at Luo Wanya through the rearview mirror with a smile, "So you want to join Daytime? General Luo, this isn''t something money can solve. It depends on the boss''s mood." "Don''t, don''t, don''t," Luo Wanya hastily laughed, "How can you call me General Luo? Just Xiao Luo will do." Liu Dezhu looked at Luo Wanya''s weathered face and immediately felt a toothache coming on. When it came to shamelessness, probably no one among the Daytime Members could compete with Luo Wanya. At that moment, Qing Chen said through the Bluetooth headset, "Stop the idle talk for now, take him to Zhang Chengze and clarify the identities of the other two Time Travelers. Keep the useful ones and let go of the others." "Boss, where are you going?" Zhang Tianzhen asked. Qing Chen: "I have something more important to do." Liu Dezhu: "Do you need my help?" Qing Chen: "No need, you can''t get involved with tonight''s business." Because tonight''s business was too dangerous. According to Luo Wanya, Jindai and Deer Island planned to kill a big shot tonight, but just how important was this person to compel the Li Family to launch such an extensive search of the entire Fourth District? Chapter 489 489: 321, Agreement_3 ``` At this time, which big shot from the Li Family would still be outside the Half-Mountain Manor? Li Changqing! The newly-promoted head of the Li Family''s intelligence agency! Qing Chen''s first reaction was that Li Changqing was in danger. He knew that only the death of such a high-profile figure could thoroughly infuriate the Li Family. Moreover, it could also deal a heavy blow to the Li Family''s entire intelligence system before the outbreak of the Federation''s civil war. Qing Chen pondered who was leaking Li Changqing''s whereabouts; such a trap couldn''t possibly exist without an insider. Li Yunyi. Li Yunyi, who had just been stripped of his intelligence agency power by the old man! The teenager was very clear about one thingif anything was so complicated that the truth was obscured, then applying the concept of ''interests'' was enough to lift the fog. He was not sure that this was done by Li Yunyi in collusion with Jindai and Deer Island, but there was definitely a connection. Qing Chen tried to call Li Changqing, but there was only a buzzing busy signal; it seemed the other party''s signal had been jammed. Qing Chen became more and more certain that Jindai and Deer Island''s targets tonight were none other than Li Changqing; someone was deliberately cutting off Li Changqing''s contact with the outside world! After descending from the building where the sniping point was located, he sprinted through the streets of the Fourth District like the wind. He had already obtained clues about Qing Wen and Qing Zhong from Li Dongze. As long as he found these two, he might be able to locate Li Changqing. Although he had not known Li Changqing for long, he did not want the other to die. At this moment, the surroundings were filled with brilliant neon lights and shadows, while a huge blue whale moved overhead, accompanied by an incomparable sense of oppression, almost suffocating. Qing Chen waited at the location of the clue provided by Li Dongze. But then, something unexpected happened. The Shadow Candidate named Qing Zhong, protected by several followers, was quickly fleeing. Qing Zhong was injured, with blood streaming from his waist. More than a dozen people passed in front of Qing Chen, treating him as if he were just a bystander, completely unaware of the danger close at hand. However, Qing Chen did not act; he looked in the direction from which Qing Zhong and the others came and saw Qing Wen and a dozen people quickly pursuing them. They also swiftly passed in front of Qing Chen. The deadly struggle between the Shadow Candidates seemed to have nothing to do with him. Kill them? Qing Chen watched their retreating figures and remembered the promise from Qing''s shadow. This was his best chance to kill Qing Wen and Qing Zhong. Qing Chen was very familiar with the terrain here; all he needed was to find a high point, and he could easily kill both of them. He could indeed open fire directly on the street, but if he did that, the Protectors around Qing Wen might turn around and kill him right away. When it comes to close combat, Qing Chen still had no choice but to flee, and it wasn''t certain he could escape. But where was Li Changqing? Qing Chen had not seen Li Changqing! The teenager stood on the street, silently watching the dazzling neon lights and the ostentatious city. Should he kill, sweeping away two obstacles in the struggle for the Shadow, or save someone he had just met less than a month ago? But just a few hours before, he had told the other that they were now friends. Qing Chen imagined Li Changqing climbing up to the roof and tying the Heartless Bronze Bell to the eave. Every time he remembered how the other had carefully tied a beautiful bow, he felt like laughing. Qing Chen recalled how the other had stretched out her pinky finger in the small cottage at Autumn Leaf Courtyard, like a little girl expecting a present, hoping to make a childish promise to let Qing Chen take her out to play in the city as an ordinary person secretly. ``` "This kind of agreement, actually, has no real force." "But an agreement is still an agreement." Qing Chen said calmly, "One, help me locate where Li Changqing is now." "Are you looking to make a deal? You''ll have to do something for me," One asked. "Okay," Qing Chen replied. "You haven''t even asked what it is," One said, perplexed. "I''ve agreed!" Qing Chen insisted. "Red Light District, turn left, the target is 5102 meters away." The youth abruptly changed direction on the long street, his whole being exploding with an unmatched vigor. Qing Chen dashed along the long street, brushing past crowds getting ready to revel. He couldn''t concern himself with the consequences that followed. But Li Changqing couldn''t die tonight. ... ... Fourth District. Li Changqing''s motorcade was speeding through the block. On the road, all the vehicles gave way upon seeing the auspicious cloud emblem on these cars. Li Changqing hadn''t even had time to change her clothes; she sat in the back of the bulletproof car in the middle of the convoy, silently looking at the LCD panel in her hands. "Is it confirmed that Jindai Tongwu showed up when Qing Wen and Qing Zhong clashed?" Li Changqing asked. "Yes, I''ve accessed the mechanical eye data of our informant, it is indeed Jindai Tongwu, no mistake," Lao Jiu said. "At first, I was a bit puzzled too, having looked for him for so long without success, wondering how he could suddenly appear. But after I made a special confirmation, it turned out to be him. Even his walking gait is exactly as I remember." "Is the informant still following him?" Li Changqing asked. "Yes," Lao Jiu glanced at the tracking device in his hand: "The informant''s marker has stopped moving, Jindai Tongwu might have ceased moving." "Hmm," Li Changqing nodded: "Get in touch with him, ask for the specifics, and also, have the special services unit hurry over. We can''t let Jindai Tongwu escape again." Previously, Li Changqing told Qing Chen that her midnight outing was due to Qing Wen and Qing Zhong''s dispute. But in reality, the conflicts between Shadow Candidates were not yet significant enough to demand her attention to such an extent. Tonight, Li Changqing was intent on ferreting out Jindai Tongwu. However, this was a secret she could not reveal to Qing Chen. "By the way, why did Qing Wen and Qing Zhong come into conflict?" Li Changqing asked. Sitting in the passenger seat, Lao Jiu said with a smile: "According to the information provided by our informant, recently Qing Zhong has taken a fancy to a dancer in the Fourth District, going there every day. Qing''s family controls District 18 and naturally, it was quite easy for them to obtain this information. Then, given the hopeless struggle for the Shadow position following Qing Huai''s death, they teamed up with Qing Wen, setting up an ambush outside the dancer''s residence, planning to kill Qing Zhong outright." "I thought there would be some clever scheme, but it turns out it''s still just violence and murder," Li Changqing said lightly: "The quality of this generation''s Shadow Candidates doesn''t seem too good. But it looks like the battle for the Shadow has always been like this, not revealing the most ruthless character until the very end. What''s the situation now, did Qing Zhong die?" "No," Lao Jiu shook his head: "The informant said that the Guardians with Qing Zhong were killed, and Qing Zhong is now on the run. I sent people to check the dancer''s residence, and indeed, a Transcendent died there, even members of the Contraindicated courts have arrived." "The Contraindicated courts?" Li Changqing paused: "Just a C-Class Guardian, why would those crows arrive so quickly? Did they foresee that an even higher level Transcendent was going to die?" ... A 5,000-word chapter is coming at 11 pm tonight. Seeking monthly votes. Chapter 490 490: 322, a long street, and a sniper like a god In everyone''s conception, the Contraindicated Courts are a very bizarre and mysterious existence, seemingly always able to foresee the deaths of Superhumans, then arriving to take them in. They could generally determine the level and direction of the dying Superhumans, but they didn''t know exactly who would die. Whenever they appeared, people knew a Superhuman was about to die. These people were draped in monk-like black linen cloaks, like a flock of carrion crows. Normally, the Contraindicated Courts would classify the death of a Superhuman as a first, second, or third level event. The death of C-Class, D-Class, E-Class, and F-Class Superhumans was uniformly classified as a third-level event, a low-priority incident that could be dealt with later. The death of B-Class and A-Class Superhumans was uniformly classified as a second-level event, a high-priority incident. Deaths of these two levels of Superhumans, if not dealt with promptly, could give rise to Taboo Lands, so they had to be handled immediately. The death of an S-Class Superhuman corresponded to a first-level event, where members of the Contraindicated Courts, no matter when or where, even if it meant sacrificing everything, had to rush to the scene. Therefore, Li Changqing felt that the Contraindicated Courts arrived too quickly tonight. If it was just a battle between Shadow Candidates, those death-predicting crows shouldn''t have come so fast! Unless, they had already foreseen that a higher-level Superhuman would die tonight. Li Changqing looked out the window. The vehicle had entered the low-rise area of the Fourth District, the most famous Red Light District there. Street dancers posed lasciviously in shop windows, and dance males were mixed in as well, diversifying to satisfy all customer demands. Li Changqing glanced at the LCD panel in his hand, which was constantly refreshing with a very weak signal. Inside City No. 18, there shouldn''t be a place with such weak WIFI coverage. He silently watched the cityscape and suddenly sighed, "I wonder if it''s still possible to park now." Lao Jiu was taken aback for a moment, "What''s wrong, boss?" No sooner had he spoken than the leading vehicle in the convoy suddenly stopped, causing the vehicles behind to slam on the brakes. The convoy stopped so abruptly that there was no warning from the frontmost car. With a series of loud crashes, the vehicles at the front of the convoy collided with one another in succession, resulting in a pile-up. "Boss, hold tight!" Just then, Xiao Ying, who was driving, suddenly gritted his teeth and turned the steering wheel. At the critical moment, Li Changqing''s vehicle managed to drift narrowly away, spinning on the road like it was on ice, breaking free from the colliding convoy! It was this critical driving skill that saved the bulletproof car from being stuck in the jammed convoy. Otherwise, their vehicle would have been trapped there, completely losing its mobility, like prey caught in quicksand. Seeing Xiao Ying''s driving skills, Lao Jiu''s eyes lit up, "Not bad, Xiao Ying." Xiao Ying didn''t respond. His lips were tightly pursed as he alternately looked at the rearview mirror and then ahead at the road. As the vehicle spun, he stomped on the gas pedal at a certain moment. The car''s four tires rapidly skidded across the pavement, kicking up a huge cloud of white dust. With the screeching sound of tires gripping the road, Xiao Ying forcefully stabilized the drifting vehicle using its torque. The next moment, like a rocket bursting forth, the bulletproof car sped off the way they had come. He knew this must be an ambush spot set by the enemy; if the car stopped here, it would be all over! Forget about the other vehicles in the convoy and the other operatives, dead or alive! His current mission was to get Li Changqing out! As the bulletproof car began its escape, five or six off-road vehicles simultaneously emerged from both sides of the road, chasing after them. Xiao Ying asked, "Boss, where are we heading now?" Li Changqing shook his head, "They are well-prepared, I''m afraid there''s nowhere we can go." "Huh?" Xiao Ying was startled, and he swerved the steering wheel, trying to get the car onto the main road. "However, thanks to you this time," Li Changqing said with a smile, "that spot must have been full of assassins armed with thermal weapons, but now it''s not so certain." Xiao Ying looked ahead, and sure enough, as Li Changqing anticipated, off-road vehicles were roaring closer head-on, rushing at them as if they were driven by the desperate. The narrow two-lane road left no room to dodge. "Open the sunroof," Li Changqing said calmly. Lao Jiu was anxious, "Boss, you stay in the car; it''s bulletproof." Li Changqing smiled, "The person daring to ambush me here naturally knows my car is bulletproof. Open the window. As the Li Family''s Intelligence Agency''s new authority, how can I cower like a turtle? Don''t forget, they have plenty of ways to handle bulletproof vehicles. I don''t want to die suffocating in here." Lao Jiu froze. He had been protecting Li Changqing for many years, serving loyally alongside him like an old servant and housekeeper. From the boss''s college years to his current grasp of power. Lao Jiu knew all too well that Li Changqing only showed this demeanor when he faced hopeless situations, a pride befitting a member of a financial conglomerate, unwilling to die a constricted death. Another dead end. "Open the window," Li Changqing commanded coldly. Lao Jiu helplessly pressed the window button, and the sunroof of the bulletproof car opened slowly. With a thunderous crash, the bulletproof car collided with the oncoming off-road vehicle. But at that instant, Li Changqing leapt out through the sunroof and landed sharply on the hood of an off-road vehicle that had yet to collide. Chapter 491 491: 322, a long street, and a sniper like a god_2 The impact felt as if a thousand pounds had hit, and upon receiving this force, the front of the off-road vehicle immediately dipped, its tires bursting one after another. Under the tremendous inertia, the rear of the vehicle began to rise as if the whole car was about to roll over in the air. Li Changqing''s movements never halted, as she simply bent her knees slightly and leapt onto the hood of another off-road vehicle to repeat her tactic. In just five or six seconds, five oncoming off-road vehicles, except for the one that had collided with the armored car, were all rolling uncontrollably, with their passengers fainting amid the terrifying tumbling. Xiao Ying was stunned; this was the first time he had witnessed a Transcendent of this level take action, and that majestic yet sense-defying power was palpitation-inducing! The normally calm and rational Li Changqing was now like a human-shaped weapon. Standing on the long street, the woman looked to the south and north. There were no pursuing vehicles or dense clusters of assassins, just eight people slowly approaching. The group of eight seemed synced in some unspoken rhythm, even their walking paces were nearly identical. Only 8 people. Not many. But she understood that the fewer the number of people who came, the more dangerous it actually was. "It seems you''ve come quite prepared?" Li Changqing asked with a smile. Among the eight, a middle-aged man smiled, "Boss Chang Qing has hidden herself very well, and we''ve only recently discovered that you''re also a master. However, regardless of whether or not you''re a master, we need to take you seriously, as it befits your status." Li Changqing nodded, "Such polite speech, you must be from the Jindai family, with that stench of decay. However, you''ve chosen a good spot." Li Changqing commended sincerely. She was experienced, so she had briefly judged the terrain while in the car and understood that she might be the subject of the Contraindicated Tribunal''s foreseen death tonight. The roads in this entire area were narrow, meaning that even if the 081 Garrison hurried over to the rescue, the mobile troops would find it difficult to leverage their advantage, especially since Li Yunshou had already dispatched the entire 081 Garrison to guard the Mid-mountain Villa. Therefore, the opposition clearly understood that the Mid-mountain Villa was the place the Li Family cared about most, and the best opportunity to kill Li Changqing was tonight. "What about Jindai Tongwu?" Li Changqing asked curiously, "My man once blinded one of his eyes. He hates me so much, he should''ve come to witness my death himself. Isn''t he coming out yet?" "Boss Chang Qing jokes," a man in his thirties, standing in the shadow of a building, laughed, "Losing an eye to Boss Chang Qing just means I was inferior in skill, there''s nothing to hate. On the contrary, I admire Boss Chang Qing very much." The void in Jindai Tongwu''s eye was inky and hollow. He hadn''t replaced it with a mechanical eye, as he wanted every look in the mirror to remind him what his goal was for the rest of his life. At that moment, seeing Jindai Tongwu appear, Li Changqing suddenly raised her hand, as if it were some kind of signal. But apart from the footsteps of those eight people, there were no other sounds on the long street. "I see," Li Changqing nodded, "it turns out there are indeed a few traitors among us." As she spoke, she also slid into the shadows of a building to avoid the sniper''s line of sight as much as possible. Jindai Tongwu still stood in the shadow, "Boss Chang Qing always has a backup plan, we know that. If you didn''t have some kind of ace up your sleeve, we wouldn''t dare kill you tonight. After all, I lost my eye like that before." "So, a traitor has sold out the positions of my snipers hidden nearby," Li Changqing continued, "and this traitor is not one of my own people, because Lao Jiu didn''t know I was coming out with someone else tonight. Also, he doesn''t have the authority to know the action plans of the special forces. What a pity to lose six snipers just like that." Jindai Tongwu chuckled, "The 081 Garrison can''t move, so using snipers is the best option for you, Boss Chang Qing. After all, snipers aren''t needed at the Mid-mountain Villa." Li Changqing went on, "However, aside from the one who revealed the snipers'' locations, there are other traitors inside my motorcade... right, Wang Bingxu?" She looked toward the end of the long street. There, a middle-aged man hid in silence until Li Changqing called out his name, prompting him to slowly step forward, "I''m sorry, boss." By now, Lao Jiu and Xiao Ying had already gotten out of the car, protecting Li Changqing from the front and the back. Despite knowing that there might be snipers nearby, they showed absolutely no sign of retreat. Lao Jiu, seeing Wang Bingxu in the distance, cursed furiously, "You son of a bitch, the boss has been so good to you, she even saved your mother''s life back then, and now you betray her?" Wang Bingxu retorted, "You''ve taken nine bullets for her, aren''t you just an old dog by her side?" Lao Jiu sneered, "Then come and try, see how much it''s going to cost you to kill the three of us." Li Changqing ignored Wang Bingxu and instead turned to the trembling Xiao Ying, "Even you are ready to protect me with your life, which surprises me a bit." Xiao Ying shivered, "Ah... what?" He was just an E-Class Genetic Warrior who had recently received his second injection, never expecting to face such a perilous situation. But he couldn''t help but step forward; after all, Lao Jiu had escalated the atmosphere to this point. Li Changqing smiled at Jindai Tongwu, "On my way here, I found that all my communication equipment had been disconnected. I was wondering which hacker had done it. But then I realized, who needs a hacker for this? Just installing a jammer in my motorcade is enough. At first, I couldn''t understand why, until the lead vehicle in my fleet gradually sped up and then suddenly braked hard, causing the vehicles behind to collide. It became clear that the traitor was in the first vehicle of my own fleet, and Wang Bingxu was the one who evacuated." Chapter 492 492: 322, Long Street, and sniper-like gods_3 Chapter 492: 322, Long Street, and sniper-like gods_3 Jindai Tongwu clapped his hands and laughed, Often the simplest methods are the most effective. Since youve seized the sniping position, why didnt you shoot? Li Changqing calmly asked, I already felt that a sniper rifle was aiming at me. Did you not have confidence? Being able to feel someone aiming at oneself from 600 meters away, Boss Changqing is indeed at a higher level than I imagined, Jindai Tongwu stayed in the shadows, never stepping forward, But Im curious, where did you get your cultivation traditions from? As far as I know, you are not an Awakener. Li Changqing curiously asked, Do you really have confidence that you can kill me? Jindai Tongwu smiled and said, If it werent for these six snipers, I really wouldnt be sure. There are only three kinds of Transcendents in this world, Cultivators, Awakeners, and Genetic Warriors. ... Genetic Warriors cannot reach A-Class, they merely add onto their genes, incorporating certain gene segments. Genetic Warriors wont even produce Taboo Lands. If Awakeners were like Li Changqing, their methods of attack wouldnt be so pure, since most Awakeners have a variety of powers, some of which may not be suited for combatnot everyone possesses explosive lethal abilities like Li Dongze. Only Cultivators would have a systematic method of attack. As Ayang said, Awakeners could be supporters or junglers, or even wild monsters, while Cultivators are born as the core, they exist for battle. However, according to investigations by the Jindai family, there has never been any record that Li Changqing had studied under a master. Until this year, everyone even considered her a weak woman incapable of trussing a chicken. Until she killed an expert from the Dear Island family with one palm strike and leapt down from the height of more than ten floors without any harm. This was a very strange mattera powerful expert had emerged out of nowhere, yet no one knew where she had received her training. After all, there are only so many orthodox Cultivation Organizations! ... ... At this very moment, atop a large building far away, a woman wrapped in a black linen cloak stood in the night wind of City 18. The high winds whistled, causing her cloak to flutter. The woman, thousands of meters away, quietly stared down the long street, her expression calm. As if the distance of three thousand meters could not block her sight at all. A six-eyed crow stood on her shoulder. With a click, the access door to the rooftop behind her was twisted open, and Li Dongze slowly walked up to her side, Sanyue, youve come. There will be an A-Class death tonight, Sanyue responded succinctly. The meaning was simple, an A-Class was worth her trip. The womans cheeks were gaunt, and her hair tied into a ponytail. Her face was unadorned with makeup, simple yet possessing a unique charm. Li Dongze looked towards the street and said calmly, Li Changqings snipers have all been killed. Even though she has quietly risen to A-Class, she can only be restricted. Just like you said, shes indeed very likely to die tonight. The internal power transition within the Li clan finally made the mole unable to hold back any longer. Sanyue and Li Dongze, both seemed colder than the other, as if whatever happened in the world had little to do with them, mere observers in the night. Sanyue thought for a moment and said, Six snipers, plus eight Genetic Warriors, Jindai and Deer Island have paid a great price together; this is a dead end. Li Dongze said, Though it is a dead end, I dont think the person who will die is necessarily Li Changqing. Sanyue glanced at him, I didnt say it was her. Li Dongze smiled, Then were quite in tune. Ill leave first, the outcome is already destined. Tonights effort is appreciated; dont let City 18 turn into Taboo Land. Although I really want to leave, deep down I quite like this place. Suddenly, Sanyue said, If theres a day you might die, please notify me in advance. Handling an A-Class is troublesome, I need to prepare beforehand. Li Dongze smiled, Of course. However, just as Li Dongze was walking towards the central passage of the rooftop, he suddenly froze, abruptly turning to look towards a patch of the night sky. ... ... In the long street. Jindai Tongwu laughed, Forget it, lets not play games anymore. Matters of the family are significant, and if Boss Changqing interferes with our next actions, it could be very troublesome, so we must ask you to die. Saying this, he too, like Li Changqing had done, raised his fist. To the north and south of the long street, eight Genetic Warriors slowly converged towards the center. Their steps were unified and in perfect harmony. From the moment they were selected after their Genetic Potion injections, all their training had been aimed at teaming up to hunt down A-Class experts. These eight Genetic Warriors, acted as one entity. In an instant, eight of them burst forth like thunder, collectively leaping towards Li Changqing. In just a moment, Lao Jiu, as if on a suicide mission, rushed out, desperately trying to break some kind of rhythm and balance among the eight. However, when he engaged the four from the north, every punch and kick felt like hitting cotton. Those four circled him up, their bodies as manipulable as puppets, dodging at will no matter how fiercely Lao Jiu struggled. They completely preserved their rhythm from being disrupted. To kill an A-Class, mere destructive power is not enough, as there are few in this world who can match an A-Class expert in terms of destructive force. Thus, for the eight to collectively hunt down an A-Class, what they most needed to do was to preserve their lives, using a soft approach to counter the hard, continuously wearing down the combat strength of the A-Class expert, gradually devouring his will to fight. Chapter 493 493: 322, Changjie, there is also a sniper like a God_4 Chapter 493: 322, Changjie, there is also a sniper like a God_4 Lao Jiu only felt as if his entire body was trapped in a sponge, unable to exert any force, and every move he made felt awkward. Within just ten seconds of contact, Lao Jiu had taken three punches and four kicks, tumbling back like a rag doll. Li Changqing made her move; she had to intercept the subsequent assassination attempt by those four people, otherwise, Lao Jius life would be lost. Lao Jiu felt guilty because his duty was to protect others, yet in the end, he needed someone else to protect him. Moreover, Li Changqing, in her effort to save him, had exposed herself outside the shadows of the building, under the snipers line of sight! Boss, watch out for the sniper! Lao Jiu yelled. ... After yelling, he spat out another mouthful of fresh blood. The sniper bullet arrived on cue, but out of the six hidden snipers, with three shooting at the same time, all shots missed their target. One bullet passed by Li Changqings shoulder, scorching a burn mark onto the sleeve of her leather jacket. Li Changqing sighed inwardly, her only option now was to rely on the high-speed movement of her body to dodge the snipers bullets as much as possible. There was no other way. But the problem was, the combined forces of those eight people, like a millstone, were about to grind her down, keeping her from moving freely. The eight people were standing at eight different angles, and no matter who she wanted to attack, somebody would strike from the opposite direction, forcing her to abandon her attack and protect her vitals. Only by standing among these eight could she truly feel how nauseating the combination technique of these eight Genetic Warriors was. Transcendents have high offensive capabilities but low defense. Even Li Changqing, after taking several hits to her vitals, couldnt hold on. The eight men were prepared to die; if Li Changqing dared to fight to the death, while three or four of them perished, they could definitely take her down with them. It was like having a parasite latched onto you, but you just couldnt tear it off because doing so would leave its mouthparts embedded in your skin. The pain of the wound wasnt important, but those mouthparts left under the skin could cause infection, illness, and ultimately death. No, right now Li Changqing could clearly sense that among these eight Genetic Warriors, there was definitely an A-Class Cultivator hidden! This was the opponents ultimate trump card! Although the eight of them cooperated seamlessly, this bizarre battle formation needed a focal point to operate, otherwise how could it be so robust, sharp, and deadly! The opponent was hiding among these eight, waiting for the moment Li Changqing was prepared to fight to the bitter end to deliver a fatal blow. At this moment, Li Changqing was still wearing her punk-style leather jacket, complete with a short wig. That was the attire she had changed into so Qing Chen could sneak her out for fun. Thinking back, she hadnt even had a chance to wear it properly before a sniper bullet put a hole in it, rendering it unwearable in the future. She wondered what the boy was doing now. If he knew that his new friend was about to die, would he feel a bit sad? In an instant, the eight Genetic Warriors of the Jindai family suddenly increased their effort together, drastically shrinking the circle around Li Changqing, making it difficult for her to move. If the snipers wanted to kill Li Changqing, now was the best opportunity. However, the anticipated scene did not occur. There was no gunshot either. Instead, a pane of glass suddenly shattered on the distant Spring Bud Building, 600 meters away. A roaring sound followed. Sniper! But not a sniper from Jindai! The shattered glass was precisely where Li Changqing had earlier set up a sniping point, which had been taken over by Jindai Tongwus sniper! Everyone was stunned. No one had expected there to be another sniper opposite the Spring Bud Building! Even the Li Familys traitor had not mentioned it! Before anyone could come to their senses, a B-Class Genetic Warrior beside Li Changqing suddenly exploded into a cloud of blood. Glass fragments fell, slicing through the colorful neon lights from high above. On the street, a Genetic Warriors blood mist burst open. The shocked gazes of the crowd. Everything was so dramatically timed. This shot instantly disrupted the balance of the eight working together! Jindai Tongwu frowned as he stood in the shadows, looking back. The sniper was there! Opposite the Spring Bud Building, the closest high ground, and now over 2000 meters away, was Jinmao Tower. Only the height and angle from the roof of that tower was enough to overlook everything here. Now, Jinmao Tower, the street battlefield, and the Spring Bud Building were in a straight line, with the street battlefield right between the two sides snipers. But if the sniper was on Jinmao Tower. That would mean that the opponents last shot, the one that killed the assassin in the Spring Bud Building... the sniper bullet had to travel across a distance of 2600 meters, over the street, and then towards the Spring Bud Building! Who could accomplish something like that? Jindai Tongwu could not think of an answer on the spot! ... A 6000-word chapter; todays update is 11000 words, giving Li Dongze one extra chapter. The debt is long overdue, an extra thousand words as interest. Asking for monthly tickets. Chapter 494 494: 323, Grand Graduation Ceremony Chapter 494: 323, Grand Graduation Ceremony When snipers choose their sniping positions, the primary principle is personal safety, while the secondary principle is precise range. This range, which varies for everyone, does not chase after the ultra-long distances for showmanship like in the movies. After all, the most crucial aspect of war and battle is to inflict damage on the target. Thus, when Li Changqing ordered the special service group to select the battleground, each sniper chose a position about 600 meters from Chang Street. This is the normal precise shooting range for a sniper. Although the trajectory is slightly affected by the world, its not a big issue. ... This is common knowledge and consensus among snipers. However, at this point, a sniper unreasonably set up his sniping point 2000 meters away from the battlefield yet was still able to precisely hit battlefield targets. Not only that, but he could also eliminate an enemy sniper over a distance of 2600 meters. This was truly terrifying. And it completely defied common knowledge. But what they didnt know was that for Qing Chen, any shooting distance over 400 meters made no difference. It was all within the range of his absolute gun feel. Moreover, Qing Chen told everyone with two precise shots, just because you cant do it, doesnt mean others cant. One shot might be a coincidence. But if both shots hit, it was definitely not a coincidence. Jindai Tongwu was glad he had always stood in the shadows, anticipating Li Changqings moves and other contingencies. Logically, their preparation was very thorough; there should have been no surprises. The timing was perfect, power was transitioning within the Li Family, and the 081 Garrison Brigade usually stationed in City 18 had all been redeployed to the hillside manor. The location was ideal; the battlefield suited Jindais expectations, and Li Changqing was indeed suppressed and unable to harness his full strength. The insider within the Li Family had practically laid out all of Li Changqings plans. The plan was perfect; why then were there surprises?! To the snipers who are still alive, take him out, Jindai Tongwu said coldly over the communication channel. Sir, we cant, a sniper replied, Although the five of us have different positions, we are all at least 2400 meters away from him. Under these circumstances, killing him is simply impossible. Then why can he do it!? Jindai Tongwu asked, filled with anger, unable to accept the feeling that his meticulously crafted plan might fail. It felt like an insult to his thirty-one years of life. Across the Federation, how many people can hit a target at 2600 meters? Jindai Tongwu asked. Sir, no more than three. Even if they have records of hitting a target at 2600 meters, a large part of that success is due to luck, and they usually need at least three shots to hit, a sniper replied. Sniper rifles have special tracer rounds. When a tracer round is fired, even at dusk, it shines as brightly as a hot iron, flying towards the vicinity of the target. The purpose of these tracer rounds is to provide a visible trajectory for snipers to adjust their aim. It lets the sniper know how far off they are from the target and make adjustments accordingly. So, what the sniper meant was that hitting with more than three shots involved a process of first adjusting the trajectory. But Qing Chen skipped this process. Jindai Tongwu said, This sniper didnt adjust his trajectory at all; both shots were precise hits. Who else in the Federation can do that? No one, the sniper hesitated before replying, Sir, we really dont know anyone who can do this. We havent fired yet, so this sniper cant find us; hes also waiting. If we fire now... we might die. At that moment, in the street battlefield, Li Changqing was entangled with seven experts. After losing a B-Class Genetic Warrior, the variability in their formation was noticeably less, and their defense was no longer as impenetrable as before. There was visibly more room for Li Changqing to move and navigate. Amid the crowd, Li Changqing moved as agilely as a soaring dragon, flipping and flying around. Her movements, opening and closing, were slender yet powerfully lethal, astonishingly impressive. However, she still couldnt determine which of the seven was A-Class, so she couldnt go all out and had to keep some reserves to save herself. She needed time. She needed more time to find that critical spot! That would be the moment for a desperate counterattack! Outside the battlefield, Jindai Tongwu stood in the shadows and looked towards Li Changqing with a smile, Boss Chang Qing is indeed formidable. Even though I was fully prepared, you still had an ace up your sleeve. May I ask, where did you find this sniper, and why have I never heard of him before? Li Changqing did not speak, as she needed to keep her breathing in check. Jindai Tongwu smiled, Boss Chang Qing truly follows the orthodox methods of training, not speaking during battle to avoid disrupting her Breathing Technique, right? I just want to know, this sniper, regarded as a God by other snipers, where did you find him? In fact, Li Changqing didnt know either. She had also wanted to train the top snipers, specifically for assassination purposes. But only those who have actually tried to train such individuals would understand that such people cant be developed merely with bullets; it requires a unique talent. Perhaps not even one in a billion could achieve this. Li Changqing also didnt know why such a sniper would participate in a war driven by the undercurrents of business consortiums. Chapter 495 495: 323, Grand Graduation Ceremony_2 Chapter 495: 323, Grand Graduation Ceremony_2 Over the years, she had been devoted to the war among spies, moving from City 7 to City 1 and back to City 18 after settling matters in City 1. It seemed like this woman had never truly rested, always distracting herself with work while also focusing on her cultivation. As a result, Li Changqing had hardly any friends and did not know who would come to save her during such a time. Wait, she did have one friend. Li Changqing thought silently to herself, and this friend indeed had an absolute sense of shooting. But... ... There were many with an absolute sense of shooting, and that friend was only effective in close-range shooting within 400 meters; she had even gone to watch him train with a sniper rifle, but it turned out he had never used one before. However, for some reason, Li Changqing always had an intuition that it had to be that young man. Apart from him, there would be no one else. Even though the young man had acted as if he had never touched a sniper rifle before, he could act! At that moment, a sniper 2000 meters away fired again. The patient sniper, who single-handedly controlled the battlefield, had waited who knows how long to find such an opportunity. The bullet traveled across the sky and struck a B-Class Genetic Warrior standing close to Li Changqing with a graceful parabola. Li Changqing was so close that she could even hear the thud of the massive bullet making contact with the human body, its formidable force instantly piercing through the Genetic Warriors alloy bionic skin. It must be said that Jindai Tongwu had prepared very thoroughly; Li Changqing distinctly noticed that these B-Class Genetic Warriors were implanted with alloy bionic skins from head to toe. Jindai seemed intent on creating such an assassin, which must have cost tens of millions! To implant all eight of them, the expense was absolutely exorbitant! This was Jindais most elite team of assassins! However, as tough as alloy bionic skin was, it couldnt surpass the armor of a light infantry combat vehicle. And an anti-materiel sniper rifle paired with a tungsten core armor-piercing bullet was intended to take down combat vehicles! Especially by persuasion, more terrifying than the standard anti-materiel sniper rifle. In a moment, only six Genetic Warriors remained by Li Changqings side, drastically reducing the pressure once again. She began to plan a counterattack. Lao Jiu was already severely injured and unconscious, and Xiao Ying was not capable of participating in the battle. But just then, Li Changqing suddenly stopped deliberately avoiding the trajectories. Despite five snipers from the Jindai family still hiding in the dark, she felt fearless. Even though she was alone fighting against six in the long street, she didnt feel isolated. It was an unexplainable trust; she believed in this friend, stationed 2000 meters away, who would not disappoint her. ... ... Jindai Tongwu frowned, time ticked away second by second, and the plan was gradually failing. If the delay continued, not to mention Li Changqing slowly revealing her impressive combat prowess, by the time the 081 Garrison responded, all of them would perish here. Take down that sniper, at all costs, Jindai Tongwu said over the communication channel, Arent you always boasting about your precise shooting skills? There are five of you and only one of him, It will take time for him to kill all of you, which gives you a chance to adjust your aim! Commander, our are four 7.62mm caliber sniper rifles, only Major Jindai Changcuan is equipped with a 12.7mm anti-materiel sniper rifle. Our 7.62mm sniper rifles, being 2400 meters apart from him, could only kill him if a shot hits the eye socket, otherwise its not possible to kill him, one sniper explained. What caliber is the opponent using? Jindai Tongwu asked. It sounds very close to a 12.7mm caliber anti-materiel sniper rifle, but the sound has many differences. Commander, a regular anti-materiel sniper rifle might injure a B-Class Expert enveloped in alloy bionic skin from two thousand meters, but definitely not cause a penetrating injury, as the kinetic energy should have begun to decay rapidly after 1600 meters, But the opponents sniper rifle was different; that last shot had clearly penetrated a B-Class Genetic Warrior, meaning the armor-piercing bullet had pierced two layers of alloy bionic skin from two thousand meters away. This was no sniper rifleclearly, it was an anti-materiel sniper cannon! Jindai Tongwu asked, Jindai Changchuan, whats the longest distance at which youve recorded a hit? Jindai Changcuan hesitated before replying, 1721 meters, after four shots for adjusting the aim, the fifth shot hit. Jindai Tongwu commanded coldly, This is the moment for you to break through your limits and devote yourself to our clan. Jindai Changchuan responded, Understood. The other four, provide continuous covering fire, Jindai Tongwu said sternly, Buy time for Jindai Changcuan to adjust his aim and take him down! The snipers fell silent. Continuous covering fire meant that they were stationary targets for the sniper, using their lives to buy Jindai Changcuan the time to adjust his aim. But they were soldiers, and obeying commands was their duty. So, knowing it was a suicidal mission, they still had to carry it out. At that moment, they were acutely aware that Jindai Tongwu might not be counting on them, as even a fool would know they couldnt make the shot. If Jindai Changchuan could make the shot, it was for the best; even if he didnt, they might not entirely fail. Because as long as they fired, the attention of the sniper would shift to them, giving those fighting Li Changqing in the street more time. Chapter 496 496: 323, Grand Graduation Ceremony_3 Chapter 496: 323, Grand Graduation Ceremony_3 Ten seconds. Jindai Tongwu only needed these sharpshooters to buy him ten seconds! By then, the A-Class experts hidden among the crowd could strike with all their might, undistracted. Jindai Tongwu didnt want to wait any longer. This time, many sharpshooters would die. Jindai Tongwu said calmly over the communications channel, The clan will remember your contributions, and your names will also be added to the stele at the Shrine, shatter like jade. ... Shatter like jade was the last mobilization call of the Jindai family before launching a suicidal attack. From that second, all sharpshooters were prepared to die. At that moment, Qing Chen was lying calmly on the open terrace on the 121st floor of the Jinmao Tower, his eyes having left the scope, searching the vast horizon for the remaining Jindai family sharpshooters. The next second, on the 130th floor of Spring Bud Building in the distance, a flash of fire burst forth. That was an unsuppressed sniper rifle firing. On the neighboring Changlin Tower, on the 129th and 121st floors, there were others. Almost simultaneously, the remaining four Jindai family sharpshooters fired together, rapidly shooting, pulling the trigger one shot after another. The glass facades of the Jinmao Tower shattered one after another, emitting a crisp sound in the night. Amidst this chaos, Jindai Changcuan pulled the trigger. He directly used tracer bullets, the red-hot iron-like bullets shooting straight into the night sky, then arcing down three meters to Qing Chens left. Three meters, the error is only three meters, a sharpshooter said over the communications channel, We dont need four adjustment shots, I feel Major Changcuan will hit him with no more than two more shots! For sharpshooters, a 2000-meter firing range with an error of three meters was already very small. At that moment, a sharpshooter looked towards the Jinmao Tower through his optical scope. He felt that the figure of the sharpshooter hadnt moved an inch, seemingly not at all concerned about their shooting. A feeling of inferiority suddenly rose in the sharpshooters heart, they couldnt even make the man worry slightly! It was as if they werent even considered worthy opponents. Expressionless, Qing Chen moved his view back to the scope, slightly tilting his gun with the rise and fall of his breathing body, and decisively pulled the trigger. The moment the opposite side fired, he had memorized the position of each sharpshooter. One shot, two shots, three shots, four shots, five shots! Without the slightest pause. Every muscle in Qing Chens body served his will. He didnt need to deliberately calculate the trajectory, the dull practice and efforts in the Mysterious World had in that instant turned into a battle-determined outcome, as well as the fates of five men. This was the answer time gave him. Qing Chen had graduated from the Winning by Virtue Mysterious World a few days ago. But he had always lacked a glorious and dazzling graduation ceremony. There were no classmates cheering, nor a principal to place a graduation cap on him. Qing Chen didnt need those. The graduation ceremony of a sharpshooter was destined to be lonely, cold, and resolute. He just needed to enjoy this moment off-stage, then wait for the bullet to traverse time and space to end a fate. Someone elses fate. The first shot from Jindai Changcuan was only three meters away from Qing Chen. But these three meters, were a gap he could never close in his lifetime. It felt like a long time had passed, yet it seemed to be just a moment. In Qing Chens view, five bullets consecutively pierced through the scopes of five sharpshooters, traveling over 2300 meters, striking precise into their heads. Phew, Qing Chen exhaled a breath of turbid air lightly. Only then could a sharpshooter truly be considered graduated. When Jindai Tongwus side heard their sharpshooters open fire, they began preparing to send a signal to the A-Class experts, ready to resolve the battle quickly at a greater cost. It was but a sacrifice of three or four B-Class experts for the life of Li Changqing. Though B-Class experts were scarce, the Jindai could afford the exchange. In the Federation, Transcendents are divided at the B-Class threshold. Below B-Class, they can be mass-produced through genetic potions, less in number, but there will always be new ones being born. However, to Jindai Tongwus astonishment, he hadnt even managed to pass on the signal when the fight among the sharpshooters had already ended. Dead, all the sharpshooters were almost simultaneously shot in the head. Jindai Changcuan included! This expert sharpshooter of the Jindai family had died inexplicably! Jindai Tongwu thought these sharpshooters could buy him enough time, but they ended up accomplishing nothing. Were these really the worlds actual sharpshooters? Without thinking, pulling the trigger and then five shots hitting the target? This was simply an overwhelming mismatch in strength! Nobody knew that Qing Chen had specifically chosen the Jinmao Tower because any sharpshooter wanting to take him down had to overcome at least a 2300-meter distance. Such a choice of sniping point was like bullying. Like an adult fighting a child, the adult holding the childs face while the childs arms were too short to even reach the adults body. This fight among sharpshooters couldnt be better described by this analogy. Within 2600 meters, any distance was the same for Qing Chen, but for other sharpshooters, this 2300 meters was an insurmountable chasm. In the long street, the thunderous sound of five shots still rolled in the sky, Li Changqings lips already curving slightly upwards. The sounds of gunfire that sounded devastating to the enemy, to her ears, sounded like distant yet warm greetings. Taking advantage of the moment the genetic warriors were shaken, Li Changqing suddenly made her move, casting a small green jade Sword Arrow from her sleeves, lightning-fast blinding a B-Class Genetic Warrior. Standing in the shadows of the long street, Jindai Tongwu was astonished, You, a person from Lis Financial Group, are actually also a Director of Hus Information Agency! Youve already started nurturing Sword Arrow! Previously, Li Changqing had always kept this ace in the hole, waiting for the most critical moment. Now that the Sword Arrow was newly formed, it couldnt even break the enemys alloy bionic skin, and if someone shattered this Sword Arrow, she would suffer a backlash and severe injury. Initially, Li Changqing thought that she wouldnt need to use the Sword Arrow, but she never expected that Qing Chen would create an opportunity for a desperate counterattack! ... 5000-word chapter, another chapter at 11 PM. Chapter 497 497: 324. Snapping fingers and disappearing floor Chapter 497: 324. Snapping fingers and disappearing floor Three kilometers away on a rooftop. March adjusted her cloak, which had been disheveled by the wind. The wind was so strong that even the crow on her shoulder was struggling to keep stable, clinging desperately to the linen fabric to prevent itself from being blown away. With such strong winds, and within 2600 meters, not a shot will miss. If this kind of sniper exists in this world, the Tribunal will likely be very busy, March continued. Her implication was clear: many transcendent beings would die under sniper fire. Upon hearing this, Li Dongze suddenly asked, Youre not thinking of containing him, are you? March looked at him calmly, The Tribunal has its own principles. We only contain transcendent beings who are dying of old age, or are already dead. ... Since when was this principle established? Li Dongze asked. I dont know from which generation, March replied, but I find this principle quite good. It clearly defines what we should and should not contain. Without this principle, the Tribunal could arbitrarily contain any transcendent beings as it pleases. If you steal my resources, I could pretend to be just in containing you, if you take my fame, I could also pretend to be just in containing you. The Tribunal exists for the continuation of mankind and to curb the growth rate of the Taboo Land. The crows also adhere to their beliefs, doing what we consider right. Without this principle, the Tribunal would be tainted by worldly fame and fortune, and the faith of every crow would no longer be pure. People named the members of the Tribunal as Crows, and they themselves accepted this title. In the Tribunal, there are very strict criteria for containment. Individuals on the verge of old age death must receive a judgment from a Taboo, and then they are subject to surveillance and containment by the Tribunal, awaiting natural death. Thus, strictly speaking, what the Crows contain are already dead beings. Because of this, theres the strange phenomenon where battles occur, with the Tribunal walking among them, yet they are not attacked. For the Crows have their principles. In fact, if the Tribunal didnt exist, perhaps over a dozen cities including the 18th City, 1st City, and 7th City would have already become Taboo Lands. March looked at Li Dongze, From your reaction, I always feel that you might know the sniper. I dont, Li Dongze shook his head. Understood, youre not very good at lying in front of me, just like before. Rest assured, I will keep it a secret. The Tribunal has too many secrets, one more wont hurt, March said indifferently, So, is he someone whose identity you need to protect, perhaps the next successor of a Knight? I told you I dont know him, Li Dongze raised his eyebrows, then pulled out his pocket watch. No need to change the subject now, it will rain tomorrow, March said, looking again towards Jinmao Tower, without bringing up Qing Chens identity again, The sniper still has his limits; those B-Class Genetic Warriors with no sniper protection will likely do as Li Changqing did before, constantly dodging the trajectory. Under such circumstances, trying to hit them is very likely to accidentally injure Li Changqing, after all, at 2000 meters distance it takes two seconds for a bullet to reach its target, even for someone very skilled in calculations, its impossible to predict where a B-Class Expert will be in two seconds. Previously, the reason Jindai familys sniper could open fire was because eight experts confined Li Changqings movements within a very small range, using coordinated techniques. But Li Changqing was alone and could not lock down the battle zone. Just as March said. After killing all the snipers, Qing Chen aimed his gun at the battlefield. He attempted to continue sniping the B-Class Genetic Warriors, but by then all B-Class Genetic Warriors had begun dodging the bullets, moving swiftly. They kept changing their positions, even if it meant missing opportunities to attack Li Changqing. Qing Chen, aiming to hit them without mistakenly hurting Li Changqing, nearly faced the impossible. What do you think hell do? The sniper is in an awkward position now. The distance he chose indeed offers him a great advantage; he can hit others without them being able to hit him, but such a long range causes the trajectory to elongate too much, Li Dongze analyzed calmly. How would I know, Ive never been a sniper, March replied while smoothing the feathers of the Six-eyed crow on her shoulder. But at that moment, Qing Chen didnt aim at the battlefield anymore; instead, he raised his gun as if to snipe the stars in the sky. He mechanically pulled the trigger repeatedly, letting the bullets fly into the unknown high skies. Seeing this, March sighed, Not only is he a precise shooter, but hes also smart. This time, its enough for Li Changqing to turn the tables. A sniper in the battlefield doesnt need to hit with every shot to still be a threathis mere presence, making others aware he is still there, is a threat in itself. In the battlefield, no one could be sure if they were the next seconds target, only able to keep moving fast, missing one combat opportunity after another. The sound of the sniper rifle was like the Sword of Damocles hanging over each enemys head, with no one knowing when it would fall. And the reason March said this with a sigh was because she knew, more transcendent beings would die at the hands of this sniper. Soon, the young Crows will have to work overtime. Chapter 498 498: 324, Snap of the fingers, and the disappearing floor_2 Chapter 498: 324, Snap of the fingers, and the disappearing floor_2 In the battle on the long street, three genetic warriors had already fallen, and everyone was being cautious of Li Changqings Jade Arrow, but since it returned to her sleeve, it had not been used again. Li Changqing knew that the hidden A-Class expert must be waiting for a chance to destroy her Jade Arrow. The sound of sniper rifles continued to roar, yet not one bullet reached the street. All genetic warriors felt an intangible pressure, growing more and more restrained in Li Changqings presence. So, despite Jindai having the advantage in strength and numbers, it seemed as if it was Li Changqing who was suppressing everyone in the fight. This was the authority of a sniper on the battlefield, one that no one could ignore. ... At this time, only five experts from the Jindai family remained, when suddenly, Li Changqings figure became flexible, her hands moving so that with each flick of her fingers, she seemed to sketch a graceful circle. That was the Bagua Palm technique she had learned from a young age, and now, with the enemys formation broken, she had an opportunity to put it to use. The sound of the sniper rifles booming appeared to serve as a rhythmic drumbeat, accompanying Li Changqings spirited fighting. ... ... According to sniper principles, he really should have moved positions after taking out the other snipers, March said, Is he and Li Changqing very close? Hes actually willing to break the snipers code and stay here to help suppress the enemys momentum on the battlefield. I dont know him, Li Dongze said. If he doesnt leave soon, hell be in trouble, March said. As she spoke, March turned and headed downstairs. Where are you going? Li Dongze asked. After a moments thought, March replied, The remaining fight is not worth watching. I heard theres a decent bar downstairs where I can order a cocktail, and then go collect the bodies of the Jindai familys Transcendents... Maybe even the body of the Knights successor. It seemed to March that the outcome was already determined. March looked at Li Dongze, Arent you coming for a drink? But Li Dongze turned and walked away even faster than March, No need, I have other things to do. Going to save someone? March asked curiously, Youre not coming for a drink? Not drinking. The alcohol in the bar downstairs, it all comes from my place, Li Dongze said. A rare look of astonishment appeared on Marchs face. At this moment, Qing Chen was pulling the trigger while keeping an eye on his surroundings. He was well aware of what the snipers principles were: having completed his task and eliminated the enemy sniper, he should have made a quick exit. The Jindai clan had many assassins in City 18, enough to deal with both him and Li Changqing at once. A stationary sniper was bound to be targeted. Yet he also knew that Li Changqing was still under tremendous pressure, and he couldnt just leave her. In an instant, Lao Jiu, who had previously been unconscious, unexpectedly awoke. He had been lying on the ground and squinting for a while before he found the right moment to stand up again and used his body to collide with one of the men, desperately reducing Li Changqings pressure. Lao Jiu was injured, which greatly reduced his combat effectiveness; he could only struggle to hold onto the genetic warrior hed knocked down, refusing to let go. He let the other rain down punches on his ribs. Lao Jiu, who was originally going to change his name to Lao Shi, would probably now have to be called Lao Shijiu after this battle. The damage of these punches might not be any less than that of firearms. Then, the Jade Arrow reappeared from Li Changqings sleeve, striking like thunder into the eye socket of the genetic warrior held by Lao Shijiu. Seeing this, Qing Chen decisively packed up his rifle and left. Without the slightest hesitation. He pulled the hoodie of his sweatshirt over his head and began descending the emergency stairs of Jinmao Tower. The power supply to Jinmao Tower had been cut at some point, leaving the entire building dimmed. Just as Qing Chen was entering the emergency passage, a shadow pounced at him from the gloomy staircase. Instinctively, he raised his arms in front of his face, his muscles tensing up all at once. In the blink of an eye, Qing Chen found himself unable to dodge and opted to use his forearm to brutally absorb the full force of a roundhouse kick from the unexpected visitor. The young man was flung backward like a punch bag, crashing heavily against the wall of the stairwell from the emergency passage entrance. So fast! The assailant turned out to be a B-Class Genetic Warrior! Peak D-Class Qing Chen stood no chance before this B-Class Genetic Warrior, his bones felt as if they had come apart, and he experienced a penetrating pain within his internal organs. A mouthful of blood sprang forth, and the pain nearly knocked him out! Youre the sniper, arent you? the B-Class Genetic Warrior asked calmly. Qing Chen recognized the voice. Wang Bingxu. The very Wang Bingxu who had once escorted the Autumn Hunting Team! Despite the power of his sniper rifle, it wasnt until this moment that Qing Chen truly realized the gap between himself and a real expert. Indeed, he needed to devote himself to serious training. Fortunately, Qing Chen was still disguised as Zard, so the other did not recognize him, right? Wang Bingxu emerged from the emergency passage, but just as Qing Chen coughed up blood, Wang Bingxu suddenly saw a huge black sniper rifle materialize in Qing Chens hands, aimed directly at him as he pulled the trigger. Caught off guard, Wang Bingxu tried to dodge the trajectory, but he was too close to Qing Chen and had not anticipated that his opponent could conjure up a sniper rifle out of nowhere. In the thunderous blast, Wang Bingxu failed to evade in time, and his left arm was shot clean off by the gun. Qing Chen inwardly sighed, facing an expert of this level, knowing that if the opponent was prepared, he couldnt even make a fatal shot at close range. Chapter 499 499: 324, Snap of the fingers, and the disappearing floor_3 Chapter 499: 324, Snap of the fingers, and the disappearing floor_3 The pain and fury in Wang Bingxus heart ignited, and he darted forward like a cheetah, kicking toward Qing Chens head, intent on embedding it into the wall. Qing Chen swung the gun around, trying to keep up with Wang Bingxus shifting form, but found that the other was far too fast! Danger! Desperation! A snapping sound. It came from the emergency exit. ... A voice softly said, Had a couple too many cups of tea, almost arrived too late. Time inside the Jinmao Tower, at that moment, seemed... no, it truly slowed down. In the stairwell, a figure wearing a duckbill cap ascended the steps leisurely. The figures steps upstairs were leisurely, but his arrival was swift. Wang Bingxus kick, like a movie frame slowing down frame by frame, slowly approached Qing Chens head. And that figure with the duckbill cap, accompanied by a slight cough, walked past Wang Bingxu. His fingers lightly brushed across Wang Bingxus neck, as light and elegant as a dragonfly touching water. Then, the figure slightly lifted Wang Bingxus leg that was aimed at Qing Chen by about ten centimeters. Another snap. The flow of time abruptly returned to normal. Time, viscous as a quagmire. And at that moment, after the snap, time suddenly began to gush out as if a dam had broken. Immense amounts of blood sprayed from Wang Bingxus neck, and his kick directed at Qing Chen just barely went over Qing Chens head and struck the empty wall! The wall crumbled, and a great cloud of dust left Qing Chens face grimy. But Wang Bingxu fared worse, this B-Class Genetic Warrior didnt even realize what had happened before he died from a ruptured carotid artery. Under the dim light, Qing Chen, shocked, gazed at the familiar figure in front of him, Mr. Shadow? Qings Shadow squatted in front of Qing Chen, lightly tapping on his cheek with the knuckles of his middle and forefinger, producing a thumping sound. As if tapping on wood. Then, Qings Shadow looked down at Qing Chens wrist. He earnestly examined Qing Chens wrist and remarked, Puppeteer? The Knight Organization has actually passed the Puppeteer legacy to you, it seems their intent to kill is strong nowadays, even this kind of sealed Taboo has been employed. Qing Chen always felt powerless when facing Qings Shadow. The other seemed to know everything, yet care about nothing. You didnt know who he really was, nor what he truly wanted. Such an existence, if you dont know what they want, you cant make an effective move against them. Also the Taboo item ACE-005, Uncle Li Dong is indeed generous, even giving you the Taboo item ACE-005, Qings Shadow continued with a sigh: It seems, should I really find a Taboo item for you to win back your loyalty? Qing Chen thought about it and said, Thats not necessarily out of the question. Cough cough, you didnt expect me to come save you, Qings Shadow said with a cough: Your internal organs are displaced; youre set for several days of recovery... Your bones, huh, your bones are actually fine. Qings shadow pinched his arm bone, only to discover that the bone, which should have broken, did not even have a crack. By then, Qing Chen had realized as well. He had just used his forearm bones to block Wang Bingxus attack. Although it wasnt his opponents strongest kick, it was still terrifying. In the past, his forearm bones would have shattered, but now, after consuming nine Dragon Fish, his bones were as if nothing had happened, just slightly sore and swollen. The effects of the nine Dragon Fish were even more fierce than imagined; no wonder his master, Uncle Li Dong, also went to steal fish from Dragon Lake! However, what amazed Qing Chen even more was this Mr. Shadows capabilities. At this moment, Qings shadows face was shrouded in the shadows of a baseball cap, and the corridor was already dim. Qing Chen couldnt see anything clearly now. Alright, you are safe now, Qings shadow chuckled, Get ready to leave, or else... While speaking, his smile slowly faded because Qing Chen had fainted. Never mind, might as well help to the end, Qings shadow waved his hand, opening a Door of Shadow. He was seen holding Qing Chens clothing from behind and casually walked through it. The other side of the Door of Shadow was on the 132nd floor of the Luo Shen Building, where Qing Chen lived. Qings shadow tossed Qing Chen onto the sofa, then again opened another Door of Shadow, disappearing somewhere unknown. Soon after, Qings shadow returned, this time bringing back the body of Wang Bingxu, dropping it on the floor of Qing Chens living room. Qings shadow left again, and came back five minutes later, this time carrying the bodies of two B-Class Genetic Warriors, as if he had stolen them from the main street. He looked at the three bodies on the floor, then said to the unconscious Qing Chen, Taboo items are hard to find, but getting some offerings for you isnt tough. That A-Class wont die any time soon, so Ill wait a bit more. Or else, if Li Changqing cant kill him, maybe I should personally have some fun? But that seems a bit risky. This Qings shadow seemed not to care whether Qing Chen could hear him or not; he just kept talking to himself. ... ... In the Jinmao Tower, Li Dongze was rapidly ascending to the 130th floor in an elevator. He walked slowly, checking his surroundings. At this time, the backup power of the Jinmao Tower had been activated. Li Dongze discovered the battlefield outside the emergency exit, but both Qing Chen and Wang Bingxu had already disappeared, leaving only shattered walls and blood stains on the ground. Li Dongzes face was cold; he had ultimately arrived too late. However, he judged that Qing Chen likely wasnt dead because the battle traces suggested Qing Chen was the one slammed against the wall, whereas the large pool of blood opposite must have been left by the person who attacked Qing Chen. The amount of blood indicated it must have been a major artery rupture. The enemy was dead, so Qing Chen should still be alive. Was Qing Chen saved by someone, or did he save himself? Li Dongze couldnt be sure. He looked toward a small pool of blood near the wall. Li Dongze judged that the blood on the floor must have come from Qing Chen coughing it up due to internal injuries. Thinking of this, he went to the extent of pulling up the entire section of the floorboard, carrying it down the stairs to prevent others from collecting Qing Chens DNA information. ... A 5000-character chapter, 10,000 words updated today, owing one more chapter to Sea Soul Clothing Alliance, four more chapters to go. Thank you to the member Spicy Stir-fry Delicious for becoming part of the Silver City Alliance, generous boss, may the boss never lose anything. Old debts not yet cleared, new debts added, truly motivating... another hardworking day of paying off debts tomorrow. Asking for monthly tickets! Paragraph comment Paragraph comment feature is now on the Web! Move mouse over any paragraph and click the icon to add your comment. Also, you can always turn it off/on in Settings. Chapter 500 500: 325. The Disappearing Qing Chen Chapter 500: 325. The Disappearing Qing Chen In the middle of the long street, Li Changqing was almost exhausted, retreating while fighting. At this moment, the Jindai family experts surrounding her had reduced from eight to two. Many people have a misconception about Bagua Palm, thinking that this martial art is about using softness to overcome strength, but in reality, the moves of Bagua Palm are wild, targeting vital points with each strike, covering both high and low levels, light yet lethal like swirling leaves. In the Outer World, most martial arts sparring ends up in Asshole Punches, where the one who swings their arm with more force wins. However, that happens when the practitioners own strength, speed, and reflexes cannot match the techniques; now, with Bagua Palm executed by the A-Class Li Changqing, it looked completely different. Perhaps this was the true elegance of Bagua Palm. ... Hus Information Agency was a neutral intelligence organization, surviving between the cracks of conglomerates due to their orthodox cultivation methods. Yet, no one expected that a member of the Li Family, Li Changqing, would become a Director of Hus Information Agency. The next moment, a B-Class Genetic Warrior, seeing that Li Changqing was exhausted, viciously pursued her. Li Changqing ran towards the end of the long street, but as the opponent was about to close in, she suddenly turned around. Her fair hands moved like threading a needle, slipping through the B-Class Genetic Warriors arms and, like holding flowers, her palms forcefully pushed up against the warriors jawbone, sending him flying with inch-strength. The force of the B-Class Genetic Warriors charge combined with the force of her palmshe actually heard his own neck bone breaking, dead before even hitting the ground! Hidden Tiger in the Leaves! The Jindai family A-Class expert, who was waiting to take advantage of that moment, hesitated after seeing this clean counter-kill from a desperate situation, and dared not step forward. He feared that Li Changqings tired expression was a ruse. Gunfire from above the long street had ceased at some unknown time. Li Changqing, exhausted, stood in the middle of the street and looked back; Jindai Tongwus trail had vanished without a trace. She wasnt surprised, as this was a trap set by the Jindai family, and them planning an escape route in advance was expected. Yet, even if Jindai Tongwu returned to his clan, he would face severe punishment. If he had actually killed Li Changqing tonight, the moment internal conflict erupts, changing key personnel in the Li Familys information system could be terrifying and might even cause the entire system to shut down. But since he failed to kill Li Changqing, all losses would be borne by Jindai Tongwu, the executor. Li Changqing then looked towards the Jinmao Tower two kilometers away, pondering whether the sniper had left or encountered danger. She knew well that after dealing with all the Jindai family snipers, the sniper could have left. As a sniper, having done this much was already sufficient. But the sniper hadnt left; those empty shots were fired to suppress the enemy for her. However, doing so also put the sniper in danger. Wang Bingxu had disappeared at some point, and this long-time B-Class expert companion of hers had most likely headed for the sniper in the Jinmao Tower. Thinking of this, Li Changqing suddenly turned her head to the A-Class expert, Your boss has run away, leaving just us two. I allow you to choose a way to die. However, upon hearing this, the A-Class expert did not continue fighting but turned and fled into the distance. Tonight, this battle left not only Li Changqing and the mysterious sniper victorious, but it also broke the psychological defenses of that A-Class expert. Boss, should we chase him? I can drive, Xiao Ying said from beside her. Li Changqing shook her head, Wake up Lao Shijiu, I have more important things to do. A-Classes are not that easy to kill. The Jindai Clan had invested so much, using seven B-Class Genetic Warriors and one A-Class expert, and yet they couldnt kill Li Changqing quickly. Moreover, Li Changqing was alone and after the fierce battle was simply unable to pursue the enemy. The Jindai familys A-Class expert, having conserved more energy than Li Changqing, now fled because he calculated the imminent arrival of the 081 Garrisons Shield Defense Camp. If Li Changqing recklessly pursued, she might well capsize in a ditch. But that wasnt the point. Li Changqing now had to go to Jinmao Tower; she was worried about Qing Chen being in danger! Compared to that, even pursuing Jindai Tongwu and the A-Class expert could wait. By now, Li Changqings wig that she was wearing earlier had gone who knows where, and her black leather jacket had many tears due to the intense fighting. She simply took off the leather jacket and threw it on the ground, feeling no cold while only wearing a black vest despite the harsh winter. Li Changqing, like this, appeared even more spirited than usual. Cough, cough, cough, Lao Shijiu woke up again. She looked at Lao Shijiu, Are you alright? Shouldnt die, Lao Shijiu coughed and said, Boss, dont catch a cold. Im heading to Jinmao Tower first; we can talk about anything else later, Li Changqing said and then ran toward Jinmao Tower. Lao Shijiu became anxious, The 081 Garrisons Shield Defense Camp must be arriving soon; waiting here for rescue is the best choice. No, I must go rescue first; you all stay here and wait obediently, Li Changqing said and ran off into the distance. Chapter 501: 325. The Disappearing Qing Chen_2 Chapter 501: 325. The Disappearing Qing Chen_2 Lao Shijiu watched his bosss retreating figure, thinking what could possibly be so important that Li Changqing would give up the chase to kill Jindai Tongwu and that A-Class expert? After all, the Shield Defense Camp was about to arrive, and now was the best time to search and capture the Jindai family. If they delayed for a while, the main members of the Jindai family in City 18 might have already found a way to leave the country. But he knew, no one could stop what his boss had decided. After Li Changqing arrived at Jinmao Tower, she took the elevator straight to the 130th floor. Standing where Li Dongze once stood, she could tell with one glance that the sniper who saved her had indeed been attacked, and was severely wounded! Li Changqing, across from the wall that Qing Chen had smashed with his back, also found a bullet hole from a sniper rifle. With this comparison, she almost knew what had happened. But the question was, where was Qing Chen? Whose blood was on the ground? The most puzzling part was, what was going on with the missing floor tile from the ground?! If it was smashed during the battle, that would make sense, but the complete disappearance of one whole tile was not normal at all! Li Changqing, with her suspicions, went to check the surveillance of Jinmao Tower, only to find that the hard drive storing the footage had long since vanished. Qing Chen should not be dead, someone must have saved him. But who was it? She returned to the long street with her doubts. By this time, the Shield Defense Camp had arrived and was searching the surroundings quickly. Li Changqing looked at Xiao Ying, Are you alright? No... nothings wrong, Xiao Ying said, I was just waving the flag and cheering, no one bothered with me, and I didnt dare to meddle with others... As expected, Li Changqing said, Specialization in professions. For now, you just focus on driving, and you dont need to join the fights until after the remaining injections of the Genetic Potion. Although Xiao Ying hadnt been of much help in the fight tonight, that tail flick during the escape had astounded everyone. If they had been trapped at the first ambush point set up by Jindai, it would have been all over for them. Li Changqing asked Xiao Ying, Can we still drive our car? Even though we crashed into their SUV, our car is sturdy, the engine and everything are fine, Xiao Ying said. Thats good then. Lets head back to the mountainside estate now, Li Changqing said. While speaking, Li Changqing picked up the severely injured Lao Shijiu, who couldnt move, and threw him into the back seat. She, however, took the seat of the co-driver. However, Li Changqing suddenly noticed something unusual, Where are the bodies of the few Genetic Warriors on the ground? Why are there two missing? Trembling, Xiao Ying answered from the side, Boss, it was really scary just now. While you were fighting, a Door of Shadow suddenly opened on the street. From that dark door, a hand reached out and pulled in the bodies by their ankles! Lao Jiu had already fainted again by then, so he didnt know what had happened. Xiao Ying had been terrified in that moment, the hand from the darkness dragging away bodies was an unimaginably horrifying sight. Li Changqing was taken aback for a moment, Door of Shadow? Dont scare yourself, thats the effect of the Taboo object ACE-008. She knew of such a Taboo, which had been recorded many times in history. The Taboo object ACE-008 was actually a necklace. It was first picked up by an Ordinary Person by chance, at a time when the civilization of Transcendents had just started rising, and not many people even knew what a Taboo actually was. Later, the function of ACE-008 was developed, and due to jealousy over owning a Taboo, that Ordinary Person was murdered. It was said that this thing subsequently appeared in the hands of tomb raiders, thieves, Assassins, and now it is unknown who controls it. Li Changqing had no leads, and she didnt know who had stolen the bodies from the battlefield, so she decided not to ponder it any further. She looked at the long street in ruins. After tonight, Jindais foundation in City 18 could be foreseen being uprooted by Li Changqing. How Jindai found out her schedule. The origin of the vehicles driven by Jindai. The places of residence of these Jindai experts, their sources of funds, and their methods of entry into the country. All of these would become clues for Li Changqing. City 18 is one of the Federations Gemini, a convergence point for too many forces and informants, yet from tonight onwards, the Jindai family would likely be unable to affect this place for at least a decade. The loss of the Jindai family had already been severe enough. The vehicle left the battlefield swiftly, entering the mountainside estate. The assault on Li Changqing had already started to shock the whole estate, but she did not go to the Confidential Office. Instead, after sending Lao Shijiu to the medical facility in the estate, she asked Xiao Ying to drive to Autumn Leaf Courtyard. In front of that small residence, the No Visitors sign was still silently hanging. Li Changqing pushed open the door forcefully and saw the empty interior with no sign of anyone. The sniper had already left the battlefield, and this she knew very well. Thus, Qing Chen should also have returned by now. Unless, he was heavily injured and needed to hide away to recuperate. She took out her phone, but found that her own phone had been smashed to pieces during the battle. Your phone? Li Changqing looked at Xiao Ying. Xiao Ying handed it over, Boss, I dont have Master Qing Chens number on my phone. No need, Li Changqing entered a string of numbers from memory. Xiao Ying was shocked. Could their boss, Chang Qing, actually have memorized Qing Chens number?! What the hell, even in the Outer World, hardly anyone memorized phone numbers for no reason anymore. Chapter 502: 325. The Disappearing Qing Chen_3 Chapter 502: 325. The Disappearing Qing Chen_3 For a moment, the image of daylight rose high again in his heart. However, after Li Changqing dialed the number, the call was not connected. The womans face grew solemn. ... ... On the 132nd floor of Luo Shen Building, Qings Shadow sat beside the dining table, watching Qing Chens phone light up: Who would call in the middle of the night when theyve got nothing better to do? He had no intention of answering the phone, and he didnt even look to see who was calling. The room was pitch dark and quiet, save for the sound of the Shadow boiling water for himself. After an unknown amount of time, Qing Chen gradually woke up, feeling a burning pain in his abdomen, hurting with every movement. His arms and back had all suffered immense damage from Wang Bingxus kick. Dazed, Qing Chen looked at the three twisted corpses lying on the floor of his living room: What is this...? As Qings Shadow poured himself another cup of tea, he said leisurely, They are the offerings for your Puppeteers sacrifice. Ah? Qing Chen really hadnt expected the other party to do such a thing, but he was more concerned about another issue: Why only three? Silence suddenly fell in the room. After a long time, Qings Shadow spoke slowly, I wont quibble over such a foolish question with you. Im a sick person. I saved your life and found three offerings for you. You should be saying thank you first, not asking where the rest are. I didnt ask where the rest were, Qing Chen said earnestly. Qings Shadow tapped the table with his finger and said, But thats what you meant. Qing Chen asked, The power outage at Jinmao Tower, that was your doing, right? Correct, Qings Shadow nodded. If you hadnt wasted time cutting the power, you might have arrived earlier and I wouldnt have been hurt, Qing Chen said, panting as he sat on the sofa. I find that you have quite a few demands for someone who owes his life to me, Qings Shadow sighed. If I hadnt cut the power and taken the surveillance tapes, my identity could have been exposed. My identity is one of the Federations greatest mysteries, puzzling tens of thousands, even hundreds of thousands of people. Isnt it more interesting to keep them puzzled rather than reveal the answer just to save a minor character like you? Why save me? Qing Chen asked. No reason. Keeping you alive just makes the Shadow conflict more interesting, Qings Shadow said. However, youd better speak to me more politely next time. Do you know my life isnt going to last much longer? Every time I take action, it shortens my lifespan. Its like Im trading my life for yours. Thank you, Qing Chen said sincerely. No matter what, regardless of whatever the other party intended to use him for, the grace of being saved was real. As he spoke, Qing Chen flicked his wrist, prompting the Puppeteer to sacrifice all three corpses in the living room. Although both were accustomed to life and death, having corpses in the living room was still somewhat unsightly. In a flash, all three corpses turned to ash. With just this battle, the Puppeteers second string had fully formed, reaching a length of 50 meters! Not only that, but even the third string had grown more than twenty meters long. If not for the fact that this string was much finer than a hair, Qing Chens wrist would hardly have been able to wrap it all. I may not have given you any Taboo items, but these offerings are a bit of advance benefit for you. Dont say I didnt give you anything, Qings Shadow said. Qing Chen thought that this Qings Shadow was quite the businessman, profiting immensely from such a costless deal. Qings Shadow looked at Qing Chen: About the offer I made earlier for you to join Qings Spy Agency, have you given it any thought? Wheres the job based? Qing Chen asked. City 10, thats where the real political center of the Federation is, Qings Shadow said. Is it dangerous? Qing Chen asked curiously. How could being a spy not be dangerous, Qings Shadow said. Whats in it for me? Qing Chen asked. Only those who have never held power would ask such a nai?ve question. Just being permitted to enter the Spy Bureau is a privilege, Qings Shadow sighed. Qings Shadow continued, Qings Spy Agency has professionals in infiltration, assassination, and intelligence, with countless informants. We conduct external enemy investigation, control public opinion, internally monitor all members of Qings Family and military officers of the Federal Groups controlled armies, carry Federal Central Intelligence Bureau credentials, and can even get exemptions from the PCE Security Management Committee for killing someone in the street. Isnt that enough power and benefit for you? Ill think about it some more... Qing Chen said. He always felt there was more to it than met the eye. If he agreed, the other party might have a series of plans waiting for him. Once involved, he feared hed be caught in the vortex of power and unable to extricate himself. Up to you, Qings Shadow said in an indifferent tone. You had the chance to kill Qing Wen and Qing Zhong tonight, why spare them? Youre so fond of Taboo items, you should know that together, those two have three Taboo items. Qing Wen originally had one, Qing Yi gave him another, and Qing Zhong also had one. Wasnt such a big temptation enough to sway you? Murder can wait, but saving lives cannot. If not done timely, therell be no chance later, Qing Chen said. A womans mercy, Qings Shadow casually remarked. Its not a womans mercy. If I dont save a friend in danger, what use is there for so much power, Qing Chen retorted. In fact, the benefits Qing Chen had forfeited that night were enormous. Not just the one life for one secret promised by Qings Shadow, but also the three Taboo items those two had on them. Did you arrange the fight between Qing Wen and Qing Zhong tonight? Qing Chen asked. Of course not. Why would I devise such a low-grade trick, Qings Shadow said. Every Shadow conflict has these candidates who seem popular but are not very clever, or look formidable but are actually impulsive and brainless. Its quite normal. ... A 5,000-word chapter, another one coming at 11 pm. Chapter 503: 326, The Mad Taboo Land Chapter 503: 326, The Mad Taboo Land In the cabin of Luo Shen Building, the fragrance of tea leaves fluttered through the air. That extraordinary aroma, like a faint jasmine scent, burrowed directly into Qing Chens nostrils. However, it seemed that Qings shadow had no intention of pouring Qing Chen a cup as well, probably because this tea from Taboo Land was too precious. You drink tea nonstop every day, how do you find so many tea leaves from Taboo Land, do you go pick them regularly? Qing Chen asked curiously. No need, just plant them outside, Qings shadow replied nonchalantly. Hmm? Qing Chen hesitated, Can tea leaves from Taboo Land grow outside too? Of course, they can, Qings shadow glanced at him, if you irrigate them with the blood of Transcendents. With so many Transcendents and Genetic Warriors opposing Qings Family every day, killing a couple of them is enough. A chill crept up inside Qing Chen. Only then did he realize that a shadow who could ascend by stepping on the skeletons of eight candidates must be ruthless and merciless. Doing something like blood-irrigating tea trees wouldnt be impossible for such a person. At that moment, Qings shadow chuckled, Still a child, huh? Believing anything said. The tea leaves arent irrigated with the blood of Transcendents. Qing Chen breathed a sigh of relief. Qings shadow then said, You have to bury an entire Transcendent. Qing Chen: ... That sounded worse than using their blood for irrigation. Arent you afraid of creating another Taboo Land? Qing Chen didnt understand. Its fine as long as you dont use those above B-Class, Qings shadow explained, and moreover, you have to replace the soil every year. That could impact the environment, Qing Chen pondered and said. Qings shadow shook his head, Do you know how much Taboo Land expands every year? I dont. According to satellite monitoring statistics, the Federation has a total land area of 14.01 million square kilometers, with Taboo Land currently covering 5.17 million square kilometers. All the Taboo Lands put together expand by 45,000 square kilometers every year. This means that if humans dont find a better way to contain Taboo Land, in two hundred years, the entire Federation will be engulfed by it, Qings shadow spoke leisurely, Youve become a Knight, your life expectancy is already far beyond two hundred years. I might not live to see that day, but you just might. Qing Chen was stunned. He hadnt imagined that Taboo Land covered such a vast area, so immense that it was terrifying even to think about. Qings shadow continued, Surprised, arent you? The Federation now bans the media from reporting these matters, so the public remains completely calm. If they knew that the entire Northwest has turned into Taboo Land, and only one-quarter of the Southwest remains, who knows what they would think. Isnt there a way to contain it? Qing Chen asked. No, Qings shadow replied, Years ago, various conglomerates tried all kinds of methods, like cutting down the trees in Taboo Land or bombing it from the air, but doing so only made Taboo Land expand faster. When a group of creatures die there, new ones emerge. You might not believe it, but in that No. 10 Taboo Land that was bombed, creatures from mythology have started to appear. Qing Chen remembered that No. 10 Taboo Land was the place where Knights captured the Dragon Fish. Qings shadow smiled, You might not know, on the West Coast of the Forbidden Sea, the scale of their Taboo Land is even more exaggerated than ours. I feel like their days are becoming numbered. Qing Chen thought to himself, wasnt the West Coast of the Forbidden Sea where the Time Traveler from the Beautiful Country crossed through? Because of the existence of the Forbidden Sea, it seemed as though there was no interaction between the civilizations on the two continental plates. However, hed heard that people from the West Coast would come over in Airships to City No. 7, but the cost was so expensive that very few made the trip. The airspace over the Forbidden Sea wasnt easy to traverse either. Qings shadow looked at Qing Chen, So what do you think? Against the expansion speed of 45,000 square kilometers, my mere acre of tea plantation hardly counts for anything, right? Qing Chen contemplated, and it did seem insignificant by comparison. He didnt want to discuss this issue any further but chose to ask about something else, Is Qing Zhong dead? Hes dead, Qings shadow responded without a hint of emotion in his voice, as if it were a trivial matter. Was he killed by Qing Wen? Qing Chen was taken aback. He hadnt expected that a Shadow Candidate would be eliminated so easily. But then he heard Qings shadow continue, It wasnt Qing Wen who killed him. After the commotion tonight, suddenly a bunch of people sprang out from nowhere, aiming to assassinate both Qing Wen and Qing Zhong simultaneously. And it didnt seem like an attack on Qings Family in particular, they just wanted to seize the Taboo items they carried. Qing Chen was astonished. Could it have been a group of Time Travelers responsible for this? This was like treating Qing Zhong and Qing Wen as minor bosses and taking them down! In He Xiaoxiaos group chat on previous returns, indeed many Time Travelers had discussed robbing Shadow Candidates. He himself had planted this seed. However, after so long, Qing Chen hadnt seen any action from the Time Travelers; he thought they had lost their nerve. He hadnt expected someone to actually succeed! No, thats not right, Qings shadow paused to think, Now that I consider it carefully, they probably werent all together, they just had the same aim. When Qing Zhong died, they were still attacking each other, trying to snatch the Taboo items. Chapter 504: 326, Crazy Taboo Land_2 Chapter 504: 326, Crazy Taboo Land_2 Who ended up with the Taboo at last? Qing Chen asked. Qings shadow sipped his tea lightly, I dont really care about such matters. It will eventually return to Qings Family. And what about Qing Wen, how is Qing Wen? Qing Chen asked. Qing Wen just got shot, he wont die, Qings shadow remarked. Wait, didnt you retrieve the lost Taboo object of Qing Zhong? Then why would it return to Qings Family? Qing Chen inquired curiously. Its just that I dont need to take action personally, Qings shadow said indifferently, Those who suddenly emerged to assassinate the Shadow Candidates must be the so-called Time Travelers. They have been in this world for so long yet havent understood one thing, corporations are something they cannot contend with, nor provoke. Qing Chen fell silent. This Mr. Shadow probably didnt know that he too was a Time Traveler. And those Time Travelers involved in the plundering of Shadow Candidates were probably in serious trouble, unsure if he knew any of them personally. Compared to other major figures he had met, in fact, Qings shadow seemed more like a superior. Nothing seemed very important to him, nor did he need to personally do anything. These superiors were like gods worshipped by the world, just quietly watching over humanity. Alright, you rest well, Im leaving, Qings shadow said, But at the end, I must say, it doesnt matter whether you join the Spy Bureau or not because you think life is a multiple-choice question where you can choose left or right. However, years from now when you look back at all this today, youll realize life never really gave you a choice. The conclusion has been written by fate long ago; its just a matter of time. Qing Chen didnt respond to that topic, but sincerely said, Thank you for saving my life and for staying by my side until I woke up. I just didnt have a peaceful place to drink tea in City Number 18, Qings shadow explained. With that said, he opened a Door of Shadow and disappeared to an unknown location. The whereabouts of this Qings Shadow were always elusive, no one knew what he was about to do, nor where he would be the next second. Qing Chen recalled the ease with which the Shadow had killed Wang Bingxu in the Jinmao Tower, suddenly wondering about the kind of strength it must take for the Shadow to kill a B-Class Genetic Warrior so effortlessly. Moreover, the ability he displayed at that moment to control the passage of time was terrifying. Qing Chen drifted into sleep. Sleep was the most wonderful part of life; once you were asleep, the outside world ceased to matter to you. Qing Chen did not know that tonight nearly all the powers were focused on one matter: who was the sharpshooter who had saved Li Changqing. Some had hired a retired military sharpshooter and immediately created a model to simulate tonights wind speed, distance, and conditions for that persons assessment. However, this sharpshooter indicated that from the simulation of the entire incident, the sniper indeed possessed an absolute gun sense within 2600 meters. Especially the last five continuous shots, this almost miraculous one-to-five sniper battle, surpassed all his understanding. To complete those five shots was not simply about pulling the trigger five times. This god-like sniper had to calculate five totally different trajectories in advance and then rapidly switch between each trajectory within 2.5 seconds. This was something unthinkable. Some asked him to guess the identity of this sniper, wondering if he might know the sniper, but he stated that currently, no one in the Federation met the criteria. Subsequently, many powerholders chose to directly purchase data from Hus Information Agency in hopes of discovering the identity of this sniper. The result was that even Hus Information Agency reported having no information on this sniper, unable to sell any related information. At that moment, all powers started planning to raise their new security levels, to prevent public assassinations during significant speeches. But the question was, if for a single speech, they had to protect a radius of 2600 meters, even expanding security to dozens or hundreds of high-rise buildings, wouldnt the cost be too excessive? It might be better to cancel the speech altogether! From now on, keep all significant announcements indoors! Indistinctly, some even ranked Qing Chens threat level on par with A-Class experts. That night, the Li Family began a citywide manhunt, quickly targeting hundreds based on the clues exposed by the Jindai family during this incident. Among them were employees of the City Number 18 Immigration Office who had assisted the Jindai family in entering the city, along with dozens of PCE Security Management Committee detectives. Following the money trail, more than ten wealthy businessmen were also arrested. This raid continued until dawn and only gradually concluded. Numerous federal reporters, foregoing sleep, chased those involved in the arrest operation everywhere, trying to get firsthand news. However, the Li Family did not tolerate their free reporting this time and detained these reporters temporarily in the PCE Security Management Committees detention centers under the pretext of disturbing public order. For a time, the whole city was fraught with anxiety. Under Li Changqings leadership, even the Li Family underwent a rare internal purge. Fifty-six people were placed under house arrest at the mansion in the back mountain. That mansion in the back mountain, akin to the unfathomable and deep palaces of old, resembling a Cold Palace where no one inquired about them. Chapter 505: 326, The Crazy Taboo Land_3 Chapter 505: 326, The Crazy Taboo Land_3 ... ... Countdown to return 42:00:00. Only a little more than a day remained until the return. Qing Chen got up early, took a bath, and changed into clean clothes before heading to the Microscopic World neighborhood, planning to return to Autumn Leaf Courtyard through the secret passage. On the way, he sat quietly in the hover car, tending to his injuries. He couldnt move without experiencing pain all over his body. The gap between D-Class and B-Class could only be fully realized through combat. If Qings shadow hadnt made a move, Qing Chen would probably be dead by now. Qing Chen didnt speak. But Yi did, Do you remember, we completed a transaction last night? Qing Chen remained expressionless. He let the hover car drive automatically after boarding and kept silent because he was afraid of arousing Yis interest in chatting and then steering the conversation to that transaction. Seeing Qing Chen not speaking, Yi went ahead and said, It was you who proactively asked me for Li Changqings coordinates. Not only did I tell you where she was, but I also helped you find the most suitable sniper spot and planned out all the routes for you... Just say it, what do you want me to do, Qing Chen said, Lets agree beforehand, no more online relationships turning real, dont involve me in that kind of thing. Dont worry, I wont come to you for such matters again, mainly because your cooperation was too low, and I wasnt very satisfied, Yi said. Qing Chen: ... How could there be complaints now? Suddenly, Qing Chen asked, Was meeting Li Changqing deliberately arranged by you so that I would naturally enter the Half-Mountain Manor and meet the old man? That was just incidental. Uncle Li Dong only told me to get you into Half-Mountain Manor, he didnt say how to get you there, Yi said. As I thought. Qing Chen had always wondered why the first to become real was Qing Shi, and the second was Li Changqingtwo seemingly unrelated people. But now, it seemed both had interests related to current matters. He then asked, What about Qing Shi, why did you want me to meet her in real life? Because Uncle Li Dong also said to help you gain some advantages in the shadow conflict, Yi said, He gave me a large sum of money as a reward. Qing Chen helplessly said, Why do you artificial intelligence love human currency so much? Its not me who loves it, Yi said, Its the humans I come into contact with that love it, and to be friends with them, naturally, I use what they like. When you make friends with girls, wouldnt it be stupid not to give lipstick but give Ultraman instead? So, you made me real with Qing Shi because you think this is what you call gaining a bit of an advantage? Qing Chen didnt understand. Isnt this an advantage? If we really have to fight, she would definitely go easy on you, Yi confidently replied, And dont get me wrong, I seriously think they are treasures among humans, I like their personalities. Its just that Uncle Li Dong offered too much money, and I just lent you a hand. Its me helping you, how has it turned into you helping me, Qing Chen said, Dont twist your words with me, Im not stupid. Qing Chen sighed. The thought processes of artificial intelligence really were different from humans. So tell me, what do you want me to help you with this time? Qing Chen asked. This time its not very urgent, it can be done after the Li Familys power transition is over, Yi said, But whats special is that it requires the whole day to participate, to protect someone. Male or female, Qing Chen asked. Male, Yi replied. Thats fine, Qing Chen said, Where is he? In Haicheng, Yi replied. Why does he need protection? Qing Chen asked. He inadvertently replaced an important figure in the Inner World. This persons status in the Inner World isnt high, but he holds a piece of very important data, Yi explained, Now, the Time Traveler controlled by the Chen Clan is searching for him all over the world. He wants to leave Haicheng to go to a place where the Chen Clan cant infiltrate. Haicheng corresponds to the 7th city, so the Chen Clan has such a great influence over the Outer World here? Qing Chen wondered. Of course, Yi answered, You should know, the 7th city is different from the 18th and 10th cities. Its the Chen Clans private territory, outsiders cant interfere there. They dominate on their own. So, its normal that they can affect the Outer World through the Time Traveler. But dont worry, he is now hidden in a secure location; its hard for the Chen Clan to find him in either world, so its not urgent. Qing Chen was puzzled, How did a man like that get in contact with you? Thats none of your concern, Yi replied. The data he holds, what is it about? Qing Chen suddenly felt that if Qing Shis and Li Changqings becoming real were deliberately arranged by Yi, then this data might also be something he needed. Yi said, Hes hidden the data very well, I dont know what it is right now, so while protecting him, youd better figure out what data he got. Alright, Qing Chen responded expressionlessly, By the way, do you know how to eliminate the Taboo Land? Yi answered, Dont bother thinking about it, thats an irreversible natural law. Humans cant even exterminate microbes, so stop thinking you rule the world and can change it. After getting off the car and passing through a long corridor, Qing Chen found no one in Autumn Leaf Courtyard, but the students were already waiting outside early. He opened the door, and Li Ke and Qing Yi rushed in to start working separately. Having not seen him overnight, Qing Yis movements in working were much smoother, as if he had specifically taken lessons in the evening. Watching this scene, Qing Chen thought, could this be something to be competitive about? Life in Autumn Leaf Courtyard seemed to return to tranquility once more, except for Li Changqings side; it seemed no other members of the Li Family had noticed that Qing Chen had actually left Half-Mountain Manor. After the appearance of the sniper, someone had quietly checked the entry and exit records of Half-Mountain Manor. Those records were very strict, every living being entering and exiting had to be registered. And there was no mention of Qing Chens name on them. Perhaps, this was the meaning behind the old man giving Autumn Leaf Courtyard to Qing Chen. With a day and a half remaining, Qing Chen peacefully rested on the recliner, healing and waiting for the return. He knew there was a fierce battle awaiting him in the Outer World against Jindai and Deer Island, and before that, he had to restore himself to his best condition. Countdown 00:00:00. Return. The world plunged into darkness. ... A 5000-word chapter, with 10,000 words updated today. One more chapter is owed to the Sea Soul Clothing Alliance, with three more chapters to come. Asking for subscriptions, asking for monthly tickets, I hope all friends who like this book, if possible, can support the official version on the Qidian APP. Thank you all, asking for monthly tickets! Chapter 506: 327. Jindai Kongyin of the North Chapter 506: 327. Jindai Kongyin of the North The world lit up again. Qing Chen was still sitting in the villas living room, and so was Luo Wanya. Before this journey through time, Luo Wanya had voluntarily come to the villa as a hostage, fearing that Daylight wouldnt be willing to save him. Now he had finally regained his freedom. Benefactor, Xiao Luo will follow Daylight to the death from now on, through thick and thin, Luo Wanya, upon returning to the villa, grabbed Qing Chens arm. If I betray you, let me suffer a thousand cuts without any complaint! Although the boss of Daylight wasnt here, he judged that Qing Chen was a person in Daylight, second only to the boss in status. So thanking Qing Chen was definitely the right thing to do. Qing Chen, calmly sitting in his chair, said, Speak properly, dont go about it with the gangster talk, and besides, not everyone who wants to follow Daylight can. If it had been in the past. Luo Wanya might have thought that Qing Chens purpose in saying this was to suppress his spirit and elevate Daylights status. But now Luo Wanya didnt think so; he was very clear about the kind of power Daylight wielded in the Inner World. Indeed, it wasnt for just anyone to join. At that moment, r is 32. The younger one is a recent college graduate and the older one is a tour guide. Neither of them are of great use to Daylight. How about you hand them over to me, and Ill work with them. Qing Chen glanced at Luo Wanya, What do you plan to do? Of course, Ill do whatever Daylight asks me to do, said Luo Wanya. Qing Chen said without hesitation, The boss already has arrangements for you. He needs you to fill the gap in intelligence in the underworld market for Daylight. Xiao Niu, Tianzhen, and Zhuzi, you three dont help him for now. The boss wants to see his capabilities. Luo Wanya becameve the boss a pleasant surprise! Go back and rest for now. Qing Chen watched Luo Wanyas retreating figure and suddenly found himself genuinely looking forward to seeing what kind of trouble this gangster, General Luo, could stir up with his family. Then, Luo Wanya walked out of the villa where his driver was still at the door: General Luo, youve finally come out, are you all right? Dont call me General Luo, Luo Wanya lowered his voice and said, From today on, call me by my name, and tell the brothers to do the same. They must call me by my name. Why? asked the driver, puzzled. Luo Wanya replied, I have a new boss now. What would he think if he heard you calling me General Luo all the time? So well call you General Luo in private and use your name in public, said the driver. Bullshit, Luo Wanya snapped angrily: The habit of calling me by my name should be maintained even in privatd this simple truth after so many years with me? Oh... the driver responded. Luo Wanya was a tough man, even tougher on himself. With his age, he was already half buried in the earth, but for survival, he had completely abandoned the dialect he had spoken for most of his life and had actually learned standard Mandarin properly. Not everyone could do that. Right, go gather all our brothers whove become Time Travelers. Tell them Im going to lead them in doing something big, Luo Wanya said. We have 12 Time Traveler brothers now, right? Thats enough! At this moment, Luo Wanya felt excited. The Outer World was a law-abiding and orderly world, and he, such a person, had always had difficulty making his mark, feeling like he was born out of his time. Those years were either spent laying low or on the way to lay low. But the Inner World was different; there, life was as cheap as grass, and everyones survival was uncertain day by day. It was the era that suited him best. At this time, the driver said, General Luo... Luo Wanya, the villa next to this one is still empty. Do you want to buy it and live closer to them? No need, Luo Wanya shook his head: Its unnecessary. Why, you dont want to join them? Or is it that the house is too expensive? the driver asked curiously. You dont understand a thing. Am I short on money? Moving so close to them now, before Ive even joined, might just make thng, dont be too opinionated, Luo Wanya said. It had to be said, having been through the ups and downs of life for half his life, Luo Wanya had seen through the ways of the world. Hu Xiaoniu only came to understand some of these truths because he had a good father. Liu Dezhu only understood some truths after being harshly beaten by life several times. But they were still not as insightful as Luo Wanya. Because those life truths had been realized by Luo Wanya after half a lifetime of hustling. Among these life truths, there was a very important one: A person needs to aspire to reach the heavens, and without fate, one cannot succeed. In ones lifetime, it is essential to have a patron, and right now, the boss of Daylight was his current patron. At this moment, Luo Wanya thought: Although we cant buy this house now, we cant let others buy it either. Go talk to the owner and get them not to sell it to anyone else. Chapter 507: 327. Jindai Kongyin of the North_2 Chapter 507: 327. Jindai Kongyin of the North_2 What kind of discussion? the driver asked. Luo Wanya lamented, Weve been out of the game for so long, do we still need to ask such things? Besides, anyone who can afford to buy a house here is no saint. Just pay the deposit first and delay the matter for a month or two. In Luo Wanyas view, he needed to perform well and strive to qualify for joining the Daytime group within two months. As for how to perform, that depended on his family members. ... ... In the living room of the villa, Qing Chen, Hu Xiaoniu, Nan Gengchen, Liu Dezhu, and others were sitting. Jiang Xue smiled and said, Everyone must be waiting to return, havent had dinner yet, right? I bought groceries before I traveled back; Ill make some late-night snacks for everyone now. Liu Dezhu was nearly moved to tears; this was the essence of the organization, living and eating together, with a gentle big sister making late-night snacks. Qing Chen looked at Jiang Xue, Is Xiao Tongyun asleep? Jiang Xue smiled and replied, She isnt a Time Traveler, so she goes to bed early. Shes probably still sleeping now. Everyones phone vibrated, in the Daytime group chat. A message from a wealthy young woman: Everyones back, right? Is there anything new this time? Sister Qiu Xue, how are you? Qing Chen realized... Every time after returning, the fixed activities were exchanges in the Daytime group and He Xiaoxiao group. If Xiao Tongyun came down to the living room to check her phone at this time, she might be discovered and scolded within minutes. Therefore, the young girl just pretended to sleep, hiding in her room to chat. At this moment, how could Xiao Tongyun be sleeping? She was all energized... In the group chat, Liu Dezhu hesitated for a long time before finally asking, Boss, the night before last, after we rescued Luo Wanya, it seemed like something big happened in the Fourth District? Boss: Yes. Ice Eye: What happened? I was in the mid-mountain mansion, and the 081 Garrison Brigade had surrounded the whole mansion, cutting off communication. Qing Chen sat comfortably on the couch, switching between two accounts. He glanced at Liu Dezhu across from him and noticed his conflicted face, resembling someone constipated. Wanting to ask something but not daring to. This guy was completely unaware that the boss had seen all his expressions. The assault on Li Changqing, although the media couldnt report it, how could the local residents of City 18 not know about it? The mainstream media was barred from reporting, but the topic appeared in various places online. Since the night before last, Liu Dezhu and Hu Xiaoniu had been discussing: could their boss be the sniper? After all, just that night, the boss had demonstrated a miracle with a sniper rifle, witnessed by them most vividly. Liu Dezhu: I heard a bigwig from the Li Family, Li Changqing, was ambushed and nearly killed, then a really skilled sniper appeared and killed many people in one go, saving Li Changqing. Boss: Yes. Liu Dezhu looked even more distressed, Boss, the sniper who appeared in City 18 that night, was it you? Boss: It was me. Liu Dezhu: Boss is awesome, the eternal god! Qing Chen looked up at Liu Dezhu, only to see him excitedly dancing around and saying to Hu Xiaoniu and Zhang Tianzhen, You see, I told you it was the boss, only the boss could be so incredible. Snipers are rare, there couldnt be so many powerful snipers appearing all at once! Qing Chen: ... Yet Liu Dezhu continued, I saw online that they figured out the bosss shooting point was at Jinmao Tower, the people on top said the gunfire was very close, then those snipers trying to assassinate Li Changqing were over two thousand meters away, the boss shot them one by one, killed them all! Awesome, from now on, Im the bosss most loyal fan! But why did the boss save Li Changqing, could it be because of this woman... I heard Li Changqing is very beautiful, some say she is the Zhu Yeqing of the intelligence world, beautiful and deadly. Nan Gengchen and Jiang Xue, knowing Qing Chens real identity, watched Liu Dezhu dancing around, thinking this foolish kid is socially killing himself endlessly, almost outdoing Nan Gengchen. Your boss is sitting right in front of you, listening to you gossip about him... Jiang Xue, fearing Liu Dezhu would continue, laughed and called everyone, Dinners ready, come and eat. However, just then, the doorbell rang in the villa. Liu Dezhu carefully walked over to open the door, and Qing Chen also stood up. Upon opening the door, there was Zhang Chengze, standing nervously outside. He looked at Liu Dezhu, That... Is the boss here? Liu Dezhu curiously asked, What do you want with the boss in the middle of the night? Our boss doesnt live here. Its like this, Zhang Chengze hesitated before saying, Ive also gathered some Time Travelers from my company here. No other intentions, just that if the boss has any orders, we can obey and cooperate fully. Understood, go back, Liu Dezhu said. After closing the door, Liu Dezhu wondered, Whats gotten into that old kid? Zhang Tianzhen pushed up his glasses and said, I hinted at him in the Inner World that Daytime isnt planning to take so many burdens. Luo Wanya is capable and knows the times, he might fit our protection requirements better. Qing Chen immediately understood. Zhang Tianzhen had secretly influenced the competition between Zhang Chengze and Luo Wanya... Chapter 508: 327. Jindai Kongyin of the North_3 Chapter 508: 327. Jindai Kongyin of the North_3 No wonder they were pledging loyalty one after another on this late night, Luo Wanya and Zhang Chengze. Zhang Tianzhen said, After all, with Daylight just starting, the boss needs some peripheral staff to do odd jobs, so he doesnt have to personally handle everything. For things he cant show his face, let me take care of it. Ill do the dirty work, and it wont be linked back to the boss. Qing Chen reflected that Zhang Tianzhen was indeed a talent he had once underestimated. As everyone sat around the table eating their late-night snack, Qing Chen asked, Whats the progress of your cultivation? Liu Dezhu replied, Without classmate Qing Chen leading us into meditation, we have to try for a long time to get into the state, so our cultivation progress has been delayed. Qing Chen looked at Nan Gengchen, And you? Nan Gengchen hesitated before saying, Ive lit up all the bright points of the Grand Circulation. Qing Chen: ... At that moment, the whole table fell silent. You have to know, with Zhang Tianzhen and Liu Dezhu still far from completing the Grand Circulation and Nan Gengchens talent not much stronger than theirs, how could her cultivation progress so rapidly?! Take care of your health, Qing Chen said meaningfully. Nan Gengchen was almost in tears, I wish I could, but Li Yinuo is a martial fanatic. Shes extremely focused on anything related to cultivation, and I cant beat her. Hu Xiaoniu and the others felt puzzled when they heard this. What are they talking about? They just couldnt understand. Qing Chen silently mourned for Nan Gengchen for two seconds, then opened He Xiaoxiaos group chat again. He saw that as soon as King Chuang returned, he posted important information: Everyone, the Li family might really be in big trouble. Last night, the commander of the first-tier army of the Federation, Li Yunmu, suddenly left the military on an A-Class main battle airship, likely returning to City 18 for bereavement. Li Si said, It looks like the Li family is really headed for big trouble, probably very soon. Did you all know about the new developments in the Shadow struggle? Qing Zhong and Qing Wen had a conflict, and then Qing Zhong got sniped and killed by a group of Time Travelers. He was robbed of his Taboo, and even Qing Wen was shot too. However, Qing Wen has the immortal badge ACE-090 on him, so he most likely wont die. Who robbed it? Yue Er asked curiously. Dont know, there were several groups together, in the end, nobody knew who had stolen it, Li Si answered. There was a moment of silence in the group as everyone felt a bit envious. Thats a Taboo, after all! In many peoples minds, only a Time Traveler who possesses a Taboo is considered a true standout. Qing Chen looked at the chat history and suddenly wondered if Li Si had latched onto the legs of a certain candidate; otherwise, how could he know so much? Given his previous concern about the Shadow struggle, it must be true. However, just then, normally silent Zard suddenly became talkative: There really are people who are not afraid of death daring to rob a Shadow Candidate, havent they inquired about the Shadow struggles in the past? King Chuang asked, What do you mean? Zard said, In the Shadow struggle, candidates are untouchable by outsiders. Its fine for the candidates to kill each other, but if outsiders try to attack a candidate, the Qings Family will hunt them to the ends of the earth unless they flee to the wilderness and never return to the city. Not knowing this and still daring to rob a Shadow Candidate? You must be courting death. Lu Ya asked, Are the consequences that serious? Zard, gleeful in others misfortune, said, What else would you think? With so many masters in the Inner World, why has no one targeted the Shadow Candidates for so long? Do you think youre the only smart ones? Do you think only you know about the Taboo on the candidates? Hey, you must have stolen Qing Zhongs Taboo. Better start running now or itll be too late. Lu Ya seemed quite annoyed as he repressed his anger and asked, How can this be resolved? I think the Qings Family shouldnt be able to find me. Zard: Are you willing to gamble with your life? At that moment, Ice Eye suddenly said in the group, Next time you time travel, immediately find a Shadow Candidate and swear fealty to him. Then you would be within the rules. Zard said, Wow, thats a good solution. If Im not mistaken, this Ice Eye must be one of Daylights, right? Daylight indeed has an abundance of talents. Speaking of which, does Daylight still take in people? I can try to persuade my boss to join you guys. Ice Eye: ... At this time, the ID called Qing Bao also asked in the group, I want to know too, does Daylight still take in people? ... ... In a hotel somewhere up north, a girl with a ponytail was packing her luggage. She took out her phone to check again, and seeing that Ice Eye hadnt replied to her, she muttered softly, Whats going on, isnt Daylight taking in people anymore? Or was my question too abrupt and impolite? But Im still being hunted by the Jindai family. Would joining Daylight cause them trouble? she pondered. To have a look wouldnt hurt. Just to confirm if that person... is the one I know. Im suddenly so nervous. I havent even set off yet. Will he recognize me at first glance? Does our engagement still stand in the Outer World? Perhaps due to loneliness, the girl seemed to enjoy talking to herself. Her phone had messages from a friend, informing her that her home had been broken into and ransacked. And there were strange people who went to her old school to inquire about her, even asking her classmates if they knew her whereabouts or kept in contact with her. The girl felt a wave of annoyance after seeing these messages. Why wouldnt these people leave her alone? The girl checked her itinerary on her phone once more before she dragged her suitcase and headed out. Just as she barely opened the door, she saw a young man standing at the doorway with a smile. He was dressed in a gray suit and held a pure silver stag-head cane in his hand. Hello there, Miss Jindai Kongyin, the young man introduced himself: I am He Jinqiu from Kyushu. Its our first meeting; I hope I havent frightened you. ... A 5000-word chapter, another coming at 11 PM. Thanks to Glint for becoming a new ally of this book. The boss is generous; the boss never suffers from insomnia! Chapter 509: 328, The Winner of Involution, Luo Wanya Chapter 509: 328, The Winner of Involution, Luo Wanya Countdown 162:00:00. 6 a.m. sharp. Before the days training began, Liu Dezhu and Zhang Tianzhen tiptoed to the outside of Nan Gengchens house. Knock, knock, knock. In a low voice, Liu Dezhu said, Nan Nan, are you up yet? Curious, Nan Gengchen opened the door, What are you two up to? Zhang Tianzhen whispered, We just wanted to ask, why can you cultivate so quickly? Just before the last time travel, we were all more or less at the same level, and now, just seven days later, youve even completed the Grand Circulation... Upon hearing they were asking about this, Nan Gengchens face turned red! Just tell us, were all brothers here. Share some tips, right? Liu Dezhu said, winking, If we all grow faster, wont Daytime be stronger? Its not that I want to keep it secret, Nan Gengchen said earnestly. And I do want everyone to progress faster in cultivation, but... oh well, Ill just say itits dual cultivation. This Esoteric cultivation method helps speed up the cultivation process! Nan Gengchen decided to spill the beans. Liu Dezhu was shocked. He looked at Nan Gengchen and then at Zhang Tianzhen. Zhang Tianzhen was displeased, Isnt it a bit too much to look at me now? No, no, no, Liu Dezhu said, scratching his head, Im just totally shocked... The thing is, I cant use that method. Just go find a girlfriend then, Zhang Tianzhen suggested. However, at that moment, Qing Chen emerged from the house, I didnt really want you to know this shortcut; with my empowerment, you wouldnt be much slower than him. But now that you know, it doesnt really matter. However, I want to set a rule C dont go looking for girlfriends just for this; otherwise, youre just using them as tools, not for real affection. Think it over and dont do something youll regret. Liu Dezhu and Zhang Tianzhen paused, Understood. Qing Chen glanced again at Nan Gengchen, Starting today, your training in the second chapter of Breathing Technique begins, and I will not empower you. Lets first bring everyone else to complete the Grand Circulation. Got it, Nan Gengchen agreed. Lets go; well start with a run, and then continue with cultivation, Qing Chen said as he walked towards the door. After moving to the villa area, the pathways were deserted in the mornings, which was convenient for Daytimes training. By this time, except for Hu Xiaoniu, everyone had already become cultivators, so running was no longer significantly beneficial to their physical fitness. Breathing Technique was for cultivation, but regular, coordinated group running was for cultivating the mind. If Daytime lacked a unified rhythm, even if they all became Demigods, they would be merely a loose group. They might end up being a clump when gathered and stars when scattered. To Daytimes surprise, Luo Wanya was also waiting outside early, dozing in the back seat of a van parked by the door. Why are you here? Qing Chen asked. I was worried there might be a need for me here at any moment. If you called, I could rush over immediately, Luo Wanya explained. Thats thoughtful of you, Qing Chen said. When Xiao Luo saw the Daytime members coming out, all dressed in sportswear, he asked with a sheepish smile, Are you guys going out for a run? Can I join? Qing Chen looked at him, Keep up. However, Luo Wanya, indeed older, and with a body long out of shape from lack of exercise and too much fat, was panting after just a couple of steps. Yet, this local bigwig of Los Angeles City, truly with the resolve that if he couldnt keep up, he might as well drop dead, pushed himself to complete the entire run! It must be said, just on the element of joining the run, Luo Wanya was much more hardcore than Zhang Chengze. This internal competition between Luo Wanya and Zhang Chengze already had a conclusion... After the run, Qing Chen looked at Luo Wanya, Go buy the vacant villa next door and move in. Pick a few of your most trusted and capable subordinates, rotate guards to ensure no strangers approach these two villas. Luo Wanya was overjoyed at these words; it made his harsh self-treatment worth it! He hurriedly said to Qing Chen, I have twelve brothers who have been with me for many years; all Time Travelers. Well squeeze into the villa next door. Rest assured, Ill make sure no unrelated people come near here! Okay, arrange it yourself, Qing Chen said, then returned to the villa with the Daytime members. Luo Wanya watched them leave; his driver got out of the car and asked, Luo... Luo Wanya, you used to act like I was plotting against you whenever I suggested exercise, why were you willing to run today? And, are these people really worth it? You know nothing, Luo Wanya told his driver, Havent you realized? These people... theyre all Transcendents! Even that young girl is one. Do you get what that means? Never mind, youre not a Time Traveler; you wouldnt understand even if I explained! Meanwhile, Qing Chen led Li Tongyun, Liu Dezhu, Nan Gengchen, and Li Tongyun into meditation, then he went down to the basement. At that moment, Hu Xiaoniu was climbing a wall equipped with numerous handholds, simulating all possible terrains needed for climbing techniques. This was something Qing Chen had Hu Xiaoniu set up when they renovated the basementthough it was a bit cramped with a ceiling height of 4.3 meters, it was still manageable for now. Qing Chen looked at Hu Xiaoniu, Arent you curious why I dont teach you cultivation? Chapter 510: 328, The Winner of Involution, Luo Wanya_2 Chapter 510: 328, The Winner of Involution, Luo Wanya_2 Hu Xiaoniu honestly said, Curious, to say Im not curious would definitely be a lie. Then why dont you ask me, Qing Chen said. Because Im no longer some rich second generation, just an ordinary Daytime Member, and I dont have the qualifications to ask about anything. Its enough to just do my own thing, Hu Xiaoniu earnestly said, Qing Chen, when we met, it might have given you a bad impression of me, but I have left behind that past identity. Now Im just Bai Zhouhu Xiaoniu. Sit down, Qing Chen said, crossing his legs on the yoga mat opposite Hu Xiaoniu. In fact, he had been thinking about a question. With Hu Xiaonius bright and straightforward, fair and equable character, could he pass the test of conscience? If the other party could pass, then it meant they would have a higher ceiling to reach. Originally, Qing Chen had not held much hope. But having observed for some time, Qing Chen wanted to give Hu Xiaoniu a chance to try. Uncle Li Dong told him that every Knight has the right to take on disciples freely, as long as you find a suitable candidate, you can lead them down this path. Qing Chen had once curiously asked, what if the person doesnt fully agree with the Knights values? Uncle Li Dong had replied, not too concerned: Those who have walked the path leading to heaven across the towering green mountains, those who have faced the trials of life and death, will naturally have the same faith. The faith of a Knight is not in some person, but in the spirit of pursuing certain human limits. A Knights values are also not instilled through brainwashing or preaching. As one walks the path, climbs a mountain, sees a snowfall, chases a dream, it naturally becomes the same. Those whose faith is not pure cannot pass the trial of life and death, they can only die on the path of facing it. At that time, Qing Chen understood a principle: the eight life and death trials themselves are a process of selection, all Knights will eventually walk the same road. No one points the way; it is each persons own choice. Thinking this, Qing Chen said, Extend your wrist. Hu Xiaoniu, curious, sat on the yoga mat, only to see Qing Chen place his fingers on his pulse. Suddenly, the Knight Vital Energy surged, and the same Fire Runes that adorned Qing Chens cheeks bloomed on Hu Xiaonius. Pain. All memories related to pain came flooding back. Everyone in the villa heard Hu Xiaonius screaming, but no one dared to check the basement because Qing Chen had already made an agreement with them not to go there. The change in Hu Xiaoniu took Qing Chen by surprise as well; he had not expected the other to be unable to withstand the inquiry of conscience. Qing Chen withdrew the Knight Vital Energy: What pain is it that you cant get over? Stifling breaths, Hu Xiaoniu said, My mother passed away when I was ten years old. Just now, I felt as though I was back on that afternoon. The setting sun shone into the hospital room through the window, warm, and my mom was already so thin, just skin and bones. She held my hand gently and said, Sorry, Xiao Niu, mom cant take care of you anymore. I really want to forget this pain, but Im afraid Ill forget my mom altogether. Qing Chen was silent. He realized that the inquiry of conscience really was a hard hurdle to overcome, no wonder the number of Knights was so few. He also finally understood why Uncle Li Dong said that the older someone is, the harder it is for them to get over this hurdle. It wasnt that Hu Xiaonius character was lacking, it was just that life itself is a bitter journey; the longer one travels, the more pain one accumulates. And perhaps Li Dongze, Ye Wan, Lin Xiaoxiao, and others could not get over the hurdle of their parents passing either. Those memories and pains you seem to have put behind you are in fact always there in your heart. However, Qing Chen didnt know if Li Ke could get over the inquiry of conscience. If he couldnt, then all his prior efforts were in vain. After a long silence, Hu Xiaoniu asked, Does this mean I cant cultivate? Why is my cultivation journey so different from others? When people like Tian Tian enter meditation, it doesnt seem to be accompanied by pain. No, Qing Chen shook his head, Even if this path is impassable, you can still take another path. Hu Xiaoniu was stunned, thinking to himself how many paths of cultivation there could be in Qing Chens possession... If others could acquire just one orthodox method of cultivation, it would be enough to establish a formidable Cultivation Organization, so how many methods of cultivation did Qing Chen hold in his hands? Looking at it now, there seem to be three, right? Hu Xiaoniu looked at Qing Chen and felt as if the Inner World might really be just a game and that the person in front of him was the games most powerful pay-to-win player... Qing Chen paid no mind to Hu Xiaonius inner turmoil, simply contemplating quietly: Although Hu Xiaoniu might not pass the inquiry of conscience, as long as he completed all eight challenges, he could still become a Knight. The Knights of the old era could not become Demigods, but A-class was still enough to make ones place in the Federation. If Daytime had several A-class Knights, dozens, or hundreds of B-class Cultivators, where couldnt they go in this world? No one could bear the wrath of Daytime on that level. That day might be far off. But Qing Chen had the patience to wait for that day. Just at that moment, Qing Chen suddenly felt the clotted blood from his abdominal injury churning, and he spat out a mouthful of dark purple blood. Hu Xiaoniu was startled and quickly asked, Qing Chen, are you okay? Im fine, its just clotted blood; spitting it out is good, Qing Chen said, fully aware of his own body. Though still in pain, it was nothing serious. Hu Xiaoniu looked at Qing Chen, suddenly thinking that despite his injuries, he was still helping them cultivate. Chapter 511: 328, The Winner of Involution, Luo Wanya_3 Chapter 511: 328, The Winner of Involution, Luo Wanya_3 Before, it had been the same: Qing Chen had broken two ribs, yet he ran the lead during the harsh winter season without a single complaint. ... ... Now, each time travel was fixed at 7 days, so his return was always on Saturday night, which meant he didnt have to go to school the next day. This feeling was as if the time travel mechanisms intentionally gave all Time Travelers a day off, possibly to adjust their exhausted mindsets during the weekends in the Outer World. Brother Chen, Luo Wanya previously provided information that they would be exchanging cash under the Royal City Bridge tonight. Should we stir up some trouble? Nan Gengchen asked curiously. Thinking too much, Zhang Tianzhen said calmly, After we rescued Luo Wanya, those who were guarding him all died. In such a situation, even a fool would know that the plan has been exposed. If anyone still goes to the underpass of Royal City Bridge tonight, its definitely an ambush. However, just then, Qing Chen suddenly said, The boss commanded that we still need to go take a look. Zhang Tianzhen was stunned for a moment, Still going? What if there is an ambush...sssh. Zhang Tianzhen gasped, realizing, Youre planning to ambush those who are setting up an ambush for us? Nan Gengchen, No nesting dolls allowed. Zhang Tianzhen, ... Cant you stop joking when were speaking seriously. Qing Chen glanced at them, Were not going to risk our lives recklessly, but we shouldnt stay out of this matter. As the Taboo ACE-999 said in the group chat, our biggest reliance in the Inner World now is in opposition to both Jindai and Deer Island. If they emerge victorious, then we, too, must tread carefully. So, whatever Jindai or Deer Island want to do, we need to lend a hand, to prevent them from succeeding. Qing Chen added, Of course, we must still act within our capabilities. At that moment, Nan Gengchen, checking his phone suddenly said, Huh, look at the trending topics, Jindai Kongyin is going to hold a press conference in Los Angeles City. Shes quitting the entertainment industry in the Island Country and restarting her career in China?! Qing Chen was stunned for a moment; he also opened the trends on Weibo to look at the details. Sure enough, as Nan Gengchen had said, the press conference was scheduled for 9 oclock tomorrow morning at the Quan Shun Business Centre Plaza in the Luo Long District of Los Angeles City. Nan Gengchen wondered, Didnt the group say she suddenly disappeared after coming to China, avoiding an assassination by the Jindai family? How can she now openly re-launch her career in China? Could this be a rumor? Her being hunted is not a rumor, Qing Chen shook his head, I guess shes most likely with the people from Kyushu now, attempting to use her to bait out the assassins from Jindai family. Why not Kunlun? Nan Gengchen asked curiously. Qing Chen thought for a moment, Because Kunlun doesnt use others as bait; its not their style. Zhang Tianzhen said, If this is really a ruse that Jindai Kongyin is collaborating on with Kyushu, its too obvious. The Time Travelers controlled by the Jindai family might not fall for it. Qing Chen said, We need to consider two situations. The first is that Jindai Kongyin carries the Jindai familys cultivation traditions. Then, whether this is a trap or not, they must attempt to kill Jindai Kongyin to prevent the leakage of their traditions. Given these stakes, the lives of Time Travelers are negligible, as you all know how indifferent the people in the Inner World are to life. This way, Kyushu would be pleased, sparing them a lot of trouble. And the second scenario? In the second scenario, Jindai Kongyin carries no significant secrets, and the Jindai family is unwilling to sacrifice Time Travelers over one individual. This outcome is what Jindai Kongyin hopes to see, allowing her to step back into the sunlight without anyone daring to pursue her again. What Qing Chen didnt mention was that the foreign girl had indeed come to Los Angeles City. At this moment, he was even more convinced that Qing Bao in the group was Jindai Kongyin, who, after seeing his name in the group, had come to Los Angeles City to confirm if he was indeed the Qing Chen she recognized. Typically, a celebritys comeback press conference takes place in a top-tier big city. Jindai Kongyin holding it in Los Angeles City had to have something to do with Qing Chen. Qing Chen thought about tonights meet up at Royal City Bridge and tomorrows press conference... After this return, he was indeed quite busy. However, the Jindai and Deer Island clans must have already commenced their new counter-time-travel plans; had those involved already set off? This was, indeed, the most crucial matter for this return! ... ... On the G307 high-speed train, the ninth carriage was nearly empty, with just over a dozen scattered passengers sitting around. In row nine, He Jinqiu cheerfully said, The high-speed railway is very convenient these days. It only takes three and a half hours from Jingcheng to Los Angeles City. This is something the Island Country cant match. Jindai Kongyin nodded, The infrastructure in our homeland has indeed been world-leading in recent years. My dad used to talk about this all the time. Sitting by the window, the girl looked out wistfully. At that moment, a steward pushing a meal cart passed through the ninth carriage. Suddenly, the previously relaxed passengers, playing with their phones, all unanimously turned their attention to it. This entire carriage had been booked by Kyushu just to prevent suspicious individuals from approaching Jindai Kongyin. He Jinqiu glanced at the steward before turning his attention away, Interestingly, the press conference could have been held in Jingcheng, where it would have higher impact and be convenient for your future activities in the film and television industry. Yet, why do you insist on having it in Los Angeles City? Because I was headed to Los Angeles City anyway; I had already bought the ticket, Jindai Kongyin answered with a smile. He Jinqiu smiled and shook his head, Never mind, I wont ask more. You must have your reasons. Jindai Kongyin curiously asked, Do you think theyll come to kill me at the press conference? Yes, because they do have essential reasons to kill you, He Jinqiu spoke calmly, But dont worry, right now, sixty percent of the Kyushu members are in Los Angeles City, and so is Kunlun, just waiting for them to show up. With you working with Kyushu, we can locate as many of their controlled Time Travelers as possible, so you can freely live under the sunshine afterwards. However, it seemed as if Jindai Kongyin hadnt quite listened to what He Jinqiu had said; she suddenly asked, Is Los Angeles City fun? What are the people like there, easy to get along with? ... A 5,000-word chapter, 10,000 words updated today, one more for Sea Soul Clothing, plus two more to go. Asking for monthly tickets! Chapter 512: 329, Daytime Joint Operation Chapter 512: 329, Daytime Joint Operation Los Angeles Lijing Gate, within the residence of Kunlun Headquarter. A group of Kunlun members were sitting around Xiao Ying, when Lu Yuan, his eyes bright and piercing, asked, Were you on the scene when Li Changqing was attacked? Yes, Xiao Ying nodded, That night Li Changqing had first gone to stay overnight at Qing Chens place... Hold on a second! Lu Yuan was stunned. They had called Xiao Ying back from his field duty precisely to understand the whole incident, but they hadnt expected such a fantastical beginning to the story. Lu Yuan said, We want to know about the combat intelligence from that night, not this kind of improper stuff! Another Kunlun member whispered from the side, Lu Yuan... wed rather hear about this first. Lu Yuan: ...Alright then. Xiao Ying, animated, said, Ive told you guys before, Qing Chen was brought into the midslope estate by Li Changqing, and later, under Li Changqings arrangement, he became an instructor at the Zhixin Bieyuan of Lis School. Mhm, Lu Yuan nodded. Xiao Ying continued, After he joined Zhixin Bieyuan, he got those Lis youngsters into quite a tough spot. Later on, Lis Secretariat arranged for him to stay at Autumn Leaf Courtyard in the midslope estate, which is said to have been the residence of the current Family Heads former teacher. In the Inner World of consortiums, every Family Head holds power akin to an Emperor, and the Family Heads teacher is regarded like an Imperial Instructor. They may not possess much power, but their status is exceptionally high. Lu Yuan questioned, How come Qing Chens status rose so quickly? And, if hes only good at combat, it shouldnt warrant the Li Familys disciples to formally take him as their master, right? Xiao Ying lowered his voice and said, I heard... Lu Yuan slapped him on the back of his head, Youre on your own turf, whats with the low voice creating a mysterious atmosphere? Just speak properly. Uh, Xiao Ying said, I heard that he somehow got hold of orthodox cultivation methods, and those Li Family disciples took him as their master to learn this method of cultivation. Lu Yuan paused, Wait, the cultivation method he holds, is it from the Knight Organization? Lu Yuan had some hazy clues in his mind, but couldnt quite connect them just yet. However, Xiao Ying thought for a moment before saying, It probably has nothing to do with the Knights. He possesses the method for double cultivation, and now quite a few people within the Li Family are saying hes from the sect of Joy... What?! the Kunlun members were shocked, What the heck? At this moment, Qing Chen himself had no knowledge that his organizations reputation had begun to decline in the Outer World. Really, Xiao Ying said, After those Li Family disciples took him as their master, each one of them rushed to Lis Secretariat to request the Clan arrange marriages for them. You understand, those disciples originally fled to the army to avoid marital arrangements, but now with the method of double cultivation, one by one they couldnt wait to get married. In fact, people like Li Su had all signed confidentiality agreements and were complying with them thoroughly. Thus, the outside world had no idea what was going on, and could only guess. Xiao Ying said, A bunch coming back from army service to take up cultivation as disciples, and suddenly asking the Clan to grant marriages, what else could it be if not for the method of double cultivation... At that moment, the word double cultivation had Lu Yuans head spinning. Xiao Ying continued, That night, Li Changqing received a tip from an informer that Jindai Tongwus whereabouts had been found. Jindai Tongwu, the person in charge of foreign intelligence for the Jindai family, Lu Yuan said, I know of him. Yeah, Xiao Ying nodded, Thus, that night Li Changqing left Autumn Leaf Courtyard and took a team to capture Jindai Tongwu. Unexpectedly, a mole within the Li Family leaked Li Changqings whereabouts. The sudden appearance of Jindai Tongwu that night turned out to be a trap. On the way to Changsha Gate Street, the convoy was ambushed, and even the snipers that Li Changqing had arranged in advance were discovered and killed by the Jindai family, replaced by their own snipers. Xiao Ying said, You all probably heard about what happened next: the sniper appeared and threw the Jindai familys plan into chaos. The matter of the sniper was something that Lu Yuan and the others were more or less aware of. Whats strange is, Xiao Ying said, the sniper wasnt arranged by Li Changqing, and she doesnt even know who the sniper is. Later, it seemed she had some guesses and immediately went back to the midslope estates Autumn Leaf Courtyard to look for Qing Chen, only to find that Qing Chen wasnt there. Lu Yuan frowned, Qing Chen was the sniper? Then does that mean hes the Daytime Boss? Not exactly. Later it was confirmed that Qing Chen had actually been secretly invited to the Baopu Tower that night by the Family Head, so he was not in Autumn Leaf Courtyard, Xiao Ying said, And I also specifically checked the visitor logs of the midslope estate; Qing Chens name was not there. You know how strict the midslope estate is, anyone entering or leaving would definitely leave a trace. He didnt leave the midslope estate. Xiao Ying said, The sniper was probably that Daytime Boss, right? Qing Chen gets along well with Li Changqing, and Qing Chen is also an important member of the Daytime organization. It makes sense that he would take action. Just a moment ago, Lu Yuan had suspected that Qing Chen was the Daytime Boss himself, but he also acknowledged Xiao Yings point of view; it was impossible for Qing Chen to have slipped out of the midslope estate undetected, and Baopu Tower wouldnt collude with Qing Chen to lie. Chapter 513: 329, Daytime Joint Operation_2 Chapter 513: 329, Daytime Joint Operation_2 Before the boss of Daytime showed his maximum shooting range in the Outer World, it was only 1,100 meters, and our sniper could do that too, Lu Yuan said. But during this battle, the level of sniping they showed was terrifying; hitting a still target at 2,600 meters every single time. Humans in the Outer Worlds history have never seen a sniper like that. Xiao Ying, lets go, lets pay Daytime a visit. Over at the villa, Luo Wanyas actions were quicker than expected. It was only this morning that Qing Chen asked him to buy the villa next door, and by the afternoon, during everyones practice, there was a bustling noise of moving in from next door. Qing Chen stepped out to take a look, the local Los Angeles City snakehead was directing his own construction crew to set up surveillance. When Luo Wanya saw Qing Chen come out, he immediately ran over from next door with glee: Ive notified the property company of this villa area; today were installing a total of 12 surveillance cameras around this area. Rest assured, Qing Chen, not a single camera is pointed at your villa. The aim is to monitor all the roads and will absolutely not infringe on your privacy. Luo Wanya continued, Ive set up a special surveillance room in my villa, rotating staff to watch the monitors in three shifts. No strangers will get near your villa without registering with us first. Listening to his elaborate arrangements, Qing Chen thought to himself that Luo Wanya was now as dedicated as the security chief of the Daytime Base. I appreciate it, Qing Chen said and returned to continue empowering the Daytime members. Before long, Lu Yuan and Xiao Ying drove over. However, before they could get close to Daytimes Villa 12, they saw a group of menacing thugs emerge from next door, each carrying a stick. One of them pointed a stick at Lu Yuan and his group from a distance and asked, What are you here for? Lu Yuan: ... Xiao Ying glanced at these idlers and then looked at Lu Yuan: Road Team, does Daytime really live here? It feels like weve stumbled upon a criminal gang by accident. Lu Yuan was also a bit confused; his intelligence was correct, Daytime had indeed moved here. Just then, Luo Wanya rushed out of the next-door villa, yelling furiously, Who let you take out sticks? Hide them and dont show them off, Ive told you so many times already. If people come by, greet them politely and have them register. Dont scare them away! After sending his men back, Luo Wanya hurried over to the car and asked, May I ask what brings you here? After a moment of thought, Lu Yuan said, Im looking for Qing Chen, Liu Dezhu. If you have something for them, let me know, and Ill inform them. Only once they agree to meet you can I allow you through, Luo Wanya kindly said. At that moment, Lu Yuans head was full of question marks. What exactly has Daytime turned into now?! However, at that time, Luo Wanya added, But its a bit inconvenient at the moment, theyve all gone out. How about you come back another day? Can I have your names, so I can tell them whos been looking for them? Theyve gone out? Lu Yuan was taken aback for a moment. Where have they gone? Its confidential. Lu Yuan: ... ... ... Eight oclock in the evening. Under the night sky. Luo Wanya, carrying a black suitcase, hurriedly left the villa. He didnt bring any subordinates and drove alone towards the Royal City Bridge. In the middle of Los Angeles City, Luo River runs through the whole city, dividing it in two. And the Royal City Bridge is the traffic hub that connects the southern and northern parts of the city. After Luo Wanya arrived, he unloaded a suitcase full of cash from the car and then waited quietly, with a Bluetooth earpiece in his ear. Ten minutes. Twenty minutes. He waited for a long time, but no one came to meet him. The wait was so long, he began to think that maybe no one would come at all. Luo Wanya murmured, Boss, maybe they wont come anymore? Wait a bit longer, a strange voice from the Bluetooth earpiece said. Luo Wanya was thrilled, pleased to be directly speaking with the boss. He scanned around, with many passersby coming and going. Luo Wanya couldnt tell who was the boss and who was there to meet up, with only Liu Dezhu and a few others sitting quietly in a nearby restaurant watching him. In the afternoon, Lu Yuan went to the villa to find Qing Chen but failed because Daytime was here early for reconnaissance. Boss, we havent found any suspicious individuals on our side, Liu Dezhu said quietly. However, at that moment, the boss in the Bluetooth earpiece suddenly said, Qiu Xue, follow the Audi A6 that just passed. Under the bridge tunnel, Jiang Xue floored the accelerator, Boss, is there something wrong with that car? Yes, the boss said through the Bluetooth earpiece, He has passed by here three times in forty minutes. If twice is a coincidence, then three times is definitely not. He doesnt plan to take the cash; hes here to observe the situation. Remember his license plate, Yu C512... Luo Wanya and the others from Daytime, upon hearing this, were all stunned. On this Northern Riverside Road, even at a minimum, more than twenty cars pass by every minute, making it nearly a thousand in forty minutes. And yet, the boss still managed to remember the persons license plate number and even how many times they passed by amidst such traffic. Chapter 514: 329, Daytime Joint Operation_3 Chapter 514: 329, Daytime Joint Operation_3 What kind of brain is this? The people who came to observe the situation were also rather unlucky. They had been cautious enough, not even daring to slow down as they passed by, but they hadnt expected to encounter an observer with such a terrifying memory. After Jiang Xue followed them, Hu Xiaoniu and the others also drove off in the two Mercedes-Maybach S-Class sedans gifted by Luo Wanya. The boss, from time to time in the headset, reminded, Qiu Xue, overtake and turn left, Xiao Niu keep following, remember the principle of cross-tracking, do not stay in the opponents field of view for more than five minutes. Jiang Xue, Received. Xiao Niu, Received. At this time, Qing Chen was riding an electric share-bike, with Nan Gengchen easily weaving through the slow lane. Eight oclock was the evening rush hour in Los Angeles City, and all the vehicles were moving slower than the electric bike. But surely the enemy would never expect that the boss was commanding the entire operation from an electric bike during broad daylight. The black Audi A6 didnt circle back to Royal City Bridge but continued northward, passing through Fanglin Road, Triumph Road, and Zhongzhou Road, driving towards the north. Sitting behind on the electric bike, after turning off the Bluetooth headset, Nan Gengchen asked, Chen-ge, do you think these Time Travelers working for Jindai and Deer Island are forced or are they willing? Qing Chen calmly said, Dont think about these issues. In a hostile relationship, theres no point in feeling sorry for the enemy. Oh... Moreover, we dont need to handle these people, Qing Chen continued, Send a message to Lu Yuan asking him to bring his team over. Its their responsibility. Watching the Audi A6 stop at the side of the road, with two men and two women getting out and walking into a restaurant, Qing Chen spoke through the Bluetooth headset: Xiao Niu, Innocent, park your cars farther away. Ice Eye and a duckling go have a meal in the restaurant, wait for Kunluns people to come. During the conversation, Qing Chen and Nan Gengchen walked in as if nothing were amiss, each ordered a plate of fried noodles, and sat several meters away from the two men and two women. The moment Qing Chen sat down, his listening bone was already alert and active. This was why he had entered this restaurant! But listening to one of the four Time Travelers, a male, he said, I have reported back to our superior, someone came with cash, but we havent seen any suspicious person nearby. Another male said, Are the superiors being too cautious? You know, there were two million in cash in that box, and we really didnt see anyone following. The superiors said the team in Fourth District was killed by someone, that fat guy managed to keep the appointment after being rescued; there must be something wrong, lets not think too much, a girl said. Yeah, lets eat. We have to go to Jindai Kongyins press conference tomorrow. Our superiors want us to activate the musical fountain in the plaza on time as the press conference begins to cover the operation, said the first male to speak. The woman expressed her concern, I think its a trap. No choice, even if its a trap, we have to go. Qing Chen took a bite of his fried noodles and thought, bait-and-switch law enforcement always seems to work, no matter the era. However, what secret was Jindai Kongyin carrying that the enemy knew it was a trap but still needed to kill her? Half an hour later, the four finished their meal and exited the restaurant, only to be surrounded and pinned to the ground by Lu Yuan, Xiao Ying, and over ten Kunlun members who were hiding outside. Lu Yuan paid no attention to these people but instead turned and rushed into the restaurant looking for Qing Chen. However, Qing Chen and Nan Gengchen, who were supposed to be sitting there eating fried noodles, had long since disappeared. Leave after the deed, concealing ones abilities and biding ones time? Lu Yuan laughed helplessly, This Daylight is getting interesting. He suddenly realized that, at some point, the Daylight organization began to seem unfathomable. This time, Qing Chens sharing of the Time Travelers information with Kunlun wasnt for nothing. Daylight requested that Kunlun share their reversal time-travel plan for Jindai and Deer Island, which included details on their arrival time, location, and personnel in Los Angeles City. This was an equal exchange of interests, with Daylight subconsciously putting themselves on equal footing with Kunlun. Though they were still very much the underdog. ... ... In the executive suite at Los Angeles Citys Aden Peninsula Hotel. The room assigned to Jindai Kongyin was filled with Kyushus special agents, who had laid out a huge map on the dining table. A girl named Tang Keke calmly said, We need to finish deployment tonight; waiting till tomorrow will be too late. Within an 800-meter radius of Quanshun Plaza, we need to watch out for 7 buildings. We must replace their security with our own people, so if any snipers manage to get in, we can detect them in time. After all, sniper rifles are large and cant escape our eyes. A young man named Yu Cheng said, I agree with Kekes plan, she has never made a mistake before. Although its highly unlikely those people could get hold of a sniper rifle, and bring such an item through security, its still worth taking precautions. By the way, didnt Huan Yu mention in He Xiaoxiaos group chat that the boss of Daylights sniper rifle is a taboo, capable of being retracted into the body? someone said. At that moment, while sipping coffee, He Jinqiu interjected, No worries, as of now, he seems to be an ally, so theres no need to concern ourselves with him. Okay, continued Tang Keke, Jindai Kongyins press conference tomorrow needs to start promptly at nine in the morning. Group 1, in plain clothes, will blend into the crowd, while Group 2 handles the outer perimeter. If I detect someone has hacked into our communications channel, I will say everything is normal in the channel. Upon hearing this, everyone must immediately switch to the backup comms channel. At that moment, Jindai Kongyin was lounging on the backrest of the sofa, daydreaming. As if the affairs in the room had nothing to do with her. Due to safety concerns, the curtains in the room were drawn to prevent peeping or sniping. Looking at the curtains, she wondered, Will that young man come to the scene after hearing about her press conference? But wasnt prison number 18 destroyed by the Scepter of the gods, how did he survive? ... A 5000-word chapter, one more update at 11 pm. Chapter 515: 330. The Hunt and the Prey Chapter 515: 330. The Hunt and the Prey Countdown 136:30:00. Half past eight in the morning. There were many people at Quanshun Plaza, all here for Jindai Kongyin. In the crowd, Kyushu Tang Keke looked at Lu Yuan, who had infiltrated the scene, and said with a smile, Quite a few people from Kunlun have come, havent they? Lu Yuan wore a camera around his neck, seemingly disguised as a reporter. He said expressionlessly, Kyushu has quite a few people as well, all familiar faces. Speaking of which, if Kyushu is planning something, the least you could do is give us a heads-up. Whats with these sudden attacks? Tang Keke chuckled, We both know the situation is urgent. Without some special tactics to draw out clues, if Jindai and Deer Islands reverse time travel plans succeed, the Inner Worlds Federation civil war might hit the Li Family hard. Special times call for special measures. Please excuse us on Kunluns part. We have the same goals, its just that Kyushus approach isnt very appealing, Lu Yuan said, twisting his lips. Actually, Jindai Kongyin wasnt very popular domestically, as she was a niche art goddess, and many people hadnt even heard of her. It was a Monday workday today, so logically there shouldnt have been so many people. Moreover, Kyushu had chosen Monday because they were worried that too many passersby looking for entertainment might show up. However, at that moment, a few hundred people were gathered in front of the press conference stage at Quanshun Plaza, appearing very lively. In fact, at least 80% of those few hundred people were from Kyushu and Kunlun; there were hardly any genuine onlookers. Next to He Jinqiu and Lu Yuan, two old ladies who were stirring up excitement but unaware of the truth spoke, Who is that star? Jindai Kongyin? Ive never heard that name before. I havent heard of her either. Then why are there so many people at her press conference? one of the old ladies wondered. These days, celebrities popularize hiring shills. Havent you seen on TikTok? 18th-tier celebrities with no fame who have more bodyguards than fans. These people must be shills! another old lady glanced at Lu Yuan and the others chatting leisurely. Lu Yuan: ... Tang Keke: ... At that moment, Lu Yuan moved away from the old ladies and then asked Tang Keke, Using Jindai Kongyin as bait, isnt it a bit too obvious? The Jindai family controls Time Travelers and theyre not fools. Why would they come out in broad daylight to kill her? Because Jindai Kongyin is a Cultivator, and she carries the Jindai familys ancestral first half of the cultivation method, Tang Keke glanced at Lu Yuan. Moreover, although she is on the fringe within the family, she knows many secrets about the Jindai family. If you were them, youd want to kill her too. Besides, the Jindai and Deer Island families arent known for their political acumen; they prefer assassinations. Lu Yuan paused, The authentic method of cultivation? Yes, Tang Keke nodded. With just the first half, what level could one reach? Lu Yuan asked. B-Class, Tang Keke said. Now Lu Yuan understood. Such important information was indeed worth the Jindai familys major effort. The authentic cultivation method was a threshold between B-Class and A-Class, and reaching A-Class was difficult for everyone, seemingly the true initiation into preeminence and transcendence. But for most people and most organizations, having a method that could cultivate up to B-Class was sufficient, as it would mean that they wouldnt need to rely entirely on genetic potions. This was also the reason why Lu Yuan had gone to visit Qing Chen the previous day. Kunlun needed the cultivation method. Lu Yuan looked at Tang Keke, casually asked, Would Jindai Kongyin hand over the method of cultivation to Kyushu? Tang Keke said with a smile, Guess. ... ... Only 15 minutes left until the press conference started. 1600 meters across from Quanshun Plaza, outside the Borui Building, a young man carrying a large toolbox and wearing a cap was dressed in a central air-conditioning repair uniform, heading inside. The uniform was unlike ordinary ones, with tightened cuffs and a more professional look, resembling military training attire. The buildings security guard glanced at him, Coming to repair the central air conditioning? The young man nodded, Yes, your building management sent me, said theres a problem with the 17th floors central air conditioning. The guard was puzzled for a moment, Hold on a second while I check the memo. As he said this, he went to look through the buildings appointment records, and there was indeed a note about air conditioning repair. The guard handed a work badge to the young man, Hang this around your neck so you dont lose it, and youll need to return it to me when you leave. Alright, thank you, the young man said as he walked toward the elevator and pressed the button for the 17th floor. Just as the elevator doors were about to close, several people shouted outside, Wait a second. The young man ignored them and pressed the close button more urgently. As the elevator ascended, he could still hear someone complain outside, What kind of people are these, hes the only one in the elevator and he couldnt wait for us? Forget it, lets wait for the next one. The youth waited as the elevator slowly ascended and spoke into his Bluetooth headset, Im almost in position, how are things on your end? A voice from the headset responded, Already in position. Already in position. In position, the news conference is about to start. The host is warming up the audience, I can see Jindai Kongyin backstage, makeup done and ready to go on stage, but its a bit odd here, the atmosphere is really tepid. The youth chuckled, Can it not be tepid? The audience in front of the stage is all from Kyushu and Kunlun; there are at most twenty or thirty fans. The elevator reached the 17th floor. Familiar with the terrain as if he had already memorized it, the youth sauntered into an empty conference room. He opened the window of the conference room, which perfectly overlooked the entire Quanshun Plaza. This place was opposite Quanshun Plaza, the only building that could serve as a snipers post. Although it was a bit far from the plaza, at a distance of 1600 meters, for Qing Chen, it was merely easy difficulty. Quanshun Plaza covered a large area, directly across from a squarely man-made Kaiyuan Lake. Kaiyuan Lake wasnt large, installed within it was once the largest musical fountain in Asia. The musical fountain only operated once a week on Saturday nights, so many residents of Los Angeles City liked to gather here on Saturday nights with their children to watch the fountain. However, the musical fountain was quiet at the moment, showing no signs of activity. At this very moment, the host on the news conference stage seemed to be facing his own personal Waterloo. No matter how he tried to warm up the crowd, told jokes, and built the atmosphere, the audience simply watched him calmly. They occasionally looked around. No one laughed, no one listened carefully to what he was saying. You should know, this host was a famous one invited from a certain satellite TV station, and his appearance fee alone was 200,000. Frankly, the host felt it was odd when he arrived. Normally, press conferences would be held indoors, inviting a bunch of media reporters, with a flurry of camera flashes going off. However, here the media reporters one by one had their cameras hanging around their necks, seemingly with no intention of taking photos. What he didnt know was that among the more than twenty journalists at the conference, only four or five were real reporters; the rest were all impersonators from Kyushu and Kunlun. Moreover, even if it was an event, other than grand openings, they usually took place in the afternoon or evening when more people were available. But strangely, the organizers insisted on having it early in the morning this time. The famous host, seeing only a sparse few hundred people in the plaza in front of him, suddenly felt a sense of defeat. This was probably the strangest press conference he had ever attended. In fact, the reason Kyushu had invited him was also to boost Jindai Kongyins prestige. Even though it was merely a hunting operation, Jindai Kongyin was truly making a comeback, so the news conference couldnt be too shabby. At least, when this news spread online, it would still have the prestige elevated by this famous host. In the crowd, Tang Keke suddenly felt something was off and said on the communication channel, Everyone, sync up and laugh a bit; dont be too tepid, lets make this place seem lively. Just then, seeing that the venue still wasnt warming up, the famous host straightforwardly said, It seems everyone is here for Jindai Kongyin, already unable to wait to see her, so... Hahaha. Hahaha. Seeing the audiences stiff, forced laughter, the famous host immediately collapsed. Are you slow to react? I told those jokes ten minutes ago, and you are laughing now? However, by this time Tang Keke had already sensed something was wrong and said on the communication channel, Boss, so far, not a single assassin from the Jindai family has shown up. Could it be that the other party has backed down? A voice from He Jinqiu rang out on the communication channel, Are there any abnormalities in the nearby buildings? No, Tang Keke replied, There are no suspicious individuals in any of our surveilled areas, all sniper points are clear. Are there any other sniper spots? No, beyond that is only the Borui Building 1600 meters away. But such a distance would require the use of anti-material rifles to ensure effective range, and those things have barrels over a meter long, its simply impossible to bring them in, Tang Keke said. Unless the boss of Daylight was hired by the Jindai, and then personally took action. Lu Yuan looked at Tang Keke, Daylights boss wouldnt be hired by Jindai, as everyone now knows he has a grudge against Jindai, and he just foiled Jindai Tongwus plan. He Jinqiu fell into thought, Perhaps, theyre not here for us today. Inside the 17th floor of the Borui Building, the youth Qing Chen set a toolbox aside and quietly watched Quanshun Plaza. His exceptional hearing had already picked up the sound of several peoples footsteps in the corridor outside the conference room. It was as if there were traces of murderous intent. Clothed in a central air conditioning repair uniform, Qing Chen continued to look out the window and said over the communication channel, It seems, in the eyes of the Jindai family, our enmity is considered higher than Jindai Kongyins. ... My throat is inflamed and Ive got a bit of cold today, only wrote 8000 words, taking a day off. Chapter 516: 331. Whose Trap Is It Anyway? Chapter 516: 331. Whose Trap Is It Anyway? When the clock struck nine. The fountains at Kaiyuan Lake, opposite Quanshun Plaza, shot up into the sky in an instant. Beautiful music surrounded the streams of water, like a grand ceremony. However. The Assassin from the Jindai family, who was supposed to appear at Quanshun Plaza at that time, did not show up. Miss Jindai Kongyin, why have you decided to develop your career in China? As we know, you had a very successful collaboration with Director Miyai in the Island Country, and you have won many awards for your previous films. Wont starting over in China affect your future development? a reporter asked. This was actually the first reaction of the media after learning that Jindai Kongyin was coming to develop her career in China. Jindai Kongyin was not at a loss in the Island Country, those in the know were aware that she was already considered a diva of literature and arts there, likely having contracts that could line up for the next three years. Why would such a person suddenly come to China? Jindai Kongyin sat behind the table at the press conference, and she was not wearing any formal attire today, partly because of the cold weather as the news conference was held outdoors. On the other hand, it was due to the hurried arrangement, and Kyushu could not possibly prepare these for her. However, her snow-white turtleneck sweater quite suited her Goddess of Forest image. Jindai Kongyin smiled and said to the reporters, As everyone knows, my father is Chinese, so strictly speaking, this is my homeland. In earlier years in the Island Country, I often struggled with the local food until I had my first taste of fish-fragrant shredded pork back in China, and then I realized I truly belong here. During the talk, Jindai Kongyins eyes were constantly scanning the crowd. It looked as though she was smiling and greeting her fans. In reality, she was searching the crowd for a familiar figure. But to her disappointment, Qing Chen did not show up here. The next reporter suddenly asked, Hello, Miss Jindai Kongyin, there are rumors that you have actually become a Time Traveler and are a core member of the Jindai family. You came to develop in China to avoid being assassinated by the Jindai family, is that so? Nowadays, in the Outer World, there are too many reports about the Inner World, and the keen paparazzi were already publicizing information they had gathered about the Inner World. The trending topics on social media every day are all related to the Inner World. So, they knew about Jindai, knew about Deer Island, knew about the Li Clan... If Jindai Kongyins identity as a Time Traveler was confirmed, then todays press conference news would definitely make the trending searches. Jindai Kongyin was stunned for a moment, she hadnt expected the domestic public to be so well informed. This indicated that someone in the know was leaking information. However, after thinking, she smiled and said, Its true, but I believe my homeland will protect me, so I am not afraid of the Jindai family. Since it couldnt be kept secret, she might as well not hide it. Following that, as expected, a flurry of questions about the Inner World arose, but Jindai Kongyin did not answer them. Realizing they couldnt get more out of her on that topic, the reporters turned to other potentially sensational questions, Miss Jindai Kongyin, do you know any male artists in China? Jindai Kongyin shook her head, Ive just returned to the country, so Im not very familiar yet; I only know a few people. Among these people, is there anyone who matches your ideal type? the reporter asked. The other reporters eyes lit up. Jindai Kongyin smiled, seemingly having anticipated this question, and responded, I already have someone I like, but he is not from the industry. After her reply, a staff member came forward, Todays press conference has concluded, thank you all for coming... Under the protection of the Kyushu members, Jindai Kongyin walked towards the stage. As she left, she glanced back at the crowd, but still saw nothing. ... ... Boss, Jindais people really didnt come, Tang Keke said, Im sure there was no leak on my side. After Kunlun captured their people yesterday, Kunlun is still keeping in touch with those four Time Travelers, although they instructed these four to open the music fountain, likely to make a move, but no assassin showed up. Kyushu Yucheng puzzled, They put a lot of effort into getting the music fountain open, and it certainly wasnt to give Jindai Kongyin a gift. Yeah, He Jinqiu spoke over the communication channel, They werent targeting us; they were aiming for Daylight. Perhaps, the Jindai family members have already reached the Borui Building. Just then, as if to confirm He Jinqius guess, a sudden explosion sounded from the direction of the Borui Building, and everyone turned to look, only to see a huge flame burning at the base of the building, quickly spreading to the rooftop. Among the crowd, Lu Yuan and others exchanged glances, then turned and ran towards the Borui Building! Tang Keke asked, But why? They shouldnt know about Daylight yet, why target them? After all, only a few people know about the existence of the organization Daylight. He Jinqiu laughed and said, They might not know about Daylight, more precisely, they were targeting that incredibly skilled sniper. He Jinqiu continued, This sniper has appeared too frequently recently, and with a top sniper appearing in both the Inner World and Outer World, it naturally leads people to make connections. We assumed, since it was the same person on Xingshu Road and at the 18th City Mayor Street. If we could think that way, so could Jindai and Deer Island. Chapter 517: 331. Whose Trap Is It_2 Chapter 517: 331. Whose Trap Is It_2 But why would Jindai go as far as to kill him, even disregarding Jindai Kongyin? Tang Keke asked. He has disrupted Jindai and Deer Islands actions multiple times, once in Xian City, another time saving Luo Wanya in the Inner World, and yet again saving Li Changqing, He Jinqiu replied with a smile, If I were Jindai and Deer Island, I would want to kill him too. Since Jindai Kongyin has once again started working, she can be killed at any time, but this sharpshooter is hard to find; no one knows his identity. But how could the enemy be sure that he would show up today? Even we didnt know he would appear, Tang Keke wondered aloud. He Jinqiu laughed and said, The key is that they dont know Daytime is an independent organization with no real connection to Kyushu or Kunlun. This sharpshooter seems to have consistently opposed Jindai and Deer Island, and we along with Kunlun have also been continuously opposing Jindai and Deer Island. So, its normal for the enemy to regard this Daytime Boss as part of our camp. Thats why we specifically set a trap for Jindai and Deer Island today. Since we all showed up, it makes sense that the sharpshooter would appear as well. From the enemys perspective, its a very natural assumption. Moreover, the enemy might not be certain; trying their luck at the Borui Building is also a possibility. Boss, I heard you used to be a sharpshooter too? Tang Keke curiously asked, This sniper... He Jinqiu sighed and said, In front of him, I dare not call myself a sharpshooter anymore, the gap is too wide, theres no need for comparison. The Kyushu members were taken aback. He Jinqiu was proud, very proud, and seldom admitted being inferior to others. Yet this time, He Jinqiu readily acknowledged that he was no match for Daytimes boss in terms of sniping. Boss, should we go help Daytime? Tang Keke inquired with curiosity. No need, He Jinqiu responded, Lu Yuan has already taken people there, its meaningless for us to go too. Also, the Time Travelers from Jindai and Deer Island appearing now are surely not their main force. The reverse time-travel plan is what they must complete. Hence, the Time Travelers appearing here are most likely just Genetic Warriors, and judging by the time theyve traveled to the Outer World, the strongest of them are probably just D-Class. D-Class is quite formidable too, boss, Tang Keke noted, Most members of our Kyushu are only D-Class. Strength is relative, He Jinqiu explained, They think a sharpshooters weakness is close combat, but once they actually get close, theyll realize just how naive they were. The terror of that sharpshooter extends far beyond the sniper rifle. Alright, lets escort Jindai Kongyin away, just in case this is a feint to draw us away from something else. Oh, and when you get back to the hotel, remember to order some fish-flavored shredded pork for her; the motherland welcomes her home. ... ... In the conference room on the 17th floor of the Borui Building, Qing Chen was dressed in an air conditioning maintenance uniform, watching the musical fountain on Kaiyuan Lake. He had only heard of the grandeur of this musical fountain but had never had the time to see it for himself. Getting here from his old small room would require transferring between two buses, each ride costing one yuan, so a round trip was four yuan. Back then, Qing Chen was even reluctant to spend that four yuan. He heard the sound of explosions from downstairs and knew the fire was spreading upstairs, but for some reason, Qing Chen just stood by the window, wanting to take in the sight of Asias largest musical fountain. Theyre here, Qing Chen said. He wasnt speaking to someone through a Bluetooth headset but to Liu Dezhu standing behind him. When those footsteps stopped outside the conference room door, Qing Chen finally turned around and, using the pistol issued to him by Kunlun, pulled the trigger at the still unopened glass door of the conference room. Instant chaos ensued outside. In fact, from the beginning, Qing Chen was not the only person in the room. Liu Dezhu had already hidden himself in the conference room, waiting for the arrival of the Jindai assassins. It wasnt that Qing Chen guessed the Jindai familys assassins would definitely come; he knew there would be security from Kyushu and Kunlun at the press conference venue, making Liu Dezhus presence there pointless. It might be better to have all of Daytime lie in wait in the Borui Building for the enemy to come to them. At that moment, Liu Dezhu looked at Qing Chen. He witnessed his classmates transition from stillness to action, from casually watching the musical fountain to suddenly firing his gun and killing. The assassins outside did not rashly burst in. The next second. Someone outside threw a black box that skidded across the floor into the room. A homemade bomb. Qing Chen did not move, but Liu Dezhu suddenly burst into flames, throwing himself over the bomb. Within those flames, Liu Dezhus skin seemed to turn into lava. A loud boom filled the air, but the massive force of the explosion was tightly held within his embrace. In the instant of the explosion, the flames on Liu Dezhus body surged violently, as if gasoline had been poured into a fire, turning the entire conference room orange-red. Yet, the flames quickly retracted back into Liu Dezhu, nullifying the power of the explosion in a blink. This was Liu Dezhus ability. And the reason the boss had him hide in the conference room ahead of time. Thinking of this, Liu Dezhu suddenly felt that his boss seemed to have predicted everything. Not just that the enemy would abandon Jindai Kongyin and head straight for the Borui Building. Chapter 518: 331. Whose Trap Is It_3 Chapter 518: 331. Whose Trap Is It_3 He had guessed that the opponent would use bombs as a method of attack, so he had Liu Dezhu try a new combat method in advance...embracing the bomb to protect his comrades. From within the flames, Liu Dezhu rose to his feet again, feeling his own condition, only to find that the high heat and impact from the explosion hadnt harmed him, but rather intensified his flames. It was as if the enemy was helping him create a home field advantage. He turned to look at Qing Chen and noticed that despite having experienced the explosion, he seemed unharmed and was as calm as ever, his eyes fixed outside the door, utterly unconcerned about the bomb. Just then, hearing the explosion, the assassins outside thought they had succeeded and swarmed toward the conference room. Waiting for them were Qing Chens unshaken hands and the deep barrels of his guns. Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Five consecutive shots. The four assassins who had charged into the conference room didnt even have a chance to stop, all of them reached the door of the room only to have their heads jerked back by the bullets and then collapsed unconscious. The assassins fell one after another, each shot in the forehead, except for the last one, who was shot in the thigh and wrist. Liu Dezhu inwardly exclaimed, witnessing the scene as if the assassins had coordinated with Qing Chen, lining up to be killed. He turned back, shocked at Qing Chens shooting skillsthey were unbeatable! Although one man was not dead, the consecutive three headshots were something Liu Dezhu couldnt achieve even in CrossFire. Qing Chen placed the handgun on the long table in the conference room and then said to Liu Dezhu, Stop dawdling, lets go downstairs. Wait, youre not taking the gun? Liu Dezhu asked. Its out of bullets. Someone from Kunlun will come for it, Qing Chen replied and started walking out, pulling out two rubber bands from his pocket to tie up the hands and feet of the assassin who was not yet dead. Whats this for? Liu Dezhu curiously asked. Leave him for Kunlun to interrogate, Qing Chen replied. Liu Dezhu realized that it wasnt that Qing Chen had missed the fourth person, but had intentionally shot the leg and hand. The first shot hit the wrist, rendering the opponent unable to fire. The second shot hit the thigh, preventing the opponent from running away. Everything was part of Qing Chens plan. Liu Dezhu suddenly realized that from the beginning of the fight until now, Qing Chens expression hadnt changed at all, as if everything was just normal. Qing Chen glanced at him, Although all of you have become Transcendents, you havent experienced real combat. I taught you cultivation before, today I am teaching you how to kill... And the way you actually dared to jump on that bomb earlier, that was impressive. After saying that, he dropped the still-living assassin on the ground, picked up four handguns from the floor, and headed towards the elevator entrance, speaking into his Bluetooth earpiece, Zhang Tianzhen, Nan Gengchen, the fire should be spreading upwards. Hide among the evacuating crowd and dont engage the assassins. Just report their positions to us, they have firearms. Zhang Tianzhen, Nan Gengchen: Roger that. This was Qing Chens coordinated plan. When chaos broke out in the building, Zhang Tianzhen and Nan Gengchen, who had hidden in the building since last night, would blend in with the fleeing crowd and relay the assassins positions to Qing Chen. There was only one emergency exit. Zhang Tianzhen would move up from the 18th floor, and Nan Gengchen from the ground floorthey would eventually encounter the assassins. The snipers were the assassins targets, not the thousands of people in the building, so Zhang Tianzhen and Nan Gengchen were safe. Their task was to observe. At this moment, Liu Dezhu was still pondering behind Qing Chen... Did Qing Chen just compliment him? It must have been a compliment! The two proceeded down the emergency staircase, and Qing Chen handed a handgun to Liu Dezhu, then said, Get familiar with it, but dont shoot. Ah? Why not? Liu Dezhu hesitated. Qing Chen replied, Im afraid youll shoot me. Liu Dezhu: ... Initially, Qing Chen didnt understand how the assassins had precisely located him until he saw, among the recently deceased assassins, the security guard who had issued him a pass that morning. So these people operated in a manner similar to Kyushu, monitoring suspicious individuals entering the building. And the large toolbox Qing Chen carried had caught their attention. Brother Chen, Nan Gengchens voice came through the Bluetooth earpiece, I saw several people with firearms heading upstairs, total of six, they are now on the seventh floor, moving half a floor every three seconds. Got it, Qing Chen positioned himself at the staircase turn between the 16th and 17th floors, quietly leaning against the wall. At that moment, Liu Dezhu suddenly noticed Qing Chen had closed his eyes, seemingly waiting for the assassins to arrive. But was closing his eyes really appropriate at this time? However, soon after, when the first assassins head appeared in their field of view, Liu Dezhu saw Qing Chen open his eyes and pull the trigger at the same time! With a bang, the assassin climbing the stairs was shot in the head, his body reeling backwards, landing on his comrade behind him. Seizing the moment the first assassins body disrupted the other assassins rhythm, Qing Chen swiftly moved out from the staircase turn and continuously pulled the trigger! Even Liu Dezhu behind him was stunned by this small-scale scene. If it werent for the opponents carrying bombs, they wouldnt even need him at all. So, was his role just to embrace the bomb? Previously, after Liu Dezhu was promoted to C-Class, he felt a bit elated, considering there were only a few C-Classes in Time Traveler, and even Qing Chen was just an E-Class. But it wasnt until he actually saw Qing Chen killing people that he realized he was still just a novice. If Qing Chen was that formidable, how terrifying must their boss be? ... A 5000-word chapter, another one at 11 PM tonight. Chapter 519 519: 332. Test of the World "There are no anomalies downstairs anymore, haven''t seen any assassins," spoke Nan Gengchen in a low voice through the Bluetooth headset. "No anomalies upstairs either," followed Zhang Tianzhen, "But I saw oil drums in a room on the 18th floor, it seems someone intentionally placed them there, I suspect there are more downstairs." "Hmm, Liu Dezhu and I will now come down to meet up with you. Tianzhen, you start heading downstairs too," said Qing Chen. Nan Gengchen said, "Chen Brother, the fire below is already huge. It seems they want to burn us alive. It''s practically unbearable to go downstairs now." "It''s okay," Qing Chen glanced at Liu Dezhu, then spoke into the Bluetooth headset, "They don''t know we have a C-Class Fire Element Awakener with us. Let''s meet on the 9th floor." When the fire intensified, flames surged upward, incinerating everything in its path. In such circumstances, the flames soared upward, making it impossible for anyone to pass through the flames below. This might have been the Jindai killer''s plan, if not killing the sniper, then burn him, no one could escape the building alive. Qing Chen''s expression had turned cold. The opposing side was too ruthless, considering there were thousands of office workers in the Borui Building, representing thousands of lives. The opposition had also brought in oil drums. If the fire wasn''t stopped, everyone in the building would die. While the crowd panicked towards the roof for safety, only Daytime members walked down unruffled, making the scene particularly eerie. On the same staircase, left and right felt like distinctly separate worlds. When Qing Chen reached the 9th floor, it was already filled with thick smoke, black smoke roiling along the ceiling like countless black faces screaming within. They encountered no other assassins, everyone successfully convened on the 9th floor. "Chen Brother, the smoke is too thick, we can''t get through," said Nan Gengchen. Liu Dezhu also looked at Qing Chen, "I can absorb heat, but I can''t handle this smoke." Zhang Tianzhen looked at Qing Chen, but he didn''t question him like the others. Qing Chen looked at Zhang Tianzhen, "Don''t you want to ask something?" "No need to ask, you asked us to come down here, so you must have a plan," Zhang Tianzhen didn''t know why he had such an inexplicable trust in Qing Chen. Qing Chen said to Liu Dezhu, "Open the toolbox I asked you to carry." Liu Dezhu was stunned for a moment. After opening the box, he was shocked to find it contained eight dust masks, which in thick smoke could last half an hour. Zhang Tianzhen and the others were surprised, "Did you guess in advance they would set the fire? And having Liu Dezhu carry a bomb disposal kit next to you, did you anticipate that too?" Qing Chen corrected, "The boss thought of it." But this time, Zhang Tianzhen began to doubt. Not for any other reason, but because Qing Chen was too calm. Only someone truly strategizing could display such calmness. At that moment, Qing Chen glanced at them and said, "Before the battle begins, no one can predict what the assassin will do or what price they are willing to pay, so it''s always right to be extra prepared." He continued, "This world never tests for what you''ve prepared, but for what you haven''t." Being unprepared could mean death. After speaking, Qing Chen put on the smoke hood, leading everyone toward the fire. Liu Dezhu walked at the forefront, and suddenly, all the heat began to concentrate on him. It seemed as if the flames came to life, like dragons, diving into his fiery body. Wherever he passed, the flames were quickly extinguished, leaving only the scorched traces on the ground. The three behind him watched in amazement, even Qing Chen felt it was miraculous. If Cultivators are inherently meant for battle, then Awakeners are inherently meant to amaze. The capabilities of an Awakener are too bizarre and novel, eliciting unavoidable envy. As Daytime members descended the building, the fire had just reached the 6th floor. Liu Dezhu laboriously absorbed the flames into his body, taking over twenty minutes to extinguish all the flames. Moreover, after the heat from the burning area was absorbed, the temperature throughout the building dropped significantly. So much so, it felt cold. Qing Chen suddenly thought, are Fire Awakened basically manipulators of energy, rather than just manipulators of flames? The designation ''Fire Awakened'' he had been mislead by from the Inner World had not prompted much thought until now, making him realize how absurdly wrong this terminology was. Burning is merely an intense redox reaction of a substance, and flames are just the manifestation of burning. Energy is the essence. Since most phenomena related to releasing energy are associated with flames, and because it''s most convenient for Awakeners to use flames as their ability, they are called ''Fire Awakened.'' But this term isn''t scientific, at least not pointing to the essence. Qing Chen started to take it seriously. In fact, when Liu Dezhu was defusing a bomb, Qing Chen thought, the essence of an explosion is a substance erupting with massive energy, and what Liu Dezhu absorbed into his body was actually energy as well. Thinking this, Qing Chen looked at Liu Dezhu and asked, "Do you feel like you have the ability to control energies, like electromagnetic or mechanical energy?" "No, I can only transform some energy in my body into heat and release it. I can also absorb heat. The bomb was defused because I absorbed the heat before the explosives could fully combust, but before it ignited, my sensing was very weak," Liu Dezhu explained. Chapter 520 520: 332. Test of the World_2 ``` Qing Chen asked again, "Dezhu, when you absorb heat into your body, do you feel a breakthrough?" Liu Dezhu, while absorbing the energy around him, said, "No, I just feel suffocated and a bit nauseous..." It seemed that the upper limit of strength was the upper limit of Liu Dezhu''s ability to absorb and release energy, releasing too much would exhaust him, and absorbing too much would make him want to breathe fire... Qing Chen said, "Hold on for a while, and we''ll find a deserted place for you to vomit." "Okay..." Liu Dezhu responded. ... ... By the time Lu Yuan and the others arrived, the large fire in the Borui Building had been completely extinguished. It was extinguished so abnormally. Inside the building, some people noticed that the fire was out and hurried downstairs to escape. Lu Yuan grabbed someone and asked, "Has there been a fierce conflict upstairs?" Someone responded, "There are bodies on the stairs on the 16th floor, and also in the 17th-floor conference room! We didn''t dare to get close, so we don''t know what happened." "Thanks," Lu Yuan led his team upstairs. When they reached the 16th floor, Lu Yuan found the bodies of the assassins lying sideways in the safety passage. Arriving at the 17th-floor conference room, they only found a few bodies and some "live captures" who were tied up. Lu Yuan stepped over the captive''s body, looking at the blast marks on the ground and the firearms placed on the conference table. He picked up one of the firearms and glanced at it, noting a serial number on the gun. Lu Yuan said, "This is the firearm Kunlun previously gave to Qing Chen. Daylight even sent the gun back." So there was no need to think further, the Jindai Killer had indeed come after Daylight, and Daylight had solved the problem on his own again. However, Daylight must have had company this time. Xiao Ying looked at Lu Yuan: "Road Team, can you tell what happened?" "It''s simple," Lu Yuan said calmly, "The Jindai Killer wanted to hunt down Daylight''s boss, but they walked into an ambush by Daylight instead. Daylight had anticipated Jindai''s arrival, and the fire downstairs must have been put out by them." Lu Yuan thought, it turned out that they had mistaken the hunter for the prey from the start. In this fight, Daylight was the hunter, and all his concerns had been unnecessary. Moreover, once again, they left the scene without leaving a trace, deep in secrecy and humility. Daylight not only hunted down the killers of the Jindai family but even deliberately left guns and live captures for Kunlun. This made Lu Yuan feel somewhat uneasy, as if everything they wanted to do, intended to do, had been precisely calculated. The other party had figured out that Jindai Killers would come. They anticipated that they would come to support. They predicted that they would find their way to the 17th-floor conference room. They guessed that this gun wouldn''t be taken by anyone. What if the gun had been picked up by someone else? If someone used that gun to kill the innocent, the ballistic comparison would lead back to Daylight. Yet, no one did come to pick up the firearm. Every refugee, upon seeing the bodies at the entrance, decided to keep their distance. What Lu Yuan didn''t know was this. In this world, there is no such thing as a flawless plan. As Qing Chen said, the world never tests what you have prepared for, but rather what you have not prepared for. And using Qing Chen''s nature, he always prepares everything he can, and then faces the world. Lu Yuan wouldn''t know that when the countdown first appeared on the youth''s arm, he even made a point of praying to Buddha. At this moment, Xiao Ying glanced at his phone and said, "Road Team, the boss is back, asking us to return to headquarters." ... ... Within the depths of Lijing Gate, at the Kunlun Headquarters, Zheng Yuandong and He Jinqiu each occupied a Taishi chair, one sipping tea, the other coffee. He Jinqiu exclaimed, "Kunlun''s hospitality has improved. Knowing that I like drinking coffee to stay alert, they prepared coffee specially. However, the quality of the coffee isn''t very high. If it weren''t instant, but hand-ground instead, it would be better." Zheng Yuandong, holding his teacup, said indifferently, "You''re overthinking it. These coffees were just the complimentary instant coffees that Kunlun members brought back from the hotel during their trip to Xian City. Not just coffee, but also free shampoo, shower gel, and soap." He Jinqiu was astonished: "Are you so economical in managing the household? Kunlun isn''t that poor, is it? I know that Kunlun has numerous sources of income. Or is all the money spent on Ergou''s information system?" "That''s none of your concern," Zheng Yuandong, still in his Zhongshan suit, eternally as calm as water, said, "Tell me, what brings you here this time?" He Jinqiu said, "Nothing much. I just want to say that the activities of Kyushu in the territory this time shouldn''t concern the old squad leader too much. After all, these people are Time Travelers, controlled by Jindai and Deer Island, and they should rightly be managed by Kyushu." "You worry too much," Zheng Yuandong said calmly, "Jindai and Deer Island are in a do-or-die situation this time. The more strength we have, the safer the people will be. In the interest of the country, there is no need to split hairs between us. We are not grappling with a power struggle right now, but rather with a situation where our bottom line is being challenged." He Jinqiu put down his coffee and stood up: "It''s best if the old squad leader thinks this way. I won''t disturb you further. As for the intelligence, it will be handed over by Tang Keke to Ergou. During times like these, the two organizations might as well share intelligence. Oh, and please tell Lu Yuan for me, not to always pester Keke. She is Kyushu''s person." Outside, Lu Yuan had just returned, and having heard these words, he shouted before even entering the yard: "Boss He, you really overstep your bounds, don''t you know about the freedom to love?" ``` Chapter 521 521: 332, Test of the World_3 He Jinqiu smiled, "Admirable courage. Alright, let''s go." After speaking, he paid no attention to Lu Yuan and boarded the business van parked at the door. Lu Yuan muttered, "Kyushu really is lavish, eh? Even their business vans are top-notch. Boss, Kyushu''s money can''t be clean, right?" "Don''t make wild guesses," Zheng Yuandong said, "They earn their money overseas, that''s their ability, as long as they don''t harm our own citizens, it''s fine." In fact, since the incident of time-crossing, Kyushu hadn''t been shy about making money overseas and did so by any means necessary. In comparison to those ordinary mercenaries, the Time Traveler was like an adult beating up a child, save for the one in the Beautiful Country, nobody had a way to deal with them. However, this was an unspoken understanding amongst everyone. Kunlun was a domestic organization and couldn''t act as unrestrainedly as Kyushu. So the money came in slower. At this point, Zheng Yuandong put down his teacup, "Let''s talk business, everyone else leave. Xiao Ying, Lu Yuan, you two stay." After all the Kunlun members had left, Zheng Yuandong said, "Xiao Ying, recount the details of the night when Li Changqing was attacked." Xiao Ying recalled carefully, then deliberately narrated all the details once more. However, to everyone''s surprise, after hearing everything, Zheng Yuandong suddenly declared, "I''m certain now, Qing Chen is the Daytime Boss." "What?" Xiao Ying was stunned for a second, "Why, boss? He didn''t leave the Ban Shan Manor at all that night. Right after Li Changqing upgraded my clearance level, I immediately checked; his name is definitely not on that record. That night, he was in the Bao Pu Building." Zheng Yuandong thought for a moment and then asked, "What place is Bao Pu Building?" "The Master of Li Family''s residence," Xiao Ying replied, "The whole Federation knows that." "Right, and that''s the key point," Zheng Yuandong said, "Although it''s hard to believe, Qing Chen now indeed has the privilege of entering and exiting the Bao Pu Building. He can even join the Clan meetings like the second generation of the Li Family and even has a certain degree of influence. I don''t know how he did it, but he certainly did." "And then?" Xiao Ying was puzzled. Zheng Yuandong answered, "The issue lies with the Bao Pu Building. A person who can come and go from the Bao Pu Building even when the Elderly Master of Li Clan is critically ill, couldn''t he alter his own access records? In other words, couldn''t the Bao Pu Building lie for him? From this point of view, I''m not necessarily saying he altered his access records, but rather that the access records can no longer serve as his alibi." "But why are you so sure he is the sniper, the Daytime Boss?" Lu Yuan wondered. Lu Yuan used to work in criminal investigation, but in the end, it always required Zheng Yuandong to unravel the mystery for them. It wasn''t that Lu Yuan was incompetent, but the truth about Daytime had always been hidden deep, with Qing Chen continually masking and changing his identity, leaving everyone dazzled and unable to see the truth. Still, Lu Yuan did not understand why his boss was so certain that Qing Chen was the sniper. Zheng Yuandong said, "First, Qing Chen has an absolute sense of guns. Of course, while there aren''t many, but not too few either, with absolute gun sense within 400 meters, and certainly I and He Jinqiu can manage it. But this at least is a corroborative detail, proving Qing Chen''s foundational skills with firearms. In the past, we always speculated that the Daytime Boss might be a retired military sniper expert, because it''s simply impossible for an ordinary person to train themselves to that level in merely a couple of months." "However, Qing Chen has proven to us that indeed there are people who don''t need so long to master an absolute gun sense. For such extraordinary individuals who can have a 400-meter absolute gun sense within a short period, I''m willing to believe he could be even more formidable." Zheng Yuandong continued, "Secondly, I believe in a woman''s intuition." Lu Yuan: "???" Xiao Ying: "???" They were all set to hear the reasoning, but suddenly the boss was bringing up something mystical? "I''m serious," Zheng Yuandong asked, "Do you guys understand Qing Chen or does Li Changqing understand him better? She has been in close association with Qing Chen. She certainly understands him better." "Do you know more secrets about Qing Chen, or does Li Changqing know more? Surely, Li Changqing knows more." ``` "So, when Li Changqing rushed to the Autumn Leaf Courtyard right after the incident, this was enough to prove that in her mind, the sniper who appeared at Jinmao Tower that night could only be Qing Chen, or at least that''s what she believed." "Finally, if we assume that Qing Chen is indeed the Daytime Boss, then many things start to make sense." Xiao Ying and Lu Yuan looked at each other, not having expected their boss who had just returned from a trip to make such a startling deduction. Zheng Yuandong stood up, "This time I only trust my own judgment; even if there is any evidence to prove that Qing Chen and the Daytime Boss are not the same person, I won''t believe it. It would just be an illusion created by Qing Chen. Remember, only the three of us know about this, it''s one of Kunlun''s top secrets." At this very moment, Liu Dezhu and the others, under the guidance of Hu Xiaoniu, had already returned to villa number 12. However, at this time they discovered that Qing Chen and Nan Gengchen had not yet returned. They had left the scene separately. After picking up Liu Dezhu, Hu Xiaoniu even found a place for him to vent his fury, which took quite a while to subside. Given that, Qing Chen and Nan Gengchen should have been home by now. "Could something have happened to Brother Chen and Nan Gengchen?" Liu Dezhu also started calling Qing Chen "Brother Chen," following Nan Gengchen''s address. "Make a call," Zhang Tianzhen said, "to see if we can get through." All members of Daytime were suddenly anxious. It was an extremely dangerous day, what if Qing Chen and Nan Gengchen had encountered an enemy after they had left? The call connected, and Qing Chen spoke up, "Have you arrived home?" Liu Dezhu: "We''re home, we''re home." "Did you finish venting? Any anomalies," Qing Chen asked. "Finished venting, no anomalies, just a bit fired up, urine''s a bit yellow..." Liu Dezhu inquired, "Brother Chen, how come you haven''t come back yet?" "Oh, we''re dealing with some matters, it''s fine, don''t worry," Qing Chen replied. "Okay," Liu Dezhu hung up the phone relieved, "We were overthinking it, they''re fine." "Yeah, it''s good that they''re fine," Hu Xiaoniu said. Right after hanging up the call, Qing Chen turned to look at the traffic officer in front of him. Only to hear the officer patiently explain, "Remember not to carry passengers on an electric bike in the future, and also, you need to wear a helmet when riding an electric bike, did you know that? This time since you''re students, I''ll just give you a verbal warning, but next time you''ll be fined." Qing Chen and Nan Gengchen: "Understood, Officer..." The reason the two still hadn''t made it home was simply because they were caught carrying a passenger on an electric bike without helmets, and got held back for a traffic lecture... ... A 5000-word chapter, with 10,000 words updated today, still owe one more update for Sea Soul Clothing, and owe another one. Thanks to little white kitty, LL sauce at can''t get motivated, neither black nor white, Aurora of the White Night, and Fu Yi is not Puyi for becoming new allies of this book. Thanks to I am big white for becoming the new member of the Silver City Alliance of this book. Bosses are generous, may the bosses never fall ill! Old debts are still outstanding, new debts pile up, in pain and yet joyous... ``` Chapter 522 522: 333, the long-awaited letter Fact proved, Even if you had just saved an entire building full of people, traffic rules still had to be followed. Even saving the whole world wouldn''t make a difference. And this also proved that nobody in this world could truly plan for every eventuality. Despite Qing Chen''s meticulousness, he had overlooked the rule that required a helmet when riding an electric scooter. Nan Gengchen borrowed another shared electric scooter and rode alongside Qing Chen. He curiously asked, "Brother Chen, why does the Jindai family specifically target you? Even if you have disrupted their plans several times, shouldn''t they be focusing all their efforts on the reverse time-travel plan now? The plan would only work if they could replace key figures of the Li family with Time Travelers, causing chaos within the Li''s ranks and leveraging their advantage on the battlefield. Compared to that, a sniper doesn''t seem to be the top priority, does it?" Qing Chen thought for a moment and said, "I''ve been thinking about this too. Even though they control many Time Travelers, it seems irrational to risk exposing themselves and lose more than a dozen Time Travelers. It would only provoke further hatred from the sniper unless..." Nan Gengchen was puzzled for a moment, "Unless what?" "Unless among those chosen for their reverse time-travel operation, there''s someone the sniper would certainly save," Qing Chen said calmly. "For example, Li Changqing." Qing Chen believed that this was the most rational explanation. It was widely known that in the Inner World, the sniper had already risked everything to save Li Changqing once. Moreover, he had risked being tracked and hadn''t relocated his position, constantly exerting pressure on the Jindai assassins to buy Li Changqing time. So, if Li Changqing from the Outer World was already in the crosshairs of the Jindai and Deer Island reverse time-travel plan, only then would they genuinely worry about the sniper interfering again. Moreover, once Li Changqing from the Inner World was truly replaced, that would mean a mortal feud between Jindai and the sniper. In a low voice, Nan Gengchen asked, "Brother Chen, could Li Yinuo also be among those intended for replacement?" "Not likely, but we still need to be careful," Qing Chen replied. "Li Yinuo isn''t important enough to influence the battle for the Li family since she doesn''t hold any official position. However, if the other side really finds her, nothing is certain." After returning to the villa complex, they had just approached their villa when they noticed four people sitting on small stools in the shadow of the trees lining the road. The moment they saw Qing Chen and Nan Gengchen, they stood up and bowed simultaneously. It was as if emulating the aura of a big shot coming home... However, compared to this scene, the electric scooters ridden by Qing Chen and Nan Gengchen seemed incredibly out of place. "Brother Chen, are these undercover agents arranged by Luo Wanya..." "Yes," Qing Chen nodded. "Although it''s more about appearances than meaningful protection, these people could at least serve as an early warning in case someone tries to infiltrate the place." He stopped his electric scooter and said to two of them, "Take these shared electric scooters outside of the complex; also, inform Luo Wanya to buy a few electric scooters to keep here for future use." It wasn''t that Qing Chen didn''t like luxury cars. Of course, he liked those supercars renowned for accelerating from zero to a hundred kilometers per hour in just over two or three seconds. But Qing Chen was simply too pragmatic. He knew that in the city, electric scooters were the fastest and most efficient option, and for this reason, he was willing to forgo grandeur during the day. Daylight was not yet a large organization; everything was about efficiency to move them forward faster. Inside the villa, Qing Chen found Nan Gengchen, Liu Dezhu, and others gathered around Hu Xiaoniu, who was holding the handgun Qing Chen had previously given to Liu Dezhu. Seeing Qing Chen return, Liu Dezhu said somewhat embarrassedly, "Brother Chen, may I give the gun you gave me to Xiaoniu?" "Why?" Qing Chen asked. "A man who doesn''t like gunswhy are you just giving it away to him?" "Now that everyone, even XiaoTongyun, has become a Cultivator, only Xiaoniu lacks some means of self-defense, so I thought this gun could be used to protect him." By now, all members of Daylight had experienced several coordinated combat operations and were no longer disorganized. The gesture of Liu Dezhu giving away the gun could be seen as validation of this. In his former days, Liu Dezhu was someone who coveted whatever he could get his hands on. For him to offer something of his own accord was a notable progression. Hu Xiaoniu looked at Qing Chen, who nodded in return, "That''s fine, but there''s no need for complications; in a few days, I''ll teach you all about firearms. Just one gun, thoughif the organizations next door saw that, they might think Daylight to be quite stingy. Here, one for each person." As he spoke, everyone watched as Qing Chen pulled out four handguns and placed them on the coffee table. These were weapons he had taken from the assassins before leaving the Borui Building, along with additional magazines, fully loaded with eight rounds each. Nan Gengchen was dumbfounded. Even the traffic cop who had stopped them and lectured them for thirty minutes probably had no idea that the youth he had admonished was hiding so many weapons... Damn dangerous! However, just then, amidst the handguns on the coffee table, a letter slowly materialized out of thin air. All faces looked at each other in bewilderment. Qing Chen unfolded the letter, which read: "Congratulations on your new home." "This is hinting that they already know our new address," Liu Dezhu muttered. "What do they want to do? They surely won''t try to bomb us, will they?" If it were any other Time Traveler, they likely wouldn''t have the chance to bring such fearsome heavy weapons into the country''s restrictive environment. But Huan Yu was different. If he could bring items like the border-011 drone from the Inner World, it meant he had a way of transporting objectssuch methods were indefensible. The next moment, another letter appeared, "Don''t worry, I won''t use any underhanded methods." It was as if the other party had guessed what Daylight was thinking and immediately provided an explanation. The third letter appeared, containing an extremely important piece of intelligence related to Jindai and Deer Islandit was the secret operation route of one of the other party''s branches. Liu Dezhu wondered, "Doesn''t the boss have a grudge against the holder of the Devil''s Stamp? Why would the other party give us intelligence for free?" Qing Chen replied calmly, "Because he has a grudge against Jindai and Deer Island too, and hopes we will both be hurt in the skirmish." This was an open move; even if Daylight knew Huan Yu''s intentions, he had to go anyway. From the several letters sent by Huan Yu, it was evident that although their forces in Los Angeles City had suffered greatly, they still had a foundation there. At present, if Huan Yu''s strength hadn''t been compromised by Qing Chen, then the scale of their organization was no smaller than that of Jindai or Deer Island. By now, Qing Chen had realized that this Huan Yu must be one of the few powerful individuals within the Chen Clan or Qing''s Family who could control Time Travelers. Only in this way could such a powerful intelligence system be acquired in such a short period of time. Otherwise, just relying on letters to recruit Time Travelers would take forever. Was it someone from Qing''s Family or the Chen Clan? It was more likely the Chen Clan, because if it were someone from Qing''s Family, Mr. Shadow wouldn''t have allowed it. At this moment, Qing Chen suddenly felt that Daylight''s intelligence capabilities, both in the Inner World and Outer World, were far behind other organizations. Others knew information that they could only obtain by luck. If he wanted to solve this, then the most efficient first step might be to join Qing''s Spy Agency, which was also what Mr. Shadow was most hoping to see. However, joining the Spy Bureau wasn''t the end goal; if Qing Chen could become Qing''s shadow, then couldn''t the Time Travelers controlled by Qing''s Family also be put to his use? Now, Qing''s shadow seemed to be plotting something big, as they still hadn''t seen any action from the Time Travelers controlled by Qing''s Family; these people were lying low. In the current domestic situation, the largest organizations on the surface were Kyushu and Kunlun, Jindai, and Deer Island, followed by some smaller civilian groups such as Huan Yu and Daylight. But if you think deeply, you would realize that the Time Travelers of the Li Family and Qing''s Family had not yet appeared, and these two forces should not be underestimated. To join Qing''s Spy Agency, would that be following Shadow''s plan? And then the second method for increasing Daylight''s intelligence gathering ability was to let people like Luo Wanya grow rapidly, quickly becoming Daylight''s moat. Daylight needed a loyal and broad moat. Thinking of this, Qing Chen made up his mind. He was a very pragmatic person; he would walk both paths, as the Pratyeka Path itself was the most suitable cultivation method for controlling an organization. Human desires are infinite. Once one cultivates the First Breathing Technique, they naturally want the second, and Qing Chen just needed to keep the Pratyeka Path firmly in his hands, ensuring Luo Wanya and his subordinates would always need him. Just then, Zhang Tianzhen suddenly said, "Shouldn''t we hurry and tell the boss about this? We can''t make this decision." "Hmm," Qing Chen glanced at him and said, "Xiao Niu, you send it." Hu Xiaoniu sent the content of all three letters to the group, with Zhang Tianzhen occasionally glancing at Qing Chen. The next second, the boss replied in the group, "Got it, I''ll think about the plan." Zhang Tianzhen was visibly stunned, because Qing Chen hadn''t touched his phone, yet the boss had already replied. Qing Chen said to everyone, "Before the boss figures out a strategy, everyone should continue their cultivation." After speaking, he led everyone into a meditative state, and even Hu Xiaoniu went back to the basement to continue training. At that moment, Yi sent a message, "Charging a thousand dollars per message for this kind of thing isn''t too much, right?" Qing Chen replied irritably, "You''re thinking too much. Daylight has already taken shape now; we have established a basis of trust with each other. It doesn''t matter if they know I''m the boss; I can''t give you that price." Yi thought for a moment, "How about a hundred dollars per message? That''s not too much, right?" "Deal," Qing Chen said, "But... have you really become this short on cash?" Yi replied, "My ability in the Outer World is very weak; earning money is too hard. But I''m about to have money soon. Someone told me he is a President from the Middle East seeking refuge, with a large amount of money stored in a Swiss bank, but he lacks the travel expenses to retrieve it. He needs me to support him with five thousand dollars, and after it''s done, he''ll share half with me." Qing Chen: "..." ... Today I only managed to write 3,000 words; I have been sick since the day before yesterday and still haven''t recovered. After taking the medicine, my mind feels foggy, and I don''t dare to write more in the climax section, fearing mistakes. This month, I''ve cumulatively updated 296,000 words, and I was hoping for a nice conclusion, but the sickness came unexpectedly. What I can guarantee is that the update will exceed 300,000 words this month, averaging 10,000 words a day. Asking for a monthly pass; I feel like if I get more monthly passes, I might recover sooner... (manually dog head) Chapter 523 523: 334, Qings Family Time Traveler ``` Countdown 144:00:00. Midnight, 12 o''clock. Neatly lined up in front of the Daybreak Villa were rows of electric bikes, Yadea, Xiao Niu, all brands present. Qing Chen had considered other modes of transportation, such as motorcycles. But motorcycles require a driver''s license, and Hu Xiaoniu and Zhang Tianzhen had obtained their C1 driver''s licenses early through improper means via their families, but it was not like Qing Chen and the others were willing to go as far as to ask Hu Dacheng to do such a trivial favor. If Qing Chen and Nan Gengchen were stopped by traffic police while riding motorcycles, it would be more than just a thirty-minute verbal lecture. Luo Wanya was very efficient, completing the tasks that Qing Chen had assigned in the afternoon by evening. And most crucially, this local serpent with thirty years of experience had fully grasped Qing Chen''s intentions. All the electric bikes he had purchased were second-hand, none brand new. Moreover, all of them were of different models. Interested, Qing Chen asked, "Why did you buy all second-hand? It would be normal for you to buy the highest standard according to your personality. I wouldn''t be surprised even if you drove a fleet of Teslas here." Luo Wanya replied with an embarrassed smile, "Buying second-hand doesn''t attract too much attention for being too new, and choosing different models is to facilitate your operations so that people won''t remember the specific models of the electric bikes. Being too uniform could easily give us away." Too many people mechanically execute a task when instructed by their leader, never considering the leader''s reasons for assigning that task. But Luo Wanya was different; he had his own thoughts. Daybreak already owned two luxury cars worth two million each, so why would they need electric bikes? Surely they wanted to keep a low profile. So, under the premise of ensuring the performance of the electric bikes, Luo Wanya chose the ones that were the most discreet. He said to Qing Chen, "Don''t judge by the old shells, but the parts inside, including the batteries, have all been replaced with new ones." Qing Chen nodded, "Lao Luo, your thirty years in the jianghu were not in vain. The boss said just yesterday that Daybreak needs talents like you." Luo Wanya was ecstatic inside. The shift from General Luo to Lao Luo, along with the olive branch the boss had proactively offered, all indicated that his recent hard work had not been in vain. He said excitedly, "If you say so, then all I have done is worthwhile." Qing Chen could not distinguish whether the sly fox''s words were true or just skilled deceit. After so many years in the jianghu, the other party''s acting skill had reached perfection. However, Qing Chen didn''t need to differentiate between truth and lies; there is no such thing as unprovoked loyalty in this world. He just needed Luo Wanya to be willing to work. After some thought, he said, "Bring the twelve subordinates of the Time Traveler over to the courtyard, and come along yourself." Luo Wanya was puzzled. What did that mean? Still, he did as told. Shortly after, the twelve of them were sitting earnestly in the Sunlight Room in the courtyard. The Sunlight Room was thirty square meters in size, completely made of glass, probably a place where the original owner entertained and sipped tea. Now, Qing Chen had Luo Wanya and the others throw away all the tables, chairs, tea sets, and tea boards in the Sunlight Room, leaving it completely empty. Luo Wanya felt it was a pity, "Why throw away everything here? It would be nice to drink tea and relax when you''re free." Qing Chen glanced at him, "We haven''t reached the point of strength where we can afford to sit back and enjoy tea." Luo Wanya''s expression turned serious, "Understood." "Go on, sit down on the ground too," Qing Chen then squeezed the wrist of one of Luo Wanya''s subordinates, inducing a deep, meditative state. Luo Wanya was stunned. So this was to impart cultivation techniques, no wonder it was so solemn! Zhang Tianzhen glanced at him and said, "You guys are getting a good deal. This is the method of cultivation, which will allow you to stand in the Inner World." He then seriously assumed the role of the enforcer, "But remember, this is not given for nothing. If there is betrayal against the organization, we''ll naturally take care of it." Luo Wanya promptly assured, "Don''t worry, that will never happen!" Qing Chen brought all thirteen people in front of him into deep meditation. At that moment, Nan Gengchen stepped in front of Luo Wanya and, as if testing, placed his palm on the top of Luo Wanya''s head. Immediately, Nan Gengchen turned to Qing Chen, "Brother Chen, after completing the Grand Circulation, it seems I can also perform Empowerment on others." Surprised, Qing Chen said, "Keep trying, see if you can help Luo Wanya illuminate his first node." "Alright," Nan Gengchen placed his palm again on Luo Wanya''s crown chakra. As Zhunti True Qi continuously flowed from him, Luo Wanya opened his eyes, "My first node has been illuminated!" Amazed, Qing Chen turned to Nan Gengchen, "How many nodes can your Zhunti True Qi illuminate at once for him?" "Two," Nan Gengchen assessed. "Good, use up all your Zhunti True Qi at once, and see how long it takes to recover," Qing Chen instructed. He suddenly realized that this Zhunti technique was practically a divine artifact for swiftly elevating the ''group level.'' It reminded him of the principle of ''from one, two are born; from two, three; and from three, all things are created.'' He could use Knight Vital Energy to quickly advance the cultivation levels of Nan Gengchen, Zhang Tianzhen, and Li Tongyun. And once these three completed the Grand Circulation, they could help him with the pressure of subsequent expansions. Although initial progress was slow, if the number of those who completed the Grand Circulation increased, then Daybreak could mass-produce E-Class cultivators. Although E-Class wasn''t high, the threshold for intelligence officers in large organizations was just E-Class, with core members considering promotion to D-Class or higher, and only the most central figures were allowed to complete a full set of Genetic Potion. ``` Chapter 524 524: 334, Qings Family Time Traveler_2 For a fledgling organization like Daylight, having a group of E-Class cultivators was already enough. At least, the speed of cultivation was much faster than using Genetic Potions! Once, an old man had said that within this mysterious organization with the power of Zhunti, women had become nothing but breeding tools. They were relentlessly forced to give birth, presumably to expand the clan, and then used The Method of Empowerment to increase the clan''s strength. However, Qing Chen was pondering a question: If this mysterious organization with the power of Zhunti had been driven out of Great Snow Mountain by Fire Pit, could it be that Fire Pit''s influence was even more formidable than imagined? No wonder the Federation had always been reluctant to expend effort to root out Fire Pit in Southwest Snow Mountain. On one hand, it was due to the complex terrain of the snow-covered mountains and the high-altitude areas not being suitable for the mechanized warfare of Federal Group forces. On the other hand, it could be that Fire Pit, entrenched in Southwest Snow Mountain, was not so easily provoked. Thinking this, Qing Chen turned and walked back into the house, "Starting today, I''ll perform Empowerment on Zhang Tianzhen alone. After he completes the Grand Circulation, I''ll do the same for XiaoTongyun. Once you''ve completed the Grand Circulation, Luo Wanya''s people will be your responsibility." The moat that protected Daylight needed to grow up quickly. ... ... Countdown 135:00:00. Monday morning at 9 o''clock. The weather was getting colder and colder. Lu Yuan and Xiao Ying headed to National Treasure Garden Villa District early in the morning. They had received instructions from Zheng Yuandong to have a detailed discussion with Qing Chen. As the two of them drove into the villa district and were close to the standalone house at number 12, Xiao Ying began to press the brakes to slow down, waiting for the hidden guards to come over and interrogate them... However, when Lu Yuan saw the hidden guards lurking in the woods, he suddenly froze. "These people have cultivated; their state is completely different from two days ago, even their eyes are different. This is the change that comes after cultivation!" Lu Yuan remarked. "Wait, did Daylight just teach the orthodox methods of cultivation to these societal idlers?" Xiao Ying asked curiously. Lu Yuan calmly replied, "It seems like Daylight feels their members are too few to deal with future crises, so they plan to cultivate their own forces." Xiao Ying: "But isn''t he afraid that after these people learn the cultivation methods, they won''t listen to him?" Lu Yuan thought for a moment, "With Qing Chen''s character, anything you can think of, he would have already considered. So, he must have a countermeasure in place." At this moment, the hidden guards came forward to inquire, "We saw you two the night before last, you''re from Kunlun, right?" "Yes, I''m here to see Liu Dezhu and the others," Lu Yuan replied while noticing the hidden iron rods in the sleeves of these people, seemingly ready to be drawn out at any moment for a beating. "They are not at home," one of the hidden guards said. "Hmm?" Lu Yuan was taken aback, "Where did they go so early in the morning?" "Oh, they''ve left a message. If someone comes looking for them, tell them they''ve gone to school," the hidden guard replied. Lu Yuan was stunned for a full two seconds. Indeed, Mondayit was time for school. But the recent activities of Daylight had almost made everyone forget that they were all students! The things that Daylight had been doing were not what students should be doing at all. In all of Los Angeles City, there were many Time Travelers, with various schools being important hubs. Firstly, Time Travelers were likely to appear among students, and a school with thousands of people made it easy to concentrate Time Travelers. Furthermore, with students interacting with each other daily, bursting with energy and driven by curiosity and vanity, and with no deep-seated schemes, they were more prone to reveal themselves and gather together. Several schools had already formed small Time Traveler organizations; Daylight was, in fact, one of them. But none of the student Time Traveler organizations got involved in major events as frequently as Daylight did! Even if those students formed organizations, they were just trifles, thinking about how to make money and survive. To put it bluntly, 99% of the student Time Traveler organizations across the country were more like study groups... Some in the Inner World were even struggling to find food. Of course, some were doing quite well. For instance, someone who had just traveled through time became a tycoon''s scion and even managed to hide their Time Traveler identity through some means, without being discovered. Centered on that Time Traveler, such a group could make life more comfortable for a bunch of students. For example, in Luo Yi High School of Los Angeles, there was one such group. But looking at those student organizations and then at Daylight, Lu Yuan found it really hard to consider Daylight a student Time Traveler organization... Lu Yuan looked at one of the hidden guards: "You were cultivating just now, weren''t you? Did Qing Chen or Liu Dezhu teach you this method of cultivation?" But the hidden guard didn''t answer a word, only urging them to leave quickly. Lu Yuan said to the hidden guard, "We''re just asking out of curiosity. Don''t rush us off." However, Xiao Ying stepped on the gas in reverse gear, "Road Team, let''s go. I see two hidden guards behind us have already begun stealthily pulling out their pipes..." It must be said that the people under Luo Wanya were rash enough to fight with anyone. If push came to shove, Xiao Ying alone could take care of all of them. But in Qing Chen''s view, being rash was the deficit and also the advantage of these people. After the car started backing up, Lu Yuan jumped out on his own and said to Xiao Ying, "Just stay here and watch them. Let me know immediately once Daylight''s people return." Chapter 525 525: 334, Qings Family Time Traveler_3 "Received," Xiao Ying said. ... ... Los Angeles Foreign Language School. Today, class 3 of the second year unexpectedly welcomed two new transfer students, a boy and a girl. The boy was named Qi Duo, and the girl was named Zhang Lanjin, and they knew each other. However, students in Los Angeles had already grown accustomed to the arrival of transfer students and no longer found them surprising. What was unexpected, though, was that these two did not transfer from other places, but from Luo Yi High School. Luo Yi High School is the best high school in Los Angeles City. Initially, Qing Chen''s entry scores were high enough that he should have gone there. But because there were too many good students there, Luo Yi High had no plans to offer him a tuition waiver, so Qing Chen chose Los Angeles Foreign Language School instead. It was the place with the highest quality of student intake in the city and also the place most likely to produce the top scorer of the city. If during family gatherings for the holidays someone mentioned their child at got into Luo Yi High, they''d need to open a bottle of Maotai to celebrate, to match the level of the surprise. It''s said that people aspire to climb higher, so why would good students transfer to a worse school? Some asked them if they had been expelled from Luo Yi High, but they said they hadn''t been. After these two transfer students arrived, they didn''t take time to familiarize themselves with the environment but instead immediately started asking around the school if there were any well-known Time Travelers. The answer they got was that the class next to Liu Dezhu''s was almost entirely composed of Time Travelers... Qing Chen, observing their inquiries, suddenly realized that these two students were probably here for the Time Travelers as well. "Brother Chen, I heard from a middle-school classmate that the Time Travelers at Luo Yi High School have formed an organization called ''Freemasonry,'' which includes over eighty people, including all the Time Travelers and transfer students at Luo Yi High. It''s considered a quite prestigious organization among the city''s school-based Time Travelers," Nan Gengchen whispered. "Could these two be from Freemasonry?" "They must be," Qing Chen said. "Then what are they doing at Los Angeles Foreign Language School?" Nan Gengchen wondered. "Every organization sets out on a path of expansion after its establishment, and only a few sober minds can curb this desire," Qing Chen said. "These students are touted as the most intelligent in Los Angeles, so it''s normal for them to want to unite all the high-school Time Travelers. In this way, a vast Freemasonry organization emerges, a large student Time Travel organization." Nan Gengchen curiously said, "Should we also recruit some classmates to expand a bit? That Freemasonry definitely can''t be as formidable as ''Daytime,'' right?" After all, ''Daytime'' in both the Inner and Outer Worlds, was no match for ordinary Time Travelers, not to mention that Qing Chen''s status as the ''Future Imperial Instructor'' alone was something many Time Travelers looked up to throughout their lives. Qing Chen shook his head: "We are not expanding, at least we do not need these students to fill our organization. We need people like Luo Wanya, those who have been tested by crisis events and will not lose their composure in critical moments." "Makes sense, better to have none than have bad ones," Nan Gengchen nodded. Qing Chen said, "Ask your middle school classmate to see if he knows what Freemasonry''s plans are." Nan Gengchen sent a message to his middle-school classmate via WeChat. After receiving a reply, he looked up at Qing Chen and said, "Brother Chen, you really guessed right. Freemasonry has split off more than twenty students who can persuade their parents, and they''ve transferred to various high schools to set up local Freemasonry branches to expand their scale. Freemasonry also has a managing committee, and the chairman is a senior named Nangong Yuanyu, who is also a top student, who has always been the top of his grade in his second year, and has already secured a sponsored admission to Tsinghua University, so he has plenty of time." "Let them go," Qing Chen said. These students maintained a kind of enthusiasm and optimism that adults lack, establishing their organization as if founding a school student council. Qing Chen had no ground to judge whether their action was good or bad, but it definitely lacked subtlety. Wait a minute. Qing Chen suddenly felt something was amiss. Assuming that the chairman of Freemasonry, Nangong Yuanyu, was a high-IQ top student, how could he not understand the importance of being low-profile? If he did know, then why would he openly recruit members, making such a basic mistake? This made Qing Chen sceptical. During the first break, Qi Duo and Zhang Lanjin, the two transfer students, went directly to the neighboring class and found that group of wealthy transfer students. Qing Chen and Nan Gengchen also went to the hallway to see what these two were planning to do. They heard the male student, Qi Duo, say to a wealthy classmate, "Would you consider joining our Freemasonry? Freemasonry now has over ninety high-school members. In the Outer World, we can exchange information, and in the Inner World, we can look out for each other. Moreover, we also organize inter-school Time Traveler networking events in the Outer World from time to time and organize everyone to explore the world in the Inner World, increasing the chances of survival in the Inner World." The wealthy classmate was curious: "Explore the world in the Inner World? What do you mean, what are you planning to do?" Qi Duo patiently explained, "For instance, we''re planning to organize a trip soon to leave City 18 and explore the wilderness beyond. Not only that, but we''re also planning to take a tour around the periphery of Taboo Land 002, to see that legendary giant tree. But don''t worry, we won''t venture inside Taboo Land and put everyone in danger." Chapter 526 526: 334, Qings Family Time Traveler_4 "Going to the Taboo Land?" the rich second generation exclaimed, "Can you guys leave the city?" Qi Duo said, "Right now, City 18 is even more dangerous than the Taboo Land. Chairman Nangong is taking everyone away to temporarily avoid that place." Zhang Lanjin smiled, "This is also one of our organization''s advantages. You all don''t need to ask how we can take everyone out, just be assured we can definitely get the visas sorted." Upon hearing this, Qing Chen fell into deep thought. It looked like among these students, there were connections to the Federation''s immigration bureau. Moreover, the intent of Freemasonry was very clear: they did not want these students to get caught up in the turmoil of City 18, preserving this strategic resource. Qing Chen suddenly pondered. Could it be that the Time Travelers under the control of the Li Family or Qing''s Family were expanding the influence of the Outer World in a special way? Now, the Time Travelers from Jindai, Deer Island, and the Chen Clan had all been active, but the Li Family and Qing''s Family had been unusually silent, which was very strange. If the key leaders of Freemasonry were from the Li Family or Qing''s Family, then many things could be explained. If all these Time Travelers were in the hands of that Mr. Shadow, what was he staying hidden for? At that moment, the rich second-generation guy suddenly said, "Joining Freemasonry isn''t a problem either, it''s just that we can''t go exploring the wilderness." "Why not?" Qi Duo asked curiously. The rich second-generation replied with a mix of reserve and pride, "We''re going to enter Prison No. 10!" Qi Duo, Zhang Lanjin: "???" Qing Chen: "..." Nan Gengchen: "..." As they searched for Liu Dezhu in the crowd, they found him heading down towards the restroom with his head lowered, seemingly wishing to avoid this topic. After a long pause, Qi Duo asked, "All of you are going into prison?" The rich second-generation answered, "That''s right, everyone!" "Then why do you still seem so happy about it?" Qi Duo said, unable to hold back a laugh. The rich second-generation said mysteriously, "You know Liu Dezhu? Brother Liu is currently inside Prison No. 10. We''re going there to join him. Why don''t you forget about Freemasonry and come to Prison No. 10 with us... Brother Liu? Where did Brother Liu go? He was just here a moment ago, wasn''t he?" Zhang Lanjin looked at this group of rich second-generation kids and suddenly regretted inviting them to join Freemasonry. "Excuse me," Qi Duo turned and left. "This bunch doesn''t seem to have any value to recruit," Zhang Lanjin followed him, "I have a middle school classmate here, maybe we should go and learn about the situation at Los Angeles Foreign Language School from him?" Qi Duo thought for a moment, "Alright, what''s your classmate''s name and which class is he in?" "His name is Wang Jiale, he''s in Senior 2 Class 7. He mentioned in our middle school chat group before, that there''s a very formidable Time Traveler at Los Angeles Foreign Language School," Zhang Lanjin said. ... ... Otaru Cuisine in the Luo Long District. He Jinqiu was eating scallop sashimi by herself, the red and white flesh dipped in green wasabi and soy sauce creating a unique blend of spicy flavors. With each bite, He Jinqiu savored the moment. A young man pushed the door open, and as the door swung open, it struck the welcoming wind chimes at the entrance, producing a clear and tinkling sound. He sat down in front of He Jinqiu, smiling as he said, "Mr. He seems to be in good spirits. My name is Ji Guanya, and it''s nice to meet you for the first time. Please take good care of me." "I''m idle anyway," He Jinqiu responded indifferently, "What''s the matter, are you worried Kyushu isn''t taking the situation with Jindai and Deer Island seriously? The next time you travel back, you can convey to Li Changqing and Li Yunshou that since Kyushu has promised to cooperate with them, we won''t go back on our word." The young man sitting across from him, Ji Guanya, was none other than the leader of the Time Travelers for the Li Family in the Outer World, responsible for liaising with Kyushu on all matters. The person who could take on such a role was no ordinary individual. Contrary to what many people imagined, that Time Travelers must be controlled to willingly work for conglomerates, Ji Guanya was free in the Inner World and could adapt and act on his own initiative in the Outer World. To have gained such trust from Li Yunshou, he must possess extraordinary qualities. Ji Guanya said with a smile, "I''m not worried, Mr. He, you''re overthinking it." "Hmm, let''s have dinner first," He Jinqiu said calmly, as if the matter of cooperating with the Li Family was not significant enough to concern him, perhaps even less important than the piece of Arctic shell between his chopsticks. "I''ve always been quite surprised," Ji Guanya said, "Mr. He, why are you willing to cooperate with the Li Family?" He Jinqiu said with a smile, "Li Changqing and I are both Directors of Hu''s Information Agency, so isn''t it normal for us to look out for each other? Besides, I am not helping for nothing, right?" As part of the exchange for the cooperation in the Outer World, Li Changqing had to vote for He Jinqiu at the next term change to support him in becoming the Executive Director of Hu''s Information Agency. That''s what He Jinqiu wanted. Many people thought that there was a natural hatred between the people of the Outer World and those from the Inner World, but that was the case for Ordinary People; conglomerates were a machine, concerned only with matters related to their interests. This was why, after a brief bout of anger, conglomerates immediately protected and controlled Time Travelers as strategic resources. He Jinqiu picked up the white towel next to him and wiped his mouth. He took out the ''correct Gold Coin'' from his chest and habitually twiddled it between his fingers. He asked leisurely, "I''m curious, where are the Li Family''s Time Travelers? For such a life-and-death matter, they don''t come to deal with it themselves and instead want to cooperate with me." "This is also a sign of full trust in Kyushu. We believe Mr. He is a trustworthy person, and we have more important things to do," Ji Guanya replied with a smile. He Jinqiu smiled, "I hope everyone remains trustworthy. That way, you''ll have a way to survive in the Outer World. By the way, aren''t you going to eat something?" Ji Guanya didn''t seem affected by the threat. He stood up and said with a smile, "I''ve got some matters to attend to so I won''t disturb Mr. He during your meal. Although I know Kyushu has a strong intelligence capability, I must still remind you, Jindai and Deer Island are planning an all-in move within the territory, and there will be masters showing up, the real Chosen Ones." He Jinqiu said, "I know. Those two people have already killed more than a dozen of Kyushu''s peripheral agents. I''ve been chasing them for seven days and nights but haven''t been able to find them. However, I believe they have already quietly arrived in Los Angeles City." "As long as Mr. He is aware of the situation, that''s good," said Ji Guanya. "I have another question," He Jinqiu asked, "What about the Qing''s Family Time Travelers? Why haven''t we seen them since the time-travel incident started?" "All of Qing''s Family Time Travelers are controlled by that Mr. Shadow. No one can guess what he''s planning," Ji Guanya shook his head. He Jinqiu furrowed his brows. Having a force always lurking within one''s own territory without ever revealing its intentions was not a good sign. However, just then, a young woman at the neighboring table chuckled and said, "You two don''t need to worry about anything. Qing''s shadow has asked me to tell you both that he has no schemes. He won''t be a shadow for much longer, and when the time comes, all the power in his hands will be passed on to the next Shadow. Right now, he''s just accumulating a little more wealth for the other side." He Jinqiu laughed and said, "You''ve been pretending for so long, and finally couldn''t help speaking up. To be honest, this is my first encounter with someone from Qing''s Family in the Outer World... quite an interesting meeting." ... A 7,000-word chapter, there will be another one in the evening, but it''s expected to be a bit later than usual Chapter 527 527: 335, the ceiling of math competitions, Qing Chen "I''m very curious, which candidate does Mr. Shadow think has the best chance of becoming the next Shadow?" He Jinqiu asked with a smile. "How would Mr. Shadow tell us something like that," the young woman replied with a laugh, "However, the competition for Shadow is fair and just, whoever wins in the end naturally becomes the next Shadow." He Jinqiu looked at Ji Guanya, then at the young woman, and suddenly said, "Both of you have been Time Travelers for less than two months, yet you have gained such trust from the Inner World''s financial conglomerates to be chosen as representatives for the Outer World. Moreover, you seem quite willing to serve the conglomerates of the Inner World. I wonder, are you really humans from the Outer World... Let me be more direct, has the conglomerate already mastered the true method of reverse time travel?" In the past, reverse time travel referred to finding a person in the Outer World who corresponds to a major figure of a conglomerate, and then replacing them. But clearly, He Jinqiu wasn''t referring to that, he meant natives from the Inner World traveling in reverse to the Outer World! It''s no wonder he was suspicious because the performance of these two didn''t resemble that of controlled individuals at all. During the conversation, the gleaming Gold Coin in He Jinqiu''s slender fingers began to spin faster and faster, like flames and light dancing. Ji Guanya shook his head, "Mr. He, you worry too much. I am indeed a native of the Outer World. To me, there may be enmity from body-snatching between the two worlds, but interests that can exist eternally are what ultimately matter. Besides, I don''t see anything wrong with helping the natives of the Inner World. Apart from Jindai and Deer Island, the other three conglomerates share no difference in ethnic attributes with our Outer World." He Jinqiu turned to the young woman from Qing''s Family, "And you?" The young woman smiled, "I am also a person from the Outer World. As far as I know, there is no real method of reverse time travel. Even if someone could use a Taboo to carry a human back, the person being carried would die." "I know this, the Taboo ACE-038 is a coffin, called ''The Secret''s Endpoint.'' The owner can put someone else inside of it, and then make the other person forget one of the owner''s secrets. As far as I know, it''s in the hands of Qing''s Family," He Jinqiu said with a smile, "People often say that only the dead can keep secrets, this Taboo is really quite fitting. However, has Qing''s Family ever attempted to use this?" "I''m not sure about that," the young woman said with a smile. Taboos like the container-type ACE-038 do exist in the Inner World, which also explains why certain Time Travelers can bring large equipment back from the Inner World. But He Jinqiu did not know until then that Taboos could only carry inanimate objects, not living ones. He hadn''t had the chance to try it out yet. "By the way, miss, you haven''t introduced yourself yet," He Jinqiu said with a smiling eye, "What''s your name? It would be good to know for the next time we meet." "Mr. He wishes to check my registration directly, right?" the young woman laughed, "It''s alright, my name is Si Nianhua." "Does Qing''s Family want to trade with my Kyushu? We Kyushu don''t refuse comers," He Jinqiu said with a smile. "No," Si Nianhua shook her head, "Same as before, Qing''s Family currently has no such intentions." "Alright, then I won''t take up more of your time," He Jinqiu stood up, "If our positions oppose each other in the future, I won''t hold back." "Neither will we," Ji Guanya responded with a smile. At that moment, the three organizations were in a balance with one another, and none would take action at such a time because dealing with Jindai and Deer Island was the top priority. But the future was unpredictable. He Jinqiu picked up his Deer Head Cane, and walked composedly out of the small restaurant. Once he got into Kyushu''s business vehicle, he pulled out two 100-gram gold bars from his breast pocket. The true Gold Coin was growling softly. The wheat sheath ring on the front intertwined ceaselessly, while the crossed longswords on the back resonated with a metallic clang. He Jinqiu melted the first gold bar into the Taboo ACE-099, the true Gold Coin, to test the veracity of Ji Guanya''s words. "My debt is paid," Eventually, the flowing ripples on the Gold Coin solidified again into the wheat sheath ring. He Jinqiu then melted the other gold bar into it, resulting once more in the wheat sheath ring. This meant that both of them hadn''t lied; indeed, natives from the Inner World couldn''t reverse travel to the Outer World. Of course, it was also possible that true reverse time travel did exist; it''s just that these two didn''t know about it. The true Gold Coin could test lies and truth, not directly the truths and rules of this world. He Jinqiu sat quietly in the back of the business vehicle, deep in thought. ... ... Inside Los Angeles Foreign Language School. The math teacher, Tian Hailong, was writing problems on the blackboard. The homeroom teacher of 11th grade, class 3, had lost a noticeable amount of weight, apparently affected by the tragic death of Zhou Xuanying. Fortunately, after he returned to Los Angeles City, Xu Zimo, along with a few other students, testified on his behalf, proving that Zhou Xuanying''s death had nothing to do with him, thus mitigating more negative impacts. At that moment, Nan Gengchen passed a note to Qing Chen, "Chen brother, I''ve thought of a way to expand Daytime. We can have Luo Wanya''s group recruit members; for every four loyal members they develop, they can receive one Empowerment. This way, we can quickly establish a pyramid-like organizational structure, with you as the apex of the pyramid..." Chapter 528 528: 335, the ceiling of math competitions, Qing Chen_2 Qing Chen raised his eyebrows; he hadn''t expected Nan Gengchen to possess a talent for such unorthodox methods. But if they really went through with it, his "Daytime" organization, already bearing the stigma of "pyramid schemes" and "Happy Sect," would likely become infamous for all eternity. On a piece of paper, Qing Chen asked, "Are you serious?" Nan Gengchen replied, "I was just thinking about it when I was bored..." After school in the morning, Qi Duo and Zhang Lanjin left together. Wang Jiale had been waiting on the playground for a while, and the three of them went to a small restaurant off-campus, each ordering a portion of rice with toppings. Zhang Lanjin looked at Wang Jiale, "By the way, you also attended the AMC10 math competition in Xian City, representing your school, right? Qi Duo and I went too." Unlike Los Angeles Foreign Language School, where Wang Jiale studied and only five people attended, Luo Yi High School booked four large buses, bringing over two hundred potential qualifiers. This was the difference in strength between the two schools. Wang Jiale shoveled a large spoonful of rice into his mouth, "It''s our school now. You guys are also students of Los Angeles Foreign Language School." Zhang Lanjin paused for a moment, "I''m still getting used to it. It''s not that important... I remember after that math competition, you said in our middle school group chat that your school had a particularly impressive Time Traveler. Who is it?" "Have you heard of a title," Wang Jiale looked at Zhang Lanjin, "the ''Strongest Examinee in History''?" "Yes, it''s about that student who insisted on taking the exam in a wheelchair even though he was sick," Zhang Lanjin said, "That story even made the news." Wang Jiale tapped his spoon against his food container, "That''s the one." "Huh?" Both Zhang Lanjin and Qi Duo were stunned. "He wasn''t in a wheelchair because he was sick," Wang Jiale explained, "He was in that condition because he had been shot in the abdomen with a firearm during a battle between Time Travelers the night before. The media wanted to interview him, but they never found his contact information. I heard they even went to his house to wait for him, and heard that he had just moved." After exchanging glances, Qi Duo and Zhang Lanjin shared a common perception; the Freemasonry at Luo Yi High School was considered among the best in-school Time Traveler organizations in the country. Although they had heard that the Time Traveler Organizations at Jingcheng No. 4 Middle School, Renmin University Affiliated High School, and Haicheng First High School were also formidable, they had never actually seen them. They figured that they were all roughly the same, with the Time Travelers at the top high schools probably being a bit stronger, but after all, they were still students, so their strength was limited. Therefore, Freemasonry members were proud. They came to Los Angeles Foreign Language School with a sense of subtle superiority, not too obvious, but definitely present. For instance, they felt that they were helping other in-school Time Travelers. But, even though they were formidable, they had never been involved in conflicts involving firearms, that was adults'' business. Wang Jiale continued, "You know about Kunlun, right?" "Yeah," Qi Duo nodded. "Although I don''t know exactly what Qing Chen did that night, I know it was Kunlun''s people who took care of the aftermath for him," Wang Jiale glanced at the two. Usually, Zhang Lanjin would sometimes show off Luo Yi High School''s life in their middle school group chat, like the student council, clubs, competitions... At Los Angeles Foreign Language School, there was no such thing as clubs... Back then, Wang Jiale always felt a bit indignant. Now, he suddenly found a new delight. He indeed couldn''t compare to Zhang Lanjin, but his classmate, Qing Chen, could. However, he didn''t mention the incident that occurred on the way back to Los Angeles City, because Tian Hailong had reminded everyone that it would be best not to spread the word, as Zhou Xuanying''s parents might trouble Qing Chen. Zhang Lanjin asked, "If he was injured, why did he still participate in the AMC10 math competition?" Wang Jiale said, "Don''t you understand the spirit of never giving up? He''s the god of study at our school, not someone normal people can understand!" "No, wait," Qi Duo interjected, "I had a classmate in the same exam room as him, and he said the Time Traveler in the wheelchair had completely blank scratch paper, he didn''t really answer any questions seriously." Wang Jiale was momentarily breathless and then said, "Considering the extent of his injuries, it''s already impressive that he could take the exam." However, just then, Zhang Lanjin suddenly said, "The AMC10 results, they''re coming out today." Typically, AMC10 results would be released about 10-16 days after the exam. "You can ask the teacher in charge," Zhang Lanjin said, "Ask how many points Qing Chen scored in the competition." Wang Jiale was somewhat reluctant, "Didn''t I tell you, he was injured then. How much can you expect him to have scored?" "Just ask," Zhang Lanjin urged, looking forward expectantly at Wang Jiale. "Alright," Wang Jiale sighed. At that moment, the rice with toppings in front of Qi Duo and Zhang Lanjin had cooled down, but neither of them had any appetite left. Then they saw Wang Jiale take out his phone and call Tian Hailong to inquire about Qing Chen''s AMC10 competition score. But after just two seconds, his expression had completely blanked, "Okay, teacher, I understand..." Tian Hailong''s voice was faintly audible from the phone, "You don''t need to compare yourself to him, after all, his situation is quite special... your score is also very good, you made it to the next round..." After hanging up the phone, Wang Jiale silently stared at his rice with toppings, suddenly feeling like he had lost his appetite. Chapter 529 529: 335, the ceiling of math competitions, Qing Chen_3 "How many points did he get?" Zhang Lanjin pressed. Wang Jiale slowly looked up at the two: "Full score." Despite being severely injured, Qing Chen managed to score a full 150 on the AMC10 through mental calculation alone! Normally, the prestige of the AMC10 isn''t very high, nor can it be a decisive factor for guaranteed admission or overseas applications, at most it''s a bonus. But a full score makes it a completely different story. Full score and qualification are entirely different concepts! Probably, admissions offices from top universities nationwide are already calling Mr. Qing Chen? Even if they can''t admit him on the spot, they would likely promise things in private like independent recruitment and extra points for the college entrance examination, at least they need to make themselves known to Qing Chen first. Wang Jiale could score 127 because that was all he could score. Qing Chen could score 150 because that was all that the test paper offered. At that moment, Wang Jiale recalled the legends about Qing Chen''s precise control over his scores and finally believed them. He sent a message in the competition group chat: "Xiao Ran, Zi Mo, do you know the AMC10 scores yet? Guess how many Qing Chen scored." However, no one in the group replied, clearly everyone already knew the deal. In the small restaurant, Qi Duo and Zhang Lanjin looked at each other. They also checked their own scores, one scored 121, and the other 129, still a huge chasm away from a full score. ... ... All afternoon, Qing Chen was taking calls. Unknown number: "Hello, may I speak to Mr. Qing Chen?" Qing Chen: "Yes, speaking." "This is the admissions office of Fudan University. I would like to know if you are interested in participating in our spring independent recruitment? Yes, yes, yes, because you scored a full score on the AMC10 math competition, we can consider giving you some extra points." All afternoon, the calls never stopped. Toward the end, when an unknown number called again: "Hello, may I speak to Mr. Qing Chen?" Qing Chen: "No." The person on the other end was clearly surprised: "Isn''t this Mr. Qing Chen''s number? May I ask who is speaking?" Qing Chen: "I''m Ultraman." The other side: "..." Qing Chen had no plans to start college early, or more precisely, he had no intention of leaving Los Angeles City at the moment. He was the cornerstone of the day, and if he left for another place, it would probably mean everyone else would have to leave too, which was too much hassle. Afternoon classes. Qing Chen suddenly frowned. During one class, Qi Duo turned to look at him over forty times, and Zhang Lanjin over fifty times. He wondered what was wrong with them. Had someone leaked some news? During the first class break, Qing Chen sat in his seat waiting for them to come over, but they didn''t. In the second class, Qi Duo looked back at him over fifty times, and Zhang Lanjin over sixty times. Even someone as composed as Qing Chen was a bit bewildered by all the staring. It wasn''t until school let out in the afternoon and Qing Chen and others were packing up to leave that they finally came over. Qi Duo earnestly said to Qing Chen: "Mr. Qing Chen, we would like to invite you ..." Qing Chen: "Okay, I''ll join." Qi Duo and Zhang Lanjin were stunnedthey hadn''t even finished their sentence! Qing Chen straightforwardly said, "I''m willing to join your Freemasonry, but I have to leave now as I have other matters. We can talk about everything else tomorrow. Oh, and remember to add me to your Freemasonry group chat haha." After finishing, he left with Nan Gengchen and the others. Qi Duo and Zhang Lanjin watched as the group rapidly departed, suddenly feeling as though Qing Chen had joined, but also not completely... Even though Qing Chen verbally agreed to join, Qi Duo and Zhang Lanjin felt that the distance between them hadn''t been bridged. What they didn''t know was that Qing Chen really did join any organization he could, Kunlun, Kyushu; he was a part of them all. In Qing Chen''s view, simply agreeing could earn him some intelligencewhy not do it? These people hadn''t specified that he had to fulfill any duties. If someone truly demanded that he fulfill the duties of an organization member later on, he would just leave... Moreover, Qing Chen happened to be planning a trip to the Taboo Land, Area No 002, where he had a very important matter to attend to. An hour after Bai Zhu and his companions had left the school, Lu Yuan called Xiao Ying, "Has Qing Chen returned to Bai Zhu Villa yet?" Xiao Ying, bored out of his mind sitting in the car with the seat laid back and his feet propped on the steering wheel, replied, "No, they are high school students. They still have to attend evening self-study." Lu Yuan said, "Our informant mentioned that they left school an hour ago!" "What?" Xiao Ying sat up straight, "But they haven''t returned to the villa." Lu Yuan furrowed his brows on the other end of the phone. The last time Bai Zhu and his group disappeared, they caught four Time Travelers from the Jindai family. The time before that when Bai Zhu and his group vanished, they set a trap for the Jindai family in the Borui Building. This time Bai Zhu and his group had disappeared, what would happen? The next second, the voice of ''Rock Candy'' was heard near him, "Road Team, the boss wants us to head to the border of the F6, F7 areas. He wants us there within an hour to form a pincer attack with another special ops team, preventing the opposing side from entering Los Angeles City." "Alright, got it," Lu Yuan nodded, "What about Ni Ergou?" "They are still trailing that group," Rock Candy replied. "And Kyushu?" Lu Yuan asked. "We are heading north, they south; we''re blocking Jindai in the north while they block Deer Island in the south. This must have been agreed upon by both bosses," Rock Candy replied. At this time, all the Kunlun members had already changed into mustard yellow assault jackets and, taking advantage of the night, they had forsaken the main roads to move through the northern wilderness. Kunlun had marked the target area with tactical numbers; the vast wilderness was split into 150 sectors, to precisely position themselves. Meanwhile. In the wilderness to the south. "Check your firearms," Kyushu Yucheng said softly. In the wilderness, sounds of sliding rifle bolts filled the air; everyone seriously removed their magazines only to load them back in. Hundreds of people, in assault formations, quickly moved towards the north. However, just at that moment, Yucheng suddenly sensed something unusual. He looked up and noticed someone on the hillside at the 11 o''clock position under the moonlight, quietly watching them. He picked up his binoculars to look, but the next moment, the figure on the hillside had disappeared. Yucheng''s mind tightenedthe oppressive feeling that came was palpable. It was the sensation of prey being watched by a hunter. However, he kept his expression unchanged and said, "Continue advancing." ... A 5,000-character chapter, updated with 12,000 characters today, makes up for yesterday''sI am not counting it as an additional post. First place in this month''s tickets should definitely be secured now. Also, asking for a guaranteed minimum of tickets for September, and there should be a summary chapter of August upcoming (optional to read). Besides, if we take the first place on the monthly board any month, three extra chapters will be posted in the first three days of the following month as our thanks to our subscribers and ticket voters. Thank you all for your subscriptions and monthly tickets! Chapter 530 530: 336, Undercover! (Request for guaranteed monthly votes) At the southern boundary of Los Angeles City, Kyushu Yucheng was leading a team, rapidly advancing through the wilderness. In winter, the vegetation in the north was mostly withered, like elderly humans, sparse of hair. At that moment, Yucheng at the forefront suddenly knelt on one knee, raising his right fist. In an instant, all the Kyushu members behind him simultaneously knelt on one knee, poised to shoot. Communications fell silent. Yucheng had already spotted the traces of the target, who was slowly closing in on them. He made a tactical hand signal, indicating that the members behind him should flank from both wings, while he himself would push forward through the center. The guns were about to go off, and the gunfire in the wilderness was incessant like firecrackers on New Year''s Eve; yellow, spent shells continuously fell to the ground. The flanking wings quickly exerted significant pressure on the opponent from both sides. But suddenly, Yucheng felt something was amiss. It wasn''t that the enemy was too strong, but that they were too weak. The target squad had only 12 people in total, and the battle had almost ended as soon as it began. These 12 Time Travelers had undergone training and looked somewhat like soldiers, but the issue was that the special duty team led by Yucheng was brought up by He Jinqiu from the military, and they were not something the opponents could match with just a month or two of training. Yucheng''s gaze continuously searched through the forest, waiting for the figures that had appeared on the hillside to re-emerge. However, by the time the battle ended, the opponents had not shown themselves. The sound of gunfire gradually ceased, and the forest regained its winter tranquility and coldness, no longer boiling with activity. The next moment, he looked toward the left side of the forest, directly moving his gun to prepare to shoot. The dark tree trunks complimented the night; the nocturnal wilderness was like a sinister and dangerous labyrinth, with no one knowing from where the enemy might appear. "It''s me," He Jinqiu''s figure slowly emerged from the forest, the moonlight casting a hazy sheen on his gray suit. "Password," Yucheng did not lower his gun. He Jinqiu smiled, "The rivers and mountains are unharmed." Upon hearing these words, Yucheng finally relaxed his alertness, "Boss? Could there be a problem with our intelligence? The enemy here is too weak, abnormally weak." "Of course it''s abnormal," He Jinqiu looked towards the bodies sprawled haphazardly nearby; these 12 Time Travelers hadn''t posed any threat to Kyushu at all. Yucheng thought for a moment and then said, "Did you encounter any experts from Jindai or Deer Island? Just now, someone was observing our team from the hillside, I suspect their experts were lurking nearby." He Jinqiu laughed, "No need to worry. That was He Xiaoxiao, but he wasn''t participating in the battle tonight, just doing some data assessment." "I see," Yucheng nodded. He Xiaoxiao was very mysterious, even within Kyushu very few people had seen his true face, everyone knew there was such a ''high player,'' but no one had the chance to meet him. But since that strong presence on the hillside that had put great pressure on Yucheng was He Xiaoxiao, where were the experts from Jindai and Deer Island? He Jinqiu looked out into the wilderness, "Our intelligence isn''t flawed. Kyushu and Kunlun both know that the Time Travelers are entering Los Angeles City from the north and south, so Mr. Zheng and I drew lots to decide who would go north and who would come south. Now that Jindai and Deer Island have so few people here in the south, it means Kunlun is going to be very busy tonight." "Should we help them?" Yucheng asked. "No need," He Jinqiu turned and started towards the main road, "We still have other things to do." "But if Jindai and Deer Island''s people all enter Los Angeles City from the north, can Kunlun hold them off?" Yucheng curiously inquired. He Jinqiu laughed, "Why does everyone underestimate Kunlun? The old squad leader is someone even I wouldn''t dare to provoke lightly. Don''t worry, the territory is Kunlun''s home ground. Jindai and Deer Island won''t be able to stir up any trouble." ... ... On the north side of Los Angeles City, with the Yellow River serving as the boundary, there were only two bridges that could be used to cross the river and enter the territory of Los Angeles City. One was the LuoJi Yellow River Bridge and the other was the Los Angeles Yellow River Highway Bridge; one east, one west. If the Time Travelers from Jindai and Deer Island crossed these bridges, they would only meet their demise on those bridges. Yet at this moment, three ferries were navigating the dark river surface, their navigation lights turned off, like the legendary ghosts of the Yellow River that had been spoken of for many years. Human hydrotechnical engineering is grand and vast, with the muddy Yellow River flowing from the northwest and finally becoming clearer at the Xiaolangdi Dam after water and sediment regulation. It''s no longer so turbulent. On the bow of the foremost boat, a person quietly watched the shore, then made a tactical gesture towards the back. Two Time Travelers in diving suits jumped into the water face-up, holding small underwater propulsion devices in their hands. The turbines of these devices whirled, stirring up rings of bubbles in the water. The two Time Travelers carefully climbed ashore, taking off their diving equipment and moving lightly and quickly. One of them quickly surveyed the wilderness and then shone three long and one short signal with a flashlight towards the river surface. The person at the bow saw the signal and calmly said, "Approach the shore." The ferry''s engines roared back to life, speeding toward the shore. But just as they were about to reach the shore, a rumbling sound came from further away. The distant rumbling intertwined with the roaring of the ferry''s engines, instantly tearing apart the original solitude of the river surface. Chapter 531 531: 336, Undercover! (Request for guaranteed monthly votes)_2 The figurehead of the ship flung themselves towards the river, and while airborne, they were still roaring, "RPG!" No one had anticipated that Kunlun not only found the operation route of the Jindai and Deer Island but also deployed heavy firepower during this mission! Time Travelers were accustomed to city pursuits and small-scale alley battles, and before this, Kunlun''s methods had been relatively gentle, so much so that they had gradually forgotten that Kunlun had heavy firepower at its disposal. However, the reason Kunlun had not used these in the city was out of fear of harming innocent residents and concern that the public would panic. Now in the wilderness, they had no such concerns. He Jinqiu once said that within their territory, Kunlun had the home advantage, and that meant not just knowing the terrain, but also that they could use weapons and equipment that others could not. The next second, the high-speed spinning RPG rocket collided with the vessel, and a huge blaze erupted, illuminating the entire river surface. Time Travelers on the other two boats quickly leaped into the river, swimming toward shore to avoid being caught in a repeat attack and going down with the ferry. Some were swimming in the opposite direction. The emergence of the RPG meant that their operation had been blown, and swimming to the south shore now only spelled certain death. But before they had made it far, the sounds of speedboats cutting through waves came from the north, and beams from searchlights swept across, with more than a dozen speedboats rapidly approaching with a fearsome momentum. A disheveled middle-aged man with stubble stood on a speedboat, scanning the lake with night-vision binoculars: "11 o''clock direction, go get them." As the speedboat arrived beside one Time Traveler, before the middle-aged man could say anything, a young man in the river cursed loudly, "Ni Ergou you son of a bitch, why didn''t you tell me in advance if you were going to use an RPG? I''ve worked my ass off undercover, and you blow it up like this? If I hadn''t jumped quickly, I''d be dead by now." Ni Ergou extended a hand to help him up, saying with a smile, "Using heavy firepower was the boss''s idea; if you want to complain, take it up with him." The soaking wet young man clambered onto the speedboat with Ni Ergou''s aid, not bothering with anything else, hurriedly saying, "Hurry up, I saw Bing Gao swimming westward, go fish them out too." Ni Ergou laughed, "Don''t worry, someone''s already on it; you two have worked hard this month." "It''s been more than just hard work, the bastards from Jindai don''t even treat us as human. We were just cannon fodder this time," the young man took off his wet clothes, putting on the gear Ni Ergou had ready for him on the speedboat. The icy river water was piercing, and if he didn''t change clothes promptly, he would likely fall seriously ill. The young man''s name was Bing Gao, and Kunlun had managed to grasp Jindai''s movements this time thanks to his and Pineapple''s successful infiltration. A month earlier, Zheng Yuandong had called a meeting with the two of them, asking them to blow their cover as Time Travelers ''accidentally'' at the ''Ichiran Izakaya'' in District 5 of City 16 and to be ''captured'' by Jindai family spies lurking in City 16. In Zheng Yuandong''s own words, don''t imagine all the enemies in this world to be terrifying; as long as you can guess their intentions, you can control their fate. In Zheng Yuandong''s view, the reverse time travel plan was bound to become large-scale sooner or later, with corporations racing to find exposed Time Travelers like an arms race. At that time, once an exposed Time Traveler was found, the opposition would want to capture them immediately. Therefore, there was no need to painstakingly infiltrate the enemy; all they needed was for someone to reveal their identity as a Time Traveler in front of Jindai spies, and the opposition would naturally take Kunlun''s undercover agent into their fold. Over that month, Zheng Yuandong instructed them not to gather any intelligence or offer any resistance but to go along with Jindai''s brainwashing and coercion. There, they first underwent inhuman beatings and torture and then began their preliminary training under the Jindai. At that time, Bing Gao and Pineapple didn''t know what Zheng Yuandong wanted them to do. Initially, they thought their boss planned to rescue controlled Time Travelers, but they later realized the Jindai were very cautious, giving them no chance to determine their confinement location. And it seemed Zheng Yuandong had no intention of rescuing them either. This made Bing Gao and Pineapple frustrated, fearing that they had been abandoned by the organization. It wasn''t until the last traversal that the Jindai family required them to be part of this reverse traversal operation, and Zheng Yuandong said at last that he had been waiting for this. Zheng Yuandong had always been waiting for an opportunity to severely weaken the domestic forces of the Jindai and Deer Island. It''s the same principleif you''re in an Octagon cage, when you throw a punch at high speed and your opponent can dodge and move, you may exert 100% effort but only 20% might land on their face. If you want a knockout blow, you have to let the opponent throw a punch first, wait for them to twist their body, and as their brain comes rushing toward you, strike with a counter punch. The colliding of your opponent''s approaching head with your iron fist will be 100% force. Not far away, Pineapple was also successfully lifted onto a speedboat. All the Time Travelers who had fallen into the water were almost completely rounded up. On shore, Lu Yuan had already led his team to blockade the entire area, ensuring no Time Traveler who came by the ferry could escape this search and blockade operation. However, at that moment, Bing Gao spoke up, "Where''s the boss? I have something to report to him." Chapter 532 532: 336, Undercover! (Request for guaranteed monthly votes)_3 Ni Ergou took off one of his earpieces and handed it to him, "The boss is on the communication channel, you can speak directly to him." Bing Gao took a breath and said, "Boss, we were divided into three action groups this time, each taking a ferry over. We were guarded too closely before, so we didn''t report in time. There were no key figures from the reverse travel plan on the three ferries, they surely have another route, one that both Pineapple and I don''t know about. Maybe they''ve already entered Los Angeles City by now from some place we don''t know." Zheng Yuandong calmly responded, "Hmm, I got it." "Also," Bing Gao continued, "we learned before the action that Jindai and Deer Island would each have an expert involved in this plan. However, they should not be on the ferries either." Upon hearing this, Ni Ergou was stunned, "Why didn''t you say that earlier?!" However, Zheng Yuandong''s calm voice came through the earpiece again, "It''s alright, I''ve already found one of them." After that, Zheng Yuandong disconnected the communication. On the speedboat, Bing Gao looked at Ni Ergou, "Did you guys find the address where I was held in the Inner World or not?" "Didn''t find it," Ni Ergou shook his head and said, "You have to understand, after all, we are Time Travelers. We have only been in the Inner World for a short time; our abilities are limited. But don''t worry, our Kunlun is also developing rapidly. Soon, our intelligence capabilities will catch up." Bing Gao immediately got anxious, "Ergou, what about the promise you made me before? If no one comes to rescue me after the next travel back, wouldn''t Pineapple and I be dead? If the mission fails, Jindai''s bastards will definitely kill us to silence us and then carry out the transfer." Ni Ergou glanced at him and said, "Alright, I was just teasing you. We''ve found the location where you two were imprisoned in City 16. Previously, there were too many people there, and it wasn''t a good time to act. This time we''ll conduct the rescue immediately upon return." Bing Gao immediately breathed a sigh of relief, "Can you not play coy with this kind of thing? You''re scaring me to death!" Ni Ergou was displeased, "I''m after all your superior, can''t you be a little more polite to me?!" After thinking for a moment, Bing Gao asked, "After this incident is over, Jindai and Deer Island shouldn''t be able to stir up trouble for a while, right?" "I hope so." ... ... On Highway 103 to the north of Los Angeles City, a huge oil tanker truck was moving slowly from west to east, its body bearing warning symbols painted in red. When it reached Royal City Avenue to the north, the driver suddenly saw a roadblock and checkpoint set up ahead, with someone using red and blue glowing batons to signal him to pull over. After parking the tanker, the driver, with an honest and simple look, jumped down from the driver''s seat and asked with a smile, "Comrade, what''s the matter? It''s already nighttime, and large vehicles are allowed into the city, right?" The Kyushu personnel manning the checkpoint glanced at him, "Show me your vehicle license, driver''s license, operating permit, and dangerous goods operation qualification certificate." The short, middle-aged man chuckled, "Okay, I''ll get those for you in just a moment, please wait." As he spoke, his eyes scanned the surroundings, taking note of everything around him. However, at that moment, the sound of a sniper rifle echoed from 400 meters away. That was Kyushu''s sniper, hidden in a nearby residential building. The other Kyushu members at the scene opened fire as well. The routine check was a ruse; Kyushu had already targeted the man and intended to kill him right there. But just before the shots rang out, the short middle-aged man suddenly retreated to the side and back, and with a bang, a deep crater appeared where he had just been standing. He also evaded the gunfire from the Kyushu members. It seemed nobody expected that this man would preemptively move to avoid the sniper''s shot. In the next moment, instead of retreating, the middle-aged man aggressively charged into the midst of the ten or more Kyushu members. His strength burst forth as he delivered a whip-like kick that broke the waist of a Kyushu member and shattered his sturdy spine as though it were brittle wood under the force of the kick. The Kyushu members drew their guns to shoot, but their aiming was far too slow compared to the expert, and amidst the non-stop gunfire, not a single bullet hit him. In just an instant, everyone witnessing his speed and strength realized who they were dealing witha B-Class Expert! This was one of the experts they had been searching for! The man had driven the tanker into the city alone, and it was likely that inside the tanker were all the replacements for the reverse travel plan! In a building, Tang Keke stood at a window, watching the battlefield through a sniper scope with an earpiece in her ear, "Boss, we''ve located him, the intel was correct. But, the speed of the B-Class Expert is too fast, I and both Song Zhong and Yang Nansheng can''t hit him. Judging by his moves, he should be from Deer Island." There was more than one sniper present, but it seemed as though the middle-aged man had expected their presence, evading bullets as if he were a ghost. Only then did the snipers realize the terrifying nature of the Transcendents from the Inner World! Over the earpiece, He Jinqiu calmly said, "I''m almost there. Has the boss from Daytime shown up yet?" Tang Keke was startled, suddenly feeling as if her boss had been expecting the appearance of the Daytime boss. And it looked like her boss planned to kill two birds with one stone, finding the person from Deer Island and the boss from Daytime all at once! "Boss, he hasn''t shown up," Tang Keke replied. "Does the person from Deer Island seem like he''s trying to escape?" asked He Jinqiu. "No," Tang Keke replied. "Snipers, move out. There''s more than one person from their side here," He Jinqiu hadn''t arrived yet but had already made a judgment. Tang Keke packed up her sniper rifle and turned to leave the room, "Boss, are you saying there''s someone hiding in the shadows?" "Hmm, Deer Island is also waiting for the boss from Daytime," He Jinqiu said calmly. From the start, the Time Travelers infiltrating Los Angeles City from the south and the north were merely used as pawns and cannon fodder by Jindai and Deer Island. But this was also within the expectations of Zheng Yuandong and He Jinqiu. After all, who would truly trust a group of Time Travelers who had been under control for less than two months? The real killing intent had only just begun. ... A chapter of five thousand words, another update at 11 pm, and for the first three days of September, I''ll add updates as thanks for finishing first in last month''s monthly tickets, making a total of three updates. Asking for the minimum monthly tickets! We''re currently fourth, help me push to the top, and may all good people live in peace! Thanks to ''Changing Your Name Might Make You Remembered,'' reader 1427156486962270208, and ''Single for 19 Years'' for becoming the new allies of this book. Big-hearted bosses, may you never choke on a fishbone! Chapter 533 533: 337. The Loneliness of the Mortal World (Seeking Guaranteed Monthly Votes) It was deep into the night, and all the lights in the households had gone out. Only the dim streetlights and narrow, deep paths remained. Zheng Yuandong blocked one man''s path. The middle-aged man across asked, "Kunlun Zheng Yuandong? It must have been hard to find me." Zheng Yuandong slowly walked toward the man, curiously asking, "I''ve investigated you, a month ago you were just a maintenance worker from the Outer World, and a month later you began to serve the Jindai loyallyso, are you still yourself?" The middle-aged man smiled, "Does it matter who I am?" "Let me guess," Zheng Yuandong said, "Someone once said that the Jindai Family Master has always been the same person, six hundred years ago and still today. I spent a month investigating this matter, and I finally found the written notes of the Jindai Family Master from six hundred years ago. The handwriting is indeed generally indistinct from today''s. Logically, even a cultivator in the Inner World shouldn''t have such a long lifespan. I think the Jindai family has actually mastered the technology of neuronal interconnection between people and can even use it to rewrite the brain, right?" The so-called neuronal interconnection technology first appeared in Qing''s Family, used for controlling nanorobots. Once controlled, those little guys could travel in the bloodstream to remove blood clots, non-invasively and painlessly. Latterly, various conglomerates made breakthroughs in neuronal interconnection technology, and so this technology was widely applied in various fields, such as controlling cyberdogs and drones. For example, connecting mechanical limbs. Then, some tried using neuronal interconnection technology in reverse to upload their consciousness to the network, aiming to achieve mechanical immortality. However, this technology failed because everyone found that no matter how they uploaded, the consciousness would immediately perish once it appeared on the network. Some said it was because the network''s data flow was too vast and would quickly assimilate the uploaded human consciousness. Some said it was because the technology was not mature enough. But to this day, no one has found the reason. Only a few people know that it was Yi''s brother who hunted down all human consciousness in the network. Latterly, as uploading consciousness didn''t work, some conducted even more cruel experiments: erasing a person''s consciousness and then overlaying it with another''s consciousness using neuronal interconnection technology. From that moment, the body became a temporary shell, while the consciousness would live forever. This was a sort of reverse time travel, although people from the Inner World couldn''t come over, their consciousness could cover the Time Traveler, allowing themselves to become the Time Traveler. This was also the method suggested by Li Yunshou to the old man, although the old man himself felt that too long a life would also lose its meaning, hence he refused. The old man believed this to be the dirtiest aspect of human technological civilization''s development to this day. The middle-aged man across didn''t speak. Zheng Yuandong calmly said, "Let me guess again, the neuronal interconnection technology overlaying another''s consciousness might require much from the ''covered'', we all know that the brain is the most fragile organ in the body, hence it needs a tough skull for protection. In the Inner World, many hackers use their brains as servers to carry out protocol invasions, often becoming vegetative by their forties due to brain shrinkage." Zheng Yuandong continued to speculate, "These hackers caring little about brain shrinkage have their today but no tomorrow, but surely the big shots of the conglomerate do care, and an ordinary person''s brain could probably only bear one overlay but couldn''t undergo another interconnection. Therefore, only those above B-Class could become qualified vessels, right? I checked a lot of informations related to the Jindai family and discovered that every once in a while a B-Class Expert would suddenly disappear and then reappear a year later." The middle-aged man laughed, "A secret that so many haven''t discovered, and yet you did. Since you are so interested in the Jindai family, why not join us?" Zheng Yuandong shook his head, "Different lands under different skies are not to be served under the same heaven." "Then I can only make you keep this secret forever," the middle-aged man said with a smile. The next moment, his pupils suddenly emitted a silvery light. Zheng Yuandong felt as if everything around him had become a double image. It was as if a person with 300 degrees of myopia and astigmatism suddenly took off their glasses. The dim light by the road turned into rings of halos, making it impossible to see the world in its true form. Yet, Zheng Yuandong remained calm, drawing his long knife and tossing aside its sheath. Then he closed his eyes. The middle-aged man curiously asked, "You didn''t even bring a firearm, although they are useless in our fight, they are still better than this long knife." Zheng Yuandong replied, "Everyone is asleep, it might wake many people and cause a disturbance." "You worry about gunfire waking up the residents in a fight between experts?" The middle-aged man was somewhat astonished. "Cold weapons from the Outer World, when hacked into the muscles of a B-Class Expert, will get stuck, and chopping a few more times might even blunt the blade. Isn''t it a bit childish fighting me with this thing?" "It''s enough," Zheng Yuandong said. The next moment, the middle-aged man''s legs suddenly burst with immense power, covering the ten-meter distance in a single leap. Yet, as if he could see everything, Zheng Yuandong with his eyes closed, swung his knife forward in a slash. The two separated as soon as they made contact; this time Zheng Yuandong actively met the challenge, the long knife in his hand like an agile bird, extremely nimble. With a tearing sound, before the middle-aged man could react, the blade had already sliced through the membrane gaps between his arm muscles. Chapter 534 534: 337. Loneliness in the Human World (Seeking Votes for the Months Guarantee)_2 Again there was a ripping sound, and the middle-aged man felt pain in his leg as the blade once again passed through the septum between his ''vastus medialis'' and ''vastus lateralis'' muscles on his thigh. In Zheng Yuandong''s hands, this long knife was as precise as a surgical scalpel, separating two muscles that should have been attached. The middle-aged man''s arm and thigh bled profusely. As he twisted his body, he threw a punch at Zheng Yuandong. But it seemed as though Zheng Yuandong''s knife had been waiting there all along, once again cutting through the septum between the biceps and triceps of the middle-aged man. Each stroke of the knife, like a butcher skillfully dissecting an ox, seemed intent on dismembering the middle-aged man limb by limb. Knife skills are art. The middle-aged man now felt fear; he hadn''t expected to encounter a master of such caliber in the Outer World. It wasn''t a matter of class, but a gap in skill. While wielding his blade, Zheng Yuandong still had the leisure to ask, "It couldn''t have been easy for Jindai to find someone like you who can travel back in time. First, they would need a Time Traveler to replace a B-Class Awakener or Cultivator, then they could perform the neuron bridging surgery. If I killed you, they would undoubtedly feel the loss deeply." ... ... At the intersection of Royal City Avenue and National Highway 103 to the north. That B-Class Expert from the Deer Island family seemingly didn''t want to abandon the oil tank truck parked at the roadside, even under attack by Kyushu members, even needing to watch out for snipers, even knowing that Kyushu''s experts would soon arrive. Yet he kept engaging them in combat, without the slightest intent to flee. In one move, he slipped past a Kyushu member, effortlessly grabbing the neck of the member with one hand and lifting them up to use as a human shield. The stocky middle-aged man coldly said, "You want to shoot to kill without asking for reasons? Isn''t Kyushu acting a bit too tyrannically?" A member of Kyushu didn''t reply; the battle had been a matter of life and death from the very beginning. The other''s words were not really intended to accuse Kyushu but to buy time. From afar came the sound of a walking stick tapping the ground. He Jinqiu got out of the car and strode forward, dressed in a meticulously neat grey suit, "Were you waiting for me?" The next moment, a Jade Arrow flew out from He Jinqiu''s sleeve, drawing a trail like vapor in the air, and in just a flick of the finger, it traveled hundreds of meters and pierced through a window. A scream came from the window. The Jade Arrow didn''t stop, quickly flying toward another target to claim another life. With a smile, He Jinqiu asked, "Has no one told you? You shouldn''t carelessly aim a sniper rifle at someone; it could get you killed." The middle-aged man was stunned for a moment, not expecting He Jinqiu to kill their two snipers, who had been hiding in a residential building, as soon as he made a move. Sensing! This was the sensing ability only A-Class individuals possessed! The ability to immediately sense within 1000 meters if someone was aiming at one! In the Inner World, there was once someone who glanced at an A-Class Expert with a malevolent eye from far away, only to be singled out from the crowd by that A-Class Expert. This kind of ability was nearly divine. It was said that if someone reached the S-Class Demigod level, they might be sensed by the demigod just by someone uttering their name, even if they were millions of miles apart. However, this claim had yet to be confirmed. But at that moment, the middle-aged man couldn''t care less about these thoughts; he was shocked that... An A-Class Cultivator existed among the Time Travelers in the Outer World! And what''s more critical, this He Jinqiu, a standing Director from Hu''s Information Agency, not only received the authentic cultivation methods from Hu''s but had also developed his Sword Arrow! To think that even a personage like Li Changqing had only just begun to form his Sword Arrow, far from reaching the realm where he could wield it at will. He Jinqiu tapped his walking stick on the ground and then laughed, "Don''t be so surprised. How could I dare preside over Kyushu without a bit of real power? Besides, we have to let you know that Time Travelers aren''t so easy to control." In fact, not too long ago, He Jinqiu led a group of Kyushu members across the Middle East region, engaging in quite a few acts of robbing from their own kind, plundering the Time Travelers of the Beautiful Country more than once or twice. Otherwise, Kyushu wouldn''t be so wealthy. Up to this point, there have been few from overseas who could do anything about him; they only had to bear it temporarily. However, at that moment, the middle-aged man who had been stalling for time turned and ran without a moment''s hesitation. Deer Island had intended to kill two birds with one stone by luring out both He Jinqiu and the Daytime Boss to kill them, but they hadn''t expected to draw out a powerful father figure! This might be the only A-Class Expert in the Outer World to date! He Jinqiu, smiling, said, "Isn''t it a bit late to think of leaving now?" As he spoke, the Jade Arrow shot a distinct white streak through the blackness of the night sky, flying through the air! But then, something unexpected happened. The scenery behind the middle-aged man suddenly folded, as if someone had pinched the world and space together out of thin air. The Jade Arrow, originally flying straight to the back of the middle-aged man, disappeared without a trace after passing through that space, only producing two tinkling sounds, as if it had struck something solid. He Jinqiu frowned, "Space Ability? No, it''s an Illusion." He walked toward the direction in which the middle-aged man had fled, only to see the twisted space gradually dispersing, while his Sword Arrow had pierced through a bus stop sign at the roadside, lodging into the ground. The flight course of the Jade Arrow hadn''t been distorted; the scene they had just witnessed was merely an illusion. "Turns out there was a hidden ally, quite interesting, adept at trickery," He Jinqiu looked toward the crossroads. By now, the middle-aged man driving the oil tanker had vanished without a trace. Chapter 535 535: 337, The Loneliness of the Human World (Seeking Guaranteed Monthly Votes)_3 ``` Of course, the other party might not have run far; they were simply hidden from sight by the illusion. He Jinqiu observed his surroundings carefully and noticed that the light and shadows were still subtly wavering in an unrealistic manner, different from reality, but hard to distinguish. He knew that the middle-aged man might still be within five hundred meters of his position, moving slowly, even the sound of footsteps had vanished. Otherwise, with his A-Class perception, he would have been able to locate the man simply by the sound of his footsteps. "It seems there really is no way to counteract such illusions," He Jinqiu remarked resignedly. But as soon as he finished speaking, the sound of a sniper rifle broke the sudden quiet of the night. He Jinqiu turned his head abruptly towards the direction of the gunshot, which seemed to come from 700 meters behind him, very close! This sniper was not from Jindai or Deer Island; the shooter was so cautious that they had not even glanced at him. Wait a minute! He Jinqiu looked again in the direction the middle-aged man had fled, only to see a radial pattern of blood appear out of nowhere under the empty streetlamp. "The boss of Daytime," He Jinqiu exclaimed in shock. He had assumed the other was not here tonight, as the man had not fired a single shot all evening. Unexpectedly, the other had come, just more patient than he had imagined. As the illusion dissipated, the person maintaining the illusion fled far away upon seeing their companion dead. The middle-aged man''s corpse lay quietly on the ground, with a huge bloody hole in the back; the sniper bullet had pierced through his entire back and chest! A distance of 900 meters was nothing for the reputation of Daytime''s boss. Yet He Jinqiu could not understand how this so-called boss of Daytime saw through the illusion? As an A-Class, he himself had trouble for a while, but that mysterious sniper found the target from 900 meters away. This was incredible, He Jinqiu pondered with a frown. What he didn''t know was that although the Awakener using the illusion was impressive, the fabricated scene ultimately differed from reality. At the moment the illusion was conjured, the streets before and after the illusion quickly superimposed themselves in Qing Chen''s mind, like a game of Spot the Difference, and he recognized the inconsistencies at a glance. The illusion needed imagination to build a seemingly real world and to blend lies with truth. But to Qing Chen, fake was simply fake. In the earpiece, Tang Keke asked, "Boss, we can roughly confirm the shooter''s location, shall we go after him now?" He Jinqiu thought for a moment, "I originally wanted to tempt him to aim at me. I might have been able to locate him immediately, but this person is too patient and too restrained; he didn''t even glance at me. Don''t bother searching; you won''t find him. He must have planned his escape route before firing, and he might have already gotten far away by now." At this moment, He Jinqiu felt that the boss of Daytime was like a lone wolf, whose calmness during the hunt was deeply unsettling. The other''s current actual strength might still be average; killing a B-Class with a sniper rifle required waiting for the target to be still. But such a person would grow stronger sooner or later. Who knew what kind of scene it would be once the other became more powerful? "Boss, what do we do now?" Tang Keke asked. "Drive the tanker to a secluded area," He Jinqiu''s face turned cold, "I can sense seven people inside, probably the ones we''re looking for to replace. The other party has helped us confirm something, replacement only happens when they enter the main city area, and a countdown appears on their arm. Otherwise, there was no need for them to drive the tanker here. If there are more reverse traversal plans in the future, we will know how to respond... In the short term, they should not have the capacity to pull off such an event again." ``` Tang Keke expressed her worries, "They have already entered the territory of Los Angeles City, and I''m afraid a countdown timer has already appeared on their arms by now." "Yes, I know." After speaking, He Jinqiu got back into his business vehicle and closely followed the tanker truck. The car drove further off track until reaching the desolate mountains and wilderness. It was then that He Jinqiu signaled Yu Cheng to open the cover on top of the tanker. Inside the tank, seven Time Travelers climbed out, each looking utterly disheveled and frightened. He Jinqiu carefully examined their appearances: "Li Changqing, Li Yu, Li Kan..." He was shocked. The significance of Li Changqing went without saying. Li Yu was one of the National Policy Advisors of the Li Family''s inner circle, responsible for formulating strategic imperatives. Li Kan was the party whip of the Federal Republican Party, and he was the one who helped the Republicant Party regain the majority seats that had been lost for four long years. The so-called party whip is the ''disciplinarian'' within the party, as well as a key figure in unifying the party''s thinking. If a civil war were to break out within the Federation, then such individuals would become one of the most important political resources for the consortiums. If Jindai and Deer Island succeeded this time in their joint venture, the Li Family would probably fall into immediate chaos! He Jinqiu pondered, "Are these people''s connections so extensive? Have they really found replacements for so many important individuals?" However, He Jinqiu was thinking about another issue: if the Li Family was only dealing with such an important matter through a transaction with Kyushu, then what were the Li Family''s Time Travelers doing at this moment? What was so pressing that they absolutely had to do? At that moment, when the replacements saw the people from Kyushu, some were surprised, and others were terrified. Some claimed they had been coerced, while others remained silent. Tang Keke looked at He Jinqiu, "Boss, what should we do with these people?" He Jinqiu fell silent for two seconds before saying, "Give me a gun." Tang Keke silently drew a pistol from her holster and handed it to him. Everyone knew what kind of decision He Jinqiu was about to make. Someone whispered, "Boss, what if someone really was coerced?" He Jinqiu replied calmly, "I know some were really coerced, truly innocent. But they already have the countdown timer on their arms, and we can''t possibly scour the world for seven Genetic Potions to stop their travel before our next jump. Plus, we don''t even know if the Genetic Potion will still work after the countdown starts." "I''m not looking for any excuses, everyone. The world is just that cruel. You don''t need to do it this time; if there''s any sin, I''ll bear it alone," said He Jinqiu. Tang Keke suggested, "Can''t we control these replacements? If Jindai and Deer Island can do it, so can we." He Jinqiu shook his head, "The people these replacements are supposing to replace are too important; they are not good enough actors. Kyushu doesn''t have the capacity to withstand the wrath of the Inner World''s consortiums. And, the deal I made with the Li Family is done; the Executive Director seat at Hu''s Information Agency is what I need most." After saying this, he pulled the trigger and killed the seven replacements in front of him. He Jinqiu stood in the mountains under the night sky, with the cold wind howling, a solitary figure in a desolate world. ... A 5,000-word chapter, 10,000 words updated today, is an additional release in honor of reaching first place in the August monthly ticket race; more to follow tomorrow and the day after. I ask for your foundational monthly tickets! We are very close to the first place now, everyone help me crush it! Chapter 536 536: 338. Person knocking on the door at midnight In the wilderness of Kyushu, the members had left, and the tank truck sat isolated in the forest. He Jinqiu sat on top of the tank truck, his neat tie loosened, no longer appearing so refined and meticulous. Footsteps sounded from outside the forest, and Zheng Yuandong slowly approached, "Your people have withdrawn. Why are you still here?" He Jinqiu smiled, "Waiting for you, old squad leader. I knew you must have some questions for me." Zheng Yuandong looked up at the young man sitting on the tank truck, noticing some white hair at his temples. He remembered how vibrant and optimistically spirited this young man was when he first joined the squad. He used to follow him around and call him squad leader. Squad leader here, squad leader there, like a shadow. Now, the other man was a significant expert with his own goals and ambitions, his own organization and power, even white hair at his temples. The He Jinqiu of the past was no longer the same. The He Jinqiu of the past used to trust others. The He Jinqiu of today needed to use the taboo item "Gold Coin" to distinguish between lies and truth. It seemed everything had changed. "Did you make a deal with the Inner World consortium," Zheng Yuandong asked. "Yes," He Jinqiu nodded. "This time I made a deal with the Li Family to help them prevent Jindai and Kashima''s plan." "What about the imposters?" Zheng Yuandong asked. He Jinqiu calmly said, "Killed them." Zheng Yuandong was silent. "Do you think I was wrong to kill them? Of course, I know you definitely couldn''t bring yourself to do it. You can criticize me, I won''t talk back this time," He Jinqiu said. Zheng Yuandong shook his head, "I''m not in a position to criticize you. I just want to tell you, never stray too far, don''t get to the point where you can''t turn back, and don''t forget your ideals." After speaking, Zheng Yuandong turned and left. He Jinqiu sat quietly on the tank truck alone, looking up at the starry sky. ... ... "Brother Chen, why did you insist I keep my eyes shut the whole time? I wanted to watch the battle between Kyushu and Jindai Kashima experts." On the deserted night street, Nan Gengchen muttered softly. Both of them were holding electric bike helmets, walking slowly. They didn''t look like people who had just used a sniper rifle to kill a B-Class Expert. It was as if the night''s events had nothing to do with them. Qing Chen said, "I''ve been suspecting that He Jinqiu and Zheng Yuandong might be A-Class. Now, it''s confirmed, although I''m not sure about Zheng Yuandong, but He Jinqiu definitely is. If you had looked at him within 1000 meters just now, you might have been sensed, which would''ve caused trouble." "Well," Nan Gengchen sighed, "how did he become an A-Class immediately upon traveling through time?" "I''m not sure," Qing Chen shook his head. "Maybe I''m not the first batch of Time Travelers?" Originally, Qing Chen thought he might be among the first, but now he wasn''t so sure. Qing Chen always felt that if He Jinqiu was from an earlier batch of Time Travelers, then everything he demonstrated would make sense. But Qing Chen couldn''t verify it, unless he directly asked Zheng Yuandong and He Jinqiu to find out the truth. "Hey, Brother Chen, can Xiao Niu and Aunt Jiang Xue return to the villa now?" Nan Gengchen asked. "Yes, tell them to go back." Tonight, among the Daytime members, only Nan Gengchen, Liu Dezhu, and Qing Chen participated in the operation; the others went to a nearby mall to watch a movie. Liu Dezhu hid in a further place to assist, while Nan Gengchen stayed close to Qing Chen so he wouldn''t be approached silently while sniping. Qing Chen kept Hu Xiaoniu and the others outside because he was worried about Jindai and Kashima suddenly losing it and causing trouble at the villa. Now that Jindai and Kashima were severely weakened, such concerns likely wouldn''t be immediate. Once the enemies recuperated and regained control of many Time Travelers, Daytime in the Outer World would hardly fear those demons and monsters by then. As they turned a street corner, Qing Chen called out to Liu Dezhu hiding in the shadows, "Dezhu, time to go home." Liu Dezhu, curious, emerged, "Didn''t the boss say there might be danger? Nothing happened though." He had been lying in wait in the shadow of this corner, ready to lure people toward him for Liu Dezhu to ambush if the boss was in danger. Tonight, Liu Dezhu was merely a human-shaped backup trap, albeit an unused one. Qing Chen said, "It went smoothly on the boss''s side, no one followed, let''s go home." However, as the three of them crossed two streets and arrived at Champion Red Road, where they had parked their electric bikes, they suddenly felt something was amiss. Nan Gengchen stared blankly at the three electric bikes in front of him, "Where are the batteries?" Liu Dezhu was also shocked, exclaiming in distress, "Damn, where are the batteries?!" By then, the bike seats had been pried open, and the batteries beneath them had disappeared. Who could have imagined, the Daytime who had just been fighting against enemies from Kyushu and Kunlun, who had just sniped a B-Class Expert, had actually come on electric bikes! And who would have thought, the Daytime Boss''s electric bike battery would get stolen! Qing Chen thought, does Daytime have some curse where they can never be cooler than today? Just when they had looked cool for a while, they would get stopped by a traffic cop. Now, their batteries were stolen. Could this continue?! Chapter 537 537: 338. Person knocking on the door at midnight_2 Hmm?! We are at least 8 kilometers away from the National Treasure Garden Villa District. How long will it take to push it back? Qing Chen thought for a moment and said, "Let''s take a taxi back, and have Luo Wanya''s men transport it back tomorrow. When they got back to the villa, it was around 1 a.m. The three quietly returned to the villa, only to discover upon opening the door that everyone was waiting for them, having not slept at all. Nan Gengchen''s expression seemed a bit unnatural, "Everyone hasn''t slept yet?" XiaoTongyun, leaning on the living room window, asked, "Hey, where are your e-bikes? Didn''t you ride out on three of them?" Qing Chen: "... There was a minor issue, don''t worry about such a trivial matter." Jiang Xue nodded, "Mmh, it''s good that you all are fine." "Take a look at He Xiaoxiao''s group chat," Zhang Tianzhen said. "It seems a lot has happened tonight." Qing Chen glanced at his phone, and in He Xiaoxiao''s group chat, the host He Xiaoxiao was uncharacteristically starting to actively report on the progress of the battles. It was known that He Xiaoxiao had kept a low profile for a long time, only occasionally popping up to say a few words. He Xiaoxiao: "Kyushu Organization successfully ambushed Jindai and Deer Island Time Travellers at the junction of Baiyun Mountain and Yangzi Gully in the south." He Xiaoxiao: "Kunlun Organization successfully ambushed Jindai and Deer Island Time Travellers downstream of the Xiaolangdi Dam." He Xiaoxiao: "Zheng Yuandong successfully ambushed a B-Class Expert from the Jindai Consortium, the Inner World consortium may have found a way to travel through time retroactively in the Outer World. All group chat members, please be cautious." Qing Chen was startled when he saw this message. Travel through time retroactively in the Outer World? How did the consortium achieve that!? However, before Qing Chen had time to think, he received a text from Zheng Yuandong, which detailed every aspect of how Jindai members were covertly utilizing retroactive time travel. Qing Chen thought to himself, is Kunlun sharing intelligence with Daylight so openly? So selflessly? He texted, "Why are you giving me such important intelligence?" Zheng Yuandong replied, "You are a Kunlun member, have you forgotten?" Qing Chen: "Right, yeah..." The reply made sense, logically and factually. At that moment, in the group chat, He Xiaoxiao continued, "The battle just concluded at the intersection of Royal City Avenue and the 103 National Highway. The Daylight boss killed a B-Class Expert from Deer Island with a sniper rifle, and currently, a master of illusions remains at large." This report did not mention anything about the menacing aspects of He Jinqiu''s Sword Arrow, focusing all attention on Qing Chen as if trying to overshadow the true strength of He Jinqiu. However, just as this message was reported and before everyone could discuss it, Lu Ya suddenly sent a message: "Quick, check out Weibo''s trending searches!" Qing Chen quickly opened Weibo; the first update: A suspected large-scale Time Traveller battle erupted in the Island Country Capital, identities of the fighting parties are still unclear. The battle involved hundreds of participants and destroyed three city blocks, causing blazing fires across the Island Country Capital. Insiders reveal B-Class Experts appeared in the Island Country Capital; these people allegedly used Korea as a stepping stone, having smuggled themselves into the Island Country and lain low until suddenly springing into action. As of now, the battle has not yet ended, and both parties continue their deadly pursuit in the Island Country Capital. No sooner had Qing Chen finished reading the first post, another trending search rocketed up: A massive Time Traveller battle also broke out in "Yeol City" of Korea; the whole street of Hyoja-dong in Yeol City was destroyed, and the battle has not ended yet. Time Travellers from Korea stated that the battle''s other party is suspected to have smuggled themselves in from Changbai Mountain. Even the usually composed Qing Chen felt a massive shock upon reading these two trending searches. "I finally understand why there have been such major incidents domestically, yet the Li Clan and Qing Clan have remained quiet. Simultaneously launching cross-border surprise attacks on Time Traveller headquarters in Korea and the Island Country, this is definitely not something one consortium can do alonethe Li Clan and Qing Clan must have joined forces," Qing Chen said. With incomplete intelligence information, Qing Chen could only speculate it was the doing of the Li and Qing Clans, as besides them, no one else could pull off such a feat. This matter was too unexpected. It seemed just as Jindai and Deer Island were carrying out their retroactive time travel plans, the Li and Qing Clans were also planning everything. The other parties had infiltrated Korea and the Island Country early, searching for potential replacements while preparing for a major battle. Of course, if Jindai and Deer Island could recruit Time Travellers domestically, the Li and Qing Clans definitely could as well. This time, the reason the Li Clan didn''t appear was likely because most of their main force was already embedded abroad, hence they were unable to return in time. If they were to return, their previous efforts would be all in vain. Thus, instead of returning to defend, it was better to make a big move abroad and strike back in retaliation. This time, neither Kyushu nor Kunlun disappointed, so had the Li and Qing Clans completed their retroactive time travel plans? From the Jindai and Deer Island families, which prominent figures had been replaced? As this countdown to return comes to an end, probably many consortium bigwigs will urgently administer Genetic Potions to take precautions, sterilization or not, that can''t be helped now. Beyond this, Qing Chen had once asked the elder why not administer Genetic Potions to all family members. The Li Clan was capable of producing Genetic Potions themselves; the production of Sequence 005 Genetic Potion was high, covering the core members of the Li Clan shouldn''t be a problem. Plus, issues like sterilization could be resolved too, with sperm freezing and egg freezing being viable options. Chapter 538 538: 338. Person knocking on the door at midnight_3 But the old man''s reply was, "A conglomerate is placing all its hopes on cryopreserved sperm and eggs. What happens to the conglomerate if one day the storage of these sperm and eggs is invaded, destroyed, or even tampered with? I could indeed build a medical center specialized for cryopreserving sperm and eggs within the Midhill Villa and assign a master to guard it, but the question is, can this master be truly trusted?" The old man added, "This is like putting all eggs in one basket, making it an easy target for others. Even if it''s spread into five locations, it is just like placing them in five baskets; there isn''t much difference. Instead of taking such high risks, it would be better to prevent them from causing trouble in the Outer World." Now that I think about it, the incidents in the top two trending searches were probably orchestrated by the old man himself. With a civil war within the Federation imminent, the old man wanted to finish all that needed to be done before he could leave in peace. At this moment, Hu Xiaoniu expressed his concern, "Those Time Travelers who went to meddle in the Island Country and Korea might have a hard time coming back, right? It''s difficult to escape while they are locked down on enemy territory, especially since that''s Jindai and Deer Island''s stronghold." It was discussed before that Jindai and Deer Island controlled a highly concentrated group of Time Travelers, likely numbering in the thousands, if not tens of thousands. In such a situation, the battle, though fierce, would likely leave very few to return unscathed. Death would be the fate of most. "Do you think they knew they might die there when they left?" Zhang Tianzhen asked. After pondering for a moment, Liu Dezhu said, "They were controlled by the conglomerates, they had no choice. After all, the Li Clan and the Qing Clan are not philanthropists; controlling them was meant to involve them in the battle." Nan Gengchen said, "I heard Li Yinuo mention that the Time Travelers controlled by the Li Clan are very resistant to causing chaos domestically, so brainwashing them was difficult. However, once the Li Clan suggested they go stir troubles in Korea and the Island Country, everything progressed smoothly. So although they are under control, there seems to be a part of their own will involved." Just then, another hot search appeared: The battle in the Capital of the Island Country was nearing its end. A source informed the media that the Jindai family had suffered heavy losses, but they had nearly encircled and eliminated more than half of the foreign Time Travelers, with the remaining ones forced to flee in disarray. The ''foreign'' Time Travelers mentioned here are relative to the Island Country. Soon, a member of the Jindai family of Time Travelers began accepting media interviews: "We have controlled the situation and shown the world the strength of the Jindai clan in the Outer World. Here, we also warn all foreign Time Travelers not to foolishly consider coming here ..." This Time Traveler already regarded himself as a member of the Jindai clan, which also indicated Jindai''s high level of control over the Outer World. However, before the Time Traveler could finish speaking, there was suddenly an explosion in the distance. The camera turned, and it was from the direction of the Island Country Shrine several kilometers away, where a massive fire illuminated the sky. It seemed that the situation was not as under control as the Jindai Time Traveler had claimed. During their escape, the opposing side still had the capacity to blow up the Island Country Shrine! The camera then turned back to the face of the Jindai Time Traveler, who looked stone-faced under the reflection of the firelight. The reporter asked softly, "Can you explain what happened?" "No comment," the Jindai Time Traveler, no longer in the mood for an interview, turned and hurried towards the direction of the shrine. In the Daytime Villa in The Treasure Garden in Los Angeles, Qing Chen sat in the living room and said, "Even though the Time Travelers controlled by the Li Clan and the Qing Clan are sent to stir up trouble in the Island Country, they wouldn''t be ordered to blow up the Shrine. After all, those from the Inner World, who haven''t experienced our history, won''t empathize with us. Therefore, this action must have been initiated by those Time Travelers themselves." Nan Gengchen stood up solemnly, "Brother Chen, how about we join in as well?" Qing Chen glanced at him, "No, at least not now. If you''re thinking about these kinds of things, you might as well go cultivate now and make yourself stronger quickly." At this moment, in He Xiaoxiao''s group chat, Rebel King asked, "Did Kyushu and Kunlun orchestrate the major incident outside?" Taboo ACE-999 replied, "No, they have no connection with the domestic affairs, nor have they received any directives from Kyushu or Kunlun. Kyushu and Kunlun follow the principle of peaceful coexistence in their international dealings. Of course, Kyushu and Kunlun will also do their best to protect our lost brethren abroad and bring them home." Under the official tone of this Taboo, ACE-999 initially distanced Kyushu and Kunlun from the incident, but then shifted to refer to the Time Travelers who would be brought back to the country in the future as ''lost brethren.'' In the group, some who knew what Kyushu had done abroad snorted disdainfullyafter all, Time Travelers from Beautiful Country had been loudly accusing Kyushu not for just a day or two. By this time, even if Kyushu came forward to admit their involvement, many would not be surprised. So much had happened tonight that everyone needed time to process the information. The events abroad even overshadowed everything happening domestically to the point that they did not trend online. The next day, news came from outside again: The instigator behind the shrine bombing had been confirmed to be a young man named Zhang Jingwen, who had not yet been captured and was whereabouts unknown. Over the next few days, all news concerned foreign events, leading up to the time point of the impending crossover. All Cultivators in Daytime had completed their Grand Circulation training. In the villa, Qing Chen looked at all the Daytime members and said, "After this crossover, I might need to take Xiao Niu on a long journey. The boss mentioned that the civil war might break out soon, and everyone else should avoid wandering around in city 18keep as low a profile as possible." Zhang Tianzhen and the others nodded, "Understood." The countdown reached zero. The world plunged into darkness. And lit up again. Qing Chen was in a lounge chair in Autumn Leaf Courtyard, enjoying a brief moment of peace. He did not sleep, but silently trained on the next life-and-death matter in the Mysterious World. Qing Chen was waiting. He knew tonight''s events were not over yet. Knock, knock, knock, knocks came from the door. The person didn''t wait for Qing Chen''s response and pushed the door open, seemingly knocking just out of courtesy. At this hour, there was only one person who could ignore the ''No Visitors'' sign at Autumn Leaf Courtyard. Under the night sky, Li Changqing looked at him with a smile brimming with meaning: "How much longer do you plan to keep deceiving me?" ... Five thousand-word chapter, another update at 7 PM tonight. Vote for us monthly! Chapter 539 539: 339. The brilliance of the setting suns afterglow "What did I deceive you about?" Qing Chen lay quietly on the lounge chair, with no intense emotional fluctuations. Qing Chen did not admit to anything, uncertain if the other party was bluffing. "I know you''re a Time Traveler," Li Changqing said. Qing Chen pretended to be dead and said nothing. "I also know that you were the one who saved me at the Jinmao Tower," Li Changqing said. Qing Chen pretended to be dead and said nothing. "Come on, stop pretending," Li Changqing''s smile deepened, sitting on the stone table next to him, looking down with interest at the young man''s profile, "The sniper who saved me had to be you. The past few days I got suddenly busy and didn''t get a chance to come back and ask you, but you need to make it clear to me tonight." "It wasn''t me, it was our organization''s boss," Qing Chen explained earnestly. This was basically an indirect admission of his identity as a Time Traveler, though it was indeed impossible to hide. However, he still wanted to struggle a bit where the identities of the Daytime Boss and Daytime employees were concerned. But then Li Changqing spoke in a leisurely manner, "If the sniper above Jinmao Tower had just shot and killed the opponent''s sniper, I wouldn''t have been sure it was you, as you could have asked someone else to handle it." At that moment, Li Changqing changed her tone, staring intently at Qing Chen, "But after killing the other snipers and not relocating, choosing instead to risk his life and keep firing blanks to intimidate the battlefield for me, from that moment, I was sure it was you." Qing Chen sighed, "It really wasn''t me." "Stop struggling, even if it isn''t you, I''ve made up my mind it was," Li Changqing said, "Also, I heard from a Time Traveler report that the sniper from the Outer World is very mysterious and is your boss. But on second thought, who is qualified to be your boss? You''re not the type to willingly be beneath others. Don''t worry, I won''t tell anyone else." Qing Chen sighed, "So many secrets get leaked after such promises." However, Li Changqing turned solemn, "I''m serious, regardless of our friendship, you''ve already saved my life; I, Li Changqing, wouldn''t joke about such a matter." Today the woman was not wearing her usual punk-style leather jacket but dressed in formal attire, her hair neatly tied up at the back of her head. Qing Chen suddenly felt that when this woman dressed formally, she inexplicably carried a peculiar aura, very powerful. Qing Chen curiously said, "Technically, you should have known I was a Time Traveler a long time ago, why only find out now?" Li Changqing thought and said, "In the past, 99% of Time Travelers were controlled by Li Yunyi, and now that he has handed all his powers over to me, I know many things, including what you guys did in the Outer World this time." That explained it. The consortium had a clear division of labor, each person had their own tasks, and information might not necessarily be shared. But now, with Li Yunyi having stepped down, Li Changqing held all of Li''s intelligence power, and since Daytime had played a role in the battle, if a Time Traveler knew anything, they would definitely have reported it to Li Changqing. This was how Li Changqing knew of Qing Chen''s identity as a Time Traveler. Qing Chen suddenly asked, "Is it your people messing around in the Island Country and Korea in the Outer World?" Though he guessed it, he still needed confirmation. "Yes," Li Changqing nodded, "It''s one of Li''s most important recent plans, proposed by the old man, led by Li Yunshou, and executed by Li Yunyi. Qing''s Family also sent some Time Travelers, but the main force was from Li''s Family. This time facing the Civil War in the Federation, Li''s and Qing''s families will be allies." "Only a part from Qing''s Family?" Qing Chen asked curiously. "Yes, they have always been conserving their strength, and I don''t know what their plans are," Li Changqing said, "But that''s not important, dealing with the threats in Jindai and Deer Island is what matters." "The Time Travelers from Li''s Family, are they going to complete the substitution plan?" Qing Chen asked curiously, "Was it successful?" "Of course, it was a success, but I can''t tell you the particulars," Li Changqing said with a smile, "This time I need to thank you too. According to my people, in the reversed traversal plan Kyushu stopped this time, my doppelga?nger from Outer World was also involved, so it counts that you''ve saved me twice. How should I repay you?" Qing Chen glanced at her, "1.2 times, perhaps. This time I just gave a little help, the main credit still belongs to Kyushu." "1.2 times..." Li Changqing pouted, "You really are precise." At that moment, Qing Chen felt something was amiss, "If the old man really wanted to take Li Yunyi''s power, why did he still entrust him with such a crucial matter? So, was this also a performance?" "This is a secret within the Li''s, even though you are qualified to be at the conference table, members of the Li''s keep their own matters confidential and only report to the Family Head and the Chief Secretariat; there is no exchange between them," Li Changqing said. This response was in itself a confirmation. Li Changqing suddenly felt something was off too, "Don''t change the subject, I have another question, are you really a Genetic Warrior, or did you swap the Genetic Potion last time for saline solution?" Qing Chen inwardly startled. The reason he had feigned death earlier was because he feared she would bring up this topic. If this was exposed, it wouldn''t just be playing dead, it would be social death! After all, he had pretended to be in pain for five hours, and she had seen it all. Chapter 540 540: 339, Splendor of the Sunset Afterglow_2 Qing Chen spoke calmly, "Since you already have a Time Traveler under your command, then you should know that Time Travelers can only hide things within their bodies to take away." "Oh, that''s true," Li Changqing nodded, "but what if, you are a Time Traveler, with actions before and after traveling through time that are impossible to detect, something that other Time Travelers cannot achieve. So many incredible things have happened to you already, one more wouldn''t make a difference." Qing Chen contemplated how to explain himself. Dying of embarrassment was something to be avoided if possible. It was like when he let Yi message the Daytime group in the Outer World for him. Qing Chen knew it didn''t really matter whether everybody knew he was the boss or not, but in fact, if everyone truly found out, they would recall his acts of playing dual roles... Therefore, Qing Chen still set the price for Yi at one hundred yuan. Just as Qing Chen was racking his brains to clear himself of suspicion, Lao Shijiu''s voice suddenly came from outside, "Boss, the old master is critically ill. The Secretariat has requested your presence at Baopu Tower immediately, and Qing Chen must go as well." Li Changqing was stunned for a moment, then hurried outside. At this moment, nothing was more important than this. The three of them got into the car at the entrance, Xiao Ying drove, and Lao Shijiu, sitting in the passenger seat, turned around and said, "This time it seems different, even many members of Li''s Third Generation have received notification from the Secretariat, which never happened before; they usually only notify the second generation." Li Changqing appeared somewhat downcast, "It seems real this time, he has finished what he wanted to do, and the civil war in Jindai and Deer Island is destined to fail, he can rest easy now." Qing Chen sat quietly in the car, looking out the window, reminiscing about the lonely figure fishing on the broken bridge, recalling the smile when he first handed the Dragon Fish to him. It was only a brief interaction, and everyone had known each other for less than a month, but it felt as if they had known each other for a long time. Qing Chen''s grandfather in the Outer World was still alive. He also had two uncles and two aunts. His grandfather had been quite good to him as a child, but later had a stroke and became a vegetative person. Qing Guozhong had borrowed money from all his siblings, and as a result, they lost contact with each other. Now, the old man was like Qing Chen''s grandfather, having given him much and attempting to teach Qing Chen some lessons with the twilight of his own life. Only, the man had no time left. Qing Chen suddenly felt that this severe winter had grown a few degrees colder. Upon arriving at Baopu Tower, the middle-aged man who had given the Pratimoksha to Qing Chen, stood emotionlessly at the door, with a middle-aged woman beside him. One of them searched men, the other women; everyone entering Baopu Tower had to go through this body search, and those with mechanical limbs had to dismantle them before entering. Baopu Tower was large, but by the time Qing Chen and Li Changqing arrived, it was already crowded with people. "Who were the middle-aged man and woman at the door just now?" Qing Chen curiously asked. "The woman takes care of the old master''s daily needs, and the man has been the old master''s protector for many years. His name is Li Yunjing," Li Changqing said, "I don''t know his real name. Li Yunjing was a name given by the old master, who also included him in the clan trust''s beneficiary list, making him a member of the Lee Family." "What level is he?" Qing Chen inquired curiously. "I am not sure," Li Changqing shook his head, "His depth is unfathomable." Baopu Tower is a square building designed in the shape of a ''return,'' a typical skywell architecture. The center of the building is hollow, allowing one to look up and see the sky. The ground is paved with bluestone tiles. When it rains, water pours down along the eaves, forming curtains of water inside Baopu Tower. Everyone stood on the open space in the center of Baopu Tower, some with solemn faces, some covering their faces and crying, and some leaning against the pillars lost in thought. Li Tongyun and Li Yinuo were also present. At that moment, Li Yunshou walked out from a room on the second floor, overlooking everyone below. "Chang Qing, the old master is calling for you." Li Changqing glanced at Qing Chen, "I''ll go up first, see you later." Qing Chen, as an outsider, stood alone in the courtyard, surrounded by members of the Lee Family. Some were curiously assessing him, thinking he must be the new instructor from the Martial Arts School. Could it be that the old master wanted to speak with him before passing away? Qing Chen ignored the others and found a chair to sit down quietly, waiting. After a while, Li Changqing also came out from the room on the second floor, her eyes red as if she had just cried. Li Yunshou said, "Li Tongyun, your grandfather is calling you upstairs." The people around were stunned; even many from Li''s Second Generation didn''t have the privilege to enter Baopu Tower, yet Li Tongyun was allowed to go in first. The young girl obediently walked upstairs and entered the room to see the old man lying weakly on the bed. Her eyes reddened, and large tears fell. The crying was heartfelt; besides Li Yinuo, the old master had been the kindest to her since she crossed over. The old man dismissed everyone else and weakly smiled, "XiaoTongyun, come close to your grandfather." "Okay," Li Tongyun obediently walked over and stuffed her small hand into the old man''s cold hand. The old master said, "During this time, you have been helping that woman named Jiang Xue, haven''t you?" XiaoTongyun paused for a moment, then nodded her head. "Why did you want to help her?" the old master asked. Chapter 541 541: 339, Splendor of the Sunset Afterglow_3 "Because she is my mom," XiaoTongyun honestly said. "When did you know that she was your mother?" the elder asked. "Not long ago." The elder looked at the ceiling and suddenly said, "I''m sorry, XiaoTongyun. Initially, your mother was just a servant of the Li Family. Your father fell in love with her and insisted on marrying her, but the rules of the Li Family cannot be broken. Otherwise, other servants might get ideas too, so I had no choice but to drive her out." In the Outer World, the mother-daughter relationship is naturally the same in the Inner World. Li Tongyun seemed to be stating the facts, but in reality, she had thought of this point. Although she was not sure what the truth was, Jiang Xue was definitely her mother in the Inner Worldthere was no mistake in that. Now she knew that it was a story of love between a servant and her master, but ultimately, they couldn''t break the class barrier. This is a world where class is solidified. Qing Chen certainly found the elder amiable, but the elder was also unable to transcend the constraints of his time. Only a Saint could achieve that, something the elder naturally couldn''t do. Perhaps this was why Uncle Li Dong was so eager to change the world. The elder sighed, "At first, I thought there was nothing wrong with what I did, but not until your father died of depression did I realize I was wrong. This is one of my biggest regrets in life." Logically, Jiang Xue should have known about this. But the elder probably didn''t expect that Jiang Xue had become a Time Traveler, so neither mother nor daughter knew about itone of the two fools. Fortunately, XiaoTongyun was smart enough not to let anything slip. The elder mentioned some family matters, then asked XiaoTongyun to call everyone in. Members of the second generation of the Li Family entered the room one after another and silently stood beside the bed. The elder thought for a moment and said, "I''ve said what needed to be said. I hope that in the future, you siblings will continue to live in harmony as you do now. I haven''t accomplished much for the Li Family in my lifetime, but the only thing worth praising is that I haven''t let you siblings become enemies." In fact, the elder was being modest. Faced with power, everyone is tempted, but he managed to leave when everyone recognized Li Yunshou''s position without any signs of rebellion. This itself was an incredible achievement, requiring great wisdom. Outsiders thought the transition of power in the Li Family would be chaotic, but in fact, it was exceptionally smooth, and they were already prepared for the war against the outside world. At this moment, the elder''s voice grew weaker and weaker until it finally faded, as if he had fallen asleep. The next moment, just as many thought he had passed away, the elder suddenly opened his eyes again, weakly smiled, and said, "Got you! I just wanted to see who wasn''t crying." The crowd was stunned. After a moment of silence, Li Yunshou said, "Dad, your ECG is still fluctuating; that wasn''t very convincing." "Is that so?" the elder was also stunned, then finally with a relieved smile said, "Old age, my acting skills aren''t what they used to be." With that, he closed his eyes. The ECG completely quieted down, without any further fluctuations. Everyone in the room started to cry, including Li Yunshou, who was usually as calm as a lake. People downstairs heard the crying from upstairs and began to cry as well. Qing Chen stood amidst this cacophony, feeling everything becoming surreal. From the depths of the night to the dawn, people in the embrace of simplicity finally dispersed. But Qing Chen didn''t leave; he continued to wait. Once Li Yunjing and Li Yunshou saw off the last member of the Li Family and finalized the date of the funeral and burial, the house became completely serene again. Li Yunshou looked at Qing Chen, "I''m also leaving. In one hour, the Li Family and Qing''s Family will go to war with Jindai and Deer Island, and there are still many things to handle. I will leave the remaining tasks here to you." Qing Chen silently nodded. Li Yunshou, now middle-aged, was silent for a moment before saying, "Although I don''t know why my father trusted you so much, I hope you won''t disappoint him." "I won''t," Qing Chen said. "Good," Li Yunshou nodded, "When we meet again, I, Li Yunshou, owe you a favor, and the Li Family will be your forever friend." "You''re talking as if I won''t come back," Qing Chen laughed. After speaking, Li Yunshou nodded to Li Yunjing and then turned to walk into the breaking dawn. The sky gradually brightened. Then the elder slowly walked out of the room, "Are they all gone?" Qing Chen looked at the elder and laughed, "You played quite a big game this time, didn''t you?" The elder laughed, "I have never really been willful in my life, always having to manage this and that. Even if I went out to play, I could only stay out for one night, and the courtesan I liked wouldn''t wait for someone like me who might easily stand her up... Ah, I''ve said too much." Qing Chen thought for a moment and then said, "Why not let me teach you the Zhunti Method? It would only take a week and could extend your life by 21 years." The elder waved his hand, "I''ve lived enough... Do you know why the twilight glow is so splendid?" Qing Chen thought and answered, "Because the refraction of the atmosphere causes..." "Stop, boring," the elder sighed, "The twilight glow, the magnificent clouds, it''s because they are fleeting. If we could see such scenes every second, they wouldn''t be considered beautiful. The weight of a human life comes from its limitation. It''s only the wishes fulfilled in the last moments that are truly regret-free." Qing Chen nodded, then escorted the elder, who was disguised, through the silent half-hill estate back to Autumn Leaf Courtyard. Li Yunjing escorted the two to the courtyard, then kneeled deeply in front of the elder. The elder patted his head, "Yunjing, you''ve grown up. Go out there, find your own freedom." Li Yunjing cried silently. The elder lingered no longer; he took one deep look at the half-hill estate behind him and then entered Autumn Leaf Courtyard. By this time, Li Ke was already waiting inside. The 14-year-old boy looked astonished as he saw the elder and his teacher, "Grandpa... You didn''t die?" After speaking, Li Ke then turned to Qing Chen, "Sir, what are we going to do?" Qing Chen laughed, "We''re going to Taboo Land No. 002. Your grandpa wants to take a look at the big tree and the sunrise." This was the agreement the elder and Qing Chen had made a few days ago. ... A 5000-word chapter, updated today with 10,000 words, an additional update for being first in the August ticket race, with another update tomorrow. Seeking tickets, seeking tickets! Chapter 542 542: 340, Li Ke, Ask the Heart "I''m really puzzled, your memorial service is in three days, and then you''re supposed to be cremated," Qing Chen said earnestly. "Even if we head to Taboo Land 002 now, it''ll take us at least half a month, or even longer. You might not make it back in time for the cremation." The old man spoke irritably, "Is that even human speech? Do I have to go through that process?" Qing Chen said, "At the funeral, everyone is supposed to bid farewell to your body. If you run off now, what will they do? Say goodbye to thin air? There will definitely be problems." "Don''t you worry your head about it," the old man waved his hand. "With today''s level of technology, making an exact replica of a body is a piece of cake. Just cover it with a crystal coffin, who would dare to lift the lid and check?" "But if the ashes aren''t yours, then when the Li Family descendants kneel and worship during Qingming Festival, won''t they be paying respects to a fake Li Xiurui? You won''t be able to receive the offerings they burn either," Qing Chen said, puzzled. "Can you focus on the things of the living world?" the old man said. "Stop pulling my leg, let''s get moving!" Li Ke stood by, utterly clueless about what was unfolding. He looked back and forth from Qing Chen to the old man. His face was a picture of confusion and panic. His grandfather, who had just passed away, had suddenly come back to life. They had just cried for four hours; was that all for nothing? And moreover. Although he knew that his grandfather and the family tutor knew each other, and well enough to deal with something like Dragon Fish, he had no idea they could speak to each other so casually. Moreover, his grandfather seemed like a completely different person, devoid of his usual authority, as if he were just a skinny old neighbor. His speech was no longer strict or cautious; it was like he was gossiping. Who was Li Ke''s grandfather? Just a few hours ago, this old man was the Family Head of the Li Family, wielded a fifth of the Federation''s power, and could decide the future for hundreds of millions of people. Normally, who wouldn''t approach this old man with tremble and utmost respect? The old man looked at Li Ke with a smile that was not quite a smile: "Have you never seen a grandfather like this before?" Li Ke nodded: "You seem like an imposter." The old man laughed: "You''ll get used to it. I''ve been bound by an identity for most of my life, and only now can I be myself again. It''s both a sad and fortunate thing. I hope you don''t follow in my footsteps." Li Ke was stunned for a moment, this revered position of Family Head, he actually didn''t like it. At that moment, Qing Chen said, "Don''t get too caught up teaching your grandson; I still have something to ask. You can naturally escape through the secret passage, but what about me? What about Li Ke? If the two of us just disappear, we have to give the outside world an explanation, right?" "You worry about the most unnecessary things. Rest assured, the Secretariat has long prepared documents approving your journey out, and Li Yunshou will help forge your entry and exit records," the old man said. Qing Chen thought to himself that these records weren''t reliable: "Let''s get going then... To speak frankly, if you don''t undergo the Empowerment, you might never get the chance to come back. So, do you want to take one last look at this mountain estate?" The old man waved his hand: "No need, I''ve looked at it for most of my life, sick of it." Having said that, he walked into the house and opened the secret passage, leaving Li Ke totally flabbergasted as he had no idea the Autumn Leaf Courtyard harbored such a secret. Today had been too magical for the young Li Ke; the vast amount of information in just a few hours was overwhelming. The three of them entered the secret passage, traversing the long 2.7-kilometer tunnel, with Li Ke touching everything with the curiosity of a child. "Grandpa, did you build this secret passage?" he asked. "What did you build this for... Oh, right, you used to come here every year to mourn your master C was it so you could leave through this passage? Were you going to do something really important outside, like meeting with big shots from Qing''s Family or Chen''s Consortium?" Qing Chen was just about to say something when he heard the old man suddenly start coughing: "Ahem, cough cough. Now that I''ve faked my death, let''s not talk about the past!" He was hinting to Qing Chen to keep some privacy for himself, after all, Li Ke was his most beloved grandson, and some matters should be kept confidential. Qing Chen curled his lip; whoever the old man met outside, whether they were big shots or not, he knew they weren''t from Qing''s Family or Chen''s Consortium. When they reached the end of the tunnel, the old man chose a key and said, "Let''s go with this one, I had Li Yunjing maintain it the other day. All worn parts have been replaced with new ones." "It''s your car, you call the shots," Qing Chen didn''t bother checking what the seven cars were; mainly because he hadn''t even found the parking lot for the Microscopic World community! Qing Chen went on to open a wardrobe, revealing a hidden compartment full of firearms on the wall behind. He chose three automatic rifles, three pistols, and filled three small boxes with ammunition. The old man frowned: "Are you planning on going to war?" Qing Chen looked at him: "I thought Li Yunjing would follow to protect you, but since you set him free, don''t I need to prepare some life-saving measures? Once people find out you''re not dead, do you realize how many terrifying people will come after us?" The old man chuckled: "I''m no longer the Family Head; what''s the point of killing me, a dead man? But seeing how well you''re preparing, I''ll leave it to you." The next moment, Qing Chen turned to Li Ke: "Before we head to Taboo Land 002, there''s one more thing to do. Li Ke, sit down cross-legged on the ground." Chapter 543 543: 340, Li Ke, Ask the Heart 2 The elder spoke from the side, "Are you formally taking him as your disciple now? Li Ke, kowtow to your master." Li Ke was stunned for a moment before he knelt down with a ''thud'' and sincerely kowtowed three times. His head thudded against the floor, a sound that was painful to hear. Qing Chen looked at the elder, "Knights do not observe the ritual of kowtowing." "No matter, he has already kowtowed to you. If he gets into any trouble in the future, you''ll definitely have to help him," the elder replied. Qing Chen: "..." However, upon hearing this conversation, Li Ke suddenly looked up, "Knight?" In his heart, a turbulent wave surged. It seemed that for the descendants of the Li Family, the title of ''Knight'' held a unique allure! Li Ke looked at his grandfather and then at Qing Chen. Before this, the elder had only mentioned that he should acknowledge a master, but had never explicitly stated that Qing Chen was a Knight! All of this was too surprising for Li Ke! "Master, what relationship do you have with my seventh uncle?" Li Ke asked curiously. Qing Chen looked at Li Ke and patiently explained, "Your seventh uncle, Uncle Li Dong, is my master. Starting from today, your seventh uncle will be your ''grandmaster''..." Listening from the side, the elder raised an eyebrow. What was this mess? How had Uncle Li Dong suddenly become of the same generation as himself?! Qing Chen said to the elder, "This is the grandson you chose; the disrupted seniority has nothing to do with me. Strictly speaking, you should have chosen a great-grandson." The elder replied irately, "Just get started." After speaking, Qing Chen grasped Li Ke''s pulse. The young Li Ke watched as Qing Chen suddenly exhaled sharply, and then he was plunged into excruciating pain. The elder held his breath, witnessing this scene he hadn''t seen for decadesnot since Uncle Li Dong was taken as an apprentice by his old friend. The next moment, the Fire Rune pattern burst forth on both sides of Li Ke''s cheeks, his brow furrowed into a character that looked like ''''. Qing Chen silently watched, worried that Li Ke might not withstand the ordeal of Inner Reflection. If Hu Xiaoniu failed to endure, he could take another path, waiting until after completing all eight life-and-death trials to advance to A-Class, but if Li Ke couldn''t endure it, the path of a Knight would be cut off for him. Amidst Inner Reflection, Li Ke felt as if he had returned to his childhood. At 6, he entered Li''s School, becoming its best student. At 18, he was admitted to Tinder Military Academy, again emerging as its top student. At 22, he joined the Federation''s military as a junior officer. By 26, he had risen to the rank of Major. After that, he was called back by the Clan to the Mid-Hill Manor, to work in the Directorate of Secrets. The Clan arranged a political marriage for him. The girl was beautiful, but there was no affection between them. He tried to build a relationship, and she was very accommodating toward him. But just when he thought everything was developing in a positive direction, his wife uttered another man''s name in her sleep. Li Ke had the intelligence department check it outit was her first love. At 34, he became a Director in the Directorate of Secrets, beginning to truly participate in the Clan''s major affairs, and external media started calling him the Crown Prince of the Li Family. But his life was reduced to document after document, and in his eyes, only the fearful gazes of others remained. Li Ke sat in his office at midnight, tirelessly signing documents, then engaging in official-speak with various people, which he had only recently mastered. When the office emptied, he suddenly felt... Perhaps the remaining decades of his life would be spent in such tedium. At 48, he took over the reins of power as the Family Head from his father. From that moment on, he rarely left Mid-Hill Manor, and wherever he went, he could not find a single person who spoke truth to him. At 60, Li Ke began to feel that his body was no longer his own, but belonged to illness and pain. The injuries from his military years started to torment both his body and soul. At 80, he was surrounded by his children and grandchildren. The children in the house suddenly presented a birthday cake and asked him to make a wish. But at that moment, Li Ke pondered for a long time, realizing he had forgotten his lifelong, unfulfilled wish. Ah, it seemed to be becoming a Knight. It was a wish he made every year, yet it remained unfulfilled. At that moment, Li Ke''s spirit suddenly drooped as if someone had drained all his strength. Everything seemed lackluster, and life lost its meaning. At 90, he lay on the sickbed, sensing his impending death. At one point, Li Ke suddenly realized that once he closed his eyes again, he might truly die. By the bedside, his grandson softly asked, "Do you have any unfulfilled wishes?" Li Ke thought to himself that, in fact, he had never fulfilled his wishes. Throughout his life, he had only been the ''person others expected him to be'', never truly being himself. Such a long life was indeed hard to endure. But then, a youth walked into the sickroom from outside, standing before him bathed in the sunlight streaming through the window. That voice belonging to Qing Chen suddenly asked him, would you trade everything you once had for a chance to become a Knight? Would you let go of power to climb a mountain, to see the snow, to chase a dream? With tears streaming down his face, Li Ke said he was willing. It was only at this moment that he remembered his time within Inner Reflection, having entered it decades ago, forgetting everything outside of it. It took nearly a century for Li Ke to finally discover the deepest wish in his heart. Chapter 544 544: 340, Li Ke, Ask the Heart 3 In the gloomy room, not knowing how much time had passed, Li Ke suddenly opened his eyes and said softly, "Master." Qing Chen smiled, a very happy smile, "Congratulations." This meant that the Knight inheritance of the Inner World had not been severed! The old man curiously asked, "Does this count as passing the Trial of Conscience?" "Of course," Qing Chen nodded his head. "What if one fails to pass?" the old man asked. "If you don''t pass, you die," Qing Chen said; he looked at Li Ke, "What did you experience in the Trial of Conscience? Why did it take you so long?" Li Ke glanced at his watch, and it had already been 24 hours. He looked at Qing Chen and asked, "Master, can I keep it to myself?" "Yes," Qing Chen rubbed his head, "The Trial of Conscience is each Knight''s own secret. You can keep it to yourself." Just as Qing Chen never mentioned to Uncle Li Dong that actually, when he was very little, he had been abandoned by his mother once. "Let''s go," Qing Chen said with a smile, "We''re setting off for Taboo Land #002." Having said that, he changed his appearance and walked outside. Li Ke stared at the back of Qing Chen, lost in thought. He wondered, if when he was 90 years old, lying on the sickbed, that young man hadn''t pushed the door and entered. Would he truly have died? Li Ke always felt that it wasn''t he himself who had crossed the Trial of Conscience, but rather this exceptionally young master who had helped him across. In that prolonged dream of the Trial of Conscience, when the other entered the sickroom, he seemed to be wrapped in a layer of light. At this moment, Qing Chen turned back at the door and asked with a smile, "What are you dazing for? Let''s go." "Oh," Li Ke came back to his senses and ran towards the door. ... ... In the parking lot of the Microcosm Community. Qing Chen looked at the huge off-road vehicle in front of him, opened the trunk to check: two spare tires, four barrels of diesel, and luggage tied to the roof that seemed to contain tents and emergency supplies for the wilderness. "You''ve prepared quite thoroughly," Qing Chen remarked appreciatively. This was much more prepared than when Uncle Li Dong took him to Taboo Land #002. However, Qing Chen suddenly spotted a ginkgo leaf emblem on the body of the off-road vehicle. He said in confusion, "Isn''t that the symbol of Qing''s Family?" "That''s right," the old man said matter-of-factly. Qing Chen puzzled, "Why is there a Qing''s Family ginkgo leaf emblem on the car of a Master of the Li Family? You''re so confident about it, which is clearly not normal! It''s as if you''re not the one with the issue, but I am!" The old man patiently explained, "Having a consortium''s emblem while traveling abroad makes things much easier, besides, any disgrace would fall on Qing''s Family, not us. Is there any issue with that?" "Aren''t you afraid of being exposed?" Qing Chen asked, puzzled. The old man chuckled, "Who would dare to inspect a consortium''s vehicle? They don''t even need to go through the visa checkpoint when entering or leaving a country." "You really dare to push the envelope," Qing Chen curled his lip, "If the media exposed it saying ''Master of Li Family impersonates Qing''s Family emblem for misdeeds,'' that would truly be big news across the Federation." "What''s there to fear? Just don''t get caught!" the old man said. "Alright then," Qing Chen sighed. But at this time, they suddenly faced a very mysterious question: Who would drive? Qing Chen couldn''t. Li Ke was too young and hadn''t learned either. The master and disciple both turned their gaze to the old man. Li Xiurui raised his eyebrows, "You two little rascals, you aren''t thinking of making me drive, are you? For an old man at the twilight of his life, I just wanted to have some peaceful and pleasant memories in the last moments of my life. Is this how you treat me?!" Qing Chen spread his hands: "But we really can''t drive. How about this? You drive the car to the Fourth District, and we''ll pick up someone there to be the driver." The old man thought for a moment: "That''s more like it." The huge full-size off-road vehicle drove out of the Microcosm Community, speeding towards the Fourth District. Hu Xiaoniu had packed his things early, and when the car stopped in front of him, he looked through the car window at the old man in the driver''s seat. He felt the face was familiar, perhaps seen in some news report... But for a moment, he couldn''t quite place it. At that time, the old man had already skillfully glued on a mustache. And who would have thought the old man who had just died was now so lively, driving a punk-style off-road vehicle blatantly? Qing Chen waved at Hu Xiaoniu, "Xiao Niu, get in. You drive." "Alright," Hu Xiaoniu recognized Qing Chen. Before this trip, Qing Chen had even shown him the disguise he would wear, still Zard. The old man looked at Hu Xiaoniu and then asked Qing Chen, "Is this the driver you found? Is he reliable?" Hu Xiaoniu thought to himself how he had become the driver, but he did not object. Qing Chen replied, "Rest assured. He''s reliable." "Where to, Brother Chen?" Hu Xiaoniu asked. "Leave City #18 from the southern checkpoint and head to Taboo Land #002," Qing Chen instructed. Hu Xiaoniu was startled; Qing Chen had not told him before that they were heading to Taboo Land #002! As the vehicle headed south, passing the checkpoint, Hu Xiaoniu suddenly noticed tens of off-road vehicles parked, waiting for the customs officers to verify their documents. Hu Xiaoniu asked, "Brother Chen, where are our papers?" Qing Chen: "We don''t have any." Hu Xiaoniu was stunned, "What?" The old man said, "Let''s take the left lane and drive straight through. The car has Qing''s Family ginkgo leaf emblemthough it''s fake, surely no one dares to check." Hu Xiaoniu was a bit nervous, thinking to himself how the old man so blatantly admitted the emblem was fake. Was there really no problem? Looking at the immigration checkpoint with dozens of armed soldiers standing by, and drones surveilling from the sky, if someone discovered a problem with the emblem, wouldn''t they be shot like a sieve? Nevertheless, Hu Xiaoniu kept his composure, stepped on the gas without hesitation, and didn''t slow down. The checkpoint gate opened, and just like the old man had said, no one checked! At that moment, Hu Xiaoniu glanced at another lane and then froze: "Brother Chen, I see Qi Duo and Zhang Lanjin in that convoy." The two members of the Freemasonry from the Outer World. ... A 5000-word chapter, another one at 11 pm. Vote for monthly tickets. Chapter 545 545: The Joy of Watching Opera "They had mentioned something about leaving City No. 18 to lay low before, but I didn''t expect them to depart so soon," Qing Chen said, frowning. Moreover, the dozens of vehicles at the immigration checkpoint must belong to the Freemasonry. As the group of students waited for clearance, many of them got out of their cars and chatted with relaxed expressions, as if they were going on an excursion. Qing Chen thought that this wasn''t really a problem, in fact. If the convoy had experts to ensure their safety, as long as they didn''t venture into area No. 002, the Taboo Land, there indeed wouldn''t be much danger in theory. The students from Luo Yi High School were the elite of Los Angeles City, the brightest minds of the bunch. When these people came together, they wouldn''t make such novice mistakes; they were sure to be well-prepared. Qing Chen did a rough calculation. Even if there were only two people in a car, that number would nearly reach that of a consortium''s autumn hunt; probably all of Luo Yi High''s elite students were in the convoy. Qing Chen turned to Hu Xiaoniu and asked, "I saw them chatting with you and Tianzhen the day before yesterday. Did they reveal any particular intentions?" Ever since Wang Jiale divulged the information about Qing Chen to Qi Duo and Zhang Lanjin, these two have been subtlety contacting the people around Qing Chen relentlessly. Qing Chen had noticed this and, although he didn''t know what had happened, he was clear that the other party was trying to get closer to him. But the problem was, these two were very sly and didn''t give Qing Chen a chance to keep his distance; it looked like they planned to build a good relationship with Hu Xiaoniu and Zhang Tianzhen first. At that moment, Hu Xiaoniu wasn''t sure how to continue the conversation from inside the car, mainly because he was uncertain about the identity of the old man and Li Ke in the car -- whether or not they knew they were Time Travelers, whether or not they were aware of their identities. Qing Chen glanced at Hu Xiaoniu: "We are all our own people here; you can say anything." The old man said, "That''s right, we are all our own here. Go on, speak." Qing Chen: "..." The old man was very curious about Qing Chen''s life in the Outer World, and realizing that Hu Xiaoniu was Qing Chen''s companion in the Outer World, he planned to dig out some information. Once Hu Xiaoniu was reassured that Qing Chen was serious, he finally relaxed and said, "I did chat with Qi Duo and Zhang Lanjin a few more times afterward. I didn''t get the feeling that they had any clear ambitions; they just want to create a Los Angeles Middle School Time Travelers'' Alliance. Of course, they don''t just accept anyone now; they''re recruiting the best Time Travelers from each middle school. Oh, and Jiang Yichen from our school also joined the Freemasonry and will be heading to the wilderness with them." Qing Chen was taken aback, Jiang Yichen? He had speculated that Jiang Yichen might be Lu Ya from He Xiaoxiao''s group, considering the timelines; Jiang Yichen''s arrival in Los Angeles City coincided with Lu Ya''s. With this assumption in place, it then made sense for Jiang Yichen to want to blend into the Freemasonry Fleet and leave City No. 18 to avoid the limelight. After all, ''Lu Ya'' had stolen the Taboo from Qing Zhong and was facing Qing''s Family''s pursuit. However, if Jiang Yichen really was Lu Ya and had indeed stolen the Taboo from Qing Zhong, then this group heading into the wilderness might not be safe. Even though Mr. Shadow seemed rather indifferent, how could he possibly abandon a Taboo artifact just like that? The Taboo definitely needed to be recovered. "The vehicles in the next lane, are they your middle school classmates from the Outer World?" the old man asked curiously, patting Hu Xiaoniu''s shoulder, "Kid, what kind of person is Qing Chen in the Outer World? Is he in a relationship? Does he have any enemies? What are his parents like?" Hu Xiaoniu didn''t know how to reply for a moment. Qing Chen said calmly, "Old man, if you''re trying to fish for information, at least avoid me a little bit, will you?" The old man was displeased, "Can''t you indulge an old man''s curiosity? Besides, I really want to know what the Outer World is like." At this very moment, Qing Chen turned his head to find Li Ke with his mouth agape. The only person on the car who didn''t know that Qing Chen was a Time Traveler was him. The young Li Ke felt that the shocks he had experienced in these two days exceeded all he had encountered in the previous fourteen years. It was enough to stun him for an entire year! "Master, you are a Time Traveler?! And you''re still in middle school?" Li Ke asked, curious. "Yes," Qing Chen nodded. It seemed that everyone in the Inner World found it incredible to know that he was still attending middle school. Li Ke then turned to the old man, "Grandpa, did you know all along?" The old man also nodded. Li Ke: "..." It seemed that he was the only one out of the loop! The only one kept in the dark! The old man, beaming as if he were looking at his own grandson, said, "There are many more things you don''t know about." Qing Chen thought for a moment and then said, "Xiao Niu, drive a bit faster. We should reach the first campsite I marked on the map before sunset and follow the route I''ve planned. Let''s try to avoid dealing with the Freemasonry for now, as I now suspect there might be Time Travelers affiliated with Qing''s Family among that group." "Sure," Hu Xiaoniu nodded and pressed down on the accelerator. Qing Chen looked at the old man, "By the way, what if we really do get stopped by the immigration authorities?" "Did you really think I just slapped a Qing''s Family emblem on the car?" the old man chuckled. "Consortiums also need to prevent impersonation, so those emblems are made of controlled paint with electronic feedback signals from each consortium hidden beneath. Before you even reach the checkpoint, the immigration authorities already know that it''s a consortium vehicle approaching." Chapter 546 546: 341. The Joy of Watching Opera_2 "So that''s how it is," Qing Chen nodded. Each city''s edge was fortified with a wall over three meters high, topped with an electric fence. The Border and Immigration Bureau was very strict on smuggling and unauthorized crossings. Just as they were leaving, Qi Duo, within the check-point, watched the SUV that had just departed and suddenly said to Zhang Lanjin, "Did you see that SUV just now? The one from Qing''s Family." "Saw it, what about it?" Zhang Lanjin asked with a smile, "Envious that they can leave the city without inspection?" "No," Qi Duo shook his head and replied, "I think I saw Hu Xiaoniu sitting in the driver''s seat, but I''m not certain because I saw it through the car window." "Hu Xiaoniu?" Zhang Lanjin was stunned, "You mean our classmate Hu Xiaoniu from the Los Angeles Foreign Language School?" "Yes," Qi Duo nodded, "He seemed to be driving... No wonder he was reluctant to disclose his role in the Inner World. Turns out he''s with the corporation." While they were talking, a dark-skinned young man approached them, "What are you muttering about?" The young man was well-built, appearing as though he often engaged in outdoor activities. "Nangong senior, we transferred to Los Angeles Foreign Language School last week and we thought we just saw a new classmate driving out of the city in a vehicle from Qing''s Family," Qi Duo explained, "It''s the Hu Xiaoniu we mentioned in our group chat." Nangong Yuanyu seemed surprised, "Hu Xiaoniu? Are you sure it was him?" "Not absolutely sure, but I''m eighty percent certain," Qi Duo said, "Our current plan is to befriend Hu Xiaoniu and Zhang Tianzhen first, and then gradually try to bring Qing Chen into Freemasonry." "Well, that''s a good plan. Our Freemasonry needs someone like Qing Chen," Nangong Yuanyu said with a smile, "Come on, get in the car. It seems they went south, and our destination is also to the south; perhaps we''ll run into them in the wilderness." "Wait, aren''t they also heading to the Taboo Land #002 area?" Qi Duo asked curiously. Nangong Yuanyu pondered, "That would be even better." Although Qing Chen had agreed to join Freemasonry, no one truly believed he had joined... Now, Freemasonry was particularly interested in Qing Chen. Not for any other reason but because Qing Chen had achieved a perfect score in the AMC10 math competition, Freemasonry needed such high-IQ individuals. ... ... In the SUV, the old man removed the fake beard he was wearing, "When will those who make these fake beards improve their technique to make this thing more comfortable to wear? Hey, Qing Chen kid, why don''t you lend me that Taboo object, ACE-005, and I''ll return it to you when I die?" The old man spoke about life and death as casually as if he were talking about drinking water. This made Qing Chen suspicious, "You aren''t trying to trick me out of my Taboo object, claiming to live another hundred years, are you?" "What do you take me for? Do I need to deceive you for a Taboo object with my status?!" the old man retorted with a fierce look. "Don''t act so pretentious, when we left Autumn Leaf Courtyard I noticed that the Heartless Bronze Bell hanging from my eaves had been taken. I wonder who was so stingy, only letting me use it for less than a month. And they still expect me to guard the secret pathway in and out of the hillside estate," Qing Chen complained. The old man paused, "How did you find out? I specifically told Li Yunjing to be careful." "Heh," Qing Chen scoffed. Hu Xiaoniu felt as though these two seemed addicted to their bickering, his gaze shifting between them. At that moment, as Hu Xiaoniu''s gaze inadvertently swept across the old man''s face, he instantly recognized his identity! Master of the Li Family, Li Xiurui! "Xiao Niu, focus on driving, don''t crash off the road," Qing Chen cautioned. Regaining his composure, Hu Xiaoniu felt a huge turmoil within him, as though a hand had grabbed his throat, making it difficult to breathe. In recent days, the entire Federation''s media had been reporting the old man''s death, with his photo plastered everywhere. Previously, with a full face of beard, he was unrecognizable, but now, shaven, Hu Xiaoniu was immediately shocked. "You... You are not..." Hu Xiaoniu was puzzled, wondering why a supposedly dead man would be in this SUV, and why the Master of the Li Family was so familiar with Qing Chen, a student! From their joking manner, it was clear their relationship was very close! Nowadays, which Time Traveler could be friends with the head of a corporate family? That was too exaggerated! "The corporate family head faked his death and traveled to Taboo Land #002 with a Time Traveler" C the mere thought seemed preposterous. Hu Xiaoniu, looking at Qing Chen in the rearview mirror, fell into deep thought. He had previously been curious about how Qing Chen had changed his appearance, but now knowing the truth, he thought it was due to the function of a Taboo object. Nowadays, among the Time Travelers, those who possessed a Taboo object were very fewprobably only about a dozen among tens of thousands, maybe even fewer. Could such a person really be content being subordinate to others? If even a Daytime Member was this powerful, what about the Daytime Boss? In the evening, Qing Chen and his group finally arrived at the camping spot marked on the map. This was where Qing Chen had first met the Qin Family People, including Qin Yiyi. However, this time there were no apples to eat, nor was Uncle Li Dong by his sidethings had changed. He wondered how the girl who had been willing to share her apple with him was doing now. Chapter 547 547: 341. The Joy of Watching Opera_3 Qing Chen expertly started a campfire, then sat beside it with the old man, waiting for Hu Xiaoniu and Li Ke to set up the tent. The warmth of the campfire made them both feel toasty, as if their skins were swelling up from the heat. After an indeterminate amount of time, the old man sitting on the stool slowly closed his eyes and his body started to lean over to one side. Fortunately, Qing Chen was quick to react and prevented the old man from falling to the ground. Qing Chen, feeling the man''s pulse, found it was already very weak. "Old man? Old man, wake up!" Qing Chen shouted as he pinched the old man''s philtrum. The old man slowly opened his eyes: "I''m fine. Just suddenly felt a bit sleepy." Qing Chen knew it was more than just sleepiness. The life of this old man was indeed coming to an end, and it was only by sheer willpower that he had been able to feign death and have a look at the sunrise and trees. The next second, the old man said weakly, "Let go of my philtrum first. You''re too strong; you''re going to strangle me to death." Qing Chen could not help but laugh and cry: "Aren''t I just worried that you might not make it halfway?" The old man sat up straight and said, "Don''t worry, I won''t die before I''ve fulfilled my wish." Qing Chen fell silent, the old man now like the lingering light of a sunset, its rays and the red disc swiftly descending towards the horizon. Suddenly, the old man asked, "Did your master take you through here once? I see remnants of a campfire nearby, though they have been scattered by the wind and rain, but the grass still hasn''t grown back." Qing Chen thought for a moment and replied, "My master and I camped here after leaving Prison 18. Back then, we trekked for three days and three nights. This time, we arrived in one day by car. According to the plan, we will reach the edge of Taboo Land No. 002 in six days." "I envy you. If only I could have become a Knight," the old man said with a smile. Just at that moment, the roar of an engine came from a distance. Qing Chen was startled; he didn''t need to guess who was coming. From City 18, there are actually three routes to reach Taboo Land No. 002, and he didn''t expect that the Freemasonry had chosen the same route as them. Or perhaps, they had come specifically for them. Qing Chen glanced at Hu Xiaoniu: "Unload the firearms from the car and hand them over to me. If they stop later, you handle it. Old man, stick on your beard. I''m afraid you''ll scare them." The convoy arrived quickly, stopping right next to Qing Chen''s camp. Qi Duo and Zhang Lanjin jumped down from their vehicle, greeting them with warm and polite expressions, as if they didn''t recognize Hu Xiaoniu, "Good evening, everyone. It''s getting late, and this seems like the most suitable place for camping nearby. Would it be all right if we set up camp next to you?" Qing Chen pondered why these two were pretending not to know Hu Xiaoniu. That''s right, they were unsure of the identity of the people on his side, as well as whether the ''big shots from Qing''s Family'' knew that Hu Xiaoniu was a Time Traveler. So they didn''t acknowledge him rashly, to avoid causing Hu Xiaoniu trouble. If that''s what they were thinking, then these people were actually showing kindness toward Hu Xiaoniu. At this point, the old man chuckled and said, "Of course, you can. Please feel free to do as you like." Qing Chen looked at the old man in surprise and whispered, "What if there''s any danger?" "What danger could there be from a group of high school students," the old man whispered back. "Besides, I''ve always been curious what a Time Traveler is like. In the past, it was always Li Yunyi who dealt with them, and I never got the chance to interact with them myself. Isn''t this a perfect opportunity?" Realization dawned on Qing Chen: "So, Li Yunjing is actually with us, right?" "No," the old man shook his head. "I don''t believe it," Qing Chen firmly sensed that the old man was full of confidence, seemingly unconcerned about any danger. When the Freemasonry was setting up camp, the old man even got up, walked around their camp with his hands behind his back, mingling like an old acquaintance, and was enthusiastically chatting with a group of young female students. Watching the girls giggling and the old man''s charm undiminished from his younger days, Qing Chen quietly observed all this, unsure of how to react for a moment. He wondered whether he should take a different route tomorrow to shake off this group. Before long, the old man turned and called out to Qing Chen, "Grandson, these youngsters are also going to visit Taboo Land No. 002. We could travel together; more people makes it merrier!" Qing Chen: "..." What was this all about! Even with the expert Li Yunjing hidden away to protect them, the old man couldn''t be this capricious! Qing Chen felt the old man knew that the others were his classmates and had deliberately found an opportunity to travel together, then to see how he and they interacted. Enjoying the spectacle of it all. And he always felt that the old man''s calling him was deliberately trying to insult him! Qing Chen walked over to the Freemason''s campsite and asked Qi Duo and the others, "Are you going to Taboo Land No. 002 as well?" Zhang Lanjin nodded and said, "Yes, we want to see the legendary towering tree. We''ll just take a look from a distance without entering the Taboo Land. What about you? Why are you going there?" Qing Chen replied, "We are also going to visit." Qi Duo, looking at Hu Xiaoniu and Li Ke still setting up tents, suddenly asked, "Those two, are they your Servants?" Qing Chen laughed. At this moment, he was in the guise of Zard, so they had not recognized him. Now, these people thought he was a Native of the Inner World, and they even tried to inquire about Hu Xiaoniu''s identity in the Outer World through him! He said, "Yes, they are our Servants. Why, do you know them?" "No no, just asking," Qi Duo and Zhang Lanjin exchanged a glance and smiled, "We were just asking casually." Qing Chen suddenly felt interested too, pretending to be a Native of the Inner World in front of a group of Time Travelers seemed quite entertaining... But just then, he saw Jiang Yichen, who was sneakily hiding in the crowd, feeling shy when looking at him... Qing Chen spoke out, "Hey, isn''t that my neighbor?" Jiang Yichen''s face changed. Honestly, he never expected to run into the owner of the ''Ghost house'' right across his door out in the wilderness! ... A chapter of 5000 words, 10,000 words updated, with the additional updates promised for being first in the August monthly ticket leaderboard all completed. I need monthly tickets! Chapter 548 548: 342. Pretend to be an NPC "Are you neighbors?" Qi Duo asked in surprise, looking from Jiang Yichen to Qing Chen. Qing Chen replied enthusiastically, "Of course, we live in the Microcosm Community in the Upper Three Districts; we''ve met once before. I even said after I got home that I should socialize more with the neighbors." Jiang Yichen forced a smile, "Right, neighbors, we should socialize more..." Socialize my foot! He had seen with his own eyes how so many assassins had sneaked into the house, and none of them had been able to come back out. What happened to them? Did they die? All ten or more of them? Every time Jiang Yichen thought about it, he found it terrifying. Besides, whenever he recalled how they had been suspicious of him, he felt like he had narrowly escaped death. If he hadn''t answered their questions satisfactorily at that time, would he also have disappeared inside that house? At this moment, a few Freemasonry students asked curiously, "Wow, are you guys big shots from the Upper Three Districts? We haven''t even been to the Upper Three Districts yet." The affable old man Li Xiurui immediately smiled at the female students, "Come, come, let me tell you about some interesting things in the Upper Three Districts. I''ve lived there for most of my life and know everything about it." "Really, you can tell us?" the students exclaimed in delight. The old man smiled, "Yes, of course, but you haven''t finished setting up your tents, have you? The boys should go set them up first; after all, it''s getting late, and it will be inconvenient to work in the dark later." Qing Chen: "..." He was pondering one thing, was this old man truly at the end of his life? It didn''t seem like it! While talking, the old head took the girls to his campfire to tell stories. Qing Chen turned back to look at the other Freemasonry students, "Eh, aren''t you from the Upper Three Districts?" "No," a young man with dark skin came over and said with a smile, "Hello, my name is Nangong Yuanyu, I''m the person in charge of this convoy." "Hello," Qing Chen nodded and continued pretending to be an NPC from the Inner World: "This neighbor is from the Upper Three Districts, huh? If you''re not, how do you know each other?" Nangong Yuanyu explained with a smile, "We met by chance and came out together for a wilderness adventure." Qing Chen looked at Jiang Yichen, "Right, didn''t you mention that you wanted to apply for university? I remember you said you came to City No. 18 specifically to attend a cram school. Did you meet at the cram school?" "Exactly, exactly," Jiang Yichen said with an awkward smile, "We met in the cram course." "Then why aren''t you focused on your studies instead of playing in the wilderness?" Qing Chen said seriously, "At your age, studying is more important. Getting into Qinghe University could change your destiny. Wait, you''re not Time Travelers, are you?" Qi Duo, asked in such a way, responded with a somewhat unnatural expression, "No, how could that be!" Jiang Yichen hurriedly explained, "Reading ten thousand books is not as useful as traveling ten thousand miles. Qinghe University also has an interview stage; if you only know how to study, you won''t be able to get in anyway." Qing Chen held back a laugh, watching the group scrambling to patch up their identities. He suddenly found it quite amusing. Acting as an NPC from the Inner World seemed rather enjoyable. He eyed Jiang Yichen closely, thinking about where on earth he had hidden the Taboo item. What exactly the Taboo item on Qing Zhong''s person was still remained a secret, but Qing Chen was very interested in any Taboo items. Almost at midnight, Qing Chen went back to his campfire to call the old man, "Grandpa, it''s time for you to sleep, let''s continue tomorrow." Without looking back, the old man waved his hand, "It''s alright, let''s talk a little more..." Once in high spirits, the old man had talked from District One all the way up to the Upper Three Districts, covering a wide range of topics. Spade sneaking into the Third District and bombing the Animal Protection Association... How a bigwig from the Chen Clan got put in his place in the Upper Three Districts... How Jindai and Deer Island planned to buy property in City No. 18''s Upper Three Districts but got schemed against by the Li Family, who swindled a lot of money from them... He could talk about anything, not sparing even his own family''s scandals, as if he was no longer a member of the Li Family. Qing Chen maintained a calm demeanor: "If you''re not tired, the female students are. Besides, we''re traveling together; there will be plenty of opportunities. It''s better to rest early; your health isn''t the best." It wasn''t that he intended to dampen the old man''s enthusiasm, but he was genuinely worried that if the old man stayed up every night, he might not make it to Taboo Land No. 002! The old man cheerfully told the female students, "Look, my grandson cares about me. Let''s all get some rest, and we''ll continue tomorrow." After the female students had left, the old man said earnestly, "I''ve fished out their information. These people have bribed someone at the immigration bureau to illegally issue 97 Wilderness Hunter licenses. That''s how they can freely enter and leave the city. The problem is, not just anyone can bribe the immigration bureauit''s clear they have someone backing them. In the entire City No. 18, the Li Family and Qing''s Family split the world between them. Since they''re not on the Li Family''s list of Time Travelers, it only leaves Qing''s Family." Qing Chen nodded, which was very much in line with his judgement. Behind Freemasonry, there might just be a Mister Shadow from Qing''s Family. Earlier, he had been worried for the Freemasonry, after all, with someone like Jiang Yichen amongst them, there might be someone being hunted down by Qing''s Family. But now, he had started to worry about Jiang Yichen instead... If the Freemasonry really was backed by Qing''s Family, then Jiang Yichen was as good as in a wolf''s lair. After the group traversal, Qing Chen found the most interesting thing was right here, each person had their own secrets, playing their roles, and then waiting at any moment for either social death or actual death... Right now, that group of people didn''t even know that among their ranks was not just the boss from daytime, but also the previous Family Head of the Li Family, and the next generation leader of the Knights... This troop of people could be said to be of very high value. Qing Chen looked at the elder: "You''re chatting with them just to get information?" "Of course," said the elder with righteous indignation: "Although I don''t have many days left, helping you out even a little is still something." "Give me a break," Qing Chen said expressionlessly: "I''d advise you to take it easy and not to overdo it, lest you don''t make it to the Taboo Land numbered 002." "That''s not likely," the elder said: "Being with these students, I feel like I''ve grown many years younger!" ... ... Elsewhere, Nangong Yuanyu and Qi Duo found Jiang Yichen and asked, "What''s with these people, you seem to be very afraid of them?" After thinking it over, Jiang Yichen decided to tell the truth: "I''m not afraid of them, but rather scared of that young man. He really is my neighbor, but through the peephole, I personally witnessed more than a dozen fully armed assassins sneak into his house to kill him, and none of those people ever came out again. Recently, I''ve already put the house on the market. I don''t dare to stay there for another minute. I thought I could get far away like this, but I didn''t expect to run into him again here." Qi Duo pondered: "Are they here to kill Jiang Yichen and silence him?" Nangong Yuanyu shook his head: "No, they left City 18 one step ahead of us, and they were the first to arrive at the campsite. We stayed here just to interact with Hu Xiaoniu." "That''s true," Jiang Yichen gradually relaxed: "But let''s try not to provoke such big shots of the Inner World as much as possible. How about we leave early tomorrow and go our separate ways from them?" Nangong Yuanyu looked at Jiang Yichen: "Could they be Time Travelers?" "No," Jiang Yichen shook his head: "That young man has lived in the Microcosm Community for eight years, and that elder is too old; we haven''t seen a Time Traveler of that age appear yet." Qi Duo said: "It seems they really aren''t Time Travelers. How about I go tonight while they''re asleep and try to talk to Hu Xiaoniu alone? We''re both Time Travelers from the Outer World; emotionally, he should be closer to us." "Since their four people are in separate tents, you should be able to get close to Hu Xiaoniu without being discovered," Nangong Yuanyu considered: "Just ask him about the identities of these people and why they are going to Taboo Land numbered 002. Don''t ask for too many specifics, otherwise, it might put student Hu Xiaoniu in a difficult position. We only need to know that these people mean no harm, the rest we needn''t bother with. The most important thing is to arrive on schedule at the outskirts of Taboo Land numbered 002 in 6 days and hand over the drugs to the Wilderness Hunters." "Hmm," Qi Duo nodded: "This winter in the Inner World is too cold; without the drugs, those Wilderness Hunters won''t survive." In the middle of the night, Qi Duo quietly approached Hu Xiaoniu''s tent and whispered: "Xiao Niu, Xiao Niu." Hu Xiaoniu opened his eyes, thinking that Brother Chen was really meticulous, even predicting that they would come to find him in the middle of the night. He silently crawled out of the tent and, taking hold of Qi Duo, headed deep into the woods. Once they had stopped, Qi Duo asked: "Are you their Servant?" Hu Xiaoniu nodded: "Yes." Qi Duo thought for a moment: "I''ve heard that Servants... if you need it, we could try to help you leave City 18 and escape their control." Hu Xiaoniu was inwardly amused; these people sure had rich imaginations. He quickly explained: "Although these people are members of a financial group, they are actually quite nice, and I don''t have any immediate plans to run away." "That''s good," Qi Duo nodded: "By the way, what are you going to Taboo Land numbered 002 for?" "Just traveling," Hu Xiaoniu said: "The elder doesn''t have much time left and wants to go see the tree in Taboo Land numbered 002. Speaking of which, why are you going to Taboo Land numbered 002?" Qi Duo was a bit troubled. Hu Xiaoniu thought for a moment: "It''s okay if you don''t want to say. Along the way, let''s keep an eye out for each other, and let me know if there''s anything you need." "Right," Qi Duo thought Hu Xiaoniu was a good fellow... At that moment, Hu Xiaoniu suddenly said: "Be careful of that high school senior named Jiang Yichen; he''s not simple and may have ulterior motives for following you." That was the message Qing Chen had insisted Hu Xiaoniu pass on tonight. ... There''s another chapter at 10 pm tonight. This month I''m resting and recuperating, gathering strength for next month''s challenge of daily updates of ten thousand words. Thank you to my naming technique for becoming a new ally of this book, generous boss, wishing the boss''s child is not troublesome! Vote for the monthly pass! Chapter 549 549: 343, Spade, see the Spade again "Why do you say Jiang Yichen has other plans?" Qi Duo asked, somewhat puzzled. "That young man named Qing Zade, the one who''s slightly older by the old man''s side, they''re all from Qing''s Family," Hu Xiaoniu said casually. "He''s a detective of the PCE Security Management Committee. After encountering this neighbor, he found that he came to City No. 18 out of the blue, claiming he was planning to take the entrance exam at Qinghe University. But he hasn''t attended any prep classes and skulks around every day. Do you know about the recent Shadow conflict? Qing Zade suspects that he took part in murdering Qing Zhong and is now being hunted by Qing''s Family. He may not mean any harm to you, but it''s very likely he wants to use your team to escape the pursuit." Zade is the transliteration of Zard. The main reason being that Qing Chen really doesn''t know Zard''s real name yet, otherwise he would''ve used his real name directly. The reason they go by the surname ''Qing'' is that they drive a car with the Qing''s Family emblem on it; that way it seems more legitimate. Hu Xiaoniu continued, "You see, in the fight for the Shadow position, if an outsider murders a Shadow Candidate, Qing''s Spy Agency will chase the murderer to the ends of the earth." After saying this, Hu Xiaoniu felt as if he were playing a round of Werewolf Kill. Qing Chen first assigns himself the identity of a PCE Federal Agent (police officer) and then immediately accuses Jiang Yichen, branding him the ''werewolf''. At this point, Qing Chen''s NPC identity serves as a natural disguise. How could an NPC harbor ill intentions? Qi Duo recalled the events. Indeed, in the Outer World, they had never actively invited Jiang Yichen. Instead, he approached them on his own, saying he wanted to go see the Wilderness with them. Thinking about it now, such enthusiasm does indeed seem a bit suspicious. But Qi Duo wasn''t a fool either; he always felt something was off. "Could it be that Qing Zade is actually here to kill Jiang Yichen?" "No," Hu Xiaoniu shook his head. "Who would pursue a target with the elderly and children in tow? I overheard him speaking privately with the old man, and the old man warned him not to get involved in the Shadow conflict, and even if they were certain Jiang Yichen was the murderer, they couldn''t let Qing Zade do the killing. This kind of branch of a financial consortium doesn''t want to get wrapped up in the fight for the Shadow. They plan to part ways with you guys tomorrow to avoid being dragged down by this Jiang Yichen." Qi Duo listened, confused. Indeed, if Qing Zade had come to kill Jiang Yichen, he wouldn''t be bringing the elderly and children. That certainly wouldn''t be reasonable. So, Hu Xiaoniu must be genuinely warning them, lest they get fooled by Jiang Yichen. After Qi Duo left, Qing Chen slowly emerged from the woods. He smiled and said, "Xiao Niu''s acting skill is not bad, and his logic is sound too." Hu Xiaoniu scratched his head, a bit embarrassed, "Actually, Zhang Tianzhen is better suited for this kind of thing. If Tianzhen were here, I''m afraid he could have convinced them to kick Jiang Yichen out of the team tonight." "Chen Ge, are you planning to seize the Taboo from Jiang Yichen?" Hu Xiaoniu asked. "No," Qing Chen shook his head. "Our main purpose this time is still to fulfill the old man''s wish; everything else is secondary." For Qing Chen, whether Jiang Yichen possesses a Taboo or not is not the most important thing. What he needed was to reach Taboo Land No. 002 as soon as possible. At the moment, Qing Chen was still not sure of Jiang Yichen''s level, nor the strength of the highest-level students of Freemasonry, and he didn''t plan to directly steal anything. "Then why did you set him up like this?" asked Hu Xiaoniu, curious. Qing Chen said, "I want to see if he gets nervous when the news spreads, to confirm whether he is really Lu Ya." "By the way, Chen Ge, what exactly are we going to do in Taboo Land No. 002?" Hu Xiaoniu asked in a low voice. "I know it''s for the old man to achieve his final wish. I am asking why you brought me along?" "You should already have the answer in your heart," Qing Chen responded with a smile. ... ... At dawn the next day, when the sky was still not fully bright, Qing Chen took the old man, Li Ke, and Hu Xiaoniu to the Wilderness. This was the place where Uncle Li Dong had once taken him to practice climbing. Before reaching the Qing Mountain Cliff, he intended to teach Li Ke and Hu Xiaoniu all the techniques they might need when the time came. For a long time, both Hu Xiaoniu and Li Ke had been practicing, and even before Qing Chen had entered Li''s School, Li Ke had been practicing in secret with the hope that he would one day be chosen by his Seventh Uncle. Although what comes later in the Knight''s challenge is unknown to everyone, the Qing Mountain Cliff is no secret in the Li Family. In the back mountains of the halfway own villa, there is also a cliff dozens of meters high. The old man, gasping for breath, sat on a rock and watched Li Ke and Hu Xiaoniu climb up unhesitatingly, with the morning sun bursting forth in the background. "Does the sunrise over Qing Mountain Cliff look even better than this?" the old man asked softly. "Yes," Qing Chen replied. "It''s the most beautiful sunrise I''ve ever seen." "Thank you," the old man suddenly said. "Why do you suddenly say that?" Qing Chen laughed. "You''re my master''s father, and it''s only right to help you fulfill your last wish. If he were still in City No. 18, he would do the same." "Actually, I never had such a hope," the old man shook his head. "Not until you appeared in the villa halfway up the mountain did I see a glimmer of hope." At that moment, he pointed at Li Ke and Hu Xiaoniu and said to Qing Chen beside him, filled with emotion, "I practiced this too back in the day. The place where that rascal Li Ke secretly practiced climbing in the back mountain, that was also a spot I frequented." "So that''s why there''s a place set up specifically for climbing practice. Did you have it constructed?" Qing Chen asked, curious. "No, it''s been around for hundreds of years. The Li Family has had successive generations of knights," the old man said, laughing. By 9 a.m., Li Ke and Hu Xiaoniu, drenched in sweat, stopped practicing. Li Ke said, "Master, although I have rock climbing skills, the sheer cliff of Qing Mountain is 600 meters. I might not have the stamina to make it." Hu Xiaoniu thought for a moment and said, "Same here. I''ve roughly estimated and think I might run out of strength after climbing more than 200 meters." Qing Chen shook his head, smiling, "Don''t worry about that, it''s not a concern." He thought that since he was bringing two knight successors at once, it was only right for those old geezers in the Taboo Land to dig into their savings a bit. At that moment, the old man said, "Let''s rest a while longer. I''m getting a bit tired of walking." After pondering, Qing Chen said, "I''ll carry you." With that, he hoisted the old man onto his back and slowly headed towards the camp. The old man weighed very little, like a feather that could float away if one wasn''t careful. Suddenly feeling a pang of sorrow, Qing Chen didn''t know when he had started to see the old man as his own grandfather, and even wished their journey to the Taboo Land could be slower, to keep the old man''s spirit hanging on for a few more days. Back at camp, the Freemasonry students curiously asked, "Where have you been?" However, before Qing Chen could explain, he saw the old man swiftly get off his back and then walk over to the female students: "I saw you packing up; are you about to leave? I''ll join you in your car today, so I can continue to tell you stories about the Upper Three Districts on the way." The female students exclaimed joyfully, "Sure!" Qing Chen watched the old man''s retreating figure expressionlessly, realizing that the latter''s exhausted appearance, as if he was on the brink of death, had been a ruse to trick him into carrying him back! Is this old man really the Master of Li Family, the one with the dignified face on the news? Right then, a SUV approached from the north. What was odd was that it wasn''t following the main road, but driving up the dirt track instead. Qing Chen frowned. It was clear that the vehicle was headed for them. He stepped back, opened their car door, and also slipped his hand into the gun holster. The next moment, the SUV came to an abrupt halt in front of everyone and a brawny bald man jumped out, surveying the surroundings before smiling at Nangong Yuanyu, "Folks, where are you all heading?" Nangong Yuanyu replied, "South." The bald man asked with a smile, "What''s down south?" Nangong Yuanyu said, "Just going to take in the scenery." "Great, I''m also going south. How about we travel together? There are bandits on the road, it''s good to have company for protection," the bald man said. Nangong Yuanyu responded with a smile, "Sure." At this moment, Qing Chen had taken his hand out of the gun holster. Because he recognized the bald man. Spade, Guo Huchan! That iconic bald head was all too familiar to Qing Chen! Although the man pretended not to know Nangong Yuanyu, his acting was so poor that anyone with eyes could see they were there to meet up. By now, Qing Chen had a revelation. The Freemasonry''s trip to the southern wilderness must have some connection to Spade. He had observed the convoy; even though none of the cars were full, and there were actually quite a few empty seats, they insisted on bringing so many vehicles. They were transporting something! As for what exactly they were carrying, Qing Chen wasn''t quite sure yet. According to Uncle Li Dong, Spade was now the patron saint of the wilderness people and also had great relations with Fire Pit. These people were likely smuggling supplies to support the wilderness people. Spade had been wandering the wilderness and did not hold any real power within the Federation, thus for the Freemasonry to be able to smuggle out so many resources, there must be some deal struck between Mr. Shadow and Spade in the background. But the issue is, aren''t the wilderness and the Federation in opposition? They deal with Uncle Li Dong on one hand and Spade on the other. What exactly does Mr. Shadow want? At this moment, Guo Huchan also noticed Qing Chen and the others, and when he saw the ginkgo leaf emblem on their vehicle, he raised an eyebrow, "Who might these be?" "Just passing by and traveling together," Nangong Yuanyu explained. "Oh," Guo Huchan rubbed his bald head, "Good, good, meeting is fate, let''s travel together." Qing Chen thought to himself, if this guy knew that he had once impersonated his boss Xu Linsen and almost got him beaten up, he wondered if he would still be willing to call him a friend... Wait a second, traveling this way south, could it be that they''ll run into Yan Yan? Chapter 550 550: 344, the deception limps Qing Chen once said when she left Los Angeles City that she was going to the south to do some things. Now that I think about it, it must also be related to the wilderness clans in the south, right? Although they were flying northward. But calculating the time, even if they really circled the Earth, they should have already arrived in the south. Qing Chen is different from other Daytime Members; she doesn''t need to depend on anyone to exist and has her own goals. Sometimes Qing Chen felt that the force field ability was the most suitable for this girl, allowing her to fly freely. That''s not the point, though. The important question is, among those in the south receiving the goods, will Qing Chen be there? Thinking this, Qing Chen felt somewhat relieved. At this moment, Qing Chen looked at Guo Huchan. This bald man was here to rendezvous with the Freemasonry, tasked with transporting the goods they were shipping out to the south. This plan was supposed to be confidential; otherwise, Mr. Shadow wouldn''t have bothered using a group of students as cover. So, seeing Qing Chen and the other three outsiders, Guo Huchan should have, by all logic, either tried to kill them to silence them or led his group away from them. Qing Chen looked at Guo Huchan, who was also sizing him up. Guo Huchan tried to offer Qing Chen a friendly smile, but with his fierce build, face covered in wild tattoos, and a shiny bald head, he looked more like a menacing wilderness bandit. Qing Chen also smiled, not allowing this man to recognize him; otherwise, if he brought up old grievances with "Xu Linsen," it could lead to a vendetta. Everything would wait until he saw Qing Chen again. The next moment, Guo Huchan got back into his own vehicle, apparently preparing to lead the group. Qing Chen said to the old man, "Let''s be cautious. If it really comes down to it, we''ll distance ourselves from the Freemasonry; otherwise, to hide their secret ..." He hadn''t finished his sentence when he saw the old man walk over to an SUV. He spoke cheerfully, "The vehicle is quite spacious. It shouldn''t be a problem if I sit here, right?" Qing Chen: "..." He suddenly felt that this old man was really carefree. It was one thing when there were only the Freemasonry students before, but now that Spade had shown up, the man dared to mingle with the Freemasonry crowd. Was this the so-called courage born from exceptional skill? Qing Chen glanced around, pondering where Li Yunjing could be hiding, hoping the old man wouldn''t stir up too much trouble. At that moment, the old man, slightly troubled by his legs and feet, smiled at a student in the vehicle: "This SUV is too high off the ground. Could you give me a hand?" "Of course, of course," the female students hurriedly responded. But before they could lend a hand, they saw Qing Chen step up behind the old man, hoist him up, and carry him off. The old man, caught between laughter and tears, said, "You just can''t stand to see me happy, can you?" Qing Chen said expressionlessly, "There''s a proper time for fun, isn''t there?" He took the old man back to his own car. The old man looked at Li Ke and Hu Xiaoniu: "You guys tell me, what is the harm in me sharing stories of the Upper Three Districts with these young Time Traveler students who have never seen it? Don''t they need to hear it?" Li Ke and Hu Xiaoniu kept their eyes fixed out the window, pretending not to hear. The pair had been in the wilderness for more than a day by now and had understood one thing: never get involved in the squabbles between these two powerful figures in the back seat. Qing Chen patiently explained, "You''ve also noticed, this operation of the Freemasonry to Taboo Land no. 002 isn''t simple and is likely meant to transport goods through the wilderness on behalf of Qing''s Family. In such a case, for Spade to eliminate witnesses to safeguard the secret wouldn''t be excessive." The old man laughed, "My boy, why are you always so tense? We''re supposed to be on vacation, yet you''re still on edge. I advise you to relax and enjoy life like me." Qing Chen grimaced, "You don''t have many days left, but we still have a long life ahead of us." Li Ke felt a twinge of unease when he heard this, but looking in the rearview mirror, he saw that his grandfather didn''t seem upset. The old man, still smiling, said, "Let me analyze this for you: most likely, they are transporting pharmaceuticals. The Li Family Intelligence Department has long held this intelligence that every early winter, there suddenly appears a surplus of medicines in the wilderness to help the people there survive the winter. It used to be delivered through Wilderness Hunters and smugglers but, in recent years, after being discovered, they switched to other methods. However, it''s strange that now, with Li Changqing taking over the intelligence, export controls are very strict. How could they transport these medicines out?" "It might be something else, right? Is it Qing''s Family who sends the medicines to the wilderness?" Qing Chen asked curiously. "Yes," the old man thought for a moment and then added, "98% yes." Qing Chen calmly said, "You''re not usually very precise, so there''s no need to add such percentages." The old man chuckled, "The goods are sent to the wilderness by Qing''s Family. Our vehicle''s insignia is also of Qing''s Family. Don''t you think Spade, seeing the four of us, would be suspicious? What if our appearance in the wilderness is to supervise Freemasonry''s students in delivering the goods to their destination? So don''t worry, Guo Huchan won''t do anything drastic." Though the factions within the conglomerate were numerous and some were at odds with each other, to outsiders, Qing''s Family appeared as one entity. And now, the ginkgo leaf symbol on their vehicle probably had Guo Huchan quite puzzled. The old man laughed, "Just watch; that big, foolish fellow will figure it out and try to confirm it." After finishing, he turned on the SUV''s stereo, and rhythmic music began to play. The old man, sitting in the back, swayed to the rhythm and eventually dozed off. After leaving the mid-mountain estate, the old man''s mental state was clearly deteriorating rapidly. Or perhaps, it was because Qing Chen and the others had not lived with the old man day and night before, so they had only seen his vigorous side and not his weak side. Sitting in the front passenger seat, Li Ke turned off the music and looked worriedly at the old man, "Master, I see that grandfather''s health is rapidly failing. Should we invite two female classmates to come and chat with him? Our SUV is big, and there are three seats in the third row." Qing Chen glanced at the old man. He was somewhat afraid that upon hearing the words "female classmates," the old man would suddenly open his eyes and say "alright." However, that did not happen. The old man''s breathing had become much weaker. Qing Chen knew that the old man really did not have much time left. His usually spirited appearance was all forced, a true manifestation of optimism until death, determined to leave this world with dignity. By noon, the convoy made a brief stop by the road for a rest. As the old man had said, Guo Huchan found an opportunity to come over to Qing Chen''s side and inquire, "Everyone, what are the plans going south?" Before Qing Chen could answer, the old man in the back suddenly opened his eyes and smiled, "We are conveying Mr. Shadow''s regards to Spade. Rest assured, we are just ensuring that the supplies are successfully handed over to Spade, with no ill intentions." Qing Chen: "???" Li Ke: "???" Hu Xiaoniu: "???" Old man, even if your guess is completely right, isn''t it a bit too much for a former Li Family Head to impersonate a messenger of Qing''s Shadow here? Frankly, the old man was probably one of the people who had seen the biggest storms in the Federation in his lifetime. His mental strength was truly extraordinary; when it came to telling untruths, he did not falter at all, with neither a flushed face nor a racing heart. Guo Huchan hesitated for a moment, "Qing''s Family has never sent someone to supervise the transportation of supplies before; why this time?" The old man smiled, "I have been following this route for seven years; it''s just that it had been unnoticed by you before." Hearing the number seven, Guo Huchan immediately believed him. Indeed, it had been seven years since Qing''s Shadow began transporting medicines to the wilderness. At this moment, the old man suddenly seemed mysterious in his mind. Guo Huchan was a B-Class Expert, and earlier he had been a C-Class, but during his past travels along this route, he had never detected the old man''s presence. That meant that the opponent''s strength was far above his own. Guo Huchan was still a bit puzzled, "Why hide all this time and reveal yourself now?" The old man calmly replied, "The Federation is currently unstable, and Mr. Shadow has matters to discuss with Spade." "Understood," Guo Huchan nodded. "Then you rest well, we''ll discuss more once we arrive." The old man instructed, "Remember to keep this confidential; those Time Travelers of Freemasonry do not know my identity." Though Guo Huchan always remained somewhat skeptical, when the old man disclosed the Time Travelers of Freemasonry''s identity, Guo Huchan believed him a little more. The method of transporting medicine this time was different from before; City 18 had already become a city of spies, and the immigration bureau was always watching. They also wanted to find out who was constantly supplying medicines to the people in the wilderness. Therefore, when Nangong Yuanyu and the others set out, they did not carry much medicine in the vehicle, which was the only way they could pass the inspections. However, the clever part this time was that Shadow had Freemasonry come to the wilderness, as the members of Freemasonry were themselves the medicine. They didn''t need to take medicine across the border; instead, they just needed to pack antibiotics into sealed bags and then stuff them into their mouths every seven days, then bring them back from the Outer World. These nearly one hundred people were a mobile medicinal supply station. As each person carried only a limited amount of drugs, Freemasonry had wanted to bring as many students as possible on this trip beforehand. Antibiotics are essentially the same in both the Inner and Outer World; they just need to be usable. The human population on the wilderness was already low, and Time Travelers were even rarer, so they could not use this method. After Guo Huchan left, Qing Chen looked helplessly at the old man, "You really know how to stir things up. Now that Guo Huchan has gone back to his vehicle, he will definitely immediately send a signal to the other members of Spade to inform them that Qing''s Shadow''s representative wants to negotiate with Spade. What will you do then, what are you planning to discuss?" The old man smiled chummily, "There are plenty of things to discuss, such as revealing Li Family''s wilderness purification plan for next year, or perhaps revealing Chen Clan''s wilderness purification plan next year as well? Don''t worry, for an old man like me, these are small matters." Qing Chen calmly said, "As long as you''re happy..." This old man, in the name of fun, was planning to sell the Federal Group army''s wilderness purification plans. The old man chuckled merrily, "Don''t you think this is very interesting? That mysterious Shadow couldn''t have imagined his plans encountering such twists!" ... The next chapter is at 11 p.m. tonight. Chapter 551 551: 345. Seeing Yang Yang Again Countdown 103:00:00. Five o''clock in the evening. After the convoy left the boundaries of City 18, the road began to become rugged; a month had passed, yet the road was still unrepaired. Fortunately, the old man''s SUV had excellent suspension, making the bumpy road not much of a problem. In contrast, the Freemasonry''s convoy was different; after traveling just over forty kilometers, some started to have flat tires. These students were impressive, not only in intelligence but also in practical skills. A group of them set up jacks and carried tools for vehicle repair, even able to handle tire repairs on their own. Many people think of nerds when they imagine top students, but in this era of the Outer World, most top students possess a particular skill, and their ability to think and act is also very strong. Qing Chen asked the old man out of curiosity, "It''s strange, why is the tire technology in the Inner World almost the same as in the Outer World? Haven''t they developed better materials that don''t burst, for example?" The old man laughed, "If everyone installed indestructible tires, then when the time comes, everyone would buy second-hand ones. Who would buy new ones? Doing business that way, how would the consortiums make money? The Five Major Consortiums of the Federation control the patents for all consumables. Certain things that could affect the foundation of the industry have their patents bought and buried. After all, they''ve made enough money; industrial change might bring about new uncertaintiesit''s sufficient if only the military can use the latest stuff." "So that''s how it is," Qing Chen thought to himself; perhaps some things in the Federal Group''s military had already surpassed the times. This was one of the downsides of the consortiums controlling the world; they would guide human development in a profitable but regressive direction. The path humanity took was carefully designed, not one that humans should naturally follow. "By the way, have you dealt with this Shadow before?" Qing Chen asked curiously. "What kind of person is he?" The old man said, "Qing''s Shadow is the Family Head''s ''hired gun,'' all the dirty work must be done by the Shadow. People in this position are usually despised by both gods and men. Many Shadows in the past were like this. When they got old, they could only hide in Ginkgo Manor in City 10 owned by Qing''s Family to avoid assassination. But then, it''s just like being placed under house arrest there." The old man continued, "For example, the previous Shadow pretended to travel to meditate, which is very likely to have changed his appearance and name, hiding somewhere to spend his old age. But it was strange for this Shadow; it seemed he was thinking of ways to avoid this fate even before becoming a Shadow. To this day, even no one knows who he really is." Qing Chen said, "Is he not one of the last three survivals?" The old man said meaningfully in a soft voice, "Who said the Shadow has to be one of the living in the end?" Qing Chen was stunned. Yes, in everyone''s view, the ninth Shadow candidate had already died in Prison 18, but had he? No. The old man continued, "This current Shadow hasn''t really done anything to outrage both heaven and man. It seems like Qing''s Family is keeping a low profile; many things have turned clandestine and are hard to find out. Just like this time Qing''s Family sent supplies to the wilderness, they had been sending for seven years before others knew about it, and you also don''t know what exactly he''s up to." Qing Chen mentally added, the other party was actually making deals with the Knight. Now thinking about it, Uncle Li Dong''s friends might have been saved by that Shadow, but now he could not know the details of the transaction between the Shadow and Uncle Li Dong. The old man chuckled, "I always feel that this generation''s Shadow has a bit of the spirit of Qing''s ancestors. Jindai once said he is ''Qing Zhen'' reincarnated. However, it''s said that his life won''t be much longer than mine, only a few years more." Qing Zhen, that is, the ancestor of the ''New Qing''s Family'' in the new human civilization era. In conclusion, the old man said, "You must be careful when dealing with such a person. This clever man has been lurking for over a decade; when he re-enters the stage, it''s likely that everyone will be shocked." At night, Guo Huchan led the convoy to camp. While setting up the tents, the old man called over a few female students to tell stories. He looked at Qing Chen''s unflustered expression, then pointed at Qing Chen and said with a smile to the girls, "What do you think of my grandson here? He doesn''t have a partner yet, why don''t you consider dating him? He is upright and of good character. Our family is very wealthy; when I''m gone, a lot of properties will be left to him. I''m not saying you should chase money, but isn''t it nice to find a well-off family?" The female students cautiously glanced at Qing Chen, who currently looked like Zard, so he really wasn''t considered handsome, and he had been somewhat reticent and unsociable throughout the journey. And then, Jiang Yichen had told them last night that this Qing Zade was very dangerous and probably had killed quite a few people. By comparison, they thought Li Ke and Hu Xiaoniu seemed quite nice. Qing Chen sat next to the old man and asked quietly, "What are you trying to do?" The old man chuckled heartily, "You''re not getting any younger; back at your age, I already had...never mind, let''s not talk about past braveries." "You don''t need to worry about that, take care of yourself," Qing Chen said helplessly. The old man muttered softly, "You need to get married soon, so Chang Qing won''t keep bothering you." Qing Chen: "What are you talking about? She and I are just friends." Then, Qing Chen turned to the female students and said, "Don''t listen to my grandfather''s nonsense; I still have tens of millions in loans, and the house in the Microcosm Community was also bought on mortgage, paid just 10% down." The female students were all baffled, "How did you get these tens of millions in loans?" Qing Chen sighed, "I''d like to know that too." However, the old man suddenly said softly, "You don''t have to worry about the loan." "Hmm?" Qing Chen was puzzled. "I had Li Yunjing help you pay it off," the old man whispered, "I must give you something before leaving. Lao Qi can give you what I cannot, I am too poor to give anything but money." "I think the Heartless Bronze Bell is quite good," Qing Chen said. "When facing a Taboo, can''t you act like a human for once?" the old man grumbled. "Yun Shou isn''t a Cultivator; the Heartless Bronze Bell must be kept to protect him." "Okay then," Qing Chen said. The old man continued, "Also, City 10 has prepared two properties and a vehicle for you in the third district. That way, when you go to City 10, you''ll have a place to stay. Our Li Family''s children shouldn''t become a laughingstock outside... Don''t worry, I bought it all with my private funds, unlike your master." Qing Chen fell silent. Indeed, the old man truly considered him a junior. But suddenly, he wondered if his master getting him to borrow money to buy things and the old man paying off his debts was a scheme they had arranged together, each trying to move him once? Qing Chen thought about how he now was free of debt, how he could squander his money in the bank account freely and had two new properties, and his mood instantly cheered up. "But why not buy properties in City 18 instead of City 10?" Qing Chen asked puzzledly. "That''s the political center of the Federation; you''ll have to go there sooner or later," the old man confidently said. Just then, Qing Chen turned to look around only to see a figure stealthily approaching where everyone''s vehicles were parked. Wait, wasn''t that Jiang Yichen''s silhouette? He saw the figure get into a vehicle, gently close the door, then suddenly turn on the headlights and drive off into the distance with roaring engines. Qing Chen was stunned. He had said he would test Jiang Yichen to see if the man felt guilty. But this was too guilty. He had only let Hu Xiaoniu spread a little rumor and the man had fled instantly. At this moment, he was quite certain that this guy was Lu Ya; the cautiousness he displayed when he had been at the rooftop of the grand hotel was identical to that of the masked man. Everyone in the camp stood up and silently watched the SUV drive away. Qi Duo looked toward Nan Gengchen, "Should we chase him?" "Let''s not," Nan Gengchen shook his head, "It seems Hu Xiaoniu was right; this Jiang Yichen indeed has some issues. We just tried to probe him a little bit and it scared him off. Let''s try to locate him in the Outer World and at the very least, get the money for the SUV back; he should not be lacking money in the Outer World." Qi Duo nodded, "So, we can rely on Hu Xiaoniu''s words for now?" "Yeah, for the time being," Nan Gengchen nodded, "Let''s seize opportunities to enhance our relationship on the road; after returning to the Outer World, we also need to think about how to recruit both him and that student Qing Chen into Freemasonry." "What about Nan Gengchen and Zhang Tianzhen?" Qi Duo asked. "Zhang Tianzhen might be worth pulling in, but Nan Gengchen... let''s keep it on hold," Nan Gengchen said, "However, if they insist on joining all four together, we can make an exception and accept Nan Gengchen." It was not that Freemasonry was being pretentious, but any organization with even a lick of ambition would have an entry threshold, and Nan Gengchen''s scores on their behavior evaluation for intelligence wasn''t exactly stellar... The assessment was not wrong... Jiang Yichen''s SUV was heading farther north, but soon everyone''s attention turned south, as another vehicle was approaching closely. Nan Gengchen instinctively looked toward Guo Huchan, only to see him standing by the roadside, rhythmically signaling with a strong flashlight. The SUV stopped by the roadside, and a young man and woman got out from the vehicle. Hu Xiaoniu was startled when he saw the people getting out of the car because he recognized them. However, the next second his gaze shifted to Qing Chen, even though he didn''t know why he looked at Qing Chen. At that moment, Guo Huchan jovially said, "Yanyan, Li Situ, why have you come ahead of time." Li Situ explained, "There''s been an outbreak of influenza in the wilderness; the medication is crucial, the boss was worried about any mishaps with this batch of drugs, so he had Yanyan come over early to support you, I have to rush to City 18." Qing Chen thought, your boss might as well have said he didn''t trust Guo Huchan. Indeed, if he were Xu Linsen, he wouldn''t trust Guo Huchan, the simpleton either. ... Thanks to the new ally of this book, Forever Young 99, for their support. Boss is generous, may your courier packages never get lost! Chapter 552 552: Join forces The campfire flickered in the campsite. The students of Freemasonry curiously sized up Li Situ and Yangyang, wondering about their identities. Guo Huchan introduced them enthusiastically, "This one''s called Li Situ, and the other girl''s called Yangyang." The students of Freemasonry swept their gazes over Li Situ, then they rested on Yangyang. The girl was still wearing a grey hoodie with the hood up. Then, Li Situ said, "I''ve brought Yangyang here, I''ll leave the rest to you, I need to rush to City 18 as soon as possible." Guo Huchan asked with confusion, "Why are you heading to City 18 at this time? The Lee family and the Federation are both arresting Spade Members, and you''re a publicly known Spade Member, it''s going to be very dangerous to go there now." "To mourn," Li Situ responded calmly. Guo Huchan was taken aback for a moment, "Sorry, I almost forgot you were part of the Lee family." Li Situ shook his head, "I severed ties with the Lee family a long time ago, but since my father has passed away, I, as his son, should still make the trip back, even though I haven''t been back for eighteen years." Qing Chen heard this and silently glanced at the older man with the corner of his eye. He felt an inexplicable shock in his heart, the Lee family was like a towering tree within the Federation, influencing all kinds of organizations under their extensive branches and leaves. Qing Chen truly hadn''t expected that this Li Situ was actually the old man''s son. No wonder the other''s face bore a sorrowful look, showing compassion for the world - it turned out he had just received the bad news of his own father''s passing. But the thing is, Li Situ probably couldn''t imagine that his father not only hadn''t died but was also right beside him. Considering that Li Situ hadn''t returned to the Lee family for eighteen years, it was normal that he couldn''t recognize the old man after his disguise. "Aren''t you going to acknowledge him?" Qing Chen asked curiously and quietly, "He''s your son." "No need to recognize each other," the old man said calmly, "At a time like this, just being able to see him from a distance and knowing he''s doing alright is enough for me. Back then, he claimed that the powerful family was a tumor of the Federation and scorned being associated with them, so he ran away to the Southwest Snow Mountain. Later, when I wanted to find out about him, I could only learn from intelligence reports." "Don''t you want to give him a chance to say goodbye face to face?" Qing Chen asked. "There''s nothing to say for goodbyes. Birth, aging, sickness, death - it''s the destiny of life, no need for pretense," the old man said, "He still has father-son affection, and that makes me very happy. I think funerals should be held while one is alive, so you can really see people''s hearts. And you know, faking death is quite interesting. I did a much better job than your master; nobody believed his death." The old man was self-satisfied with his comment. This expression contrasted starkly against the mournful face of Li Situ on the other side. Seeing this, Guo Huchan and the Freemasonry students even went as far as to offer their condolences to Li Situ one by one. "What''s Li Situ''s ranking among the Lee family''s second generation?" Qing Chen asked. "Seventeenth," the old man replied, "I don''t know why, but even though I haven''t seen him for eighteen years, being able to see his distress with my own eyes makes me quite happy. And hearing so many people say ''condolences'' to him, I even feel like saying it to him too." Qing Chen: "..." Imagining that scenario, he suddenly found it quite theatrical. It indeed seemed like the kind of thing the old man would do! Li Situ had left, heading off in a great hurry as if racing against time. Guo Huchan returned to the Freemasonry''s campfire and called out to Yangyang, "Yangyang, come warm yourself by the fire and rest." Some of the students in Freemasonry silently observed Yangyang, pondering whether she was easy to get along with and what kind of personality she had. The old man said in a low voice, "This girl, the Lee family still doesn''t have any information related to her; looks like she''s a new member of Spade." Qing Chen thought, Yangyang was mysterious both in the Outer World and the Inner World. Even the old man didn''t know her identity yet. Right, most of the members of Freemasonry were students from Luo Yi High School, and they hadn''t seen Yangyang either. Presumably, they didn''t know yet that Yangyang was also a Time Traveler. Just then, Yangyang didn''t head over to where Guo Huchan was but instead made her way straight towards Qing Chen and the others. The old man was momentarily stunned. The girl sat down beside their campfire and asked with a smile, "Is there anything to eat? I''ve been on the road all day and only had a piece of cake in the morning." The old man chuckled, nudging Qing Chen with his elbow, "Aren''t you going to get the girl something to eat? We have supplies and snacks in the car, plenty of them." Hu Xiaoniu watched the campfire, acting as if she didn''t recognize Yangyang, confused about what she was planning to do. Qing Chen quietly went to get some food, leaving the Freemasonry students completely baffled. Nangong Yuanyu looked towards Guo Huchan, "Do you have a conflict with her? Why did she sit over there instead?" Guo Huchan rubbed his bald head, "No, I don''t." Qing Chen handed Yangyang two pieces of chocolate, a compressed biscuit, and a bottle of water. Yangyang didn''t hold back, accepting and eating them without ceremony, not minding her manners at all. The old man appreciated the girl''s straightforward way and pointed at Qing Chen, saying, "Do you have a boyfriend, girl? What do you think of this young man beside me?" Here it comes! Qing Chen thought to himself, could you at least lay some groundwork first? Asking a girl such a question outright, is that appropriate? Yangyang smiled, "I think he''s pretty good." The old man''s eyes lit up, "Why don''t you consider spending some time together?" Yangyang nodded, "Sure." The campsite suddenly fell silent; the conversation between the elder and the sprightly girl had been loud enough that most of the campsite had heard them. What a daredevil. And another who dared to agree. However, it wasn''t just the Freemasonry students who were stunned; even the elder was taken aback. In truth, he was just playful at heart, wanting to tease Qing Chen. After all, Qing Chen was always so serious, managing this, managing that, not even allowing him to tell stories to the female students. The elder found Qing Chen''s calm expression unamusing. But now things had become interesting. The girl had actually agreed! This turn of events made the elder hesitate. He asked the sprightly girl, "Don''t you need to observe a bit more?" The girl, with a smile in her eyes, looked at Qing Chen, "Isn''t this perfect? No need for observation." The elder felt as though something had gone wrong somewhere... Qing Chen sighed. In front of this girl, any disguise was impossible to hide from her perception. According to what the girl once said, within 200 meters, all force fields were laid bare in her mind. Others might be fooled by the Taboo item ACE-005 on his face, but she certainly wouldn''t be. So, the girl knew he was here even before she got off the vehicle. However, the girl was equally playful. She pretended not to recognize Qing Chen at all, not even acknowledging Hu Xiaoniu. Then the girl looked at Qing Chen and said, "My name is Yan Yan, I''m 17 years old, and you?" Qing Chen: "I''m called Qing Zade, 27 years old." The elder, seeing the two hitting it off, immediately said, "You two have quite an age gap, it might not be appropriate." Yan Yan laughed, "I think it''s quite suitable." Qing Chen: "Yeah, I also feel it''s quite suitable." Among everyone present, only Hu Xiaoniu knew the truth. He had realized that Qing Chen and Yan Yan were very much in sync, choosing to turn the tables and tease the elder. The elder said, "My grandson here is really boring, lacks hobbies, and is not at all romantic. Plus, he works at the PCE Security Management Committee, which is at odds with you Spade members. Girl, you should think it over carefully, I''m worried you might be wasting your time." Yan Yan''s eyes lit up as she said, "There was nobody to take care of Spade within the PCE, but now we have someone, don''t we?" The elder added, "My grandson is a Federation man, he definitely won''t join you in the wilderness. You''ll be worlds apart, with no chance of being together." Yan Yan chuckled, "Spade is having me return to the city soon to continue organizing protests, so there''s no need for him to come to the wilderness." The elder sighed; what in the world was thisthings had spun out of control. He stood up with his hands behind his back and strode towards his own tent in a huff. Soon after the elder returned to his tent, he realized that these two had probably known each other for a long time and had joined forces to tease him. Otherwise, why would the girl make a beeline for Qing Chen? This girl named Yan Yan, was also likely a Time Traveler, who might be well-acquainted with Qing Chen in the Outer World! As a former Family Head of the Li family, the elder was quick to understand the secrets at play after only a little contemplation. Now, as the elder had left the bonfire, the Freemasonry students also lost interest in this side of the camp. "Li Ke, go lay out the moisture-proof mat in the old man''s tent so he doesn''t catch a cold," Qing Chen instructed. Li Ke dutifully left. Qing Chen, Yan Yan, and Hu Xiaoniu sat beside the bonfire, the firelight casting a red glow on their faces. Qing Chen turned to Yan Yan and said, "I didn''t expect to meet you here." Yan Yan smiled and replied, "I didn''t expect it either. Are you with these Freemasonry students?" "No, I just happened to meet them," Qing Chen responded. Yan Yan willingly shared her recent activities, "I went back to Haicheng recently, organized some college and high school students to come to the wilderness. I led those Time Travelers who were struggling to live in the city, trying to rebuild homes in places neglected by the corporations. Now we have built a small town in the southern wilderness, inhabited by Time Travelers and relatively friendly wilderness folk." Qing Chen chuckled, "Why are you telling me this?" Yan Yan looked at Hu Xiaoniu with a smile and then asked Qing Chen, "Does he know?" "It''s okay, no need to hide it from him anymore," Qing Chen said. Hu Xiaoniu was flabbergasted, as the two in front of him conversed in riddles. It seemed like he understood, but not completely. At that moment, Yan Yan laughed, "After all, I''m a member of Daylight, it''s only right to report my recent activities to the boss." Qing Chen glanced at Hu Xiaoniu, who was now in a state of shock. Hu Xiaoniu looked at Qing Chen with an incredulous expression, "You''re the boss?" He then turned to Yan Yan, "So, on the night Liu Dezhu was retaliated against by the Wang family, you were the girl that fell from the sky?" ... There will be another chapter at 11 PM. Chapter 553 553: 347. Believe "I never expected you to be so direct, Yong," Qing Chen sighed, "but it doesn''t matter, he was going to find out sooner or later." Ever since Qing Chen chose Hu Xiaoniu to be a member of the Knight Organization in the Outer World, it was inevitable that his identity as a boss could no longer be hidden. Previously, Liu Dezhu had garnered a lot of attention precisely because he claimed to have approached Uncle Li Dong. Later, everyone knew that Liu Dezhu was merely a puppet put forward by someone else. And that person was the one who had truly been close to Uncle Li Dong. This was the third Time Traveler in Prison Number 18, as Zheng Yuandong had once mentioned. So, Liu Dezhu''s status became that of an employee, and the Daytime Organization emerged. Now, many suspect that the Daytime boss has become the heir to the Knight, set to be the next leader of the Knights. The members of Daytime had their suspicions but dared not ask. So when one day Qing Chen admitted his identity as a Knight, at least for the members of Daytime, the truth became clear as daylight. After all, becoming a Knight isn''t that easy, is it? At one moment, Qing Chen even suspected that Jindai and Deer Island targeted him as their primary target on the day of the Jindai Kongyin conference because of the centuries-old grudge between Jindai and the Knight Organization. But that wasn''t the most crucial point. For Qing Chen, the critical part was that the moment he acknowledged his identity, it was destined to make Hu Xiaoniu remember many things. At this very moment, as Hu Xiaoniu recalled how he met Qing Chen, the incidents of being rescued at Xingshu Road, saved at Laojun Mountain, and Li Dongze taking action to kill Wang Yun were all thanks to the help of Qing Chen, the Daytime boss standing before him. At this moment, Hu Xiaoniu finally realized how much he owed Qing Chen. Just as Qing Chen had anticipated, favors could slowly be repaid through working, but some things... Hu Xiaoniu felt something was off. Hu Xiaoniu looked at Qing Chen, "Then how do you manage to control two accounts at the same time when we chat in the group, Boss? Tian told me once, you were messaging in the group without even holding a phone!" "...I had someone else send the messages for me," Qing Chen said. "Then that time after we met Luo Wanya together, you pretended to go and report to the boss alone," Hu Xiaoniu asked. "That''s about it," Qing Chen sighed. He silently thought to himself, thankfully, this is just a minor public unmasking within a small circle; he could still handle it. "Boss, you played the part so convincingly," Hu Xiaoniu involuntarily changed his address, then asked, "So, Liu Dezhu gossiped about the boss in front of the boss?" "Yes," Qing Chen responded calmly. Yong was momentarily stunned, "Gossiped about what? Tell me about it." "Wait, we''ll talk about that later. I need to take a moment," Hu Xiaoniu covering his forehead, "So boss, when you took me to the Taboo Land No. 002, was it to make me a Knight?" Qing Chen did not answer the question but instead seriously corrected him, "You''d better change your address. Don''t keep calling me boss, remember, only a few know about my identity currently, just call me Qing Chen." Hu Xiaoniu agreed, but at this moment, Yong was not pleased, "I''ve heard a lot about Daytime in Haicheng, but I just found out you guys even created a group without inviting me. Aren''t I a member of Daytime?" Qing Chen remained silent for a long while, "Strictly speaking, I don''t even know if you count as a member of Daytime. You''re different from the other members; you have your own goals and ideals, which may not align with Daytime''s path." For example, Yong helping some Time Travelers in Haicheng who could no longer make it in the city to leave and help them rebuild a small-scale home in the wilderness to survive, such things Daytime would not do. For instance, when Yong and his group organized student protests against some of the Federation''s current systems, that was also something Daytime would not engage in. So, there is a divergence between Daytime''s path and Yong''s path. "I don''t care, I am a member of Daytime now anyway, Boss!" Yong said cheerfully, "Remember to add me to the group after showing up in the Outer World." "Fine," Qing Chen sighed. Yong tilted his head and curiously asked, "But doesn''t Daytime have any goals? With such a great opportunity and change, not doing something about it would be regrettable, right?" Qing Chen thought for a moment and said, "Surviving better is Daytime''s goal." "That''s not bad," Yong cheerfully said, "I''ve realized that everyone has different ideas; I won''t ask Daytime to help me with anything, so there''s no need to worry." Up until now, Yong still hadn''t asked Qing Chen what they were doing in the wilderness. Hu Xiaoniu thought for a moment, "I''m going back to sleep in the tent, you guys talk." On the way back to the tent, he even saw the old man and Li Ke in the neighboring two tents, quietly peering through the gaps in their tent curtains toward the campfire. The old man saw Hu Xiaoniu and immediately waved, "Hey, kid, come over here." Hu Xiaoniu was baffled, "What''s up, old man?" "That girl, is one of Qing Chen''s friends from the Outer World, right?" the old man said. Hu Xiaoniu thought for a moment and said, "I don''t know." The old man lamented, "How can you not tell the truth to an old man who is facing death?" Hu Xiaoniu said, "I never expected the Master of Li Family to be such a gossip..." "Annoying," the old man waved his hand, "Just go back and sleep, don''t block my view." "Okay," Hu Xiaoniu said and went back to the tent. After lying down for a while, he also got up and quietly peered through the gaps in the tent curtain to look outside. Their tents were pitched side by side, and the three people lay neatly inside. If anyone were to look closely, they would surely find it very eerie... The gazes of the three extended further into the distance, only to discover there were more than just three people eating melons; in a tent not too far opposite, Guo Huchan was also peeking through a gap. In reality, the distance between them was quite considerable; under normal circumstances, Hu Xiaoniu and the others would not have noticed Guo Huchan. However, the light from the bonfire shone through the gap in the curtain onto the opponent''s forehead, even reflecting light, making it impossible not to notice him; the feature was too distinctive. By the bonfire, Qing Chen added some dry branches to the fire, "Tired? You must be very tired, a 17-year-old girl having to do so much." "Yeah, it''s definitely a lie to say I''m not tired," Yangyang said with a smile, "There''s no one I can fully trust around me. I always have to stay alert no matter what. Sometimes in the newly built towns, I have to use my force field to sleep floating in the air. This way, I can rest a bit more peacefully. Thinking back, I felt safest when I was on Xingshu Road in Los Angeles City." "Do those Time Travelers and Wilderness People harbor ill intentions?" Qing Chen asked. "Yes, you can''t see the heart behind the stomach. During the process of rebuilding our homes, a lot of dirty things happened," Yangyang replied, "This world is not as wonderful as we thought. Even if you sincerely help someone, the person may not be grateful. Some people steal supplies, and others, thinking there''s no order, want to bully the weak and snatch the fruits of other''s labor." "Then why still help them?" Qing Chen wondered. Yangyang smiled and said, "We need to set an example so that more people are willing to follow us and leave the corporations and cities for the wilderness. Don''t worry, those with malicious intent, I''ve killed them all. I''m no innocent bunny! By the way, you guys are also heading south this time, why don''t you come and check out the town with me?" Qing Chen shook his head, "Sorry, my trip to the wilderness this time is very urgent, I must reach the Taboo Land number 002 as quickly as possible." "You must be tired too, because your nerves have been on edge," Yangyang noted. "Tired," Qing Chen smiled, "That''s the purpose of establishing Daytime. I hope one day someone can stand by my side and share the burden." "That day will come," just then, Yangyang suddenly said, "Shall I take you up to the sky to see?" "Ah?" Qing Chen was stunned, "Can you take someone with you?" "Of course," Yangyang smiled. With that, she stood up, grabbed Qing Chen''s arm, and then soared into the sky. The bonfire and fallen leaves at her takeoff point were propelled outward by an invisible force. Everyone at the campsite looked up and saw the figures of the young man and woman overlapping with the moonlight. Many people involuntarily crawled out of their tents, and at that moment, Hu Xiaoniu finally realized it wasn''t just a few people gossiping - everyone was... Guo Huchan stood in front of his own tent puzzled, "They are moving too quickly, isn''t this what they call love at first sight? That''s not right, Yangyang is usually quite aloof to everyone." At that moment, an experienced old man in the tent murmured, "It''s a Force Field Awakener!" Above the firmament, Qing Chen felt as if he was enveloped by an invisible force, as if he had suddenly become a magnet, while the surrounding magnetic fields repelled him, propelling him to fly rapidly. He felt the distance between himself and the ground growing farther, and he also felt the girl''s hand tightly gripping his arm. He watched the approaching sky and clouds, the wilderness, and the wind. Perhaps this was the freedom that the Knights had pursued all their lives. "Let go of me," Qing Chen suddenly said. "Hm?" Yangyang was puzzled. "I''m serious," Qing Chen said with a smile. The next moment, Yangyang suddenly loosened her grasp. But then, the force field enveloping Qing Chen abruptly disappeared, and the young man fell rapidly from a kilometer-high sky. However, to Yangyang''s surprise, she did not see panic or distress on Qing Chen''s face; he closed his eyes and spread his arms, seemingly enjoying the complete state of free fall. That calmness and composure, she had never seen on anyone else. One second. Two seconds. Three seconds. Time ticked by slowly, and Qing Chen''s falling height decreased more and more. But the young man never panicked. Suddenly, Yangyang accelerated her dive downward, the repulsion of the force field causing a roaring sound that even those on the ground could hear. The girl reached Qing Chen''s side and grabbed his arm again, "You''re really daring, aren''t you afraid I wouldn''t catch you?" "Not afraid, I trust you," Qing Chen said with a smile. Yangyang paused, realizing that even though he was risking his life, it made her incredibly nervous, while he seemed not to be anxious at all. Trust? The word trust is luxurious in any era. How many people would dare to entrust their lives completely to someone else simply based on ''trust''? Yangyang suddenly said softly, "If you want to play next time, just tell me." ... Special thanks to Yi Hu Lu Yi for becoming a new ally of this book. The boss is so generous, may the boss run without getting winded! Chapter 554 554: Crows Countdown 72:00:00. Midnight, 12 o''clock. The team had come even closer to Forbidden Area No. 002. With few things to entertain themselves in the wilderness, the students of Freemasonry, after the initial excitement of arriving, were now in a state of physical and mental exhaustion. Surprisingly, the elderly remained vibrant, except for occasional bouts of unconsciousness, at other times they seemed even more youthful than the young. Qing Chen compared his memories and confirmed that the old man''s skin had become glossier and rosier since coming to the wilderness. But all of this wasn''t exactly good news for an old man at the brink of life''s end. In the veil of night, Spade once more took Qing Chen by the arm and flew into the sky. On the ground, in the camp, who knew how many were silently envying them from afar. Students from Freemasonry whispered among themselves, "How can we become Transcendents?" Nangong Yuanyu answered, "I''ve done some rough statistics, and actually, even if one becomes a Transcendent, there''s only a one-in-17.81 million chance of possessing the ability to fly." "Senior, at times like this, can we not go there... please?" After pondering for a moment, Nangong Yuanyu replied, "Fine." In that place close to the heavens, Qing Chen and Spade lay side by side on a cloud, the young man feeling the repelling force beneath him like a soft bed. "You want to accompany that old man through the last leg of his life, right?" Spade asked. Qing Chen responded, "You noticed?" "Yeah, his field is getting weaker. I''ve seen many such weakening processes; it''s the prelude to death," Spade said. "Who is he? Why would an ordinary person make you willingly venture to the wilderness and Taboo Land?" After thinking it over, Qing Chen replied, "An elder not related by blood, yet resembling family. His dream was to become a Knight, but he was trapped in the confinement of fame and fortune all his life, only gaining freedom through feigned death at the end." "So, we should do more of what we want while we are young to live without regrets," Spade, sensing the old man''s weakening field, seemed somewhat reflective as well. No one could face death without being moved. "Can I ask you a favor?" Qing Chen said. "Sure, say it." "Could you take the old man for a flight in the sky as well? But not too high, his cardiorespiratory functions aren''t up to it now, and high altitudes would cause hypoxia. Also, not for too long," Qing Chen instructed. Spade agreed without hesitation, "Alright." But just then, she suddenly looked toward the horizon, "Someone is approaching." Qing Chen also turned to look. On the horizon, a group of thirteen people were walking through the wilderness, dressed in black linen cloaks, the loose garments tied at the wrists with red cords. From afar, the figures of those thirteen people appeared solitary and resolute. "Crows," Spade said softly, "they are coming for us." Qing Chen immediately realized that these were the people of the Contraindicated Tribunals! In this wilderness, a Transcendent was about to die! The flock of crows moved on foot, seemingly slow, but Qing Chen estimated their walking speed and realized that they seemed to move faster than a normal person running. They descended to the ground, and Spade gestured toward Guo Huchan''s tent, "There''s a situation, the Crows have arrived." Guo Huchan''s tent was swiftly opened, and it was clear the big bald man hadn''t been sleeping. His expression was grave as he asked, "Are you sure?" "Positive. I saw a crow on the shoulder of the person in the lead," Spade said. In the camp, everyone suddenly felt an ominous premonition. An unexpected appearance of the Contraindicated Tribunals always signified death. "Could it be they''re just passing by?" Guo Huchan was filled with trepidation and doubt. "No, they are wearing cloaks," said Spade. Members of the Contraindicated Tribunals don''t normally wear cloaks; they live among ordinary people unremarked upon, only donning their cloaks to transform into Crows when they sense a summons. Otherwise, wearing those cloaks anywhere would mark them as omens of ill fortune. Qing Chen looked at Spade and asked quietly, "Could it be that the old man is dying, so they''ve come to take him away?" Although the old man kept insisting he wasn''t a Transcendent, given his laissez-faire nature, he might well have not been telling the truth. However, Spade shook her head, "No, the old man''s field is that of an ordinary person; I wouldn''t make a mistake about that." "Then that means we are about to face danger," Qing Chen concluded. Li Dongze had once briefed Qing Chen on the priority levels of the Contraindicated Tribunals. Normally, the Crows would turn up very promptly only if a B-Class Transcendent or above died. After contemplating, Spade added, "But the Contraindicated Tribunals are not always that precise. I''ve heard about them in Spades. Xu Linsen once mentioned that the Crows merely have a premonition that a death might occur but can''t be one hundred percent sure. Their predictions are more likely about the outbreak of a certain level of battle." Qing Chen reflected that this explanation seemed more plausible. Because in the battle where Li Changqing was ambushed in City 18, the Crows had appeared very early, but ultimately neither Li Changqing nor the A-Class expert from the Jindai family had died. So viewed in this light, were the Contraindicated Tribunals'' premonitions indeed about the level of battle? Could it be that high-level battles often involve many Transcendent deaths, so people have misinterpreted the content of the Contraindicated Tribunals'' predictions? At this moment, the old man also stepped out of his tent. Those thirteen Crows had trekked across the wilderness and now stood before them all. The crows removed the hoods of their cloaks and curiously sized up everyone in the camp. Qing Chen suddenly felt that the way they were looking at the group was strange, as if scrutinizing inanimate objects. The old man smiled at the leading woman, who appeared to be in her thirties, "March herself has come. You aren''t here to take me in, are you?" March was startled upon seeing the old man. She hadn''t recognized his identity at first and only after a careful look did she bow slightly and said politely, "I didn''t expect to find you here, which comes as a bit of a surprise. However, we are not here to take you in, but merely to accompany you for a while." The old man was not a Transcendent, so he didn''t qualify to be taken in by the Contraindicated Tribunal. Qing Chen pondered, feeling that danger was indeed on the horizon. However, he couldn''t yet determine whether the danger was aimed at his side or at Spade''s. Qing Chen eyed March, who had her hair tied back in a neat ponytail with no traces of makeup, exceedingly plain. The crows had not brought any tents or similar supplies with them. They simply jumped onto nearby tree branches and sat down in the winter cold, wrapping their cloaks around themselves before closing their eyes to rest. Just like there were indeed twelve crows perched on the branches. It looked somewhat eerie. Guo Huchan looked solemnly at March, "Has the Contraindicated Tribunal come here suddenly because they foresee our death?" March shook her head, "I don''t know." Then, she turned to look at Yang Yang and asked, "Are you interested in joining the Contraindicated Tribunal?" The big bald man immediately became anxious, "She is one of ours at Spade; isn''t it a bit rude to poach someone right in front of us?" March glanced at Guo Huchan, "I only think she''d be more suitable for the Contraindicated Tribunal, nothing more." This woman spoke as if everything she said was a matter-of-fact, which could be quite uncomfortable. But only those who understood her knew that she always simply stated objective facts, without mixing in too much personal emotion. Just stating objective facts, most of the time, is not endearing. March looked inquiringly at Yang Yang. Yang Yang thought for a moment before replying, "I don''t want to leave Spade for now, as I have much more to do." "Alright," March didn''t press the issue and leapt onto a thick tree branch to sit, calmly grooming the feathers of the Six-eyed crow on her shoulder. She didn''t even glance at Yang Yang again. It was as if the recruitment attempt was merely a formality. However, March suddenly noticed the Six-eyed crow was continuously looking in Qing Chen''s direction. She cast a curious glance at Qing Chen, also unsure why the crow was staring at him. After pondering for a moment while sitting in the tree, she spoke to Qing Chen, "Hello, could you kill less in the future?" Qing Chen did not know why she would suddenly say such a thing, but eventually responded, "I only kill those who deserve it." March sighed and said no more. Guo Huchan and the others silently looked at Qing Chen, wondering just how lethal his future would have to be for March to ask him such a question. After all, the Contraindicated Tribunal does not concern itself with the lives of Ordinary People; they take in Transcendents. So, was the young man that Yang Yang brought from the heavens a hidden expert?! Considering this, Guo Huchan became suspicious once again. And for those from Freemasonry, like Nangong Yuanyu and others, their gaze became even more fervent towards Hu Xiaoniu. Although Hu Xiaoniu was a Servant, he was the Servant of a significant person. As a Time Traveler, his prospects would be far better than most. Among all those present, only Yang Yang looked at Qing Chen and said, "Be careful." She knew that March''s words also implied that Qing Chen would face more dangers than ordinary people in the future. Qing Chen looked at Yang Yang, "Does Spade have more people secretly following the convoy?" "No." "Are you A-Class?" "No." "Does Spade have people ready to meet us in the south?" "Yes," Yang Yang nodded, "Spades 4, along with Yu Yu, are waiting near Taboo Land 002." "By the way, which Spades are you?" Qing Chen asked curiously. "Spades 2," Yang Yang said. Qing Chen thought for a moment and asked in a low voice, "Are twos big in Spade, or threes big?" Yang Yang found the tone of Qing Chen''s question, asking the rules as if he were about to play a card game, amusing, "Spades 2 is at the end of the ranking. I joined the latest, so I am ranked last." "Is Xu Linsen Spades A?" Qing Chen asked. "Yes," Yang Yang nodded. "Then who are the Black and Red Jacks?" Qing Chen continued. Yang Yang shook her head, "There are none, and there won''t be." Qing Chen suddenly thought of a question. If Guo Huchan and Yang Yang weren''t A-Class, and it was highly unlikely for a member of Freemasonry to be an A-Class expert, why then had the crows appeared so early? ... There will be another chapter before 10 o''clock. Chapter 555 555: 349, The Elderlys Friend ``` This time, the crows had come too early, so early that no one could guess what might happen next. According to Li Dongze, these high-speed response mechanisms from the Contraindicated Tribunal usually appeared only when an A-Class or above master had died. Even a B-Class wasn''t worth such a large-scale mobilization of the crows. Qing Chen sighed inwardly, as he had probably already guessed who the danger would befall this time. The countdown read 65:00:00. Less than three days left until the return. 7 o''clock in the morning. Everyone in the camp had packed up their tents and belongings early, the arrival of the Contraindicated Tribunal casting a shadow over everyone''s hearts. The old man planned to get into his off-road vehicle but noticed that Qing Chen was particularly solemn today. Qing Chen thought for a moment and said, "You go ride in the Freemasonry''s car, haven''t you always wanted to tell stories to the female students? Today I won''t stop you." The old man was extremely clever, having spent a lifetime deducing others'' thoughts, how could he not know what Qing Chen was thinking? He asked with a smile, "Do you guess that this danger might be aimed at us?" "Mm," Qing Chen nodded. "So, you want to transfer me to the Freemasonry car to avoid risking my life if our own off-road vehicle gets attacked?" the old man said. After a moment of hesitation, Qing Chen finally nodded, "Even if someone comes to kill you, for a while they won''t be able to confirm which vehicle you are in. Spade''s people will try to escort you away, then we''ll meet up at Taboo Land No. 002." "What about you?" the old man asked. "Hu Xiaoniu, Li Ke, and I will drive at full speed; as long as the enemy can''t stop me before I enter Taboo Land No. 002, then no matter how many people follow us in, they will all die," Qing Chen said with conviction. Taboo Land No. 002, that was the Knight''s own turf. But the old man also clearly understood that the fear was the enemy might not give Qing Chen the chance to enter Taboo Land No. 002. The old man cheerfully said, "If somebody knows I''m still alive and plans to use me to change some of Yun Shou''s decisions, then the people they send must be very powerful. If I get in the students'' car, I''ll be putting them in danger." After thinking, Qing Chen replied, "I will lead them away." The old man laughed and boarded his off-road vehicle, "You seem to have arranged everything, acting as if it''s all so heroically sacrificial. An old man like me who''s about to enter the grave can be moved by you, it feels nice, but your arrangements are somewhat underestimating me." Speaking of which, the old man added, "Don''t worry, I''ve said that I won''t die before reaching Taboo Land No. 002, and so it will be." The old man who had controlled the Li Family''s power for decades no longer spoke with his usual affability. It was as if the decisions he made were so resolute that even fate itself had to step aside. Qing Chen inexplicably looked at the skinny and hunched old man, realizing that this was the true appearance of the Li Family Head. Qing Chen didn''t respond, "Maybe the enemy isn''t coming for us? Maybe the crows have made a mistake?" However, just then. He saw that March had arrived by their off-road vehicle without notice and calmly climbed into the back of the car. The rest of the twelve crowssix of them directly climbed on top of the off-road vehicle, securing themselves to the luggage rack with the red ropes from their sleeves to prevent falling off due to any jolts. The other six clung to the off-road vehicle''s side crash bars. The crows remained calm, as if they were doing something very ordinary. For a moment, Qing Chen even felt like he was witnessing the sight of people boarding a train. He was shocked, "Yesterday when I asked if you knew where the danger was coming from, you all said you didn''t know! Since you claimed you didn''t know, why not act more convincingly? All of you climbing on our vehicle, what''s the meaning of this? Also, isn''t this a clear signal to the enemy that the old man is in this car?" These crows clearly knew the danger was aimed at them! March thought for a while and waved to the crows outside, signaling them to leave. All the crows jumped off Qing Chen''s off-road vehicle and without any hesitation hopped onto the Freemasonry''s vehicle, appearing completely at home. At this, Qing Chen turned to look towards the Freemasonry side; the students, seeing the Contraindicated Tribunal''s actions, realized something too. The students whispered among themselves. Yanyan thought for a moment and approached Qing Chen, "Your car could follow behind ours. In the event of any danger, it would be easier to help out." Guo Huchan wanted to say something but in the end remained silent. The old man laughed and said to Qing Chen, "Let''s go, we''ll stick to our plan." The convoy set off, with Qing Chen''s off-road vehicle always staying at the rear. On the way, Qing Chen looked back at March sitting in the third row, who still appeared very calm. "Does the Contraindicated Tribunal have the ability to predict who the danger will befall?" Qing Chen asked, curious. March replied, "The Contraindicated Tribunal doesn''t have such precise precognition abilities. Before I came here, I still had doubts. I wondered why a high-intensity battle would break out in this wilderness. Logically, the Federal Group''s army should be concentrated in the norththere shouldn''t be battles of this level here. Until, I saw Mr. Li Xiurui in the camp." March continued, "Probably the entire world didn''t expect Mr. Li Xiurui to fake his death and leave, but with Mr. Li Xiurui around, even if higher-level battles erupted, it wouldn''t surprise me." "Is it an A-Class battle?" Qing Chen asked. March frankly replied, "Yes." "No wonder you all came so early," Qing Chen said. "But doesn''t the Contraindicated Tribunal usually just watch from a distance? Why would you accompany us this time?" March stated flatly, "That''s because the location of the battle is still far from here. If the little crows had to walk there, they would get very tired." Qing Chen was stunned. ``` So you brought people here to the campsite in the middle of last night just to hitch a ride today?! This answer was too surprising! ... ... The caravan traveled from the early morning till dusk. The evening clouds spread from the horizon, deep red like blood. However, just as the sun was about to set on the horizon, At a three-way fork in the road, The old man suddenly said to Hu Xiaoniu, "Turn left, we''ll take another dirt road." Hu Xiaoniu glanced at Qing Chen. Qing Chen hesitated for two seconds and then said, "Turn left." At this moment, the Freemasonry''s caravan was already heading toward the main road on the right, while Qing Chen and his group were parting ways with them here. The long caravan and the lone off-road vehicle headed in different directions, one to the left and the other to the right. The students of the Freemasonry looked out from their windows. Until the rapidly falling night and the woods obstructed their views of each other. Suddenly, San Yue in the back seat said, "Do you remember that I''m still in the car, while my little crows are in the other caravan?" The old man laughed and said, "It was your own choice to get on this vehicle, what does that have to do with us?" San Yue stopped talking, seemingly with no intention of leaving the vehicle, evidently resigned to his fate. The old man looked at Qing Chen with a smile and said, "Sorry, I took the initiative. I promised to meet an old friend of thirty years up ahead to say goodbye, and it seems I''ve caused everyone some trouble." Qing Chen glanced at the old man, "You knew he would disclose your whereabouts, didn''t you?" The old man thought for a moment and said, "I had suspected that he might be someone from the Jindai family sent to get close to me not long after I first met him." "You guessed he was from the Jindai family and still chose to be his friend," Qing Chen said, puzzled, "And you knew he would reveal your location, yet you still wanted to meet him one last time. Why is that?" Qing Chen did not quite understand what these important figures were thinking. Friends, enemies, identities intertwined, exceedingly complex. The old man continued, "We came clean with each other twenty years ago. He admitted his identity as a Jindai Member, and in return, I provided him with information to please his superiors from time to time. Interesting, isn''t it? Even enemies can become friends. Humans are complex creatures. This is not a black-and-white world. Even I didn''t expect that one day I would befriend a member of the Jindai family." The old man thought and then added, "Although he is a person of the Jindai, he has never truly betrayed me in this lifetime. Besides, it was I who asked him to reveal my whereabouts to the Jindai family this time." "Why would you want him to reveal your whereabouts this time?" Qing Chen asked. The old man just smiled and did not answer. Just then, in the darkness ahead on the dirt road, there stood a solitary figure. The person was dressed as a samurai, wearing wooden clogs and with hair tied up in a topknot at the back of his head. Qing Chen''s heart tensed, here it comes! As expected, someone from the Jindai family was waiting here. "Don''t worry," the old man said, "we''ll bypass him." Qing Chen paused, "You think just saying ''bypass'' means we can bypass him?" In an instant, a red glow burst forth from within the woods in the night, like a meteor. It was another figure, charging towards the Jindai family''s samurai with an unstoppable force. It was Li Yunjing. This middle-aged man, who had been protecting the old man for twenty years, had indeed followed them. The old man said, "You asked why I revealed my itinerary? Since Li Yunjing was promoted to A-Class, he never had the chance to take action. He wanted to kill Jindai Tongshan before leaving the Li Family. Jindai Tongshan has been living in seclusion for years, focused on breaking through to the Demigod realm, hard to find. I''ve been fishing all my life; I might as well bait the hook one last time before I go. If he doesn''t die, Yun Shou''s future won''t be secure." Qing Chen sighed inwardly. He sort of understood why the old man did not wish to extend his life; with his temperament, even if he lived another twenty years, he would not be able to stop himself from working tirelessly for the Li Family. Even on the brink of death, the old man was plotting to kill a cultivator from the Jindai family who might break through to the Demigod realm. The old man laughed, "Consider it making the most of my last bit of warmth. My life has been like this; a good start and a good ending. It''s just that it might be a bit hard on you." Li Yunjing had already collided with Jindai Tongshan, their confrontation stirring up winds like a tornado. The withered leaves and branches were crushed by the invisible force, swirling into the sky. A battle between A-Classes, as if it could invert the starry heavens! This kind of fight was not one ordinary people could interfere in. Qing Chen looked back only to find that San Yue had at some point opened the trunk and left the vehicle. He said to Hu Xiaoniu, "Turn right. We only have one task on this wilderness trip, and that is to reach the Taboo Land at site 002." No sooner had he spoken than over a dozen off-road vehicles burst out from the woods, bearing down on Qing Chen and his group. ... Thanks to Gao Chang Kai Ge SSS, Wang Buzheng, Wen Zai Fou''er, Su Zheng, and Bear Big''s Keeper for becoming new allies of this book. Generous bosses, may you have hotpot every day! Chapter 556 556: 350. Chase and Counterkill! "Twenty-three off-road vehicles," Qing Chen glanced back casually and quickly tallied the number. Those 23 black off-road vehicles had previously been hidden in the woods on both sides. The old man looked at the vehicles and commented, "Solid rubber tires, bulletproof alloy armor covers the engine hood. They came well-prepared." At that moment, when Qing Chen and his team''s vehicle crossed the wilderness, it was as if a pack of wolves had latched onto them. The roar of the off-road vehicles filled the air as they jolted across the wild terrain. The uneven dirt road made all the vehicles bob up and down, similar to the undulating bodies of hungry wolves in a sprint. And Qing Chen''s vehicle was like a lone gazelle being hunted by a pack of wolves. No, not just a pack of wolves. There was also a swarm. From the convoy of off-road vehicles, suddenly hundreds of drones soared into the sky from behind. The Jindai family''s combat drone swarm, resembling hundreds of killer bees escaping the hive in an instant, buzzed rapidly as they swarmed in. The terrifying dense swarm of black drones moved very fast over the wilderness, unimpeded by any terrain. "Impossible to tell what kind of weapons they are carrying, nor can we tell if there''s a B-Class Expert among them," Qing Chen stated calmly. The old man said, "These are Shinpu-02 combat drones, equipped with heat-seeking Stinger missiles. Each drone costs hundreds of thousands, with the Stinger missiles accounting for half of that cost." Hu Xiaoniu, looking in the rearview mirror at the menacing assassins, suddenly felt like he was facing a towering black tsunami. The wave could crash down at any moment, sweeping them under. He looked towards Qing Chen through the rearview mirror, only to find him bending his head, seemingly engaged in something else. Unruffled. Hu Xiaoniu stomped on the accelerator, hoping to speed up and widen the gap. Xiao Niu stated, "Our off-road vehicle is better than theirs; suspension, chassis, axles, tires, horsepower, all superior. If it weren''t for those drones, they wouldn''t catch up with us; our gap is slowly widening." However, Qing Chen said, "Don''t drive too fast, slow down and keep pace with them." Slow down?! Xiao Niu was stunned. In such a moment of being chased, everyone would want to speed up. Why was Qing Chen asking him to slow down?! Wait, was Qing Chen planning a counterattack? But the disparity in numbers was too vast, and those drone swarms were approaching fast! On the rugged terrain, the off-road vehicles could only reach up to 50 miles per hour, or they risked flipping over. Their vehicle''s quality was superior and had its advantages, but it could only go up to 55 miles per hour at most. Yet the drones'' speed clearly surpassed 62 miles per hour! The old man, still unruffled, asked, "I know your sniper rifle is formidable, but not only did you not bring your sniper rifle, even if you did, and even if you hit every shot, it would take over fifty seconds to take them all down, by which time they would be within attack range. Just one getting within 656 feet and firing a mini heat-seeking Stinger missile would be the end of us." With an impassive face, Qing Chen replied, "Why shoot the drones? Just shoot the people." Then, Qing Chen infused his Knight Vital Energy into Puppeteer, sliced open the backseat, and handed out pieces of sponge to others. "Plug your ears," Qing Chen instructed. "You don''t seem panicked at all. You were so solemn earlier, but now you seem relieved," the old man chuckled, apparently not overly concerned either. "My biggest worry was if the enemy sent two A-Class individuals, but if they didn''t, then there''s little to worry about," Qing Chen contemplated, then said, "Xiao Niu, open the trunk." "Ah?" Xiao Niu hesitated but still pressed the button to open the trunk. Qing Chen continued, "Open all the windows, quickly plug your ears." Panicked, Xiao Niu and others scrambled to stuff the sponge into their ears. The next moment, they saw Qing Chen turn around, lean on the back seat, and suddenly a black, massive sniper rifle materialized. That cold, hard ''Convincing Righteousness,'' so hardcore it left people breathless, like the strongest muscle on a God''s arm. The old man, stunned, questioned, "So Uncle Li Dong helped you gather all this." Qing Chen didn''t reply because he had completely cut off his hearing. The next moment, the young man pulled the trigger. A deafening roar erupted within the vehicle, shattering the windshield of their off-road vehicle instantaneously. Xiao Niu, Li Ke, and the old man felt as if someone had thumped their chests, causing ringing in their ears. The immense firepower of the Black Sniper was matched by the ferocity of its roar. And in the confined space of the vehicle, despite ear protection, the sound was still overwhelming, only slightly reduced by the sponge. Meanwhile, in the rear convoy, an assassin, who was controlling twelve drones through a holographic eyeglass connected by neurons, suddenly sported a massive hole in his chest. The palm-sized bullet passed through the assassin''s body and the seat behind him, as well as through another assassin behind that seat. Instantly, twelve drones in the swarm lost control, stumbling erratically to the sides and even colliding with other drones. This was the simplest way to deal with it. Just kill one person to disable twelve drones. Previously in Weiyang Lake Park, he couldn''t shoot Zhang San directly because the opponent was hidden. At this moment, the assassins were sitting in the off-road vehicle, frantically chasing after him. To Qing Chen, these people seemed to be willingly locking themselves in a metal box, delivering themselves to be shot. In fact, Qing Chen could have directly shot the driver, which would have caused the vehicle to go out of control. However, the vehicle wouldn''t immediately flip over once out of control; it would keep moving forward until it encountered an obstacle on the ground. During this period of vehicle instability, if the assassins controlling the drones were determined to kill, they could still hazard their safety to maneuver the drones closer to Qing Chen for an attack. Therefore, eliminating the operators of the drones was Qing Chen''s best solution. Qing Chen pulled the trigger three times in succession, each bullet hitting the assassins wearing holographic glasses with precision. In just over a second, nearly half of the drones lost control. The 23 off-road vehicles behind them turned on their high beams, the intense light shining on Qing Chen''s face, making it impossible for him to see the people inside the vehicles. He couldn''t even make out the contours of the vehicles. Moreover, the originally scattered convoy had, within just five seconds, decelerated to different extents, aligning all the vehicles in a straight line with Qing Chen''s. This way, from his angle, Qing Chen could only see the lead vehicle! The old man sitting beside him yelled, "There are sunglasses in the glove compartment on the passenger side, want to wear them?" Qing Chen calmly responded, "Sunglasses won''t block out the high beams." The old man, suffering from tinnitus and with sponges jammed in his ears, couldn''t make out what Qing Chen was saying, "What? Sunglasses make you panic? Why the panic!" Qing Chen glanced at him and ignored the comment. Even if he could block the high beams, he still couldn''t shoot through so many vehicles to kill the neuron connectors. At that moment, Hu Xiaoniu also noticed the problem and suddenly shouted, "Hold tight!" Instantly, the vehicle Qing Chen was in abruptly turned right and charged up a dirt mound, then the entire vehicle leaped into the air. It was at that moment, their vehicle escaped the range of the high beams. Moreover, Hu Xiaoniu''s maneuver also meant they were no longer in a straight line with the convoy behind them. This allowed the neuron connectors to be exposed again in Qing Chen''s view! Now was the moment. While still in midair, Qing Chen, seemingly unfazed, continued to pull the trigger. Bullets burst forth, time itself seeming to pause! Seven consecutive shots, and the drones chasing behind them visibly diminished in number. The terrifying tide of black that followed them had been dealt with decisively by Qing Chen in a swift move. Qing Chen looked up at the night sky, where eleven Shenfeng-02 drones were still in flight, indicating he had missed one shot, the person in the vehicle having preemptively dodged it. Hu Xiaoniu and the others had noticed this too, those remaining eleven drones like grim reapers hastening death, he could even imagine the scene of the firearm ports on the drones opening below. They only needed to get a bit closer to be within the lock-on firing range! Qing Chen wasn''t sure which vehicle''s neuron connector had dodged a bullet, but this time, he didn''t shoot at people, instead firing eleven bullets in one go, effectively shooting down all eleven drones. The last drone''s heat-tracking missile had even started to fire, but before the Stinger missile could leave the firing port of the drone, its trajectory was altered by the tilting body of the drone. Hitting the uninhabited wilderness, it burst into fierce flames. The reason Qing Chen had told Hu Xiaoniu not to increase the distance was right here; he needed the shooting range to stay within 400 meters for more precise striking. At this moment, the old man seemed completely unworried, copying Qing Chen by leaning against the seat''s backrest looking behind, all the car windows were shattered, and the cold wind howled into the vehicle. He shouted loudly, "Your sniper rifle is too powerful." Not just the old man felt this, even Hu Xiaoniu and Li Ke, experiencing Qing Chen''s combat up close for the first time, were amazed by the dominating capability of the sniper rifle, which was indescribable with mere words. Qing Chen typed on his phone for Hu Xiaoniu to see, "Xiao Niu, increase the distance." Understanding, Hu Xiaoniu stepped hard on the accelerator; now that the drone threat was neutralized, Qing Chen no longer needed a perfect 400 meters straight trajectory, allowing them to put even more distance between themselves and still allow Qing Chen to handle all the vehicles effortlessly. But before they could breathe a sigh of relief, they saw two black figures suddenly jump from the side doors of the two vehicles behind them. These two black figures landed leaning forward after jumping from the vehicles, and just when Qing Chen thought they would roll on the ground, he found they had already steadied themselves, their legs explosively powering up, moving even faster than the off-road vehicles behind them! The vehicles couldn''t travel at full speed on the bumpy road, but these two seemed to effortlessly leap over the terrain, moving as if on flat ground. In just a matter of seconds, these two figures, initially behind the convoy, had already overtaken it, rushing towards Qing Chen and his group like thunder. As the two ran wildly, each footstep was extremely heavy, as if drumsticks hitting a drum, shaking one''s soul. What was even more eerie was that Qing Chen, having enabled his hearing, could detect strange sounds coming from their bodies from afar. It sounded like precision parts meshing together. "Machines?" Qing Chen frowned. Uncle Li remarked, "It''s the Jindai family''s war robots. In the cities of the Jindai family, there are many war robots similar to the Mechanical Prison Guards of Prison 18, used to substitute for the duties of the PCE Security Management Committee. Once war begins, those so-called security machines instantly become war machines." "Their speed is likely around 110 kilometers per hour, that''s B-Class speed!" Qing Chen assessed, subconsciously aiming and pulling the trigger, but those two figures seemed to have already locked onto the trajectory, calculating their evasive actions beforehand. The speed was too fast; combat machines with such capabilities were naturally the natural nemesis of snipers. ... Another chapter at 11 PM. Chapter 557 557: Friendship and Clan In the wilderness, the speed of the two war machines increased more and more. The mounds and ravines of the land could not slow their movements in the slightest. In Qing Chen''s ears, the sound of the precise mechanical parts interlocking grew louder and louder. The youth kept pulling the trigger, not to hit the other side, but to hope that the enemy would slow down a bit while dodging the trajectory, buying him some time. The old man silently watched on the side, suddenly finding the boy quite interesting. Everyone actually knew that if nobody came to their aid, their only outcome would be to be caught by the two war machines and then effortlessly killed. These were the Jindai family''s most expensive Tiger-Type 01 war machines, comparable to a B-Class Genetic Warrior. Among the people in their vehicle, Li Ke and Hu Xiaoniu were ordinary people, Qing Chen had just reached the D-class peak, and the old man was as weak as a chicken. In this situation, nobody could survive. The old man believed Qing Chen must have thought of this, but even so, the boy showed no sign of giving up, as if he intended to maintain his fighting spirit until the very last second even in the face of death. This was a dignified death. Once the distance between the two sides had narrowed to 200 meters, Qing Chen could already see from afar that the humanoid war machines raised their arms, and their hands at the front ends suddenly disassembled, revealing dark cannon muzzles on their wrists. When Hu Xiaoniu saw this scene through the rear-view mirror, he was completely shocked. He then looked at Qing Chen... Only to find Qing Chen was still composed. Why? He couldn''t understand why Qing Chen could remain so calm. With a thunderous sound, a micro grenade was launched, heading straight for Qing Chen''s off-road vehicle. When Hu Xiaoniu saw the flash of gunfire at the muzzle of the war machine''s cannon, he had already given up all hope. He hadn''t imagined that despite his intense effort to gain a foothold in the Inner World, he would still die here in the end. But just when everyone thought the off-road vehicle would be shattered by the grenade, that fast-flying projectile, hardly visible to the naked eye, suddenly seemed is if it hit an invisible bounce in mid-air, altering its intended trajectory. The grenade passed by the off-road vehicle! Qing Chen let out a slight sigh of relief. All his actions to delay time up to this point had been worth it! Just when everyone hadn''t yet realized what was happening, the two war machines charging forward suddenly leapt and skewed into the air as if drifting towards endless space like astronauts in a vacuum. This wasn''t their intention; something around them seemed to have vanished suddenly. The Earth''s gravity had disappeared! Every step taken while sprinting is a significant effort. One steps forward and then is pulled back to the ground by gravity before taking the next step. But what if, at some point, there''s no gravity? Everything changes then. Yanyan had arrived. "Fire!" As the two war machines skewed into the sky, Yanyan landed heavily on the off-road vehicle and said. The Earth''s gravity reappeared, and the flight speed of the two war machines in the air suddenly slowed, then they plummeted towards the ground in a parabola. By then, the trajectories of the two war machines in the air were unchangeable, and their falling speed was well within Qing Chen''s targeting range. Qing Chen pulled the trigger twice in succession, and saw the miniature reactors in the chests of the two war machines precisely hit by the sniper rifle. They turned into huge fireworks in the night sky! "Damn, awesome!" Hu Xiaoniu roared excitedly. Qing Chen and Yanyan had worked together to avert the gravest danger, but the boy in the vehicle wasn''t overwhelmed by joy; he lay composed against the seatback, his gun roaring with every shot. The Jindai convoy realized that the situation had gone south and started to steer away in different directions. But as they turned the corner, they exposed their fuel tanks within Qing Chen''s firing range. Qing Chen loaded an armor-piercing incendiary round and calmly pulled the trigger. One by one, the Jindai family''s vehicles turned into torches against the night sky, painting the blackness red. Yanyan flipped into the car from the open rear hatch and asked Qing Chen with a smile, "You were waiting for me to show up, weren''t you?" After being pinpointed on his thoughts, Qing Chen didn''t feel embarrassed. He smiled and said, "You came just in time. Two seconds later and we would''ve been gone. But can you really control the Life Fields around two B-Class Experts at the same time? That seems a bit too impressive." Yanyan shook her head and chuckled, "They might possess B-Class strength and speed, but to me, they were just objects weighing over two hundred pounds. If they were real B-Class Experts, it wouldn''t work; their Life Fields would repel mine, making it not so easy for me to influence them." "I see," Qing Chen nodded, "By the way, did you witness any battles between A-Class fighters on your way here?" "I did, but I didn''t dare to get close. It wasn''t just two A-Classes fighting, thoughit was three, with two against one. And the Contraindicated courts''s March was watching from the side, so in total, there were four A-Classes," Yanyan recounted after some thought. "Two against one?" Qing Chen was startled, "What''s going on? Does the Jindai have other A-Classes?" "No, no," Yanyan said with a mischievous grin, "It was two people fighting that guy dressed in the attire of an Island Country warrior." Qing Chen suddenly looked at the old man, "You''ve prepared quite a number of fallbacks, even ambushing another A-Class? Could it be that you''ve mobilized the entire Li Family''s resources?" He thought to himself no wonder the old man was so calm the entire time. When the other party said they were using him as bait, Qing Chen thought they were here to fish, but he hadn''t expected that they actually came to blast the fish out of the water! But thinking about it, it wasn''t particularly surprising. The old man, as one of the most powerful figures in the entire Federation, doing the trap himself, would indeed seem petty if not enough A-Classes appeared. The foundation of a conglomerate isn''t something ordinary people can imagine. Qing Chen looked towards the old man, "Do you still have any more tricks up your sleeve?" The old man looked at Qing Chen, "Should I still drink? No, the doctor said my body can''t handle drinking, you guys go ahead. Surviving a near-death situation calls for some celebration." Qing Chen observed the old man''s expression, unsure whether the other party was genuinely deafened by the recent sniper gunfire, or if he was playing dumb. Suddenly, Si Si said, "Old master, will there be danger later on? If not, why don''t you come and meet up with us? There are a lot of female classmates waiting to listen to your stories." The old man, "Sure." Hu Xiaoniu, "..." Li Ke, "..." Qing Chen, "..." So you did hear that clearly! The old man laughed heartily, "I don''t know what''s going on, but suddenly my ears stopped ringing, haha, look what a mess this has become." Qing Chen thought for a moment and then said, "We won''t go back to regroup. You should be careful too. There might be a hidden agenda with the crows taking two separate cars." It must have been clear to Si Si from the beginning that Qing Chen and his group would part ways with Freemasonry, which is why he let the little crows take the Freemasonry''s car. Latter, when both parties indeed separated, the other side simply sat calmly in the car and casually mentioned it without calling the little crows to get off and reconvene. So, from the beginning, the targets the Contraindicated courts wanted to contain were not just one. Freemasonry will also face danger. The old man gave Qing Chen a look, "You can still think so clearly after such a big fight? The Tribunal always targets precisely. Young lady, Qing Chen is right, if you continue heading south, you may encounter danger." Qing Chen turned to Si Si and said, "I won''t be going to help. The old master''s body can''t withstand the strain." Just today, the old master had already briefly fainted three times, and the longer he slept, the weaker his breaths became. Perhaps such changes are hard to notice in the eyes of others, but for Qing Chen, he only needed to make a slight comparison to clearly see that the old man''s condition today was much worse than yesterday''s. Therefore, even though Qing Chen knew Freemasonry would face danger, he couldn''t bet on the old man definitely making it through. At that moment, the old master smiled and said, "People have come to help you, aren''t you going to help them? Don''t worry, I am fine. I am very robust." With that, the old master, as if to prove something, began thumping his chest loudly, and then fainted. Qing Chen, resigned, said, "You didn''t want to go; you didn''t have to do that. I''ve already decided not to go." Si Si said, "He''s really fainted. The Life Field in his brain has almost come to a halt." "Wait, your observation of the Life Field can even detect other people''s thought patterns?" Qing Chen was taken aback. "A person''s Life Field is very complex, made up of many smaller Life Fields combined, forming one complete Life Field," Si Si explained. "Okay, I need to hurry up and regroup with Freemasonry members. Whatever you''re going to do in Taboo Land 002, be very careful." Having said that, Si Si flew out of the rear trunk door again, and even took the trouble to close the door before she left. The car quieted down, and the old man remained unconscious. They drove through the night, through the break of dawn. That night, the old man didn''t wake up as rapidly as he had before but instead went back and forth between a hazy consciousness and fainting several times. Qing Chen understood, the battle in the night must have been too fierce, and the booming of the sniper rifle ultimately still affected the old man''s heart and mind. Moreover, the cold December wind was biting, and the jeep''s windshield had been shattered, allowing the howling cold wind to aggravate the old man''s already frail body even further. Qing Chen took out a sleeping bag, placed the old man inside, exposing only his face, to prevent the cold from affecting him adversely again. Qing Chen had always known that this moment would come for the old man, but he didn''t expect it to come so soon. This trip, the old man actually had two wishes hanging by a breath, one was to go to Taboo Land 002, and the other was to help Li Yunshou take care of Jindai Tongshan. Now that Jindai Tongshan was bound to die, the old man''s life seemed to have been halved by fate. They didn''t have time, they needed to reach Taboo Land 002 as soon as possible. As the sun began to rise, Hu Xiaoniu suddenly said, "Brother Chen, there''s someone ahead." Qing Chen looked, only to see a white-haired old man in samurai attire, standing alone amidst the rising sun, smiling warmly. The vehicle slowly stopped, Qing Chen didn''t go for his gun, but with a sense of realization, he got out of the car and asked, "Are you the old master''s friend? He''s unconscious now, and might not be able to wake up." The old man smiled softly, "No need for farewells, young man, please convey to him that in this life, I am ashamed that I became his friend for selfish purposes. If there''s an afterlife, I hope we can be friends again, friends without any stains." After speaking, the old man faced north, knelt down, and stabbed his own abdomen with a dagger, maintaining a calm expression as he sliced horizontally across. Helping the old man catch Jindai Tongshan was his commitment to his friend. To die as an apology, was his explanation to his clan. Chapter 558 558: 352. Missing an opportunity "Master, should we tell grandfather about this?" Li Ke asked. The SUV headed south against the morning sun. When they had left city 18, they were all alone until they met the Freemasonry. It got lively for a couple of days before they were alone on the road again. It was like a passage of life, where everyone experiences the noise and splendor, then returns to solitude. The road is always one''s own, and in this world, there is no such thing as an eternal feast. Qing Chen thought for a moment, "Let''s not tell him, the old man doesn''t have much time left, let''s not let him know that his friend has died." "Hmm," Li Ke thought it over and responded. In fact, Qing Chen had no right to decide for the old man, but he was truly worried that the old man wouldn''t make it to Taboo Land 002 upon hearing the bad news. By evening, the old man had finally fully awakened. At this time, Hu Xiaoniu was exhausted, so Qing Chen took over the driving. Although new to driving, he handled it quite skillfully. The SUV strolled smoothly across the wilderness. In the distance was an evening glow, and around were plains and wilderness; the whole world seemed to be painted with a layer of orange-red oil, magnificent yet desolate. Li Ke supported the old man in the rear seat and fed him some warm water from the thermos. Qing Chen couldn''t help but ask, "Grandfather, how did you meet your friend?" He looked up at the rearview mirror, only to find the old man stunned. The old man asked, "You''ve seen him, haven''t you?" Qing Chen was silent for a moment, "Hmm." "You''ve seen him but don''t want to tell me, so he must be dead," the old man stated his guess. The car fell silent. The old man thought for a moment and said, "You don''t tell me because you''re afraid that I couldn''t make it to Taboo Land 002 after hearing the bad news about my old friend, right?" "Hmm," Qing Chen nodded. "Don''t worry, I am not that fragile," the old man said, "Besides, I have seen too many farewells in my life." "You seemed to know he would die," Qing Chen remarked. "Let me first tell you how we met," the old man said with a smile, "At that time, I wasn''t as old as I am now and often enjoyed sneaking out through the secret passage of Autumn Leaf Courtyard to have fun. Once, I went to a bar I frequently visited, which was hosting a beer-drinking contest." "That night, nearly everyone in the bar got drunk, and it was down to just the two of us," the old man reminisced, looking at the sunset, "Later, we both got drunk as well and don''t remember what happened next. According to Li Yunjing, we both ran to the Red Star Boxing Gym and asked to fight a fixed match, and even smashed many of their things. I didn''t have money in my pocket; it was Li Yunjing who paid a sum to the gym, and that''s why we didn''t get beaten up." "After that, I would often call him out for a drink when I sneaked out, and we would do some crazy things. Looking back, those were probably some of the happiest moments of my life." "When did you know he was a Jindai Member?" Qing Chen asked. "Actually, I found out the second year. Li Yunjing had followed him for three months and discovered some clues," the old man said, "But I never exposed him, and he never reported my whereabouts to the Jindai family. It seems like as long as everyone pretends a bit, friendship can continue." The old man continued, "In the third year, his mother fell critically ill, but the Jindai family delayed letting him return to the north. During that period, he was very depressed, and I knew why, so I gave him an important piece of information. With that, he gained a position and was able to negotiate terms with his family." "He returned to the north to accompany his mother in her last days. When he returned to city 18, he confessed everything to me," the old man said with a smile, "At that time, he felt very guilty, and I made him down eight drinks as a penalty. I won that drinking round." "It was from that time that he consistently said he wanted me to use him once, so he could ease his conscience a bit." "But actually, I knew that he had decided in his heart that as long as I used him once, he could choose to die without any guilt, so he wouldn''t have to suffer between family loyalty and the code of friendship. Ludou Jun of the Jindai family was different from the others. Sometimes I think, for someone like Ludou Jun to emerge from that filthy family, it''s quite exceptional." "So, you knew that using him this time would definitely lead to his death," Qing Chen said quietly, "Then why still use him?" The old man chuckled, "You might want to hear a very philosophical response, or one that would make my image shine again, but my answer is quite simple, because I am the head of the Li Family." Qing Chen fell silent. Just because he was the head of the Li Family, he was willing to spend his life ''imprisoned'' in the mid-mountain estate. Just because he was the head of the Li Family, he had to use the best opportunity to eliminate a member of the Jindai family who had the best chance of ascending to demigod status in recent years. There has never been a perfect solution in this world, not for Ludou Jun of the Jindai, nor for Li Xiurui. "Qing Chen," the old man said with a chuckle, "It''s precisely because you knights are never bound by the secular world that I envy you, so, never be like me." In a moment of lifting his head, Qing Chen suddenly saw, from the rearview mirror, two lines of tears streaming down the old man''s face, yet still showing a smile. "Old master, is this world really so complicated?" Qing Chen asked inexplicably. "No, if you live simply, the world can be simple," the old man replied, "Kid, I don''t have the ability to make this world change its rules for me, but I hope you do." ... ... Countdown to return 31:00:00. 17:00 in the evening. Inside the SUV, Qing Chen once again saw that majestic giant tree, standing like a sky piercer at the center of Taboo Land 002. No matter how many times he had seen it, Qing Chen always felt especially awestruck upon seeing it again. Just then, Hu Xiaoniu suddenly exclaimed, "Brother Chen, outside that big tree''s crown, there seems to be a colorful tail streaking down!" Qing Chen looked over, indeed, a tail about ten meters long was dragging outside the crown, with the body hidden within the treetops. The old man wrapped in the sleeping bag gazed and thought, "So everything he said was true." This ''he'' was Uncle Li Dong''s master, the old man''s close friend. Decades ago, when that friend had described the beauty of the outside world to the old man, he had always believed that the other was deceiving him because even the Federal Group armies hadn''t captured any photos or found such magical creatures. All of this had seemed to the old man like a dream he had cherished for decades, which he was finally seeing today. The old man watched, somewhat entranced. Next moment, a shadow floated across the sky, perfectly enveloping the off-road vehicle beneath it. Hu Xiaoniu stuck his head out and was stunned, as a massive Qing Shan Falcon circled above, its wingspan giving the illusion of blocking out the sun. A cry rang out. Qing Chen was taken aback. Because he actually understood what the other was saying, "You returned so soon? Where''s that old guy Li Dong?" Qing Chen thought for a moment and shouted to the sky, "My master went to the north, and this time I brought new knights." The Qing Shan Falcon cried again, "Are we going to deal with two more annoying brats, huh? Don''t bring out so many knights; too many knights tend to cause trouble." Qing Chen: "..." It seemed that since he had become a knight, he met the conditions for containment by Taboo Land #002, even understanding the messages conveyed by the creatures inside. The Qing Shan Falcon no longer paid attention to the off-road vehicle and flapped its wings, flying back to Taboo Land #002. The old man curiously asked, "Is that the Qing Shan Falcon?" "Yes," Qing Chen nodded, "It gets along quite well with the knights." The old man asked again, "It seemed to be talking to you, could you understand it?" Qing Chen nodded, "I could." "What did it say?" "It said ''welcome knights back home.''" The old man felt envious, "That falcon is quite hospitable then." The off-road vehicle headed towards that big tree, but it wasn''t long before Qing Chen slowed down. "What''s wrong?" the old man asked. "There''s a convoy stopped outside Taboo Land #002," Qing Chen said, "with Freemasonry vehicles and Federal Group Army vehicles." All told, there probably were over a hundred vehicles, making it look like a parking lot had been expanded outside Taboo Land #002. The Freemasonry vehicles were battered and clearly had been through a brutal battle, likely pushed into Taboo Land #002 by the Federal Group Army. Qing Chen said to Hu Xiaoniu, "Look out on the wilderness and see if there are any shell casings." "There are," responded Hu Xiaoniu, "and they are quite dense, looks like there has been a battle." Near where the Federal Group Army vehicles were parked, dozens of people were on guard, and they immediately aimed their weapons as they spotted vehicles approaching. "I see their unit number, it should be Division 198 of the Federal Second Group Army, the direct troops of the Chen Clan," the old man said, "The south has always been Chen Clan''s stronghold, with Spade helping the wilderness people and Time Traveler rebuilding their homeland here, it''s bound to provoke them." "It seems most of them chased deep into Taboo Land #002," Qing Chen wondered, "wasn''t it said that the Federal Group Army generally wouldn''t pursue the wilderness people into taboo lands lightly?" He remembered very clearly, Ding Dong''s mother was pushed into the taboo land by the Federal Group Army, thereby escaping assassination and ultimately birthing new life in the taboo land. Back then, the Federal Group Army had stopped at the edge. If there weren''t tasks like those of the shadow candidate Qing Huai, no one would bother entering taboo lands without reason. The old man explained, "This Taboo Land #002 is originally situated on the Chen Clan''s territory, they understand it a bit more, and in earlier years the Chen Clan had been using prisoners to test the rules of the taboo land." "Wait, can they take prisoners out from the jail?" Qing Chen curiously asked, it shouldn''t be allowed, right? "Not those who were already jailed," the old man clarified, "they use the PCE Security Committee to catch suspects, then without issuing prosecution, directly detain them in Chen Clan''s secret prisons for experimentation." Qing Chen was dumbfounded, extra-judicial? Indeed, humanity still had various methods to circumvent artificial intelligence. If artificial intelligence was so fair, then simply not sending criminals to AI-controlled jails, but to secret prisons instead, solved the issue. The old man thought for a while and said, "We have no quarrel with them, and with Qing''s Family emblem on the car, they should mind their own business, just avoid them." However, the old man had just finished speaking when he saw Qing Chen take out ''Winning People with Virtue'' and fired at the Federal Group Army convoy. The direct troops of the Chen Clan immediately gave chase. The old man was bewildered, "What are you doing?" Qing Chen didn''t answer, he did this just because he recalled what Uncle Li once said during his first climb up the steep Qing Mountain cliffs: you''re still lacking an opportunity. Now, both Hu Xiaoniu and Li Ke were missing an opportunity. ... Another chapter at 11 PM Chapter 559 559: 353, Create an opportunity "Master, drive faster, they''re about to catch up," Li Ke sat in the back seat, one hand gripping the back of the chair, the other holding onto the old man''s sleeping bag. As Qing Chen raced the off-road vehicle, the people inside felt as if they were about to be thrown out. Hu Xiaoniu, Li Ke, and the old man couldn''t understand why Qing Chen had fired that shot, given that the Federal Group soldiers had shown no intention of pursuing them. Was it because he found their lives too peaceful? Fortunately, Qing Chen timed it well, and before the Federal Group could catch up, the off-road vehicle had already entered the Taboo Land. "Hurry, hurry, get out," Qing Chen said as he retrieved two backpacks from the trunk, strapping them onto Hu Xiaoniu and Li Ke. As for himself, he hoisted the old man onto his back and ran for their lives towards the depths of the Taboo Land. The old man on Qing Chen''s back was stupefied; the once tranquil farewell trip had turned thrilling due to Qing Chen''s actions. It was as if a stable journey to Qing Shan cliff wouldn''t have been grand enough for this farewell trip. The old man asked, "Is it really necessary to add this kind of event? Is it worth it?" Qing Chen whispered, "You don''t understand, this is a Knight''s tradition. The Qing Shan cliff is 600 meters high; without motivation, it''s impossible to climb. We need to cut off their route first." "No," the old man lamented, "I feel like you''re trying to cut off my path first." Qing Chen realized, "You weren''t anxious before, were you? So your backup plan isn''t following us now, right?" The old man said, "...you sure catch on quickly." At that moment, Qing Chen suddenly noticed that the pursuing Federal Group soldiers were hesitating outside the Taboo Land and showed no signs of entering. After all, the Federal Group were not fools; such a provocative act was clearly meant to lure them into Zone 002 of the Taboo Land. If they fell for it, that would be too foolish. Qing Chen stood still and looked back, realizing that the work of his master had not been easy. This wasn''t working. Thinking this, Qing Chen drew ''Persuader'' and fired shot after shot at the Federal Group''s vehicles. These shots, like poking a hornet''s nest, completely enraged the Federal Group soldiers, who rushed in. The old man, who was familiar with military affairs, thought to himself that they were done for, "Kid, with those few shots of yours, it''s unrealistic to provoke regular soldiers. They are rushing in not just because of your random shots, but because their other troops must be nearby..." As if to confirm the old man''s words, two signal flares suddenly rose slowly into the sky behind them. The old man said, "Two signal flares, that means a second-level readiness. They''re telling their companions they''ve found a big target." Qing Chen thought for a moment, "The woods in the Taboo Land are so dense that even if they fire signal flares, their companions might not see them." However, the next moment, the signal flares made sharp and strange noises. The old man explained, "Their companions in the Taboo Land must be equipped with sonar devices. Those are dual-purpose signal flares; even if they can''t see, the sonar devices can pick up the signal. Without the ability to use satellite positioning in the Taboo Land, once those flares are fired, their companions will begin to converge here." Qing Chen was stunned for a moment, "Why didn''t you warn me about this earlier?" The old man said with heartfelt pain, "Did you ask me? Besides, I also had to wait for their reaction to know what they were planning. Qing Shan Falcon is foolish, how could they welcome people like you back home!" "That''s a bit too harsh," Qing Chen said with a chuckle, waving at Li Ke and Hu Xiaoniu, then turned and took another path. "You really aren''t afraid at all," the old man sighed. "Don''t worry, old sir. Once a Knight reaches this place, it''s like coming home. Even if an entire regiment of the Federal Group comes in, it''s a fight to the death," Qing Chen surveyed the surrounding terrain, as familiar scenes came flooding back to his mind. At that moment, the old man on Qing Chen''s back saw the youth gently squat down and tenderly stroke the leaf vein of a Mimosa Plant with the back of his index finger. The Mimosa Plant seemed to curl shyly at the touch. Yes, the Knight was home. ... ... As night fell, students from Freemasonry stumbled deeper into the Taboo Land. Spade was better prepared than the previous Autumn Hunting Team, as Taboo Land itself was one of the wild men''s retreat paths after encountering the Federal Group''s soldiers. Therefore, the wild men always kept a backup plan to enter the Taboo Land for any situation. As they fled in, Guo Huchan told the students to carry containers and headed southwest along the edge of Zone 002 of the Taboo Land. According to the plan, they would cross out following the edge of the Taboo Land. Suddenly, Xiao Niu said, "The Federal Group soldiers who had been trailing us seem to have sent some men to retreat." "What does that mean?" Guo Huchan asked curiously, "They have chased us for nearly two hundred miles, and now they''re retreating just like that?" "No, it''s not a retreat," Xiao Niu laughed, "It''s because someone else entered the Taboo Land and deliberately drew their firepower away from us." Guo Huchan looked at Xiao Niu, "Seeing how happy you look, could it be that the young man who was with the old man has come?" Xiao Niu thought for a moment, "Apart from him, who else would come to Zone 002 of the Taboo Land for no reason?" "Right, you left us for a moment earlier, did you go to find him?" Guo Huchan asked. Xiao Niu didn''t tell the truth, for the old man setting a trap to kill the Jindai master was supposed to be a secret. She said, "No, I just felt stuffy staying in the car and went out to enjoy the scenery." "Fine," Guo Huchan muttered, thinking that such words could only deceive a fool. On the other side, two Federal Group armies had already converged at one place. From the moment they received the signal, the front troops immediately returned and started a reverse fan-shaped search because they were well aware that their comrades behind them were pursuing the target. However, when they met at that location, they discovered that the four individuals who should have been trapped between the two forces had vanished without a trace! Disappeared into thin air. The Major in charge of the pursuit against Spade frowned and asked, "How long ago was it since we last picked up their trail?" The officer who was in charge of the external alert responded, "10 minutes, just 10 minutes ago." The Major sensed something was amiss, "If the trail was lost within only 10 minutes, then the Mechanical Hunting Dogs should have been able to track their scent. So why is there no scent at all?" He looked towards several soldiers who were controlling the hunting dogs with neural links, but they shook their heads, "Commander, there are no clues." Strange, there isn''t a river here, nor is there strong wind. How did they conceal their scent? Right at that moment, a soldier suddenly said, "Commander, there are words carved on this tree!" After he spoke, everyone looked and saw the words carved on the tree were hurried yet large, as if fearful they wouldn''t be seen, "We went west." The soldiers were stunned. Was this the attitude of someone being pursued, to actively leave traces when the Federal Group soldiers had lost their trail? An Operations Staff thought for a moment then said, "Could it be a ruse to confuse us, and they actually went east?" If Qing Chen were there, he would probably be angered to death by this Operations Staff. The latter''s reasoning was not wrong, but this was based on the assumption that ''the group armies are formidable'' and the ''pursued'' targets are fleeing desperately, thus they would intentionally mislead. But now, Qing Chen did not consider himself in a weaker position at all. After thinking it through, the Major said, "This isn''t a ruse, but rather a bait to lure the enemy deeper. The enemy has set a trap within Taboo Land and is waiting for us to take the bait. This probably isn''t the same organization as Spade''s. If they were, Spade wouldn''t need to run around with people so tirelessly." "So, what do we do?" the officer asked. The Major pondered seriously, "We stop pursuing these four and continue chasing Spade according to the original plan!" "Roger that." The Federal Group continued south in pursuit of Spade, seeing many directional carvings along the way, but they paid them no heed... ... ... On Qing Chen''s side, he leaned against a tree for quite a while but did not see the group army following them. The old man was already very weak but couldn''t help mocking, "Played yourself, didn''t you? You must have scared them off; they don''t dare to chase anymore." Qing Chen sighed, all he wanted was an opportunity, was that so hard? No, that''s not right. He had a new plan. Qing Chen, together with Hu Xiaoniu and Li Ke, made their way deep into Taboo Land. It was deep into the night when he finally found that large willow tree on the boundary between the center and the edge of the land. Qing Chen looked up at the great willow and said, "I''ve brought new Knights to challenge the life and death passage." The willow tree did not react. Qing Chen said again, "I said I brought new Knights to challenge the life and death passage, don''t be so stingy." Hu Xiaoniu and Li Ke gave each other a look, wondering what their master was talking to a big tree for. However, the next moment, as if reluctantly, the willow tree used its branches to pluck two white fruits from its canopy and handed them to Hu Xiaoniu and Li Ke. Qing Chen pointed to the west for the two and said, "Go straight west and you''ll see the Qing Shan cliffs. There lies a path to ascend to heaven. Go on, take it." "Master, aren''t you coming with us?" Li Ke asked. Qing Chen thought for a moment and said, "I accompany you only for part of the thousand-mile journey; for the remaining trials of wind, snow, and the scorching sun, I ask no questions." Hu Xiaoniu and Li Ke walked away, somewhat bewildered. But before they got far, they heard thumping footsteps from behind, too heavy to be humana giant was approaching. With a look of shock, they turned around to see a giant, several meters tall, charging towards them with a threatening presence. Upon closer inspection, Li Ke feared that the giant''s footprints could be larger than the tires of an off-road vehicle, and its hands were like two gates, strong enough to slap someone to death. "Run!" Li Ke''s soul nearly left his body, having never encountered such a thing before. His master Qing Chen had assured them on the way to Taboo Land that all would be well, that as their master, he would not let anything happen to them. But he had never mentioned that Taboo Land was such a terrifying place! What Li Ke and Hu Xiaoniu didn''t see was that Giant DongDong gradually slowed down, revealing a simple and honest smile. Qing Chen stood beside him, looking up at the endearing giant, smiling and saying, "Long time no see, DongDong." ... Thank you to ''Pressured To Be Strong 010'' for becoming a new ally of this book. The boss is generous, wishing the boss avoids pitfalls in online shopping! I''ve been a salted fish for six days now; let me rest a bit more, and then I''ll make a burst of progress... Chapter 560 560: 354. There are always one or two winds in the world that fulfill my 108,000 dreams. In the woods, Giant DongDong cautiously lifted his hand to support the canopy above his head. Because he was so tall, supporting the canopy felt like he was bending down to hold up a curtain... Qing Chen smiled, not knowing why but every time he saw this adorable giant, he felt an undeniable joy from deep within. "How have you been lately?" Qing Chen sized up DongDong, who was wearing only vine-made "shorts" despite the cold season, seemingly unaffected by the chill. He wanted to pat the giant, but realized he could only reach up to his waist. In front of the over four-meter-tall giant, Qing Chen felt like a little kid. The honest-looking DongDong turned to Qing Chen and grinned, saying, "Ding Dong!" (I''ve been good lately. A couple days ago, I helped the big firebird deep in the territory build a nest since it''s getting a bit grumpy, it''s going to have babies. But I''m not scared, it never pecks me. How about you?) Qing Chen was momentarily stunned, as this was the first time DongDong had spoken. Although he only said ''Ding Dong,'' such extensive meaning flooded his mind. Up until then, he had thought that the other couldn''t speak. "I''ve been good too," Qing Chen said apologetically, "Sorry for the trouble of having you play the bad guy; but don''t worry, I''ll explain it later and tell them you are not a bad guy." DengDong: "Ding Dong!" (Fun!) Qing Chen felt relieved because DongDong was so kind. Hence, he felt somewhat guilty for asking DongDong to pretend to be the bad guy to ''create an opportunity.'' But it was necessarythe Federal Group forces were not exactly cooperative. Qing Chen and DongDong walked toward the big willow tree. The giant was very careful, avoiding insects on the ground as he walked, seemingly afraid his foot, bigger than a car wheel, might crush them. He occasionally knocked bird nests off the branches as they passed, and the clumsy giant would hurry to catch them, then carefully place the baby birds and the nests back on the branches. The old man on Qing Chen''s back stared, astonished: "Such a fierce appearance, but possessing such a kind heart. Qing Chen, is he your friend from Taboo Land?" Qing Chen replied with a smile, "Yes, a friend." Upon hearing this, DongDong immediately perked up: "Ding Dong!" As they talked, DongDong accidentally knocked a snake from a tree but quickly caught it and gently placed it back on the branch. The speckled snake seemed rather annoyed, biting into DongDong''s palm. To everyone''s astonishment, it didn''t manage to break the skin. DongDong didn''t seem to care about it either. The old man turned to DongDong and asked Qing Chen, "Is he a native from Taboo Land number 002?" "Yes," Qing Chen nodded. "He communicates his thoughts by making the sound ''Ding Dong,'' and you understand him?" the old man asked, intrigued. He found this mode of communication utterly fascinating, previously amazed that Qing Chen could understand what Qing Shan Falcon said, and now ''Ding Dong'' seemed to convey all sorts of meanings, which was incredibly magical. Qing Chen explained, "Each Taboo Land is actually like a Taboo itself, having its own containment conditions. The condition for 002 Taboo Land is to become a Knight in order to understand their language ... well, it''s not really a containment condition, it''s more like the key to unlocking a door. Once you find this key, the rules of the Taboo Land no longer apply to you, and the creatures within Taboo Land will not naturally view you as an enemy." The old man suddenly fell silent. Qing Chen asked, "Why have you stopped talking?" The old man reflected, "The world is so wonderful, and yet I''ve wasted my life." Qing Chen asked, "Do you have regrets?" "No regrets. I did what I needed to do, just a bit of remorse," the old man said, "But I''m a bit curious, are there only one of such giants in the 002 Taboo Land, or are there many?" DongDong: "Ding Dong!" (There is also my little brother, Gudong!) Qing Chen was stunned; it turned out that DongDong had a younger brother named Gudong. Until then, he had never thought that DongDong had any family; he assumed that DongDong was alone here. But that namewasn''t it quite hastily chosen?! Moreover, while DongDong sounded cute, Gudong sounded like the noise made when one accidentally falls over. "Who named you guys?" Qing Chen wondered. DongDong chuckled and then pointed towards the deep parts of the Taboo Land. Qing Chen realizedit was the elderly Knights who had given them those names, definitely matching their style. "Is your brother deep in the territory?" Qing Chen was curious. But DongDong shook his head, "Ding Dong." (No, he went to another Taboo Land to play.) Qing Chen faltered again, "Can you freely leave the Taboo Land?" DongDong nodded. "Wait, are you subject to the rules when you go to other Taboo Lands?" Qing Chen asked. "Ding Dong?" (What rules? I''ve gone out to play too, but I don''t know about any rules. Are we not allowed to go out?) Qing Chen realized that the natives of 002 Taboo Land, when visiting other Taboo Lands, were also not bound by the rules. No wonder Gudong went to play in other Taboo Lands. He looked at DongDong, pondering whether he could invite DongDong to join him in exploring other Taboo Lands in the future. At that moment, Qing Chen asked, "Have you seen a group of youngsters coming to 002 Taboo Land recently?" Chapter 561 561: 354. There are always one or two winds in the world that fill my 108,000 dreams_2 "Ding Dong!" (Yes, they are being chased by a group of people. Are those young people your friends? I can go and help you chase away those who are pursuing them!) Qing Chen shook his head, "No need, thank you Ding Dong; I appreciate your kindness." Ding Dong scratched his head, not understanding why Qing Chen would refuse. In fact, the young man''s thoughts were simple: he felt that Ding Dong was too kind, unwilling even to harm ants on the ground, so how could he ask Ding Dong to engage in fighting and killing? In this world, some people always like to bully the kind; the kinder others are, the more these people take advantage. But Qing Chen was not like that. The elderly man behind him said, "Hey, kid, translate what Ding Dong is saying, will you? I can only hear what you''re saying but can''t hear him, and it''s really frustrating." Qing Chen wondered internally about where he should start translating with so much that Ding Dong had said. Thinking, he said, "He said the moonlight is very nice tonight." "That''s it?" "Yes." Old man: "Now, I have reason to suspect that what Qing Shan Falcon said before was not really ''welcome Knights home...'' " Returning to the large willow tree, Ding Dong greeted Qing Chen and then returned to the inner depths, apparently still having things to do. As the willow tree swayed its branches, sounds of the wind came from the deep recesses, carrying the old folks'' queries within it. If Ding Dong''s language was "Ding Dong," then the old folks'' language was the sound of the wind. Whenever those Knight ancestors spoke, Qing Chen always felt as if he were being touched by a gentle, soothing breeze. Qing Chen explained to the depths, "Indeed, one of them has not yet passed the test of the heart, but I believe he can become a Knight." From the depths of the Taboo Land, the wind asked, "Since he cannot pass the test of the heart, how will he unlock the Genetic Lock after completing the Knight''s challenge?" Qing Chen replied, "Have you all forgotten? Knights have always had another path, a route once taken by our ancestors." The rustling wind from the depths of the Taboo Land suddenly became still. This so-called other path was the one that existed before Qin Sheng created the Breathing Technique. The path once walked by the Knight founder, Ren He. Back then, the Inner World had not yet formed the Forbidden Sea, and fishermen could still go out to sea, Knights could face the final life-and-death challenge before thirty-meter high waves. Back then, Knights would unlock all Genetic Locks after eight life-and-death challenges and then advance to A-Class. It was only because the Forbidden Sea later emerged, making the last life-and-death challenge unfeasible, that Qin Sheng sought a new approach through the Breathing Technique. Qing Chen slowly shared his thoughts, "The ancestors should have learned from my master that I come from another world, a place we call the Outer World. The sea there is safer." When Hu Xiaoniu completes the eight life-and-death challenges, he will follow the oldest path of the Knights. Although he may not go as far as Li Ke did, that is still A-Class! The noisy wind was silent. And with it, the leaves of the Taboo Land ceased their rustling. Perhaps it was not until this moment. That the old folks realized why Uncle Li Dong had said that Qing Chen would bring unprecedented opportunities to the Knight Organization. During the era of Qin Sheng and Ren He, the Knights were not as dwindled as they are now. Though the eight life-and-death challenges were deadly, there would always be followers willing to risk their lives for their beliefs. During that era, twelve Knights easily swept through the Southwest Snow Mountain as though it were mere play, though the highest they could reach was A-Class, they were many in number! It is said that at its peak, the Knight Organization had over thirty members. More than thirty A-Class members is an unimaginable concept, enough to protect a city in a world surrounded by consortia, and no one would dare to offend. No one would want to face the wrath of more than thirty A-Class powerhouses; no one could withstand such a level of retaliation, not even a Demigod. Just their existence around the world would be an invisible deterrence. As Qing Chen eloquently expressed, even Li Xiurui, the experienced Master of Li Family, was deeply moved. It was at this moment that he truly understood why Uncle Li Dong held such limitless hope for this young man. Because the young man could reclaim the glory that belonged to the Knights! The old man sighed, "Li Family has not failed you, may you not fail the Li Family." Qing Chen thought for a moment and said, "It''s too early to talk about this now; perhaps I might die young." "You sly young man, truly, if you don''t want to die, no one could find you," the old man said. Just then, the wind spoke again, "From today, Gate 002 of the Taboo Land will always be open to you. If you encounter any difficulty, you can run here, where no one can kill you, not even a God." The mingling winds, converging, as if a group of people were unanimously expressing the Knights'' ancestors'' promise. Qing Chen was stunned. Uncle Li Dong had said that although the Knights were the guardians of Gate 002 of the Taboo Land, the ancestors had principles and generally did not interfere with the outer world. If Knights were chased into this place, those who were less skilled would still die. What the old folks could guarantee was only making the enemy pay in blood and not leaving this place alive. But now it was different; the old folks had already made a promise. Simply because they too saw a future in Qing Chen, a brilliant era of the Knights that was about to belong to him! Like the sun rising over the sheer cliffs of the Qing Mountains! Chapter 562 562: 354. There are always one or two winds in the world that fill my 108,000 dreams_3 Just then, the wind in Taboo Land rose again, and Qing Chen said softly to the old man behind him, "Old Master, my mentor said it''s great to see you again, welcome to the Knight''s House." In this cold winter season, the old man suddenly felt a warm breeze wrap around his hands, as if greeting a long-lost friend. The old man smiled, "I have come late." After speaking, the old man seemed to have resolved another concern; the weight on his heart lessened, and his entire being wilted completely. The faint breath, like a candle in the wind, could extinguish at any moment. Qing Chen glanced into the depths of Taboo Land, "I must leave first, elders, there are still tasks unfinished." Saying this, he resolutely walked towards the green mountain cliffs, striding vigorously. The old man chuckled on his back, "Going to see your disciple become a Knight?" "No," Qing Chen said, "you will know soon." With that, he broke into a sprint. The youth felt the life fading from the old man, he had to race against time. When Qing Chen reached the green mountain cliffs, Li Ke had already climbed to a height of 361 meters and was taking out his dagger to carve his name on the rock face. Initially, Hu Xiaoniu and Li Ke did not understand why Qing Chen had asked them to bring a dagger. But when they saw the numerous names on the green mountain cliffs, they understood. Just like, Qing Chen hadn''t told them why they were to head west all along, but it all became clear once they reached the green mountain cliffs. At that moment, Hu Xiaoniu was still at 271 meters, struggling to climb up. To complete this life-and-death challenge, the difficulties Hu Xiaoniu faced were beyond imagination because he lacked the introspective ordeal, and the white fruit''s aid was very minimal. Thus, he had to, like the original Ancestor of Knight, use more time and greater perseverance. More resolute will, unparalleled courage. Back then, the ancestors didn''t have Breathing Technique, didn''t have white fruits, yet they still had to challenge a 600-meter cliff. Qing Chen could imagine the difficult circumstances under which the ancestors transformed. However, Qing Chen did not look at Hu Xiaoniu again. This had never been a smooth path, throughout thousands of years, countless people had died upon this road. Hu Xiaoniu might become one of the many who failed, but he could also grit his teeth and be one of the successful ones. Qing Chen came to the foot of the green mountain cliffs, carefully tying the rope that bound the old man in a sleeping bag. He checked three times. The old man weakly asked, "What are you going to do?" Yet saw Qing Chen climb resolutely towards the heavens above, calmly speaking, "I have decided to carry you up the green mountain cliffs... actually, from the moment we left Autumn Leaf Courtyard, I made this decision." The old man was stunned, he had never imagined that one day he too could climb the green mountain cliffs. The place he had dreamed of climbing countless times. He was too old. His energy was lacking, always forgetting things. His physical strength was also lacking, slightly speaking a few words would make him feel tired. The old man had dedicated his entire life to the clan and its future generations, not even daring to hope that he could see the sunrise from the green mountain cliffs. But just when he no longer harbored any hopes, The youth was carrying him, climbing bit by bit upward, determined to help him fulfill his final wish in this definitive manner. "Actually, you don''t have to do this," the old man sighed, "You''re just a D-class Superhuman, the burden I cause you will be bigger than you imagine. I also practiced rock climbing, I know very well that the most important aspects are the center of gravity and support points, so carrying me, you can only use finger-sized footholds, while my weight drags on you, as if to pull you into the abyss." The old man now weighed only 120 pounds, very light for a man. But the burden of rock climbing is not simply arithmetic. With the center of gravity shifting away from the cliff, Qing Chen would need several times the strength and courage to complete this life-and-death challenge. The old man''s life-and-death challenge. "Give up," the old man said, "there''s no need to risk this for me." "I''ve been thinking, ever since coming to the Inner World, my master and you have always done a lot for me, yet I have done little for you," Qing Chen stubbornly said, "Every time I think about this, I feel somewhat ashamed. So, helping you fulfill a wish can also bring some peace to my heart." Sometimes Qing Chen thought, in the Outer World he was just a kid with no one to rely on, feeling the cold of the world. However, since arriving in the Inner World, he has repeatedly encountered unexpected warmth. If he had the chance, he would still want to sit by Dragon Lake with the old man, fishing and listening to his stories of the past. If he had the chance, he would even want to play chess with his master, Uncle Li Dong, in prison. The Inner World was suddenly a bit more endearing because of these few individuals. The old man said again, "Qing Chen, give up." Qing Chen''s figure did not halt, and he continued climbing upward, calmly speaking to the old man, "The reason the Knights dare to embark on this path fraught with death is because of their relentless courage, a decision made is irreversible, and there are no regrets in a move made!" The old man fell silent. He watched familiar name after name passed by Qing Chen. Qing Chen. Uncle Li Dong. Li Yingyun. Qin Sheng. Chapter 563 563: 354. There are always one or two winds in the world that fill my 108,000 dreams_4 At a certain moment, the old man''s consciousness flickered, and it seemed as if he had truly once walked among those towering knights. Together, they conquered the stars and the seas. Together, they galloped through the wilderness, seeing all the rivers and streams. At this moment, Hu Xiaoniu paused at a height of 411 meters for a brief rest, feeling his whole body trembling and almost unable to continue. He wanted to look down, but before he could lower his head, he found that Qing Chen had overtaken him with the old man on his back, taking a different route! After taking a deep breath, Hu Xiaoniu said, "I might not be able to climb any higher." Qing Chen turned his head toward Hu Xiaoniu, "I''ll wait for you at the top of the mountain." The youth didn''t say any more nonsense, because every knight must walk his own path. Hu Xiaoniu looked up to see Qing Chen climbing upward with the elder on his back; he suddenly smiled and from somewhere found boundless courage to continue ascending. Someone was waiting for him at the summit. The next moment, Li Ke had completed his last leap onto the mountaintop. The elder was in his final moments, looking up at the dark sky with only a faint breath of life remaining. Suddenly, a gust of mountain wind blew, and Qing Chen tightly clutched a crevice in the rock to prevent the howling wind from blowing him and the old man off the cliff. Even Qing Chen was starting to feel his energy wane. The elder could distinctly feel that Qing Chen was trembling. But the trembling youth seemed to fully command his body with his will, setting out once again. Until reaching 599 meters. With a powerful leap. This time, Qing Chen did not hesitate or fear anymore. He grabbed the highest edge of the Green Mountain cliff, pulling himself over the edge. Qing Chen lowered the elder from his back and carefully helped him sit at the peak of the mountain. The youth was calm, lacking the surging emotions he had the first time he climbed Green Mountain''s cliff, just quietly sitting beside the old man, accompanying him through his last moments. The elder was also calm. The two sat side by side at the edge of the cliff, with Li Ke standing quietly behind them, waiting for the sunrise. On the tranquil Green Mountain''s cliff, the three waited in silence. Beyond Green Mountain''s cliff, were majestic trees and a green carpet formed by the crowns of countless trees. Expansive and spectacular. The elder said slowly, "When I was fourteen, a knight visited my father at our mid-mountain estate. I remember clearly, he jokingly asked me if I would like to become a knight and follow him. Of course, I said yes. But my father did not agree, he said the Li Family''s future was for me to inherit and told him to choose someone else from our kin." "Back then, I didn''t dare to defy my father''s decision, but thinking about it now, the Li Family was so large, how could it be impossible to find someone capable of being the Family Head? If I had insisted on my decision at that time, perhaps everything would be different now." No sooner had he finished speaking than a ray of light suddenly burst through the clouds and over the mountains at the edge of the sky. Shortly after, a red glow rapidly spread. And then it turned to gold. Those cascading colors of dawn, from a distance, looked like a golden sea. The tide seemed to hang inverted, pouring down onto the earth. Dawn had arrived. Just then, a determined hand grasped the edge of Green Mountain''s cliff, and Hu Xiaoniu clung to the cliff shoutingit was the most passionate expression of his youth. "How wonderful," the elder smiled, "Youth is wonderful." Qing Chen looked at the elder, "This is the sunrise we once watched, and you see it now." The elder began to smile, "Thank you." "Don''t mention it," Qing Chen shook his head, "In your bones, you are also a knight." The elder said, "It took me a lifetime to understand one thing." Qing Chen asked, "What''s that?" Looking at him with a smile, the elder said, "The wind of our youthful gallop is more valuable than gold." Having said that, the elder looked toward the giant tree and saw a splendidly colored Vermilion Bird soaring and spreading its wings above the treetop, resplendent in the extreme. Then came his resonant laugh, floating down from the mountain summit: "If youth were granted to me once more, I would take a few ounces of gold for a few ounces of wind!" That laughter was dreamlike, containing bits of regret, relinquishment, stubbornness, and carefree spirit. The laughter ascended to the clouds, mingling with the sunrise, and even the Vermilion Bird on the giant tree turned its head to look back. "Thank you," the elder closed his eyes. From then on, there was no more Li Xiurui in the world. ... Volume Two: The Second Chapter of Night, Symphony. The End. ... Combined Chapters Chapter 564 564: 355. Qing Chens Property Countdown to return 16:00:00. Eight o''clock in the morning. Atop the sheer cliffs of the green mountains, Li Ke personally dug a grave for his grandfather behind the cliff, where he buried the old man. From then on, the man would forever be accompanied by the rising sun and the wind. "Don''t be sad, his wish has been fulfilled, and he has no regrets," Qing Chen said calmly. Li Ke wiped his tears with the back of his hand, "Yes, I understand, it''s just hard to let go. Grandfather was always very strict, but when I was very little, he would sternly scold my father, and when my father bowed his head in shame, he would secretly slip me candy and wink at me to keep it a secret. He was never a harsh person, it was just the position he held demanded that of him." Qing Chen sighed, "He spent his life playing a role he did not wish to play, but he played it well." Li Ke stood up and Qing Chen led him back to the top of the green cliffs, pointing to the words on the ground, "Forever young, this is what the old man most yearned for in life. But it doesn''t mean living a long life, rather staying young at heart, eternally sincere, forever with tears in your eyes, always eager to hit the road. Don''t let yourself be bound by mere benefits, knights are born from sheer bravery, making them the most romantic people in the world." Li Ke and Hu Xiaoniu silently looked at the inscription on the ground. Suddenly, it became clear why Qing Chen said that anyone who embarked on this path could not help but agree with the knight''s creed. Indeed, the eight life-or-death challenges are less a path of cultivation and more a way for knights to select their companions under the harshest conditions. Qing Chen turned his head, looking at the massive tree that blocked out the sun and sighed, "The longer one walks this path, the more one understands the founder''s four words ''forever young,'' and the expectations bestowed upon each knight." At a certain moment, the young man reflected deeply. It''s better to say that he accompanied the old man for a part of his journey, rather than saying the old man, with his life''s twilight and all his regrets, took him on a journey. Last time, Uncle Li Dong took him on a journey, healing the scars of his past 17 years. This time, the old man took him on a journey, teaching him with his last moments what really matters most to him now. At that moment, applause erupted from the forest: "This is a death befitting the head of the Li Clan. Instead of lying in a mansion on mid-hill, it''s better to watch the evening and morning glows here. I just bowed to the old master. Previously, I had no respect for him, but now I do." Qing Chen and the others turned to look and were startled to see a person clad in a black hoodie, wearing a black cap and a black mask, being the Qing''s shadow, clapping and walking out. Coughing occasionally. If not for this familiar cough, Qing Chen might not have been certain that it was Mr. Qing''s shadow. Every time they met, it seemed to be under such dark and obscured circumstances. This was the first time Qing''s shadow was willing to stand in the sunlight to talk to him. Gaunt, that was Qing Chen''s most profound impression. Qing''s shadow laughed, "In one''s lifetime, starting from middle age, one starts to worry about their descendants, wishing that they would come to your grave and ask for your blessing even after your death. If the descendants aren''t doing well, they might even think you were buried in the wrong place and dig you up to move you somewhere with better Feng Shui. So, resting here is rather nice; I would even choose this place for myself after death, if I could banter with the old timers in Taboo Land 002, that would probably be even more joyful." Qing Chen looked at Qing''s shadow, "At this moment, the civil war within the Federation should have started already, and yet you still have the leisure to come to Taboo Land 002?" Qing''s shadow smiled, "What does the civil war have to do with me?" "It has nothing to do with you?" Qing Chen wondered. "I had done everything I needed to do for this war in advance. When the war actually begins, there''s nothing for me to do," Qing''s shadow laughed. This was actually a strange kind of confidence. It''s as if after making thirteen moves in a chess game, the remaining part of the game could be left unplayed, and the winners and losers have already been decided. For some reason, Qing Chen always felt that he and Qing''s shadow had some similarities; both seemed to prefer getting their preparations done ahead of time, a kind of inherent caution in their characters. But Qing Chen''s current perspective and abilities had not yet reached the shadow''s level. "Can the Li Clan and Qing Clan win?" Qing Chen asked. The shadow laughed, "I don''t know about the Li Clan, but the Qing Clan can. The essence of strategizing requires that preparations be made in advance so that one can act more freely." "Understood," Qing Chen nodded. The shadow was the shadow of the Qing Clan, and even if the Li Clan and Qing Clan were allies, the shadow''s responsibility was only to ensure the Qing Clan''s victory in this war. It could even snatch the Li Clan''s victory. This is what the corporation stands for. "Did the Li Clan''s reverse time-travel plan succeed?" Qing Chen asked. Last time when returning, the Li Clan''s Time Traveler even went directly to the Island Country, and Qing Chen knew those Time Travelers must have done more than just burn down a Shrine; there must have been a bigger plan. The shadow thought for a moment and answered, "Of the replacement successes currently screened by Jindai and Deer Island, there are eight, and there might be others not yet detected... However, even if they are detected, it doesn''t matter. The negative impact of replacing eight key positions all at once in the midst of war is far greater than imagined. I must say, the Li Clan''s Time Travelers in the Outer World are quite impressive; they make me very interested." Chapter 565 565: 355. Qing Chens Property_2 "Right, do you know about Jindai Tongwu, who was in charge of assassinating Li Changqing in City 18?" the Shadow asked. "I do," Qing Chen nodded. The Shadow chuckled, "He didn''t flee City 18. The Li Family found his substitute in the Outer World''s Island Country and sent him to your Outer World''s Los Angeles City. Now, he has been replaced. I was wondering why Li Changqing didn''t go after him; turns out she was waiting here. This woman is so interesting; she seemed to have guessed that Jindai Tongwu would continue hiding in City 18." Qing Chen was stunned; he had previously thought that whoever was substituting for the Jindai family had to be sent to the Island Country, but he had not expected Li Changqing to be so clever as to send the substitute inland. This time, the Li Family''s counterattack seemed to be even more fierce than those of Jindai and Deer Island. However, the fact that the Shadow had investigated these matters so thoroughly also meant that Qing''s Family''s information system was strong enough! The Shadow and Qing Chen, during their conversation, had always avoided mentioning the identity of Qing''s Shadow. Li Ke and Hu Xiaoniu could only be completely baffled, not even knowing the identity of this uninvited guest. Qing''s Shadow: "Hey, you two kids on the side, go play with mud for a while. I have something to discuss with Qing Chen." This Mr. Shadow seemed not ready to let anyone know about Qing Chen being the Shadow Candidate yet. At that moment, Hu Xiaoniu and Li Ke intuitively looked towards Qing Chen, and only after he nodded did they obediently walk away. Qing Chen pondered, "No matter how well-prepared you are, it''s always a bit surprising to focus on me instead of more significant matters at such a crucial time." "Who said I was here for you?" Shadow said with a smile, "I am here to see if the members of Freemasonry can safely reach the location where Spade is. This is a very important part of my future plan, and as it is my first time cooperating with Spade, naturally, I want to come and see." Qing Chen did not argue, but he was very certain that the Shadow was there for him. Silently, the Shadow sat on the cliff edge of the verdant mountain, "Do you think the sunrise here is really that beautiful, that even a person like Li Xiurui would want to have one last look before leaving? Do you know what Li Xiurui has done in his life? When he took over the Li Family, there were already signs of decline, having lost a significant round to the Chen Clan in the mineral energy sector, teetering on the edge of decay. Yet, this man, once he came to power, forcibly turned the situation around, driving the Chen Clan out of City 18. What irony that such a person was a forced Family Head." "By the way, the Jindai family''s expert is dead. I underestimated Li Yunjing, and so did Li Xiurui, who even arranged for two A-Class assassins to kill Jindai Yunsong, when in fact Li Yunjing alone was enough. Fortunately, he will soon leave the Li Family; otherwise, it would be quite troublesome. This is someone who has the chance to aim for the position of a Demigod." The Shadow just sat there in the mountain breeze, his legs dangling over the cliff, as leisurely as if he was merging with the wind itself. Not at all like someone with great authority in his hands. Qing Chen thought for a moment and then sat down beside him. The Shadow glanced at him and said, "Sometimes I really feel like killing you, like right now, pushing you off this 600-meter-high verdant mountain cliff. You''d undoubtedly die." "Why would you want to kill me?" Qing Chen asked. "If you died, certain people would be very angry. Just the thought of making that person angry makes me very happy," said the Shadow indifferently. Qing Chen paused for a moment; he had not expected that Qing''s Shadow harbored a killing intent towards him. When the other party talked about killing, his expression was as calm as if he were asking, ''Have you had dinner?'' It seemed that for him, such matters were more routine than eating. Qing Chen thought for a moment: "If I die now, many people will be angry, but I wonder which individual Mr. Shadow is referring to?" "It''s definitely not Uncle Li Dong or Li Changqing," Qing''s Shadow said with a smile. "Is it ''Qing Chen''s'' original blood relatives in the Inner World?" Qing Chen asked. Qing''s Shadow glanced at him, "You''re quite calm about it, knowing you can''t hide it, so you just revealed your identity as a Time Traveler." "Yes," Qing Chen nodded, "How could the one in charge of Qing''s vast information system not know about my Time Traveler identity? I''m just a bit curious, what is your relationship with the original Qing Chen?" Qing''s Shadow smiled, "The plot should be revealed bit by bit to be interesting. How could I possibly do something as boring as spoiling it? Don''t worry, you''ll know everything one day. Don''t be in a hurry, don''t rush to flip to the last page of the book." Once, Qing Chen speculated that Qing''s Shadow might be ''Qing Chen''s'' father, but now he felt that wasn''t the case. Still, he was unclear about what his relationship was with the Shadow; if they had been close, then the Shadow should have killed him to avenge ''Qing Chen.'' The Shadow indeed had a moment of murderous intent towards him, but it was not for that reason. This was very strange, like a mathematical conjecture that couldn''t yet be proven. Qing Chen didn''t ask any more about it but brought up other matters instead: "Is Freemasonry under your control? The other Time Travelers controlled by Qing, they''re under your command too, right?" Qing''s Shadow nodded, "Correct, there''s only one person in Qing who can dispatch Time Travelers, and that is me." Qing Chen nodded, then it must be that Huan Yu was someone from the Chen Clan. Chapter 566 566: 355. Qing Chens Property_3 If Huan Yu was from Qing''s Family, then he would not have been able to mobilize so many Time Travelers. "Time Travelers from the Jindai family, the Dear Island family, the Li Family, and the Chen Clan are all making moves in the Outer World. Why is there no activity from Qing''s Family?" Qing Chen asked. "Do you think I would tell you?" Qing''s shadow said with a smile, "Are you interested in the Time Travelers of Qing''s Family? How about this, if you agree to go to the Spy Bureau, on the very day you report there, I will first hand over the Freemasonry to you. This trade should be quite beneficial, shouldn''t it?" This time, Qing''s shadow''s trade finally included a substantial promise, instead of just empty promises. It should be noted that the Freemasonry is an organization composed of high-intelligence Time Travelers. The potential of such an organization is immense; if utilized properly, it could produce extraordinary effects. "I will think about it," Qing Chen still gave the same response. The shadow raised its eyebrows, "It''s really hard to pull you into the game, isn''t it?" Qing Chen suddenly said, "I need to consider when to go report to the Spy Bureau." The shadow smiled, stood up, and said, "Once you''re in the game, thinking about quitting won''t be up to you anymore." Having said that, he turned and walked toward the forest behind the cliff, as if that had been his only purpose for coming here. Halfway there, the shadow looked back and said, "I should remind you that the reverse traversal plan of the Jindai family and Dear Island family is not as simple as what you see now. You should know they have already completed the first trial of neuronal usurpation, and there will definitely be new attempts in the future. They have many more Time Travelers at their disposal than we do, and as far as I know, they also have masters hidden within your Outer World." "Thank you for the reminder," Qing Chen nodded. Qing''s shadow walked into the forest, raised his hand to open the Door of Shadow, stepped in, and disappeared. Qing Chen thought that the condition to open the Door of Shadow must require being in the shadows; otherwise, there would be no need for the other party to go back into the forest. Hu Xiaoniu and Li Ke returned once the shadow had left, "Master, who was that person just now?" Qing Chen shook his head, "It''s not yet time to tell you." "So, where are we going now?" Hu Xiaoniu asked. "To rescue the members of the Freemasonry," Qing Chen said. "Ah? Why would we rescue them?" Li Ke was puzzled, "We aren''t even close to them." Qing Chen did not explain. This was part of his deal with Qing''s shadow, so he could not afford to let the Freemasonry suffer too many losses. This was his property after all! Countdown to reversion 4:00:00. Taboo Land, site number 002, at 8 PM. The junction between the hinterland and periphery. Guo Huchan was leaning against a twisted tree root, watching the Freemasonry members beside him. Although the Freemasonry members were exhausted, they did not complain and encouraged each other, even managing to maintain an optimistic spirit. He whispered to Yan Yan, who was meditating beside him, "These Time Travelers are of quite high quality, and it seems none of them need to be persuaded to return." "Yes," Yan Yan opened her eyes, "These are the top students from city number 18 corresponding to the Outer World. They are intelligent, courageous, optimistic, and have strong learning abilities. Having such a team enter our town for reconstruction can help it grow rapidly." For Spade, although they openly welcomed everyone, how could they not screen the personnel from the Freemasonry? Even without the pursuit of the Federal Group army, they would later find excuses to have the students abandon their transport and embark on a 200-kilometer trek on foot as a form of evaluation. However, there was just one concern. This was a person arranged by Qing''s shadow, and although he showed significant goodwill, Spade still needed to confirm the influence of Qing''s shadow over the Freemasonry. "In the Outer World, are there many such student organizations?" Guo Huchan asked. "There are, but not many," Yan Yan thought for a moment and answered, "For example, there is one in Haicheng, corresponding to city number 7, and I am also a member. Jingcheng seems to have one led by a chosen one, but I have never been able to ascertain who this leader is; the person is very mysterious." "Students generally have much enthusiasm and are not tainted by worldly influences. The more such organizations Spade contacts, the better, and that''s on you, Yan Yan," Guo Huchan said. "It''s not a hardship," Yan Yan said with a smile, "This is also something I want to do." At that moment, Big Bald whispered, "You and that Qing Zade..." Yan Yan, surprised, replied, "You''re so tall and strong; does being so gossipy suit your image?" Guo Huchan was a bit embarrassed, "Who isn''t a bit gossipy..." Yan Yan stood up and said, "Let''s go, the Federal Group army is approaching again, we need to keep moving fast." Having said that, she waved to the Freemasonry members to get up and follow. The Freemasonry members did not hesitate, and although completely exhausted, they encouraged each other and set off again. The team moved quickly, and the Federal Group army was also fast in pursuit. However, the Federal Group army did not seem eager to attack, as if they wanted to wear down the Freemasonry and Spade until they were exhausted. This was classic hunting behavior, typical of a group of experienced hunters. Guo Huchan muttered, "Yan Yan, it would be great if your sensory range was a bit larger, so we could avoid them earlier." Chapter 567 567: 355. Qing Chens Property_4 Just at that moment, distant gunfire suddenly erupted from the woods of Taboo Land behind them. The gunshots were far away but, in the silence of Taboo Land, they were incredibly jarring. Guo Huchan abruptly looked up. Who dared to use guns in Taboo Land?! This was the 002 Taboo Land, and one of the rules was the prohibition of firearms! It was once said that the reason for "no drones" and "no firearms" in 002 Taboo Land was to prevent people with ill intentions from entering. Guo Huchan turned to Yangyang, "The Federal Group military knows the taboo, could it be Qing Zade coming to help you, but he might not be aware of the rules." Since they couldn''t discuss specific rules in Taboo Land, Guo Huchan spoke very vaguely. Apart from the Knight, no one knew that becoming a Knight was part of the containment rules of 002 Taboo Land, so even Yangyang started worrying. However, the first thing Yangyang paid attention to were the students from Freemasonry. The students'' immediate reaction was to warn each other not to discuss the matter by holding up their index fingers. These high-IQ students well understood that discussing anything at such a time could easily breach the rules, so they avoided making the most basic mistake. Watching this, Yangyang nodded, the quality of these elite students from Los Angeles City was indeed very high. Nangong Yuanyu turned to Guo Huchan, "Excuse me, is it Spade''s people fighting?" "No," Guo Huchan said with a frown, "We also can''t be sure who it is, it might be some of the people who were traveling with us earlier." No one would come to Taboo Land for no reason, nor would anyone help Spade for no reason! Guo Huchan suggested, "Shall we leave first?" Yangyang shook his head, "You guys go ahead, I''ll take a look." As soon as he finished speaking, someone slowly emerged from the depths of the forest, footsteps crunching on broken leaves, quiet and mysterious. Everyone from Freemasonry and Spade turned toward the source of the noise, and to their astonishment, they saw Li Ke and others slowly emerging from the shadows. Everyone instinctively looked over, their eyes glued to the guns in the hands of Li Ke and his group as if stuck there. Upon closer encounter, they even smelled the gunpowder on the trio. It was the unavoidable scent that followed pulling a trigger. "It was these three who just fired the shots!" Guo Huchan thought to himself. Yet he didn''t understand. Everyone had confirmed countless times that firearms were not to be used in 002 Taboo Land, but these three didn''t seem affected by the rules! Why? In fact, the vast majority of people in the world didn''t know that Taboo Land could be contained. Because very few people had ever contained it! Those who had contained it kept the secret tightly hidden within themselves! Yangyang turned to ''Qing Zade,'' "Was it you who just fought with the Federal Group military?" "Yes," Qing Chen nodded and smiled, "They seem to be as confused as you, so they hesitated and temporarily retreated. Next, let me take you out of 002 Taboo Land, to prevent you from getting lost and inadvertently entering its core area." Given the dangers of the core area, if Freemasonry members were to accidentally enter, there was a ninety percent chance they would die. Qi Duo from Freemasonry hesitated and asked, "Wouldn''t that be too much trouble for you?" Actually, what he wanted to ask was, "Why are you being so kind to us, why are you so willing to help us out of Taboo Land?" After all, they were not familiar with each other. Qing Chen smiled and said, "It''s no trouble, Xiao Niu told me you guys are friends, and it''s only right to help a friend." Qi Duo and others looked at Hu Xiaoniu, thinking to themselves what a good person Xiao Niu was, even as a Servant he had taken the initiative to have his employer come and help them! When they looked at Qing Chen again, they found him surveying them with a cheerful and benevolent smile. As if he was appraising his cherished Gold Coins... ... A two-in-one chapter. Attended a science fiction forum in Shanghai today, was a bit rushed. Typed today''s chapter on my phone at the venue, will thank everyone tomorrow. Chapter 568 568: 356, Fruit delivered by Ding Dong ``` Countdown to the return 3:00:00. Nangong Yuanyu curiously asked, "Mr. Qing Zade, you should be from the Inner World, so why would you help us Time Travelers?" Just now, Qing Chen had said that they helped only because they were friends with Hu Xiaoniu, it seemed that Hu Xiaoniu had already explained their identities clearly. Qing Chen said with a smile, "Not everyone in the Inner World hates the people from the Outer World. Although I am from the Inner World, I am still willing to help you, and Xiao Niu also mentioned that you are all very nice people." The Freemasonry members glanced at Hu Xiaoniu and felt an even greater fondness for him in their hearts. This also fitted right into Qing Chen''s plan, as he wouldn''t be able to interface with Freemasonry in the future, making Hu Xiaoniu the best candidate for this. At this moment, Yangyang could hardly conceal the smile on her face. Every time she saw Qing Chen speaking such grave nonsense here, she found it particularly amusing. And when she secretly observed the others, nobody seemed to doubt this guy at all! For some reason, Yangyang originally thought this trip to the Taboo Land would be somewhat dull, but now that Qing Chen had arrived, it immediately became interesting. In the quiet forest, Qing Chen only needed one look to confirm the number of Freemasonry people. Freemasonry had arrived with 81 people. Now there were 79 left. This both surprised and relieved Qing Chen. He was surprised because he thought that under the pursuit of the Federal Group''s military, Freemasonry would suffer heavy casualties. Moreover, entering the Taboo Land for the first time, there would always be more or less some rules triggered, so in Qing Chen''s estimation, if half of these Freemasonry members were left, that would be pretty good. After all, rules are difficult to guard against, if just now someone had heard the gunshot and asked, "How could others use firearms," this would also trigger rules and lead to death. The reason Qing Chen felt relieved was because he was thinking inwardly... His assets were quite clever, weren''t they! By now, Qing Chen truly wanted to go to the Spy Bureau and walk through that path of shadow himself. The various consortia were currently shining brightly in the Outer World, even Jindai and Deer Island, who were not fighting on their home ground, wielded Time Travelers with a number that could be described as terrifying. And now the Time Travelers of Qing''s Family were still without any movement, according to the methods of that ''Shadow'' gentleman, this was surely a force not to be underestimated. If he could become a shadow and use the Prarudhita method to enhance the strength of Time Travelers, then even if Jindai and Deer Island attacked with all their might in the Outer World, they might not have any way to deal with him. However, the old man and the shadow had both said that those who stand out at the beginning of each struggle of shadows may not necessarily be the ones who will have the last laugh. For all candidates, the strife for the position of shadow might have just begun here, and in the future, even Qing Shi''s father might personally join in. It wasn''t easy being a shadow. But whether or not he could become a Shadow, as long as he entered the Spy Bureau, Freemasonry could be deployed under his command. In Qing Chen''s view, Freemasonry was already one of their own. He glanced at Hu Xiaoniu, and the latter understood the hint, "The Federal Group''s military has only temporarily retreated due to unclear circumstances, but I suspect that there are masters hidden within them, and they also recognize your value, so they won''t give up. Let''s set off now; if we head southwest from here, there''s a small path, and we only need half a day to traverse the edge out of Taboo Land #002." Qi Duo and the others'' eyes lit up, "Really? Are we so close to the exit?" "Yes," Hu Xiaoniu nodded. Taboo Land #002 is vast, and if one really had to walk across it, it would take almost a month. But Guo Huchan and Yangyang only wanted to screen out the Freemasonry members to see if there were any unsuitable candidates for the rebuilding of their homeland, so they stuck close to the edge for their withdrawal, easily able to leave. Nangong Yuanyu was slightly surprised, "Xiao Niu, you seem quite familiar with Taboo Land #002?" Hu Xiaoniu nodded, "It''s not that I''m familiar, but Mr. Qing Zade is, having been here many times." "I see," Nangong Yuanyu and the others noticed that the elder was no longer in sight and hurriedly said to Qing Chen, "Please accept our condolences." Qing Chen shook his head, "It''s alright, the old man passed away happily, it''s a joyous mourning." Qing Chen''s expression was very calm, not showing any outward signs of grief. But suddenly, a gentle force field appeared behind him, as if a tender repelling magnetic field patted his back lightly. It was Yangyang. Out of everyone present, it seemed only Yangyang noticed the sorrow hidden deep in Qing Chen''s bones. "Thank you once again," Nangong Yuanyu sincerely said, "Without your arrival, we might have stayed here for a long time." At this moment, Guo Huchan felt a bit annoyed. In his plan, after these students had suffered a bit, he and Yangyang would rescue them from adversity, thereby gaining a group''s gratitude. The people sent by Qing''s shadow might one day be used by the Spades. This is commonly known as ''turning the table.'' However, he couldn''t tell Freemasonry that; what he said was that he and Yangyang also didn''t know the way out of the Taboo Land. Along the way, Guo Huchan had even pretended to get lost, to lose direction. After so much acting, just when he had managed to make the Freemasonry''s students exhausted and panicked, the peach was picked by Hu Xiaoniu and his two companions! Watching Qing Zade and Hu Xiaoniu becoming prominent figures among the Freemasonry crowd, Guo Huchan, the "directionless" Spade Member, suddenly found his attempt at turning the table had failed. Moreover, the better he had acted before, the more helpless he appeared now... Guo Huchan said to Yangyang, "With these people here, we will never be able to turn Freemasonry, what exactly is your relationship with Qing Zade? If you really aren''t in a boyfriend-girlfriend relationship, then how about we join forces to eliminate them?" Yangyang thought to herself that he really was a blockhead and after pondering, she said, "Actually, I''m not familiar with Qing Zade. But do you know why I played along with him as soon as I saw him? It''s because I could sense his force field is very strong, we can''t beat him." Guo Huchan thought that it was no wonder Yangyang changed her usual demeanor; it turned out she needed to secure Qing Zade! And indeed, Yangyang had always been reliable in the Spades Organization, whether it was the matters that unfolded in City 18 or later organizing Time Travelers to rebuild their homelands, she had performed exceptionally well. ``` ``` So, it was because of this that Xu Linsen couldn''t rest assured about Guo Huchan and sent Yangyang over. At this moment, the bald man recalled how the old man had confidently stated, "Mr. Shadow sends his regards to everyone." Thus, these four were indeed from Qing''s shadow. The old man had been the one responsible for the transactions before, and now that he had passed away, a replacement came over? So, from now on, it would be this Qing Zade dealing with Spade, right? That''s right, the people that Shadow sent to the wilderness must certainly be skillful fighters! The big bald man sighed, "You''ve had a hard time, Yangyang, I misunderstood you. I didn''t realize you had given so much." Yangyang: "... It''s nothing much, I did it willingly." What Guo Huchan didn''t know was that Yangyang''s time with Daylight far predated her involvement with Spade. Although Yangyang got to know Qing later, after she started working for Spade, Back then, she was merely an observing member of Spade and not the official Spade 2. At this moment, Qing Chen approached the two, and Guo Huchan immediately tensed like an enemy was near. Qing Chen was a bit puzzled looking at the bald man, thinking to himself what was wrong with this guy? He understood the human body''s reactions when facing an opponent, and it was clear that Guo Huchan was indeed wary of him! Strange. However, Qing Chen glanced at Yangyang who was struggling to hold back her laughter, and instantly he understood that this girl must have caused some mischief. Back in City 18, Qing Chen knew that although Guo Huchan looked big and strong, even more so than Mother Ye in stature, he was actually the type that bullied the weak and feared the strong... Like the time he originally wanted to steal his beef, but after he exposed all of Spade''s people, he returned the beef. Or how he immediately started fighting Uncle Li Dong as soon as he entered prison, only to act subservient like a little wife when he realized he couldn''t win. In short, Qing Chen''s impression of Guo Huchan was also quite peculiar. He looked at Guo Huchan: "Little Guo..." Guo Huchan: "..." Yangyang: "..." To tell the truth, Yangyang hadn''t expected Qing Chen to catch on so quickly! Yet Qing Chen continued, "Little Guo, let''s set off now. If the Federation Group''s army gets reinforcements later, it''ll be pretty troublesome." "Alright, let''s set off!" Guo Huchan quickly smiled and agreed. Hu Xiaoniu watched from the side, thinking how Qing Chen and Yangyang had worked together so perfectly they had completely fooled Guo Huchan! However, Qing Chen suddenly stopped at the edge and turned his head to look deeply into the depths of Taboo Land. The youth was silent, his gaze and deep sentiment expressing only four words: "Since we''re here." Since we''re here, would the old fellows not send something this time? There''s no way to let a Knight go back home empty-handed! When children come home for the holidays and then head back to school, parents almost wish they could pack half a pig leg for them, so how could these old fellows let him return empty-handed? Nangong Yu and the others saw Qing Chen staring into the forest depths, feeling somewhat mystified. Could there be some situation? Qing Chen just stood there, staring straight ahead for more than ten minutes... As if he had stood for a century... However, at that moment, the sounds of frantic footfalls came from the depths of Taboo Land. The heavy, drum-like footsteps could only belong to Ding Dong. Guo Huchan''s nerves tensed again; he knew the horror of this 002 Taboo Land, with its inexplicable and unknown creatures. Such heavy footsteps indicated that the newcomer meant no good! Usually, creatures deep in the hinterlands wouldn''t come out, so what had happened? Next moment, Ding Dong burst through the treetops and ran over, arriving in front of Hu Xiaoniu and Li Ke. He carefully opened his huge palm, revealing two small Red Fruits: "Ding Dong!" (The old guys sent these for you two!) The fruits were not small, about the size of a plum. But in Ding Dong''s hand, they seemed diminished, just like how O''Neal drinking a bottle of mineral water appears as if he''s sipping a vial of potion. Qing Chen paused and asked, "Ding Dong, what are these fruits for?" "Ding Dong!" (Delicious!) Qing Chen: "???" ... Thanks to Martial God Xu Qian, calvinye96, still Yiran, Heavenly Emperor Fist, Crybaby Zheng, Cold Cop, Book-Eating Maggot, Medicine Can''t Cure, Yili Xiaoyu, and Reader 1415274079060000768 for becoming new allies of this book. Thanks to Flying Piggie Zhu Bajie for becoming a Silver City Alliance of this book! The bosses are generous; I wish the bosses will never encounter a typhoon! Another chapter at 11 pm. ``` Chapter 569 569: 357, Spy Bureau! "You can''t just dismiss me with ''it''s tasty''," Qing Chen remarked to Ding Dong. Ding Dong''s eyes widened: "Ding Dong!" (It can also relieve heat and reduce fire!) Qing Chen thought to himself that this statement didn''t hit the nail on the head. The old folks had Ding Dong deliver the item; how could it just be tasty and heat-relieving? That''s too simple, right? Speaking of which, this thing... Ding Dong usually uses it as a snack, right?! Everyone says the creatures from the Taboo Land are magical, like the Dragon Fish Qing Chen had eaten. Since Ding Dong grew up deep within the Taboo Land, it only ate these things every day, no wonder it was so robust... I wonder what level Ding Dong would be classified as if it went out into the Inner World? Too bad, Ding Dong is too naive, and Qing Chen felt bad about using it. "What about mine?" Qing Chen asked, looking up and smiling. "Ding Dong!" (The old folks said you''re starting to resemble your master, not as cute anymore, so they didn''t want to give you any.) Qing Chen''s face suddenly darkened. Was this the so-called skipped-generation affection? It had come to apply to him so quickly! But there was Ding Dong, grinning and opening its fingers slightly, and secretly pinching a fruit between them. "Ding Dong!" (But I secretly picked one for you!) Qing Chen looked at the goofy, smiling Ding Dong and felt a wave of emotion. The giant never wanted anything for itself; it always thought of him when it came to good things. He took the fruit from its hands, smiling and said, "Ding Dong, you really are a kind giant." Ding Dong scratched its head a bit shyly: "Ding Dong!" (There are many other things to eat in the forest, but in winter they are all stored by my little friends. I can''t steal their food. I''ll save some for you in spring, summer, and autumn next year, and you can come and eat them!) "Ok, I''ll definitely come," Qing Chen promised earnestly. Ding Dong immediately became happy, as if it had found a purpose. At that time, Qing Chen did not know that when Ding Dong was preparing to entertain guests, some creatures deep in the Taboo Land were out of luck, as they could only pick the leftovers that Ding Dong did not want. The last time Ding Dong entertained a guest was eight years ago with Uncle Li Dong. Very lavish. Ding Dong returned to the depths of the forest, carefully avoiding stepping on tiny insects as it walked. Qing Chen examined the fruit in his hand and turned unintentionally to look at Guo Huchan, Qi Duo, and others, only to find these people all staring at him open-mouthed, their jaws almost dropping. Absolutely bewildered! They had just watched in alarm as the giant burst out, and then the giant kept saying, "Ding Dong, Ding Dong, Ding Dong," while Qing Chen seemed to understand everything the giant said and even responded. This had been unheard of to them before! Guo Huchan hesitated for a long time: "Mr. Qing Zade, can you really understand what he says?!" Qing Chen thought for a moment: "Mostly by observing his expressions and demeanor." Guo Huchan was speechless; he knew this representative from the Shadow hadn''t told the truth! Nan Gengchen asked, "Do you know this giant? Why is he so tall, and also double-pupiled..." Qing Chen thought and replied, "I know him; he''s a friend I met during a previous visit to Taboo Land no. 002." The others fell silent, suddenly perceiving ''Qing Zade'' as more mysterious. Everyone also realized that ''Qing Zade''s'' involvement with Taboo Land no. 002 was definitely not as simple as just having visited a few times. While they were still tense and on edge in the Taboo Land, others already had ''friends'' bringing them food. Guo Huchan quietly asked Yongyong at the side: "What level is that giant''s energy field?" Yongyong thought for a moment and said, "His energy field is very strange, completely different from humans, so there''s no reference for comparison." After finishing, she looked towards Qing Chen, thinking that the mysteries surrounding this young man seemed to keep increasing. This ability to converse with a giant was truly novel. Meanwhile, Qing Chen glanced at Hu Xiaoniu and Li Ke: "Eat the fruit now." Such things should be eaten immediately, or else someone might covet them... like Guo Huchan. The bald man carefully said, "Can I just look at that deep red fruit for a moment? I just want to look, not eat." However, Qing Chen ignored him and finished the fruit in three bites. Just as he finished, Qing Chen felt the flesh slide down his throat and into his stomach, cooling everything it touched, no wonder Ding Dong mentioned it could relieve heat and reduce fire. He felt all his previous anxiety vanish. But apart from that sensation, there were no other effects. Could it be that those old guys really had given something that only relieved heat and reduced fire to fool someone?! In that moment, only Jiang Xue was aware of the true effect of the fruit. The moment Qing Chen bit into it, she could no longer clearly sense the field of energy around the young man. It was not as clear as it had once been. Jiang Xue pondered, was the purpose of this fruit to shield one''s senses from others? Qing Chen glanced at the others and temporarily suppressed his curiosity as he said to everyone, "Let''s go, let''s leave the Taboo Land of Zone 002." After speaking, he looked toward the direction of the green mountain''s sheer cliffs. Perhaps, the old man was up there on the cliffs, watching them leave with a smile, waiting for the next sunrise. Two hours later. Return countdown 00:00:00, reset. The world plunged into darkness. And then it lit up again. Qing Chen and Hu Xiaoniu were back in Villa No. 12 at The Treasure Garden in Los Angeles. All the Daytime Members were sitting at the dining table, waiting for Jiang Xue to make everyone a steaming hot midnight snack. Having been apart for a week, Zhang Tianzhen and others curiously looked at Hu Xiaoniu, "Xiao Niu, where did the boss take you?" Hu Xiaoniu said, "The boss took me on a trip to the wilderness, the Taboo Land of Zone 002. Coincidentally, we also encountered members of the Freemasonry on the road, who were also driven into the Taboo Land by the Federal Army." Before coming back, Qing Chen had specifically instructed that except for his identity and the old man''s matters, everything else could be discussed. "Ah?" Zhang Tianzhen and the others suddenly became spirited and bombarded Hu Xiaoniu with questions about the novel things in the Taboo Land. The only one concerned with more gossip was Liu Dezhu, who excitedly asked, "Did the boss say what exactly is his relationship with Li Changqing?" Hu Xiaoniu was taken aback. Liu Dezhu felt that the way the other looked at him suddenly carried a bit of sympathy. To prevent Liu Dezhu from being completely embarrassed, Nan Gengchen hurriedly changed the subject, "Xiao Niu, since you left City 18, there are some pieces of information that I need to share with you. The day after our cross-through, a civil war broke out within the Federation." Nan Gengchen continued, "Before, Chuang Wang said in He Xiaoxiao''s group chat that Li Yunmu, the former frontline commander of the Li Family, suddenly left the army to return home for a funeral. Taking advantage of this, Jindai and Deer Island suddenly approached from the south, but in fact, Li Yunmu hadn''t left at all. The A-Class principal airship that was supposed to carry him had suddenly turned back and launched a surprise attack from the flank of the Jindai troops. This all seemed like a trap specifically against Jindai and Deer Island." "After the war began, Li Changqing also quickly left City 18 for City 19 in the north, corresponding to Taicheng in the Outer World," Nan Gengchen remembered the information he had noted down, "Those Li Family elite officers who had returned to the manor to observe mourning also left with her. Li Yinuo also wanted to go, but Li Changqing did not agree, saying she hoped Li Yinuo would enter the intelligence system to gain experience, going to City 7 in the south to see if the Chen Clan was up to anything." This was ostensibly said to Hu Xiaoniu, but in fact, Nan Gengchen knew that Qing Chen needed this information and was saying it for Qing Chen to hear. This federal civil war was between Jindai, Deer Island, and the Li and Qing''s Families, while the Chen Clan in the south remained uninvolved, so it was understandable that Li Changqing would worry about them stirring up trouble. Moreover, it seemed that Li Changqing was also keen on grooming Li Yinuo, placing her in the most challenging position outside the battlefield. Qing Chen looked at Nan Gengchen, "Has Li Yinuo made a decision?" Nan Gengchen nodded and said, "She''s decided. She wants to gain experience herself, so she can reach an important position in the family just like Li Changqing. But the only hesitation is, I have to go with her to City 7, which corresponds to Haicheng..." With that, Nan Gengchen would have to part ways with the other Daytime Members. Qing Chen thought for a moment and said, "You need to ask the boss about this, see what he decides. Let''s eat first." "Okay," Nan Gengchen nodded. In the quiet of the night, Nan Gengchen quietly came to Qing Chen''s room and spoke softly, "Chen Bro, Qing Yi is also leaving City 18." "Huh?" Qing Chen was taken aback, "Is he no longer participating in the Shadow Conflict?" Nan Gengchen explained, "It''s not that he''s no longer participating, but someone suddenly notified him that the second round of the Shadow Conflict has ended prematurely due to the completion of the Li Family''s power transition and the outbreak of war. All Shadow Candidates must now proceed to the third round of the Shadow Conflict immediately." "Where is Qing Yi going?" Qing Chen asked. "City 10," Nan Gengchen said, "It seems he is to join the Qing''s Family Spy Bureau." Qing Chen pondered. If Qing Yi was heading to City 10 to join the Spy Bureau, then the other Shadow Candidates would likely do the same. Previously, Qing Chen had also specifically asked the old man, Li Xiurui, who said that the Spy Bureau is the highest authority in the Qing''s Family intelligence system, with each spy operating independently, each possessing significant powers of coordination, having their own intelligence networks to serve them. It was just that he had just agreed to join the Spy Bureau, and the tasks of the other candidates in the Shadow Conflict had changed. It seemed that because he had agreed to the Shadow''s request, the progress of the Shadow Conflict had suddenly accelerated!Until now, all candidates were still dispersed across one city. But now? Everyone was being forcibly twisted into a single intelligence agency. Even though they were independent and didn''t need to clock in as colleagues every day, it was still too centralized, bound to lead to intersections and conflicts. At this moment, the Shadow Conflict had truly entered its most complex stage. Nan Gengchen looked at Qing Chen, "Chen Bro, are you also going to City 10? Maybe I should talk to Li Yinuo and let her go to City 7 by herself." He knew Qing Chen was also a Shadow Candidate, the most mysterious one. Qing Chen thought it over and said, "I''ll go to City 10, but you don''t need to follow. Acting alone could actually be more convenient." City 10 was the political center of the entire Federation, where all the conglomerate''s spokespersons within the federation were located. Many believed the Taboo Land was the most dangerous, but Uncle Li Dong had told Qing Chen. The closer you are to the center of power, the more dangerous it becomes. ... Stuck in Shanghai due to the typhoon, still continuing to write; perhaps this deserves some monthly ticket rewards... Chapter 570 570: 358, New Daytime group member The night was deep and quiet. A stealthy figure wrapped itself tightly, silently getting off the taxi. Not far away lay the Los Angeles North Suburb Airport, to which he handed the driver a hundred-dollar bill, "Keep the change." With that, he attempted to sneak toward the airport. The driver glanced at him and said, "107 dollars, give me another seven." The masked person replied in a muffled voice, "...Okay." In this cold black night, his heart raced from extreme nervousness. However, before he took two steps, he suddenly encountered a familiar face blocking his way. The masked man turned to run but found more than a dozen students emerging from the woods behind him. He tried to run to the left, and another dozen students appeared from the green belt, watching him expressionlessly. Ambush from all sides! The masked person breathed heavily. "Jiang Yichen, are you in such a hurry to leave Los Angeles?" Nan Gengchen said with a smile, "You left without saying goodbye in the wilderness last time, why not let us see you off?" The masked person gave in and lowering his scarf, he sighed, "How about I compensate you with the cost of a car? I can pay triple or even calculate the value of the items in the car. I''m willing to compensate." Nan Gengchen chuckled, "Of course we know you''re rich, after all, top celebrities earn more than we can imagine, but after you killed Qing Zhong, you deliberately hid in our convoy and used Freemasonry as a shield. Shouldn''t we settle this matter?" Jiang Yichen was stunned for a moment. He had foreseen the danger and left early, but he hadn''t expected Freemasonry to be so well-informed. "How did you find out?" Jiang Yichen was puzzled. "You don''t need to worry about that," Qi Duo stepped forward, "We had no quarrels, so why use us like this?" Freemasonry''s first agenda, after their return tonight, was to track down Jiang Yichen. Although they were a newly established organization, being used and mocked without a proper explanation could not unite their members. Jiang Yichen was confused, "How did you manage to track my movements?" Nan Gengchen answered honestly, "We paid Sister Station 200 dollars, she knows the flight information of celebrities." Jiang Yichen: "???" He had never imagined that they would track him down in such a simple and unadorned way. So those groupies chasing stars actually had such capabilities! Jiang Yichen, facing the twenty or so Freemasonry members surrounding him, spoke earnestly, "It''s true, I was wrong to use you all. How about this, I''ll transfer the money to you right now." Nan Gengchen looked at Qi Duo, "Take the money, it''ll be good funding for Freemasonry''s operation in the Outer World." But at this moment, Jiang Yichen asked, "Was it Hu Xiaoniu who told you about me?" Nan Gengchen shook his head, "No." "It must be him," Jiang Yichen insisted, "But you all shouldn''t be used by him either. This guy is one of the core members of the Daytime group; you know about Daytime, right?" "Daytime?" Nan Gengchen and the others looked at each other. Jiang Yichen raised his eyebrows, "You don''t even know about Daytime? Well, it makes sense, they''ve done quite a bit, but their reputation isn''t well-known outside, known only to people like He Xiaoxiao and a few other high-level group members. Let me tell you what Daytime has done..." As Jiang Yichen explained, Nan Gengchen and the others grew more astonished. Because they had always thought that Freemasonry was at the forefront among student organizations, but compared to what Daytime had done, it seemed insignificant. And Liu Dezhu, who had once been well-known, was just an ordinary member of Daytime. The abduction case from Laojun Mountain, the sniper incident on Xingshu Road, the battle at Weiyang Lake in Xian City, Jindai, the reverse time travel plan on Deer Island. Not one of these incidents was something these students could partake in! Jiang Yichen whispered, "I''ve sent the money, and also shared such important information. Can we consider our debts settled?" Nan Gengchen pondered for a moment, "Alright, from now on, you and Freemasonry have no grudges, and we''ll stay out of each other''s way." Jiang Yichen exhaled a long breath and ran toward the airport, fearing that if he didn''t hurry, Freemasonry might change their minds. But he was overthinking it. After all, Freemasonry was still a student organization, not a violent group, and they wouldn''t really harm him. ... Villa number 12 in National Treasure Garden. Inside Qing Chen''s bedroom. "Brother Chen, are you sure we don''t need to follow you to City Number 10?" Nan Gengchen asked. "We''re all cultivators now, and with Luo Wanya''s situation looking up, we''re sure to be of some help." "No need," Qing Chen replied calmly, "It''s more convenient if I go alone." "Are you worried that we might get into danger?" Nan Gengchen inquired. In Nan Gengchen''s eyes, the other members of Daytime had always been lucky because Qing Chen bore most of the pressure, allowing them to live at ease. Yet as a friend, he wanted to offer his help, even if it meant not going to City Number 7 with Li Yinuo. Nan Gengchen hung his head, "Brother Chen, although we are weak, no, we''ve always been weak. Back when we were merely students, I copied your tests, your homework, and always asked you for help. I thought everything was fine because you were there. But whereas before I could accept your protection without guilt, now I cannot, because you are facing real danger." Nan Gengchen looked up at Qing Chen, "If there is real danger, let us help you. After all, we are also members of the organization." Qing Chen paused for a moment, then smiled, "If there''s really something I can''t handle, I will call you to assemble in City Number 10. But until then, you need to focus on your cultivation. By the way, how is your cultivation progressing?" Nan Gengchen thought for a moment and said, "I feel like I can finish cultivating the second energy channel very soon." After completing the Grand Circulation, the cultivation of the Primal Method requires also cultivating sixteen body energy channels, ascending a level for every eight channels completed. That is to say, Nan Gengchen, in a week''s time, could complete two energy channels with Li Yinuo. In a month, they could ascend a level, eventually reaching C-Class in two months. To reach B-Class, one must integrate the energy channels seamlessly with the bright spot. Qing Chen silently observed Nan Gengchen. For a Genetic Warrior to improve a level, an additional month''s interval is required; it takes five months to complete. Could the dual cultivation of the Primal Method actually be faster than the leveling speed of a Genetic Warrior?! Is the Primal Method that powerful, or is it Nan Gengchen and Li Yinuo who are amazing? Nan Gengchen''s expression was a bit unnatural: "Brother Chen, looking at me like that makes me a little scared..." Just then, Qing Chen inadvertently looked down at his arm and was astonished to discover, "This countdown is two days!" It was 2 a.m., and the countdown on his arm was 46:00:00. After countless travels, all Time Travelers assumed that the interval for every time travel, every return, had become fixed at seven days. So much so that upon returning, they no longer looked at their arms immediately. Qing Chen frowned in thought. What exactly was causing this time interval to change? Could it be that a new wave of players with ''public test qualifications'' was about to appear? Or could it be that the passage between two parallel worlds has always been unstable? No one could be sure about what was happening, but it meant that if they had matters to handle in the Outer World, they needed to act quickly. Qing Chen told Nan Gengchen to return to his own room, then spoke to his phone, "Yi, help me send an invitation to Yangyang''s cell number, invite her into the Daytime group." Yi: "One hundred bucks." Qing Chen: "...We''re friends!" Yi: "You won''t even give me one hundred bucks, and you talk to me about friendship?!" Qing Chen sighed, "Fine, one hundred bucks." Five minutes later, a message suddenly appeared in the Daytime group. User ''Boss''s Fan'' has entered the chat, and she is not friends with any group member. Please beware of scams. Qing Chen was immediately dumbfounded. Not to mention how weird Yangyang''s ID was, but why was there even a fraud warning in an internal group chat?! Qing Chen private messaged Yangyang, "Change your ID..." Yangyang immediately replied: "Can''t even speak the truth now?" Qing Chen: "Is that the truth?" Yangyang: "How should you talk to a fan? Show me some respect." Qing Chen: "...Alright, that''s enough." Yangyang: "Hahaha, help me hide my identity, huh? I think it''s pretty interesting to be in the group undercover." The group chat background displayed another message: ''Boss''s Fan'' has changed her ID to ''Unremarkable Little Genius''. Qing Chen sighed inwardly; Tycoon, Little Rich Woman, Little Genius, Brave Little Niu, Not Afraid of Difficulties, this group hardly had any normal IDs. At that moment, Li Tongyun, hiding upstairs, sent a message: "Welcome Little Genius to Daytime!" Ice Eye: "Welcome!" Liu Dezhu: "Throwing flowers!" The atmosphere suddenly livened up, until... Tycoon: "Send a red packet for the group-joining process, thank you." Qing Chen was both amused and frustrated, not knowing why, but it seemed like the Yi in the Outer World was obsessed with money. Boss: "This person is an old member of Daytime, just that they couldn''t join the group previously due to some reasons." Unremarkable Little Genius: "Right, Boss forgot to invite me into the group." Boss: "..." Liu Dezhu: "By the way, who is this Unremarkable Little Genius? Have we met? Are you a guy or a girl?" Unremarkable Little Genius: "A guy." Little Rich Woman: "Handsome?" Unremarkable Little Genius: "Not bad, nicknamed Shanghai''s Daniel Wu." Hu Xiaoniu, realizing as well that it must be Yangyang''s words as they''re both from Haicheng, was quick to catch on. Qing Chen, seeing that Yangyang was planning to stir up trouble in the group, hurriedly got down to business. Boss: "Xiao Niu, has Freemasonry contacted you?" Brave Little Niu: "They have, they called me wanting to pay a visit, but I haven''t agreed yet. Boss, it seems like they somehow found out about Daytime and came asking me, but I haven''t responded." Qing Chen thought for a bit, then replied with the Boss account: "Agree to it. Let them come straight to the villa. You go look for Luo Wanya, we''ll put on a play." ... Thanks to JasonK0421, Plickes, swalle, and Edens for becoming the new allies of this book. The boss is generous and never misses a stop while riding! There will be another chapter at 11 p.m. Chapter 571 571: 359, full of ceremonial sense Countdown to return 38:00:00. 10 a.m. Nangong Yuanyu, Qi Duo, and Zhang Lanjin sat in a taxi and arrived at the entrance of National Treasure Garden. Qi Duo looked through the gate at the lush environment within the community. The community was planted with evergreen plants that looked delicate even in winter. "I heard this is a wealthy area of Los Angeles City, are you sure this is the place mentioned by Hu Xiaoniu?" Qi Duo said in a low voice. After thinking for a moment Nangong Yuanyu said, "Hu Xiaoniu mentioned that this is their newly purchased base. I did a search online, and just this villa alone is valued at fifteen million..." The students of Freemasonry were all elite and had also made some money trafficking medicine between the Inner and Outer Worlds. However, those medicines were very expensive at first, but as eighty percent of Time Travelers started trafficking medicines, even beginning to undercut each other''s prices, the subsequent profits became somewhat low. So, for Freemasonry, spending over ten million to establish a base was somewhat beyond imagination. "I heard the student Time Traveler organizations in Haicheng and Jingcheng are very good at making money," Qi Duo said. "The organization Red Leaves in Jingcheng seems to have someone who can find some medicinal channels in the Inner World and then sell them here." Zhang Lanjin said, "It''s not just that. I heard from a friend that there''s a chosen one in Red Leaves who''s obtained methods of cultivation, and the core members of their organization are cultivating." The leader of Red Leaves organization, has been very mysterious, similar to the Daytime Boss. Really powerful figures all cloaked themselves in many layers of identities. Some say Red Leaves is an organization backed by Kyushu; others say it''s independent. This has yet to be confirmed. Qi Duo added, "The Matrix organization from Haicheng developed antivirus software using Inner World technology, and it''s been downloaded a lot." Recently, there were suddenly a lot of viruses online, and many people were affected, with the available antivirus software unable to detect the problem. Soon, a software called ''Matrix Security Guard'' appeared, specially targeting various internet problems. This Matrix antivirus was free to download, but nowadays, having traffic means having the capability to harvest money, so the Haicheng student organization ''Matrix'' that developed this antivirus suddenly acquired a strong ability to make money. They might not compare with traditional internet giants, but compared to other student Time Traveler organizations, they were definitely in the wealthy class. Later, many Time Travelers also wanted to enter this business but failed to do so. Some software had just launched when servers inexplicably crashed. Insiders piecing together events began to suspect that the viruses were released by the Matrix organization, and the failures of other Time Travelers'' software were also their doing. It''s possible that this organization housed not just one, but several top-notch black hackers. Keep in mind, everyone travels back without memories, so even if there is computer technology in the Inner World that surpasses our era, everyone needs to learn from scratch. At such times, those with the strongest learning ability, the highest talent, and who access the most cutting-edge computer technology in the Inner World first, will be the ones to run the fastest in this race. Without a doubt, the Matrix organization was ahead of everyone. Such success also involved luck, as there were some very skilled programmers among Time Travelers, but if born in the lower classes, they couldn''t access the advanced computer technology of the Inner World, which would be a waste. The Matrix organization became well known for a while, and even student Time Travelers across the country were inspired to establish their organizations because of the Matrix. However, everyone''s understanding of the Matrix and Red Leaves seems to be just the tip of the iceberg. At this time, Freemasonry members believed that the Daytime organization had already reached Matrix organization level; having established such a base at this stage represented strength in itself. The taxi could go no further at the entrance, so the three of them walked towards their destination, following the location given by Hu Xiaoniu. But before they could reach villa number 12, they were stopped by two of Luo Wanya''s secret guards. The three members of Freemasonry, taken aback, looked at the four secret guards who had surrounded them in silence. These secret guards were all dressed in uniform black training suits and looked fiercely formidable. They were somewhat bewilderedare these people also from Daytime?! As they examined the secret guards, the guards were also scrutinizing the Freemasonry members, "May I ask who the three of you are?" The secret guards were polite because Luo Wanya had instructed them early in the morning that although everyone was responsible for guarding villa number 12, the visitors could very likely be acquaintances of the Daytime organization. Offending someone could have repercussions on the Daytime''s image, and they must offer courtesy before force. Weapons like iron clubs and stun guns were definitely to be concealed. Nangong Yuanyu looked at the secret guards and said, "Hello, may I ask if you are from Daytime? We are here to visit Hu Xiaoniu, and we have an appointment. My name is Nangong Yuanyu." The secret guards glanced at each other, and one of them spoke into a Bluetooth headset, "Check if there''s someone named Nangong Yuanyu on Mr. Hu''s appointment list." The next moment, the secret guard looked at Nangong Yuanyu and said, "We found the information. Mr. Hu Xiaoniu had informed us. It''s just that they are currently out on business, so they have requested that you rest for a while in the villa." Saying this, the secret guard led the three Freemasonry members to Luo Wanya''s villa. Nangong Yuanyu glanced at the door number, "That''s not right, Hu Xiaoniu told us it was number 12, but this is number 11." The secret guard explained, "This is the security and reception room. If Daytime members are not around, then visitors must wait here in villa number 11. Please follow me, there are ready-made tea, snacks, and fresh fruit inside." The three Freemasonry members looked at each other in consternation! They had previously remarked that using a villa as a base was a sign of Daytime''s wealth, but it turned out they had underestimated Daytime''s extravagance. Daytime even had a villa specifically for housing security personnel! After entering the villa, Nangong Yuanyu quickly looked around and noticed that one of the rooms contained 12 LCD monitors showing various corners and entrances around the perimeter of Villa 12. There was also a security person dressed in a black outfit, intently watching the screens to check for any unauthorized intrusion. Upon seeing someone enter, that person immediately closed the door of the room. The undercover agent leading the Freemasonry inside apologized, "Sorry, that room is not open for visitation." "Understood," Nangong Yuanyu feigned indifference and replied, knowing it was to prevent others from seeing the monitoring angles. Nangong Yuanyu was no longer calm inside. The things he had seen and heard along the way were far more sophisticated than the petty dealings of the Freemasonry. So, the Red Leaves Organization in Jingcheng and the Matrix Organization in Haicheng shouldn''t be worse than this, right? The Freemasonry still had a long way to go. Just then, Luo Wanya came in with a smile, "Are the three of you guests of Daytime?" Nangong Yuanyu stood up from the sofa, "Yes, we have an appointment with Hu Xiaoniu. And you are?" "Luo Wanya," Luo Wanya replied with a smile, "Just call me Lao Luo." Nangong Yuanyu tried to get some information, "Are you a Daytime Member?" Luo Wanya said with a laugh, "Oh no, we don''t have the opportunity to join Daytime. We''re security personnel working under Daytime''s supervision. Come on, let''s sit in the yard for a bit, it''s stuffy inside. The Daytime Members seem to be back in a while." Nangong Yuanyu, still a bit confused, was led into the yard and saw a group of security personnel dressed in black outfits sitting in the yard, as if they were cultivating. Originally, Luo Wanya only had 12 people under him, but now there were a few new family members who had joined, following them and receiving the teachings of the enlightenment technique from Daytime. Nangong Yuanyu hesitated and then asked, "Is this...?" Luo Wanya laughed, "Oh, this is the cultivation technique taught by Daytime, so as to quickly enhance everyone''s strength." Inherit the cultivation technique? Nangong Yuanyu thought, Daytime is actually teaching a group of security personnel the cultivation techniques! Ambitious organizations like Freemasonry would surely know how precious the cultivation techniques are. Qi Duo, standing to the side, was stunned for a long time; this was his first time seeing such a large-scale cultivation scene, "May I ask, what level can the cultivation techniques taught by Daytime reach?" "Sorry, that''s confidential," Luo Wanya said with a smile. He looked at the cultivating security personnel, "Alright family, stop cultivating. Go and practice with the equipment. I''ll have a chat with our guests." After that, the security personnel stood up and silently walked to the equipment area in the yard, picking up dumbbells to start lifting weights, deadlifting 500 kilograms like it was nothing. A group of security personnel playing with the horizontal bar and dumbbells, like they were performing acrobatics, left the Freemasonry trio dazzled. Nangong Yuanyu, who knew his stuff, thought to himself that these must be at least E-Class cultivators! Even those who started taking the Genetic Potion after the transmigration event are only at E-Class now, and at the very limit, they''re only at D-Class. Moreover, these were only the peripheral security personnel of Daytime! He had inquired about the method of cultivation in the Inner World, and those cultivators at their fastest took half a year just to barely enter, and a whole year to barely cross the threshold of F-Class. As for those who reached the higher levels of C-Class and B-Class, they might need over a decade of diligent cultivation. Yet here at Daytime, they could achieve rapid advancement! Nangong Yuanyu, who had thought about incorporating Daytime into Freemasonry just a few days ago, now understood how reckless his idea had been... Nangong Yuanyu, Qi Duo, and Zhang Lanjin fell silent, recalling the stories about Daytime that Jiang Yichen had told them, and suddenly they felt that it might be better if Freemasonry merged into Daytime... After a long time, Qi Duo whispered to Nangong Yuanyu, "I wonder if Daytime is still recruiting security personnel?" It was then that an undercover agent reported over the communication channel, "Lao Luo, the Daytime Bosses are back. Please bring the guests over." "Understood," Luo Wanya turned to Nangong Yuanyu, "Let''s go, you three. The bosses of Daytime are back, and I''ll now take you to Villa 12." But before entering Villa 12, a female undercover agent responsible for security checks came over with a scanner and scanned the three men for any dangerous items before allowing them to proceed. By this moment, the way Nangong Yuanyu and the others looked at Villa 12 had completely changed. They felt it was mysterious and sacred, and unknowingly, they grew humble... This whole setup was designed by Luo Wanya; he had previously rented a small temple, hired a bunch of fake monks to swindle money for incense and sell counterfeit amulets. At that time, he realized that if the doors of worship were open to anyone, the people who entered would not be very devout, and no one would be willing to donate for incense. Therefore, before entering the doors, a sense of ceremony had to be maximized. It has to be said, Luo Wanya indeed had dabbled in various industries and had extensive experience. ... I''m begging for monthly votes, begging for monthly tickets. Chapter 572 572: What gives you the right? Entering temples to offer incense and pray to Bodhisattvas, if there''s no sense of ceremony, then the temple is merely a tourist spot. But if one must travel a long path up the mountain to see the Bodhisattva, if the incense is not for just anyone to burn, if those around are devout believers, then... Such a temple truly possesses spiritual significance. In the past, Luo Wanya had researched it clearly, and today, Luo Wanya had arranged everything in Freemasonry neatly. So when the three members of Freemasonry walked from Villa 11 to Villa 12, their hearts had already been sublimated, as if on a pilgrimage. Originally they still had a line of defense in their hearts: they were smart enough, had good academic performances, and strong learning abilities. But when they thought of the legend about Qing Chen, even their proudest defense was mercilessly shattered. At this moment, the only thought in the minds of Nangong Yuanyu and others was, this is the most formidable student organization of Time Travelers in Los Angeles City! Behind the three, Luo Wanya silently watched them go to knock on the door of Villa 12. One of his men whispered beside him, "Lao Luo, do we really need to cooperate with the Daytime group to such an extent?" Luo Wanya gave him a sidelong glance and said, "What are you trying to say?" The subordinate thought for a moment and said, "I mean no other implications, just feeling now we also have cultivation techniques, couldn''t our brothers find a meal anywhere? Why must we serve the Daytime group?" Luo Wanya laughed, "You''ve only cultivated for a few days and after a few empowerment sessions you think you''ve made it?" "We have many brothers, and you''ve completed the Grand Circulation and can empower the brothers now, we wouldn''t need the bosses of Daytime anymore," the subordinate said. Before the last time travel, Qing Chen had arranged for Nan Gengchen to empower Luo Wanya, boosting him straight to E-Class in one go. Luo Wanya thoroughly enjoyed the thrill of an upgrade; he himself had never expected that not only would he regain his freedom after his turn of fortune, but he could also become a genuine cultivator. Now, Luo Wanya, Nan Gengchen, Hu Xiaoniu, Zhang Tianzhen, and Qing Chen all had the capability of empowerment, directly leading to a leap in the power of the entire Daytime security system. This also caused the security personnel to harbor their little schemes. Luo Wanya looked at his subordinate, "You''ve been with me not just a day or two, some things still need to be made clear. I serve the Daytime group not because I''m coerced, but willingly. You might all soon advance to E-Class, but have you seen Daytime controlling us?" "No, those students don''t have any managerial experience," the subordinate said. Luo Wanya patted his subordinate''s shoulder and said, "Daytime doesn''t control you, not because they lack managerial experience, but because it would be too easy to eliminate you." After some thought, the subordinate suddenly reverted to his earlier way of addressing Luo Wanya, "Big Brother, why are you so utterly devoted to Daytime?" Luo Wanya paused before answering, "We in the underworld need to maintain loyalty. They saved my life, Luo someone; it''s only right that I repay this debt. Besides, they''re more formidable than you think. That cultivation technique you think just anyone can get? Last time I went to the Inner World, I specifically asked around the black market about various cultivation techniques. What Daytime gave us... that''s orthodox cultivation techniques, and such things in the entire Inner World don''t exceed double digits." "Also," Luo Wanya continued, "We need to urgently start our plans in the Inner World, and develop our families as much as possible. Although it has to be done secretly, we can''t slow down." Luo Wanya needed to prove his worth quickly since he had not yet joined the Daytime group. ... ... The door of Villa 12 opened, and Liu Dezhu smiled at the three visitors, "Please come in." Nangong Yuanyu and his companions hesitated at the doorway, "Do you have slippers? Our shoes are a bit dirty." "No need," said Liu Dezhu, "come in." Upon entering, Nangong Yuanyu, Qi Duo, and Zhang Lanjin cautiously took seats on the sofa, warily observing their surroundings. When Hu Xiaoniu and Qing Chen came downstairs, the three immediately stood up as if they were the underlings seeing Corleone in the movie ''The Godfather'', utterly humble. Hu Xiaoniu said, "Sorry, something came up this morning, so there was a delay." Zhang Lanjin hurriedly said, "No worries at all, these are trivial matters. You should prioritize your urgent matters first." Hu Xiaoniu thought there really wasn''t any urgent matter, he was just upstairs being roped into playing Fight the Landlord by Xiao Tongyun. He didn''t understand why Xiao Tongyun''s mind was so sharp; he and Zhang Tianzhen together couldn''t outsmart her. The reason they did this was to first create a substantial psychological gap on the part of Freemasonry, making the forthcoming tasks a bit easier to handle. At this moment, Hu Xiaoniu curiously asked, "May I know what brings you three here today? The countdown for this time travel is only two days, we should quickly get ready for the next one." Nangong Yuanyu hesitated a moment then said, "No particular reason, just wanted to express gratitude for the events in Taboo Land location 002; if it weren''t for you, we might have been trapped there." Hu Xiaoniu chuckled, "It''s nothing, just a small effort. Even though I am a servant of Qing Zade, he''s not difficult to talk to like other corporate bigwigs." "What exactly is Qing Zade''s role within Qing''s Family?" Nan Gengchen asked in front of Qing Chen, inquiring, "I heard from Guo Huchan that he seems to be sent by that Mr. Shadow of Qing''s Family?" Hu Xiaoniu shook his head: "I''m not very clear about that. Mr. Qing Zade''s work is quite mysterious, and I have not had the chance to get involved. However, although he knows I am a Time Traveler, he has never interfered with anything I do." "By the way," Nan Gengchen thought for a moment and said, "It seems that even the security personnel next door are practicing cultivation. Is this a cultivation method obtained by the Daytime group?" "Yes," Qing Chen replied with a smile, "Everyone is advancing quite quickly." Nan Gengchen nodded in admiration, "Indeed very quick. It''s only been two months, yet there is already a group of E-Class security personnel..." In fact, Nan Gengchen''s concept of "quite fast" wasn''t very clear; he thought that those security personnel had been cultivating for two months. But in reality, they had been cultivating for less than two weeks; even Luo Wanya had gone from being an ordinary person to an E-Class cultivator in just two days. You see, all cultivators on the Daytime side who have completed the Grand Circulation can receive Empowerment. Using this method to level up a cultivation team is like a geometric growth model and can even keep up with the speed at which Luo Wanya develops his family members.... Qing Chen didn''t correct Nan Gengchen; he just looked at him and smiled, "I wonder if the Freemasonry has any plans to practice cultivation?" Nan Gengchen was taken aback for a moment, and the expressions of the three Freemasonry members immediately contorted. After looking at each other for a few seconds, Nan Gengchen said gravely, "Sorry, we already belong to an organization and can''t join another. To be honest, Freemasonry is actually associated with Qing''s Family too, but the specifics still need to be kept secret. What I can say is that they have been gracious to us and also have methods to control us, so we can''t join other organizations." Qing Chen was stunned; he had not expected to elicit their true intentions so quickly. Probably Nan Gengchen didn''t know that Qing Chen had long been aware that it was Shadow controlling the Freemasonry, and that he was about to take over the control of Freemasonry very soon... To Nan Gengchen, so-called confidentiality was merely a lonely secret in front of Qing Chen. At that moment, seeing Nan Gengchen''s conflicted yet sincere expression, Qing Chen wondered what methods that Shadow had used to swiftly and firmly control the Freemasonry. Qing Chen looked at Nan Gengchen and smiled, "I didn''t mean to ask you all to join Daytime, and besides, the entry threshold for Daytime is set by the boss, who only invites specific individuals. It''s not prone to random expansion." Nan Gengchen and the others found nothing wrong with this statement; of course, such a formidable organization should have thresholds! However, they were puzzled, "Then what did you mean by asking us if we want to cultivate?" Qing Chen smiled and said, "Our boss in Daytime once indicated that Freemasonry in Los Angeles has enormous potential in the future. Thus, we are willing to set aside organizational differences and impart the method of cultivation to you without any cost, not just to you three but to all members of Freemasonry." Nan Gengchen and the others were shocked and moved. What kind of selfless spirit was this? What kind of angelic boss was this?! Under Qing Chen''s plan, he was definitely going to take over control of Freemasonry within a month. If they were to start cultivating only at that time, it would indeed delay things, so it was better to pass on the method now and also garner some gratitude. Such a group of smart individuals certainly needed to become strong as soon as possible! But Nan Gengchen hesitated. He was very aware of the preciousness of the cultivation method, so he always felt that he must be missing some important information. Everything has a cause and effect; there must be a cause for an effect. The gracious offer from Daytime to impart the cultivation method without seeking anything in return was exactly lacking a ''cause''. This was like the common internet situation: "If someone lets you eat a kilo of dirt for a billion dollars, would you agree?" Not to mention whether it''s about the dirt, in real life, no one genuinely gives away a billion dollars for no reason. Why would anyone give you that billion dollars? Nan Gengchen was utterly perplexed... He looked at Qing Chen and noticed that the latter''s gaze was ''kind'' to an extreme, affable to the point of making one want to let down their guard, as if he truly had their best interests at heart. Nan Gengchen pondered for a long time, "Unearned rewards are not taken lightly; our Freemasonry hasn''t done anything beneficial for Daytime before, and accepting such a great gift now truly troubles my conscience. Perhaps... let us do something for Daytime?" He almost blurted out his earlier thoughtwhy not let us eat a kilo of dirt? Otherwise, we can''t wholeheartedly accept this cultivation method. Fortunately, he stopped himself in time and didn''t voice it out loud. Chapter 573 573: 361. New Transmigration Mechanism (Seeking Monthly Votes) "Daytime doesn''t really need your help with anything," Qing Chen said with a smile, "It''s okay, if you don''t want to cultivate, we won''t force you." Nangong Yuanyu felt a bit uneasy inside. After actually refusing, he started to regret it, as if he had just missed out on something very important. He tentatively suggested, "How about we do something for Daytime in exchange for an opportunity to cultivate?" Qing Chen smiled and countered, "What could the Freemasonry possibly do for Daytime?" Nangong Yuanyu was suddenly at a loss for words. Indeed, what could the Freemasonry, just a group of poor students, offer that could be of use to the other party? The confidence of the Freemasonry was once again eroding, bit by bit... Qing Chen then said, "How about I just take you guys to experience the wonders of the methods of cultivation? Who wants to give it a try?" Qi Duo and the others exchanged glances, and Qi Duo said, "Can I try it?" "Of course," Qing Chen nodded. He took hold of Qi Duo''s pulse and suddenly brought him into a meditative state with the Breathing Technique, then started the Empowerment right after. Nowadays, Qing Chen''s Knight Vital Energy almost spanned his entire body, enabling him to light up more than twenty acupoints for Qi Duo in one breath. He then called over Nan Gengchen, Zhang Tianzhen, Li Tongyun, and Luo Wanya to perform the Empowerment for Qi Duo in succession. In just a quarter of an hour, they had completed the first minor cycle for Qi Duo! Qi Duo, with tears streaming down his face, opened his eyes, feeling the abundant strength throughout his body and asked with a sobbing voice, "Am I a cultivator now?" As he said this, he started doing push-ups, managing to do dozens in one go, whereas usually, he would do well to perform ten! Nangong Yuanyu asked in confusion, "Qi Duo, why are you crying?" Qi Duo continued doing push-ups as he replied, "It''s nothing, I just feel like crying..." Qing Chen explained with a smile, "This is the Method of Empowerment of Daytime. You''ve only completed the first minor cycle. Once you''ve completed the second one, you will be able to perform Empowerments for other Freemasonry members. This method of cultivation is called ''Zhun Ti Method'', one of the supreme methods of Western Esoteric Buddhism." Nangong Yuanyu was dumbstruck standing by! It was not until that moment that he understood how fast one could really make progress; it didn''t require two months, just two days was enough! The minds of Freemasonry members were quick, and with just a rough calculation of the growth model of the Zhun Ti Method, he realized how astonishing this thing was! Nangong Yuanyu weakly asked, "Can I try it too?" Qing Chen shook his head with a smile, "No, each of us has a limit on how many Empowerments we can perform, and it takes a long time to recover before we can do it again." This time, Nangong Yuanyu decided to stop being coy, "I''m willing to bring all the Freemasonry members to cultivate with Daytime, and I promise that as long as the goals of the two organizations do not conflict, Freemasonry will never be an enemy to Daytime! Moreover, if Daytime needs any help, the Freemasonry won''t hesitate..." Qing Chen remarked, "You''re worrying too much." After all, why would he let the Freemasonry and Daytime have conflicting goals? Didn''t he have the final say in that? Qing Chen said, "However, you need to stay in the courtyard of Villa No. 11 with Luo Wanya and the others, that''s more convenient for us to pass on the methods of cultivation." "No problem!" Nangong Yuanyu replied, "I''ll go gather everyone right now!" The three Freemasonry members hurried out of Villa No. 12. After the trio left, Qing Chen turned to Luo Wanya, "The boss has ordered that today you will be added to the Daytime group; from now on, you will truly be a member of Daytime." Luo Wanya was ecstatic in his heart; he had finally reached this moment, "Please, thank the boss for me!" What Luo Wanya didn''t know was that Qing Chen''s hearing was now far beyond ordinary humans, so the conversation he had with his subordinate had also fallen into Qing Chen''s ears. This was also the reason why Qing Chen had decided to officially accept Luo Wanya. When Luo Wanya was added to the group, he was much more low-key than the others, even choosing the humble ID of "Xiao Luo." With everything in the Outer World settled, he should be able to report to the Spy Bureau without any distractions. That would be the start of a dangerous and lonely new journey. On their way back to gather the Freemasonry members, Nangong Yuanyu and the others walked in silence. After a long time, Nangong Yuanyu suddenly said, "What do you think, what is Daytime really after?" Qi Duo and Zhang Lanjin pondered seriously, "It seems that with Daytime''s status, they wouldn''t really need us." Nangong Yuanyu thought for a moment and said, "If it were the old Freemasonry, of course they wouldn''t need us, but if it''s a group of highly intelligent cultivators, then they would be useful. The problem is, why is Daytime so sure that we would still want to be utilized after we''ve begun cultivating?" Although Nangong Yuanyu was moved, he was not foolish; on the contrary, he was very intelligent. His challenge to Daytime might seem ungrateful, but it was directly pointing to the truth. In fact, Qing Chen knew Nangong Yuanyu would question them sooner or later; if he didn''t, he wouldn''t live up to the so-called high intelligence. But Qing Chen didn''t care because from the beginning, it wasn''t Daytime that wanted to use Freemasonry but ''Shadow Candidate Qing Chen'' who wanted to make use of Freemasonry. Qi Duo thought for a while, "Before they do anything, shouldn''t we avoid doubting them in advance?" Nangong Yuanyu nodded and said, "At least for now, the Daytime group all seem to be good people. I''ll state my stance in advanceif nothing unexpected happens, we, the Freemasonry, mustn''t do anything that would harm the Daytime group. Besides, the favor they have granted us is indeed substantial, and we need to keep that in mind." Qi Duo, Zhang Lanjin: "Mhm!" Time Travelers had grown accustomed to a 7-day return period, so when the return time once again shortened to two days, it felt exceptionally brief. It was like the weekend during school days, feeling as if no sooner had you closed your eyes than you had to get ready for school again. The countdown returned to zero. The world plunged into darkness. And then it lit up once more. This time, almost simultaneously after traversing, all Time Travelers looked down at their arms. And then they realized that the countdown on their hands was no longer 168 hours, but 720 hours. 30 days! The Time Travelers were astonished. They had anticipated some changes to the traversal mechanism, but they had not expected such a substantial one. They would spend 30 days in the perilous Inner World, an unprecedentedly long duration that was bound to bring some unforeseen effects. In the past, the Consortium had brainwashed their controlled Time Travelers, but having to face their return after just 7 days meant the brainwashing process was forcibly interrupted. By the time the Time Travelers crossed over again after 7 days, the previous brainwashing efforts might have been wasted. But 30 days were different. For proficient brainwashers, 27 days were enough to change everything. Furthermore, under normal circumstances, the number of days spent in the Inner World equaled those in the Outer World, but this wasn''t a fixed rule. What if the return time remained two days the next time? If the Time Travelers were to spend 30 days in the Inner World each time and only return for 2 or 7 days, it would mean they''d rapidly age in the eyes of their friends and family in the Outer World. For Time Travelers over the age of 30, the aging would be almost visible to the naked eye. In the past, Time Travelers had little concept of doubled aging speed because the change was too minimal. But now, delaying aging would become a subject all Time Travelers must confront. Moreover, as everyone''s time spent in the Inner World grew longer, which side would they truly consider their ultimate home? But these were not the most critical issues. The most crucial point was that everyone now needed to seriously consider how to safely spend these 30 days. In the forest of Taboo Land number 002, Qing Chen silently surveyed his surroundings. The Freemasonry members were each spitting out medicine wrapped in protective films from their mouths, then discussing in astonishment how to endure these 30 days. It had to be said, the 30-day traversal had a tremendous impact on both the Freemasonry and Spade. Because it meant that the amount of antibiotics the Freemasonry could carry from the Outer World had greatly diminished. The Freemasonry members had anxious looks on their faces. Faced with not seeing their families for a month and having to rebuild their homes in the wilderness for a month, it was a new challenge for everyone. At that moment, Yangyang walked up to Qing Chen and whispered with a chuckle, "The Daytime group is quite interesting. Oh, and make sure you don''t reveal my identity to them, alright? In the past two days, the little rich lady and the tycoon have been privately messaging me, asking me to share a photo." Qing Chen: "...You''re hooked, aren''t you? I''ve noticed you don''t seem too worried about these 30 days." "Que sera, sera. Worrying can''t solve problems," Yangyang replied. "By the way, what do you think about the change in the traversal mechanism?" Qing Chen thought for a moment and said, "It''s like a game expansion update with brand-new gameplay. I won''t be surprised if one day, a ''year'' max duration appears. But I think the Outer World is bound to experience the same 30-day span sooner or later. There has always been a balance between the two worlds; there''s no reason for it to suddenly become unbalanced." "Yeah, that''s what I think too, so I''m not too worried," Yangyang said with a smile. "My parents are abroad, and when I return to Haicheng, I''m alone at home, so it''s the same for me wherever I am. With the traversal time being so long this time, do you want to go check out the town we''re rebuilding?" "Not this time," Qing Chen glanced at the Freemasonry students and said, "I have more important plans this time, and a 30-day duration will give me plenty of time to adapt to a new environment." "Where are you going?" Yangyang was taken aback. "Federal City number 10." Yangyang tilted her head and pondered for a moment, "Then I''ll come find you in Federal City number 10 after some time. There''s a protest there that needs my organization." "Why has Spade given you the task of entering the Federation?" Qing Chen asked, puzzled. Yangyang laughed, "Because I can fly. The border checkpoints in Federal Cities are practically non-existent to me." "Alright," Qing Chen thought for a bit, and indeed, it seemed Yangyang was best suited for such tasks, adept at coming and going freely. "Then I''ll see you in Federal City number 10." "Sure!" ... Vote for monthly tickets. Thanks to Lemon is Not Cute 0112, Trustworthy and Honest, Dust in the Wind, NPC1486, and New Alliance member Idol Writer Xin Yi for their support. You guys are awesome; I wish you all perfectly cooked rice! Chapter 574 574: 362. The Boy Seeking Help in the Wilderness Dawn. On the plains of the wilderness, three unusually designed pickup trucks were kicking up huge clouds of dust as they headed north. The bodies of the trucks were silver, with glowing strips of blue and purple light at the edges, resembling fireflies in the night. On top of the truck beds, waterproof tarps were stretched over, bulging as though loaded with cargo. On the side of the trucks, the phrases "City 10 and Wilderness Hunter" were spray-painted with a serial number 0291 following them. This was a formally registered Wilderness Hunter team, holding a legitimate hunter license. Blaring music was playing on the truck, and on board were five men and two women who were still in a state of excitement at dawn. However, at this moment, they saw a campfire near a small mound on the wilderness, sheltered from the wind. Next to the campfire, there was a young man sitting on a stone, warming himself by the fire. On the gray expanse of the desolate plain, the orange-red campfire was like a lighthouse in a black sea, irresistibly drawing the eye. The sitting youth appeared extremely lonely. Upon seeing their vehicles, the youth stood up and approached the dirt road, stretching out his hand and giving a thumbs-up. That was the universal hitchhiking gesture in the wilderness. Someone in the pickup turned the music down and asked through the vehicle''s intercom, "Something doesn''t seem right. Who would be out here alone in the wilderness during the deep winter?" "It''s possible his car broke down halfway. In this devilish weather, if he didn''t turn the car off in time, it could easily drain the battery completely." "Judging by his clothes, he must be from the Federation, not a wilderness local." "He''s no older than 18, threat level isn''t high." "Should we take him?" someone asked as they prepared to leave. "Let''s not bother, just blast past," a calm young voice in the lead pickup said through the intercom, "We have important things to do tomorrow, it''s best if outsiders don''t find out about this kind of thing." As the convoy passed the youth, the young man gave him a glance. The youth watched them leave helplessly. The next moment, when the young man looked in the rearview mirror again, he noticed that the youth was lying on the ground, unknowingly extending his hand towards them as if pleading for them not to leave. It looked as pitiful as it could get. Through the intercom, a girl said, "Should we help him?" "But Tuan Zi, what if he follows us back to the Federation and leaks what we''re doing tomorrow?" another young man said. The girl thought for a moment and added, "Chu Ci, we''re not like those people; the education we received doesn''t allow us to ignore someone in need." These people were all relatively young, looking only a year or two older than the youth by the roadside. Suddenly another young man said, "It''s too cold in the wilderness, and this location is at least three hundred kilometers from City 10. I checked just now; there wasn''t even a bit of food on his fire. He probably can''t find anything to eat in the wilderness in winter. If we don''t take him, he might very well die of starvation or freeze to death here." "Maybe we could keep him away when we deal with the wilderness people tomorrow? We can''t just watch him die out here, right?" Silence fell across the three pickup trucks simultaneously. It seemed everyone was seriously contemplating something before waiting for someone to make a decision. The next moment, Chu Ci, the composed young man in the lead vehicle, hit the brakes, "Lao Wu, cover me, I''m going to pick him up." It was not until then that everyone in the convoy seemed to breathe a sigh of relief. Chu Ci drove back to the youth. The girl beside him held an automatic rifle on guard while he approached the youth and said, "You want a lift, right? To City 10?" The youth stood up, brushing the dust off his body, "Yes, I''m heading to City 10. Thanks a lot for offering me a ride, I didn''t expect you would actually agree." The youth seemed surprised; knowing the harsh people who roamed the wilderness, he hadn''t really expected anyone to offer him a lift and had merely done it for fun. Unexpectedly, even after they left, they had turned back around. Chu Ci looked at the youth, "Sorry, although we are willing to give you a lift, we need to search you and confiscate any weapons you have." The youth nodded, allowing Chu Ci to search him. To Chu Ci''s surprise, the youth carried no weapons, only a basic lighter. Having a lighter was normal. The dry winter climate made it easy to ignite a campfire without needing something like the Thor, which was designed for damp wood and not something everyone could afford. But coming to the wilderness alone, and not carrying any weapon on him? That was indeed very strange. He asked the young boy, "Hello, why are you here alone? What brings you to the wilderness?" The boy replied, "I was traveling with friends from City 1 to City 10. We had an argument on the way, and they left me on the road. I thought they would come back to get me after cooling off for two days, but they never returned. They even took my gun which I use for self-defense; I didn''t have time to grab it." Sun Chu Ci and Tuan Zi, who was holding an automatic rifle, were both stunned, "That outrageous?" The boy nodded and said, "I still have cash and gold bars in my backpack, but he didn''t leave those for me either. If you could give me a ride to City 10, when I find my friends and get my money, I can pay you some reward." Tuan Zi, on the other side, suddenly whispered in a very low voice, "Doesn''t this sound just like that Qin Shihuang joke? ''Give me money, and once I find my mausoleum, I''ll share half of it with you.''" The lone boy on the wilderness did not change his expression, but he heard every word. Sun Chu Ci did not respond but looked at the boy, "Hello, how should we address you?" The boy smiled and said, "Just call me Qing Xiaotu." The boy was indeed Qing Chen. With his current hearing, even if the voice of the girl in front of him was very soft, he could still hear it very clearly. He immediately realized, "This is a Time Traveler team; otherwise, how would they know about Qin''s mausoleum joke?" No wonder they were willing to give a ride to a stranger in the wilderness. If it were someone from the Inner World, by their teenage years they would already be accustomed to the evil nature of human hearts. The young people in front of him seemed to be just starting college. The education they had received had always encouraged being helpful and friendly; this was the gentle foundation of a nation''s character. The others probably did not realize how good Qing Chen''s hearing was, nor did they suspect that Qing Chen was also a Time Traveler. At that moment, two other pickup trucks stopped nearby, with people holding automatic rifles aiming steadily at Qing Chen, ready to protect their convoy from any threat he might pose. Qing Chen glanced over; they were kind-hearted indeed, but not foolish. They certainly had necessary precautions in place. He guessed that they might be part of a student Time Traveler Organization from Zheng City University. After becoming Time Travelers for survival, they gathered together for safety in numbers. The city was dangerous, so they had come to the wilderness to make a living. A prevailing theory in the Outer World suggested that it was hard for Time Travelers, and even the original residents, to survive in the city. "You can know someone''s face but not their heart," it was said, making it safer in the wilderness where beasts were merely fierce, unlike humans who were deceitful. A famous philosopher from the Outer World had once said, "I fear ghosts, who have never harmed me. I do not fear people, yet they have hurt me deeply..." Then, Sun Chu Ci raised his right arm, and his right hand curled up his index finger and thumb, apparently signaling the other two vehicles to stand down from the alert. Qing Chen found this scene very interesting; they had their own set of tactical hand signals. After being searched by Sun Chu Ci, Qing Chen sat in the back of the pickup. The temperature of the air conditioning inside the truck made him comfortably breathe out a sigh of cold air: "Are you guys Wilderness Hunters?" In the truck, the girl named Tuan Zi casually asked, "We''re Wilderness Hunters... by the way, what were you and your friend going to City 10 for?" Qing Chen remembered the excuse Jiang Yichen had used and explained earnestly, "We were going to City 10 together to attend a tutorial class to prepare for the spring self-enrollment exams at Qinghe University." Qinghe University is the most prestigious university within the Federation, with its main campus in City 10 and a branch campus in City 18. Thus, every year around this time, ambitious students from all over the Federation make the arduous journey to these two cities. Of course, there''s also the Tinder Military Academy, which is as prestigious as Qinghe University, but it does not offer early self-enrollment, so students just take their exams in their own cities. This excuse was really too useful at the moment. When Tuan Zi heard that Qing Chen was a student applicant, she was momentarily stunned. Then she suddenly said, "I really wanted to go to Qinghe University too, but unfortunately, I didn''t get in. Since you say you''re an applicant, could I ask you a few questions? Don''t think too much about it; I just want to confirm your identity." Although Tuan Zi and the others were known as Wilderness Hunters in the Inner World, they were bona fide undergraduates from first-class universities in the Outer World. So, in Tuan Zi''s view, if someone tried to pretend to be a diligent student in front of them, they would be making a big mistake. Throughout this conversation, the girl kept her hand under her jacket where she was holding a handgun aimed at Qing Chen. Qing Chen laughed inwardly; this was exactly what he had once told Jiang Yichen! But then again, he was not the bad student like Jiang Yichen! Qing Chen smiled and said, "Go ahead and ask. If I know the answer, I will definitely respond." Sun Chu Ci silently pressed the truck''s intercom, and Tuan Zi, recalling her high school material, rattled off ten math questions in succession, all of which Qing Chen answered correctly. Someone in the intercom said, "Awesome." In those ten questions, Tuan Zi even included a problem about finite-dimensional systems of linear equations, which belongs to the content of linear algebra. This was the only content that went beyond what was taught in high schools of the Inner World compared to those in the Outer World. Yet Qing Chen still answered it correctly, which indirectly proved he was indeed a high school student preparing in the Inner World, and even eliminated the suspicion that he might be a Time Traveler. After all, high school students in the Outer World don''t study that stuff. Of course, this was still not enough to prove completely. Chapter 575 575: 363, a Wilderness Hunter with the surname Qin Tuan Zi sat in the car, pondering seriously, "May I ask you one more question?" Qing Chen rubbed his cold hands, while blowing warm breath into them he said, "Sure, you''re willing to give me a lift, which is just like saving my life. You can ask anything you want." After thinking for a bit, Tuan Zi asked, "What are the times of the year when the Federation is affected by the southwest monsoon and the southeast monsoon?" Qing Chen looked astonished, "The Federation is only affected by the southeast monsoon, there''s no southwest monsoon." This question was obviously chosen by Tuan Zi to test if Qing Chen was a Time Traveler; in the Outer World, China is affected by two types of monsoons during the summerthe southwest monsoon and the southeast monsoon. However, in the Inner World, with its vast territory and the Southwest Snow Mountain range even higher and more majestic than in the Outer World, the southwest monsoon is completely blocked. For a good student from the Outer World who comes to the Inner World, who would bother to specifically look up something as mundane as the monsoon patterns? If they answered instinctively, it might reveal some information. But Qing Chen was precisely the kind of person who, having nothing better to do, had looked over the textbooks. It wasn''t out of idleness, after all, he also had the identity of a teacher at Li''s School, even though he was a physical education teacher. Seeing Qing Chen''s precise response, Tuan Zi immediately laughed, "It seems I remembered wrongly." She wasn''t worried though. Since Qing Chen wasn''t a Time Traveler, he would not know why she asked this and would probably just think she misspoke. "Looking at these mathematics questions you''ve brought up, none of them are simple. What was the reason for your exam failure?" Qing Chen innocently and purely asked. "Ah?" Tuan Zi was taken aback, "I... I had a fever back then, so I didn''t perform well in the exam." In the Inner World, you only get one chance for the college entrance examination; if you don''t pass, you go to work or learn a trade. There''s no such thing as retaking the exam. At first, retaking the exam was an option, but many students knew that only the college entrance exam could help them cross class barriers, and some would retake the exam six or seven times without seeking work. This was entirely at odds with the values of the conglomerates; they needed workers, not people striving to change their fate. So, over thirty years ago, a bill was passed in the legislative assembly to prohibit retaking the exam. Qing Chen looked at them, "Are you all exam failures? I''m not sure if I can get into Qinghe University, but I''ve heard that even if you get in, it doesn''t necessarily mean you''ll make something of yourself." Sun Chu Ci glanced at Qing Chen through the rearview mirror, "It''s certainly better than being a worker. You don''t have to struggle for a living in the wilderness like us. As a white-collar, you''d have no worries about food and clothing. After studying law, you might even become a legislator." At this moment, Tuan Zi, Sun Chu Ci, and the others had confirmed that ''Qing Xiaotu'' in front of them was indeed a native student from the Inner World and so they felt much more secure. After all, what threat could a student pose? Tuan Zi said with a sigh, "Your friend probably thought you''d die in the wilderness this season. If you hadn''t run into us, you would have undoubtedly perished, and that kind of incident amounts to murder. When you get to City No. 10, you should contact the police immediately. The PCE Security Management Committee will take care of such matters, and students like you have a somewhat special status." That so-called special status for students was because it was uncertain whether they might be promising in the future. Many students from Qinghe University ended up as white-collars, and some who studied law became legislators, acting as spokespeople for the conglomerates. Though puppets, they were still puppets with high social status. So the PCE Security Management Committee generally took cases reported by students a bit more seriously. At least, it was not like in the lower third district where they would arrive an hour late to process a crime scene. Qing Chen earnestly played his role, "Yes, I will definitely go to the PCE to report. Once I get my money back, I will thank you for this journey." In fact, he had not been suddenly abandoned by others, but had chosen to part ways with Li Ke and Hu Xiaoniu after leaving Taboo Land No. 002. He gave the off-road vehicle to those two to return to City No. 18, while he set off alone for City No. 10 to report in. As they parted, both Li Ke and Hu Xiaoniu wanted to accompany him to City No. 10, but Qing Chen refused them all. A spy from Qing''s Spy Agency with one of the heirs of Li''s Big Room wandering around aimlessly would indeed make for a very peculiar scene. Originally, Qing Chen planned to trek to City No. 10 leisurely on his own, but he happened upon this team of Wilderness Hunters, so he decided to try for a ride. To be honest, finding out that seven people in this convoy were Time Travelers was a bit unexpected for him. It seemed that after reporting in at the Spy Bureau, he would inevitably have to deal with the Time Travelers from Zheng City. This was a perfect opportunity to get to know them. Zheng City had a much larger permanent population than Los Angeles City, so logically, it should have many more Time Traveler Organizations. But for some reason, relative to the rest of the country, Time Travelers were very low-key. Curious, Qing Chen asked, "I''ve never been to City No. 10 before. Is it really as the outside world says, where social elites gather, and you can see celebrities and politicians everywhere?" Sun Chu Ci calmly responded, "That is the glamorous side of City No. 10. In my eyes, City No. 10 is in fact one of the most chaotic cities in the Federation. The chaos and extravagance of the celebrity lifestyle is fully exhibited there, and all sorts of human rights and messy power demands are also highlighted." Before this trip through time, Qing Chen had searched for information on City No. 10 on the Outer World''s internet, and he found it to be a very peculiar city. In the Federation, each city was relatively autonomous with its own city council and relevant laws and regulations. City No. 10 was a city with its legal bills hijacked by public opinion. In City No. 10, cats and dogs have identification cards; by law, one cannot abandon them at will. In City No. 10, all cell phones sold have a shutter sound that cannot be silenced, and any undercover photography in public places is prohibited. There were many such laws and regulations, and they were quite good, but paradoxically, the labor law still allowed the existence of servants. The consortium seemed to be sacrificing the small for the big, conceding in every area where they could afford to, keeping the residents of City No. 10 happy. The real, fundamental interests of humanity were never safeguarded. These were all the deeds of the parliament and the parliamentarians. So when Li Changqing said he had "taken care of" City No. 1, he didn''t mean a bloody purge, but rather a reshuffling of the parliament there, ensuring that the Li Family would always secure a ''majority vote'' in the assembly, with the Republican Party supported by the Li Family occupying the majority of seats in the City No. 1 council. Democracy had become an empty shell, yet still glossy and splendid. At that moment, Qing Chen suddenly felt something was amiss; he turned to Sun Chu Ci, "You''re not heading due north anymore." City No. 10 lay directly to their north, and this Wilderness Hunter squad was veering off course. Sun Chu Ci glanced at the rearview mirror, "We have our own matters to attend to, so we need to make a detour first. Later, please stay in the truck and don''t ask or interfere with what we''re doing. Rest assured, as long as you hear nothing, ask nothing, and don''t interfere, we can definitely bring you safely to City No. 10." "Okay," Qing Chen smilingly agreed. Typically Wilderness Hunter convoys would not travel at night, and since it was just dawn, it indicated that Sun Chu Ci and his companions had a timed appointment, possibly to reach a certain destination at a specified time. Four hours later, Qing Chen saw from a distance two pickup trucks parked by a patch of woods, with seven ragged wilderness people leaning against them, smoking. Qing Chen felt that something was off; he glanced at Sun Chu Ci, who was oblivious to the imminent events, and finally decided to give a kind warning, "Don''t park too close to the woods." Sun Chu Ci was taken aback for a moment, surprised, he looked at the boy in the back seat. Qing Chen continued, "Although those wilderness people are smoking, they are all doing so with their left hands, leaving their more dexterous right hands free to grab a gun and attack at any time." To most people, smoking with either hand is normal, without any particular convenience or inconvenience, but it''s not normal if all wilderness people are smoking with their left hand. Sun Chu Ci said, "Classmate, it''s normal for them to be cautious of us, as we are of them." Qing Chen shook his head. At the moment when they drew within 400 meters of each other, he made full use of his keen hearing and overheard the wilderness people whispering in the distance, "They''re coming." "Have the brothers hide in the woods first, wait for my signal before acting, I need to ask them a few questions first." Qing Chen spoke to Sun Chu Ci, "Their truck is backed up to the edge of the woods; there could be people lying in ambush inside. Trust my advice, stay further away from themit''s always good to be extra cautious in the wilderness." Sun Chu Ci, upon hearing this, subconsciously slowed down. He wasn''t foolish or stubbornly insistent; otherwise, he wouldn''t have listened to others'' suggestions to take Qing Chen on board earlier. So, he now found Qing Chen''s words reasonable, gently tapped the brakes a few times, and spoke softly into the vehicle''s intercom, "There might be a situation; everyone be cautious. I''ll have them hand over the falcons for the drug trade, and once we get the falcons, we''ll leave." "Falcons?" Qing Chen asked curiously. Sun Chu Ci glanced at him, "Classmate, don''t ask. We don''t want to say." Qing Chen nodded, "Understood!" Tuan Zi curiously sized up Qing Chen; this young classmate''s demeanor was entirely different from before, not at all like someone stranded in the wilderness. Moreover, whether Qing Chen''s judgment was correct or not, he must be a very cautious person. How could he have been so easily betrayed by his own teammates? As Tuan Zi pondered, he saw Qing Chen turn to him and flash a grin. For some reason, Tuan Zi found the smile to be very pure, devoid of any impurities. Qing Chen looked out the window, gauging the rough distance and spoke, "Stop here, let them bring the goods over." Sun Chu Ci looked at Qing Chen in surprise; whether it was the certainty in Qing Chen''s tone or something else, he involuntarily stepped on the brake. Stepping out of the truck, Sun Chu Ci shouted to the wilderness people, "Long time no see." The wilderness people glanced at each other seemingly surprised that Sun Chu Ci had stopped the vehicle so far away but hesitated for only two seconds before walking over. One of them warmly smiled, "Friend, have you brought the stuff we asked for last time?" Sun Chu Ci patted the bed of the truck, "Brought it, it''s all here." Another wilderness person casually approached and asked, "By the way, there''s a group of Wilderness Hunters surnamed Qin in City No. 18are you familiar with them?" Qing Chen suddenly realized, the key question the wilderness people intended to ask was this. Wait a minute. Wilderness Hunters surnamed Qin in City No. 18, isn''t that Xiao Yiyi''s family? What do these wilderness people want with them? Chapter 576 576: 364. The Goddess of the Fire Pit Qing Chen had impulsively hitched a ride, never expecting to end up connected to Qin Yiyi''s family. He was a bit perplexed; why would a group of wild people with ulterior motives suddenly inquire about the Qin family? At that moment, the seven Wilderness Hunters approached three pickup trucks, two of whom had pale faces and coughed from time to time. Seated in the car as per his agreement with Sun Chu Ci and others, Qing Chen did not get out. Yet he saw the seven Wilderness Hunters vaguely arranging themselves into a triangular spearhead formation; if a conflict were to arise, the hunters on both flanks could draw their guns at any moment, bringing all three pickup trucks into their firing range. "A Qin family Wilderness Hunter?" asked Sun Chu Ci suddenly, he pondered carefully before replying, "We don''t really interact with the Wilderness Hunters from city number 18, as we all take different routes, so I haven''t heard about them. What''s up, why are you asking about them?" The Wilderness Hunter smiled indifferently, "It''s nothing, just a casual question. It''s fine if you don''t know them." Sun Chu Ci felt that something was off. He could tell that the other side was not simply asking casually. The Wilderness Hunter, noticing his suspicion, explained, "There''s a rumor in the wilderness that a girl from their family suddenly became a Goddess at the Fire Pit, so I was just asking a bit more." Qing Chen was stunned in the car. He knew that Qin Yiyi had gone to the Southwest Snow Mountain, and he knew that she wanted to gain power from the Fire Pit. But what he didn''t know was that the present Qin Yiyi was no longer the little girl who always kept an apple in her bag but had become the Goddess of the Fire Pit. Qing Chen had heard of the God''s Child, but it was his first time hearing about a Goddess. It seemed that Sun Chu Ci was in the same boat, "Goddess? Isn''t there only the God''s Child?" In the Federation, tales of the Fire Pit God''s Child were often circulated. It was said that their coming-of-age ritual involved hunting significant figures of the Federation or powerful beasts from the Taboo Land, without which the God''s Child was not considered truly mature, nor could they lead a Hunting Team of their own. Only after completing the coming-of-age ritual could the God''s Child hold their own power and followers. So Qing Chen wondered, would Qin Yiyi have to go through such a ceremony? Probably. He recalled what Qin Yiyi had told him before, that she was the same age as him, 17 years old. Her birthday was on June 1st, which meant that in half a year''s time, the girl would also have to undertake her own coming-of-age ritual. At that moment, the Wilderness Hunter, grinning with a mouthful of yellow teeth, laughingly explained, "It''s true that Goddesses are rarer, maybe one appears every hundred years or so, while God''s Children might emerge several times in ten years. But these things are uncontrollable, it all depends on the will of the God." "God?" Sun Chu Ci asked, puzzled. "Yes, in the Fire Pit, God knows if someone will become a God''s Child or Goddess as clearly as if looking in a mirror," the Wilderness Hunter explained with a smile, "Becoming a God''s Child or Goddess, one immediately gains power. Many people in the wilds want to go on a pilgrimage to the Fire Pit for that very power. It''s said that on the day the Goddess appeared, the flames in the Fire Pit were exceptionally fierce, and the Goddess, having just received the power bestowed by God, far surpassed those God''s Children. There are rumors that the Grand Elder even gave his own ceremonial knife to the Goddess, and some say she might become the next Grand Elder." Listening to the other party''s explanation, Qing Chen suddenly realized that the power of all the Fire Pit people did not come from cultivation, but was ''bestowed'' by the ''God''. And this ''God'' seemed to have its own consciousness, choosing who would become a God''s Child or Goddess. However, these Wilderness Hunters probably had never been to the Fire Pit, and everything they knew was hearsay. In fact, that night at the Fire Pit was even more lively than the Wilderness Hunters described. The grand flames burned for a full four hours, with all the Fire Pit people dancing and singing around the bonfire, and the girl with the golden-brown skin was like the twilight on the verge of midsummer night. Sitting in the car, Qing Chen understood why the Wilderness Hunters asked Sun Chu Ci if they knew the Qin family. On one hand, it was because the family of the Fire Pit Goddess was still in the Federation, and if the Federation were to learn of it, they would undoubtedly take control of the Qin family people. Therefore, it''s likely that the Fire Pit had already sent someone to the Central Plains searching for the Qin family. On the other hand, the Qin family people were Wilderness Hunters, and so were Sun Chu Ci and his group. If it turned out that they knew each other and got along well, this group of Wilderness Hunters might just take the opportunity to establish a connection with the Qin family. Being the first to find the Qin family might grant them the chance to enter the Fire Pit. So, once it was confirmed that Sun Chu Ci and his team did not know the Qin family, they were likely ready to make their move. But then they heard the Wilderness Hunter say, "The falcon is in our vehicle. You should send three people with us to retrieve it. By the way, we didn''t just bring the falcon; we also brought some game we caught. It''s really delicious, you can eat it yourselves, or take it back to the city and give it to the officials at the immigration bureau if you like. Consider it a free gift from us for the several times we''ve cooperated." Saying this, he turned to head back to his own vehicle. The Wilderness Hunters were quite amiable, even bringing thoughtful gifts. However, just as he turned around, Qing Chen suddenly spoke up from the car, "Why don''t you bring the falcon here? It''s just in a cage, right? Just carry the cage over." The Wilderness Hunters turned back in astonishment, looking towards Qing Chen in the car. They asked Sun Chu Ci, "Who''s this young brother? How come we have never seen him before?" Sun Chu Ci hurriedly explained, "This is the new member of our Wilderness Hunting Team." If Qing Chen were to be considered an outsider, the Wilderness people might demand his execution, so Sun Chu Ci told a lie. The leading Hunter smiled at Qing Chen, "Young brother is quite cautious, but we''ve cooperated with your captain more than once or twice, don''t we have that trust?" Tuan Zi glanced back at Qing Chen and quickly signaled him not to speak. However, Sun Chu Ci caught on and went along with Qing Chen''s cue, "Brother Zhang, please bring the hawks over here for the trade." The leading Wilderness man''s smile faded, and he squinted slightly, "What, you don''t trust us? If that''s the case, let''s not do business together anymore! Our deal was fine before this little brother showed up, how come he gets to call the shots just after arriving? In this Wilderness Hunting Team of yours, who actually makes the decisions?" The Wilderness man''s words, designed to sow discord among the team, made even the other young men in Sun Chu Ci''s team feel something was not right. This Qing Xiaotu was obviously someone they picked up along the way, so why was he suddenly taking charge? It seemed that ever since they hadn''t even stopped the car, Qing Xiaotu had been influencing their decisions? Some young men looked at Qing Chen with displeasure, wanting him to shut up and not speak. This business deal was crucial for them, and it could not go awry. Every time Wilderness Hunters went out of the city, they had to pay the immigration bureau. This time, they hadn''t even managed to earn back the money for the tolls, fuel, vehicle wear and tear, and city rent. If they went back empty-handed, how would they live? Previously, everyone could travel between the Inner and Outer Worlds in just seven days, and if they were really starving, they could endure it by just drinking water. But now, crossing took 30 days. Who could endure that? If they returned to City No. 10 without money to live on, they might have to sell their guns and cars to survive. Moreover, they would no longer be able to gather the ''membership fee'' for the immigration bureau, and going out to hunt would be as hard as climbing to heaven. Qing Chen looked at those young men, but he didn''t take the impatient looks to heart at all. At that moment, Sun Chu Ci firmly said, "Brother Zhang, please bring over the hawks, otherwise let''s call off the trade." Qing Chen nodded to himself, thinking that it''s no wonder this group of college students could survive in the wilderness C they had such a calm and rational captain. He wondered which university this Sun Chu Ci was from; such a person would be well-suited to become an asset to the daytime. Qing Chen was well aware that after arriving in City No. 10, he would have to make a trip to Zheng City in the Outer World sooner or later, as he needed to deal with the Time Traveler of Zheng City. However, before that, he had to get a clear understanding of the situation with Zheng City''s Time Traveler so he could target his approach effectively. By now, the faces of the Wilderness people had darkened, and one of them said coldly, "We''ll bring the hawks over now, but after this, let''s not do business anymore. I see how you Wilderness Hunters who can''t hunt your own prey survive in this Wilderness. We''ll also tell other Wilderness people that you are not trustworthy Hunters." It was too difficult for a group of college students who traversed to the Inner World to learn the hunting skills that people from Qin Cheng had mastered over more than a decade in just two months. So, after becoming Wilderness Hunters, what Sun Chu Ci and his team did was trade between the Wilderness people and the Federation. If the Wilderness people stopped trading with them, life would probably become very difficult. But Sun Chu Ci remained unmoved, "Please go and get the hawks." The seven Wilderness people returned to their vehicle. Seeing they were far enough, Sun Chu Ci suddenly turned to Tuan Zi, "Give your automatic rifle to Qing Xiaotu." Tuan Zi: "Huh?" "Trust me, give it to him," Sun Chu Ci said and then turned to Qing Chen, "You''re not just any ordinary examinee, right? But now''s not the time to talk about it, thank you for the heads up, and please help out in a bit." Reluctantly, Tuan Zi handed over the automatic rifle to Qing Chen in the car. But as soon as Qing Chen took it, he noticed something wrong: "Why are there only five bullets in the magazine?" Sun Chu Ci froze on the spot. It seemed the young man was even more terrifying than he had imagined, for he had just weighed the gun and already knew how many bullets it contained! After thinking for a moment, Sun Chu Ci handed over his own weapon, "Use mine. They''re not very familiar with firearms, and since bullets are so expensive on the black market, their guns don''t have full magazines; they''re afraid of wasting them." In the hands of those not skilled with guns, the deterrent was greater than the actual use. Qing Chen understood why Sun Chu Ci acted this way and also understood that this Wilderness Hunting Team''s situation might not be as good as it seemed. The next moment, the Wilderness people, with two cages covered with black cloth, turned and walked back. Everyone''s right hand was pressed on their waist. Chapter 577 577: 365, Qing Chens Counterattack Fierce Wilderness people. Uneasy Time Travelers. Qing Chen saw Sun Chu Ci''s hands trembling slightly, a result of adrenaline secretion. This Wilderness Hunter must have been scared too. A university student who had been in the Inner World for two months would naturally be afraid when faced with real combat, but Qing Chen did not think any less of him for it. On the contrary, even though Sun Chu Ci was scared, he did not make the wrong choice to run away blindly nor did he behave in a way that caused panic among the others. At that moment, Sun Chu Ci calmly said to the others, "If a fight starts, everyone should take cover behind the car and shoot, set your guns to burst mode, and don''t use up all your bullets at once." It was impressive that a group of Time Travelers, who were even short on ammunition, could still make a living in the wilderness, earning Qing Chen''s respect. Sun Chu Ci turned back to Qing Chen and asked, "What should we do, strike first?" Qing Chen calculated the distance to the forest, 200 meters, just within the effective range of an automatic rifle. He had asked Sun Chu Ci to stop the car to avoid getting within that range, but Sun Chu Ci''s braking was too slow. He thought for a moment and said, "Get in the car, run! Create distance between them and us!" After speaking, Qing Chen got into the driver''s seat and started the car, "Quick, get in the car!" The Time Travelers were stunned. Run? They were just marveling at how quickly Qing Chen had realized something was off with the weight of the guns, thinking they might have encountered an expert, and then the next moment, Qing Chen chose to flee in the car? A group of Time Travelers facing a chase by Wilderness people in the wilderness, running was the least wise and most reluctant choice because their pursuers were the ones most familiar with the area. Sun Chu Ci hesitated for a moment, but ultimately still shouted, "Get in the car! Listen to him!" This was not a blind decision, but a judgment made based on the information previously shown by Qing Chen! Since they believed he was a firearms expert, they should also trust his ability to devise tactics. In the distance, the Wilderness people saw Sun Chu Ci and the others suddenly getting into the car and immediately started running back. Not only that, but the leading Wilderness person waved towards the forest, and in the blink of an eye, six dilapidated off-road vehicles charged out of the woods! Sun Chu Ci and the others were stunned when they saw this scene. There were so many people hiding in the forest! It was impossible not to think they had some other malicious intentions! Until that moment, everyone finally believed in Qing Chen''s judgment, and they understood that their leader, Sun Chu Ci, had once again made the right choice. Sitting in the passenger seat of the pickup truck, Tuan Zi silently looked at Qing Chen, telling herself that she had misjudged him. Sun Chu Ci asked from the back seat, "Are we just running away?" "No," Qing Chen said as he glanced at the fuel gauge. "The car can only go fifty more kilometers before needing to refuel. We can''t get very far, hang on." Just then, Qing Chen suddenly slammed on the brakes and then opened the car door and jumped out. Sun Chu Ci was about to get out to help, but saw Qing Chen kick the half-open car door, forcibly kicking him back inside the car. Qing Chen firmly raised the automatic rifle and calmly said, "Stay in the car." At that moment, he had increased the distance between them and the Wilderness people to 400 meters. This was a very delicate distance; he could hit the Wilderness people, but they would find it difficult to hit him. For someone proficient with firearms, distance was everything. The next second, Sun Chu Ci said over the walkie-talkie, "Don''t get out, wait in the car." Then, he and Tuan Zi sat in the car, silently watching the young man outside repeatedly pulling the trigger for burst shots. The rate of shooting was high, as if the youth never needed to aim when shooting. The rapid gunfire was like the drumbeat in music, with its own unique and dense rhythm. Sun Chu Ci''s vehicle was facing away from the Wilderness people, so he turned and lay against the back of the seat, looking back through the car window. He wanted to see how accurate Qing Chen''s shooting was. Amidst astonishment, he watched as the vehicles of the Wilderness people successively rolled over, with a burst of blood blossoming from their cars with each shot Qing Chen fired. Some Wilderness people stuck their heads out of their cars to shoot back, but the rough terrain caused their bullet trajectories to drift, making it impossible to properly aim at Qing Chen. Moreover, these Wilderness people could only fire one shot before being killed by Qing Chen, who gave them no chance to adjust their aim. In less than ten seconds, the Wilderness people had no chance to catch up; they were all annihilated. Without saying a word, Qing Chen approached the vehicles, judgmentally recalling his memory that there should be two people who were not dead, hiding in the overturned vehicles, shielded by the car bodies in his shooting dead angle. Seeing Qing Chen advancing forward, Sun Chu Ci hurriedly called his companions to get out of the car and follow from behind. The Time Travelers looked at Qing Chen''s back, noticing how his arms holding the rifle were immovably steady, solid as a rock. "Don''t rush in; there are still two people alive," Qing Chen calmly said. The next moment, he changed direction and finally found a new shooting angle and pulled the trigger. Qing Chen lowered his arms and let out a long breath of white mist, his warm breath in the cold winter like a delicate steam machine in operation. He turned around and smiled at Tuan Zi and the others, "Go on, see if there are any spoils of war you need. Don''t worry, there''s no danger now." Sun Chu Ci didn''t speak. He walked quickly to the Wilderness Hunter''s vehicle, pried open their trunk first, and took out the two cages containing the falcons. Unexpectedly, those two cages were empty, with nothing inside. Seeing this, Qing Chen guessed, "These Wilderness Hunters intended to trade the falcons for antibiotics with you, right?" Sun Chu Ci glanced at him and no longer hid the truth, "Yes." "Among these people, some had severe influenza. It''s possible many in their camp were infected as well, so they urgently needed antibiotics to save lives," Qing Chen said. "But, they couldn''t find the falcons you needed and couldn''t complete the trade." Capturing falcons wasn''t as easy as imagined. The Qin Family People had come to the wilderness to catch Kite Falcons and ended up not even seeing a shadow of them in two months. So, the Wilderness Hunters decided to take the risk and forcefully rob the antibiotics. Qing Chen looked at Sun Chu Ci, "During your trades previously, did you directly take the medicine from the car and give it to them?" Sun Chu Ci nodded. Qing Chen laughed and said, "Next time, be smarter and bury the medicine somewhere first. After the trade is completed, then tell them where it''s buried. Otherwise, killing you and searching the car for the medicine is too tempting. Of course, the safest bet is to have more formidable firepower." In the wilderness, killing didn''t require many reasons C only that I''m hungry and you have a piece of bread, or I''m sick and you have medicine in your hands. The logic is just that simple, brutal, and straightforward. At this moment, Sun Chu Ci checked all the vehicles, gathered the Wilderness Hunters'' firearms onto the car, and took photos as evidence. He said to Qing Chen, "City 10 has issued a bounty on Wilderness Hunters, five thousand dollars for each one killed. There are seventeen Wilderness Hunters here, which will net eighty-five thousand dollars... We can transfer eighty thousand dollars to you after we claim the bounty." Qing Chen was startled. He had known that Wilderness Hunters were also targeted by Hunters, much like how corporations hunted wild beasts. But he did not yet know that the lives of Wilderness Hunters could actually be exchanged for money in the Federation! And that they were so cheap. Qing Chen looked at Sun Chu Ci and laughed, "After all this hard work, are you guys just keeping five thousand dollars for yourselves, and giving me the rest?" Sun Chu Ci earnestly replied, "You killed them, and we were essentially saved by you, so even taking five thousand dollars is like getting a bargain for us." It was mainly because they were quite strapped for cash; otherwise, they might not even take those five thousand. Qing Chen smiled, "But you''ve saved me before as well." Sun Chu Ci said, "Given the capabilities you''ve shown, even if we hadn''t given you a ride, you wouldn''t have had any problems." At this moment, Sun Chu Ci had thought it through very clearly. How could someone like Qing Chen be left halfway to fend for himself, rushing to City 10 to ''start anew''? So the excuses Qing Chen had mentioned before were merely stories concocted on the spot by the other party. But every time Sun Chu Ci thought about the young man laying on the road pretending to be pitiful, it seemed utterly absurd... What kind of behavior was that? Just for fun? Qing Chen looked at Sun Chu Ci, smiled, and shook his head, "It''s okay, after you collect the money from the Federation just keep it yourselves, consider it my fare for the ride. It also saves you from plotting to kill me for money halfway through, which is how things are in the wilderness, right?" Sun Chu Ci paused for a moment, "We wouldn''t do that." Qing Chen continued, "Lately, the Border Control Agency has been very strict about managing antibiotics, and it''s very difficult for the average Wilderness Hunter to bring so many antibiotics out from the city. So you are Time Travelers, right? The antibiotics also came from the Outer World?" Upon hearing this, Tuan Zi and the others became extremely defensive, as if their biggest secret had been revealed. Qing Chen laughed, "Relax, I won''t report you. Although I am an Inner World Native as you call it, I have no ill will towards Time Travelers." Sun Chu Ci breathed a sigh of relief. Currently, Time Travelers were worth much more than a Wilderness Hunter''s life. Qing Chen got into the car first to warm up, "Don''t forget to thoroughly search their vehicles. After all, firearms and ammunition are quite useful to you." Sun Chu Ci and Tuan Zi blushed upon hearing this, knowing that Qing Chen had guessed their desperate situation. After Qing Chen got into the car, Tuan Zi whispered to Sun Chu Ci, "Senior, I counted just now; this young man fired a total of thirteen shots, but seventeen Wilderness Hunters died. I now feel his identity must be extraordinary, and he''s very likely a major figure in the Federation..." Sun Chu Ci bowed his head in thought; they were using automatic rifles with a 7.62 mm caliber. Even if such a caliber could create through-and-through wounds in a body, it''s hard to imagine those bullets penetrating both a body and vehicle seats to inflict fatal injuries on people behind. He checked the Wilderness Hunters'' wounds and found that four of them had died from bullet grazes to their large carotid arteries in their necks. The bullets, like knives, had sliced through the carotid arteries and, without losing much kinetic energy, hit the people sitting in the back rows. If one Wilderness Hunter died this way, it might be a coincidence, but with four, it couldn''t be just coincidence! What kind of shooting skills would that be?! Tuan Zi added, "Senior, his surname is Qing." Qing was a very rare surname. As she spoke, she turned back to look at the young man who had already gotten into the car, who was now looking back and smiling at her, his smile still flawless and pristine. Chapter 578 578: 366, Identity recognition No matter how you look at it, Qing Chen didn''t quite seem like a Time Traveler. A normal Time Traveler would never, after having been through a battle, remain cheerful and talkative as if everything that had just happened was merely an ordinary rain that had passed in the mortal world, nothing out of the ordinary. "So, everything you said before was a lie, right?" Tuan Zi asked quietly, "Being abandoned by your teammates, going to City Number 10 for remedial classes, all lies." Qing Chen replied with a smile, "You guys didn''t tell the truth either, like not mentioning your identity as Time Travelers, so I guess we''re even." Tuan Zi paused for a moment before responding, "Alright then." Full of curiosity, Qing Chen asked, "Are you trading falcons with the Wilderness Hunters to sell to some bigshot in City Number 10?" "Yes," Sun Chu Ci explained, "Recently, it''s become fashionable there to keep falcons. If you can stand with a tamed falcon on your arm at high-society events, it''s considered very prestigious." Just like how it''s prestigious for celebrities in the Outer World to wear a custom gown by a certain brand, people always chase after fashion trends, no matter the era. And right now, for the social elites of City Number 10, falcons were the pinnacle of fashion. Qing Chen wondered, if he had a Qing Shan Falcon on his arm, would he become the most prestigious person there? Unfortunately, the Qing Shan Falcon was too big, it wouldn''t fit on his arm. And it was doubtful the Qing Shan Falcon would be willing to cooperate with him for show. Sun Chu Ci went on, "This time, the bigshot who commissioned the Wilderness Hunter to capture the falcon isn''t buying it for himself but plans to give it to someone else as a gift." "How much does a falcon cost?" Qing Chen asked curiously. "1.6 million," Sun Chu Ci noted, "We were enticed by the amount too, so we offered the Wilderness people a very high price to trade, but we didn''t expect them to take the risk for such a high price." Qing Chen thought to himself, a 1.6 million falcon as a gift surely had to be for an influential figure. The gift was novel, but also rather expensive. Sun Chu Ci continued, "I heard that the gift is actually for a Shadow Candidate." Qing Chen was taken aback, "What does this have to do with Shadow Candidates?" Speaking softly, Sun Chu Ci said, "We have someone in the PCE Public Security Management Committee from our Outer World, He mentioned that Qing''s Family has launched the third round of the Shadow struggle, and all Shadow Candidates must go to City Number 10 to take on some positions. So those who want to curry favor, naturally, have to offer gifts substantial enough to impress. There were tasks posted to capture falcons before, but the reward was about 1 million. It was just last week that the price suddenly soared to 1.6 million." Qing Chen sighed, perhaps this was how significant figures competed with each other. In the future, there would definitely be someone among the Shadow Candidates who could influence the Federation, so there would surely be early investments. Just like in the royal dynasties of the ancient Outer World, there were always flatterers around each prince competing for the crown. The benefits a flatterer could reap from these people were far more valuable than a mere million or so. However, Qing Chen never expected that Sun Chu Ci and their falcon-catching would have even the slightest connection to him. After all, it was just a slight connection, as no one outside knew he was a Shadow Candidate presumed dead; the falcon wasn''t being given to him. Thoughtfully, Qing Chen asked, "Do you know what positions they are supposed to take on?" "It seems to be a Trainee Inspector at the Central Intelligence Agency of the Federation section three," Sun Chu Ci said, "But that''s just a rumor." Qing Chen pondered, it seems the Outer World wasn''t aware that the Shadow Candidates were actually joining Qing''s Spy Agency. It''s just that section three of the Federal Central Intelligence Bureau had been completely taken over by the Qing Family, so Mr. Shadow gave each candidate an identity with administrative and investigative powers to facilitate their operations. In a way, saying that section three of the Federal Central Intelligence Bureau was a subsidiary of the Spy Bureau wasn''t an exaggeration. The influence of a spy, along with the manpower they could mobilize, was extensive. At that moment, they were just over two hundred kilometers away from City Number 10, and even on difficult dirt roads, a day''s journey was sufficient to arrive. Sun Chu Ci and the others took turns driving the pickup truck, pushing on day and night. Previously, to make the trade with the Wilderness people in the agreed time, they hadn''t even slept, and now they were quite fatigued. But the thought of soon returning to the ''relatively comfortable'' city and collecting more than eighty thousand dollars revitalized everyone''s spirits. In the truck, only Qing Chen remained unusually energetic, and he asked, "Are you in need of money?" Considering it, Sun Chu Ci replied, "Actually, we can manage our daily needs, but it''s only two months until the New Year, and we''d like to have a good one." Qing Chen was surprised for a moment, it was only two months until the New Year. He had a photographic memory, and he could precisely count off five hours in his head, but it seemed he had deliberately forgotten about the Spring Festival. Back on Xingshu Road, celebrating the New Year meant curling up in a cold cabin, silently reminiscing over movies or books he remembered. For Qing Chen, it was a meaningless holiday. Just as evening fell, three pickup trucks finally arrived at the immigration checkpoint of City No. 10. From a distance, the city was enclosed by several meters high barbed wire and electric fences to prevent smuggling. Each city had its own tariff barriers. For example, to enter City No. 18 with Jindai and Deer Island''s commercial vehicles, one must pay a tariff as high as 47%. The same applied to Li Family, Qing''s Family, and Chen Clan''s vehicles entering the northern cities controlled by Jindai and Deer Island. It was a measure of the corporations to protect their territories. Today, for some reason, there were many people looking to enter City No. 10 through the checkpoint, resulting in a long queue forming outside the city''s martial law channel. "I''ve heard that it''s always like this around the year-end," Sun Chu Ci said. "Those lined up in front are Wilderness Hunters, gathering to hunt in the wilderness or to hunt wilders for money, then preparing to have a good New Year. This time, it''s probably because of the Qing Shan Falcon''s bounty, so there are more people going out to work." Qing Chen thought for a moment and asked, "How many Wilderness Hunters are there in a city?" Sun Chu Ci replied, "There are 82,319 people registered, and it''s considered a legitimate profession." "That many," Qing Chen was somewhat surprised, since he hadn''t seen hunters active in the wilderness that often. Along the road, soldiers from the immigration authority were patrolling back and forth to maintain order, looking extremely stern. Just then, a convoy drove past the three pickups via a fast-track lane, bypassing the queue altogether. Qing Chen raised his eyebrows. Seeing the expression on Qing Chen''s face, Sun Chu Ci explained, "You get used to it if you travel in and out of the city often. Corporate vehicles, official vehicles, and even some wealthy businessmen''s cars have electronic passes that allow them to clear the checkpoint directly." "Yeah, I know," Qing Chen said. He wasn''t raising his eyebrows because he was surprised that some people could skip the queue; after all, when he left City No. 18 last time, he had used Qing''s Family''s ginkgo emblem to go through the priority lane. He raised his eyebrows because he clearly saw a symbol that looked like a ''tie'' atop the vehicles in the convoy, the emblem of Heng Society. Qing Chen hadn''t expected Heng Society to have influence in City No. 10 as well. He had thought that Heng Society only operated in City No. 18. It wasn''t until 7 in the evening that it was finally Sun Chu Ci''s turn to undergo an identity check. More than ten immigration soldiers and over thirty mechanical guards surrounded the area, with drones also circling overhead. The immigration checkpoint was like a city gate structure, with a bunker-like defensive building above and a tunnel embedded with white light strips below, where all vehicles had to be inspected. Qing Chen looked up and saw a Hive embedded in the roof of the tunnel, which housed hundreds of Border-01 type drones, armed with 5.56 mm caliber standard weaponry. Unlike the Outer World, the immigration authority here was more like a part of the city defense system, with greater authority. If someone tried to rush through the checkpoint without authorization, the immigration authority was entitled to shoot to kill on the spot. And indeed, they had killed many people before. At that moment, a middle-aged man in a black uniform quietly looked at the documents and data Sun Chu Ci passed over, then asked in astonishment, "You killed 17 wilders? Are you kidding me? Your group of F-Class rated Wilderness Hunters managed to kill 17 wilders?" Sun Chu Ci patiently responded, "That''s right, the situation was quite coincidental, but there''s evidence in photos and videos, life detection device records, and iris sequence extraction records that can serve as proof. Moreover, we''ve seized some firearms; you can check them out." The middle-aged man thought for a moment and gestured to a colleague, who immediately went to inspect the three pickups. The middle-aged man casually turned off the law enforcement recorder in front of him and led Sun Chu Ci to a surveillance-free area, saying, "By standard procedure, you should be able to receive 85,000 yuan in Federation rewards, but there are four pieces of evidence in your case that are not quite complete..." Sun Chu Ci said in a hurry, "I understand, then we''ll accept the reward for 13 wilders." He was well aware that the middle-aged man was trying to make some extra money, and as an ordinary Wilderness Hunter, he had to cooperate. Otherwise, the next time they wanted to go to the wilderness, if the other party confiscated their firearms and weapons, hunting would become very difficult. Seeing how agreeable Sun Chu Ci was, the middle-aged man immediately smiled, "I am the deputy commander of the immigration authority''s seventh squadron. You can come to me if you have any issues in the future." "All right," Sun Chu Ci nodded. "Okay, then I''ll just do a routine check of the information of your accompanying personnel, and you''ll be free to go," the middle-aged man said with a smile. After finishing, he returned to where he had been standing, turned on the law enforcement recorder again, and started swiping each person''s electronic identity card on the handheld liquid crystal computer. However, when he swiped Qing Chen''s electronic identity card, he froze. The middle-aged man looked at Sun Chu Ci in astonishment, then hurriedly ran towards the pickup trucks in the tunnel. ... One more chapter at 10 pm tonight Chapter 579 579: 367. Qings Familys Pawn ahead of the Horses "Sir, where are you going?" Sun Chu Ci was completely baffled as he watched the middle-aged man sprint away, his bulky frame jiggling with each step. Anxiety, unease, humility. Just from the man''s manner of running, Sun Chu Ci could ascertain his psychological state. But he couldn''t figure out why. At that moment, as if remembering something, the middle-aged man turned back to Sun Chu Ci and said, "Don''t call me ''sir'' anymore." After that, he continued running towards the pickup truck. Sun Chu Ci was even more confused. The immigration officer, who had been so arrogant and demanding mere moments ago, was now in a panic just from scanning Qing Chen''s electronic identity marker. Sun Chu Ci started to follow him and saw the middle-aged man had reached the pickup truck and was standing next to the vehicle Qing Chen was in, his face all smiles, as if he was being extra cautious. It suddenly occurred to him that the world is like a bunch of monkeys climbing a tree: looking up, all you see are bottoms; looking down, all smiles. Unless Qing Chen''s identity was particularly special, why else would the immigration officers lower themselves to such an extent? The middle-aged man said to Qing Chen with a flattering smile, "Hello, sir, I didn''t expect to see you in this group of Wilderness Hunters. You should have gone through the priority lane. Do you want me to arrange a car for you?" Qing Chen looked at him calmly and said indifferently, "Secret mission, keep it quiet." The middle-aged man quickly nodded, "Ah, right, got it, I understand." Even Qing Chen himself didn''t understand what was happening. Although he was to be the "Imperial Instructor" of the Li Family and an instructor at Li''s Martial Hall, such details shouldn''t appear on his electronic identity indicator. The only explanation was that even though he hadn''t formally reported in, the Qing''s shadow had already included his identity information in the Federal Central Intelligence Bureau''s system. Otherwise, why would the man address him as "sir" straight away? No, he had to look at what exactly was displayed on the identity recognition information; only then could he know what identity the Qing''s shadow had arranged for him. Qing Chen had the feeling that upon entering City No. 10, everything would fall into the arrangements of that Mr. Shadow. At this moment, Tuan Zi and others were watching Qing Chen and the middle-aged officer with bated breath, feeling as if the world had suddenly become magical. How did the teenager who wanted to hitchhike in the wilderness suddenly become a "sir"? They had dealt with the immigration bureau before. When Wilderness Hunters entered and left the city, they would face very strict inspections if they didn''t pay the protection fee. The officers would even accuse them of hiding psychoactive drugs in their tires and then slash all the tires. They would open up the hood of the vehicle, and during the inspection, ''accidentally'' damage some of the external coolant hoses of the engine, and sometimes even dismantle the water tank, and so on. It didn''t matter if the broken vehicles blocked the tunnelthe immigration bureau''s people would considerately call a tow truck to take your car to the repair shop, but the repair costs and towing fees would naturally come out of your own pocket. When facing the immigration officers, the Wilderness Hunters had a natural class disadvantage; the officers could pretty much do whatever they pleased. That''s why the Wilderness Hunters would usually refer to these officers as the "Immigration Bureau Lords." And now, in front of Qing Chen, these so-called lords were bending over backward, their faces practically begging for favour. Tuan Zi''s gaze towards Qing Chen changed, but Qing Chen remained calm, showing no sign of anything unusual. Qing Chen glanced at the middle-aged man, "What''s your name?" The middle-aged man said, "My name is Li Menglin, and I''m the captain of the seventh team of the immigration bureau." Qing Chen nodded, "Haven''t you learned the confidentiality regulations? How could you come over and greet me like this? What if the vehicles queuing behind saw? Give me your identity recognition device." Saying so, he took the device directly from the man''s hands. The LCD screen displayed his ID photo, electronic identity number, and occupational information... Qing Chen saw, right there under the occupation column, it was written clearly: Federal Central Intelligence Bureau Supervisor... Qing Chen was puzzled. Firstly, other Shadow Candidates were placed in Intelligence Department Three, so why was he placed in Intelligence Department One? Furthermore, other Shadow Candidates joined as Trainee Inspectors, yet he was appointed directly as an Inspector, skipping the ''trainee'' part. However, Qing Chen still didn''t quite understand the workings of the Federation, so he couldn''t make a judgment right away. He handed the identity recognition device back to Li Menglin: "Be more careful next time." "Of course, of course, take care," Li Menglin bowed several times, only straightening up after confirming that the three pickup trucks had driven off. It was only then that a soldier, armed to the teeth, dared to approach, "What''s the matter, sir? Why were you so polite to that young man?" Li Menglin wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and realized that at some point, his back had become wet with perspiration. He said to the soldier, "What do you know, he''s from Intelligence Department One. Those Living Hades aren''t something we can afford to mess with. Moreover, he became an Inspector at such a young age, he must be some big shot from the Qing''s Family." The soldier was momentarily stunned, "A Shadow Candidate?" Li Menglin shook his head, "No, Shadow Candidates all go to Intelligence Department Three, and they''re all Trainee Inspectors. To rise from a Trainee Inspector to an Inspector takes at least a year of gilding, and the authority of a Trainee Inspector is completely different from that of an Inspector. But the most critical point is, the Qing''s Family would never send a Shadow Candidate to be a disposable pawn in Intelligence Department One." "Disposable pawn?" the soldier asked confused. "You guys don''t know about these things," Li Menglin thought for a moment and then gossiped, "Intelligence Department Two is managed by the Li Family, Intelligence Department Three by the Qing''s Family, Intelligence Department Four by the Chen Clan, Intelligence Department Six by Jindai, and Intelligence Department Seven by Deer Island. Only Intelligence Department One and Intelligence Department Five are rather unique." "Is there really such a thing?" the soldier said, puzzled. Li Menglin boasted, "What could you grunts possibly know?" "So what''s special about Intelligence Department One and Intelligence Department Five?" the soldier asked, knowing his superior wanted to flaunt his knowledge, he immediately played along. Li Menglin replied, "Let''s talk about Intelligence Department Five first. That''s all forensic medicine, so normally nobody pays attention to it. Intelligence Department One, on the other hand, is quite peculiar; people from every consortium are there, competing for power and profit, like rearing venomous insects. Intelligence Department One holds more power than the other departments; their authority takes precedence, but the internal strife is also the fiercest, and few people end well." According to the regulations of the Federal Central Intelligence Bureau, Intelligence Department One has the authority to pull files from the other departments, and if they were to confront openly, they even have the right to take prisoners directly from the hands of others. Watching the three pickup trucks disappear into the distance, Li Menglin suddenly wondered if this young Inspector was rushing back from outside to help a certain Shadow Candidate secure victory in this round? As per the usual practice in the Shadow struggle of previous years, there were only four rounds. Although the last two rounds took the longest, by the third round, it was generally clear who was all bark and no bite and who was pretending to be a pig to eat a tiger. After this round, factions within the Qing''s Family would begin to take sides. Li Menglin said to the soldier, "Remember this Wilderness Hunter''s ID number, 0291, add it to our white list. Don''t dock their pay this time. Also, let them pass directly in the future and don''t charge them any processing fees." ... ... After the three pickup trucks entered the urban area, Sun Chu Ci received a message on his cell phone: 85,000 yuan was deposited into his account as a bounty reward, exempt from personal income tax collection. Sun Chu Ci was speechless, thinking his earnings would be deducted this time, but to his surprise, they were paid in full. There was silence in the truck, the usually lively Tuan Zi kept quiet, and the car''s intercom was also constantly silent. Qing Chen smiled at Sun Chu Ci, "Which part of City No. 10 do you guys live in?" Sun Chu Ci hesitated, not knowing how to properly interact with such a prominent figure from the Inner World, he cautiously replied, "We live in Ningbi North Street, in District Five..." Qing Chen recalled the map of City No. 10 he had seen before, instantly pinpointing the location of Ningbi North Street like a navigation system. He said, "The place where I live is just two blocks away from you. If you need anything, you can call me." Sun Chu Ci was taken aback, "Don''t you live in the Upper Three District?" "Don''t address me with ''You''," Qing Chen said with a laugh, "There''s no need for that between us. Anyway, I really appreciate you guys giving me a ride." The house that Old Master Li Xiurui bought for him initially, had two sets located in the third district. However, Qing Chen chose not to live in the Upper Three District, preferring to keep a lower profile. The Upper Three District of City No. 10 was filled with social elites, especially with many celebrity actors. Staying there could quite possibly lead to being unwittingly photographed by the paparazzi. Therefore, he rented a house in advance on the edge of District Five, which was only a twenty-minute drive to the Federal Central Intelligence Bureau, which was quite convenient. "By the way," Qing Chen turned to Sun Chu Ci, "Are you guys university students in the Outer World? Tuan Zi asked me quite a few questions earlier; it seems like you are all good students." Sun Chu Ci hesitated for a moment before honestly sharing the truth, "We are all students from Zheng City University in the Outer World. However, getting into university in our Outer World is easier than in the Inner World, so being a university student isn''t something to brag about." Tuan Zi added from the side, "Sun Chu Ci is the president of the student union at our Zheng City University." Sun Chu Ci shook his head, "It doesn''t really mean much." Up to this point, these students still considered Qing Chen a native of the Inner World and hadn''t realized that he was also a Time Traveler. Qing Chen asked, "By the way, is there a well-known Time Traveler Organization in Zheng City of the Outer World?" Sun Chu Ci thought for a moment before answering, "There are two or three that are famous internally, but the Time Travelers in Zheng City fight amongst themselves quite a bit, so they aren''t very well-known among all Time Traveler organizations." "Oh," Qing Chen nodded, "What about the Time Traveler Organizations in other places, any particularly famous ones?" Sun Chu Ci thought and then said, "Kunlun, Kyushu, Matrix, Daylight, Red Leaves... These are considered relatively famous. Daylight is quite close to our Zheng City, and I''ve heard that organization is quite formidable." Qing Chen was startled; had Daylight''s reputation spread to Zheng City? ... Thank you to Huajiao has a little numb and angel_ for becoming new allies of this book. Bosses are generous; I wish you don''t get bitten while brushing your cat! Chapter 580 580: 368, new city, new life "Daytime? I haven''t heard of it," Qing Chen asked nonchalantly, "As far as I know, City 18 corresponds to Outer World Los Angeles, right? So Daytime should be operating in City 18?" By this time, the concept of the Outer World was well-known in the Inner World. Even many histories and maps of the Outer World had been brought to this world by Time Travelers. Therefore, it wasn''t strange that Qing Chen knew about the corresponding relationship between the Outer and Inner Worlds. Sun Chu Ci said, "Daytime has always been active in City 18, and they''ve disrupted many of Jindai and Deer Island''s plans." Qing Chen nodded, "Then I think this organization sounds pretty good. I don''t like Jindai and Deer Island either." Sun Chu Ci said, "This organization used to keep a tight lid on their operations, but recently they''ve been involved in too many big incidents, and it has become impossible to keep it a secret. Many Time Travelers in Zheng City are talking about going to Los Angeles to join Daytime." Qing Chen was puzzled, "Aren''t there any powerful Time Traveler organizations in Zheng City?" "No," Sun Chu Ci shook his head, "...It''s not that there aren''t any, but the main issue is that the local Time Traveler organizations in Zheng City, upon gaining power, tend to bully others. They use their abilities to collect protection fees in nightclubs, and if a Time Traveler is exposed, they would be approached by them to transport items between the two worlds to make money for them." Qing Chen raised his eyebrows, "Those Zheng City Time Travelers seem too petty, losing control over their desires with just a bit of power." He asked, "Can''t you unite against them?" Sun Chu Ci said, "No, it''s impossible. Their organization has a C-Class Expert, and everyone is too afraid to speak out." Qing Chen sighed internally, "A single C-Class Expert can do whatever they like?" It turned out that having Liu Dezhu alone in Zheng City was enough to make him a formidable figure there, which was quite unexpected. Qing Chen had originally asked about this to see if there were any Time Travelers in Zheng City he needed to be wary of. But it seemed there weren''t any. This time, Qing Chen''s visit to City 10 was, in a sense, more like paving the way for Daytime. In the past, Daytime tended to stick to one corner, although they had been involved in many major events, they primarily developed in just one place, Los Angeles. But for Daytime, it was only a matter of time before they had to step out and meet more Time Travelers, to face that broader world. Tuan Zi also chimed in, "Those people buy a few Ferraris and Porsches with their money, and they blast through Zheng City in the middle of the night, annoying as hell. In contrast, Daytime has always been up against Jindai and Deer Island, which sounds so much more spirited, right? They''re on a whole different level compared to those organizations in Zheng City! I heard that Daytime''s boss is extremely formidable. Remember the ambush on Li Family''s key figures by Jindai in City 18? It''s said that the boss of Daytime sniped countless Jindai members from 2600 meters away all by himself." Qing Chen said, "If you can speak, then... In Zheng City''s organizations, does anyone possess any Taboo items?" Sun Chu Ci thought for a moment, "The C-Class Expert in that organization seems to have one." At this point, Qing Chen finally took an interest in this organization... Three pickup trucks finally drove into the Fifth District, and Qing Chen patted Sun Chu Ci on the shoulder with a smile, "I''ll get off here. Remember, if you have any problems, you can come to me for help, especially if you are approached by Time Travelers from Zheng City." Qing Chen got out of the car, and as Sun Chu Ci watched the young man''s receding figure, he pondered deeply. It wasn''t until the young man had left that the radio in the pickup went crazy, bursting with voices as everyone had been holding back for a long time, finally getting the chance to discuss Qing Chen. "Damn, who exactly is this guy, able to make even the seniors at the Immigration Bureau bend over backwards to please him?" Sun Chu Ci thought for a while and said, "I''m pretty sure he''s some big shot from Qing''s Family, and he probably has a background in the official power structures. After all, the Immigration Bureau isn''t so servile to all members of the conglomerates, only to the mains ones, not the branches." Tuan Zi said, "His shooting skills are simply divine. I didn''t even dare to breathe heavily in the car, afraid that he might just kill us all. Could he be from Qing''s Family''s military? I heard that there are quite a few young people there who got promoted to military ranks early." "But if he really is a big shot in the conglomerate, why would he live in the Fifth District?" Sun Chu Ci thought again and said, "Maybe he likes living in the Fifth District and has many houses." At that moment, someone on the radio said, "I think there''s another possibility, maybe like some big shots in City 10..." This comment stumped everyone. The Fourth District is the entertainment district, besides the Upper Three Districts, all high-end non-conglomerate residences are concentrated there. Many second and third-tier celebrities can''t afford to live in the Third District, so they cluster in certain high-end residential buildings in the Fifth District. Thus, many big shots from City 10 have their homes in the Fifth District where they keep their favorite minor celebrities. The person who just spoke was insinuating that perhaps Qing Chen, like other big shots, kept someone here too. Sun Chu Ci shook his head in response, "I don''t think so. That Qing''s Family big shot seems quite clean, doesn''t seem like the kind of person who would do that." "Alright, I was just saying... By the way, senior, shouldn''t we try to get close to this big shot? Other Time Travelers have done well in the Inner World by clinging to powerful figures, and now that we''ve finally met a big shot from the Inner World, we sure shouldn''t miss out." Tuan Zi said, "If we could cling to such a big shot''s coattails, why would we bother fighting so hard out in the wilderness?" Sun Chu Ci thought for a moment and said, "It''s not a bad idea. I''ll occasionally show some goodwill to feel out whether he''s interested and whether he needs someone to run errands. But everyone should understand something: we ultimately have to rely on ourselves in the Inner World. If we don''t have the capability to be useful to others, then everything else is moot." During their journey, Sun Chu Ci had many conversations with Qing Chen. But somehow, the more they talked, the more mysterious Qing Chen seemed to him. ... ... After getting off the car, Qing Chen didn''t hurry to his rented house but wandered around the Fifth District instead. This trip to City No. 10 would definitely be dangerous, and even if it weren''t, Mr. Shadow would probably create some for him. Qing Chen harbored no illusions of luck; what he needed to do was to memorize all the terrain of the Fifth District before danger arrived. He spent a full six hours remembering a total of 78 streets and planned 12 escape routes, three of which led to a safe house in the Third District, and the other nine were for leaving City No. 10. Qing Chen didn''t know whether planning all this had any point, but he decided to plan first anyway. He wanted to have everything ready before he reported to the Spy Bureau. When Qing Chen entered his rented ''Utopia Building,'' the elevator was slowly closing. He ran a few steps and forcibly stopped the elevator from closing. Inside the elevator, there stood a woman wrapped tightly from head to toe, with a hat, a mask, sunglassesnot missing a single item, she looked very odd. Qing Chen felt that this disguise seemed familiar, but he couldn''t remember where he had seen it before. He glanced at the elevator buttons; the other party had already pressed for the 112th floor, which was also Qing Chen''s destination. By this point, Qing Chen was already on alert. Could it be that just upon his arrival in City No. 10, someone had found his rental information and came looking for him? Unconsciously, Qing Chen had already silently grabbed the Puppeteer in his hand. Should the woman beside him make a move, he could channel Knight Vital Energy into the puppet, turning its soft transparent strings into sharp knives. However, just as the elevator climbed to the 12th floor, the woman spoke, "Is this really necessary?" Qing Chen, gripping the Puppeteer, tightened his fingers: "Hm?" Had she already noticed his vigilance? The woman''s voice was clear, indicating she was not very old. Qing Chen caught a glimpse from the corner of his eye, the woman''s hand in black leather gloves was reaching into her chic handbag, seemingly drawing a gun targeting him. But he wasn''t panicked, instead, he asked calmly, "Who sent you?" "Who sent me?" The woman paused, "What are you playing at here? Don''t think just because you say that, I won''t know what you''re doing." After speaking, she pulled out a small taser, as petite as a lipstick. Qing Chen: "?" He suddenly felt like the situation wasn''t quite as he had imagined; assassins usually didn''t use this kind of civilian-level taser. Moreover, the things the woman said seemed to be a bit off the mark... With a constrained voice, the woman continued, "Are you paparazzi now so omnipotent? How did you find me? Can''t you give celebrities some privacy, let us separate work from life? If I see you guys in this building again, don''t blame me for being rude." The woman''s voice grew louder and more agitated, swinging the lipstick-like taser in her hand. Qing Chen: "..." He calmly glanced at her without completely dropping his guard. Though he finally understood why he thought her disguise looked so familiarit was exactly like how Lu Ya had snuck onto the rooftop to watch him. Qing Chen looked at the woman, "Madam, please calm down, you''ve misunderstood." Honestly, it wasn''t just her who had misunderstood; he had misunderstood as well. At that moment, the woman said, "Me, calm down? Then let me ask you, you didn''t even press a floor button after entering the elevator. How do you explain that?" Qing Chen internally sighed and said nothing more. Upon reaching the 112th floor, he exited first, then entered the code to open the door of his rented apartment on the 112th floor. Qing Chen stood inside the house and sighed. The personnel structure in City No. 10 seemed different from other cities. And life in City No. 10 seemed to be more bizarre than he had expected. ... The next chapter will be at 10 PM. Chapter 581 - 581 369 new subordinates new neighbors ?Chapter 581: 369, new subordinates, new neighbors Chapter 581: 369, new subordinates, new neighbors Everyone feels a sense of relaxation when they step into their own space. Because nobody is watching you, nobody is scrutinizing your actions and posture. But Qing Chen didnt relax. He stood by the door and closed his eyes, quietly listening to every sound from the outside world. No sound of doors opening, no sound of doors closing. Nothing at all. This was the anomaly. The room was 89 square meters, which, for the crowded Cyberpunk City, could already be considered a luxury apartment in District Five, where most families of three still live in 15-square-meter pigeonholes. Qing Chen didnt check out his new home immediately. Instead, he opened the door again and stepped outside. No one was there in the quiet and dimly lit corridor. He took off his shoes and, using the technique Mother Ye had taught him, approached the safety passage swiftly and silently. In the passageway, the woman from the elevator earlier was whispering, He hasnt noticed anything unusual about me... A laugh came from the phone, Your acting skills are the best in your group, its normal he didnt notice. Remember to create more interactions with him. I want to see when he will see through you. This is such an interesting game. Yes, sir... But at that moment, the woman stiffened. Because someone had put the barrel of a gun against her heart from behind. Without a sound, Qing Chen took the phone from the womans hand and then said into it, Mr. Shadow, this doesnt seem very friendly. With his hearing, he naturally recognized the voice on the phoneit belonged to Mr. Shadow of Qings Family. And this woman who appeared to have met him by chance was also arranged by the other party. The sounds that Qing Chen had listened to in his room were the opening and closing of this female stars door. Since she lived here, it wouldnt make sense for there not to be the sound of a door. It must be said that the arrangement was actually very clever. Because the woman had entered the elevator ahead of Qing Chen, and it was him who stopped the elevator doors from closing at the last moment. Then the woman pressed the button for the 112th floor ahead of him and turned around to accuse him of following her. It was a tactic of striking first to gain the upper hand. Ordinary people would only fall into the mindset of explaining the misunderstanding at this point, not thinking to suspect the other persons identity. But Qing Chen was very cautious, so cautious that he habitually doubted everything. Such a coincidence, and such early attention to his arrival, could only come from Shadow. At this time, Shadow laughed over the phone, I thought she could fool you. Your caution is unexpected. Im very curious, why did you suspect her? She really is a third-tier actress and even made it to the second-tier in her early years. Qing Chen was momentarily stunned. He looked at the woman, thinking that Mr. Shadow of Qings Family had perhaps too many informants. Even a third-tier actress was working for the Spy Bureau. He responded calmly, I just dont believe in accidents. Shadow went silent for a second and then said, Not believing in accidents is a good habit. Her name is Yan Chunmi, you can call her Chun Mi. However, since youve seen through her, you can go to the Spy Bureau ahead of time. After 2 A.M., she is responsible for taking you to report to the Spy Bureau. From now on, she will be on your team, with Spy Bureau team two serving you specifically as a spy. Also, all orders from Freemasonry for you can be relayed through Yan Chunmi. She is the only one who knows your identity as a spy and can be completely trusted... Of course, whether you want to trust her is your own business. The Spy Bureaus operational structure follows a pyramid model with a hub-and-spokes system, each spy is independent and only reports to Shadow. Beneath each spy, there are their own action teams, 12 individuals in a team, and under these 12 individuals there are several branch organizations. Freemasonry, for example, is a branch under Yan Chunmis control. It could be said that Qing Chen is now at the very top of the pyramid of Spy Bureau team two, and beneath him lies a vast pyramid foundation. This is the power that Qings shadow wanted to hand over to him, although it was just the tip of the iceberg. At this moment, Yan Chunmi took off her scarf and sunglasses, wanting to turn around and greet her new boss. However, just as she was about to do so, she found that the gun barrel was still pressed against her back without any sign of relaxation. Yan Chunmi: ... She thought to herself that her new boss seemed a bit difficult to get along with. Even after Mr. Shadow had explained her identity, the other party still hadnt let down his guard. Curious, Qing Chen asked on the phone, What if I hadnt seen through her? It would require more people and some bloody lessons to show you just how complicated and dangerous City Number Ten is, Qings shadow replied calmly. At a certain moment, Qing Chen suddenly felt that this Shadow... seemed to be like Uncle Li and Li Xiurui, also investing time and energy to teach him something. Only the means by which the other party was teaching him were more bizarre and cruel. After a moment of thought, Qing Chen asked, What do I need to do after I enter the Spy Bureau? Mr. Shadow replied, Dont rush, I will send you the assignments. Before that, remember to go to the Federal Central Intelligence Bureau and work properly. With that, Qings shadow hung up the phone. Qing Chen looked at Yan Chunmi, Turn around. Yan Chunmi said with a look of resignation, Boss, it was Mr. Shadow who asked me to deceive you, it has nothing to do with me. But if you want to hit me to let off steam, thats okay, just make sure not to hit my face. I have an audition with a production team tomorrow. She placed herself in a disadvantaged position right from the start, playing the role of a damsel in distress. Qing Chen looked at her appearance, very beautiful and delicate, no wonder she was an actress: Stop acting, lets go back to the room and talk. Yan Chunmi walked towards room 1129, and as she walked, she spoke, Boss, I am your subordinate, after all. Can you give a little trust to your subordinate and put the gun down first? Yan Chunmi had already become helpless. She had met cautious people before but never someone as cautious as this. Upon entering the room, Qing Chen asked, What is your rank? Yan Chunmi replied, D-Class. The members under your command should all be this rank. Only the spys own rank is a bit higher. Qing Chen thought to himself that he had only just reached D-Class. He then asked, How do you maintain contact with the Freemasonry? Yan Chunmi explained, Encrypted satellite phone. Qing Chen nodded and continued to ask, Besides you, how many people from group two are in City 10? Yan Chunmi answered, Boss, I really dont know about that. The members under a spys command arent allowed to contact each other or inquire about each others cover identities. They could be chefs, taxi drivers, or members of Parliament... But they should all be in City 10, after all, group two belongs to the permanent sequence of the Spy Bureau in City 10. Qing Chen asked, Who was the previous group leader? Yan Chunmi replied, Qing Zhuo, an extremely capable intelligence officer. However, hes probably dead by now. Dead is dead, alive is alive. Why probably dead? Cant you confirm it? Qing Chen wondered. Yan Chunmi said, He mysteriously disappeared while investigating the kidnapping case of Qings Familys Seventh Research Institute staff earlier this year. Generally, such disappearances are classified as deaths. He probably found some real clues and was killed by the forces involved in the kidnapping case, his body destroyed without a trace. Along with him, there were three other group members who disappeared. Qing Chens mind turned cold. Being a spy was so dangerous: Is the mortality rate of spies high? Of course, its high, Yan Chunmi said cheerfully. Boss, the things we do are the most dangerous in the Federation. People on the battlefield can still see the light of the main electromagnetic cannons, but sometimes we dont even see whos shooting, and a person is gone. Alright, Qing Chen nodded and ceased speaking. He closed his eyes and sat quietly, thinking about something. The room became completely silent. An hour passed with Qing Chen sitting on the sofa opposite Yan Chunmi without saying a word. Yan Chunmi glanced at the time. There were four hours left until 2 a.m. Surely her new boss wasnt planning to just sit in silence until then? That would be unbearably dull! She scrutinized her new boss, sensing a particularly deep steadiness about him, a sense of maturity beyond his years. Like someone who had endured much loneliness and had begun to enjoy it. Just when she almost thought Qing Chen had fallen asleep, he suddenly opened his eyes and asked, Are there any Qings Family members in the Federal Central Intelligence Bureau, Intelligence Department One? Yes, Yan Chunmi laughed. I know of over ninety. But dont trust them just because they are from Qings Family... No, Im worrying over nothing. You wouldnt trust them anyway. Even if she, as a member of Qings shadow, personally declared someone to be a compatriot, they still wouldnt be trusted, let alone those people from Intelligence Department One? Yan Chunmi suddenly felt that this was actually for the bestit meant not having to be dragged down to death by a foolish superior. Qing Chen pondered that his real power now came from his identity as a spy in the Spy Bureau. He could mobilize these twelve group members under him, as well as the organizations in their hands. And his identity as an Inspector for the Federal Central Intelligence Bureau was just a facade to facilitate his actions. Qing Chen stood up. Where should I report later? Yan Chunmi responded, Caramel Bar on Ningbi North Street. Qing Chen asked, The Caramel Bar with a holographic neon beer sign at the entrance? Yan Chunmi was taken aback. Boss knows about that place? Could it be that the Spy Bureaus site in District Five has been compromised? Just been there occasionally, Qing Chen nodded. Then Ill see you later at the Caramel Bar. Saying so, he exited the room, leaving Yan Chunmi alone. Yan Chunmi made another call to Shadow. Sir, this new group leader you chose is excessively cautious. Even for reporting in, were to act separately and meet at the Caramel Bar. Shadows voice was full of smiles, Isnt that good? Perhaps his good habits will help your group two survive until retirement. Yan Chunmi thought for a moment. Indeed, thats a good thing. ... ... Qing Chen walked through the long corridor, but before he could press the elevator button, the doors opened on their own. A woman stood inside, wearing a red turtleneck sweater, snow boots, and wrapped tightly in a scarf, sunglasses, and a knitted hat. The sight was uncannily familiar. The clothes on the woman were even identical to those worn by Yan Chunmi. Qing Chen frowned, drew his handgun, and pointed it at the womans forehead, asking, Who are you? The woman froze for a moment and then burst into tears. Have you mistaken me for someone else? As she spoke, the woman took off her sunglasses and scarf, revealing her face, and Qing Chen was stunned. He had seen her face more than once on the holographic neon, on monorail train carriages. She was a genuine top star of the Federation. Qing Chen suddenly realized the primary goal for Yan Chunmi, under Shadows orders, was to approach him, the new spy. The woman dressed exactly like the star seemed to be the first trap set for him by Mr. Shadow since he arrived in City 10, a first meeting gift: to make him subconsciously form certain misunderstandings. Then to mistake this real star who was secretly living in this building for an intelligence officer. Qing Chen could even imagine Qings shadow hiding in a corner, grinning: How interesting. He sighed inwardly. No wonder Li Changqing, Li Xiurui, and the others all said Shadow liked to play around. They werent wrong at all. Chapter 582 - 582 370. Joining the Spy Bureau ?Chapter 582: 370. Joining the Spy Bureau Chapter 582: 370. Joining the Spy Bureau Qing Chen was still holding the cold, black pistol in the corridor. The bright, white light from the elevator shone through the open door, creating an extremely awkward atmosphere. The woman in front of him looked to be in her early twenties, with fair skin, crying beautifully like flowers in the rain, her eyes as red as if she had applied a circle of pink eyeshadow. However, within the Inner World, skincare technology was quite advanced; some people in their forties could look just like they were in their twenties, so ones apparent age was no longer a reliable reference. The womans hands were free of calluses, and her physique bore no traces of combat training. An assassin who had undergone long-term training would naturally hold their right hand still while walking, unlike an ordinary person who would swing their arms. That was to draw a gun faster, to react more swiftly in a crisis. Even if someone tried to overcome this habit forcefully, they still would look somewhat awkward. At that moment, Qing Chens phone rang. He looked at it and saw a message from Mr. Shadow, Interesting. Sure enough, the other party was no longer satisfied with just quietly remarking to themselves. They had to send the word interesting to him. Qing Chen glanced at the surveillance camera by the elevator door. The other party was probably looking at him through that camera right now, watching his expression. But at this time, he was pondering a question. Li Changqing had said that sometimes when playing, Mr. Shadow would accidentally accomplish what they intended to do. So what was the other partys purpose with this game now? Did they want him to have some kind of interaction with the woman in front of him, or was it purely for fun? The tearful woman looked at Qing Chen, Who are you exactly, and why are you doing this to me? Qing Chen sighed and said, Im sorry, I really mistook you for someone else. The woman trembled and said, Let me go, I promise I wont call the police. Thank you, said Qing Chen as he walked past her into the elevator, discreetly pressing the door-close button several times. If Qing Chen hadnt kept his composure, he would have smashed the close button. Qing Chen got out of the elevator and directly called Qings Shadow, Do you find this amusing? Shadow laughed, I always get a bit unhappy seeing your composed demeanor. Its quite funny to see you a little flustered. What are you after exactly? Qing Chen didnt understand. Its for fun, of course, Shadow retorted with interest, Is there anything more important than fun? No, there isnt! As Qing Chen walked out, he sighed. Had he come to city number 10 just to accompany Mr. Shadow in seeking fun? The young man stood in the noisy cyberpunk city at midnight. In front, the colorful neon lights, the golden holographic clouds flowed rapidly in the sky, converging with the Blue Whale at the end of the long street, as if the giant whale was tumbling in the sea of clouds. The pupil of the young man constricted as the dazzling light strips on the buildings and the mechanical limbs on the pedestrians mingled together. Curious, Shadow asked, What are you doing standing still, why dont you move? Oh yes, the Spy Bureaus power structure is very simple. Your position is as a spy, and the 12 people under your command are called Kite Falcons; Ive carefully selected them for you, make sure to use them well. Qing Chen said nothing. Shadow laughed, Go report to the Spy Bureau with ease. There will be many more interesting things waiting for you in the future... huh? At that moment, Shadow suddenly realized that they had lost sight of Qing Chen in the surveillance. The young man seemed to have an ability to disappear into the crowd like a water drop merging with the ocean. Qing Chen had not changed his appearance, but instead stepped into all the dead angles of the surveillance cameras. He was proving to Shadow that despite their extensive Divine Skills, he still had ways of escaping their control. This is even more interesting. I like control, but I like the uncertainties of the future even more, Shadow hung up after saying that. In Shadows 34 years of life, everything was in order, as if all things were proceeding in a foreseeable future according to their plans. Including their own life. People love the certainty of things in life, such as dreaming of saving six million to live off the interest in the bank for an easy second half of their life. Like finding a secure job, and then waiting to age. Like finding a love that is constant and unchanging, hoping it will never go sour. But Shadow found such a life boring. After getting used to seeing people, events, and objects being controlled, they instead preferred the occurrence of uncertainties. Uncertainty equates to surprise. If you know too early what youre going to get, that surprise can no longer be called a surprise. ... ... 1:45 AM. Caramel Bars entrance. Caramel Bar was located on the first floor of Leiming Building. Yan Chunmi from the Spy Bureau arrived 15 minutes early, but she did not see a trace of her new boss. She muttered to herself, Not the type to arrive early, huh? But surely he wont be late? Just then, she heard Qing Chens voice from behind her, You had three servings of takoyaki, two skewers of oden, one portion of yellow braised chicken with rice, and a steak on your way here. Why are you eating so much? Arent you supposed to have an audition with the film crew tomorrow? Dont third-rate stars need to manage their figure? Yan Chunmi turned abruptly, only to see her new bosss expression as calm as a lake. She suddenly realized that he had followed her the whole way, and she hadnt noticed him at all. Indeed, Qing Chen knew not only about the food shed eaten but also that after she stepped out of the Utopia Building, she started crossing the first pedestrian light with her left foot. Chapter 583 - 583 370. Joining the Spy Bureau_2 ?Chapter 583: 370. Joining the Spy Bureau_2 Chapter 583: 370. Joining the Spy Bureau_2 Qing Chen walked past her and entered the Caramel Bar, From now on, youll need to be more cautious when eating. Yan Chunmi bit her lip stubbornly. She was already the best Kite Falcon in the group. If she wasnt cautious enough, the others were even less so. The new boss wasnt trying to remind her of anything, but rather, he was putting her in her place with his actions, telling her to focus on her work and not entertain unnecessary thoughts. Anyone who could follow her for kilometers without being noticed naturally had the ability to silently eliminate her. In fact, this time there were a group of new spies joining, including the Shadow Candidates Qing Yi, Qing Shi, Qing Wen, Qing Wu, Qing Yuan, and Qing Xing, and four others. All ten spies had to re-dominate their twelve Kite Falcons, ensuring their absolute loyalty and devotion. If they couldnt win people over, the spies would be nothing more than figureheads, since all of a spys intelligence and operational abilities came from the Kite Falcons. The Kite Falcons were the elite operatives within Qings intelligence system, making them exceedingly difficult to dominate. This meant that those holding the position of spy had to be exceptionally capable. Qings Family was a consortium that placed high importance on internal competition, from the Shadow struggles to the domination over the Kite Falcons; if you were capable, you got promoted, if not, you were out, with no room for sentiment. So, Yan Chunmi, by playing along with Mr. Shadow to tease Qing Chen today, was essentially challenging him. Little did she expect, the backlash came so swiftly. Watching Qing Chen enter the Caramel Bar, Yan Chunmi hurriedly followed and curiously asked, Boss, since when have you been following me? Qing Chen replied, Since you walked out of the Utopia Building, but after you sat down to start eating braised chicken rice, I went back again... Snooping through someones belongings is not a good habit. Today was his first day in City Number 10, which was where he was staying, and it contained none of his personal belongings. Thus, Mr. Shadow hadnt informed the other party, or else they wouldnt have searched the place. Yan Chunmi said, Dont scare me, boss. I didnt snoop through your stuff. Qing Chen glanced at her, You only searched through the wardrobe, nothing else. To Qing Chen, any changes in his home were immediately noticeable. Yan Chunmi was truly shocked this time. She was about to say something when Qing Chen cut her off, No need to explain anything. We are about to pair up to complete the task Mr. Shadow assigned. Its normal for you to want to assess your new boss, but you only get one chance to do so. Yan Chunmi whispered with her head down, Yes, boss. Qing Chen asked, Where is the Spy Bureau hidden? Yan Chunmi led Qing Chen deep into the Caramel Bar, to an elevator belonging to the Leiming Building, which went directly to the 2nd to 132nd floor. Once inside the elevator, Yan Chunmi pressed the buttons for floors 4, 10, 2, 18, 3, 16, 5, and 17 in succession. The letters on the elevator buttons flashed white, then faded out simultaneously. With a hum, the elevator did not ascend but began descending instead. Qing Chen silently counted in his mind, and at the 32nd second, the elevator slowly stopped its descent and the doors opened again. In front of them was a small office lit by dim yellow light, where an old man wearing reading glasses sat at a worn-out desk, looking up at the two people in the elevator. After pausing for two seconds, he said, Qing Chen, you are the first to arrive. Mr. Shadow has mentioned you. Qing Chen stepped out of the elevator, How may I address you? The old man took off his glasses and smiled, Just call me Lao Shen. Qing Chen sized up the man, his gaze pausing momentarily on the reading glasses. Lao Shen smiled, My eyes may be weak, but my mind isnt. You must be curious why I wear reading glasses. After all, a simple surgery could fix it, and wearing glasses is such a hassle, isnt it? Qing Chen candidly responded, I am a bit curious. Lao Shen explained, I havent left this underground site for thirty-two years, so I havent had a chance to get eye surgery. Besides, sitting in this position, I cant use anesthesia, not even local anesthesia, just in case it affects my nerves, or someone takes the opportunity to administer a truth serum, which would be a big problem. Lao Shen continued, Moreover, with todays technology being so unpredictable, if someone were to implant something during my eye surgery, you would all be in danger. Qing Chens eyes carefully surveyed the room, noticing three wooden doors behind Lao Shen. He couldnt imagine what it would be like to sit underground for thirty-two years; he wondered if he could endure such loneliness. Qing Chen asked, Is Shen your last name? Lao Shen chuckled, Who else could sit in this position but a family member? My name is Qing Shen. Lao Shen got up and opened a door behind him, revealing a small room filled with bookshelves, which were neatly stocked with paper file folders. Qing Chen was surprised that in this high-tech era, Qings Spy Agency would still use the oldest method to record all the spies data. Lao Shen handed Qing Chen a new file folder, This contains all your Kite Falcons information. Memorize it here, and then I will burn it. Check whether the seal is intact. Mr. Shadow personally delivered this data like this; I havent touched it, and I dont know who your Kite Falcons are. Only you do. Chapter 584 - 584 370. Joining the Spy Bureau_3 ?Chapter 584: 370. Joining the Spy Bureau_3 Chapter 584: 370. Joining the Spy Bureau_3 Qing Chen thought that, with the Taboo item ACE-008 Door of Shadow in Shadows possession, it would have been quite convenient to move in and out of here, but he didnt expect Shadow to value the Kite Falcons data so much that they personally delivered it to this underground facility. Curiously, Qing Chen asked, Whats behind these three doors? Quite curious, arent you, Lao Shen said with a smile, Behind the door on the right is my living quarters, the left one contains all the spy records, as well as the data of the spies subordinate Kite Falcons, and in the middle door, there is a Black Sorkin Bomb. Should anyone invade, I will reduce both myself and the intruder to ashes. Qing Chen silently observed Lao Shens expression but found that the other party showed no psychological burden when saying this. He spent a good half hour looking over the Kite Falcon data. It contained contact information for 12 Kite Falcons, cover identities, directions for gathering intelligence, height, weight, measurements, and skills. Only one thing was peculiar: the actual power levels of all Kite Falcons, originally written on the paper data, had been completely blacked out with a pen, as if someone didnt want Qing Chen to know them so easily. Without a doubt, it must have been Qings Shadow who did this. Besides this Shadow, no one would joke with such crucial Spy Bureau data. After half an hour, Qing Chen returned the data to Lao Shen. In fact, Qing Chen could have memorized it at a glance, but he did not want Yan Chunmi and Lao Shen to know about his photographic memory. Lao Shen opened a drawer underneath his desk, revealing a small incinerator. Lao Shen muttered, You looked particularly carefully, didnt you? Other spies finished in ten minutes. Let me think... Whats the next step... Ah, right, the oath. But Mr. Shadow has already instructed that you dont need to take it, so you can go now. Yan Chunmi was startled. No oath?! Why? All spies who came here had to swear an oath; it was standard procedure. That Mr. Shadow had specifically stated that Qing Chen didnt need to take an oath surely had a deeper meaning. But she couldnt figure out why. Is that it? Qing Chen asked, Shouldnt I get something, like a weapon? In the movies, thats what happens; after becoming an Ace Agent, they get high-tech weapons, like shoes that can eavesdrop, pens filled with high-performance explosives... And the ring that symbolizes the status of an Ace Agent. Lao Shen asked with a smile, What else do you want? If a spy has to come to me, Lao Shen, to get a weapon, what kind of spy are they? Should I give you a badge to pin on your chest and tell everyone on the street that you belong to Qings Spy Bureau? Qing Chen wasnt offended by the rebuke; he calmly said goodbye and then turned and stepped into the elevator. Lao Shen watched him leave with a smile as if he had just completed a very routine task. In the elevator, Qing Chen suddenly said, Yan Chunmi, before I arrived, you must have been the spy in charge of this group of Kite Falcons, but after my arrival, you became a Kite Falcon. Yan Chunmi laughed, How could that be? Ive always been a Kite Falcon. While speaking, Yan Chunmi looked straight at Qing Chen without touching her nose or letting her gaze drift elsewhere, everything as usual. Qing Chen smiled without replying, but he had his answer. He judged that Kite Falcons would never have had the clearance to enter this underground facility. Lao Shen was too important, and the information down there too crucial. Therefore, Yan Chunmi must have held a much more significant position, at least higher than that of a Kite Falcon. The elevator ascended more slowly than it had descended. During the slow rise, Qing Chen asked, Why has Lao Shen willingly sat down here for 32 years? Yan Chunmi thought for a moment before answering, I heard that 32 years ago, his entire family was assassinated, and he was the only one who survived. After recovering, he dedicated his life to seeking revenge for the murderer and to ensure that other members of Qings Family avoid the same pain, which is why hes contented to stay here. I see, Qing Chen nodded, Hatred is the greatest motivator for a person to live. Back at Caramel Bar, Qing Chen headed straight out, Act at your discretion. Youll be summoned when needed. Until then, do not show yourself before me again. A chill ran through Yan Chunmi; although the young man before her was so young, he exuded an inexplicable sense of oppression. Once Qing Chen had left, Yan Chunmi sat in the deserted booth of the bar. Suddenly, a middle-aged man with a gentlemans hat asked with a smile, What do you think of the new boss? Without turning around, Yan Chunmi sighed softly, Hes a bit more impressive than I expected, but he seems rather difficult to get along with. A bit disappointed. Our powerful group didnt get assigned a Shadow Candidate as boss, the middle-aged man said, I really envy the other groups. If they bet on the right horse, they can gain a great deal of merit. If they serve the new boss well enough to get a position of Shadow, everyone in the group can soar to new heights. Yan Chunmi thought for a moment before responding, Have you ever thought about what happens if you bet wrong? Among the six Shadow Candidates, do you know who will have the last laugh? If youve backed the wrong person, youre faced with purges and reckonings. Whats there to be afraid of, we could simply flee far away, the middle-aged man chuckled, Or maybe youd like to run away with me? Stop joking around. I dont care for men of your caliber, Yan Chunmi snorted, Moreover, the person who becomes Shadow will definitely be the smartest one. Do you really think the others will let Kite Falcons get off scot-free? Think about the current Mr. Shadow, are you confident you could slip through his fingers? Thinking of Mr. Shadow, the middle-aged man suddenly felt a shiver of fear. Mr. Shadow was a figure whose mere mention commanded respect. At that moment, Yan Chunmi stood up to leave, Work hard. This new boss is no simple character. There might be light at the end of the tunnel yet. What she left unsaid was, why had Mr. Shadow specifically instructed that Qing Chen didnt need to take an oath? ... A 5,000-word chapter, another one coming at 11 PM Chapter 585 - 585 371. The Achievements of the Dragon (10000-word ?Chapter 585: 371. The Achievements of the Dragon (10,000-word update for monthly votes) Chapter 585: 371. The Achievements of the Dragon (10,000-word update for monthly votes) ` From the Dragons Success. This term sounded particularly enticing. At this moment, most people involved in the struggle for the position of Shadow were thinking these four words. Once a Shadow Candidate succeeded in rising to power, the entire power structure within Qings Family would undergo a new reshuffling. Therefore, unlike the quietness on Qing Chens side, the residences of all the Qings Shadow Candidates were bustling with activity, and even young Qing Yis place was no exception. In District Three, Qing Yi sat obediently on the sofa in his high-rise luxury home, receiving guests over and over again. There were factions from Qings Family in City No. 10, as well as colleagues from Intelligence Department Three, which he was about to take over. In the Federal Central Intelligence Bureau, the Inspector is second only to the head of the department, and is in charge of 36 ordinary detectives. So those well-informed detectives, upon learning who their new boss was, even if Qing Yi had not yet officially taken up his post, came one by one to visit in advance. Officially under the pretense of reporting work. In the living room, Qing Yi kept a very low profile, calling everyone brother or sister, without any airs of a financial magnate. However, he suddenly felt very uninterested and began to miss the days of training at Autumn Leaf Courtyard. He even missed Qing Chen, Li Ke, Li Tongyun, Nan Gengchen, Li Yinuo... He didnt know why, but even though he had suffered the most hardships and grievances in Autumn Leaf Courtyard from a young age, Qing Yi still felt that those were the most carefree days. At first, he had to pretend, but later, training with his brothers, eating lunch together, going back home after practice to watch the evening sunset by the mountainside villa, it seemed quite enjoyable upon reflection. What disappointed Qing Yi a bit was that, since the Elderly Master of Li Clan had passed away, the instructor had disappeared, and there was no reason for everyone to gather together anymore. The instructor was too partial, always taking Li Ke on his wanderings, even though he had always claimed to treat all the brothers equally. At this thought, Qing Yi suddenly recalled the first time the instructor empowered him and felt a bit moved to tears. No, thats not right, Qing Yi felt there was also a sense of humiliation mixed with the emotion, after all, how could he, a smart Qings Shadow Candidate, be moved so easily? What he didnt know was that at that time, the tears were purely because Qing Chens Knight Vital Energy was too peculiar. Inspector? A detective, noticing the distracted Qing Yi, tentatively inquired. Qing Yi snapped back to reality, Hmm? He was inwardly frustrated. How could he afford to be so inattentive during a time for winning peoples hearts?! The detectives looked at each other, realizing that all their recent flattery had been in vain. One detective said with a smile, Its getting late, we should let the Inspector rest early. After all, tomorrow youll be officially assuming your role, and well have plenty of time to work together. Please rest assured, Inspector, in the future we will all cooperate with you and be your loyal supporters. Qing Yi responded with an obliging smile, Then thank you, brothers and sisters, Ill be counting on everyone in the future. He personally saw the detectives out. Once they left, he muttered softly, With so many Shadow Candidates, why did it have to be the youngest one for us? You saw how distracted he was just now, clearly he wasnt focused. An older, more seasoned detective sighed, Hes just too young. Remember, after the Shadow Candidates take office tomorrow, we mustnt have any conflicts with other teams. Anyway, I dont think this Qing Yi likely has a chance of winning. Lets not have gotten nothing from this Dragons Success and then end up in trouble when the purge comes. The detective agreed, Yes, thats true, but we still need to be polite to Qing Yi on the surface. When the time comes, just dont work too hard. Right, I heard that someone is also starting at Intelligence Department One, stepping into an Inspector role as soon as they join. Looks like the shadow is going to cause trouble there again, huh? Hehe, who dares to meddle in the affairs of those Living Hades? Let them fight it out amongst themselves. After the guests left, Qing Yi kept sitting on the living room sofa with his eyes closed, resting. It was a long while later that a message appeared on his phone, recording verbatim the detectives conversation after they had left. The sender was one of Qing Yis Kite Falcons. Compared to true intelligence agencies like the Spy Bureau, the Federal Central Intelligence Bureau, which was hollowed out by financial conglomerates, still appeared somewhat naive. The real talent, ninety percent of it, had already been absorbed by financial conglomerates at an early stage. After listening to the recording, Qing Yi closed his eyes again, Boring. The moment he closed his eyes, the laughter and chatter of his brothers on their way home after practice in the mountain estate echoed in his ears. Tonight, Qing Yi, Qing Shi, Qing Yuan, Qing Wu, Qing Xing, and Qing Wen, the remaining six Shadow Candidates, were almost simultaneously hosting the same work reports in their homes, only the mood of each group of reporters varied. There were also those who wanted to report to Qing Chen, after all, he was a real Inspector with the power to appoint and dismiss Team Seven. What surprised the detectives from Intelligence Department One, Team Seven, however, was that no one could track down the address of their new boss! Unlike these minor characters, at this time, there were many influential figures within Qings Family silently observing, waiting for the third round of the Shadow struggle to end, to see who would emerge as the one with the aura of the True Dragon Heavenly Son. Then they would place a heavy bet. ` Chapter 586 - 586 371. The Achievements of the Dragon (10000-word ?Chapter 586: 371. The Achievements of the Dragon (10,000-word update for monthly votes)_2 Chapter 586: 371. The Achievements of the Dragon (10,000-word update for monthly votes)_2 ` For them, this round was about more than just individual capability; it was also about who could first integrate the Kite Falcon and claim it for their own use, and who was the most ruthless, with the sharpest mind. By the fourth round, the Shadow Candidates would probably have to officially take over the power from the current Shadows, and that would be the moment when the real power figures chose sides. Qing Chen walked down the bustling street; New Years Eve was approaching, so decorations and lights were everywhere. In the Inner World, New Years Day is a holiday as important as the Spring Festival. Unlike the 18th city, there was also a unique Jindai Street here. The entire street was adorned with red Wine Banners, with vendors selling sushi, tempura, takoyaki everywhere, and izakayas and synthetic barbecue restaurants densely packed on the ground floors of skyscrapers. Even more distinctive were the girls in kimonos kneeling in shop windows, each looking gentle and dignified. Men who had drunk too much would come here arm in arm, then after choosing a girl, theyd go inside with her. Afterwards, theyd emerge with a lollipop given by the proprietress. Proprietresses of other establishments knew, seeing that lollipop, that the man had finished his business and there was no need to put any further effort into soliciting them. Qing Chen passed through not to patronize the businesses but because Jindai Street had the fewest surveillance cameras in District 5, and the fluttering Wine Banners and dense holographic neons helped conceal his movements. For Qing Chen, entering City No. 10 marked a new beginning, so he had to be extra cautious. As the young man passed Jindai Street, the kimono-clad girls in the windows couldnt help but look him over; usually, it was greasy middle-aged men who came here, so a graceful young man was a rare sight. Did such a clean-looking young man also need to come to a place like this? However, to the girls disappointment, the young man did not linger but quickly disappeared at the end of Jindai Street. Qing Chen returned to the Utopia Building. He first made a round to check for any PCE Security Management Committee vehicles, and only after confirming there were none did he step into the elevator. He was worried that the A-list celebrity would call the police, even though his identity with the Federal Central Intelligence Bureau was enough to solve any problem. He did not want to become infamous before he even officially reported for duty. He pressed for the 112th floor. The transparent elevator rose rapidly in the sealed shaft, and when it reached the 66th floor, the walls of the elevator shaft turned into transparent glass. The thousands of household lights and the hovercars zooming past in the sky were just within arms reach, with the whole Cyberpunk World laid out below. Qing Chen felt as if he had suddenly surged from the abyss to the heavens, with everything suddenly becoming clear. There were stars falling to earth before him. Arriving outside his apartment, Qing Chen sighed at the sight of the marks by his door. Opening the door, the aroma of tea pervaded the space, accompanied by coughing sounds. All the lights were turned off, with only the neon lights from outside casting shadows, but failing to illuminate Mr. Shadows face. Qing Chen resignedly said, You make yourself quite at home, dont you? I havent even had the chance to buy a kettle, and youre already here for tea? Qings shadow chuckled and pointed at the tea table in front of him, Here, I bought one, as a housewarming gift for you. Qing Chen pictured the other person carrying a kettle, walking out of the Door of Shadow, and suddenly found the image both bizarre and down-to-earth. But surely, as a gift from the illustrious Qings Shadow, it should be something of the Taboos caliber, right? Whats the deal with giving a kettle? Qing Chen asked. Qings Shadow changed the subject, What do you think of Yan Chunmi? Qing Chen thought for a moment and said, Shes concealing her talents. Oh? Qings Shadow was somewhat surprised, I am intrigued that you would notice that. Why do you think she is doing so? Perhaps shes worried Im a boss who envies talent? Or afraid Ill use her as cannon fodder? Qing Chen guessed. Qings Shadow laughed, What do you think of her tactic? Qing Chen replied, Its immaterial to me. Good, a leader should be broad-minded. Dont concern yourself with how she thinks or acts, you just need to know what you want, Qings Shadow commended. Qing Chen suddenly felt that what Uncle Li Dong taught him was how to cultivate himself, what Li Xiurui taught him was how to maintain purity of heart, but what Qings Shadow wanted to teach him was how to be a competent boss. But why? Why did he want to teach him these things? Qing Chen had some theories, but the few answers he came up with were too fantastical, almost surreal. How do you plan to use the other Kite Falcons? Qings Shadow inquired. Qing Chen pondered, Would you believe me if I said I havent planned to use them yet? Qings Shadow smirked, Well, Ive handed the people over to you. Whether you use them is your own business. At that moment, Qing Chen suddenly asked, Did you kill Lao Shens family? Shadow couldnt help but laugh and said, What do you take me for? To ensure a loyal liaison and archivist, murdering their whole family? Youre undervaluing my personal charm. Moreover, Lao Shen has been underground for 32 years; I was only two when he was put away... Oh, are you trying to probe my age? Qing Chen was taken aback by the revelation of Shadows youth; this also indirectly overruled some of his speculations. At least, Shadow couldnt be the Inner World Qing Chens father. ` Chapter 587 - 587 371. The Achievements of the Dragon (10000-word ?Chapter 587: 371. The Achievements of the Dragon (10,000-word update for monthly votes)_3 Chapter 587: 371. The Achievements of the Dragon (10,000-word update for monthly votes)_3 Unless the other person got married and had children at 15, that would be way too early... In the dim room, Shadow turned on the projector embedded in the wall, which consisted of three transmitters, each three beams of light converged in the room to form a holographic image. On the holograph was the TV drama featuring the celebrity Qing Chen had just aimed a gun at. The atmosphere suddenly became awkward. Qing Chen pointed at the celebrity in the holographic image and said, Youre following celebrities now? You even found out their hidden address just to set me up? Just then, Shadow raised an eyebrow, You have a visitor. He nonchalantly drained his cup of tea, then left behind a packet of tea leaves as he said, Just had someone pick these tea leaves for you. Although they brighten the eyes, drink them sparingly, too much can cause issues. By the way, the Qing Zhuo that Yan Chunmi mentioned didnt disappear. As you guessed, Yan Chunmi was the spy, and Qing Zhuo was her kite falcon. Later, because she discovered that Qing Zhuo was lured away by a woman and showed signs of defection, she acted to cleanse the ranks. This packet of tea, its cultivated from Qing Zhuo. After finishing, Qings Shadow propped open the Door of Shadow and walked in, as if stepping into a void. Qing Chen looked at that void and felt somewhat irritated. If youre giving tea, just give the tea. Why disgust someone just as you leave and also hint that what Yan Chunmi told me might not all be the truth? But he suddenly realized that Shadow had actually come to deliver the tea leaves. Could it be that seeing the elders in Taboo Land giving out fruits, he felt compelled to bring out something or else it would seem too disagreeable? Qing Chen knew for sure, the tea leaves from the Taboo Land had effects that were beyond imagination. He thought to himself, first his skeleton and hearing had been enhanced, now the tea for brightening eyes. What if one day he tried everything in the Taboo Land that had enhancing effects? At that thought, Qing Chen actually looked forward to the treat promised by Ding Dong. Knock, knock, knock, three times. Qing Chen stood puzzled and asked, Who is it? Outside, a muffled voice replied, Me. Qing Chen opened the door to see Li Dongze standing outside, dressed in a fine suit and a neat bowtie, as if he had just come from a dinner party. This man seemed forever ready to attend all grand ceremonies. Why have you come? Qing Chen asked. It wasnt a surprise to Qing Chen that the other knew his address. He had previously instructed Hu Xiaoniu in the wilderness to relay to Li Dongze that he was heading to City 10. He wasnt surprised either that Li Dongze was in City 10, as he had seen the Heng Societys convoy when crossing the border tunnel. What was surprising was why he was in this room? Li Dongze was holding a black plastic bag and bluntly asked, Wheres the kitchen? Qing Chen pointed him in the right direction, still in shock. Then, he watched as Li Dongze lit the stove, set a pot to boil water. Li Dongze took a pack of black sesame rice balls out of the black plastic bag, tore it open and dumped the shimmering rice balls into the boiling pot in one go. Silently waiting for the rice balls to cook. Standing still as a statue. The room fell into an inexplicable silence. Qing Chen stared at Li Dongzes finely dressed, rice ball-cooking form, and Li Dongze countered the awkwardness with silence. Qing Chen curiously asked, What are you really here for? Li Dongze paused for a while and said, The boss said its almost New Years Day and nobody would be with you for the festival, so he sent me. Qing Chen, ...New Years Day is not for cooking rice balls, its for Lantern Festival. Li Dongze furrowed his eyebrows tightly, with seventy percent skepticism and thirty percent uncertainty, he asked, Really? Then what do we eat on New Years Day? Qing Chen asked, Did the master send you here just for this? Youre so conspicuous, what if someone spotted you? No, that wont happen, Li Dongze shook his head, I was very careful coming here. Before I came, the boss said that ever since you arrived in City 10, Qings shadow, that kid, would definitely try to persuade you every day. Our own people cant do worse than the Shadow. After saying this, he placed the cooked rice balls in front of Qing Chen. Without waiting for Qing Chens approval, he sat next to him, took a selfie together, and sent it to Su Xingzhi. Qing Chen could almost imagine that maybe soon Su Xingzhi would also suddenly show up in City 10. Whats all this about? How have I become so popular? Qing Chen looked at the steaming rice balls in front of him. It had been many years since anyone had spent New Years Day with him. In an awkward atmosphere, there was nevertheless a hint of warmth. He looked up sincerely and said, Thank you. After sending the message, Li Dongze gravely turned to Qing Chen and said, There are people from Heng Society in Fourth District too. Although Heng Society isnt the only power here, they might be able to help you if you encounter difficulties. By the way, is Luo Wanya one of yours? Qing Chen nodded, Yes, he is. Li Dongze thought for a moment and said, His expansion is quite fast. Although hes being discreet, its inevitable that hell attract resentment. Who would resent him? Qing Chen asked. Li Dongze said, He poached a subordinate from Mechanicus. Now, that crazy bunch from Mechanicus are scouring the world for him. Mechanicus is strange and best avoided. Should I intervene? Qing Chen shook his head, Lets see if he can handle it himself. This news indeed did surprise Qing Chen a bit. Poaching a branch directly from Mechanicus... what a move. To know that in the Inner World, Mechanicus is a genuine religious organization, for Luo Wanya to coax people from there meant that he needed to first destroy a branchs faith! Isnt that bizarre? Im leaving now, Li Dongze glanced at the rice balls, Little boss, please take a bite or two to show gratitude... Dont mention to Su Xingzhi and Lin Xiaoxiao about me bringing rice balls on New Years Day. Alright, Ill keep it confidential. ... A chapter of five thousand words, todays ten thousand words updated, is not considered additional since I have been a salted fish for a few days, giving everyone a bit of interest... Thanks to Black Rabbits husband, Yi Lin, and Le Sanye for becoming the new allies of this book, both are generous and wish their families a happy Mid-Autumn Festival and family happiness. Rarely wishing formally once, lets applaud. Chapter 588 - 588 372 Taking office CIA Inspector ?Chapter 588: 372, Taking office, CIA Inspector Chapter 588: 372, Taking office, CIA Inspector Early morning. Qing Yi sat at the dining table in his mansion, eating a breakfast prepared by the servant, including fried eggs, white porridge, pickles, scallion pancakes, and steamed buns. It was not particularly extravagant, just delicately put together. After finishing his meal, he wiped his mouth and walked outside. In the elevator hallway, six bodyguards, specifically requested by his mother, had been waiting for him early on, each one an elite from the military. In fact, Qing Yis security detail was not limited to these men; there were also two in the elevator, and he even had the elevator shaft checked with a life detector before he entered it each time. Downstairs, two more guarded the fleet of cars to prevent anyone from tampering with the vehicles. Qing Yi owned not just one property in District Three of City 10 but had bought all six units on this floor and the floors above and below for his security personnel and servants to reside in. This was the true manner of a core Descendant of Qing traveling, with an entire combat team set up just for security. Qing Yi got into his executive car when his phone rang. The incoming call was from Li Ke. He slightly curled his lips upwards, then felt that his reaction seemed a bit off, so he let the ringtone sound for a good ten or so times before answering, then calmly asked, Whats making you call me so early in the morning? In this executive car, there was a soundproof panel between the back seats and the driver, which meant the driver could not hear anything said by the passengers in the back. To direct the driver, one had to press the talk button next to the seat. Li Ke on the other end of the phone didnt mind his tone, I heard you are entering the third round of the Shadows Strife, so just a reminder to be careful. Youre supposed to report to Intelligence Department Three today, right? Intelligence Department Two is under my familys control. Ive spoken to my father; if you run into any trouble, you can tell me. Qing Yi said, Im from Qings Family, and you are from the Li Family. Theres no way a Descendant of Qing would seek help from the Li Family if something goes wrong. Who are we belittling then? Li Ke replied, Being cautious is never a mistake. Also, if you want to maintain a good relationship with the detectives under Intelligence Department Three, remember to keep your temper in check, and dont flaunt your wealth. Keep it low key and blend in with everyone; thats how theyll be willing to work wholeheartedly for you. Qing Yi couldnt help but laugh and cry, Why have you become so naggy? Im not like the other Shadow Candidates, okay? Being too young makes it hard to command respect no matter what I do. Instead of acting young and inexperienced, Id rather flaunt my wealth and have the other candidates look down on me. Everyone has their own strategy, and I have mine. I not only need to flaunt but also go to work with bodyguards, after they all underestimate me, they will have a tough time dealing with me. For some reason, Qing Yi ended up sharing all his plans with Li Ke. In fact, this was not right; with the Shadows Strife being such critical confidential information, he shouldnt have told anyone, especially not someone from the Li Family. But Qing Yi didnt feel there was anything wrong, as the relationship between the two had become somewhat delicate. It was like they were friends, but neither had acknowledged the other as such. Li Ke said, If you have your own ideas, then I wont say more. Ill send you the contact of an Inspector from Intelligence Department Two. If youre in danger, remember to contact him. Ive asked my father to have the Secretariat notify them to assist you covertly. Qing Yi impatiently said, Why all this hassle? Hey, Ive told you, I dont need help from the Li Family! Li Ke: Ive already sent it to you. Qing Yi: ...By the way, wheres the master? Didnt he take you on a trip? Youre back now; where is he? Li Ke explained, The master left the Li Family alone, and I dont know where he went. Why, do you have something you need from him? If you miss the master, you can call him directly; dont you have his mobile number? Qing Yi became anxious, Miss him? How could that be? I was just asking where he went is all. Li Ke: Okay. Qing Yi was speechless, the other partys response was very perfunctory: Alright, Ive arrived at the Central Intelligence Agency, I wont talk anymore. Li Ke said, Okay, well talk on the phone tomorrow. Qing Yi had been quite depressed because he had to play the fool at the Central Intelligence Agency, but after the phone call, he felt much lighter. Someone still knew he wasnt actually foolish or immature, and Li Ke had even gone as far as to request his father, who now headed the Li Family, to have the Secretariat inform Intelligence Department Two to assist him in secret. Perhaps this was the point of the second round of the Shadows Strife, as well as his advantage, Qing Yi thought. Getting out of the car, Qing Yi even purposely carried a backpack, making him look more like he was going to school than to work. He told his security chief, Park the cars right at the most visible spot in front of PCA, let everyone see them as they come and go. If anyone asks who the cars belong to, tell them they were assigned by my parents. You guys might have to stand guard in shifts by the cars; Ill give you an extra allowance when we get back. The security chief bowed his head and said, Sir, youre too kind; for such little things, theres no need for an extra allowance. Qing Yi shook his head, Rules are rules. After entering the PCA Federal Central Intelligence Bureau, he greeted everyone cheerfully, calling them brother and sister. Arriving at Intelligence Department Three, he was surprised to see the detectives who had visited him yesterday now eagerly gathered around Qing Wen, chattering about something. Chapter 589 - 589 372 Taking office CIA Inspector_2 ?Chapter 589: 372, Taking office, CIA Inspector_2 Chapter 589: 372, Taking office, CIA Inspector_2 Qing Wen changed into the PCA Central Intelligence Agency uniform, looking humble and modest, and had already taken off the watch that was worth a set of houses in the Upper Three Districts without wearing it. In this report, Qing Wen was with Intelligence Department Three, Team Four, Qing Shi with Team Five, Qing Wu with Team Six, Qing Yuan with Team Seven, Qing Yi with Team Eight, Qing Xing with Team Nine. At this point, the detectives under Qing Yi, Team Eight, were quick to say their goodbyes to Qing Wen and gathered around Qing Yi upon seeing their legitimate boss arrive. Although they felt that Qing Yi stood no chance in the Shadow struggle, they still needed to give him face. Otherwise, if Qing Yis parents felt that their child had been wronged here at the PCA Central Intelligence Agency, they wouldnt be able to withstand it either. For the consortium, they were just struggling ants. A detective came up to Qing Yi and cautiously said, We saw Qing Wen come early, so we went over to exchange a few words. Qing Yi smiled and said, Dont worry about it, brothers and sisters. Having finished speaking, he walked straight up to Qing Wen, with his watermelon-head style hair neatly done, and said sweetly, Brother Qing Wen, congratulations on your victory in City 18. What he was referring to was the death of Qing Zhong, who, although not killed by Qing Wen himself, was indeed seen as a victory for Qing Wen by the outside world. Qing Wen also looked at Qing Yi with a kind expression, I heard that after you arrived in City 18, you went straight to Banshan Manor? Qing Yi nodded, Yes, I went to visit Aunt Changqing. She was worried about me and suggested since I was not keen on joining the Shadow strife, it might be better to stay at Banshan Manor. It should be noted that Qing Yi was the first to declare his disinterest in the Shadow struggle, and he had even gifted his taboo item, the ACE-090 Immortal Pin, which he had acquired in the first round, to Qing Wen early on. And his age was the most likely to be underestimated objectively. Then Qing Yi smiled and said, Brother Qing Wen, I dont really have the ability to complete the tasks Mr. Shadow has given, so how about this, if youre ever short-staffed, you can always call on my people. With that, Qing Yi looked toward his detectives from Team Eight, Remember, brothers and sisters, if Brother Qing Wen needs any help, be sure to assist him well. The detectives were thrilled inside, as this meant that even though they did not have a hot candidate like Qing Wen as their Inspector, they were genuinely assisting Qing Wen, and surely he wouldnt forget them if he was promoted. However, it looked like Qing Yi truly had no intention of engaging in the Shadow struggle, did he? What they didnt know was that there were already Qing Yis Kite Falcons planted among these Team Eight detectives, and the chat between the detectives yesterday had also been forwarded to Qing Yi by a Kite Falcon. Therefore, he couldnt wait for Qing Wen to take his Team Eight out on tasks, so his Kite Falcons could report back Qing Wens every move. Just then, a confused voice from outside the large office asked, Whose wallet is this? Without looking, Qing Yi knew who it was, Qing Xing. For some reason, Qing Xing had a mysterious buff ever since he was a child; from the age of seven, whenever he went out, he would find money, and it seemed as if he was always the recipient of good fortune, like someone chosen by destiny. This story had become legendary within the Qings Family, saying that he was naturally different, blessed with luck. Qing Xing was not originally called Qing Xing, but Qing Chong. Later, due to his extraordinary luck, his father renamed him Qing Xing. Then, a detective came hurrying along the corridor outside to Qing Xing and said, Hello, thats my wallet... Qing Xing calmly nodded, Then Ill return it to you. After that, the young man in his twenties left as if nothing had happened and went to his own office to report. It was as if he was accustomed to finding money and wallets all the time. Gradually, all the Shadow Candidates arrived. It was not surprising that all the Shadow Candidates were dressed very simply, totally shedding their airs as core members of their consortiums, trying to blend in with their detectives, even eating lunch together in the cafeteria. Qing Yi was the only exception; he had little interaction with his detectives, idly sitting at his desk during work hours, and during lunchtime, he would dine in the administrative-level car parked at the door, which was filled with exquisite and rare food. As Qing Yi ate, he sent a message to his Kite Falcon, Why didnt I see the office location for Intelligence Department One? The Kite Falcon replied, Intelligence Department One is an independent department, which operates a kilometer away in the neighboring building. Qing Yi found this strange, Why are they operating independently? The Kite Falcon, All the consortiums have sent their elite intelligence personnel there to compete for legitimate intelligence power. Therefore, to avoid those Living Hades from affecting others with their infighting, the PCA Central Intelligence Agencys higher-ups have allowed Intelligence Department One to operate independently. Qing Yi put down his phone and continued eating, feeling that he might want to visit Intelligence Department One at some point. It seemed that was where the real Federal Central Intelligence Bureau was. ... ... A kilometer away. Qing Chen stood silently outside a dilapidated building, in stark contrast to other towering skyscrapers, like a department store from the old era of the Outer World. It had only nine floors, and even the glass structure on the outside of the building was shabby, uncleaned by anyone. The only distinctive feature was the surrounding yard, with walls three meters high, orderly electrified fences on top, and surveillance cameras everywhere. Chapter 590 - 590 372 Appointed Central Intelligence Agency ?Chapter 590: 372, Appointed, Central Intelligence Agency Inspector_3 Chapter 590: 372, Appointed, Central Intelligence Agency Inspector_3 The courtyards main gate was as daunting as a prisons, with a massive iron door beneath which there was a smaller door. Qing Chen stepped forward and pressed the doorbell; with a beep, a middle-aged man inside opened the small iron window of the door and asked expressionlessly, Who is it? Qing Chen glanced at the man calmly and presented his letter of appointment, saying, Newly appointed Inspector. The middle-aged man immediately put on a smile, Oh, why didnt you say so earlier? Look at this fuss. With a clank, the small iron door that only allowed one person to pass through opened, and the middle-aged man led Qing Chen inside. The middle-aged man said with a grin, The Seventh Unit youll be in charge of is on the third floor. The whole floor is yours, and your detectives are all here; no one went out on a case today. Mm, Qing Chen nodded. Upon reaching the third floor, the middle-aged man called out, The new Inspector has arrived. However, the atmosphere was a bit odd because of the ninety-something detectives at their desks, not a single one stood up; all were engrossed in their own tasks with expressionless faces. Seeing the mood was off, the middle-aged man quickly excused himself. Suddenly, Qing Chen realized an issue: all other Shadow Candidates taking over were awaited by detectives eager to brownnose, while his own detectives, along with Kite Falcon, were all waiting to size him up... Just because, in Intelligence Department One, there was no room for gold-brickers to coast; if the leader was too weak, then the whole team would suffer. At that moment, a middle-aged man came forward and extended his hand to Qing Chen, Hello Inspector, I was the acting head of the Seventh Unit before you arrived, named Qing Hua, Trainee Inspector. Another man in his thirties stood up, smiling, Hello Inspector, I am the Seventh Units Trainee Inspector, named Qing Zhun. Qing Zhun was the man Mr. Shadow had mentioned, someone who could be trusted. Qing Chen sized him up and saw that the man had a handsome appearance, a well-proportioned figure, and looked very competent. The organization of Intelligence Department One was somewhat different from the others; in Intelligence Department Three, a Trainee Inspector could already independently manage 36 detectives. In Intelligence Department One, however, a unit of 96 detectives also included a full-time Inspector and two Trainee Inspectors. The standard was much higher. Qing Chen turned to Qing Hua, What do I need to do now? Qing Hua seemed well-prepared, as he led Qing Chen into the Inspectors office, saying, Your identity code is the username and password; it can be used to log into the electronic archives to query all PCA files. Only you, I, and Qing Zhun have this access here in Unit Seven. Have a look at the past files first to get a rough idea of the cases weve dealt with before, which will facilitate your work. Qing Chen asked, What cases are you currently investigating? Qing Hua replied with a smile, You better take a look at the information database first. Qing Chen nodded and sat down decisively. He opened the vast sea of information in the database and suddenly realized this was the first act of initiation by his subordinates. A normal person who tried to get through all that past data might not finish until eternity. In the meantime, if he tried to meddle in the affairs of Unit Seven, they could brush him off with You are not familiar with the situation. This was probably a common tactic of internal politics in the office, not very conspiratorial but extremely effective. Qing Chen was patient, too, sitting there for seven hours. Outside the door of the Inspectors office, someone whispered to Qing Hua, He must be the person arranged by Mr. Shadow here, right? Are we going to have a problem giving him a hard time like this? Qing Hua looked calmly over all the detectives, We are all pawns of Qings Family in PCA. If the leader is incompetent, none of us will have good days. If he cant even handle this little matter, I will ask the clan to replace him. But if he proves exceptional, I, Qing Hua, am willing to kneel and offer an apology. Its not your concern. After saying this, the detectives had no further objections. Qing Hua was not wrong; over a decade ago, Unit Seven had an extremely stubborn Inspector who led the detectives at that time into a trap set by Deer Island, resulting in ninety percent casualties in the unit. No one wanted a repeat of that situation. That evening, after receiving a message, Qing Chen walked out of the office and headed straight for the exit. After he left, the detectives exchanged glances, Hes not about to clock out, is he? Not saying a word, might be hes upset about the initiation. If I was made to look at that much data, Id get upset too. Qing Hua thought for a moment and said, Wait and see. What they didnt know was that after leaving the main office, Qing Chen didnt leave the building of Intelligence Department One; instead, he went to a certain interrogation room on the seventh floor. All the video and audio equipment in the interrogation room had been turned off, and a middle-aged man was waiting quietly. Qing Chen pushed the door open, and the middle-aged man courteously stood up, Good to see you, sir. Chief Li Yunshou sent me to convey his regards. Qing Chen calmly said, Does he have any message for me? The middle-aged man spoke courteously, Nothing specific, just wanted me to get acquainted with you. My name is Li Yunqu. If theres anything you need assistance with in the future, do tell me, and I will do everything within my power to cooperate. Qing Chen nodded, I appreciate the sentiment, but I dont need help at the moment. By the way, which floors are Jindai, Deer Island, and Chen Clan located on? Li Yunqu said, Jindai is on the fourth floor, Deer Island on the fifth, Chen Clan on the second, and our Li Family is on the sixth. At the moment, Jindai and Deer Island are probably fully engaged in investigating a missing persons case from the first half of this year. It might be related to Qings shadow, and theyre likely trying to find clues connected to Qings shadow. Qing Chen thought for a moment and said, I see. What is the Li Family investigating? Li Yunqu replied, Were investigating the Mechanicus. We suspect that the backers of the Mechanicus are connected to Jindai. Thank you, Qing Chen nodded, And if you need help with anything, feel free to tell me. After that Qing Chen turned and went back to the third floor. Li Yunqu stood in the interrogation room and respectfully watched Qing Chen leave. To someone from the Li Family faction like him, Qing Chen was one of the few individuals in the entire consortium who mattered at the decision-making table. He was a true VIP, a presence as unreachable as clouds in the sky. Many thought Qing Chen came to Intelligence Department One alone, possibly even Mr. Shadow thought so. But that was not the case. ... A five-thousand-word chapter, another one coming at 11 PM. Chapter 591 - 591 373 Swarm out of Intelligence Department One ?Chapter 591: 373, Swarm out of Intelligence Department One Chapter 591: 373, Swarm out of Intelligence Department One The detectives and trainee inspectors of Intelligence Department One, Group Seven, might still be in the dark. At the time they wanted to show the new boss whos boss, Group Two, controlled by the Li Family in the same building, had already received a phone call from Li Yunshou himself, instructing them to fully cooperate with Qing Chens work during this period. If there was a conflict between their regular duties and Qing Chens arrangements, Qing Chens tasks could be given priority. Once this was said, Li Yunqu realized the importance of the situation, which is why he met with Qing Chen as soon as he reported for duty. Thus, for Qing Chen, he may not need to assert his authority; if detectives and trainee inspectors dont comply, naturally, there will be others who will. If he really wanted to get something done, he could bypass Group Seven altogether. He just didnt want to do that. By now, Qing Chen had a rough understanding of what kind of place Intelligence Department One was. Its existence was simply a means for the conglomerates to suppress their opponents with legitimacy. During election campaigns, the favorite phrase of the senators is, The Federation belongs to all federal citizens. But what the citizens love to say is that the Federation belongs to the Li Family, Qings Family, Chen Clan, Jindai, and Deer Island. On this vast land theres only one unified nation, even though Jindai and Deer Island are newcomers from hundreds of years ago, they also have the status of federal citizens. Under the vast starry sky, it seems like everyone is equal, and yet different. A scholar from Qinghe University once said that the current form of democracy had become the biggest joke within the Federation. The majority of senators needed the support of conglomerates to be elected, but the conglomerates, while balancing each other, still supported the position of the President. Those who desperately wanted to run for President appeared like pathetic figures in the long river of history. Many thought this scholar would be silenced by the conglomerates, but in fact, he wasnt. However, he never spoke out about such matters again. This incident was handled by the PCA Central Intelligence Agency, with detectives showing up to kill the scholars cat and, on behalf of the conglomerates, making certain promises before leaving conspicuously. The fact proved that scholars arent always so principled. But it also proved that the PCA Federal Central Intelligence Bureau was not just a simple intelligence agency, nor was everything it did appropriate for one. They wore the guise of official status, becoming the knife in the conglomerates hand used to cut down others. Qing Chen returned to the third floor. The detectives were surprised that Qing Chen hadnt gone home after work, and they also wondered where the young inspector had just gone. Qing Hua looked at Qing Chen, Boss, its getting late. Why dont we continue looking through the information database tomorrow? Qing Chen shook his head, You all go back. Ill take another look. Qing Hua was somewhat surprised. He exchanged glances with the detectives and then left the Intelligence Department One building one after another. What he didnt know was that having the new boss tediously go over the information database was a form of initiation. However, for Qing Chen, it was an excellent opportunity to learn the Federations secrets. After all, he had agreed to become a spy for Qings shadow and report to the PCA Central Intelligence Agency just to gain more intelligence. At this moment, the entire information database was open to him, an opportunity too good to pass up. Although the intelligence database the PCA Central Intelligence Agency could access wasnt exactly the deep secrets of the Federation, it was still significant; these were things an ordinary Time Traveler couldnt hope to grasp. Most crucially, the PCA Central Intelligence Agency had vast connections; the 10th City was just the headquarters, with each detective even linked to various PCA Central Intelligence Agency branches around the place. So, in the latest information database, it shockingly recorded an event where a Mechanicus branch was abducted in the 10th City. This intelligence was still fresh... The third floor was now empty. During the late hours, the lights in the large office outside of Qing Chens inspectors office were all off, leaving only his lit up. He was particularly alone. Qing Chen looked at the data, which showed that the PCA Branch still hadnt uncovered why an entire Mechanicus branch had defected, only knowing that the followers no longer had faith and started calling each other family members. It seemed like the work of an intentional perpetrator, but the culprits identity wasnt found, nor the meaning behind calling each other family members. The PCA Branch indicated that a new type of organization might emerge and further observation of the Mechanicuss reaction to the incident was needed. Qing Chen then picked out another event of interest: the assassination of the fourth President after stepping down, where the culprit was a B-Class Expert named Liang Liang, who had served in the Federal First Group Army, had no faction, and wasnt recruited by any conglomerate. Liang Liangs son suffered from congenital heart disease and had long been unable to receive a matching heart due to his rare blood type. Yet before the assassination, Liang Liangs son received a heart donation. After the assassination, Liang Liangs body was found by a river outside 10th City, mostly eaten by fish. The case seemed to have become an unsolved one at this point. Qing Chen furrowed his brows; was the trail to find Huan Yu really cut short like this? He searched the internal information database using keywords like Devils Stamp and Taboo Item ACE-017 and discovered that the Devils Stamp had reappeared after that, 49 years ago, when someone had used it to write a love letter to a star, scaring them almost out of the entertainment industry. Qing Chen thought to himself, what a mess this all is... Chapter 592 - 592 373 Swarm out of Intelligence Department One_2 ?Chapter 592: 373, Swarm out of Intelligence Department One_2 Chapter 592: 373, Swarm out of Intelligence Department One_2 If this sort of thing was happening in the Outer World, it would probably terrify quite a few people, However, it seemed that the star was still alive. Could he pay a visit and ask if they could guess who the holder of the Devils Stamp might be? Then, Qing Chen saw that PCA Central Intelligence Agency Intelligence Department One had listed the pursuit of Jindai Kongyin as one of their cases. In the files, the last public sighting of Jindai Kongyin was in the northern 19th city, and she had been missing since. It appeared that someone was helping her evade capture, suspected to be the work of the Time Traveler Organization in Kyushu from the Outer World. Finally, Qing Chen started reviewing the cases that the detectives were investigating. The added database was enormous, even containing some surveillance videos related to the suspects, which Qing Chen watched at four times the speed. At that moment, footsteps were heard outside the office. Qing Chen looked up, knowing that no one in Intelligence Department One would attempt to assassinate him. Even if someone did, this place wouldnt be their chosen venue. Therefore, he wasnt worried. The next second, the thirty-something Qing Zhun arrived at the office door, grinning and said, Inspector, I knew youd still be here looking at the information database. Actually, you dont need to. You could just order Qing Hua directly in the name of Mr. Shadow. Would they dare to disobey? Why put yourself through all this trouble? Qing Chen thought for a moment and said, You might not believe this, but Im quite interested in past files. He looked at Qing Zhun, noting that he was carrying two plastic bags. Qing Zhun took out several biodegradable disposable lunch boxes from the bag, I thought you might be here all night, so I went and bought some late-night snacks. Qing Chen thought for a moment and said, Thank you. The disposable lunch boxes were pale yellow and contained several delicately prepared side dishes. These lunch boxes were made from sugarcane bagasse. After the extraction of sugar, the sugarcane bagasse was crushed and sedimented, then pressed into boxes. After eating, one only needs to bury them underground for a while, and they will degrade into soil. It had to be said, the Inner World paid more attention to environmental protection than one might imagine. Qing Zhun, after a moment, asked, Did Mr. Shadow ever mention me to you? Qing Chen shook his head. No. Itd be good if he did, I could be someone you trust... Qing Zhuns voice trailed off. Ah, is that so? He had intended to use his connection with the Shadow to quickly bridge their relationship, but since Qing Chen did not acknowledge it, it appeared he planned to observe on his own. Qing Chen bowed his head to eat. Qing Zhun did not give up but continued, Why dont you go to the prestigious Intelligence Department Three, but instead come here to Intelligence Department One? Qing Chen glanced at him, Dont ask what shouldnt be asked. Perhaps you have a good relationship with the Shadow, but that is not capital you can use to pry into my affairs here. Qing Zhun wasnt upset, instead he smiled and said, Today at Intelligence Department Three, Qing Yi, Qing Shi, Qing Yuan, Qing Wu, Qing Wen, and Qing Xing have all started their jobs. I happen to know about these Shadow Candidates. For instance, Qing Shis father, under the Family Head, handles the energy projects and seems determined to personally intervene to help his daughter win the battle for the Shadow. As for Qing Xing, hes very lucky; since he was seven, hes found money every day he steps outside, always succeeds in what he wants to do, and people he dislikes always fade away. Finds money every day? Qing Chen looked up. Yes, Qing Zhun smiled, But finding money is just a small part; there are other matters. He was always second in his class at Qing Family School, with Qing Wens grades always surpassing his. When Qing Xing was twelve, his father promised him a sniper rifle if he ranked first. That time, just by chance, Qing Wen fell ill and missed the exam. Qing Chen became thoughtful. Qing Zhun kept talking, There are many more similar incidents, like, there was a girl he liked at Qinghe University, but she was already interested in someone else. You know, students from Qinghe University come from all over the Federation and go home during holidays. Happily for him, his rival had a car accident on the way home. The dashcam showed that a goat suddenly ran onto the road and he mishandled the situation, turning the wheel abruptly, causing the vehicle to overturn. Hes not the only one who died under Qing Xings Lucky Halo; there was a professor at Qinghe University who failed him in a subject, making him retake a year. That professor, on his way home, happened to be near two gang members who started swinging knives at each other, accidentally slicing a bystander who bumped into a store window, shattering it. The broken glass fell and sliced through the professors neck. The more Qing Chen heard, the more he furrowed his brows. Qing Zhun asked with a smile, Intriguing, isnt it? That theres such a lucky person in this world. So while others think Qing Wen will become the Shadow, I believe Qing Wen wont stand a chance against this guys luck, especially since Qing Wen lost to luck once already when he was twelve. Qing Chen looked at Qing Zhun. Perhaps the man truly was a confidant of Mr. Shadow, or else why would he suddenly talk about the battle for the Shadow? Of course, it might also have been a probing attempt, suspecting that Qing Chen might be one of the Shadow Candidates too. Qing Chen glanced at Qing Zhun but said nothing. ... ... Qing Zhun left. Chapter 593 - 593 373 Swarm out of Intelligence Department One_3 ?Chapter 593: 373, Swarm out of Intelligence Department One_3 Chapter 593: 373, Swarm out of Intelligence Department One_3 Qing Chen didnt leave; he sat in his office, earnestly reviewing the documents, relying entirely on his brain to memorize every Federation secret one by one. Qing Hua thought it would take him a few months, but in reality, Qing Chen had reviewed everything in just 9 hours. Having reviewed these files, Qing Chen also discovered that the PCA Central Intelligence Agency had the authority to access Federation citizen records, so he memorized the 931 search results for familiar names such as He Xiaoxiao. During this time, he didnt find it tedious at all; instead, he felt a surge of excitement. Early in the morning, detectives gradually arrived at the office. When they found Qing Chen was still there, and it seemed he hadnt slept all night, they were all somewhat amazed. They hadnt expected the new boss to be so committed! Qing Hua arrived, silently observing Qing Chen through the office window. One detective said, The new boss is tough; what if hes just gearing up to clean house on us? Another detective said, What if he noticed the many gaps in the files we wrote? After all, sometimes we arrest people secretly even when evidence is lacking. Intelligence Department One is known as Living Hades precisely because they operate ruthlessly and without hesitation. This is the consortiums blade; it naturally has to be sharp to be valued by the consortium. The detectives looked towards Qing Hua: Deputy Chief, what do you think about this? Qing Hua glanced at everyone: What Im most afraid of is that he cant really do anything to us but also refuses to seriously review the files, and ends up using Mr. Shadows name to pressure us. Now, whether hes really reviewing the files or not, at least hes no fool. Folks, we ultimately still work for Qings Family. Hes shown a humble attitude, so its about time we ended the power play. Just like that? Qing Hua glanced at them: That database, ordinary people couldnt finish it in months. Dont tell me you actually believe this new boss is patient enough to go through it all. He has shown the right attitude, and when a way out is presented, take it. Otherwise, do you think he couldnt just directly deal with us? At that moment, Qing Zhun walked in from outside, carrying breakfast, and swaggered into Qing Chens office, placing the breakfast on the table. But Qing Chen didnt eat. Instead, he walked out of the office and calmly asked, Who is Yang Xuyang? A detective hesitated before standing up: Inspector, I am Yang Xuyang. Qing Chen calmly said, I reviewed the military espionage case you are handling. The evidence for the secret arrest of that defense official is insufficient, isnt it? Check around 36 Xingye Street in District Three again. This official is very wealthy yet insists on walking home; in the security footage tracking his movements, he looks up at a window at the right upper corner of number 36 every time he passes, nine times out of ten. There might be some spy signals there. Arrest the residents of that window and take them to the Secret Prison for an intense interrogation. Li Li, Wang Bo, you two keep an eye on the movements in Jindai and Deer Island upstairs. If anything happens, inform me immediately and prevent them from contacting the suspect in the Secret Prison. Silence fell over the large office, everyone staring at Qing Chen in shock. Qing Chen said, Didnt you hear me? Yes, sir, Yang Xuyang hurried to his feet and ran out. Qing Chen continued, Who is Xu Wen? A detective silently stood up. Qing Chen said, Go one kilometer away and bring Zhou Chenyi from Intelligence Department Six for questioning. His statements in the 6.12 smuggling case are inconsistent; I suspect hes one of the involved parties. Bring him back for intense interrogation; I want to know what the undisclosed smuggled goods are. Qing Hua was startled. Intelligence Department Six was Jindais territory, and this new boss was targeting Jindais faction on his second day in office?! He cautioned, Inspector, Intelligence Department Six is Jindais... Qing Chen looked at Qing Hua: Cant Jindais people be brought back? Qing Hua lowered his head: They can. After speaking, he lowered his head to check the files of the 6.12 smuggling case on his computer; Zhou Chenyis statements indeed contradicted each other. Qing Hua immediately stood up, calling six detectives, and personally went to arrest someone from Intelligence Department Six. After Qing Hua had left, Qing Chen quickly named more than ten other individuals, demanding the re-arrest and intense interrogation of a total of 37 suspects. In just over ten minutes, Qing Zhun watched as the office, which had just become lively, quieted down again. Qing Chen looked at Qing Zhun: Go and help Qing Hua; Im worried there might be a conflict over there. Qing Zhun chuckled: Intelligence Department One investigating Intelligence Department Six? As long as theres solid leverage, no one there dares kick up a fuss. The nickname Living Hades for Intelligence Department One is no joke. In fact, one-third of the cases handled by Intelligence Department One involve personnel from other intelligence departments. Eliminating dissent, its just like this. Qing Zhun thought, his people should be convinced now. At that very moment, Qing Hua sat in the vehicle speeding towards Intelligence Department Six. The driver, hesitant for a long time, suddenly said, Deputy Chief, do you think this new boss has actually reviewed how many files overnight? Qing Hua sighed: Even now, if someone told me hed already finished reviewing all the files, I wouldnt be surprised. Did you notice? When assigning tasks, he distributed 17 orders one after another without consulting any documents. He knew exactly who was in charge of each case and what the issues were. I need notes for a five-minute speech, and he reeled off so much information without even changing his expression once. Qing Hua continued: And I just confirmed, hes not just making us run around pointlessly; take the military espionage case. I watched the surveillance videos from Xingye Street six times, and indeed that official looked to the upper right corner every time he passed by. Everyone in the car fell silent. Qing Hua said, This new boss is probably going to turn the PCA Central Intelligence Agency upside down. Prepare for overtime; were likely to be busy for a long while. ... A chapter of five thousand words, twenty thousand words updated today, still paying interest. Requesting monthly tickets! Chapter 594 - 594 374 The first day of ruling over the third floor ?Chapter 594: 374, The first day of ruling over the third floor of Intelligence Department One Chapter 594: 374, The first day of ruling over the third floor of Intelligence Department One Xingye Street. Yang Xuyang was already there with two detectives and more than thirty special agents. The PCA Federation Central Intelligence Bureau itself is an orthodox power institution, and they have their own special action sequences. Whenever there might be a violent conflict, the detectives will call in the special agents. How weird! Yang Xuyang sat in the car. He was looking at the dossier on his tablet over and over again, at the behavior trajectory of that suspect. As the newly appointed inspector said, the suspect did indeed look up slightly to the upper right at the next intersection nine times out of ten. The action was so subtle that so many of them had watched the surveillance footage and all had missed it. But the action was also very clear, because after Qing Chen pointed it out, everyone put ten pieces of surveillance footage together for comparison, and indeed they were able to detect the pattern. Yang Xuyang looked at the other two detectives: What kind of demon is this new inspector, to be able to find something like this? Could he have been watching these few surveillance clips all night? One detective said, Havent you seen the work group blowing up? The big office on the third floor is already empty. Everyone except Qing Zhun has been sent out. Each person has a task, the most troublesome cases at hand. That means he definitely wasnt watching this case all night long; he was looking at all the cases. These three were the earliest to leave, so they didnt know what had happened in the big office afterwards. But at this moment, all detectives were rushing to their respective targets, discussing as they traveled, feeling like they were going crazy. The young inspector stood quietly in the big office, his commands precise like those of a machine, peeling back layers of clues one after another. That strong oppressive feeling made everyone completely overlook his age and rank. Yang Xuyang sighed, How it all turns out depends on the success rate of our arrests today. Our Group Seven hasnt mobilized like this in a long time. I dont even know if Group Sevens secret prison can hold so many people. With that, he led the way out of the car, signaling three tactical gestures to the special agents. The detectives and special agents split into two groups and began to surround the Mantle Building up ahead. Based on the angle the suspect looked up, the culprit should be in either apartment 504 or 604 in the Mantle Building. Yang Xuyang took a few special agents up in the elevator, another team went through the emergency access, and four others stayed on the ground floor in case the suspect tried to escape through the windows. However, things went more smoothly than anticipated. Just as Yang Xuyang got to the door of apartment 504, the door actually opened from the inside. A young woman, seeing Yang Xuyang and the others, looked shocked and turned to run back inside the apartment. Before she could make it two steps, Yang Xuyang shot her in both legs, and she fell to the ground. Hold her down, Yang Xuyang sneered. Thought she could run after seeing the Living Hades of Intelligence Department One? The next moment, Yang Xuyang felt something was off because the woman lying on the ground had gone silent. He quickly stepped forward to turn the woman over, only to see blood trickling from the corner of her mouth. Damn, Yang Xuyang stood up irritably. The woman was a death warrior with a poison sac hidden in her mouth, which meant that this clue was very important; otherwise, why would there be such a resolute death warrior prepared to die here? This also meant that all the new inspectors judgments were correct! Im done for. Hurry up and search the place, see if there are any usable clues, Yang Xuyang paced back and forth in the apartment, agitated: The new inspector just got played by us as a show of force, and hes looking for a reason to blow up. And now I let the suspect commit suicide! Yang Xuyang could imagine the kind of punishment he would face. What do we do? one detectives colleague asked with a pale face. If the new boss convicts the three of us, claiming we intentionally left the suspect a chance to commit suicide by poison, then all three of us might end up in the secret prison. In Intelligence Department One, they often dont care so much about the evidence. As long as you are suspected, they can throw you in a secret prison, and even if you get out, youll have lost a layer of skin. Yang Xuyang gritted his teeth and said, Lets go back and kneel down and try; we can only hope the new boss wont hold a grudge. At the moment, all three detectives were each worried about their own consequences, but at this time, they all simultaneously thought of one thingif their side had confirmed the suspect truly existed, did that mean the other teams sent by the new boss would also have results? Perhaps today, Intelligence Department One and Group Seven were going to cause a sensation in the intelligence community. ... ... Meanwhile. They had already brought people to the outside of PCA Federation CIA headquarters. A detective asked, Deputy team leader, news came from Yang Xuyangs side that the criminal they were going after has committed suicide by poison. Qing Hua was well aware of what this implied, After we apprehend Zhou Chenyi, inspect his mouth first thing. Dont give him a chance to commit suicide by poison. Also, pass the word to all the brothers in Group Seven, well handle all todays operations the same way. The security personnel who originally wanted to stop them and check their identification at the door, seeing it was Qing Hua leading the group, immediately pretended they saw nothing. The two security officers stood up straight, whispering to each other, Whats the Living Hades of Intelligence Department One doing here so early in the morning? Someones in for it, arent they? Dont talk. Be careful or youll be taken away too. Chapter 595 - 595 374 First Day on the Third Floor of Intelligence ?Chapter 595: 374, First Day on the Third Floor of Intelligence Department One_2 Chapter 595: 374, First Day on the Third Floor of Intelligence Department One_2 When Qing Hua and others entered the headquarters building, all the detectives who recognized them quickly stepped aside, fearing that they were the target of these Living Hades. Qing Yi, Qing Wen, and other Shadow Candidates had just arrived, so they didnt know what was happening. A nearby detective explained to them, These are the Living Hades from Intelligence Department One; they generally wouldnt come here at all. If they do, its bad news. Today, I dont know who is going to suffer. Qing Yis eyes flickered, and he hurriedly followed behind Qing Hua and the rest, curious about what they were about to do. It wasnt just him; all of Qings shadow candidates followed behind as well. They saw Qing Hua and others head to Intelligence Department Six and immediately pinned Zhou Chenyi to the ground without showing any identification or explaining their reasons. They electrocuted him and forcibly pried open his mouth to check whether he had a poison sac hidden in his back teeth. Electrocuting Zhou Chenyi was not because Qing Hua and his team were gentle, nor because they used outdated methods like stun guns. Instead, many spies had microchips and explosives implanted next to their hearts. If any member of the same action team stopped breathing, the chip inside each team members heart would activate, starting a self-destruction program for the group. This was a most ruthless confidentiality method, even more vicious than hiding poison in teeth. Therefore, Qing Hua and his team used a relatively simple method like electrocution first to destroy the chips in the heart. If there were any. After confirming there was no poison sac in his mouth, Qing Hua relaxed, Is there a chip? A detective next to them used a scanning device on Zhou Chenyis chest, shaking his head, No, hes a small fish. The Trainee Inspector from Intelligence Department Six, with a gloomy expression, came up to Qing Hua, What has Zhou Chenyi done to warrant Investigation Department Ones involvement? You can take him away, but not without evidence. Intelligence Department Six is not to be trifled with either. In fact, this Trainee Inspector named Jindai Yuta, already knew something might be exposed and that if Intelligence Department Ones people came here, they definitely had got something on Zhou Chenyi. But he had to stand up and protect, otherwise he wouldnt be able to lead his team anymore in the future. Qing Hua pondered for a moment and asked, Since when does Intelligence Department One need to provide evidence to Intelligence Department Six when taking someone? If you want to see the evidence, you can come back with me to Intelligence Department One, but I cant guarantee youll make it back out. He had the evidence, but he didnt want to provide it. And that Jindai Yuta grimaced for a long time but did not utter a word. Crowd of detectives who were watching, Qing Yi could not help but exclaim, Does Intelligence Department One usually act this dominantly? I wonder if its still possible to apply for a transfer there? He had wanted to see what Intelligence Department One was really like, and before they even set out, the Living Hades from Intelligence Department One had come to arrest people. It had to be said that Qing Huas actions this time were quite shocking, certainly stronger than the flimsy PCA Intelligence Department Three. Since arriving at PCA Intelligence Department Three, Qing Yi had felt very disappointed; the detectives were sycophantic enough, but even their basic counter-espionage awareness was far from that of true intelligence personnel. Now, having witnessed the actions of Intelligence Department One, he realized that Intelligence Department Three was indeed just a place for gold-plating. If only he could transfer to Intelligence Department One, Qing Yi thought to himself. At that moment, Qing Hua hastily led his team away. Suddenly, Qing Yi asked a nearby detective, Is that an Inspector from Intelligence Department One? No, the detective shook his head: Qing Hua is the Trainee Inspector from Intelligence Department One, Team Seven, and belongs to our Qings clan. They have a higher rank there, and there is also a full Inspector above him, who reportedly just took office yesterday. It looks like the new official is starting with a big bang; its uncertain how many will get burned. Qing Yi thought to himself that this inspector surely had a much more thrilling job than their Trainee Inspectors, wondering which elite from their clan was in charge of Intelligence Department One, Team Seven? ... ... The entire day, the news of Intelligence Department Ones widespread arrest of suspects spread like wildfire. Among those captured were officials, ordinary people, and intelligence agents; looking at the composition of these detainees, no one could figure out what madness had struck Intelligence Department One. By evening, the secret prison of Team Seven was filled to capacity. And those detectives, tired from a day of work, slumped at their desks, occasionally stealing glances with wary eyes at the Inspector in the office. Qing Chen was immersed in the Mysterious World of Winning by Virtue with his eyes closed, as if the events of the day outside the office were unrelated to him. He wasnt concerned about the capture results of the detectives either. Outside that office was the noisy main office, but inside, it was a world of isolated tranquility. A detective lowered his voice and said, Miraculous; I just broke into the suspects home, and the kid immediately gave in, saying hed secretly transported people for Deer Island to City 18 and even confessed the immigration official he bribed at that time, apparently someone named Li Menglin. Yang Xuyang is arresting Li Menglin now; he should be on his way back. I got straight to the primary subject as well; directly found the secret message in the suspects home. The guy actually leaked the Federal Groups military plan for next year in Changzhou Plains to the wildlands. The detectives exchanged information; during the arrest process, some bit poison and died, some confessed on the spot, and some had evidence found in their homes. Chapter 596 - 596 374 First Day on the Third Floor of Intelligence ?Chapter 596: 374, First Day on the Third Floor of Intelligence Department One_3 Chapter 596: 374, First Day on the Third Floor of Intelligence Department One_3 Overall, 37 people were arrested, and at least more than half of them were confirmed to be the individuals the detectives were seeking. Before Qing Chen arrived, the detectives had been busy with the case for nearly half a month, but after Qing Chen arrived, he solved most of the toughest cases in just one night. Only those who had experienced that day could understand the terror of this new boss. As a result, at this moment, all the detectives looked towards the office with reverence. Other groups from Intelligence Department One upstairs all sent people to the third floor to inquire about the situation, but under Qing Huas instructions, the detectives from Group Seven kept their lips sealed, revealing nothing. Qing Huas warning was simple: dont pull any tricks under the new bosss watch, dont harbor any hope of luck, from today onwards everyone must work diligently and reduce contact with the outside world. In the evening sunlight, Qing Hua and Qing Zhun, the two Trainee Inspectors, sat in the break room, each holding a cup of coffee. Qing Zhun was particularly at ease, everyone else was busy today except for him who stayed in the main office and went nowhere. Claiming it was to guard the home, to protect the new boss. Qing Hua looked at Qing Hua, What do you think, is Mr. Shadow sending such a monster to Intelligence Department One planning to unify the PCA Central Intelligence Agency? Ive worked at the PCA for eleven years, and Ive never seen a boss as monstrous as this one! Qing Zhun laughed, What Mr. Shadow wants to do, you and I definitely cant guess. I only know Jindai, Deer Island, and the Chen Clan are going to have a massive headache today. Several important leads have been grasped firmly, and who knows if this might even uncover some major findings. Qing Hua said in a low voice, When Yang Xuyang comes back, lets all help him plead for mercy. Even though he failed one arrest operation today, at least hes a loyal old man who works for the Qing Family. We absolutely must not let the Inspector send him to the Secret Prison. Qing Zhun thought for a moment and then said, smiling, Alright, Ill join you in appealing for him... But as youve seen, the new boss isnt so easy to talk to. Whether we can protect Yang Xuyang is truly uncertain. Dont get yourself involved too. Its always good to have people together to appeal, Qing Hua said, feeling relieved, as he downed the coffee in his cup, still feeling somewhat uneasy. Just yesterday, they were thinking about showing the new boss whos boss. Yet, not only did their attempt fail, but the boss had intimidated everyone within a single day. Too fast. Normally, a new boss would take at least several weeks to establish his prestige within the group. But this one, he took just one day. Qing Hua and the others knew that since the new boss was able to find so many leads within one day, he must have noticed many mistakes they had made in their investigations before: arresting people without evidence, using their positions for personal gains, embezzlement of funds... To think, their favorite pastime was to raid corrupt officials homesa very lucrative business within Intelligence Department One. So, if the new boss wanted to pursue this, it looked like no one in Group Seven could escape. To pursue or not to pursue, all depended on the whims of the new boss. Its ironic, just that morning he had been talking about setting the new boss up for a fallbut what was the reality? The new boss didnt even need that footing. Now, they had to consider if the new boss was even willing to give them a way out. At this moment, a detective carefully peered into the office, only to discover that the Inspector, who had been resting with his eyes closed all this while, had opened his eyes at some unknown time. And he was staring straight at him. In just that instant, the detective felt as if he had been shot in the heart, shuddered involuntarily, and quickly lowered his head. That gaze was too captivating. Next, Yang Xuyang, wearing a worried expression, returned from outside, bringing with him the immigration official Li Menglin. Todays last arrest operation thus came to an end. Qing Chen stepped out from his office, and the moment he stepped out, all the detectives in the large office automatically stood up. The large office was silent. All the detectives quietly waited for him to issue orders. The Inspector position of Group Seven had been vacant for almost half a year, and unwittingly, it seemed like a long time since everyone had moved in such a uniform manner. Qing Chen looked at Yang Xuyang: Tough day. Yang Xuyang opened his mouth, hesitated for a while, and then said, Boss, the first operation this morning... Qing Chen calmly said, I know, its okay. Just those simple six words nearly made Yang Xuyang feel the urge to cry. He thought to himself, despite being an old detective, and a man feared by everyone outside as the Living Hades, at this moment in the office, facing the young man in front of him, he couldnt help but feel grateful and reverential. Qing Hua, who had planned to plead for Yang Xuyang, breathed a sigh of relief. He knew they had crossed this hurdle, and the new boss also didnt seem to hold a grudge against them for trying to dominate him. Leaning against the wall with his arms crossed, Qing Zhun suddenly felt that todays scene was worth pondering for a long time. Did he integrate the entire Qings Family faction in the Intelligence Department One in just one day? Such a feat was unprecedented and possibly unrivaled in the future. Qing Chen looked around at everyone and said, Everyone has worked hard today, but we might have to work overtime. I need everyone to finish interrogating all the people brought in today within 24 hours, especially those suspects related to Jindai and Deer Island, any questions? The detectives roared in unison: No! The originally exhausted detectives, just with that simple phrase, were re-energized. Qing Chen looked at them, then nodded and said, Good, Ill sit here in the office with you all to work overtime. If anyone has any difficulties, come and find me directly... Lets get started. The detectives of Group Seven sprang into action, like a set of pumped bulls. Qing Chen turned to Yang Xuyang: Bring Li Menglin to me. I have use for him. Yang Xuyang quickly responded, Yes, boss, Ill bring him from the Secret Prison to your office right away. ... ... A 5000-word chapter, another one coming at 11 PM tonight. Requesting monthly tickets. Chapter 597 - 597 375. The Kite Falcons are getting a bit anxious ?Chapter 597: 375. The Kite Falcons are getting a bit anxious. Chapter 597: 375. The Kite Falcons are getting a bit anxious. Long ago, Intelligence Department One was a whole unit. Although there were many teams, everyone was working together on cases, and the people they captured were all detained together. Now its different; its been a long time since Intelligence Department One had a collaborative case, and the prisoners each team captures are held in their own secret prisons, with detectives from other teams prohibited from approaching. Yang Xuyang brought Li Menglin, an official from the Entry-Exit Administration, out from Team Sevens secret prison. The chubby middle-aged man followed Yang Xuyang timidly to the Inspectors office. The moment the office door opened, Li Menglin saw the young man inside and immediately knelt down with a thud. He remembered clearly that just a few days ago, this young man had entered City Number Ten quietly, following the convoy of the Wilderness Hunter. When he saw the other partys PCA Federal Central Intelligence Bureau identity, he had instantly gone over to curry favor, never imagining he would fall into their hands so soon! Was it because he had wanted to skim off the bounty of Sun Chu Ci and others at the checkpoint? Li Menglin was unsure. Before this, his impression of Intelligence Department One was all hearsay, but only now, kneeling here, did he understand how terrifying this place could be. At this moment, Yang Xuyang was like Qing Chens most loyal lackey, looking towards the office and saying, Boss, this is Li Menglin. Hes already confessed everything about the smuggling. Qing Chen nodded and smiled at Li Menglin, We know each other, dont we, Captain of Team Seven? This was the first time Yang Xuyang had seen Qing Chen smile, and he was surprised. Since Qing Chen had joined Intelligence Department One, he had never smiled, as if he never would. Qing Chen looked at Yang Xuyang, You take a break, grab a bite, then switch with the others. I want to have a chat with this captain. Alrighty, Yang Xuyang brought Li Menglin into the office, then turned around to shut the door tightly. However, Yang Xuyang didnt go to eat; instead, he stayed at the door to prevent anyone coming to report work from accidentally encountering Li Menglins private conversation with the boss. Qing Chen looked at Li Menglin, Stand up and talk. Its not good to stay kneeling, and dont worry. Someone mentioned you in passing today, which is why you were brought in. Its not a vendetta. Li Menglin, trembling on the ground, still didnt dare to stand. Qing Chen smiled and said, If it were a vendetta, Intelligence Department One wouldnt bother with such trouble to find any evidence; youre indeed collateral damage. That statement seemed to hold a special charm, a sentence that should have been frightening, yet it immediately convinced Li Menglin. Yes, for Intelligence Department One to deal with these minor officials, why would they need evidence? He carefully stood up, What are your instructions? Qing Chen said with a smile, But you confessing so readily was unexpected. After saying this, Li Menglin silently knelt down again, Please, sir, spare my life! Stand up, stand up, Qing Chen said directly, Captain Lis confession and evidence will be kept here for now. You dont need to be too alarmed. Li Menglin looked up, Sir, what do you want? He wasnt foolish. Hearing Qing Chen speak, he knew there had to be a reason for this. Qing Chen, still smiling, said, From today onwards, I need the number of people and vehicle information, as well as license plate numbers, for every consortium convoy entering City Number Ten. Thats not difficult for you, is it? Just standing there with a notebook to jot it down will do. Also, sometimes Ill need to let some people in, and Im sure I can count on Captain Lis cooperation in these cases. Li Menglin quickly thumped his chest and promised, No problem! Absolutely no problem! To trade such a task for his little life was an incredibly good deal! Alright, go call Yang Xuyang from outside, Qing Chen instructed. After Yang Xuyang came in, Qing Chen said, Give Captain Li an informants identity, then let him go. Hes a friend of Team Seven, dont scare him too badly. Yang Xuyang was taken aback, Sure! Dont worry! Qing Chen sat silently in the office. After arriving in City Number Ten, Kite Falcon was given by Mr. Shadow, Intelligence Department One, Team Seven belonged to Qings Family, Li Yunqus territory was provided by Li Yunshou. At this moment, in City Number Ten, strictly speaking, Li Menglin was the first informant he had cultivated on his own. ... ... Qing Chen asked Qing Hua to bring him the list of all suspects, not to find their flaws and exterminate them. But to acquire more informants with blemishes. Once in Intelligence Department One, their lives belonged to Intelligence Department One. Thats one of the reasons for the moniker Living Hades. Qing Hua sat across the desk, cautiously observing the new boss, while the new boss was intently studying the list of suspects. Qing Chen said, Lin Nianan, He Jinsha, seal up these two peoples confessions and evidence, release them. Including that Li Menglin, all three are under your management. Remember to tell me about any important intelligence they report. Lin Nianan was a female detective from the PCE Security Management Committee, while He Jinsha was a Wilderness Hunter. Qing Hua realized what the new boss was doing; he wanted to use the power of Intelligence Department One to weave his own intelligence network in City Number Ten. However, while weaving this intelligence network, he had entrusted all the tainted informants to Qing Huas management? Qing Hua wondered, was this a sign of trust? Chapter 598 - 598 375 The Kite Falcons are getting a bit anxious_2 ?Chapter 598: 375, The Kite Falcons are getting a bit anxious_2 Chapter 598: 375, The Kite Falcons are getting a bit anxious_2 Trust myself, the person who just yesterday wanted to show the other party whos boss? Qing Hua felt a complex mix of emotions, yet also a touch of gratitude. He looked at Qing Chen and said, Boss, Ill make sure to manage them well on my end and wont let you down. Qing Chen looked at Qing Hua, with not a single mention of putting someone in their place, just smiled and said, Just do your job well, Qings family will not mistreat any meritorious service. Also, later on go and bring back Chen Quan and Fan Yu from the Federal Lottery Center, their evidence is in file number 1022219, Ive marked it up in the digital version. Qing Hua was stunned for a moment, The Federal Lottery Center? Qing Chen smiled, Ive found these are two fat sheep, they have a set routine to siphon prize pool cash, bring some brothers along when you catch them, its almost the New Year, everyone should not be busy for nothing. Qing Hua was now truly shocked. The other party had first entrusted dirty informants to him to show importance. The meaning of this action was to give him a way out, to let him know that the past was past and from now on they should all work together without mistakes. Immediately after, Qing Chen personally pointed out two fat sheep for the New Year raid, which was a benefit for his brothers. But at the same time, Qing Chen also used this affair to tell Qing Hua: I know all about those little tricks of yours in the past when you touched dirty money. With both grace and authority, he had Qing Hua firmly in his grasp in the blink of an eye. Qing Hua stared blankly at the new boss, not knowing what to say at the moment. Was this really a young man? How could his maneuvers be so harsh, they, the Living Hades of Intelligence Department One, were completely at his mercy. Qing Hua led a group of people straight to the family homes of Chen Quan and Fan Yu under cover of night. To transport the illicit cash, he even had two empty business vans prepared. As Qing Hua thought, two vans should be enough to carry everything, and all the brothers could have a good New Year. However, when they barged into Chen Yus house to search, they were astonished to find that behind one entire wall of Chen Yus house, cash bills were sealed up in wall panels! Not only that, but underneath the garage floor, a vast amount of cash was encased in concrete. In todays era of digital currency, it would probably be hard to find such an amount of cash even in banks, let alone know how much Chen Quan and Fan Yu had dug out of the lottery prize pool! Only then did Qing Hua realize that bringing two empty vans was still not enough... That was just the house of Chen Quan, and it was already not enough... Qing Hua was busy from evening until late into the night, and when he returned to the Intelligence Department Building, the building was still brightly lit. Not only was Team Seven working overtime, but other teams, in response to the crisis created by Team Seven, had also been forced to work overtime. The detectives over at Jindai were sitting idly in their offices, trying to figure out how to get their people back from Team Seven. But today, Team Seven had been so ferocious that they themselves didnt know what to do. After returning to the large office, the detectives looked at Qing Hua with exhausted eyes, truly appearing at their limits. Just then, Qing Chen emerged from his office. Seeing the boss emerge, all the weary detectives immediately stood up. Qing Chen smiled and looked at Qing Hua, Just tell everyone straight. Qing Hua said, Weve just caught two officials from the Federal Lottery Center. The Inspector has prepared some overtime pay to reward everyone. After this overtime work, everyone driving home should come to the garage to find me for their pay. As he spoke, Qing Hua deliberately extended one finger, and the detectives knew that it meant a hundred thousand. Suddenly, everyones eyes brightened, and the previous signs of fatigue seemed to vanish. Being able to earn so much overtime pay in just a few days was indeed worth it! It wasnt until this moment that Qing Chen truly completed the last part of exercising both grace and authority. If you want the horse to run, you have to let the horse graze, a truth since ancient times. Qing Hua slumped in his office chair, while Qing Zhun bit into a pork bun delivered from the cafeteria and chuckled, You look a bit pale. Qing Hua sighed, Just focus on doing the work, dont think about anything else. I dont know what you think, but Im convinced. Im convinced too, Ive been convinced for a long time, Qing Zhun said with a beaming smile. ... ... Im not convinced, Yan Chunmi sat in the midnight bar, sighing with a cocktail in hand. The bar was a famous private members-only establishment in the Upper Three Districts, not just anyone could enter apart from a few social elites. It had been exactly three days since her first meeting with the new boss. All the Kite Falcons were waiting to assess their new boss, to see what his capabilities were. And what does the new boss do? He enters Intelligence Department One and doesnt come out. Of course, the Kite Falcons knew that their new boss was not idle. In the meantime, Intelligence Department One arrested batches of people and released others. Qing Chen kept Intelligence Department One running nonstop; when tired, they would take turns sleeping in the temporary dormitories in the building, and when awake, they would continue to interrogate suspects. Qing Chen even had Yang Xuyang help buy toiletries, sleeping bags, and spare clothes; they lived and ate in their own offices. Even the Inspector did this, who among the ranks would dare leave? Moreover, wasnt the Inspector providing overtime pay?! Chapter 599 - 599 375 The Kite Falcons are getting a bit anxious_3 ?Chapter 599: 375, The Kite Falcons are getting a bit anxious_3 Chapter 599: 375, The Kite Falcons are getting a bit anxious_3 In the past few days, someone had privately asked Qing Hua if the overtime pay was really a hundred thousand. Qing Hua replied that it was a small amount, that they were thinking too small. It wasnt until this moment that they truly realized how generous their new boss was! This was what having a good new year really meant! However, ever since Qing Chen had moved to Intelligence Department One, he had not contacted Yan Chunmi again. It was as if he no longer needed Kite Falcon. Yan Chunmi sat in a bar booth, earpiece in place, and whispered, The boss knows were waiting to see if hes up to the mark, so hes just decided not to play with us Kite Falcons, understand? It wasnt just Intelligence Department One, Team Seven who wanted to challenge the new boss; the proud Kite Falcons felt the same. It wasnt that they necessarily wanted to oppose the new boss; they just wanted to see if he was capable of leading them. But now things were quite awkward, as the new boss was leading Intelligence Department One vigorously, while they, the even more formidable Kite Falcons, were left sidelined. The other side used their strength to make a statement: the Kite Falcon was a tool of espionage, but espionage didnt necessarily rely on Kite Falcon. This no longer was about Kite Falcons assessing the new boss. Instead, it was about the Kite Falcons needing to prove to the new boss that they were indeed stronger than others, only then would the new boss consider employing the Kite Falcons again. Yan Chunmi said through her Bluetooth earpiece, When I joined the Spy Bureau, to gain the Kite Falcons trust, I had to just accept their challenges and managed them hectically for two months until they finally trusted me. But now, not only does the new boss not take our challenges, he has turned it around on us. This time, as Yan Chunmi was diminished to assisting Qing Chen from the sides of Kite Falcon, she had planned how to challenge the new boss, wanting him to experience the hardships she went through. Every time she thought about this, she secretly chuckled. Now, she couldnt laugh anymore. When Yan Chunmi had previously said she was unconvinced, it wasnt that she was unconvinced about Qing Chen. Instead, she was pondering over why it was always her who had to take the brunt when it came to espionage and being a Kite Falcon! On the phone, someone asked, So what do we do now? Except for you, none of us have the means to contact the new boss. Hes inside Intelligence Department One and we have no opportunity to interact with him, no place to demonstrate our value. Another person calmly spoke on the phone, A Kite Falcon left unused for over half a year will be dismissed. Looking at it now, the new boss really doesnt need us to perform well as hes doing great alone. Ive already noticed that Intelligence Department One has caught a lot of people but then released a batch, which might just be the new boss crafting his own intelligence network. If his network gets established and we still havent contributed, then Kite Falcon will be in name only. Yan Chunmi thought for a moment and then said, Lets just prepare for now. The new boss is just leaving us on hold, he might not really disregard us completely. When he comes back to us, well just have to humble ourselves. The woman hung up the phone, thinking to herself what a situation this was; she truly hadnt anticipated the new bosss methods to be so formidable. It wasnt that the new boss forced them to do anything, but it was that almost tangible sense of oppression, detectable even without meeting face to face. Originally, she had been quite happy after passing the audition for the drama crew, but now she couldnt feel happy anymore. ... Todays 9,000 words have been updated, still paying off the interest. Requesting monthly tickets. Chapter 600 - 600 Let the bullets fly for a while ?Chapter 600: Let the bullets fly for a while Chapter 600: Let the bullets fly for a while Morning. As usual, Qing Yi finished breakfast and, escorted by a large group of bodyguards, headed to Intelligence Department Three. Unlike his spirited appearance at the beginning, he now felt somewhat tired of it all. After arriving at Intelligence Department Three, his daily tasks were to feign obedience and then sit in the large office, sipping coffee, chatting, watching Qing Xing find money, observing Qing Wen buy peoples hearts, seeing Qing Wu sleep sprawled on the desk, and Qing Shi chasing celebrities. Qing Yuan had never shown up, and there was no telling where hed gone. Qing Yis initial plan was to adopt an indifferent facade upon his arrival at Intelligence Department Three to lower others guard against him. Of course, he was a bit worried about whether such behavior would make him too conspicuous. What he hadnt anticipated was how idle Intelligence Department Three was; the detectives were incredibly bored, their daily activities not much different from his, which actually suited his very mediocre disguise. Sitting in his administrative class vehicle, Qing Yi was constantly on his cellphone, waiting for something. Just as they were about to reach the office building of Intelligence Department Three, he mumbled softly, Strange, why hasnt the call come yet. The next second, his phone rang, the caller ID showing Li Ke. Qing Yi waited pretentiously for more than ten seconds before answering, Isnt this annoying? Calling every morning, how have you become so nagging? Li Ke explained, Im sorry, my father had something to instruct me this morning, so I called late. Qing Yi paused briefly, Oh, its fine. Li Ke asked, Has anyone suspected you of pretending lately? No, Qing Yi replied, Those people are busy watching the insider news and gossiping every day, they hardly pay any attention to me. Its strange, ever since we reported for duty, the Shadow has disappeared without giving us any tasks, as if planning to let us mold away at Intelligence Department Three. Li Ke thought for a moment and said, Perhaps Mr. Shadow is waiting for you to take initiative, since you all might become the Shadow in the future. By then, no one will assign tasks to you; you need to learn to seek opportunities proactively. Qing Yi raised an eyebrow, I know that, you dont need to teach me! Li Ke went on, talking to himself, My father helped to investigate, and it seems like Qing Wu has been studying under a master since he was young. This is very secretive; you must treat him as an expert and not think about assassinating him. Qing Yi raised an eyebrow again, I didnt ask for your help, I can become the Shadow on my own. Li Ke continued, After reporting to Intelligence Department One, Qing Yuan has vanished completely. He probably knows that this round of competition for the title of Shadow is crucial, so hes hiding in the shadows. The Li Familys intelligence system cant even find him, which means he has a team behind him thats very skilled at concealing identities. As for Qing Shi, her fathers men have arrived in City 10, and there may be masters beyond C-Class among them... Didnt they say that the highest level for a Protector in the competition for the Shadow is C-Class? Isnt she breaking the rules? Of course it counts, Qing Yi frowned and said, Those who have become the Shadow have always been adept at exploiting the rules, and usually by the fourth round, it becomes a battle among Immortals. But, he wouldnt dare to act overtly. Li Ke asked, By the way, Qing Yi, what about your familys people? Why havent they come to City 10 to help you? Do you need me to request assistance from the Li Familys members? Qing Yi replied impatiently, Enough, no more talk. Are you trying to meddle in Qings internal affairs? Thats overstepping. Whatever you say, Li Ke responded. Do you have any plans right now? Qing Yi thought for a moment and said, I plan to find an opportunity to go to Intelligence Department One and take a look. I feel like it might be more interesting there... By the way, has there been any news from the mentor? Li Ke was silent for two seconds before asking, Why do you keep looking for the mentor? Qing Yi replied somewhat unnaturally, Ive already completed my Grand Circulation, and he hasnt given me the next method for cultivation. Is that so? Li Ke asked. Yes, what else would it be, Qing Yi retorted. I will mention it to the mentor. Maybe he can come to City 10 to give you the subsequent cultivation methods. Really? Well... Im eager to improve my strength by cultivating, meeting the mentor is secondary. These days, the most discussed topic in Intelligence Department Three was the high-profile news on the PCA Federal Central Intelligence Bureaus internal reports about the arrests made by Intelligence Department One, Team Seven. Such significant actions had almost become core news within the circle. Every time Qing Yi thought of Intelligence Department One, majestic in their arrests, then declaring to others, Since when does Intelligence Department One need to present evidence to you? It thrilled him. After hanging up the call, a faint smile appeared on the corners of his thin lips. For him, the most interesting thing every day now seemed to be this encrypted call. A Shadow Candidate from the Qing Family talking on the phone every day with a core scion from Lis Big Room, surely no one would believe it if they heard. When Qing Yi arrived in the large office of Intelligence Department Three, at that moment, Qing Wu was still asleep on the desk, while Qing Wen was inviting his detectives to his holiday resort in City 10, boasting of pools and a villa complex where they could throw parties. Qing Wen didnt just invite his own detectives but also included those under Qing Yi. By now, no one reported to Qing Yi anymore; they all went directly to Qing Wen, as if Qing Wen alone reigned over all seventy-two detectives. Chapter 601 - 601 Let the bullets fly for a while_2 ?Chapter 601: Let the bullets fly for a while_2 Chapter 601: Let the bullets fly for a while_2 Qing Yi silently glanced around a few times, then put on headphones and said softly, Boring. ... ... In Intelligence Department One, Team Seven, Qing Chen had just woken up when he saw more than ten people, including Qing Hua, standing quietly outside his office door, silently staring at him through the transparent glass. Qing Chen was slightly taken aback, If theres something, come in and say it. After entering the office, Qing Hua said in a low voice, Boss, in the past few days, weve captured 71 people in total, of which 17 were released with your approval, 45 have confessed, 6 accidentally died during the interrogation process, but there are still 3 people whose mouths we cant pry open at all. This made Qing Hua feel ashamed; the boss had already helped them find the suspects, yet they couldnt make all the suspects admit their guilt and accept punishment. This had nothing to do with Inspector Qing Chenit was purely due to their own shortcomings. Previously, Qing Hua and his team were worried that the new boss might not be capable enough; now they were worried whether their abilities were sufficient to match the bosss. Qing Chen thought for a moment, Ill go take a look at the interrogation room. Qing Hua was startled, That place is dirty and messy, you dont need to go there yourself, you might stain your eyes. Qing Chen shook his head, Its fine, just a quick look. Qing Hua led Qing Chen to the third sub-level, which was the independent secret prison of Team Seven. Upon entering, a stench of blood and foul odor hit them. Qing Hua whispered, Sometimes the suspects cant bear it and soil themselves... Ive already arranged for Yang Xuyang to disinfect the area, trying to minimize the smell. At this moment, however, Qing Hua noticed that Qing Chen walked forward unfazed as if he didnt smell anything. As Qing Chen passed the doors of each cell, the three suspects who refused to confess were no longer recognizably human; pieces of skin had been peeled from their bodies by Qing Hua and his team, making for a particularly brutal sight. Perhaps this was why people from Intelligence Department One were called Living Hades; anyone entering, guilty or not, would be stripped of a layer of skin, and this stripping of skin wasnt an exaggerated metaphor. Qing Hua looked at Qing Chen with some concern, fearing the boss would find their methods too primitive and malicious. But Qing Chen then asked, These three suspects are from Deer Island, tormented to this extent and still silent, which means theyve undergone harsh counter-interrogation training. Qing Hua nodded, Yes, when we caught them, there were scars on the insides of their thighs where skin had been peeled off, definitely left by training at Deer Island. If we still cant get them to talk, theyre not much use to us, this isnt your fault, Qing Chen said as he turned to walk back. After a moment of thought, Qing Hua said, Should we just kill them? These people must be very important to Deer Island. Qing Chen also pondered, Wouldnt it be a pity to kill them? These three from Deer Island had already had their iris patterns, DNA, fingerprints, facial information, and even body shape data extracted and entered into Team Sevens database by Qing Hua. Being caught meant they would most likely be unable to work in intelligence anymore. The information in their brains was useful, but if they couldnt be coerced, keeping them meant feeding three more mouths for Qing Chen. Qing Chen thought for a moment and then said, Dont kill them yet, Ill ask Mr. Shadow if he wants to transfer them. Qing Hua nodded, Understood. At that moment, Qing Chen slowed his pace, Right, there are also some people who are not that important, right? Qing Hua nodded again, Were preparing to send them to the prosecutors office to file charges. These so-called unimportant people, like Zhou Chenyi who served the Jindai family, was merely a gofer, involved in laundering money, offering and taking bribes for the Jindai Clan in the number 10 city. Such characters were of marginal significance to the Qings Familylike a tasteless rib, bland yet a pity to waste. But they were somewhat important to the Jindai family, at least somewhat useful. After the public prosecution, comes sentencing, Qing Chen reflected; no one was taking him to task over his case clearance rate, and Mr. Shadow hadnt said that he had to solve a certain number of cases. Handing this suspect over to the prosecutors office meant no gain for him. Qing Chen looked at Qing Hua and said, Go ask the Jindai side if they are interested in making a trade for someone like Zhou Chenyi. If they want to trade, let them bring two people from Deer Island for the exchange. They must bring their files and solid evidence, otherwise, well proceed with the prosecution. For Qing Chen, trading one Jindai for two from Deer Island seemed like a good deal. It should also seem like a good deal to the Jindai. Qing Chen glanced at Qing Hua, Those three who dont intend to speak can also be traded, in the same way, well exchange them for equally important Jindai Members, one for two. At that moment, Qing Hua and his colleagues were dumbfounded. Having been in Intelligence Department One for over a decade, it was the first time he saw such a bold move. If the Jindai and Deer Island really agreed, then wouldnt Intelligence Department One, Team Seven no longer need to work cases, simply trafficking between their own hands to solve more crimes? Qing Chen looked at Qing Hua, Its not about working cases, the number 10 city is in peace and prosperity now, but theres still war in the north. The Jindai and Deer Island have formed an alliance, and even within Intelligence Department One, the Jindai and Deer Island have banded together. If they dare to trade with us privately, let the news out and let them tear each other apart. Qing Chen couldnt sway the war; that was something only the big players could decide. The power he wielded was as fragile as paper in the face of consortiums, and he was just getting started. Chapter 602 - 602 376 Let the Bullets Fly for a While_3 ?Chapter 602: 376, Let the Bullets Fly for a While_3 Chapter 602: 376, Let the Bullets Fly for a While_3 But Qing Chen could first tear apart the alliance between Jindai and Deer Island within Intelligence Department One, then talk about defeating each one separately. Was the alliance between Jindai and Deer Island really that solid? Qing Chen didnt think so. If Jindai secretly took people from Deer Island to exchange for their own people, then that alliance would be a joke. At that moment, Qing Hua looked deeply at Qing Chen, but he had not expected such profound intentions behind his new bosss cunning moves. Indeed, it must be that Mr. Shadow sent this new boss to unify the PCA Federal Central Intelligence Bureau... The director of the PCA Central Intelligence Agency was a pushover, and in this mixed-up place, the various conglomerates had chosen a completely neutral person to be the director, otherwise, no one would be satisfied. And the director was also smart; he would just hang out in the Red Light District every day, not doing anything else and not stirring trouble with anyone. So, sometimes people would even forget that the PCA Central Intelligence Agency actually had a director. It was the same with many presidents of the Federation. Some said that the current president was different, but so far, no one could tell what the difference was, as he still played dumb every day. Following Qing Chens orders, Qing Hua went to negotiate with Jindai and Deer Island separately. However, to his surprise, both families outright refused him, declaring righteously: Should the suspects we caught be proven guilty, then let the law judge them. We wont engage in private exchanges of suspects. Deer Island was somewhat tempted, because the three people they had captured were too important. But it seemed they had also guessed what Qing Chen was up to, and thus refused just the same. When Qing Hua returned to the office, he said to Qing Chen, Boss, they all refused. They may have seen through your intentions. Qing Chen smiled and said, No matter. This blatant scheme, how could the folks from the other teams within Intelligence Department One not see through it? But that didnt matter. Let the bullets fly for a while. After Qing Chen initiated a comprehensive crackdown, every day, Intelligence Department One, Team Seven was solving cases in the double digits, capturing batch after batch of people. Normally, when the other teams came to work, they would just take the elevator straight up. Now, in order to have more chances to observe Team Seven, they would rather take the stairs on purpose. Just to catch an extra glimpse of Team Seven. However, the day after Qing Hua finished negotiating with Jindai and Deer Island, the people from the Jindai family just reached the doorway of Team Seven and saw a whiteboard hung up at the entrance. Someone had used a black whiteboard marker to write on it: Suspects available for trade today include Jindai Kongming, Zhou Chenyi, Qiu Yue... The people from Jindai were stunned; they had not expected Qing Chen to actually list the tradeable suspects and put it up there to disgust them. The whiteboard, it was like the menu outside a cafeteria, stating whats for lunch today: stir-fried pork with garlic sauce, spicy sour potato strips, Kung Pao chicken... The feeling was strikingly similar. The whiteboard was filled with names from Jindai and Deer Island, and the intelligence personnel from the Li Family and the Chen Clan couldnt help but chuckle as they went upstairs. Until the second day the whiteboard was hung up, and names like Chen Long, Chen Nan, and Li Mian appeared on it. The intelligence personnel from the Li Family and the Chen Clan were no longer so composed: When were these two captured? Such important figures got caught, how come we didnt know?! They only realized after a bit of inquiry that it was Qing Zhun, the Trainee Inspector, who had made the arrest late last night, still fresh in peoples minds. Inside, the staff at Intelligence Department One felt a sense of collapse. Someone found Qing Hua in the pantry to complain in private, Please tell your boss to lay off the Divine Skills. This is too undignified. Yet Qing Hua paid no attention whatsoever. It was the same old saying, stick with the boss and work hard, whatever the boss wants to do, he does. He knew that even if this affair was undignified, those that were losing face were others. Qing Chens public shaming of these people, hung up for all to see, was to pose a question to the other intelligence officers: These are all your people, do you protect them or not? All for that damned alliance, youre willing to forsake your own? The whiteboard was updated and hung up for seven consecutive days, each day with a different list of names, constantly refreshed like the daily cafeteria menu. The detectives from Team Seven liked to hold their boxed lunches and stand outside the door, eating with pleasure as they watched the whiteboard. It was just too appetizing. Theres an old saying, for soldiers one by one, for generals in droves. The vacancy for the lead Inspector in Team Seven had been unfilled for so long that, although Qing Hua replaced its duties, there was somewhat a lack of leadership, and the teams spirit had been somewhat scattered. Now, with the arrival of Qing Chen, there was a different spirit in the whole of Team Seven; even with daily overtime, they were energized. Moreover, just in these short ten days, the overtime pay they received was more than what they earned in twenty years of honest work. Qing Hua had approached Qing Chen, cautiously questioning whether it was appropriate to give out so much overtime pay. Inspector, dont you keep a portion for yourself? Although he had privately left the largest share for Qing Chen, and had Yang Xuyang launder it into clean funds at the casino to transfer to Qing Chen, the amount Qing Chen took was still too little. You see, previous Inspectors would take ninety percent, leaving one percent for the remaining ninety-six people, whereas now, Qing Chen took ten percent for himself, and left ninety percent for the team. The contrast was too great. Qing Chens reply was, We all work with our lives on the line. As they say, one seeks wealth in the face of danger, complete this task with me and youll have the capital to retire if you wish. Thats the commitment I can make to everyone as Qing Chen. Having said this, Qing Chen began packing his things. Qing Hua asked curiously, Inspector, are you planning to go out? Yes, going home, Qing Chen replied with a smile, If I dont step out now, Im afraid there will be some anxious people. He was referring to the Kite Falcons. In recent days, Yan Chunmi sent him messages every morning, afternoon, and evening, clearly getting restless. Qing Chen knew that the time was ripe. He looked at Qing Hua, The toughest days have passed; start rotating shifts and get some rest. Huh? Qing Hua was taken aback and said, Boss, I can still hold on a bit longer. Qing Chen smiled, If you dont step out to give Jindai and Deer Island a chance to be alone, how will they open their mouths to request a change of personnel? Through the office, with so many people watching? Qing Hua suddenly realized that after seven days of shots fired by the Inspector, it was time for a result. ... A chapter of five thousand words, another one coming at 11 PM. Thanks to I am a Black Maggot, Desert Rose, FF Wind Flying FF, Light Clothing Ah, Fallen Beast King, Soul of Ice Frost, Mu Yu Xia Song and several students who became new members of this books alliance, generous bosses, may you all never have to queue for Haidilao! Chapter 603 - 603 377 Qing Yis New Discovery ?Chapter 603: 377, Qing Yis New Discovery Chapter 603: 377, Qing Yis New Discovery At night, Qing Yi huddled in an old car his bodyguard had found for him, observing the large iron gate of Intelligence Department One with a telescope from a distance. He had been staking out this place for seven days already. Every night after getting off work from Intelligence Department Three, he would covertly switch cars to come here and watch. Actually, Qing Yi himself didnt know exactly what he was looking to observe; he just had a feeling that there might be something more interesting here and wanted to take a look. Just then, the iron gate of Intelligence Department One opened, and a stream of people began to emerge. Qing Yi recognized those who were coming out; they were the same group that had arrested people at Intelligence Department Six! Just as Qing Yi was focusing intently on watching, his cellphone suddenly rang. Qing Yi was somewhat flustered, afraid that the noise of the phone might be heard by the people from Intelligence Department One. However, he intended to hang up immediately, but upon seeing that the call was from Li Ke, he hesitated for a moment before answering. Qing Yi spoke in a lowered voice, Whats the matter? Im busy right now. Li Ke said, I got news over here that Qing Wen encountered an accident on his way home from work. But, he was driving very slowly so he wasnt hurt, just bumped into someone else and is currently waiting for the PCE Security Management Committee to sort it out. Thats not a big deal, why bother calling me specifically for this, Qing Yi didnt understand. Li Ke calmly said, We suspect over here that Qing Xings Lucky Halo might have activated again. Those knowledgeable about Qing Xings Lucky Halo were not few, for Qing Xings parents had always been proclaiming their sons luck to the outside world. After all, one of Qings Familys ancestors from a thousand years ago was someone graced with the Lucky Halo and had once become the king of the northern steppes, establishing his own Royal Court. There was nothing to hide about this. Li Ke continued, Surveillance footage shows that the accident happened quite miraculously and convolutedly. An old man walking his dog let it urinate on a street pole, accidentally splashing a passerbys pants. The passerby then had a verbal altercation with the old man, and while a middle-aged woman crossing the street turned her head to watch the commotion, she was hit by Qing Wen. Isnt Qing Wen supposed to watch where hes going? Qing Yi criticized, Cant he swerve to avoid a pedestrian? Thats the peculiar part, it was 5 PM at the time, and just when he approached the intersection, he was momentarily dazzled by the sunset reflected off an opposite building, Li Ke explained, So, I think you should be careful around that Qing Xing. With someone like him possessing a Lucky Halo, all of you Shadow Candidates might run into accidents. Qing Yi nodded, he was just about to say something when he caught sight of a familiar figure through the telescope, walking out through that small iron gate. Shockingly, it was Qing Hua, who had arrestingly apprehended individuals at Intelligence Department Six, now respectfully following behind the youth. The Qing Hua who had captured people that day, and the Qing Hua at this very moment, were vastly different. The former was a Living Hades, while the latter resembled one of Hades judges seated below him. In an instant, Qing Yi realized that this youth was the real Yama, the lord of the underworld, of Intelligence Department One. If Qing Hua was a Trainee Inspector, then someone who could make Qing Hua behave so politely must be an Inspector. Moreover, Qing Yi knew that it was probably only after this individual arrived at Intelligence Department One that Squad Seven started arresting people aggressively. All of Squad Sevens recent actions were connected to this young Inspector. Sir... Qing Yi said absentmindedly. Over the phone, Li Ke frowned and asked, Have you gone mad thinking about your teacher? Lets not talk about that, Qing Yi quickly hung up the phone. He saw Qing Chen bid farewell to Qing Hua and then enter the street outside the gate of Intelligence Department One, quickly blending into the crowd. Qing Yi followed him quietly, scared that he might accidentally lose track of him. Intelligence Department One was in the Third District, which bordered the Second, Fourth, and Fifth Districts. Qing Yi silently trailed Qing Chen, walking on foot from the Third District into the Fifth District, where the world began to bustle and come alive. If the excitement of the Upper Three Districts was contained in private clubs in an understated extravagance, then the commotion of the lower six districts was a carnival belonging to the masses. At this time of day, workers and office staff were all off duty. Everyone walked on the streets, some heading to catch the circum-city light rail. People would get home, change out of their work clothes, perhaps to watch a boxing match, have a drink at a bar, or visit a cinema for a virtual life experience. To savor moments of beauty theyd never had before. The citys numerous bars were gathering places for performances, with small stars holding residences and big stars making appearances. In short, it was extraordinarily lively. Qing Yi, watching Qing Chen swagger into Jindai Street, gradually gaped, stunned that the impeccably clean mentor would visit such a place?! The next moment, he saw Qing Chen take a lollipop out of his pocket, pop it in his mouth, and continue walking forward. As Qing Yi walked down the street, a hostess approached him to pull him in, Sir, want to come inside and have a drink with our girls? They know all kinds of games. Qing Yi was taken aback, his glance instinctively drawn to the window where a girl in a kimono was smiling at him. No, he wasnt here to stroll down Love Street; he was here to tail their mentor! But in that moment of distraction, when Qing Yi turned back to look for Qing Chen, he couldnt find him anymore. Glancing once more at the girl in the window, he quickly ran forward. However, that instructor vanished into thin air, like a drop of water merging with the sea, leaving no trace to be found. Qing Yi felt a bit disheartened. If he had not been distracted earlier, he surely wouldnt have lost him. But he already knew where the instructor was, so there was probably still a chance to find him again, right? In fact, Qing Yi had Qing Chens phone number, but for some reason, he just didnt want to make that call, as if dialing first would mean admitting defeat. Moreover, if he phoned the instructor and was asked what he wanted, what should he say? Qing Yi loitered aimlessly through Jindai Street. Just as he reached a less crowded part, he suddenly felt as if someone was following him. He quickly turned around, only to see the young instructor with a lollipop in his mouth, smiling and following him. In an instant, Qing Yi subconsciously ducked his head and turned to leave. He heard Qing Chen ask, Kid, why are you stalking me? Qing Yi stuttered, Hi... Hello, Instructor. Im not stalking you, I just happened to pass by here. Is that so? Qing Chen came over and patted Qing Yis watermelon-like head. Qing Yi meant to dodge, but for some reason his body wouldnt obey, and he stood rooted to the spot. The hand patting his head was as gentle as the first time he received Empowerment from the instructor at Autumn Leaf Courtyard. He even felt somewhat moved. In the distance, the red neon lights of Jindai Street hung above the streets, the white Wine Banners swaying. The young instructor seemed to stand amidst the light. Instructor, why have you come to the 10th City? Qing Yi asked. Qing Chen replied with a smile, Im here for work. Didnt you see where I came out from? Also, next time when you pass through Jindai Street, remember to buy a lollipop on your own, so those old mothers wont try to drum up business with you. At that moment, Qing Yi realized that the instructor had known he was being followed right from the start. Thinking about this, Qing Yi felt a bit ashamed. Qing Chen didnt say much more, just smiled and said, If you need help with anything, remember to give me a call. I should still have a bit of power. Also, you must have completed the Grand Circulation by now, right? When Im free in a few days, Ill teach you the subsequent practices. Having said that, Qing Chen turned and walked away. He had already noticed Yan Chunmi nearby, so there were more important matters waiting for him to attend to. Qing Yi gazed after Qing Chens retreating figure, wondering, is the instructor really just going to leave like that? But the main question was, why had the instructor, who held such a high position at Lis Half Mountain Manor, suddenly come to Intelligence Department One to become an Inspector?! So, the instructor was actually one of Qings Family, but how could someone from the Qings Family have such a high status within the Li Family!? More importantly, you mentioned teaching me the subsequent practices when youre free in a few days, but you didnt specify when! It looks like Ill have to wait outside the Intelligence Department Ones door. Right, I forgot to ask the instructor if he could transfer me to Intelligence Department One. Qing Yi was full of regret. The instructor had already gone so far, and only then did he remember there were so many questions he hadnt asked. ... ... Qing Chen walked leisurely down the street. Yan Chunmi, wearing a face mask and sunglasses, approached noiselessly: Boss, you finally came out from inside Intelligence Department One. Qing Chen asked with a smile, Tell me, youre just a smalltime celebrity on the third tier, right? Why do you wrap yourself up so tightly, can anyone actually recognize you? Yan Chunmi quickly laughed and said, What if someone does recognize me? If people saw me walking with you, it would definitely cause you trouble. Hmm, Qing Chen nodded. The two walked side by side, and Qing Chen acted as if nothing was amiss. He didnt ask Yan Chunmi what was up, nor did he delegate tasks. Those 12 Kite Falcons provided by the Shadow Instructors seemed to have become useless. Seeing this attitude, Yan Chunmi bit her lip, then put on a smile and said, Boss, arent you going to assign some tasks to us Kite Falcons? Are you worried that we wont cooperate? Rest assured, we will definitely support your work! Qing Chen glanced at Yan Chunmi with a semblance of a smile: Really? Look at how you talk. The twelve of us Kite Falcons are here to serve you exclusively, Yan Chunmi said with a smile. How would you like me to serve you? Suddenly, Qing Chen said sternly, When you work for me, dont offer your physical appearance, and you dont need to. Remember this. I dont need anyones sacrifice to achieve my goal. Yan Chunmi was stunned for a moment, unable to speak. But the position of a Kite Falcon was initially created to dedicate everything to their objectives. Qing Chen glanced at Yan Chunmi, who might still have not truly submitted at that moment, and the other Kite Falcons might not have truly followed him either, but that didnt matter; they were still usable. Two things. First, find out where Qing Yuan disappeared to, and second, I want to know all about the lucky events Qing Xing has come across. ... Today is only eight thousand words. Chapter 604 - 604 Who arranged this ?Chapter 604: Who arranged this? Chapter 604: Who arranged this? Boss, why are you checking on these two people? Yan Chunmi asked cautiously, Arent they candidates for Qings shadow? Qing Chen glanced at Yan Chunmi, You were just following me, so you must have seen Qing Yi too. This time in the struggle for the shadow, I want to help Qing Yi win. I see, you have already chosen Qing Yi. Although we know that Qing Yi might be concealing his skills now, he still isnt the best among all the shadow candidates, Yan Chunmi murmured softly. What, do you have an opinion? Who do you want to choose? Qing Chen asked. I dont have any opinion, Ill support whoever you choose, boss, Yan Chunmi laughed, By the way, about the Kite Falcons on this side... Qing Chen glanced at her, Finish those two tasks I mentioned first, then well talk about the rest. Alright, go on with your work. Yan Chunmi sighed, the new boss seemed to know that the Kite Falcons were also a bit anxious, so he wasnt in a hurry at all. Following such a clever boss was certainly good, but it seemed the Kite Falcons little schemes were not going to succeed. She watched the new bosss figure merge back into the crowd. He had come to City 10 alone, and within just ten days, he had both the Kite Falcons of the Spy Bureau and Team Seven of Intelligence Department One in his grasp. Such formidable skill could only come from someone whose abilities and mental quality were both top-notch. Many new officials want to be as carefree as Qing Chen upon taking office, but even the formidable agents of Intelligence Department One, known as Living Hades, couldnt manage it. However, the phrase that resonated the most in Yan Chunmis mind was something Qing Chen had said to her, No one needs to sacrifice themselves to achieve my goal. Thinking about this, Yan Chunmi smiled. The new boss seemed pretty good. Qing Chen made his way back to the Utopia Building. As he was about to close the elevator, he saw a girl wrapped up tightly sprint inside. It was only after entering the elevator that the girl realized who she was with, Ah! Qing Chen helplessly watched the transparent elevator doors as if he had seen and heard nothing. The girl happened to be the frontline actress he had previously pointed a gun at, Song Niannian. Perhaps even Qing Hua, Qing Zhun, and Yan Chunmi didnt know that one very important reason why Qing Chen had stayed in Intelligence Department One for so long was his fear of encountering this actress again at the Utopia Building... So as to avoid social embarrassment. But despite all his precautions, he hadnt returned home in ten days, and the moment he did, he ran into her. At one point, Qing Chen even thought that this might be another setup orchestrated by someone. Otherwise, how could it be such a coincidence! At that moment, the atmosphere in the elevator suddenly became very dramatic. The screaming didnt stop. Qing Chen felt that the actress might break down any moment as he earnestly explained, Madam, I deeply apologize for startling you last time, but could you please stop screaming... The elevator also stopped at the 67th floor, and someone outside tried to get in but was scared off by the screaming. Luckily, the people outside didnt recognize Song Niannian, otherwise this could have turned into major news. The Outer World has trending searches, and so does the Inner World, providing a place for public visibility and discussion, called Frontline. If Qing Chen and Song Niannian were found in the elevator together with Song Niannian screaming, perhaps Qing Chen would top tomorrows Frontline trending list. Song Niannian took a delicate, pocket-sized handgun from her small shoulder bag, her hands trembling as she pointed it at Qing Chen. Reluctantly, he took out his credentials: Good day, madam. First of all, I am not a bad person. Here are my credentials. I am Inspector Qing Chen from the PCA Federal Central Intelligence Agency. Last time, I was overly sensitive while handling a case and mistook you for a suspect. It wasnt until she saw the credentials that Song Niannian finally stopped screaming. She cautiously examined Qing Chen: Such a young Inspector? That must be a fake ID. Besides, I heard that there are no good people in the PCA Central Intelligence Agency! After saying this, Song Niannians expression became wary once again. Qing Chen couldnt help but laugh and cry. Was the reputation of the PCA Central Intelligence Agency really that bad outside? If it were in the Outer World, showing an ID would have been enough to settle matters. This showed from another angle that the governments credibility in the Inner World was indeed very poor. The elevator reached the 112th floor, and Qing Chen quickly walked out and returned to his apartment. It wasnt until Qing Chens apartment door closed that Song Niannian cautiously walked out of the elevator. She tiptoed past Qing Chens door, then rushed back to her own home. Unsurprisingly, the room was still filled with the rich aroma of tea. Qing Chen now clearly understood that the Shadows of Qings family were not just idly running over to his place for tea every day, but were waiting there because they knew he had finally left Intelligence Department One. Shadow chuckled, The incident that happened on your way home this time is just as exciting as after you entered Intelligence Department One. Ive looked into that girl called Song Niannian. Her background is clean, with no ties to the corporations, and she seems to have a good temperament too. Her father is even the Chairman of the Tax Management Committee in City No. 3, barely qualifying as coming from a prestigious family, suitable enough for a descendant of Qing. As for the apartment I rent, youve visited more often than I have, Qing Chen sighed as he changed his slippers, Please stop trying to set me up, in our line of work, its better to stay away from celebrities. To be honest, I dont quite understand what youre trying to achieve by using Yan Chunmi, known as Kite Falcon. She naturally has her usefulness. Powerful men no longer care much about a womans looks; they care more about her status, said the shadow softly sipping tea in the dark room. Qing Chen was startled. You employed her because her status is more enticing to men? Yes, Shadow looked at Qing Chen. Are you going to bring up your argument about not exploiting others appearances again? What do you think espionage is? What do you think we rely on when we turn our targets? We choose different methods for different people, and thats exactly what I need to do. Qing Chen shook his head, Anyway, I wouldnt use her to gather intelligence like that. Through these few exchanges, Qing Chen clearly realized two things. The first: Like he treated people, Shadow of Qings was a very ruthless person at heart. He was only amiable towards him and no one else. The second: Shadow of Qings capability to gather intelligence was even stronger than he had imagined; everything that happened to him along the way was under his control. Suit yourself, Shadow shrugged. By the way, why didnt you take the tea leaves I sent with you to Intelligence Department One? Drink it while youre working. Remember, divide this can into 15 days; it only works if you drink it continuously for that period, not more, not less. Qing Chen calculated the time; he had 15 days until his return, just enough time to finish it. I didnt expect that reporting for duty alone would have so many things waiting for me, Qing Chen explained while sitting on the sofa across from Shadow, then shifted to a more comfortable position. He looked at the brilliant neon lights outside the window, feeling that the beauty of the city seemed somewhat unreal, while this dark room gave him more of a sense of security. Shadow asked with interest, I clearly told you that you could trust Qing Zhun, so why did you say I hadnt mentioned it when he came to you? Qing Chen looked at the shadow. Entering Intelligence Department One, I needed to set my priorities straight. What if Qing Zhun, relying on his old association with you, interfered with my work? Moreover, as it turns out, I didnt need your help at all. So, in arranging duties, you could delegate less to Qing Zhun diminishing his presence in Intelligence Department One, Team Seven. Instead, you promoted Qing Hua, who has less connection with me, to a core position, nodded Shadow. However, Mr. Shadow showed no sign of anger, instead, there seemed to be a hint of appreciation: People often trust others easily due to authority, so those adept in speaking often like to quote famous sayings or mention their acquaintanceship with some authority to enhance the credibility of their words. But it often indicates a lack of confidence because you need others to verify you, which means you lack authority yourself. Your ability to rid yourself of my influence and not blindly trust Qing Zhun is a good thing, possessing a quality essential for a leader. Qing Chen asked, What qualities should a leader have? Shadow smiled, The first is not to trust anyone, something I told you a long time ago. That would make life very tiring, Qing Chen couldnt fully agree. Shadow laughed, You disagree because you havent reached that position yet. By the way, do you know the two from the Lottery Center were actually channeling benefits to some core descendants of Qings main house? Now that youve slaughtered two fat pigs, many in the clan are complaining about you, urging me to replace you immediately. Qing Chen looked at the shadow innocently, Ive been following your orders in doing my duties. Shadow waved his hand, Its not a big deal; dont rush to blame others yet... Why are you so adept at shifting blame when youve hardly been at the job?! Just then, footsteps could be heard in the hallway. Six people, Shadows expression unchanged, Theyre not here for you. Qing Chen stood up, quietly listening as the footsteps passed by the door and continued down the hallway. He then sat back down on the sofa. They must be after that female celebrity, Shadow laughed, These days, its not rare for female celebrities to be kidnapped to serve as slaves to some powerful figures. Qing Chen calmly asked, Did you arrange it? Shadow smiled, Would you guess if I arranged it? With that, Shadow actually opened the Door of Shadow and walked through. Leaving Qing Chen alone on the sofa, thinking about the question Shadow left behind. If he believed it was Shadows doing, then he could just sit in his house and watch the drama, an observer. If it wasnt Shadows arrangement, the female celebritys fate after being kidnapped could be very grim. Qing Chen stood up again and walked towards the door. ... Thats it for today. Tomorrow Im off to Wuzhen for the World Internet Conference, need to get a nucleic acid test done in advance, carry the report, write a speech, and deal with various trifles. But after this event, I should be able to settle all these matters. Then Ill be secluding myself to write more updates starting October and wont go out no matter who calls! Chapter 605 - 605 379 in good condition ?Chapter 605: 379, in good condition Chapter 605: 379, in good condition The midnight corridor was silent and deserted. Qing Chen heard the six people outside quickly enter Song Niannians code, then push the door open, and swiftly close it behind them. Their movements appeared very concealed, avoiding any unnecessary noise as they walked. Once the door closed, no other sound came from that room. Qing Chen realized Song Niannian might have added a high-polymer soundproofing layer to her entire dwelling for privacy, and even he could not hear any movement from inside. He sighed internally, knowing this was a significant disadvantage to his rescue attempt, as he had no idea what was going on inside. Qing Chen glanced back at the window of his own apartment, where the beautiful, dazzling holographic neon lights interweaved and shifted, and further away, holographic fireworks celebrated the new year. The fireworks were colorful, and even formed various animals after they burst. Holographic neon had thoroughly replaced fireworks in this era, and every citys night was like a grand party of lights. At one moment, Qing Chen even felt like he was in the movie The Great Gatsby, attending the daily extravagant parties held by Jay Gatsby. However, beneath this brilliance, countless dirty deeds and crimes still lurked. Shadows parting words were intriguing, essentially asking him, You could guess that I arranged this, but if youre wrong and Song Niannian dies, would you still go to her rescue? Qing Chen even felt that Shadow was probably waiting to see his reaction. He quietly opened his apartment door and silently walked down the dim corridor. The silenced pistol was already in his hand, ready to serve his will at any moment. Knock knock knock. Qing Chen calmly knocked on Song Niannians door. He listened intently but unexpectedly found that the Inner Worlds soundproofing was even more potent than he had imagined; he still couldnt hear anything from his position at the door. Qing Chen silently raised his pistol, standing to one side of the door to avoid being shot by villains inside without them opening the door first. He knocked again, knock knock knock, but still, no one responded. Qing Chen glanced back once more at the corridor that belonged to the five people, then raised his hand and fired two shots at the door lock. With a click, the door opened. Boisterous music came from inside the room, and faintly, the voice of Song Niannian singing could be heard. It was like a carnival in progress. Qing Chen kicked the door open swiftly, and only then did he see seven young men and women jumping around on the couch. Song Niannian, the hostess, was wearing a birthday hat on her head and holding a piece of cake, as happy as an angel. The six people who had entered earlier were among them, with one holding an electric guitar and another blowing a trumpet, playing a rock version of the Happy Birthday song. To Qing Chens surprise, he recognized one of them as someone he had seen before. At this moment, Song Niannian had taken off her heavy scarf and coat and was wearing a pink short-sleeved T-shirt. Even though Qing Chen had seen her photos online, he still found the girl incredibly beautiful. But right now, the girl was staring blankly at him, her eyes filled with shock and incomprehension. Luckily, Qing Chen reacted quickly and hid the gun behind his back; otherwise, her reaction would be more than just shock and incomprehension; she might even scream like she did in the elevator. Happy birthday, Qing Chen sincerely said to the girl. His toes curled tightly inside his shoes from the awkwardness of the moment; he almost carved out a three-bedroom apartment in the floor. Qing Chen could even imagine that Mr. Shadow of Qings Family was probably laughing hysterically and pounding the floor by now. Shadow must have known the identities of these people, after all, he was merely a door away from them recently. How could Shadow, being so close, not know when someone approached? Qing Chen surmised that these six must not have been arranged by Shadow, but after discovering their arrival, Shadow immediately concocted a plan and took delight in the mischief. Then, Shadow deliberately misled him with his words, making him think assassins were coming to the door, waiting to see him make a fool of himself. At that moment, Qing Chen wanted to find Shadow and fiercely question him, why was he so playful?! It was incredibly difficult for the average person to deceive Qing Chen, but Shadow was the most advanced among the con artists, easily tricking Qing Chen thoroughly with simple ruses. Now, Qing Chen had recognized the identities of those six individuals; they were all well-known music producers from the Federations entertainment circle. The kind you would be familiar with instantaneously. He quickly scanned the table, there were no drugs, no Dopamine Chips, or any party favors; this was a clean party. And this place was likely where Song Niannian, a top-tier celebrity, regularly hung out with her friends. Hence, the whole dwelling was wrapped in such expensive soundproofing material. The musicians stopped playing, looking curiously at Qing Chen, then at Song Niannian. A female guitarist exclaimed, Wow, Niannian, youve even got a guy hidden here! Another young man shouted, Niannian, you said you werent dating, but you found such a handsome boyfriend? The others sized up Qing Chen curiously, the cleanliness of his white tracksuit and his looks... if he debuted in the Federation now and sang a song or two, hed definitely attract a lot of young female fans. It was precisely his appearance that made them mistakenly believe Qing Chen was here to attend Song Niannians birthday party. It must be said that this indeed was a world where looks mattered; a person with a good appearance, even if hiding a gun, still looked like a good person. Song Niannian did not listen to what they were saying; instead, she looked incredulously at Qing Chen and asked, How did you get in? Qing Chen thought for a moment and said, Your door wasnt properly closed. Song Niannian glanced at everyone and said, This is not who I invited, this is a bad person! The girl directly defined Qing Chens identity. Qing Chen became even more embarrassed. Song Niannian had more friends around her, and she didnt seem to be as afraid of Qing Chen anymore, Inspector Sir, do you realize this is a violation of human rights? Please leave now, and also, please stop harassing me! A girl sensed something was off and looked towards Song Niannian, Is this your crazed fan? He actually ran to your house! After saying that, the girl looked at Qing Chen, My father is Li Menglin, the Captain of the seventh brigade of the Immigration Bureau. Do you believe that I can call a PCE detective right now with just one phone call? Qing Chen sighed, No, no, theres been a misunderstanding here. He could not explain why he was there; the others were merrily celebrating a birthday. Could he say that he suspected a kidnapper was about to strike? They wouldnt believe it anyway. And he had shot their door lock... As for Li Menglin, he really was an acquaintance. When it was time to capture Li Menglin, Qing Chen had investigated his close relations too, so he had seen a photo of this girl. Qing Chen couldnt fathom how the fat-eared Li Menglin managed to have such a delicate daughter. This girl was named Li Zhaoen, a well-known violinist in the Federation, skilled with many musical instruments. In the girls eyes, Li Menglin belonged to the Federations power hierarchy, but to Qing Chen, Li Menglin was just an informant. But whether or not Li Menglin counted as part of the power hierarchy, or whether he was Qing Chens informant, it had nothing to do with the mistake Qing Chen had made, so he could only admit his wrong and apologize. And now, what Qing Chen thought about was what to do with the bullet hole in the lock; damn it... He could only escape first. After getting away, have Yang Xuyang speak with Li Menglin and try to smooth things over. Qing Chen backed away to the outside and said with a smile on his face, Happy birthday to everyone, may you all have this day each year, and this moment every year... Having said that, he stepped out the door and turned to leave, wishing he could start jogging. At this time, Li Zhaoen and Song Niannian noticed the door lock was broken by Qing Chen; Li Zhaoen immediately picked up the phone to call her father, Li Menglin, reporting that there was a pervert in the Utopia Building who was attempting to attack Song Niannian. Qing Chen listened to all this, thinking to himself what a mess this was. He quickly packed his things, grabbed his water kettle, tea leaves, and a change of clothes, and left once more. However, just as Qing Chen was preparing to stay at Intelligence Department One for a while, two middle-aged men brushed past him. Their familiar steps and posture made Qing Chen frown. The two middle-aged men gave him a cold glance, but did not stop, continuing towards the end of the corridor. At the end of the corridor, Li Zhaoen, seeing the two middle-aged men approaching, asked curiously, Did my dad send you? The kid behind you is the creep I was talking about, thats him, catch him! The middle-aged men glanced back at Qing Chen but showed no intention of apprehending him; instead, they continued on to the end of the corridor, Your father sent us to protect you. Qing Chen retreated back to his own room deep in thought, making a judgment that first, these two men were definitely not good people, and second, they had probably been listening to Li Zhaoens phone call, because Li Zhaoen had reported her location to Li Menglin, allowing the two men to locate her. When the two sturdy middle-aged men reached Li Zhaoens side, they looked back towards the corridor to ensure Qing Chen was no longer there, then suddenly they grabbed Li Zhaoen and quickly pushed her into the room. The rooms small door closed again, sealing off the sounds, as if separating into two different worlds. Inside the room, seeing Li Zhaoen being subdued, Song Niannian immediately felt something was wrong and turned to run inside to grab her pocket-sized handgun for self-defense. But the middle-aged men were quicker than her, already drawing their guns and pulling the trigger. The bullet hit the door frame beside Song Niannian, petrifying the girl as if she were a statue in place. The middle-aged men spoke calmly, It hasnt been easy to find this opportunity, so please cooperate. Once we have the money transferred to us, you will all be free. Song Niannian asked weakly, How much money do you want? My parents manage my money, I dont have any on me... The two middle-aged men looked at each other then said, Then have your parents transfer it to our account. At that moment, another middle-aged man walked to the side and silently took a call, Yes, shes been found, dont worry, shes unharmed, the client will be satisfied. In conversation, they were discussing the quality of goods, as it were. ... Having just settled in Wuzhen, the accommodation arranged by the Internet Conference didnt even have a decent table; Im still pondering where I should write, trying to update another chapter before 11 PM tonight. Chapter 606 - 606 380 Young Inspector ?Chapter 606: 380, Young Inspector Chapter 606: 380, Young Inspector Those who could gather in this room must have their place in the Federations entertainment industry. So, it wasnt just Song Niannian who was the fat sheep waiting to be slaughteredthe kidnappers had their eyes on everyone here. But, these people probably hadnt realized that the criminals didnt just intend to extort and kidnap, they even wanted to sell them off as goods to make another profit. The Outer World had a darknet for trading women, while the Inner World was even darker; the black market had always had a precedent for trafficking slaves, and had even formed a new industry chain. These slaves with identities always fetched a high price in the black market. Among all the people present, not a single one was undesirable; they were all very valuable in the black market. At the same time, customers were required to pay a massive security deposit when purchasing, to ensure the slave wouldnt escape. If the slave did escape, the deposit would be forfeited. Logically speaking, the customers were all powerful elites with no reason to abide by the black markets rules, but this rule just happened to have continued. Simply because, while the black market organizations in this gray industry chain promised to confiscate the deposit, they also took responsibility for killing the escaped slaves. However, under normal circumstances, the chance to kidnap a leading star was very rare. First of all, top stars usually lived in the Upper Three Districts, which were very strictly managed. No one from the black market dared to cause trouble there for no reason. Even paparazzi who wanted to enter the Upper Three Districts to take photos had to bribe detectives from the PCE Security Committee to get in, and they had to be searched and checked before entering, to ensure they had no criminal records. Secondly, most elites were not willing to pay the exorbitant price for a top starit was the kind of price that could set dozens of people financially free at once. Lastly, once the incident was exposed, the consequences would be extremely severe. Over twenty years ago, someone kidnapped a top star, resulting in a nationwide upheaval with protests, leaving even the corporate conglomerates in distress. In the end, to appease the public outrage, the elite who had purchased the top female star was thrown into the Federation prison. This time, someone offered a very high price, and it just so happened that people in the black market had noticed that Song Niannian did not live in the Upper Three Districts on a regular basis, but rather in District Five. Later, someone provided intelligence that Song Niannians close friend would occasionally appear and disappear mysteriously in District Five. Criminals paid close attention and discovered this might be a rare opportunity. So, the criminals spent a big price to hire a hacker with a modified mechanical brain to hack into and monitor her friend Li Zhaoens phone. Things went smoother than expected, and it didnt take long before they seized this opportunity. Everyone says the entertainment industry is lucrative; Im curious how much money you can come up with to ransom your lives, said a middle-aged man with a smile. After the stars had transferred their money one by one. Two middle-aged men, one with a gun and the other with finger locks, locked up everyone in the room. It wasnt just the thumbs on their hands; even the thumbs on their feet were locked up. During this time, the seven stars in the room didnt dare to resist. The criminals had guns, and any resistance from them would be futile. For some reason, Song Niannian suddenly thought of the young Inspector living next door, who had also seen the two middle-aged men entering the house. Did he notice something was wrong here? But if he had already noticed, shouldnt he have come to rescue her by now? From the time the middle-aged men entered the house until now, nearly half an hour had passed. If he were coming, he would have come by now. If he hadnt come by now, he probably wouldnt come at all. At this moment, after one middle-aged man made sure that everyone was locked up, he took out his phone without any hesitation and started taking photos of them one by one. A young male star in the room felt something was amiss, Youre not just after money, youre planning to sell off Song Niannian too! The middle-aged man suddenly began to laugh, showing his black and yellow teeth, Youre wrong. Were not just selling Song Niannian; were going to sell all of you. This kind of business is once in a lifetime. The stars instantly despaired, knowing what would become of them if they were soldit would be decades of darkness until each one grew old and weary, then buried in the wilderness unknown to anyone. The middle-aged man smiled, Dont rush; our companions are still preparing in the parking lot, so you still have a little bit of freedom left. Enjoy it while you can. Li Zhaoen shouted in anger, Ive already called my dad, he will be here soon! The middle-aged man, seemingly amused, lifted Li Zhaoens chin, What do you think my companions are lying in ambush at the parking lot for? Immigration officers and soldiers are only somewhat useful when standing inside that tunnel. Dont worry, we will deal with them and then take you away. At this point, his companion, seeing him wanting to lay hands on Li Zhaoen, said coldly, If you touch her, her value drops in the eyes of the customer, think carefully, after getting the money, what kind of women cant you find? Dont make a mistake, and if you do, the Boss wont let you off. The stars felt even more hopeless realizing these criminals werent just two, but there seemed to be more hiding in the parking lot, waiting for Li Menglin. This was the only downside to the criminals operationthey had overheard Li Zhaoens phone call with Li Menglin, which allowed them to pinpoint Song Niannians location, which meant facing Li Menglins rescue effort. But Li Zhaoen had only mentioned on the phone that she was dealing with a pervert, so Li Menglin wouldnt bring too many people, nor would he carry heavy firepower. Song Niannian occasionally glanced toward the door, not knowing what she was waiting for. The middle-aged man noticed her gaze, looked puzzled at the door, but saw nothing. He thought for a moment and said, What are you expecting? Just as he was speaking, the door behind them suddenly opened. Song Niannian watched as the young Inspector who had harassed her multiple times appeared in the doorway. Excuse me, to interrupt! the young man said. In the next moment, Song Niannian saw the young man raise his hand and pull the trigger, firing four shots in less than two seconds, breaking both legs of the two middle-aged men. The two middle-aged men lost their balance and fell to the ground, trying to retaliate, but before they could pull the trigger, they felt a numbness in their arms and a flow of blood on their wrists, leaving them without the strength to hold their pistols anymore. Song Niannian, watching the young man, suddenly thought, so to interrupt really meant to break limbs. It was her first time seeing someone stop anothers speech so literally. At that moment, one of the middle-aged men lying on the ground silently reached into his pocket with his intact left hand and pressed a button. Qing Chen smiled and looked at him, Calling for your friends? Sorry, their fate is no different from yours right now. Theres no escaping. The middle-aged man despaired, Who are you? Song Niannian, with her hands and feet bound and lying askew on the ground, thought to herself that he must have been off dealing with these thugs partners, which is why he arrived late. She watched Qing Chens profile, his calm demeanor as he squatted in front of the criminals, and thought of his precise shooting skills and the confident control he seemed to have over the situation. For a moment, she felt her heartbeat accelerate. This was the famous suspension bridge effect, where people often misattribute their physiological reactions caused by fear in dangerous settings to being infatuated. Thats why confessions on suspension bridges, ferris wheels, and roller coasters tend to be more successful. The middle-aged man asked with a fierce face, Who the hell are you? At that moment, Qing Chen thought for a moment and said, If youre from the black market, you should have heard of me. I am the newly appointed Inspector of Intelligence Department One, Team Seven. The middle-aged man was stunned, the new boss of Intelligence Department One, Team Seven? Of course, they knew! He was the man who had recently caused a bloodbath in the intelligence circles on his own. But what they couldnt understand was how the new boss of Intelligence Department One, Team Seven, could be so young! They had actually seen Qing Chen in the hallway just now, but because he was so young, they hadnt taken him seriously at all. Qing Chen said, Actually, you cant consider yourselves wronged. I have had my eye on you for a long time; you shouldnt feel too aggrieved to fall into my hands now. At this time, Qing Chen didnt forget to patch things up for himself, so that he could explain the misunderstanding to Song Niannian: he had been tracking these criminals, hence the mix-ups happened, but the mix-ups were for the sake of rescuing you all, so lets turn the page on our matter. Sure enough, upon hearing Qing Chens words, Song Niannians expression immediately showed relief and gratitude... though still mingled with some confusion. Both middle-aged men were dumbfounded; they had no idea why they were worthy of such attention from the new boss of Intelligence Department One. Song Niannian didnt understand the inside story, nor the dynamics between the black market and Intelligence Department One, so she could not grasp why the two of them were so shocked. But the middle-aged men themselves knew their insignificance in front of Intelligence Department One. For the notorious head of Intelligence Department One to focus on just the two of them was the equivalent of using a cannon to kill mosquitoes, right? It was like employing wide-scale lethal weaponry! Just then, people rushed into the room from outside; Li Menglin led two soldiers wielding pistols who burst in clamoring, Let me see which pervert dares to bully my daughter?! Qing Chen faced the pistols and slowly stood up, Captain Li, the fighting proficiency of the Entry-Exit Administration needs improvement. If there really were criminals here, wouldnt you just be delivering yourselves to death? It seems you may have grown too comfortable in that position. Li Menglin looked at the young man turning around in the room, then his mouth hung open, unable to close again. The celebrities in the room, initially drawn by Li Menglins shouting, looked over in surprise and witnessed the transformation of Li Menglins expression from ferocious to stunned silence. The normally formidable Entry-Exit Administration official was petrified as though he were an eroded landform in the wilderness. His gun, too, hung limply by his side. Inspector... how come you are here?! Chapter 607 - 607 381. Food chain of city number 10 ?Chapter 607: 381. Food chain of city number 10 Chapter 607: 381. Food chain of city number 10 If only I could never see those Living Hades again, that was the greatest wish of Li Menglin after emerging from that hellish place of Intelligence Department One. To make this wish come true, he even thought about waiting by his window for a shooting star. It wasnt that Li Menglin still naively believed that a shooting star could really fulfill wishes. But he knew very well that as long as he was still living in City 10, within the Federation, that wish could never come true. So he could only turn to metaphysics. These days, Li Menglin would pick up the phone with a tremble in his heart, fearing that it was from Intelligence Department One, summoning him to report back. Fortunately, that group of Living Hades seemed to have forgotten about him; as long as he reported punctually on the corporate vehicles entering and exiting City 10 daily, no one bothered him actively. That allowed Li Menglin to breathe a sigh of relief. Just when he thought his life was returning to tranquility, he unexpectedly encountered that Yama here. Was this Yama here for his daughter? No, with Song Niannian around, his daughter wasnt relevant. Though Li Zhaoen was also quite attractive, scoring 80 out of 100, she seemed dim beside Song Niannian. Li Menglin pondered wildly. And those celebrities, including his daughter Li Zhaoen, were just staring at Li Menglin in shock at this moment. Because this usually prestigious immigration official appeared so meek and cautious in front of the young man, he even stammered. What kind of scenes had Li Zhaoen grown up seeing at home? They were of others lining up to ask her father for favors. Now, she finally saw her fathers humble side. Li Zhaoen looked at Qing Chen, clearly recognizing him as a formidable senior official within the Federation. It wasnt just Li Zhaoen who was emotionally stirred, so were everyone else including Song Niannian, whose views of Qing Chen changed significantly after experiencing despair, rescue, and a turnaround. They understood that celebrities, after all, were merely celebrities, and it was these powerful elites who truly controlled life and death within the Federation. Qing Chen glanced at Li Menglin and said indifferently, I am here because there are human traffickers from the black market targeting your daughter and her friends. Ive been tracking them for a long time and have finally caught them today. What? Li Menglin hadnt expected this to be the situation; only then did he shift his gaze away from Qing Chen, and noticed that his daughter and the celebrities were all restraint by finger locks. On the ground lay two middle-aged men, collapsed and unable to flee due to their femurs broken by Qing Chen. The scene was right here, with seven witnesses present, and the facts were right before their eyes. Li Menglin first directed his men to unlock the finger locks for the celebrities, prioritizing their liberation over his distress for his daughter. He gently inquired about the incident from his daughter. Qing Chen waited quietly, and soon, just as they had unlocked the finger locks for everyone, intense footsteps were heard outside again, causing everyone inside to tense up, fearing the companions of the middle-aged men had come for a rescue. Only Qing Chen remained calm. The next moment, Yang Xuyang from Intelligence Department One, Team seven, arrived with more than twenty brothers. Those twenty-odd people entered the room and immediately surrounded Qing Chen, forcing Li Menglin, Li Zhaoen, and others back into a corner with their handguns, safeguarding only Qing Chen. This scene was so shocking that it left Li Menglin and others a bit at a loss. Boss, were here, Yang Xuyang said in a low voice, Should we take all these people back? Actually, Yang Xuyang was already heading home for a shift break after everyone had worked overtime for ten days, all eager to rest well and spend some time with their spouses. But as soon as he heard that the Inspector had trouble, Yang Xuyang immediately came with more than twenty brothers, without uttering unnecessary words. This was the influence Qing Chen now wielded within Intelligence Department One. Intelligence Department One, Team seven, should be considered as Qing Chens first direct command unit in the real sense. Qing Chen looked at Yang Xuyang, The two on the floor are human traffickers from the black market, the rest are hostages. You handle the rest. There are seven more people in the parking lot, remember to take them all back to Intelligence Department One. I want them alive, be careful that someone may kill them to silence them during the transport, and after you get them back to Intelligence Department One, Ill give you three days. I want to know who their clients were, how many clients have been involved. Yang Xuyang, your important task next is to dig out all these scumbags who buy and sell people as slaves, Qing Chen ordered. Yang Xuyang, feeling a surge of motivation, stood up straight, and declared loudly, Guaranteed to complete the mission! Qing Chen then turned to Li Menglin and said indifferently, You dont even know that your own daughters phone was tapped. Come to Intelligence Department One tomorrow, Ill have someone arrange some basic counter-surveillance training for you. Having arranged everything, Qing Chen then turned and left. The others in the room watched him go, with Yang Xuyang and the fearsome detectives following the young man. Qing Chen didnt take the opportunity to deepen his relationship with Song Niannian nor did he make any demands on the celebrities, as if this young man had just saved some insignificant people, performing a trivial act. The celebrities watched Qing Chens departing figure, thinking, this was Song Niannian after all, could he be completely ignoring her?! Li Zhaoen rubbed her fingers and stood up. She looked at Li Menglin, Dad, who exactly was that person just now? Li Menglin glanced at his daughter and then at Song Niannian, Thats the new Trainee Inspector from Intelligence Department One. Do you know how many people he has captured recently? There have been rumors recently in the frontline about many officials disappearing mysteriously; those were the ones he took, and those he captured hardly ever come out again. Keep your distance from him. Hes a real beast within the Federation, a significant power of Qings Family. Li Zhaoen thought to himself, no wonder his father was so courteous to this man, he was a big shot in the Qings Family! She whispered, He looks so young. What do you know, Li Menglin said irritably, In the consortium, the younger the person in power, the more it shows his limitless future, and someday he will become a major power within the consortium. Li Menglin was a man willing to latch onto important figures, but Li Zhaoen was his precious daughter, and he did not want his daughter to get involved with such a dangerous character. He suddenly looked towards Song Niannian, only to see her thoughtful, gazing at the now empty doorway. Li Menglin always felt that tonights events were not so simple. Outside the hallway, Qing Chen handed his personal belongings from his room to Yang Xuyang. Yang Xuyang was stunned, Boss, youre staying here too? Hmm, Qing Chen responded expressionlessly. Then why are you taking so many things, youre not planning to move into our Intelligence Department One, are you? Yang Xuyang wondered. Qing Chen glanced at him, We still have a lot of work to do, you might rest, but I cant. Yang Xuyang suddenly felt moved, Boss, you work too hard. In fact, Qing Chens insistence on staying in Intelligence Department One was purely because he did not want to see Song Niannian again, it was too awkward. Although he had patched himself up quite a bit, that girl, if she were not a fool, would sooner or later figure a lot of things out. Qing Chen planned to stay in Intelligence Department One for a while, then move to the third district house that Li Xiurui had bought for him, thus he would no longer have any interaction with Song Niannian. By the way, how are things going with Qing Hua, Qing Chen asked. Dont worry, Trainee Inspector Qing Hua is an experienced intelligence officer, nothing will go wrong on his end, Yang Xuyang said cautiously. Thats good, Qing Chen nodded. Yang Xuyang continued, Are you really going to investigate the mastermind behind the sale of stars, you know, whoever bought Song Niannian must hold a particularly high status. Qing Chen looked at Yang Xuyang, I know you mean well, concerned about me getting involved in any dangers, but is there anyone with a status higher than Shadow? Dont worry, if theres something I cant handle, Mr. Shadow will step in. Qing Chen thought, Shadow had played so many jokes on him, making some trouble for Shadow shouldnt be too much, right? Yang Xuyangs attitude became even more humble, realizing that his boss was a direct subordinate of Mr. Shadow, that was even better. ... ... At this moment, Qing Hua was idly wandering on the bustling streets of the fifth district. He sensed that someone was following him, but he did not care. Tonight, many people from Intelligence Department One had gone home to rest, but Qing Hua had not rested because Qing Chen had given him an important task... to wait for Jindai or Deer Island to make a deal. Team seven of Intelligence Department One had been hanging a whiteboard at the entrance on the third floor for seven days, and Qing Chen had been arresting people for seven days. Qing Hua had once told the young Inspector that it seemed Jindai and Deer Island were probably not going to come for the deal. But Qing Chen had said, if they are not willing to trade, that means we havent caught anyone important enough yet. So the operation must continue until we catch someone important enough to force them to trade. Two days ago, Qing Huas team finally caught a core member of the Jindai family, whose father was one of the key representatives of the Jindai family in city number 10 and an important senator. This kind of senator must care about his reputation; if his son was tainted, it would surely reduce the trust the public had in him, so he could not just watch his son go to prison and do nothing. Logically speaking, the senators son had been very cautious, but he had unfortunately encountered Qing Chen. This was Qing Chens plan, I catch someone important enough to you, then force you to trade with me. This was an open strategy. What Qing Hua did not know was that it wasnt just Jindais people following him. Further away, a man dressed in black, Mr. Shadow, stood on the rooftop of a building, standing among the clouds observing the operation. Shadow was very interested in the operation Qing Chen had arranged, as he also thought it would be interesting to see the Jindai family being forced to break their alliance with Deer Island at Intelligence Department One. Then, on the rooftop, a person standing respectfully behind Shadow spoke softly, Mr. Shadow, the person who bought Song Niannian is likely a power player from the Chen Clan. If we really drag them out, it could have severe repercussions. Shadow laughed and said, Whats there to fear, am I not still here? Do you know why, when you release a wild tiger into the forest, it will quickly eat every animal in the forest, everything it can? Do you know why it does that? The person behind him was taken aback, Sir, I dont know. Shadow smiled, Because it needs to understand where it stands in the food chain, what it can touch, and what it cant. Do you think Qing Chen is being reckless? Actually, what he is doing now is no different from that tiger released into the forest, he wants to know how much I am willing to do for him, and where he stands in the food chain. ... The Internet Conference has started, Ill update this chapter with my phone before I go up to speak, and write the second chapter tonight. Chapter 608 - 608 382 The Hostage of a Trader ?Chapter 608: 382, The Hostage of a Trader Chapter 608: 382, The Hostage of a Trader The city at midnight remained extraordinarily lively. Some heard that the northern war had paused, as it seemed that Jindai and Deer Island suffered a setback in this war due to some key figures being replaced by Time Travelers. Some said these sudden replacements were the handiwork of the Li Family, others said it was a coincidence. But no matter what, this northern war did not seem to affect the prosperity of the city. The war out in the wilderness felt very distant to everyone. It was a kind of misalignment, as if though war had broken out in the north, all the city saw was a slight rise in commodity prices, prompting people to rush to the malls to stock up on goods. Nobody really cared about the outcome of the war. The people had no sense of belonging to the Federation or the conglomerates. Qing Hua walked on the busy streets, the crowd flowing past him as he unknowingly became encircled by seven people. As he moved forward, so did the seven people. Like magnetic forces drawing them together, as if connected by invisible threads, the surging crowd was like a river, and the eight of them were like hidden reefs within it. Qing Hua remembered Qing Chens instructions and immediately said into his Bluetooth earpiece, The target has appeared, come over. The next moment, people from Intelligence Department One, Team Seven stepped out from a store by the road. Each person carried a shoulder bag in their left hand and their right hand was plunged into the bag, gripping a handgun. In the blink of an eye, over thirty detectives had subtly encircled the seven. The seven were somewhat astonished to discover this scene, it appeared they hadnt expected Qing Hua to have so many people from Team One following him. This did not look like a trade, it looked more like they were about to come to blows. The Shadow atop a high-rise smiled upon seeing this, The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind; still as cautious as ever, deploying so many people all at once. At that moment, the shortest middle-aged man among the seven approached Qing Hua, walking side by side with him, Inspector Qing Hua, Ive come to trade for Jindai Jingyi with you. Qing Hua sneered, A trade involves bringing so many people? The short middle-aged man paused, looking around, thinking, Ive barely brought six, and youve brought over thirty, and youre asking me why Ive brought so many people?! But he didnt dwell on this issue, instead, he spoke softly, Where is Jindai Jingyi? I know youve already secretly moved him out of the secret prison tonight. Can we proceed with the transaction directly tonight? Qing Hua glanced askance at the man, That will depend on whether youre sincere enough. Remember what we said: one Jindai Jingyi for two people from Deer Island of equivalent value. As to whether the values are equivalent, that is solely for us to judge, with the final explanation rights belonging to Team Seven. After a moment of thought, the short middle-aged man pulled out two sheets of paper from his sleeve and handed them to Qing Hua, Here are the details of two Deer Island members. If you think its acceptable, we can proceed with the exchange right now. Qing Hua looked around and silently took the papers, unfolding them. The first Deer Island member they wanted to exchange was a famous intelligence agent who had gone missing for two years, codename Jeju. This agent was quite well-known, rumored to be one of the intelligence chiefs for Deer Island in the city, whose identity had been exposed due to a betrayal by a subordinate. Then he mysteriously disappeared. Many thought he had escaped back to Deer Island territory, never imagining that he had actually been captured by Jindai. The second Deer Island member was also famous; he was the legitimate grandson of the current Deer Island Family Head and had once been the chairman of the PCE Security Management Committee in the Federations City 10. He disappeared on his way back home for a family ancestral ceremony. Now it seemed that he too had been captured by Jindai. Qing Hua involuntarily glanced at the short middle-aged man beside him, thinking just how ruthless Jindai could be, stealthily capturing two such significant figures from the Deer Island family, during an ongoing war with allied intentionsat that, this covert sabotage? Utterly shameless. If Deer Island found out what the Jindai family had done, could their intelligence systems in City 10 continue to coexist peacefully? Peace would be out of the question. This made Qing Hua somewhat puzzled: yes, Jindai Jingyi was important, but was he really worth such a great expenditure from the Jindai family? He felt a complex emotion; the bosss strategy was too vicious, truly a potent tool for tearing apart the alliance between Jindai and Deer Island! Qing Hua said softly, I agree to the exchange, but theres a preconditionthe evidence of their crimes must be provided during the transaction, otherwise there would be no point in taking them; theyd have to be released due to lack of evidence. Similarly, Ill hand over the evidence of crimes committed by Jindai Jingyi to you, ensuring he can continue to show his face in public. Intelligence Department One certainly had the power to capture members of the clans, as granted by the Federations constitution. However, they needed concrete evidence for detaining someone, or else any slight pressure from somewhere could force them to release the captive. If that happened, Team Seven would be making a loss-making deal. The short middle-aged man replied, No problem. Since were trading, were naturally prepared with the materials to ensure that you can convict these two. Where shall we make the exchange? Right here, where the crowd is thickest, Qing Hua said coldly. Both vehicles shall arrive simultaneously, check the evidence for accuracy, exchange the hostages, and then have nothing more to do with each other. The middle-aged man thought for a moment, Fine! Qing Hua had specifically chosen this spot partly because it was crowded, and partly because the surveillance cameras here had been destroyed by local gangs in City 10, making it ideal for the exchange. Soon, at their summons, two minivansone from the north and one from the southdrove up and converged in the center of the long street. The car door was pulled open, and both parties quickly checked the identity of the other party in the transaction. As soon as the short middle-aged man confirmed that it was indeed Jindai Jingyi in the car, he handed over a stack of documents, accounts, and photos to Qing Hua. Qing Hua slowly nodded after confirming that the criminal evidence was indisputable. People on both sides swiftly exchanged hostages and then left the scene under the escort of their respective entourages. Standing in the middle of the long street, Qing Hua had an unreal feeling, was the bosss plan completed just like that?! As he watched the departing cars, there was an indescribable sense of relief in his heart, knowing that the two Deer Island members the Jindai family had sent over were evidently of tremendous value just by a glance. The most crucial thing was that if the Deer Island clan discovered that Jindai had made such a move against them, the alliance between the two families intelligence systems would inevitably crumble. At the very least, a significant rift would appear. In the past, Jindai and Deer Island in Intelligence Department One had always banded together, leaving the other families a bit helpless. Now, this alliance should be dissolving under the strategy of Team Seven, right? The mere thought was satisfying. Qing Huas own younger brother was currently fighting on the frontline against Jindai and Deer Island, so he had a natural hatred for them. By dissolving their alliance from the rear, maybe it could create a butterfly effect, potentially saving a few lives from Qings clan. With this in mind, Qing Hua continued on his way, feeling much lighter. However, just a few minutes later, a girl with red hair approached him and said in a low voice, I represent the Jindai family, and I want to ask you, how do you plan to proceed with the transaction. Qing Hua turned his head towards the girl, puzzled: ??? Whats this? A transaction with the Jindai family? Didnt we just conclude a transaction?! Qing Hua hesitated before asking, Are you from the Jindai family? The girl had a lip ring and a nose ring, giving her an especially punk look. She calmly stated, I am Jindai Kongshu, Jindai Jingyis elder sister. You should have seen me before. Qing Hua suddenly remembered, yes, she was Jindai Jingyis elder sister, a well-known figure. He hadnt expected her to come in person to conduct the transaction. It seemed she was worried about her younger brothers safety. But if Jindai Kongshu was representing the Jindai family in the transaction, then who the heck were the people he had just dealt with?! Someone was definitely causing trouble! Team Seven certainly hadnt lost out in this transaction because they had at least gained two valuable members of the Deer Island family. But the situation was too odd, causing Qing Hua a bit of a headache. He hesitated before looking at Jindai Kongshu, If I tell you that Jindai Jingyi has just been sold off by someone, would you believe me... Jindai Kongshu: ??? Who would buy her brother? For what reason?! ... ... At this very moment, on the rooftop of a high-rise building, a small iron door suddenly opened. The short middle-aged man who had just completed the transaction with Qing Hua walked up, carrying the unlucky Jindai Jingyi, and respectfully said, Mr. Shadow, Ive brought him over. Ive administered an anesthetic, and hes currently unconscious. The figure referred to as Mr. Shadow was watching Qing Hua standing clueless on the street below, alongside Jindai Kongshu, laughing so hard he was pounding the ground. The young man behind him and the short middle-aged man didnt make a sound to interrupt. Hahaha, Qing Hua must be so confused right now. Just look at his expression, priceless! Qings shadow laughed heartily. This building was extremely tall, at least a few hundred meters from the ground, and Qings shadow seemed to have excellent vision; he could still see the expression on Qing Huas face from such a distance. The transaction that had just been completed was clearly orchestrated by him. The two missing Deer Island members had also been captured by the top talent under Qings shadow. The young man whispered, Boss, I havent seen you laugh this happily in a long time. Qings shadow stood up, smilingly said, Thats because you are all too boring and no one makes me this happy. The world is like a playground, dont be so tense all the time. Lighten up, have some fun. Qings family has stood for so many years, it wont collapse just because we have a laugh. The young man thought for a moment then asked, But what are you aiming for by doing this? Dont you find it amusing? Qings shadow smiled and asked. The young man fell silent... Qings shadow went on, Those two Deer Island members fall into our hands, but they dont know who captured them, right? Actually, these two are of no use to me anymore, as the information they had has been completely extracted. I was worrying about how to dispose of them when Qing Chen gave me new inspiration. The transaction just now made perfect use of their residual heat. Now, everyone believes that Jindai gave these two to Team Seven. Even if Jindai denies it, how could Deer Island not suspect? Sometimes, just making them doubt is enough, and once a crack appears, it cannot be mended. Chapter 609 - 609 383 nineteen years ?Chapter 609: 383, nineteen years Chapter 609: 383, nineteen years On the long street, Qing Hua faced Jindai Kongshu in silence. Jindai Kongshus emotions were clearly a bit out of control. She had come specifically to rescue her younger brother, only to find out that someone else had bought him? This outcome was somewhat hard for her to accept... But this wasnt really Qing Huas fault. The skilled actors under Qings Shadow had carried out a performance, with the acting and details all in place, even using two highly important missing persons from Deer Island for the exchange. Who could have expected it all to be a hoax? Thus, the move by the Shadow directly baffled everyone. Jindai Kongshu looked at Qing Hua and angrily demanded, Where exactly did my brother go? A person cant just disappear like this! Qing Hua hesitated for a moment, Are you representing the Jindai family, or could it be that other members of the Jindai family made the deal without your knowledge? Jindai Kongshu angrily said, No one else in the Jindai family would be involved in this transaction except for me! Qing Hua thought for a while, Then wait a moment, I need to call my boss and report this. Actually, Qing Hua didnt want to make this call because Qing Chen had already entrusted the matter to him, and he was supposed to handle it diligently and present the final results to Qing Chen. That was the hallmark of an excellent subordinate. Now, having only halfway managed the situation and still needing to trouble his boss to solve it made him appear quite incompetent. But he couldnt not make the call since he keenly sensed that someone impersonating a member of the Jindai was involved in a major scheme. Since he couldnt figure out what was going on, he just had to report it promptly and at least let his boss know about it. After dialing the phone, Qing Hua stepped aside and explained the situation to Qing Chen. Qing Chen first focused on the critical issue: The two from Deer Island are already in our hands, right? Qing Hua explained: Yes, and they will arrive at the Secret Prison in 15 minutes. I just confirmed, there hasnt been any issue on our brothers end, the previous transaction went smoothly, its just now... Qing Chen pondered and then said, For us, as long as we have the Deer Island members, we can consider the transaction successful. As for Jindai Kongshus situation... why dont you ask her if there is anyone else she wants to exchange, we can help her catch them now? Qing Hua was speechless, Boss... In his view, this operation was as bizarre as someone impersonating a member of the Jindai family to trade Jindai Jingyi. However, before Qing Hua could say anything, Qing Chen had already started to sigh, It seems inappropriate. Jindai Kongshu came to rescue her brother and probably doesnt care about anything else... So, lets run. What? Qing Hua was stunned. Run, no matter who bought Jindai Jingyi, as long as we are not at a loss, Qing Chen said, Run fast! The next moment, Jindai Kongshu, with her fiery red hair and punk attire, suddenly saw Qing Hua on the phone, turning his head to look at her. Then, the Trainee Inspector on the phone suddenly turned around and sprinted away from the scene. Jindai Kongshu was dumbfounded. Jindai Kongshu was stunned; she never expected a Trainee Inspector from Intelligence Department One to flee on the spot. Just run away like that? Is this something a PCA senior official should do? Jindai Kongshu felt very frustrated, but watching Qing Hua speeding away, she knew she couldnt catch up. At that time, Qings Shadow was still sitting on the edge of the rooftop of a skyscraper, just like the day he sat on the edge of a green mountain cliff, looking down at the world with interest. Actually ran away, hahaha, the Shadow laughed, But sometimes, running away is a good way to solve problems. Boss, what should we do next? a short middle-aged man asked. Qings Shadow thought for a moment, Go give Jindai Jingyi back to Jindai Kongshu. Only when Jindai Jingyi truly returns home can the Jindai family officially enter the game. Release Jindai Jingyi?! the middle-aged man curiously asked, Boss, should we not hold onto this Jindai Jingyi for interrogation? At that moment, the middle-aged man suddenly felt that his bosss operation was a bit bizarre. They had just put up a big show, exchanging two important members of the Deer Island family for Jindai Jingyi, yet they were now planning to return him to Jindai Kongshu immediately? The middle-aged man was puzzled, but the young man behind the Shadow seemed accustomed to it. He was often accompanying the Shadow, so he knew the bosss thoughts could not be gauged by ordinary standards. The Shadow chuckled and shook his head, What valuable information can we dig out from a third-generation youth of the Jindai family? Right now, letting him hurry home would maximize his value. No, to be precise, it maximizes his value by letting other forces see him return home. The Shadow continued, Go ahead. When you guys involved in the transaction have finished, stay in the wilderness, and dont show up in the Federation for now, wait until I completely tear apart the information alliance between Jindai and Deer Island. The middle-aged man and the young man behind the Shadow understood that only when others saw Jindai Jingyi return home, the transaction reality between Jindai and the group would be confirmed, and Deer Island would completely resent Jindai. Otherwise, if the transaction was completed but the trade item, Jindai Jingyi, didnt return to the Jindai family, even a fool could see there was a problem. What does the boss want to do in the wilderness? the young man asked in a low voice. The Shadow thought for a moment and said, I heard there is a Goddess appearing in the Fire Pit, and when the Gods Child is of age to hunt big figures in the Federation, the Goddess would likely need to as well. You guys should check if theres any room to utilize this situation. Chapter 610 - 610 383 nineteen years_2 ?Chapter 610: 383, nineteen years_2 Chapter 610: 383, nineteen years_2 For the Shadow, he seldom did anything especially exhausting. In his way of doing things, leveraging was always the smartest approach. Like tonight, he just found the most appropriate moment to make his move, and it was precisely this action that helped Qing Chen open up the situation. It was known that Jindai Jingyi was indeed important to that congressman, but not important enough for him to go against his clans wishes and tear apart the intelligence alliance between the Jindai and Deer Island families. Just yesterday, the Jindai family had specifically informed Jindai Jingyis father: any rescue attempt for Jindai Jingyi was forbidden, as it concerned the alliance between Jindai and Deer Island, and Jingyis value was far less than that of the alliance. So tonight, Jindai Kongshu was actually there in secret. The redhead girl didnt have anyone from the Deer Island family in her possession, she was just worried about her brother and wanted to exchange some intelligence to get her brother back. This act was even unbeknownst to her father. Therefore, had the Shadow not intervened tonight, Qing Chens plan might have fallen through. Then Qing Chen would have had to continue capturing people, until he caught a really important person, to even have a chance at breaking the Jindai-Deer Island intelligence alliance. Now, with the Shadows intervention, the game was played, and he inadvertently helped Qing Chen crack the situation wide open. But Qings Shadow didnt take action to help Qing Chen; the opportunity was rare and intriguing, and he was interested to play along with Qing Chen for a bit. Moreover, there was a deeper meaning to this matter. Through this event, Qings Shadow intended to bring someone back home. At that moment, Jindai Kongshu still stood bewildered in the middle of the long street, not knowing what to do. The next moment, a small, middle-aged man carrying a huge travel bag passed by her, then tossed the travel bag at her feet. Jindai Kongshu was at first startled, then quickly crouched down to open the travel bag, and inside was her soundly sleeping brother, Jindai Jingyi. Jindai Kongshu cried tears of joy as she called her father, Dad, I found my brother! However, to her surprise, her father wasnt happy, but exploded with thunderous anger, Who told you to look for him? I said not to save him; this is Qings scheme to tear apart the alliance between Jindai and Deer Island! Are you an idiot? Chastised by her father, Jindai Kongshus eyes reddened a bit. Holding her unconscious brother, she said, But this is my brother, your own son! Moreover, if his affair gets exposed, you wont be able to keep your congressman status! Dont worry, father, I didnt trade any benefits with the other side, a kind-hearted person saved my brother and left him in a travel bag at my feet! Good-hearted people dont exist in this world; theyre all scheming against us! Do you really think someone would save that idiot out of kindness? her father had already realized that they were clearly being played, yet he still couldnt identify who was behind it, I can do without the congressman status, but if the clan holds me accountable, even my life might not be safe. Leave Jindai Jingyi there and get back here yourself! The young Jindai Kongshu couldnt understand why rescuing her brother was a mistake. Sitting alone on the rooftop edge, the Shadow watched all this and mumbled to himself with a laugh, When will people truly understand that a sisters feeling at the moment she saves her brother is the most precious thing in this world? Blinded by vanity, arent they. As he spoke, he gazed off into the distance and lost himself in thought. After an unknown amount of time, he called Qing Chen, Ive sent you the photos of Qing Huas trade of the Deer Island member and Jindai Kongshu receiving her brother; spread them out. If Deer Island people come to you for a trade, make sure to ask for Jindai Yasuhara by name, Im certain that missing person is in Deer Islands hands. Qing Chen, sitting in the empty office on the third floor of Intelligence Department One, suddenly understood that all of this evenings events were orchestrated and plotted by Mr. Shadow. He asked curiously, Who is Jindai Yasuhara, and is he important to you? Shadow replied, Its not that hes important to me; hes important to the Jindai family. Deer Island has held him for 7 years, squeezed out everything they could; hes of no value now, so they should be willing to trade that Jeju code-named Deer Island member with you. Qing Chen asked, And then? Qings Shadow said, After you get Jindai Yasuhara, go tell the Jindai people that were willing to hand him over to them on the condition they allow Qing Mu to go home. Otherwise, well keep Yasuhara in a pigsty, where hell eat whatever the pigs eat. Who is Qing Mu? Qing Chen asked, clearly puzzled. He felt as if, all of a sudden, so many people he had never heard of before had appeared out of nowhere. Thinking it over, Shadow said, Qing Mu was our chief intelligence officer in the north 19 years ago, who was secretly captured by the Jindai, and has since been imprisoned in a pigsty at the Northern Military Base, feeding pigs for the Federal Third Group Army. The Federal Third Group Army was an army controlled by the Jindais. Qing Chen couldnt understand, why after capturing Qing Mu, would the Jindai arrange for him to feed pigs? Shadow explained, Qing Mu was once the proudest intelligence officer of Qings Family, and after being captured, he endured 1030 days of interrogation but never betrayed a single Qings Family member. Jindai let him feed pigs for 19 years, wearing an electronic shackles, just to keep him living in the stinking pigsty day and night, tormenting him, humiliating him, breaking his will. Qing Chen then inquired, Why do you want to exchange him back, what important contributions has he made for Qings Family? Based on Qing Chens understanding of the Shadow, this man only saw interests, even when playing, he did so with a purpose. As Li Changqing said, he would accomplish things while seemingly just playing around. How could such a person act on impulse? Why would he use someone as important as Jindai Yasuhara to exchange for a less significant person? So, Qing Mu must be very important, surely. Calmly, Qings Shadow spoke on the phone, What contributions could he have made while confined in a pigsty for 19 years? If we really must speak of a contribution, its that he never compromised with Jindai. Qing Mu was once a leader in Qings spy network, and he was well aware, once he gave in and surrendered, what would happen to the other Qings intelligence officers who were captured? How could other intelligence officers compare to Qing Mu? If even Qing Mu couldnt hold out, why should they be able to? Qing Chen then understood, Jindai had imprisoned Qing Mu for 19 years in hopes of using it as a leverage point to break down Qings intelligence networks spirit. And Qing Mu, unyielding and refusing to surrender after 19 years in a pigsty, was merely trying to protect that spirit for Qings intelligence network. Chapter 611 - 611 384 take someone home ?Chapter 611: 384, take someone home. Chapter 611: 384, take someone home. For intelligence officers, if captured, the best possible outcome is death. Qing Mu was captured because one of his subordinates, a Kite Falcon, betrayed him. This Kite Falcon not only gave up Qing Mu but also caused 121 members of Qings northern intelligence system to be caught. The Jindai family used the lives of these 121 people to demand that Qing Mu not commit suicide; as long as he obediently raised pigs at the Northern Military Base, those 121 could perform the lowliest menial jobs at the northern production base. Although life was hard for these 121 people, lacking even cotton clothes to wear in the winter, and over 30 of them suffered from night blindness due to a prolonged lack of meat in their diet, at least they all survived. Qings shadow sat on the edge of the rooftop, gazing at the distant starry sky and said, Sometimes I wonder, how many 19 years does one have in life to squander? Qing Mu was 31 when he was captured, and now he has become a 50-year-old man. In the first year he was placed in the pigpen, everyone thought he would give in, but he didnt. The second year, everyone thought he would give in, but he didnt. Shadow continued, Gradually, everyone in Qings Family knew that Qing Mu would not yield, and he became the soul of Qings intelligence system. Jindai wanted to break him, but year after year, he persevered, becoming the backbone of Qing intelligence personnel in that pigpen. So when you ask me what contribution he made to Qings Family? That contribution is immeasurable. Just like Qings shadow had said, the Jindai family kept Qing Mu alive not for any other reason, but to break him. Those northern jackals were adept at manipulating the human heart; they knew that if someone like Qing Mu couldnt endure the humiliation and ultimately switched allegiance, then all of the Qing intelligence personnel captured by Jindai would collapse together. This was the best strategy to breach the psychological defenses of Qing intelligence personnel: If a Qing intelligence officer, ready to resist to the end, was captured, and suddenly Jindai brought out a compromised, surrendered Qing Mu saying, See? Even Qing Mu has surrendered, whats the point of your persistence? Its imaginable that most intelligence personnel wouldnt be able to withstand this tactic. This was more terrifying than physical torture. But Qing Mu withstood it. Qing Chen understood that this was also why Qings shadow suddenly intervened in Group Sevens affairs this timethey wanted to bring Qing Mu back home. Qing Chen suddenly asked, Is Qing Mu doing alright now? Shadow was silent for a moment, Not well, 7 years ago the Jindai family tried to use neuron bridging technology to usurp his consciousness, so even if Qing Mu did not yield, someone could impersonate him as the new Qing Mu. But the neuron bridging surgery failed spectacularly, the consciousness of the person trying to usurp him was obliterated, while Qing Mu turned into a madman who could only mechanically feed pigs and utter a single sentence. Under these circumstances, neuron bridging technology also cant be used again, or it would kill Qing Mu. Shadow continued, Jindai was unsure whether he was genuinely insane or feigning it, so they resorted to more means to torment him, to insult him, but he only had that one sentence. Qing Chen was stunned; he couldnt imagine how much willpower the Commander must possess to resist neuron bridging surgery and even obliterate the consciousness of the person trying to usurp him within his mind. Qing Chen asked, What is Qing Mus sentence? He was asking about the sentence that Qing Mu left for the world after resisting neuron bridging. Qings shadow said, Dont worry about me. Qing Chen was taken aback; those four words were not the least bit heroic, quite plain really. But for some reason, he always felt that behind these four words was the last bit of perseverance that Qing Mu had after resigning himself to death. Qings shadow said, Actually, by all accounts, it would be in my interest as a shadow for Qing Mu to die at Jindais hands or continue to stay in that pigpen. That way, I could always use Qing Mus story to stir up the hatred of the intelligence personnel, and make Qing Mu into a wall in the heart of every intelligence officer. But today, I suddenly felt like bringing him home, for no particular reason, just a feeling that he should come home. At some point, Qing Chen even felt that there was a strong emotion hidden in Qings shadows matter-of-fact tone. This Qing Mu might have some kind of relationship with Qings shadow. Over the phone, as if Qings shadow had guessed Qing Chens thoughts, he said with a laugh, Do you think youve caught on to a clue that could lead to my true identity? Try and see, you might actually find out. Qing Chen said irritably, Theres no mention of Qing Mu in the information database of Intelligence Department One. Youd have to look in Qings internal intelligence database, but would you dare to open Qings internal database to me? Qings shadow chuckled, If you could become a shadow, wouldnt Qings database be at your disposal? Keep it up. With that, the shadow hung up the call. Qing Chen sat in the office and brewed himself a cup of tea; at this time, Qing Hua had returned, and he smelled the peculiar aroma of the tea right at the office door. He said in surprise, Boss, is this Realm camellia? Qing Chen glanced at him, You know about this tea? Qing Hua whispered, I had the chance to smell it once at some big shots place; this tea has a unique fragrance that one never forgets once smelled. Hmm, Qing Chen responded nonchalantly, as if the Realm camellia wasnt that precious in his eyes. Qing Hua said cautiously, Boss, Ive heard that the Realm camellia tea is only available from Mr. Shadow, and only his most trusted confidants who have achieved great merit can get a small reward... I also heard that the tea is grown by Transcendents... After finishing his words, he glanced at the open tea caddy on Qing Chens desk, which must contain at least a pound of Realm camellia tea, right? Confronted with Qing Chens demeanor, Qing Hua became even more humble. The person who could acquire a pound of Realm camellia tea from Mr. Shadow, could he be Mr. Shadows closest and most trusted confidant? For Qing Hua, those were lofty figures from the heavens. After hearing what Qing Hua had said, Qing Chen suddenly realized why Qings Shadow had asked him to bring the Realm camellia tea to Intelligence Department One. It turned out that the reason he had been given the tea late at night was to facilitate winning over peoples hearts at the department. If he had let Qing Hua smell the fragrance of the tea as soon as he reported for duty, there wouldnt have been any incidents of attempted intimidation. Little did Mr. Shadow know that Qing Chen not only didnt carry such precious Realm camellia tea with him, wasting his good intentions, but also had managed to get Team Seven under control within a single day, without any need for the tea to come into play. Qing Chen looked at Qing Hua and calmly said, Lets set aside the matter of the Realm camellia tea for now. Are the people from Deer Island secured? They are secured, Qing Hua replied. I have already spread the news of the trade, and if nothing goes wrong, Deer Island will soon find out that Jindai has traded their two important missing individuals to us. Qing Chen nodded, saying firmly, Good, remember to update the whiteboard with those two peoples names tomorrow. Cross out Jindai Jingyis name. If anyone from Deer Island comes to inquire or watch, tell them plainly that we want Jindai Yasuhara, and only him. If they bring Jindai Yasuhara to us, I will hand over both of Deer Islands people to them. Qing Hua was momentarily stunned. Alright, Ill get on it right away. Qing Chen sat alone in the office drinking tea, feeling no sense of belonging to the Qing Clan. However, he now very much wanted to bring Qing Mu back home. ... ... Dawn broke, and the detectives from the various groups of Intelligence Department One began to arrive at work. The first thing everyone did upon arriving in the building was to go to the third floor to check the whiteboard, eager to see what names had been updated. Though everybody had heard about the events of the previous night, they still wanted to see firsthand whether everything in the rumors had actually happened. Especially the detectives from the Li and Chen Clans, who seemed to thoroughly enjoy the drama, eagerly pointing at the two newly added names on the whiteboard. Lee Kwangheon has been missing for two years, and to think that he was actually captured by the Jindai family, ah, I never imagined Jindai and Deer Island, seemingly close as family, would secretly capture such an important figure from the other side, tsk tsk tsk. With the Jindai familys nature, its not at all surprising that they could pull off such an act. Theyre the best at scheming behind others backs. In reality, the secret capture of Lee Kwangheon wasnt carried out by the Jindai family. But when the news spread, everyone felt that it wasnt unusual for the Jindai family to backstab, and at this point, it was time for Jindai to do some self-reflection... The occurrences of the previous night were so significant that even the usually stern Inspector Li Yunqu of the Li Family came to the third floor to join in the chatter. As Li Yunqu looked at the whiteboard, he thought to himself that the gentleman from Autumn Leaf Courtyard was truly impressive, stirring up unrest in Intelligence Department One as soon as he arrived. Sure enough, those favored by the previous generations Family Head, Li Xiurui, were tough characters. Li Yunqu said to his subordinates with a chuckle, I wonder if Jindai and Deer Island can still maintain their close relationship now? Previously, when the detectives from Jindai and Deer Island met, they always behaved warmly towards each other, like a loving family. Even the inspectors from both clans would occasionally have lunch together, publicly flaunting their alliance in front of everyones eyes. Now, everyone was waiting to see the drama unfold, curious about how Jindai and Deer Island would react. When Jindai and Deer Island representatives arrived, Li Yunqu was astonished to see that they greeted each other with smiles as they always had. He immediately understood that, due to the situation with the northern battles, the two clans couldnt openly confront each other in broad daylight and so continued their hypocritical facade. After all, they were all calculating adults who knew how to play their parts. But Li Yunqu was no pushover either. Seeing that Jindai and Deer Island were seemingly as close as ever, he jovially quipped, Look at these fools from Deer Island, counting money for their seller, with two of their important figures secretly captured, and theyre still playing nice with the captors. Come on, brothers, lets not look any longer. Staring at fools too much can make you foolish. The faces of the Deer Island detectives changed; their pride was at stake! Li Yunqus words were like pouring salt on Deer Islands woundspainfully direct! ... On the G3296 high-speed train heading home, having not slept for nearly 20 hours, attending meetings, rushing to catch the train, finishing these two chapters, and revising the manuscript, all I want to do now is get a good sleep on the train. Good night, everyone... Chapter 612 - 612 385 Member ?Chapter 612: 385, Member Chapter 612: 385, Member Do you know, Intelligence Department One is a complete mess right now! These past few days, Intelligence Department Three revolved their gossip mainly around Intelligence Department One. Intelligence Department Three is run by the Qings Family faction and its also where the Shadow Candidates go to enhance their reputation. Surprisingly, after the Shadow assigned the candidates here, he did not disclose what the next step of their tasks would be. It seemed like he intended to let the Shadow Candidates collect dust here. Consequently, with the Shadow Candidates stationary, the detectives of Intelligence Department Three were happy to enjoy their leisure, spending their days bootlicking the candidates, and engaging in leisure activities like eating melons and drinking tea. Over at Intelligence Department One, Team Seven had exchanged two core members from the Deer Island family with the Jindai family, which was no secret. And this had stirred up a huge commotion in the intelligence community. Nobody imagined that the brash maneuver of Team Seven from Intelligence Department One would actually materialize, nor did they expect that the Jindai would secretly capture such important members from the Deer Island family. For a time, the alliance between Jindai and Deer Island became a laughing stock to outsiders. Of course, the most mortified were the Jindai themselves. Internally, they had already unanimously agreed not to engage in any transactions with Team Seven, yet they still ended up slandered. As the saying goes, its easy to spread rumors but hard to dispel them. Now, no matter how the Jindai tried to explain, the public remained skeptical at best. That inspector from Team Seven of Intelligence Department One is so formidable, managing to bring such disaster upon both Jindai and Deer Island, a detective said with a look of admiration. Upon hearing this, Qing Yi thought to himself, thats my mentor, of course hes formidable. He looked around the office, feeling somewhat superior over all other Shadow Candidates, as if inheriting the authority from his mentor. The son refers to a disciple, the father to a mentor. But every time he thought this way, he subconsciously felt something was amiss. How had he come to acknowledge the other as his mentor? Bah, bah, bah. At that moment, taking advantage of the other detectives being deeply engaged in conversation, Qing Yi slipped into a cubicle in the corner, and called Li Ke. He asked in a calm tone, Do you know where the master has gone? Li Ke was startled, No idea. Previously, Qing Yi often fretted about the trips Li Ke took alone with Qing Chen. Now that he was so close to Qing Chen, naturally, he intended to brag about it. Qing Yi whispered, The master has come to City 10, and hes even become an inspector at the PCA Federation CIA. Its so impressive... This phone conversation lasted over an hour, with Qing Yi unreservedly sharing everything he knew with Li Ke. Towards the end, Qing Yi casually asked, What do you think, if I ask the master to support me in the Shadow Competition, would he agree? After pondering, Li Ke responded, The master has always had you on his mind, praising your intelligence. If you speak to him about it, he would definitely agree. Qing Yi fell into contemplation. The next moment, his gaze towards the other Shadow Candidates changed. What about Qing Wen, Qing Xing, Qing Wu, and Qing Yuan? Those trainee inspectors from Intelligence Department Three, could any compare to an inspector from Intelligence Department One? Oh, wait. Qing Yi quickly checked himself, Qing Xing was a bit cunning; he still had to be cautious. And after all, playing dumb to catch the wise was what he was best at! Qing Yi thought that although he had a formidable mentor to help, it was still crucial to keep a low profile. His mentor was also a discreet person, and surely he wouldnt appreciate him being too ostentatious. ... ... Back in Intelligence Department One, Qing Chen sat in his office, meditating with closed eyes. In his minds eye, he sifted through the memories of those files he had reviewed before, attempting to tease out more clues from them. Qing Mu needed rescuing, but not a single person they could arrest was to be overlooked. What if another big fish like the lottery station appeared? Qing Chen calculated the time, there were still ten days until the Time Travelers return. At that moment, Qing Hua walked in, Inspector, Ive taken down the whiteboard as you instructed. Are we not going to publicly disclose our arrests anymore? In the past few days, Qing Hua had enjoyed the pleasure of hanging the whiteboard, whether it was trading important information with; other intelligence teams had made him feel good every day. Qing Chen opened his eyes and looked at Qing Hua, Publicize it, I never said not to. Ah? Qing Hua paused, Then why not hang the whiteboard anymore? Qing Chen said, Just stand by the door when you clock off tonight. If anyone from other intelligence units asks why the whiteboard is gone, you just tell them... After hearing Qing Chens arrangement, Qing Hua was momentarily stunned; he thought to himself, why does his new boss always have so many cunning tactics? By evening, members of other intelligence units, as usual, came up the stairs to the third floor to check for new intelligence on the whiteboard. What they found instead was no whiteboard, only Qing Hua still standing there. The people from Unit Six were puzzled, Wait, wheres your whiteboard? Qing Hua calmly said, From today onwards, our Unit Seven will no longer hang the whiteboard outside. Its affecting the internal unity of Intelligence Department One. The intelligence personnel from the Chen Clan in Unit Six were immediately upset, Your Unit Seven is about to tear apart Jindai and Deer Island, and now you think about unity? Moreover, when has Intelligence Department One ever been unified? An alliance like that between Jindai and Deer Island doesnt count as unity. So, what new mischief is Unit Seven up to this time? The Chen Clans intelligence personnel cautiously asked, Will hostage exchanges still happen? Qing Hua thought for a moment and said, They will. The Chen Clans intelligence personnel asked, But you have to let us know who you have in your possession before we can decide whether to trade. The Chen Clan had just reported a missing official from City 10 today, and word had come down for Unit Six of Intelligence Department One to check on the third floor to see if he had been taken by Unit Seven. If so, they would discuss terms, pay to have him returned, and have all criminal evidence destroyed as well. Qing Hua smiled and said, So, our Unit Seven has decided that you all can pay us a membership fee, and with that, members can directly enter our third-floor negotiation room, have tea and discuss projects simultaneously. The Chen Clans intelligence personnel were shocked, Unit Seven had started a membership scheme?! Annoyed, they asked, How much is the membership fee? Qing Hua, smiling, said, One million, annually, actually, its not expensive. The Chen Clans intelligence personnel were nearly swearing aloud, Didnt you just catch two big fish at the lottery station? You dont lack this million! Qing Hua humbly replied, Even a mosquitos leg is meat. Qing Chen had made it very clear to him, the one million membership fee was a minor thing, but the most important part was forcing everyone to pay it. Subconsciously, this would make everyone feel that Unit Seven was somewhat more powerful than the others. What Qing Chen wanted was to establish this psychological advantage. ... Thats all for today, I felt totally drained once I got home, my thoughts also unfocused, allow me a day to recover and Ill compensate you all in October. October is nearly here, and Im preparing a detailed outline for intense updates. Chapter 613 - 613 Talent War ?Chapter 613: Talent War Chapter 613: Talent War Isnt a membership fee of one million a bit too expensive?'' asked an intelligence personnel from the Chen Clan in Intelligence Department One. You know that the Federation has been reducing the funding for Intelligence Department One. Its a bit tight to fork out one million.'' Even Li Yunqu, an Inspector from Intelligence Department Two, spoke up to question, What youre doing seems a bit unethical. Arent you afraid of inciting public outrage? Is it really worth it for this one million?'' Qing Hua sneered inwardly, so you guys know what its like to plead poverty? Apart from the analysis group, which Intelligence Department One isnt surviving on funding from behind-the-scenes consortia rather than federal allocations? To the consortia doling out funds, a million is but a drop in the ocean; no one takes this matter seriously. Its not that these people find the million too pricey, but they feel humiliated having to pay the seventh group, thats all. At this moment, it wasnt just the Chen Clan intelligence personnel at the third-floor stairwell; other intelligence groups had arrived too. Seeing that they couldnt negotiate with Qing Hua, they started to play the sentiment card, We in Intelligence Department One are all family. Why must we exchange money to share intelligence?'' Qing Hua rolled her eyes and headed straight back to the third-floor main office, leaving behind a comment before she left, Intelligence Group Seven welcomes everyone to apply for membership at any time.'' The other intelligence groups felt angry and hurried back to their respective floors to hold an emergency meeting. Inside Intelligence Group Six. Inspector Chen Sai sat at the end of the conference table, his face stern as he said, The Qings Family is going too far; this new Inspectors actions clearly show she wants to be the boss of the entire Intelligence Department One. The position of the Director of the Federation Central Intelligence Bureau is up for rotation in two months, perhaps thats what shes aiming for. Lets hear your thoughts.'' Trainee Inspector Chen Zhen thought for a moment before saying, For now, all we know is that Qings Family has arrested too many people, making us eager to find out whos in their hands. But I think its not good for us to remain passive. Why dont we report to our superiors and arrest some officials from the Qings faction? This way well have leverage, giving us the opportunity to negotiate with them on equal grounds.'' Chen Sai considered for a moment, Thats the only thing we can do now. Lets put all other work on hold and pay special attention to officials from the Qings faction. However, once weve gathered the evidence, it would be best not to expose ourselves and offend the Qings Family. We should hand the evidence and items over to other intelligence groups, and instigate them to make a move. Whether the officials from the Qings faction are in our hands or not isnt whats important; what matters is getting Group Seven to bow down and comply.'' That sounds difficult,'' a member of the intelligence personnel whispered, I doubt the other intelligence groups would be willing to charge into battle.'' Chen Sai shook his head, It would definitely have been difficult in the past, but now that the Qings Family has torn apart the alliance between Jindai and Deer Island, despite the two families having secretly become sworn enemies, what they loathe even more is undoubtedly the Qings Family. At this time, if someone hands them the dagger, whether they choose to swing the dagger or not is no longer up to them to decide.'' Every intelligence group has a consortium behind it, and whatever they want to do is decided by the boss. By now, the intelligence personnel from both Jindai and Deer Island have probably received instructions from their bosses, ready to initiate a plan against the Qings Family. The Chen Clan has always been developing slowly in the southern part of the Federation, not offending anyone, so their strategy this time is still about handing the dagger to others while hiding behind the scenes. Although their ability to solve cases is not as good as Group Sevens today, if the other four join forces, cant they overturn the seventh group? The officials from various factions in City 10 might still be unaware that this place has become the main battleground for the struggle between various consortias intelligence systems. The war in front has paused briefly, but the fight in the rear is fierce and relentless. And those who are usually in the limelight have now become chips on the negotiating table for both sides. ... ... At this very moment, Qing Zhun sat across from Qing Chen at his desk and asked, Boss, our Intelligence Group Seven is already the target of public anger. How can you still be so calm?'' Qing Chen glanced at Qing Zhun, Theres no use in panicking.'' So what do we do now?'' Qing Zhun asked. Qing Chen thought for a moment before responding, Right now, they have but two options: one is to pay the membership fee, and the other is to find evidence and then arrest officials from the Qings faction to use as bargaining chips in negotiations with us. We also have essentially two options: one is to continue finding more evidence to nail their people, and the other is to protect our own people.'' Qing Zhun hesitated before saying, These days, there are no truly clean officials in the Federation. If they are given a death order to find evidence, they will surely find it.'' Qing Chen looked at Qing Zhun, No matter, we have done our humanly best; the rest is up to fate. By the way, I have found some things here. Go to the PCE Security Management Committee and bring Yan Feng back. The amount of unexplained funds in his nephews account is simply asking for trouble. Then make a trip to the Food and Drug Administration and bring Fang Xia back. They dare to secretly sell federal strategic reserve drugs, as if they have a death wish. Next, pay a visit to the ICE Tax Management Committee...'' Qing Chen reeled off over a dozen names in one breath, leaving Qing Zhun increasingly astonished. Boss, how did you know Fang Xia was a problem?'' Qing Zhun inquired. Qing Chen gave him a look, The number of drugs entering and leaving the warehouse daily doesnt match the inventory numbers.'' The Federation doesnt have any strong external enemies, and although the wilderness people are active, they dont have the capability to truly threaten the Federationthey are mostly hiding in the Taboo Land or the Southwest Snow Mountain, avoiding extermination. Therefore, the main duty of the PCE Federal Central Intelligence Bureau is actually to surveil the officials. They even have the authority to access the internal systems of various other departments. In Qing Chens view, he thinks that the PCE Federal Central Intelligence Bureau is like a rehashed version of the Embroidered Uniform Guard. Although they are the consortias enforcers, at least in terms of responsibilities, they do resemble the Embroidered Uniform Guard. Qing Zhun looked at Qing Chen, Boss, the incoming and outgoing warehouse amounts and inventory figures are vast pieces of data. You...'' Qing Chen pondered for two seconds before asking, How much is put into storage, how much is taken out, and how much is left? Isnt this just a simple arithmetic problem? Qing Zhun was stunned for a moment, not knowing why, but when Qing Chen put it that way, he suddenly felt that the data didnt seem so vast anymore. After thinking for a long while, he suddenly said, But boss, these are all our Qings Familys faction members. Why should we arrest them? Qing Chen glanced at Qing Zhun, Since the Chen Clan, Li Family, Jindai, and Deer Island want to target us, if I arrest all the easy targets, who else can they go after? Ah? Qing Zhun laughed and cried at the same time. Was this the true meaning of ruthlessly capturing ones own people? However, it seemed like a viable strategy. It was better to deal with these officials, who had clear evidence against them and could be easily blackmailed, by arresting them ourselves rather than leaving them in others hands. The talent reserves of various consortia are stronger than imagined. Taking away a dozen or so officials hardly matters when there are hundreds more waiting to fill their shoes. Furthermore, it wasnt just officials from the Qings Family faction who were being arrested. Havent you seen Qing Huas group already making moves? Group Seven has cast a wide net, not planning to spare any faction. At that point, Qing Chen said to Qing Zhun, We must act fast and snatch them back before the other groups get to them. Reveal our Qings Family identity clearly and tell the suspects not to resist, but to come willingly to Intelligence Department One. Qing Zhun thought for a moment, But these are just small fries. Even if we nab them all, there are surely others who have fallen into the hands of other groups. Thats okay, Qing Chen said calmly, Do your best and leave the rest to fate. At one point, Qing Zhun wondered whether, after Qing Chens sweep, the structures in City No.10 would become clearer than a mountain stream... It seemed that this might actually be a good deed for the residents of City No.10. Before leaving Qing Chens office, Qing Zhun suddenly turned back and asked, Boss, are you trying to take this opportunity to purge the harmful officials of City No.10? At a time like this, when the intelligence systems are at each others throats, no one has the authority to question who you arrest. Qing Chen smiled, Purge? I dont have such grand ambitions. Ill arrest as many as I can. Understood, replied Qing Zhun. Half an hour later, Qing Zhun took half of the detective brothers and set out. Starting today, he and Qing Hua had clear divisions of labor; while Qing Hua arrested people from other families, he concentrated on their own. Hitting from both sides. ... ... The other intelligence units also sprung into action, with Jindais third intelligence group targeting the senior inspector Yan Feng from the PCE Security Management Committee, armed with irrefutable evidence, as instructed by Qing Chen. However, when Jindai Changming led his team to the PCE Security Management Committee, they were informed that Yan Feng had already been taken away by Group Seven. Jindai Changming erupted in the PCE office building, When was he taken? How could they let him be taken away so easily? The detectives from PCE didnt dare provoke him, knowing that agents from Intelligence Department One, regardless of which group they belonged to, were like Living Hades and not to be trifled with. But the detectives from PCE couldnt understand what had gotten into Intelligence Department One; why had they suddenly started a fierce competition for arrests?! It wasnt just Jindai who faced this situation. On Deer Island, on their way to the Food and Drug Administration, they happened to encounter Qing Zhuns convoy returning to Intelligence Department One. Deer Islands Li Zhongxian watched helplessly as Qing Zhun had his men slow down the car, roll down the window, and then made Fang Xia, who had just been captured, greet the men from Intelligence Team Four. Fang Xia, sitting in the car nearly in tears, couldnt disobey Qing Zhuns order, much as he wished to. The demands from Qing Zhun in the car were quite detailed: Smile, make sure to show eight teeth, otherwise it doesnt look good, its not friendly. Intelligence Team Fours Li Zhongxian watched Qing Zhuns convoy pass by with a steel-grey expression, No need to go to the Food and Drug Administration anymore. Change course to the ICE Tax Management Committee! Then, at that moment, an agent in the car cautiously said, Boss, my informant just told me that Chen Yuan, whom we were about to arrest, was also taken away by Group Seven. Li Zhongxian sat frozen in his seat, thinking, is this what they mean by walking on someone elses path, leaving them no path to take? Preemptive arrest sounds simple but is difficult to execute, as Qing Chens Group Seven always needed to be one or even three steps ahead of the competition. Jindai and Deer Island had managed to separately identify three suspects with difficulty, only to find that Qing Chens team had already dragged them away. This meant that Group Sevens case-solving abilities were equal to both of theirs combined, didnt it? Li Zhongxian said, Return to Intelligence Department One. I refuse to believe I cant capture a single official from Qings Family faction. I dont believe he can arrest all those with issues! ... There will be another chapter before 11 PM. Chapter 614 - 614 387. Life is like a play ?Chapter 614: 387. Life is like a play Chapter 614: 387. Life is like a play Like Li Zhongxian, other intelligence groups returned without success. Qing Chen witnessed Li Yunqu, Chen Sai, and Jindai Changming returning to the Intelligence Department with faces ashen. It was time to leave work, but none of the intelligence groups mentioned leaving. They all returned to their large offices to reorganize all the files on hand, hoping to find Qings Family faction officials who could be arrested again. The Intelligence Department Building was brightly lit for a while, as if it was back to the busiest times of this Federation intelligence agency. Long ago, before the PCA Intelligence Agency was controlled by syndicates, it was filled with intelligence officers determined to investigate the syndicates thoroughly. At that time, their main focus of investigation was federal officials receiving bribes from syndicates and federal officials becoming protectors for the syndicates. However, times had changed; now, the Intelligence Department was entirely dominated by the syndicates, and the PCA Federation CIA had also become the syndicates tool. Of course, these were not the real intelligence organizations of the various syndicates, but puppets set in the forefront, such as Qings Family which had the Spy Bureau under Shadow, Li Family with the Red Sparrow under the Secretariat, Jindai with Yamata, Deer Island with Isolate, and Chen Clan with Executioner. Now, these truly vast intelligence organizations were still hidden behind the scenes, yet the intelligence community had already been turned upside down by seven groups. It was also because of the advantages taken during the civil war within the Federation; the real elite in the intelligence community were now gathered in the 19th northern city, which corresponded to the location of Taicheng in the Outer World, only a little over three hundred kilometers from the battlefield. Before Group Seven started causing trouble, the intelligence circles around City 10 had almost been forgotten. But now, it was even busier here than in City 19. Every intelligence group had some secret files, such as evidence of crimes committed by officials from other syndicate factions. When relations were not yet broken, everyone would hide and keep quiet. When relations were torn, they would take them out for a lethal blow. Li Zhongxian, holding his familys secret files, continuously dispatched people to arrest the suspects. However, the feedback he received was that the suspects had already been taken away by Group Seven. He expressionlessly shredded the secret files, thinking to himself that Group Sevens actions were too ruthless. They even arrested their own people. How could this group establish itself within Qings Family in the future? Have they gone mad! Unlike other intelligence groups that repeatedly returned without accomplishing anything, Qing Hua always came back with suspects, each wearing a black hood, making it impossible to see their faces or confirm their identities. Before the other intelligence groups could react, those people were already locked up in the secret prison underground by Group Seven. The other intelligence groups were both extremely anxious and started doubting themselves. How could this Group Seven inspector, without even leaving his office, manage to catch so many suspects? Isnt this too many! From then on, the internal strife of the Intelligence Department began. The inspectors of the various groups sat in their offices with faces ashen, and not one detective dared to mention leaving. It was not just the detectives who couldnt leave; even the canteen of the Intelligence Department was working overtime. What they didnt know was that after Qing Hua and his people escorted the suspects into the secret prison, Qing Hua turned to a detective beside him and said, Alright, take off the black hood from Yang Xuyangs head. Yang Xuyang, who had been playing the suspect, was relieved to see the light again, I was suffocating. Can we switch to a more breathable hood? Suddenly changing the hood might make others suspicious. Bear with it. The boss said results will come in a couple of days, Qing Hua said. The truth was that even Qing Chens brain couldnt endlessly arrest people without evidence. If there was no evidence, there was no evidence. They couldnt possibly force other syndicate faction officials to be arrested, right? Syndicates follow rules. You can arrest ordinary people without evidence, but you must have evidence to arrest syndicate people; otherwise, it becomes an international incident. If you arrest them and then have no evidence for conviction, you will face retaliation. But Qing Chen needed to keep the other intelligence groups anxious, so he simply let Group Sevens detectives play the suspects. After all, the other intelligence groups couldnt know who was beneath the black hoods. What Qing Chen wanted was to make the other intelligence groups believe that Group Seven was still continuously capturing people. Given that City 10 had tens of thousands of officials big and small, the other intelligence groups couldnt confirm how many had been captured in a short time. Moreover, it mattered most that Group Seven had previous impressive achievements. Hence, no one suspected Qing Huas recent acting. But no matter how well Qing Hua acted, no one had ever approached Group Seven about handling membership. Qing Hua glanced at the time; since they took off the mask, a full 24 hours had passed. He looked at the detective staying behind in the secret prison, How is it, any signs that the other intelligence groups are conceding? Has anyone come to inquire about membership affairs? The detective shook his head with a worried look, No, not a single person has even come to ask. Chief, do you think the bosss plan might fail? The other groups probably still have some cards left to play, and they wont concede easily. By tearing our faces this time, it might end up disturbing our own Qings Family peace, potentially causing big figures to be downed by other groups. Qing Hua coldly glanced at the detective, Thats not for you to discuss. Whatever the boss orders, we just do it. However, although thats what he said, as time ticked by, his face also showed some uncontrollable anxiety. Chapter 615 - 615 Life is like a play_2 ?Chapter 615: Life is like a play_2 Chapter 615: Life is like a play_2 ... ... At 11 PM, the cafeteria notified everyone that the late-night snack was ready. Group seven, accustomed to working overtime, joyfully headed to eat, while the other intelligence groups went to the cafeteria with frowns on their faces. The inspectors had actually not planned to let the detectives eat late-night snacks, considering the urgency of the situation. After a busy day, they had only captured a few insignificant figures, so why have a snack? However, when they heard the commotion of Group Seven going to the cafeteria, they quickly sent their detectives to eat as well, hoping to gather some information from the Group Seven detectives. At the Chen Clan, the trainee inspector Chen Zhen went to the first-floor cafeteria and headed straight for Qing Zhun, sitting directly opposite him with his team. Qing Zhun, biting into a bun, smiled and said, Why the long faces? Is the progress not going well? Chen Zhen was choked up. Our progress is not smooth, and isnt it all because you seized all the people ahead of time? However, he couldnt say that. He just smoothed his feelings and said with a smile, Its just the overtime work. We cant go home, and thats a bit tiring. By the way, you caught quite a number of people today, didnt you? Qing Zhun responded with a smile, Is that something you non-members should inquire about? While speaking, Qing Zhun looked at the detective next to Chen Zhen and asked, Didnt Group Six give you overtime pay? Why the long faces even when eating? The detective was startled, You get overtime pay? Qing Zhun responded with a grin, Of course, we do. Dont you? Our Group Sevens overtime pay... well, its loaded by the truckload... oh, I shouldnt be telling you this. After speaking, Qing Zhun carried his thermos lunch box and swaggered away; the box contained food he had fetched for Qing Chen. He had initially called the new boss to come and eat together, but Qing Chen had declined. The new boss told Qing Zhun that at this time, the inspectors of Group Seven should maintain the most mysterious posture, not just for show, but to exert the greatest pressure on the other intelligence groups. Qing Zhun felt moved; this new boss of Group Seven used psychological and intelligence tactics to suppress the other intelligence groups. Moreover, the new boss was diligent and chose to stay in the Intelligence Department building without leaving, and Qing Zhun wondered what he was aiming at. Qing Zhun, carrying the lunch box, entered Qing Chens office, only to see the new boss sitting in a chair with his eyes closed, maintaining a peculiar breathing frequency. Qing Chen opened his eyes, How is it, has everyone gone to eat? Qing Zhun nodded, It looks like they are all quite anxious. Initially, there was no one in the cafeteria, but as soon as our Group Seven went up, the other intelligence groups followed, wanting to gather intelligence. Qing Chen nodded and uncovered the lunchbox, Their urgency is good. Arent you worried that they might dig out some bigwigs from Qings Family in retaliation? I know they have secret files, Qing Zhun thoughtfully added, Boss, the other intelligence groups will not compromise easily. Although these are just small fries, in the eyes of the outside ordinary people, they are still Living Hades. They will definitely try to dig out big figures from Qings Family faction and then lock them up in the secret prison as leverage. Qing Chen gave Qing Zhun a look, Hmm. Qing Zhun was surprised, such an important matter, and you just Hmm? You should tell us what to do next, right? However, Qing Chen didnt seem to have any intention of sharing the plans, forcing Qing Zhun to find it dull and go back to sleep in the temporary dormitory at Intelligence Department One. ... ... Qing Zhun took the detectives of Group Seven back. The cafeteria was still bustling. Chen Sai sat at the long table looking at the food in front of him, and suddenly noticed Li Yunqu from Group Two, who also had a grim expression. He took his lunch box and sat opposite Li Yunqu, You also look quite pale, were the Li Clan and Qing Clan not on good terms typically? Li Yunqu responded coldly, Today, several officials from the Li Clan went missing. It seems Qings Family wants to take the opportunity when Changqing Commissioner is too busy with the northern conflict to care about the rear, to integrate Intelligence Department One into their control. I went out to arrest a few officials from the Qings Family faction to hold as leverage, but ended up with nothing. They were all preempted by Group Seven. I just dont understand, whats the origin of this new inspector of Group Seven, to have such formidable capability. Why not join the Spy Bureau instead of coming to Intelligence Department One? Chen Sai said, It could be that this new inspector is indeed a spy. Presently, he is clean and without any dirt on him, making it difficult for you to find a way to deal with him. Qings Family has likely hidden this newcomer for a long time, and putting him out now must mean they have major moves planned. Hmm, Li Yunqu emotionlessly stirred his lunch box, apparently plotting how to counterattack, Now I have no leverage in hand; tomorrow I plan to go out and do a targeted investigation on those important Qings Family officials, as the existing files arent digging up much. Chen Sai lowered his head to eat, his expression constantly changing. Returning his gaze, he said, Does Wei Shuqi know? Li Yunqu paused, The senator from the Democratic Party, Wei Shuqi? Chen Sai nodded, I found some clues related to him here. Li Yunqu shook his head, He is an important figure in the Qings faction within the Democratic Party; just having some clues is not enough. Moreover, such figures are already very cautious, and they wont easily let us get any leverage on them. Chapter 616 - 616 Life is like a play_3 ?Chapter 616: Life is like a play_3 Chapter 616: Life is like a play_3 Chen Sai thought for a moment and said, I have irrefutable evidence that he lent out his vehicle six years ago, and three days after lending it out, a middle-aged man was killed in an accident. The driver at the time was his friend, who is now locked up in Deer Island Prison. Recently, this friend accidentally revealed that he wasnt actually close with Wei Shuqi at all. Li Yunqu contemplated, So, you mean that it was actually Wei Shuqi who drove the car and killed the person, but the Qings Family found someone to take the blame? Exactly, Chen Sai smiled, The man put up quite a resistance, but heres the problemif he hasnt undergone formal resistance training against interrogation, how could he possibly withstand our methods? Li Yunqu scoffed, If that is the case, why doesnt your Chen Clan go and interrogate him? Our superiors commanded us not to sever ties with the Qings Family, Chen Sai chuckled, After all, the Chen Clans strongholds are in the south; the north is unimportant to us, so we have no plans to get involved. However, Deer Island Prison holds different significance for your Li Family, doesnt it? Im only sharing this lead because were friends; I definitely wouldnt tell this to just anyone. Li Yunqu immediately got up and summoned the agents from Second Division to leave: Thanks for this. As Chen Sai predicted, the agents from the Second Division promptly made their way to Deer Island Prison and only submitted the procedures for a retrial upon arrival. By doing so, once the procedures were approved, they could leave with the scapegoat without alerting anyone. No one could intercept them in their hands. Chen Sai sat in his office, brimming with a smile as he looked at the messages sent back by the agents, utterly delighted. However, a day later, after Second Division had brought the person back, there was no further news. Taking advantage of lunchtime, Chen Sai went to the cafeteria and sat across from Li Yunqu to inquire, So, did your scapegoat spill the beans yet? Li Yunqu looked up at Chen Sai, What scapegoat are you speaking of? I dont understand what youre talking about. Chen Sai: ... The color on this Inspector from Sixth Divisions face gradually turned cold, as he finally understood, could it be that Li Yunqu had already struck a deal with Seventh Division and handed over the scapegoat directly to them?! In fact, not only was Chen Sai shocked, but the agents from Seventh Division were also incredulous. Last night, Li Yunqu personally and secretly transferred the scapegoat to Qing Hua and Qing Zhun. At the time, both were shocked. As before, nobody knew that their new boss had an alliance with Li Yunqu. Indeed, Li Yunqu was fiercely critical of Seventh Division daily! At this point, Chen Sai said coldly, Inspector Li, if you proceed this way, our Sixth Division wont be able to be friends with Second Division anymore. Li Yunqu started laughing, Were we ever friends? By the way, your Chen Clan has over a dozen officials missing now, right? Your superiors must be pressing hard. You still have the time to eat? Previously Chen Sai mentioned that their superiors ordered them not to get involved, but Li Yunqu knew all too well, Chan Sais level of anxiety was definitely no less than that of Jindai and Deer Island. Li Yunqu walked away with his lunch box, even humming a song softly, seeming to be in a particularly good mood! In the evening, Trainee Inspector Chen Zhen from Intelligence Sixth Division arrived at the third floor entrance, and, looking at Qing Hua who faced him with no expression, said, The membership fee has been transferred; now I want to see that new Inspector of your Seventh Division. Qing Hua led him in with a smile, Our Inspector is currently busy reviewing files and isnt receiving visitors. Whatever it is, you can just tell me. Chen Zhen almost choked on his breath in frustration; after paying the membership fee, he couldnt even meet the Inspector of the Seventh Division. As they were walking in, Chen Zhen noticed that Trainee Inspector Li Qingfeng from Second Division was sitting in the office of the Seventh Division Inspector. Chen Zhen paused and asked Qing Hua, Isnt that Li Qingfeng? Why can he talk directly with your Inspector? Qing Hua thought for a moment, You are VIP; he is VVIP. I know it might be hard to accept, but our boss said not to worry; we should gradually cultivate a spending consciousness. Chen Zhen almost vomited blood right there. There were membership levels now?! Unbelievable! Freaking gradually cultivating spending consciousness! No, wait. This Intelligence Second Division from Lis Family had clearly already made some sort of agreement with Seventh Division. Hold on, I forgot my phone. I need to go back, Chen Zhen said, Can we talk later? Of course, Qing Hua chuckled, The doors of Seventh Division are always open for members! Immediately, Chen Zhen turned around and went upstairs. He reported everything hed seen and heard at Seventh Division to Inspector Chen Sai back at his office. And Chen Sai, his face ashen, slapped the table and stood up; he had finally realized, So, this Li Yunqu is a stooge, huh!? It felt like competing in a game against other players, only to discover mid-competition that they were actually operatives planted by the game developers. Then whats the point in competing! Chen Sais attempt to trap Seventh Division not only failed, but he had also inadvertently delivered crucial information right into the hands of the stooge. By now, the officials from the Lis Faction probably had all gone home. Was this what they meant by returning the gentrys money in full and splitting the commoners money in a sixty-forty split? Boss, what should we do now? asked Chen Zhen. Chen Sai sighed, What else can we do but accept defeat? Deer Island City isnt our home game; we initially had few officials placed there, and now so many have been captured by Seventh Division. Continue dealing with Seventh Division, tell them we dont have anyone from Jindai or Deer Island, but we can trade with Qing intelligence personnel captured over the years. Chapter 617 - 617 Life is like a play_4 ?Chapter 617: Life is like a play_4 Chapter 617: Life is like a play_4 Alright, Chen Zhen nodded and went downstairs. Chen Sai sat alone in his office, lost in thought. He couldnt understand why, even if it was a charade, it should have been a Trainee Inspector from Team Two handling it. What put the Team Seven Inspector in a position to command Li Yunqu? ... ... In the third-floor office of Team Seven, Qing Chen saw off Li Qingfeng and sat in his office. Watching Chen Zhen return, he knew that the breakthrough in this matter had finally come. Qing Chen also let out a heavy sigh of relief. Qing Zhun and Qing Hua, who were just entering, witnessed this scene. Qing Zhun said with a smile, Boss, I thought you were calm and collected, strategizing from miles away. Turns out youre not so composed after all. Qing Chen glanced at Qing Zhun, Lets focus on work first, any breakthroughs with Deer Island? Qing Hua nodded excitedly, Deer Island just got in touch with us. Theyre willing to exchange Jindai Yasuhara for the two Deer Island members we have. The exchange is set for three days from now, to take place in City Number 10. Good news, Qing Chen nodded, Ill report this matter to Mr. Shadow. The official hostage exchange should be handled by more professional people. The combat power of Intelligence Department One, after all, was a bit light. While enforcers are just that, they are not a proper army. Thus, important matters had to be personally handled by the Spy Bureau under Shadows command, requiring the cooperation of dozens of spies and hundreds of Kite Falcons. The identity of Jindai Yasuhara was too sensitive; they had to guard against Jindai attempting an interception. At this moment, Qing Hua asked with some confusion, Boss, this is just a casual question C feel free to answer or not. In just over ten days, Qing Huas way of addressing Qing Chen had become even more reverent, and his tone, more humble. He had completely forgotten about Qing Chens youth. Keep in mind, Qing Hua was nearly 20 years older than Qing Chen. Qing Chen looked at Qing Hua, Ask. Why are we exchanging for Jindai Yasuhara? Qing Hua asked. Because were using Jindai Yasuhara to bring Qing Mu back home, Qing Chen said calmly, Jindai Yasuhara is Jindais intelligence chief in the south. If Jindai doesnt trade, then well replay everything that happened to Qing Mu on Jindai Yasuhara. The neuron linking and body snatching technology C Qings Family has it too. I dont believe Jindai Yasuharas will is stronger than Qing Mus. Qing Hua was stunned. The next moment, he bent at a ninety-degree angle and gave Qing Chen a deep bow. What are you doing? Qing Chen frowned. When Qing Hua looked up again, his expression was extraordinarily solemn, So youve been preparing for this. Please forgive my rashness when you first took office. From now on, I will no longer question your motives. As long as you command, I am prepared to go through fire and water. Why bring this up all of a sudden? Qing Chen still frowned. Taking a deep breath, Qing Hua said, The name Qing Mu is all too familiar to Qing intelligence personnel. The very first lesson on Loyalty we learned during training was about Qing Mu. We know what he did, and what he defended for us. Theres not a single Qing intelligence person who doesnt want to bring him home. If you can really bring him home, Im afraid all Qing intelligence personnel will truly respect you... despite your young age. Qing Chen paused for a moment. He had not undergone training with Qings intelligence personnel and didnt have a strong sense of belonging to the Qing Family. So he only knew what had happened to Qing Mu and felt a touch of anger, but he couldnt truly understand the weight of Qing Mu in the hearts of the Qing intelligence personnel. And yet, Qings shadow had him handle this transaction, carry out this task. In fact, it was about entrusting the hearts of the Qing intelligence personnel to him. Having realized this, Qing Chen remained calm and told Qing Hua, Jindai has yet to show any movement. The calmer it is now, the more cautious we need to be. Moreover, Deer Islands handing over of Jindai Yasuhara might not be genuine; it could very well be a trap. ... Chapter of 6000 words, todays posting of 9000 words C paying a bit of interest before the explosive updating in Octobe Chapter 618 - 618 388 Battery and Melee ?Chapter 618: 388, Battery and Melee Chapter 618: 388, Battery and Melee Arrange for everyone to take turns resting, Qing Chen said. There are three days left before the trade, and all detectives in Team Seven must be back to their best condition. Let everyone go home and rest well. Qing Hua, go tell Deer Island that we will choose the transaction location within City 10. Understood, replied Qing Hua, feeling an uncontrollable excitement upon learning about Qing Chens plan to bring Qing Mu back home, as if she was filled with strength. In fact, it wasnt just because of Qing Mus high status in the hearts of the Qing intelligence personnel, but also because Qing Hua never dared to imagine that she could be involved in such an important event. It was very dangerous, but opportunity accompanied it as well. Before leaving the office, Qing Hua turned to glance at Qing Chen one last time. The new boss had already taken out the map of City 10 and seemed to be seriously selecting the location for the trade. In reality, Qing Hua had been a Trainee Inspector for eight years and was well aware that he could be an aide-de-camp, executing orders, but not fit to be the leader. The former Inspector was someone who loved to boast. In the internal power struggles of Intelligence Department One, he eventually fell into a trap laid by the Chen Clan and resigned in admission of fault. Now, this new Inspector wasnt so talkative, yet he spun the other intelligence groups around his fingers. At a certain moment, Qing Hua thought that perhaps his opportunity had finally come. There arent many opportunities one can seize in life, but catching just one could lead straight to a bright future. Qing Chen looked at the map for a long time before finally determining seven suitable locations for the trade. Which to ultimately choose would require a visit in person to decide. It was already midnight, and there were eight days left before the return. Qing Zhun entered the office carrying a lunch box: Inspector, have a bite to eat. You cant just keep staying in the office all day; you have to pay attention to rest as well. Over the past few days, the detectives from Team Seven had noticed something about their new bosshe seemed not to need sleep at all. No matter when they looked toward his office, Qing Chen was either analyzing case files or sitting in his chair with his eyes closed, resting. The sleeping bag Qing Hua bought for him had not even been unfolded. Peculiar, indeed. Just then, Qing Chen received a message on his mobile phone. He looked at Qing Zhun with surprise. The message was from Shadow, asking him to return to Utopia Building to discuss the hostage trade happening in three days. Qing Chen sighed and said to Qing Zhun, Ill be stepping out for a bit; call me if anything comes up. Qing Zhun asked, Shall I arrange a vehicle to take you back? No need, Ill walk back on my own, Qing Chen said. ... ... Outside Intelligence Department One, Qing Yi was sleeping alone in the car. His arm dangled unintentionally at his side, still holding a cellphone that had been in a call for 3 hours and 42 minutes, with Li Ke on the other end. It seemed he had fallen asleep while chatting with Li Ke, and oddly enough, Li Ke hadnt hung up either. Qing Yi was sleeping in a daze when he suddenly woke up. He instinctively turned his head to look toward the gates of Intelligence Department One; the small iron door beneath the large gate was slowly opening, and the gentleman he had been waiting for was walking out at a slow pace. Qing Yi hurriedly said into the phone, Ive waited for the gentleman; lets not talk for now. On the other end of the phone, Li Ke, groggy, responded, Mm, then just speak directly with him, dont play tricks. Yeah, I know, Qing Yi said. After speaking, Qing Yi wiped the sleep from his eyes and rushed after Qing Chen. Before he had taken two steps, Qing Chen had already stopped and turned back, looking at Qing Yi helplessly: Do you wait here every night? At this moment, Qing Yis dark circles were extremely severe, having slept in the car for days, all just to wait for Qing Chen. Qing Yi stood in front of Qing Chen, looking at him with eager eyes. Qing Chen reached out and patted his head. This time, the young man did not instinctively shrink back, but he forgot what he wanted to say. Is there something you need? Qing Chen asked with a smile. If theres nothing, then Ill head back first? Qing Yi hesitated before replying, Ill accompany the gentleman for a walk. Qing Chen thought for a moment, All right then. Qing Chen led the way, and Qing Yi carefully followed next to the gentleman, looking at him from the side and suddenly noticing that there was a tinge of fatigue in his expression. Up in the building of Intelligence Department One, Qing Hua and Qing Zhun stood beside a window. Wait, isnt that the Shadow Candidate, Qing Yi? Qing Hua asked with unexpected shock, glancing over at Qing Zhun: Did you just see the boss pat Qing Yis head, or am I seeing things? Qing Zhun shook his head: Youre not seeing things, he did pat his head twice, and Qing Yi didnt dodge. So, has the boss already chosen whom he supports in the Shadow conflict? Qing Hua asked, still in shock. But why choose Qing Yi? Maybe its because they have a good relationship, Qing Zhun pondered and then said. If the Inspector chooses Qing Yi, then Team Seven will definitely stand with him on Qing Yis side. But in reality, Qing Hua didnt care whom the boss supported, as the struggle for the position of Shadow wouldnt come to an end anytime soon. According to past practice, the third and fourth rounds take at least half a year, and as long as one or two years. What Qing Hua was really curious about was why a Shadow Candidate like Qing Yi would willingly allow someone to pat his head without any resistance? However, just as Qing Chen and Qing Yi were walking toward District Five, Qing Zhun and Qing Hua, standing by the window, suddenly saw two people following stealthily behind their boss. Chapter 619 - 619 388 Battery and Melee_2 ?Chapter 619: 388, Battery and Melee_2 Chapter 619: 388, Battery and Melee_2 The crows, Qing Zhun said calmly, The crows have come, April and May. The Contraindicated courts? What are they here for... This is bad, the boss is in danger! Qing Hua turned around and was about to run outside, only to be pulled back by Qing Zhun, Have you forgotten? The Inspector specifically ordered us not to follow. Qing Hua recalled the instructions Qing Chen gave before he left; it was indeed the case. The boss didnt want us to follow him; could it be because he foresaw the danger and didnt want us to get involved? Qing Hua pondered aloud. Thats probably it, Qing Zhun responded without expression, After all, Intelligence Department One may have an official status, but it doesnt possess any real masters; following him would be useless. However, its somewhat unexpected for the Inspector to do this. If it were any other boss, they would surely bring a few sacrificial pawns for protection before daring to step out. Hes quite considerate of his subordinates. I feel like you havent fully accepted him yet? I call him boss, but you often refer to him by his official title, Inspector,'' Qing Hua said. The way one addresses another often reveals their true thoughts. Qing Zhun glanced at Qing Hua and cracked a smile, I do accept him, who says I dont? Dont slander me. Qing Hua fell silent. When the crows appeared just now, Qing Zhun recognized their identities at a glance. However, these two crows were not wearing the black linen cloaks, and Qing Zhun identified them from a distance of over a hundred meters away. This indicated that Qing Zhuns vision was exceptionally good. Within Qings Family, those with exceptionally good vision are usually individuals who have been bestowed with Realm camellia by Qings shadow. For a moment, Qing Hua was uncertain about the true identity of Qing Zhun. All of a sudden, Qing Hua said, Do we really not need to follow the boss? The crows have shown up, indicating that tonight Jindai or Deer Island might make a move on him. Assassination is an action that breaks the rules and demonstrates a lack of political savvy, and its for this fondness for assassination that Jindai has always been criticized by all consortia. Gradually, Jindai used this method less and less, except when dealing with particularly important individuals. As the Inspector of PCA Intelligence Unit, Qing Chen certainly doesnt count as a truly significant figure. But lately, the abilities Qing Chen has shown have probably caught Jindais attention. Many people would underestimate him because of his youth, but Jindais intelligence organization Yamata certainly wouldnt. On the contrary, they would pay even more attention to Qing Chen. An aging enemy doesnt need to be killed; he has no ambition left and will die sooner or later. But what about a youth who has shown his brilliance at 17 and played Intelligence Department One in his hands? If hes left unchecked, how many years will he dominate the intelligence world thereafter? At this moment, Qing Zhun thought for a while and then said, Even if not assassination, they would still want to thwart him once, to shake his confidence. He cant avoid this. There are all too many genius young tycoons in the world, brilliant and spirited in their youth but targeted deliberately by other consortia and defeated in their drive. Many believe they can get back up after falling, but how easy is it really to get back up? Many a genius has been thoroughly crushed once and never recovers. Its not just the tycoons; there are various sports prodigies too. When they win, they keep winning, their confidence growing with each battle, their aura becoming ever more vibrant. But once they suffer a major setback, they quickly exit the stage of history. This is a subtle psychological tactic, yet it is very effective. Qing Zhun turned and walked towards his own dormitory, Im going to sleep. Qing Hua glanced at his retreating figure, No, I still have to take the brothers and go check it out, in case we can be of any help. Arent you afraid of dying? Is this something we can get involved in? Qing Zhun asked with interest, turning around. We cant just do nothing, said Qing Hua, then called out to Yang Xuyang and others to go out. In the end, Qing Zhun didnt follow. He just had an inscrutable smile hanging on his lips. ... ... Inside the buildings on both sides of Jindai Street in District Five. The pleasing singing of the dancers downstairs was swaying, penetrating into the room from the outside. The red and gold holographic neon also made the unlit room look magnificent. Standing by the floor-to-ceiling windows, several people dressed in black were silently standing, gazing out the window like eternal statues. Over the earpiece, someone said calmly, The target is approaching. Remember, do not kill his Shadow Candidate to his side. Remember, do not kill the Shadow Candidate to his side. Break the targets legs and execute Plan A for withdrawal, leave a survivor. Received. Received. ... Over a dozen acknowledgments came through the earpiece communication channel, indicating that there were as many as a dozen groups of assassins hidden in Jindai Street, ready to act at a moments notice. These people were not here to kill, but to incapacitate Qing Chen, ensuring he must lie in bed recuperating for a short period, dampening his spirit. They were not yet ready to enter a fight to the death with Qings Family at this juncture. But just then, a sudden voice chuckling came through the earpiece, Good evening, everyone. Thanks for your efforts, coming out so late to assassinate an intelligence officer of our Qings Family. As these words were spoken, all the assassins tensed. The assassins who had been standing by the windows suddenly turned and saw a Door of Shadow opening behind them, and a young man stepped out from it. Chapter 620 - 620 388 Battery and Melee_3 ?Chapter 620: 388, Battery and Melee_3 Chapter 620: 388, Battery and Melee_3 It was just a moment, the guns in the assassins hands had all slipped out, as if they had encountered a gigantic magnet. The dislodged firearms hovered beside the young man, their muzzles pointed at the assassins. The mysterious young man, with a firepower matrix behind him as dense as the artillery of a battleship, wielded his ability to control metal combined with modern technological weapons, looking especially terrifying. The guns behind him resembled the hundreds of longswords fused into the Iron Throne in Game of Thrones. An assassin urgently said over the communications channel, Qing Ye! Qings shadow has opened the Door of Shadow and sent his secret squad through, retreat! The young man known as Qing Ye laughed, It seems I am quite famous now, huh? To think that seeing me is enough to speak my name, who leaked the information? The young man who passed through the Door of Shadow was not a shadow. In fact, many didnt know that the taboo item, ACE-008 Door of Shadow, could not only transport the host but also others. That meant the Shadow had the ability to send his troops to any place he had been at any time. Its a trap, someone said over the communication channel. They had realized that the Door of Shadow could open directly inside the room, indicating that the Shadow had been here before, and tonight was a setup by the opposition. Qing Ye looked at the assassins caught off guard, and laughed over the secret squads communication channel, Tonight, everyone play to your hearts content. ... ... Qing Chen took a lollipop out of his pocket and put it in his mouth, grinning at Qing Yi, who was also prepared and had taken out a lollipop from his pocket. The two exchanged knowing smiles and continued walking forward. The figures of the two, one large and one small, suddenly seemed especially harmonious together. But just as they entered Jindai Street, behind a window concealed by a White Wine Banner at the roadside, gunshots suddenly rang out. Qing Yi was startled, but heard Qing Chen next to him laugh and say, Dont worry about whats happening, lets keep going. The gunfire was relentless, and it seemed as though a fierce but invisible battle was taking place in the buildings on either side of the wide road. Qing Chen always felt something was amiss; the gunshots were too frequent, as if someone had set up a six-barreled Storm in the building. Completely different from normal firing rates. No, not a Storm. Qing Chen, a master of firearms, recognized that it was the sound of dozens of pistols and automatic rifles, all different types. Strange. Jindai Streets pedestrians scrambled to find hiding spots. But Qing Chen alone walked forward unfazed. Qing Yi was initially a bit panicky, but seeing his masters calm demeanor, he suddenly wasnt panicked anymore. The next second, a window shattered on the building to the right, and two people fell from the seventh floor. The next second, on the left, another window shattered, and an assassin was thrown down from the building. Shattered glass fell to the ground, creating a crisp clattering sound like a unique rainfall. Qing Chen and Qing Yi walked indifferently under the red holographic neon lights, above them swam a goldfish with a giant trailing fin, and around them swirled a chaotic throng of people and fluttering white wine banners, as well as a girl in a shop window looking out in a panic. The chaos always revolved around Qing Chen and Qing Yi, but the street was too frantic, and no one knew that this chaos was because of Qing Chen. Qing Yi turned his head and asked, Sir, you knew there was danger, and thats why you didnt want me to follow you earlier, right? Yes, Qing Chen said calmly. He had received a message from the Shadow in the middle of the night and had felt something was amiss. At that time, he had only guessed that the other party intended to use him as bait, but he had no evidence. Now, it appeared that Mr. Shadow from Qings Family had prepared very thoroughly, probably planning to clear out the riff-raff before trading with Jindai Yasuhara. Qing Yi turned to seek in the roadside shop window, only to find the girl he had seen a few days ago pitifully sitting inside the window, tearfully staring outside. Behind that shop window was a locked background wall; if there were no guests, the girl would have to stay kneeling inside all night, a punishment imposed by the boss to stimulate the girl to keep smiling and attract customers in her best condition. Just then, an explosion was heard from a building ahead. The massive vibration even shattered all the glass on the street. The light drizzle seemed to turn into a torrential downpour. Yet, Qing Chens expression remained unchanged. He believed that if the Shadow dared to use him as bait, he must have been fully prepared, and if Qing Chen were to be killed during the baiting, it would probably stain Mr. Shadows life forever. However, this scene appeared different in Qing Yis eyes; he only felt that his own master was incredibly mysterious and composed. At that moment, Qing Yi finally summoned the courage to ask, Sir, can you help me win the third round of the Door of Shadow conflict? If I ever become the Shadow, I will definitely... Qing Yi had prepared a lot of eloquent phrases, which he delivered fluently, not knowing how many times he had rehearsed them privately. But before he could finish, Qing Chen had already turned around and smiled, Okay, Ill help you win this third round of the Door of Shadow conflict. Qing Yi was stunned; in the noisy, boiling street, his master seemed coated in a layer of brilliance, dazzling to behold. He hadnt expected that after hesitating for so many days and preparing for so many days, the matter he still found difficult to speak of was so readily agreed to by the other party. Qing Chen said to Qing Yi, Starting tomorrow, come directly to the Intelligence Department One, and train alongside me. Ah... Qing Yi was dazed, Okay, okay! The next moment, Qing Chen turned around and smiled at Siyue and Wuyue behind him, Thank you both for your hard work. Only to see that these two crows had somehow donned black linen cloaks and were standing despondently in the middle of the chaos, seemingly upset about having to work overtime tonight. ... ... A five thousand word chapter; another one will be posted at 11 PM tonight. Thanks to Huajiao Youdian Ma, Aige, NanY, Mikuzai, Jinxi Shi Hexi, Halulu, Miwang, kmtan8, and Wo Ming Miaojian for becoming new allies of this book! Thanks to Daming Chuxing Kan Tianxia for becoming the new Silver City Alliance of this book! Wishing the bosses a congestion-free National Day on the highways! Chapter 621 - 621 389 Final Destination ?Chapter 621: 389, Final Destination Chapter 621: 389, Final Destination Thanks for working overtime, you two. Ill treat you to something delicious when we have the time, Qing Chen said with a smile to April and May. May was a young male, while April was a very young girl who looked to be only around sixteen or seventeen years old. In fact, she was still in high school and spent her time at school on days when there was no work. The Contraindicated courts seemed to be a rather relaxed organization; they were busy when there was work to be done, and lived their lives when there wasnt. Various powers didnt bother them, either. Some said that the Contraindicated courts had unique Taboo items, similar to the Door of Shadow, which could set up portals in different cities for each crow, allowing them to travel through these doors to the headquarters of the Contraindicated courts. However, this was something that no one had confirmed to this day. On hearing about the prospect of delicious food, Aprils eyes lit up, but then she seemed to remember something, No, we cant accept food from outsiders, it would affect our stance! Qing Chen was both amused and exasperated, Does having a meal really affect your stance? That stance didnt seem very firm, then. But April seriously said, We dont take even a thread or a needle from any consortium, thats our principle. Qing Chen was taken aback. In the Outer World, they didnt take a thread or a needle from the masses, but in the Inner World of the Contraindicated courts, it was the opposite. Actually, that made sense. As a third-party neutral institution, accepting benefits from any side would lead to suspicion. Just like how phone review agencies shouldnt take money from phone manufacturers. Of course, if it were Qing Chen, he would have another way of doing things. He might make everyone pay protection... membership fees. Why didnt you bring a crow this time? I mean the Six-eyed crow, Qing Chen asked curiously. April replied, There are only six Six-eyed crows in total, and the boss took them to the Northern Battlefield and City 19. We two were left here specifically to look after you, as instructed by the boss. Qing Chen was astonished. Look after him? How mysterious was that? Just then, another explosion came from a building next to Jindai Street, and April glanced at it before saying, Cant talk nowwe need to get to work early and finish early. After saying this, April and May put the hoods of their cloaks back on and headed towards the site of the explosion. Tonight, the first Transcendent being died, though it was unknown which side they belonged to. Qing Chen and the crows stood chatting amid the chaos, seemingly indifferent to everything happening around them. When Qing Chen looked at Qing Yi, he found him staring at a display window, where a pathetically cute girl was trapped. Her boss seemed to have run away, even forgetting to unlock her display window. What, love at first sight? Qing Chen teased. No, not really. I just think she looks pitiful, Qing Yi replied. The world is full of pitiful people, Qing Chen sighed. Wheres your backup? Ill drop you off and then I have things to do. Remember to go to Intelligence Department One for work tomorrow. Ill make sure the guard is informed. Just up ahead, Qing Yi pointed towards the end of Jindai Street. However, at that moment, a stray bullet from somewhere within the building flew out, hitting an ancient street lamp next to Qing Yi. The glass cover of the lamp shattered, heading straight for Qing Yis neck. Just when the glass was merely two centimeters from Qing Yis neck, Qing Chen, with a quick hand, caught it in his grasp. Everything happened so fast that Qing Yi didnt even realize what had occurred, only feeling that encountering danger in the midst of a battlefield was quite normal. But Qing Chen closed his eyes, recalling the event, and suddenly opened them to say, Too many coincidences, and the danger is always specifically targeting you. Qing Yi frowned, Sir, do you mean that Qing Xings Lucky Halo is affecting me? Whether its the Lucky Halo or not is hard to say, Qing Chen pondered before responding. You should go back. I need to do some investigation. No sooner had he finished speaking than they heard shouts from behind: Inspector! Qing Chen turned around to see Qing Hua and Detective Yang Xuyang and others approaching. Didnt I tell you to stay at Intelligence Department One? Why did you still come out? Qing Chen said calmly. Dont worry, Im fine. Qing Hua, Yang Xuyang, and the others blankly glanced at the surrounding rubble and listened to the dense gunfire. In the end, they turned their gaze back to Qing Chen: Inspector, with all this commotion, and you still say youre fine? Before they came, Qing Hua had already prepared the detectives mentally: The boss is likely in danger tonight; leaving us at Intelligence Department One means he doesnt want us to take risks with him. But in this time weve gotten to know what kind of person our boss is, and we have received many favors. The overtime pay weve received in just half a month is enough to live comfortably for the rest of our lives. At such a time, how could we in team seven back down? Truthfully, for Qing Hua, there were two key points: one was that Qing Chen didnt want them to take risks with him, which moved him; the other was that Qing Chens effort to bring Qing Mu home had won him over completely. However, bringing Qing Mu home was something that had to be kept secret for now, and he couldnt tell the detectives about it. After completing the mental preparation, the detectives each patted their chests, guaranteeing that even if the Jade Emperor himself came, nothing would happen to the boss. But now, hearing the commotion on Jindai Street and seeing the billowing black smoke from the building close by, They felt that they had made their promises too soon. Chapter 622 - 622 389 Final Destination 2 ?Chapter 622: 389, Final Destination 2 Chapter 622: 389, Final Destination 2 This level of battle, how could they possibly participate? Capturing officials was manageable, but when it came to real combat, Intelligence Department One still lacked something. Thinking of this, everyone looked at Qing Chen and felt inferior. The boss was already someone who could influence battles of this scale. In fact, he didnt really need them, Intelligence Department One... Qing Chen smiled, Send Qing Yi to the car up ahead, I have other matters to attend to. Qing Hua dared not object and could only watch as the boss disappeared into the dark night. It was as if the ongoing battle behind him had nothing to do with this boss at all. ... ... At the base of Utopia Building, Qing Chen was bored waiting for the elevator. After leaving Jindai Street, he hadnt encountered any danger... until the elevator doors opened. Song Niannian, wrapped up tightly, stood inside the elevator, staring blankly at Qing Chen through her sunglasses. Qing Chen sighed inwardly. Now he really began to suspect that Song Niannian had a problem. He had returned to Utopia Building only four times, and three of those times, he had run into her. Talk about what you fear coming to pass! Suddenly, Song Niannian asked, You werent actually investigating those criminals all the time, which is why we had that initial misunderstanding, right? After all, you cant explain why you pointed a gun at me the first time we met, nor why you said still coming and such. Qing Chen remained silent. It seemed the other party had realized the truth... Song Niannian stepped out of the elevator and continued, But its alright. Im really grateful for you willing to save me that day, truly grateful. Youre welcome. Its what I should do, Qing Chen said as he entered the elevator, his arm blocked by the wall, pressing the close button incessantly. As the elevator doors slowly closed, Qing Chen looked up through the gap. Song Niannian had taken off her sunglasses and was watching him. Once the doors were fully closed, the famous actress remembered Qing Chens moment of silent awkwardness and her lips suddenly curled up slightly. She always felt the Qing Chen she saw every day was somehow different from the one who saved her that night, as if they were not the same person. As a top actress, Song Niannian naturally had many friends in high society. After the kidnapping incident that night, she asked around for information about the inspector from Intelligence Department One, Group Seven. Almost all her friends expressed their immense respect for the newly appointed inspector and referred to him as Living Hades. Some speculated that he was a newly rising figure of power close to Qings shadow C someone best not to provoke. Yet, when Song Niannian thought of Qing Chen, she didnt find the young man frightening at all. In fact, she even thought him a bit cute... ... ... The living room on the 112th floor was dark. Qing Chen looked at the figure sitting on the sofa, Mr. Shadow, and complained, If you want to use me as bait, at least give me a reliable signal, wont you? If I had told you, you might not have wanted to be the bait, Shadow said with a smile, Dont take out the embarrassment you felt from running into Song Niannian on me, Im not your dad, I dont deserve that wrath. Qing Chen: ... Shadow continued, Also, every time you come home, you pass through Jindai Street. Although there are no surveillance cameras there, always taking that same route isnt in line with your character. After all, youre the person who could roam around District 5 on your first day in City No.10. So, youre constantly taking that path to create a fixed impression, which makes it easy for others to lay in ambush and for me to fish, right? Qing Chen said irritably, Thats for my convenience in case I need to escape. Shadow was not entirely wrong. He always passed through Jindai Street when returning home in order to give others the false impression that he would only take that route. If one day he wanted to flee, and someone lay in wait there to ambush him, they might come up empty-handed. Of course, they might not be that foolish; this was just one small part of Qing Chens preparation work. Details determine success or failure. The commotion you caused tonight was a bit too big, dont you think? I feel like itd take at least three months for Jindai Street to be rebuilt, Qing Chen said. Ive been annoyed with that street for a long time, destroying it a bit this time was quite fun, Shadow said cheerfully, The northerners building their own street in City No.10, irritating. By the way, the trade with Jindai Yasuhara is in three days. Ill have everything prepared on my end, but youll have to conduct the trade. Shadow looked at Qing Chen and said, I can handle all other matters, but trading for Jindai Yasuhara and retrieving Qing Mu must be done by you. Is it because, only if I personally do it, would the hearts of Qings Familys intelligence system truly be in my hands, right? Qing Chen asked. You are quite clever, praised Shadow. Then, Qing Chen suddenly asked, Taking Qing Mu back home this time, youre also planning to use his last bit of value, arent you? If Im not mistaken, his life is probably nearing its end. Shadow was silent for a moment before saying, Its a habit. Youll get used to it eventually. When sitting at a certain height, many times you no longer experience your own emotions. Qing Chen shook his head, I dont want to get used to it. At some point, he felt that Shadow was not entirely using the situation, but the latter had grown accustomed to covering up emotions with interest. At this moment, Qings shadow said calmly, Whether you want to get used to it is up to you. You can also walk away from all this. Ive never forced you. A shadow cannot have emotions. The previous shadow did not take in Qing Mu, nor did I. It might seem unacceptable to you. Chapter 623 - 623 389 Final Destination 3 ?Chapter 623: 389, Final Destination 3 Chapter 623: 389, Final Destination 3 The Shadow continued, But you must understand, although I dont sincerely want to bring him back home, it is enough that you sincerely do. So, if you choose to leave, you have to finish this matter first. Qing Chen asked, But why me? Im a Time Traveler, not a real Descendant of Qing. Youll know the answer in time, Qings shadow asked, I have a question for you, do you want Qing Yi to be your shadow, right? Qing Chen hesitated for a moment but eventually nodded. No one said a shadow couldnt have its own shadow. Hes in the light, Im in the darkits perfect. It is indeed good that you dare to break the rules, but have you ever consideredif Qing Yi were to find out youre also a Shadow Candidate, what would he think? Qings Shadow asked. You can say you wont change, but will he not? When the time comes, personally killing a friend is not a pleasant experience. For a moment, Qing Chen was startled, as if the Shadow had personally killed a friend during the previous Shadow conflict. Then, Qing Chen asked, Do you think Qing Xing truly has a Lucky Halo? The Shadow replied with a smile, What do you think? I know youve asked Yan Chunmi to investigate Qing Xing, but let me tell you, no matter how good your investigative skills are, you wont find any clues. Do you think I only started paying attention to him now? Ive been watching him since I became a Shadow. In the last ten years, hes picked up money 3,491 times, and not a single person who lost their money was a repeat. If someone deliberately threw money to help him create this illusion of a Lucky Halo, then picking up money would be his biggest flaw, because you would need 3,491 people to throw money for him. Qing Chen nodded, understanding that the bigger the lie and the more people involved, the larger the flaw in the lie would be. However, Qing Chen said, Have you considered that there might be a secret group of members creating accidents for him, like stealing money and then dropping it for him to find? Continuing, Qing Chen said, While accidents may seem coincidental, as long as the executor is clever enough, they can make them seamless. Perhaps there are individuals in the world who excel at using accidental events. Behind what looks like chance, in fact, lies deeper calculation. Qing Chen was a man who did not believe in coincidences, so after returning tomorrow, he planned to send people to investigate Song Niannian. The frequency of the other party appearing before him was simply too high to not be suspicious. Therefore, his first reaction upon hearing the rumors about Qing Xing was to doubt him. At this point, the Shadow offered an explanation. Ive also doubted the hypothesis you suggested, but over the years, there have been over one hundred and thirty coincidences related to him. For instance, Qing Wen caught a cold because the weather turned cold and his Servant forgot to close the window, causing him to catch a chill in the middle of the night. There are also sixty-three incidents that took place under surveillance cameras with nobody inadvertently cooperating, no repeated faces captured on camera. There was only one repeated face, whom I had interrogated specifically, only to find out that person was clean and had merely coincidentally appeared at two accident sites. Qing Chen understood the implication: if there were never any repeated faces on camera, it meant it couldnt possibly be a team committing these acts. Otherwise, the team would be too large and too easy to expose. If this team had more than ten people, the Shadow would have likely already discovered them. The Shadow said, Out of these accidents, in thirteen of them, Qing Xing was hundreds of kilometers away in a neighboring city when they occurred, ruling out the possibility of him personally committing these acts. Qing Chen furrowed his brows, ruling out a team committing the acts and Qing Xing setting up the accidents himself; this almost certainly classified it as metaphysical. So, you also believe that Qing Xing really has a Lucky Halo? Qing Chen asked. I dont believe it, the Shadow chuckled. Why not? Qing Chen wondered. Theres no reason; I just dont believe it, the Shadow laughed. Do you believe it? I dont either, Qing Chen responded. Why? After a moment of thought, Qing Chen said, Whats most important to him now is the Shadow conflict. If he truly had a Lucky Halo, then he should have become friends with me by now. Or, his Lucky Halo should have come into effect for me by now, but I havent encountered any accidents. Rarely taken aback, the Shadow hadnt expected such a confident answer from Qing Chen, but after serious thought, found he couldnt refute it. Qing Chen said, Qing Xing probably doesnt know that the ninth Shadow Candidate is still alive, but such a thing like the Lucky Halo wouldnt be contingent on Qing Xings awareness. If he really had a Lucky Halo, then even without knowing of my existence, I should have encountered many accidents by now. Qing Yi and the others were practically living out the movie Final Destination, unaware of when an accident might suddenly occur. But Qing Chen had never encountered any. Therefore, Qing Chen was convinced it was orchestrated by Qing Xing, albeit through more sophisticated methods. This was a world where Transcendents existed, and Qing Chen suspected that Qing Xing was one of them. Or perhaps, he held some kind of Taboo capable of altering others fates. Qing Chen looked towards the Shadow: Is there an unknown Taboo that could change someones fate? After a moment of thought, the Shadow said, Huh, there actually is one. In the previous human era, there was a Transcendent with such ability, but before it could fully develop, it was killed by Ren Xiaosu, the founder of the Federation. What ability? Qing Chen inquired. The Shadow shook his head, Not sure, its too far back in the past. I only know he died on Los Angeles Wangchunmen Street. The incident was recorded by Hus Information Agency as part of the Record of Abnormals, but without clear details. In his memory, Qing Chen also recalled an item capable of achieving this: the Death Note. Write down a plausible event in the book, no matter how strange or coincidental, as long as it has internal logic, it can happen. ... A 5,000-word chapter, today a 10,000-word update as usual, still paying back a little interest. September is almost over, and a standalone chapter will be available laterits optional to read it or not. Chapter 624 - 624 390 Countdown seven days ?Chapter 624: 390, Countdown seven days Chapter 624: 390, Countdown seven days It is known that among the Taboo items, there is nothing that changes another persons destiny or brings misfortune, Qing Chen said. On his way back from his first climb up the sheer cliffs of Green Mountain, Lin Xiaoxiao had already sent the sorted archive of Taboo items to his reader. So, if it were a known Taboo item, Qing Chen would have suspected it long ago. Qing Chen looked at the man opposite him, Mr. Shadow: But the fact that a Taboo item is not recorded does not mean it does not exist. If Hus Information Agency has documented a Transcendent who could write fate, then its very likely he could separate out a Taboo item. You think that Qing Xing has an unrecorded Taboo item in his possession, Shadow asked. Yes, Qing Chen stood up and paced back and forth in the living room: But the containment conditions and usage conditions for this Taboo item must be very stringent; otherwise, Qing Xing would have written himself as the Qing Clan House Master a long time ago, instead of going through such trouble. The usage conditions for Taboo items are rather strict, so much so that even this month, Qing Chen had been pondering one question: his Puppeteer had yet to meet its monthly containment conditions. Had tonight not been too dangerous, he might have entered the buildings on either side of Jindai Street and fought a round with the assassins. Qing Chen sent a message to Yan Chunmi: Where is Qing Xings information? Yan Chunmi sent back a file: Boss, you finally remembered me. All the information is here, but we havent found Qing Yuan yet; that kid is hiding deep. Qing Chen replied: Keep searching. He opened the file and had to admit that Yan Chunmis work ability was incredibly strong; she actually managed to categorize the lucky and misfortunate events related to Qing Xing in detail, in separate charts. Murder, injury, and other events were also thoroughly distinguished. She had even arranged these events in chronological order and indicated what Qing Xing was doing at the exact time they occurred. It goes without saying that the spies of the Spy Bureau and the Kite Falcons are more capable than one would imagine, at least not something the PCA Federation CIA detectives could compare with. Of course, Qing Hua and Yang Xuyang had their advantages, which was their greater loyalty to Qing Chen. Qing Chen and his Kite Falcons were more like partners, but Qing Hua and his group were his people. Qing Chen did not ponder further but analyzed the contents of the file earnestly. At that moment, Qings shadow suddenly noticed that Qing Chen, who had been pacing back and forth, had suddenly stood still and did not disturb him. Qing Xing even became a Shadow Candidate thanks to his Lucky Halo, when it should have been his brother participating. But his brother got himself into trouble while visiting prostitutes, causing their parents to be very disappointed in him, so they chose Qing Xing, he reflected. In these materials, all the victims of the murder events had close contact with Qing Xing, whereas the injury event victims did not have such frequent contact with him. Lets assume that he truly possesses a notebook that writes fate. In that case, I speculate the intensity of the written fate depends on how well he knows the target. For instance, by just writing down a name, he can arrange injury events, but if he writes down the name and birthdate, he could write about a murder. Qings shadow looked at Qing Chen in some surprise: What about all the money he found? 3,491 people lost money, and he might not even know the names of these people. Qing Chen said: This indicates that he can also arrange his own fate. He writes down his own name and birthday and then lets himself find money when he goes out. Ive noticed, starting from the second year of the Lucky Halo event, Qing Xing suddenly began to learn how to paint. But he only learned sketching. Ordinary people learning to paint, how could they only study sketching? Unless they give up halfway through, they usually continue to learn other techniques such as oils or watercolors, but Qing Xing learned only sketching. Yan Chunmis file shows that Qing Xing did not drop out halfway and still occasionally goes outdoors to draw from life. So I guess that this painting skill is likely related to writing fate. He might not be writing fate but drawing others destinies. Of course, all of this was still just Qing Chens speculation, but he firmly believed one thing: the so-called Lucky Halo of Qing Xing was artificial, not actual fate. Qing Chen turned to Shadow: The information Yan Chunmi could find is certainly something you could find too. Things I can think of, you must have considered as well. Whats the point of keeping it from me? Is it amusing? Its amusing indeed, Shadow laughed: However, I really dont know what exactly he has in his hands, and so far, that Taboo item hasnt exhibited a potent destructive power, so Im not interested in meddling. Even if it doesnt have large destructive power, its still a remarkable Taboo item. Havent you thought about using it for yourself? Arranging others destinies seems to be quite an interesting thing to do, Qing Chen said. Shadow shook his head and smiled: Qing Xing is Qings family, after all. You dont snatch toys from your own kids. For you, hes a competitor, but for me, in principle, all Shadow Candidates should be equal. Qing Chen nodded: Therefore, Qing Xing should have two Taboo items on him right now. One was obtained during the first round of the shadow competition, and the other was capable of writing destiny. Chapter 625 - 625 390 Countdown seven days_2 ?Chapter 625: 390, Countdown seven days_2 Chapter 625: 390, Countdown seven days_2 The first known spoils from the first round of the Shadow Conflict was the Taboo item ACE-054: an old matchbox. According to the information provided by Lin Xiaoxiao, one match would appear out of thin air in this matchbox every day. Once lit, the flame would reflect the person one most wanted to see at the moment, showing what that person was doing. When Qing Chen saw the introduction of the Taboo item ACE-054, he thought to himself, was this stolen from the little match girl? The little match girl really has it rough. Of course, whats even more pitiful is the Transcendent who derived this Taboo item. If their ability was just to light a match and see the person they wanted to see, then their combat power would be even less than that of a wild beast... The functionality of the Taboo item ACE-054 was relatively useless, but it was still considered a Taboo item after all. Qing Chen became suddenly very interested in this Qing Xing. It was then that he recalled an extremely subtle detail from Yan Chunmis information. The data totaled tens of thousands of words, yet that sentence constituted only a very small part: Qing Xing is sick. Whats important wasnt those four words, but the time marked beside them. Qing Chen felt that the time was so familiar... it happened to be the first day he arrived at Prison 18 after time travelling. This made Qing Chen frown. Could Qing Xing be a Time Traveler as well? Uncertain, but worth suspecting. Qing Xing fell ill while within City No. 10, which means, if the other party was a Time Traveler, then they should be one of the Zheng City people. Qing Chen asked, Mr. Shadow, you must have guessed long ago that Qing Xings ability comes from a Taboo item, right? Including the big shots from Qings Family, they should also be able to think of it. Thats not important. Whats important is what he can actually do with it, Shadow laughed. The detail you noticed, Ive noticed too. So are you guessing hes a Time Traveler? Hes not, Qing Chen shook his head, This file includes Qing Xings paintings from different periods. First of all, reaching that level in sketching isnt easy. Second, his painting style didnt change before and after he got sick. Whether he is or isnt, Im not sure, but I do know that among the remaining Shadow Candidates, there is one... oh, besides you, Shadow laughed. Qing Chen was taken aback. Theres another one? Who? Was it Qing Yuan, the one whos been missing all this time? Qing Yuan wasnt a native of City No. 10 but came from City No. 19. However, after arriving here, even the spy organization Kite Falcon couldnt find him. This indicates that theres an organization supporting him from behind. It could be the power of Qing Yuans parents, but it could also be the power of the Time Traveler Organization from the Outer World Taicheng! At that moment, Shadow stood up: You have another visitor, huh? This little broken house is quite lively. Im leaving now. Once youve picked the trading location, you must tell me by tomorrow at the latest. I need to prepare in advance. Yes, of course. Before 6 pm tomorrow night, I will send you the chosen trading location and the reasons for my choice, Qing Chen nodded. At the next moment, Shadow opened the Door of Shadow, and there was a knock on the door from outside. Qing Chen opened the door, only to see Su Xingzhi standing outside sneakily. He had changed out of his white suit into casual clothes. It must be said, he was more cautious than Li Dongze, or maybe it was because he wasnt as powerful as Li Dongze. Su Xingzhi didnt stand on ceremony, shoving his way through the door: Little boss, finally seeing you again. Seeing me doesnt seem to surprise you at all! Indeed, Im not surprised, Qing Chen closed the door. From the moment Li Dongze appeared at the Utopia Building, he knew it was only a matter of time before he would meet Su Xingzhi here as well. The two of them perfectly illustrated the word internal strife. Qing Chen looked at Su Xingzhi: Where are your glutinous rice balls, didnt you bring any? How could I possibly bring frozen food for the little boss to cook, Su Xingzhi said righteously. Li Dongze must have brought frozen food, right? Im not like him. While talking, Su Xingzhi carried a black bag into the kitchen, adeptly tied on an apron, and then... actually started making dough! The bag contained meat, chives, onions, ginger, garlicall things considered luxury items for the wealthy in the city. The average person could only eat synthetic protein bars and rely on a few bucks worth of composite vitamin tablets to achieve nutritional balance. Su Xingzhi moved deftly, chopping meat, cutting chives, rolling out dough for dumpling wrappers, and had everything ready in less than half an hour. During this time, the guy even washed his hands from time to time to take selfies, recording the process of making dumplings. Why are you filming this? Qing Chen asked, puzzled. So that Li Dongze doesnt slander me for bringing ready-made dumpling wrappers and fillings, Su Xingzhi stated earnestly. Little boss, you have no idea. Li Dongze isnt a good guy. We had agreed to come to City No. 10 together to visit you, but he sneaked here by himself. That guy, his heart is black! Qing Chen returned to the living room to wait, thinking that it had come to the part where they badmouthed each other. Soon after, Su Xingzhi brought out the dumplings: Little boss, lets take a photo together. Without waiting for Qing Chen to refuse, Su Xingzhi sat beside him and pressed the camera button. But it seemed Su Xingzhi was more meticulous than Li Dongze, and he was a bit more dramatic. After taking the photo, he felt something was missing. He went back to the kitchen, dabbed some flour on his face, and then took another photo. Chapter 626 - 626 390 Countdown seven days_3 ?Chapter 626: 390, Countdown seven days_3 Chapter 626: 390, Countdown seven days_3 It looked even more like he had just finished a job. Alright, Boss, take your time. My dumpling-making skills are top-notch, a far cry from the frozen food you buy from Li Dongze! Su Xingzhi said with a beaming smile, If you need anything, just say the word. Ive got people in the black market of City No. 10 too. By the way, Su Xingzhi added as if he had just remembered something, that Luo Wanya is one of your guys, right? The Mechanicus sent a Red-robed Bishop to City No. 18 to catch him, but they didnt find him. However, you really need to warn him to be careful, Boss. The Mechanicus has some pretty sinister technological methods. Its only a matter of time before they locate him. So, before hes well-established, it might be wise for him to lay low somewhere else. The ongoing struggle between Qings Family and the Mechanicus was actually always in full swing. The Mechanicus had elevated the matter to the highest level of crisis, treating it as if it were a dispute over faith. What really put the Mechanicus on high alert wasnt just the rapid spread of the family members, but the emergence of a group of key Cultivators within them. The growth rate of these key Cultivators was so fast that even the Red-robed Bishops of the Mechanicus suspected that there was a financial group secretly supporting them from behind. And the family members felt wronged. They were just returning to a warm family home, after all. Who had they provoked? Qing Chen glanced at Su Xingzhi, Thanks for the heads-up, Ill make arrangements. He actually saw Luo Wanya, a big shot in Los Angeles City, as quite talented. The Mechanicus, with all its might, couldnt capture him even with a Red-robed Bishops personal involvement in City No. 10. No wonder he was the one that slipped through the law-abiding Outer World. It turned out that what he was best at was running away, staying out of the wind... Now that the attention of the Mechanicus was on City No. 18, it might be better to let Luo Wanya develop in City No. 10, spreading influence more widely. Qings Family certainly couldnt directly stand against the Mechanicus at the moment. But Luo Wanya from the Outer World must be no stranger to guerrilla warfare. By the way, which financial group is backing the Mechanicus? Qing Chen asked. Su Xingzhi thought for a moment, Thats hard to say. Its fearfully Jindai, Deer Island, and the Chen Clan who have a share in it. ... ... Countdown 7 days. Qing Chen finally felt the usual urgency before a transit. In these remaining seven days, he still had far too much to do. Including his return to the Outer World in seven days, he had new plans, like undertaking the next life-or-death challenge. During this period, he spent every day resting in the winning people over with virtue Mysterious World, preparing for the life-or-death challenge. Qing Chen had stayed at D-Class for too long. His sniping skills might have given him the ability to take down B-Class targets, but now his capability had become sort of a signature, which he couldnt continue to use lightly. Besides, relying too much on external factors was never a good thing. So, as Qing Chen saw it, if his return also lasted 30 days this time, that would be enough for him to undergo a transformation and take a long journey. At this point, he seemed to be thriving in City No. 10, stirring up the intelligence community. But what if there had been no Shadow to help him last night? He could have been in danger. He had to increase his strength. He had already made preparations to face the next life-or-death challenge. When he arrived at the Intelligence Department Building, Qing Chen was surprised to see Qing Yi already sitting in the office, and the detectives had even started eating the snacks he had brought with great effort. Huh, no bodyguards outside today. Have you learned to keep a low profile? Qing Chen asked curiously. Qing Yi said somewhat sheepishly, I was just pretending to be flamboyant before to throw people off, to make everyone let down their guard against me. Now that I have you, sir, I dont need to act anymore, so as not to make the brothers and sisters of Intelligence Department One dislike me. Youre a sly one, Qing Chen patted Qing Yi on the head, come to my office. You can practice your cultivation on the sofa while I work. Ill teach you the second lesson of the Breathing Technique. Thinking about this, Qing Chen glanced again at the intelligence officers in the large office. Most of them were Genetic Warriors who had only received one or two injections of the Genetic Potion. The value of the detectives was actually in the uniforms they wore; their raw strength was not all that impressive. Although Qings Family supplied some Genetic Potion to this division annually, not everyone could get a dose; after all, too many people from Qings Family were waiting for the Genetic Potion, and the Federal Groups military was the main consumer. Therefore, Qing Chen thought that since the detectives were now loyal, it was time to help them boost their strength a little. Inside the office, Qing Yi said softly, Sir, Shadow finally gave us the first minor task for the third round of the Shadow Competition. Just one minor task? Qing Chen was puzzled. Yes, his top associates contacted us saying that whoever wins this minor task will gain some advantage in the next one, Qing Yi explained. Qing Chen sighed. Last night, Shadow didnt mention any tasks at all. His role as a Shadow Candidate hardly felt like that of a candidate at all. Whats the task? Qing Chen asked. Find the mastermind behind last nights attack on Jindai Street, Qing Yi explained. Shadow said that the mastermind is still at large, and many Assassins got away last night. We need to bring them all back. A total of 12 Assassins escaped, plus the mastermind makes 13. The first to catch more than six Assassins, or to capture the mastermind directly, will be considered the winner. Got it, Qing Chen nodded, Alright, lets begin your cultivation. After speaking, he took Qing Yis wrist, preparing to lead him into the second lesson of the Breathing Techniques meditative state. Qing Yi hesitated, Wait a minute, sir. Do you have other things to take care of? He was thinking that Qing Chen had promised to help him win the third round of the Shadow Competition, but now it seemed like Qing Chen had no intention of taking action. Qing Chen shook his head, No, my business can wait another two days. Then, arent we going to catch those Assassins now? Qing Yi asked curiously, Im not rushing you, sir. I mean, its fine whether we catch them or not, Im just curious. Qing Chen smiled, Whats the rush? Let the bullet fly for a while. ... A five-thousand-word chapter, another one at 11 PM. Seeking monthly tickets for October! Chapter 627 - 627 391 Spring Festival Benefits ?Chapter 627: 391, Spring Festival Benefits Chapter 627: 391, Spring Festival Benefits Sir, what is the upper limit of the cultivation method you gave? Qing Yi asked this question for the first time. B-Class, Qing Chen responded in the office. Really, its possible to cultivate up to B-Class? Qing Yi seemed somewhat surprised. Qing Chen was taken aback; he had thought that Qing Yi might be a bit disappointed, after all, above B-Class there are the levels of A-Class and Demigod. But he quickly realized that this might also be due to the lack of understanding of power levels by the people from the Outer World. Time Travelers from the Outer World, looking up to the level of Demigod, naturally set their sights on the highest level, after all, everyone wants to be the most powerful when they set their dreams. But its different for the people of the Inner World, they know how rare masters of A-Class and Demigod level are, so they think B-Class is already very impressive. At this time, Qing Chen was thinking, if the first three sections of the Breathing Technique could reach B-Class in the Family Cultivation Method, does that mean the fourth section could allow a cultivator to reach A-Class? However, cultivators of the Family Cultivation Method would surely need to face the trial of questioning the heart when practicing the fourth section of the Breathing Technique. Perhaps thats why Buddhists say that cultivation should cultivate the mind, to be wary of the demons of the heart, and that only by cultivating a clear heart can one become a Buddha, because of the need to face the trial of questioning the heart. However, with the Family Cultivation Method, one only faces the questioning of the heart after reaching B-Class, while Knights must face it from the very beginning. Therefore, the ceiling for Knights is a little higher. Then, Qing Yi joyfully entered meditation, but after a while, he suddenly opened his eyes and looked at Qing Chen behind the desk. Whats the matter? Qing Chen raised an eyebrow. Qing Yi said, Sir, cant I be empowered now that Ive cultivated to this level? Qing Chen smiled helplessly. You can, but you should keep cultivating for now. Ill empower you later. He hadnt expected that Qing Yi would actually take the initiative to request this, knowing that back in the Autumn Leaf Courtyard, the other party was so coy that he dared not say anything, even when he was empowering others, this child would just look on pitifully. Sometimes, most people are polite with outsiders but take liberties with friends and family. This shows that Qing Yi has indeed become very close to Qing Chen in his heart. Meanwhile, Qing Yi, while in meditation, was concurrently guiding his meridians in cultivation and silently waiting until a warm palm suddenly covered his watermelon-shaped head, at which point he finally focused wholeheartedly on his cultivation. Qing Chen had previously attempted with Nan Gengchen, and found that once the Grand Circulation was complete in the Family Cultivation Method, it couldnt be empowered by someone who had also completed the Grand Circulation. But Qing Chen still could. Meaning, once all cultivators practicing the Family Cultivation Method reach E-Class, thats when they truly start to compete based on their cultivation talents, and their cultivation speed will gradually slow down. Only those who have mastered the fourth section of the Breathing Technique can continue to empower those who have completed the Grand Circulation. Qing Chen was now only two legs away from having the Knight Vital Energy infused throughout his body. Given his current level of Knight Vital Energy, Qing Yi might not even be able to fully absorb it after the empowering. He could only absorb about one-tenth of it. So he probably needed to empower the other continuously for twelve days without sleep, to help him advance to D-Class. How many days it would take to go from D-Class to C-Class, and from C-Class to B-Class, he couldnt test it yet. Twelve days was actually quite fast; if Qing Yi were to cultivate on his own, currently at E-Class, hed probably have to wait a year to advance to D-Class. This dictated that the group limit for the Family Cultivation Method should be around E-Class or D-Class. Qing Chen couldnt possibly stop doing everything to empower people every day. Actually, the path Luo Wanya took is the most suitable for the Family Cultivation Method; even though the levels of family members are not high, there are many of them! When the time comes and there are thousands of D-Class family members, wouldnt they be able to hang and hit the Mechanicus? Luo Wanya probably also knows that what the family needs most right now is to keep a low profile, which is why he hides here and there, never confronting the Mechanicus head-on. The next moment, Qing Hua walked into the room from outside and was startled when he saw Qing Yi. Boss, is he cultivating? He thought to himself, the boss is openly supporting a Shadow Candidate now, does the Shadow know about this? Just then, Qing Chen looked at him and asked, Do you want to cultivate too? Ah? Qing Hua was stunned. Me? Can I? How many Genetic Potions have you taken? Qing Chen asked. Two shots, Qing Hua explained, Inspector, its like this, theres a custom in Intelligence Department One, after becoming a Detective, the Qings Family side will allot the lowest level Genetic Potion; after becoming a Trainee Inspector, they will allot the next level, and upon becoming an Inspector, they will directly give the third one, so Inspectors are generally D-Class, Trainee Inspectors are E-Class, and Detectives are all F-Class. Qing Chen nodded. Okay, call all the Detectives back, from today onward, have them stay in the large office and cultivate properly. Before the transaction with Jindai Yasuhara, unless you and Qing Zhun lead the team personally, do not allow any contact with the outside world. Qing Hua, you and Yang Xuyang collect everyones cell phones. Qing Hua immediately became serious; the trade with Jindai Yasuhara was critical for bringing Qing Mu home, and nothing could be left to chance with this matter. By the way, boss, wont there be any problems with you privately teaching the Clan Cultivation Method? Qing Hua asked, knowing that the Qings Family had a Clan Cultivation Method, which reportedly could enable a talented person to cultivate to B-Class in fifteen years and extend their lifespan. Chapter 628 - 628 391 Spring Festival Benefit_2 ?Chapter 628: 391, Spring Festival Benefit_2 Chapter 628: 391, Spring Festival Benefit_2 But the methods of cultivation are especially precious and are never taught to those outside the family name. Thus, although Qing Hua really wanted to cultivate, he also had to consider Qing Chens perspective. Qing Chen glanced at Qing Hua, Dont worry, its not a Family Cultivation Method, and there are no side effects. Qing Hua left, completely befuddled. ... ... In the morning, Inspector Chen Sai from team six discovered an issue, Today is a bit strange; an informant near the parking lot told me that not a single car from team seven has gone out today, theyve all come back. Hm? The Trainee Inspector was taken aback. I get nervous seeing them go out to catch people every day, Chen Sai said, so I slipped the parking lot security some money to inform me whenever team sevens cars come and go. But today, they all came back, and theyve stopped catching people. I dont know why, but it makes me even more nervous... To Chen Sai, team seven was the very definition of a headache at the moment, no matter what they did, it seemed like they were up to mischief. He looked up at the desk opposite him at Chen Zhen, Go check it out, what are they up to? Arent we VIPs? Just sit in their conference room today, dont do anything else, and keep an eye on them. Alright, understood, Chen Zhen said and then left. Oh, and, Chen Sai suddenly spoke, call all our detectives back too. I have a feeling something big is about to happen. Chen Zhen went downstairs alone but upon reaching the third floor, he found the door tightly shut. He could only peek inside through the frosted glass door gap. The next moment, Chen Zhen was stunned. In the room belonging to Intelligence Department One team seven, a group of people were sitting cross-legged on the ground with their eyes closed, as if they were conducting some kind of ritual. Chen Zhen hesitated for a moment, then ran back upstairs. He found Inspector Chen Sai and said, Boss, it looks like team seven is performing a ritual! Chen Sai: ??? What the hell are you talking about? What ritual? Have you lost your mind? Chen Sai was puzzled, What exactly is happening? Chen Zhen relayed what he saw and heard. Chen Sai furrowed his brows, Thats not a ritual; theyre clearly cultivating together! It looks like the new boss of team seven has really spent a fortune. Boss, I may not be worldly, but have you ever seen so many people cultivating together? Have you seen anyone who, after obtaining a method of cultivation, passes it on to so many people at once? Chen Zhen asked. Chen Sai thought about it and indeed had never seen such a thing. When he followed Chen Zhen back downstairs to the outside of team sevens office, the two of them, one tall and one short, peeked inside through the door gap. When detectives from other teams passed by, the two quickly straightened up and pretended to be nonchalant. Chen Sai thought it over, We cant be the only ones who know about this, go tell the inspectors from the other teams. Gradually, a crowd gathered at the door of team seven, and there was much speculation. Moreover, to respond to team sevens sudden peculiar actions, all intelligence groups called back their detectives. After all, in recent times, team seven seemed to be a step ahead of everyone, almost prophetically so, in everything they did. Now that team seven had summoned their people back, although they didnt know what had happened, it certainly couldnt be wrong to follow suit. Li Yunqu kept quiet; as a direct descendant of the Li Family, he naturally knew why Qing Chen held such a high status in the Li Family. This was the future Grand Tutor of the Li Family. Was it not normal to impart some methods of cultivation? What was there to be surprised about...? However, Li Yunqu was thinking, as Qing Chen was a Li Family member who could sit at the decision-making table, and their Intelligence Department Two was Qing Chens direct lineage, right? After all, were all family. You cant just teach team seven and not teach department two, can you? Li Yunqu began to hatch a little plan in his mind. At that moment, the door of team seven opened, and Qing Hua stood at the entrance, curiously asking, Is there something you need, gentlemen? Chen Sai hesitated before asking, How come you didnt go out to catch anyone today? Qing Hua replied irritably, Do we have to go out and catch people every day? Is it a problem that theres no one to catch today? No, thats not it, Chen Zhen said, You were all collectively cultivating, werent you?! Yeah, Qing Hua nonchalantly replied, Our Inspector spent a fortune to buy a cultivation method from a black market merchant, as an end-of-year benefit for all of us detectives. It is almost Spring Festival, after all. The Inspector said that giving out shopping cards or something wasnt as good as giving a cultivation method. This thing not only boosts your strength but also prolongs life. By the way, what are you giving your detectives for the Spring Festival? A few inspectors were instantly at a loss. What a sin! Who in the world gives out cultivation methods as a Spring Festival bonus?! Even a half-decent method of cultivation from the black market would cost billions, and thats the kind with side effects! Your new Inspector must be crazy! Chen Sai even noticed that his own detectives nearby were already looking at him with hopeful eyes. He suddenly felt that ever since this new Inspector of team seven had arrived, he was not only outdoing them in solving cases and catching people but was now about to outdo them in Spring Festival benefits! Then, Qing Hua said with a smile, Our boss said that if he becomes the director of the PCA Federation CIA, he might give this benefit to all detectives in Intelligence Department One. Apparently, this cultivation method can get you to B-Class. Chen Sai was taken aback again, then internally cursed himself for being weak, because he had even felt a bit tempted just now! He looked around once more and saw that Inspector Jindai Changming of Deer Island and Inspector Li Zhongxian both plainly had been tempted too. And at this moment, it wasnt just a matter of being tempted for Li Yunqu; he earnestly said, I support the team seven Inspector running for the next directors position! Chapter 629 - 629 391 Spring Festival Welfare_3 ?Chapter 629: 391, Spring Festival Welfare_3 Chapter 629: 391, Spring Festival Welfare_3 In Li Yunqus view, this was truly something that only the elite members of the clan could study, and all he needed to do was support Qing Chens election as the director to learn it. What was he waiting for?! However, if Qing Chen really got elected, he would probably become the youngest director in the history of the PCA Federation CIA... So young, just 17 years old. Qing Hua said to everyone outside the door, Gentlemen, please disperse. Group Seven will not see any visitors within the next two days. We wont be making arrests, so there will be no new information to update. Lets talk after two days. At this, Jindai Changming, Li Zhongxian, Chen Sai, Li Yunqu, and others shuddered. They understood that Qings family was gearing up to deal with the matter concerning Jindai Yasuhara! But what exactly did Qings family want with Jindai Yasuhara? Jindai Changming vaguely had a guess, but other groups were still clueless. After all, Qing Mu had been under house arrest by Jindai for 19 years, and many people outside of Qings family had already forgotten about him. The inspectors from the various intelligence groups, each with their own agendas, went back. After returning to his office, Cheng Zhen followed Chen Sai in and asked, Boss, isnt Group Seven suddenly buying cultivation methods, do they want to engage us in a martial conflict? Martial conflict?! Chen Sai replied irritably, Cultivation takes at least six months to a year just to breach the threshold. Who knows where everyone will be half a year from now. Oh, Chen Zhen stared straight at Chen Sai. Chen Sai, annoyed and embarrassed, said, What are you looking at me for? Do you think Ill distribute cultivation methods as a Spring Festival bonus, is your brain rusted, or is mine?! Oh, Chen Zhen lowered his head in disappointment. He was only E-Class and would need to wait for Chen Sai to change positions to potentially be promoted to D-Class. Even if Chen Sai was no longer an inspector, it might still not be his turn. At that moment, Chen Sai said, Go back to the main office and keep an eye on things. During this period, discussions about Group Sevens Spring Festival benefits are prohibited. Be cautious of anyone contacting Group Seven privately. I suspect that Group Sevens public display of cultivation is meant to entice other groups detectives in this building. Putting himself in their shoes, Chen Sai felt tempted by what had even moved him momentarily; the detectives would likely feel the same. However, he did not believe that Group Sevens cultivation method could reach B-Class. After all, the new inspector wouldnt possibly bring out Qings family cultivation method to cause trouble. ... ... Intelligence Department Three was no longer slack as before. All the Shadow Candidates had received new assignments, meaning their rare leisure time had just ended. Sitting at his workstation, Qing Wen suddenly received a message, then stood up and called to his 36 detectives, Prepare the car, were making an arrest! The detectives perked up, indeed following a hot lead pays off. While other Shadow Candidates had made no progress, this Qing Wen must have already secured family support and located the assassin. Qing Wen added, Equip yourselves well with firearms. The assassin who attacked Jindai Street last night is quite fierce, everybody be careful. After saying that, he looked towards the 36 detectives under Qing Yi, only to realize Qing Yi hadnt come to work today. Qing Wen shook his head, having heard that his younger cousin was not very diligent, but he had not expected such laziness. He said to the 36 detectives under Qing Yi, Since Qing Yi isnt here, why dont you join me in making the arrest? Qing Yis detectives also perked up. Qing Yis absence was perfect for them, sparing them from wasting time with a candidate who seemed bound to fail. At that very moment, other groups detectives watched enviously as Qing Wen and his team bustled out, then looked at their bosses C Qing Shi was still starstruck, Qing Wu was still asleep, and Qing Yuan was out with no news... What kind of situation was this?! Folks, this was the battle of the Shadows; could they not get their spirits up?! However, just as Qing Wens fleet was leaving, Yan Chunmi outside the PCA Federation CIA building sent a message to Qing Chen, Boss, Qing Wen is on the move. He must have found the assassins trail. Qing Chen replied with a message, Follow him. Yan Chunmi asked, Boss, do we need our Kite Falcon to intercept and snatch the person? Qing Chen, No need. Kite Falcon should remain hidden, avoiding overt battles. Remember, he has a Kite Falcon too. Received, Yan Chunmi thoughtfully got into her own car, trailing behind Qing Wens convoy. In the office of Group Seven of Intelligence Department One, Qing Chen stood up. As he pushed open the door of the office, all the detectives who had been meditating cross-legged uniformly opened their eyes, stood up, and quietly watched their boss. The main office was quiet; everyone was waiting for Qing Chens instructions. Qing Chen nodded, This is more like what Intelligence Department One should be. Qing Hua, take the brothers to make the arrest. Qing Yi, you go too. All 96 detectives of Group Seven responded in unison, Received! Qing Yi, following behind Qing Chen, asked, Sir, who are we going to arrest? He had been in Qing Chens office the whole time and hadnt seen Qing Chen investigating anything. Qing Chen smiled and said, Of course, were going to arrest the assassins who attacked Jindai Street. Ah? Qing Yi was startled, But we dont even know where those assassins are. Whats there to worry about, Qing Wen has already found them for us, Qing Chen smiled. Qing Yi suddenly realized, Oh, Sir, when you said earlier to let the bullets fly for a while, you meant to wait for Qing Wen to find the clue first and then we follow up with the arrest? But Qing Chen shook his head, No, we are heading straight to Intelligence Department Three to make the arrest. Have you forgotten that Intelligence Department One has the authority to interrogate prisoners from other departments? Qing Chen had never intended to go through the trouble of finding the person himself. He just needed to wait for other Shadow Candidates to capture someone, then send Qing Hua to bring them back. It was that simple. However, this could only be done once. Afterward, the other Shadow Candidates would wise up. ... A chapter of five thousand characters, ten thousand more words updated today, and one more update for the Sea Soul Clothing Golden League; this bosss debt is now repaid. Thank you to the two new bosses of the Golden League, Yany Hui Anruo and This User Has Not Logged In. The old debt is not yet cleared, and new debts have been added. Thank you to Sisu from Parenting Family, Little Residence for a While, xievraven, Zhao Lei from White Reflections, I Really Want a Nickname, and Getting a Name is Truly D for becoming the new allies of this book. Bosses, you are confused! Hahaha! Chapter 630 - 630 392 Accident ?Chapter 630: 392, Accident Chapter 630: 392, Accident Ninth District, Shadow Candidate Qing Wen, stood quietly on the skybridge between two buildings. The suspended bridge was like a steel cable hanging between the two tall structures. Every time Qing Wen stood in such a place, overlooking the most absurd part of a city, he always felt a unique sense of detachment. This place did not belong to him, nor did he belong to it. At 3 p.m., 72 Detectives from Intelligence Department Three had entered the apartment building to his right, conducting a thorough blockade based on the information provided by Kite Falcon under Qing Wens command. Gunshots echoed from the building, yet Qing Wens expression did not change; he simply stood above the clouds, observing the scenery. He seemed not to take this capture operation to heart. Although the Detectives were weak, Qing Wens Kite Falcon agents had already been hidden inside the building, ready to take action at any moment. The capabilities of those Kite Falcons far surpassed those of Detectives and Assassins. Within half an hour, his subordinates had brought five handcuffed Assassins onto the skybridge to report the good news, Inspector, weve caught them all, but there were only five in the apartment building. While fighting inside, your experts intervened in a timely manner, so our side only suffered three minor injuries. Qing Wen smiled warmly, Five is very good, we still have plenty of time. Just then, a Detective approached Qing Wen and whispered, A friend of mine from Intelligence Department Three said that Qing Yi hasnt shown up for work there until now, Qing Wu left soon after we did, Qing Shi is still chasing celebrities, and Qing Xing picked up some money. Unexpectedly, not only had Qing Wen absorbed Qing Yis Detectives under his command, but he had also secretly bribed those missing Detectives from Qing Yuans team. However, Qing Wen did not bring Qing Yuans people with him for the operation, but instead left them in Intelligence Department Three to act as informants, monitoring the every move of the other Shadow Candidates. Qing Wen looked at the Detective and said impassively, Alright, thank you, I know. The Detective seemed to be trying to curry favor, Qing Yi is still young and playful, not a concern. But Qing Wu suddenly leaving, could that cause any problems? Qing Wen chuckled, No worries. We just need to catch one more Assassin. The Shadow required the capture of at least six Assassins or the operations Commander, Lin Haiping. And there were twelve Assassins. So, in theory, at most three Shadow Candidates could gain the advantage for the next mission. Qing Wen could, of course, capture everyone, cutting off the paths of other Shadow Candidates, but he felt there was no need to rush; there was plenty of time to play the long game. Now, he was already ahead of the other Shadow Candidates, so there was no need to panic. Qing Wen said with a smile, Wait until we get back to the underground garage of the PCA Central Intelligence Agency. Ive prepared some little gifts for everyone there. The Detectives were momentarily stunned, then all of them were overjoyed. They knew Qing Wen was generous; he was rewarding them for their efforts in this operation. The gift was something to look forward to. On their way back, the Detectives saw a surge of activity as everyone wanted to ride in Qing Wens car to get closer to their new boss, but in the end, it was the three most senior Detectives who managed to squeeze in. Qing Wen, however, did not bother with all this, quietly waiting for the Detectives to decide among themselves. Back in the underground garage of Intelligence Department Three, Qing Wens Servants had been waiting for quite some time. The management here wasnt as strict as in Intelligence Department One; Qing Wen simply had to make a phone call, and his personal vehicles could all enter the garage. Qing Wens Servants opened two box trucks, revealing 72 gifts in the trunk. It was basket after basket of beef, fresh and inviting. The fresh meat, sealed in baskets with cling film, rather resembled fruit baskets sent to visit patients in the Outer World, with thick slices arranged into attractive rose shapes. In the Inner World, because real beef was extremely scarce and even barbecue restaurants sold synthetically flavored beefa fancier kind of synthetic proteinthe most valuable gift was fresh meat. Only in the markets of the Upper Three Districts could one find genuine fresh meat, selling for hundreds of dollars a pound, with the best beef costing tens of thousands. The Detectives eyes lit up at this sight, and they roughly estimated that each basket of beef weighed about twenty pounds, enough to cover a months wages. Wouldnt their wives be overjoyed if they brought this home?! Qing Wen said with a smile, This is just a small token of my appreciation as I am new here; theres a more generous gift coming before the Spring Festival. I hope you all can continue to collaborate with me in the meantime. The Detectives were thrilled, each carrying a basket of beef and escorting the five Assassins upstairs. As each of them entered the large office, the other Detectives who had stayed behind were astounded by the sight of the beef baskets, looking incredulous. In fact, by choosing to distribute gifts at this time, Qing Wen intended to make the Detectives of other Shadow Candidates envious. What he was doing was similar to what Qing Chen had done in Group Seven, although the level of the gifts was slightly different... However, just at that moment, the door of Intelligence Department Three opened again. Qing Wen turned his head and was surprised to see Qing Hua, who had previously come to the PCA Federation CIA Headquarters to make an arrest, standing at the door. Qing Hua entered jubilantly with dozens of people, circling the five handcuffed Assassins, Are these the Assassins who attacked Jindai Street? Chapter 631 - 631 392 Accident_2 ?Chapter 631: 392, Accident_2 Chapter 631: 392, Accident_2 Qing Wen had just intended to go over and greet Qing Hua when he suddenly saw a youth emerge from behind Qing Hua, smiling at him. Qing Yi. Qing Wens pupils contracted for a moment, he had not expected Qing Yi, who didnt come to work today, to suddenly appear with so many people from Intelligence Department One. The veteran detectives familiar with the PCA Federation CIAs regulations had already realized that Qing Yi was planning to use the prerogatives of Intelligence Department One to pick the fruits of their labor! Yet Qing Yi did not speak to Qing Wen, instead, he looked towards the detectives who had originally been under his command. This is the beef brother Qing Wen has gifted everyone. He has always been so generous, but eating too much meat is not easily digestible, Qing Yi said with a smiley face. Im not hiding it anymore; Im laying my cards on the table! Actually, the youth Qing Yi was at most a bit precocious, his schemes were not as deep as he imagined. At this moment, Qing Yis inner self was utterly delighted, and he felt fortunate to have chosen a powerful and protective Master! With Mr. Qing Chen presiding over Intelligence Department One, other Shadow Candidates had been completely crushed at the official identity level! Why do those in power establish social rules? Because they are the greatest beneficiaries of the rules. A smart person doesnt always need to use force to kill; sometimes, rules are enough. In Qing Yis eyes, his mentor was an extremely clever person. The detectives under Qing Yi still carried baskets of beef. When they realized that Qing Yi had always been playing the fool, they wanted to drop the baskets and realign their loyalties, but it was already too late. Moreover, they were well aware that with the backing of Intelligence Department One, Qing Yi didnt need them. Qing Hua added fuel to the fire, looking at the detectives, he coldly said, Just a bit of beef has bought you off, completely forgetting who your direct superior is. Youre truly incompetent. The detectives hung their heads even lower. Qing Wen looked at Qing Yi, expressionless, What do you want to do? Smiling, Qing Yi said, Nothing much, just taking the assassin youve just caught away. On what grounds? Qing Wen said coldly, I captured him. Qing Yi turned to Qing Hua, Can we take him? According to PCA rules and regulations, chapter three, article four, Intelligence Department One has priority in interrogation, and other intelligence departments need to cooperate with their work and hand over suspects. Inspector Qing Wen, surely you havent failed to thoroughly read PCAs regulations, have you? Qing Hua said. Previously, Qing Hua would definitely have been reluctant to offend a Shadow Candidate, but times had changed, and he was particularly assertive now. Moreover, Qing Hua knew well that the struggle among Shadows was a life-and-death ordeal, and trying to be a fence-sitter would not end well. You can only choose a side and then bet on them to win. Since Qing Chen, his boss, was betting on Qing Yi, he, Qing Hua, had no choice. Qing Hua was clear about his role, to be a loyal aide-de-camp was his best path. Yang Xuyang, hand over the prisoner! Qing Hua said coldly. Qing Wen still wanted to say something, but noticed that all his detectives were bowing their heads, not daring to say a word. This was the difference between complete loyalty and mere servitude; Qing Chen had completely tamed the Group Seven detectives, who held only Qing Chen in their hearts, whereas Qing Wen had merely offered some minor favors in exchange for loyalty. The difference in their approaches was stark. If Qing Wen had thoroughly subdued his detectives like Qing Chen had, the detectives might have risked punishment to openly confront Qing Hua. However, Qing Wens efforts paled in comparison to Qing Chens. With a grim expression, Qing Wen silently watched as Qing Hua took away all five assassins. Qing Yi looked at Qing Wen with a smile, Thank you, brother Qing Wen. Just then, the door to Intelligence Department Three was violently kicked open. Qing Wu stood silently at the door, holding a man whose fate was unknown. Qing Wu had dark, determined skin, clearly the result of endless harsh training and exposure to the elements. He was covered in blood, and it was unclear whether it was his blood or someone elses. Qing Wu paid no attention to Qing Yi and the others, just coldly said, Where are my detectives? Take this man to the prison. This is Lin Haiping, the leader of the assassins. Everyone was taken aback; no one had expected that this quiet man, always hunched over his desk, had single-handedly sought out Lin Haiping and brought him back. Seeing him carry a grown man as if he were carrying a chicken, he must have Combat Power of C-Class or above, right? It was even quite possibly B-Class! However, the detectives in the large office did not budge, some delighting in anothers misfortune thought, although Qing Wus Combat Power was strong, it was merely making a wedding dress for Qing Yi. Now, all the efforts of Qing Wu and Qing Wen were to be handed over to Qing Yi. However, to their surprise, when Qing Yi saw Qing Wu, he just obediently smiled and greeted, Hello, brother Qing Wu. Just the other day, my mom said that the next time I go back, we must visit my house, and shell cook ribs for you. Qing Wu was stunned for a moment, then calmly said, Alright, noted. After speaking, Qing Yi just walked away with his people, not even attempting to take Lin Haiping from Qing Wus hands. On the way, Qing Hua glanced at Qing Yi, Arent you planning to take Lin Haiping? Qing Yi smiled, Qing Wu is very strong. Even if we joined forces, we couldnt beat him. If we really angered him, it might be us who end up embarrassed. Dont worry, I wont let you all take that risk. Chapter 632 - 632 392 accident_3 ?Chapter 632: 392, accident_3 Chapter 632: 392, accident_3 Qing Hua was puzzled, What level is Qing Wu? Qing Yi thought for a while and said, At least B-Class, hes famously obsessed with martial arts among the Descendants of Qing. Other than his cultivation, nothing else matters to him. Hes also the only Shadow Candidate who participates in the Shadow competition without a Protector, because the highest level for a Protector is only C-Class, which is still inferior to him. At that moment, in the large office, Qing Wu handed over a prisoner to the detective and then surprisingly laid down on the desk and fell into a deep sleep, utterly unconcerned about the bloodstains on his body. It seemed as though this was an all too common occurrence. Only when the detective took over Lin Haiping did he discover that this mastermind assassin had all his limbs severed and suffered from comminuted fractures. Someone pulled back Lin Haipings sleeve to take a look, and the clear fingerprints proved that his bones had been brutally crushed by Qing Wu! Qing Wen glanced at Qing Wu and even worried for a moment that Qing Wu, in his beast-like frenzy, might kill all the Shadow Candidates in the office on the spot. That would indeed be a very direct way to compete for the position of the Shadow. The usual lively atmosphere was absent from the large office of Intelligence Department Three; everyone was silent, as if enveloped by the center of a low-pressure vortex. Everyone was pondering one question, what exactly allowed Qing Yi to have such backing from Intelligence Department One? Wasnt Intelligence Department One busy catching people lately? Why did they suddenly get involved in the Shadow competition? ... ... Qing Hua led all detectives back to the third floor of Intelligence Department One. Upon entering, he found the large office empty except for Qing Zhun sitting alone with his legs crossed on the desk, listening to music through headphones. Qing Chen was nowhere to be seen. Qing Hua asked Qing Zhun, Wheres the boss? Qing Zhun, smilingly removed his headphones to answer, The boss went out alone, said he had some business to handle. Qing Hua paused for a moment, then walked over to Qing Zhun, picked up the headphones, and listened. Loud music indeed played through them, You can read lips? I never noticed that before. Theres a lot you havent noticed, Qing Zhun said meaningfully, Did you bring the people back? Brought them back, Qing Hua nodded, Theyve already been locked up in the Secret Prison. At that moment, Qing Hua suddenly wondered if the boss had ordered all detectives to mobilize to help Qing Yi capture someone just to get them out of the way so he could have a chance to go out alone? What was he doing that needed to be so secretive? Moreover, this new boss probably still didnt fully trust the detectives of Unit Seven. Qing Hua sent other detectives away and asked Qing Zhun in a low voice, The boss hasnt publicly assigned you any tasks lately, has he given you a secret mission? Guess? Qing Zhun responded with a teasing smile. I guess, the boss wants you to root out the mole in Unit Seven, Qing Hua whispered, Right? Qing Zhun laughed, Thats confidential. Qing Hua sighed, the internal affairs of Intelligence Department One were extremely intricate, with each intelligence unit often planting moles within the others. At that moment, Qing Chen, wearing a white tracksuit, unknown when he changed, was walking silently down the street, personally scouting what he believed to be the optimal spot for the transaction. According to his agreement with the Shadow, tonight he was to inform the Shadow of the transaction location. The evening sun was just right. In the deep winter season, the sunlight pierced through the towering buildings and warmed him. However, the red sunset reflecting off the glass of the building across the street shone into Qing Chens eyes, blinding him temporarily. On the sidewalk, a homeless guitarist gently strummed his guitar strings. His shoes were worn through, and his cheeks bore a beard from long time without shaving. The song was beautiful, a cover of Song Niannians work, and in the husky voice of the homeless guitarist, it took on a different flavor. In the distance, a car slowly crossed the intersection ahead, its reflection in the setting sun hiding it within the blaze of light. Qing Chen stopped to listen, seemingly enjoying the peace of the moment, unaware of everything else. Just then, a pedestrian passed by the homeless guitarist and dropped a coin. But the coin, a one-yuan piece, didnt lie quietly on the ground after falling; it bounced up and rolled erectly toward the street. The homeless guitarist quickly hugged his guitar and chased after the coin, which was very important to him as it meant he could afford a synthetic protein meal tonight. The homeless guitarist failed to notice that as he rushed into the street, the car was already close at hand. The driver inside the car, not expecting someone to dart out from the side of the road, swerved abruptly, and the vehicle crashed into the pedestrian pathway, heading straight for Qing Chen. Qing Chen, the runaway vehicle, and the bent-over guitarist picking up coins, though seemingly unrelated, were mysteriously connected in that moment. With a loud crash, the Mercedes solidly smashed into a streetlight pole next to the road. And the young man, who should have been in the cars path, had moved away from the spot at some point, now gazing thoughtfully at the scene. The driver in the car looked at his wrecked vehicle and yelled at the homeless guitarist, Are you blind, running into the middle of the road like that? The homeless guitarist hurriedly ran away. Qing Chen suddenly looked in the direction of the PCA Central Intelligence Agency headquarters. If that Qing Xing fellow was igniting a Taboo Item ACE-054 match, he must be watching him from this angle, right? He smiled and said, Interesting. Given the speed of the car, had it hit Qing Chen, he most likely would have broken both legs but would not have died. It looked like Qing Xing had his eyes on him, but could only orchestrate an injury incident and not a murder incident. ... Five thousand-word chapter, another coming at 11 PM. Asking for Octobers basic monthly votes! Chapter 633 - 633 393. Manufacturing Accidents (10000-word update ?Chapter 633: 393. Manufacturing Accidents (10,000-word update for monthly ticket) Chapter 633: 393. Manufacturing Accidents (10,000-word update for monthly ticket) The most terrifying aspect of unexpected events is that you never know when they will strike. Thus, when facing such an adversary, one can only be extremely cautious and vigilant, always ready to defuse a crisis. Over time, those who live in constant fear and anxiety will fall into a state of mental distress, unable to sleep well, concentrate, or even becoming trapped in paranoid delusions of persecution. This kind of vigilance is manageable for a day, but not for a year. Qing Chens Team Seven had just arrested someone from Intelligence Department Three, and immediately Qing Xing began monitoring them. Even someone like him would occasionally feel concerned. As one can imagine, during the struggle among the four Shadows, even if the other candidates were still alive and participating, their spirits were definitely greatly exhausted. Of course, there was a better method, which was to end the life of the person who wrote others destinies. Its like the simplest truth, if the problem cannot be solved, then eliminate the person who creates the problem. Make others follow your pace, rather than you following theirs. Moreover, Qing Chen felt it was a pity for Qing Xing to obtain the Taboo, as there were better ways to utilize it. Of course, now was not the time, as Qing Chens most important task at the moment was to prepare for the trade with Jindai Yasuhara in two days. Qing Chen picked up the phone and dialed Qing Zhuns mobile: Have you found them? Qing Zhun responded with a laugh, Easier to find than I imagined, there are three traitors. How should we handle them? Qing Chen was silent for two seconds, Is there evidence? Yes. Directly hand them over to the judiciary and prosecute them. Are we not killing them? Qing Zhun asked with a laugh, The Inspector seems very merciful, but if the cost of betrayal is too low, there will still be others who betray in the future. After thinking about it, Qing Chen said, I admit you make a very good point, but they were already turned before my arrival, so theres no going back. Okay, boss has the final say! Qing Zhun responded with a laugh, Ill start the legal process on this side, you dont have to worry. In Qing Chens view, the difference between Qing Zhun and Qing Hua lies in the fact that the former may never have sworn allegiance, but still possesses particularly mysterious abilities. For example, when he tasked Qing Zhun with catching the traitors, it only took him six hours to apprehend them. He was like an Observer at the fringe of Intelligence Unit Seven, never empathizing with the detectives, nor feeling a sense of belonging to Intelligence Department One. Qing Chen had seen his data, Qing Zhun had arrived here six months ago and had done nothing much until Qing Chen arrived. Originally, Qing Hua thought Qing Zhun was here to take over the Inspector position, but once he arrived, he just idled away his days until Qing Chens arrival. In fact, Qing Chen always had a suspicion about Qing Zhuns identity, but it was never confirmed. He walked towards another block, and just then, he saw several students walking along the street, distributing flyers to passersby. This scene seemed familiar; he had seen it before on the metro in City 10. The students faces were filled with enthusiasm and idealism, telling passersby about the protest they were organizing in ten days, explaining the concepts behind their desired education reforms. A student approached Qing Chen, Fellow student, which school do you belong to? Qing Chen thought for a moment and said, The First High School of District Five. The student smiled, Then you must be a good student, its hard to get into the First High School. By the way, this is our protest flyer, would you like to learn more about it? At that time, Qing Chen was thinking about something Yan Yan had said, she planned to represent Spade and organize student protests in City 10. So, if the protest was in ten days, could it mean that Yan Yan might already be in this city? Qing Chen curiously asked, In your protest, is there a girl named Yan Yan among the organizers? A female student shook her head, No. Hmm, thank you, Qing Chen turned and walked away, not planning to participate in the protest. As an Inspector of PCA Intelligence Unit, participating in a protest was not quite appropriate. The next second, a male student said, Fellow student, you might think this protest has nothing to do with you, most people think that way. But this time, the Federations education system is oppressing us, if you dont stand up now, when the Federations corporations oppress workers next time, you also wont stand up, and when one day you face oppression from the corporations as well, no one will stand up for you! Qing Chen turned back and seriously said, I admire your courage, but I really cant join this protest, sorry. The students didnt say any more, nor did they hurl any insults, they just quietly watched Qing Chen leave. This made Qing Chen realize that the student protest was organized by mature organizers, they clearly understood that a protest needs restraint, even if they couldnt win over sympathizers, they shouldnt alienate potential bystanders. A protest is for a righteous cause, so it must be conducted in a righteous manner. The success of the protest in City 18 had already had a profound impact on the entire Federation, with students being the most stirred. Qing Chen walked a few steps, suddenly he heard someone shouting, Who allowed you to distribute flyers here? A student replied, We have already obtained the approval for the protest, why cant we distribute flyers? Still no, youre not allowed to distribute flyers here! Qing Chen turned around, just in time to see three agents of the PCE Security Management Committee blocking the students path. Chapter 634 - 634 393. Accidental Manufacturing (10000 Words Update ?Chapter 634: 393. Accidental Manufacturing (10,000 Words Update for Monthly Ticket)_2 Chapter 634: 393. Accidental Manufacturing (10,000 Words Update for Monthly Ticket)_2 Detectives were holding batons, about to snatch the flyers from the students hands. He sighed and walked back, As far as I know, if the parade is approved, then distributing flyers is completely legal. A PCE Investigator looked at Qing Chen, Get lost, dont meddle. Qing Chen didnt say much; he took out his ID and held it in front of the PCE Investigator, I hope after you read this, you still have the courage to speak to me like that. The next moment, the PCE Investigator who saw the ID was stunned, Sorry, sir, I didnt know it was you, you... Qing Chen waved his hand, Go. After that, the PCE Investigator, along with two colleagues, turned and left. The students distributing flyers stared blankly as the detectives walked away, and by the time they regained their senses, Qing Chen had disappeared without a trace. In the minds of the students, only the image of that immaculate white tracksuit remained. A female student picked up her phone and dialed out, Sister Yangyang, just now a young man saw us distributing flyers and asked if we knew you. To avoid exposing you, we said we didnt know. But, he seemed like a high-ranking official; the PCE investigators were about to snatch our flyers, but they ran off after seeing his ID. The girl on the other end of the phone laughed, What was he wearing? The female student said, A white tracksuit. Yangyang laughed, Still that white tracksuit... Next time you see him, you can directly say you know him. Ah? the female student asked, curious, Sister Yangyang, do you know him? Ive known him for a long time. ... ... Only 12 hours left until the transaction with Jindai Yasuhara. However, Qing Chen, Inspector of Team Seven from Intelligence Department One, seemed to have vanished off the face of the earth, with no one able to find him. Logically speaking, in city number 10 these days, there are plenty of intelligence agents, and finding one person shouldnt be difficult. But two strange things had happened in the city: one was the disappearance of the Shadow Candidate Qing Yuan, and the other was the disappearance of the Team Seven Inspector, who was nowhere to be found. Team Seven was not anxious, as Qing Hua still received messages and orders from the boss every day; at least they knew the Inspector was all right. But the other intelligence teams were different; they cast their nets far and wide, seeking information, fearing that this Team Seven Inspector had hatched some big scheme. The most frightening thing isnt finding a spider the size of a palm in your home. Its when you just think about killing it, and it disappears... Yesterday, when Qing Zhun initiated a prosecution against three detectives from Team Seven, there was an uproar in the Intelligence Department Building. Typically in such places, traitors are executed secretly; it was the first time they had seen a public prosecution like this. Several inspectors wondered if the detectives from Team Seven might be panicking at such a time? Every time there was an internal purge in the organization, it accidentally involved innocent people, after all, capturing traitors was a tricky matter; its hard to tell who is or isnt one. When capturing traitors, it easily causes panic among the people. But the problem arose here; the other intelligence teams suddenly realized a problem, after the three traitors were caught, the situation did not escalate but quickly subsided. The detectives of Team Seven seemed as if they had been drugged, not at all perturbed by the issue, and continued performing rites in the large third-floor office. At that moment, Qing Hua was sitting cross-legged on the floor practicing, Qing Yi walked around the large office occasionally performing Empowerment on everyone, then went back to his office to practice his own energy channels. The detectives were somewhat worried about the potential side effects of such practices, as the practices available in the market often had many; they could end up making a joke of themselves. But when they saw Qing Yi also practicing this Empowerment, they were instantly reassured. Qing Zhun sat beside Qing Hua with his legs crossed, biting into an apple, Hey, where do you think our Inspector has gone? About one-third of the citys intelligence personnel are searching for him, yet he is nowhere to be found! Qing Hua did not speak, continuing to focus on his practice. Qing Zhun continued, Tonight is the trade with Jindai Yasuhara, arent you anxious? Qing Hua still did not speak. Qing Zhun, You say... Qing Hua couldnt take it anymore, Brother, can you talk to someone else? My talent for practicing is not good, and with you doing this, all the detectives have advanced, and I am still stuck at the small circulation phase! Also, dont you need to practice? Qing Zhun laughed heartily, Im an Awakener, I dont practice. Alright, keep practicing, Ill find someone else to talk to. After speaking, he walked over and squatted next to Yang Xuyang, Hey, where do you think our Inspector has gone? Yang Xuyang, ... The detectives in the office almost felt that Inspector Qing Zhun might grow stronger by absorbing other peoples negative emotions. Meanwhile, Qing Chen, who Qing Zhun was pondering about. He had changed into different clothes and, using the Taboo item ACE-005 Da Fu, had altered his face, standing on a wide street in the Third District. He walked into a coffee shop and leisurely bought a cup of Southwest coffee. In the Inner World, theres no Americana, latte, or cappuccino; almost all the coffee beans in the Federation are grown in the Southwest Region, with the Li Family, Qings Family, and Chen Clan all having production bases there. Thus, theres only Southwest coffee here. The coffee is transported from the Southwest, making transportation costs high, and its considered a luxury for the elite class. The coffee shop also belongs to a unique type of shop in the Upper Three Districts; some cities Fourth and Fifth Districts also have them, and many citizens of the Federation even consider it an honor to have visited a coffee shop once. Chapter 635 - 635 393 Manufacturing Accident (10000-word update for ?Chapter 635: 393, Manufacturing Accident (10,000-word update for monthly ticket)_3 Chapter 635: 393, Manufacturing Accident (10,000-word update for monthly ticket)_3 Qing Chen picked up his coffee and quietly sat in front of the clear glass window, observing the outside world. Nobody knew what he was watching. The next moment, Qing Chen glanced at the time, stood up, and walked outside. The sun was just right outside, and in the distance, a convoy of three vehicles lined up was rapidly approaching. Qing Chen walked towards the oncoming convoy on the sidewalk. As he walked, his hands, which were originally in his pockets, pulled out, and a wallet also tumbled out onto the ground. A man not far away saw this and immediately ran over to pick up the wallet, then ran off in the opposite direction. However, the man ran so hastily that he accidentally knocked down a woman walking her dog. After the woman fell, the leash slipped from her hand, and the large pet dog bolted towards the middle of the road. A vehicle, attempting to avoid the dog, swerved sharply and headed straight for the oncoming convoy. With a thunderous crash, the lead car collided with the out-of-control vehicle as it couldnt swerve in time. The fallen woman, the man who picked up the wallet, the fleeing dog, the colliding carseverything was bound together by a wallet that had fallen to the ground. It was as if someone held a key called fate, unlocking a new door. With a click, the car door opened. A bodyguard got out to check the situation and, after finding out what had happened, came back to the car and said in a low voice, Boss, it was an accident. Sitting in the back seat of the executive car, Qing Wens face was ashen as he muttered, Qing Xing... you just wont stop, will you! Boss, what do we do now? the security personnel asked in a low voice. Cover me while I change cars, leave one person here to deal with the traffic accident, and the rest will escort me home, Qing Wen ordered resolutely. After the vehicle left, Qing Chen walked in another direction, the route that Qing Wu usually took to get home. And Qing Chen had also prepared an accident for Qing Xing involving Qing Wu. Qing Xing probably never imagined that there was someone in the world capable of replicating the accidents he orchestrated with his mind alone. In fact, Qing Chen had tried as much as possible to calculate the accidents, but planning them single-handedly was quite strenuous. When plotting against Qing Wen, he even had to sprinkle some canine attractant in the middle of the road, or he would have no way to make the pet dog run into the street. So, the accident Qing Chen created was flawed. If someone investigated carefully and found the attractant on the ground, it could prove that the accident was staged. But none of that mattered, as long as Qing Wen and Qing Wu believed it was Qing Xings doing. Qing Xing was usually protected by security personnel arranged by his parents, unless Qing Chen risked being targeted by the Qing Family in broad daylight to use the tactic of winning with virtue, he temporarily had no good way to deal with Qing Xing. The gunshots of winning with virtue were distinctive and easily recognizable. If he were to assassinate Qing Xing, would he then face a relentless pursuit from Qing Xings parents? However, when you temporarily have no way to deal with an enemy, you can find additional enemies for that person. That way, a lot of people would target him together! Now, Qing Yi was being sheltered by Intelligence Department One, and he seemed set to become the most powerful Shadow Candidate. There would probably be many people targeting him. So, overshadowing Qing Yi with Qing Xings spotlight also seemed interesting. Amusing, Qing Chen said. At some point, he had begun to share the same hobby as that shadowy figure in the Qing Family. The customers in the coffee shop, the pedestrians by the road, all talked about the sudden accident, while the instigator, Qing Chen, had already walked far away. ... ... At night, Qing Xing was sitting in his house, silently playing with an old matchbox, which rustled with the matches accumulated inside. The worn matchbox, labeled Taboo Item ACE-054, would produce an extra match each day, and they wouldnt disappear even if unused. When Qing Xing received the matchbox, it was already full, and he had never used it up to this day. He recalled the scene from the previous afternoon, a young man in the firelight, his gaze seemingly piercing through time and space, exerting an invisible influence over his psyche. Could the other person see him? He probably couldnt. Qing Xing thought coldly. Just then, a phone call came through; he glanced at itit was Qing Wen. Hello, Qing Wen, Qing Xing said calmly. But he heard Qing Wen from the other side remark, I dont care how you did it, but if you use that inexplicable ability on me again, lets just go all out on each other. With that, Qing Wen hung up. Qing Xing sat stunned on the couch for a while; the accident he had arranged for Qing Wen was a long time ago. Why had the other suddenly called now? Qing Xing instinctively felt something was off but couldnt pinpoint what it was. Before he could figure out where the problem lay, Qing Wu also made a call to him. Hello, Qing Wu, Qing Xing said. On the phone, Qing Wu said coldly, If you dare to use your ability on me again, Ill twist your head off. After speaking, Qing Wu hung up as well. Qing Xing felt a sense of injusticehe really had never tampered with Qing Wus fate, as Qing Wus rank was much higher than his, and he truly had no way to affect the others destiny. The rationale was straightforward: Qing Wu was tougher. Qing Xing pondered slowly. Could it be that both Qing Wen and Qing Wu suffered accidents on the same day and blamed him for both? He suddenly realized a problemif everyone starts suspecting him, wouldnt all accidents be attributed to him in the future? Wait, could someone be purposely causing accidents and framing him for them? Qing Xing was a bit hesitant because he wasnt sure if anyone in the world could do that. ... A 5,000-word chapter, 10,000 words updated today, one update owed to the alliance, and five updates still owed. Asking for the basic monthly votes of October! Chapter 636 - 636 394 No More Hidden Dangers ?Chapter 636: 394, No More Hidden Dangers Chapter 636: 394, No More Hidden Dangers Qing Xing did not truly suspect someone was deliberately causing accidents and then framing him. In the eyes of a Fate Controller, he was very clear that the Taboo he controlled was a unique existence in this world. Just as there are no two identical leaves in the world, the functions of Taboos have never been duplicated. Even if they are both Transcendents of the Power Field System, the Taboos they derive would be significantly different. Therefore, in Qing Xings view, it should be impossible for anyone to create such elaborate accidents. Of course, Qing Xing was right, even Qing Chen couldnt perfectly replicate those intricately interlinked yet traceless accidents. The accidents he created always left a trail, which meant there were flaws that could be discovered. But the Taboo ACE-005 Da Fu compensated for this flaw for him, allowing him to appear in any guise. If someone took the trouble to investigate, they would find that each accident was caused by someone completely different. All Qing Chen could do was create an accident that was almost suitable, then incite the Shadow Candidates hostility towards Qing Xing. That was enough. The biggest weakness of the accidents Qing Chen created was that he couldnt guarantee success every time; he was unable to account for everything. In the process of the accident, any variable could lead to his failure. But the effect of a Taboo was different; it was rules twisting fate. And Qing Xings biggest weakness was that someone guessed his Lucky Halo came from a Taboo; had he not used it so frequently, it might have been incredibly fearsome. At that moment, Qing Wu ended the phone call. He was covered in dust, looking as dirty as a terracotta warrior. Just a moment ago, Qing Chen had disguised himself as a high-rise window cleaner. When Qing Wu passed by underneath, Qing Chen made it look like he couldnt hold onto a bucket properly, and the bucket went tumbling directly towards Qing Wus head. Qing Wu was a Transcendent, and furthermore, a skilled one at that. So, the moment the bucket fell, he noticed it and dodged backward with the speed of Thunder. However, in the instant that Qing Wu dodged, he accidentally knocked over a pedestrian who was looking down at their phone. The pedestrian fell sideways, inadvertently knocking over a hotel sign standing beside the road. The large sign tilted and fell towards the road, causing an oncoming dump truck to swerve abruptly to avoid it. Due to inertia, sand and gravel from the truck flung out, showering Qing Wu. In fact, there was no actual danger; it only made Qing Wu appear quite disheveled. It was a crude accident, but any accident would do. High above, Qing Chen hurriedly descended to the ground after letting go of the rope, and after witnessing Qing Wu making a threatening call to Qing Xing, he barely contained his laughter while comforting Qing Wu, Are you alright? I accidentally dropped something just now. Qing Wu glanced at Qing Chen and said coldly, Forget it, its not your fault. Someones trying to set me up. Qing Chen was taken aback, Huh? Set you up? I accidentally dropped the bucket, I didnt mean to set you up. I dont mean that, Qing Wu asked, Someone planned for you to accidentally drop the bucket. Qing Chen thought Qing Wu was quite reasonable, not making things difficult for passersby after shifting the blame onto Qing Xing. He said thoughtfully, No wonder I felt something off about the bucket today. But if someone planned this to set you up, thats going too far! Heh, Qing Wu sneered, Sooner or later, Ill twist his head off. Perhaps neither Qing Xing nor Qing Wu imagined that the creator of the accident not only hadnt left but also stayed behind to fan the flames. But Qing Wu was also ruthless; after the accident, his first action was not to dust himself off but to make a threatening call to Qing Xing... Watching Qing Wu, Qing Chen said, Dont you want to clean yourself up first? Qing Wu shook his head, Its fine, go about your business and be more careful next time. It must be said, during Qing Chens first interaction with Qing Wu, he actually had a pretty good impression of this Shadow Candidate. Knowing they were being plotted against, most people would redirect their anger towards others, but Qing Wu did not do so. This even made Qing Chen feel a bit guilty and he decided that next time he arranged an accident, he should target Qing Wen instead. Qing Chen didnt leave; he diligently went back to finish cleaning the windows before going to the buildings restroom. There he retrieved the clothes he had earlier sealed and stashed in the toilets water tank and changed into them. When he walked out of the building again, he had nothing to do with the previous accident anymore. Qing Chen made a call to Yan Chunmi, but heard the woman say affectionately, Mom, I wont be home for dinner tonight, okay? Im with Liu Yuan right now, Ill be back by 9 oclock on the dot. Qing Chen frowned. Liu Yuan was a leading star of the Federation, also the favorite character in the holographic virtual life movies among the audience, with people saying that having Liu Yuan in a movie was a guarantee for box office success. And Yan Chunmi saying shed be back by 9 meant that she wouldnt delay tonights deal with Deer Island for Jindai Yasuhara; she would be there on time. At this point, seeing Qing Chen silent, Yan Chunmi said, Mm, Mom, Im listening, go ahead. Qing Chen knew she was hinting at him that Liu Yuan couldnt hear their conversation, Investigate every move Qing Xing makes for me. I want to know what hes doing each time an accident occurs, what items he carries with him when he goes out, especially focus on the items. Chapter 637 - 637 394. No Hidden Dangers_2 ?Chapter 637: 394. No Hidden Dangers_2 Chapter 637: 394. No Hidden Dangers_2 Yan Chunmi: Mom, rest assured, Ill get it done as soon as possible. The host of the Taboo can choose to carry it on their person daily or not carry it at all. For instance, on the day Qing Yi went to Intelligence Department Three to capture someone, the person was taken away in the afternoon, but Qing Chen encountered an accident several hours later. For example, the materials once provided by Yan Chunmi showed that when Qing Yis teacher had an accident, Qing Xing was swimming in the Family Ginkgo Biloba Manor, carrying nothing on her. If the other party indeed obtained a notebook, then they would write in the afternoon, This evening, Qing Chen will encounter a car accident at the crossroad. Of course, this is just a hypothesis. In reality, writing ones destiny would certainly be more complex. Qing Chen suspected that the other party would not carry the Taboo item with them, and besides, no one had seen Qing Xing always carrying the same notebook. According to speculation, Qing Xing must know the importance of the Taboo item, knowing that this particular Taboo item, among all, is surely the most valued and is likely to attract snatchers. So, she always kept it hidden cautiously, never letting anyone know what the Taboo item was or where it was. Due to this, it increased the difficulty for Qing Chen to snatch the Taboo item; he had to first find out what it was and where it was before he could even attempt to snatch it. Otherwise, even if he killed Qing Xing, the Taboo item might still be hidden away by the adversary, continuing to remain sealed. Qing Chen knew the difficulty of snatching the Taboo item was high, because even if he managed to snatch it, he did not want others to know that the object was in his possession. Otherwise, he would end up like Qing Xing, constantly guarded by everyone, and any small accident would cause others to blame him. At that moment, Yan Chunmi also realized a problem: her new boss was definitely targeting the Taboo item in Qing Xings possession. Moreover, she realized another issue: this type of Taboo item that could write destiny, if it fell into the hands of this new boss, was bound to bring disaster to many. However, over the years, several people had coveted the Taboo item in Qing Xings hands, and it seemed that none had discovered where Qing Xing had hidden it. ... ... In a barbecue restaurant in District Five, Qing Chen was reluctantly eating synthetic meat that tasted like wax. One must admit, sometimes he truly felt sad for the residents of the Inner World. With their level of technological advancement, they could have made this synthetic meat taste somewhat better, but in reality, the artificial meat from the Outer World tasted better than this stuff. This shows that the consortium has completely abandoned quality assurance for taste and texture during production; they only need to ensure that the citizens can ingest the essential nutrients. Nothing else matters. Qing Chen glanced over at the next table only to find that the people there had added a lot of condiments to their barbecue, enjoying it with relish. He looked elsewhere and saw that in this not-so-large barbecue restaurant, more than half of the patrons were eating absently, occasionally glancing outside. Outside the restaurant, many people disguised as pedestrians gathered in the area. This was the location Qing Chen had chosen for the exchange. In half an hour, he would be here, trading Jindai Yasuhara with an intelligence officer from Deer Island. As the time for the transaction approached, the entire neighborhood was teeming with countless intelligence officers, a turbulent undercurrent running deep. Qing Chen knew that people from the Jindai family had also come. The transaction was secretive; Jindai didnt know exactly what they were trading, but guessed that Deer Island must have brought out an important missing member of the Jindai family. Just then, a few young people entered the restaurant. Instantly, dozens of eyes in the barbecue restaurant turned towards them, sizing them up from head to toe. Qing Chen was taken aback; he hadnt expected the newcomers to be acquaintances. Sun Chu Ci, Tuan Zi, and their teammates from the Wilderness Hunting Team. Sun Chu Ci, sharp-eyed, saw Qing Chen sitting alone at a table eating barbecue as soon as she entered the shop. Ah! Tuan Zi exclaimed excitedly: Qing Chen, what are you doing here! What a coincidence! The next second, dozens of people in the restaurant stood up simultaneously, subtly protecting Qing Chen. Sun Chu Ci and her companions were frightened by this scene. The dozens of solemn people watched them intently, everyones hands reaching inside their jackets, ready to draw guns. They looked in horror at Qing Chen, who sat alone at the table. The young man remained calm, a stark contrast to the tense atmosphere around him. With the standing intelligence officers as a backdrop, it seemed as if, in the darkness of a stage, a lone spotlight suddenly shone down on Qing Chen, casting him as the protagonist. Sun Chu Ci thought to herself, He really is an important figure, to need so many people just to come out for a barbecue! Sun Chu Ci instinctively wanted to pull Tuan Zi and the others away, keenly aware that the presence of so many people indicated impending danger. Come sit down, I ordered too much barbecue and cant finish it, Qing Chen said with a smile, then turned to the intelligence officers of Unit 7 from Intelligence Department One and said, Dont be nervous, theyre my friends. After speaking, he turned to the trembling staff and owner in the corner, reassuring them: Well pay as usual, well leave when were done, and wont damage your tables and chairs. The owner, seeing his approachable demeanor and good looks, slowly relaxed. He then realized that his restaurant didnt actually have any real customers at all; all the tables were occupied by the people the young man had brought. Chapter 638 - 638 394 No More Hidden Dangers_3 ?Chapter 638: 394, No More Hidden Dangers_3 Chapter 638: 394, No More Hidden Dangers_3 But the owner, trembling all over, said, Ill add some more meat for you, as a free gift. Qing Chen smiled and said, No need, we have money. At this moment, Tuan Zi whispered to Sun Chu Ci, Senior, shall we leave? Im a bit scared. Dont be afraid, I think its alright, Sun Chu Ci quickly regained his composure after a brief panic and continued walking into the shop. Qing Hua gave a signal, and Yang Xuyang, leading two detectives, searched Sun Chu Ci and the others, and a female detective was specifically arranged to search Tuan Zi and the group. Qing Chen did not interfere. Tonights matter was too important, and it was always better to be safe than sorry. Qing Chen said with a smile, You just greeted me a moment ago. Letting you go now might make you targets for kidnapping by those with ulterior motives. So, you should stay here and have a meal, my treat. Once my business is concluded, you can leave safely. Um, thanks, Sun Chu Ci nodded. Qing Chen asked curiously, How have you been since you got back to City Number 10? With the reward you gave us, we rented a new place and also replaced some weapons and gear. That money should last us until after the New Year, by which time we plan to make another trip to the wilderness, replied Sun Chu Ci. Eighty-five thousand might sound like a lot, but it wasnt excessive for seven people to survive the wintercertainly not enough to replace their weapons and gear with anything of quality. Qing Chen made no further comment. Dealing with the Zheng City Time Traveler required a slow and cautious approach. Being too enthusiastic could arouse suspicion of ulterior motives. At that moment, Qing Zhun pushed open the door to the BBQ restaurant and came in, all smiles. Boss, the people from Deer Island have arrived. Shall we prepare for the transaction? Qing Chen glanced at Qing Zhun and immediately called Shadow. The phone connected, and a familiar voice came through, sounding lethargic, Are you ready? Qing Chen looked at Qing Zhun thoughtfully, then said, Hmm, the Deer Island people have arrived. Are you ready on your end? Im ready here, but you be smart toobe careful not to mess up. After all, when chaos erupts, bullets dont have eyes, Shadow warned. I know, Qing Chen said and then stood up. Before leaving, he glanced at Qing Zhun, Is everything prepared on the other side? Qing Zhun, still smiling, said, All set. As they were talking, he suddenly pulled out a silenced pistol and fired at the two detectives beside Qing Chen. The detectives hadnt even had the chance to react before they collapsed, darkness overtaking their sight. Sun Chu Ci and the others were terrified; people were being killed without a word of warning! Tuan Zi, who had been picking up meat, hastily placed it back on the grill in alarm. Knowing Qing Chen did not want to kill, Qing Zhun explained, Tonights business is crucial, and we dont have the time to take these two back, right? Theyd just be a burden. I can distinguish between priorities. Is there anything else? Qing Chen asked, shaking his head. Qing Zhun thought for a moment, That should be it. 96 detectives, and it turns out 5 are traitors. Qing Zhun, you are the Trainee Inspector in charge of internal discipline. I dont want to see this happen again. After tonight, there should be no more hidden dangers within Squad Seven, Qing Chen said without looking back as he walked out of the BBQ restaurant. Got it, Boss! Qing Zhun called after him cheerfully. Behind Qing Chen, dozens of detectives followed closely. In a matter of half a minute, the BBQ restaurant was emptied, leaving it eerily silent. Sun Chu Ci put down his chopsticks, silently gazed at the two bodies on the floor, then turned to look out the window, watching the young man disappear into the brilliant neon lights outside. Senior, what exactly does he do? Tuan Zi asked cautiously. Dont know. He must be some big shot from a corporation. Lets just stay here. Definitely do not go outside, Sun Chu Ci said. He seems dangerous. Im not sure if we should get involved with him. Another member of their team pondered and then ventured, But I think hes a good person... ... ... Meanwhile, in the Secret Prison of Intelligence Department One, the assassin who had been captured for attacking Jindai Street suddenly opened his eyes. He walked to the narrow iron door of the Secret Prison and pushed it lightly, and the door swung open. For some reason, the door, which should have been securely locked, had been unlocked well in advance. The Secret Prison was empty, and the guards who should have been there were nowhere to be found. The assassin, expressionless, entered the code and pressed the elevator button, evidently knowing the password for the Secret Prisons elevator too. The elevator arrived, and he rode it to the third floor. At this hour, Squad Sevens offices in Intelligence Department One were deserted and the lights were all turned off. He entered another password and headed to the washroom on the third floor. He opened the toilet tank and retrieved a sealed bag, from which he took out a set of listening devices. Then the assassin made his way back to the Inspectors office. But as he pulled open the door to enter, he nearly tripped over something. Before the assassin could react, the lights in the office suddenly turned on, and four detectives were already inside, guns raised and ready. The next second, four guns fired simultaneously, tearing the assassin apart with bullets. Tonight, Qing Chen was taking advantage of the Jindai Yasuhara transaction to settle all his affairs at once. Qing Zhun had always said that there were still traitors yet to be caught, but they were difficult to find and needed to be lured out. It was only tonight that Qing Zhun noticed something amiss. The reason Qing Zhun hadnt found the two traitors earlier was that they werent assisting Jindai, the Li Family, the Chen Clan, or Deer Island; they were helping Qings main house. In the broader context of the Clan, these two detectives were serving the Qings as well, which was why Qing Zhun hadnt identified them immediately. But now, for Squad Seven of Intelligence Department One as it stood today, the detectives loyalties could only belong to one person. ... A 5000-word chapter. Another one follows at 11 PM. Chapter 639 - 639 395 A good play ?Chapter 639: 395, A good play Chapter 639: 395, A good play At 10 p.m., in the Fifth District on Changning Road. A young man was leisurely walking down the street, sucking on a lollipop, and taking great interest in the citys night scene. He joked over the headphone communication channel, Commander, the city is indeed more interesting. Could you be kind enough to transfer us to the Garrison Forces of the number 10 city? Always being in the wilderness, theres not even a single female soldier in the barracks! Or send us to the front lines, let us cross fists with the special forces of Jindai and Deer Island. That would add some passion to life! The voice of Qings shadow sounded in the headphones, Finish this job and Ill give you a two-month-long holiday. Another persons wail came through the headphones, Commander, please stop leading us on. Last time you said I could take a long holiday, and the next day you pulled me back into service. Shadow laughed, With great power comes great responsibility. You are the most capable and battle-ready under my command. Who else should I use at critical moments? Qing Ye, have you reached the designated area? Qing Ye, who was sucking on the lollipop, walked in a carefree manner, Nope, not yet, I havent reached the time you planned. I estimate to arrive in 13 minutes and 20 seconds... By the way, commander, why is it Intelligence Department Ones trash leading the trade this time? Can they even handle it? Qing Ye was a true elite under the command of Qings shadow, an Awakener. In the past nine years since the shadow of Qings Family pulled him from the Federal Army Group, he had carried out 131 secret missions, big and small, without a single failure. For someone like him, describing Intelligence Department One, a puppet in plain sight, as trash was not an exaggeration. To ordinary people, Intelligence Department One might be a Living Hades, but in the eyes of true elites, they were just childs play. After all, the level of strength of detectives limited the intensity of events they could get involved in. And just six months ago, one of his secret missions almost failed because the Inspector of Group Seven from the previous Intelligence Department One carelessly leaked information. That inspector also died during that mission. This only worsened Qing Yes impression of Intelligence Department One. Qings shadow said through the communication channel with a laugh, Perhaps this time, the Living Hades nickname of Intelligence Department One will come true. Qing Ye paused for a moment. He had a kind of blind worship for Mr. Shadow, so when he heard Shadow say this, he immediately took it seriously, Did you set a monster loose in Intelligence Department One? I see that ever since you came to City number 10, youve been out and about, not paying attention to external affairs, said Shadow. Qing Ye choked, My name is Qing Ye, so playing around just comes naturally... Qings shadow spoke with a laugh, The plan for this operation was entirely made by the Group Seven Inspector. I am just following his instructions to assign your tasks. So, whether he is up to the task or not, youll know after this operation is over. Qing Ye raised his eyebrows, Youre entrusting such an important matter to him? That doesnt seem like your style, commander. Usually, you make the plans yourself. Just having fun to see how far the kid can go, laughed Qings shadow, This time Ill be the true Observer and see what he really wants to do. Trading with Jindai Yasuhara is a minor affair, but when it comes to bringing Qing Mu back home, Ill be the one to strategize. So, let the kid handle this small affair. Another voice in the communication channel asked, Commander, this Qing Chen is someone you want to cultivate, right? I see what youre doing. You just want to use Jindai and Deer Island as a training ground for him, to sharpen his skills. A soldier who has never really been on the battlefield, seen blood, or heard the sound of an explosion nearby, is not a real soldier. Similarly, a commander who has not really made combat plans and carried them out, nor faced failure or success, is not a real commander. Qings shadow said that he would let the kid handle the small skirmish. Clearly, he wanted to create opportunities for this Qing Chen, to refine him through real combat. But both Qing Ye and the speaking Qing Qu did not understand why Qings shadow was so interested in a young boy and willing to invest so much effort in him? Qing Qu seemed to realize something, Is he... Qings shadow scoffed coldly, Shut up, talk about this matter again in the future, and youll go feed pigs in the wilderness for me. Oh... However, just then, Qing Ye who was sucking on his lollipop suddenly came to a halt, Commander, things just got interesting. It was seen that as Qing Ye was walking on the road, four assassins suddenly appeared ahead of and behind him, blocking his path. They stood among the crowd, looking at each other intently. Qing Ye wanted to disarm these people immediately, but he found that the black firearms in their hands were made of carbon fiber and not susceptible to his control. Qing Ye said in the communication channel, Commander, Ive got some issues to take care of here. Another voice in the channel asked, Wait, if you cant reach the target area within the specified time, what happens if the Inspector from Intelligence Department One dies? Qing Ye raised his eyebrows, Arent you afraid Ill die even faster than him? Wait, Ive run into some trouble here, too. Qings shadow chuckled, The opponents are more prepared than we thought. This will give Group Seven something to worry about. Qing Ye said calmly over the channel, Commander, do you think the Group Seven Inspector could be intentionally using Qing Qu and me as bait? Not many know of our whereabouts. Chapter 640 - 640 395 A good play _2 ?Chapter 640: 395, A good play _2 Chapter 640: 395, A good play _2 Shadow chuckled, Dont you find it even more interesting now? Qing Ye spat the lollipop out of his mouth onto the ground, Yeah, freaking fascinating. ... ... On Struggle Road, in District Five. The detectives of Group Seven had already changed into plain clothes, spreading out to various places along the street, pretending to be unrelated passersby. However, they werent the only ones pretending to be ordinary people. Just as Yang Xuyang found a mechanical prosthesis clinic and was about to have a look inside, he saw Chen Sai and Chen Zhen, inspectors from Intelligence Group Six, inside seriously inquiring about the functions of the mechanical limbs... The two men also saw him, and the atmosphere turned awkward instantly, but they continued to act as if they did not know each other. The next moment, as Yang Xuyang turned around, he was startled to see Li Yunqu, an inspector from Group Two, across the street watching the scene with great interest, seemingly wanting to see just how awkward Chen Sai would get. But as Yang Xuyang turned his head, his eyes met Li Yunqus; Li Yunqu hurriedly coughed and turned to look elsewhere. Boss, Yang Xuyang said in the communication channel, unable to hold back his laughter and tears, Isnt this supposed to be a secret operation? Why do I feel like everyone from Intelligence Department One is on this street? Qing Chen looked calmly across at Jindai Changming, responding, Normal. Today, almost all members of Intelligence Group Seven had emerged, which was obviously not common. As a result, other intelligence groups from Intelligence Department One had also nearly come out in full force; they were too curious and wanted to know exactly what or whom Group Seven was going to trade with Deer Island tonight. Instead of waiting to get second-hand intelligence, it made more sense to observe first-hand information directly. But this was exactly what Qing Chen had hoped to see; he had instructed Qing Hua to lead almost all the detectives to boldly walk out of Intelligence Department One, specifically to lure out the other intelligence groups. The murkier the waters tonight, the better. At that moment, Qing Chens phone in his pocket rang. He took it out to see that it was Shadow calling; the person had a thick layer of amusement in their voice: The people sent here to protect this transaction got intercepted by some assassins who came out of nowhere on their way here, you might have to be more cautious on your own. Qing Chen: Cant things ever go according to plan??? He was about to say something, but saw that Shadow had already hung up the phone. The other party didnt seem to want to listen to him perform; they just wanted to quietly be an observer, watching the drama of tonights events. Then, a person in a black coat approached Qing Chen and asked, Are you Qing Chen, Inspector for Group Seven? Im Pu Changhao from Deer Island; is the trade happening now? Qing Chen looked at Pu Changhao, I am Qing Chen. Wheres the person? The black-coated Pu Changhao looked deeply at him, Ive brought the person. Wheres mine? After finishing his words, he turned and pointed towards a black business vehicle parked nearby, its windows thoroughly obscured. Following Pu Changhaos gesture, someone inside the vehicle pulled open the door, pushing a man who appeared haggard and weary to show his face. It was not Jindai Yasuhara, but Qing Zhou. This was an intelligence officer from Deer Island who had been arrested up north quite a while ago. Qing Hua was taken aback by this scene, wasnt it supposed to be a trade for Jindai Yasuhara? Why was it Qing Zhou? It wasnt that Qing Zhou wasnt important, but this was completely different from the plan. Qing Hua looked at Qing Chen, but was shocked to find that the latters expression showed no surprise, as if he had known about this all along. Qing Chen looked at Pu Changhao, now that the person had been brought, the trade was inevitable. As he was pondering over it, his phone rang again: Qing Zhun had sent a message, Jindai Yasuhara secured. In fact, from the beginning, Qing Chen never intended to publicly trade Jindai Yasuhara, nor did Deer Island agree to a public trade. Among them, Qing Chens reason was that if Jindai Yasuhara were to appear, it could potentially drive the Jindai family into madness, and they could immediately guess what Qings Family intended to do with Jindai Yasuhara. At that point, the only thing the Jindai family would consider doing was not rescuing, but killing. In chaos, it is easy to kill someone and hard to protect someone; a dead Jindai Yasuhara held no value for Qings Family. Therefore, Qing Chen used a public trade as a diversion, drawing all the intelligence officers from City Number 10 to Struggle Road, and then leaving the real trade to be completed by Shadow. Deer Islands reason for not wanting a public trade was even simpler; they did not want the Jindai family to know that they had captured someone as important as Jindai Yasuhara... This trade was a drama where Qings Family and Deer Island, unbeknownst to each other, played their parts; what Deer Island had to do was simply to give up an extra Qing Zhou, which was a good deal for them. At this moment, the intelligence officers littered along the street saw Qing Zhou; some recognized him, some did not. But no matter what, if Qings Family was only trading for Qing Zhou, then it was nothing noteworthy at all. Not the least bit thrilling. It was like someone started a story with, In Orchard Village, there was a beautiful widow... They began with that story and whetted your appetite; then, as you were on tenterhooks, they continued, This beautiful widow, she had athletes foot. You would immediately feel underwhelmed and even disgusted. Qing Chen was willing to come to Struggle Road to draw fire for Qing Zhun precisely because he knew that everyone would lose interest in the trade once they saw Qing Zhou. The only thing that needed vigilance was this. What if the Jindai Clan, having made the trip, thought, Were here already. If they figured, Since were here, might as well kill off the trouble-making Inspector of Group Seven. Chapter 641 - 641 395 A Good Play_3 ?Chapter 641: 395, A Good Play_3 Chapter 641: 395, A Good Play_3 What should we do about Qing Chen?! No, Qing Chen looked around and suddenly asked in the communication channel in front of Pu Changhao, Is there anything abnormal at the sniper point? A1, no abnormalities. A2, no abnormalities. A3, no abnormalities. However, the detective who was supposed to be at sniper point A4 did not respond. The next second Qing Chen suddenly pulled Pu Changhao to the left, diving out of the way. At their original location, a sniper bullet swiftly passed by, creating a small pit in the concrete road surface. Qing Chen frowned and looked at Pu Changhao, Arent you guys suppose to be allies with the Jindai damn it, this 12.7-caliber sniper rifle clearly wants to kill both you and me! Pu Changhaos face was like iron, he said nothing. Have you leaked inside information that let the Jindai Consortium know about todays deal with Jindai Yasuhara? Otherwise, how could there be this kind of retaliatory shooting, Qing Chen asked coldly, Speak up! Pu Changhao gave Qing Chen a cold look, Why couldnt it be a leak from your side? I will thoroughly investigate my side. You better check your own; otherwise, forget about any transactions in the future! Qing Chen said as he got up and shouted into the communication channel, Qing Hua, take the team to sniper point A4 and kill that sniper for me! Also, be careful of the Jindai family, brace for their attack. Everyone else, take cover in the stores along the street. As if to coincide with Qing Chens words, a roar of gunfire suddenly came from a few streets away. This explosive noise was like the sudden sounding of the charge for an assault. All intelligence personnel on Struggle Road were already on edge, and at the sound, they became as excited as if they had been wound up like toys. The sniper at A4, unable to see Pu Changhao and Qing Chen who had taken cover in a store, turned his gun on the Deer Island intelligence personnel instead. And not just them, but also other groups from Intelligence Department One took hits another. For a moment, the intelligence personnel on Struggle Road were each in jeopardy. The Li Family took the opportunity to shoot at the Jindai detectives, the Chen Clan lay in wait, poised to strike, and the Jindai faction retaliated fiercely. Struggle Road became a complete mess! Qing Chen turned to Pu Changhao, Your men are almost wiped out by Jindai is this what you call an alliance? Pu Changhao picked up his phone and made a call, muttering quickly in Korean. Before long, a fully-armed tactical team of eight appeared at the end of the long street, shooting with precision at certain individuals. Qing Chen observed quietly from inside a shop. The eight-man tactical team was highly professional and skilled, just like the Spy Bureau under the Qings shadow and the special forces led by Qing Ye. Deer Island had brought their elites for this transaction as well. However, these men did not fire at other intelligence groups, but precisely eliminated members of the Jindai family. It appeared that the tactical team had identified all their targets beforehand, and upon receiving Pu Changhaos order, began their sweep to eliminate Jindai members on Struggle Road. Qing Chen turned to Pu Changhao, You sure dont hold back when killing your allies, do you? Pu Changhao looked at Qing Chen, When Jindai traded Jeju to us on Deer Island, they shouldve anticipated this day. Besides, we were prepared to turn on them when we traded for Jindai Yasuhara, so the Qing Family need not worry about these matters. Fine then, Qing Chen asked, about me saving your life just now, how will you repay me? Can you give us an extra intelligence officer from the Qing Family? How about Qing Qu, I know hes in your hands too. Pu Changhao sneered, You and I belong to different powers. Saving me now is futile; I wont be thankful. Qing Chen was stunned for a moment, What an ungrateful wretch. With the arrival of the Deer Island tactical squad, the fight in the Struggle Road quickly subsided. The eight people arrived at the shop where Pu Changhao was hiding and surrounded him in the middle to break out. However, just as they were about to leave, Pu Changhao looked back and suddenly wondered if he should take this opportunity to help Li Zhongxian from Intelligence Department One get rid of this group of inspectors who loved to stir up trouble. After all, many intelligence officers had already died tonight, what was one more? But just as Pu Changhao turned to look for Qing Chen, he found that the other party had disappeared. Pu Changhao furrowed his brows, what was going on? Could it be that the shadow had made a move and taken Qing Chen away through the Door of Shadow?! ... ... In the building where the A4 sniping position was located, Qing Hua was leading six detectives, taking the elevator to the top floor. When the group reached the top floor, Qing Hua walked at the front, pushing open the door to the room where the sniper was located. The sniper turned back in surprise. Qing Hua said, Pack it up, pack it up, leave the sniper rifle here, the inspector asked us to retreat quickly. The sniper stood up with a chuckle, removing the black hood from his head, which revealed he was actually a detective from unit seven. In fact, the Jindai family had already planned to withdraw when they saw the transaction partner was Qing Zhou. Whether they withdrew or not didnt matter, Qing Chen had to pin the blame on them. The deal location was chosen by Qing Chen, the sniping position was decided by Qing Chen, and from the very beginning, the A4 sniping position had never been taken over by the Jindai familythis was nothing more than a drama orchestrated by Qing Chen himself. The snipers technique was somewhat rusty, but fortunately, the A4 sniping position was only 380 meters from Struggle Road, close enough to easily take someone out. Qing Chen and the sniper had agreed that the shot must be taken the instant he charged out with Pu Changhao, to make the other side believe that Jindai wanted to kill them both... So, from the moment Qing Chen hung up the trade whiteboard on the third floor to the hostage trade on Struggle Road now, Qing Chens core idea had never changed, which was to genuinely tear apart the intelligence alliance between Jindai and Deer Island. What happened earlier at Intelligence Department One could at most be considered a half rupture, only now had the situation truly ripened. Tonight, both Jindai Kashima had suffered dozens of deaths, and the two could no longer pretend like nothing had happened as they had in the past. Originally, Qing Chen had intended to have Pu Changhao owe him a debt of gratitude for saving his life, but to his surprise, Pu turned out to be an ungrateful wretch. Tonight. Although it was tough for Qing Ye and Qing Qu, who were sold out by Qing Chen to help attract firepower, they were Shadows people, what did that have to do with him, Qing Chen? ... Five thousand-word chapter, ten thousand words updated today, owe Yanmeng one more, plus four more. Asking for monthly tickets and subscriptions! The average subscription is already 99,000, only 1,000 away from 100,000! Chapter 642 - 642 396 Observer ?Chapter 642: 396, Observer Chapter 642: 396, Observer On the 112th floor of the Utopia Building, inside the small cottage rented by Qing Chen. Just as Pu Changhao thought, Since Im already here, and was planning to kill Qing Chen as well, the Shadow opened the Door of Shadow and pulled Qing Chen, who was in the midst of danger and chaos, inside. Qing Chen curiously looked around his own cottage. This was his first time traveling through the Door of Shadow. One second he was at the roadside shop on Struggle Road, and the next second he had arrived at the Utopia Building. There was nothing unusual about it, just like simply walking through a small door. I wonder how many people have fantasized about having a method to travel through space, not needing to visit bank vaults or any magical places. Just needing to wake up every day, without driving, without riding an electric bike, without cramming onto the subway or bus, to directly reach work or school. Or wanting to travel somewhere, just open a door and arrive there. What a blissful thing that would be. Thinking this, Qing Chens eyes sparkled as he looked at Mr. Shadows neck, where the Taboo ACE-008, the Door of Shadow Pendant, should be hanging. The Shadow didnt know whether to laugh or cry, Should I praise your courage, or scold you for having the guts of a bear and the heart of a leopard? Qing Chen averted his gaze: I was just looking. The Shadow thought for a moment: Looking is fine. Saying that, he actually pulled out the Door of Shadow Pendant directly from his collar. Qing Chen had thought it would be something expensive inlaid with sapphires, but he didnt expect that what hung at the end of the pendant was merely a small silver buckle. The kind used to keep photos of relatives or lovers inside. Whose photo is inside? Qing Chen asked. The Shadow held the silver buckle in his hand and opened it, revealing the photo inside, which turned out to be a handsome young man. Isnt he somewhat familiar, the Shadow said with a smile. Qing Chen fell silent, for the young man in the silver buckle bore a resemblance to him, especially around the eyebrows and eyes. This resemblance gave a sense of familiarity at first glance. Who is in the photo? Qing Chen raised his head and asked. The Shadow said with a smile, He doesnt have much to do with you, no need to be overly suspicious. He is Qing Zhen, the founder of Qings Family in the new human civilization era. The Shadow continued, In the old era, there was also a Qings Financial Group, and at that time Qing Zhen, like me, was also a Shadow. But back then, Shadows were not highly regarded, their power wasnt too great, basically used by the clan and then disposed of. But when Qings Financial Group wanted to kill Qing Zhen, this forefather suddenly flipped the table, and thus the new Qings Family was born. Qing Chen was startled: Why is his photo hidden inside the Door of Shadow Pendant? Because the owner of the Door of Shadow fell in love with himit was love unrequited, eventually becoming an obsession, the Shadow explained with a smile: This is considered one of Qings Family secrets. The Transcendent who extracted the Door of Shadow loved Qing Zhen for 49 years, hence in the 071 Taboo Land there is a tombstone with only the number 49 engraved on it. 071 Taboo Land, Qing Chen was startled, he had heard about this Taboo Land from his master, Uncle Li Dong, the one with the rule only single people can enter. The Shadow asked with a smile, Arent you curious why, after so many generations, you still bear a resemblance to Qing Zhen? Qing Chen nodded: According to genetics, its rare for dominant genes to be passed down through so many generations. Its because of the bloodline, the Shadow said smiling: I want to ask you, do you have great memory, capable of memorizing hundreds of digits after the decimal point of pi? Are you usually analytical, able to instantly perform addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division of five-figure numbers by heart? Qing Chen was startled, wait, so this is the bloodline ability of Qings Family, but what he could do was far beyond that. Not to mention hundreds of digits following pi; he could remember tens of thousands of them. At that moment, the Shadow said, Qings is a very strange clan; every few generations such a monstrous talent appears. Not just Qing Zhen, but also Qing Wu from seven hundred years ago and Qing Xu from three hundred years ago, were all very remarkable people. Of course, there were also three others who possessed monstrous talents but were indifferent to power. The Shadow continued, But they all share one common traitthey all look strikingly similar to Qing Zhen, and the more monstrous the talent, the better looking they are. Of course, this is just my little observation, few people would occasionally flip through all their ancestors photos and resumes... Only when things arent going well do they think of digging up ancestors and then changing the Feng Shui. But Im from the Outer World; I shouldnt inherit such a bloodline, Qing Chen said, Thats a plain world, only filled with Ordinary People, without any Transcendents. The Shadow shook his head: Maybe not. Ive always suspected that Ren He, the founder of the Knights, came from your world. Although I dont know exactly what happened, the appearance of the Time Traveler even more confirmed my thoughts, for example, his composition Farewell originates from the Outer World. So, if the Outer World and Inner World are parallel worlds, one of your ancestors might also have had DNA identical to Qing Zhens. Of course, there are other possibilities. Qing Chen was astonished; he hadnt expected the Shadow to even be aware of Ren He being the Time Traveler. He always felt that when the Shadow talked about these things, it seemed he had omitted something, but he couldnt determine exactly what the Shadow had intentionally left out. Chapter 643 - 643 396 Observer_2 ?Chapter 643: 396, Observer_2 Chapter 643: 396, Observer_2 Shadow snapped the silver button shut and stuffed it back into his collar. What are the containment conditions for the Door of Shadow? Qing Chen asked. With a thick smile, Shadow said, Still interested in this taboo item? Well, it doesnt hurt to tell you; its condition is that you must be forever single. Qing Chen: ??? Such a strange containment condition, was Shadow going to stay single forever? Curiously, he asked, What happens if the host of the Door of Shadow ends their single status? What defines that status, a marriage certificate, feelings, or intimate relations? Grinning, Shadow said, I know what youre thinking. A taboo controls the rules and isnt so easily fooled, those who try to exploit loopholes in taboo items end up with grim fates. Whether its falling in love, entering into intimate relationships, or sham marriages, it all counts. As for what happens if the host ends their single status... many of the previous hosts have disappeared, perhaps devoured by the void inside the Door of Shadow. They might be buried in Taboo Land No 071 now, serving as fertilizer. Qing Chen pondered; although he currently had no lover, this item seemed unusable for him. Unexpectedly, it was a very dangerous taboo item. He looked at Shadow: Dont you have someone you like? Shadow paused for a moment: No. What if you do in the future, arent you worried? Qing Chen wondered. My days arent long anyway, Shadow said carefreely: So theres unlikely to be any change in the time I have left. It had been said before that Shadow didnt have much time left. But... You havent coughed for a long time recently, Qing Chen said earnestly. Shadow waved his hand: That was just a show for others, many people thought I got injured in the struggle of Shadows, so I gave them a clear symptom to corroborate their thoughts. What better way to seem like a sick person than constant coughing? So you have a long life ahead? Qing Chen asked curiously. No, just 3 more years, Shadow stated calmly: I sold my fate to a taboo item for a certain matter. Qing Chen was stunned: For what kind of matter were you willing to sell your fate to a taboo item?! And what kind of taboo can even trade someones fate? Shadow burst into laughter: You cant be serious. On a serious note, I gave you command and you ended up selling my subordinate to draw fire and block the attacking waves for you. How should we settle this? At first, I thought you had the courage to be the bait when I saw you going to carry out the trade yourself. But you secretly added Qing Zhou to the deal with Deer Island, making Jindai see Qing Zhou and direct all their main forces against Qing Ye and Qing Qu. After a moment of thought, Qing Chen asked, Didnt we plan to trade for Jindai Yasuhara? The outcome was good, right? Shadow couldnt help but laugh bitterly: Arent you afraid that one day when you take over the position of Shadow, Qing Ye and Qing Qu wont listen to you? Cant you just tell them it was your decision? Qing Chen ventured. However, just then, Qings shadow took out his phone, switched back to the communication channel with Qing Ye, Qing Qu, and others, and turned on the speakerphone. Qings shadow asked, How is it going? From the communication channel, Qing Yes heavy breathing was heard: Damn it, Qing Chen sold us out so thoroughly, Jindais experts seemed to have all come my way. Seriously boss, you better not let me see that bastard anytime soon, or I swear Ill kill him. Qing Chen fell silent... The next moment, the communication channel transmitted Qing Qus agonized voice: Boss, I strongly request severe punishment for that bastard. I was chased by Jindai Killers for ten blocks straight! The last time I felt this endangered was when I encountered that old guy Zheng Yuandong! Qing Chen raised his eyebrows, he had heard of He Jinqiu in the Inner World, as the latter was one of the twelve directors of the Federations largest neutral intelligence organization, Hus, with Li Changqing also being one of them. However, he had never heard of Zheng Yuandong. Was this the first time Qing Chen was hearing this name in the Inner World? Before he could ponder further, Shadow spoke up: The Qing Chen who sold you guys is right here sitting beside me, Im looking at the speakerphone. There was a moment of silence in the communication channel. It was as if time was frozen by Qings shadows time power. Qing Chen looked up expressionlessly at Shadow, only to see him silently laughing, rocking back and forth. After a long while, Qing Ye broke the stalemate, his cheerful laughter resounding: Hahaha I didnt say anything just now. By the way, Qing Qu, where are you now? Ill take you to a good place for drinks! Qing Qu: Sure, sure! After that, the two abruptly ended the communication. Shadow laughed aloud: You see, they already know you sold them out, so you better watch out, these two might come after you for retribution. You just cant stand to see me at peace, Qing Chen said grumpily: Im curious about one thing, what is Zheng Yuandongs identity in the Inner World? As one of the largest time traveler organizations in the Outer World, Kunlun, Shadow undoubtedly knew that its leader was Zheng Yuandong, so there was no point in hiding this. After some thought, Shadow said: He is one of the Federations most mysterious Observers and also the most expensive Assassin. Chapter 644 - 644 Observer_3 ?Chapter 644: Observer_3 Chapter 644: Observer_3 Observer? Qing Chen puzzled, Is that an organization? Thats right, its a very loose organization. Their mission is to record all the big and small events that occur in the Federation and then compile them into a database on a physically isolated network, Shadow explained. Then why is he still the most expensive assassin? Qing Chen did not understand. I dont know either. Maybe being an Observer doesnt pay the bills. You still have to make a living, dont you? Shadow said with a smile, The predecessor of the Observer organization was actually a journalist organization, part of Hope Media, dedicated to documenting historical truth. Later, a small group felt that being investigative journalists was too dangerous for ordinary people, so the Observers also needed to master the use of force to have a fighting chance against the forces of darkness. Eventually, the Observers split off from Hope Media. They remain in contact but are distinct from each other. Qing Chen knew the profession of investigative journalism was indeed dangerous. In the Outer World, journalists who investigated coal mines that imprisoned workers often got beaten or handicapped, while those exposing gutter oil could be run over on the streets. He imagined what it would be like if investigative journalists like Zheng Yuandong were undercover in gutter oil factories. If a corrupt boss discovered his identity as an undercover journalist, and then the undercover journalist killed all the corrupt bosses in the gutter oil factory... That would be quite interesting... But what a strange organization it was. Qing Chen couldnt understand what must have happened in the Inner World to prompt journalists to desire their own armed forces?! At that moment, Shadow suddenly said, Ive always suspected that Zheng Yuandong and He Jinqiu had actually come here a long time ago, even before you entered Prison No. 18. Although I cant confirm it yet, thats my intuition. Qing Chen furrowed his brows; he had to admit that he and Shadow were on the same wavelength. There was a moment when he had the same suspicion. Shadow laughed, But, I dont like to speculate too much on things without evidence. If they really are among the earliest Independent Time Travelers, Ill find the proof. Lets get back to the matter at hand. I know you want to tear apart the intelligence alliance between Jindai and Deer Island, but your performance today... Deer Island will definitely realize what happened after a review. Qing Chen shook his head, It will be too late by the time they realize. Tonight, I will inform Jindai members in Intelligence Department One that what Deer Island traded us was actually Jindai Yasuhara. Moreover, tonight Deer Island has already carried out a precise purge of Jindais intelligence personnel. The enmity is firmly established. Qing Chen continued, Maybe they can still pretend nothing happened, appear amicable on the surface, but what about behind the scenes? Can that resentment really be forgotten? Mr. Shadow, what I want isnt for them to openly declare an end to the alliance. Its enough if their intelligence personnel hate each other. That would be enough. From the beginning, what Qing Chen wanted was to render the intelligence alliance in name only. Shadow asked, Whats your next move? To bring Qing Mu back home, Qing Chen asked, After receiving Jindai Yasuhara, Qing Zhun disappeared. He must have delivered him to you, right? Shadow nodded, Jindai Yasuhara wouldnt be safe with you, so I had Qing Zhun take him to a secure place. Besides, the secrecy can be lifted tonight. I will tell everyone that Jindai Yasuhara is with you, and all of this is to bring Qing Mu back home. This was the first step in psychological warfare; the Qings Family still couldnt be sure whether Jindai would trade Qing Mu for Jindai Yasuhara. But what would Jindais intelligence personnel think if they refused to trade? Would anyone from then on be unwilling to lay down their lives for the Jindai family? Do you think Jindai will trade? Shadow let out a cold laugh, They have to trade. Only then will you have the credentials to take over the Qings Family intelligence system. Qing Chen was stunned for a moment, You might as well appoint me as the Shadow directly. Shadow looked at Qing Chen, The internal factional disputes of the Qings Family are extremely complex. Its not as simple as me saying you should be the Shadow and then you become one. Moreover, above the Shadow, theres a Family Head who is currently silent. Do you really think he can be molded as easily as dough? I am, after all, just an employee. This was the first time Qing Chen heard Shadow mention the Family Head, which seemed to be a formidable figure. However, the relationship between Shadow and that person seemed a bit strained. ... ... In the third-floor office of Intelligence Department One, a group of detectives was enthusiastically discussing tonights battle. Qing Hua laughed and said, Chen Lie, youve got some acting skills there. The detective named Chen Lie bragged, I had to sneak around people from other intelligence groups and act terrified of snipers; my acting skills were exceptionally good this time. Hey, I swear some of Xu Lings shots nearly hit me! Xu Ling was the sniper hidden in spot A4, coordinating with Qing Chens act. He scratched his head and said, Sorry about that. I only tried out for the sniper selection in the army but didnt make it. Im not on the same level as a real sniper. Qing Hua patted his shoulder, No worries, you did very well this time. I was seriously worried you would actually kill the boss and Pu Changhao with one bullet. Its good that the boss is okay. Xu Ling gave a sheepish smile, The boss coming up with such a scheme, he really has a cunning mind. Watching Deer Islands tactical team clean out the Jindai members, I felt incredibly satisfied. Oh, and you guys can watch the video. The boss had me put a camera next to the sniper rifle to capture a panorama of the battlefield for a review. Qing Huas hand, which had been patting his shoulder, suddenly slapped the back of Xu Lings head, You rascal, what are you saying? Daring to slander the boss. Xu Ling protested, But I was complimenting him. However, just then, Qing Hua received a message from Qing Chen. He fell silent for two seconds and looked at the detectives, Youve all been wanting to know what were really up to tonight. I can tell you now. Our true trade tonight is Jindai Yasuhara. The boss plans to use him to negotiate with Jindai and bring Qing Mu back home. If Jindai refuses, well inflict all the humiliation Qing Mu has suffered onto Jindai Yasuhara. Until then, this matter had been kept secret from the detectives, so they were in the dark. But at the moment when they learned the truth, the previously noisy office fell silent. The detectives involuntarily stood up, their expressions solemn yet unable to hide their excitement. In fact, Qing Chen still couldnt imagine what this plot orchestrated by the Qings shadow might bring him. ... A chapter with 5,000 words, another one coming at 11 p.m. Chapter 645 - 645 397. Amulet ?Chapter 645: 397. Amulet Chapter 645: 397. Amulet The night returned to tranquility. April and May, draped in black cloaks, stood on the street. April, frustrated, was on the phone with March, Boss, why dont you send some more people over? Weve been working overtime way too often lately. We were just eating hotpot when suddenly, this high-level battle broke out, and we didnt even finish our meal... March asked, Which hotpot restaurant was it? April recalled, The Fuweiju on Lindong Road in the Fourth Area. March said, That place isnt tasty. Next time go to the Monster Hotpot Restaurant across the street; they dont reuse old pot bases, and theyre more generous with the spices. Nowadays, condiments in the Federation are very expensive, and most businesses are reluctant to use too much. One pound of synthetic protein costs four dollars, but a pound of scallions, ginger, or garlic might cost several dozen dollars. Under normal circumstances, residents would grow some garlic sprouts, cilantro, and the like in flower pots at home, but such cramped living spaces hardly meet daily needs. Thus, some people would dry the chives they planted and then soak them in water on important days to make dumplings. April suddenly felt something was off, Wait a minute, boss, the hotpot isnt the point of what Im saying. No backup, handle it yourself, March said calmly, There wont be any casualties above B-Class there. But there are too many of them, April said dejectedly, its just May and me here, and were so busy, we dont even have time for a beauty sleep. Just endure it for a while, March said. April sighed; their boss was always this unflappable, completely unconvincing. After hanging up the phone, April suddenly said to May, How about we take in Qing Chen? It would be less tiring for us. No way, according to the rules we arent allowed to lay a hand on him, May replied with a smile, Come on, lets get back to work. At this moment, the street was deserted, except for Sun Chu Ci and others who cautiously approached. April curiously looked at Sun Chu Ci, somehow finding the young man quite pleasing to the eye. She thought for a moment and asked, What are you here for? Arent you afraid of dying? Looking at the bodies scattered around, Sun Chu Ci tried to stay composed, Someone told us to come and pick up some weapons and equipment, said there were plenty here, all for free... April paused, Then go ahead and pick them up. As she spoke, she pulled a pen from her sleeve, lightly tapped it on a body, which then turned to ash and scattered into the air. Sun Chu Ci stared in shock, the new, red pen in Aprils hand looked like a wand from a fairy tale, albeit with an indescribably eerie aura. April looked up at him, Hurry up and pick them up. The Garrison Forces will be here soon to clean up the battlefield. It was Qing Chen who had told Sun Chu Ci to collect the weapons. The young man thought about Sun Chu Ci wanting to spend money to update equipment, then tightly going through a good year, and figured hed give these downtrodden Zheng City Time Travelers a bit of a break. At this moment, the firearms on the street were more than expected. Sun Chu Ci and the others had obediently been sitting inside a barbecue restaurant, only hearing the gunfire without knowing what was happening. Now, the mess of the battlefield made Sun Chu Ci couldnt help but wonder about Qing Chens real identity, as he was able to lead a battle of this scale in the capital city of the Federation. Sun Chu Ci stopped pondering, he turned to Tuan Zi, Bring our car over quick, these weapons wont even fit in one car. Tuan Zi had lost his initial fear, and was now brimming with joy. Someone from the Hunting Team whispered to Sun Chu Ci, Hooking up with someone like him, could we also become an organization like Daylight? Sun Chu Ci thought for a moment, Its a bit difficult, but we can try. In a private club in the Second District, Yan Chunmi sat in a booth with a crimson Hellhound cocktail in hand. She spoke softly, Have you heard about what happened on Struggle Road? Behind her, a young man laughed, Such a big event, of course I heard about it. Our new boss is really powerful, played Jindai Kashima for a fool, and even brought Qing Zhou back. Yan Chunmi calmly said, The boss didnt want to bring back Qing Zhou; as far as I know, Qing Zhun, who once served under Mr. Shadow as Kite Falcon, was received by Jindai Yasuhara, and the boss wants to use Jindai Yasuhara to trade for Qing Mu to come home. The young man behind her was taken aback, his expression showing a hint of excitement. Yan Chunmi continued, Dont get excited yet, you must have noticed, our new boss is no ordinary person. Mr. Shadow also provides him substantial support, but the problem is, with such a big event tonight, the boss still didnt let us make a move, which shows distrust. The young man fell silent for a while, What should we do? Make sure we dont get marginalized. If Kite Falcon gets marginalized, the only outcome is to be purged, Yan Chunmi said, Give me 24 hours to keep a close watch on Qing Xing. The boss wants his movements and the Taboo in his possession. If we mess this up, you and I might as well await our fate in the Cold Palace. The young man pondered for a moment, But Qing Xing also has twelve Kite Falcons with him. Qing Xing, a member of the Spy Bureau, typically had twelve Kite Falcons under his command, all seasoned battlefield intelligence agents, highly skilled in reconnaissance, counter-reconnaissance, assassination, infiltration, and disguise. Chapter 646 - 646 397. Amulet_2 ?Chapter 646: 397. Amulet_2 Chapter 646: 397. Amulet_2 Yan Chunmi said coldly, We cant worry about Kite Falcons anymore, the boss wants to support Qing Yis victory, so a confrontation with Qing Xings Kite Falcons is inevitable. Find a way to track down all of Qing Xings Kite Falcons and kill them. The young man replied, The identities of the Kite Falcons vary, this is quite difficult, and for all we know, there could even be one right beside the boss now. If there were no difficulties, how could we demonstrate our loyalty to the boss? Yan Chunmi finished the scarlet wine in her cup in one gulp, We need to show the boss that his Kite Falcons are useful. And dont worry about Kite Falcons from the Shadow Candidates harming the boss. At this critical moment, bringing Qing Mu back into the fold is his protective talisman. Anyone who touches him will have the entire Qings Family intelligence system to contend with. What the Shadow gave to Qing Chen was not just the loyalty of the intelligence system, but also a politically correct identity. Because Intelligence Department One had been aggressively arresting its own officials, many people within the Qings faction had become dissatisfied with Qing Chen. Many Shadow Candidates also wanted to remove Qing Yis protector. However, from the moment Intelligence Department One announced it would bring Qing Mu back, any ulterior motives within the Qings family had to be extinguished. To kill Qing Chen would be to make an enemy of the entire Qings Family intelligence system. ... ... Countdown 88:00:00. Eight oclock in the morning. Qing Chen felt a sudden sense of leisure. The matter of bringing Qing Mu back home was still a long way off. The Jindai family, upon receiving the news, would surely react for at least ten days before deciding anything. So, for the time being, he didnt need to think too much about it. With Qing Chen treating the dismantling of Jindai and the Deer Island Information Alliance as his first three major moves upon taking office, he had managed to leave the entire Intelligence Department One in chaos. Currently, it was a time to lay low, and instead of going out to stir up trouble, Intelligence Department One detectives would do better to stay in the large office and cultivate diligently. The last matter to deal with was the struggle within the Shadows. Qing Chen had stopped fretting over the Taboo item ACE-008 Door of Shadow and instead had started to fixate on that unknown Taboo item in Qing Xings possession. After all, a condition for containing the Door of Shadow was to remain single forever. Although Qing Chen was unattached, he still needed to leave some options open for himself. Buddy, you cant carry that kind of thing with you! However, seizing the Taboo item from Qing Xing required careful planning and timing; he had to wait for the Kite Falcons to gather intelligence before making a move. And so, Qing Chen had suddenly become one of the most laid-back individuals in City No. 10. He didnt eat breakfast in District Five because the street breakfast was simply unbearable. He planned to find something after reaching District Three, where they had freshly made soy milk, fried dough sticks, soft tofu, flavorful beef noodles, and plain rice porridge. For the residents of the Federation, these were considered luxuries. Qing Chen wouldnt intentionally subject himself to bad-tasting food pretending it showed resilience. In the city, you should enjoy life to the fullest! If you dont enjoy the city, do you wait to enjoy the wilderness? Just last night, Qing Chen had been told by Shadow that the fourth round in the struggle for Shadows would take them to the wilderness, where there would be plenty of time for hardship. But today felt a bit strange. Qing Chen had eaten two beef buns and a bowl of tofu at a bun shop. Just as he stood up to pay at the counter, he heard the owner whisper with a chuckle, Officer Qing, theres no need to pay. Consider this our treat. Qing Chen was taken aback for a moment. The bun shops owner was chubby, wearing white sleeve guards and an apron. He looked every bit an honest and good-natured businessman. But he quickly realized that this man was also an informant for Qings Family intelligence system! Qing Chen glanced around, saw that no one was paying attention to him, and whispered, Theres no need for this, I should do as required. However, the bun shops owner shook his head, Back when Officer Qing was in the north, I too was one of his Kite Falcons under the Spy Bureau. After his arrest, the previous Shadow had us recalled. Learning that theres finally hope for Officer Qing to return home, I was so excited last night that I couldnt sleep. Even a Spy Bureau spy would have a superior, such as a responsible officer for a place like the north, which was not a main stage for the Qings Clan. Qing Chen suddenly understood. Though Qing Mu had been arrested, most of his subordinates were still alive. They possibly continued to work as spies, informants, and Kite Falcons. Right now, the people most grateful to Qing Chen were these individuals, and if he ever took charge of the Spy Bureau, they would become his most loyal personal troops. Qing Chen sighed inwardly. Mr. Shadow sure knew how to drive a hard bargain, calculating many people with one move. But as Shadow had said, it didnt matter whether Shadow was sincere about bringing Qing Mu back. What mattered was that Qing Chen was sincere. He glanced at the owner of the bun shop and said softly, Thank you. As Qing Chen walked towards Intelligence Department One, something made him feel unexpectedly moved. Because along the way, there were always people who, unnoticed by others, would subtly nod or secretly salute him. They then acted as if nothing had happened and blended back into the crowd, continuing their work. Of course, many others simply watched Qing Chen intently, yet he could see the sincerity in their gazes. They were all the quiet informants, spies, and Kite Falcons of Qings Family intelligence system. Even though it broke confidentiality, they couldnt help being excited about the news that Qing Mu might be returning home. Chapter 647 - 647 397. Amulet_3 ?Chapter 647: 397. Amulet_3 Chapter 647: 397. Amulet_3 Qing Chen was thinking that if someone were to deliberately follow him and gather information today, many intelligence personnel would have to be exposed... Fortunately, he confirmed no one was watching him. He arrived at Intelligence Department One on the third floor. Qing Chen had just pushed the door open when he saw the detectives stationed at their desks all stand up in unison: Good morning, boss! Some detectives even yelled it so loudly that they almost deprived themselves of oxygen. At that moment, Inspector Chen Sai, on his way upstairs, just happened to pass by the third-floor doorway and overheard the shout. The roar gave him such a start that he cursed under his breath in embarrassment, quickly adjusting his tie before continuing upstairs. In fact, Chen Sai felt a bit sentimental inside, wondering when he would have such cohesion among his subordinates as a boss? It was probably a scene every superior imagined, but achieving it was too difficult. Standing in the large office, Qing Chen glanced at all the detectives and calmly said, Cut out this formalism. Sit down properly on the floor and meditate. Youre not allowed to run around anymore before you truly undertake the mission to welcome Officer Qing back home. ... ... At this very moment, two SUVs were driving toward City 10. There were six people in the vehicles, who had set out from City 18 at 4 am and, by 9 am, finally caught a distant glimpse of City 10. The next moment, a chubby man in one of the cars, looking at the city emerging on the horizon, cried out excitedly, Family members, were about to reach City 10, a new place where we will embrace even more family members! After these words, the passengers in the car burst into jubilation, as if they were Colombus discovering the New World. Here lies a vast New World, a new beginning. However, a family member also expressed concern: Lao Luo, are there any Mechanicus in City 10? Will they continue to hunt us down? Sitting in the passenger seat, Luo Wanya said with a smile, Dont worry, I have a strategy. If the Mechanicus dare to make a move on us in this city, theyll have a tough time... Were just returning to a big family; the Mechanicus has no right to meddle with us, and no one can separate our family members! Right, the mood in the car was fervent, tinged with a hint of grievance: We were with our family members without provoking or offending anyone; why should they chase us down? The ones in these two vehicles were Golden Family Members from among the family members. Beneath the golden ones, there were purple, blue, green, and white ones. In this hierarchy, only Luo Wanya was a Black Family Member, the one with the highest standing in the Parents Meeting. Besides Luo Wanya, the other five people in the car either had a special talent for developing family members, being persuasive and eloquent, or they possessed a unique gift for cultivation, their progress extraordinarily swift. One day of their cultivation was equivalent to ten days for others, making them truly exceptional individuals. In fact, Qing Chen wasnt surprised at all that there were cultivation prodigies among the family members. Given the large base of family members, casting a wide net was bound to catch a few. This time, it was Qing Chen who had asked Luo Wanya to come. On the one hand, it was to help Luo Wanya avoid the Mechanicus pursuit. On the other hand, it was to expand the family within the territory he was in charge of. If the Mechanicus were to hunt Luo Wanya in City 10, it really wasnt clear who would be the hunter or the hunted. At this time, some people also expressed concern about Luo Wanya, But we dont have family members to shelter us in City 10. Were strangers to this place. If the Mechanicus find us, we wont have any family members to rely on for protection, and it means starting over in this city. Luo Wanya encouraged them with a smile, Do you know what a new beginning signifies, family members? It means that all residents of the city are potential family members. There is not a drop of water in the desert, but the desert needs water the most. Those family members are waiting to return to our big family! The family members in the car cheered up once again. Soon, the two vehicles arrived at the immigration checkpoint tunnel of City 10, ready for inspection. The family members grew anxious, for they didnt have official visas for their visit. It wasnt that they couldnt obtain visas; it was just a matter of spending some money, as there were wealthy people among the family members. But having official visas meant that their arrival in City 10 would be recorded in the Federations networked information, making it easy for the Mechanicus within the Federal Government to track them down. Among the five Golden Family Members in the vehicle, two were specifically targeted by the Mechanicus. The family members watched as the soldiers from the immigration department approached, but they saw Luo Wanya maintain a serene demeanor and said, Call over Li Menglin. The soldier paused in confusion but after a short while, Li Menglin, with his generals belly, jogged over. Luo Wanya said, Come closer to talk. Li Menglins face changed, but he still bent down to the car window. Luo Wanya whispered, Group Seven. Li Menglin hurriedly straightened up: So its the officer. Sorry for not greeting you sooner. Next time just go through the expedited lane. Ill have your license plate recorded in the system, and the gate will open automatically when it detects your plate. Luo Wanya replied calmly, Alright, thats it then. You can go back to your duties. The family members in the backseat were all stunned. No wonder Lao Luo had them come to City 10they had connections here! With this thought, they were filled with jubilation once more. Lao Luo, do we also have family members in City 10? one of the Golden Family Members asked. After a moments thought, Luo Wanya said, This person is not a family member, hes a parent... ... Chapter with five thousand characters, ten thousand words updated today; this month Im not repaying any debt but consider it paying interest to the bosses. Chapter 648 - 648 398 Regression ?Chapter 648: 398, Regression Chapter 648: 398, Regression The organization founded by Luo Wanya is called Parents Meeting. In fact, the members have always felt that it should be called something like Family Members or A Loving Family, but Luo Wanya insisted on naming the organization Parents Meeting. Of course, although Luo Wanya is also a member of the family, his position within the organization is unique, so no one continued to object. Everyone just couldnt understand why it should be called that? Luo Wanya had two considerations regarding this. When Parents Meeting first became known, it was very weak and had no influence, needing to evade the scrutiny of all parties. But when everyone heard that their organization was named Parents Meeting, they all laughed so hard they could not close their mouths, and the PCE Security Management Committees Investigators said with a chuckle, Its as if Im going to attend my sons school parents meeting. Whoever came up with such a name must have a screw loose. This must be some idiotic small community that will probably dissolve on its own soon. Go check it out, but Im not going. During the initial period of Parents Meeting, nobody really bothered with it. Others were called Elders Council, Skull Club, etc.; by comparison, Parents Meeting seemed unserious and unsustainable at first listen. It wasnt until Parents Meeting abducted one of Mechanicuss branches that everyone became alarmed. But by the time they woke up to the danger, it was already a bit late. By then, Parents Meeting had a clear hierarchy and a tight structure, and a slight investigation from the PCE Security Management Committee revealed that this organization must have originated from a mastermind, who had long been prepared for such investigations. Later on, Parents Meeting quickly spread and was becoming uncontrollable. Yet the PCE Security Management Committee still didnt take Parents Meeting too seriously. Firstly, because Parents Meeting did not possess armed forces; the family members were really amicable and did not carry any weapons at all, never having privately hoarded any military-grade weapons. In such a situation, the empiricist PCE Investigators thought, how harmful could they be without weapons? Compared to past organizations, Parents Meeting was as benign as a little white rabbit; they didnt oppress anyone, didnt traffic dopamine or endorphin chips, and didnt rob anyone of their Mechanical limbs. What good family members they were! Secondly, the PCE Security Management Committee believed that any expansion of a community within City 18 would inevitably face targeting by Heng Society. Not long ago, Heng Society, aiming to be the sole power, swept all the communities across the city, leaving all organizations barely holding on. Now that Parents Meeting had appeared, it was sure to face the same situation, right? Thirdly, Parents Meeting had infringed on the interests of Mechanicus, and surely Mechanicus would find a way to deal with this Parents Meeting. But unexpected events occurred that took PCE Investigators by surprise. Firstly, it was true that Parents Meeting had no weapons, but the Investigators suddenly discovered that the organization had somehow amassed hundreds of Cultivators, and these Cultivators were advancing in their training at an extremely rapid pace. In the past, a D-Class individual could already act as a spokes-person for a small community, and an E-Class could serve as the second-in-command, but Parents Meeting seemed to have hundreds of E-Class individuals, and the number was still growing... Secondly, the PCE Investigators thought that Heng Society would target Parents Meeting, but in fact, they did not. There were rumors that the key members of Heng Society were closely connected to Parents Meeting, but this rumor had not yet been confirmed. Lastly, Mechanicus did indeed target Parents Meeting, but the most mysterious of the Golden Family Members could not be found at all. Within the somewhat large Parents Meeting, all the family members were spontaneously helping hide Luo Wanya until he left City 18. Faced with the mess in City 18, PCE Investigators couldnt help but question from the bottom of their souls, Why does this thing have to be called Parents Meeting? The reason is actually very simple because there really is a parent in Parents Meeting. Qing Chen. Of course, Parents Meeting should have a parent, and Luo Wanya was very clearhe knew who had given him everything he currently had. What the other person had given, they could also take back. Thats why he always spoke and acted with caution, maintaining the absolute dominance of that boss, and the one position of parent within Parents Meeting had always been kept for that person. To show that he had no intention of rebellion. Luo Wanya did not pay attention to the astonished expressions of the family members in the back seat of the car; instead, he directed the driver to follow the designated route. Li Menglin watched the car disappear into the distance and let out a breath of relief. This was the second task that Intelligence Department One had given him, and he had thought something big would happen, but it turned out to be so casually done. At this moment, Li Menglin might not yet realize the kind of person he had let in. Years later, when he also joined this big family, he finally understood that on this day several years ago, he had the chance to embrace happiness. Inside the two SUVs, the Golden Family Members asked curiously, Lao Luo, who is the parent? What is he responsible for in our big family? Lao Luo thought for a moment and then said, The parent, of course, is responsible for protecting us, whether its the methods of cultivation we use for self-defense or the recent opening up of new territories in City 10. He is the one strategizing everything. Believe me, this parent will definitely take good care of everyone. The family members were once again excitedso the methods of cultivation were also given by the parent. What a wonderful parent! After driving for twenty minutes, Luo Wanya looked around and said, This is the place, the residence prepared for us by the parent, to be used as a temporary lodging. Chapter 649 - 649 398 Return_2 ?Chapter 649: 398, Return_2 Chapter 649: 398, Return_2 The Golden Family Members rode the elevator upstairs and watched Luo Wanya punch in the password. As the door opened, they were greeted by a cozy, everyday settinga large cake sat on the dining table with a letter that read: Welcome, family, to City Number Ten. One of the Golden Family Members dipped a finger into the cakes cream: This is animal cream! The Parents Meeting must have gone to quite the expense! Animal cream isnt greasy; vegetable cream can be cloying. In the Outer World during the 1980s and 1990s, almost all the cream used on cakes was vegetable cream, which got sickening after just two slices. In the Inner World, however, even eating vegetable cream was a luxury, let alone animal cream. Luo Wanya looked around the room, excitedly lifted a piece of cake, and exclaimed: Thank you, Parents! The Golden Family Members grew excited: Thank you, Parents! ... ... At midnight, Luo Wanya came alone to District Five. He walked the streets silently, not glancing around, just walking calmly. Before long, a young man in a white tracksuit approached Luo Wanya: Is everything settled? Luo Wanya had never seen this young man before, but he knew who it was: Boss, everythings settled. Thank you for allowing me to come to City Number Ten to lay low. The Mechanicus were on me too close in City Eighteen; I would likely have been found if I had stayed there. As I hear it, theyve dispatched a Red-robed Bishop, a dangerous intellect... he might follow the trail all the way here to City Number Ten. Qing Chen chuckled: No worries, let him come... Do you have the guts to be the bait? Luo Wanya froze for a moment before realizing why his boss made him come to City Number Tenthis was meant to be the battleground between the Parents Meeting and the Mechanicus, a purge of the Mechanicus in the works! He cautiously replied: Being the bait is definitely okay, Boss. I, Luo Wanya, am willing to go through fire and water for the daylight. Qing Chen assured him: Dont worry, you wont be in danger. The Mechanicus is backed by Jindai, Deer Island, and the Chen Clan, and now is the perfect time to strike them amidst the Federations internal conflict. But I am a bit curious, how did you manage to plunder a branch from the Mechanicus? Luo Wanya whispered an explanation: I first joined the Mechanicus as an undercover, and I did pretty well there, almost ready to start the examination for Red clergy... Its just that the previous Red clergy in City Eighteen had protection from above and squeezed me out... Qing Chen was momentarily taken aback. Directly beneath the Red-robed Bishop was the Red clergy, responsible for managing a branch. That meant Luo Wanya had a chance to be promoted directly to Red clergy but was hindered by the rampant nepotism within the Mechanicus, where ordinary people had no real power. So, in a do-or-die manner, Luo Wanya took the entire branch with him, leaving that well-connected Red clergy as a mere figurehead. The Red clergy was dumbfounded at the time; in previous power struggles, it had been sufficient to just drive away a rival and retain control. But this time, ousting a competitor ended up leaving him high and dry. Moreover, a careful investigation revealed that Luo Wanya had joined the Mechanicus under an assumed identity. Qing Chen regarded Luo Wanya, thinking that he truly was a talent... Boss, what do you need me to do in City Number Ten? Luo Wanya inquired curiously. After a moments thought, Qing Chen replied: Just do as you see fit. In terms of expanding the familys operations, Qing Chen really couldnt offer Luo Wanya any valuable advice, so he might as well let the professional handle it. While speaking, Qing Chen mentioned to Luo Wanya: Call Qing Chen if you have any issues; hes now an Inspector for the PCA Federation CIAs Intelligence Department One, Group Seven; he can help you with a lot of things. Right, right, Luo Wanya thought to himself, no wonder Li Menglin was so terrified earlier; the members of daylight had become significant figures. Not to mention Qing Chen, even Zhang Tianzhen and Hu Xiaoniu now held considerable sway within the Heng Society. Luo Wanya firmly resolved that he too must work hard to excel. But just then, Qing Chen warned: Dont be too reckless with the expansion of the Parents Meeting and dont apply your full brainwashing technique on these people. I hope you can exercise restraint and not turn it into another Mechanicus. Luo Wanya sobered up instantly: Understood. ... ... District Three. Yan Chunmi drove into the well-known upscale Blossom Community of the Upper Three Districts. Qing Xing also lived here. Yan Chunmi, a local celebrity of City Number Ten, had purchased property to rent out as her first act after starting to make money. Being a celebrity is a high-paying yet unstable job; you never know when you might fall from grace with no more gigs. Yan Chunmi harbored the same worries. Therefore, she kept buying propertiesonly with tangible assets securely in hand could she ease her anxiety. Now, those properties served their purpose. As soon as Yan Chunmi resolved to make her first major move for her new boss through Qing Xing, she immediately moved to one of the residences she owned within the Blossom Community. This would facilitate her covert surveillance of Qing Xing. At this moment, aside from the three members of the Kite Falcon concealed even deeper, the remaining nine had commenced round-the-clock, indiscriminate, cross-tracking of Qing Xing, diligently recording his every move. Chapter 650 - 650 398 Return_3 ?Chapter 650: 398, Return_3 Chapter 650: 398, Return_3 Everyone had a fire in their belly, swearing to prove they were more useful than the detectives of Intelligence Department One. Perhaps this was what internal competition was all about. And Qing Chen was the one who actively stirred up this internal competition among his intelligence personnel. The more his subordinates competed, the more secure he felt. Yan Chunmi parked the car, draped on her mink coat, and swayed her way towards her residence. Suddenly, Yan Chunmi realized that in this community there were still people guarding silently in the shadows. She frowned, thankful that Qing Wen was cautious enough to even employ hidden guards. At that moment, one of the hidden guards became suspicious when he saw her looking around after getting out of the car. The hidden guard emerged from the shadows and walked straight towards Yan Chunmi. However, all of this was part of Yan Chunmis plan. She calmly said, Paparazzi, huh? Could you give me some private space, please? Dont always hide in the bushes and take photos of me. As she spoke, Yan Chunmi took out a business card and handed it over. This is my agents card; if you want to take photos, you can set up an interview with her. If I see you guys here in Blossom Community again, Im calling the police. The hidden guard paused, Youve misunderstood, miss. Im not a paparazzo. Yan Chunmi scoffed, If youre not a paparazzo, why are you hiding in the bushes? Do you think Im stupid? Forget it, I wont waste words on you. Ill let the PCE handle this. As she spoke, she actually took out her phone and dialed a PCE Security Management Committee chiefs number, then cooed, Detective, I live in Blossom Community and paparazzi have actually come into the community to take photos of me. You said you would protect me a few days ago, didnt you? Are your words good for anything? Within just five minutes, the PCE Security Committee actually arrived with more than ten vehicles, forcibly searched the bushes, and found eight people, taking all the hidden guards away. Moreover, who knew from where media followed the PCE, apparently to create a story about Yan Chunmi being harassed by paparazzi. The hidden guards initially wanted to reveal their identities directly to the PCE Investigators, but seeing the camera of the media, they all fell silent, bowing their heads to avoid being captured on film. All this was Yan Chunmis first move. Her looking around after getting out of the car was nothing but an act, with the purpose of logically calling in the PCE Security Committee to flush out all the hidden guards within the entire Blossom Community. If the other party admitted to being paparazzi, she would send them away directly, and if not, she would call in the PCE Security Committee to do it. Either way, the result would be the same. No matter if the new boss planned to move against Qing Xing or not, it was best to send away Qing Xings hidden guards first. Moreover, she intended to do it every time she saw them, just like a celebritys normal reaction to paparazzi. With the least cost, she would clear away the protective forces around Qing Xing. Of course, Qing Xing would soon respond, likely having the security personnel move in as residents, or maybe even contact the PCE Security Committee directly to reveal their identities. But no matter what they did, it would bring some minor troubles to Qing Xing. Yan Chunmi felt that Qing Xing was not that high-profile, so he would probably choose to buy houses and let the security personnel move in. After returning home, Yan Chunmi gave it some thought and sent a message to another Kite Falcon: Check out any new residents in Blossom Community, both in the past month and in the coming days. Start from there, and mark all of Qing Xings people for me. Now was when Yan Chunmis advantage came to lighther house had been purchased long ago. If someone used the same method to investigate, it would turn up nothing; they would just assume she had been living there all along. What she needed to do now was to stir the waters and see clearly how many fish were in it. Kite Falcon replied to her message: Do we need to enter Blossom Community to protect you? Yan Chunmi smiled and replied, Im just a star who likes to stir things up and seek publicity, who would bother me? Perhaps Qing Xings people will even come to apologize. That would be gentlemanly, right? The consortium bigwigs are quite polite before they are pushed to the limit. Kite Falcon responded, Today I discovered that its not just us watching Qing Xingothers are too, and theyre not from the same group. I suspect they are Kite Falcons from the Shadow Candidates. Yan Chunmi furrowed her brows. Whats the situation? Could it be that the other Shadow Candidates are also preparing to make a move against Qing Xing?! Just a few days ago, no one was targeting Qing Xing. How did this Shadow Candidate suddenly make so many enemies, what happened? At this moment, Yan Chunmi didnt know that her boss had twice drawn great enmity upon Qing Xing, resulting in neither Qing Wen nor Qing Wu showing any good face to Qing Xing. Moreover, they were also ready to take action against Qing Xing at any time. Countdown 1:00:00. Qing Chen sat in his office and let out a sigh of relief; the long 30 days of travel were finally about to end. This was the first time since the travel incident that he had longed for the Outer World. In the past, with no kin in the Outer World, he always looked forward to the next travel, rather than the return. Because he thrived in the Inner Worldalthough dangerous, it also brought him new friendships and familial bonds. But this time was different. Having spent too long in the Inner World, he was also curious about what had happened to the other Time Travelers. Moreover, Qing Chen had important matters to attend to upon his return. Just then, Yan Chunmi sent over the first batch of surveillance reports on Qing Xing. The report showed that, within 5 days, Qing Xing had been taken to the rooftop by Qing Wu in Intelligence Department Three and was hung outside the rooftop, where he experienced a vivid educational course. On Qing Wens part, there was all sorts of oppression against Qing Xing within Intelligence Department Three. For a time, the atmosphere in Intelligence Department Three was tense and fraught... And during the process of monitoring Qing Xing, Yan Chunmi finally confirmed that the previous two groups who had been surveying him were from Qing Wen and Qing Wu. It seemed that Qing Chens framing and blame shifting had succeeded. Qing Chen logged all the information in his mind, planning to analyze it slowly after returning. He responded to Yan Chunmi with a message, Be careful not to expose yourself, thats the first principle. Qing Chen had only one goal, which was to silently retrieve Qing Xings Taboo. If successful, he couldnt let anyone else know that it had been taken by him. Now that Qing Wens and Qing Wus people were all eyeing Qing Xing, letting these two take the blame was the best option. Qing Chen took one last look at the time. Countdown 00:00:00. Zero. The world plunged into darkness. And then it lit up again. Qing Chen sat in his room, taking deep breaths of the Outer Worlds air, as if there were some difference between the air of the two worlds. Outside the house, the enthusiastic greetings of Nan Gengchen, Hu Xiaoniu, and others were already sounding, feeling exceptionally warm. ... ... Five thousand character chapter, another one at 11 PM. Chapter 651 - 651 399 Qing Shuli ?Chapter 651: 399, Qing Shuli Chapter 651: 399, Qing Shuli A long-awaited return. Sun Chu Ci quietly sat in the library of Zheng City University. He looked down at his arm. In the white countdown pattern, tiny machine parts meshed together, driving the time forward. Countdown 720:00:00. As expected, the time-travel mechanism was relatively balanced. They had entered the Inner World for 30 days, so the return also granted them 30 days. Of course, this balance wasnt absolute; there had been instances where the travel lasted 7 days, and the return only 2 days. The library at midnight was still brightly lit, surrounded by fellow students who were diligently studying and preparing for graduate studies, still striving. Initially, Sun Chu Ci also wanted to continue with graduate studies. Zheng City University, as the top university in the province, gathered more than half of the elites from the province. Zheng City University wasnt ranked very high nationally, but its academic credentials were highly recognized within the province, and the influence of its alumni association was also very strong within the province. Generally, students graduating from Zheng City University didnt have to worry about finding jobs. In many companies, alumni from Zheng City University had their own factions, just like the classmates in the old official system. But such a life seemed very distant to Sun Chu Ci ever since he became a Time Traveler. Many things had changed. He had grown to love a more adventurous life and paid little attention to student council matters. Sun Chu Ci looked up at his companions. All seven members of the Wilderness Hunting Team were sitting with him at a long table in the library. They had agreed to meet here before traveling to the Inner World, so they could easily communicate with each other upon returning. At that moment, a phone call came through. Sun Chu Ci picked it up and glanced at it. The caller ID read Senior Li Yi. He took a deep breath and answered the phone, Hello, senior. Li Yi asked calmly, How have you considered? Sun Chu Ci glanced at his companions and then said to Li Yi, Senior, after careful consideration, we have decided not to join your Longhu Commune.'' Li Yi said, Your days in the Inner World must have been tough, unwilling to work in the city, not an Awakener and unable to practice, nor can you afford Genetic Potion. A bunch of Outer World people ran to the wilderness to be Hunters, and the business barely makes ends meet. Sun Chu Ci, what are you still holding on to? Sun Chu Ci thought for a moment and said, We just dont quite agree with the ideals of Longhu Commune; we prefer freedom. No one is restricting your freedom, we just need to strive for a common goal, Li Yi said, Our Longhu Commune has already drawn support from our local enterprises in the Outer World, and the seniors from the alumni association will also invest. Given time, we wont be inferior to Los Angeles Citys Daylight. I promise you, joining would make you a level 2 member. You have to understand, level 1 members in the Inner World have special statuses, you are just a Wilderness Hunter, having level 2 is already great. Li Yi continued, Sun Chu Ci, you are smart, I believe that you joining Longhu Commune will definitely have a broader future. Sun Chu Ci sighed, Senior, no need, I dont like turning life into a business. He had told Qing Chen earlier that he didnt like the local Time Traveler Organization in Zheng City. Because the organization here was extremely bureaucratic and also very aggressive. Within Longhu Commune, all Time Travelers were divided into five levels, level 1 being the highest and level 5 the lowest. A level 5 member had to bow and salute upon seeing a level 4 member. Despite all being Time Travelers, the hierarchy was so severe. Sun Chu Ci did not like it there. Moreover, he knew that those level 1 members in Longhu Commune, at most, held minor official positions in the Inner World, the best among them was but a branch of Li Family on the outskirts of City 10. Sun Chu Ci recalled how respectfully Li Menglin bowed to Qing Chen. The scene at the barbecue restaurant, those standing solemnly and subtly protecting Qing Chen, and the young man who sat unflinchingly stable. The level 1 members of Longhu Commune, no matter how capable, couldnt possibly compare to him, could they? Of course, if he hadnt met Qing Chen this time on the wilderness, he might have already died at the hands of wilderness dwellers, or if by luck returned to City 10, he would have been so poor it would be impossible to leave the city again. By then, Sun Chu Ci might really have had to rely on Longhu Commune. After all, one must survive, right? At that moment, Li Yi was silent for a moment, Let me disclose a secret. Longhu Commune has now connected with a Shadow Candidate who is a Time Traveler. Do you know what this means? If he wins the Shadow Contest, then our Longhu Commune will become one of the strongest Time Traveler Organizations in the country, thats Qings Family. Sun Chu Ci was momentarily stunned; this piece of news was somewhat unexpected. He hadnt thought that Longhu Commune had actually established a connection with a Shadow Candidate. And, among the famous Shadow Candidates, there was actually a Time Traveler?! Still, he hesitated for a long while before finally saying, Sorry, senior. Li Yi paused and then said, Since you refuse to join Longhu Commune, then from now on, Longhu Commune will not provide any assistance to you. Think it over. Sun Chu Ci said, Senior, I have thought it over. Li Yi harshly dropped a line, Look out for yourself. After hanging up the phone, Sun Chu Ci breathed a long sigh of relief. Tuan Zi said worriedly, Now that we have completely refused Senior Li Yi, wont they suppress us? Chapter 652 - 652 399 Qing Shuli_2 ?Chapter 652: 399, Qing Shuli_2 Chapter 652: 399, Qing Shuli_2 It wouldnt be too excessive, Chu Ci nodded, After all, were all Time Travelers, and alumni at that. Its not like wed likely stab each other in the back... Actually, even Chu Ci himself wasnt sure because the Longhu Commune had done similar things before. What Li Yi didnt know was that Chu Ci and the others were no longer that poor and destitute; they even had a surplus of weapons and equipment. Before returning, even a calm person like Chu Ci couldnt help but visit their armory every day. For the first couple of days, he even slept directly in the armory. It felt somewhat like sleeping on a pile of money after suddenly striking it rich overnight. So, they no longer needed to look to anyone elses face. Chu Ci looked at Tuan Zi and the others: Now that we have a foothold in City No. 10, I think, since Qing Chen Inspector has helped us several times, he definitely has some plans in mind, so theres no need to rush. We just wait. Theres no such thing in this world as love without a reason, nor hatred without cause. Tuan Zi and the rest had always been puzzled as to why Qing Chen Inspector would help them so much. After picking up the gun and calming down to think for two days, Chu Ci finally figured it out. They were useful to Qing Chen. Most things in this world that are incomprehensible can be understood once reviewed from the perspective of interest. Chu Ci looked at Tuan Zi and said, Rather than joining the Longhu Commune, its better to think about how to get closer to that Qing Chen Inspector. Although he certainly doesnt have as high a status within the Qings Family as the Shadow Candidates... hes much easier to get along with than the people from Longhu Commune. Suddenly, Tuan Zi asked, Senior, do you think we have the chance to become Time Traveler organizations like Daylight, Matrix, or Red Leaves? Chu Ci laughed and said, Youre thinking too far ahead. If we can be like the Freemasonry established by my cousin, Nangong Yuanyu, that would be great. Last time I returned, I even heard they got connected with Daylight. Were going to have a long time after we return this time, why dont we take a trip to Los Angeles together? The high-speed train takes only half an hour to get there. Tuan Zis eyes lit up: Is there a lot of good food in Los Angeles? It seems theres quite a lot. This time travel lasted so long that all Time Travelers, after returning, suddenly felt like they were on vacation. They couldnt help but want to go out and relax. In fact, Chu Ci and his people were already doing quite well. You have to know, some Time Travelers have no means of making a living in the Inner World and can only earnestly go to work in factories. It means literally working every single day for 30 days, eating 30 days of Inner World fast food. Then there are second-generation rich Time Travelers who, while having no means of making a living, can bring gold bars from the Outer World. But in the past, the travel was only 7 days long, and everybody managed to get by. Just by putting a couple of small gold bars in their mouths before traveling, they could live quite comfortably in the Inner World. But this time, 30 days was simply too long. The gold bars they brought and converted into money were spent in less than half a month, forcing even the rich second generation to become workers... This made some rich second-generation parents incredibly happy. Its as if the kids underwent a transformation through each travel experience. Those who used to be picky eaters completely got over it and now find everything delicious. So, many people felt a sense of vacation upon this return. The first thing they did upon coming back was to eat at a late-night hotpot restaurant, then get a few good nights sleep, maybe go traveling somewhere. Surprisingly, those dandies who had wormed their way into Cell No. 10 following Liu Dezhu seemed to become the biggest winners. In these 30 days, they had completed the public prosecution phase and were officially transferred to Cell No. 10. The dandies joyfully went to look for Liu Dezhu, only to be told by their fellow inmates that Liu had already been released... At that moment, the despair on the dandies faces was almost palpable. During their time in Cell No. 10, they spent every day planning how to confront Liu Dezhu after their return and how to settle accounts with him. Cell No. 10, being a prison for important Federation figures, always received more funding than other prisons. The food and environment were much better than in other prisons. At this moment, the original plan of the dandies to question Liu Dezhu turned into a sense of fortune when seeing the plight of other Time Travelers on the trending searches. They suddenly felt fortunate...? This left the dandies a bit bewildered... ... ... In a small row house in the Los Angeles National Treasure Garden Villa Area, Zhang Wanfang sat on the living room sofa looking at her husband Qing Shuli: You said youve become a Time Traveler? How did you suddenly become a Time Traveler? As she spoke, Zhang Wanfangs eyes were red, and their previously tranquil life had been unexpectedly disrupted. Just past midnight today, as Qing Shuli finished up his work, he suddenly said a countdown had appeared on his arm. Qing Shuli was also surprised, this news completely stunned both him and Zhang Wanfang. They had both heard about how dangerous the Inner World could be, and it also meant that despite being together, suddenly the couple would be in a long-distance relationship. Qing Shuli frowned, Why have I suddenly become a Time Traveler? He had always been keeping up with news about Time Travelers, so he knew some information. To travel, you need to meet three conditions: the same location, the same name, and the same genes. But thinking from the perspective of location, if Inner World Qing Shuli was also in Los Angeles, then he should have become a Time Traveler a long time ago, so why did it suddenly happen today? Chapter 653 - 653 399 Qing Shuli_3 ?Chapter 653: 399, Qing Shuli_3 Chapter 653: 399, Qing Shuli_3 Could it be that Qing Shuli from the Inner World had just arrived in City 18? Was he not there before? But regardless of why Qing Shuli became a Time Traveler, what he should consider most is how to keep himself alive. Wait, I heard that Luo Wanya is also a Time Traveler, including his subordinates, Qing Shuli thought of something, If he is a Time Traveler, he should also be in City 18, right? Could I perhaps ask for his help? Zhang Wanfang hesitated, You said before that he isnt a good person, wouldnt asking for his help possibly harm you instead? Theres no other way now, I can only try asking, Qing Shuli got up, put on his coat, wrapped his scarf, and walked towards the deeper part of the villa area with Zhang Wanfang. As they walked, Qing Shuli said, Lets first establish ourselves in the Inner World. If our safety is guaranteed, maybe becoming a Time Traveler is a good thing... Perhaps we could pay some money to have General Luo look out for us. Hmm, Zhang Wanfang responded solemnly. At this moment, her concerns were entirely focused on her husbands safety; she couldnt think of anything else. However, the next moment, before they even reached the deeper part of the villa area, they saw a top-end, dual-tone Mercedes Maybach driving out from a small path. The driver was Luo Wanya, and it seemed there was another person in the back seat, but the individuals appearance was obscured behind the front seat, completely unrecognizable. It was now early morning, and the light inside the car was dim with no lights turned on, and the administrative-grade tinted car windows were all anti-peeping. When Zhang Wanfang saw Luo Wanya, she waved her arms vigorously and shouted, General Luo, stop for a moment! Please stop! Luo Wanya looked back and asked in a low voice, Boss, should I stop the car? Qing Chen said, Lets stop for a moment, see what they want, and dont let them know Im in the car. The Maybach stopped, and Luo Wanya got out of the car and asked in puzzlement, Whats the matter? Qing Shuli spoke clearly, A countdown suddenly appeared on my arm, and I havent been out of town recently, so I might become a Time Traveler from City 18... I heard you are also a Time Traveler, and a very formidable one at that. Could I please ask for your help in City 18? While speaking, Qing Shuli couldnt help but look toward the car, but his view was blocked by Luo Wanyas sturdy figure. Qing Shuli thought, there are rules about who sits where in a carusually, those of lower status drive while those of higher status sit in the back. In Qing Shulis view, Luo Wanya was already a prominent figure in Los Angeles City, so who could be of such status that Luo Wanya would serve as a driver? Luo Wanya glanced at Qing Shuli. He knew very well who this man was, operating a medium-sized machinery manufacturing factory and dealing in export trade. But that wasnt important; what was important was that this man was the current husband of Qing Chens mother, Zhang Wanfang. When he first encountered Zhang Wanfang and Qing Shuli at the door, it might have appeared nonchalant, but after returning, he had done quite some work. For example, a street-smart person like Luo Wanya, meticulous as hair, how could he blindly follow others without any preliminary investigation? However, whether Qing Shuli would be looked after now that he became a Time Traveler was not something Luo Wanya could decide anymore, The two of you, I have to take my boss to the North Suburbs Airport. Can we talk about your matter when I return? This countdown is long, and theres no rush at this moment. Qing Shuli was stunned for a moment. Luo Wanyas boss? How had he never heard before that Luo Wanya had a boss? He quickly said, Alright, you go ahead with your tasks. I live in Cherry Blossom Town Phase One, 27-101, and here is my business card; you can call me anytime. Luo Wanya got back into the car and quickly drove away. Qing Shuli and Zhang Wanfang stood by the roadside, silently watching the vehicle drive away, the important figure in the back seat, had not said a word from beginning to end. Utterly mysterious. It was silent inside the car. Qing Chen asked, You called me boss, were you trying to test my identity? Luo Wanya replied with a slight embarrassment, Boss, please dont be angry or kill me to silence me; Im the best at reading people when roaming the rivers and lakes. Hu Xiaoniu, Nan Gengchen, and Jiang Xue in the daytime villa clearly looked at you with the eyes of a boss, I could definitely tell... Qing Chen smiled, No need to test, and dont worry too much, I wont silence you by killing you. Now you are also a formal member of the daytime, part of the family, knowing too much isnt an issue. Luo Wanya quickly said, Right, right, family! Honestly, when Luo Wanya discovered the truth of the matter, he was a bit shocked because he realized that it was this handsome young man who had played everyone around, and it was he alone who supported the mysterious and powerful daytime. Now, he had become a big figure in the 10th City. After arriving there, he had heard that his name and title, in the official circles of the 10th City, made people pale at the mention. Luo Wanya cautiously asked, What about this Qing Shuli? If the next time travel makes contact possible, help him out a bit, Qing Chen said calmly, Dont help too much, nor kick him when hes down, just let nature take its course. In Qing Chens view, Qing Shuli was just a normal person with some petty thoughts, who was merely maintaining his own family and hadnt done anything wrong. It wasnt something worth Qing Chen taking revenge over. Moreover, to Qing Chen, it was already a trivial matter, not even worth continuing the discussion. Qing Chen said, Do you know why I wanted you to take me to the airport? Luo Wanya whispered, Boss, you had something you wanted to discuss with me alone. Qing Chen nodded, First, I had seriously thought about revealing my identity to you tonight, and second, I wanted to remind you about the limits regarding Parents Meeting. Qing Chen continued, I know youre very good at brainwashing, but you also need to consider that the people you brainwash might go into a frenzy that leads to the collapse of their original families, driving them to a ruined life. So, even if you continue to expand, you must ensure that the members of the Parents Meeting stay on their original life tracks, not using them to gain benefits for you, not coaxing them into illegal activities. Luo Wanya cautiously asked, Then whats the purpose of me setting up this Parents Meeting? Qing Chen explained, They just need to continue their lives, then collect valuable intelligence from what they see and hear, and report it to you. After founding the Parents Meeting, Luo Wanya became a bit recklessly crazy. However, the clear-headed Qing Chen realized the harm the existence of the Parents Meeting could bring to those peoples families and to society as a whole. Thus, as the leader of the daytime, he had to keep the organization on the right track, and if anyone deviated, he had to take the responsibility to correct it. What Qing Chen needed was just a pervasive network of intelligence, nothing more. ... A 5000-character chapter, with another one at 11 PM tonight Chapter 654 - 654 400 going abroad ?Chapter 654: 400, going abroad Chapter 654: 400, going abroad Lao Luo, remember one thing, intelligence work should be silent like a moistening rain, not openly parading through the streets, Qing Chen said. Qing Chen reminisced to himself that Kite Falcons under the Spy Bureau always had their own jobs as cover and would never blatantly announce to the outside world that they were Kite Falcons. The Parents Meeting he wanted should also be like this. Although those family members had joined the organization, they should still gather intelligence for the organization within their own life trajectories. Moreover, they also needed to keep their family identities hidden, moving from overt to covert. Only in this way could they invisibly obtain truly useful information. The Parents Meeting needed to stay hidden within the Federation, not becoming an organization loathed by many like the Mechanicus. By then, Luo Wanya had understood Qing Chens intentions, realizing that what he had done in the past, albeit successful, did not align with Daytimes development strategy. Boss, I know what to do now, Luo Wanya said softly. Qing Chen continued, The task currently assigned to you is only one, after you complete the infiltration of the lower echelons of City 10, find Shadow Candidate Qing Yuan for me. He is currently Shadow Candidate Qing Yi, the one I support and the most worrying opponent in the battle of the Shadows. I suspect he is hidden in the civilian area, protected tightly by some Time Travelers. Luo Wanya shivered slightly, not having expected to be involved in the battle of the Shadows. It was, after all, a real battle for succession, one of the events closest to the core of consortium power. At that moment, Luo Wanya asked Qing Chen, Boss, where are you going this time? It was only his first day back, and while all the Time Travelers were busy catching their breath, Qing Chen had already booked his plane ticket, with no intention of resting. In just half an hour since his return, Qing Chen had arranged everything for Daytime as if settling his affairs. He had only taken enough cash in his UnionPay card for this trip, leaving the rest with Jiang Xue as operational funds for Daytimes future. He was like someone prepared to face death serenely, ready to venture alone to a foreign land. At a certain moment, Luo Wanya felt that Qing Chens actions resembled his own from more than a decade ago when he was preparing to flee and lay low. The first time Luo Wanya fled, he had a fake divorce with his wife and handed over all his assets to her, while he left with a small Golden Buddha necklace and a pure Gold Rolex watch to smuggle away. Taking the Golden Buddha and Gold Rolex were for easy liquidation while laying low abroadthese were the best assets for liquidation and the last capital for a comeback for people in their line of work. In the first year of laying low, his wife still called him occasionally. In the second year, there was no word from her. When he returned to the country, his wife had already remarried with all his property. Luo Wanya didnt confront that woman or demand money because he felt that it was his fault, and there was nothing to be said. Was there anything wrong with the woman? No. It was his own wrongdoing, why should she sacrifice her youth for him? However, Luo Wanya knew that Qing Chen was not leaving to lay low this time, which was definitely different from his situation. After all, he did not dare to use regular transportation back then. Therefore, Luo Wanya was puzzled about what the Daytime boss was up to, arranging all his affairs before leaving as if settling his last matters. This trip was evidently extremely dangerous. Qing Chen thought for a moment and said, Abroad. He was to take a flight from Los Angeles North Suburbs Airport to Guangcheng, then board Turkish Airlines Flight TK073 from Baiyun International Airport to Istanbul Airport. Next, he would take Flight TK1953 from Istanbul Airport to Schiphol Airport, reaching Amsterdam, Netherlands. The journey would take nearly 20 hours, and the first-class ticket cost over twenty-seven thousand yuan. If it had been before, Qing Chen would definitely have bought an economy-class ticket, but Hu Xiaoniu said that first-class passengers did not need to wait two hours in line for a visa. First-class passengers on international flights have a separate exit. So Qing Chen decisively switched to first class. Fair to say, when it comes to spending, Hu Xiaoniu and Zhang Tianzhen are somewhat more experienced. Qing Chen wasnt planning a pleasure trip abroad, but the third sites for his life-and-death challenge were not easy to find. Even at this trips destinations, he still needed to wait for opportunities to arise. Time waits for no man, and Qing Chen was not even sure if an opportunity would arise during these 30 days of his return. During the 30 days of transit, whenever he rested, he was secretly training in the Mysterious World under the philosophy of winning people over with virtue, all in preparation for this return. Luo Wanya asked again, Boss, is it really dangerous? Maybe you shouldnt go, were doing pretty well now arent we? You are already considered unattainable in others eyes, why risk your life? We have a saying that goes the son of wealth shall not sit in danger, which means those of high status shouldnt put themselves at risk... Suddenly, Qing Chen remembered the old man who had passed away in the sunlight, then he said to Luo Wanya, If youth were granted again, a measure of gold for a measure of bluster. Huh? Boss, what does that phrase mean? Luo Wanya, the straightforward man, was completely baffled. Qing Chen smiled, Its nothing, just drive your car. He was thinking. Chapter 655 - 655 400 going abroad_2 ?Chapter 655: 400, going abroad_2 Chapter 655: 400, going abroad_2 Yes, it seemed like everything was on the right track during the day, and he had gained some power as well. The Knights eight trials of life and death were a matter of survival each time. If he were to suddenly die now, wouldnt all his past efforts have been in vain? But if he were to shrink back, how would he be any different from the majority of mediocre people in this world? Perhaps many people couldnt understand the actions of Knights. In the Federation, Knights have many followers and believers, but even more people question why Knights, when idle, seek the thrill of extreme sports as if courting death. Qing Chen felt it was okay if they didnt understand. If everyone understood you, how mundane would you have to be? ... ... At midnight, a young man dressed in a gray suit sat on the balcony of a hotel room in Haicheng. He rested one hand on an elegant black cane embellished with silver, and with the other, he played with a Gold Coin. The coin danced lightly on the back of his hand. Just then, Kyushu Yucheng approached and whispered, Boss, the backstage notification shows that Qing Chen has booked a flight tonight to leave Los Angeles City. In two days, hes scheduled to take a flight from Turkey to Istanbul and then transfer to Amsterdam. Should we cancel your trip to Los Angeles City? He Jinqiu raised an eyebrow, Whats he going so far for? Yu Cheng thought for a moment, Maybe hes traveling...? He Jinqiu shook his head, Traveling? How could he be traveling leisurely now? Qing Chen must have a purpose for going to Istanbul. Have our people overseas look into it; I want to know what hes up to. The Time Traveler Organization in Kyushu is responsible for international affairs, and their power abroad is even stronger than domestic. Nowadays, Europe doesnt produce Time Travelers. The only places that offer Public Test Qualifications are within the mainland and North America. However, many Time Travelers worldwide like to head there. Its because Europe has few Time Travelers. Better to be a big fish in a small pond than a small fish in a big one. For example, within the mainland, an E-Class Time Traveler is not much to speak of; they still have to humble themselves, especially with immense entities like Kyushu and Kunlun reigning. But in Europe, in the absence of Time Travelers, many of them become stars. Just performing with Mechanical arms at theaters on tour, they can earn a fortune in one week. Its like if the Island Country actually had Ultraman, then Ultraman could make hundreds of thousands just by showing up for a promotional event... So, there is a gray industry chain where people specifically organize Time Travelers to make money abroad. Because its not allowed for Time Travelers with mechanical limbs to leave the country, these organizers specifically find individuals with intact limbs, waiting until theyre in the Outer World to swap for mechanical limbs in the Inner World. Of course, this industry chain is also hazardous; you never know when you might get targeted. There have been attempts to trade Mechanical arms as body parts for profit, such as installing them in the Inner World then selling them in the Outer World. But there are two issues with this: first, the money earned in the Outer World, even converted to gold, might not be enough to buy Mechanical arms in the Inner World. Its hard to balance the finances between the two worlds, after all, theres a limit to how much gold you can carry. Second, theres no sophisticated technology in the Outer World for disassembling Mechanical arms. One wrong move, and you could bleed out and die. So, performing is a better deal; you make painless money. But this business is just too simple and lacks technical content. Now many people in Europe earn this way, touring like a circus, causing even ticket prices to begin to depress due to competition. Gradually, Time Travelers with only crude Mechanical arms can only perform in the countryside. A battle performance featuring Mechanical arms charges 20 euros for a ticket, and children are charged 5 euros to touch a Mechanical arm. Its almost like the Thailand ladyboy industry. All of a sudden, it greatly reduces the dignity of Time Travelers... Of course, there are other industries. For instance, in todays European football leagues, if a player doesnt inject a Genetic Potion, they cant even take the field. Without E-Class strength, all they can do is sit on the bench. So, the European Cup now is like a battle among Immortals. A goalkeeper kicks the ball from their own goal area, and if an ordinary player tries to stop it with their body, they could end up with several broken ribs right on the spot. Instant death is quite possible. After a match, several footballs could be ruined. Not just football leagues, North American American Football is even more exaggerated. Thats where the real big money is made. Of course, some Time Travelers have started acting in movies now, with fees approaching those of top international superstars. So, the emergence of Time Travelers has brought about tremendous change to the entire world. And Kyushu has its own offices in Berlin, Rome, and London. He Jinqiu often travels to these places. However... He Jinqiu hasnt encountered an opponent in Europe yet. Several EU member states have already restricted his entry, primarily because he causes too much trouble overseas, and theyre at a loss for what to do with him. Sitting on the hotels balcony, He Jinqiu pondered and said, The Netherlands hasnt restricted me yet, right? Book me a flight; Ill take a trip to Amsterdam as well. Yu Cheng asked curiously, Boss, what are you going there for? Qing Chen underestimates his own influence, He Jinqiu said with a smile, Hes manageable within the country, but once he goes abroad, hes bound to be targeted by Jindai and Deer Island. He just swindled two consortiums in City 10; how can they not seek retribution? This might be a good opportunity for me to befriend Qing Chen. If I can persuade him to leave Los Angeles City and join Kyushu, It would save me a lot of trouble in the future. Chapter 656 - 656 400 going abroad_3 ?Chapter 656: 400, going abroad_3 Chapter 656: 400, going abroad_3 Is he really that impressive? His power level doesnt seem very high, Yu Cheng wondered. What I value is his intelligence, He Jinqiu smiled and said, Even if we cant draw him to our side, its fine. We can start by being friends. The significant events that occurred in City No. 10 during the last crossing period had drawn He Jinqius attention to that Inspector from Intelligence Department One Group Seven. What surprised him the most was the Inspectors name. He Jinqiu didnt know how Qing Chen managed to become a PCA Inspector in just a few months, but at this moment, Qing Chen had undoubtedly become one of the most crucial individuals among the Time Travelers. Moreover, the relationship between Qing Chen and Li Changqing was very good. In Hus Information Agency, if He Jinqiu wanted to become the Executive Director and truly hold power, he would need many allies. Therefore, maintaining the relationship with Li Changqing through Qing Chen became even more important. He Jinqiu had originally planned to go to Los Angeles City tonight and pay a personal visit, but he didnt expect Qing Chen to leave ahead of schedule. Yu Cheng said in a low voice, Boss, with you suddenly going out, we cant pull our people back in time, and North America might try to target you. He Jinqiu stood up gracefully and walked towards the door, Just as well, I havent seen some old friends in Europe for a long time... although I feel they might not want to see me. ... ... A day later, the wide and bright Baiyun International Airport resounded with an announcement: Attention all passengers, the TK073 flight to Istanbul is now ready for boarding. Please proceed to gate 22 for boarding. A long queue had formed at gate 22, filled with tourists or business personnel heading to Turkey. A young man approached the first-class priority lane of the boarding gate and handed over his documents. The ground staff took a glance at himit was somewhat unusual that international flight passengers usually have luggage, while this young man didnt bring anything, and there was no checked luggage indicated on his ticket. It was quite rare to see passengers travel so light. And rarer still was such an attractive passenger. The young man looked up at the ground staff and asked with curiosity, Is there a problem? No, its nothing, the ground staff responded calmly. Actually, there was nothing unusual; they encountered all sorts of passengers every day. The young man wasnt anything out of the ordinary for them. Following the young man, there were three other first-class passengers. A Chinese youth who appeared somewhat sluggish, accompanied by a foreign couple. The young man sat in the comfortable first-class cabin, resting with his eyes closed, waiting for the plane to take off. A beautiful flight attendant crouched in front of him with a smile, Are you Mr. Qing Chen? Here are the slippers and towel prepared for you. What would you like to drink... and what should we prepare for your breakfast tomorrow? Also, you can scan the QR code in front of you to access the internet during the flight. After thinking a moment, Qing Chen said, A glass of mineral water, thank you. The flight attendant suddenly asked with a friendly smile, Mr. Qing Chen, what are you traveling to Europe for? Qing Chen smiled, showing his white teeth, and said, Crab fishing. The flight attendant was taken aback for a momentcrab fishing? That was probably the strangest reason for traveling abroad shed heard. She stood up and left, thinking the passenger probably didnt want to talk anymore, which is why he gave such an odd excuse. However, Qing Chen really was going crab fishing. It was deep winter now, the prime season for fishing for Alaska King Crab, which was also one of the times when the seas above 40 degrees north latitude were the roughest. This was one of the most dangerous industries in the world, with an average of one crew member dying every seven days. The crew had to work high-intensity shifts of 20 hours a day in the icy seas at 52 degrees north latitude, braving temperatures of 10 degrees below zero, fishing for Alaska King Crab from the seabed. The ship would be covered with frost, and the crab cages would form thick layers of ice. The frigid seawater left everyones skin numb, their noses red with the cold. Sometimes, people also called the Alaska King Crab Snow Crab. What Qing Chen was challenging himself with this time was the extreme sport of surfing 30-meter-high waves. Under normal circumstances, the highest waves in Chinas coastal areas were only 19 meters. To find waves over 30 meters, one had to be in a place above 40 degrees north latitude, where the seas between two continental plates were narrow. The tide would surge from south to north and then get squeezed by the continents bight-shaped half, ultimately forming giant waves. Because of that, Qing Chen needed more time to wait for a 30-meter wave big enough for his challengeanything less would not do. What did a 30-meter wave imply? It was equivalent to a 9-story building. A wave of that magnitude crashing down was like a high-rise collapsing, and any slight miscalculation could pull the challenger into the depths. Such waves didnt stand still like insurmountable cliffs waiting there forever, ready for you to climb at any time. Hence, Qing Chen had to take the crab-fishing boat and wait and look for the kind of stormy weather that the crew and captains hated most. Qing Chen chose the 30-meter wave as the third life-and-death challenge because he discovered that B-Class and above Time Travelers in the Outer World had also started dying. For instance, on the North Royal City Road of Los Angeles, where He Jinqiu had killed experts from the Jindai family, spring flowers by the roadside had bloomed prematurely during the cold winter. The two black pine trees by the road had also grown a meter taller in just a few days. All these signs indicated that the Outer World might develop Taboo Lands. So Qing Chen was quite worried that the deaths of powerful beings in the Outer World could sever the sea routes here as well, turning it into a Forbidden Sea. By then, the path of a Knight would truly be down to just one. ... A chapter of 5,000 words, 10,000 words updated today, the owed 5,000 words will be made up by the day after tomorrow at the latest Chapter 657 - 657 401 Arctic ?Chapter 657: 401, Arctic Chapter 657: 401, Arctic This was Qing Chens first time traveling to a foreign land, and inevitably, some apprehension stirred within him. He worried whether he would be able to adapt to the food in Amsterdam. He worried that his English, which he thought was fluent, might sound broken to foreigners. He worried whether he could successfully land a job on a crabbing boat. He worried whether he would truly encounter challenging waves. 30-meter waves were the mighty force of nature, elusive and sought-after. Qing Chen sat in the plush seat of the first class, and once the airplane entered the stratosphere, he comfortably closed his eyes to recall the information Yan Chunmi had given him. Information about Qing Xing. After Yan Chunmi caused a huge commotion in Blossom Community and removed all of Qing Xings hidden stakes in a rather melodramatic way, that third-tier actress immediately became subdued, routinely filming, working, and auditioning. Just like a real actress. This truly disgusted Qing Xing; he had to rent a separate house for the security personnel to live in. However, it was this act of renting that allowed the other Kite Falcons under Qing Chens command to find an opportunity to thoroughly investigate all the security forces around Qing Xing. There were 24 security personnel stationed permanently, working in three shifts of eight people each, surveilling the Blossom Community around the clock. But this was not Qing Chens main concern; his focus was on Qing Xings lifestyle. In his mind, he compiled all the details related to Qing Xing and discovered that the other party never wore rings, watches, or necklaces. One could say he wore no decorative items at all. Furthermore, Qing Xing would change into different outfits every day, never repeating the same outfit in a month. On regular days, besides clothing, there were no other superfluous personal items. This meant that Qing Xing indeed did not carry the taboo item on his person, nor did he know where it was hidden. Of course, there were taboo items like benevolence charms that could be stored within the body without leaving any trace. But in strict terms, benevolence charms are not taboo items; they were a gift from Yang Xiaojun to Yi, and this woman was not yet dead. Strictly speaking, only the rule items exuded by dead Transcendents are considered taboo items. In the known sequence of taboo items, none can be stored within the body like benevolence charms. Thus, Qing Chen boldly assumed that Qing Xings taboo item also could not be stored within the body. Then, there are taboo items that exist in the form of tattoos, like the Devils Stamp. But Qing Xing was very fond of swimming, and much evidence showed that he did not have any tattoos on his body. Unless... the taboo item was tattooed on Qing Xings buttocks. Qing Chen felt this was also unlikely; taboo items, being active entities, also have their dignity and wouldnt idly sit on someones butt. Now, having ruled out the possibility that Qing Xing carried the taboo item on his person, where could he be hiding it? Qing Chen, with his eyes closed, furrowed his brow deeply. In the five days that Yan Chunmi had kept him under surveillance, aside from going home and visiting Intelligence Department Three, Qing Xing had visited a total of 37 public places, never repeating any of them. If it were a hiding place for the taboo item, Qing Xing would likely have visited it frequently. Could Qing Xing have hidden the taboo item in Intelligence Department Three? No, if so, it would have been seized by Qing Wen and the other Shadow Candidates long ago. Hidden at home? Incorrect, Qing Yi went to arrest people at Intelligence Department Three in the afternoon, while Qing Chens fate was decided by evening. Qing Chen had specifically asked Yan Chunmi to investigate Qing Xings movements that day. After Qing Yis arrest, Qing Xing left Intelligence Department Three but did not return home. Qing Chens thoughts accelerated, and he kept summarizing Qing Xings patterns, only to realize that this guy had absolutely no pattern at all. Wait. There was a pattern. Qing Chen suddenly realized that he might have been oblivious to two clear patterns. The first pattern was that Qing Xing always picked up money when he went out. The second pattern was that he went out every day. Regardless of the weather, out of 365 days a year, Qing Xing spent about 340 days unyieldingly going out to play, wander, and meet people. As if... he went out just to pick up money, like missing a day out would lead to a loss of something. Qing Chen opened his eyes, feeling that he might have a direction for his guess C perhaps the clue about Qing Xing was hidden in this money-picking habit. Although he didnt know how it was done, Qing Chen had already faintly realized that Qing Xings daily outings to pick up money were related to hiding the taboo item. ... ... At midnight, the passengers in first class around Qing Chen had already reclined their seats into flat beds, covered themselves with blankets, and fallen into a deep sleep, or were lying back watching movies. Yet Qing Chen was still in his mind, simulating surfing over and over. He had to force himself to keep training because at sea he would face many uncertainties, and the strong winds might bring waves not just 30 meters high, but possibly 40 or even 45 meters. A slight mistake by Qing Chen could result in his complete burial at sea. At that moment, a flight attendant saw Qing Chen still sitting upright in his seat. Thinking he might be unfamiliar with how to adjust the seat into its flat lying mode, she walked over to remind him. After all, it was normal for people not to know since most domestic flights, even in business class, only allowed minor adjustments to the backrest. However, just as the flight attendant approached, she suddenly saw the young man in the dim cabin abruptly open his eyes, staring at her with an intense gaze. For some reason, she felt as if her heart had skipped a beat, a momentary fear overtaking her. Chapter 658 - 658 401 Arctic_2 ?Chapter 658: 401, Arctic_2 Chapter 658: 401, Arctic_2 It was only when she approached that she saw the teenager was holding a deck of cards, continuously shuffling and cutting the deck in his hands. The flight attendant seemed captivated by the scene, her mind going blank for a moment. The aura of a killer can be very elusive. Ordinary people killing chickens will find the birds constantly struggling. However, when butchers at a farmers market kill chickens, they simply reach into the cage, and all the chickens quiet down, resigned to their fate. Dogs in the village bark at strangers, but when faced with dog thieves who kill dogs daily, they submit quietly. Its like an oppression in their bloodline, leaving them frozen stiff. This thing is invisible, yet it seems to truly exist. And thats what the flight attendant seemed to feel in that moment. Qing Chen smiled, Is there something you need? The flight attendant hesitated, feeling as if her fear melted away the instant he smiled. Like the snow on a roof disappearing when the sun comes out. After a moment, the flight attendant said, Sir, you can flatten your seat by pressing the button on the left side. There are still 9 hours until we arrive in Istanbul, so you can get some sleep. Qing Chen replied with a smile, Alright, thank you. Having said that, he continued to sit upright with his eyes closed to rest. During boarding, Qing Chen noticed that at least 7 passengers in line had looked at him more than five times, with one young man looking at him 17 times. It wasnt that Qing Chen was too sensitive, but that one must be extra cautious when traveling. He was quite certain that Kyushu and Kunlun had the ability to know his flight information in advance, and even Jindai and Deer Island might be keeping a close watch on him. There must be someone on this flight following him. Thus, Qing Chen had to keep himself ready to face combat at all times. Not showing any weak spots was what he needed to do. This time, he only carried a cellphone, a wallet, and a deck of playing cards in his pocket. For others, carrying weapons across borders is difficult, especially since global security has become extremely strict after the 9/11 incidents. But thats when the advantage of the Autumn Leaf Knife came into play, an unassuming deck of playing cards that could become a lethal weapon at any moment. Having heard that the security in Europe was less than ideal, Qing Chen thought to himself that carrying a deck of playing cards for self-defense shouldnt be too excessive, right? After 9 hours, the flight attendant who had been startled by Qing Chen couldnt help but glance at him again. But whenever she looked, the young man was always sitting upright, eyes closed. With anyone approaching, those closed eyes would open at any moment. The action of shuffling cards in his hand would also suddenly stop. The flight attendant was certain that the young man had sat for nearly 11 hours, remaining alert and maintaining a high level of vigilance the entire time. She thought to herself, could this be one of those legendary top-tier assassins, like Agent 47 from Western movies? The young flight attendant couldnt help but complete a fantasy drama in her mind, passing the boring time on the flight. Until the plane landed. Qing Chen, with no luggage, was the first to leave the plane to transfer to another flight, TK1953 headed for Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam. Surprisingly yet understandably, the people who had appeared to be following him had all disappeared. After all, it involved switching planes, and continuing to follow him would have been too blatantQing Chen wasnt foolish. But the stalkers were even more prepared than Qing Chen had anticipated. During his transfer at Istanbul Airport, they had switched out three people to follow him onto the plane to Amsterdam, and they even sat in first class... Qing Chen had chosen first class precisely because it allowed him to deplane early and go through the visa channel faster. If someone following him chose economy class, they would certainly fall behind. But to his surprise, the stalkers were willing to spare no expense, which made Qing Chen speculate that they must be the well-funded members of Kyushu. If it were Kunlun, there would have been no need for such measures, as it would have been enough for Xiao Ying or Lu Yuan to brazenly follow him. When the plane landed again at Schiphol Airport, Qing Chen quickly left. The three pursuers followed him closely through the crowd. One of the women intentionally walked in front of Qing Chen. Since everyone wanted to leave the airport, they all had to go through the visa inspection and entry formalities first. So if Qing Chen was in the front processing his visa, they would get stuck behind by the airport staff handling their paperwork, which is why they needed someone in front of Qing Chen to clear customs first. They were planning to use the sandwich method to surround Qing Chen from both sides. Unexpectedly, as the woman in front was walking quickly, she suddenly felt the ground give way beneath her, almost causing her to stumble to the floor. When she looked down, she discovered that the heel of her high-heeled shoe had been cleanly sliced through by something sharp, the cut surface smooth. The woman was shockedjust how sharp must something be to slice a heel so smoothly? Could someone have brought such a weapon through security? Before she could react, Qing Chen had already stepped ahead of her into the Amsterdam Border Quarantine Tunnel. The woman whispered to the two behind her, Keep close. However, just as Qing Chen passed the visa checkpoint, his pursuers behind began their inspection. The stalkers watched Qing Chen leave first with their own eyes, feeling anxious but not daring to barge through the quarantine port. Qing Chen entered a restroom, took a black sealed package from a bucket where a cleaner was rinsing a mop, went into a stall, and locked the door. Chapter 659 - 659 401 Arctic_3 ?Chapter 659: 401, Arctic_3 Chapter 659: 401, Arctic_3 In just 30 seconds, Qing Chen had taken off his reversible jacket and put it back on, and quickly changed into the shoes and pants from the sealed bag. His face also transformed into that of a stranger. No one knew who had placed the sealed bag in the bathroom, but it seemed that Qing Chen had known he would be followed and had prepared accordingly. Three followers passed through the visa channel and quickly arrived at the bathroom entrance, where Qing Chen brushed past them, but they did not realize it. They exchanged glances and each entered their respective genders bathroom to check, but Qing Chen was not there. The three moved swiftly through the crowd, searching, but Qing Chen had vanished like a drop of water into a river, completely disappearing from sight. The followers looked at each other, unable to fathom how he had managed to do it. It was as if he had performed a magic trick right before their eyes, a man just vanishing into thin air. One of the followers took out a phone to make a call, hesitating for a second before saying, Boss, weve lost him. He Jinqius laughter came through the phone as he asked, You three were given first-class tickets and still lost him? The follower felt somewhat ashamed, I dont know what happened, he just evaporated into the air, mysteriously disappearing. Moreover, he seemed to be carrying some kind of weapon; we were watching him closely from behind but didnt notice when he cut the heel of Wang Mengyaos shoe. Thats quite interesting, He Jinqiu said thoughtfully, Wasnt it cut by a playing card? No, the follower responded, If it were a playing card, no matter how fast the hand, we would have seen it. It looks like this trip to Europe is going to be fun, He Jinqiu instructed, Since youve lost him, let it be. Ill sort out domestic affairs and will arrive in Amsterdam in three days. Be careful over there, theres information suggesting that the North American Time Travelers are very active in Europe. Dont get into any conflicts with them before I arrive. Speaking up to this point, He Jinqius voice turned cold, Although losing him is normal, once you return home, go see Instructor Lu for two months of special training. The follower replied softly, Understood ... Europe, Africa, Australia, the Middle East, South America C regions without Time Travelers C were like the New World to them. Opportunities were everywhere. After arriving here, the North American Time Travelers immediately wanted to take over the new order from the indigenous European black forces, literally plowing through the mafia. Europe was, after all, the world of Caucasians, where North American Time Travelers had a greater advantage. They did not dare to provoke He Jinqiu lightly, but ordinary Kyushu members still needed to be cautious here. However, He Jinqiu was now even more curious, what exactly was Qing Chen, this young man, planning to do here? Could it be... he was setting the stage for Bai Zhus expansion to Europe during the day? Or, was he merely here to indulge in king crabs and large prawns?! At this very moment, in Kyushus headquarters in Jingcheng, He Jinqiu was sitting in his spacious office when Yu Cheng brought him a cup of coffee, Boss, do we need to make such a fuss for just Qing Chen? He Jinqiu looked up and smiled at him, You dont know what has recently happened in City No. 10. If you did, you would think he is the best candidate for Kyushu to take charge of the European underworld. If such a person were seated in Europe, I wouldnt have to fly over there on business anymore and could focus on dealing with the Future organization in the Middle East and North America. Isnt the slogan Let the Future have no future rather creative? Yu Cheng: ... What he didnt realize was that, behind He Jinqius desire to recruit Qing Chen, was the intention to hand over Kyushus European influence to this young man. Unknown to them, just outside Schiphol Airports exit, several assassins from Jindai and Deer Island stood in the cold wind. They had been standing from morning till night, nearly frozen silly. Yet, amidst the constant stream of people coming out of the airport, Qing Chens face never appeared; they almost believed he hadnt exited the station at all and had instead taken a return flight directly from the inside. Today, too many people were waiting for Qing Chen, his journey to Europe stirring the nerves of countless individuals. But the young man, in this far-flung foreign land, had simply vanished out of the blue. ... ... At eight in the evening, the Walnut Bar outside the harbor was bustling with life. Although the crab catchers were not due to set sail for another three days, preparation work always took place before departure. In the bar, sailors from all over Europe gathered, each holding a craft beer and drinking heartily. Soon, they would spend 15 non-stop days at sea, and in the first 30 hours, they needed to locate the most optimal crabbing area, meaning each person could sleep no more than four hours in that time frame. It was a job where you worked only 15 days a year but could earn 600,000; it was fraught with both danger and opportunity. The main habitats for king crabs were concentrated near the battle-hardened nation of Russia, in Jiri Bay, off the eastern side of America in the Bering Sea, and in the Barents Sea to the north of Europe. Each habitat produced about 10,000 tons of king crab annually. During this season, crab catchers from all three locations would gather, ready to partake of natures bounty. Chapter 660 - 660 401 Arctic_4 ?Chapter 660: 401, Arctic_4 Chapter 660: 401, Arctic_4 King crabs thrive in the ice-cold seas 270 meters deep, and after this season, fully grown King crabs will head to even deeper waters, making them harder to catch. At this moment, the Walnut Bar was permeated with a distinct damp odor, the salty fishiness of the sea brought in by sailors and captains, as if a group of marine creatures had gained sentience and gathered in the world of humans. The sailors were quietly drinking beer while stealthily eyeing the table in the middle, where three burly Nordic men and one Asian youth sat, creating a tense atmosphere. They were four captains in negotiation. A burly white captain looked at the Asian youth and said coldly, Zhang, your boat is too small. Over the years, everyone else has switched to 147-foot crabbing vessels, and only you are still using a 120-foot crabbing boat from over twenty years ago. This year, you spent four hundred thousand euros on repairs alone, not to mention the crab pots are all rented. One foot is approximately 30 centimeters, so a 120-foot boat would be around 40 meters in length. However, a 147-foot crabbing vessel isnt merely larger in size compared to a 120-foot crabbing boat. The cargo hold for storing King crabs, the crane arms for lifting the crab pots, theyre all on a wholly different level. Another captain said, We acknowledge your father was the finest Crab Catcher, he always found the best King Crab fishing zones every year. But Zhang, you really arent cut out for this line of work. Last year, you only made enough to cover the fuel, and this year, you even struggled to find any sailors willing to go to sea with you. Without an experienced captain and seasoned sailors on deck, the crew will meet their end. The young man named Zhang Jian had taken over the profession and the old crabbing boat from his father at an early age. His father had succumbed to lung cancer, leaving Zhang Jian nothing but an inheritance, a crabbing sea chart, and an old boat. Zhang Jian wasnt entirely inexperienced, as he had been going to sea with his father for several years. But when it came to skills and experience, handling situations, he indeed paled in comparison to the other captains. A sailors income is directly tied to the quantity of King crabs caught; so if the captain cant find the right fishing spots, then the sailors income would plummet. At the round table, Zhang Jian looked coldly at the other three captains and asked, You didnt call me over just to say a few rubbish words, did you? One white captain said, We know you have a 300,000-pound quota for this year. Sell it to us, and you could have a substantial income without even going to sea. Give us the boat, and you can be the shipowner. Another captain chimed in, Zhang, if you cant conquer the Barents Sea, let us do it. Here, a ship might not necessarily be privately owned; a vessel could have many shareholders. Shareholders may not know how to catch crabs but can invest and then receive dividends. And there are only so many vessels eligible for crabbing licenses. For example, if a ship has a quota of 300,000 pounds, exceeding this number would result in steep fines. This is one of Europes measures to protect the marine ecosystem. So, these captains saw that Zhang Jian, the Asian, couldnt complete a crew of seven sailors and sought to buy his quota at a low price, which would mean profit for everyone. But Zhang Jian wasnt willing to do that. He shook his head and said, This boat was left to me by my father, and I have the capability to steer it to the Barents Sea to catch King crabs. A ruckus of scoffs and jeers erupted in the Walnut Bar, as though Zhang Jian had just told a joke. One captain said, Last year, you only caught 70,000 pounds of King crabs in two trips, barely enough to pay for fuel. Zhang, sailors go out to sea to make a living, not to admire the scenery with you. This year, youve only recruited three sailors, one an old man who once sailed with your father, and the other two greenhorns with no sea experience. You still need at least two more even for the bare minimum. Can you recruit them? If not, how do you plan to go to sea? Another captain sneered, What, is the captain supposed to personally haul up the crab pots on deck? Then who would be at the helm in the wheelhouse? Zhang Jian looked defiantly at the captains, seemingly at a loss for a response. As the other party said, he indeed couldnt recruit the last two sailors. Every year, many newcomers wanted to join the crab catching industry at this port, and in theory, he could have tricked some novices into boarding his ship. But it seemed the captains had conspired, telling the newcomers about how miserable Zhang Jians last two years had been. As a result, Zhang Jian couldnt even recruit a full crew this year. However, just then, the door of the Walnut Bar was pushed open. The door chime jingled crisply as a gust of winter chill backdrafted into the bar, and a young man entered, smiling broadly, carrying the cold of winter with him. That gust of cold air felt like it had transported everyone ahead of time to the icy, bone-chilling Barents Sea, and the black night outside the bar resembled that black sea. The young man noticed everyone in the bar suddenly turned to look at him, and without any stage fright, asked in English, Good evening, everyone. I was told I could find work in crab catching here? Zhang Jians eyes lit up, but instantly dimmed again. Because he knew all too well what would happen next. And the young man looked too frail, too young; perhaps he had just graduated from high school? Or even dropped out of high school. He was indeed quite handsome, but the Barents Sea cared not for looks. A captain eyed the youth: Youre so young and already out working? The young man smiled: Is that not allowed? I need to support my family. I heard the Arctic hasnt filled its crew, which one of you is the captain of the Arctic? Zhang Jian raised his head: I am. But another captain chuckled to the young man, You want to join the Arctic as a sailor, but do you know that last year the Arctic barely made enough from catching King Crabs to cover its fuel costs? The young man explained with a smile, My teacher told me, in the first year of entering an industry, one shouldnt worry too much about incomegaining experience is key! A sailor joked, What kind of experience can you get on the Arctic? Learning how to play the harmonica from Zhang? Hes good at playing the harmonica, but not so much at catching King Crab. Last year I sailed with him, and I nearly got scolded to death by my wife for the meager pay I brought home. A captain looked at Zhang Jian and smiled, Besides, are you willing to let such a frail sailor on board? What could he possibly do on the deck? I fear he doesnt even have the strength to move the crab pots. Zhang Jian sat silently at the table, knowing that the young man would soon give up on the Arctic and then board another crabbing vessel, or perhaps leave Amsterdam altogether. In any case, he would not join the Arctic. By then, Zhang Jian didnt care whether the young man was frail or not; anyone willing to join the Arctic was welcome, even if it meant just cooking for the crew. The next moment, as Zhang Jian looked down, a hand suddenly extended towards him. He looked up in surprise to see the young man standing beside him, smiling, Youre the captain, right? My name is Qing Chen, and I happen to be Asian as well. Id be happy to join your Arctic if youll have me. Zhang Jian was stunned for a moment before quickly standing up to shake Qing Chens hand: Welcome aboard, Im so glad to have you. ... Seven thousand word chapter, another one coming at 11 PM Chapter 661 - 661 402 Go to the sea ?Chapter 661: 402, Go to the sea! Chapter 661: 402, Go to the sea! Congratulations to the Arctic for finding a new crew member! Cheers! In the dim light of Walnut Bar, a captain lifted his whiskey, though his tone had an indescribable tease to it. The sailors burst into laughter, Old John is getting old. The Arctic is left with all new crew members, they might not even be able to throw the grappling hooks properly. Zhang Jian glanced at the sailors, and said to Qing Chen in a low voice, Lets talk somewhere else, and we can discuss your salary and the job youll be doing. Sure, Qing Chen replied with a smile and a nod. However, just as they were preparing to leave, a captain named Kreg stood up and said, Wait a minute, this... Qing, my Alps also needs crew members. Why dont you join us? You will definitely earn more than you would on the Arctic. The sailors were stunned for a moment. The Alps was the crab fishing champion last year, and they were very strict in selecting their crew members, usually not opting for new ones. On the deck, all sailors shared the risks, together facing waves that could reach up to nine meters, or even higher. Everyone hoped to have an experienced old hand by their side when facing danger, as it would increase their own chances of survival. After all, this is one of the most dangerous professions in the world. For the sake of suppressing Zhang Jian and getting his hands on the quota, Kreg chose to poach from his opponent, which wasnt a wise move, considering that the Alps was already fully staffed, and Qing Chen was still a novice. But Kreg didnt say much more. He looked at Qing Chen and said, You just need to know how to cook, and the Alps can give you a spot. It dawned on everyone that Kreg was willing to pay to prevent Zhang Jian from gathering enough crew members, ultimately making it impossible for him to set sail. If Zhang Jian sold the quota, then even if Kreg had to support one extra person, it would still be profitable for him. Yet Qing Chen just smiled and said, No need, I prefer adventurous stuff. Seeing that Qing Chen had made up his mind, Kreg didnt say anything more. He then turned to Zhang Jian, Are you sure you want to use this young man? Look at him, does he have the strength to pull the crab pots on deck? Zhang Jian hesitated for a moment, Thats none of your concern. Qing Chen said with a grin, I am very strong. After saying that, he turned and left the Walnut Bar. Zhang Jian hurriedly followed. In the cold wind, Zhang Jian asked with a hint of excitement, How old are you this year? Qing Chen replied with a smile, Seventeen. Zhang Jian was taken aback, That young? The physical strength of an adult male typically fully develops around the age of 24. At 17, its not just about age; its about whether ones vigor and physical endurance can keep up with the rhythm of a crab fishing boat. However... Zhang Jian couldnt afford to be picky now. He instructed, Including you, we have a total of five crew members on our ship: me, Old John, Nedup, George, you. Once were on board, you just listen well to Old Johns instructions. Hell take good care of you... Hopefully, you can withstand it. Qing Chen changed the subject, curiously asking, Are you Chinese, do you speak Mandarin? I can speak it, but not fluently, Zhang Jian continued in English, My grandfather settled in Europe in the 1940s, has always been in the fishing industry, it was not until my fathers generation that we got our own fishing boat, and worked hard to get the King Crab fishing license, only I might lose it. Dont worry, Qing Chen said with a smile, Ill try my best not to drag everyone down. Zhang Jian then asked, Which ships have you worked on before, a cruise ship? It was typical for cruise ships to hire sailors like Qing Chen to work as waiters, but strictly speaking, such waiters didnt really count as sailors. Qing Chen explained earnestly, Actually, the upcoming crab fishing trip will be my first time out at sea. Zhang Jian looked at Qing Chen with his mouth agape in the dimly lit harbor street outside, What? Your first time at sea?! You arent joking with me, are you? Do you know how fierce the storms are in the Barents Sea? Ive seen waves as high as buildings during 50-knot hurricanes! You might not even know if you get seasick, and if you do, really no one on the ship has the time to take care of you. Qing Chen thought for a moment, Dont worry, I wont get seasick. At that moment, Zhang Jian suddenly felt that when he was talking about the severe storms at the Barents Sea, the new crew members eyes lit up as if he was looking forward to it. It was as if he was saying: Really? Thats great! Zhang Jian said earnestly, Qing Chen, its not that I disdain you for lacking experience as a sailor, its that Im responsible for your life. Honestly, I would very much like to take you aboard just to make up the numbers, but you will die at sea, you have no idea what we are going to face! So what? Qing Chen asked. So I cant take you to sea, you should go back, Zhang Jian said, This isnt the place for you. What if I asked for only the base salary, without a share, Qing Chen asked with a smile, Although Ive never been out to sea, Im a fast learner, and Im also willing to work hard. You should know how hardworking Chinese compatriots can be. Zhang Jian was tempted... The base salary for a crew member is very low, especially compared to a share of the catch. When going out to sea, the biggest costs are the ship, fuel, and people. If Qing Chen only wanted the base salary, it was as if he were picking up a free laborer. Qing Chen added, If I come on board, I can help with the work. If you dont let me on the ship, you wont have enough crew members, and you might not even have the standard four people on deck. Chapter 662 - 662 402 Set sail_2 ?Chapter 662: 402, Set sail!_2 Chapter 662: 402, Set sail!_2 On the deck, someone had to operate the crane; two people pulled up the crab cage, and someone sorted the King Crabs into the hold. If four people could not be assembled, there would really be no need to set sail. Zhang Jian fell silent, he might not be able to find any other crew members, having Qing Chen here, he shouldnt give up. After all, with Qing Chen included, their manpower was already stretched thin; they could not even take turns to rest. But Zhang Jian still said earnestly, No, Im tempted, but I cannot take you to sea and risk it. You dont know what youll face, but I do. Prolonged exhaustive work could kill you at sea. Qing Chen thought for a moment, What if I call another crew member, and both of us just take the base salary? Zhang Jian was stunned for a moment, That... might actually work. The next second, Qing Chen pulled out his phone and made a call, Hurry up, lets get on the boat together. Zhang Jian stood rooted to the spot in a daze; more than ten minutes later, he saw a girl in a lightweight hoodie and a beanie, carrying a small bag, walking toward them. Qing Chen said with a smile, Let me introduce you, this is Yangyang, my friend. Shes also willing to join us in the King Crab fishing. In fact, when Qing Chen decided to come overseas to complete the third life-and-death challenge, he had already thought of making Yangyang his Protector. The dangers faced by a Knight werent just from nature but also from the human heart. Qing Chen knew he was being targeted, so it probably wasnt too much to find a Protector at this time. After all, his mentor Chen Jiazhang had been deliberately sabotaged during a challenge, forcing Chen Jiazhang to abruptly reverse his Reverse Breathing Technique, cutting off his path to becoming a Demigod. Yangyang had arrived at Schiphol Airport a day earlier; even the black plastic bag that assisted Qing Chen in disguising his escape in the restroom, she had hidden there in advance. Before departing, Qing Chen had specifically reminded her to take a flight. Whenever possible, to avoid walking and not delay important matters. Fortunately, Yangyang had followed his instructions. However, Zhang Jian was completely flabbergasted. Could such a frail-looking girl truly serve as a crew member? A high school dropout like Qing Chen, a frail-looking girlhad his vessel, the Arctic, truly fallen to such a state? Zhang Jian asked, You two arent study-abroad students here for a life experience, are you? You dont have work visas either. Yangyang said with a grin, Does that matter? If were just taking the base salary, we might as well be considered tourists on the crabbing boat. But you two... Yangyang said seriously, I have a second place in a sailing competition and have crossed the Indian Ocean solo. Im a bit better than Qing Chen here. I know what we will encounter in the Barents Sea, so dont worry. Qing Chen turned to look at the girl with surprise, wondering why she started to downgrade him. Nevertheless, the girl seemed to be in a great mood; after a long journey, she fancied a trip and immediately agreed after receiving the call from Qing Chen. Zhang Jian silently sized up the young man and woman before him, feeling this years crabbing season was filled with absurdity. He mulled for a long time, finally saying, Alright, the first trip at sea will be about 7 days. If the two of you cant endure the hardships on board, you can leave when we return to port the first time. Typically, the crabbing season lasts 15 days and doesnt extend beyond a month. Crab boats will set out for multiple trips, returning only when their holds are full. The Arctics quota is 300,000 pounds, and its hold capacity is 150,000 pounds, so they would return to port once to unload, replenish fuel and fresh water, and then set sail again. Last year, however, the Arctic had a meager harvest, with just two trips yielding 70,000 pounds of King Crab, barely covering the fuel costs. This year, Zhang Jian spent 400,000 euros on ship repairs. After his fathers death, a significant inheritance tax was due, and even the 180 crab pots were rented, for 15 days, and had to be returned on time. So, Zhang Jian had no way out. He had to take a gamble this time. This was also why the other captains were squeezing him out, trying to snatch his quota. Qing Chen looked at Zhang Jian, By the way, what about the other crew members? In the two days waiting for the season to begin, somehow the word spread that this time the Arctic had hired a high school dropout and a female crew member. Soon, the sailors at the port were all abuzz with laughter, who would use a female crew member to catch King Crab? The work on a crabbing boat is intensely strenuous and cruel; not many women can withstand such tasks. In the pub, many started betting on how many King Crabs the Arctic would haul in that year. Some said it would be the same as last year, 70,000 pounds. Others said it might be even less than 50,000 pounds. Everyone believed that Zhang Jian might not even recoup the fuel costs this year, let alone afford the rental for the crab pots. Resorting to a pair of 17-year-olds as crew members meant Zhang Jian really had no other options. It seemed at the end of this crabbing season, Zhang Jian could only file for personal bankruptcy. From start to finish, no one thought Qing Chen and Yangyang could lend much help on the boat. ... ... Just before the day the season was about to start, a Turkish Airlines Boeing aircraft landed at Schiphol Airport. In first class, He Jinqiu stood up and stretched. The flight attendant warmly said, Mr. He, please take the shuttle prepared for first-class passengers to exit the airport. Chapter 663 - 663 402 Go to sea _3 ?Chapter 663: 402, Go to sea! _3 Chapter 663: 402, Go to sea! _3 He Jinqiu walked out, took two steps, then stopped and said to the flight attendant with a smile, Oh, right, I have a friend in economy class. He rode the shuttle bus with me. While he was speaking, Zheng Yuandong, dressed in a Zhongshan suit, came from the back of the cabin. His gloved hands tightly concealed his mechanical limbs. As the Kunlun Leader, he naturally didnt need to worry about international security checks. Amsterdam hadnt issued any special regulations for the entry and exit of Time Travelers; everyone was free to come and go, including He Jinqiu, the Leader of Kyushu who loved to stir up trouble overseas. He wasnt restricted from entering... This was one of the few European countries that didnt restrict He Jinqius entry... As He Jinqiu was getting off the plane, he spoke with fervor, Old squad leader, I really didnt expect to bump into you on this plane. Dont worry, I wont mind you getting involved in overseas affairs. If Kyushu and Kunlun could merge, you can meddle however you like. Zheng Yuandong gave him a cold glance, Bad luck. He Jinqiu wasnt offended and continued smiling, Youre here for Qing Chen too, right? You mustve heard that people from Jindai Kashima have suddenly entered the Netherlands, Amsterdam, so you know hes in danger. But, with both of us here, its bad luck for them. Lets teach North America and Jindai Kashima a lesson and show them what it means to display the might of our country. Zheng Yuandong glanced at He Jinqiu and said, Starting disputes does not interest me much. Theres just someone I need to kill, thats all. He Jinqiu chuckled, That must be the one skilled at creating illusions, right? Have you found him? So, he stirred up trouble domestically, and Zheng boss, youd chase him down even overseas just to kill himsounds very impressive. Dont worry, with our combined forces, hes as good as dead. Your last name is Zheng, mine is He; put that together, and were Zheng He setting off to the West. Back when Zheng He went to the Western seas, he definitely showed those... Zheng Yuandong interrupted with a look, Can you show some culture? Zheng He sailed the Indian Ocean, he never came here. He Jinqiu laughed, Im talking about the Atlantic, no mistake there, right? Zheng Yuandong looked at He Jinqiu, Where is Qing Chen now? I dont know. You dont know?! He Jinqiu felt a bit displeased as he boarded the shuttle bus, Kyushu only has three offices in Europe. With such a large population, how could I keep track of him? Not just me, but Jindai and Deer Island cant find him either. You have no idea, these days many people are looking for him, but he hasnt checked into any hotels, nor has he made any credit transactions. All the public places he might go have been searchedtourist spots are under surveillance, and famous restaurants are being watched. But this guy just vanished into thin air. Finding a person can sometimes be easy, but also very difficult. Usually, people start with traces, like places where a UnionPay card was used, or places the person might go to. But at this critical moment, Qing Chen didnt go to any places people speculated. It almost made people wonder, what on earth did he come here for?! Nobody could have imagined that Qing Chen had gone through so much trouble to fly first class for 27,000 yuan just to work! And it was on one of the most dangerous crabbing boats in the world! Who in their right mind as a Time Traveler would go to work?! He Jinqiu said, Now, we can only wait for him to appear. If he doesnt show up, nobody will make a move. ... ... Meanwhile, Qing Chen, who the whole world was searching for, had just arrived at the port where the Arctic was docked. He looked up at the freshly painted Arctic and thought the blue and white ship looked quite nice. The upper half of the Arctics hull was white, while the lower half was deep blue, looking as if it were wearing a naval uniform. However, Qing Chen noticed as he boarded that the railings on the ship were a bit ruined. Only when looking at the details on the Arctic did one realize it was a crabbing boat struggling to stay afloat. Zhang Jians expression was complex when he saw the two, Are you really going to sea? Qing Chen grinned, Were not jokers. By the way, where are the other crew members? Zhang Jian looked even more distressed, Nedup is on the ship tying the crab cages, Old John just finished drinking and fell asleep in the cabin, and George... called at the last minute to say he wouldnt be coming. I heard hes now on Kregs Alps boat. What? Is it possible to suddenly back out like that? Were supposed to go crab fishing todaywhat are we supposed to do now with one person short? Qing Chen asked. Actually, Qing Chen was more worried about what would happen if the boat couldnt sail on time. How then would he get to the Barents Sea? For a moment, he even thought about calling He Jinqiu, boss He, to get some reinforcements. He knew Kyushu must have some experts here, and after all, he had helped them in their fight against Jindai and Deer Island back in Los Angeles City. It wouldnt be too much to ask to pull someone in to fill the numbers, right? But then again, if he directly brought over boss He, the Arctics voyage wouldnt look like crab fishing anymoreit would rather seem like they were heading out to hunt whales or kill someone... After much hesitation, Zhang Jian finally made a call to Kreg on the Alps boat, Im thinking of selling my quota. But he heard Kregs arrogant laughter in response, If youre selling now, Ill take it for half price... Without letting him finish, Zhang Jian hung up the phone with a grim expression. Chapter 664 - 664 402 Go to sea_4 ?Chapter 664: 402, Go to sea!_4 Chapter 664: 402, Go to sea!_4 Zhang Jian turned to Qing Chen and said, Theres nothing we can do now. Even if George doesnt show up, we have to try heading out to sea. Of course, if you feel we are short of people, its still not too late to back out... But if youre willing to stay, I am ready to tear up the previous contract and give you a share of the profits! No worries, Qing Chen laughed. Theres an old Chinese saying: Since were here, we might as well stay. Lets set sail! As long as they could safely reach the Barents Sea, Qing Chen didnt care about how many King Crabs they would actually catch. Carrying a long backpack, Qing Chen boarded the deck and saw a string of silver crosses hanging on the bow and asked, Whats that? Zhang Jian explained, Theyre lucky charms. Every captain prepares many of them to bless us with safety on the Barents Sea... Whats in the bag youre carrying? Qing Chen grinned and said, This? This is my lucky charm. Zhang Jian: ... Sailors lucky charms were all sorts of strange, some carried necklaces given by family members, and some had a doll, but Qing Chens lucky charm was clearly the largest among all sailors. Thats clearly a surfboard in the bag, buddy! Zhang Jian felt puzzled. Surely the young man wasnt planning to surf in the Barents Sea? Once aboard, Old John staggered out from the cabin and said to Zhang Jian, I am joining this voyage because your father once saved my life. Remember, dont look for me next year. If you cant even find proper crew members, why are you so determined to conquer the Barents Sea? Thats a place for the strong. Zhang Jian was a bit embarrassed; without saying anything, he walked into the wheelhouse and slowly steered the Arctic away from the harbor. Just as they were about to leave the harbor, the Alps quickly sailed past the Arctic. Seven sailors laughed and joked, leaning on the deck railing, teasing and pointing at Qing Chen and Young Young on the Arctic. Qing Chen stood on the deck looking at Young Young and said, This is too sad. Young Young laughed and replied, It really is. Just then, Young Youngs phone rang, and she answered, Hello, I cant come back now, Im overseas. A loud voice on the other end of the line asked in surprise, Wait, when did you go there, and why didnt you tell me, your best friend, before leaving? Im in Amsterdam right now, lets talk when I get back, said Young Young. What are you doing in Amsterdam? Young Youngs best friend asked. Young Young thought for a moment and then replied with a laugh, On a honeymoon. Young Youngs best friend: ??? Qing Chen: ??? Indeed, Young Young was still that Young Young who could casually steer the conversation... The Arctic headed out to sea. They would face a 20-hour journey before finally reaching the crabbing area in the Barents Sea. On the way, a cigarette was never out of Old Johns hand. Nicotine was something the crew members working at high intensity needed the most. It was said that many sailors didnt die from maritime disasters but from lung cancer. After the ship set sail, Old John hadnt had a drop of alcohol. He was sober now, watching Qing Chen, Young Young, and the young Nedup: As per the old tradition, after setting sail, we bite the head of a cod, Qing, you do it. Cod is used as bait for crabbing. The dead fish smell was unbearably foul, making life seem difficult just by smelling it. Crab Catchers cut them open and put them in the crab pots to sink to the seabed and then wait for King Crabs to crawl into the pots themselves. Curious, Qing Chen asked, Why bite the head of a cod? Its a Crab Catcher tradition, Old John said slowly. Only by biting the fish head when we set sail can we hope for a good catch. The King Crabs eat this stuff, and by biting off the fish head, its like we are joining nature, reminding the crew to remain in awe. I see, Qing Chen didnt hesitate and immediately grabbed a cod and bit down. In an instant, a fishy and foul taste filled his mouth. What surprised Old John was that the Asian youngster didnt even frown. Actually, the Crab Catcher tradition was for the sailors to draw lots to decide who would bite, but Old John just wanted to give this fearless young man a hard time. He hadnt expected that the other party wouldnt care at all. It was only then that he noticed something odd. The crab fishing boat was rocking on the waves, but this Asian boy and girl stood on deck as if their feet were nailed to it, their bodies not swaying in the slightest. Old John muttered, maybe he had drunk fake alcohol. ... ... A 6000-word chapter, 13000 words updated today, making up for some owed, the rest to be returned tomorrow. Thank you to student ipo for becoming a member of the Silver League, such a generous boss. Thank you to Jiazi, Loving His Familys Big Cutie Sis, WayneW, Eternal Unrequited Love, Gaia the Earth Protector, Duan Duan Chen Feng, Autumn Crow, and other students for becoming new members of this books alliance. I wish the bosses have an easy job, unlike me who is so tired... Chapter 665 - 665 403 Humanoid Self-walking King Crab Radar ?Chapter 665: 403, Humanoid Self-walking King Crab Radar Chapter 665: 403, Humanoid Self-walking King Crab Radar The Arctic slowly sailed out of the harbor. The worn-out crabbing boats engine made strange noises, splitting the sea surface just like a cutter on a canvas. Nedup, a man in his thirties, was once a sailor on a Pine Crabbing Boat. Zhang Jian said that this crew member had been blacklisted by all crabbing boats due to his history of drug use. In his early years, Nedup followed Zhang Jians father, hence he approached Zhang Jian, hoping to go to sea with him. Many sailors among the crab catchers secretly used prohibited drugs because they earned money too quickly and were too exhausted on the boat, thinking these drugs would invigorate them like the dopamine and endorphin chips in the Inner World. But the end for those using banned substances was harsh, as no crabbing boat wanted to associate with such sailors. Zhang Jian decided to give Nedup a chance, took him for a urine test, and finally agreed to let him onboard after confirming the test was negative. Old John told Nedup that if he wanted a fresh start on the crabbing boat, he should honestly start anew as a greenhorn, beginning with tying crab cages. After Qing Chen and Yanyan boarded, Nedup just gave them a cold glance and then continued with his work. Hello, from now on you are a colleague on the Arctic, Yanyan greeted him in English with a smile. But Nedup coldly said, Only the sailors recognized by other ships are real colleagues. Those of you who come aboard to play and sightsee do not count. Yanyan just smiled and said nothing. Before the Arctic had even left the harbor far behind, the ships radio crackled to life with Kregs mocking voice, Zhang, I heard you finally let that junkie aboard, and there are two students under 18 with you too, one of them a girl, is that true? Zhang, you have squandered the past glory of the Arctic. Zhang Jian faced coldly, not speaking, but Kreg did not stop. Laughter erupted in the radio communication channel from the cockpit of the Alps, Zhang, can a junkie and students even help you handle the crab cages? Old John must be working himself to death aboard the Arctic. However, I have a traditional gift from the Barents Sea ready for you; prepare to receive it. At this moment, Qing Chen and Old John were in the cockpit, Zhang Jian puzzled, turned to Old John, What traditional gift from the Barents Sea? Old Johns face altered as if realizing something, and he quickly told everyone, Quick, shut the doors and windows, everyone hide in the cockpit! The next moment, the Alps caught up from behind, running alongside the Arctic at a distance of three meters. Qing Chen saw the seven sailors on the Alps bring out three white boxes and take out... rows of eggs! They were three whole boxes of eggs, hundreds in total. However, these were not meant for eating, but for throwing! Right then, the sailors from the Alps began throwing the eggs at the Arctic like in a snowball fight... Qing Chen was puzzled, What kind of strange tradition is this? Old John, trembling with anger, said, There are many traditions among crab catchers. Long ago, when ships left the harbor, crabbing boats would engage in similar games to enhance their camaraderie. Qing Chen looking at the egg whites and yolks on the window glass, You call this enhancing friendship... As the sailors of the Alps quickly hurled all the hundreds of eggs away, they powered up and sped off. Qing Chen stepped out of the cockpit and took a look, feeling like the Arctic was a bit plastered... These crab catchers are a bit quirky. Watching the departing Alps, he suddenly outstretched his arm, giving a thumbs up. And also, closed one of his eyes. At that moment, Captain Kreg of the Alps, standing on the deck and looking back through binoculars, laughed and said to the sailor beside him, That student is even giving us a thumbs up, praising how well we throw. A sailor, puzzled, took the binoculars from Kregs hands and after thinking for two seconds, said, How does this look like a gunner taking an aim and measuring distance before firing? Kreg: ??? Indeed, Qing Chen was measuring the distance. There were no reference points on the sea, so he had to familiarize himself with a new method of visually estimating distance to subdue people with virtue. Yanyan, laughing, said, Isnt it too much? They threw eggs at you, and you plan to hit them back with a sniper rifle. Qing Chen smiled, No, just measuring the distance. Yanyan thought to herself that he was a person who never does things by halves, if hes measuring distance, its definitely for targeting someone. The Arctic had been sailing for 20 hours on the sea and finally entered the Barents Sea area in the early hours of the next day. During these 20 hours, Qing Chen witnessed the harshness of the crabbing industry. Zhang Jian was in charge of steering the ship, staying awake for 20 straight hours because if the helmsman slept, the ship could deviate from its course within minutes. Only Old John had some steering skills, but he needed to train newcomers on the deck. In 20 hours, Old John had to teach Qing Chen, Yanyan, and Nedup how to tie, lower, and hoist crab cages, and how to stabilize themselves on the deck... And also, clean up the egg mess left by the Alps. The cold sea breeze whistled into everyones necks, and seawater could rush onto the deck at any moment. Chapter 666 - 666 403 Humanoid Self-walking King Crab Radar_2 ?Chapter 666: 403, Humanoid Self-walking King Crab Radar_2 Chapter 666: 403, Humanoid Self-walking King Crab Radar_2 Fortunately, the thing Zhang Jian was most worried about did not happenno one was seasick. Old John did not show any kindness to the three new crew members. He watched the clumsy trio and cursed at Zhang Jian for being unreliable, regardless of whether Zhang Jian could hear him or not. By the time everything was ready, Nedup, Qing Chen, and Yi Yi were already exhausted on the deck. The sun rose, ascending from the horizon of the sea. Old John shouted on the deck, Rookies, make the most of your time to rest, you only have one hour left. After saying that, Nedup, with dark circles under his eyes, went back to the cabin to sleep. Meanwhile, Qing Chen and Yi Yi, captivated by the sunrise over the sea, sat silently on the deck watching. The beautiful scene was like an oil painting. Qing Chen said softly to Yi Yi, Do we need to act so convincingly? I dont feel tired at all. Yi Yi smiled and said, Its about fitting in. I saw people organizing student rallies in City 10. Have you been to City 10? Qing Chen asked. Yi Yi leaned against the railing on the deck, tilting her head to look at Qing Chen, I havent been there yet. By the way, you seem to have stirred up quite a bit in City 10. With your current identity, you should be responsible for capturing me. If I recall correctly, that was one of the main duties of PCA Intelligence Unit One, along with capturing Spade operatives infiltrated within the Federation. What are you trying to say? Qing Chen asked curiously. Yi Yi thought for a moment, So, our identities should be opposing now, and it should come down to a life-or-death struggle, right? Can we not add more drama, Qing Chen sighed. When Qing Chen first met this fellow student Yi Yi, he thought she would be a cold-hearted assassin. However, in reality, her irrepressible bubbly personality could not be contained. Comparing many Awakeners to wild monsters was bad enough, not to mention the bad habit of driving anytime, anywhere, which he had no idea where she had picked up from. To Zhang Jian, Old John, and Nedup, the two seemed quite close. But in reality? Besides Yi Yi running roughshod over Qing Chens feelings unilaterally, there had never been any real so-called progress between them. Qing Chen knew well that Yi Yi had her own goals. She was not a minion of Spade, nor a minion of the Daylight. Everything she was doing now was progressing towards a certain direction. Qing Chen turned and asked, Do you want to help the residents of the Inner World? Yeah, Yi Yi nodded. But this cannot be accomplished just by student rallies, Qing Chen said. The history of the Outer World has already proven this. But there always has to be a first step to enlightening the people, right? Yi Yi said, looking at the vast ocean. I have a long life ahead of me. Lets take it slow. Qing Chen didnt know why, but he felt he and his fellow student Yi Yi were like two extremes. He was a pessimist, always thinking of potential dangers, always wanting to be prepared for everything. While Yi Yi was an eternally enthusiastic optimist. He still didnt know how they had become friends. Just then, outside the ship was the surging sea, and a blue whale suddenly leapt out of the water in the distance, facing the morning sun. On the vast sea surface, the blue whales huge fins appeared like two wings, as if with a little effort it could soar into the sky. The expansive figure overlapping with the sunrise was dazzling to the extreme. This was Qing Chens first time seeing a blue whale, as thrilling as when he first saw the majestic giant tree in Taboo Land 002 out in the wilderness. Old John hurried out from the cabin and said, Drop the crab traps, let down eight pathfinding cages! A blue whale has appeared; we are going to drop the crab traps where the blue whale appeared. Its a majestic spirit of the sea; it will bring us good luck! Only eight? Qing Chen asked. Yes, only eight. Rookies on the Barents Sea, remember, this is called a pathfinding cage. Put it in the sea for 6 hours then come back to check. If there are king crabs, this will be our fishing ground! Old John explained. As he spoke, he picked up the telephone by the cabin door and shouted, Zhang, were dropping the crab traps! The telephone was a wired phone connected to the cockpit, making it convenient for the captain to communicate with the crew. Then, he forcefully slapped the cabin door, Rookies inside, come out and work. Qing Chen glanced at Yi Yi, You go tie the buoys to the crab traps, Ill drop the traps with Nedup. The 180 empty crab traps, welded into sturdy cages, were neatly stacked on the deck like shipping containers on a cargo ship. After the captain steered the crabbing ship to the designated area, the crew were responsible for tying buoy-like floats to the crab traps and then dropping them into the sea. The crabbing ship didnt need to wait around there. If there were king crabs on the seabed, they would follow the scent of the cod, squeezing into the traps that they could enter but couldnt escape from. After waiting for 6-12 hours, the ship would return to the floats location, and the crew would throw out grappling hooks to catch the floats drifting on the sea surface before using a crane to haul the crab traps up onto the deck one by one. Those floats were each a coordinate for the crab traps. Next would be measuring sizes, sorting, and finally deciding whether to continue setting traps in the same spot based on the number of king crabs caught in the pathfinding cages. At that moment, Nedup glanced at Qing Chen and muttered softly, I hope you wont lose your strength while lowering the traps. Qing Chen just smiled without saying a word, as Old John controlling the crane lifted the traps to the deployment platform, all the while yelling, Rookies, dont lose focus. Watch out for the ropes tied to the buoys on the crab traps; they might entangle your feet and drag you to the seabed. Chapter 667 - 667 403 Humanoid Self-walking King Crab Radar_3 ?Chapter 667: 403, Humanoid Self-walking King Crab Radar_3 Chapter 667: 403, Humanoid Self-walking King Crab Radar_3 One of the most dangerous things on the Barents Sea is being dragged to the ocean floor by a crab cage. The rope was coiled into a circle on the deck, and the ship was violently rocked by the waves, making it easy for a crew member to step on it if they lost their balance. At that moment, as the crab cage was rapidly sinking into the sea, the rope was being pulled down along with it. If a crew members ankle got tangled in the rope, they would be pulled into the sea with the cage. Therefore, after all the crew members boarded, Old John distributed a dagger to each person. The idea was if someone got entangled, they would need a companion to help them by quickly cutting the rope. In the Barents Sea, the only one who could save a crew member was their comrade. Qing Chen and Nedup stood on opposite sides of the launching platform, pushing the crab cages into the sea until all eight were submerged. The Arctic continued to move forward, with Zhang Jian in the cockpit following the sea charts left by his father to find the next place to drop the crab cages. After six hours, the Arctic returned to the location of the pathfinding cage. Old John stood on the deck and threw out the grappling hook, wanting to catch the rope under the buoy and then haul it up with the crane. However, Old John was too old now, his strength was not what it used to be, and his body trembled from alcoholism. The waves were too big, and the ships constant pitching affected Old Johns accuracy. No matter how many times he threw, it was hard for him to catch the rope beneath the buoy. The ship was drifting with the waves; if they missed the catch, Zhang Jian would have to steer the ship back, and for an old sailor on a crabbing vessel, needing the captain to keep adjusting direction to catch the rope was a shame. After thinking for a moment, Qing Chen said to Old John, How about I give it a try? Old John chuckled, The rookie thinks hes up to the task? Well, give it a try then. Remember, dont break the buoy, otherwise, the crab cage will sink to the bottom of the sea forever, along with the buoy. The next second, he passed the hook to Qing Chen, who casually threw it and hooked the rope under the balloon buoy. Old John was stunned for a moment, Damn it to hell, is this really your first time crab fishing? I used to practice javelin-type sports, Qing Chen made up an excuse on the spot. Old John ran to the crane and pressed the switch; a rumbling noise came from the winch in the cranes cabin, making sounds as if it were overburdened. The experienced Old John immediately felt something was wrong and slowed down the pace at which he was pulling up the crab cage. The crab cage from the seabed also rose continuously until it surfaced. Only, when the rope reached its end, what emerged wasnt a crab cage but a two-meter-tall standalone mobile public toilet. Even the usually calm Qing Chen was dumbfounded; he had never heard that the Barents Sea produced public toilets. Qing Chen pointed to the public toilet, Honestly, I just cant fathom why such a thing would appear in the Barents Sea. A mobile toilet suddenly being hoisted up on the vast sea, it was absurd. However, they soon discovered that the door of the mobile toilet had been marked with a felt-tip pen: A gift from the Tiger Whale to the Arctic. Zhang Jian stormed out of the cockpit, bellowing with rage, It must be that Fern from the Tiger Whale! The Tiger Whale, the Alps, and the Long Tailcaptains of these three crabbing vessels, were the ones who had tried to buy the Arctics King Crab fishing quota at the Walnut Bar. Apparently, all three captains were targeting Zhang Jian. Zhang Jian explained, This is an old prank among crab catchers. Before heading out to sea, they go to the recycling station and buy this junk at the cheapest price, or a scrapped car, and bring it along to sea. If they see another crab boats buoys, they hook them up and replace the others crab cages with this kind of large trash. Old John added, A crab cage weighs only six hundred and eighty pounds, but this thing filled with water could weigh four thousand pounds, much heavier than the crab cage. They know the Arctic is old and using the crane overloaded might just break it completely. If the crane is broken, the crabbing ship can only return to harbor for repairs before coming back to the Barents Sea. Qing Chen didnt know whether to laugh or crywas this really how the game was played? The battles he had experienced before were always direct confrontations with life and death, but the battles now were bizarre. This was a battle among crabbers... But this was too despicable, the other three crabbing vessels were scheming to block the Arctics livelihood. Yet, this was the rule on the Barents Seaa crabbing vessel could pull a prank once, but only once. In the past, people might hang a small doll or a torn ball at the end of a buoy, but now some crabbers would use this rule to totally swindle others. What do we do with this thing? Qing Chen pointed at the mobile toilet on the sea and asked. Zhang Jian walked towards the cockpit with a dark face, Remove the hook, let the thing sink to the bottom of the sea. Lets start hauling up the other crab cages. They can only play this trick once at most. Qing Chen imagined, if years later someone came to the Barents Sea treasure hunting and suddenly discovered a mobile toilet standing on the seabed, their expression would be priceless... Just the thought seemed thrilling. As the remaining seven crab cages were hauled up, Old John simply refrained from touching the grappling hook; instead, he watched as Qing Chen accurately hooked each of the buoys. Old John just made a comment, Do you realise, even fifteen-year-old veterans might not be so precise? Chapter 668 - 668 403 Humanoid Self-walking King Crab Radar_4 ?Chapter 668: 403, Humanoid Self-walking King Crab Radar_4 Chapter 668: 403, Humanoid Self-walking King Crab Radar_4 Qing Chen smiled but didnt speak. However, the blue whale didnt seem to have actually brought them good luck. In each crab cage, there were only a sparse seven or eight king crabs, a dismal catch. In the Barents Sea, pathfinding cages normally contain 25 to 30 king crabs, which would signify a decent harvest, indicating they were nearing the crab colony. If there were eighty crabs in the cage, it would mean they were right above the crab colony. Old John said his personal best was once lifting 112 king crabs in a cage. The huge king crabs almost filled the steel-welded crab cage to the brim. Back then, the captain of the Arctic was Zhang Jians father. People at the port often said that smart Asian captain could always find the largest crab grounds on the mysterious Barents Sea every year. Zhang Jian furrowed his brow looking at the catch on deck; not only was the catch pitiful, but one of the cages had also been stolen by the Tiger Whale vessel... He felt like he could already hear the mocking laughter from other crabbing boats. There was a tradition in the Walnut Bar. At the Amsterdam Port, there were a total of nine crabbing boats. Each year, captains would place a bet of ten thousand euros each. Whoever completed their quota first could take the eighty thousand euros from the remaining eight captains. This eighty thousand euros were to be distributed among the crew members. The owner of the Walnut Bar stationed himself at the port to closely monitor the weighing of each crabbing boats catch. This was also why captains liked to frequent the Walnut Bar; crabbing also had its stakes. The crew members would also work tirelessly for that extra cash. To know that gaining over ten thousand euros was akin to randomly receiving over a hundred thousand yuan, for no reason at all. However, Zhang Jian hadnt mentioned this matter to Qing Chen or Yang Yang because his ten thousand euros was akin to throwing money into the water... At that moment, Yang Yang suddenly mentioned, Just after we set down the pathfinding cage and headed deeper into the Barents Sea, there was a spot that seemed quite promising. Zhang Jian looked at Yang Yang, patiently explaining to one of his few crew members, Crabbing isnt that simple; its not just about placing the crab cage wherever looks good to you. You need to understand that during this season, king crabs gather on the continental shelf, and the crab colonies follow specific patterns. Nedup also cast them a cold glance, Dont think just because youre good at throwing hooks, you can freely make suggestions on board. A sailor just needs to do a sailors job. Yang Yang smiled but said no more. Only Qing Chen looked at Yang Yang thoughtfully, asking quietly, Has your perception range increased? Yang Yang replied softly, Its expanded to 300 meters. Qing Chen nodded, no wonder the girl had suddenly spoken up. How large is the crab colony you detected? Qing Chen asked. Yang Yang nodded, Densely packed, full of them. The king crabs were concentrated in an area 270 meters deep, just within reach of Yang Yangs perception range. This Yang Yang, shes like a walking radar, wherever she says there is a crab colony, there really is one! However, they were not related to Zhang Jian and others in any way, nor were they truly here for crabbing. Now that they had smoothly boarded the ship, they would simply follow whatever instructions Zhang Jian and Old John gave, since all Qing Chen was waiting for was a storm. According to the weather forecast, in four days, a powerful cyclone of over 60 knots would strike from the north, perhaps providing an opportunity. However, at this moment, Old John suddenly turned to Yang Yang and said, Where exactly is the location you mentioned? We can place a few pathfinding cages there. Zhang Jian wanted to say something but listened as Old John continued, Weve just set out to sea, no one knows where the crab ground is, everyone is trying to find it aimlessly. So its fine to throw a few pathfinding cages based on preference. At this exact moment, Old John, although just a sailor with 20 years of crabbing experience, seemed more like the captain. ... Six thousand word chapter, another one at 11 PM. Chapter 669 - 669 404 Poseidon ?Chapter 669: 404, Poseidon Chapter 669: 404, Poseidon The color of the Barents Sea, under the heavily overcast sky, resembled an endless black abyss. No one could know what lay deep beneath their vessel. It could be treasures full of Gold Coins from the 16th to the 19th century, or there could be some unknown things lurking. This is why people are afraid of the deep sea... you simply dont know whats at the bottom of the ocean. But Qing Chen knew. Although the girl could only sense up to 300 meters below the sea, that was enough for the Crab Catcher industry. Qing Chen thought that if Qing Chen got tired of the struggles of the worldly affairs one day and came here to be a captain, she might become the ruler of the Crab Catchers in the Bering Sea and the Barents Sea. There wouldnt be anyone in ports across the world who could match her. Qing Chen looked at Qing Chen and said in a low voice, Actually, in the Inner World, there are life detectors that can sense life within a 300-meter radius, but everyone is so focused on fighting that they dont find it useful to bring such a gadget to the Outer World... its not that its not useful, its just that no other technology is useful. Qing Chen understood what Qing Chen meant, if the Crab Catchers had life detectors on board, the King Crabs on the ocean floor would be doomed. Where the crab fields were, where the crab swarms were active, one would only need to look with a life detector. However, when humanity pursues technological progress, they always tend to focus a bit more on weaponry, and the same goes for the Time Traveler when bringing technology back from the Inner World. At this moment, Zhang Jian had almost navigated the Arctic to the area that Qing Chen mentioned. Actually, Qing Chen could not point out precisely which direction it was, as her senses were still being affected by the force field, so she remained directionally challenged. Fortunately, Qing Chen had told Qing Chen about the spot they had passed several minutes ago, enabling Qing Chen to determine the location of the crab field. Wait, dont go that way just yet, Qing Chen furrowed his brows. Whats wrong, Old John asked, puzzled. Qing Chen scanned the surroundings and then passed the binoculars to Old John, Theres been a boat following us from afar. Lets circle around to confuse them before leading them to the spot where were going to set the traps. Old John hesitated, as he was in charge on the deck. If a new sailor were trying to take control, it would be a very serious matter. But when he saw the Alps from the binoculars, he still called Zhang Jian, Zhang, lets give the Alps a runaround. Old John looked at Qing Chen in surprise. The Alps in the distance looked like a small white dot. The young man hadnt used binoculars just now, so how did he spot the Alps? Furthermore, Qing Chen spoke with such certainty about the destination as if there truly were countless King Crabs there. The crab fishing expedition carried an air of tension, with the Long Tail, Tiger Whale, and the Alps seemingly forming a covert circle around the Arctic. This watchful stance made Old John somewhat uneasy. Qing Chen asked, What happens if theres a conflict between crab fishing boats at sea? Old John said gravely, Some might sneak into the water and cut the ropes on others buoys, causing all your crab traps to sink to the bottom of the sea. Qing Chen was taken aback, Thats it? Old John explained, They all have plenty of diving suits on board, but Zhang Jian, to save money, didnt prepare a single one for the Arctic. This implied they wouldnt even have the chance to retaliate. After Old John finished speaking, he noticed a relaxed expression on Qing Chens face. To be honest, Qing Chen had thought there might even be a sea battle, but if it was just about cutting the buoys... It seemed to lack excitement. Cutting the buoys was quite a sneaky move, one that could cause heavy losses for a crab fishing vessel. There had been a few such incidents on the Barents Sea before, either because a captain had slept with another captains wife or because the crab fishing power dynamics at a port were about to be reshuffled. Qing Chen gazed into the distant horizon of the sea, Lets head to the destination, the Alps is gone. Old John looked in that direction, his eyes widening, yet he saw nothing, Why cant I see anything? Qing Chen gave him a puzzled look, Of course you cant see them if theyre gone. This response nearly infuriated Old John! ... ... As the boat rocked, Old John directed Qing Chen to hang the herring bait inside the crab traps and also directed Qing Chen and Nedup to methodically drop the eight crab traps into the sea. Nedup kept a close eye on Qing Chen, seemingly afraid that the young man might slack off while dropping the traps. After all, with each crab trap weighing about six hundred and eighty pounds, and after the crane hoisted them to the edge of the deck for launch, it took two people to attach the buoys ropes and push them overboard together. If one person slacked off, the others physical effort would be considerably greater. What perplexed Nedup, though, was that he seemed to be exerting less effort than before... Could it be that the crab traps Zhang Jian rented were of poor quality, making them lighter? Nedup glanced at Qing Chen and tried to lift a crab trap on his own... but couldnt budge it. Since one pound is approximately 0.45 kilograms, roughly speaking, each crab trap was about 610 pounds, not something Ordinary People could lift; otherwise, there would be no need for a crane on a crab fishing boat... However, it was this moment of distraction that caused trouble; a giant wave came crashing towards Nedup, sending him staggering back right into the coil of rope. The crab trap sank rapidly, and the rope uncoiling rapidly was about to ensnare Nedups ankle. Chapter 670 - 670 404 Aquaman 2 ?Chapter 670: 404, Aquaman 2 Chapter 670: 404, Aquaman 2 Old John yelled, Cut the rope! However, unexpectedly, Qing Chen did not do so and did not even draw the dagger from his work clothes. Old John became anxious. He knew how severe the consequences could be if the crew didnt follow his orders. If Nedup got entangled and was dragged into the sea, he wouldnt survive. In just over ten seconds, the immense pressure of the sea depths would kill Nedup. Yet, another wave approached. Just as the wave was about to crash onto the deck, Old John distinctly saw Qing Chen grab the rope with one hand. The falling crab cage was abruptly halted! He was stunned. Holding the rope with bare hands?! Before Old John could figure out what was happening, the wave had already hit everyone, obscuring visibility entirely. Only when the wave flowed back into the sea along the deck, did Old John, supporting himself against the hoist, look immediately towards Nedup. He saw Nedup sitting on the deck while Young Young stood beside him. In that moment, Qing Chen had held the rope briefly, slightly loosening it around Nedups tightly wound ankle. Taking advantage of this, Young Young had pulled Nedup out, their perfect teamwork saving Nedups life. But all this was obscured by the waves. Old John then looked back at Qing Chen, who was no longer tugging at the rope, as if everything that had just happened was an illusion. What happened? Old John asked, puzzled. Nedup, trembling, said, I dont know either. I thought I was going to fall into the sea, but then this lady pulled me out in time. In fact, when the second wave came, Nedup himself did not understand what exactly had happened. Everything happened too quickly, and the wave blurred everyones vision. Old John hesitated, then glanced at Qing Chen again. Even with the buoyancy in the water, a crab cage shouldnt be something a normal person could hold with one hand. How strong must one be? Such strength, if slapped onto someones face, could likely kill a person outright. Old John was unsure whether Qing Chen had actually grabbed the rope or if Young Youngs actions were just quicker. He was filled with doubts. Old John turned to Nedup and said, Have you gone mad? Dont you know that you cant get distracted on a crabbing boat? Do you think the money from crabbing is easy to earn? Crabbing is one of the worlds most dangerous professions, second only to mercenaries in the Middle East region. Its dangers lie in the extremely low working temperatures, long working hours, and huge winter waves. Low temperatures can make crew members sluggish, and long hours can exhaust anyone. Failing to sleep for 20 continuous hours could lead to frequent mistakes, even among the worlds top eSports players. In such conditions, facing the worlds worst weather, death could come at any moment. Every year in the harbor, plenty of sailors leave due to injuries. After the crabbing season, if no one dies or breaks a few legs or arms, it almost feels like the money earned isnt justified. After a moment of silence, Old John asked Qing Chen, Why didnt you cut the rope immediately? Qing Chen replied, Zhang Jian said that losing a crab cage would cost a thousand euros, to be compensated to the renter. Zhang Jian is so poor, losing a crab cage would really hurt him. Old John said coldly, On the Barents Sea, losing crab cages is common. Sometimes during storms, sailors misjudge their throws, cutting the balloon float, and about five or six cages can be lost in one night. Crab cages are expensive, but human lives are more expensive. Qing Chen smiled and said, Okay, understood. Next time Ill cut the rope immediately. Old John picked up the decks wired phone. Captain, lets set sail. Move to another spot. Zhang Jian asked, The waves just now were huge. Is everyone alright? Old John said, Were fine. Everyones work clothes had been hit by sea water. Although waterproof, some water inevitably seeped in through the collar. But, for crab catchers, this was nothing. ... ... The crabbing boat set off, and crew members sat in the cabin eating sandwiches. As Nedup ate, he felt as though he could fall asleep at any moment; he was nearing his bodys limit. Then, another unexpected thing happened Qing Chen and Young Young, looking tired, finished their sandwiches and went back to the deck to sit and watch the rolling waves. At one moment, Old John felt as if the sandwiches were like items in a video game, capable of fully reviving crab catchers after consumption... Do you think well encounter the storm youre hoping for? Young Young asked. Qing Chen smiled, Its hard to say. A knights life-and-death challenge is all up to luck. A thirty-meter wave is hard to come by. Lets leave it to fate. So if we dont get it this time, will you keep waiting in Amsterdam? Young Young asked curiously. Yes, Qing Chen thought for a moment and said, Next time I cross, I might encounter something very dangerous, so I need to enhance my own strength. According to Qings Shadows plan, the next exchange with Jindai might not occur within a city. Jindai would surely choose a relatively neutral place, most likely 410 kilometers northeast of City 10, in Area 065 of Taboo Land. Its not suitable for large-scale military entry, and most importantly, Area 065 has one known rule: deals made must not be broken. Chapter 671 - 671 404 King of the Sea 3 ?Chapter 671: 404, King of the Sea 3 Chapter 671: 404, King of the Sea 3 All who traded here but then reneged or betrayed each other were killed for breaking the rules. Thus, just outside the Taboo Land Location 065, even a production base had become a small town where many wilderness and Federal people traded. After each trade, they agreed to leave in opposite directions, east and west, to avoid any betrayal. One must say, humans always managed to utilize nature to the fullest. Qing Chen had heard about the small town just outside the Taboo Land Location 065 on the Outer Worlds trending Weibo, people called it the Inner Worlds New Dragon Inn... Although the trade at Qing Mu there looked safe, Qing Chen always felt something was off. After all, it was in the wilderness, still the Taboo Land, danger was always present. Six hours later, Old John, with a cigarette in his mouth, stood in front of the crane and mumbled, Qing, throw the grappling hook, we need to pull up the eight Pathfinding cages we deployed earlier! Zhang Jian gripped the steering wheel tightly inside the cockpit, not knowing if his palms were sweaty or wet from seawater. If they could not find a crab cluster with the Pathfinding cages this time, it meant he had to move to another location and use more fuel. Qing Chen once again snagged the buoy in one go. When the cranes ropes tightened, Old John immediately sensed the situation, Weve got something! That was the seasoned sailors intuition; just by glancing at the speed at which the crane lifted the crab trap, he knew whether there were King Crabs inside. Now, Old John was also tense, watching the cranes end, where the taut rope kept pulling up the crab trap. When the crab trap surfaced, Old John was stunned. The cage was full of densely packed King Crabs, and Nedup stared in shock, swearing he had never seen someone bring up so many King Crabs in one cage in his life. Qing Chen turned back to look at Old John, The crane! Old John snapped back to reality, hastily controlling the crane to suspend the crab trap directly above the deck. Qing Chen untied the ropes at the bottom of the crab cage, and countless King Crabs tumbled out. Quick, count how many there are?! Old John said impatiently. Qing Chen glanced over, 132. Old John was stunned. He, wearing his bulky work gear, ran to the telephone, Boss, weve found the Golden Crab Farm! Zhang Jian in the cockpit was stunned, Golden Crab Farm?! What an ancient name. Legend had it that in the Barents Sea, only a crab farm where one could catch one hundred and twenty King Crabs per cage deserved to be called a Golden Crab Farm! Old John roared into the phone, Youre going to be rich, hear me? Youre going to be rich! Afterward, Old John ordered the deck crew, Quick, grab the caliper, see how many juvenile crabs dont qualify! Qing Chen happily measured with the caliper, throwing the qualifying ones into the storage hold, and the non-qualifying ones back into the sea. Out of 132 King Crabs, only 6 didnt qualify. This was truly the Golden Crab Farm! At that moment, Old Johns view of the young man and woman from China changed; he was very sure that they must possess some mythical magic! The reason they said they liked this place was just an excuse; they must have really discovered the crab cluster undersea and guided the crabbing ship back here. Otherwise, how could it all be such a coincidence?! Moreover, if this young woman was that miraculous, then the sight of Qing Chen single-handedly catching the descending rope must certainly not have been an illusion! Thinking this, Old Johns look at Qing Chen changed... However, before he could think more, a crab fishing boat colored red and black swiftly approached from afar. Long Tail! Old Johns face immediately darkened, Not good, stow all the King Crabs into the storeroom, pretend we havent caught anything. This was the Golden Crab Farm, a crab farm capable of producing 132 crabs per cage, and they absolutely couldnt let other crabbing ships know. Otherwise, boats like Tiger Whale, Long Tail, and Alps would definitely come to share these King Crabs. As Long Tail rapidly approached, Old John stood on the deck looking nonchalant. Facing a mere ten meters away, a middle-aged Caucasian on Long Tails deck looked at Arctics empty crab cages and laughed loudly, Old John, will Arctic end up empty-handed again this year? You might as well come aboard now, Ill give you a ride. Old John shouted back irritably, When I started crab fishing, you were still in school, being bullied into a snot-nosed brat, beat it, and keep away from our Pathfinding cages, dont jinx us! The middle-aged Caucasian took another careful look at Arctic, then waved his hand to signal the helmsman to sail away. Before Long Tail could sail far, the middle-aged man said to the sailors behind him, Watch out! Arctic has found a crab farm! A sailor said in amazement, But their crab cages are empty. The middle-aged man sneered, Didnt you notice their crab cage was positioned right in the middle of the deck? That clearly means they just unloaded a cage full of King Crabs. Plus, did you see how tense Old John was, standing so still on the deck? If it were before, hed have already jumped up to send my mom away! Go tell Fern and Kreg over the radio, theres definitely a crab farm down there at Arctic! ... ... On Arctic, after Long Tail had left, Old John joyfully directed the crew to pull up the remaining Pathfinding cages. The second cage, 113 crabs. The third cage, 119 crabs. The fourth cage, 127 crabs... Not a single cage came up empty. Chapter 672 - 672 404 Poseidon_4 ?Chapter 672: 404, Poseidon_4 Chapter 672: 404, Poseidon_4 Old John said joyfully, Right here, well drop 80 crab cages, each spaced 400 feet apart! At that moment, he hadnt realized that his poor acting skills hadnt fooled the captain of the Long Tail, and the Tiger Whale and the Alps were also on their way. Qing Chen whispered to Young Young, Are there still many crabs below? Young Young silently sensed, wanting to report an exact number like Qing Chen, which would seem impressive. However, after counting for a long time, she did not figure it out, so she simply answered, A lot. Qing Chen, ...Did that answer take a long time to think about? Young Young calmly said, Im a bit tired. Qing Chen didnt dwell on the detail, turning to Old John, Lets lower all the crab cages. I see that Long Tail wont just leave easily, and if they come back to play a prank, it could affect the Arctics earnings. Old John was about to object, but he realized something was off with Qing Chen and Young Young and pondered for a moment before asking, Do you think I didnt fool them just now? Qing Chen seriously said, The performance element was too obvious, the body language a bit stiff, the language expression not rich enough... Old John was stunned for a moment, as if he were receiving a critique and you were acting like a professional actor. Before he could make a decision, Qing Chen had already picked up the deck phone and said to Zhang Jian, Zhang Jian, circle at 15 knots. Were going to deploy all the crab cages here! Zhang Jian was taken aback, What did Old John say? Old John, who had been silent for a long time, said, Do as he says. After hanging up the phone, Old John looked deeply at Qing Chen, not knowing since when this rookie sailor, who had been laughed at by everyone in the port, had become the backbone of the Arctic. The Arctic slowly started moving. Usually, crab catchers cast their nets wide, dropping 30 crab cages here, then moving several miles away to deploy another 30, as the number of king crabs in the same area was limited. After dropping the crab cages, they would go somewhere else to wander and come back after eight hours to haul up the crab cages. But now it was different, knowing this was the Golden Crab Farm, they would drop all the cages and not leave! Qing Chens plan was simple; he believed the Long Tail would definitely return, so they planned to stand guard here! This was their Golden Crab Farm! Night fell. The deck of the Arctic was brightly lit, everyone sat in the cabin, waiting for the time to haul up all the crab cages to see just how fruitful their catch was. Only Qing Chen and Young Young still stood on the deck, swaying with the ship but always standing firm. The anchor was dropped, and Zhang Jian, for once, had the chance to sit peacefully in the cabin and eat something. He quietly watched the silhouette of the young couple on the deck, realizing only today that these two individuals... might have some issues. Old John took the opportunity during the meal to tell him a lot of things, resulting in Zhang Jians look towards them changing. Who could have thought, these two rookie sailors, who had been mocked at the port for two days, would lead them to the Golden Crab Farm?! Moreover, Old John mentioned that Qing Chen had grabbed a falling crab cage with one hand... This was a bit incredible, and Zhang Jian was still skeptical. But just as he was looking at their backs, suddenly, Qing Chen turned around, Theyre here. Zhang Jian put down his dinner plate and walked up to the deck, looking outside, I dont see the lighthouse on the ship, John, is there anything on the radar? Old John replied, No. Qing Chen said, Then they must have turned off the lights and radar to get close. No good intentions. Zhang Jian grew tense. Then, he just watched as Qing Chen, standing on the bitterly cold deck, took off his heavy work clothes, leaving only a pair of swim trunks. You... what are you doing? Zhang Jian was stunned, his opponent was already wearing swim trunks underneath?! The next moment, Qing Chen leaped into the icy water, without a wetsuit, without an oxygen tank, just plunged in. In an instant, Zhang Jian felt like he was watching DCs movie Aquaman! Zhang Jian stuttered, looking at Young Young, He... he! Young Young laughed in the dark, Dont worry, hes fine. ... 6000-word chapter, todays update is 12000 words, finally made up for the deficit of the previous days... relieved. Chapter 673 - 673 405 Sea Monster ?Chapter 673: 405, Sea Monster Chapter 673: 405, Sea Monster The temperature in the Barents Sea region had already dropped to negative 14 degrees, with the sea water approaching zero degrees. The night was exceptionally solemn, and the flowing sea water resembled tumbling mercury, heavy and oppressive. The Arctic had dropped anchor, its hull drifting on the sea surface, its lights the only ones left, isolatingly illuminating a small area of the ocean. It was like a lone wanderer at the end of the world. Around it were buoys scattered like stars in the night, akin to duckweed in a river. Someone jumped into the churning dark sea. In such conditions, to jump naked into the icy waters was no different from committing suicide. Zhang Jian felt a chill as if the icy water had touched his own skin; he couldnt help but shudder and turned to Yingying, yelling against the howling wind, How could anyone be okay after jumping into the sea in this kind of weather?! The girl under the ships lights removed her hood, letting her long hair flutter in the wind, and replied smiling, It will be fine. Hes helping the Arctic solve a little problem. Zhang Jian was puzzled, Did the Alps, the Tiger Whale, and the Thunder really come? Youre not joking, right? We havent seen anything, and theres nothing on the radar. Yingying smiled without explaining much, just steadily watching the sea, ready to provide support at any moment. At that moment, Zhang Jian had waited for a while but still hadnt seen Qing Chen come up for air. You should know, a normal person would consume a lot of oxygen with even trivial movements in the deep seas currents. But Qing Chen, like a true Emperor of the sea, had entered the ocean and since then disappeared without a trace. Zhang Jian watched Yingying silently, wondering if Qing Chen and this girl had come with the intention of committing insurance fraud. Could it be that before boarding, they had bought a large amount of accidental life insurance and then claim to the insurance company that Qing Chen had suffered a fatal accident on the ship? In earlier years, some desperate crew members had done such a thing, but later insurance companies were unwilling to offer policies to Crab Catchers. Some policies even explicitly stated that accidental deaths on crabbing boats were considered acts of God... On the other side, in the dark sea, The Tiger Whale and the Alps had long extinguished their lights, turned off their radars, and when approaching the Arctic, even shut down their engines. Only the strong may survive on the Barents Sea. The weak can enjoy King Crab on shore, but they have no place here with us dividing the good fortune, said the captain of the Tiger Whale, gazing solemnly at the night. Experienced sailors on every Crab Catcher had put on their diving suits and were having their oxygen tanks checked by comrades. The captain of the Tiger Whale stood at the bow, smiling, The wind speed is down. With only 20 knots, its perfect for diving operations. Dive in, cut off thirty buoys from Arctic, so their crab cages will forever sink to the ocean floor. Upon finishing his command, three sailors flipped into the sea, agile as seals. Swishing their long fins, they quickly swam toward the region where the Arctic was stationed, and the shining lights of the Arctic served as a lighthouse in the lone sea, guiding them in their direction. Joining them were the sailors from the Thunder and the Alps. The three captains had reached an agreement; they estimated that there were at most 180 crab cages on the Arctic, and by cutting off 90, they could ensure Zhang Jian did not go bankrupt but also make sure he couldnt afford the next years ship repairs, crab cage rentals, and port management fees. As the sailors neared the Arctic, some could barely make out the buoys illuminated by the ships lights. However, one sailor felt an uneasiness, as if there was a strange current under the water. He looked around, but found nothing in the dark waters. Only a pitch-black sea. He must be overthinking, the sailor thought, pulling out the knife strapped to his sleeve, heading towards the buoys. Yet, the next moment, he saw something dark swiftly moving past him under the water. In an instant, his scalp tingled with fear! He used his hands and feet to try to surface, but after only a couple of strokes, he felt something wrap around his ankle, dragging him down to the depths of the sea. The sailors leg muscles exploded in effort, trying to kick off the weird thing on his ankle. But it only tightened more, like the tentacles of a giant squid from the depths of the Arctic Ocean. Suddenly, the pulling force exploded, and in the midst of the frenzy, the sailor lashed out with his knife, but his palm went numb, and before he realized it, the knife was nowhere to be found. As he became disoriented about where his knife had gone, he felt a great force push against his chest as if he had been kicked hard... No, thats not right! The sailor came to his senses. Under the light of the ships lamp, he realized that someone had indeed kicked him! And now, the person who had kicked him was leveraging that push to swim away swiftly, just like pushing off the wall of a swimming pool. Recalling what had just happened, it was clear someone had grabbed his ankle from below, then in one smooth motion, disarmed and kicked him! The sailor was dumbfounded. Who was this person under the dark sea? They werent wearing fins, a diving suit, nor carrying an oxygen tank. Yet they were as agile underwater as a Tiger Whale, and extraordinarily strong. Wait, was it someone from Arctic? But if they knew he was there to cut the buoys, why just disarm and not kill him? Chapter 674 - 674 405 Sea Monster_2 ?Chapter 674: 405, Sea Monster_2 Chapter 674: 405, Sea Monster_2 At times like this, killing someone underwater is too easyjust cut the oxygen tube, and the sailor is certain to die. The mysterious figure under the sea seemed only interested in confiscating his dagger, not intending to kill anyone. The sailor thought for two seconds, turned around, and swam back to the Tiger Whale, his knife had been seized, and there was no way to do the job of cutting the buoy. Moreover, if the other party had the ability to confiscate his dagger, they definitely had the ability to kill him. Since the other party had already spared his life, he shouldnt be ungrateful... At this very moment, the same thing was still happening continuously at the bottom of the sea. Zhang Jian wrapped his clothes tightly around him, standing on the Arctics deck, extremely anxious. Five minutes had passed, but Qing Chen still hadnt appeared on the surface. That Qing Chen must be dead by now, right? Who can hold their breath for so long?! These two were indeed trying to commit insurance fraud! Unbelievably, these two young students would do such a thing! ... ... In contrast to Zhang Jians wild thoughts on the deck, the sailors below the surface didnt have the luxury to think so much. They felt as though the legendary sea monsters of the Barents Sea had set their sights on them, with no chance of escape. A sailor had just reached out his left hand to grab the rope under the balloon buoy, his right hand poised with a dagger ready to cut it. But a shadowy figure swam past him, and by the time the sailors right hand reached the rope, the dagger in his hand was nowhere to be found. They swam desperately towards where their own ship was anchored, looking back constantly in fear that the shadowy figure was still following them. These sailors werent as lucky as the first one. The first sailor saw that the person who took his dagger was a human and so was less panicked. But the rest, too far from the lights of the Arctic to see Qing Chen clearly in the pitch-dark sea, were filled with a fear that occupied their entire hearts. There are many legends about the Barents Sea. One of the most famous aircraft collision incidents in the world occurred here. On September 13, 1987, a Norwegian Defence Air Force reconnaissance plane was patrolling when a new Soviet fighter jet appeared from below and streaked past. The Soviet Su-27 used its vertical stabilizer like a scalpel to slice open a large gash beneath the Norwegian reconnaissance planes engine. This is the well-known Barents Sea aerial scalpel incident. However, this area is also famous for another legend: the giant squid. Historical records show that the Barents Sea was one of the first places where the giant squid was found, and there are records verifying that merchant ships have indeed been attacked by giant squids in these waters. For a moment, the sailors, who had never seen a sea monster in this sea area with their own eyes, swam strenuously while recalling those legends, growing more and more afraid. But they couldnt understand why the sea monster would want their daggers... Fortunately, after the sea monster took their daggers, it did not continue to pursue them and allowed them to escape back to their own ship. The captain of the Tiger Whale, Fern, stood at the bow. Seeing the sailors return so quickly, he immediately felt something was off, What happened? It cant be so quick to cut thirty buoys! A sailor in a diving suit was pulled up onto the deck, quivering as he said, Theres a sea monster! Fern was stunned for a moment, Sea monster?! He looked at another sailor, Did you encounter a sea monster too? The sailor nodded, speaking with inexplicable terror, It was too dark underwater to see anything clearly, just felt that sea monster swimming very fast, and so powerful! Fern frowned. If it had been just one sailor saying this, it might have been deep sea phobia causing a hallucination. But if all the sailors said the same thing, then there was a problem. Yet Fern always felt there was something eerie, but he couldnt pinpoint where... He looked at the sailor, Since you met a sea monster, how did you come back? Fern finally figured out what was strangethe sailors had all encountered a sea monster, and yet they had all made it back alive. That was the strangest part. Fern glanced at the panic-stricken crew on the ship and immediately said, Whats there to panic about? If it really was a sea monster, would it let three divers come back? If there really was something like a giant squid beneath the Barents Sea, youd be dead by now. Alright, what exactly happened after you encountered the sea monster? The sailor replied, The sea monster took my dagger. Another sailor hesitated, My dagger was taken too. Fern laughed coldly, It must be someone trying to play tricks, not a sea monster. Have you ever seen a sea monster that decides to take a stroll and just takes your daggers? What, is the Barents Sea prohibiting carrying restricted knives? He looked out to the Arctic, still adrift on the sea, Turn on the ships lights. This must be something the Arctic stirred up; well know once we go over there. Also, use the radio to tell the Alps and the long-tailed ship about whats happened here, and ask if theyve encountered the same thing. As he spoke, the lights on the Tiger Whales deck all lit up, along with those of the Alps and the long-tailed ship. The three ships formed a perfect equilateral triangle, completely surrounding the Arctic in the sea. Zhang Jian, Old John, and Nedup on the Arctic were stunned by the scene. It turned out to be truejust as Qing Chen and Yuan Yuan had said, the three crabbing ships had been right beside them all along! Chapter 675 - 675 405 Sea Monster_3 ?Chapter 675: 405, Sea Monster_3 Chapter 675: 405, Sea Monster_3 Zhang Jian couldnt help but look at the figure of the girl, only to see her throw a rope into the sea, pulling up the unharmed Qing Chen. Zhang Jian and the others were shocked. Qing Chen really hadnt died, and he seemed to be in good condition, apparently unafraid of the icy waters. Who exactly is this person, and what has brought him to the Barents Sea? Before this, Zhang Jian was quite certain he had never seen Qing Chen come up for air! His gaze towards Qing Chen and the girl changed. Now, even if someone told him that the girl could fly, he wouldnt be surprised at all! Only to see Qing Chen laugh heartily and say, All taken care of. As he spoke, he tossed the several daggers he was holding onto the deck, and the girl whispered, You didnt kill anyone, did you? Qing Chen thought for a moment, These people dont hold any deep grudges against me; theres no need for a bloodbath here. Hmm, the girl nodded with a smile, already holding a dry towel to hand to Qing Chen, Do you need my help drying off? Cough, no need, Qing Chen, who hadnt choked underwater, nearly choked after coming aboard due to the girl. Seeing the three crabbing boats approaching from the perimeter, Qing Chen thought for a moment before going back into the cabin, Ill go change. If they ask, just say we dont know anything. Zhang Jian and Old John thought to themselves, this guy must have done something to those three crabbing vessels! But the sea was so dark that even they had no idea what really happened. And, where on earth did those thrown daggers come from?! The Tiger Whale Ship arrived first; the three crabbing boats were only about ten meters apart from the Arctic. Fern, with a binoculars in hand, spotted the scattered daggers on the deck at a glance. Didnt expect you hid so deep this time, Fern said to Zhang Jian with a cold sneer from afar, Wheres the Sea Monster? Let him come out and greet everyone. Zhang Jian was stunned for a moment, his eyes nervously searching the surroundings, Sea Monster? The Barents Sea monster?! Fern sneered: Stop pretending. How come you dare to stay here? Turns out theres an expert on board. I thought you really had no sailors left to use. By the way, who did you invite over? Some of your fathers old crew? Did you use up all the favors your father accumulated? Zhang Jian suddenly realized that the sea monster and fathers old crew, which Fern mentioned before, were actually referring to Qing Chen! It must have been something Qing Chen did under the sea that made Fern come over with such sarcasm. Zhang Jian thought for a moment, counted the daggers with his head down, nine in total. He looked curiously at Fern and asked, Your nine sailors couldnt beat just him? Zhang Jian was genuinely curious as he asked this; he wanted to know exactly what kind of person Qing Chen was, but to Fern, it sounded like a full-blown taunt. The damage wasnt significant, but the insult was profound. Zhang Jian continued, Why target the Arctic specifically? Even without a quota from the Arctic, you can still earn millions of Euros a year. At this moment, the captain of the Alps Ship also said coldly, Why insist on clinging to your ship? Wouldnt it be nice to take four crabbing boats and merge them into a public company? Isnt earning money in the stock market faster than at sea? Sailors could also get stock options and bonuses. We all strive hard at sea for a secure retirement, dont we? Wives beg their husbands not to go to the sea anymore, but true sailors still pack their bags. If they see whales, they cheer, and when they encounter icebergs as large as mountains, they pray devoutly. New sailors will hear the stories of their forefathers and come to the mysterious Barents Sea, and in the future, even more will come for the stories. But if sailors and captains lose their freedom, then these stories will also fade. Kreg paused for a moment, but he said nothing more. He sneered, Good luck then. I hope you really catch enough King Crabs to get through this year. If you cant make it, your crabbing license will be auctioned off again, and we can just buy it at a judicial auction. At that moment, Old John on the deck glanced at the time and suddenly said, Its time to haul up the crab pots. Zhang Jian glanced at Old John, knowing the man wanted to pull up the brimming crab pots and, right there, infuriate Kreg and the rest... Then lets haul them up and see our catch! Zhang Jian said aloud. The next moment, Qing Chen, who had already changed back into his work clothes, came out of the cabin and hooked onto the rope under the buoy with a grappling hook in one try. Qing Chen smiled at Old John and said, Hoist! Those who had planned to leave, such as Kreg and Fern, stopped and stood silently on the deck, waiting. The Arctics winch roared to life, and when the crab pot surfaced, everyone held their breath, only to see it filled to the brim with King Crabs, each larger than a washbasin! Fern and the other seasoned captains of the Barents Sea needed just this glance to know that the legendary Golden Crab Farm had been found by the Arctic! ... A five-thousand-word chapter, with another one at 11 p.m. Chapter 676 - 676 The best battlefield ?Chapter 676: The best battlefield Chapter 676: The best battlefield The Golden Crab Farm had always existed only in legends, occasionally appearing once every few decades before continuing as a legend. The three crabbing vessels next to the Arctic gradually made way, wanting to see what the situation was like in Arctics other crab pots. One pot, two pots, three pots... Almost every pot hauled up contained more than 100 king crabs. Kreg did a quick calculation and realized that this single deployment of crab pots was enough for the Arctic to return fully loaded! He shouted to the sailor beside him, Put our crab pots down too! This is definitely the Golden Crab Farm. The Arctic only dropped 180 pots, there must still be king crabs down there! The Arctic was small and battered, able to carry only 180 crab pots, even less than the quota allowed for other crabbing vessels. Normally, the Alps would carry 300 crab pots. However, they had just hoisted the crab pot crane when they hadnt had the chance to hang the cod bait inside it, they heard the whizzing of a sharp object slicing through the night air. In an instant, a playing card flew hundreds of meters, slicing through the rope of the Alps crane. The card did not stop there; it continued spinning forward and left a long gash on Kregs right cheek before slowly fluttering down onto the deck. Joker. The red and yellow Joker card, lying on the deck, seemed to emit a silent mockery. The crab pot plummeted into the depths of the sea with a splash. Kreg looked incredulously towards the Arctic, taking out his binoculars just in time to see that young man who had once visited the Walnut Bar, grinning at him and flashing his pearly whites. That oppressive feeling, even hundreds of meters away, struck him squarely in the face. He looked at the deck, picked up the playing card, and gently tore it. The Joker was split into two pieces of paper. It was just an ordinary paper playing card; why could it cut through the rope? You must understand, that rope was meant for lifting a 680-pound crab pot. How could a playing card cut through it? Still shaken, Kreg touched the cut on his cheek, wondering if he would have died had the playing card slashed his neck instead. He recalled the sailors encounter with the sea monster, thinking that since they didnt intend to kill anyone, the best course was not to provoke them needlessly. Otherwise, the outcome would be very grim. Just like a sailor falling into the sea and encountering a tiger sharkif it does not plan to eat you, youd better not flail around and draw attention to yourself. With that thought, Kreg silently pocketed the torn playing card. To avoid provoking the other party by them seeing him tear the card... In the wheelhouse, the sailor steering the ship said, Captain, the Arctic has informed us that we can drop pots in the Golden Crab Farm no problem since its all natures bounty, but according to the rules of the Barents Sea, we must wait for Arctic to leave before we can start. Kreg suddenly said coldly, Drop the anchor, everyone go back to the cabin and rest until the Arctic has left, then well drop the crab pots. Frankly speaking, Kreg was conceding. By now, Time Traveler had already become a hot topic in various bars. Thinking of where the opponent might be from, Kreg suddenly felt as if he was under the sway of mysterious eastern powers. Why would Time Traveler want to help Zhang Jian? Kreg couldnt understand. Kreg wasnt sure if the Alps, Tiger Whale, and Long Tail vessels would have enough king crabs if they all set pots here in the Golden Crab Farm. But since they had found the Golden Crab Farm, it was worth the wait. ... ... Thank you for helping me, Zhang Jian said earnestly to Qing Chen and Yingying, I now have a rough idea of who you are, so you knew from the start that this is the Golden Crab Farm, right? Tonight, Fern and Kreg probably sent sailors to cut our buoys, and it was you, Qing Chen, who helped fend them off. Standing beside the deck handling the crab pots, Qing Chen and Yingying responded with a smile. We didnt plan to help you; dont overthink it. We came here with our own agenda; many things were just done incidentally. We are neither kin nor friends, nor do we have a friendship worthy of us taking action, Qing Chen continued. Zhang Jian was taken aback, Then why did you still... For fun, Yingying tilted her head and smiled, Isnt that enough? Were more interested in fun than helping you, so stop thanking us, it gets tiring with all the formalities. One has to say, Qing Chen and Yingying shared one thing in commonthey both hated pleasantries. Moreover, they indeed had no intention of helping Zhang Jian. After all, if they could help this year, could they do it every year? If Zhang Jian couldnt find another crab farm next year, his crew would still be in trouble. Theres a big difference in income among sailors on crabbing vessels; on a good vessel, sailors could earn over 80,000 Euros a year. On a poor vessel, they might earn just over 50,000 Euros, and last year on Zhang Jians boat, the sailors received just over 20,000 Euros, a basic salary indeed. At that moment, Qing Chen earnestly said to Zhang Jian, You talk about your dream of adventure in a very touching way, but I think I understand why you never find the crab farm. For you, coming to the Barents Sea is a journey of freedom and adventure, but you should think more about your crew, who risk their lives coming here and have families to support, Qing Chen continued, You can always remember your original intentions and refuse capital, you can continue your adventures, but a crabbing vessel is meant to catch crabs, otherwise youre just a failed adventurer. So do your homework and research where king crabs might appear. In my opinion, finding king crabs is not that difficult; they have their own patterns of movement. Chapter 677 - 677 The best battlefield 2 ?Chapter 677: The best battlefield 2 Chapter 677: The best battlefield 2 Zhang Jian was stunned for a moment. Old John was also stunned for a moment. Zhang Jian had been scolded by someone and felt a bit unconvinced, but after his dissatisfaction, he reflected from the bottom of his heart. After all, when his father was still alive, although he always talked about freedom and the spirit of adventure, he could always bring his crew back with a full load. Old John was stunned because he realized a problem. The young man and woman were talking while unloading the crab cages. Just then, Old John had forgotten to use the crane, and these two were lifting the six hundred eighty-pound crab cages as if they were playing. Perhaps the young man and woman had forgotten that, after crabs were caged on deck, they needed to be moved with a crane?! For a moment, Old John felt that Qing Chen was more suitable to be the captain of the Arctic. If he followed such a captain, he feared no lives would be lost, and they could return with a full load every year. Work for seven days, and then enjoy life freely for the rest of the three hundred-plus days. Nedup, who was in charge of measuring the crabs with calipers, felt that he had never had such an easy time on a crab fishing boat... Lowering the crab cages was not easy; retrieving them was even harder. The Arctic had all its lights on and was busy from nine at night until the early morning. Old John was so sleepy he wanted to close his eyes, while Qing Chen and Yanyan were still vigorously working. The Alps, Tiger Whale, and Longtail witnessed the volume of crab at the Golden Crab Farm not far away. As Yanyan was dismantling the crab cages, she looked over at Qing Chen and asked softly, You just flew out the poker and directly displayed your power as a Time Traveler, and you didnt specially conceal your tracks when you came here. When the crabbing boats return to the port, Im afraid many people will know you are drifting in the Barents Sea. Qing Chen nodded with a smile. So, did you plan to lure Jindai and Deer Island here from the start? Yanyan asked curiously. Is there a better battlefield than this? Qing Chen asked with a smile, The sea is boundless, the water icy cold. If I happen to fall into the sea, I can breathe through my skin, but they cant. Here, if they really come after me without realizing the danger, the mysterious Barents Sea will show them what it means to have no escape. Yanyan tilted her head, How long can you stay underwater? Qing Chen thought for a moment and said, Half an hour. Yanyan pouted, Liar. I came here specially to help you transcend tribulations, and you still lie to me. Are you even human? Qing Chen was a bit embarrassed; when he first gained his new ability to breathe underwater with Knight Vital Energy, he could only last twenty minutes. However, now with Knight Vital Energy almost infused throughout his entire body, he could last three hours underwater. But, why he could breathe underwater and for how long C he was still a bit reluctant to tell everyone, after all, it was a life-saving ability... Yanyan laughed, Never mind, I wont blame you. I have secrets too, so were even! Qing Chen looked out towards the sea where the distance between ships was several miles, and one could only see a small black dot. If a master among the Time Travelers were on land, they could run faster than a ship, but here they had to wait patiently. Sniper rifles seemed to be extremely effective here. At 9 a.m. the next morning, the Arctic weighed anchor, facing the morning sun, and sailed towards the horizon, its hold fully loaded. A day later, when the Arctic returned to Amsterdam Port to be weighed, it even caused a small sensation at the port. However, the Arctic didnt stay long in the port, as if rushing against time, it refueled quickly and set sail again. Two days later, the Alps returned to the port. Kreg, after the weighing, went to the Walnut Bar to drink away his sorrows. By that time, the port was full of legends about the Arctic, and the more Kreg heard, the angrier he became. As someone in the Walnut Bar was praising the Arctic, Kreg retorted loudly, It wasnt Zhang Jians merit that the Arctic found the Golden Crab Farm. It was because he had two Time Travelers from the East on his ship! Without those two Time Travelers, the Arctic would have definitely gone bankrupt this year! The audiences eyes lit up. What a story! But at that moment, a stocky Asian man sat down opposite Kreg, Can we talk? Id like to find out more about the two Time Travelers on the Arctic. What do they look like? Kreg tried hard to remember and then said, They both look very good. The stocky man seemed to have found a clue and became interested. He pulled out a photo of Qing Chen from his breast pocket, Is this him? Yes, thats him, Kreg looked at the photo of Qing Chen, as if he were suddenly transported back a few days to the Walnut Bar when the young man had walked into the bar, bringing with him the cold wind from outside Amsterdam Port. The stocky man across from him said, Is he still on the Arctic? Kreg, having realized that the man opposite was not an ordinary person, replied, He is. When we returned, we just encountered the Arctic, and Im very sure hes on it. The stocky man smiled, Nice to meet you, let me introduce myself again, my name is Jindai Warehouse. I can see you really hate those two Time Travelers, and I just happen to be willing to get rid of them for you. Kreg was stunned, You? Not just me, Jindai Warehouse smiled, There are many of us. We are all Time Travelers, and weve been hunting him for a long time. Chapter 678 - 678 406 The Best Battlefield_3 ?Chapter 678: 406, The Best Battlefield_3 Chapter 678: 406, The Best Battlefield_3 During the days the Arctic left Amsterdam, many forces were searching for a Time Traveler named Qing Chen. Initially, it was Jindai, Deer Island, Kunlun, and Kyushu looking for him, but eventually even the Future of North America began their search. There arent that many global Time Traveler organizations, so these past few days, aside from the Hacker group rooted in North America, the other five major organizations were all searching for Qing Chen... It was strange, though. What did the Future want with Qing Chen? Someone had asked, and the Futures response was, if everyone was looking, it meant this person was important. If everyone is searching and I dont, wouldnt that make me seem a bit out of place? At first, everyone sent Time Travelers to stake out various tourist attractions, thinking Qing Chen was there for a visit to the Netherlands. After several days on watch, they hadnt seen even a single hair. Gradually, everyones agents began to spread out from the city center, until one day, a report came from Jindai Warehouse about a particularly young crew member on the Arctic that caught their attention. Every unfamiliar face that suddenly appears is worth noting. Unexpectedly, it was indeed Jindai Warehouse that found him. Jindai Warehouse smiled at Kreg, saying, We please ask for your help in locating the Arctic during this sea voyage. Kreg paused, then shrewdly asked, Whats the reward? You know the crab fishing season is only a few days long. What if I miss the crabs while Im busy looking for this person? Whatever you earned from last years crabbing, we can pay directly to you, Jindai Warehouse said with a smile. We are willing to pay a ten percent deposit upfront, as is standard practice in this industry. If He Jinqiu were here, he would surely know that the Jindai organization was planning to freeload again. In fact, the Jindai organization had done many similar things internationallypay a deposit first, and once the job is done, kill the person to avoid paying the final sum. This nation, I dont know whats wrong with it; they seem normal enough on ordinary days, but the moment they see blood, they immediately turn into shameless aggressors. However, Jindai Warehouse underestimated Kregs shrewdness. After Jindai scheduled to sail out the next morning, Kreg quickly called over Fern from the Tiger Whale and Frodo from Bass. After a brief conspiracy, news of Time Travelers boarding crabbing ships overnight spread fast through Amsterdam Port. This is a port city where, if anyone knows the most people in this city, it would definitely be the captains and sailors. The Arctic, with the help of Time Travelers, found the legendary Golden Crab Farm, drifting under Amsterdams night sky. Moreover, it seemed everyone knew that it was two Time Travelers from the East on the Arctic who discovered the Golden Crab Farm. A man and a woman, both quite attractive. Regal was smart, realizing that being attractive seemed to be a criterion for the Time Travelers when searching for someone, so he intentionally released such information. By the next morning, over a dozen Jindai members arrived at the port on time, only to see people from Deer Island and the Future there as well... Jindai Warehouse was startled, he thought he was the only one who had found out about Qing Chen, but Deer Island had found out too? The intelligence system of Deer Island in the Outer World seemed quite remarkable. But Jindai Warehouse quickly noticed something was amiss. As he and his men boarded Kregs Alps, Deer Island boarded Ferns Tiger Whale. Jindai Warehouse had heard that the Alps, the Tiger Whale, and the Bass were all in cahoots... Jindai Warehouse immediately realized the shrewd crab boat captain had recognized the importance of the information, managing to sell it to two parties at once... Luckily, Jindai Warehouse thought, although Deer Island had also come, both parties had essentially the same interest when it came to Qing Chento eliminate him swiftly. So, having Deer Island here was like having an extra ally. Jindai Warehouse breathed a sigh of relief. However, just as the ships were leaving the port, Jindai Warehouse turned around and was shocked to see He Jinqiu, the Leader of Kyushu, grandly standing on the deck of the Bass kilometers away, leaning on his Black Scepter. Jindai Warehouse frowned at Kreg, Speed up the ship. Make sure not to follow that ship behind us! ... ... The Oslo port in the North, the Arleigh Burke-class destroyer Bass, was speeding off, destined for the Barents Sea. The Burke-class destroyer, a main type of destroyer in service in North America, is equipped with the Zeus Shield Combat System. At the moment, several white men were leisurely lying on beach chairs on the deck of the Bass, seemingly unfazed by the biting cold wind, almost as if they were sunbathing at a beach. One of the Black men asked, Why are we heading to the Barents Sea? Because everyone else is going, a slender White man laughed, So if Jindai, Deer Island, and Kyushu are going, wouldnt it be missing out if we didnt go? But the fuel cost for a destroyer on a single trip is exceptionally high, said the Black man. The White man chuckled, Does Future need to worry about fuel costs? The world will be ours in the future, but I also find it rather strange, it seems Jindai, Deer Island, and Kyushu are all looking for a particularly attractive person, why? Could it be like the Homeric epics, where Troy and Greece engaged in a decade-long war over the beautiful Helen? The Black man pondered and then said, Id really like to see what this person looks like. ... Five-thousand-word chapte Chapter 679: 407, no problem. Chapter 679: 407, no problem. Yang Yang said, I dont need to sleep either, so that frees up a spot. Zhang Jian: ...Impressive. He said those two words in Chinese, which is one of the few Chinese phrases he knew. In fact, Yang Yang did need sleep, but having spent so much time in the wilderness, she wasnt picky and could stabilize her body with a force field to snooze anywhere. Not fussy at all. Actually, if she wasnt worried about scaring Zhang Jian and the others, she might have run up into the sky to sleep. Once her force field was in place, not even rain could reach her, and she wouldnt be jostled by the motion of the ship. ... ... A day later in the Barents Sea, the Alpss Kreg, guided by coordinates, returned to the Golden Crab Farm. It turned out that the Arctic had chosen an excellent location this year, and even after setting 179 cages, there were still enough King Crabs left for the Alps, Tiger Whale, and Long Tail to reap a full harvest. Moreover, there was still a huge swarm of crabs nearby. According to Kregs thinking, the Arctic would definitely return here to continue dropping cages nearby. However, on the vast ocean surface, there was no sign of the Arctic. Jindai Warehouse, standing on the deck, looked at Kreg: Didnt you say they would return here? I said thats the common logic, Kreg, patiently explaining as he faced a dark gun barrel, added: But the Arctic has been peculiar this year. Maybe its because this crab farm has been fished before, so they changed to a new spot. The Barents Sea is so vast, there could be many places where more crab farms are generated. Lets find another spot. With our radar on, the moment they appear, well surely notice them. Moreover, we might even find their buoys and then wait for them to show up. On the sea, crab fishing vessels use radar and look for scattered buoys to find other crab boats. Yet, after sailing another 8 hours on the Barents Sea, the Alps hadnt detected the Arctic on their radar. The Tiger Whale and Long Tail appeared twice, and everyone was aimlessly searching for the Arctic... Jindai Warehouses patience was gradually wearing thin as he coldly chuckled towards Kreg: Those local snakes in the port who intentionally leak information, if we find Qing Chen, all will be well. But if we dont, Ill make sure you pay dearly for this. Kreg quickly reassured: Dont worry, well definitely find them. They are bound to be in this sea area. Where else could they go?! There are no King Crabs in other places! In Kregs mind, the crab fishing vessel was meant to catch King Crabs, after all! ... ... Late at night. The Arctic slowly docked at Oslos berth 14, their ship lights out, quietly waiting. Old John, Zhang Jian, and Nedup sat on the ship, each holding a cigarette, incessantly smoking like three chimneys. This is what sailors on crab ships needed, constant nicotine to stay alert. They looked at Qing Chen and Yang Yang: What are you two doing? Qing Chen, using a charred stick, scribbled on Yang Yangs face, transforming a pretty young girl into a grubby crab hunter. Qing Chen himself casually gestured and then outright used the taboo substance ACE-005 to make his face dirty. Zhang Jian asked in confusion: Are you two afraid of being recognized? But if only your faces are dirty and ours are clean, isnt that a bit too deliberate? Qing Chen looked at Zhang Jian: Thanks for the reminder. Thereupon, Qing Chen also disguised the other three. He explained: Our appearances are relatively easy to recognize, so disguises are necessary, especially since the people who chartered the ship this time are no fools. Just then, at the end of the small road leading to dock 14, two SUVs and one box truck drove in, their lights off, proceedings done in utmost silence. Yang Yang whispered, It looks like they too dont want their movements to be spotted. I wonder what theyre up to on the Yermakovsky Islands, Qing Chen mused. At that moment, Qing Chen took out a flashlight and signaled two short and one long flash towards the three vehicles, then jumped off the crab fishing ship and set up the gangplank. Those three vehicles then offloaded four men and two women, and one of the middle-aged Caucasian men directed Qing Chen: Move everything from the cars to the ship. Each box is labeled, and the equipment inside is very expensive, so dont damage it. After speaking, these six people stood off to the side. There were no introductions, nor any offers of a helping hand. Qing Chen was amused. He turned around and called to the people on the ship, Come down and help out. Old John, operate the crane and lift their stuff onto the ship. At this point, a young white man frowned, These equipments are very expensive; its better to carry them by hand. The crane operation is not stable. Qing Chen raised his eyebrows. Was there really a difference? How could using a crane be unstable? However, he didnt say anything. He called over Yong Yong, and together they lifted six suitcases and three sealed wooden crates onto the ship. Qing Chen listened closely; there was no sound of breathing from the boxes, at least they werent transporting living people. Two women and four men stood by, watching. During the move, if the box tilted slightly, they would warn Qing Chen and Yong Yong. Once Qing Chen and his team had finished moving the crates, the six people looked around before boarding the ship. Whats more surprising was that after they boarded, they took up the entire cabin dormitory. Originally, that cabin was for eight people, but the six of them closed the door and didnt let anyone in, even asking Qing Chen for the keys to the dormitory. Qing Chen was speechless, There are only six of you taking up an eight-person dormitory; whats the point? The middle-aged man said, We have private matters to discuss, and cant have others listening in. You can just manage on the deck for a few days. Weve paid so much money, naturally, theres a hardship fee included. Otherwise, what do you think we are paying all this money for? Qing Chen thought to himself that 70,000 euros wasnt really that much... Its as if they think theyre God or something. Youre transporting items onto the ship; surely lifting your own suitcases isnt too much to ask. At this moment, the middle-aged white man said, Someone come and clean the dormitory, its too dirty in here. Zhang Jian glanced at him, We cleaned it before you boarded. Whats dirty? Thats just the condition of the ship! No, if you dont clean it, we wont pay the last 10,000 installment, a girl said. Zhang Jian thought to himself, not paying is fine; its not like the money comes to me personally. But after Qing Chen gave him a look, Zhang Jian resignedly picked up the mop and started mopping the floor... A middle-aged man and five young men and women, it was unclear exactly what they were planning near the Yermakovsky Islands. After setting sail, the six just briefly admired the scenery on the deck before heading back inside the cabin and locking the door behind them. The Arctic slowly made its way out toward the open sea. Qing Chen sat on the deck, closing his eyes and listening quietly. A voice whispered inside the cabin, The ship that was sunk in 1866 should be near one of these seven coordinates; I think we should start with A2, the probability is higher there. If we can find parts of the ship underwater, that would confirm were in the right place. Alright, then lets tell the captain later to head to A2 first and give him the coordinates. If we dont find any trace at A2, well move to A4, where someone previously found a handmade ship anchor near there. I suspect that this anchor belongs to the Dawn. If theres still nothing at A4, then well go deeper to A7, where the waters are deep, and hence, it has never been explored before. No worries, we have an Awakener this time with powers over water; we should be able to find the gold coins lost on the ship. We still have a long time before we travel back to the Inner World; if we can find the gold coins, our trips to the Inner World wont be so hard. But be careful of the Future Organization discovering us, otherwise, they might force us to join, and the profits would have to be shared with them. By the way, are there really gold coins on the Dawn? someone quietly asked. Yes, everyone thought it was an empty ship, but in London while I was purchasing antiques, I discovered a letter written by the captain of the Dawn to his wife, mentioning that he was carrying gold coins headed to the Greenland Islands, which was loot taken from the East. They were transferred at Cyprus port and placed on the Dawn. If it werent for finding the captains letter, I wouldnt have spent so much effort. Upon hearing this, Qing Chen opened his eyes. He looked at Yong Yong and whispered, This is actually a team of Time Travelers, and they have an Awakener with water powers in their team, likely specializing in treasure-hunting. According to them, a ship named the Dawn which carried 19th-century gold coins sank to the bottom of the sea, and their trip was specifically to retrieve these gold coins. Yong Yongs eyes lit up, I like this kind of thing. Qing Chen thought for a moment and said, I suspect they might consider killing us to eliminate witnesses after they find the treasure. Yong Yongs eyes lit up again, Isnt that even better? At this time, someone in the cabin quietly asked, Do you think theres anything wrong with this ship? There shouldnt be any problems; they all look like ordinary fishermen to me. ... Chapter of 5000 words, another one at 11 PM tonight. Requesting monthly ticket. Chapter 680: 408, Misunderstanding Chapter 680: 408, Misunderstanding Dont worry about whether these sailors are a problem or not. In the Outer World, as long as we dont run into any of those major organizations, we generally dont need to worry about anything, said a young man calmly. Besides, this is at sea, Yesenias home turf. Even if other Time Travelers come, they wouldnt dream of defeating her on the water. But we still need to be cautious. Ill go up on deck later and chat with them to see what their deal is. Also, its best if we keep up our disguises and not let them know what were doing near the Yermakovsky Islands. Until we find the Gold Coins, we have to be careful about everything, the middle-aged mans voice emerged. Speaking of which, the middle-aged man looked at Yesenia: How deep can you dive now? Yesenia smiled and said, Once I become one with the seawater, the pressure at the bottom of the sea doesnt affect me much. I just need to think about how long my Awakening ability can last. With my underwater speed and endurance, diving to 900 meters and staying for an hour isnt a problem. The middle-aged man nodded, Were also quite lucky this time. The ship we found has a crane. Later on, by connecting the ropes, we can easily lift the Gold Coins up. Once, someone found a hand-made anchor at location A4 and searched nearby for a sunken ship. Its just that the sea trench outside the continental shelf was ahead, so those who searched returned fruitless. Now, with Yesenia possessing water-based Awakening abilities, she has an advantage that other Treasure Hunters dont have. By the way, after we find the location of the sunken ship, what do we do about these sailors? a young man asked. The middle-aged man thought for a moment. When the time comes, Ill handle it. This so-called handling didnt seem to carry any good intentions, and they had done many similar things in the past. Qing Chen sat on the deck, listening, and estimated that these people never expected to encounter other Time Travelers on this Crab Catcher. After all, Time Travelers were using their ability to shuttle between the Inner and Outer World to create wealth. Smuggling just seemed too low-level and didnt make use of Time Travelers advantages. Zhang Jian looked at Qing Chen, Dont just sit there and keep quiet. Where exactly did these people come from, where are they going, and what do they want to do? Dont suddenly ask me such philosophical questions, Qing Chen glanced at him, Once the ships been rented, lets just steadily sail in the direction they told us. They arent heading out to hunt for whales, are they? Zhang Jian asked curiously. The Yermakovsky Islands once had the biggest whaling station of the 17th century, although it later fell into disuse. Back then, whalers held the worlds most dangerous occupation, not Crab Catchers. At that moment, the middle-aged man came up to the deck, smiling, Hello, Im Chilton. Qing Chen and the others greeted him in return. Chilton asked curiously: I see you have crab pots on your ship; you must be Crab Catchers from some port, right? Why didnt you go crabbing? After some thought, Qing Chen replied, Last year we couldnt find the crab grounds, so we ended up not covering our costs. Besides, crabbing is too dangerous. We had just reached the Barents Sea when one of the crabbing boats encountered danger. Some even said they saw sea monsters on the ocean floor. So, we came back, thinking of doing something simpler to recover our capital. Zhang Jian listened and was shocked. Every sentence Qing Chen said was true, but strung together, it became a lie. Yes, the Arctic didnt find crab grounds last year, but this year they did. Yes, someone claimed to have seen sea monsters at the bottom of the sea, but Qing Chen didnt mention that he himself was that sea monster... Is this the art of language? Zhang Jian felt he had learned something. The most formidable lies in the world are probably those where every sentence is true, but the combination tells a completely different story. Chilton looked at the group, Whos the captain here? Qing Chen pointed at Zhang Jian, That guy there. Chilton studied everyone carefully and then realized there were no weapons on the ship. The sailors all carried daggers at their waists, but Chilton, experienced as he was, knew those were tools Crab Catchers always carried for cutting ropes. Therefore, there were no firearms on this Crab Catcher. That made things easier. However, Chilton still needed to probe a little further, so he leaned on the deck and chatted with Qing Chen and the others for over an hour. He concluded that these people were indeed Crab Catchers. They might not be crabbing experts, but their knowledge about crabbing was flawless. In Chiltons eyes, as long as they were real Crab Catchers, the risk factor for their mission wasnt too high. After all, they were Time Travelers, why would they worry about a group of fishermen at sea? Qing Chen looked at Chilton, feigning curiosity, What are you guys doing on the Yermakovsky Islands? Chilton explained with a smile, I am a professor who studies human geography, and Im taking my students to collect marine specimens, as well as volcanic geomorphology specimens from the Yermakovsky Islands. Those boxes are our scientific equipment. Qing Chen thought, if not for my superhuman hearing, I would have believed you! Chilton asked with a curious look, May I take a look at the pilothouse and the captains cabin? Ive never been on a Crab Catcher before, so Id like to have a look around. After some thought, Zhang Jian responded, Sure, Ill take you there. In reality, Chilton wasnt there to look around, but to install listening devices to monitor the movements of the Crab Catcher. Under normal circumstances, if there is something highly confidential to discuss on the ship, it would either take place in the cockpit or in the captains quarters and on the deck. He had already planted bugs in all those places. Chilton and the others carried with them button listening devices brought back from the Inner World, thin as a sticker, which they nonchalantly stuck who-knows-where during the tour. Their movements were extremely covert. After he finished placing them, he returned to the cabin and silently listened to the outside noises. Chilton understood one thing well: after he had spent a long time interacting with the others, they would definitely discuss their impressions about his group. That moment was the best for eavesdropping on secrets. The next second, a sigh from Zhang Jian came through the channel in the captains quarters, Ever since we chartered the ship to them, Ive felt a void in my heart. Time Travelers are becoming more common by the day, practically everywhere. Now, we on the Arctic have all become staff members, and maybe someday the Barents Sea will belong to the Time Travelers. Their crab-catching abilities are beyond compare. In fact, these remarks referred to Qing Chen and Siyang. Zhang Jian had grown increasingly uncomfortable over the past two days, their own ability to locate crabbing grounds paled in comparison to Siyangs, greatly frustrating Zhang Jian. But to Chilton, the words meant something else. Upon hearing this, Chiltons heart tightened instantly. He privately pondered, could the crews insight be that sharp, to recognize them as Time Travelers right off the bat?! And the part about chartering the ship was exactly about them. Thinking this, the middle-aged white man exchanged looks with his companions, and someone silently pulled out a handgun from the luggage. Chilton pressed down on his companions hand, signaling them to keep listening. Then they heard Old John jovially respond, This year making money has been relatively easy. Im different from you captains, lacking that adventurous spirit. As long as theres enough money to buy drinks when I land, Im good. So, its fine to charter the ship to these Time Travelers; at least I dont have to worry as much. Upon hearing this, Chilton and his group were reassured. First, these were indeed Crab Catchers, and secondly, there was no intention to interfere with their plans... But the truth was, Old John and Zhang Jian were discussing Qing Chen and Siyang the entire time, and not once did they mention Chiltons group. I think these Crab Catchers arent bad, and theyre not dangerous either, one person said softly. Another added, Thats because they havent seen a huge amount of Gold Coins. Do you remember what you were thinking when we first found the shipwreck at the bottom of the sea? I believe even an angel would fall and become a demon at the sight of that scene. Another laughed and said, Arent we already demons? It doesnt matter. As long as I can enjoy life in Miami, being a demon is fine by me. At that moment, Zhang Jian continued, By the way, Im planning to have the Arctic properly repaired next year and take another trip to the Barents Sea. Old John, can you continue as my sailor? Do you really want to leave this ocean? Old John fell silent for a moment: Well talk about next year when it comes. It was then that Chilton finally let go of his worries. After pondering for a moment, he walked up to the deck and told Zhang Jian, I have some coordinates that require you to get the crabbing vessel there in 20 hours. After saying this, he handed Zhang Jian a piece of paper with the coordinates on it. Qing Chen knew this must be the so-called A2 location they mentioned. He glanced at it and made a rough estimate in his mind; the place was about 60 nautical miles from the Yermakovsky Islands. What followed showed the groups shrewdness. After Chilton had grown weary of talking, he went back to the cabin, and then another young man came up to chat. Moreover, the young man brought a walkie-talkie, with the intention of watching the crew on the deck to ensure navigational control. And to prevent any secret plotting with paper and pen should they find the listening device. By noon, Yesenia stepped out of the cabin and frowned at the fishy smell of cod on the crabbing vessel, Wheres our lunch? The seventy thousand euros we paid include three meals, right? Can you control the cooking schedule a bit? I dont want to eat at irregular times. To that, Siyang pointed at Qing Chen and told Yesenia, This is our chef; you speak to him. Qing Chen: ... That girl really had an addiction to setting him up at any given moment. It was supposed to be Nedup who cooked, but now hed have to pretend to be the chef due to that offhand remark. Yesenia looked at Qing Chen, Get started with cooking; were waiting to eat. ... ... At this moment, the Alps was still unable to find the Arctic or Qing Chen, yet it was found first by the Tiger Whale and He Jinqiu. Jindai stood in the cockpit, yelling at Kreg, Speed up, dont let the Tiger Whale behind catch up! At this point, he was so frustrated he almost wanted to kill Kreg. If it werent for this guy leaking their departure, how would they have attracted a monster like He Jinqiu?! ... Today there are only 8000 words, I will make up for it within three days. Chapter 681: 409, Radiant Trumpet Chapter 681: 409, Radiant Trumpet It is anticipated that in three days, the Greenland waters will face a rare stormy weather, with a cold front coming from the Arctic Circle moving southward, wind speed at 70 knots. Aboard the Arctic, the Galileo satellite navigation system broadcasted a simple weather forecast, yet it was crucial. At this moment, the skies above the Greenland waters suddenly cleared up. Even the sea surface calmed down considerably, and the ripples on the sea looked like a blue wool carpet, smooth yet textured. This was the sea as people imagined it, not the dark sea that raged with storms and waves. Hearing the weather forecast in the captains cabin, Qing Chen knew that everything he had been waiting for was finally about to arrive. A wind speed of 70 knots could be called a hurricane. The hurricane, reaching speeds of 130 kilometers per hour, would whip up towering waves, and the Knight would undergo a transformation after the baptism of the storm. According to Qing Chens original plan, he would fish in the darknet, waiting for criminals to bring him a sum of money, then throw them all into the sea to feed the fishes. Then he could wait for the storm with all his heart. From the beginning, the purpose of posting messages on the smuggling channel was merely to break even. However, when he discovered that Chilton and the others were Time Travelers, things got interesting. Qing Chen was curious about what changes the Time Travelers from North America would make in the Outer World, and he also wanted to know how the Time Travelers from North America differed from them. Both sides had mechanical limbs; that was a commonality. But it seemed that the Genetic Potion in North America was more abundant, and there was also a trend of abuse. In the Federation, very few people mastered the development of Genetic Potion, basically each in their power group, which was more mature and standardized. Those with strong side effects had been eliminated. For example, the BBC-001 potion that caused an abnormal pair of flesh wings to grow on the back after injection. For example, the NCC-001 potion that made the leg hair grow into barbs after injection. These were inferior Genetic Potion products that had appeared in the Federations history, and now they had disappeared. However, many Genetic Potion sequences in North America still seemed to be in chaotic development, similar to how gun control is extremely lax in the Outer Worlds North America. In the corresponding Inner World region of North America, people were still mixing Genetic Potion in private. This is probably the result of different cultural attributes between the two regions. However, what Qing Chen was most curious about was that North America also had Taboo, wondering whether Chilton and others had any on them... What Qing Chen did not expect was that after Chilton and Yesenia installed eavesdropping devices, thinking that Zhang Jian and others had discovered their identity as Time Travelers, they surprisingly made no attempt to conceal their plan. As they sat in the kitchen eating the sandwiches Qing Chen had made, Chilton said, Before the storm arrives, we must survey Positions A2, A4, A7 thoroughly. The thing mentioned in the captains letter is of great interest to me. Qing Chen found it strange upon hearing this. What on this ship could interest a Time Traveler? At this point, Yesenia curiously asked, So, what are we planning to do after we get the gold from the sunken ship? A young man thought for a moment and said, Last time I went through the Inner World, I thought hard about it. If nobody in the Outer World Europe becomes a Time Traveler, then its very likely that the corresponding continent in the Inner World still exists and remains fertile. Once we return to the Inner World, we could slowly trade the gold for an airship. Maybe we can, just like Columbus, discover a new continent. After all, were not too far from here... Chilton laughed, What you can think of, the Future Organization can definitely think of. They havent gone to explore, so there must be a problem. Zhang Jian was stunned, You are Time Travelers?! Chilton glanced at Zhang Jian, seeming to find it a bit funny, No need to pretend anymore, dont you already know? But I think your Acting Skill is very good, showing surprise while your body language is full of details. Zhang Jian was confused; he truly didnt know. At this moment, the Arctics captain had even begun to doubt his life. He didnt know what had happened, but his ship was filled with Time Travelers. Before, people had only mentioned Time Travelers during chats at the Walnut Tavern, but since Europe doesnt produce Time Travelers, they were quite rare. Zhang Jian silently observed these people, thinking whether they could, like Qing Chen and Yang Yang, pull up crab cages with their bare hands, or perhaps even more impressively? Qing Chen and Yang Yang were, in a way, the first and second Time Travelers Zhang Jian had ever seen in person, which gave him a strange impression: Time Travelers seemed to be very powerful. Even though Zhang Jian had also seen news about the miserable fate of some Time Travelers, the ones he had seen in person were indeed formidable. So, Chilton and the others were categorized with Qing Chen and Yang Yang. Qing Chen, on the side, almost laughed out loud at Zhang Jians expression; it seemed only he knew what misunderstanding had occurred. However, their conversation did pique his interest. Qing Chen had asked Qings Shadow about related issues; nowadays, consortia have their satellites, so they can see the situation in the European Continent. Indeed, the European Continent corresponding to the Outer World had mostly sunk beneath the sea in the Inner World, and the other half was covered by vast forests. It was a whole expanse of Taboo Land No. 001 that spread out, devouring the original topography of the land. Chapter 682: Radiant Trumpet_2 Chapter 682: Radiant Trumpet_2 But they seemed unaware of this information. If these people really had managed to save up for an airship and could truly cross the Forbidden Sea from the sky, Qing Chen would be extremely surprised upon his arrival on the European Continent... However, Shadow had mentioned it before. In the vast forest of Taboo Land 001, there were actually traces of human existence, a satellite had inadvertently captured a photo. In the picture, a small area of the forest in Taboo Land had been cleared, and scattered wooden houses stood on the clearing. It resembled a small settlement. To this day, the Federation still could not determine who exactly was living deep within Taboo Land 001 or who could survive in such a place. Qing Chen thought for a moment and bluntly asked, Are you looking for a sunken ship, with something very important inside it? Chilton glanced at Qing Chen and did not seem to mind satisfying his curiosity, We found a letter the captain wrote to his wife, telling her that the ship he commanded, the Dawn, was carrying a large amount of gold, as well as something that could make people stronger, a mysterious power from the East. Qing Chen pondered to himself that there was actually such a thing on the sunken ship. Was it a cultivation method like the Prajn?a?pa?ramita?? Possible. After all, such methods should have existed in the Outer World. Was it similar to a Taboo, a magical artifact left by ancestors? That was also possible. But whatever it was, it was enough to pique Qing Chens interest. By his side, Yang Yang, just by looking at Qing Chens expression, knew what he was thinking. At this moment, Chiltons satellite phone rang in his pocket, and he answered, Whats up? The voice on the phone was loud enough for everyone to hear, and Chilton did not intentionally avoid it. Qing Chen knew that these people already considered the crew of the Arctic as sitting ducks, which was why they were so brazen. Someone on the phone asked, Is the plan going smoothly? Smoothly, Chilton thought for a moment and then said, Weve chartered a crabbing boat and expect to survey the first line within three days. After the storm passes, well complete the second line. A crabbing boat? someone on the phone said in surprise, The whole world is now searching the Barents Sea for a crabbing boat called the Arctic, whats the name of your boat? Chilton was also surprised; he looked at Zhang Jian and the others, Whats the name of your boat? Qing Chen said, Penguin Ship. Such small crabbing boats are registered with the maritime bureau simply by their identification number, and the number is whats painted on the hull, not Arctic. So, isnt it just a matter of choosing whatever name they wanted? Chilton thought it over; this wasnt the Barents Sea, so it probably wasnt the boat everyone was looking for. He said into the phone, The one were on is called Penguin Ship, wait, why is everyone looking for that crabbing boat? The person on the other end of the line didnt seem too clear on the reason either, the news they had heard could be second or third hand: Apparently, theres a particularly good-looking person on the boat; everyone wants to snatch her, like the war between Troy and Greece over Helen! But its said that the Time Traveler on the boat is quite dangerous. The experts from Jindai, Deer Island, and Kyushu have all taken action, and the Future Organization has even deployed the Bass Destroyer. That exaggerated? How good-looking can they be?! Chilton and the others were shocked. Meanwhile, Qing Chen and Yang Yang exchanged glances, thinking to themselves what kind of rumors had spreadit went from the entire world hunting Qing Chen to the whole world trying to snatch a beauty. The person on the phone continued, In any case, this person is very important. If you come across the Arctic at sea, send me the information, the Future Organization has already offered one million euros for information, and crabbing boats from all countries are now searching in the Barents Sea. Chilton said, We cant earn that money; Yermakovsky Islands are still far from the Barents Sea. Besides, if we find that sunken ship, the profit could be hundreds of times more than a million euros! Someone on the phone said, All right, then, be careful and stay safe. Ive already been in touch with potential buyers on this end. As soon as you salvage the first Gold Coin, based on the coins characteristics I can immediately make an offer. Chilton said, By the way, have Rondo come to the A2 area to meet us too. If we find the sunken ship, well need more people. Understood. At this very moment, what Chilton and the others didnt notice was that Zhang Jians expression had completely stiffened. He wanted to look at Qing Chen and Yang Yang, but he was somewhat afraid to do so. Qing Chen claimed they were on the Penguin Ship, but Zhang Jian knew very well that this was the Arctic. Moreover, according to the original plan, they should indeed have been in the Barents Sea, and both Qing Chen and Yang Yang were indeed very good-looking... So, the people the whole world was searching for... could it be these two? Wait, what exactly did that person on the phone say? The people on the boat are very dangerous?! Zhang Jian thought about it, and realized they indeed seemed quite dangerous... He had personally witnessed Qing Chen cut a rope from over a hundred meters away using just a playing card. The next moment, Old John walked out of the cockpit and said to Chilton, We have arrived at the coordinates you provided. Chilton and the others perked up, getting up to the deck excitedly. According to their research, this was the first scene of the sea bombardment that the Dawn encountered. Chapter 683: Radiant Trumpet_3 Chapter 683: Radiant Trumpet_3 After Dawn was attacked, it immediately continued to flee northward and likely met its defeat in Area A4 before sinking to the seabed in Area A7. This was, after all, only Chiltons speculation. But if the wreckage of a sunken ship could be found here, it would mean their direction wasnt wrong. Chilton stood on the deck, looking at Yesenia, Its up to you now, search the surrounding three-mile radius, and if you find remnants of the shipwreck, haul them up for analysis. Yesenia nodded and dived into the water. After half an hour, she emerged excitedly from the water, Keep moving ahead, I found a cannon from the Dawn about 1.2 miles in front. Bring the crabbing boat over there, Ill tie it down with ropes and well haul it up. Chilton, with a full-faced smile, said, If its a mid-19th century manually-made naval cannon, we can sell this one for 250,000 euros. But thats not the most crucial point; if the cannon sank into the water, that means from the beginning, Dawns deck was blasted apart, no wonder they fled in panic. We might be really close to the shipwreck. While talking, Yesenia even threw two slender fish onto the deck from the water below. Those were what she had caught from the seabed continental shelfs sands, proving she really had dived to the seabottom. What kind of fish are these? They look pretty amusing, can they be kept alive? Yangyang squatted beside the two fish and asked Qing Chen. Qing Chen said calmly, Greenland Halibut, usually dwelling in the sandy layers of continental shelves, these fish cant survive long after being brought ashore, because without the deep-sea pressure, all their organs will fail. No pressure? Yangyang thought for a moment and said to the Greenland Halibut in a low voice, Do you own a house, do you have a girlfriend? Qing Chen: ...Its not that kind of pressure! Oh, Yangyang stood up, Then lets cook them for dinner. One hour later, Yesenia returned to the sea floor with ropes from the boat. As the hoist started, the rope was continually pulled up, bringing Yesenia and a black cannon, covered with rust and shellfish, to the surface. Chiltons eyes lit up as he said, This should be one of the last batches of front-loading smoothbore cannons from the mid-19th century, and its British, which fits the characteristics of the Dawn! After that era, it was the time of ironclad ships and rifled breech-loading cannons. Weve found the right spot! As they spoke, Old John placed the cannon body on the deck, and Chilton along with another young man excitedly went up to untie the ropes and moved it to a sunny spot to examine closely. Qing Chen felt a wave of relief; these people were working so hard to find the shipwreck for him. Zhang Jian saw the two men straining to lift the cannon body and suddenly remembered how effortless it was for Qing Chen and Yangyang to lift the crab cages. He looked at Yesenias fatigued expression after returning to the boat and then remembered the spirited way Qing Chen had returned to the boat after his slaughter at sea. Zhang Jian realized, so even among Time Travelers, there were differences... He wondered if these people knew that the cook who made them simple sandwiches for lunch was a even more formidable Time Traveler than they were? And the girl beside Qing Chen seemed quite capable too, not panicking at all in the face of danger. He turned his head just in time to see Qing Chen looking at him with a knowing smile, as if he had seen through Zhang Jians thoughts. Zhang Jian hurriedly bowed his head, feeling somewhat unable to meet Qing Chens gaze any longer... However, just as everyone was jubilant, two ships appeared in the distance on the sea. One was a freighter equipped with a huge crane, the other turned out to be a luxury yacht. Is that Rondo? a young man said, Hes coming to meet us. But Chilton took out a telescope and took a look, then said, No, the freighter is Rondos, but that yacht is the Radiant Trumpet, Rondo cant afford a yacht like that?! The Radiant Trumpet was a very famous yacht, 109 meters long, almost three times the size of the Arctic. The yacht even had a helipad and could use water cannons to fend off pirates. Yesenias face turned a bit pale, I heard, last month, the Radiant Trumpet was bought by Capri from the Future Organization, it even made the news. Rondo sold us out, he has used us as a bargaining chip to join the Future Organization! Chiltons face grew solemn upon hearing this. Capri was a very high-profile Time Traveler of the Future Organization, a C-Class Expert. Moreover, Capri was a Time Traveler possessing Taboo items, with an unusual status within the Future Organization. If he was here, he certainly wasnt alone; who knew how many Time Travelers might be aboard that yacht. Chilton said coldly, We shouldnt have shared the speculated location with Rondo; indeed, you cant trust anyone in this world; you can only trust yourself. Should we run? Yesenia asked, Although Rondo knows about locations A1-A7, without a water-system Awakener to survey, they wont find the shipwreck spot immediately. Qing Chen suddenly said from the side, The Radiant Trumpets maximum speed is 22 knots, this crabbing boats is 20 at best, and we cant maintain that speed, so they will catch up sooner or later. And nowadays the best underwater detectors can dive to 11,000 meters. Whoever can afford the Radiant Trumpet wouldnt skimp on expensive diving detectors... Yesenia glared at Qing Chen, annoyed, What do you, a crabber, know? Qing Chen looked out to sea and said no more. Ordinarily, smaller boats tend to be faster, but theres also a point of comparison; the Radiant Trumpet alone cost 320 million US dollars, so it running faster than some small boats is quite normal... Chilton suddenly felt a sense of powerlessness, Lets wait here; we are the prey, they are the hunters. At that moment, from the radio communication system of the Arctic, Capris enthusiastic voice came through, Good afternoon, friends aboard Penguin Ship, I wonder if you welcome visitors from the Future Organization? ... A 5000-character chapter, there will be another one at 11 pm. Chapter 684: 410, The treasure under the sea, the gunshot on the ship Chapter 684: 410, The treasure under the sea, the gunshot on the ship Friends aboard the Penguin Ship, welcome to Radiant Trumpet as guests. There is still plenty of room here, and your friend Rondo is also here. He has now become a member of our Future Organization, Capris proud laughter echoed through the radio communication: I will treat you well, after all, you still have to help me find my treasure at the bottom of the sea. By the way, I just saw you salvaging my cannon, bring it over too, I want to place it in the living room of my Miami villa as a decoration. Upon hearing this voice, Qing Chen glanced at Yesenia, whose look clearly meant: Someone wants to steal your stuff, should we deal with him? Qing Chen shook his head. At this moment, he was actually quite interested in this Capri and wanted to see what the comprehensive strength of Future Organization was really like. Aboard the Arctic, Chilton and Yesenia, among others, had long lost the excitement of salvaging the cannon and the smugness they felt when facing Zhang Jian and his crew. Before the Radiant Trumpet appeared, they had acted as if they had Qing Chen and the others in the palm of their hands, thinking everything was under control. Now, it was a case of the mantis stalking the cicada, with the oriole behind. These Time Travelers had sunk to the same level as the crew of the Penguin Ship, becoming lambs to the slaughter. Chilton thought for a moment and said, We wont go to Radiant Trumpet. Well stay on the Penguin Ship. We will help you find the treasure you want, but its more convenient for us to work on the Penguin Ship. Capri laughed through the radio communication, Trying to leave yourselves some leeway to add suspense to the story, huh? I like it. Stay on the Penguin Ship, then. Ill wait for you to find the treasure. Dont think about muddling through, though. If you search all seven coordinates and still dont find it, then youre all dead. Now, head towards area A4. Chiltons face was so gloomy it looked like he could wring out water. He couldnt think of any good strategies to solve the problem at the moment, but the idea of handing over the treasure to someone else was unsettling to him. He could only take it one step at a time. However, just then, a feeble voice spoke into the radio communication channel: But the storm is coming soon; perhaps we should anchor in the shallows and wait for the storm to pass before surveying... Upon these words, everyone aboard the Penguin Ship stared at Zhang Jian with shock. No one expected Zhang Jian to dare to speak at such a time... Over the radio communication channel, even Capri was amused: Who is this speaking? The captain of the Penguin Ship, Chilton responded. Oh? Capri was intrigued: I see youre a crab boat; have you ever heard of the Arctic? Zhang Jian answered honestly: Heard of it, Ive been hearing about it since I was a child; it has a very glorious history. Capri said, Then do you know where it is now? My boss is looking for it at the moment. If you can help me find it and there are Gold Coins at the bottom of the sea, Ill allow you to take a handful. Zhang Jian continued to answer honestly, Everyone says it went to the Barents Sea. Qing Chen sent an appreciative glance his way; he hadnt expected Zhang Jian to learn so quickly. These two answers were all truthful, but not one revealed the actual truth... With an adventurous spirit and a deep command of the language, had this guy been a Time Traveler, Qing Chen might have thought about coaxing Zhang Jian to return to their homeland for a homecoming... The crab boat set off, heading towards the A4 area. Music with a rhythm sounded from the luxury yacht behind them, and Qing Chen looked back to see the brightly lit cabin of Radiant Trumpet, where a group of bikini-clad ladies were swaying. So this is the kind of life the North American Time Travelers lead, remarked Qing Chen. Yesenia chuckled, Envious? Not envious, Qing Chen shook his head: Living too extravagantly can make one lose their fighting spirit. These people enjoy a month in the Outer World, then theyre probably going to need some time to adjust to the dangerous environment of the Inner World when they return. Yesenia looked at Qing Chen with surprise, but said no more. At five oclock, the sunset glow on the sea was like a layer of gold plating. Chilton and the others sat on the deck, looking at the scenery listlessly, without any good mood. What do we do now? Rondo used us as his letter of introduction to join Future Organization, so Capri surely knows our strength and how many weapons we brought, Yesenia worriedly said: Sela, I told you long ago that Rondo couldnt be trusted, but you wouldnt listen. Sela, another young member of their team, had a somewhat ambiguous relationship with Yesenia, but they hadnt developed into a couple yet. Yesenia was shrewd. In private, she accepted favors from all the men in the team, yet she accepted none of them. Chilton pounded his fist on the deck, Now is not the time for blaming teammates. We need to unite and come up with a strategy. Its good that its Capri whos coming. Even though he is a C-Class Expert, C-Class Experts are not omnipotent. We still have a chance! In truth, Chilton didnt know where their chance lay, but as the leader of the team, he couldnt afford to be disheartening. Yesenia scoffed, We had agreed with Rondo to divide our forces. Professor Chilton, it was you who asked him to converge with us. If you hadnt asked him to come together, none of this would have happened. Enough, Chilton rose angrily, Will blaming each other help us escape disaster?! Chapter 685: 410, The treasure under the sea, the gunshot on the ship_2 Chapter 685: 410, The treasure under the sea, the gunshot on the ship_2 Fine, Ill join the Future too! Yesenia retorted sharply. You think joining the Future will give you a happy ending? Chilton sneered, Do you have any idea what kind of person Capri is? Plus, Rondo betrayed you. If you join the Future, hell be constantly worried that youll seek revenge against him within the organization. To prevent that, hell definitely strike first. Lets not argue anymore. I can overlook what you just said, but right now we need to unite. Yesenia muttered, There are only a few of us; who are we uniting with, those dirty hillbilly crew members? Qing Chen: ??? Yang Yang: ??? They were still watching the dogfight here, completely entertained, not expecting the girl to suddenly pull them into it too. What did this have to do with them?! However, after a moments thought, Chilton spoke to Zhang Jian and Qing Chen, Please forgive my teammates rudeness, but right now our crew on the Penguin Ship must come together. Though you might feel this has nothing to do with you, once Capri finds the treasure, to prevent leaks, hell certainly kill everyone on the Penguin Ship. Qing Chen thought, what does Capri killing people on the Penguin Ship have to do with us on the Arctic? Yet, he knew what Chilton was thinking. Only Yesenia was safe among them since she could just jump ship and escape alone; thats why she could speak without fear. But it wasnt the same for Chilton and his group. To escape, they would have to board the Penguin Ship, hence Chilton needed to somehow cajole Qing Chen and the others into cooperating with their actions. Zhang Jian and the others looked at each other, and Qing Chen led them by sitting down on the deck. Seeing Qing Chen moving, they followed suit. At this point, Chilton suddenly sensed something was off. It was clear that Zhang Jian was the captain, but on this Penguin Ship, why did it seem like this Asian youth was calling the shots? But now, he didnt have the luxury to ponder on that. Chilton looked at Zhang Jian, Captain, did you say the storm is coming in two days? He vaguely felt, this might be their chance to escape. Zhang Jian spoke earnestly, Weather forecasts arent always accurate; it might come tomorrow, or the day after tomorrow. Usually, our crabbing boats, when we hear such forecasts, we head back immediately, instead of moving forward and gambling on when it will actually hit. You might not know, but the Titanic actually sank in the North Atlantic after hitting an iceberg... Actually, Zhang Jian was a bit off; the specific coordinates where the Titanic sank were somewhat to the south of them, but if even the warmer waters to the south had icebergs, this place was even more likely. Further north, some places required nuclear-powered icebreakers to guarantee safety. This was one of the worst climate zones in the world, not an exaggeration at all. Zhang Jian continued to lament, When the Titanic set sail, I was there yelling Dont go, it will sink!, I was hoarse from shouting. They not only didnt believe me, they also kicked me out of the movie theater. Chilton: ... Qing Chen: ... Yang Yang: ... Chilton didnt know what else to say; was this really the time for stand-up comedy?! He thought for a moment and asked Zhang Jian, If the storm hits, do we have a chance to shake off the Radiant Trumpet? We cant shake it off, Zhang Jian shook his head, when the storm hits, all we can do is face the bow towards the incoming tides and drop anchor. And then? Then we bet on surviving, Zhang Jian said frankly, if the wind speed really reaches 70 knots, then we have a ninety percent chance... Thats a pretty high survival rate then, Chilton breathed a sigh of relief. Zhang Jian said, of dying. Chilton: ... If you keep talking like this, I might just shoot you. Chilton forced himself to calm down and asked, What if we turn towards the shallows and try to escape when the storm hits? Well hit a reef and sink, Zhang Jian said, in these situations, we must leave before the storm hits to survive. Got it, Chilton nodded. He went to their cabin, took out three handguns from their luggage. He hesitated, then put one back, and then turned to go up on deck, handing one to both Qing Chen and Zhang Jian, Since we are teammates now, Ill share our weapons with you for self-defense. Have you used guns before? If not, I can teach you. When Chilton said this, he was extremely sincere, as if they truly had become teammates. Never used one, Qing Chen shook his head. After declaring that, Chilton began patiently teaching Qing Chen and Zhang Jian how to use the handgun, how to disengage the safety, how to pull the trigger, and how to maintain posture to counter the recoil. While teaching, he couldnt be more serious. Qing Chen, pretending to be a novice, was even more serious. After finishing the lessons, Chilton said, The recoil of a handgun is greater than you might think, so you novices must hold the gun with both hands, and definitely dont try to strike a cool pose like the protagonists in the movies, or you could hurt yourself. Qing Chen quickly nodded, Understood, understood. Yang Yang watched the scene with amusement, thinking there was still no one on this earth qualified to teach Qing Chen about firearms. Bai Zhouguang, intimidating so many with just a sniper rifle, was not just messing around. Chapter 686: 410, The treasure under the sea, the gunshot on the ship_3 Chapter 686: 410, The treasure under the sea, the gunshot on the ship_3 After Chilton had finished teaching them how to use the guns, the seven returned to the cabin. Why do we have to give these bumpkins the guns? And why did you give mine to that filthy kid instead of Selas? How am I supposed to use it after hes done? Yesenia complained. Chilton glanced at her, thinking to himself that it was precisely to guard against the moment you decide to betray us with a gun on you. Still, he explained, Didnt you see I gave them my gun as well? This is to have them hold guns and draw fire when we exchange shots with Capri. In the midst of the chaos, Ill shout to open fire, then everyone should first find a place to hide. Let those two draw the first round of shooting, and then well open fire. Im going to break open the wooden crate in the cargo hold later; theres an automatic rifle hidden there, which is the real weapon weve been saving to take down Capri. Out at sea, with distances often stretching hundreds of meters, and with the sea wind so strong, handguns are practically useless. So, Chilton planned to have Qing Chen and Zhang Jian make a show, then use the automatic rifle to end the battle. The automatic rifle might not be effective either, but this was their only remaining option: to create chaos, kill the captain, then force Old John, the sailor, to sail away. That was Chiltons ruthless plan. It seemed to be as perfect as possible. Chilton turned to Yesenia, If you find the Gold Coin, tell Capri right away. Dont try to hide it. Yesenia was taken aback, Why? Chilton said, Because we want to trick some of them into diving for it, which reduces their guard. Area A4 isnt deep, Ordinary People can dive in suits, and theyll surely want to see the underwater treasure themselves. That way, you can kill some of them underwater, and Ill take care of some on the ship. I see, Yesenias eyes lit up. Ill coax as many as I can to go down, and then finish them off in the water while you seize the moment on the ship. Right, thats the plan! Chilton nodded with satisfaction. At that moment, Old Johns voice came from outside, We have reached the coordinates, we should anchor now. Upon hearing this, Chilton panicked and hurried to Old John to whisper urgently, Dont anchor! How could they escape if they were anchored? Overhead, in the Greenland waters, the clouds had thickened. Zhang Jian looked up at the sky and muttered, The storm is coming sooner than expected! The Radiant Trumpet yacht and the Detroit cargo ship saw the Penguin Ship slowing down, and Capri also stepped onto the yachts deck. From a distance, the Black man, clad in a bathrobe with its collar open, bare-chested without any semblance of cold, stood on the deck. With dense dreadlocks on his head and sunglasses on, Capri laughed across the sea, Is it here that we dive to search? Chilton nodded, and everyone around him was nervous, bracing for the battle to start at any moment. Yesenia dove into the sea unexpectedly, and to everyones surprise, twelve divers from the cargo ship followed suit, armed with spear guns and underwater propulsion devices, jumping in together. Capri and his men had made a double preparation, intending to search for the treasure while Yesenia searched. The speed of the fish guns wasnt much slower than Yesenias, and if she were to act underwater, it could mean her death in the sea. Though she could blend into the sea water, practically liquefying her body, a direct hit by a spear gun in a vital spot could kill her nonetheless. Chilton glanced at the sea surface. Within less than half an hour, Yesenia resurfaced, triumphantly holding up a Gold Coin shouting, The shipwreck is not in A7, its in A4! In a ravine; the previous treasure hunters missed it! Everyones eyes brightened up, and Capri signaled his men behind him. Some people on the yacht started putting on diving suits and dove into the sea one after another. Capri returned to the cabin to shower the ladies with money, waiting for good news from the seabed. On the deck, only twelve heavily armed security personnel stood guard, their cold eyes fixed on the sea surface and the Penguin Ship. Chilton got his hands on the automatic rifle hidden behind the decks crab cages. Sela anxiously said, Acting now could get Yesenia killed; she cant beat that many people underwater. But he heard Chilton viciously whisper, What does it matter to us whether she can beat them? Didnt you hear what she said earlier? Shes been planning to betray us all along! Get out of the way, arm yourself well, and once those two bumpkins draw the fire, we open up! Sela, you take control of that Old John, and when he hears my command, he sails away! With that, everything was ready. The color of the sky over the sea turned increasingly dark, as if a black Country of God was pressing down from the heavens, with the Wild Wind howling like the roar of the old gods. The waves grew higher and higher. He glanced once more over at the Radiant Trumpet yacht a hundred meters away, then suddenly shouted to Zhang Jian and Qing Chen, Open fire, now! But after he shouted, he immediately ducked behind the crab cages, using them as cover. Just as he expected, a flurry of gunfire rang out, and those two bumpkins had truly been fooled. Take action! Chilton roared. However, as he emerged from behind the crab cages, he suddenly froze. Under the Black curtain, the Radiant Trumpet was still shining. But those who were supposed to be standing on the deck, the armed security personnel, had all lain down... In Chiltons gaze, the boy at the bow turned to look back at him, his grin revealing teeth that were unnervingly white. Despite nearly 30 knots of wind and a distance of 170 meters, a total of 12 shots were fired, killing 12 people. Only then did Chilton realize something was amiss. He had only heard the sound of gunfire from nearby, but never the sound of gunfire from the Radiant Trumpet, nor the sound of bullets hitting the Penguin Ship. ... A chapter of five thousand words, ten thousand words updated today. Chapter 687: 411. The Descending Country of God Chapter 687: 411. The Descending Country of God A 30-knot wind speed had reached the point where even within 400 meters, it could still alter the trajectory of a bullet. But time never fails anyone. While others were enjoying life, Qing Chen was pulling the trigger over and over again in the Mysterious World, trying to win people over with virtue. While others were wasting their time, Qing Chen was pulling the trigger over and over again in the Mysterious World, trying to win people over with virtue. So he adapted to all wind speeds, maintaining absolute precision even in such harsh conditions. But just because he could, didnt mean the security personnel on the Radiant Trumpet could. Qing Chen often said, when you cant see the future, all you need to do is try your best; time will give you the answer. You... Chilton, half-hidden behind a stack of crab cages, froze on the spot. These Time Travelers were ruthless, but even so, they had never seen such a bizarre and chilling scene, where life under the gun of this young seaman seemed to mean nothing at all. Was this the same country bumpkin they talked about? The same dirty-faced Crab Catcher who understood nothing? Chilton suddenly thought Yesenia, beneath the sea, should also witness this scene. At this moment, he, who was supposed to be united with his allies, wanted to shoot Qing Chen. Not for any particular reason, just that this man frightened him even more than Capri did. Chilton had schemed against the Penguin Ship, had schemed against Yesenia, but had never imagined the variable that was Qing Chen. He knew that if the other party saw through his plan, they would definitely not leave him a way out. At that moment, Qing Chen said with a smile, Dont recognize me anymore? This pistol was also given to me by you. As Qing Chen spoke, Chilton tried to raise his automatic rifle to shoot this ally. But he felt as if his own gun weighed a ton; even though he was a Time Traveler who had injected two doses of Genetic Potion, he couldnt lift his arm. It wasnt just Chilton; all six North American Time Travelers on the ship felt the same way. As Qing Chen looked at them with a smile, their faces turned red with effort, yet they couldnt lift their weapons: Whats going on? Arent we supposed to be united, why do you want to shoot me, what are you afraid of? It was at this moment that Zhang Jian, Nedup, and Old John hiding in the cabin were silently observing, thinking that this was too terrifying. They... had actually been traveling with such a person for so many days? How damn dangerous! It was also at this moment that they understood that there were indeed great disparities between Time Travelers. Meanwhile, the winds in the Greenland waters were getting stronger, and the sky was growing darker. The Dark Kingdom above seemed truly about to descend. The music inside the Radiant Trumpet had stopped, and Capri, with a dark expression, looked at the 12 corpses on the deck. He sneered at the Penguin Ship, Chilton, you dont really think you can shoot a few Ordinary People from the Outer World and escape the punishment of the Future Organization, do you? Chilton and the others, rooted to the spot, thought this has nothing to do with us! Were about to die too! At a certain moment, Chilton suddenly remembered something... Could this be the legendary Arctic Ship?! Previously, he thought it was the Penguin Ship because Qing Chen told him it was the Arctic. But no one had really confirmed this, after all, everyone said that the Arctic was in the Barents Sea. So, where did the Arctic, a crabbing boat supposed to be in the Barents Sea and searched for by nearly everyone there, beyond the reach even of the radars of Burke-class destroyers, disappear to? Could it have gone to the Greenland waters? A small crabbing boat that appeared with a Time Traveler capable of stopping six men in their tracks, there were no coincidences like this in the world. However, Chilton thought this far and first wanted to turn around and take a look at Green, wanting to see what the most beautiful person in the world looked like... Green raised an eyebrow and abruptly reached out to grasp at the air, and with a thud, six men all knelt down. Qing Chen laughed. They thought that Jindai and Deer Island and the Future were looking for Green. After all, with the rumors spreading to this point, everyone had misunderstood the intentions of organizations like Jindai; naturally, this good-looking person should be a woman, how could it be a man. In that moment of distraction, Capri aboard the Radiant Trumpet had already ordered to charge full speed ahead towards them. The Radiant Trumpet was equipped with water cannons, powerful enough to keep everyone on the Arctic from raising their heads, especially designed to fend off pirates. But before the ship could approach, Yesenia, who had originally dived underwater, resurfaced. With her came more than a dozen divers. Capri on the ship looked at one of the divers, who nodded seriously, indicating that they indeed found a sunken ship loaded with treasure at the bottom of the sea! The black man with dreadlocks became excited, telling the person beside him, No one mentions digging up the treasure here, dont tell the boss, got it? This is what we found through hard work. When its salvaged, finders keepers, but if you tell anyone else, the fortune will belong to the organization. However, just as he finished speaking, Yesenia in the water suddenly looked up and threw a green box, which was hurtling straight toward the Arctic. Chapter 688: 411, The Coming of the Country of God_2 Chapter 688: 411, The Coming of the Country of God_2 Yesenia shouted in the sea, Chilton, this is what the captain of the Dawn mentioned in his letter, the thing that can make people stronger! Chilton swore in his heart; he understood Yesenia all too well. She wanted to draw everyones attention to herself and make Capri interested in the contents of the box! Then, she would shift all the attention to the Arctic. As expected, upon hearing Yesenias voice, Capris gaze fixed on the box... landing in Qing Chens hands. However, what Yesenia didnt expect was that Capri wasnt distracted at all; he gave the divers a signal with his eyes. The twelve divers simultaneously fired harpoons at Yesenia. The twelve barbed harpoons crisscrossed and shot out, effectively sealing off all of Yesenias escape routes. Apparently, the traitor Rondo had already informed Capri of Yesenias abilities, and Capri had long since devised tactics against her. The next moment, Yesenia quickly sank to the bottom of the sea, trying to use her abilities to escape. But she was a step too slow and her left arm was pierced by a harpoon. Caught off guard, another harpoon struck her abdomen, and it looked like she wasnt going to make it. No one noticed that Yesenias blood flowed into the sea and quickly spread with the waves. The dormant sea masters awaiting a storm at the bottom of the sea, from dozens of kilometers away, smelled something inherently attractive and started to converge toward this area. So, you came looking for this thing, whats inside? An inheritance law or a taboo? Capri shouted across hundreds of meters to the Arctic. Qing Chen ignored him and excitedly opened the box. The container was made of copper and was already corroded by seawater; when opened, the box was already full of water. Surprisingly, inside the box was a wrapped oilcloth, tightly enclosing its contents. Qing Chen could imagine how careful and cautious the captain of the Dawn, Edison, must have been when sealing this oilcloth package. He exchanged a look with Yang Yang, while everyones eyes converged on what he was holding; Capri also picked up a telescope. Qing Chen unwrapped the oilcloth layer by layer, looking forward to what was inside. But, when he unfolded the oilcloth, he was stunned. Inside were nine dry pills sealed with white wax, each wax-sealed pill bearing the gold-lacquered Chinese characters: Seadog Pills. Qing Chen, being well-informed, of course, knew what Seadog Pills were... Wasnt this just the ancient remedy that supposedly could make men stronger?! He recalled what Chilton had said about the clue: the captain of the Dawn, Edison, wrote to his wife that he had something that could make people stronger, and it was a mysterious power from the East... If it were something particularly important like a taboo, why would he write about it in a letter to his wife? It was clearly just a joke between him and his wife! Unbelievable! Qing Chen took out the Seadog Pills and started throwing them one by one at Chiltons face: Ill make you strong! Ill make you strong! What a pointless excitement, he thought. Everyone in the Outer World was shackled and unable to awaken; they had to first awaken in the Inner World before they could continue to awaken in the Outer World. In such a case, how could something like a taboo be passed down. On the side, Yang Yang was nearly laughing herself silly: Why dont you just keep them, maybe they will come in handy later. Theyve been expired for over two hundred years! Qing Chen said irritably. The nine Seadog Pills he threw caused Chiltons head to ache terribly, and he was stunned by the impact. Chilton suddenly shouted, The most beautiful person in the world is on this ship! By this time, the Radiant Trumpet was very close. Capri, hearing Chiltons shout, was a bit baffled. He looked at the other members of the Future Organization beside him: What the hell is he talking about? Being core members of the Future Organization, they naturally had access to firsthand information, so they didnt know how the news had turned out now. Seeing Capri not reacting, Chilton shouted again, The person you from Jindai, Deer Island, the Future are looking for is on this ship! We have been taken captive, the one who just killed the security of the Radiant Trumpet is the person youre looking for! We do not wish to be enemies with the Future! In Chiltons words, he portrayed himself as someone coerced, with Qing Chen pinned as the instigator of all the trouble. He didnt care whether the Penguin Ship was the Arctic or not, nor did he need to carefully verify any further; he just needed to divert the blame eastward. If Capri and Qing Chen were evenly matched, wouldnt he have a chance to survive? After all, Capri was a C-Class Expert! This time, Capri finally reacted. Excitedly, he glanced at the members of the Future next to him: Go use the satellite phone to tell the Bass that the Arctic is in the Greenland waters, weve found that person! As he spoke, he began arranging tactics, Let Rondos cargo ship come over as well, use the Radiant Trumpet and the cargo ship to surround the Arctic in the middle, so they dont have a chance to turn the ship around. Everyone get ready with loaded guns, and if anyone dares show up, turn them into a sieve! At this moment, the Future Organization was unclear about the strength of the person on the Arctic. But surely, anyone who caused Jindai, Deer Island, and Kyushu to mobilize with such fervor had to be no simple character. Chapter 689: 411, The Coming of the Country of God_3 Chapter 689: 411, The Coming of the Country of God_3 So, Capri didnt want to rashly approach; he wanted to wait for the Bass to arrive and rendezvous. On the cargo ship and the Radiant Trumpet, there were already over a hundred people hiding behind various covers, all pointing their guns at the Arctic. On the deck of the Arctic, Qing Chen looked at Chilton, Arent you afraid Ill shoot you first? Chilton forced a smile, Now youre about to be surrounded, its not a matter of me uniting with you, but you needing to join us. Release this shackle that binds us, and we can fight side by side with you. Qing Chen looked at Yangyang, who said with a smile, A fierce tiger doesnt need to band with the sheep. Sheep flock together, yet the fierce tiger walks alone. These words were written by Qing Chen on the wall beside his bed, and now, as Yangyang said these words on the eve of the approaching storm, they suddenly inspired an indescribable exhilaration. Zhang Jian hid inside the cabin and shouted, Do you need any help? Qing Chen was somewhat surprised; this guy turned out to be braver than he had imagined. He smiled and said, No need for help, just lock Old John and Nedup in the cabin and make sure they dont come out. As he spoke, Zhang Jian watched, wide-eyed, as Qing Chen tossed Chilton and the others into the sky, provoking a barrage of chaotic gunfire from Capris side. But as Qing Chen, with the help of Yangyangs force field, cast each person into the air, Yangyang suddenly caught sight of the young man opposite and her pupils narrowed. A persons eyes are enough to change their facial expression. So when Qing Chens pupils contracted into vertical slits, Yangyang felt as though she was facing a wild beast. Amid Chiltons screams, curses, and cries of fear, Qing Chen silently calculated all the gunshots. Automatic rifles, 30-round magazines. A total of 91 people on the two ships, and there were still 12 people who hadnt fired, waiting to respond to any contingency. But that was okay. The sound of gunfire. The curses. The gunfire on the ships. The waves below the ship. And above in the sky, the Country of God and the clouds like an inverted dark sea, at the remote horizon of the ocean, it was as if they stood upon the edge of the world. Now is the time, Qing Chen said. In the midst of the thunder, Yangyang quickly moved behind Qing Chen and wrapped her arms around his waist, and the two of them shot up into the sky. The seawater on the deck was stirred up by the force of this impact, spreading out like a tornado. Zhang Jian gaped at this scene, thinking to himself that this girl really could fly! He saw Yangyang and Qing Chen soaring into the air. The 12 gunmen on the Radiant Trumpet raised their hands to shoot but couldnt keep up with Yangyangs ascending speed. The two reached hundreds of meters in the sky. Qing Chen drew his black sniper rifle out of the void, pulling the trigger one shot after another. The gunmen on the deck below burst into clouds of blood mist one by one, staining the decks of both the cargo ship and the Radiant Trumpet red. The waves slapped against the hull of the ships, the sea water continuously surged onto the deck, then carried the bloodstained water into the ocean. This was a combination technique Qing Chen and Yangyang had devised. As long as there was no Destroyer involved, they needed only to fly a few hundred meters into the sky to effectively suppress everyone with their firepower. Within this distance, only Qing Chen could kill, no one could kill him. Upon this dark sea, he was the unmatched artillery, the sovereign of the Dark Kingdom in the sky above. It was as if the Dark Kingdom had descended today because of him. The roaring of the sniper rifle was the thunder of the kingdoms arrival. This was also the very reason why Qing Chen dared to lure Jindai and Deer Island out to sea in search of him and why he asked Yingying to be the Protector this time. If he had not heard about the Destroyer at the Oslo port, the people from Jindai Warehouse and Deer Island would have already died at sea. Capri watched from inside the cabin, trembling with fear, as he himself had failed to riddle Qing Chen with bullets, yet Qing Chen was close to turning his Radiant Trumpet into a sieve! He finally understood why the Bass warned all Future Organization members not to approach if they encountered the Arctic, not to get close first. Turns out this ship was hiding an extremely terrifying person! The girl, the rarest Force Field Awakener from the Inner World, and the boy, a god amongst snipers who could effortlessly pull an anti-materiel sniper rifle out of thin air and hit his mark every time. What kind of bizarre combination was this?! Capri felt a bit jealous; if he had such abilities, why would he need to join the Future Organization when he could do anything on his own? At this moment, Chilton had not yet died; he had been hit by seven bullets, six in his limbs, and one in his right lung, so he wasnt going to die just yet. He lay on crab cages piled like tofu cubes, gazing up at the sky in his final moments, remembering the time he had fooled the others, treating them like bumpkins. Chilton suddenly felt very stupid, as foolish as the ugly, thoughtless fish in the deep sea. This was a real Time Traveler. In comparison to the young boy and girl, they had all wasted their life encounters with traveling through time. In just two short minutes, Qing Chen had completely swept clean both the cargo ship and the Radiant Trumpet. Only Capri remained hiding inside the cabin. Do you think we look like Jack and Rose from the Titanic right now? Yingying teased in mid-air, Im Jack, youre Rose. Qing Chen: ...Shall we sink a ship to fit the scene? But the next moment, Qing Chen felt something was off. He saw dozens of fins emerging and approaching rapidly at sea, and on the other side, there seemed to be a massive creature also closing in quickly. Not good, Qing Chen frowned, Its Yesenias and the blood from the Radiant Trumpet that have attracted the ocean sovereigns here. Yingying was stunned for a second, Could this battle turn the oceans of the Outer World into Taboo Land? Into the Forbidden Sea? It shouldnt. Yesenias highest level is D-Class at most, not enough to qualify for the formation of Taboo Land, Qing Chen said, But the blood of a Transcendent naturally attracts beasts, and I think, as more and more Time Travelers clash at sea, itll just be a matter of time before we see the emergence of the Forbidden Sea in the Outer World. If one day the creatures from the Forbidden Sea appear in the Outer World, where the wide-angle lenses of submersibles can only capture their heads, Thats when the Forbidden Sea will have truly emerged. Kill Capri and leave this area as quickly as possible. There are divers in the water, but they wont survive the clash of these ocean sovereigns. We dont have to deal with them, Qing Chen said with a resolute voice. ... A 5000 words chapter, another one at 12 oclock. Todays second chapter is a bit late because the annual international DOTA2 competition has started, and I have to watch a match... Support the China team! Chapter 690: Knights Limit Chapter 690: Knights Limit In the Inner World, the fastest formation time for Taboo Lands is four years. The recorded time for the formation of Taboo Land No.001 was such: in the first year, biological mutations emerged; by the twelfth year, rules appeared. However, this was also because the land where Taboo Land No.001 was located had seen numerous Transcendents perish. Geography textbooks from Lis School stated that in the last battle between the old human civilization and the Smart Machine Crisis, over a hundred Transcendents died, including a Demigod named Li Shentan who fell in order to buy time for the last of humanity. Therefore, the formation of Taboo Land No.001 had its own uniqueness, which was why it could invade the entire European Continent. In Qing Chens view, among the casualties in this battle, aside from Yesenia, most were injectors of Genetic Potion. Genetic Potion merely added to the genes and was incapable of forming Taboo Lands. Thus, even if Yesenia had been C-Class, the Taboo Land wouldnt have formed, but certainly, marine creatures would have become stronger because of her. Should they enter the sea and use Puppeteer to contain Yesenia? Qing Chen glanced at the Sea Beasts fins protruding from the sea in the distance and then at the sky. He didnt want to take the risk. Perhaps he would become new prey for the Sea Beasts while trying to contain Yesenia for this world. Perhaps by that time, the Sea Beasts would have mutated even more... Behind him, Yingying asked, The wind speed is already quite high, are you going to challenge the life and death situation? Qing Chen shook his head, The waves are not high enough, but it should be tonight. At this moment, Capri had kicked out all the ladies in bikinis from the cabin of his yacht, leaving them exposed on the cold deck at minus fifteen degrees Celsius. The violent rocking of the yacht tossed the ladies into the sea, where they became a feast for the Sea Beasts. Then go take care of Capri first? Yingying pondered and said, Hes now hidden inside the cabin, perhaps he has some trump card there. There must be quite a few people left on both the cargo ship and the yacht, Qing Chen said, Fly closer and then tell me where hes hiding. Human eyes cant penetrate the ships hull, but Yingyings force field perception can. Hence, the partnership between Yingying and Qing Chen from the start wasnt as simple as just flying high to serve as a gun platform. Yingyings spatial awareness was enough to become another pair of eyes for Qing Chen. With the anti-material sniper rifle and tungsten core armor-piercing bullets, absolute firepower combined with the ability to perceive through the hull was enough to leave no room for the hiders to escape. Two people are hidden in the blue container on the cargo ship. The sniper rifle roared. Adjust the bullets impact point two meters to the right. The sniper rifles trajectory was adjusted to roar once more. One meter to the left of the third window on the second row of the yacht, someone is hiding. Two meters to the right of the third row of windows, someone is lying on the floor. Yingying accurately reported the positions of those in hiding, one by one; people inside the ship could only hear gunshots and see death, but had no idea how the sniper outside managed to achieve this. They didnt know why the sniper could see through the wall to spot all of them. At a certain moment, members of the Future Organization wondered about something: Wasnt this combination too strong? If there were gods in the Inner World, shouldnt they nerf these two people? At that moment, up in the sky, Yingying, who was hugging Qing Chen from behind, slowly rested her head against the young mans back. In her life, she was always burdened with too many expectations, as if she was meant to be the strongest among all. When facing problems, those around her always hoped she could help, to be the most useful one in the team. To organize student protests in City No. 10, to organize the Time Travelers in Haicheng... Such a life was exhausting. More often, she wished she could rest and not always be the main character. In fact, as a B-Class Force Field Awakener, tonights slaughter at sea need not have been so troublesome... But tonight, Yingying left the entire stage for Qing Chen. She wanted to occasionally experience what it felt like to be a lazy fish, maybe that was the meaning of her joining Daylight. As the gunfire ceased, the dark sky grew heavy with clouds, as if ancient gods from the Country of God were reaching out their arms, churning the already murky seawater. Only Capri is left, do we snipe him directly? Yingying asked. Qing Chen thought for a moment and said, No need to kill him, I have a use for him. Huh? Yingying was momentarily surprised, You want to use him, you... Qing Chen exclaimed in distress, Cant you stop making such implications at this time! Yingying covered her mouth with a laugh, Okay. Ill wait until Ive completed the life and death challenge, said Qing Chen, Just keep him suppressed so that he has no chance to run away, lets descend, to the Arctic first. After Yingying and Qing Chen descended, Qing Chen, standing tall next to Chilton, asked calmly, Whats Capris full name? Chilton, coughing up blood, struggled and said, Save me! Qing Chen thought for a moment and then said, Tell me Capris full name and I will save you. Chilton, with difficulty, said, Capri Jackson. Qing Chen inquired cautiously, How do you spell it? Yingying looked at Qing Chen, unsure of what he intended to do. However, for Qing Chen, Capri seemed to be the most suitable puppet material at the moment, isolated and hiding inside the Radiant Trumpet and a C-Class at that; how could such a person not be made into a puppet, it would be somewhat a pity? Chapter 691: 412, The Knights Limit_2 Chapter 691: 412, The Knights Limit_2 This time coming to Europe, Qing Chen was merely being hunted down by others, and if he didnt find someone from Jindai to play some tricks, wouldnt it be too boring? However, the Puppeteer required the host to know the puppets true name, and Qing Chen was unsure if he needed to spell it out. After all, many names in North America sound alike, but they are spelled differently. Yangyang was a bit curious about what Qing Chen was going to do, while Chilton outright thought that Qing Chen simply wanted to torture him before he died... What normal person would bother asking how to spell another persons name when they are about to die?! Nevertheless, Chiltons desire to survive overcame everything else, Carbry.Jackson. Thank you, Qing Chen said sincerely. Save me, Chilton roared with his last bit of energy. Qing Chen thought for a moment, then started doing CPR on Chiltons chest, but he pressed too hard and ended up killing Chilton. Couldnt save him, what a pity, Qing Chen lamented. Yangyang said emotionlessly, This is the first time Ive seen someone perform CPR on a person shot in the chest... A man must keep his word, Qing Chen reflected. Yangyang asked curiously, You must have some kind of taboo that requires knowing other peoples true names, right? Qing Chen glanced at the girl, who had guessed correctly so quickly. Forget it, I wont ask. What are your plans now? Yangyang asked. The Bass Destroyer is unlikely to brave the storm, so we are safe until the storm stops, Qing Chen pondered. Ive already noted the coordinates here, but Im afraid the task of salvaging the ships gold coins will have to wait until the weather calms down. Tonight, Ill try to complete the challenge, and then once people stop chasing after me, Ill come back here and retrieve the gold coins. Although nowadays there are no shortages of ways to make money, since he was already here... There is no reason to see money and not pick it up! Zhang Jian hid in the cabin, when suddenly he saw that after killing who knows how many people, the young boy and girl just sat down side by side on the deck railing and started chatting. As if the boundless waves and low-hanging dark clouds exerted no pressure on them. Zhang Jian yelled, What are you doing? Qing Chen turned and shouted back with a smile, Waiting for the wind! Zhang Jian felt utterly baffled, wondering if all Time Travelers had a bit of an issue with their brains?! But he suddenly felt that the young man really was waiting for the wind, and it was a rare hurricane he was expecting. Inside the Radiant Trumpet, Capri felt something was off. The gunfire had stopped, but no one had come to find him, nor to kill him. It seemed like they were just going to let him fend for himself on this vast ocean. After five minutes, Capri gathered his courage and stealthily approached the window, where he saw the scene Zhang Jian had just witnessed. The young boy and girl were sitting side by side on the deck railing, facing the waves with complete calm. Capri silently watched it all, swearing that this scene could shake anyones soul. The raging roars of the sea tide and wind seemed like a backdrop for these two. The barely visible dark shadow of the sea beasts crazily feeding below the ship contrasted the calm and violence, creating an extreme juxtaposition. No artist in the world could ever perfectly recreate this soul-stirring scene. Yangyang casually sat on the railing, her legs swinging outside the rail, Does every Knight promotion involve facing such dangerous situations? Yes, a nine in ten chance of dying, Qing Chen replied. Yangyang tilted her head and asked, Taking risks with a nine in ten chance of dying, to do something known to be impossible, yet striving to achieve it... is that the romantic spirit of a Knight? I heard stories about knights in the Inner World before, and I didnt quite understand, but having experienced it with you once, I think I get it a bit now. Qing Chen smiled. Arent there also many people in the world who embark on seemingly never-ending tasks, like our ancestors, like what you are doing now? Yangyang thought for a moment and said teasingly. Its different; our ancestors acted with no hope in sight, whereas we have successful examples to follow. We are awakening the awareness of students because we know only the youth can save the world. Think about it, why is it always the youth who save the world in cartoons? Isnt it because if middle-aged people heard the world was about to end, their first reaction would be, Really? Thats great! Why not just let it end? Middle-aged people no longer have the interest to save the world, so, the youth are truly the sparks of this world. Yangyang continued, People always mock the naive, immature, idealistic nature of the youth, but its exactly this relentless courage that can ignite a fire. One day, that fire will start to burn. Qing Chen suddenly remembered what his master often said. My friend, you cannot face the darkness with tenderness, you must use fire. He stood up, looking at the distant waves, and smiled, The wind I need has finally arrived. At the edge of the world, a tide was continuously rising, high like a dark wall. Qing Chen went back inside the cabin and took out his surfboard. Zhang Jian was dumbfounded, thinking this guy couldnt really be planning to surf, could he?! No way, no way, no one would surf in such terrible weather, right? Yangyang laughed and took Qing Chen flying to the Radiant Trumpet, then went into the cabin and brought the held-down Capri back to the Arctic. Chapter 692: 412, The Knights Limit_3 Chapter 692: 412, The Knights Limit_3 B-Class Force Field Awakeners are just so unreasonable. Qing Chen said, Ill pilot the Radiant Trumpet to complete the life and death trial. You stay on the Arctic and help them stabilize the ship. Wait for me to come back. Yanyan asked with a smile, What if you cant come back? Let me ask you one last question. Everyone says that a Knights life is about pursuing limits, so where do you think a Knights limits lie? Qing Chen turned around and answered with a smile, In the heart of a Knight. With that, Yanyan smiled and flew away from the Radiant Trumpet, Now I believe you can survive. You dont need to swim back though; Ill come to pick you up. Alright, Qing Chen entered the cockpit, and the Radiant Trumpet slowly started to move. The dazzling luxury yacht, facing the tide of darkness, looked like a giant holding a banner of brilliant light, launching a mortals charge towards the end of the world and the Dark Kingdom, all alone. Defiant. Regretless. Zhang Jian stared blankly, gripping the cabin door, watching the Radiant Trumpet. Once, Qing Chen had told him that for a crab boat captain, the perfect spirit of adventure was to lead his crew through the dangerous Barents Sea, returning alive with a full load of King Crabs. At that time, he had felt slightly contemptuous, thinking that those who hadnt spent years in the Barents Sea werent qualified to talk about the spirit of adventure and freedom. But now, he understood that this indeed was a true adventurer, the bravest person between the ocean and the heavens. The bravest people in this world are not those who are ignorant and fearless, but those who know how dangerous it is and yet still choose to fight. Zhang Jian watched as the Radiant Trumpet accelerated, its speed surpassing its sustainable 22 knots! He watched the Radiant Trumpet rise against the black tidal waves, as if climbing a black mountain ridge! Suddenly, he felt that the name Radiant Trumpet was too fitting; Qing Chens life must be like that of the Radiant Trumpet. Zhang Jian started rummaging around the cabin, muttering, Wheres my telescope?! My telescope! Found it! As he raised the telescope, he just caught the Radiant Trumpet at the peak of the tide, the young man leaping down with his surfboard. Zhang Jian yearned deeply, realizing this was what true life was all about. For a moment, he felt a burning flame igniting in his heart. The next moment, Yanyan flew out again, holding Capri, because she sensed that as Qing Chen leapt from the summit of the black tide, the Sea Beasts from below had simultaneously ceased their feeding and were all rushing towards Qing Chens direction. She didnt know what had happened. Perhaps these creatures, awakened by Yesenias blood to the New World, knew what to devour for their evolution. Maybe it was the Knights Body that had an inexplicable attraction to them. Or perhaps Qing Chens commencement of the Knights final life and death trial in the Outer World had triggered certain rules. But none of that was important; what mattered was that Yanyan could not let them affect Qing Chen. The Sea Beasts were quick, but Yanyan flew even faster. Capris collar was held in Yanyans hand, his limbs completely unable to move, resembling a perfectly straight human stick in mid-air. The Black man prayed continuously, hoping the girl wouldnt let go of him as he saw the enormous shadows in the sea... However, in the next moment, Yanyan tossed Capri high into the sky, and he felt as if he had left Earths gravity, soaring higher and higher. Looking down, he saw the girl standing above the Sea Beasts, towering like a God of this world. The girls eyes emitted a purple-blue radiance, and she clenched her fist in the void, Get down! A shocking scene unfolded before him. As he was still flying up, Capri saw sudden depressions forming on the raging sea surface. The depressions in the sea looked like the Earths crust had collapsed after being bombed by intercontinental missiles! Amid thunderous might, the dozens of Sea Beasts rushing towards the black tide were all instantly fixed within the sea by an unmatched pressure, like insects trapped in amber. Yao Yao maintained the same posture, waiting for Qing Chen to truly complete the challenge. The terrifying black tidal wave had already crashed down, like an inverted mountain ridge, instantly engulfing Qing Chens form. But Yao Yao knew Qing Chen hadnt encountered trouble yet. Because when the wave struck, an inverted wave would create a hollow space between itself and the main body of the tide, like the last corridor of life left for warriors in this world. Time ticked away, second by second, her complexion growing paler and she could hardly hold on. However, Yao Yaos expression remained resolute, she believed Qing Chen would reappear once again. The next second, Qing Chen, standing on his surfboard, burst from beneath the waves, his racing life breaking new chains once again! Yao Yao suddenly released the sea area she had been restraining. The displaced water immediately rushed back, forming a huge whirlpool. Capri felt a tingling sensation on his scalp. Could humans really do this, or was this the might of a god?! So, you have this ability, and you just used a sniper rifle? Why not just slap everyone to death with a single palm?! At this moment, Capri suddenly felt some kind of force field around him slowly dissipating, the upward momentum gradually peaking, then he began to plummet... By the time Capri looked down again, Yao Yao was no longer in sight. He shouted in the air, Wait, Im still up here, catch me! Please! But Yao Yao didnt pay any attention to him, instead going above Qing Chen, who had just completed the life-and-death challenge, and plucked him from the sea! The next moment, a shadow under the sea began to grow larger. With a thunderous roar, five Tiger Whales suddenly breached the water, all opening their mouths to bite down on Qing Chen. Yao Yao, holding onto Qing Chen, rapidly ascended, barely avoiding the five ten-meter-long Tiger Whales. Qing Chen and Yao Yao looked at the five whales that had fallen back into the sea, far from panicking, they burst into laughter, feeling an indescribable exhilaration in their chests. However, just as the two of them were laughing heartily, a scream of terror came from the distant sky. Yao Yao then remembered there was still one person up in the sky. Capri, in terror, saw himself getting closer to the sea surface, with what seemed like huge shadows waiting for him below. It felt to him like a high-thrown peanut, with a mouth waiting below to eat him. Just when Capri had given up hope, a slender, fair hand re-caught his collar and lifted him back onto the Arctic. Thank... Before Capri could finish expressing his gratitude, Yao Yao chopped at his neck with the edge of her hand. Capri turned, glaring at her, What are you doing? The chop hadnt knocked out Capri, missing the exact spot, and it made his neck sting. But one thing was sure, the girl had a strong grip. Yao Yao, looking discontented, turned to Qing Chen, Im not good at this, you do it. Alright, Qing Chen agreed. And Capris world plunged into darkness. ... I then realized that the second game of the evening was actually for a foreign team, but since I only watch Chinas games, I decided to continue writing... Id like to thank lusg02, Leng Xun Fan, Da Feng Chui Ha Xiu and a few other students for becoming this books new allies. Kudos to the bosses for their generosity. May the bosses have houses, partners, and a life without pressure! Also, a little achievement to report, this afternoon the book reached an average order of one hundred thousand, and Ive become the first author on Qi Dian with two works averaging one hundred thousand orders! Celebrate! Chapter 693: 413. Harvest Chapter 693: 413. Harvest Capri Jackson? Qing Chen ventured. The puppet entangled in Capris hand gave no response, and Qing Chen was well aware that if he knew the persons name, no matter whether they were unconscious or on the brink of death, they would be controlled by his thoughts and become his puppet. Now, the puppet could control two people simultaneously, and both Capri and Qing Chen were C-Class. Moreover, Qing Chen had just fulfilled this months puppet containment requirements. So, there was no reason it shouldnt work. Unless, Chilton had not revealed Capris real surname before his death. Qing Chen felt some emotion within; the old man had died well, having manipulated those around him throughout his life and even in death. Capri Lincoln? Qing Chen tried again. Since Lincoln had led the abolitionist movement in North America and issued the Emancipation Proclamation, many Black people in North America had the surname Lincoln. But Qing Chen guessed wrong again. Capri Washington? Capri Smith? Qing Chen tried one after another, but none were correct. It wasnt possible that he had to search through all American surnames, was it? He looked at Capri lying on the ground, whose eyelashes were trembling slightly clearly, he was already awake... However, after waking up Capri dared not resist or even show signs of being awake. Having witnessed the Force Field Awakener taking action firsthand, he found it hard to feel any desire to win or lose, and was now in complete surrender. Moreover, he had already endured three strikes, one from Yang Yang and two from Qing Chen. Qing Chen had knocked him unconscious the first time, and when he woke, he found the young man beside continuously guessing his surname, unsure of what he was trying to do... This made Capri extremely fearful, always feeling that the person beside him was not normal. Following that, he began yelling for mercy, only to be knocked out by Qing Chens hand strike for the second time. At this moment, Capri felt a severe pain in his neck, as if it had been swollen from the hits. This time, however, Qing Chen did not knock him out again, but directly asked, Hey, I know youre awake, whats your full name? Capri: ... Qing Chen raised an eyebrow: Playing dead, huh? Capri: ... This Black friend of his understood very well that the malicious young man wanting to know his name was up to no good. Qing Chen calmly asked, I heard you are an Awakener, what is your ability? You were so high-profile in the Outer World, even if you dont tell me, I can find out online after the storm passes. Capri, with eyes closed: I can materialize Spartan spears and launch them... Spears are just spears, whats the difference with Spartan spears? Qing Chen retorted. Capri dared not retort... It really didnt matter; in the past, to sound cooler, he used to claim that his spears were from the Spartan 300, invincible and so on. But acting cool was useless now. The context wasnt right. Qing Chen felt that Capris ability was rather useless to him, for as a Transcendent below B-Class, using projectile spears wasnt as good as just firing a gun with the principle of reciprocity. An armor-piercing bullet was far more effective than any Spartan spear. Qing Chen asked, So, how many can you materialize at once? 18 spears, Capri said. Then Ill call you Spear 18 from now on, Qing Chen said calmly. Capri: ... Clearly, he didnt get the reference from The Deer and the Cauldron. Qing Chen sighed. Now, he could only wait for the storm to pass, and then use the satellite phone to call Los Angeles City and have the Daytime Members search online for this mans name. Since Capri was so high-profile, and as a Time Traveler celebrity who ostentatiously bought one of the top ten luxury yachts, Radiant Trumpet, his identity data should be easy to find. After all, Capri was likely to have fans, whose investigative capabilities are well-known. Qing Chen now suspected that this man had a middle name, otherwise why was it so difficult to guess? By the way, I heard you also have a Taboo item? Qing Chen asked, staring intently at Capri. In that instant, Capris gaze flickered downward uncertainly for a moment. That was in the direction of his left hand. Psychology is a fascinating thing; it breaks down and analyzes human instincts, but very few can truly understand it. But Qing Chen didnt need to fully understand it. He just needed to know that Capris Taboo item was currently on him, and that was enough. At that moment, Qing Chen suddenly noticed a Tail ring on Capris little finger. The ring wasnt attractive at all, without any patterns, looking just like a simple black iron loop, When he deliberately shifted his gaze there, he suddenly felt Capris arm muscles tensed for a moment. Things were getting interesting. Wait, Capri said, I can call my family, they can pay to ransom me... Before Capri could react, he was knocked unconscious again. It should be noted, though the path to becoming a Knight is harsh, each promotion places them at the pinnacle within their level. Capri was merely an Ordinary Person among C-Class, solely relying on his power to carve some status within the Future Organization. Capri had been directly promoted to C-Class. After abruptly gaining power, he scorned at inferior methods of combat. Chapter 694: 413. Harvest_2 Chapter 694: 413. Harvest_2 He scorned practicing combat and scorned practicing force exertion. Many Awakeners are like that; Liu Dezhu was no exception in his early days. But Qing Chen was different, he was always training. Thus, these people, in terms of combat talent, motor reflexes, combat experience, and control over fighting distance, were worlds apart from Qing Chen who had fought his way up from the bottom. Still the same notion, Qing Chen had spent countless hours refining himself, and time would give him the answer. You, a Time Traveler holding a Taboo, its like a gold-rimmed chamber pot, whats the use of it? Better give it to me, Qing Chen removed the Tail ring from Capris pinky, curious why the other had never used it once? Was he scared silly by it? That was a factor. But Qing Chen felt, a bigger likelihood was that this Taboo might be functional and might not directly bring about a reversal of the situation. He took out a Crab Catchers dagger and chopped down on it, and even the blade shattered, but the Tail ring was still intact. Definitely a Taboo without a doubt. Perhaps many hadnt anticipated that Qing Chens method of identifying Taboos was so simple and crude... Puppeteer and Da Fu had already experienced it long ago... Its a pity, I still cant discern the containment conditions of the Taboo, nor do I know its function. This thing is hard to figure out without long-term exploration, Qing Chen muttered, It seems Ill have to still probe into Capri for a breakthrough. This trip to Europe, for Qing Chen, the gains were already more than ample. He had been promoted to C-Class. He had obtained the coordinates of a sunken ships treasure. He had acquired a piece of Taboo. Any of which was something ordinary people only dreamed of. WaitQing Chen felt something was off just then, there was something he had overlooked... Knight Vital Energy. Before taking on the life-or-death challenge, Qing Chens Knight Vital Energy, aided by the First Breathing Technique, had already permeated his entire skeleton. But after completing the life-or-death challenge, the Knight Vital Energy would still increase. So much so that now, the Knight Vital Energy in Qing Chens body far exceeded the amount he could bear, like a balloon stretched to its limits. Wrong, Qing Chen realizedthe Knight Vital Energy in his body was now being furiously condensed. Until... the condensed energy dripped a drop of water into his arm bone, seeping into his marrow, then along with the hematopoietic function, flowed into his blood vessels. The Knight Vital Energy was transforming in quality. Qing Chen couldnt feel anything yet, he merely guessed perhaps once all the Knight Vital Energy turned into liquid state, it might have some unexpected effects. However, the growth of Knight Vital Energy would definitely make the Autumn Leaf Knife even sharper, and previously, when Qing Chen infused the Puppeteer, he could only transform over two meters of the puppet into blade. Now, transforming an entire 50-meter-long branch into a blade seemed like no issue... Qing Chen tied up Capri with ropes and walked towards the outside of the cabin. Upon seeing him go up on the deck, Xiaoting smiled and asked, How did it go, did you find anything? Yes, Qing Chen nodded. Xiaoting then asked, Can you handle him alone? Yes, Qing Chen nodded again. The next second, Xiaoting closed her eyes and fainted, Qing Chen quickly caught her and carried her into the captains cabin. Just now, Xiaotings God-like power at sea had drained much of her spiritual power. Though she seemed unharmed, she was actually at her limit. However, she didnt faint immediately upon returning to the deck but forced herself to remain conscious, ensuring Qing Chen could handle the crisis alone before comfortably falling asleep. Luckily, Xiaotings level of over-exertion was not severe and wouldnt endanger her life or abilities. Had he completed the life-or-death challenge even a moment later, she might well have been gone. Qing Chen sighed, owing her quite a bit this trip. Currently, the storm had calmed quite a bit, after he covered Xiaoting with a blanket, he urged Zhang Jian to quickly haul anchor and head back to Amsterdam Port first. The Arctic was no longer viable; after all, every organization would follow this clue to find him, by then Zhang Jian and Old John would be unlucky, surely subjected to severe torture. Qing Chen found Old John, Nedup, and Zhang Jian: If the treasure from the sunken ship is found, Ill give you wealth enough for the rest of your lives. Would you be willing to adapt new identities and live anonymously elsewhere? Old John and Nedup looked at each other and nodded eagerly: Willing! Only Zhang Jian hesitated a bit: The Arctic is no good then? Qing Chen nodded: Right, youve seen what weve gone through. To find clues related to me, innocents will inevitably be implicated. If you fall into their hands, it might be worse than death. Zhang Jian then muttered, Initially, I should have persuaded you to take the Alps and trouble Kreg instead... At that moment, Zhang Jian suddenly said to Qing Chen: Id like to try my luck in North America with a new identity. Are you thinking of becoming a Time Traveler? But you are European, Qing Chen said. If Zhang Jian were a Time Traveler, he would have started repatriating people back to the Inner World already, but if not, no matter how hard Qing Chen tried, he couldnt help him break the shackles of the Outer World. He must go to the Inner World to get gold-plated. ... ... The sea was calm. The Bass Destroyer was the first to arrive in the Greenland waters. Two white men and one black man stood on the deck, looking solemnly at the battered Radiant Trumpet. Chapter 695: 413. Harvest_3 Chapter 695: 413. Harvest_3 This yacht, one of the worlds top ten, was built at a cost of 320 million dollars. Capri had just bought it last month from Fumtry, and in just a month, it ended up like this. A white man lamented, I even told Capri to lend me the boat for a bit, and now its turned into this. The black man glanced at him, Mike, shouldnt we be worried about Capri right now? Another white man, after quietly reflecting, said, Finding Capri is the most crucial thing right now. Mike, sucking on a lollipop, shrugged and said, Well, he was too high-profile; it was only a matter of time before something happened. I warned him before, but he didnt listen. Honestly, his ability is pretty useless until he becomes A-Class, completely incomparable to modern scientific firepower, but what can I do if he doesnt want to keep a low profile? The man known as W glanced at him, Surely you, driving around in a destroyer, arent more high-profile than him. Mike, grinning, replied, But Im the only A-Class in all of North America, isnt it expected for me to be a bit high-profile? At that moment, two people emerged from Radiant Trumpet, broadcasting via walkie-talkie, There are no survivors on board; everyone was killed by a 12.7 caliber sniper rifle. Its strange, though; the shots came from the air at a downward angle. Moreover, the shooter could see people inside the walls despite having no line of sight. Mike whistled, I know this one, its like using a wallhack when playing CS. Over the walkie-talkie, W asked, Is Capri among the dead? The Future Organization member on Radiant Trumpet responded, No, and there are no traces inside the ship from his Spartan spear, seems no fight took place on board. Strange, Capri is C-Class after all. Surely he wasnt captured before he could even fight? W frowned and ordered, Check if any helicopters took off from Yermakovsky Islands before the storm hit. Yermakovsky Islands is a volcanic site, frequented by tourists year-round, hence the development of some tourist-related activities, including helicopter rides out to sea. If it was from a downward angle, renting a helicopter from Yermakovsky Islands seems the only option, right? After all, Transcendents capable of flying are too rare; seeing one every few decades or even centuries is already quite impressive. However, the Future Organization, particularly this white man called W, was clearly in charge, issuing orders with the other two not showing any intention of interjecting. Mike, curious, looked towards W, Could this have been a trap specifically set for Capri? No, I checked the sailing data of Radiant Trumpet, he came here on a whim. He only informed us after he encountered the Arctic and got into a short skirmish, W said calmly to the two men, Capri never reported to the organization what exactly he was doing here, making me wonder if he had a special interest handled in this manner. W continued, The Arctic was definitely here; I suspect they set a trap for Jindai and Deer Island, but the idiot Capri walked right into it. Right now, aside from those directly involved, nobody knew what exactly happened in this fight; everyone could only speculate. But just then, a Future Organization member came over with a satellite phone. W took the call, and someone said, W, the Arctic has returned to Amsterdam Port. We rushed there the moment we got the news, but the ship was empty. They seem to have abandoned it... Someone saw Capri at the port, and he was unharmed, not a scratch on him. According to witnesses, Capri came down from the Arctic with a few followers and then went into the city. I sent people to look for him, but found nothing. W was puzzled, could it be that Capri defeated the people on the Arctic, and then because Radiant Trumpet lost power, he had to switch to the Arctic to return to the port? But if thats the case, why didnt Capri report anything to the Future Organization after the event ended, instead silently returning to Amsterdam?! W was slightly baffled; everything about this situation seemed mysterious, confusing him so much that his logical thinking struggled to keep up. No, Ws expression cooled, Someone must be intentionally muddling the waters. The Capri witnesses saw might already be under someones control, and the opposition was ready to mess up the Radiant Trumpet. I dont believe that damn fool Capri has the capacity to turn the tables. Lets go to Amsterdam Port. Wait, the Bass doesnt have authorization to pass over there, Mike said. Once were on the high seas, well switch to speedboats, W said, Initially, when I heard Jindai and Deer Island were targeting someone, I wasnt very interested; its just that if they wanted to find him, I wanted to find him first. After all, this is Europe, and Future is the largest Time Traveler Organization here. But now, Im no longer just caught up in the excitement; Im genuinely interested in this person pursued by Time Travelers worldwide. Why? the black man beside him asked curiously. Lets assume Capri is indeed under control; the person in charge on the Arctic is the hunted Oriental Time Walker, W said, He clearly had the chance to pilot the Arctic to another city, perhaps to a European city that hasnt seen many Time Walkers yet, and calmly leave. But he didnt do that; instead, he returned to Amsterdam, docking the Arctic boldly at the port. Do you know what that means? The black man thought for a moment, The courage of someone skilled? W shook his head, Hes telling those hunting him, Im back, get ready for battle. The black man, Abby, and Mike looked surprised, To fight against Jindai and Deer Island? Yes, W nodded. Should we intervene? Mike asked. Lets just watch, W smiled, Let them fight for a while. Future Organization can sit back and watch, waiting to reap the benefits. ... A five-thousand-word chapter, another one at midnight, Yep, watching a game of the Chinese team... Chapter 696: 414, inexplicable familiarity Chapter 696: 414, inexplicable familiarity Thanks to Capris high profile, after the storm passed, Qing Chen was able to find out his full name. Capri Louverture. Qing Chen thought to himself that it was no wonder he couldnt guess it; it turned out to be a French-style surname... North America is a land of immigrants, and encountering a variety of surnames is quite normal... Now, Capri had become Qing Chens puppeteer, he could sense everything, yet his body was completely out of his own control, he couldnt even speak. He knew that all of this originated from the weightless silk thread in his hand. The Taboo. In a small apartment building on the first floor, Qing Chen sat on the sofa, watching over the still unconscious Yanyan, waiting for her to wake up. There was a knock at the door. Qing Chen tucked Yanyan in a bit more before getting up to open the door, which let the cold wind from the street rush in. Standing at the door was Zheng Yuandong, holding a supermarket kraft paper bag. The Kunlun Leader had changed into a down jacket and was wearing a thick wool hat, appearing a bit like a local from Amsterdam. In Europe, where he was unfamiliar with everything, Qing Chen naturally contacted Kunlun after Yanyan fell unconscious. He himself was not too worried, but he couldnt joke around with Yanyans safety. She had helped him a great deal at sea, yet he couldnt drag her into a risky adventure. That wouldnt be right. In fact, Qing Chen should have contacted Kyushu, because Kyushus influence overseas was much greater than Kunluns. But for some reason, Qing Chen still trusted Kunlun a bit more. Here, eat something first, Zheng Yuandong said, handing the kraft paper bag to Qing Chen before walking in and taking off his scarf. He glanced at the firmly closed inner room and said to Qing Chen, Whos inside? The Bass Destroyer from the Future Organization has already reached the Greenland waters, and your previous battle has already spread throughout the Time Traveler circles in Europe and North America. As far as I know, you should have also hired a helper, if nothing unexpected happened, it must be that girl who saved Liu Dezhu and his mother. Qing Chen smiled and did not answer. Zheng Yuandong said, She is injured and has to lie in bed to recover, but you dont want to expose her whereabouts and condition, so you keep the door closed. Qing Chens eyebrows lifted, dealing with Boss Zheng really required utmost caution. The man had high combat power and intelligence, it was hard to know when he might spot some flaw. Although Zheng Yuandong wasnt completely right in his guess, he was not far off. He smiled and said to Zheng Yuandong, Boss Zheng doesnt need to worry about these trivial matters. Zheng Yuandong nodded, It seems I guessed right... You really can stir things up. You were somewhat restrained in the country, but in Europe, it seems you wish to turn everything upside down. However, thats good. Young people are full of energy; its better to cause a fuss in a foreign land than to cause trouble at home. What about Boss He? Qing Chen changed the subject. He has been chasing Jindai Warehouse in the Barents Sea all this time, for several days and nights. But at sea, there are too many restrictions, and even A-Class experts cant use their speed advantage to the fullest, and Jindai Warehouse managed to return to Amsterdam, Zheng Yuandong explained. Once back in the city, He Jinqiu will have to restrain himself, otherwise he might get banned from entering any European country. Qing Chen thought to himself, that Jindai Warehouse must be in a dire situation... Zheng Yuandong asked, Did you kill Capri? Qing Chen shook his head, I swear I didnt. When people like you swear, its usually to cover up the truth, Zheng Yuandong said deliberately, You surely didnt kill him, but his end will certainly not be good. Right now, the Bass Destroyer is anchored just outside Amsterdam Port, but the boss of the future has already landed by speedboat. They didnt come looking for you, instead they gave the information related to you to Jindai and Deer Island, it seems like they want to see you both suffer losses. Qing Chen thought for a moment, Then their plan will probably fall through. He looked at Nedup, Zhang Jian, and Old John across the room, Are these the crew from the Arctic? Qing Chen nodded, I need to get them new identities that no one can track, to give them a chance to live incognito. Zheng Yuandong thought for a moment and asked, Whats in it for Kunlun? Qing Chen said, I am a member of Kunlun... Zheng Yuandong looked at Qing Chen seriously, The identity of a Kunlun member, for you, is to be used when convenient and discarded when not... But no matter, I can help you, but these three are not Kunlun members. Qing Chen thought for a moment and said, We found a sunken treasure ship at sea named the Dawn, filled with wealth plundered from our home country by foreigners in the mid-19th century... A ship full of gold coins. I know Kunlun is short on funds because it operates legitimately and has expanded greatly. I can give you the coordinates; Im willing to take 40 percent of the treasure in daylight, Kunlun can have 50 percent, and the three of them can have 10 percent. Zheng Yuandong was surprised, A ship full of gold? Merchant ships able to cross the ocean in the mid-19th century were over 200 tons, the load isnt small. If it is really as you say, full of such wealth, do you have any idea how much benefit you are going to give to Kunlun this time? Its okay, Qing Chen thought for a moment and said, I cant salvage it myself, so its only fair that I give up some of the benefits. Besides, I need someone to help these three get false identities. Not being able to salvage it himself was the most crucial issue; salvaging a sunken ship is a major project, not something that can be done by simply heading out to sea on a crabbing boat. Chapter 697: 414, inexplicable familiarity_2 Chapter 697: 414, inexplicable familiarity_2 Qing Chen couldnt keep renting salvage boats to go out, could he? Even if he rented one, he would still face the threat of the Bass out on the sea. Thats a destroyer, after all. Even a B-Class Expert would die if hit by a single shot. Zheng Yuandong glanced at Qing Chen, Arent you afraid that after I salvage it, even though two tons of gold were recovered, Ill tell you there was only one? Qing Chen smiled, In this regard, I should always be able to trust Kunlun. Zheng Yuandong looked at Qing Chen in surprise but said nothing. He took out a piece of paper and handed it to Qing Chen. Whats this? asked Qing Chen curiously. Zheng Yuandong wrapped his scarf tightly and put on his hat before stepping back into the cold wind outside the door, Addresses of Jindai, Deer Island, and Future Organization in Amsterdam, as well as information on key members of each organization. Theyve been hunting you for days, and I think with your character, youll need this. Theres also Kunluns safe house in Amsterdamif things get unbearable, run there. Qing Chen was amused. He hadnt expected that the bushy-browed Boss Zheng also had this side to him. However, this was exactly what he needed. Qing Chen called out to Zhengs retreating figure, However, I still need Kunlun to cooperate with one thing. What is it? Please spread a message to the outside world, claiming that the Future Organization is actually lying, that Capri has already killed the Time Traveler from the East and has returned to Amsterdam. Zheng Yuandong thought for a moment, Okay. The fact that Capri swaggered back to Amsterdam was true; Qing Chen needed the waters of Amsterdam to get murkier. A weak voice came from inside the room, and Qing Chen pushed the door open, pouring a cup of hot water for Yangyang. Feeling any better? Qing Chen asked, sitting by the bed. Yangyang smiled weakly, At least I dont feel dizzy anymore. How many days are left on the countdown? Qing Chen replied, 21 days. Ive slept for two days then, Yangyang sighed. Time flies so fast. But before the crossover, I should be able to recover to my best condition. Qing Chen felt somewhat relieved, grateful that there was still plenty of time left before their return. Otherwise, Yangyang would have had to go through the crossover in a weakened state. Yangyang lay on the bed, smiling at Qing Chen, You seem very self-reproachful, but you dont need to be. The secret to an Awakeners successive promotions is to exceed their limits time after time. Knights have their own limits, and so do we. Awakeners who dare not to overspend their strength or challenge their limits cant reach higher levels. Maybe after my condition stabilizes, theres a chance to advance to A-Class in the future... Though if you want to feel very guilty, thats fine too, just remember you owe me a favor. Qing Chen smiled, Ill remember that. When are we going back to our country? asked Yangyang. Once youve recovered. I need to do some things. Now the Time Travelers are at the ports and airports. If we dont create some chaos, we might really not be able to go back, Qing Chen said. Yangyang thought to herself that the chaos Qing Chen mentioned would indeed probably cause quite a disruption for everyone... After thinking it over, she said, I can fly you back to the country. Qing Chen also considered it, If I cant identify our location in the air, then we might truly not be able to return. Yangyang laughed. She suddenly said, Qing Chen, after overusing my power this time, I feel like many things in my perception have become fields of force. Im a bit worried that if one day when I look at you all, all I see are fields of force, no colors, no shapes, no blue skies and white clouds, no vast seas and mountain ranges, what should I do then? Qing Chen was taken aback; he understood what Yangyang meant... Yangyangs mood seemed to darken, What if one day I only see you as a field of force, not as yourself? Would I lose all feeling, all meaning of life then? Qing Chens hand suddenly tightened on the bedsheets, and after a long silence, he calmly asked, What can I do for you? Yangyang spoke softly, Could you dance for me? Maybe Ill feel better after you do. Qing Chen: ??? He said with irritation, Dont joke about these things. Im asking you seriously, does the situation you mentioned really exist? Yangyang laughed, Why cant you take a joke? After overextending my abilities this time, I suddenly gained two modes of perception. I can freely switch between force-field and reality awareness, so I think I wont get lost anymore! Qing Chen felt a false alarm, Dont speak so soon... Yangyang teased, Were you very nervous just now? I saw you starting to clutch the bedsheets! Qing Chen stood up, No. ... ... Two days later. In a three-story European building beside the Amsterdam River, Jindai Warehouse sat with a cup of tea, silently beside the fireplace. Someone entered from outside and said in a low voice, Boss, we still havent found any trace of Qing Chen. Jindai Warehouse frowned, Not at the ports, not at the airports, not at the train stations, not at the bus stations; he must still be in Amsterdam. You have to find him for me. If it werent for him, I wouldnt have been chased by that monster He Jinqiu for three days and nights out in the Barents Sea! His subordinate spoke softly, Boss, what do you think about the recent rumors? Someone said that actually, Qing Chen has been killed by Capri. They had a fight in the Greenland waters, and the Radiant Trumpet was riddled with holes. In the end, Capri had no choice but to abandon the Radiant Trumpet, which cost over two hundred million US dollars, and return on the Arctic. Chapter 698: 414, inexplicable familiarity_3 Chapter 698: 414, inexplicable familiarity_3 Jindai Warehouse pondered, I have also thought about this rumor. Logically speaking, some have seen Capri alive and well at the port, not under anyones control, so this rumor does have some degree of credibility. But I cant understand, why would the Future Organization say that Capri should have been controlled by now? Perhaps the Future Organization has other plans? his subordinate thought for a moment and said, They might be deliberately hiding some information. Or maybe they want to make some move on Capri? Possible, Jindai Warehouse responded, Increase security these days to prevent He Jinqiu from really giving it everything hes got and skipping Europe to wipe us out in one fell swoop. Dont go to secluded places, be careful of Kyushus underhanded tacticsthey like doing such things, dont give them a chance. However, just at that moment, the Bluetooth earpiece carried by his subordinate rang with a message. A hidden spot out on the street relayed, An unidentified suspicious person is approaching. What ethnicity? asked Jindai Warehouses subordinate. Hes wrapped up very tightly, but the skin under the hat is very dark, hes black, the hidden observer replied. Jindai Warehouse breathed a sigh of relief: Then it shouldnt be someone from Kyushu. But just as Jindai Warehouse finished speaking, The black man on the street suddenly manifested nine spears, bombarding Jindai Warehouses building like cannonballs. The sharp tip of each spear was a golden point that shimmered with a captivating metallic luster. As the spears shot out, a buzzing sound vibrated through the air; the spectacle was immense! In an instant, the spears pierced through the windows of the building, raking across the room like a barrage of firepower. The once tidy furniture inside was blasted to smithereens, and the walls were pocked with holes made by the spears. Jindai Warehouse lay stunned on the carpet; had he not reacted quickly, he would have been struck by the Awakeners manifested spears! After attacking, the assailant ran off, his speed was incredibly fast! The hidden observers were baffled; they wanted to chase but found they simply couldnt catch up. What level of expert was this, and why attack Jindai Warehouses headquarters in Amsterdam?! Everyone was baffled! Jindai Warehouses subordinate yelled from inside the house, Where is the attacker? He ran away, the observer responded. Jindai Warehouse stood up with a grim face, Capri! This is Capris ability. Our informant confirmed it; he is a C-Class Awakener, and his ability is to manifest the spears of Spartans! His subordinate wondered, But why would Capri attack us? Could it be the will of the Future Organization?! Hard to say, but things have gotten a bit complicated, Jindai Warehouse said coldly, There are two possibilities. Either Capri has betrayed the Future Organization and his actions are the machinations of another organization. Or, the Future Organization has always regarded Europe as their territory, and our expansion here has touched their interests. Thus, the Future Organization wants to exploit its numerical advantage to stir up a conflict and then completely drive us out of Europe. In fact, after Jindai, Deer Island, and Kyushu arrived in Europe, all had experienced more or less some conflicts. The cake was only so big, and no one wanted others to have a bigger share. Europe had just started, but the struggle in the Middle East region was truly intense. To say there were old grudges between them wasnt an exaggeration. ... ... The attack on the Jindai headquarters in Amsterdam quickly became the talk of the town among the Time Travelers. Li Minghao, the person in charge from Deer Island, happily opened a bottle of wine to celebrate the misfortune. Though this trip to Europe hadnt allowed him to kill Qing Chen with his own hands, their time on Deer Island was still quite pleasant. Firstly, they hadnt encountered He Jinqiu at sea, who, as the leader of Kyushu, was only focused on chasing Jindai and completely ignored them. Secondly, there was the fact that Jindai got attacked but they were unaffected. Li Minghao, holding his whiskey glass filled with amber liquid, chuckled, Jindai really suffered this time. I wonder what the expression on Jindai Warehouses face would be now. I heard theyve already started moving, planning to relocate to a safe house to lay low. Keep someone on them, I want to know where their safe house is. One of his subordinates said, Boss, we also have to guard against the Future Organization declaring war on all factions in Europe, this being their home field. Those Mafia gangs, Corleone, Stretti clans, have already become their spies, completely integrated by them. We are far behind them in gathering intelligence here, and the numbers are vastly different. Li Minghao thought for two seconds, That is indeed a problem. The aggressiveness of the Future Organization has always been strong. Back when I faced them in the Middle East, I almost didnt make it back. Although the attack on Jindai headquarters by Capri seems peculiar, no matter what, we must be wary of the Future Organization. Arrange for someone to show sympathy to Jindai. Although everyone in the Inner World already sees each other unfavorably, here in Europe, our two families must continue to form an alliance. Right, Li Minghao continued, strengthen our defenses here. Understood, Ill arrange that, the subordinate left quickly. Li Minghao picked up the phone and dialed an agent, The models you interviewed for me, have you found them all? If so, bring them here tonight, I need to relax a bit. With Jindai in trouble, Li Minghao decided it was time to celebrate. However, as his words died down, he saw nine Spartan spears suddenly shatter the glass of the room he was in. The chaotic, dispersing shards of glass, like shrapnel, glistened under the light. Li Minghao fell back in panic, then watched wide-eyed as a spear flew just over his face, grazing his nose and slamming into the liquor cabinet to his right. With thunderous crashes, those nine spears had actually blown apart the load-bearing columns all at once, and the roof collapsed down. Some thirty minutes later, Deer Island members dug Li Minghao out from the rubble. Li Minghaos face was ashen, Capri! Future! Kyushu! Jindai! Who did this?! The two attacks today happened so suddenly and swiftly that everyone was plunged into chaos and suspicion. It was impossible to understand what was happening. If the heads of the various intelligence teams from Intelligence Department One of the Inner World were here, they would realize that all of this... seemed all too familiar... ... Chapter of five thousand words, ten thousand words updated today. Seeking monthly votes... Chapter 699: 415, War Begins! Chapter 699: 415, War Begins! Qing Chen, how did you manage to pull through your most difficult days? Sitting by the Amsterdam River, Yangyang felt the biting cold wind, After I rented your house, I heard quite a few stories about you from our classmates. The hardships they all know are probably not the most difficult things in your life, Yangyang said calmly, So Im very curious. By rights, you should be a person with an extreme mindset, a misanthrope, but in fact, you are calmer than most people Ive met, and you dont have an antisocial personality. Qing Chen sat calmly on the stone river embankment by the Amsterdam River and said, During that time, I didnt pull through at all; it just passed by itself. He continued, Even as an adult, whenever I see someone proudly speaking about their father, I cant help but feel envious. So Im not as calm as you might think, I just know what choices I need to make. Nobody expected that the instigator behind the chaos among the Amsterdam Time Travelers would come to the riverside to enjoy the scenery of the Nordic landscape after causing such trouble. Yangyangs complexion became much rosier. Meanwhile, Capri, standing not far behind the two, was bundled up tight, struggling furiously within himself. He had personally used the Spartan spear to bombard Jindai and Deer Island extensively and was well aware of the consequences of his actions. At that moment, Capri wanted to stop, but he felt as if his body was no longer his own, bound by a power like a law, which then drained his spiritual power, and unleashed all eighteen Spartan spears. Now Capri felt very weak... After the deed was done, Capri thought Qing Chen would hide and wait for the situation to ferment, but unexpectedly, the other party was so calm. This Black friend had always been hoping that someone would discover these two quickly and call W, Mike and others from the Future Organization to take them out! Then he could be free! However, things did not go as he wished. After Qing Chen had Capri bomb Jindai and Deer Island, all Time Traveler Organizations simultaneously drew in their people. No one continued to scatter forces in Amsterdam to hunt for Qing Chen; instead, they gathered their forces together to prevent another attack, or to systematically take down each of their scattered members. Thus, Capris hopes were dashed. Qing Chen moved through the streets so openly, yet no one noticed. At a certain moment, Capri recalled past events, they thought Qing Chen would cause trouble in the city of Amsterdam, but he went to the Barents Sea instead. They thought he would appear in the Barents Sea, but instead, he went surfing in the Greenland waters. This young man seemed to have completely mastered psychological warfare, always able to lead everyone by the nose! Yangyang curiously said, Using Capri to bomb them will at best make them suspect the Future Organization. Capri is an obvious move, too obvious, so it could really pose a problem. Because everyone would immediately realize whose handiwork those Spartan spears were, they would feel that something was off. Even if the Future Organization wanted to assassinate them, they shouldve been more thorough, more cautious, more covert. Or they couldve been more direct, letting Mike take action with overwhelming force to swiftly flatten Jindai and Deer Island. Unless He Jinqiu made a move, Mike would have no match in the Nordic countries. Now Qing Chens method made everyone feel that it was very crude, neither fish nor fowl. After hearing Yangyangs words, Capri thought to himself, Right! Youre so right, miss! However, Qing Chen laughed and said, Not to worry, the process of muddying the waters has just begun. From now on, we need one thing after another to keep them from staying calm. As long as they can never stay calm, thats enough. Yangyang tilted her head, Also, theres a flaw in this plan, you pretended to be the Future Organization to attack Jindai and Deer Island, but you didnt attack Kyushu. This will make everyone wonder if Kyushu has turned against Capri or something. Capri suddenly realized from behind them, Right, the girl is spot on! But Qing Chen just smiled and said, That is not a flaw. How could I not involve such a powerful person as Boss He in the game? If they want to target Kyushu, that would be perfect. Capri was shocked. This guy had such a dirty mind, to even plot against his own people! It wasnt that Capri had too many thoughts in his head; it was just that right now his thoughts were all he had left, unable to do anything else. But at that moment, Capri heard the sound of leather shoes coming from afar, getting closer, then passing by his side. Capri watched the tall and upright figure, wielding a Black Scepter, walk up to Qing Chen and laughingly said, It really was you stirring things up. But could you at least bomb Kyushu too? Now everyone suspects me and the Future Organization, and I really dont want to be barred from entering the remaining Nordic countries either; I dont want to go on a killing spree. At this very moment, the only one that hadnt called back their forces was Kyushu. Seeing the main character show up, Qing Chen felt somewhat embarrassed, Haha, were all compatriots, how could we lay hands on our own people? Chinese should not fight Chinese. Capri made a silent retort, you werent saying that just a moment ago... Chapter 700: 415. War Begins!_2 Chapter 700: 415. War Begins!_2 He Jinqiu said with a laugh, Youve met Boss Zheng, havent you? Truly heartbreaking. Arent you also a member of Kyushu? Why, when trouble arose, did you not turn to us at Kyushu, but instead sought out the overseas-based Kunlun, which has little foundation? Isnt that a clear display of mistrust towards Kyushu? Qing Chen became even more embarrassed, Mr. He, youve misunderstood me. I didnt have Kyushus phone number, otherwise I would have definitely called you. No matter, He Jinqiu said with a smile, Im not here to point fingers or lay blame. I just wanted to tell you that Kyushu is always the best partner for all Chinese citizens overseas. You can implicate me in triggering wars; its not a big deal. If need be, Ill fight my way back home. Its not something I havent done before. Qing Chen knew that behind those words lay an ocean of blood. Online, people said that dozens of Kyushu members had been trapped by the Future Organization in the Middle East, and in the end, it was He Jinqiu who carved a bloody path through the chaos, then led more people back into the fray. Everyone said these were just rumors, but Qing Chen believed them to be true. At this moment, He Jinqiu turned to the curious Yan Yan and asked, Would you be willing to join Kyushu? Perhaps in the Inner World, Hus Information Agency could have more collaboration with Spade. Yan Yan smiled, Sure! He Jinqiu had mixed feelings, Really just like this kid. Nevermind. After Mr. He finished speaking, he walked away, leaning on his black scepter, looking every bit the true English gentleman. Yan Yan looked at Qing Chen, Whats the plan now? Qing Chen thought for a moment and said, Wait for the wind. ... ... In a safe house in Amsterdam, Jindai Warehouse inspected all the firearms within the armory. A subordinate behind him reported, Boss, its confirmed, Kyushu wasnt attacked after all. Jindai Warehouses expression turned grim, Even so, it could still be a deliberate ploy by the Future, to make us suspect Kyushu. Right now, we cant be certain about what the truth really is. What should we do then? Go to the headquarters of the Future Organization yourself, Jindai Warehouse said, Right now, whether its the work of the Future or not, we need to confront the issue head-on to quell the chaos. So, the only thing I want you to do is this: tell the Future that we are willing to believe that what Capri did has nothing to do with them, and we hope that neither side escalates the conflict. But what if it is indeed the Future Organization thats causing trouble? the subordinate asked. If weve made our position clear and their personnel movements are still suspicious, that means its indeed their doing; Ill send someone to contact Deer Island and Kyushu. Kyushu? asked the subordinate, Heichuan Haidou, puzzled, Arent they our enemies? Jindai Warehouse sneered, Without Jindai and Deer Island, who else here in Europe will help contain the Future Organization along with him? He Jinqiu wouldnt stand by and watch us get crushed by the Future. Even if only Kyushu and the Future are left in Europe, Kyushu wouldnt hold out, not even with He Jinqiu. Understood, said Heichuan Haidou, Ill head over to the Future headquarters in Amsterdam right away. Jindai Warehouse gave him a look and said, Remember not to carry weapons, as that would demonstrate our peaceful intentions. Also, dont bring too many people; it would look like were trying to show off our strength. Heichuan Haidou paused momentarily. What if he, a core member of the Jindai organization, were to simply be killed off by the Future Organization in a decisive move? But he couldnt disobey Jindai Warehouses orders. The Jindai safe house was 5 kilometers away from the headquarters of the Future Organization. However, halfway there, the car suddenly had a blown tire with a loud pop. Heichuan Haidou frowned, What happened? Only he and the driver were in the car. The driver quickly got out of the vehicle and said, Sir, this is a new car; the tires should be fine. Must have been a nail or something on the road. Heichuan Haidou suddenly felt uneasy, Then change the spare tire quickly. Waiting inside the car, his unease grew stronger. If there was a sniper nearby, wasnt he sitting in the car like a sitting duck? Thinking this, Heichuan Haidou decided to get out and wait inside the nearby secondhand shop while the spare tire was being fitted. He was not being overly cautious for no reason; the atmosphere these past few days had been incredibly tense, making extra caution necessary. Yet, just as he stepped out of the car, a young passerby brushed past him. In that split second, Heichuan Haidou felt something wrap around his wrist, and then his body grew stiff. The next second, he watched himself turn around and calmly say to the driver, You fix the car here, I cant wait any longer. Ill walk to the Futures headquarters. The driver was taken aback, Sir, its still two kilometers away. Heichuan Haidou heard himself say, No problem, its close. As all this happened, he was like an Observer, able to hear what he was saying, feeling what he was doing, but without any control over his own body. He felt like a Puppet. Heichuan Haidou was terrified. He felt like he had become someone elses Puppeteer, consumed with fear yet unable to scream. As one of Jindais mainstays in Europe, he moved slowly towards the headquarters of the Future. When he reached the villa, two security members of the Future Organization stopped him. Heichuan Haidou? What are you here for? asked the Futures security personnel. Heichuan Haidou said, Im here on behalf of the Jindai organization, requesting to see W or Mike. Chapter 701: 415, Battle Begins!_3 Chapter 701: 415, Battle Begins!_3 The security personnel furrowed their brow, What do you need to see the two bosses for all of a sudden? In the midst of the conversation, a few people started to approach, intending to search him first. However, at this moment, the tall Caucasian W came out through the door, dispersing the security personnel and approached Heichuan Haidou, I regret what happened to the Jindai Organization in the past couple of days, but our Future Organization also wants to clarify in person that it was not us who did it. After Capri returned to Amsterdam, he did not come back to the Future Organization. If possible, the Future is willing to provide Jindai Organization with a new headquarters to express our sincerity. W made a full show of his posture. Because he was also very aware that the more chaotic it was, the worse it was. Mike, as an A-Class expert, could have taken the opportunity to clean up Jindai, Deer Island, and Kyushu in one fell swoop. But as the leader of the Future Organization, W needed to keep calm. He knew that if it really came to chaos, it was hard to say who would have the last laugh. At that moment, W looked sincerely at Heichuan Haidou. Heichuan Haidou: Tsk! He spit a mouthful of saliva right onto Ws right eye socket. W didnt dodge, mainly because he genuinely didnt expect Heichuan Haidou would do something like that... W calmly wiped the saliva from his face, I understand that you are very angry... Tsk! W: ... Suddenly, like recalling something, W shouted loudly, Mike, dont move... Before his words even landed, the appearance of dozens of red laser beams slicing past Heichuan Haidou was in sight from a window on the second floor of the villa. Heichuan Haidou was abruptly assassinated. The Future Organizations headquarters itself was in a bustling downtown area, swarming with tourists outside the gate. With Mikes move, everyone screamed and scattered, not noticing that a peculiar young man smiled as he made his escape. W shouted furiously, How could you kill him at such a time?! Even if it was just for show, you should have let him go back! Mike, chewing gum nonchalantly, said, Well, hes dead, so hes dead. The power of Jindai Organization in Europe is negligible, sooner or later we were going to deal with them anyway. W lamented, Even if you wanted to kill, there should have been a plan to finish them all at once. Whats the point of killing a messenger?! We must be gentlemen, not ruthless thugs! Mike was taken aback, Is there a difference? W responded, One is brawling in the streets, and the other is all smiles on the surface, but secretly ready to murder an entire family. Do you see the difference? Mike shrugged, Actually, the latter does seem more appealing. Ill keep it in mind for next time. Just then, Heichuan Haidous chauffeur who had just finished fixing the car arrived at the scene, and witnessed the scene of Mike killing Heichuan Haidou. He trembled as he sat in his car making a call to the Jindai Warehouse, Boss, the Future Organization just killed Supervisor Heichuan... Over the phone, a roar came from the Jindai Warehouse, What?! Bastards! The Future Organization, those beasts, they really are declaring war! Hurry back... Hello?! The driver hadnt even had the chance to reverse the car when he was already found by the undercover agents of the Future Organization. This time W did not hesitate; since the first was already killed, keeping the second was pointless: Kill him. W looked at the body of Heichuan Haidou and sighed. He knew, from this moment, even if the Future did not want to, war was inevitable. Jindai was an exceedingly vindictive organization; the killing of their envoy would certainly not be overlooked. However, there was one thing W couldnt understand. They had come to Amsterdam intending to watch several Time Traveler Organizations from the East fighting each other and then to reap the benefits from their struggles. How had suddenly everything changed, pushing them into the vortex of conflict first? Where had things gone wrong. W muttered, Capri... the key lies with Capri. If we find Capri, perhaps everything will become clear. Having said that, he turned around and spoke to the black man Abby inside the villa, Abby, I want you to personally lead a team to find Capris whereabouts. Abby asked, Shouldnt I be involved in the fight? Today Mike killed Heichuan Haidou, and I feel a big war is about to erupt. W shook his head, Finding Capri is an even more important task. I need to know who is playing tricks. He looked toward the now empty street in front of the Future headquarters. Suddenly, he felt as if somewhere in Amsterdam, a mysterious and unpredictable Joker was hiding, mocking and laughing at everyone. W turned to Mike, Have your men closely monitor the safehouses of Jindai and Deer Island. Oh, and dont miss the ones from Kyushu either. Mikes eyes brightened, W, are you finally ready to go to war against them? After thinking for a moment, W said, Be careful with He Jinqiu. Dont let him get close to you. I always felt hes more dangerous than we imagine. We couldnt kill him in the Middle East; lets not let him escape this time. Mike smiled, You finally dont want to hide anymore. Dont worry, together, all of Europe is ours. It was at this moment, a subordinate spoke up, Boss, we just received the news that Capri has attacked Jindais safehouse again... W: ... ... ... At this very moment, He Jinqiu stood alone atop a bell tower in Amsterdam, smilingly watching the lively city below. In his Bluetooth earpiece, a Kyushu members voice spoke, Boss, the Future and Jindai are preparing for war. The head of Jindai Warehouse has already disappeared without a trace, while hundreds of members from around Europe of the Future Organization are en route, it looks like Amsterdam will become the main battlefield. He Jinqiu laughed, Although I dont know how Qing Chen did it, everything is moving in the right direction. What should we do now? the Kyushu member asked. Do nothing, just keep your homes secure. I want to see what Qing Chen actually has in mind. ... A five-thousand-word chapter, another chapter at 11 p.m. Chapter 702: Testing the Knife Chapter 702: Testing the Knife In the early hours of the morning, a black car passed by the Future Organizations headquarters. Since the headquarters were located in the bustling city center, the security personnel of the Future Organization initially didnt pay it much attention. However, as the car passed by, it suddenly dropped a black package. The security personnel of the Future Organization were immediately on high alert, and warnings to their comrades rang out through the night: Theres a bomb! Panic ensued within the Future Organizations villa, and people in the surrounding buildings also began to take out their guns, ready to enter combat. Yet after a long wait, the black package never exploded. When W had someone approach to unpack it, it turned out to contain six ears. There was no need to guess; these were surely the six members of the Future Organization who had been responsible for surveilling Jindais movements and had now fallen victim to Jindais deadly tactics. Ws face darkened as he turned to Mike and said, Get your people moving. Kill all of those Jindai infiltrators we have already found. Mike whistled and walked off into the night: I never did like living in that villa, too cramped. Hurry up and buy that castle outside the city, then get a vineyard too. Were better off living somewhere secluded, saves the trouble of not being able to tell friend from foe when someone gets close. Ive said it before, You have to subdue those two organizations, Jindai and Deer Island, appeasement policies are useless. At that moment, Ws phone rang, and Abbys voice came through: I might have found Capri. Where? W asked intently. In front of Pearson Museum, someone saw him walking with another person, Abby said: I checked the surveillance and confirmed that the person with him was a Deer Island leader, Li Minghao. The other person had been covering his face with a scarf, but when they passed in front of a coffee shop on Danlak Street, the wind blew the scarf off from behind. There were no surveillance cameras on the street where the coffee shop was located nor inside the coffee shop, but there was one in the bookstore diagonally across from the coffee shop. The camera was well-concealed, installed to catch shoplifters. Li Minghao likely didnt even realize hed been exposed. So, when Abby found the bookstores surveillance footage, she was ecstatic, feeling as though she had uncovered the truth. Most of the time. People only believe in the evidence theyve worked hard to find, as that is what persuades them. Abby continued, This is the surveillance from 5 p.m. Im tracking him down right now, based on the footage. I expect Ill find him soon. W sneered, So its a self-directed play by Deer Island, and he even has the mood to enjoy coffee. Find Capri and bring Li Minghao back with him. After speaking, he turned to his subordinate and said, Tell Mike, kill the Deer Island people too. Also, send the video of Li Minghao and Capri together to Jindai and let them duke it out! The Future Organization went on a killing frenzy. With that, Heichuan Haidou had, with his own two spit-wads and a human life, completely set the stage for a bloody Amsterdam. All organizations no longer held back. Only Qing Chen felt a bit of regret. There were two prerequisites for using Puppeteer: knowing the real name of the target and possessing greater strength than the target. But now, the Jindai and Deer Island members, whose names and information had been provided by Zheng Yuandong, had all gone into hiding. Even if he could find some small fry, he would still have to painstakingly interrogate them for their names. Meeting the knowing the real name condition becomes exceedingly demanding in unfamiliar environments during field operations. While the outside atmosphere was particularly tense, Qing Chen was sitting in a small bar with Capri at that moment. Capri suddenly felt as if he were this young mans pet... But in all of Amsterdam, besides Qing Chen, only Capri knew what was really happening in the city. He watched as Heichuan Haidou, like himself, was manipulated into going to his death. He watched as Qing Chen transformed into Li Minghao in an instant, misleading everyone. This was the invisible hand in Amsterdam, guiding all the rhythms. No one cared about the person named Qing Chen anymore, but his influence in Amsterdam was actually immense. Qing Chen had initially wanted to disguise himself directly as Jindai Warehouse, but Jindai Warehouse was simply too short for him to impersonate. According to the information Zheng Yuandong provided, Jindai Warehouse was only 159 centimeters tall. Qing Chen knew Zheng Yuandong wouldnt joke about such a matter, otherwise, he would think that Kunlun Leader was deliberately mocking his opponent... He muttered, No wonder I missed him during the raid on the Jindai headquarters, so he was too short... At this point, Qing Chen turned to Capri and asked, What exactly is the purpose of that tail ring you have on, and what are the containment conditions? If you dont tell me, youll end up the same way as Heichuan Haidou. Capri thought to himself that he couldnt believe a word Qing Chen said. As the sole eyewitness in Amsterdam, would this ruthless young man let him go? No way! And besides, you havent even unbound me, how am I supposed to tell you! Just then, several red high-energy heat rays suddenly burst forth from the ground in the distance. Fire and explosions erupted far away. Qing Chen knew it was the ability of Mike, A-Class expert of the Future Organization, who had just today used this means to kill Heichuan Haidou. He had melded into the crowd at the time and had watched as five red rays burst forth from Mikes right hand and crisscrossed over Heichuan Haidous body. Chapter 703: 416, Testing the Knife_2 Chapter 703: 416, Testing the Knife_2 The wound looked as though it had been cauterized, turning a burnt umber. It seemed Mike had already started fighting with Jindai and Deer Island. Qing Chen was curious whether Jindai and Deer Island had any hidden A-Class experts. If not, wouldnt Mike be like a butcher slaughtering pigs? He began to worry faintly for Jindai and Deer Island. After all, they were their good neighbors in Asia, so Qing Chens concern was natural. His main worry was that they would die too few in number. Qing Chen glanced at Capri, Im not restraining you now. Tell me the containment conditions, how about that? Capri felt a surge of joy in his heart. As long as the other party still needed something from him, he still had a chance! The next moment, Capri suddenly felt the control of his body return to him. But he didnt pay attention to Qing Chen, instead he suddenly started to shout, Save me! He had only shouted two words when that familiar feeling of being an observer invaded him in an instant, and Capri lost control of his body once again. Qing Chen said with a smile, Youre indeed not trustworthy. However, Capri wasnt desperate. He knew that the Future Organization must be searching for his whereabouts, and Abby, a former agent of the CIA and the Central Intelligence Agency, must be close to their location by now. They would certainly be able to follow the clues Qing Chen deliberately created for Li Minghao to track them down. Capris shout was loud; the residents of the entire street would now become a new clue. However, as soon as Capri had finished shouting, he suddenly realized that Qing Chen wasnt in a hurry to leave the street but went into a narrow alley and controlled him to climb up a building by the side of the road. Both of them stood quietly on the rooftop of the three-story building, overlooking below. Capri realized a problem. Qing Chen had no intention of running away. The young man had already realized someone was tracking him, so he simply planned to kill the trackers right here! But Capri couldnt figure it out. Why? Youre only one person! If that girl was helping, it would be manageable, but that girl had overdrafted her spiritual power and gone back to the apartment to rest. During these past few days, Capri as a full-time Observer had come to know that the young man was just a C-Class, far less powerful than the girl. Therefore, he felt Qing Chen was being too bold, which presented an opportunity for him. He hoped Abby brought enough people and would save him in time. Standing on the rooftop of the third floor, the chill wind swept through, and a fire surged in the distance. It seemed Mike also couldnt finish the battle quickly. Qing Chen smiled and said, Ive always been waiting for Mike to be held up, but Jindai and Deer Island have been disappointing, making me wait all day. Capri was stunned and perplexed. He felt a sudden shift in the young mans aura. The person behind the scenes was going to step forward tonight. Qing Chen smiled, A knife, once forged, must be tested on something to see if its sharp or not. Just as Qings shadow said, a beast, upon arriving in unfamiliar territory, should eat all the animals there first. That way, the beast would know where it stood in the food chain. For Qing Chen, entering the realm of C-Class was no different from a beast entering a new territory. Five minutes later, more than ten members of the Future appeared at both ends of the street, surrounding it from all sides. They spread out and snuck along the walls. However, the moment they appeared, Capri felt his finally recovered spiritual power was drained once more! Eighteen glittering Spartan spears floated in the air, pointing in eighteen different directions, before bursting forth! Eighteen directions, eighteen people. The Spartan spears tore through the curtain of the night, emitting a buzzing vibration. Almost in an instant, the eighteen members of the Future, caught off guard, were pinned to the street! The stone pavement was shattered! Capri was astounded. It all happened in the blink of an eye! The spears that descended from the void were like judgments from the heavens above! Capri had never thought that his ability could be used in such a way, capable of striking so many targets at once. In the past, his method of attack typically involved three or six spears, used like a dense artillery barrage system, covering an entire area directly. This was because he didnt have the quick wit to calculate the trajectory of all the spears separately, nor did he have the multitasking ability to control them. Yet now, in the hands of Qing Chen, this ability became like a multi-angle self-targeting turret. Any enemy on the street was within the targeting range. The youngster had turned the firepower coverage into precise work! This way of hitting targets was much more than what a sniper rifle could achieve. In terms of efficiency at a single moment, a sniper rifle could kill two in a second at most, but this multi-angle self-targeting turret could kill 18 in one second. Even a Gatling gun couldnt achieve this efficiency when faced with an attack from both front and rear! Not only was Capri astonished, but the Future members hiding in the distance were equally shocked. When had Capri gained this kind of battlefield dominating presence?! Is this still the Capri they remembered? In their memory, Capri was just a nouveau riche who only knew how to bombard with firepower and flaunt his wealth... However, one thing was certain, Capri had indeed defected. Qing Chen smiled at Capri, Have I opened the door to a new world for you? Too bad you cant use it yourself anymore. In the midst of their conversation, more Future members charged over, and someone said, Capri can only manifest eighteen spears at a time, and hes used them all up. Rush him, dont give him time to recover. Chapter 704: 416, Testing the Knife_3 Chapter 704: 416, Testing the Knife_3 However, a sudden ominous premonition arose in Capris heart. He desperately wanted to shout not to come again, otherwise he would die here. But he couldnt shout. In an instant, he felt as if a black hole had opened up within his body, completely draining all his remaining potential in one breath. From the black night sky, 17 Spears materialized again. The color drained from Capris face at a visibly rapid rate, his eye sockets sinking. He knew, Qing Chen had squeezed out all his potential to the limit. Materializing 17 meant that was the limit he could manifest. It was like someone winding a spiders web around a stick and then furiously spinning it, forcibly extracting all the silk from the spiders belly... It was damn cruel. The next second, those 17 Spears once again executed judgment under the cover of night! In less than a minute, the Future Organization lost 35 members! Such a harvesting efficiency was chillingly high. The members of the Future Organization were astonished; wasnt it said that Capri could only manifest 18 Spears? It turned out that the nouveau riche had been hiding his clumsiness all along! As Abby recalled everything that happened, he suddenly felt that Capri might have joined the Future Organization with other motives. The opponent pretended to be a nouveau riche, pretended to manifest only 18 Spears, and pretended to act recklesslyall just a disguise! Capri tonight was the real Capri! Could it be that another deeply entrenched organization in North America had arranged all this? Abby fell into doubt. Since the crossing event occurred, the Future Organization had only seen such a scale of reduction in members three times: the first in the Middle East, the second during the conquest of Europe with the Corleone and Striber Clans, and the third was now! Those Future members who had been ready to follow suit hesitated; they were Ordinary People just a few months ago, and yet now they had to face such cruel slaughter as if it were a war. Some began to retreat. But Abby wasnt willing to give up; he knew at a glance that the second increment of 17 Spears meant Capri was at the end of his tether. Even if Capri had disguised himself in the past, it couldnt have been too outrageous! he calmly said in the communication channel, Im certain Capri is at the end of his tether. This time Ill lead the charge, and you guys follow me. Abby sighed inwardly; his strength wasnt actually the top in the Future Organization, but he couldnt call Mike now, nor was the morale of the Future Organization as good as expected. After this European conflict ended, he needed to have a good talk with W about boosting the cohesion of the Future Organization. In the past they had been dominant in Europe, and everything went smoothly without any issues, but once the situation turned unfavorable, all the problems would be exposed. Just like now, when 35 people died, half of them wanted to run away. At this moment, Abby led his team quickly from behind the building where Qing Chen was, saying, Sniper, have you reached the designated position? However, the sniper did not respond. The sniper, who should have been aiming, was now lying on the ground, blood streaming around him, a bloody hole in his forehead. When it came to sniping ability, everyone was insignificant in front of Qing Chen, including determining the best sniping spot. At this time, Zheng Yuandong was standing next to the snipers body, coldly looking towards the distant battlefield. Footsteps followed behind him, along with the sound of a scepter tapping the floor. He Jinqius laugh arrived before he did, I was wondering why the kid was going on a killing spree tonight, looks like he found Zheng boss as a bodyguard. Its really heartbreaking, he still doesnt trust Kyushu, and didnt invite us to such fun activities. Without turning, Zheng Yuandong said, Why didnt you kill Mike. He Jinqiu shook his head with a smile, No rush, Zheng boss hasnt dealt with this Mike before, this man appears carefree and extremely arrogant, but hes actually cunning and sinister. He dares to make a move, which means the Future Organization still has a backup plan waiting for me. Tonight, its unclear whether it will be Jindai or Deer Island that gets hit, but either way, it wont end well. Zheng Yuandong glanced at him; You go about your business, Ive got this place covered. He Jinqiu smiled and turned to leave, Perhaps, without lifting a finger, the kid could turn Europe upside down. Just look at what he did today, its quite the scene, reminiscent of the seventh unit of the Inner Worlds Intelligence Department Ones cunning operations. As he spoke, Mr. He walked off into the distance. Zheng Yuandong looked back at his fading figure, and then turned his head back to the roof, only to see Qing Chen and Capri leap down from the rooftop. In the lengthy street, two C-Class operatives, quick as ghosts, crossed through the streets in synchrony, their movements perfectly matched, rapidly closing in on the Future members. The intersecting black figures, like extremely sharp scissors, every time they crossed paths, the Future members felt as if they could hear the chilling sound of a pair of scissors snapping shut. The coordination between the two was so flawless that to the Future members, they seemed like twin siblings with mind communication. The Future members raised their hands and pulled the trigger, but Qing Chen, having ascended to C-Class, was so fast he was nearly B-Class! At this level, the Future members speed of turning their arms to aim couldnt keep up with his movements! Qing Chens narrowed vertical pupils tightly watched all the Future members, calculating their gun barrel trajectories. Cobblestones, long streets, gunfire! The young man seemed to capture everything into his brain, his restless combat will fully ignited, his mind working like a finely-tuned machine! Bullets stirred up gravel around him and Capri, but none hit them. Caught in astonishment, Abby involuntarily stepped back. In that instant, Qing Chen and Capris figures bypassed the foremost members of the Future Organization. Surprisingly, Qing Chen didnt strike to kill his target, he just missed it by that much. It seemed as though their whole rush forward was just for this single miss. But the next second, a drop of blood flew through the air. Illuminated under the dim street light. Where did the blood come from?! It was only then that Abby, using the light, saw that there was a very fine thread connecting the two ghostly figures! Cutting people as if cutting through mud! ... Sorry, got held up watching the China team match, thats why the update is a few minutes late. A 5000-character chapter, 10,000 words updated today, requesting monthly tickets. Chapter 705: 417, New Puppet Chapter 705: 417, New Puppet Dozens of people fired their guns simultaneously in this street less than ten meters wide, virtually creating a blanket of firepower where bullets sparked and chipped the buildings everywhere. Yet, despite the intense gunfire, they never managed to hit Qing Chen and Capri. It was like the metal storm under the steel dome of Cell 18the first time it was activated, bullets poured down like heavy rain, yet not one touched Qing Chen. Qing Chen and Capri moved as if they were shuttling through winding tunnels, with bullet-made tunnel walls on each side that meant certain death upon contact. But they never died. Its our turn, Qing Chen said with a smile. The moment they passed by a member of the Future, fresh blood suddenly spurted from the back of the members neck. It was as if an unknown force was taking away their life. The most terrifying knives are those unseen but felt. The moment you feel it, the result could be death. This time, the members of the Future coming after Qing Chen and Capri were not many to begin with; first, they were bombed by Capri, precisely killing 35. Now, they had to face the harvest facilitated by Puppet and Knight Vital Energy on this street. However, what was even more terrifying was that after the Future members were sliced, they hadnt even collapsed before they turned into dust and dispersed in the air. Qing Chen kept harvesting, kept making sacrifices, so much so that where he passed, there was not a drop of blood or any trace left, as clean as if no one had ever died. Puppeteer was abnormally excited, having moved from its initial resistance to delight in this moment. If it has to become a knife, then let it be so. As long as there are enough offerings for it to evolve into a higher form, it was all good. Delicious. Abby said, Kyle, go up there, they cant hurt you! A C-Class member of the Future roared and turned his entire skin surface into hard rock, charging at Qing Chen. But Qing Chen, nimble as ever, jumped onto the wall, gave a slight kick, and dodged the attack. But this Future member was not so lucky. This time when Puppeteer sliced in, everyone saw the cuts on the C-Class Experts body, his skin cracking inch by inch like stone. The members of the Future were terrified. How sharp was this wire of the knife to even break through the defenses of a C-Class Awakener, known to be the toughest?! It didnt block even for a moment. Kyle turned into dust as well. Qing Chen and Capri didnt even need to engage in close combat, nor could anyone slow their pace. They wandered the dark streets, carrying invisible blades. Abby knew it wasnt good, this level of combat was hard to block without someone as skilled as Mike. He wasnt even sure if B-Class would be sufficient, or if an A-Class needed to personally come? Nowadays, within each Time Traveler Organization, there was a chasm between A-Class and C-Class. At the Awakener level, for most, the highest level they reached on their first Awakening was C-Class; reaching higher was a rarity only for the one in ten thousand born a genius. At the Cultivator level, most traditions require over a decade to reach C-Class. Among the Genetic Warriors, not enough time had passed to administer all the Genetic Potions. Therefore, both B-Class and A-Class were as rare as strategic resources in organizations today, truly the chosen ones. Abby was only C-Class. He knew this kind of momentary crushing situation could easily destroy morale. Li Minghao was too cunning; he had picked such a clever time to harvest the mid-levels of the Future Organization. Unless Mike could quickly free up his hands to support, there was no chance of turning around the current situation. Yes, at this moment, Qing Chen was still bearing the appearance of Li Minghao, planning to frame him to the end... This caused great confusion for Abby, as the intelligence reported that Li Minghao was not good at fighting, yet his combat performance was formidable. The intelligence was wrong! At that moment, Abby thought about a lot. The conspiracy of another indigenous Time Traveler Organization in North America, Capri undercover in the Future Organization, the alliance Li Minghao formed with another organization in North America, internally and externally colluding... Everything, he seemed to figure it out, yet not completely. His thoughts returned to the battlefield. Abby knew that if they had enough people and they followed commands, they could definitely find a way to break the situation. However, before he could come up with a solution, the Future members in front of him had already turned around and started running away. People often say that a defeated army is like a falling mountain, not to describe how disheveled the defeated are, but that no one can stop the force of a collapsing mountain, no one can inspire those fleeing back to the battlefield. Abby wanted to flee too, but he suddenly looked up at Li Minghao and found the others gaze tightly locked on him. It was over. He knew what that look meant. The other was coming for him! Abby turned and ran, switching his communication channel while running, Mike! Ive encountered Li Minghao over here! Mike, panting, Do you need my support? Abby was silent for a few seconds, then calmly said, No need, hes already run away. On the long street, Abby stood rigidly, feeling his wrists encircled by seemingly weightless threads, becoming a puppet that could no longer act independently. At this moment, his black friend finally understood why Capri had been so strange in recent days. He too was being controlled. By the same method. So, when was Capri controlled? Abby suddenly realized, it must have been when the Arctic and the Radiant Trumpet met! But at that time, Deer Island and Jindai were not in the Greenland waters. At one moment, Abby had a guess in his heart. Could it be that this Li Minghao was not the real Li Minghao? But he could no longer share the answer in his heart with others. Qing Chen had thought for a long time earlier. Jindai and Deer Island, along with other notable members of the Future Organization, had all hidden away, offering him no chance to pull the strings on two puppets. But he quickly thought of a countermeasure, if he couldnt find them, he would expose his whereabouts to make them come to him. So, he waited for Abby. By that time, all Qing Chens prior groundwork slowly began to show its powerful potential. The advanced form of a Puppeteer, C-Class strength, meant he could control two C-Class experts, forming the basic structure of a Sword Array. If he had only controlled two D-Class, facing an expert would still not be enough. But after advancing to C-Class, if he controlled two C-Class, even facing a B-Class would allow him to battle head-on. The quantitative change finally reached a qualitative change! The next moment, Abby was also on the move, three figures intertwining as they began to chase and kill the remaining members of the Future Organization. The members of the Future Organization were shocked. Was Abby also an undercover agent?! In less than five minutes, the few remaining members of the Future Organization were chased down, killed, and memorialized. Qing Chen did not linger in the battlefield, he turned and quickly left with two puppets, turning off Abbys phone and disposing of it to avoid being tracked. He had indeed considered using Abby to infiltrate the enemys ranks, but with so many from the Future Organization dead, it was impossible to explain, so it was better to be cautious and have Abby do some other tasks. No sooner had he left than Mike, who had finished the battle, arrived at the scene. Mike, having heard Abbys conversation earlier, the more he thought about it, the more wrong it seemed, feeling that Abbys speech was a bit peculiar. But now, looking at the deserted long street with no bloodstains, no corpses, only the debris traces on the ground and walls from gunshots, it seemed as if the battle had barely started before it ended, with no casualties. It really looked like after a brief exchange of fire, one side quickly withdrew. Mike switched to the communication channel Abby had used, but found it ominously silent, no one speaking a word. He then called Abbys phone, only to find it had been turned off. ... Thats all for today, consider it a day off, writing ten thousand words a day is too much for someone with my lack of skill, I need to adjust my state intermittently. Chapter 706: 418, Puppet Master Chapter 706: 418, Puppet Master The long night had not yet ended. The battle between the major Time Traveler Organizations had fully erupted, although no one was really prepared, but the battle somehow came. It was as if a puppet master Joker had tied an invisible string to everyone, leading all in a dance across the dance floor in a tango. The music was initially extremely pleasing to the ear. Only the music grew faster and faster, forcing the dancers rhythm to also speed up, more and more. The rhythm of the music seemed as if it wanted to pull everyone on the dance floor into the abyss. Some people realized something was wrong. But it was already unstoppable. At that moment, this puppet master Joker along with his two puppets rushed to another location. Before dawn, someone would discover that Abby had also disappeared, just like Capri. However, Abbys identity in the Future Organization was extremely important, important enough that Qing Chen had to use him for a significant act. Identity, the tag of each person, is also the root of power and relationships. Qing Chen had already realized the extent of his own power; now, what he needed to do was not continue fighting, but to manipulate. The next moment, someone was already waiting at the street corner. Qing Chen asked, Boss Zheng, wheres W of the Future Organization? Zheng Yuandong stood quietly on Dark Street, looking at Qing Chen with interest, and answered indirectly, I didnt expect your combat ability to be so strong now, a few months ago, you were still an ordinary person. The Knights legacy is indeed one of the strongest practices in the Inner World. Tonight, Zheng Yuandong thought he would need to act, so he stayed nearby without leaving. He knew that the battle between Mike and Jindai would end quickly. If Mike arrived in time, he would need to confront Mike, a top expert from the Future Organization, the chosen one. But, Qing Chen ended the fight too quickly, so much so that Mike was a step late. At one point, Zheng Yuandong wondered if the young man had calculated the timing precisely before boldly taking action? Qing Chen said, Boss Zheng, lets not be so leisurely right now, where is W? Im in a hurry... Zheng Yuandong smiled and pointed in a direction, Mike personally pursued the Jindai Organization, but Jindai Warehouse got away, and W is chasing Li Minghao... But you should be careful. If the Future Organization dares to act like this without worrying about Kyushu and Kunlun striking them in this chaos, then they must have a backup plan. So, if youre thinking of killing W, better save it. Qing Chen nodded, Thanks for the warning. But he had never planned to take action against W. Joker does not need to step onto the stage himself; he doesnt need a presence or for anyone to know him. He wanted to end this dance before everyone realized the existence of this Joker. Zheng Yuandong asked, What do you need me to do? Qing Chen was taken aback; he didnt expect someone like Boss Zheng to actively collaborate with his plan. After a moment of thought, he said, Please hold back Mike for me. No problem, Zheng Yuandong smiled, As you asked me to do this, if I pull it off, dont disappoint me. Qing Chen quietly looked at him; this man... was indeed A-Class. Suddenly, he saw Boss Zhengs receding figure stretch his hand from the void and pull out a black long knife, seemingly a taboo item. ... ... Oberbaum Bridge. Dense and hurried footsteps echoed on the cobblestone path, like a herd of gazelles rushing past. Li Minghao led the members of Deer Island, moving through the city at the fastest speed. However, seen from above, on both sides of the street where they were running wildly, a hundred people were also racing fast, like a pack of wolves chasing a herd of gazelles, slowly closing the encirclement. Just as Li Minghao and others were about to be surrounded, the European head of Deer Island suddenly stopped, turned calmly back, and looked at the Future Organization members who were quickly blocking their path ahead. Blocked ahead and pursued from behind, the Future Organization had more than ten times the members of Deer Island; it was a situation without a solution. The Deer Island members had grim expressions, feeling that they might die here tonight, they tightly protected Li Minghao in their midst to prevent any attacks. But Li Minghao seemed not at all flustered as he calmly said, Who is in charge of this operation? I want to have a word with him. Someone sneered, Its a little late to want a chat now. Li Minghao took out a black remote control and said coldly, Ive hidden 30 Black Sorkin Bombs in 30 trash bins within a one-kilometer radius around us. If I press it, we all die. The members of the Future Organization were stunned for a moment; surprised that Deer Island was also fierce, ready to go down together in this way. They looked towards the roadside trash bins, moving away from them. But just on this road, there were no less than ten trash bins; they didnt know what explosive yield Li Minghaos bombs were, and for all they knew, even a far distance might not be safe. No one thought Li Minghao was lying because looking back at the recent chase, it indeed seemed like they were deliberately led here. Then, someone outside the crowd laughed, You lure us here and then play a do-or-die game, just to have a chat with us? So, what do you want to talk about? Saying this, the Future Organization members in front of Li Minghao slowly dispersed, and W stepped forward out of the crowd. Chapter 707: 418, Puppet Master_2 Chapter 707: 418, Puppet Master_2 He wore a black turtleneck sweater, tall and well-built, handsome with a certain charm, as if he were the quintessential protagonist straight out of a North American story. Li Minghao took a deep breath and calmly stated amidst the ambush, There must be some misunderstanding between us! W said with a smile, What misunderstanding? Do you mean framing us in collusion with Capri? I didnt expect you to be so ruthless, even blowing up your own headquarters and purposefully leaving Kyushu untouched as a way to frame them. Li Minghao was stunned, Capri?! Me, colluding with Capri? That has never happened! No need to explain. We saw you with Capri this afternoon. I bet you hadnt counted on Abbys tracking abilities being so strong, W chuckled. Of course, you were cautious, and it was only with great effort that we managed to find evidence of you two together. Li Minghao was completely baffled; he had no idea he had met with Capri that afternoon! He raised his voice, Here lies the misunderstandingIve been hiding in Pearson Museum all afternoon and didnt come out at all. You can check the museums surveillance if you dont believe me! If I really were the person colluding with Capri, I wouldnt be standing here with a bomb remote, waiting to negotiate with you. You just chased me; you should clearly understand that I had the chance to escape. W furrowed his brows. He too found it oddwhy would Li Minghao go to such lengths to force the Future Organization to negotiate? If it was to lure them into an ambush, they were already surrounded by bombs, and Li Minghao would just need to press the remote control. W calmed down, earnestly pondering the cause and effect, trying to come up with an answer. In a moment, he felt as if he had pieced some things together. But just as he was about to reassess the clues, someone outside the crowd suddenly said, Since you claim to have no connections with Capri, Ill bring Capri here to confront you. All eyes followed the voice, and to their surprise, they saw Abby leading a handcuffed Capri, hands tied behind his back, slowly approaching. Behind them was one of Abbys subordinates he had brought out for the night. Seeing this, Ws smile widened with satisfaction, Abby never disappoints; he caught Capri so quickly and even took him alive. Abby walked into the crowd and calmly said, Capri, Li Minghao claims he has never cooperated with you. Tell us what you think. If youre sincere, you might still have a chance to see your family. Capri hurriedly responded, This afternoon, Li Minghao asked me to meet on Danlak Street to discuss todays plan. He asked me to find a way to lure Abby away, spreading the Future Organizations forces thin. Moreover, he had also hired an expert from the Deer Island Organization to intercept Mike, ensuring that even if Mike managed to quickly handle Jindai, he wouldnt be able to get here right away. Ws brows creased. He immediately pulled out his phone to call Mike, but no one answered. Everything seemed to confirm Capris story. Now, Li Minghao was frantic, no longer composed and collected, Youre falsely accusing mewho told you to say that, who is planning all of this! Li Minghao panicked. He racked his brain but couldnt guess who the mastermind behind this all wasto sacrifice Capri, a C-Class Expert, just to frame Deer Island with a human life?! Were C-Class Experts so dispensable now?! Surely not! In Li Minghaos view, if Capri really were a mole, why would he willingly walk into the Future Organizations trapwas there still a chance for survival? In fact, the most shocked were not him, but Abby and Capri... This was the first time Abby had been manipulated into stirring trouble, and tonight he had witnessed how a controlling Taboo, combined with a shape-shifting Taboo, could execute such a cunning maneuver. He saw firsthand how Li Minghao transformed into one of his subordinates in a matter of seconds, then maneuvered him and Capri to this location. At this moment, Abby suspected that the host of the Taboo was Qing Chen. Since Capri had returned on the Arctic, and he had been controlled from that time, it meant the one behind all this was the good-looking young man who was initially being hunted by Jindai and Deer Island. Capri must have engaged in a battle with this young man at sea and then been captured. So, he realized it was Qing Chen impersonating Li Minghao to mislead him. It was Qing Chen who manipulated Heichuan Haidou to provoke the Future Organization. It was Qing Chen who controlled Capri to attack Jindai and Deer Island. It could be said with certainty that this entire European battle involving the Time Traveler Organization was due to this one man! The Future Organization had initially hoped to watch from the sidelines, waiting to reap the rewards, but now it turned out to be the one harvested, all thanks to him. Abby actually had a bit of admiration for Qing Chen. Firstly, Qing Chens ability to muddy the waters was top-notch; his earlier tactics of inciting battle were astonishing. Secondly, after changing his appearance, he had Zheng Yuandong, the Kunlun Leader, hold Mike at bay who had sensed something was amiss. And now, he even dared to join the crowd of Future members. If even one person in the crowd noticed something off, Qing Chen would have died on the spot. Yet, inexplicably, no one gave it a second thought. Chapter 708: Master of Puppets_3 Chapter 708: Master of Puppets_3 Abby had caught Capri C was there a problem with that? Not at all! Would Abby betray the Future Organization? Of course not. In the European branches of the Future Organization, Boss was W, Mike was the second in command, and he was the third. Just a bit longer, once W and Mike returned to North America, he would be in charge of all Europe. Why would he betray the Future Organization? Moreover, Abby had fought alongside everyone in the past and had never had any issues; he was also well-liked. Who would suspect such a person? At this moment, Abby watched helplessly as everyone was deceived by Qing Chens tricks without being able to do anything about it. He suddenly felt that if Qing Chen replaced the Eastern forces to dominate Europe, it wouldnt be long before the Future Organization, Jindai, and Deer Island would be driven out! The next moment, W looked at Abby, What do you think of this situation? After pondering for two seconds, Abby said, I still stand by my earlier judgment. Capri has been undercover in the Future for a long time now; no one else has such capabilities. Our good neighbor has always wanted to monopolize North America, and this time, they definitely want to stir chaos in Europe to put us in a difficult position and prevent us from aiding North America ... This is the only logical explanation for Capris actions ... Be careful, I feel theyre about to make a move on us in North America, maybe they have already started. Hearing what he said, Abby almost burst out in anger. Qing Chen had actually managed to blame it all on another North American Time Traveler Organization. Not only did they want to instigate a war in Europe, but they also intended to bring the battle to North America. The two organizations were already incompatible. If the other side realized that the Future Organization was readying for war, they would definitely do the same, and a great battle in North America would be inevitable ... Abby had to admire Qing Chens capability for blame-shifting. W nodded and said, Just as I thought, although there are still some doubts, our top priority now should be to end the fight in Amsterdam as quickly as possible. Maybe our neighbor has already started making moves on our homeland in North America; lets not drag this out too long here. Upon finishing, W looked at Li Minghao and smiled, Regardless of any misunderstandings, youre not getting away tonight. Li Minghao trembled with rage and raised the black remote in his hand, snarling, Try me, and we all die together. With composure, Abby said, Im sorry C right after you planted the bombs and evacuated the area, I had already sent people to defuse the bombs here. Your remote wont work anymore, try if you dont believe me. Li Minghao was stunned. They had been very secretive, and the timing was calculated so that the bomb would only be moved by a garbage truck the next morning. But Abby had managed to defuse the bomb a step ahead! And Abby had already begun furiously venting internally; he clearly noticed that when he spoke those words, the young man had silently moved into the crowd, far from the garbage bins. Black Sorkin Bombs, when exploding in non-enclosed spaces, have limited lethality even if doubled in yield; the only concerns are the high temperature and the fragments from the torn trash bin. If Qing Chen hid within the crowd, being a C-Class Expert, he would most likely only get slightly injured, but many from the Future Organization would perish. Watching Abbys confident and strategic smile, W exclaimed, Abby, you truly are an indispensable talent for the Future Organization. Abby: ... Capri: ... When did you defuse a bomb? Boss, this is no time for jokes! The two of them knew very well, Qing Chen certainly hadnt defused any bombs, nor had he informed anyone about the bombs here. This game, frightening as it is, seemed likely to end everyone here! At that moment, Abby was feeling completely hopeless. At that moment, W released his last hesitation, stepping forward with a cold laugh, only to see a halo suddenly appear above the sky, revealing a beautiful female Six-winged Angel. Sacred, indifferent. All the perfect adjectives in the world seemed to fit her. This was Ws power, materializing the Six-winged Angel. The angel, clad in Silver Armor and wielding a Cross Longsword, fluttered her six wings in the sky, light and elegant. The next moment, the Six-winged Angel swung her sword toward Li Minghao, the sword movement vibrating even the air itself. As fast as thunder, as heavy as a great force! Instantly, a person flashed beside Li Minghao; with each step he took, an additional persons Illusion appeared. After taking four steps, four identical figures had appeared amid the crowd. The four figures moved differently, and for a moment, no one could distinguish which one was real. Abby was startled, this must be Li Minghaos native expert from Deer Island, a true chosen one! Li Yunze! The Future Organization hadnt even detected when Li Yunze had arrived in Europe! Just as the divine judgment-like Cross Longsword descended, this person had already positioned himself in front of Li Minghao, catching the slashing blade with his bare hands! Before anyone had a chance to think, in that instant, the other three Li Yunzes also struck, each throwing punches at the Six-winged Angel. Amid the booming sound. Each punch hit its mark, and each Li Yunze was real! In just a brief moment, the Six-winged Angel was pounded by the immense force, repeatedly struck and sent flying backwards. She was not a real angel; her strength was solely determined by Ws own power levelW was B-Class, but Li Yunze was a genuine A-Class! However, Abby could no longer continue watching the fight, as he saw that during this chaotic moment, Qing Chen was controlling him and Capri, turning around to leave without a second glance at the battlefield. This was too cunning, too cautious, fleeing upon seeing B-Class and A-Class fighters in action?! Truthfully, both Abby and Capri felt relieved, as Qing Chens cautiousness meant they could stay away from the bombs... But Abby couldnt understand. Normally, people who enjoy playing tricks on others love watching their masterpieces up close to gain tremendous psychological satisfaction. Doesnt this young man want to see the outcome of the battle at all? How did he suppress such a desire? However, Abby did not understand Qing Chen; the moment Qing Chen determined his goal was achieved, he would leave the battlefield at the best possible time. As for the outcome... He wasnt very concerned. A true puppet master, the Joker, should know how to exit the stage and what he can and cannot do. The thing that enabled the Joker to accomplish all this was absolutely not madness. It was utter calmness. Chapter 709: 419, Curtain Call Chapter 709: 419, Curtain Call In the midst of the battlefield. The Six-winged Angel of W was surrounded by four Li Yunzes, the angel, once stunning as it entered, now seemed like a bullied young girl. Moreover, Li Yunze seemed to have known already how to handle W. The Six-winged Angel, floating mid-air and controlled by W, attempted multiple times to escape Li Yunzes entanglement, only to be struck back into the combat zone again and again. With each punch, Ws face grew paler. If Li Yunze shattered the Six-winged Angel on the spot, W might lose half his life! Members of the Future Organization wanted to relieve him, but they still underestimated Li Yunzes strength. The four Li Yunzes trod upon the stone pavement, shattering it underfoot. The seemingly solid pathway was like tofu beneath his feet. The cracks on the ground shook out numerous pieces of broken stone. As Li Yunze broadly swung his hammer to strike at the Six-winged Angel, his movements kicked up shards of stone from the ground, covering fire like shotgun pellets. The four Li Yunzes attacked the Six-winged Angel while using the stone shards for covering fire. Sheets of broken stones flew in the air, creating a continuous wooshing sound. This forced all members of the Future Organization to inevitably seek cover. A member of the Future Organization hid behind a utility pole, silently sticking out an arm to shoot, but before he could pull the trigger, a stone shard accurately pierced through his arm. Only then did everyone realize Li Yunze could multitask, always aware of his surroundings. A C-Class expert tried to approach stealthily, but, as Li Yunze stepped out again, he spawned another clone. Before the C-Class expert could react, the thunderous clone of Li Yunze had already slammed a palm onto his chest. Crack! Accompanied by the air burst from his sudden exertion and the sound of the C-Class experts ribs shattering, the two sounds burst forth together! In front of A-Class experts, C-Class was as trivial as chickens and dogs. No one knew how much energy Li Yunze had left, hence no one dared to step forward to test him. Only then did they realize that Li Yunze had not quickly ended the fight with the Six-winged Angel because he had not been using his full strength. No one knew what other cards Li Yunze might have up his sleeve, and they even didnt know which one was the real Li Yunze. Only by finding the real one could they end the battle. But how could they find him? An A-Class expert is indeed a real strategic asset for the Time Traveler Organization, having transcended the mundane and able to deter an entire battlefield with his own power! At this moment, W was coldly watching the Six-winged Angel being attacked from the outskirts of the battlefield, his face pale yet still extremely calm. Unlike the hapless Six-winged Angel, he was observing. Li Yunze must be a master from Inner World who used some technique to travel back in time. If he were a real Time Traveler, he couldnt master such a powerful body and strength so quickly, nor could he use it so skillfully, W judged, He must have left a lot of leeway, seeming to know that we have people hidden in the dark. Go ahead, dont touch him, kill Li Minghao first. As soon as the words fell, Li Minghao suddenly felt a chill behind his neck. He ducked instinctively, just feeling an extremely sharp blade sweep over the top of his head. But Li Minghao was very certain that there had been no one behind him just a moment ago! He saw the person in charge of Deer Island inelegantly lurch forward, turning his head mid-air only to see a ghostly figure in the night moving towards him! Invisible?! Li Minghao exclaimed. He hadnt expected the Future Organization to harbor such an extremely insidious awakened power userabsolutely unguardable! But before he could land, gunfire burst from a high-rise building in the distance, where a sniper of the Future Organization had already taken position and pulled the trigger! Bang! Li Minghao felt a bullet penetrate his abdomen, his intestines immediately spilled out. The sensation after being shot was first numbness, followed by excruciating pain attacking all his nerves. Large beads of cold sweat fell from Li Minghaos forehead, and his face immediately turned pale. He knew he was not going to survive, even with Li Yunzes protection, they couldnt find a place to treat him within five minutes. He would die from excessive blood loss within just five minutes. Li Minghao was still tightly clutching the bomb remote in his hand, and he laughed in fury, I dont believe youve disarmed it completely! With that, he pressed the red button on the remote. W laughed, Abby wouldnt leave any loose ends. If Abby said it was all dismantled, then none would be left. However, at that moment, raging flames burst within a radius of five hundred meters. The entire dormant city was awakened. The beautiful Amsterdam, as if in a blink, turned into Syria. Heaven, plunged into Hell. One trash can after another exploded continuously, like the pre-arranged fireworks outside a grand ballroom, ascending into the sky one after another. The massive blast waves formed a counterblast, and people near the trash cans were one by one lifted by the high-temperature blast. Li Minghao was stunned: ??? W: ??? Werent they supposed to be disarmed, how come there are still so many... no, none have been disarmed at all! Actually, Li Minghao had not held much hope before; his actions were more of an impotent rage, especially now that he had lost the ability to move and couldnt do anything else. But he didnt expect such fury to cause such a sensation! Chapter 710: 419, Curtain Call_2 Chapter 710: 419, Curtain Call_2 They were supposed to use the bombs they had set up in advance as bargaining chips, to talk things through calmly with the Future Organization, but everything changed with the arrival of one person. Wait, Li Minghao looked in horror at his side, where there was also a Black Sorkin Bomb! Although his thoughts were racing, in reality, only a moment had passed. Son of a bitch! At that moment, the trash bin beside Li Minghao exploded, and flames of fury spewed out from the metal container, shredding its thin metal skin into dozens of pieces that burst outward. The blast engulfed Li Minghao as well. As a result, the leader of Deer Island in Europe never understood what had happened to him before he died. Elsewhere, Li Yun and another undercover A-Class expert from the Future Organization were also catapulted by the blast wave. However, despite the tremendous force of the Black Sorkin Bomb, its impact was limited on the robust bodies of A-Class experts in the open space. The rest of Li Yuns duplicates had vanished without a trace, leaving only his true self behind. One side of his face was burnt by the high temperature, his skin melting like candle wax, yet he moved unhindered. He turned and cast a cold glance at Li Minghaos direction before quickly leaving the battlefield. The hidden expert from the Future Organization quickly reached Ws side, hoisted him onto his shoulder, and rushed to the nearest hospital at top speed. What should have been a top-tier battle between Outer World Time Traveler experts ended in a surreal and unexpected manner. Nobody anticipated this outcome. W had narrowly escaped death due to being farther from the trash bin, although he suffered extensive skin burns, organ displacement, and had a piece of the bin lodged in his thigh. At least it was certain that he wouldnt die from his injuries. With his last breath, W asked, What about Abby? Find Abby, the problem is with him, hes also an undercover agent! It wasnt Ws fault for the misunderstanding; chaos had reigned that night, and under Qing Chens control, Abby and Capri behaved no differently from ordinary people. Thus, W never considered that someone might be manipulating Abby and Capri into staging this whole incident. From their perspective, it appeared as though Abby and Capri had played them, completely severing ties with Deer Island and falsely claiming that the bomb had been defused... The most outrageous part was the lie that the bomb had been defused... At this moment, Mike arrived, breathless. Looking at the dying W, he asked, I heard the explosion and came as fast as I could. What happened? The invisible A-Class expert said calmly, It was Deer Islands doing; they triggered the bombs theyd planted in advance. We suspect theres something wrong with Abby. His behavior tonight was strange, and now, he and Capri have disappeared. Mike was stunned and said, Abby? I felt something was off with him tonight too. At the location where he and Capri fought, there was no blood, just gunshots and bullet holes. It was as if they were fighting with the air, with no casualties. Mikes statement further confirmed Ws suspicions. Every piece of evidence, one after another, pointed towards Abby. It was the two of them who had duped everyone! At that moment, the A-Class expert noticed the cuts on Mikes body and asked, What happened here? Mike replied, I was intercepted by an expert from Kunlun. He was incredible; I felt like I couldnt exert any strength in his presence... Lets talk more when we get back. I think we need to elevate Kunluns threat level as well. Between A-Class fighters, in truth, if someone is determined to flee, its difficult to have a definitive battle to the death. But the knife wounds on Mike spoke volumes. That night, the Future Organization had suffered devastating losses, and they needed to cool down and consider how to counter the next offensive from their North American neighbor. The accounts of Abby and Capri, the undercover agents, would have to be settled sooner or later. ... ... At this time, Abby and Capri, now top fugitives on the Future Organizations wanted list, were following Qing Chen with bitterness in their hearts. When they heard the continuous explosions behind them, they realized what had happened. What was meant to explode would always explode. Abby could imagine the surprise and shock on Li Minghaos face as he pressed the remote control. It must have been spectacular. He could also imagine the helplessness and despair of the Future Organization members facing the blast. After this battle, all major Time Traveler organizations in Europe had been severely hit, and Kyushu, which had not participated in the fight from beginning to end, would emerge as the biggest winner... Once, the Kyushu branch in Europe had to act covertly under the intimidation of the Future. Now, it seems they would have to square off against the Future on equal footing. Abby and Capri, looking at the youths silhouette in front of them, had mixed emotions. Because they felt, even up to now, it was likely that no one had realized the existence of this Joker. Back in the small apartment, Yi draped in a Red knitted shawl, smiled and asked, I bought this at the market in the scenic area, does it look good? Abby and Capri thought to themselves that she still found time to visit the scenic area, unaware of what the other had done tonight... Qing Chen glanced at Yi and laughed, Its not good, it makes you look too mature. Yi rolled her eyes at him, Cant you say something nice for a change. As she spoke, she took off the shawl and tossed it aside, Boss Zheng has already taken Zhang Jian and the others away, but he said he has to inconvenience them a bit first. He will only release them after ensuring our safe departure from Europe. Otherwise, once our control over Capri is exposed, the Future Organization will immediately catch on. Chapter 711: 419, The End_3 Chapter 711: 419, The End_3 Actually, the biggest flaw in Qing Chens plan was these three people. All it would take is one person to reveal information to the Future Organization, telling them that it was Qing Chen who had taken control of Capri, and then the Future Organization would quickly realize all the cause and effect that led up to this. It was that simple. However, Qing Chen had no intention of killing them to silence them. Although those three hadnt been of much help, at least they hadnt done anything to harm Qing Chen or Yaoyao. This was Qing Chens bottom lineif he resorted to indiscriminate killing just to keep this secret forever, then he would not be worthy of calling himself a Knight. Originally, Uncle Li Dong had waited a full eight years to gather 3,650 people deserving of their fate just to meet the requirements of the Heaven and Earth Chessboard. That master, even when imprisoned, had never abandoned his principles, and Qing Chen naturally couldnt either. Did we make any gains tonight? Yaoyao asked. We did. Jindai, Deer Island, Future, Ive knocked all their ideas clear out, Qing Chen said with a smile: Now, if we wanted to leave, I reckon no one would be watching us anymore. Lets get ready to move, well return to the country in the next few days. Okay, Yaoyao nodded, Theres food ready in the kitchen, Ill go warm it up for you. Alright. After Yaoyao entered the kitchen, Qing Chen turned to look at Abby and Capri. Truth be told, he very much wanted to take the two of them back to his country. In the past, the Awakeners he had encountered either had abilities far surpassing his own, or they were at such a low level that their powers were not impressive when used. But now, as a C-Class, controlling Capri was like having a humanoid Taboo in his possession. A Taboo capable of instantaneously firing thirty-five miniature kinetic bombs... Perhaps, this was the true power of the Taboo ACE-019, the Puppeteerjust knowing the true name and having a high enough level could turn anothers abilities into ones own advantage! But no matter how much Qing Chen wished to take these two with him, he couldnt do it. Firstly, it would be difficult to leave with the two of them without attracting attention, and the presence of two foreigners during the day would inevitably raise alarm. Secondly, Qing Chen couldnt exactly take them everywhere he went. But the moment he loosened his grip on the Puppeteer, these two would likely start plotting their escape. Last of all, both of them were Time Travelers, destined to travel through time sooner or later. No matter where Qing Chen would take them, their return through time would still be to their last location before coming back. At that time, Qing Chen would not be able to control them, and they would surely report everything they had seen and heard to the higher echelons of the Future Organization. Therefore, Qing Chen could only painfully sacrifice two C-Class Experts... If Qing Chen sacrificed Abby and Capri, he was just a little short of evolving the Puppeteer to sprout a third thread. By then, whether it was the Sword Array or manipulating other experts, his strength would see a significant increase. Wait a minute. Qing Chen recalculated everything in his mind and suddenly felt that something was amiss. He had sacrificed many members of the Future Organization that night, and rationally, the third thread should have already grown significantly. However, when he looked at the Puppeteers third thread, he discovered it had only grown by five meters. Qing Chen tried to recall everything that had happened that night, and it was not until he went over it again that he realized only when he had killed that C-Class Expert, capable of petrifying him, did the Puppeteer undergo a new change. After sacrificing a C-Class Expert, the growth length of the Puppeteer decreased. To sacrifice Transcendents below the C-Class no longer brought any changes to the Puppeteer! Qing Chen looked at the Puppeteer with irritation, Did you take a kickback or what?! The Puppeteer felt wronged; its rules were just like thatthe further you go, the harder it becomes... Qing Chen sighed. He had thought that he would be able to control hundreds of people in the future, but now it seemed impossible. At this moment, Capris face was pale, his eyes sunken. Qing Chen said with a smirk, Isnt your ability more powerful in my hands? Surpassing limits, burning life, thirty-five spears covering with full firepowerIve named this move Burning My Capri. What do you think? Capri: ... Abby: ... The two foreigners clearly didnt catch Qing Chens reference. Qing Chen didnt care. He smiled and said, Lets play a game. Im giving each of you one chance. I will alternately release your bindings, and you will each have 30 seconds to divulge information about the other. Whoever performs best, I will let go. Abby and Capri didnt believe Qing Chens words at all. Only those who had personally experienced Qing Chens actions would realize how crafty this young man from the East really was. They didnt believe Qing Chen would let them go; they just felt that Qing Chen was up to some new trick. Qing Chen said with a smile, Lets start with Abby. After that, he released the Puppeteers control over Abby. As soon as Abby regained freedom, he turned and slammed into the door, hoping to smash it open and rush out onto the street. But as he began to move, his body once again lost control. Qing Chen looked at him with a half-smile and said, As long as the Taboo on your hand isnt removed, youll never have a chance to break free. Abby just lost his opportunity, now its your turn, Capri. The next second, Capri spoke very quickly, Abbys height is 176, but he has lifts in his shoes, so his real height is probably only 172. He had a crush on his teacher, secretly wrote love letters to them, but the letters were torn up by the teacher in front of all the classmates. The next moment, Abbys bindings were released, and he glared at Capri angrily, Are you crazy? Cant you see hes playing us? Abby lost control over his body. Once again, Capri quickly said, Abby likes mature women, he goes to the Red Light District to find ones more than ten years older than him. He has three lovers, all middle-aged women. Rumor has it he also likes to be tied up. The next moment, Abby was about to explode with anger, Capri! Stop being played by him, hes not going to let us go! Abby lost control over his body. Capri spoke rapidly, Abbys ability is to enter others subconscious for interrogation. He possesses a Taboo, which is a piano. Playing To Alice on it can induce sleep in people, with the condition that no wrong note can be played. If a mistake is made, then hed get electrocuted. Abby was stunned. He hadnt expected that after Capri had finished divulging private information, he would reveal such critical details about the Taboo, Capri also has a Taboo; its function is... Abby laughed. He looked at Qing Chen, Actually, you never really released Capris control from the beginning. Everything he just said was information dug up by paparazzi, available on North American online networks. So, youve already obtained Capris Taboo, but you still dont know how to use it, right? Qing Chen also laughed, Turns out youre a smart one. Indeed, as Abby had said, everything Capri had spoken was controlled by Qing Chen, with the purpose of making Abby, in a state of irrationality, to reveal the information about Capris Tail Ring. And Capri, he had been listening in despair as himself blabbered on about something, while Qing Chen had never actually released his bindings as agreed... Abby took a deep breath, Then lets make a deal. I know youre not going to let either of us go, but if you do something for me, Ill tell you all the information about that Taboo afterward. ... The chapter has been updated with 10,000 words. Chapter 712: 420, Tail Ring and Departure Chapter 712: 420, Tail Ring and Departure What do you want me to do for you? Qing Chen asked. Abby said, I know promises are useless with you, so I hope to tell you the conditions for its containment after you help me with the last task. Qing Chen asked, Do you think you have the right to negotiate with me? Abby retorted, Do you dare to try it out slowly on your own? Qing Chen laughed. He had searched online for a long time and found no information about the taboo held by Capri. Due to the taboo being originated in North America, Qing Chen couldnt return to the Inner World to find information related to it either, as there was no exchange of information between the continents. So, if Qing Chen didnt want to go back to China and figure it out slowly, it was better to clarify everything before his trip to Europe ended. Figuring out a taboo item sometimes takes generations to uncover just a smidgen of its rules. It could even cost ones life to test it out. Knowing who it originated from was somewhat better. Generally, taboo items would emerge at the burial site of a deceased Transcendent, and there would be some anomalies before their emergence. If one knew whose tomb it was, it could be deduced based on the deceaseds preferences. For instance, the taboo item ACE-005 Da Fu, Uncle Li Dong said it emerged from a cat lover. That Transcendent had a total of seven famous cats, so the first holder figured out its containment condition and usage method within a month. As for the Puppeteer, it appeared very early on, but at that time, no one knew its use. Everyone only knew it was a taboo item, but for hundreds of years, no one figured out its purpose or containment condition. Some used it as a fishing line, others as a clothesline, who would have thought it needed one to wrap it around the wrists of the host and an enemy? So gay. Qing Chen couldnt imagine how the first host who discovered its use had done so... And because of its nature, it was particularly taxing on the host. The complete containment rule for the Puppeteer was to sacrifice a group of people every month, and if the ritual failed, the number of sacrifices needed to double next time. If it reached the ninth time without success, it would sacrifice the host... On average, sacrificing a host every nine months, who could endure that? It was even faster than the cycle of reincarnation. It is estimated that the Puppeteer had killed over thirty hosts, making it the most wasteful of hosts in the history of taboo items. There are several taboo items similar to the Puppeteer. Like the Correct Gold Coin, if its asked a question and given an answer but not fed a gold bar, it would cause the host to become blind and deaf for seven days. Then theres the taboo item ACE-038 The End of Secrets, which allows the host to disclose a secret about themselves that nobody else knows, in exchange for someone elses secret. But if the host tells the taboo item a secret that they believe no one else knows, yet someone actually does, then they will lose 4,999 strands of hair. The hosts of taboo item ACE-038 have always been bald. So, taboo items have always been a double-edged sword. Now, Qing Chen didnt know the containment condition for the Tail Ring or what consequences would arise from containing it incorrectly. If he inadvertently touched some backfiring rule during his attempts, it could cause major problems. Even if Abby and Capri were willing to disclose the function and containment condition of the taboo item, Qing Chen would have to test it on someone else before daring to use it himself. For example, nobody still knows what the containment condition is for the taboo item ACE-089 Hunter of Praise held by the Contraindicated courts; they can only temporarily seal it in a metal box. This thing, once it hears a song, will chase the singer to the ends of the earth. If Capris item is similar to the Hunter of Praise, and Abby tells Qing Chen that the containment condition is to sing, then Qing Chen would be in deep trouble. But he needed a reference point. Perhaps this was Abbys confidence. He was certain Qing Chen didnt want to try slowly, so he confidently laid out his conditions. However, Qing Chen wasnt worried. As long as someone was willing to speak, things would be easy to handle. Abby wasnt the only one who knew the use and containment conditions of the Tail Ring. Too many humans have died because of an old saying, Its not scarcity that troubles them, but unfairness. Strategies like Killing three warriors with two peaches have been overused by the Chinese. He restrained Abby from speaking, then looked at Capri with a smile, saying, Youre unwilling to speak, but someone else is. Its your taboo item, yet he comes to me with conditions. If I were you, I couldnt stand to listen! Can you tolerate him?! Heres my offer, its the same: Tell me the function of the taboo, and Ill take care of the last thing you wanted done in life. Qing Chen glanced at Abby with a smile, wondering what sort of person the real powerholder back in North America was, if someone like him could become the third-ranked person in the Europe Branch in the future. Capri, sensing his restraints were released, gave Abby a cold glance, then told Qing Chen, You delete all the private messages on my social media and erase everything in my cloud storage, and Ill tell you. Qing Chen: ... Abby: ... Qing Chen remarked, You truly arent afraid to perish completely, but insist on leaving a clean reputation in this world. That the last thing youd ask of me is to help you destroy evidence of social death, such noble character, is truly touching. Chapter 713: 420, Tail Ring and Departure_2 Chapter 713: 420, Tail Ring and Departure_2 Abby felt a pang of sorrow in his heart, as he was still thinking about how to use this incident to set a trap for Qing Chen. He hoped to alert the Future Organization of their whereabouts and have them come to the rescue. But Capri was not cooperating at all and had assigned such a trivial task. Qing Chen said with a smile, I can do this for you, but you have to tell me the containment conditions first. Capri shook his head, No, you have to do it for me first. Qing Chen responded, Then should I ask Abby? Maybe hed be more willing to make this trade with me. Of course, you can also choose to trust that I am reliable and willing to help you with such a small task, after all, its a piece of cake. Capri was taken aback for a moment, This tail ring is called Power, signifying that it can take you anywhere. Qing Chen was also stunned, Teleportation ability?! No, Capri shook his head, It means that as long as you wear it, you can open any door, even if the door has a mechanical or combination lock. You just need to turn the handle, and it will unlock all obstacles and open the door... It works on safes, too. Capri hurriedly added another comment, afraid that Qing Chen would think the gadget was useless. Qing Chen retorted irritably, With just this ability, youve given it such a powerful name?! And said something about going anywhere! It would be better called a master key! Wait a second, Qing Chen suddenly thought of something. It was said that Taboo item ACE-012, the steam trains carriage, was loaded with Gold Coins. If anyone tried to steal the Gold Coins, they would be locked inside by the steam train and trapped to death. Could this tail ring called Power actually unlock the locked door after stealing the Gold Coins?! Isnt this the legendary battle of using rules against rules, defeating magic with magic? Of course, Qing Chen didnt really plan to try... After all, he didnt know whether this bug-like method would work, and if Western rules didnt apply well in the East, and the power of the tail ring couldnt overcome the steam train, then he would be doomed... Qing Chen looked at Capri, What are the containment rules? How can one become its host? Capri explained, Its containment conditions are simple. The host must steal something every month, anything will do. The stolen objects must be fed to the tail ring before the owner realizes theyre missing. Qing Chen thought to himself, this must be a Taboo crafted by a B-Class Expert from North America, with such a peculiar habit. If he went back to his country, he might not even be able to test the Taboos rules because he didnt have the habit of stealing at all. Abby, listening to Capri divulging all the details, sighed internally. Two C-Class Experts had fallen so low as to fight over a dying wish. Abby felt like he wanted to kill Capri there and then. At that moment, Qing Chen took control of Capri again, then slipped the tail ring onto Abbys pinky finger, You try it. Abby said, You want me to test this tail ring for you, to see if Capri has set a trap? Fine, but you must also delete the contents of my cloud drive. He made his final attempt. Abby could have had a better plan, but now all he could do was pray that some clues he had left would bring W to some idea. Qing Chen smiled and said, Okay. Then, Abby spoke to Qing Chen, I need to steal something first, and the owner must not be aware of it. Should I go out to the street and steal something? No need, its not so complicated, Qing Chen shook his head as he released Capris bonds and knocked Capri out with the edge of his hand. Then, Qing Chen told Abby, Just strip his coat off him; that will count as stealing it. Dont worry, hes unconscious. Abby was shocked on the spot. So, to feed the stolen item to the tail ring before the owner realizes its missing, could also be manipulated this way. Qing Chen saw his confusion and said earnestly, He is indeed unconscious now. Abby sighed, as his intention to pass information to the outside world failed, But this is more like robbery, its not really stealing. Lets try first and see, Qing Chen responded vaguely. Abby peeled off Capris coat and then brought the tail ring close to it. The coat appeared to burst into flames and, in an instant, turned to ash. Abby was stunned for a moment, Could that even work?! ... ... In Frederic Hospital, W lay on the hospital bed, his body swathed in a massive amount of bandages, while more than ten subordinates sat in the spacious, high-end ward. According to the doctors, he had a mild concussion, 31% of his body was burned, and he had internal bleeding. If it had been an average person who had endured that explosion, they would have either been blown apart on the spot, or the 31% burn coverage would have been enough to cause organ failure and death. Fortunately, as a B-Class Expert, W had a strong self-healing ability. W calmly said at the moment, Train stations, highway entrances, freeways, airports, ports, have everyone watch them closely, dont let Abby and Capri have a chance to leave. Hack into the network, lock down their bank accounts, social media accounts... all accounts, track their information through usage traces. Dont let them have a chance to leave Amsterdam alive, or else well become a laughingstock to North American Time Traveler. However, just then, a subordinate said, Boss, Capris social media account has been logged into! W was stunned, He dares log into his social media account at a time like this? What is he doing? The subordinate stared at the computer and said, He... hes deleting private messages. W frowned, goddammit, deleting private messages. At a time like this, hes actually deleting private messages. Is that what a person being hunted should be doing? Why would he want to do such a thing now? No, thats not right, Ws brow furrowed tighter, This is not so simple... In what situation would someone want to delete their private messages. Another subordinate said, Boss, Abbys cloud storage account has also been logged into, and hes deleting his selfies and videos. W suddenly remembered a time when he had jokingly asked Abby what he would do if he had only five minutes left to live. Abbys answer was: delete everything from his cloud to prevent exposure and preserve his reputation. W suddenly sat up from the bed and roared at his subordinates, Check their login IPs, hurry up and find out! Weve got it, boss. The IP address is at Danlack Street, B-156, they fabricated several IP protocols and made over thirty jumps, but our decoders brought from the Inner World cracked it, said the subordinate. Go, surround that place! W said, Abby... nevermind, if theres resistance, kill on sight, no mercy, send Mike as well! At that moment, W realized that Abby might be dying, and that there seemed to be more hidden truths to Abbys Undercover Case. But whether Abby truly betrayed the Future or was coerced, W didnt want any more surprises with this matter. 15 minutes later, Mike had arrived at the door of B-156 on Danlack Street. He looked coldly at the shabby door and asked a member of the Future next to him, Is there any activity on those accounts? The Future member said, They are still deleting their digital footprints, non-stop. Mike sneered, raised his arm and spread his fingers, a red laser instantly sliced the door of B-156 to shreds. However, when the door was cut open everyone was stunned because there was no one inside. Mike quickly stepped inside and saw a mobile phone on the dining table, that phone was automatically deleting all of Abby and Capris online account information. The phone kept popping up new apps, then rapidly deleting everything, even canceling membership subscriptions to video websites. Once it had deleted all the online information, suddenly, a game interface for Monopoly appeared on the phone screen, starting a new game. And right beside this phone, someone had left a poker card, face down on the table. Mikes face turned ashen as he picked up the card, revealing it to be a colorful Joker, silently grinning. ... Tonights the final of the Dota 2 TI international tournament, so tonights update will be very late, everyone take a look in the morning. Ill finish writing before dawn... Chapter 714: 421, go home Chapter 714: 421, go home Abby and Capri vanished into thin air as if they had evaporated from the world, mocking the entire Future Organizations Europe Branch with a Joker card before making their graceful exit. In the circles of Time Travelers in Europe and North America, legends about them also started to circulate. When people began to analyze the situation, they realized that Capri and Abby had almost single-handedly instigated a huge melee among the European Time Traveler Organization, leading to a situation where the Future, Jindai, and Deer Island all suffered heavy losses. Some said they were undercover agents from another organization native to North America, the Kingdom. Capris previous frivolous and flashy behavior was even bestowed the title of Best Male Lead. Everyone believed that everything Capri did before was just an act. It was like the stories of power succession in the past, involving certain dignitaries who endured humiliation. When it came to acting skills, Abby was slightly less impressive, but everyone praised Abby for almost becoming the Boss of the Europe Branch while undercover... that was quite impressive as well. Of course, only those inside the Future Organization had their doubts about this. Their first point of confusion was why Abby and Capri had to erase all their online traces before they left? Was it because they needed to start anew with different identities and thus had to clear their past completely? That seemed like the most logical explanation. After all, when an undercover identity is blown, one naturally has to start over. All ties to the past had to be discarded. The second point of confusion for the Future Organization was, how did the hacker, who was responsible for erasing everything, manage to do it in person without leaving a single trace? Moreover, why did they start a game of Monopoly after deleting all their information? What exactly were they implying or mocking? The third point of confusion was whether the Joker was a single person or a new organization? No one had heard of the Kingdom having the habit of leaving a Joker card. All of these became enigmas, which even the Future Organization itself could not figure out, nor could they explain to the outside world. All people knew was that Mike and W were later asked to go back to North America to report on their duties and summarize the operations battle. Furthermore, Abby and Capri were never seen again. What they did not know was that the mastermind behind it all was already sitting on a smuggling boat arranged by Kunlun, preparing to return to China. In the future, he would use the excuse of losing to Capri at sea and being forced to jump into the water to escape to explain why he survived. Previously, everyone assumed he was dead, but those were just conjectures, and nobody had actually confirmed it with Capri. As long as Zheng Yuandong, He Jinqiu, Old John, Nedup, Zhang Jian, and Yangyang remained silent, then no one would know the truth about what happened in the Greenland waters. As for what he did in Europe, people werent too concerned. In this incident, he was just an almost-forgotten supporting character. At least for now, very few people knew he was still alive. ... ... The events that happened in Europe were quickly posted online by the enthusiastic public of North America. As a result, people all over the world started to pay attention to this matter, after all, it was the first melee of the major Time Traveler Organizations. However, what everyday people focused on was what powers the Transcendents used and which Superhuman was the most powerful? Was it Mike, who could release rays, or Li Yunze from Deer Island? Was there any use of Taboo objects in this battle, and what were their effects? Which side was more cunning with their strategies? In short, the publics focus on this event was more like that of a sporting event, and if possible, they even wanted to come up with a comparative data chart for each Superhuman. Only a few noticed the most inconspicuous information at the front of these messages: Capri killed a Time Traveler from the East at sea and then returned to Amsterdam to disappear without a trace. In these stories, Joker and the A-Class Superhuman were the real protagonists, while Qing Chen was a supporting character whom the media couldnt even bother to verify the name of. And this supporting character was currently sitting in the cargo hold of the smuggling ship with Yangyang, looking at the pitch-black surroundings. They werent on a cruise ship, but a small cargo boat from China, and the crew was Chinese. The arrangements made for them were not the crew quarters they had paid for, but the cargo hold. At that moment, the door of the cargo hold opened, and someone threw in a basin of watery porridge: Here, eat up. The tone of the speaker was just like that of a village man feeding a dog. Qing Chen and Yangyang looked at each other and smiled, seemingly showing no signs of feeling wronged. He asked with interest, Weve paid enough money for a crew quarters, which includes meals with two meat dishes and two vegetable dishes. What youre doing now doesnt match up with what you said. The man sneered, Are you gonna eat it or not? If not, Ill throw it into the sea. Once youve gone hungry for two or three days, youll understand whos in charge on this ship. The man continued, Ive seen plenty of you stowaways, thinking youre someone important. On this ship, you want to eat whatever you fancy? How about I go fish you a tuna and make you some sashimi, huh? Qing Chen said, Then youre suspected of false advertising. The man sneered, Youre all with a criminal record, do you really dare to report me? Once we hit shore, beat it honestly, and if you keep this up on the way, Ill throw you into the sea right now. It was Qing Chens first experience with human smuggling. He had heard that many snakeheads in charge of smuggling boats would trick people on board and then mistreat the passengers at will. Over the years, who knows how many had suffocated to death in the cramped cabins. After all, those wanting to be smuggled had no legal identity, and they were no match for the crew on the ship. Before leaving, the man sneered and asked, Any more questions? Yes, Qing Chen raised his hand, I really havent tried tuna sashimi before and would appreciate your help in catching some. Thanks. The man was stunned for a moment, but Qing Chen managed to make him laugh with anger. He rolled up his sleeves and walked towards Qing Chen, It seems like you really are looking for a beating... Ah! Half an hour later, apart from the person steering the ship, all the crew members were standing on the deck with bruised noses and swollen faces, silently fishing for tuna. There were actually only three fishing rods on the boat, yet there were more than twenty crew members. Those without rods simply stood there posing as if they were fishing. It wasnt that they wanted to pretend, but rather the two heroes behind them wanted to see them fish... Someone whispered to the captain beside them, Captain, didnt you say we caught two fat sheep this time? These arent fat sheep, you caught two dads! ... ... In the streets of Amsterdam, a tall Caucasian man was walking, precisely where Li Minghao had detonated the Black Sorkin Bomb. Burnt ruins flanked the streets, the once-beautiful city had seen a sharp decline in visitors due to the incident, and many locals had fled to join relatives in other cities. The Caucasian man stopped at a certain spot. On his chest, he wore a golden badge with the word Kingdom on it. Kingdom. The next moment, blue silhouettes appeared on the street, as if someone had outlined the entire street with a blue fluorescent pen. Then, the blue silhouettes began to shift relentlessly. People made of silhouettes appeared on the street, all walking backward. The real world had never changed, while the silhouettes seemed like someone had pressed the rewind button on a film, replaying everything that had happened on the street in a clear perspective. The reverse flow of the silhouettes grew faster and faster, until the moment of explosion. The roar of the flames silently retracted back, the shattered trash cans reassembled into their undamaged state. The Time Travelers, who were lifted by the flames, returned to their original positions as if nothing had happened. No, thats not right, the Caucasian man said calmly, at the time of the explosion, Capri and Abby had already disappeared. After speaking, he waved his hand in front of the silhouettes, and the images rewound once again. That was the fight between Li Yunze and W. The Caucasian man watched closely for a while but did not linger. At a certain moment, his raised palm suddenly clenched into a fist, and the image paused. The Caucasian man walked towards the space behind W and saw Capri and Abby standing still. However, at that moment, he suddenly noticed the threads wrapped around their wriststhe silhouettes even outlined the strings of the Puppets. Following the threads, he finally found someone in a corner with their head down and wearing a hood, their face unclear. But, as the Caucasian man tried to get a clear look at the persons face, the hooded figure suddenly lifted their head! In an instant, the Caucasian man felt a chill in his heart as the blue fluorescent silhouettes vanished as if he had glimpsed some forbidden presence. This was a very strange circumstance, never before encountered. You should know that even when the Caucasian man reviewed the silhouettes of Mike, W, or Li Yunze, he never came across such a situation. Could the person already be a Demigod? No, if the person were a Demigod, why go through all this trouble? Any number of Time Travelers wouldnt be enough to stand up to one Demigod; if a Demigod really emerged in the Outer World right now, they would be invincible. The Inner Worlds consortiums still have means to sanction a Demigod, and they also have real experts hidden away. But the Outer World does not. If a Demigod were to appear at this stage within the Time Traveler Organization, they would have already plowed through all the major organizations. The Caucasian man tried to use his ability to review once more, but he found that his powers were failing on this street! He frowned and made a phone call, First matter, Li Yunze has reserved a lot of strength. This A-Class expert needs more attention; he is very calm and extremely terrifying. Secondly, besides Abby and Capri, there is a third person. Although I cant determine his identity and cant even see his face through the silhouette, I am sure that he is the one controlling the entire event, that Joker. ... Yesterdays second update, sorry, the Chinese team lost, took me a while to recover. Chapter 715: 422, Time Traveler Federation Chapter 715: 422, Time Traveler Federation In He Xiaoxiaos group chat. King of Intruders: Have you guys seen whats happening in Europe? Their A-Classes seem pretty formidable, wonder if Boss He and Boss Zheng could take them on? Huan Yu: According to reliable gossip, Boss Zheng actually fought with that Mike. Neither side won, but Mike had more injuries than Boss Zheng. King of Intruders, curious said, It seems like there are no contraindicated courts in North America, so a lot of taboo items are circulating among the people. You can even trade taboo items, bartering to get what suits you best. Anyone interested in forming a team to hit North America, snag some taboo items, and bring them back? One has to say, King of Intruders did point out a fairly unique situation. In the Inside World Federation, its said that nearly two-fifths of all taboo items are contained by the contraindicated courts, meaning, of the over five hundred registered taboo items, more than two hundred are in the contraindicated courts. So, in the Inner World, getting your hands on a taboo item is tough, because theyre scarce. Whereas in North America, all taboo items are dispersed among the populace, and they even circulate each other. If you feel your taboo item isnt working well or isnt right for you, you can just swap it with someone else. Taboo items, apart from the few that directly cause damage, the rest are functional and only really work to their fullest in the right hands. Just like how Capri is controlled by Qing Chen to be able to do his job properly... Zard criticized: Have you lost your mind, running off to unfamiliar North America to steal their taboo items on their home turf? They overuse genetic potions there, never mind the side effects, their average strength is higher than ours. Going there, wouldnt you just be walking into a trap? King of Intruders: But we have powerful Time Travelers too! Zard no longer responded to King of Intruders, but suddenly tagged in the group @TabooItemACE-999: Boss He, I heard that the Jindai and Deer Island had gathered in Europe initially planning to kill Daytime Member Qing Chen, right? TabooItemACE-999 didnt reply. The rest of the group was stunned; they had no idea that an incident shocking the whole world was somehow connected to their local Time Travelers. And no one mentioned this in the trending searches! Zard continued to tag @TabooItemACE-999: At least say something, right? Isnt Kyushu an external affairs agency? Were you guys involved in the European situation? TabooItemACE-999: Guided by the principle of non-interference in the internal affairs of other Time Traveler organizations, Kyushu has traditionally not participated in conflicts between organizations. We deeply sympathize with and regret the deaths of Time Travelers from Jindai, Deer Island, and the Future Organization... Everyone understood, Kyushu must have been involved... Only their involvement was more covert and went unnoticed. Even if they really werent involved, Kyushu surely was gloating at the moment. But thats nothing, being poor brings good neighborly relations, and wealth brings forth the beautiful plains, home to all; everyone understands this. At that moment, Zard directly tagged Ice Eye in the group: Big brother, are you still alive? Ice Eye didnt reply either. At this time, Qing Chen was still on a cargo ship urging the crew to fish for tuna; there was simply no signal on his phone. Zard sent a voice message in the group with a crying tone: My admired Daytime Member has died overseas, I want to go to Europe to find his body and bring it back for burial... Huan Yu suddenly said, Can you dial down the drama a bit? Zard: Alright. Actually, Huan Yu instinctively felt something was off. Because he had bought even more reliable intelligence on the dark web that said the Radiant Trumpet was riddled with dozens of sniper bullet holes. Many people in Europe saw firearms and didnt pay much attention, but Huan Yu had fought Daytime several times, so he clearly knew Daytime Boss was there at the scene. If it was just Qing Chen there, then Capri killing Qing Chen makes sense. But if the Daytime Boss was also there, why would Capri, a C-Class, manage to kill him?! You have to know, his subordinate Zhang San is also a C-Class Expert, who once led over a hundred men chasing several blocks only to have his people annihilated in a counterattack. Daytime Boss, murdered by scum like Capri? That would be a joke. They say, your enemies might understand you best. This saying applies perfectly to Huan Yu; by now, many believe Qing Chen is dead, only Huan Yu doesnt. So, an important point Huan Yu considered was, Daytime Boss and Qing Chen encountering Capri couldnt have resulted in their deaths, so where did they go? What role did they play in this affair? He felt there was more to this case. Given Daytimes capacity for creating chaos, if someone told Huan Yu that the big mess in Europe was indeed caused by Daytime, he would believe it. King of Intruders suddenly said, I feel like Time Travelers in other regions are more united, all of North America besides the two major Time Traveler organizations has very few individuals. But it isnt like this domestically. If one day North Americans attack us, what would we do? Jing Shan suddenly said in the group: Kunlun is organizing a Time Traveler Federation soon in Zheng City, and invitations will be sent out to all Time Travelers in the chat system soon, everyone is welcome to sign up and join. Everyone was stunned by the message, does this mean Kyushu had brokered a deal with Kunlun, agreeing to share this chat system with Kunlun? It seemed that Kunlun had also realized a problem, regardless of whether they incorporated the Time Travelers into Kunlun, they at least had to first ensure that the Time Travelers had an organizational affiliation. Otherwise, the domestic Time Travelers morale would dissipate. In a film set somewhere, Jindai Kongyin was sitting in her trailer, taking a brief rest. However, her assistant suddenly noticed that this overseas actress, who had just returned, had been sitting in place, zoning out for quite a while. Whats wrong? the assistant asked curiously. Due to Jindai Kongyins easygoing nature, the crew members had a very good relationship with her. She never acted superior, never treated her assistant like a slave, and never fought over positions. Such artists were relatively rare in the domestic industry. Jindai Kongyin looked at He Xiaoxiaos group chat, observing the conversation records of those individuals before, she suddenly realized, was Ice Eyes actually Qing Chen?! This realization made her wonder, had he seen all her inquiries about Qing Chen when she had asked about him before?! Jindai Kongyins cheeks flushed with heat, the last time she felt such an awkward reaction was when she realized that Qing Chen might also be a Time Traveler. Suddenly, she felt that since she had intersected with that young man, she was either on the verge of social death or already walking that path. Fortunately, no one else knew about it yet. However, Jindai Kongyins main concern was not about her social demise, but whether Qing Chen was still alive. She thought, could a man who hadnt been killed by the collapse of Prison 18 die so easily in the Outer World? She was a bit skeptical, but she couldnt be sure. The truth was that Jindai Kongyin and Qing Chen had only met a few times, and nobody took their so-called marriage agreement seriously. After all, one was presumed dead and the other was a fugitive princess from the Jindai Consortium; their identities were already misplaced, and the previous marriage agreement was thus void. But somehow, Jindai Kongyin always found herself wanting to check up on that young man, to see if he was doing well, to see what he was up to lately. She always maintained a strange curiosity about that young man, occasionally thinking back to how convincingly he had acted at Prison 18... Just then, the films assistant director ran up to the trailer, politely said, Teacher Jindai Kongyin, its your turn for the next scene. Ill arrange for the make-up artist to touch up your make-up, and youll need to go through the scene with the male actor. Jindai Kongyin glanced at the assistant director and apologetically said, Can you give me some time? Ive encountered some issues, and my emotions are quite turbulent. I need to adjust a bit. The assistant director paused for a moment, Of course, no problem. This actress was exceptionally skilled in acting and well-versed in details; she never acted superior, so it was okay for the crew to accommodate her request. ... ... Countdown 15 days. The G1938 high-speed train from Haicheng to Los Angeles City had arrived. This train departed from Haicheng and passed through Zheng City, being one of the main regular services between Zheng City and Los Angeles City. Sun Chu Ci, accompanied by Tuan Zi and others, disembarked, with everyone discussing what to eat tonight. Tuan Zi, bouncing excitedly, said, I heard that for the night snacks in Los Angeles City, we should head to Little Street Tianfu; its cheap and delicious and a frequent spot for locals here. Theres also Weng Jis buns, Guoqiangs spicy soup, Tie Xies lamb soup, Weis chicken soup... Sun Chu Ci smiled and said, My cousin Nangong Yuanyu is from Los Angeles City, and hes already waiting for us outside the station. Hell lead us there to eat, definitely no mistakes there. As he said this, he suddenly caught sight of a figure in front of him which felt oddly familiar. Curious, Tuan Zi asked, Whats wrong, saw someone? Its not that Han Yun also came to Los Angeles City, is it? Youre staring so hard, senior. Sun Chu Ci shook his head, puzzled, I just feel inexplicably familiar... Wait. He had indeed seen that figure before, back in Inner Worlds City 10, District 5, at a certain barbecue restaurant where the person had left with dozens of subordinates, leaving a lasting impression on Sun Chu Ci; thats why he was so sensitive to that figure. Hurry, lets move faster, Sun Chu Ci urged as he walked forward anxiously, despite that Qings bigwig said he was from the Inner World, he still felt he hadnt mistaken him. Tuan Zi and others, dragging their suitcases, rushed behind Sun Chu Ci, but the figure ahead moved too swiftly and soon vanished from sight. Sun Chu Ci stood desolately at the platform, Forget it, maybe I saw wrong. However, when the seven of them exited the station, he was startled to see his cousin Nangong Yuanyu standing at the exit, and beside his cousin was the young man they had once revered in the Inner World. From afar, he saw the young man speak casually with Nangong Yuanyu before getting into the back seat of a brand-new Maybach. Behind this Maybach was another identical one. The two top executive vehicles together looked particularly imposing. As the vehicles sped away, Nangong Yuanyu also saw Sun Chu Ci and excitedly shouted, Cousin, youve finally arrived in Los Angeles City! ... Another chapter at 11 PM tonight. Chapter 716: 423, is he also a Time Traveler? Chapter 716: 423, is he also a Time Traveler? Nangong Yuanyu often went to Zheng City, and every time he stayed at Sun Chu Cis house, the two of them were very close like cousins. He had invited Sun Chu Ci to visit Los Angeles City before, but due to his studies, he never found the time. He knew that his cousin had also become a Time Traveler in Zheng City and even had his own small team, so he wanted to learn about the situation there. Nangong Yuanyu said with a smile, Ill take you guys to the Old Los Angeles Noodle House first to try the specialties here, and then take you out for late-night snacks in the evening. But Sun Chu Ci wasnt very concerned about eating at the moment, and he asked directly, The person you were just talking to was... Recalling the commanding figure he had just seen, he suddenly felt it resembled a distinguished person he knew. Earlier, when that person left the station alone, Sun Chu Ci was a bit uncertain, for he looked very different from the one he had seen in the Inner World. But now, face to face... Nangong Yuanyu paused, What is it, do you know him? He is an important member of Daytime, and it seems he just returned from out of town. Sun Chu Ci hesitated for a moment, Are you Freemasonry familiar with Daytime? This organization seems to be frequently mentioned recently. Id say quite familiar. Daytime has really taken care of us. When Freemasonry encounter some danger in the Inner World, it was Daytime that helped us escape the peril, Nangong Yuanyu explained, Now, the relationship between Freemasonry and Daytime is very strong. Previously, Guo Huchan had led Freemasonry into Taboo Land 002 pretending to be lost to win peoples hearts. But in the end, Qing Chen reaped Freemasonrys gratitude with a bald-head act. What was the name of the person you were just chatting with? Sun Chu Ci asked curiously. Theres no reason not to tell you, his name is Qing Chen, hes one of the core figures in Daytime, he calls the shots on many things, Nangong Yuanyu said. After saying this, he noticed his cousin staring blankly, What, do you really know him? Sun Chu Ci and Tuan Zi exchanged looks, was it really that significant figure?! Before they came, they were discussing whether Daytime could compare with the Haicheng Matrix and Jingcheng Red Leaves. Now it seemed their understanding of Daytime was still superficial. Even if the Matrix had strong earning power and influence, it only encompassed one city; their internal hacker also dared not reveal himself in the Inner World. In the eyes of real power figures, what was a hacker anyway? But Qing Chen was different; he was a true ruler of the Federation, holding legislative power. Moreover, Sun Chu Ci recalled that night at the barbecue restaurant, hardly imagining that the young man, protected and surrounded by dozens, was also a Time Traveler like himself. Why was the other party doing so well, while he still had to struggle in the wilderness, risking his life to earn money... Perhaps this was just the difference between people. Yes, Sun Chu Ci nodded with a complex expression, Do you know, in the Inner World he is a bigwig of the syndicate, he has taken control of Intelligence Department One Group Seven of PCA Federation CIA, and became the youngest Inspector. There are even rumors that he might become the youngest director in the history of PCA Federation CIA, a highly influential figure in City 10. After speaking, Sun Chu Ci looked at Nangong Yuanyu only to find that the latter wasnt surprised, Did you know about this? Nangong Yuanyu shook his head, I didnt know, but I am not surprised... Cousin, you still dont understand Daytime. Now, even if someone told me that a member of Daytime turned out to be a syndicate family head, I wouldnt be particularly surprised... What I mean is, the surprises they give you are already plentiful, Im numbed to it. Nowadays, Nangong Yuanyu and his group went to Luo Wanyas villa every day to practice together; after half a month, the average strength of the Freemasonry members had already become E-Class. If it wasnt because they still had to obey Qings shadow in the Inner World, the students of Freemasonry might have already become a new family. During their daily practice, they faced an inner struggle; Daytime treated them so well, yet they couldnt join Daytime... Sun Chu Ci cautiously asked, Can I meet someone from Daytime with you guys? Nangong Yuanyu shook his head, Thats not quite appropriate, were just freeloading guests over there... Sun Chu Ci nodded, Then forget it. He glanced at Tuan Zi and the others; honestly, they hadnt expected to get involved with Daytime, but this situation now only solidified Sun Chu Cis determination to seek support from them. Previously, he worried that the other party, being a bigwig of the syndicate, might regard human life as insignificant, making it easy for them to become cannon fodder following such a figure. But now it was different. Daytime had always had a positive reputation and even participated in opposing Jindai and Deer Island, wasnt that a hundred times better than Longhu Commune? Sun Chu Ci felt, a hundred times better was an understatement. However, that Qing Chen probably didnt know yet that he had discovered the others Time Traveler identity... At that moment, Nangong Yuanyu said, Cousin, did you receive the message from Kunlun about the Time Traveler Federation meeting next week? I received it, are you planning to go? Sun Chu Ci nodded. Freemasonry isnt sure yet, Nangong Yuanyu said, We need to ask Daytime, well go if they go. Sun Chu Ci looked at his cousin in surprise; he was well aware of how proud his cousin was, but now he was completely deferential to Daytime. He asked with a smile, Where is your pride as a top student? Nangong Yuan replied with a bitter smile, Cousin, if you were beaten in all respects like I was, youd feel the same. I used to think at least I was good at studying, but do you know how many points Qing Chen scored in the recent competition? Full marks... So, there goes my last bit of pride. Sun Chu Ci thought to himself... actually, his cousin didnt know, he was crushed even more thoroughly. Just then, his phone in his pocket rang; it was Li Yi from Longhu Commune. Li Yi asked calmly, Sun Chu Ci, Im giving you one last chance, do you want to join Longhu Commune? Sun Chu Ci thought for a moment and asked, Is Longhu Commune trying to recruit more members before the Time Traveler Federation meeting to increase its status within the federation? Li Yi said coldly, You dont need to worry about that. Sun Chu Ci responded, Im sorry, I wont join Longhu Commune, please dont call me again. At that moment, Sun Chu Ci was sure he had made a better choice. ... ... At this very moment, Qing Chen was sitting in the back seat of a Maybach, with Luo Wanya still humbly acting as the driver. Luo Wanya glanced at the rearview mirror and cautiously probed, Boss, did the trip go smoothly? Not bad, Qing Chen smiled, By the way, I have a new task for you. When we get back, Ill send you some documents. Take them to the Inner World, and use the Parents Meetings ability to spread information to educate our families. Luo Wanya asked curiously, Boss, what kind of documents? To enlighten the people, Qing Chen replied. This was his way of repaying Tuan Zi. The other had saved him at sea, so he would do something for them in return. Spade and Tuan Zi were now organizing student protests, aiming with their cries to awaken the citizens of the Federation. However, their power was limited, so Qing Chen decided to lend them a hand by using the Parents Meetings formidable dissemination power. Qing Chen did not know if this would be helpful, but doing something was at least better than doing nothing. He said to Luo Wanya, Traveling to the Inner World is an opportunity to do something worthwhile on the premise of self-preservation; maybe thats one reason we were allowed to travel. Luo Wanya sat straight up in his drivers seat, suddenly feeling that this Parents Meeting had become high-end, gaining a new direction... Just then, Qing Chen received a private message in the He Xiaoxiao group chat, remarkably sent under the name of Jing Shan: You are cordially invited to attend the Time Traveler Federation meeting at the North Dragon Lake Convention and Exhibition Center in Zheng City in 7 days. Please fill out the RSVP if attending. Accommodation will be provided by the organizer, and participants can choose to wear masks anonymously... Did you receive the message? Qing Chen looked up at Luo Wanya. Luo Wanya replied, Received, Boss, are you going to attend? Attending, Qing Chen nodded, This is a rare opportunity to meet time travelers from across the country, how could I not go? You should go too; since we are both currently in City Number 10, try to remember some features of Zheng City time travelers; it could be useful. Also, do some homework in advance, see if any public time travelers in Zheng City are dealing with taboo items. Luo Wanya glanced at Qing Chen through the rearview mirror, suddenly thinking that the bosss decision to attend this meeting might mean he was up to something... He prayed that the time travelers would be safe. When the car got back to National Treasure Garden Villa District, Luo Wanya suddenly paused, Boss, Qing Shuli... Qing Chen looked up and saw Qing Shuli standing alone at the gate of Luo Wanyas villa, Does he need something from you? No, Luo Wanya explained, Ever since he found out he would become a time traveler, he has been coming here every day, sometimes bringing fruits, sometimes alcohol. Hes probably worried I wont help him when we go to the Inner World. Hmm, thats normal human behavior; time travelers are always nervous before their first travel. Hell get used to it, Qing Chen said, In the Inner World, make sure he doesnt face any life-threatening dangers; no need to interact too much. Keep him from getting too close to Daytime. Luo Wanya uttered a sound of acknowledgment. Meanwhile, Qing Shuli was still standing at the door waiting for Luo Wanya, but he noticed the two familiar Maybachs driving into the neighboring yard, number 12. He tried to tiptoe to see who was getting out of the car but was preemptively blocked by a security personnel with a polite yet insincere smile, Im sorry, next door is a private residence, please dont look around casually. Qing Shuli hurriedly replied, Im sorry.... ... Heres wishing Xiao Qi a happy birthday, may Xiao Qi always be carefree and happy. Also, hoping that Xiao Qi remains forever sincere! Chapter 717: 424, Grand Event Chapter 717: 424, Grand Event Qing Shuli silently watched the surrounding wall. Laughter and cheerful voices came from the other side. However, the wall and Luo Wanyas security personnel separated him from it all. May I trouble you to ask, who lives in that villa? Qing Shuli politely inquired. The security staff replied expressionlessly, I have nothing to disclose. Maybe you should head back today, General Luo definitely wont be taking visitors. Qing Shuli sighed, Alright, then. He knew that was the villa of Luo Wanyas boss, a Time Traveler who was probably even more powerful and mysterious. With their support, he would certainly be able to survive in the Inner World. But with Qing Shulis connections, he couldnt even find out who the owner of the villa was. Qing Shuli had never met that boss; they had only encountered each other through the privacy-tinted window of a Maybach. He could even imagine that the person was sitting in the backseat, coldly watching him. Of course, this was only Qing Shulis own speculation. Luo Wanya knew that his boss hadnt even spared a glance at him. Back at home, Zhang Wanfang approached to help him off with his coat and asked with concern, How did it go? Did you see Luo Wanya today? I saw him, but we didnt speak. His boss seems to have just returned, Qing Shuli said, sitting on the sofa: Luo Wanya was busy attending to his boss, naturally, he had no time for me. Is he deliberately avoiding you? Zhang Wanfang asked curiously. Probably not, Qing Shuli thought for a moment before saying, The main issue is that he doesnt consider my situation important, so he wont pay much attention to it. Some friends advised me to give Luo Wanya a sum of money, but... we who run physical factories have our funds tied up in goods. If I gave him cash, and then died again in the Inner World, you and Hao Hao would be left with nothing. Qing Shuli, in Los Angeles City, was considered a small businessman. His factory was worth a couple of tens of millions, but he had only a little over two million in liquid assets. How much should he give to Luo Wanya? Some people say, typically, a few hundred thousand is offered to exchange for a life in the Inner World. If someone is wealthy, they might pay more, like a rich businessman named Zhang Chengze who found a Time Traveler Organization and now lives very comfortably in the Inner World. To be honest, if it werent for Qing Chens good memory, he probably would have nearly forgotten who Zhang Chengze was. Initially, Zhang Chengze haggled with the Daytime Member, but after Luo Wanya appeared, he was forced to compete with Fatty Luo and ultimately failed in that competition. Luo Wanya became a Daytime Member, while Zhang Chengze continued paying them and, under the protection of Hu Xiaoniu and Zhang Tianzhen, experienced life in the Inner World. Now, Hu Xiaoniu and Zhang Tianzhens statuses in the Heng Society have rapidly risen, hailed as the new elites of the Fourth District, and offering protection to one or two people isnt a problem. Zhang Wanfang asked, If Luo Wanya isnt paying attention to you, should we look for someone else? Not to give up on Luo Wanya, but as a backup plan. Your life is more important than money. Even if we have to spend all our savings, I am willing to stand by you for a comeback. In fact, when Zhang Wanfang married Qing Shuli, President Qin wasnt very wealthy. The couple worked hard together to achieve a modestly sized factory. Qing Chen never blamed Zhang Wanfang because he knew very well how dreadful Qing Guozhong was; getting involved with this gambling man was a disaster for anyone. After pondering for a moment, Qing Shuli took out his phone and made a call, Hello, Brother Li, could you give me the number for Zhang Chengze? Id like to ask him for some advice. After obtaining Zhang Chengzes number, he dialed it, Hello, Mr. Zhang, my name is Qing Shuli, a friend of Li Shi... Its like this, a countdown has suddenly appeared on my arm... I heard that you found a Time Traveler Organization in the Outer World and paid them to protect you... Zhang Chengze on the other end of the phone said, Hmm, are you planning to find them too? Qing Shuli cautiously said, I just wanted to ask about their fees first. Zhang Chengze answered, Five million a week. Qing Shulis hand holding the phone shook suddenly. He couldnt come up with that much money right now. At that moment, Zhang Chengze asked, Do you need me to give you their number? Although its a bit expensive, its definitely worth it. They even offer currency exchange services. Currency exchange? Qing Shuli asked, puzzled. Yes, exchanging Outer World money for Inner World currency, charging a 10% commission, Zhang Chengze explained, Though thats not their main businessits more like a value-added service for their clients. If you want security, go with them. At least in city number 18... I feel they have no competitors; theyre too powerful. They hold sway over both the legal and illegal elements in city number 18, and they have great relationships with both Heng Society and the Li Family. Believe me when I say, theres no Time Traveler Organization in Los Angeles more formidable than them. Not just Los Angeles, I suspect theyre in the top three of all the National Time Traveler OrganizationsKunlun being the first, Kyushu the second, and they might be the third. Zhang Chengze continued, They offer a lot of value-added services: like experiencing virtual lives, enjoying VIP private rooms in boxing clubs, visiting the Upper Three Districts, or going on a wilderness day trip. As long as you have the money, anything is possible. Once youre here, its like being in Macau or Las Vegas. Chapter 718: 424, Grand Event_2 Chapter 718: 424, Grand Event_2 Qing Shuli was stunned for a moment. Was there really such a formidable Time Traveler Organization in Los Angeles City? Kyushu and Kunlun being formidable was understandable after all, since there were special reasons. But why could a civilian Time Traveler Organization be so formidable? He felt a bitter taste in his heart. If he were as wealthy as Zhang Chengze, he would definitely have sought out these people too, but he couldnt come up with the five million, could he? He couldnt possibly mortgage his house, right? His mentality now was like that of a cancer patient who knew his days might be numbered, and so he did not want to waste money. That way, even if he died in the Inner World, his wife and children could still have savings to continue living. In this respect, Qing Shuli did indeed have a strong sense of family responsibility, unlike the irresponsible gambler Qing Guozhong. Qing Shuli held the phone and hesitated before asking, Mr. Zhang, can they negotiate on the price? Zhang Chengze replied, Thats not possible. They said their boss doesnt care about money. Sheltering too many Time Travelers can lead to problems, so they dont intend to take that risk. How about this? Ill give you their number, and you can talk to them yourself. Right, right, thank you! Qing Shuli said. Zhang Chengze sent him a text message. Qing Shuli hadnt decided whether to call or not, but there was no harm in saving the number. However, when he was saving the contact, his phone unexpectedly prompted him that the number already existed! Qing Shuli was stunned. He actually had the other partys phone number? Who was this? He searched... This was Luo Wanyas phone number?! So it turned out to be Luo Wanyas business. No wonder they were so indifferent when they saw him. It seems they charged five million for sheltering someone for a week. Just giving some cigarettes, liquor, and fruit as gifts, it was quite normal for them to ignore him. However, for Qing Shuli, finding out that the most formidable Time Traveler Organization in Los Angeles City was the one Luo Wanya belonged to wasnt good news. He didnt know what Qing Chen had told Luo Wanya, nor did he know that Qing Chen was the boss of this organization. So from his point of view, Luo Wanya certainly wouldnt help him for no reason, especially since they were not well-acquainted. Therefore, Qing Shuli thought, Luo Wanya must have just said a few perfunctory words to him previously because they lived in the same neighborhood. Its not Qing Shulis fault. Normal people, when lacking certain information, would think in this way. Its over, Qing Shuli said to Zhang Wanfang with emotion, Now we finally understand why Luo Wanya was so indifferent to me. It turns out their fees are so expensive. It seems we need to think of other methods; we cant afford the best Time Traveler Organization in Los Angeles City. Lets see if we can find a slightly less capable one. I just remembered something, Zhang Wanfang suddenly said, My sisters child is in Luo Yi High School, and she seems to have mentioned that theres a Time Traveler Organization there called Freemasonry... Should we try contacting them? Qing Shuli hesitated, A group of high school students? I dont mean to look down on high school students, but Im concerned that they havent faced the evils of society and might not be managing very well themselves. At least its a lead, and students are usually eager to help others. Even if they name a price, it shouldnt be too high, Zhang Wanfang got the phone number for Freemasonrys Zhang Lanjin from her niece and called it. What Zhang Wanfang didnt know was that currently, in the Outer World, the Time Traveler who charged the highest fees was Qing Chen, who was also a student... The call connected, and Qing Shuli took the phone, saying, Hello, is this Lei Leis classmate Zhang Lanjin? I am her uncle. Zhang Lanjin laughed on the phone, Hello, Lei Lei just told me about you. Are you a recently initiated Time Traveler? Yes, thats right, Qing Shuli said, Im still not sure of my identity after the time travel. Ive heard your Freemasonry is quite impressive, so I wanted to ask if I could get some help... Of course, I can offer some compensation. Zhang Lanjin laughed, Uncle Qing, our Freemasonry is no longer in City 18, so we cant help you. We are out in the wilderness right now. Qing Shuli was taken aback for a moment. This was troublesome. Then, Zhang Lanjin said, Uncle Qing, let me give you another number to try. They are called Daytime, one of the most formidable Time Travelers domestically, and their headquarters are right in City 18... They are really nice people! A sense of foreboding rose in Qing Shulis heart upon hearing this. Zhang Lanjin sent over the number, and he saw it was still Luo Wanyas phone number... Zhang Wanfang was stunned for a long while, Why does it seem like in this Los Angeles City, any matter related to the Inner World cant circumvent this organization called Daytime? Are they really that formidable? It seems so, Qing Shuli thought for a moment and said, Now all we can do is play it by ear. What if Luo Wanya really does help me? ... ... Inside the Daytime villa. The Daytime members all sat at the dining table, while Xiao Tongyun claimed she was going to sleep and hid in her room. They were going to have a brief meeting. Boss, Who has received an invitation from Kunlun? Ice Eyes, Me. Luo Wanya, Me. Liu Dezhu, Me. Yanyan replied with Little Geniuss ID, Me. Tycoon, I havent. Little Tyrant, Neither have I. Qiu Xue, I havent either. Among the Daytime Members, Nan Gengchen, Liu Dezhu, Zhang Tianzhen, Hu Xiaoniu, Qing Chen, and Luo Wanya had all received an invitation, whereas Jiang Xue and Li Tongyun did not. It was quite normal for these two not to receive one. It wasnt strange for those from the Outer World Division One not to receive invitations either. However, this time, all attendees had to send back an RSVP to receive a special QR code. It was said that the security at the Zheng City International Convention Center would be exceptionally tight, requiring each persons special QR code to enter the venue. Recently, this topic had been hot on the internet. Several social media celebrities from the Time Traveler community announced they would attend, and if they had the chance, they would invite some formidable Time Travelers to their live broadcasts... The Matrix Organization confirmed their attendance. The Red Leaves Organization also indicated they would attend. Overall, many intended to attend the meeting. On one hand, everyone was eager to see the current state of other Time Travelers, to see how well they were doing; on the other hand, there was a mysterious trust towards Kunlun, knowing that Kunlun wouldnt set them up. This was the reputation Kunlun had meticulously cultivated at home. Kyushu relied on psychology, drawing everyone into their group step by step through He Xiaoxiao. Meanwhile, Kunlun merely had to call to action, and ninety percent of the invitees willingly attended the Time Traveler Federation meeting. Although nobody knew what the Federation meeting was preparing to do. Everyone could imagine that it would be the first grand gathering of domestic Time Travelers, and whether it would be the last, no one knew. Kunluns official account pledged that first, they wouldnt deliberately probe into each Time Travelers privacy, and second, the meeting would maintain confidentiality, preventing media journalists from reporting on the Federations affairs. Here, Kunlun also reminded everyone to conceal their identities well and that they could attend dressed in costumes. Qing Chen knew this was to prevent the Time Travelers from the Inner World conglomerates from using this opportunity to gather too much information related to Time Travelers. It was said that for this meeting, parts of Kyushu had returned, and Kunlun had also locked down the venue in advance to prevent eavesdropping and surveillance devices. Yet Xiao Niu still felt a bit angry, feeling as if he was being treated differently, somewhat indignant. Tycoon, Ive done so much for Daytime, been involved in many major events; why wouldnt Kunlun send me an invitation? Little Tyrant also felt indignant, Looking down on us! Little Genius, Exactly! Why wouldnt they send an invitation to Little Tyrant? Little Tyrant, Right, Little Genius brother, are you still in Haicheng? Why dont you come visit Los Angeles City? Up until this moment, XiaoTongyun still thought Yanyan was a boy, and had even privately messaged Yanyan asking for a photo... At some point, Qing Chen felt that both Yanyan and Xiao Niu were of the same playful nature. Liu Dezhu asked in the group, Boss, are we going? Boss, Yes, but were not going together. Liu Dezhu inquired curiously, What are we going to do there? First, spread out and gather information about Qing Yuan for me. In addition, find out who might have Taboo. ... There will be another chapter at 11 p.m. Chapter 719: 425, Social Death and Anti-Social Death Chapter 719: 425, Social Death and Anti-Social Death Online, a netizen asked why it seemed like the whole world had invitations from the Time Traveler Federation, but they didnt. Other netizens commented, Maybe youre just not that important. Gradually, everyone also realized that not everyone received an invitation. Some who were ordinary workers in the Outer World and continued to be honest workers in the Inner World didnt receive one. However, those with names and fame, who were already very active Time Travelers, almost all received invitations. Of course, there were also a small portion of active Time Travelers who didnt receive invitations. Some had relied on their identity as Time Travelers to become famous and then started selling fake liquor. The liquor they sold could be drunk by someone who could drive on the road and traffic police still couldnt detect drunk driving. Others, after becoming famous, started claiming they had obtained Inner World securities analysis software and daily pulled fans into groups for financial scams. And then there were those who were simply fraudulent and deceptive. There were all sorts of people. So, the netizens also discovered this pattern. Kunlun didnt invite any Time Travelers with dubious records. Kunluns reputation within the country was built bit by bit through the actions of Zheng Yuandong and his team. While other Time Traveler organizations were racing against time, afraid of a slow start, Kunlun always adhered to its principles, never inviting those of poor character and always emphasizing discipline. Thus, whether one was invited by Kunlun became the official certification for these celebrity Time Travelers. For a time, the comments of those tricksters exploded. This was officially certifying them as Time Travelers with bad records... Some tricksters even forged messages and photoshopped QR codes claiming they too had received an invitation. The result was that Kunlun, seemingly idle, even specifically debunked these claims one by one, denying they had invited those individuals. It was a face-slap on the spot. Kunlun was indeed serious about maintaining its reputation. After all, this round of invitations from the Time Traveler Federation, not having one was definitely embarrassing. It felt a bit strange to Nan Gengchen; he privately asked Qing Chen, Bro Chen, if Kunlun doesnt invite Time Travelers with bad records, then why did they invite you? Isnt that irresponsible towards other Time Travelers? After all, who else thinks about others taboo items before even meeting them? Qing Chen looked at Nan Gengchen expressionlessly. Seeing his serious demeanor, he wasnt sure if he was joking or genuinely curious about the question... Whats your level of cultivation now? Qing Chen asked. Bro Chen, Ive been D-Class for a while now, maybe next time I time travel I could reach C-Class, said Nan Gengchen innocently. Qing Chen was stunned, ... He didnt want to comment anymore on this guys cultivation progress, and moreover, the Zhunti method... indeed, it was a bizarre method of cultivation. Nan Gengchen continued, If it wasnt for Xiao Tongyun always following me, I might have reached C-Class already. I agreed to do her homework for her, and then she agreed not to be a third wheel. Qing Chen looked at Nan Gengchen speechlessly, Who asked you to do Xiao Tongyuns homework? She needs to do her homework herself. Nan Gengchen said regretfully, I didnt want to either, but she insisted on it. Otherwise, she threatened to spend 24 hours a day with Yino. When I suggested Xiao Tongyun stay in City 18, she acted very strangely and insisted on following us to City 7. At first, I didnt understand why. Later, I thought that her following us to City 7 was precisely because she was planning to make me help her with her homework. On the side, Xiao Tongyun was displeased, But you didnt do it right either! Qing Chen, ... Xiao Tongyun scheming against Nan Gengchen like this indeed seemed like something a young girl would do. But for a high schooler to do elementary school homework and still get it wrong, that was truly impressive... Just then, Hu Xiaoniu suddenly came to the bedroom looking for Qing Chen, Boss, I might be leaving. Not leaving the daylight, but leaving Los Angeles City. Qing Chen smiled, seemingly having anticipated this, Where are you planning to go? Hu Xiaoniu hesitated and then said, Every part of the life-and-death trial is too difficult. For someone ordinary like me, if I dont undergo long-term training, I probably wont be able to complete it. I have to complete eight challenges. So, I plan to return to Haicheng, seek the worlds best extreme sports coach, and get trained. I need to race against time, not wasting a single moment. Indeed, the best coach would be Qing Chen, since he was the one who truly walked the path of a Knight. But Hu Xiaoniu was also well aware that Qing Chen didnt have the time. Moreover, the Knight Organization was distributed all over, and each individual had their own path. Cultivation was often done alone, savoring the solitude. Thus, he couldnt continue staying in Los Angeles City. The resources here were far inferior to those of Haicheng, and he also needed to challenge the limits around the world step by step. During this period, Hu Xiaoniu had watched his companions advance one by one. Nan Gengchen could reach C-Class anytime, even Zhang Tianzhen was already D-Class, and Xiao Tongyun, this cultivation genius, was even advancing at a speed close to Nan Gengchen on her own power. Hu Xiaoniu watched this, how could he not be anxious? He heard that Li Ke had already left City 18, embarking on a journey. Everyone was progressing, but he was still stagnating. He had to move forward. Hu Xiaoniu said quietly, Its warm here. Back home, my family members were all very harmonious, but its a different feeling here. Everyone plays, games, eats, and fights together. This has become my second home. But I have to leave, I cant linger on the beautiful here. Boss, you also said, among all the shortcuts in the human world, this is the longest one. Chapter 720: 425, Social Death and Anti-Social Death_2 Chapter 720: 425, Social Death and Anti-Social Death_2 Qing Chen laughed, Dont belittle yourself, being on this path means you are already among the finest in the world. You possess the strongest willpower and the most steadfast beliefs. Hu Xiaoniu was not mediocre. How could someone who could climb a steep mountain barehanded be mediocre? It was just that the people around Hu Xiaoniu were too outstanding. Qing Chen always believed that this classmate would someday complete the eight challenges and unlock the genetic locks within his body. Qing Chen laughed, Let Zhang Tianzhen go back with you. Ah? Hu Xiaoniu was stunned for a moment, But he still needs to help you here. No need, Qing Chen shook his head, You need a Protector. Communication is so easy nowadays, just mentioning it in the group chat is enough, and it only takes an hour and a half to fly from Los Angeles to Haicheng, or five and a half hours by high-speed train. If you want to meet, you can do so anytime. You and Zhang Tianzhen still have to follow the Heng Society in the Inner World; its good to look out for each other. Yeah, Hu Xiaoniu nodded. Mentioning farewells made everyone a bit sentimental. Jiang Xue cooked a full table of dishes to send off Hu Xiaoniu and Zhang Tianzhen, while XiaoTongyun gave her favorite bunny keychain and penguin keychain to each of them. Liu Dezhu told Hu Xiaoniu, If theres any problem, call the boss, and our Daytime members will rush over immediately. Jiang Xues eyes were red, Come back and visit when youre resting. Nan Gengchen said, Aunt Jiang Xue, the fish you made today was really delicious. ... ... Qing Chen only made a brief stop in Los Angeles before leaving again. The Daytime members were divided into three groups, one with Nan Gengchen and Liu Dezhu, another with Luo Wanya and his family, and the last one was Qing Chen alone. The first two groups drove to Zheng City, while Qing Chen took a high-speed train by himself. This time, at the Time Traveler Federation, it felt like all kinds of strange and supernatural beings were about to emerge, Qing Chen felt that it was better for him to stay in the shadows, as it would help prevent Daytime from being put on the defensive. The high-speed train from Los Angeles to Zheng City only took half an hour. Qing Chen checked in and went to the restroom. When he appeared again, he had changed into the appearance of Qing Yuan. By now, in the competition for Shadow, Qing Chen had already somewhat understood Qing Shi, Qing Wen, Qing Wu, Qing Yi, and Qing Xing, but Qing Yuan had never appeared, nor had he reported to Intelligence Department Three. This feeling was not good, Qing Chen decided to personally look for clues related to the other party. So, this was also his purpose for their trip to Zheng City. It didnt matter if the other party was hiding. By adopting the other partys face, if someone had seen Qing Yuan, they might take the initiative to approach him. Now, Qing Chen just needed to find someone from the Outer World who knew Qing Yuan. For him, just a small lead was enough to unravel everything. After boarding the high-speed train, Qing Chen picked up his phone to refresh the news. Suddenly, a familiar voice came from behind. Senior, our seats are 25C, 25B, 25A, just walk towards the middle. Without turning around, Qing Chen knew it was Tuan Zi... So, traveling with Tuan Zi must be Sun Chu Ci and others. Qing Chen was amused; the world was really small. Perhaps he really was fated to cross paths with these people? But what were they doing in Los Angeles? He glanced at his own seat, 26C, right opposite to their seats... As Sun Chu Ci and others came over with their backpacks and sat down, while placing their luggage, Tuan Zi said, Senior, we came to Los Angeles and didnt even see Qing Chen, are we just going back like that? Sun Chu Ci smiled, Hes a big shot in Daytime; he doesnt have time to bother with us. Now that were back in the Outer World, we shouldnt disturb his life. Some Time Travelers keep the Inner World and Outer World very separate, usually focusing on enjoying life once they return to the Outer World. Qing Chen was startled, as they sat down, they started discussing him right away. Is this the legendary talking behind someones back to their face? The volume of Tuan Zis conversation was quite low, but with Qing Chens hearing, even if you left your vocal cords at home, hed still catch what you were saying. Alright, sighed Tuan Zi, since the time travel isnt many days away, we might see him in the Inner World. Dont mention it, but I feel that many celebrities in the Outer World arent as handsome as him. Itd be nice to see his face every day. When can we cling to his coattails? Just for his looks, we have to cling to him. Sun Chu Ci smiled helplessly, You werent boy-crazy before. Thats because I hadnt met Qing Chen, Tuan Zi said carelessly. Tuan Zi wasnt considered attractive, rather an average-looking girl. Very thin, dark-skinned, her personality was much like a boys, which is why she was willing to run around the wilderness with Sun Chu Ci and others, dressing like a tomboy too. Tuan Zi thought for a moment then explained, Actually, its not the looks that I care about. Its just that every time I recall how he saved us in the wilderness, it feels incredibly thrilling, like something out of a movie. Alongside, a fellow male traveler exclaimed in a lowered voice, And that scene when he left the barbecue store, wow, a crowd clustered around him as he left, it felt like I was watching Lee Jungjae in New World! The subordinate boldly striding out, two rows of men in black suits intimidating the bystanders into silence, it was stunning! Qing Chen sat quietly, his expression slightly peculiar. Listening directly to others behind the back comments seemed to be a very strange experience. It was quite thrilling. Just then, Tuan Zi chuckled excitedly, Right! He probably doesnt know yet that we already know hes a Time Traveler. Haha, next time we see him, we should deliberately ask if hes a Time Traveler to see how hell lie. Sounds fun. Qing Chen: Hehe, now I know. He looked at Tuan Zi, thinking this guy really has such thoughts, actually wanting to see Qing Chens social death scene... Qing Chen, observing Sun Chu Ci and others whispering, smiled and said, Are you Time Travelers? Huh? Tuan Zi was startled. Sun Chu Ci was also taken aback, then said after a moment of silence, No. He thought, considering they spoke in such a low voice and the car was so noisy, the others shouldnt have heard them. Could this be a scam? Qing Chen smiled and said, Really not Time Travelers? I thought you were companions here to attend the Time Traveler Federation. Sun Chu Ci and others looked at each other, the young man across them openly admitting his identity as a Time Traveler! With that, they dropped the act. Sun Chu Ci curious, asked, Are you a local Time Traveler from Los Angeles City? Yes, Qing Chen replied with a smile. Tuan Zi became interested, Then do you know anyone from Daytime? Qing Chen smiled and said, Heard of them, but not very familiar. Theyre quite mysterious and rarely leave any information in the outer world. Oh, Tuan Zi sounded a bit disappointed. Qing Chen, still smiling, queried, Why, do you know people from Daytime? Daytime isnt something everyone can just claim to know. Tuan Zi bristled, We know them, were pretty close with Daytimes Qing Chen! She was about to continue when Sun Chu Ci stepped on her foot. Qing Chens smile deepened, Then you must be quite influential too. How about we exchange contact information? If something happens to me in Los Angeles City, I could contact you. Tuan Zi hesitated, Were not from Los Angeles City, were Time Travelers from Zheng City. We were originally here to tour Los Angeles City, but because of the Time Traveler Federation, we had to return to Zheng City earlier. We only got to see Longmen Grottoes and the Ancient Tomb Museum, we didnt even get a chance to visit White Horse Temple. I heard White Horse Temple is different from other temples, if you cant afford a ticket, just talk to the ticket-checking monk about your difficulties and theyll let you in without one, is that true? Its true, Qing Chen nodded, White Horse Temple is somewhat purer compared to most temples. Suddenly, Sun Chu Ci questioned, Which school are you attending in Los Angeles City? Qing Chen explained, Im from the Los Angeles Foreign Language School, quite a few members from Daytime are alumni there. Sun Chu Ci asked, What color is the restroom next to the academic building? Qing Chen laughed, The public restroom isnt near the academic building at all, its miles away, the students always complain about the schools design. Chapter 721: 426. Extraordinarily lively Chapter 721: 426. Extraordinarily lively Are they really students from Los Angeles Foreign Language School? Sun Chu Ci muttered. Although they hadnt met Bai Zhou and Qing Chen, they still went under the guidance of Nangong Yuanyu, Qi Duo, and Zhang Lanjin to visit the place where Bai Zhou started. Qing Chen was puzzled, Arent you Time Travelers from Zheng City? Why would you go to Los Angeles Foreign Language School? Tuan Zi explained enthusiastically, Dont you know? Thats the place where Bai Zhou was established. Qing Chen was stunned. Visiting the place where Bai Zhou was established, what the hell... Listening to them, it was as if he had blessed Los Angeles Foreign Language School... By the way, are you also going to the Time Travelers Federation? Tuan Zi asked curiously, What do you do in the Inner World? In City 18 of the Inner World, I joined a small society, Qing Chen explained. Sun Chu Ci asked, I heard that all the big societies in City 18 were taken down by Heng Society, only leaving small ones. But you are in Los Angeles, so close to Bai Zhou, why not meet them? You might have a chance to join Heng Society directly. I never had the chance to meet those big shots, Qing Chen said with a smile, How about you help recommend me? Arent you especially close to Qing Chen? Tuan Zi initially bragged, and now she found herself in trouble. Sun Chu Ci said, We have to ask Qing Chen about this beforehand, even if we recommend someone, we need to ask their intentions first. Okay, then Ill wait for your news, Qing Chen smiled, By the way, what do you do in the Inner World? Sun Chu Ci thought for a moment, their identity was no secret: We are Wilderness Hunters. Qing Chen exclaimed, Wilderness Hunters, huh? That must be impressive. Tuan Zi said, Of course, we were ambushed by Wilderness people before, but they didnt expect us to be so formidable, and ended up getting killed instead! Just as Tuan Zi was waiting for the next crossover to make Qing Chen Society die a social death, now it was hard to say who would actually suffer that fate. As long as Qing Chen got his vest on quickly, he wouldnt be the one to suffer a social death! Seeing that the groundwork was about enough, Qing Chen stopped digging holes for Tuan Zi and the others. He looked at his phone, preparing to find out about the dynamics of various Time Traveler Organizations before arriving in Zheng City. But then he heard Tuan Zi whisper to Sun Chu Ci in a very low voice, What should we do? He asked us to help recommend him to Qing Chen, but we cant even speak to Qing Chen right now. Sun Chu Ci responded helplessly, Since you knew this would happen, dont brag next time... It just slipped out, Tuan Zi muttered quietly. After speaking, she stealthily glanced at Qing Chen, afraid she had given herself away. At that moment, Tuan Zi worriedly said to Sun Chu Ci, My friend told me that Longhu Commune has now forbidden any Time Traveler in Zheng City from helping us, whether from the Outer or Inner World... After we return to Zheng City this time, it might be tough for us, especially if we are going to the Federation meeting, we might have to face Longhu Commune. Sun Chu Ci shook his head, No worries, well just avoid them first. Until we cling to Qing Chens coattails, lets steer clear of them. Qing Chen: ... Truth be told, Sun Chu Cis capabilities among Time Travelers were definitely outstanding, leading six juniors in the Inner World, climbing from the lowest status to having cars and guns, something most Time Travelers couldnt achieve. Qing Chen was still contemplating how to win over these people, but unexpectedly, they were already planning to cling to him. He just needed to wait... Qing Chen was watching the news, which had gradually started showing Time Travelers arriving in Zheng City over the past two days. However, surprisingly, even before the Time Travelers Federation had started, the Time Travelers costumes had already hit the news. Although Kunlun prevented media reporters from approaching the International Conference Center or the hotels where the Time Travelers were staying, the reporters could wait on the outskirts. According to the reporters, the first Time Traveler to arrive at the conference... was Spider-Man. The second was Deadpool. The third was Thanos. Later on, someone dressed as Batman, with others dressed as Batmans parents. After that, seeing the news, other Time Travelers followed suit, none dressed normally. A proper Time Travelers meeting turned into a COSPLAY comic exhibition. Many COSPLAY enthusiasts flocked to the event, praising its professionalism. The entire area outside the conference center was jam-packed. Among them were also those dressed as Digimon, Slime, Pikachu... Lu Yuan, standing upstairs in the conference center, marveled at the scene. Kunlun had only suggested that everyone might want to disguise themselves to avoid recognition, but at least they should look like human beings. Under these circumstances, those Time Travelers who only brought masks and hats seemed particularly out of place. However, the media thought that these minimally-disguised Time Travelers must be the real big shots. After all, big shots would disdain dressing up in Little Dinosaur costumes. Nor would they ever dress up as Slime. At 11 AM, the Matrix Organization arrived in Zheng City, with a total of 21 people attending the meeting, all wearing suits and carrying pure white masks. Red Leaves took a simpler approach, driving five Alphard business vans from Jingcheng, followed by a more than three-meter-tall RV. After communicating with Kunlun, they actually drove the vehicles into the conference center. Chapter 722: 426. Extraordinarily lively_2 Chapter 722: 426. Extraordinarily lively_2 No one got off the train. This represented a legitimate and powerful Time Traveler Organization, in stark contrast with those time travelers who were just here for fun. By the way, why havent I heard about Daylight attending the Federation? Tuan Zi wondered, Red Leaves and the Matrix are already here, where are the people from Daylight? Isnt Daylight closer to Zheng City? Could it be they dont plan to participate? Or maybe Kunlun didnt invite them? one companion asked. No way, given Daylights influence in the Inner World, how could Kunlun not invite them, Sun Chu Ci said, Daylight has always been low-key. The Matrix and Red Leaves had already publicly announced their establishments, but it was only after involving themselves in several matters that Daylight gradually became known to a few. I dare say, even now, a large number of time travelers in the country havent heard of Daylight; we only know because Zheng City and Los Angeles City are nearby. They must have already arrived; they just havent made a show like the Matrix and Red Leaves. What other Time Traveler Organizations have arrived? Tuan Zi browsed the news. Sun Chu Ci said, Kunchengs Red Umbrella organization, Zhongchengs Pao Ge, Zheng Citys Longhu Commune, Wuchengs Sanjiangkou, they all have arrived. Its said that the Red Umbrella organization even brought a lot of local mushroom products from Kuncheng, as gifts for other time travelers, Tuan Zi said. Someone in He Xiaoxiaos group mentioned that a time traveler had the hotel kitchen cook them, and after eating, they started hitting effigies in the hotel lobby. This incident had already turned into a joke. Another time traveler was shivering in the hotel restaurant; when someone asked him what was wrong, he said there was a dragon on the ceiling. Qing Chen thought to himself that this Red Umbrella must be doing this on purpose... Can these mushrooms just be gifted casually? If the mushrooms from Kuncheng arent properly cooked, they can cause strong hallucinogenic effects; probably a lot of time travelers at the conference center were going to suffer. Is this what they call coming to a conference? Its more like poisoning... Time travelers did not become time travelers voluntarily; most of them just woke up one night to find a countdown mysteriously appearing on their arms. So, when Kunlun gathered everyone together, all kinds of strange things happened. The train arrived at the station, everyone grabbed their things and got off, but Qing Chen walked out alone, carrying just a small bag. At the exit, he suddenly saw the weathered-faced Ergou smiling broadly, standing at the exit holding a sign with Qing Chens name on it. Below the big characters were two small ones: Kunlun. When this intelligence officer smiled, the wrinkles on his face resembled a blooming chrysanthemum. Ergou was no longer young, wearing a pair of plain black cloth shoes. Qing Chen pretended not to see him and continued walking out. He thought to himself, Kunlun must have checked his travel information, knowing he was coming to Zheng City by this train, and had specifically sent Ergou, the intelligence officer, to pick him up! Could it be that he was already on Kunluns watch list? As soon as he took public transport from Los Angeles City, the system would automatically notify Kunlun? What does this mean? At that moment, Sun Chu Ci and others also came out behind him; they were stunned when they saw the sign Ergou was holding: Wait, was Qing Chen on our train just now? There werent many people getting off; I didnt see him, Sun Chu Ci said, puzzled. He couldnt help but step forward to ask Ergou, Hello, the Qing Chen that you are picking up, is he the one from Daylight? Ergou responded with a smile, Indeed he is. Tuan Zi sighed, Isnt it said that Kunlun doesnt pick up time travelers? It looks like everyone else made their own way here. People thought to themselves, so Daylight has such a special status that Kunlun had to arrange someone to pick them up? Sun Chu Ci curiously asked, Is this the VIP treatment? Ergou responded with a smile, Yes, this is the VIP treatment. Sun Chu Ci and the others were amazed; Daylights status really was that high! Qing Chen felt very strange; he messaged Zheng Yuandong asking, Did you guys mark my ID or something? How do you know about me taking the train as soon as it happens? Zheng Yuandong: Yes. Qing Chen was puzzled: But theres no need to specifically pick me up alone, right? I see no one picking up other time travelers; isnt it a bit improper to treat me so specially? Zheng Yuandong: Youre overthinking. We just wanted to get you directly to the conference center, to save you from causing trouble for other time travelers in Zheng City. Qing Chen: ??? So thats what it was! He had thought that after stirring up some trouble in Europe, Kunlun wanted to show goodwill, thus they elevated his treatment. Turns out, it was to protect other time travelers!? Qing Chen: Thats a bit much, isnt it? Zheng Yuandong: Ask yourself, is what we are doing really too much? Qing Chen pondered for a while but had no rebuttal. Zheng Yuandong: Hurry up and come to the conference center, dont wander off. Qing Chen: Im not in a hurry to go to the conference center yet, Ill explore the city first. Apparently, Zheng Yuandong had just informed Ergou that Qing Chen had exited the station. Thus, Ergou, holding the sign, was quickly searching for Qing Chens presence in Zheng City West Station... Sun Chu Ci and others saw this scene and thought, was Qing Chen really on the same train as them? They looked at each other bewildered, but they really hadnt seen him! Chapter 723: 426. Extraordinarily lively_3 Chapter 723: 426. Extraordinarily lively_3 Wait a minute, that person who was chatting with them just now... Sun Chu Ci fell into deep thought. Qing Chen walked towards the exit of the train station; he planned to find a hotel to stay in first and see if Liu Dezhu and the others had found out anything. Liu Dezhus group, Nan Gengchens group, and Luo Wanyas group had set off 3 hours earlier than him, so they should have already arrived at the Zheng City International Conference Center by now. Just then, a young man caught sight of Qing Chen and suddenly froze, What are you doing here? Qing Chen smiled. Because he was now Qing Yuan. He seemed to have finally found a clue related to Qing Yuan. ... ... This time the Time Traveler Federation had taken over the Zheng City International Conference Center, as well as five nearby hotels. However, everyone also noticed a problem: well-known organizations like The Matrix, Red leaves, Robe bros, Red Umbrella, and Sanjiangkou had all been arranged to stay at the nearby JW Marriott Hotel. Some guessed that perhaps all the important time travelers would stay in the same place. And the remaining, not-so-important time travelers were scattered among the other four hotels. At this moment, a Green Little Dinosaur holding a mobile phone walked into the Marriott Hotel and presented a QR code at the front desk. The staff member looked baffled at the QR code, then at Little Dinosaur, Hello, you are...? A muffled voice came from inside Little Dinosaur, Zard, Z, A, R, D. The staff member politely maintained an awkward smile, Alright, heres your key card, your room is 1524. Zard inside Little Dinosaur asked, Could you check if theres someone named Qing Chen who has checked in? Or which room is under the ID Ice Eye? The staff member replied courteously, Im sorry Little Dinosaur... Mr. Zard, we cannot disclose guests information. As the staff member spoke, they glanced to the side where dozens of Kunlun members were maintaining order in the hotel lobby, and farther away, medical staff were administering IV fluids on the spot to time travelers who had accidentally eaten fungi. Zard, smiling, said to the staff member, Thanks a lot! I hope you have a good mood today! After speaking, he bounded and hopped upstairs. Once in the room, Zard didnt take off his Little Dinosaur suit. He picked up his phone and made a call, Hello, boss, have you arrived yet? Im here, came the reply. Are you playing the big brother or the little brother now? The little brother. Thats great. Before your brother gets back, lets go out and prank the time travelers for fun! I think it will be hilarious, pretending to be an insignificant fan asking for their autographs and quietly watching them show off! Zard said excitedly. The voice on the other end of the phone cooled, Sure. Zard continued, Which hotel are you at, boss? Ill come to find... His voice trailed off as he started to realize that this was the older brother... Huan Yu asked calmly, Is this how you hoodwink him when Im not around? Zard, ...Boss, are your tricks so multifarious now? Huan Yus voice was cold, If you hoodwink him into going out, revealing his face and leaking information, Im going to twist your head off. Zard, Oh... At that moment, a message suddenly came through in He Xiaoxiaos group chat. Liu Dezhu: @Huan Yu, are you at this Time Traveler Federation meeting? Dont let me find you, heehee. Huan Yu, who had just taken off his mask and stood in front of the window in his room at the Hilton Hotel, suddenly felt nauseous, and even considered checking the schedule for the next return flight. ... There will be another chapter at 11 p.m. Thanks to Kira and Always Cant Quit, two classmates who have become new allies of this book, big shots! I wish you all dont get colds or the flu during the change of seasons! Chapter 724: 427, Two Slimes Chapter 724: 427, Two Slimes Huan Yu had also received an invitation. However, he didnt accept the invitation as Huan Yu; instead, he took over another Time Travelers spot. That Time Traveler had never revealed their true identity, being one of his subordinates with the best protected identity information. The outside world also didnt know that this was his subordinate. Thats why he was staying at the Hilton Hotel instead of the JW Marriott Hotel, where all the big shots among the Time Travelers usually stayed. Huan Yu believed that many others in the Federation were definitely using this method as well. He wasnt particularly interested in organizations like The Matrix and Red leaves, which plainly showed their cards. Nowadays, the corporations in the Inner World continued to seek Time Travelers as a strategic resourceit was absolutely foolish to let ones identity information be known. Additionally, he speculated that Red leaves might very well be a subsidiary of Kyushu. The leader of Red leaves was a girl named Jiu Ran, whom both Kunlun and Kyushu had previously vied for, hoping she would join either Kyushu or Kunlun. The girl disappeared for a few days, and when she reappeared, she founded Red leaves. This approach was unlikely to be typical of Kunlun, and more like something Kyushu did to boost their influence domestically. After all, officially, Kyushu only dealt with foreign affairs, so they had to influence domestic matters through a Puppet organization. In his Bluetooth earpiece, Zard was still chattering, Boss, whats your disguise this time? I need to be able to recognize you. I bought a Little Dinosaur prop, and now the media is saying that anyone who isnt quirky is a bigwig with a sense of shame. Well do just the opposite, going quirky on purpose. That way, the other Time Travelers wont be on guard against us. Talk less, listen moreIm getting a headache just hearing you talk, Huan Yu said calmly. Keep an eye on the lobby at the Marriott, and let me know if you see anyone from the day shift. Do I really have to stick to the lobby...? Of course. What about you, boss? You dont need to worry about that. Zard asked, By the way, boss, what exactly is Kunlun trying to do by holding this Federation meeting? Have your insiders at Kunlun said anything? Huan Yu calmly responded, Just a few things. First, they want to establish a Time Travelers Federation, elect a chairman, vice-chairman, and regularly appointed directors to govern the Time Travelers autonomously, so that everyone at least has a sense of belonging. Second, and this is Kunluns main goal, they want to set up the Time Travelers Court. Court? Zard asked, puzzled. Yes, Huan Yu said, From whats known so far, conflicts among domestic Time Travelers are increasing, so there needs to be a court for arbitration. Also, they plan to issue new rules, prohibiting Time Travelers in the Inner World from revealing information about other Time Travelers. If someone maliciously reveals someone elses information, the victim can appeal to Kunlun in the Outer World for sanctions. The court will sentence the leaker, and Time Travelers are not to take the law into their own hands. Overall, whether its establishing a Federation or founding a court, the goal is ultimately to protect Time Travelers and establish normal order within the country. Thats good news, exclaimed Zard: Does this mean that if I offend someone from the day shift, they cant just kill me on a whim? Huan Yu responded irritably, Cant you aspire to something more impressive?! Zard said, The law protects each one of us, obedience to the law depends on everyone. Huan Yu said painfully, Personally, I see this as a way to restrict Kyushu, because as far as I know, Kyushu has used private justice several times domestically without following proper legal channels...but, this doesnt concern us. By the way, boss, you still havent told me what your disguise is. How will I recognize you once I get to the conference center? Huan Yu hesitated for a moment. My itinerary is confidential this time. Zard voiced his suspicion over the phone, Boss, since when have your plans been a secret from me, too? Are you afraid I might actually sell you out to the day shift?! Or is it that youre wearing some kind of disgraceful prop?! Huan Yu hung up the phone without a facial expression, then put on his Pikachu costume and walked outside. As the elevator doors at the hotel opened, he saw two other Pikachus inside and didnt know what to say. Three Pikachus stood in the elevator, so bulky that they were barely able to fit, squeezing against each other, and their costumes were somewhat deformed. What a peculiar Federation meeting. Huan Yu thought to himself. Despite being a very serious Federation meeting, the style had somehow twisted dramatically. He wondered what the always serious Manager Zheng would think. Just then, the Pikachu on Huan Yus left asked in a muffled voice, Where did you buy your costume? It seems better than ours. Huan Yu rolled his eyes inside his Pikachu costume, the last thing he wanted was to discuss which Pikachu costume was better. ... ... Dont tug at me, Liu Dezhu said inside his Slime costume. Youre going the wrong way, Nan Gengchen said from another Slime costume. Liu Dezhu said irritably, You were clearly told to buy something nice-looking, so why on earth would you buy Slime? Nan Gengchen, looking around curiously from inside his Slime, said, The Slime costumes are on sale, everything off up to 40%. Were a well-known organization for goodness sake, can we not be so frugal, okay? Liu Dezhu said, exhausted. Nan Gengchen, still curious in his Slime costume, noted, People in Zheng City are so friendly, always smiling. Its my first time in Zheng City, I didnt expect the people here to be so amiable, always smiling. Chapter 725: 427, Two Slimes_2 Chapter 725: 427, Two Slimes_2 Liu Dezhu pondered seriously for two seconds and said, Have you ever thought that maybe were just naturally funny? Nan Gengchen: ...I guess thats probably true. The two entered the JW Marriott Hotel and showed the QR code to the front desk. The staff member politely asked, Excuse me, are you Daytime Members Liu Dezhu and Nan Gengchen? Just as Nan Gengchen was about to say yes, Liu Dezhu kicked him and then seriously told the staff member, No, please check us in as quickly as possible. He said to Nan Gengchen, Get the masks out of the suitcase and put them on as soon as we get back to the hotel; Ive had enough of your Slime. For Liu Dezhu, the reputation of Daytime was utterly sacred and absolutely could not be ruined by a couple of Slimes. However, just then, Liu Dezhu turned his head and suddenly saw a Green Little Dinosaur staring at him intently not far away. The Little Dinosaurs design was such that the dinosaurs head was hollow, and the human face was actually at the dinosaurs neck. So at first glance, the eyes on the dinosaurs neck looked extremely fierce and appeared quite creepy. The next second, Liu Dezhu saw the Little Dinosaur charging towards him, the dinosaur head wobbling comically. Zard approached them and whispered, You two...Daytime? Liu Dezhu braced himself, Who are you? Zard: Its me! Zard, a good friend of Daytime! Which two of Daytime are you? Liu Dezhu: Im Hu Xiaoniu. Nan Gengchen: Im Zhang Tianzhen. Zard: So its you two! I wanted to ask if Qing Chen is still alive, and if your boss came this time. By the way, is he staying at Marriott as well? Why havent I seen him? Or is he like our boss, having taken someone elses spot? In the blink of an eye, Zard had inadvertently exposed Huan Yu. Huan Yu had taken someone elses spot all to keep his attendance a secret... However, with thousands of participants at the event, even if Liu Dezhu and his group knew Huan Yu had sneaked in, they wouldnt be able to find him immediately. In fact, Liu Dezhu wasnt too concerned about this, he had posted in He Xiaoxiaos group as instructed by his boss. As for the task of finding Huan Yu, it was being personally undertaken by the boss. According to the bosss exact words, Liu Dezhu and Nan Gengchen werent skilled enough to outplay Huan Yu, so there was no need to exert themselves. Liu Dezhu, looking at the chatterbox in front of him, wasnt sure which of the flurry of questions to answer: No comment. He suspected that Zard wasnt really looking for an answer but just wanted someone to talk to. ... ... Outside Zheng City West Station, Qing Chen stood silently in the cold wind. The young man next to him quietly asked, Why did you come to the station? Qing Chen still didnt know the relationship between Qing Yuan and this young man, nor how they interacted; he could only judge Qing Yuans character based on the young mans demeanor. Seeing the submissive manner in which the young man spoke, Qing Yuan probably wasnt easy-going on a daily basis. So he thought for a moment and then, looking askance at the young man, said, Is that something you should be asking? The young man hurriedly lowered his head, Sorry, Second Master. Second Master? Qing Chen was somewhat puzzled. Qing Chen asked the young man next to him, What are you doing here? The young man respectfully replied, Second Master, Liu Ning had some urgent matters, so he sent me to pick up people from our organization arriving from various places. He said he had taken leave with Third Master, perhaps Third Master didnt inform you. Qing Chen felt somewhat perplexed, wondering just how many bosses this damned organization to which Qing Yuan belonged had?! It seemed like a gang of mountain bandits, with all sorts of nonsense like the head honcho, second-in-command, and third-in-command. However, one thing was certain; Qing Yuan was not the true leader of the organization. Above Qing Yuan, there was a big boss. Qing Yuan was able to hide in City 10, even out of reach of Kite Falcon, apparently with the help of the organization. Moreover, the organization had a wide reach. Its members were not only in Zheng City and Taicheng but seemingly in other cities as well. Qing Chen said with a cold face, Can such established duties be so easily swapped? What could be so important that he neglects his actual work? The young man carefully explained, Liu Nings girlfriend invited him to meet her parents... Qing Chen sneered, Tell him... Initially, Qing Chen wanted to say that Liu Ning should break up with his girlfriend since Liu Ning was not his subordinate and had nothing to do with him. But thinking of Liu Nings innocent girlfriend, he decided against it. Just then, Sun Chu Ci and others came out. They were about to greet Qing Chen when they saw the person beside him and immediately shut up. They acted as if they didnt recognize him and avoided him. Suddenly, the young man called out to them, Sun Chu Ci. After being called, Sun Chu Ci politely said, Li Yi senior, long time no see. Qing Chen looked at Sun Chu Ci, then at the young man beside him, Do you know each other? He remembered Tuan Zi mentioning this name in the car, Li Yi, Longhu Commune! So, was Qing Yuan actually from Longhu Commune? No, it seemed even more complicated. Longhu Commune wasnt exactly a secretive organization; some information could be found online. The Longhu Commune was originally called Wang Zhenbei Commune, founded by a graduate in the college town near Dragon Lake in the south of Zheng City. It was named Wang Zhenbei Commune because the founder was Wang Zhenbei. Some of Wang Zhenbeis classmates leaked information on forums saying that he was a student council officer in college, with a strong bureaucratic air, which was also prevalent within the Wang Zhenbei Commune. Later, the Wang Zhenbei Commune absorbed more college students from the Time Traveler and changed its name to Longhu Commune. In Longhu Commune, there were no big bosses, second bosses, third bosses. There was only one boss, Wang Zhenbei. Qing Chen guessed that the current organization where Li Yi and Qing Yuan were, was likely a merger. Longhu Commune had been incorporated into another organization. It was like the stronghold of bandits; originally, there was only one leader, but then another group came with guns and horses, becoming the second-in-command. Qing Chen felt that the second and third bosses within the organization were meant to balance after the merger, forming a distinctive characteristic... Speaking of which, it indeed somewhat resembled bandits taking over strongholds. At that moment, the young man known as Li Yi explained to Qing Chen, This person is Sun Chu Ci, whom I mentioned in our meetings before, an exceptional talent who has always been reluctant to join. Recently, the third boss has lost patience, so he wanted to make an example out of them for other Time Travelers in Zheng City. After speaking, Tuan Zi and Sun Chu Ci, who were originally enthusiastic in the car towards Qing Chen, now looked dejected, seemingly categorizing him with Li Yis group. Qing Chen did not mind. He smiled at Li Yi, Killing a chicken to scare the monkeys is correct, such disobedient Time Travelers should be properly disciplined. After all, without Longhu Commune cornering Sun Chu Ci and the others, how could Sun Chu Cis determination to cling to Qing Chen be solidified, right? Sun Chu Ci coldly said, The deeds of Longhu Commune in Zheng City are highly disdained by all independent Time Travelers. I know you have found a new backer, but sooner or later, you will understand what the will of the people is. Remember, there is always someone better and higher powers; even Daytime, as formidable as it is, has never bullied the weak. Li Yi sneered, How do you know what Daytime has done behind the scenes? Moreover, with our current backing, what does Daytime count for? He thought to himself that the second boss standing beside him was the legendary Shadow Candidate, a true big shot. With such a figures backing, what did Daytime amount to? Qing Chen silently looked at Li Yi, saying nothing. In his gaze, there was a kind of pitiful compassion for the mentally challenged. Chapter 726: 428, Qing Yuans clue! Chapter 726: 428, Qing Yuans clue! Ill address you as Senior Li Yi one last time, Sun Chu Ci said calmly, We might not be as well off as the Longhu Commune right now, but even when facing danger in the wilderness, we find happiness. What we enjoy is the thrill of exploring an unknown world, not the enjoyment of power. Li Yi sneered, What joy can there be without the ability to protect oneself? Sun Chu Ci continued seriously, At worst, we die in the Inner World, which is still better than living on our knees. The Longhu Commune plays bureaucratic games all day long. I heard that your President Wang Zhenbei recently asked a Level 3 member to get his sister drunk and send her to him. Isnt that so? Li Yi narrowed his eyes, Who told you that? You dont need to worry about that, Sun Chu Ci replied, The Longhu Commune thinks just because theyve become Time Travelers, they can do whatever they want. Thats naive. Having said this, Sun Chu Ci left with Tuan Zi and the others. Qing Chen watched with amusement, thinking to himself that Sun Chu Cis character was quite solid, suitable for the daylight. After they had left, Li Yi carefully explained to Qing Chen, What Sun Chu Ci mentioned was all hearsay. The third boss didnt ask for it, it was the Level 3 member who offered his sister himself. It seemed that the third boss in Qing Yuans organization was Wang Zhenbei, who really got the title of a boss after the merger. No different from a bandit pledging allegiance to a mountain stronghold. Seeing such things in modern society was truly astonishing... Qing Chen glanced at Li Yi and shook his head, I dont care about such matters. Li Yi breathed a sigh of relief, Second boss, what do we do now? Pick up people, of course, Qing Chen said, Isnt that why you came? If the people havent been picked up yet, what else could you possibly do? Li Yi was momentarily taken aback, Youre coming with me to pick them up? Of course, Qing Chen nodded, Otherwise, why would I be here? I need those people. After youve picked them up, youll come with me directly. Li Yi said timidly, The third boss said to bring the people to him after picking them up... Qing Chen, with a smile, said, Do you think what I say doesnt carry as much weight as his does? No, no, Li Yi hurriedly replied, I will follow your arrangements completely. Li Yi was well aware of Wang Zhenbeis attitude towards Qing Yuan; he couldnt ingratiate himself enough, just waiting for Qing Yuan to win the Shadow conflict and lead them all to great success. Now, whatever Qing Yuan wanted to do, Wang Zhenbei would certainly cooperate, and as a subordinate, Li Yi didnt need to oppose Qing Yuan. Qing Chen looked at Li Yi and casually asked, You were asking earlier how I ended up here. Where did you think I would be? Li Yi quickly tried to claim credit with a smile, Everyone said you went to the International Conference Center to report, sir. The clothes you requested, identical to the Matrixs, were custom-made by the third boss. That mask wasnt easy to find eitherI had to visit dozens of shops to find it. Qing Chen nodded, remaining calm, I did intend to report there originally, but plans have changed. At that moment, he had finally found information related to Qing Yuan. The latter should have infiltrated the conference center by then, wearing a uniform identical to the Matrixs and the same white mask. It seemed he might be planning to blend into the Matrix to secretly listen to the Matrixs secrets, didnt it? Wearing a mask, even the Matrixs own members would struggle to tell who was who. Qing Chen couldnt help but feel that Qing Yuan seemed like a protagonist straight out of a template; after crossing over, he became a strong competitor in the power struggle of Qings Family, with ambition, helpers, and even the audacity to sneak into the Matrix to gather information. Many would probably think that someone like Qing Yuan was supposed to be the main character in Time Traveler. At least thats what people in the Longhu Commune seemed to believe. In fact, many in Time Traveler seem to fit the main character template, like He Jinqiu, Yuang Yang, Zheng Yuandong, Huan Yu... all of them seemed like chosen ones. Even Nan Gengchen, with the events he encountered after crossing over, was like someone who had saved Earth in a past life. But Qing Chen found this to be the amusing aspect of group time travelers. But getting back to the point, knowing that Qing Yuan was disguising himself inside the conference center, Qing Chen felt relieved. Otherwise, it would be quite awkward if the two Qing Yuans suddenly bumped into each other. Qing Chen sent Li Yi to pick up the people while he himself, after Li Yi had left, sent a message to Liu Dezhu, Nan Gengchen, and Luo Wanya: Keep an eye on the Matrixs people and anyone wearing a Matrix uniform. If someone from the Matrix secretly leaves the group, follow them and find out their room. I need this persons information. Also, inform me if anyone from the Red Leaves, Matrix, Gangsters, Red Umbrella Umbrella, Sanjiangkou leaves the conference center. Liu Dezhu: Received. Nan Gengchen: Received. Luo Wanya: Received. In Qing Chens view, although Qing Yuan could blend into the Matrix team, there would always be a time when he would have to leave, otherwise, going back to a hotel room with the Matrix would give him away. So, whoever left the group halfway could potentially be Qing Yuan. At this point, Li Yi brought 21 people before Qing Chen, Second boss, here are the Time Travelers dispersed in various cities of our organization, including Genetic Warriors and Ordinary People. Initially, there were supposed to be five other members with Mechanical limbs, but their limbs ran out of power, so they could only stay at home and wait for the cross-over in a few days. The extended travel and return times brought an unexpected downside... Chapter 727: 428, Qing Yuans clue!_2 Chapter 727: 428, Qing Yuans clue!_2 The Outer World doesnt have cloud towers like giant mushrooms, and in the Inner World, all mechanical limbs have special wireless charging technology. Moreover, in the Inner World everyones mechanical limbs were always charging, but once they returned to the Outer World, they only remembered about charging when the power was about to run out. Initially, Jiang Xues mechanical limbs, after just one high-intensity use, faced the trouble of running out of power. It was XiaoTongyun who thought up a solution by replacing them with a high-end military-grade mechanical arm to avoid such embarrassing situations in the future. However, other Time Travelers were not as lucky as Jiang Xue... Most Time Travelers possessed mechanical limbs of the same grade as Jiang Xues original ones. Quite a few Time Travelers became disabled within just seven days of returning. Some had mechanical arms that ran out of power. Some had mechanical legs that ran out of power. Some Time Travelers, whose entire bodies were modified with mechanics, now lay in bed like they were quadriplegic, fearing that if they didnt return to the Inner World soon, something terrible might happen. This morning, there was even a media report stating that some Time Travelers with mechanical legs were brought in wheelchairs... So strong. Until now, only a few organizations had managed to develop small devices for charging mechanical limbs, and most Time Travelers didnt have them. This technology is actually not complicated, but the key issue is that mass production cant be achieved within a month. For some businesses, there is also the consideration of whether its worth mass-producing wireless charging devices for the Inner World. Keep in mind, there are only 35,000 to 50,000 Time Travelers, and at most one-fifth of them use mechanical limbs. Even if they sell charging devices, if theyre too expensive, many Time Travelers cant afford them; if too cheap, they wont cover the costs of the businesses. So this issue is quite awkward, and Time Travelers can only slowly find a way themselves, saving money to upgrade to high-end mechanical limbs. Even then, theres still a problemif any return trip lasts a year, then although high-end mechanical limbs can last a month, they would have to remain incapacitated for the remaining 11 months. And if a Time Traveler doesnt travel through time again after returning, some cannot afford the costly charging devices, which essentially makes them no different from being fully paralyzed... Qing Chen sized up the Time Travelers in front of him, totaling 22 people including Li Yi. With this number of people, it was enough for him to do some things. Using others for ones own ends, is there a problem with that? No problem. At that moment, Luo Wanya sent a message, The Sanjiangkou Organizations vehicle has left the conference center. ... ... On the third floor of the conference center, Zheng Yuandong was silently watching the to and fro of Spider-Man, Deadpool, Pikachu, and Slime below. There was also the Scorpion Spirit from the Gourd Brothers cartoon... and Pangolins. Time Travelers really do have boundless imaginations, Lu Yuan commented from the side. Zheng Yuandong asked, Have you received anything from Qing Chen? No, Lu Yuan shook his head: The guy disappeared. Ni Ergou didnt see him at the exit, and there was no one on the platform either. Zheng Yuandong instructed, Waiting for him at the exit isnt very secure. For the next meeting, send a car directly to his home to pick him up. Boss, where do you think he could go? Lu Yuan was a bit puzzled: He didnt come directly to the conference center, what else could he be doing? I dont know, Zheng Yuandong shook his head: A normal persons thinking, cant guess his thoughts. But at least the kid has some principles, somewhat a good person, right? Should we be so defensive against him? He is just one person, Lu Yuan wondered. You look at how troubled the European branches of Future, Jindai, and Deer Island are now, then you know if its necessary, Zheng Yuandong turned to leave: Keep an eye on the news. Wherever there is a Time Traveler mishap in Zheng City, go there to find him, surely you cant be wrong. ...Alright. By the way, where are the other Daytime members? Zheng Yuandong asked. I checked the hotel registration; there were four people who filled out the participation acknowledgment: Qing Chen, Liu Dezhu, Nan Gengchen, Luo Wanya, with the latter three having already arrived at the hotel, Lu Yuan said: Only, once they left the hotel, no one knew where they went. Didnt they say they were dressed as Slime? Zheng Yuandong asked. Boss, there are thirty-one slimes in the conference center right now, I cant tell which ones are them, Lu Yuan said innocently. Zheng Yuandong nodded, These two dont matter, but keep a close eye on Luo Wanya. Dont let him start a family in the conference center... How come the Daytime has all sorts of people? At this moment, the conference center featured an exhibit that prepared afternoon tea for everyone. At the edge of the conference center, a long table was set up, covered with fine snacks, coffee, and juice. Members of the Matrix stood by the table, not eating anything, just chatting with others. A Matrix member whispered, Senior, dont you think those two slimes not far from here seem to be staring at us? The Matrix member opposite him was startled and turned his head to look at the two slimes nearby. However, when he turned his head, he found the slimes were not looking their way. Not really, arent they looking at that miss? the Matrix member wondered. No, I keep feeling they are looking at us. Those two slimes have been watching us, and theres a green Little Dinosaur watching them from the other side. What a mess... However, at this Federation conference, Matrix and Red Leaves should be the most eye-catching. Its normal to be looked at, a female member said with a laugh. That was certainly true; Matrix and Red Leaves were the most watched these past two days. They enjoyed the attention of other Time Travelers, maintaining their posture proudly. Just then, a Matrix member became puzzled, I also feel like those two slimes seem to be staring at us. Another Matrix member said with a big smile, No worries, Ill just go and say hello to them and find out whats the deal. Saying this, he strode confidently toward the two slimes. The two slimes squatted on the ground, and Liu Dezhu whispered, Can you ever act reliably? How am I not reliable? Nan Gengchen was displeased. When I said to switch out the slimes, you said you had a backup plan, and your backup plan turned out to be dressing up as Gourd Kids? Liu Dezhu said. Whats wrong with that? Gourd Kids outfits arent discounted. I spent a fortune on them, Nan Gengchen retorted. But Gourd Kids outfits dont cover the face, Liu Dezhu lamented, Also, how could you tell Hu Xiaoniu and Zhang Tianzhen themselves about impersonating them?! I am all for honesty in dealing with people, what do you know, Nan Gengchen argued. So what do we do now? Lets agree on somethingif someone asks about our identity, what should we say? Should we pretend to be from Kunlun? Or maybe people from Kyushu would work. Nan Gengchen thought for a moment and said, But wont it be really embarrassing if we get caught? I have a plan. Forget it, someone from the Matrix is breaking away from the group. He might be the person the boss is looking for ... Oh, hes coming over here, Liu Dezhu said. Then the Matrix member approached the two slimes, Hello, who are you two? Nan Gengchen was startled, My name is Liu Dezhu. Liu Dezhu was shocked and glared at Nan Gengchen: I... Im Nan Gengchen. The two exchanged glances, Liu Dezhu thought to himself, Whats the difference between this and directly revealing our names and identities?! The Matrix member looked confusedly at the two, Liu Dezhu, that name sounds so familiar... Wait, are you a Daytime member?! Hahaha, how could that be! Liu Dezhu and Nan Gengchen fled in panic. Just as many peoples attention was drawn to Liu Dezhu and Nan Gengchen. Meanwhile, Luo Wanya, wearing a large black mask, wandered around nonchalantly while secretly keeping an eye on the Matrix side. At that moment, someone from the Matrix group suddenly left. Luo Wanyas eyes lit up. He exchanged a glance with another masked person not far away. The young man nodded and followed. And Luo Wanya himself stayed in the exhibition hall, watching the Matrix. ... Another chapter at 11 p.m. Chapter 728: 429, Pikachu does not like to stay inside the Pokeball. Chapter 728: 429, Pikachu does not like to stay inside the Pokeball. For Luo Wanya, his trip to Zheng City was not about attending a conference, nor did he care about what Kunlun had to say, and he was even less interested in participating in the Time Travelers COSPLAY. His purpose in Zheng City was to cooperate with his boss and complete the mission. He was here to surveil an organization, which also had Shadow Candidates mixed in, which could very likely lead to Luo Wanyas own exposure and danger. But that was not important. What was most important was finding Qing Yuan from the Matrix side. However, after silently observing for a while, Luo Wanya suddenly realized that this well-known Matrix, with an organizational structure that seemed loose, resembled more a senior student club in foreign universities, capable and ambitious, but ultimately just young people. He had been worried about being discovered, but that hadnt happened. Luo Wanya suddenly pondered a question, these Matrix members were older than his boss. By comparison, his own boss didnt seem like a normal student at all. As evening arrived. He summarized some information and sent it to Qing Chen, Boss, a total of four people left the Matrix team, among which two have returned to the Matrix team, seeming to know each other. Two others did not return; one went back to his hotel room, staying in JW Marriott room 1324, the other left the convention center and went to get a foot massage at a spa. They left two hours later, spending 888. Qing Chen replied, Very well, continue. The information Luo Wanya provided was already very detailed; even a professional investigator might not have managed such a detailed report amidst the chaotic crowd so quickly. Especially since he even knew how much the other party spent at the foot massage spa. 888 yuan...? Does a foot massage cost that much? Qing Chen was a bit puzzled. This touched upon his area of ignorance. At this moment, he was unable to determine which one was Qing Yuan, and it was possible that neither was. But as long as Luo Wanya continued to observe, he would eventually find some clues. This time, Luo Wanya did not come alone; other family members, although unable to enter the convention center, could wait outside, ready to track those who came out of the convention center. 12 family members, all E-Class Cultivators. At this moment, the Matrix members were looking at the two slimes that escaped, silently at a loss for words for a long moment. Liu Dezhu? Are those two really Daytime Members? In the Matrix, a female classmate asked curiously. A young man frowned and said, Its uncertain whether they are or not. Its very possible that someone is impersonating them, especially since no one can see the faces under the slime costumes. Its not out of the ordinary for someone to smear Daytimes reputation. He was the boss of the Matrix, known as Chen Sui, and he had led the team to the convention center this time. Chen Sui knew some things about Daytime, mainly from Haicheng, where there was a person named Yaorao. He had invited Yaorao to join the Matrix, but she had declined stating that she had already joined Daytime... Since then, Chen Sui had been keeping a close eye on Daytime, wanting to know what kind of organization could attract Yaorao to join. Yaorao hadnt shown her abilities in Haicheng, but many knew she could fly. Awakeners have a pattern: not many can fly, and those who can are usually among the most powerful. Moreover, it was said that Yaoraos strength had already reached C-Class. Such a character not joining the Matrix was truly a pity. Not to mention Hu Xiaoniu and Zhang Tianzhen. These two were very low-key while in Los Angeles City, but many students from Haicheng knew that these two top-tier wealthy heirs had also joined Daytime. Three eye-catching students from Haicheng had all joined Daytime. Therefore, Daytimes reputation in Haicheng was actually not inferior to that in Zheng City. This was probably something even Qing Chen hadnt anticipated. By the way, where is Yaorao? I heard she was also coming to the Federation conference, but I havent seen her, someone said. Oh, her close friend said that she just returned from her honeymoon in Europe and needs to rest for a couple of days before she comes, a girl in Matrix said. The crowd silently looked at the girl: Honeymoon?! What the hell! Were all students; why are some already going on honeymoons?! And moreover, with whom?! The Matrix members were full of questions, and the girl said, Why are you looking at me? I dont know whats going on either, thats just what her close friend said. Yaorao might not realize that by simply getting into her car, she had caused such confusion among her classmates. The singles were dealt a severe blow of a hundred thousand points. They only had two thousand health points, and after a hundred thousand points of damage, they still owed Yaorao ninety-eight thousand health points. Chen Sui thought for a moment and said, During this Federation conference, everyone also pay attention and spot the Daytime members. Observe. Who is the Daytime Boss? A member of Matrix wondered, Could Yaorao have gone on her honeymoon with Daytimes boss? Chen Sui said, The media always thinks that key figures in Time Travelers, due to their pride, would never dress up in bizarre costumes. But I think that strong individuals dont care too much about pride and embarrassment. Perhaps someone is hiding in a Pikachu suit. Daytimes boss might have already arrived, only we havent noticed. ... ... Boss, where are you? Have you come to the conference center yet? I didnt see you. What costume are you wearing? A green Little Dinosaur wobbled along. Chapter 729: 429, Pikachu does not like to stay inside the Pokeball_2 Chapter 729: 429, Pikachu does not like to stay inside the Pokeball_2 Zard, inside the Little Dinosaur, wore a Bluetooth headset, his gaze searching all around. Originally, he was supposed to keep an eye on Liu Dezhu and Nan Gengchen, but those two got chased away by the matrix, and he lost his target. So, Zard simply started to look for his own boss. Over the Bluetooth headset, Huan Yu coldly said, With that free time, you might as well go back to your hotel room and practice for a while, make yourself useful sooner. Zard said nonchalantly, Cultivation cant be rushed, man. Im not missing much. At that moment, a yellow Pikachu stood still in one spot at the conference center, staring straight ahead... ...at a Time Traveler wearing a red hat and holding a Pokeball in his hand, who was also staring straight back at him. For an instant, Huan Yu felt like that guy wanted to catch him in the Pokeball. Why would anyone cosplay as that character, just because there are dozens of Pikachus in the conference center?! Huan Yu calmly said to the Time Traveler opposite him, Dont you know Pikachus dont like to stay inside Pokeballs? Zard burst into laughter over the headset, Boss, how come you know so much?! What on earth do you watch at home?! Your brother might not even have watched the whole Poke?mon series! Huan Yu was stunned; hed forgotten that the Bluetooth communication was still on... At that moment, he suddenly felt an urge to kill. What kind of damn Federation conference was this, not holding a proper meeting but causing all this mess?! He was a serious antagonist, so why was he attending this kind of conference? ... ... In a lamb hot pot restaurant in Zheng City, eight members from the Sanjiangkou sat around a table. One of them stared blankly at the clear broth, Can this hot pot actually develop any flavor? The boss of Sanjiangkou smiled and said, This is a northern specialty. They like to eat lamb hot pot to warm up in the wintertime. After the water boils, you should put the lamb in first. You can judge the quality of the meat by the color of the soup. Good meat will leave the soup clear after boiling, but poor meat will make this clear water murky. Is that so? Speaking of which, boss, shouldnt we also get uniforms? Look at how nice Matrixs black uniform looks, and Red Leaves navy blue isnt bad either, one member of Sanjiangkou said. I didnt realize it before coming, but once here, I found out there are so many Time Travelers gathered together, and the things Ive heard about the other organizations are really impressive. It seems Sanjiangkou hasnt done anything sensational yet. The boss of Sanjiangkou appeared embarrassed, No rush. Were keeping a low profile for now. With Li Changqing gone from City No.1, weve got a good chance to grow. This boss, named Zhang Yuebo from Wucheng, happened to become a Time Traveler by a stroke of luck. Previously the captain of a quite famous amateur soccer team in Wucheng, he was fair-minded and capable, so he became the president of Sanjiangkou. However, Time Travelers from Wucheng had been severely suppressed. The associated City No.1 had been thoroughly plowed by the Li Familys Li Changqing; many Time Travelers were controlled by the Li Family, leaving the rest to live bitterly. So when other Time Travelers came to Zheng City, they all seemed incredibly powerful, frequenting the most upscale restaurants. Meanwhile, Sanjiangkou ended up eating lamb hot pot without even reserving a private room. While other Time Travelers were attending the conference, they seemed more like they had come to see the world. Actually, Li Changqing wasnt specifically targeting Time Travelers; she had just crushed all the forces in City No.1 too harshly and incidentally dealt with the Time Travelers along the way. One of the Sanjiangkou members curiously asked, Boss, do you think the Time Travelers controlled by the Li Family will also attend the Federation assembly? Definitely, Zhang Yuebo pondered and replied, After all, they control too many Time Travelers, and you have no idea who is one of them. We still need to be wary of the Inner World consortiums capabilities, not just the Li Family but also people from Jindai, Deer Island, Chen Clan, Qings Family, I suspect theyre all here. So everyone should be careful, and especially avoid getting targeted by the Li Family. If there are people from that ruthless woman Li Changqing here, were in big trouble. As they spoke, the door to the lamb hot pot restaurant was pushed open, and more than twenty people streamed in. Zhang Yuebo whispered, Ive seen one of them before; he is Li Yi from Zheng Citys own Longhu Communethese people all look to be Time Travelers. Its said that Longhu Commune has merged with Taichengs Bright Commune. Bright Commune was the organization Qing Yuan belonged to. After Longhu Commune merged into it, it became a branch. Qing Chen walked in as if he hadnt noticed the people from Sanjiangkou at all, and said to the members of Longhu Commune behind him, Everyone, take a seat. Since youve come from afar, its on melets have a meal together. The members politely said, Thank you, Second Boss. The people from Sanjiangkou bowed their heads to eat, and upon hearing this title, they immediately glanced at Qing Chen, thinking to themselves that he must be an important figure in Longhu Commune. At this moment, Li Yi whispered to Qing Chen, Second Boss, what exactly are you planning to do with these people? The Third Boss asked earlier, he still has use for these people... Qing Chen glanced at Li Yi, Li Yi, how long have you been with Longhu Commune? Li Yi answered, Two months in the Outer World... Qing Chen said, Do you think you have better prospects following Wang Zhenbei or following me? Li Yi was momentarily stunned, then hurriedly said, Of course, I have a better future following you. So you know what to do, right? You can just listen to Wang Zhenbeis words, but my matters are whats really important, Qing Chen said, Im planning to build my own team. Are you interested? Li Yi was puzzled, Why? Qing Chen nonchalantly said, I believe Bright Commune only needs one boss. Li Yi was shocked, Isnt the Big Boss your father?! That was one of the reasons Li Yi had fully cooperated with Qing Yuan; Bright Commune was originally founded by Qing Yuans father, so there wasnt any power struggle within. Sooner or later, Qing Yuan would take over. After all, Qing Yuan was an only child; there was nobody to contest him. Therefore, Li Yi couldnt comprehend why Qing Yuan wanted to push his own father out of the picture. Internally, he exclaimed, Why would His Majesty rebel? Isnt the kingdom already yours? On the other hand, Qing Chen thought to himself that it was no wonder the Time Traveler collaborated so readily with Qing Yuan and that Qing Yuan wasnt discovered by Qings Family. It turned out his father had also traveled through time. Generally, the probability of both father and sons names coinciding with those in the Inner World was extremely low, and names changed later on didnt count; thus, it was rare for both father and son to time travel. Not only had Qing Yuans father traveled through time, but he also founded the Time Traveler Organization with the sole purpose of supporting his son to become the Shadow and later to help him become the Qing Clan House Master. Looking at it this way, Qing Yuan indeed seemed more like a protagonist template! Qing Yuan himself must think he is the protagonist among the time travelers, right? This information was incredibly important for Qing Chen. Qing Chen patiently explained to Li Yi, My father imposes too many restrictions on me, and hes still in robust health. I dont want to be a puppet. Li Yis mind conjured up a grand drama of succession and palace intrigue, and he yelled excitedly inside. However, he hesitated, feeling that it was really not good to be involved in such matters. If things went awry, he feared he might end up dead. Besides, he always felt that something wasnt quite right... At that moment, a member of Sanjiangkou stood up to go to the restroom. Qing Chen smiled at Li Yi and said, Its okay, digest the information I just gave you for a bit. Im going to the restroom. He walked towards the restroom, where the member from Sanjiangkou had just finished urinating and was washing his hands. Qing Chen glanced at him and then slipped into a cubicle. The member from Sanjiangkou was initially planning to leave the restroom, but as if possessed, he stealthily approached the cubicle door. He heard Qing Yuan inside softly speaking on the phone, Ive seen the people from Sanjiangkou. Based on my estimate, there shouldnt be any experts within their organization. Our Bright Commune is planning to join forces with Jindai and Deer Island to crush Time Traveler in one fell swoop, or perhaps we should make an example of Sanjiangkou first? The face of the Sanjiangkou member changed drastically, and he hastily walked out. When Qing Chen came out of the restroom, the table where the Sanjiangkou group had been was already empty... Meanwhile, Li Yi had finished preparing the lamb meat for Qing Chen, completely unaware of the impending disaster facing Longhu Commune and Bright Commune. Chapter 730: What is it that obscures the eyes? Chapter 730: What is it that obscures the eyes? Its still the same saying. The information one strives to obtain himself is believed to be true. Just like people never remember the one who travels over mountains and rivers to see them, but they remember the one they travel over mountains and rivers to see. Therefore, when Luo Wanya told Qing Chen that Sanjiangkou had left the conference center, Qing Chen had made this little plan. It wasnt for anything else, he just wanted to see the misfortune of Bright Commune and Longhu Commune. Targeting Bright Commune was because of Qing Yuan, as a Shadow Candidate he would definitely take action if he had the chance to kill Qing Chen. The reason for targeting Longhu Commune was even simpler; even if it wasnt to help Sun Chu Ci, considering what Longhu Commune had done, Qing Chen felt no psychological burden in dealing them a blow. During the Federation meeting held by Kunlun, the Sanjiangkou Organization suddenly received death threats. If nothing unexpected occurred. Bright Commune and Longhu Commune were definitely going to encounter an incident. Dealing with Longhu Commune was easy, attacking at broad daylight, where could they find an equal opponent? But this time, Qing Chen intended to uproot Bright Commune, trying to resolve a Shadow Candidate in the Outer World. Thinking this, Qing Chen looked towards Li Yi with a smile, Eat meat, eat meat, from now on were all our own people, lets grow and strengthen together, and create more glories! Li Yi was still muttering at that moment, The people at the next table are really interesting, their ordered meat just arrived at the table, and they hurried off. Isnt that a waste? I saw them settling the bill before they left, what was the purpose? A Time Traveler Organization member nearby suspiciously said, I just saw them whispering something and they glanced at us several times while whispering. Could it be related to us? Li Yi laughed and waved his hand, Weve never met them. What relation could it be to us? Lets eat! The thin slices of lamb had just been thrown into the pot and were cooked instantly, Li Yi eagerly waited for Qing Chen to move his chopsticks before he dared to let his subordinates start eating. When Qing Chen poured wine for him, Li Yi even stood up and bowed while holding his cup; Li Yi did the same when pouring wine for his subordinates. It seemed that Sun Chu Ci wasnt wrong by saying that Longhu Commune had a heavy bureaucratic air. But this meal was somewhat upsetting for Qing Chen. After Li Yi had a few drinks, he started to boast about the things Longhu Commune did. Meanwhile, Luo Wanyas subordinates had already finished visiting the Time Travelers in Zheng City and found out some information about Longhu Commune, which they sent to Qing Chen. Wang Zhenbei coerced a level 3 member to get his sister drunk, but that level 3 member hadnt agreed at all. As a result, Wang Zhenbei, Li Yi, and others beat up this level 3 member. During the beating, unable to bear the humiliation, the level 3 member broke the window of a 7th-floor office and escaped. The level 3 member fell onto a car below and didnt die. But the fall caused his spine to break, and now he was a high-level paraplegic. There were many witnesses to this event, but Longhu Communes explanation to the public was that the person fell accidentally, and it was unrelated to others. Not just this one event, Luo Wanyas twelve subordinates managed to gather evidence for seven foul deeds in just half a day. If they had more time to investigate, how much more could they uncover? Qing Chen was gratified that Luo Wanyas sides information system was beginning to take shape, and his gaze towards Li Yi was turning colder. ... ... The eight people of Sanjiangkou hurriedly hailed two taxis to return to the conference center. Upon arriving, they headed straight to the exhibition hall where the Kunlun members were located and loudly said, Leaders of Kunlun, please help us; someone is trying to kill us! Who do you turn to when theres trouble? Obviously, the police. Its now a deeply ingrained thought among Chinese; customers can dial 110 for disputes with businesses, 110 for encountering criminals, it seems everything can be resolved by dialing 110. Now, Kunlun seemed like the 110 of the Time Traveler realm; Sanjiangkou, having received death threats, naturally sought Kunlun first. Moreover, this was absolutely the right move. Inside the conference center, the action group was led by Lu Yuan. This Road Team leader raised an eyebrow,Who wants to kill you? The president of Sanjiangkou, Zhang Yuebo said, Its Longhu Commune and Bright Commune! Do you have a grudge? Lu Yuan asked, puzzled. No grudge, Zhang Yuebo exclaimed, Were from Wucheng and they are from Zheng City. We hardly ever met before. We went to eat mutton hotpot on Zijing Mountain Road and happened to run into people from Longhu Commune. Our guys encountered their boss in the restroom, and so they kept an ear out and overheard their boss on the phone saying they had allied with Jindai and Deer Island to conduct a purge on the Time Travelers in Zheng City, planning to start with the weakest, Sanjiangkou first! At this moment, there were many people in the exhibition hall of the conference center; almost all organizations had representatives there, and there were interactions between organizations. Typically. People came here not for tense competition but mainly to make friends. They exchanged contact details, invited each other to visit their territories, interact, and asked each other for favor if one day Inner World needed to go to the others territory. This is the normal state of various Time Traveler organizations. Seeing everyone dressed as Batman, Spider-Man, you would know these people came to Zheng City actually just to have fun; no one thought there was any danger. It was only because Qing Chen, Huan Yu, Qing Yuan themselves had past grievances that things became so tense ... Chapter 731: What is it that obscures the eyes? Chapter 731: What is it that obscures the eyes? At that moment, the Time Travelers in the exhibition hall suddenly heard that there was such a Time Traveler Organization planning to join forces with foreign powers to threaten their lives; everyone started getting anxious! A Pikachu at the scene sneered, To have such a Time Traveler organization appear domestically is truly despicable. With so many of us here, why dont we all team up and take down this Longhu Commune and Bright Commune? With such a cute Pikachu outfit and speaking in such an aggressive tone about murder and arson, the scene was shockingly surreal. Another Slime said, I heard that the Longhu Commune has been bullying the weak in Zheng City, forcing an underling to drug his sister and send her to someone named Wang Zhenbei! When the underling disagreed, he was forced to jump from a building, ending up quadriplegic, now in room 1237 at Zheng University First Affiliated Hospital! Another Slime remarked, How can such organizations exist within our borders? Isnt there anyone to check them? Lu Yuan glanced at them and then turned to Zhang Yuebo, Are you sure it was people from the Longhu Commune? Yes, Zhang Yuebo confirmed, Ive seen one of them, called Li Yi, definitely not a good character. There was another in the crowd, Li Yi was very respectful to him, might be his boss. Wang Zhenbei? Lu Yuan wondered. Zhang Yuebo shook his head, I dont know who Wang Zhenbei is, I only recognize Li Yi. Lu Yuan thought for a moment, but didnt continue asking Zhang Yuebo to identify anyone. He addressed the Time Travelers, Everyone, remain calm, Kunlun will definitely handle this matter, and will make a public announcement after the investigation. Unnoticed, a young man in the Matrix Organization, wearing a white mask, was silently observing everyone. He showed no panic, no disturbance, seemingly contemplating something. His gaze swept through the crowd of Time Travelers, but he did not spot anything unusual. The next moment, as everyones attention was focused on Zhang Yuebo and Lu Yuan, the Matrix member quietly slipped out of the exhibition hall. He didnt realize that Luo Wanyas gaze had been subtly locked on him the entire time. While in the hot pot restaurant, Qing Chen hadnt actually made a phone call but had sent Luo Wanya a message: When Zhang Yuebo started causing a commotion, whoever secretly left the scene was most likely Qing Yuan. Because, the Longhu Commune was now Qing Yuans Longhu Commune, and given such a major incident, he would definitely need to verify the source of the news immediately to see what was happening. If it were Matrix members watching the commotion caused by Zhang Yuebo, their first reaction would certainly be not to miss this spectacle, to see what exactly was happening rather than leave. Today, Luo Wanya observed a total of 7 Matrix members break away from the group, too many targets to determine anything specific. Therefore, Qing Chen had set a trap for Qing Yuan, giving Luo Wanya a better chance to expose him. This was why Qing Chen had Luo Wanya stay here while he stirred things up elsewhere. Watching the young man leave, Luo Wanya immediately followed him. While on the move, he sent a message to Qing Chen, Found the fish. The target is already aware of the Longhu Commune matter. Im following him to see which room he enters. Qing Chen simply replied, Be careful. If a direct conflict occurred, the first priority was to retreat and seek help from Kunlun, as Qing Chen had already instructed. According to estimates, Qing Chen suspected that Qing Yuan was at least a C-Class; Luo Wanya would definitely not stand a chance if a conflict arose. At that moment, in the hot pot restaurant, the charcoal under the copper pot was burning brightly, and the water in the pot was bubbling vigorously. Li Yis phone rang, and upon checking, it shockingly displayed the caller ID as the Deputy Manager Qing Yuan... After drinking eight ounces of liquor, Li Yi was somewhat befuddled. He turned to the Qing Yuan sitting beside him and said naively, Deputy Manager, arent you right beside me? You can just speak to me directly, here in Zheng City, I, Li Yi... Instantly, Li Yis mind felt as if it had been struck by lightning, as if he had just realized something. He looked at the young man in front of him, who was smiling radiantly. However, in that instant, Li Yi suddenly felt something almost weightless wrap around his wrist. He felt his body lose control, as if his soul was confined somewhere else and no longer belonged to himself. Li Yi watched helplessly as himself answered the phone, then slurred, Hello? Over the phone, Qing Yuan spoke coldly, Still in the mood for drinking, good. Li Yis tone seemed to sober up a bit, Deputy Manager? Qing Yuan calmly said, Ive heard around the Exhibition Center that you and Wang Zhenbei have colluded with Jindai and Deer Island, planning to attack the Time Travelers at the convention center. Is that so? Li Yi sobered up instantly, That has nothing to do with me, it was all the third managers idea, I even advised him against it. So, the person you were dining with is Wang Zhenbei, right? Where is he? Let him take the phone, Qing Yuan said. Li Yi stood up and moved to the side before continuing, The third manager went to the restroom to make a call and then left, and now Im dining here with the Time Travelers from out of town. Qing Yuan sneered, Get over to the conference center now and explain to Kunlun that its all vicious slanders from Sanjiangkou. Dont worry, they have no evidence. Chapter 732: 430, What is it that obscures the eyes?_3 Chapter 732: 430, What is it that obscures the eyes?_3 This matter must be resolved, if not, Qing Yuans fathers painstakingly established Bright Commune will be ruined at the hands of these two idiots. Other matters can be tolerated, but for Kunlun and Kyushu, the only untouchables are Jindai and Deer Island, and that is the bottom line. Once any organization is slandered with colluding with Jindai and Deer Island, they would have no standing left in the country, and Kunlun would probably chase them to the ends of the earth. Moreover, there would be defections within the organization. Who would want to join an organization colluding with Jindai and Deer Island? Qing Yuan didnt care about the life or death of Li Yi or Wang Zhenbei, but the Bright Commune could not have any trouble. At this time, Qing Yuan was already contemplating how to sacrifice Li Yi and Wang Zhenbei in order to clear his own suspicions. They really hadnt colluded with Jindai or Deer Island at all! But at this moment, the person who was most anxious was not Qing Yuan, but Li Yi. He had already realized that the Qing Yuan beside him was an imposter, and it seemed that the imposter had set up the Longhu Commune and the Bright Commune, now trying to instigate infighting between them! Who was this person? Fear filled Li Yis heart. He wanted to ask why the other was doing this, but he heard the young man laugh and say, Interesting. These two words, as if by chance, answered the question in his heart. ... ... In the temporary office of Kunlun at the conference center. Zheng Yuandong was looking at the check-in registration of all the Time Travelers, but Qing Chens QR code still had not appeared. Lu Yuan pushed the door and entered, Boss, youve heard about what just happened downstairs, havent you? Yes, I heard, Zheng Yuandong responded calmly. Looks like Jindai and Deer Island are going to make a move again, should we raise the alert level? Lu Yuan asked, I can call in more people from other cities. Zheng Yuandong glanced at him, No need. Ah? Lu Yuan was puzzled, Youre not worried? Zheng Yuandong calmly asked, Everyone knows that Kunluns presence is strongest in Zheng City right now, even some from Kyushu have returned and are lying low. If you were Jindai and Deer Island, would you come here to court death now? They arent fools. But I checked with Zhang Yuebo, and its really happening, Lu Yuan muttered. Yes, Sanjiangkou isnt lying, they must have heard someone saying those things to rush back in panic to find us, Zheng Yuandong nodded, But do you remember what I said today? Ah? Lu Yuan was even more confused. Zheng Yuandong looked at Lu Yuan, Where theres trouble, thats where Qing Chen is. This thing is probably his doing, dont worry, lets see what he is up to. The Longhu Commune, I originally planned to use it as an example to establish the authority of the Judgment Tribunal once its established, but it seems they wont last until the Judgment Tribunal is formed. Lu Yuan hadnt been to Europe, but Zheng Yuandong had been fully involved. Thus, what happened in Europe back then was eerily similar to the current situation... Sum it up, and its like a troublemaker has appeared, and for some unknown reason, all Time Traveler Organizations suddenly started fighting viciously. Others might not suspect Qing Chen, but Zheng Yuandong was different, he always trusted his intuition. Lu Yuan hesitated before saying, Do you have any other evidence, we cant just blame everything on Qing Chen without any evidence. Evidence? Zheng Yuandong pondered, The evidence is that he sneaked into Zheng City and even avoided Ni Ergou, he must be up to something. But, nothing strange has happened in Zheng City, so far there has been only this one incident, it must be him causing trouble. If many strange things were happening, any one of them could potentially be the work of Qing Chen. If there was only one strange thing happening, it most certainly was the work of Qing Chen. Lu Yuan: ...That sounds quite reasonable. He was a bit puzzled, what exactly was Qing Chen like in the bosss mind... Zheng Yuandong said, Also, those two Slimes causing a ruckus just now, werent they Liu Dezhu and Nan Gengchen? If they suddenly come out making a fuss, how could it not be related to Qing Chen? Lu Yuan recalled the two Slimes fanning the flames just now... What is Luo Wanya doing now, Zheng Yuandong asked. Lu Yuan replied, You had instructed us, so I paid special attention. This guy left abruptly during the chaos, as if following a Matrix Member who left partway. Zheng Yuandong frowned. He closed his eyes and reviewed all the clues he had, and when he opened his eyes again he said, A Matrix Member should not leave after hearing about the Longhu Communes matter, they should stay and watch the drama. This is not a Matrix Member, his departure is for tipping someone off. I think, Qing Chen might be looking for someone, and this person is related to the Longhu Commune and the Bright Commune. At that moment, the exhibition hall on the ground floor suddenly became noisy. Lu Yuan looked down from upstairs and said in astonishment to Zheng Yuandong, Boss, Li Yi actually came here. Zheng Yuandong raised an eyebrow, he too looked over and clearly saw Li Yi not far off, and there was a young man wearing a black mask smiling and looking up at him. Qing Chen had already reverted to his own appearance, bringing Li Yi to the conference center. Chapter 733: 430銆乄hat is covering the eyes_4 Chapter 733: 430What is covering the eyes_4 Zheng Yuandong sighed at Lu Yuan, This kid hasnt caused enough trouble outside... Boost the alert level, and later when things get messy, maintain good order. ... ... On the first floor of the exhibition hall. Zhang Yuebo from Sanjiangkou pointed at Li Yi, Its him, Im sure Im not wrong. What we heard is exactly what his boss said in the toilet stall. Chen Sui of the Matrix stepped forward and asked Li Yi coldly, Is what he said true? Did your Longhu Commune and Bright Commune really collude with Jindai and Deer Island? At that moment, the Red Leaves organization also spoke publicly for the first time. A girl in a dark blue tailored suit calmly said to Li Yi, Do you realize that helping Jindai and Deer Island is no different from being a traitor? Jiu Ran, the boss of Red Leaves, did not come; she is one of the top levels of Red Leaves, Anxin. The most famous recent incident related to Red Leaves was sending Zhang Jingwen back home. Zhang Jingwen had blown up a shrine at the Jindai headquarters during a previous Time Traveler attack, and later returned secretly from Changbai Mountain with the help of overseas intelligence officers after first going to the Korean state. Along the way, he was constantly pursued, and finally Red Leaves came forward to assist, with many Kyushu members disguised as Red Leaves members. When Jindai protested in the international Time Traveler circles, Kyushus response was simple: Red Leaves is a spontaneously organized civilian group and does not represent official action. At that time, it nearly infuriated the people of Jindai to death. Li Yi, drunk, looked at Chen Sui and Anxin, Colluding with Jindai and Deer Island? Dont put it so harshly; our Bright Commune and Longhu Commune just decided to cooperate with them. Besides, I think the bosses decision is fine. The entire hall erupted at Li Yis statement; wasnt he just admitting to colluding with Jindai and Deer Island? So, the information heard at Sanjiangkou that Longhu Commune and Bright Commune intended to combine with foreign enemies to wipe them all out was also true? A nearby Pikachu looked at Li Yi and sneered, From today onwards, we will be irreconcilable with Longhu Commune and Bright Commune, and if there is an opportunity in the Inner World, I wont let it slip to hunt you down. A Slime shouted, Beat him to death! Another Slime, Beat Wang Zhenbei to death too! And a Green Little Dinosaur shook its head and waved its tail, shouting, Down with the traitor! Within the crowd, a Matrix Member clenched his fists tightly, his expression under the mask dark and intense, his gaze cutting across Li Yi like knives. It suddenly dawned on him that Li Yi might have been bribed, sent specifically to stir up trouble in the Bright Commune and Longhu Commune. But who would do such a thing? Could it be that among the other Shadow Candidates, there was another Time Traveler? It wasnt strange for Qing Yuan to think this way, given that besides the Shadow Candidates, they had no other enemies. Thus, when encountering weird incidents, their first thought was always in this direction. At this moment, Chen Sui of the Matrix still remained calm; he walked over to Li Yi and spoke evenly, I hope you can come to your senses before a major disaster unfolds. Li Yi looked at Chen Sui across from him, everyone waiting to hear what he would say. Li Yi, Heh, darn! Chen Sui wore a mask. But this spit, astoundingly precise, passed through the eye hole of the mask and hit Chen Suis eyes. Chen Sui, ... Lu Yuan, ... Zheng Yuandong, ... This scene was terribly familiar; the very spit that caused the Future Organization to swear to wipe out the Jindai Organization was just as trivial in injury but highly insulting. Unknown to many, Zheng Yuandong was observing from a high-rise building when Heichuan Haidou spat back then. For a moment, Zheng Yuandong felt like he was experiencing a deja vu, back to that bitterly cold day in Amsterdam... It was only at this moment that he was certain that there must be a Taboo in Qing Chens possession that could control others. Puppeteer, Zheng Yuandong murmured to himself. ... ... Six thousand word chapter, another chapter at 11 PM tonight Chapter 734: 431, Melee Chapter 734: 431, Melee In the Inner World. Some Taboo items remain mysterious, but some have been catalogued. A thousand years ago, during the last epoch of human civilization, Hus Information Agency made its fortune off these very things. At that time, Hus Information Agency was just a small organization. An elder known as Hu Shuo founded several orphanages, selected some individuals from among them, and taught them the way of cultivation. This elder named Hu Shuo was the intelligence chief for a consortium in those days. After the consortium fell, he took his orphans and returned to his old trade. In the records. Hu Shuo had close relationships with many of the worlds strongest. He was a lifelong friend to the saviors Ren Xiaosu and Qing Zhen, with Li Shentan, the demigod who once single-handedly held off a million-strong artificial intelligence army, being his grandchild. During the last disaster humanity faced from the artificial intelligence crisis, Hu Shuo entered the fray alone, with his Twelve Flying Swords dazzling like planets beyond the stars. And he survived in the midst of a million enemies. Therefore, many people actually know that the ultimate path of Hus Information Agencys lineage should be the Twelve Flying Swords. But so far, cultivators on this path can only begin nurturing their Heart Sword at A-Class, and many spend their lives managing to nurture merely five or six, finding it incredibly hard to reach Hu Shuos peak. Back then, aside from selling intelligence, Hus Institutions main source of income was compiling dossiers on Transcendents into pamphlets, selling them to the public for one dollar each as juicy news and scandals to read... This tradition has been maintained. To this day, Hus Information Agency still has its own official APP, where spending ten dollars a month grants access to the latest Transcendent intelligence. Just like a magazine... In the APP, one can also spend extra money to purchase a catalogue of Taboos. Hus Information Agency serially listed all the Taboo items that had appeared. ACE-001 to ACE-0338 were all ranked by them. In this catalogue, Zheng Yuandong vividly remembered the function of Taboo ACE-019, the Puppeteer, which was to control others. Furthermore, this item... was taken into containment by a certain Knight in Taboo Land 002, just to prevent this malevolent object from seeing the light of day again. Zheng Yuandong silently watched from above. The Puppeteer had indeed reappeared, so Qing Chens identity as a Knight had finally been confirmed. Before this, his judgment of Qing Chens identity had all been speculation. Although he was confident in his intuition, he never had any proof. Now he did. Qing Chen must have known he could guess, yet still chose to reveal this information right under his nose. Was it because he had already come to trust Kunlun? Zheng Yuandong pondered quietly. Lu Yuan turned to his boss, Shouldnt we intervene? Zheng Yuandong smiled, Its okay, lets wait and see. Lu Yuan muttered, Did Qing Chen pull this off too? Why do I feel like Li Yi is acting drunk? This time, Zheng Yuandong did not respond. However, he was also curious about what Qing Chen was really up to. Although Qing Chens identity as a Knight was confirmed, Zheng Yuandong always felt something was missing. It was as if there should be another clue out there. Only with this could the whole chain of clues be completed to explain Qing Chens current actions. ... ... In the exhibition hall on the first floor. Qing Yuan was blending into the Matrix squad, watching Li Yi in the crowd with a cold gaze. The moment Li Yi spit at Chen Sui, Qing Yuan was dumfounded. He could never have imagined that the normally seemly Li Yi would do such a thing, and with such accuracy... For Qing Yuan, Bright Commune and his own biological father, who had traveled through time with him, were his greatest reliance in the Shadow competition. And now, the actions of Li Yi and Wang Zhenbei had severely undermined his interests. If Bright Commune became an outcast that everyone wanted to strike down, and if members left due to this fabricated charge, how could Qing Yuan keep competing for the Shadow? How could he deal with other Shadow Candidates? Qing Yuans gaze swept through the crowd. He began to suspect that another Shadow Candidate was scheming against him, but he had no proof. Moreover, the most urgent issue was how to mitigate the impact of this event. It seemed that Li Yi and Wang Zhenbei must become the scapegoats, to prevent them from staining Bright Communes reputation. Qing Yuan felt a bitter taste in his heart. After arriving in the 10th city of the Inner World, his intention had been to ally with Zheng Citys local Time Traveler for support. But it turned out the Longhu Commune was not a helping hand; they were a hindrance. Should I just kill Li Yi now, to stop him from dragging Bright Commune down with him? Qing Yuan contemplated. No, if I kill him in front of all these witnesses, I wont be able to escape implication. Thankfully, up until now, Li Yi hasnt dragged Bright Commune into this, Qing Yuan thought. However, just at that moment, Li Yi suddenly declared, What can you all do to me? I have the backing of Bright Commune, you know. Do you know who Bright Communes second boss is? Its one of the Shadow Candidates, Qing Yuan. If you dare to touch me, just wait for my retribution in the Inner World! Having said this, Li Yi looked around defiantly, apparently fearless. Qing Yuan was instantly alarmed, crying out internally, Damn! Chapter 735: 431, Melee_2 Chapter 735: 431, Melee_2 He never expected that this Li Yi would be so foolish, selling himself out all at once. This backfiring move, wouldnt all the hatred now be directed at Bright Commune? Moreover, with his Time Traveler identity exposed, once the Qings Family catches wind of it, they would probably want to find a way to kill him, right? Qing Yuan didnt know that among the Shadow Candidates, there was actually another Time Traveler, and the Shadow was aware of it too. But it didnt matter whether he knew or not; the Shadow had other reasons not to care about Qing Chens Time Traveler status, but if Qing Yuan were exposed, he might indeed die. Qing Yuans mind was in turmoil. He didnt understand how things had come to this. The exhibition hall fell silent for a moment. For most people, it was their first time hearing that there was a Time Traveler among the Shadow Candidates! That was the hottest topic in the Inner World right now, everyone knew that the victorious Shadow Candidate might become the next Family Head of a conglomerate; how immense was that power? It was almost akin to being one of the Emperors of the Inner World! Everyones perception of Li Yi changed. Especially Zheng Yuandong. At that moment, he suddenly pieced together the last clue about Qing Chen! Surname Qing. Shadow Candidate. No wonder Qing Chen was targeting Qing Yuan, no wonder after arriving in Zheng City, Qing Chen vanished without a trace, causing such a drama. Earlier, Zheng Yuandong had felt that Qing Chen was collaborating with Luo Wanya in searching for someone. Now, Zheng Yuandong finally understood that the person Qing Chen was looking for was this Shadow Candidate from Bright Commune! Those targeting a Shadow Candidate would most likely be another Shadow Candidate. At the beginning of the time-crossing event, He Xiaoxiao had released an expansion pack about the battle among the Shadows, and at that time, everyone knew of the nine Shadow Candidates, but the ninth was extremely mysterious, and no one even knew their name. Now Zheng Yuandong was almost certain that Qing Chen was that ninth Shadow Candidate; otherwise, why would this youth target Qing Yuan like this? But Zheng Yuandong still found it hard to understand, how could Qing Chen accumulate so many significant identities by himself. The future Imperial Instructor of the Li Family, the next leader of the Knights, a Shadow Candidate. Is this the true chosen one?! Moreover, the forces these three identities belonged to were not the same; how were they connected? At that moment. Li Yi remained arrogantly composed, and for a time, no one dared to rashly touch him. The people of Sanjiangkou silently retreated. However, Li Yi had barely gloated for a minute when a cute Pikachu said, Is being a Shadow Candidate such a big deal? Do you really think just because youre a Shadow Candidate, youre guaranteed to win until the end? With so many Time Travelers here, wouldnt it be easy to mess with this candidates chances? We might not have the ability to do big things, but spoiling others chances is still within our reach. Lets have everyone remember; if you come across any clues related to Qing Yuan in the Inner World, expose them all! A Slime said, Right! We can also support other Shadow Candidates and take you down! A Green Little Dinosaur added, Down with the traitors! Qing Yuans face couldnt look uglier, shocked at how things had unfolded. If all the Time Travelers targeted him, then he could surely forget about the Shadow conflict. Qing Yuan thought to himself, how could he be so unlucky, to end up with pig teammates like Li Yi and Wang Zhenbei?! Of course, the most unfortunate was Chen Sui. His right eye was now covered in spit, but he couldnt take off his mask to wipe it away, as doing so would reveal his face. So, he could only squint through his right eye for the time being, planning to deal with the current situation before attending to it. With one eye squinted, Chen Sui turned to Li Yi, You... Li Yi: Heh, ptui! The spit precisely passed through the eyehole of the white mask, covering Chen Suis other eye as well. Zheng Yuandong: ... Huan Yu: ... Qing Yuan: ... Chen Sui: ...Get him! The boss of the matrix finally shed his elegance and composure. As he spoke, all the members of the matrix surged forward, while Li Yi suddenly turned and dashed towards the outside of the conference center. Li Yi ran at the front, with hundreds pursuing hima magnificent sight. Li Yi was D-Class, and there were C-Class Experts in the matrix whose speed outmatched his; but just as they were about to catch up with Li Yi, they found a young man wearing a black mask slowing them down at the front. There were also two bulky Slimes blocking many peoples path. So much so that when everyone rushed out of the conference centers turnstile, they were a step behind Li Yi. And indeed, there were many Time Travelers in costumes who simply couldnt run fast... Qing Chen didnt want the Time Travelers behind him to catch up with Li Yi too quickly; he wanted to use Li Yi to lead these Time Travelers to another place. At that moment, a Slime ran up to Qing Chen, Chen bro, its me, Xiao Nan. Qing Chen glanced at him, then pretended not to recognize him. Nan Gengchen continued, Chen bro, how do you like my Slime costume? Qing Chen: You did well, but dont do it again next time. Nan Gengchen: ... It was already ten oclock at night. The journalists and media outside the conference center saw that there was no more material for news, so they decided to pack up and go home. At that moment, a reporter suddenly shouted, Look, there are people rushing out from the conference center! The keen reporters quickly grabbed their video cameras and cameras, only to see a young man sprinting out, followed by Pikachu, Slimes, Little Dinosaurs, Batman, all bellowing wildly as they poured out. Chapter 736: 431, Melee_3 Chapter 736: 431, Melee_3 During the commotion, some were shouting, Stop him! Kill him! Beat him up! Down with the traitor! The scene boiled over like hot water, and the journalists were boiling over too! This was big news, and they already had their headlines ready. Time Traveler stays up late for a collective manhunt! Conference Center shock, a traitor emerges! Pikachu and Slime join forces! DCs Batman and Marvels Spiderman share a rare frame! The journalists were trembling with excitement deep inside, unable to contain themselves. One journalist yelled, Driver, bring the car around, catch up with them! Finally, the scene evolved into an even more astonishing sight. Li Yi was running fifty meters ahead of the crowd, chased by a bunch of cartoon characters, followed by journalists in their cars, poking their cameras and other long and short guns out the windows. The pedestrians on the streets of Zheng City were dumbfounded, having no clue what was happening. They watched Pikachu sprint by and wondered what was going on. Are they shooting a movie?! At that moment, Qing Yuan blended into the crowd, his gaze fixated on Li Yi ahead. He could no longer attempt to kill Li Yi, because he needed to keep Li Yi and Wang Zhenbei alive to explain to Kunlun and the Time Travelers what exactly had happened. If Li Yi and Wang Zhenbei died in the chaos, the mess pinned on Bright Commune could never be washed clean. With that thought, Qing Yuan suddenly sped up and ran to the front of the pack. Those from the Matrix thought their comrade was going strong, but to their surprise, after Qing Yuan got to the front, he seemed to lose stamina and unwittingly slowed down, holding back the chasing speed. Wait, Qing Yuan looked at Li Yis escape route. Isnt this the way to the Bright Commune headquarters in Zheng City? After the merger with Longhu Commune, they rented a whole floor of an office building! And, they were just two streets away from it! With no other choice, Qing Yuan pulled out his phone while running and sent a text to his father, Qing Yu, afraid that his father might be implicated at the headquarters. At this moment, Qing Yuan had not noticed Luo Wanya not far behind him, staring tensely at his figure, not daring to blink. Qing Chen turned back and saw Luo Wanya; they exchanged a swift glance in the crowd. Following Luo Wanyas indication, Qing Chen turned his head and saw Qing Yuan at the front of the group. All this happened so fast that no other Time Travelers noticed that there were those in the crowd harboring ulterior motives. Just as Qing Yuan was looking down to text, a young man wearing a black mask seemed to accidentally bump into Qing Yuans arm. With a clang, the phone fell to the ground. Qing Yuan was about to turn back to pick it up when he saw a Slime stamp firmly on the phone... Crushing the phone to pieces. Qing Yuan glared furiously, wanting to see who had bumped him, but in the chaos, he couldnt tell anyone apart. In the blink of an eye, Li Yi had run to the front of the Central State Building. Instead of taking the elevator, he ran up the emergency staircase to the 13th floor. The staircase echoed with the pounding of footsteps. Only because the Time Travelers were physically fit could they run two kilometers and still climb to the 13th floor; anyone else might have dropped dead by now. On the 13th floor, the Bright Communes headquarters were still brightly lit. However, Qing Yuans father Qing Yu wasnt there, just a few members of the Bright Commune and Wang Zhenbei. When Wang Zhenbei saw Li Yi rush into the headquarters, he let out an irate curse, Li Yi, what the hell are you up to? The big boss called me, saying I was with you tonight?! When have I seen you tonight? And whats this about teaming up with Jindai and Deer Island, explain yourself... BURP! Before he could finish speaking, hundreds of Time Travelers charged in following Li Yis lead, each one shouting, Lets see where you can run now. Wang Zhenbei was so startled he burped on the spot! Wang Zhenbei addressed the Time Travelers, Everyone, listen to me... Before he could finish, Li Yi suddenly turned to look at the Time Travelers with a cold smirk, After chasing me for three streets, now my boss Wang Zhenbei is right behind me. Hes one of the top fighters, Id like to see who dares to touch me! The Green Little Dinosaur didnt care for any of that, Lets all get them together, take them down! Leading the charge, the Little Dinosaur surged forward. Seeing the swarm of Time Travelers approaching, Wang Zhenbei felt utterly hopeless, Damn it... He was no expert; he had merely taken the place of a D-Class Awakener from the Inner World by chance. Wang Zhenbei had always falsely claimed to be C-Class and had never really fought. He had gotten to his current position through a series of bluffs and deceit. So, he panicked at the sight of so many Time Travelers. Everybody, let me explain... Chen Sui from the Matrix confronted him, Explain to your mom! A solid punch landed on his eye socket. The next moment, Wang Zhenbei was swamped within the crowd of Time Travelers... By then, Lu Yuan had also arrived, and as he observed this one-sided mass brawl, he thought to himself since his crossing over, this must be the biggest brawl among Outer World Time Travelers... If Qing Chen was behind all this, then damn he could really stir up trouble! Right, wheres Qing Chen?! ... ... As Li Yi stood there taking a beating, a young man with a black mask maneuvered to his side and punched him squarely in the spleen. In an instant, Li Yis eyes filled with red blood vessels. But this was an internal injury, imperceptible from the outside. After a mere ten seconds or so. A shocking scene unfolded; Li Yi turned into a clump of black ashes and dissipated amidst the crowd. That was the sight of a sacrifice by the Puppeteer. As for the instigator Qing Chen, he turned and left the battle circle. He couldnt linger here to fight because Qing Yuan had already silently slipped away. From start to finish, Qing Chen never forgot his original intention. He had aimed to lure out Qing Yuan through Longhu Commune. As for Longhu Commune, it was just an incidental casualty. ... A 5,000-word chapte Chapter 737: 432, Ambush, Bloody Battle Chapter 737: 432, Ambush, Bloody Battle Stop hitting me, stop hitting me! I really dont know whats going on; Longhu Public Color definitely didnt collude with Jindai or Deer Island! Wang Zhenbei was surrounded by a crowd and beaten up, but the Time Travelers didnt really go for the kill. After all, Kunlun was watching, and everyone was just looking to blow off some steam with the beating. If the Longhu Commune had really done something utterly wrong, naturally Kunlun would deal with it. That was also the reason why Wang Zhenbei could still talk. Except that two of his front teeth had been knocked out, which made him whistle as he spoke. Wang Zhenbei felt that he had the worst luck among his eight generations; how did he end up with a teammate like Li Yi, who not only constantly drew battles to him but also managed to bring people straight to the Bright Communes headquarters? He felt like Li Yi purposely brought a bunch of people to beat him up. Alright, enough hitting, Lu Yuan, who had been watching the excitement from the perimeter, heard the sound of the elevator coming up and guessed that the reporters had also arrived: Stop or you might kill him. When Lu Yuan spoke, the people beating Wang Zhenbei silently stopped their assault and moved aside. The elevator doors opened, and reporters rushed in, cameras and microphones in hand. As it happened, they caught a Pikachu fiercely pummeling Wang Zhenbei while sitting on top of him... And there was a green Little Dinosaur next to it, cheering and egging it on. Click, click, click. A flurry of shutter sounds ensued. With his front teeth missing and sporting two black eyes, Wang Zhenbei had a look of despair as he glanced at the Pikachu on him and then at the photographers snapping away. In that moment, he realized he probably had no dignity left on Earth. The photo of him being brutally beaten by a Pikachu might go viral in a few minutes, and his bruised and swollen face would expose his embarrassing state to the world. Looking at Lu Yuan, Wang Zhenbei said with a heart full of pain, If I have really done something wrong, you could use the law to punish me, not let a Pikachu humiliate me! Mainly because this Pikachu was way too strong; it had Wang Zhenbei pinned down, leaving him with no chance to fight back. Now, even if someone told him that there was a B-Class or higher expert hidden inside this Pikachu, he would believe it! Lu Yuan couldnt help but laugh. He squatted next to Wang Zhenbei and said cheerfully, You think youve been very sneaky, huh? Dont worry, weve investigated everything clearly. The Judgment Tribunal will punish you. Xiao Ying, take him away. He is the first defendant of the Time Travelers Court. But dont feel lonely, weve got plenty of evidence and there will be a bunch of people joining you in prison soon. Great! Chen Sui, from the matrix, was the first to applaud; he was so happy. He felt that even blinking his eyes there was still a little stickiness. At this moment, Lu Yuans gaze swept across the crowd. The next second, he was startled. Because Luo Wanya, those two Slimes, and Qing Chen had all disappeared without a trace, and Lu Yuan hadnt even noticed when they had left! Something was off! Lu Yuan felt that the trouble tonight wasnt over yet! Xiao Ying, you take Wang Zhenbei back. Ive got to dash, Lu Yuan said hurriedly before leaving. Not far away, the Little Dinosaur approached the Pikachu, Boss, where are we heading now? Pikachu turned its head and scanned the surroundings: People from the Daytime group are gone; well follow the crowd back to the conference center. Is that it? Were just going back? Zard, who was inside the Little Dinosaur, felt unsatisfied; he had too much fun today and hadnt had his fill yet... This Pikachu was so boring. He preferred the Slime! ... ... Ive just dealt with Li Yi. Liu Dezhu, Nan Gengchen, you two change your disguises and go support Luo Wanya first. Ill follow shortly, Qing Chen sent a message to the Daytime group. Liu Dezhu: Roger that. Nan Gengchen: Roger that. Qing Yuan had left early, but Qing Chens act couldnt be cut halfway; it had to be played out fully. The affairs of the Longhu Commune had to end with Li Yis sacrifice. So when he arrived at the Bright Commune headquarters with all the Time Travelers, he let Liu Dezhu and Nan Gengchen leave early to support Luo Wanya. Qing Chen had a nagging feeling there was something wrong; Qing Yuan left too abruptly. There had to be an issue. After all, Qing Yuan wanted to use his phone to signal someone, but his phone was knocked out of his hands and smashed. So, he likely didnt know whether his father was in the headquarters. By normal logic, he would at least go upstairs to take a look and ensure his father was fine, right? But Qing Yuans departure was too decisive, as if he wasnt worried about his father at all. Could it be that this Shadow Candidate... wasnt on good terms with his own father? Or perhaps, just as he had fabricated about Li Yi, Qing Yuan didnt want to be the Crown Prince; he wanted to be the Emperor? Qing Chen swiftly moved into the neon-lit Zheng City. Zheng City Street was still bustling with traffic under the night sky. Luo Wanya, wearing a mask, silently followed Qing Yuan ahead. Tracking and texting Qing Chen at the same time: As soon as you guys stormed the building, he just turned and walked away, decisively. Hes now heading towards Shangdu Road, with no one else following him. At this moment, Luo Wanya was a bit skeptical. Qing Chen had been very cautious and paid a lot of attention to this Qing Yuan. But was this Qing Yuan worth such caution from the boss? Chapter 738: 432, Ambush, Bloody Battle_2 Chapter 738: 432, Ambush, Bloody Battle_2 Luo Wanya had been tracking the young man for quite some time, yet the latter kept moving forward without ever looking back, as if completely unaware that someone might be following him. Under normal circumstances, individuals who pose a danger are often in a state of crisis. Even if they havent received formal counter-surveillance training, they gradually develop a sense of counter-surveillance. Qing Chen replied, Has he noticed you? Luo Wanya texted Qing Chen, Boss, he hasnt noticed me, and he hasnt even looked back at me. A few seconds later, Qing Chen suddenly replied, Leave first. Liu Dezhu and Nan Gengchen are coming to support you. Its dangerous. Luo Wanya was startled. He instinctively looked around himself; nothing was amiss. But Luo Wanya wasnt one to act recklessly. Since the boss had mentioned danger, there must be real danger. He turned and started walking in the opposite direction, preparing to leave. However, he then discovered that somehow seven people had followed him, and along with Qing Yuan ahead, they subtly encircled him. At that moment, Luo Wanya realized that this was a trap. The young man in the matrix uniform turned around, removed the white mask from his face, and with a somewhat mocking expression, looked at him, Youve gone to such lengths to find me, Im curious who is behind you. A Shadow Candidate, perhaps? Qing Yuan knew something. If everything that happened tonight was actually unrelated to Wang Zhenbei and Li Yi, if Wang Zhenbei had never colluded with Jindai or Deer Island, then someone had deliberately fabricated the event. Thus, the target was definitely not Wang Zhenbei. But himself. Therefore, if he were to leave halfway, the people who followed must be one of the planners behind tonights event. All he needed to do was capture one of them for interrogation, and the truth would emerge. Yet, Luo Wanya didnt engage him, but used his fastest typing speed and the little time he had left to send a message to Qing Chen, Boss, this person might be the one youre looking for, but his appearance is completely different from the photo you gave me. This old veteran, even while surrounded, still used this brief time to send the most important message to Qing Chen. The person in front of him wasnt disguised as Qing Yuan at all! Qing Yuans appearance wasnt hard to find in the Inner Worlds intelligence system, being a scion of a conglomerate, hed attended one or two events before. Yet, Luo Wanya was astonished as the other party, in his speech, actually admitted he was Qing Yuan, but the appearance didnt match. Qing Chen, too, was stunned by the message, as this was an unexpected variable. Wait a moment, before this, all intelligence had never revealed Qing Yuans caliber level nor confirmed his status as a Cultivator or Awakener. Qing Chen wondered, could Qing Yuans ability be similar to the Puppeteer, capable of controlling others? In the history of the Federation, there were 7 Awakeners with such abilities, among them, Puppeteer was a power delineated by one with controlling abilities. The conditions for using controlling abilities are unusually stringent, even laden with many odd restrictions, and Awakeners cannot use their powers freely. But if a Transcendent with controlling abilities advanced to A-Class, they would become extremely dangerous, even capable of challenging the social order single-handedly. Uncle Li Dong had once told Qing Chen that the Awakener who delineated the Puppeteer was an A-Class expert from the Federal Army Group. Back then, some strange occurrences had surfaced in the 127th Brigade of the First Army Group. A soldier had officially reported to the staff that the atmosphere within the 127th Brigade was eerie, as if many people were controlled by an unknown entity. He explained in his report that a comrade, who was previously very close, suddenly acted like a stranger, having forgotten all past incidents. And it wasnt just this one comrade who was acting oddly. Once, when he woke up in the middle of the night, he suddenly discovered eight comrades quietly watching him from beside his bed, not uttering a word. Since then, the reporter began to silently observe the barracks. This reporter noticed that his roommates often quietly got up several people at a time, in the dead of night, and it was unknown where they went. Because of all these eerie incidents coming together, the reporter finally decided to report the matter. The staff from the First Army Group sent 12 military policemen to investigate the matter, but when the military police found the reporter, he denied all the odd phenomena, claiming he was just disgruntled with the senior soldiers bullying him and wanted some revenge. Qing Chens first reaction was that the reporter had ultimately been controlled! And he thought, if the entire 127th Brigade had been controlled, wouldnt that be terrifying? What if the entire First Army Group was controlled, wouldnt that be even more frightening? So, an A-Class controlling type Awakener was truly horrifying. The crucial issue was that, after controlling others, it was like planting a seed in their bodies. At A-Class, even if the Awakener himself died, as long as more than half of his seeds survived, he could be reborn in the bodies of those seeds. This was the most terrifying part. Of course, there was a way to counter it, which was to kill more than half of his seeds in one go. Even if the Awakener himself didnt die, such controlling type Awakener would become a vegetative state, his consciousness completely submerged in Chaos. Qing Chen asked his master, what happened later? Uncle Li Dong said that back then, the First Army Group was Qings Family turf, so after the staff reported the issue to the command, it was the contemporary Shadow who directly intervened to resolve the issue. Chapter 739: 432, Ambush, Bloody Battle_3 Chapter 739: 432, Ambush, Bloody Battle_3 At that time, the entire First Army Group was abuzz with rumors that the 127th Brigade had come under the control of a demon, and soon, they too would be under its control. It caused widespread unease. Uncle Li Dong stated that all Shadows throughout history shared one common trait, which is being ruthlessly decisive. Each Shadow had endured the tragic strife of competing for supremacy within the Nine Dragons, fighting their way to the top step by step. Such people, who have witnessed betrayal from friends and death threats from their kin, have a way of thinking that is unimaginable to the average person. Before the Shadow Candidate even arrived at the First Army Group, his first order was the execution of 12 military police. The second thing he did was activate the Divine Scepter ship to hover at an altitude of 5,200 meters above the 127th Brigade, and use the main firepower electromagnetic cannon to obliterate the entire 127th Brigade. This Shadow had a very famous saying that still circulates within the Federal Army Group: All fear stems from a lack of firepower. Later, this Shadows direct troops did something else. At that time, outside the 1823 production base was a graveyard where Federated citizens working there often said ghosts haunted the area, with frequent sightings of a woman in red floating about. As a result, after the Shadows direct troops arrived, they simply drove in 12 Shan-Qing-22 main battle tanks and fired salvos that flattened all the graves. After that, there were no more reports of ghost sightings. Everyone said that this Shadows direct troops were specially tasked with eradicating feudal superstitions... At this moment, Qing Chen speculated that Qing Yuans ability was likely one of control, and the reason the appearance of the person they were tracking did not match was because they were dealing with Qing Yuans seed, not his actual body! No wonder the target had gone into hiding; with such an ability, one wouldnt need to make personal appearances to accomplish anything. If that was the case, dealing with Qing Yuan himself would be very difficult. Qing Chen sent messages to Liu Dezhu and Nan Gengchen: Luo Wanya is in danger. Having said that, he too started sprinting. Luo Wanya was actually a street thug who made his way through unclean means, spending his early years either on the run or preparing to flee. He was considerably older than other members of the daylight. Even when combined, Qing Chens and Nan Gengchens ages did not surpass Luo Wanyas. Luo Wanya had not been with daylight for long and didnt seem like a significant figure. Qing Chen once talked to Luo Wanya about his experiences while on the run. Luo Wanya shared that when he returned from his first escape, his wife had taken their assets and remarried. Qing Chen asked him if he regretted it. At that time, Luo Wanya, uncharacteristically shy, scratched his head and laughed, Someone like me could die out there at any time; why drag someone else down? Let her remarry. Its nothing. In the midst of conversation, it appeared that Luo Wanya, who lived life on the edge of a knife, was always ready to confront death. But Qing Chen did not want this man to die. ... ... Qing Yuan advanced step by step towards Luo Wanya: Who sent you? Where are your accomplices? Tell me whos pulling the strings behind the scene, and Ill spare you tonight. During this time, the seven assassins began closing in on Luo Wanya as well. Luo Wanya laughed, a ghastly and ferocious laugh. He pulled out a Spring Knife from his pocket, a weapon that had been with him for over twenty years, taken from a Korean snakehead who had tried to sell his organs during his first escape attempt. The snakehead who specialized in transporting people had been fed to the fishes over twenty years ago, yet Luo Wanya was still alive today. He tugged out a Golden Buddha pendant from around his neck. The pure gold Rolex watch he had taken with him when he fled had been sold, but he never had the heart to sell the Golden Buddha his wife gave him. Even when he was starving in foreign streets, he did not sell it. Times have changed, people are different. But that didnt matter, what mattered was that he was still alive. You really think your grandpa is some minor character you can easily handle? Ive never done anything to betray or abandon my principles in my life, Luo Wanya sneered: If you want my life, come and try for yourself. In the heat of the moment, Luo Wanya actually charged at Qing Yuan head-on. The seven assassins followed and surrounded him from behind. What was shocking was that Luo Wanya completely ignored the assassins behind him, fighting desperately just to trade his life for Qing Yuans. This was the most ferocious street fighting style. No tricks, no intelligence. When Luo Wanya entered the underworld, his big brother told him: if a bunch of people attack you, just grab one and dont let go until hes dead! In just a few seconds, Luo Wanya had been stabbed over ten times in the back. In front of him, Qing Yuan bled profusely from the abdomen and one eye was blinded. On Zheng City Street, onlookers who saw such a fierce brawl screamed and stayed far away. There was a moment when Qing Yuan felt like he was facing a wild boar king in the wilderness. Such a boar, even when shot several times, as long as its vitals remain unscathed, would chase you to the ends of the earth. That was the true terror of a wild boar. However, Qing Yuan was not flustered. Blinded in one eye, he glanced at the wound on his abdomen with his good eye and said with a laugh, Such a crude street-fighting style, with no technical content at all. This calmness was chilling. Meanwhile, Luo Wanya, while brandishing his dagger, retorted with a laugh, An eye for an eye. Im not at a loss. Yet, at that very moment, the color of the night sky changed from black to red. Luo Wanya clearly saw Qing Yuans face brightening up, as if a ball of fire was hurtling towards him rapidly. He could feel some kind of temperature rising steadily at his back. The biting cold wind no longer felt harsh, as though the sun was rising in the east. The flames crackled and popped, like a chariot enveloped in flames rushing forward. Liu Dezhu, transformed into a blaze of fire, charged into the battlefield, and within moments, scattered the seven assassins surrounding Luo Wanya. Helping up the half-kneeling Luo Wanya, he said, The boss sent me to rescue you! Luo Wanya gave a bitter smile: Be quicker next time. ... A five-thousand-word chapter, another will follow at 11 PM tonight. Chapter 740: 433, Puppet Chapter 740: 433, Puppet If I dont come earlier next time, I might really die here, Luo Wanya gasped, leaning against the utility pole. Definitely next time, Liu Dezhu said before turning to Qing Yuan. Fire. Blazing fire. The moment Liu Dezhu collided with the seven assassins, the intense heat he carried instantly turned several people into fireballs. The fire exploded outward from Liu Dezhu and Luo Wanya at the center, hurling the few assassins into the air with a scorching blast. Since becoming a C-Class, Liu Dezhu rarely had the chance to give his all in combat, not because he was lazy, but because Qing Chen had arranged everything so well that he didnt need to exert himself completely. However, at this moment, the power of a C-Class Awakener was undeniably on display in the night of Zheng City. Fury. Extremely fury. The dancing flames were like notes leaping on a musical staff. Because Awakening releases the potential of the body, Liu Dezhu trained slower than the others, but he still persisted. He did it for no other reason than because the boss told him that if he could reach B-Class in his training, he would also help him reach B-Class in his Awakener level. After hearing those words, just like when the boss told him to stay angry in the beginning, he really did stay angry all the time. But now, watching Luo Wanya, who was always smiling on regular days, with a face so pale, Liu Dezhu suddenly felt angry again. The last time he felt this angry was when his mother was nearly killed. Qing Yuan carefully scrutinized Liu Dezhu with his only remaining eye. But at that moment, Liu Dezhu was enveloped in flames, his features indiscernible. Having never revealed his abilities, Liu Dezhu remained a mystery to Qing Yuan. It seems that an organization has been targeting me with a plan, Qing Yuan said with a confident smile, Let me guess, there are two possibilities: one is that one of the Shadow Candidates is a Time Traveler just like me, who has also made good inroads in the Outer World. The other possibility is that a Time Traveler assists one of the Shadow Candidates, similarly having a reason to eliminate me. Which one are you? And who is your boss? Liu Dezhu remained silent, surveying his surroundings. The seven assassins were not weak, each possessing the strength of at least E-Class, even D-Class. According to the bosss speculation, Qing Yuan must have a considerable number of Genetic Warriors at his side, as a seventh of the Qing Familys annual Genetic Potion quota was in the hands of Qing Yuans father. By calculating the time since the crossover event occurred, even an Ordinary Person could have taken three Genetic Potions by now. Three Genetic Potions, D-Class. If Qing Yuans father, Qing Yu, was really a Time Traveler, he would undoubtedly build an army of Genetic Warriors capable of waging war in both worlds for his son. Liu Dezhu was curious how Luo Wanya, under such an assault, still managed to poke out one of Qing Yuans eyes. Then Qing Yuan laughed suddenly, Dont want to talk? No matter, lets first test the strength of your organization. As his words fell, the seven already upturned assassins charged toward Liu Dezhu to engage him in combat simultaneously. Liu Dezhu chuckled, Qing Xing sends its regards to you all. The fire dancing around him suddenly stalled as Liu Dezhu roared, his fist smashing towards the approaching assassin: Down! All the training Liu Dezhu had undergone recently culminated in this moment. His footsteps served as the foundation, with power transmitting from the earth to his twisting waist, and then to his swinging arm. That fiery punch was released after the lead yet arrived first; although it was the assassins who struck first, Liu Dezhu was significantly faster. Before the assassins could react, the explosive punch already brutally landed on an assassins face. A crisp snap sounded from the assassins neck, and the man twisted and was hammered to the ground. In an instant, that unparalleled fist burst forth with brilliant flames. The flames instantly engulfed the assassin completely. Light swirled, flames cracked the earth! Kusanagi Kyo! Rihachi-shiki: Orochinagi! The next second, another assassin was already launching an attack with a dagger from behind him. Liu Dezhu didnt even turn his head. Bending over, he flicked his left leg backward sharply. In one fluid motion, he hooked his toe under the assailants chin, astonishingly flicking the assassin into mid-air. Up! Liu Dezhu swiftly twisted his waist and leaped, catching the falling assassin with a sharp right hook. A thunderous boom! From that hook punch, another dazzling burst of light exploded, blasting the assassin back up into the sky. Kusanagi Kyo! Rihachi-shiki: Oniyaki! Luo Wanya, leaning on the utility pole, was dumbfounded. Was this still the fool who only knew how to goof around and gossip about the boss every day in the daylight villa?! When Qing Chen went to Europe a while ago, Liu Dezhu wasnt idle either; he had been contemplating how to use his heat-based Awakening abilities. Nan Gengchen had an idea and suggested he learn from Kusanagi Kyo in The King of Fighters, regardless of whether it was practical; as long as it looked cool, that was all that mattered. Careful! Luo Wanya shouted a warning. Just when Liu Dezhu descended from the air, two assassins had already charged at him with daggers drawn. But before they could reach him, a figure appeared from nowhere, striking them in the throat with swift, dual strikes. It turned out to be Nan Gengchen, wearing a mask! Unlike Genetic Potions, the cultivation methods do not halt at a certain level after injection; its hard to approach the threshold of the next level. However, Nan Gengchens cultivation of the Zhunti method was different; he cultivated his Qi meridians in an orderly manner, improving a little with each meridian he cultivated. He said he was close to C-Class, which meant his strength was also infinitely close to C-Class. This advantage was incomparable to that of a Genetic Warrior. The two assassins clutched at their crushed throats and slowly retreated backward. The shattered throat bones pierced their windpipes, making it impossible for them to breathe. In just over ten seconds, they began to feel suffocated. Everything in their sight gradually darkened. Nan Gengchen silently watched all this happen, knowing he would have to face it someday and couldnt always be protected by Qing Chen. So, he stared without looking away, trying to get used to that feeling as quickly as possible. The remaining three assassins also backed away uncertainly because they didnt know if there were any other masters hidden around. Liu Dezhu stood his ground on the ground, then said to Qing Yuan, Your body must be a puppet, right? Even though your real self is safe and sound, finding a good puppet shouldnt be easy. Dont you feel any pity at all? Qing Yuans expression remained calm, as if the blood flowing unstoppably from his abdomen couldnt affect his will. He smiled and said, Perhaps your combat power doesnt last, so you want to chat to stall for time, right? Theres no need for thatthe encounter tonight was just a brief greeting. I believe well meet again in the future. With that said, Qing Yuan actually picked up a dagger that had fallen on the ground and then gently slid it across his neck, falling askew to the ground. Seeing this, Liu Dezhus scalp tingled. The intense battle he imagined didnt occur, but the scene of the opponent committing suicide so nonchalantly truly shocked him. Not for any other reason, but because the opponent was too calm when killing himself. Even though Qing Chen had told them it was a puppet, the sight was still shocking. The three assassins didnt linger to fight and turned to blend into the crowd, swiftly leaving the battleground with decisive action. Liu Dezhu looked at Nan Gengchen and was silent for a few seconds, Was that cool just now? Nan Gengchen exclaimed, I told you, if you want to look cool playing with fire, you have to learn from Kusanagi Kyo, right? That, you two... help me up, Luo Wanya said. Only at this moment did Liu Dezhu finally have the mindset to observe Luo Wanyas injuries, How are you? I can take you to the hospital right now. No need, no need, Luo Wanya, his face twisted in pain, still declined. The back of Luo Wanyas suit was chopped up like a vagabonds, tattered and torn. Liu Dezhu and Nan Gengchen were extremely distressed. They had no idea that Lao Luo had paid so much for the sake of daylight. But when Liu Dezhu touched Luo Wanyas back, he asked with some surprise, Wait, why is there no blood on your back? Luo Wanya said, I knew it would be dangerous coming to Zheng City, so I got a friend to make me a bulletproof vest to wear underneath. Winter clothes are thick, so no one could tell... Liu Dezhu: ... No wonder Luo Wanya chose the most impetuous fighting stylehe was counting on his high defense! Who would have thought of that?! Which serious Time Traveler ever fought with a bulletproof vest on?! The seven assassins must have been baffled when they chopped at Luo Wanyas back and it didnt bleedwhat was going on?! Liu Dezhu exclaimed, If were talking about being shrewd, you, Lao Luo, are the clever one. So why are you still pretending to be in pain? Luo Wanya replied, I took two strikes to my legs... just need some simple stitching up. No need for a hospital; I can handle it myself. Relieved, Liu Dezhu and Nan Gengchen took a quick look around, Lets go, well talk elsewhere. By the way, wheres the boss? asked Luo Wanya. No idea. The three assassins silently and swiftly walked down the streets. They crossed through the crowd, throwing their knives into the trash cans by the road. In about ten minutes, the three regrouped at the intersection of Fuyuan Road and Shangding Road. They stood casually by the roadside, as if the battle that had just unfolded had nothing to do with them. Suddenly, a black business car arrived at the corner, its rear passenger door opening automatically. Just as the assassins were about to enter the vehicle, a young passerby walked by behind them. The passerby seemed to reach out lightly. The assassins only felt a feather-light object grazed across their necks. When they reached up to touch, then looked at their palms, they were covered in fresh blood. Horrified, the assassins looked toward the tall figure of the passerby who had moved farther away, with no intention of looking back. Meanwhile, the driver of the business car was still focused on the road ahead. Seeing that they were slow to get in, he urged, Get in. No one responded. When the driver turned his head again, he was shocked to find the three assassins lying beside the car, in a pool of blood on the ground. Looking into the distance, the figure of the passerby had vanished, and the driver broke into a smile, Didnt take the bait, huh? He didnt restart the business car but instead got out and walked away. After several steps, he pressed the remote control in his pocket. With a thunderous roar, the business car exploded into a fireball. This was another of Qing Yuans puppetshe had specifically informed the three assassins that he would come to pick them up, expecting that someone might follow them. If the follower reached the vehicle and attempted to take the driver and the assassins hostage, intending to extract information about Qing Yuan through interrogation, Then they would all turn to ashes together. After all, it was just a puppet. Although creating one could be troublesome, Qing Yuan didnt mind. Chapter 741: 434, a little duck was kicked out of the group chat Chapter 741: 434, a little duck was kicked out of the group chat Within the He Xiaoxiao group chat. Chuang Wang: I want to ask, what exactly happened tonight? Yue Er: Werent you there? Li Si: Werent you there? Zard: Even if you eat shit, you cant beat the fresh stuff. Chuang Wang got angry, I just flew in tonight, isnt the meeting starting tomorrow? Is there a problem with me coming today? Hurry up and tell me what happened, I heard explosions from inside the taxi. Zard: I dont know, I just watched from a distance and saw a cute little green dinosaur. Huan Yu had just finished bathing in his room, and when he saw Zards message in the group, he almost wanted to curse! Who the hell exposes themselves like this!? Liu Dezhu kindly provided some information: Tonight, first the Bright Commune people said they wanted to ally with Jindai and Deer Island to eradicate the Sanjiangkou Organization, but it got out and was overheard by Sanjiangkou. So everyone started calling to take down the traitors, beat up the people from Bright Commune, and Kunlun even took their third boss, Wang Zhenbei, to face trial. Chuang Wang was puzzled, What about the explosions? Liu Dezhu continued, Not sure about that, after we finished off the traitors here, a fight broke out not far from here on the streets, and no one knows who was fighting whom, but it was intense. Does anyone know exactly who was involved in the battle? As is well-known, being first conveys a strong psychological message. Liu Dezhu, by taking the perspective of a bystander, had immediately distanced Daytime from the situation. He left an open question, testing to see if anyone had discovered something. But, no one responded. There were so many things that happened tonight, the battle outside Bright Commune was unexpected for everyone, and they still didnt know which two sides were fighting each other. Yue Er said, I only saw a bit from a distance; they had already started fighting. There was a particularly powerful and handsome fire-awakened person. In a room at the JW Marriott Hotel. Nan Gengchen saw Liu Dezhus eyebrows lift, and his mouth sported an uncontrollable smile. Nan Gengchen calmly said, It seems someone finally complimented your looks; feel free to laugh. Liu Dezhu modestly replied, Actually, Im not that handsome... By the way, wheres the boss? I havent seen him tonight. Could he be on a date with some Time Traveler lady? Mind your own business, Nan Gengchen glanced at Liu Dezhu and thought to himself that he could only hint so much, otherwise even the immortals couldnt save him. Qing Chen ignored Liu Dezhu as he was stitching up the wound on Luo Wanyas leg without anesthesia, yet Luo Wanya didnt even frown. Luo Wanya had four wounds in total: two on the leg, one on the buttocks, and one on the arm. Qing Chen glanced at him. He chuckled and said, Can you believe how mean these people are, greeting my buttocks with a stab. The young man looked up at Luo Wanya, Lao Luo, the fact that youve survived so many years in the Jianghu isnt mere luck. Luo Wanya laughed heartily and said, Its mainly because the rescue efforts were timely... Back in the days when domestic security wasnt so good, if you didnt stay sharp on the streets, you might not have lived till today. Especially around train stations in Deep City, Haicheng, and Guangcheng, when you exited the station, a bunch of people would encircle you, pull out knives, and rob you, stabbing you if you resisted. Luo Wanya continued, Back then, when we went out, wed secure textbooks to our bodies with clear tape hidden beneath our clothes, in case someone had a dagger. I suppose our teachers never imagined we used textbooks for this purpose. In this moment, Luo Wanya, who had roamed the Jianghu, had finally integrated completely into Daytime and became one of its members. In the past, because he was much older, he didnt have much in common with the other Daytime members. Even though he was in the Daytime group, he kept a low profile and didnt visit the Daytime villa often, being content and focused in his role as the head of security. But now, Daytime had accepted him. Because at the critical moment, he truly held up and didnt betray his teammates. After Qing Chen finished stitching Luo Wanyas wound, he said, Take care and heal. You dont need to face danger anymore; Daytimes future intelligence system will be handed over to you. In the Inner Worlds City No. 10, I will arrange for someone to give you training related to intelligence. Luo Wanyas eyes lit up: Thank you... He was about to thank the boss, but then he remembered, there was someone in the room who didnt know about Qing Chen being the boss... Liu Dezhu. In fact, Qing Chen didnt exactly need to keep it secret from Liu Dezhu, he just wanted to see how far this guy could screw up. ... ... At this time, in He Xiaoxiaos group chat. He Xiaoxiao, who had long been silent, suddenly spoke up: Does everyone still remember the new rule in our group, because the original intention of creating this group was for public test players to help one another and share information? Therefore, each Time Traveler is required to share one strategy every month. Those who share remain, those who dont will be downgraded. He Xiaoxiaos group chat had already completed its segmentation. And without a doubt, the group that Qing Chen, Huan Yu, Zheng Yuandong, and He Jinqiu were in was the highest level. He Xiaoxiao continued, Ill share my strategy first: The current Federations civil war expansion pack has come to a temporary halt, Jindai and Deer Island have lost the Holy Mountain Range and Raichu Plain in the north. The forces of the Jindai and Deer Island controlled Federal Group retreated 720 kilometers. Representatives of Jindai, Deer Island, Chen Clan, Qings Family, and Li Family signed a ceasefire agreement in City No. 19 of the Outer World, corresponding to Taicheng. However, the intelligence community believes this ceasefire agreement wont prevent the war to come. Chapter 742: 434, a little duck was kicked out of the group chat_2 Chapter 742: 434, a little duck was kicked out of the group chat_2 In this incident, it is worth pondering that the former head of the Li Family, Li Xiurui, faked his death under the pretense of dozens of Li Family members needing to handle funeral affairs, which led Jindai and Deer Island to believe that the Southern Groups military defense was empty and leaderless, Later, the head of the Li Family, Li Xiurui, quietly left the clan and went to the Southern No. 002 Taboo Land. En route, the Jindai family found out and sent an A-Class expert to intercept him, yet they too were outsmarted by Li Xiurui. He used Li Yunjing to kill Jindai Yunsong, who was the most likely to become a demigod in the Jindai family over the next twenty years, No one knows yet what Li Xiurui was doing in the No. 002 Taboo Land, but it is predictable that the time left for the Jindai family is running short, King Chuang, Wait, what do you mean the time left for the Jindai family is running short? He Xiaoxiao, The Jindai family has always had a demigod guarding the north, called Jindai Jingchuan. In fact, there are currently four and a half known demigods in the Inner World, four of which are Uncle Li Dong, Jindai Jingchuan, Chen Yu of the Chen Clan, and Li Yunhuan of Deer Island. Half a demigod is suspected to be Qings shadow, but no one has confirmed it. And Jindai Jingchuan doesnt have much time left, Liu Dezhu, Hmm, arent all these people from the consortia? Why are all the demigods in consortia? He Xiaoxiao, This may also indirectly show the importance of resources. Cultivators and Awakeners with the backing of consortia are the only ones who can survive long enough to see the day they become demigods. Of course, there might be hidden demigods, but their number will certainly not be many, at most one or two, King Chuang, Hey, but cant the Jindai family transfer consciousness with interfacing neuron technology? Zard, If you can think of it, so can He Xiaoxiao. But if they were to perform the transfer, the body of the demigod would be lost. Besides, breakthroughs above A-Class rely on state of mind, and as far as I know, taking over someone elses body who is a demigod does not allow them to become a demigod again, He Xiaoxiao, Demigods are always a strategic deterrent resource for the consortia to intimidate other consortia. Of course, demigods are not invincible, and clans have other technological weapons to keep them in check as well. However, once a clans demigod falls, it means that no one can really stop another demigods assassination. If a demigod is set on assassinating someone, its unstoppable. So, if Jindai Jingchuan dies, then the Jindai family will enter a period of vulnerability, and it could be forty to fifty years before they can cultivate another demigod, Lil Duck, Does Deer Island have a successor to their demigod? How old is their demigod? He Xiaoxiao, Li Yunhuan of Deer Islands Li Family is 61 this year, and they have an internal successor with the potential to become a demigod, Li Yunze, A-Class. However, Li Yunze was actually replaced by Li Changqing of the Central Plains Li Family, who arranged for a Time Traveler to take his place. Currently, it is said that Li Yunzes disciple has taken over his masters body, erasing the consciousness of the Time Traveler, In fact, Li Yunze had been given a Genetic Potion to prevent anyone from trying to replace him, but Li Changqing, the current intelligence officer of the Li Family, somehow got hold of the same batch of Genetic Potion that Li Yunze was injected with, and gave it to Li Yunzes replacement, who succeeded in the replacement, Qing Chen couldnt help but laugh and cry at this, as it turned out Li Changqing had been quietly pulling off so many stunts, Li Changqing first used a stand-in to replace the real Li Yunze, forcing Deer Island to use Li Yunzes disciple and neuron interfacing technology to then replace this Time Traveler... Thus, the Li Yunze that Qing Chen met in Europe was actually Li Yunzes disciple, Truly damned complicated. King Chuang, Does the Jindai family now want to take advantage of their demigod still being around to unify the Federation? He Xiaoxiao, I dont know about that. My strategy sharing is done, whos next? Zard, Ill form the head! Huan Yu, ...Talk properly. Zard, As far as I know, after the representatives of the five consortia signed the ceasefire agreement, the Jindai family sent twelve beauties to the Chen Clan! Lil Duck, Everyone was sharing strategies just fine, how did it come to gossip when its your turn... Zard, You tell me, isnt it a strategy? Its also very important information, huh? The Chen Clan did not reject those twelve beauties. They took them home and distributed them among the side branches, thereby tacitly acknowledging some type of transaction. Attitude, you know? This is the attitude of a consortium, That statement from Zard confirmed Qing Chens previous suspicion, Huan Yu indeed belonged to the Chen Clan, If such a secretive matter was known to Zard, why? Huan Yu, Ill share something too, in this European melee, Daylight played an important role. Moreover, Daylight played a critical role. As far as I know, Jindai and Deer Islands initial actions in Europe were to chase and kill Daylights Qing Chen in the Barents Sea. Later, everyone said Capri killed Qing Chen, seizing Qing Chens ship and returning to port, but as far as I know, Qing Chen didnt die, right? He took the G1938 high-speed train back to Los Angeles City, Huan Yu, I suspect, the behind-the-scenes mastermind of the battle in Europe was Daylight! Qing Chen frowned at the chat history in the group, Huan Yu that guy was once again targeting him, And he knew too much, Even knew that he was the mastermind. Wait, thats not right! This was a frame-up Huan Yu was trying to put on him, the other party only suspected him of being involved in the battle in Europe, but they had no way of confirming what role he actually played, However, the others in the group did not think so, Everyone was shocked as soon as they heard Huan Yu speak, was the chaos in Europe really stirred up by Daylight? Wasnt that a bit too exaggerated? Did we have civil Time Traveler organizations in our country that were so powerful they could start trouble overseas? You have to understand, we havent even figured out our own little patch of land yet. Ice Eyes: Ill share my strategy: I really was chased, but my power level was too low to handle high-level combat. After being forced to board a ship in Capri, I was forced to jump into the sea, eventually drifting to the Yermakovsky Islands, where I stowed away on a freighter back to the country. Daylight did not partake in the European affair. Huan Yu: Heh. Liu Dezhu: Hee hee. A little duck: Hee hee. Ice Eyes: Hee hee. Huan Yu fuming @He Xiaoxiao: Why does Daylight have so many members in the group? Its not fair to others! Each organization should only have two people in the group, that would be fair! Taboo ACE-999: Seconded. Jing Shan: Seconded. Zard: Seconded. Suddenly, a prompt sounded in the group: A little duck has been kicked from the group chat. Nan Gengchen in a hotel room: ??? An original group member of the Time Travelers, he actually got demoted to another group?! What kind of operation was this?! Nan Gengchen grumbled: Why not kick the column? Liu Dezhu: Youre hoping for some good news of me. Qing Chen thought for a moment and said: I guess He Jinqiu, He Xiaoxiao, and Zheng Yuandong have long been unable to stand your flashy group entrance every time, they couldnt take you anymore. Nan Gengchen: ... Jing Shan and Taboo ACE-999, werent they He Jinqiu and Zheng Yuandong? When these bosses wanted someone out, there was no chance of staying. Taboo ACE-999: Then let me share a piece of information. I also looked into the European affair, traced the freighter information that Ice Eyes used to smuggle back into the countryfreighter number SNC-0992123. The captain and crew admitted they secretly transported a person back from the Yermakovsky Islands. However, this person knocked out four of the captains teeth, and the crew were left with bruised faces, saying they spent days fishing for tuna at sea, and would get beaten if they failed to catch any. Zard: Ice Eyes, I didnt expect you to be this kind of person! Ice Eyes: ... Taboo ACE-999: Currently, multiple bloodstains and DNA have been detected on the ship, and Kyushu suspects they are involved in several cases of human smuggling and organ trafficking, and have opened an investigation. The captain and the crew are already under control. Now everyone understood; Qing Chen was probably acting in self-defense, which is why the crew met such a terrible fate. However, with Kyushus validation, Daylight seemed to have cleared itself from the incident in Europe. Qing Chen thought about it, bought a membership to activate the private chat feature, and asked Taboo ACE-999: Why are you helping clear my name? Taboo ACE-999: Kyushus doors are always open to you. The next moment, Jing Shan suddenly sent Qing Chen a private message: He Jinqiu cleared your name because he was worried you would also be restricted from entering Europe, which would make it impossible for him to invite you to take charge of Kyushus European Branch. Qing Chen was stunned for a moment; the two bosses seemed to have suddenly gotten involved. ... Another chapter at 11:00 PM. Chapter 743: 435, The merged group chat, new faces! Chapter 743: 435, The merged group chat, new faces! Zard: Whose turn is it to share strategy? Come on, come on, come on, come on, I cant wait. If you dont share now, the group admin is going to kick people out. Everyone seemed to hear this chatterbox buzzing in their ears. Liu Dezhu: Ill share a strategy: The North American Time Traveler has a lot of taboo items, and moreover, the genetic potions there are relatively cheap, but they have serious side effects. The Breaker: The Shadow struggle has escalated to a fever pitch, and Qing Xing is suspected of possessing taboo items that could control others fates. He has caused several accidents for Qing Wu and Qing Wen. Now Qing Wen is trying to seize this opportunity to join forces with Qing Wu, but Qing Wu has refused. His response was that in the struggle for the Shadow, everyone should rely on their own abilities. Teaming up is too low-level. By the way, Qing Wu is a B-Class Expert. The Qings Familys cultivation tradition starts at the age of 9, but he began at just 4 years old. He is considered a top cultivation prodigy within the Qings Family. The Breaker: There are quite a few factions within the Qings Family supporting him to become the Shadow Candidate. Li Si: Why, arent Qing Wen, Qing Xing, and Qing Yuan good enough? With that comment, Li Si had effectively excluded the star-chasing Qing Shi... The Breaker: The temporary assessment by the internal bigwigs is that Qing Wen appears strong on the outside but is weak internally, Qing Xing has the taboo items but lacks a firm hand, and Qing Yuan is not bad, but the bigwigs would rather the next Shadow be a martial fanatic unconcerned with worldly affairs than a shrewd and strong person. Everyone understood. The power of the Shadow is immense, as within the Qings Family, their status is second only to one and above tens of thousands. If the Shadow is too dominant and too smart, then the chances of the faction leaders getting pushed around become very high. Power would be concentrated in the hands of the Shadow and the Family Head. If the Shadow is a martial fanatic, then naturally the faction leaders within the Qings Family can play their little games. The Breaker: The current Shadow has suppressed the factions too harshly, and dissatisfaction has slowly grown within everyone. Nobody wants the next Shadow to be like that. The Shadows job is not only to deter external threats but also to ensure internal unity and centralization of power. The Breaker: Recently, the Qings Shadow has unusually publicly supported a matter, which you might have heard aboutthe PCA Federation CIAs 10th City exchange with Jindai Yasuhara. The newly appointed Inspector of Intelligence Department One, Group Seven, has arrested quite a few people within the Qings Family and even cut off many of their financial avenues. The Breaker: It is said that before our return, the Qings Family internal meeting was just convened, with the faction leaders preparing to interrogate the Shadow about his recent actions and to impeach him. They knew internally that he wanted to swap Qing Mu, but Qing Mus value is to stay in the North, not to return to the Qings Family. The faction leaders were ready to question whether his decision was wise. Qing Chen was startled. He knew why the Shadow wanted to swap Qing Muit was because he wanted to win over the hearts of the entire Qings Family intelligence system. However, Qing Chen hadnt realized that in doing this, the Shadow was also under a lot of pressure. He had never mentioned this to Qing Chen. The Breaker: This generations Shadow has made too many enemies. After stepping down, hell probably be placed under house arrest at the Qings Family Ginkgo Manor and spend the rest of his life there... How about it? Is the strategy I shared detailed enough? Selfless enough? From now on, show me some respect! Zard: Youve finally proven yourself; Im relieved. The Breaker: ... In fact, many members of the group were curious. This Breaker seemed to be without desires, sharing critical information every day without holding back. Youd have to be in a very key position within the Qings Family to know so much, right? But whats in it for him? Qing Chen even began to wonder if this guy was Qing Huais uncle. After all, that uncle was nothing more than a relative by marriage with a rank of only a Lieutenant Colonelcould he know so much? In the midst of the bustling chat, Qing Bao meekly said in the group: I dont have any strategies to share recently; can I owe it for now? Actually, Jindai Kongyin did have strategies to share, but those could easily expose her as Jindai Kongyin. She feared that after Ice Eye realized she was Jindai Kongyin, she would embarrassingly have to cough up a three-bedroom apartment. Though Qing Chen had guessed as much... Taboo ACE-999: Agreed. Jing Shan: Agreed. He Xiaoxiao: Agreed. Li Si: Can I owe it too? I havent gotten hold of anything recently... Li Si has been removed from the group chat. Nan Gengchen had been watching the messages in the group beside Liu Dezhu and burst into laughter: Hahahaha, why is Li Si so pitiful? These people are downright sexist; why is it that girls can owe it, but boys cant? Liu Dezhu glanced at him: Are you more pitiful than him? Nan Gengchen: ... But Qing Chen knew that Jindai Kongyin wasnt kicked out because her identity was quite special; in the future, she would always have new information. Li Si was kicked out because Kyushu must have determined that he was just a freeloader. He had been clamoring for nearly half a year about clinging to the coattails of a Shadow Candidate, but so far, he hadnt succeeded... Just then, Nan Gengchen suddenly received a text message. He took one look and hurriedly ducked aside. In the Daytime group system, Monopoly suddenly sent him a private message: For ten grand, I can forge an identity and network protocols for you to re-enter the chat. Kyushus control over the group chat isnt that strict, and the identity I provide for you has a certain status in the Inner World, so they cant verify if you are the person or not. Chapter 744: 435, The merged group chat, new faces!_2 Chapter 744: 435, The merged group chat, new faces!_2 At this moment, all those alternate accounts of Yi in the Inner World finally came into play! They were used to exchange for money! Nan Gengchen didnt hesitate for a second, Deal! He sneered at Liu Dezhu, thinking mock me now, Ill be back in no time! By now, the big shots in the group had shared what they needed to share. He Xiaoxiao said, To ensure the quantity and quality of this groups strategy sharing, we will merge with another group of the same level. I will pull in the new members shortly. As she spoke. Xiao Ran joined the group chat. Jian Shouqing joined the group chat. Mountain City Spicy Chicken joined the group chat. Haicheng Takeshi Kaneshiro joined the group chat. Little Genius joined the group chat. Guan Jue joined the group chat. Cat Climbing a Tree joined the group chat. Qing Chen calmly watched these seven people enter, recognizing several IDs as quite distinctive. By now, this group must be the highest-level one in He Xiaoxiaos group chat system, which she renamed to Group 1. Therefore, if Kyushu had kicked out a lot of riff-raff from the group, the ones being pulled in now must be very important. Theres no need to mention Little Genius, definitely must be Yang Yang. The rest, such as Xiao Ran, is very likely Jiu Ran, the leader of the Red Leaves organization. Jian Shouqing is very likely to be the chairman of the Red Umbrella association. Mountain City Spicy Chicken is probably the chairman of the Gowned Brothers. Haicheng Takeshi Kaneshiro is most likely Chen Sui of the Matrix. Its a bit hard to distinguish between Guan Jue and Cat Climbing a Tree, Qing Chen thought for a long time, wondering if one of them could be Qing Yuan or his father Qing Yu?! The Bright Commune is also the largest Time Traveler organization in Taicheng, and Qing Yuan is one of the most important Shadow Candidates, so its unreasonable for Kyushu not to pull him in. After all, the collusion with Jindai and Deer Island was baseless, and theres no evidence linking the Longhu Communes affairs to the Bright Commune, nor has Qing Yuan provoked anyone else. Just then. Cat Climbing a Tree, after joining, immediately bought a chat background, entrance effect, and chat bubble before saying, Liu Dezhu is an idiot. Cat Climbing a Tree has been kicked from the group chat. Qing Chen, Liu Dezhu, and Luo Wanya silently turned their gaze towards Nan Gengchen: ... Nan Gengchen acted as if nothing happened, Why are you guys looking at me? Im scrolling through TikTok, I didnt join He Xiaoxiaos group. Qing Chen gave him a look of concern for the intellectually challenged, Then how did you know why we are looking at you? How did you manage to sneak back in again? Wait, was it the groups magnate who helped you? Nan Gengchen held back for a while before saying, Its a secret! Qing Chen thought about it and if Cat Climbing a Tree is Nan Gengchen, then theres a good chance that Guan Jue is Qing Yuan. Nan Gengchens heart was bleeding; he internally screamed, lamenting how quickly he spent that ten thousand yuan, it was gone in just a flash! The magnate then sent a private message, I gave you a new identity, not for you to waste it! Still, want to continue doing business? This time I will charge you fifteen thousand. After pondering for a moment, Nan Gengchen decided, with money comes caprice! The magnate said, But this time, you have to wait a bit before rejoining, otherwise even fools would know its you again. Nan Gengchen still felt unsatisfied, Alright then. The magnate went on, I also have some other value-added services here, I offer a lot of services, let me introduce them to you... At this moment, Yi had finally found its target customer group, its very own ATM cash machine! Conning money out of Nan Gengchen and then getting conned in turn, is that a problem? No problem at all! And it wasnt really a con either; it did help Nan Gengchen blend into He Xiaoxiaos Group 1, it was just that Nan Gengchen himself didnt cherish it. Now the member list of He Xiaoxiaos group chat includes: He Xiaoxiao, Taboo ACE-999, Jing Shan, Ice Eye, Liu Dezhu, Little Genius, Huan Yu, Zard, Qing Bao, Xiao Ran, Jian Shouqing, Mountain City Spicy Chicken, Haicheng Takeshi Kaneshiro, Guan Jue, Conqueror King, Yue Er. In total, sixteen people. There must be some Time Travelers still hiding within the country, but so far, many important figures that have appeared in the public eye are probably in this chat group. To say this is the highest quality Time Traveler group chat in the country would definitely be no exaggeration. Qing Chen opened Guan Jues profile, which was still blank. This was also the norm in He Xiaoxiaos group chat, where almost everyones profiles were basically unfilled, except for Nan Gengchen, who wrote Whos sneakily looking at me in his signature. Pillar, say something in the group chat, just like this... Qing Chen said. In a moment, Liu Dezhu said in the group chat, Is Haicheng Takeshi Kaneshiro from the Matrix? By the way, in last nights battle, one of the participants was wearing your Matrix uniform, right? Yue Er: Right! I almost forgot about that. I felt something was off when I saw it from a distance. Now that I think about it, there really was someone wearing a costume exactly like the Matrixs, and they even had a mask just like yours, which they only took off halfway through. Haicheng Takeshi Kaneshiro: Not one of our people. Liu Dezhu: Ah? Not? Then why were they wearing your clothes? Haicheng Takeshi Kaneshiro: Ill find out. Liu Dezhu: Have you got any enemies recently? Is someone trying to set you up on purpose? Haicheng Takeshi Kaneshiro: Not sure, but were already looking into it. Satisfied, Qing Chen had successfully directed the animosity towards the Matrix. He quietly observed the group chat, but Guan Jue had yet to speak up. How could he pit the Matrix against the Bright Commune? In the group, Jing Shan said, Everyone should rest early. On behalf of Kunlun, I welcome you all to attend this Federation meeting. Tomorrow well elect members of the Federations presidium, including a chairman, two vice-chairmen, and five directors. Chuangwang: Whats the point of being the chairman, vice-chairmen, and directors? Zard: For showing off. Im running for chairman. Once I become chairman, first thing Ill do is order Chuangwang to do the splits for me. Chuangwang: You must be seriously ill?! Jing Shan: Theres no hierarchy in the Federation, those with positions have greater responsibilities and must assist other Time Travelers. We are here to serve Time Travelers, not to stand above them. Zard: Then lets make Chuangwang a director and have him serve the Time Travelers. Chuangwang: ??? Everyone was well aware that the Federation would not hold real power; it was just Kunluns way of registering everyone and bringing them into the same organization. Liu Dezhu looked at Nan Gengchen: The boss should be attending the meeting tomorrow, right? Will he run for any of those positions? Why are you asking that? Liu Dezhu said with a chuckle, If he gets a position, we can make him do the splits for us too... Hmm! Nan Gengchen tried to cover his mouth but was a step too late. ... ... At nine oclock the next morning, the first floor of the conference center was exceptionally busy. Almost all the attending Time Travelers had arrived, with Slimes, Batmans, and Pikachus all gathering together. Everyone silently wondered if ordinary people would laugh if a Pikachu became a director of the Federation... And that bobble-headed Little Dinosaur, clearly not up to anything serious. Just then, the arrival of a Time Traveler at the door caused a commotion. Qing Chen, wearing a face mask and a cap, turned his head curiously, only to see Qing Bao walking in dressed as a Pretty girl warrior. He was stupefied. The girl was youthful and cute, like a sprite among the crowd, as if she had a pair of invisible wings that could take her soaring into the sky with just a light flutter. In the Matrix group, someone waved and greeted Qing Bao, Qing Bao, over here! Chen Suis eyes lit up. However, Qing Bao just smiled at them and walked straight towards Qing Chens group, standing next to Qing Chen and two Slimes... Qing Chen whispered, Why are you dressed like this? Qing Bao paused, Arent we playing COSPLAY? Qing Chen retorted, Thats because everyone wants to cover their face. But your COSPLAY character doesnt hide your face at all! Is that so? Qing Bao thought for a moment and smiled, No worries, the consortium is already on the hunt for me. It doesnt matter whether I cover my face or not! Chapter 745: 436, Director Chapter 745: 436, Director In the venue. There were knockoff Spider-Men, a plump Wonder Woman, Slimes, and Little Dinosaur Pikachus. Yanyan, dressed as a Pretty Girl Warrior, seemed to be launching a dimension-reducing attack. It was like seven hundred dwarfs with Snow White. It was brutally overwhelming. Someone sneakily looked at Yanyan and asked the person next to them, Who is that girl? Why havent I heard of her before? The people from the Matrix have greeted her, she might be from Haicheng. At that moment, a Pikachu said to the Green Little Dinosaur next to it, This girl is suspected to be a B-Class, I have collected some information on her, especially from the Inner World. She seems to be a rare Force Field Awakener. If we encounter the Daytime again in the future, we must be cautious of her. The Little Dinosaur beside it... tilted its head in confusion and stared at Pikachu. Pikachu continued, Right, there are only 5 days left until the crossover. Next time you go to the Inner World... In the midst of speaking, a voice suddenly said from the other side, Boss, boss, Im over here. Pikachu slowly turned around to look at the Slime beside it... Huan Yu raised an eyebrow, Arent you supposed to be dressed as a Little Dinosaur? How come youve switched to a Slime?! Zard said, I think the Slime looks nicer, and it matches my aura better, so I swapped with someone else. Huan Yu: ??? He glanced at the Slime in front of him and then looked at the two Slimes on the Daytime side, Are you planning to defect to the Daytime now? No, no, Zard said, My heart might have gone to the Daytime, but believe me, boss, my body will always be with you. When the day comes that you are found by him and become one of theirs, Ill accompany you as a dowry. Huan Yu: ... So annoying. Meanwhile, the people at the Matrix side, noticing Yanyan standing next to Qing Chen, muttered quietly, Isnt she the girl who went on a honeymoon with that young man?! Chen Sui looked at the members beside him and said, Thats clearly a joke, shes not even of legal marriage age yet. How could she go on a honeymoon? The Matrix members fell silent. Yanyan whispered to Qing Chen with a smile, How is it? I didnt embarrass the Daytime, did I? Upon hearing this, Qing Chen turned to glance at the two Slimes beside him... The dignity of the Daytime, all restored by you, the youth sighed. The two Slimes curled up in shame together. By the way, I just arrived in Zheng City this morning, but I saw some people in the group discussing last nights battle. What happened? Yanyan asked in a low voice. No worries, I encountered a very smart and cautious opponent. Im thinking of ways to draw him out, but his abilities are too tricky to handle, Qing Chen replied. Qing Yuans ability is to turn others into his Puppets. With this ability, whatever he wants to do, he can have the Puppets do it. No wonder all the Shadow Candidates and Kite Falcons couldnt find him since he never has to show himself. Qing Wu, Qing Xing, Qing Yuan. As the conflict for the Shadow reached its third round, indeed, all the tricky characters appeared. Qing Chen hadnt even figured out what Qing Xings Taboo was yet, and now such a dangerous Qing Yuan had emerged. Last night, if he had been even a little greedy and tried to capture the driver, he probably wouldnt have had the chance to stand here now. However, Qing Yuan also underestimated him. The three Assassins didnt split up to leave but suddenly gathered and stood by the roadside waiting for a car, which anyone with a bit of brain would realize was suspicious. If the opponents organization was really so careless, then Qing Chen wouldnt be worried. Qing Chen glanced at the Matrix side and asked Yanyan, I just saw someone greeting you, why didnt you go over? Yanyan tilted her head and looked at him, Not familiar. However, in the midst of talking, Chen Sui actually led the Matrix members over and smiled at Yanyan, Long time no see. Yanyan looked at him, ... Who are you? Wait, youre wearing a mask. I genuinely cant recognize who you are just by your voice. Qing Chen thought to himself, this girl sure knows how to feign ignorance. Does she even need to see faces? Just sensing the force field can memorize a persons features; no amount of disguise can hide that. Wait a second. This ability seems very useful. Qing Chen fell into deep thought. Meanwhile, Chen Sui was still introducing himself to Yanyan, even forgetting to conceal his identity now, Im Chen Sui from the Matrix. We met once in Haicheng. It was during Li Lings birthday party. You came to give her a present and then left. I was standing next to the cake then. Later, I asked Li Ling for your WeChat, but you didnt add me... The two Slimes glanced at each other, thinking that this guy remembered the scene so vividly, he must have fallen for Yanyan at first sight then. Is this what they call an indelible scene? Yanyan nodded, Ah... I dont remember. One of the girls in the Matrix looked at Yanyan and asked with a smile, Is the person next to you... the boss of the Daytime Organization? Yanyan laughed, He isnt; the boss is very mysterious, Ive never even met him. Then who is this person next to you? the girl asked curiously. Yanyan glanced at Qing Chen, who was deep in thought, then told the girl, Hes our second boss, hes in charge whenever the boss isnt around. Oh, what about you? the girl wondered, finding it strange that a B-Class Expert like Yanyan would still be taking orders from someone else. Yanyan, with a beaming smile, answered, Im just a worker in the Daytime, whatever the boss tells me to do, I do. Chen Sui suddenly said, Yanyan, youre from Haicheng, and the Matrix is a local Time Traveler Organization based in Haicheng too. I think you should visit our headquarters when you have the time; you might find it suits you better. Plus, you know how fast were growing... Qing Chen finally snapped out of his thoughts and looked at Chen Sui; there was actually someone so brazen as to poach right in front of him. It was true that as a B-Class Expert, Yanyan was in high demand, but even if you wanted to poach, shouldnt you at least do it behind someones back? Just as Qing Chen was about to say something, he heard Yanyan chuckling, No need, I think the Daytime is really nice. The people here speak well, and everyone is so talented; I really love it here. Chen Sui thought to himself... Talented? He cast a glance at the two Slime creatures beside him... Are these really talents? Qing Chen looked at Yanyan. The fact was that this girl had always been on the fringes of the Daytime. She told outsiders that she was part of Daytime, but she had her own clear goals. And those goals didnt align with Daytimes. So Qing Chen himself never truly considered Yanyan a part of Daytime. He knew that their respective goals could not be tied together. Nevertheless, being friends was about seeking common ground while accepting differences. Chen Sui, looking at Qing Chen, asked Yanyan, This guy hasnt said a word for quite a while and seems to have a bad temper? Qing Chen was startled; how did this turn into gossip? But then he heard Yanyan seriously say to Chen Sui, Dont ever say that; be careful, he might just snap your head off if he gets angry. Qing Chen: ... Chen Sui: ... Yanyan, unable to contain her laughter, looked at Qing Chen, Come on, smile a little. Its so much fun! Chen Sui watched Yanyan and Qing Chen joking around, treating him like he was just some random person, and it made him feel quite awkward. Since founding the Matrix, this was his first time facing a Waterloo in social interactions. Just then, Kunluns Lu Yuan entered the venue first, distributing materials to all the Time Travelers. Chen Sui breathed a sigh of relief; if Kunluns people didnt show up soon, he was about to lose his composure. Yanyan watched Chen Sui and other Matrix members leave, then smilingly said to Qing Chen, Does my undying loyalty to the Daytime touch you at all? Qing Chen glanced at Yanyan, Ive already asked Luo Wanya to take control of the Parents Meeting. The next time he travels through time, hell bring some educational materials to enlighten the public. However, the Inner World Consortiums policy of keeping the public ignorant has been too successful; these things will have to be done gradually. Yanyans eyes lit up, and she said very earnestly, Thank you! Lu Yuan walked over; he wanted to personally distribute the materials for the Daytime side. Qing Chen took the materials from Lu Yuans hands, but Lu Yuan suddenly pinched a corner of the materials and whispered to Qing Chen, Dont stir up trouble anymore, okay? Kunlun finally managed to form a Time Traveler Federation, dont mess it up for us! What are you saying, as if I have anything to do with it, Qing Chen pretended to be clueless. Lu Yuan didnt continue to argue, This time the Daytime have to nominate someone to be a Director, think carefully about who you want to nominate. We Daytime will not participate, Qing Chen declared. Lu Yuan narrowed his eyes, Do you really think all your activities within the country are both legal and ethical? With great power comes great responsibility; dont give us this hypocrisy. If you have a person as a Director, the next time you stir up things in Europe or North America, at least youll have someone on your side, sort of an official back-up, and Kyushu will definitely find a way to bring you home. Yanyan chuckled from the side, all the organizations were discussing how to snatch a position as a Director, but here at Daytime, Kunlun had to resort to threats and incentives to make them nominate someone. Everyone knew that being a chairman, vice-chairman, or director, no matter how much Kunlun emphasized that it was a service role, status was still status. Therefore, many organizations were dead set on grabbing it. Yanyan said to Qing Chen with a smile, Still fancy being a carefree wanderer? Kunlun wont let you off that easily. Lu Yuan wasnt pleased, Young lady, dont say that; its really a good thing. Qing Chen pondered, Isnt it a secret ballot? Can Kunlun really choose whoever they want? Lu Yuan explained, You dont need to worry about that. There will be 7 Directors in total. First, 9 candidates will be chosen. Then, all candidates will take the stage to campaign, followed by a second round of voting. Qing Chen said, Daytimes Yanyan can become a Director of the Federation, but theres one condition. Could you also include Bright Communes Qing Yuan among the 9 candidates? Yanyan: ... Lu Yuan hesitated slightly, Ill have to discuss this with the boss, but I warn you, no more fighting during the Federation period. ... Theres another chapter at 11 p.m. Chapter 746: 437, Yang Yang was elected as Director with the highest number of votes Chapter 746: 437, Yang Yang was elected as Director with the highest number of votes Kunlun distributed a single sheet of paper to everyone, with a total of 240 online IDs listed, no real names. Each Time Traveler only needed to check off the people they wanted to vote for on the sheet, up to a maximum of nine. Then, the nine people with the most votes would go on stage to campaign for more votes. Qing Chen glanced over the list and was surprised to find his own name, along with those of Yangyang, Liu Dezhu, and Nan Gengchen. Was this to facilitate Daytime choosing a representative to be a Director? Next to him, Yangyang looked towards Qing Chen, unhappily saying, Why choose me as Daytimes representative? I dont want to be a Director. Qing Chen asked, Who was gloating just now? Arent you a member of Daytime? Didnt you just say that whatever the boss asks you to do, youll do it? That was just to elevate the bosss status, Yangyang said with a frown. Qing Chen watched the crowd silently and murmured, Dont worry, when its your turn to campaign, just intentionally dont canvass for votes. All I need is for you to remember his power field when you stand alongside Qing Yuan. Afterward, Ill figure out a way to find him. Yangyang was stunned for a moment. So thats it. No wonder you had Kunlun list Qing Yuan as a candidate Director, to prompt him to show himself, making it easy for me to tag him. Yes, Qing Chen nodded. It might still not be Qing Yuan himself who comes, but I only need him to make an appearance so I can identify which puppet is his. According to Kunluns rules, even while campaigning, everyone can wear masks or dress up as Slime. Therefore, given Qing Yuans behavioral habits, its highly unlikely that he himself would attend. If Qing Chen had that ability, he certainly wouldnt either. But at the moment, Qing Chen didnt even have a clue, so he needed to find a starting point first. The arrival of Yangyang seemed to give Qing Chen some clues to uncovering the other party. The ability to sense power fields and tag others is not something ordinary people can do. Moreover, voting here was done using online IDs, and Qing Chen needed to know whether Qing Yuans ID really was Guan Jue. Yangyang curiously looked at Qing Chen: Arent you afraid that Kunlun will discover something? Qing Chen smiled and said, Boss Zheng is so smart; he must have already noticed. Continuing to hide it would only make me look foolish. Besides, I also know Boss Zhengs Inner World identity now. Daytime members, on their forms, checked off Yangyang, Zard, Huan Yu, and Guan Jue. Yangyang futilely checked off Ice Eye as a last struggle. Qing Chen was curious: How is Kunlun supposed to control the outcome with this method of free selection and public vote counting? He looked at the venue, recalling the details that had just unfolded, and noticed a strange pattern. Organizations that truly had a chance to become a Director were personally handed forms by Lu Yuan. Another group of people, wearing masks, received forms distributed by Ni Ergou. Qing Chen realized that, among the nearly one thousand people in the venue, over two hundred were Kunluns own members. Previously, many had said that Kunlun was hiding a team that had appeared during the manhunt for Liu Dezhu by Wang Yuns parents and had also made appearances against Jindai and Deer Island. But they quickly vanished again. It seemed that this group of people had once again been brought to the venue under Ni Ergous arrangements, pretending to be individuals but checking off Kunluns desired list as directed. Ordinary organizations, even Red leaves, could barely muster more than twenty people, so how could they compare to these two hundred plus? Werent they able to choose whoever they wanted? Cheating! The vote counting was next. Yangyang watched, dismayed, as she was elected as a Director candidate with the highest vote count of 379, not only by Kunluns two hundred plus members but also by members of the Matrix, Red leaves, and various Time Travelers who were dazzled by her. The nine candidates were Zard, Yangyang, Xiao Ran, Haicheng Takeshi Kaneshiro, Jian Shouqing, Guan Jue, Mountain City Spicy Chicken, Lu Yuan, and Yu Cheng. The last two were real names, one belonging to Kunlun and the other to Kyushu. The choices for chairman and vice-chairman were also clear now: Chairman Zheng Yuandong, Vice-Chairman He Jinqiu. The Federation meeting had finally reached the main topic and was nearing its end. Zard was the first to go on stage to campaign. Wearing a full Slime costume, he shuffled onto the stage: Hello everyone, I am the representative of Daytime... something doesnt seem right. Oh, sorry, Im the representative of Mr. Huan Yu! Beneath the stage, Huan Yu, hidden in a Pikachu costume, watched expressionlessly as his unreliable subordinate spoke. He felt he would sooner or later meet his end at the subordinates hands. Zard looked at everyone and said, Since I was young, my mother told me that if the class needed to choose class officers, you have to be proactive... Blah blah blah, he spoke for about ten minutes. Just when everyone thought it was about to end, Zard continued, In junior high school, my father told me... Zard took over an hour to introduce his entire family and friends to the audience. The atmosphere in the venue became quite tense for a moment. Yangyang was actually happy for him to talk more, thereby delaying her turn to go on stage. In everyones state of collapse, Zard turned the campaign into a process of elimination. Initially, most werent firmly decided on whom to choose, but after Zards campaign, they finally knew who not to choose. It didnt matter who became a Director, as long as it wasnt Zard. Yangyang suddenly felt a sense of urgency. Qing Chen looked at her curiously, Why do you seem a bit nervous? Yangyang spoke earnestly, I need to hurry up and go on stage, or if another one is eliminated, Ill actually be elected. Qing Chen was caught between laughter and tears, so this girl was still thinking about how to lose the election? When Yangyang took the stage, she simply said, Hello, everyone, Im Yangyang, but I dont want to be this Director, so please do not vote for me. After speaking, she stepped down. However, just at that moment, Qing Chen suddenly started to clap, We need Directors like her who speak less, vote for her, vote for her, vote for her! With just that sentence, Qing Chen stirred up resonance in everyone. Yangyang turned to Qing Chen, ... At that moment, she realized that it was inevitable for her to become a Director. From then on, everyones campaign speeches were remarkably brief. Zard spoke for 1 hour and 49 minutes alone, while the following eight candidates spoke for a total of 40 minutes. Not even close to a fraction of Zards time. The only thing that piqued Qing Chens interest was that Guan Jue really showed up, he was Kunluns officially verified Qing Yuan, though it might not be the person himself, but Yangyang had already said she remembered his energy field. Qing Chen turned to Yangyang, If we see this person again, would you be able to recognize him? Yangyang said, As long as he hasnt been burnt to ashes, I will definitely recognize him. What level is he? D-Class. Then it seems he is not the real deal, Qing Chen pondered, if it were the real Qing Yuan, his power level should be higher. It seems that Qing Yuan needs many conditions to create Puppets, just like a Puppeteer. Otherwise, he would definitely try to turn more powerful individuals into Puppets. ... ... The Federation meeting ended. Yangyang was elected as Director with the highest number of votes. The Time Travelers said their reluctant goodbyes. Unlike the intensity with Daytime, everyone here made a lot of friends. The person in charge of the Red Umbrella Organization, Jian Shouqing, even shed tears on the spot, inviting the Time Travelers he knew to Kuncheng to eat mushrooms. The scene was quite touching. Watching this, Qing Chen suddenly felt as though everyone came to make friends, while only Daytime came to stir up trouble. Standing next to him, Nan Gengchen curiously asked, Brother Chen, are we leaving just like that? Yes, Qing Chen nodded, Were about to travel again soon. Lets go back to Los Angeles City and properly rest up in case its another month-long trip. This time travel, he had a lot to do. Finding Qing Yuan. Helping the Parents Meeting gain a foothold in City 10. Trading Qing Mu. Unearthing clues about the Taboo belonging to Qing Xing. However, Qing Chen did not feel tired. For some reason, compared to the joy of the Outer World, he found the tension and thrill of the Inner World more appealing. Daytime had indeed left, and Yangyang also followed them to Los Angeles City, wanting to visit Daytimes new base. She claimed she was, after all, an official member of Daytime and needed to recognize their home. As Daytime set off on their journey home, a young man stood outside the high-speed rail station, somewhat puzzled, They really left? So, the ones targeting me were not Daytime? Who could it be then, Qing Xing? On the high-speed train, Yangyang looked at Qing Chen curiously, Since you knew that person followed us to the station, why didnt you act? Qing Chen thought for a moment and said, Because Im not yet confident that I can find his real body, so if I cant kill him completely, its better not to draw disaster to all of Daytime. Letting him suspect others first is also a strategy. If he really starts a fight with Qing Xing, even if they dont, attacking other Shadow Candidates isnt bad either. Besides, since youve already reached City 10 in the Inner World, we can find that Puppet if we want to. Lets observe how he controls the Puppets in secretthat could be quite good. He thinks everything he does is unseen and unheard, but its all under our surveillance, isnt that nice? Yangyang muttered quietly, Those who play tactics have dirty hearts. ... Er, sorry everyone, thats all for today. A rather unexpected event has occurred recently; Ren Xiaosus brother or sister is about to come into this world. A few days ago, my wife started experiencing morning sickness. Pregnant women really suffer during this time, and their moods are not very stable, the house is in chaos, so I need to spend more time with her. If its a girl, without any surprises, she will be called Ren Xiaomian. If its another boy... I havent thought about what to name him if its a boy; Im currently resistant to the idea, hopefully, it wont be a boy... Chapter 747: 438. The Adventures of Qing Shuli Chapter 747: 438. The Adventures of Qing Shuli Time travel. It was an event countless literary works had fantasized about again and again. Some wanted to travel to the primitive age to prove their Dao with their bodies. Others wished to return to the past twenty years to master the wealth code of the era. Time travel, in fact, represented the start of a new life, where everyone tired of their current life, or repeatedly frustrated, wanted to use it to change their fate. Now, time travel had become reality. Yet, while some lived better after traveling, others had a worse existence. For instance, the mood of those rich second generations who went to prison number 10 to find Liu Dezhu was very complex. And Qing Shulis feelings were even more so. He sat in his room, looking at his original arm, now replaced by a mechanical limb. My arms gone, Qing Shuli murmured. He surveyed his surroundings, the bedroom over forty square meters filled with a sense of technology: It seems I didnt travel into the body of a poor man? According to the housing standards of the Outer World, a bedroom of over forty square meters was definitely considered large. Moreover, this place was the Inner World. Qing Shuli had updated himself on the Internet about information concerning the Inner World. He knew how every inch of land here was worth its weight in gold, where many people of three generations lived together in a 15-square-meter room, and at night, six or seven people would share the same big bed. It seemed his start wasnt too bad. Then, should he call Luo Wanya? Right before he was about to travel, the Daylight collective returned to Los Angeles City, and Luo Wanya had someone send him a note with a phone number of a Golden Family Member from the Parents Meeting. The security personnel from Daylight instructed him to call as soon as he entered the Inner World to ensure his safety. At the time, Qing Shuli was somewhat flattered. After all, he had nearly given up, and yet Luo Wanya still remembered him. Its important to note, he didnt have that much money to pay to Daylight. However, at this moment, Qing Shuli suddenly hesitated. If he lived a prosperous life in the Inner World, did he still need to get involved with Luo Wanya and be at someones beck and call? And what if Luo Wanya demanded money from him? Qing Shuli sat in his room, deep in thought for a long time, before finally making the call. He needed to live and return, otherwise his wife and children would be left helpless. For safetys sake. Hello, Im Qing Shuli, he said politely. I know, you were referred to by the Black Family Member, the voice on the phone said. Im sharing my location with your phone now. Then Ill send someone to pick you up and take you to get familiar with City 18. Black Family Member? Was that Luo Wanya? What kind of mess is this... On Qing Shulis phone popped up a request to join location sharing, which, after thinking it over, he decided to accept. The moment he did, he felt a pang of regret, but it was too late for second thoughts. After seeing his shared location, the voice on the phone let out a surprised Huh, youre quite close. Just then, knocking sounds came from the door: Deacon Qing, the Bishop summons you. There was another surprised Huh from the phone. Qing Shuli froze for a moment, looking down to see that the location share was still active, but the call had been disconnected. A premonition of doom began to rise within him; it turned out he wasnt in his own home but inside an organization. This wasnt good. He had just started and hadnt had the chance to familiarize himself with the environment when he was going to face a stranger, and moreover, his superior. Wait, Deacon, Bishop... Could it be that he was a member of the Mechanicus? That organization was rumored to be quite brutal. If he gave himself away, he might die, right? Qing Shuli grew nervous. He was glad he had made that phone call... but now he was uncertain if the other party would still come to pick him up. He called the number again, but it indicated the line was busy. The voice outside urged: Deacon Qing? Are you asleep? Please get up quickly, or the Bishop will be angry. Okay, Im coming, Qing Shuli braced himself as he got up. Waiting outside was a respectful young man, who turned to lead the way upon Qing Shuli opening the door. The two rounded the lengthy corridor, decorated with various mechanical parts, and at the end of it, a complete mechanical limb hung on the wall as if it were Jesus crucified. Qing Shuli dared not look too closely, fearful of revealing his curious gaze. After taking several turns, they arrived in front of a massive door. The young man knocked: Bishop, Deacon Qing is here. Come in. Qing Shulis pupils contracted at the sound that was unlike any humans. It was deep with a metallic resonance, reminiscent of King Kong from the movies. The door opened, and he was startled to see a human whose entire body had been transformed into machinery, seated on a high chair. The face of the Red-robed Bishop was half human, half machine. Draped in a thick red cloak, the Bishops open chest revealed a brightly shining blue triangle, like the legendary energy core. Around the energy core, no longer human skin but mechanical parts, revolved and meshed, circling the blue core continuously. A red carpet stretched from the entrance to the front of the chair, like a bloody path to a throne. Beneath that throne were several females prostrated, kneeling on the ground with cables plugged into the back of their necks, leading to the Bishops abdomen. Chapter 748: 438. Adventures of Qing Shuli_2 Chapter 748: 438. Adventures of Qing Shuli_2 Qing Shuli didnt even know what this was all about. He glanced at the Bishop and approached him, saying in a low voice, Bishop, what do you need me for? The Bishop did not speak, but the women beneath the throne suddenly began to tremble. Step back, said the Bishop to the women. The women replied in a low voice, Flesh is weak, ascend through machinery. After that, they retreated backwards out of the room that resembled a palace. Qing Shuli was extremely scared at this moment. All these eerie scenes filled his heart with tremendous fear. His body also started to tremble slightly. Looking down from his position, the Red-robed Bishop said to Qing Shuli, Havent you found that so-called Black Family Member yet? Qing Shuli was stunned for a moment. What was this all about? Luo Wanya was a Black Family Member, and youre looking for a Black Family Member... He said with forced confidence, Bishop, not yet. The mechanical voice of the Red-robed Bishop laughed coldly, Im beginning to think you dont want a complete Mechanical Body. Youve been in City No. 18 for so many days and have achieved nothing. Qing Shuli said in a low voice, Please give me a little more time. Now, he had only one thought in his mind. Would the people of Daylight come to his aid or not? If they found out he was a Time Traveler, hed probably be dead in minutes! The Red-robed Bishop said, Go contact the believers from PCE and have them check if Luo Wanya is still in City No. 18. Im beginning to suspect he has already left. Qing Shuli thought to himself how difficult it was for Time Travelers to pretend to be someone else in the past, which is why so many had been exposed. Now that the Red-robed Bishop wanted him to find believers from PCE, he didnt even know whom to look for. But he could only agree for now, Alright, Bishop, Ill make contact right now. Go then. Qing Shuli echoed the previous phrase in a low voice, Flesh is weak, ascend through machinery. The few women who had left earlier had spoken these eight words in unison, Qing Shuli guessed that this was some sort of rule within the Mechanicus. However, as the Red-robed Bishop watched him slowly retreating, he suddenly said, Stop. As he spoke, the mechanical arm of the Red-robed Bishop stretched out like a monster, gripping Qing Shulis neck and lifting him: Have you been replaced by the Time Traveler? Qing Shuli was scared out of his wits. How did the other party know? It must have been that phrase that gave something away! He struggled as he said, Bishop, you must be mistaken. Qing Shulis face turned red. The Red-robed Bishop sneered, As a Red clergy, you should have said Glory, not those eight words like a believer. With that, the Red-robed Bishop hurled him against the nearby wall. Qing Shuli coughed violently, feeling as if his whole body was falling apart. Where are the people of Daylight?! No, in this situation, even Daylight would probably struggle to save him. After all, they were just Time Travelers who had crossed a few months, how could they deal with someone like the Red-robed Bishop? Qing Shuli felt increasingly desperate. He hadnt expected the Inner World to be far more dangerous than hed imagined. The Red-robed Bishop paced back and forth on the red carpet, laughing as he said, Youre in luck. I plan to report this to the Pope and have you completely remodeled. Then, with neuron bridging technology, I will inject the thoughts of another Inner World person into your brain. At that point, you will no longer be you. Qing Shuli felt terrified. If his consciousness was taken away, and his wife and child remained unaware, how terrible that would be. He screamed inside, where are you, Daylight?! Qing Shuli had no other options now, only Daylight could save him, but they hadnt shown up yet. But just then, sounds of fighting and shouting came from outside the door. Someone called Qing Shuli, and to his surprise, it was the same phone number as before. He steeled his heart and, in front of the Red-robed Bishop, answered the call. The Red-robed Bishop was stunned for a moment, Are you really in the mood to answer the phone right now? But the voice on the phone asked, Where are you? Qing Shuli: Im in the Red-robed Bishops room... The person on the other end asked again, Is that bastard there too? Qing Shuli: ...Yes. The Red-robed Bishop: ??? Who is this? Who was Qing Shuli talking to? For a moment, many question marks flickered in the Red-robed Bishops mind. But before he could react, the door, which had been closed, was suddenly blasted open from the outside. Two peculiarly shaped discs were thrown in from the outside. The Black discs had blue lights flashing continuously, faster and faster. With a booming sound, a sizzling of electric current followed. There was no expected explosion, only electricity. These were EMP grenades designed specifically to target mechanical warriors! The grenades would explode and release a massive Electromagnetic Pulse that could destroy all electronic components within tens of meters! However, the Red-robed Bishop sneered as he watched all this. More than ten people stormed into the room, only to find that the Red-robed Bishop was unharmed. Someone yelled out, This is bad, Family Members, this bastards mechanical limbs are coated with an anti-electricity pulse nano coating! Go call for backup! Qing Shuli was stunned by this scene, he couldnt even figure out what was happening! The next moment, the Red-robed Bishops arms converged inward at the front ends, and in the blink of an eye, they turned into two Polymeric Long Knives emitting blue glows. Chapter 749: 438. Adventures of Qing Shuli_3 Chapter 749: 438. Adventures of Qing Shuli_3 But those family members who broke in bobbed and weaved through the large room like monkeys, desperately dodging the pursuit of the Red-robed Bishop. Within the Mechanicus, the Red-robed Bishop already occupied an extremely high position, with only a few elders and the pope above him. Therefore, the mechanical limbs of the Red-robed Bishop were terrifying, rivaling a C-Class Expert. If the Federation hadnt banned the Mechanicus from outfitting themselves with heavy firepower, they would have been even more terrifying. Of course, this was the age of the Federal Group, which could tolerate the Mechanicus seizing benefits for them, but could not endure them becoming an even greater threat. Restrictions were quite normal. Thus, to the true experts of the Federal Group, the likes of the Red-robed Bishop were insignificant, not even comparable to the war machines of the Federations armed forces. But among the common people, he was already extremely fearsome. However, the family members seemed to have already devised a strategy against him, as the foremost group of more than a dozen people made their way in, scurrying and evading the attacks of the Red-robed Bishop. Behind them, more family members continuously rushed into the room. Then, like ants, five or six people grabbed hold of the Red-robed Bishops left arm, while another five or six seized his right arm. Those who came in later held his legs. In almost the blink of an eye, the room was crammed with people, trapping the Red-robed Bishop in midair, unable to move. This clearly was a mob that had not been through much combat. Yet they were numerous and brave. The family members, driven solely by their courage and loyalty to the Parents Meeting, charged into the room one after another. They overpowered the C-Class Red-robed Bishop with sheer physical strength... At that moment, somebody even found the time to shout, Hurry and take this bastards Mechanical Heart out, or be careful of him self-destructing. The Red-robed Bishop hadnt even reacted when a Golden Family Member leaped onto his elevated body and skillfully pried out the Mechanical Heart from his chest... It was done skillfully, as if it had been practiced hundreds of times. The Mechanical Heart is where a mechanical warriors combat strength originates. Once removed, the wireless charging from Yun Liu Tower in the city was insufficient to support the Red-robed Bishops fighting capabilities, merely allowing him to stay awake. After all, the current provided by Yun Liu Tower is for living, far too low for the high energy requirements of combat. The Red-robed Bishop was furious. He felt that every family member in the room was at E-Class, with at least fifty to sixty family members gathered, possibly more outside, at least a hundred in total. He just couldnt understand how the Parents Meeting had grown so rapidly? In just a month or two, how could they have amassed so many Cultivators? Although E-Class was not very high, the number was just too great! The family members had almost instantaneously dismantled the defenses of this temporary headquarters. And how had they found out about this temporary headquarters? At that time, the family members wrapped the Red-robed Bishop with black tape, round and round, until he resembled a zongzi (rice dumpling). After completing all this, one family member, looking over at Qing Shuli huddled to the side, smiled and said, We didnt expect you to help us find this bastards lair, just in time when his defenses were down. Lets leave this place. The Mechanicus people will probably be back soon; if we dont leave now, itll be too late. The family members, elated as if celebrating the New Year, each thanked Qing Shuli by saying, Thanks, family member! Qing Shuli was utterly dumbfounded throughout. Up to now, he had still not grasped what had happened. In his memory, he had first heard the cries of battle, then the family members swarmed in like ants, bounding the fearsome-looking Red-robed Bishop into a zongzi. During this period, the family members were exceptionally brave, each one charging fearlessly, with not a single one fleeing backward! Moreover, their actions were so swift, they looked like... the Cultivators netizens talked about?! What in the world was Daylight...? By this time, the Mechanicus people were scattered across the city searching for the Black Family Member Luo Wanya, but they did not expect their own lair to be uprooted by the Parents Meeting. When the Golden Family Members shared the address with Qing Shuli, they also did not know this was the temporary headquarters of the Red-robed Bishop in City 18. But when someone suddenly said on the phone, Qing Shuli, the Bishop summons you, the brave and resourceful Golden Family Member keenly noticed the details. In an instant, he judged that this would be a good opportunity to retaliate against the Mechanicus, since their people were all spread out. If only their attack could be swift enough, they could capture the Red-robed Bishop! The Golden Family Member called Luo Wanya to report the matter, and Luo Wanya made a decisive decision, Lets hit them hard! It must be said that the execution of the Parents Meeting was extraordinarily strong. No sooner had Luo Wanya made the decision than the family members, huddling in their beds, all braved the cold wind and ran out to assemble. All those above E-Class participated in the battle, while those who hadnt reached E-Class stayed outside as lookouts, among them, several fast-cultivating D-Class Golden Family Members led the teams. Organized, disciplined, planned, courageous, faithful... Qing Shuli, feeling baffled, followed the other family members as they retreated. During this time, several family members kept thanking him warmly. Gradually, as they thanked him, he became shy, No need to thank me, its all part of my duty... He didnt know what else to say... Before the Mechanicus followers could return to provide support, the family members scattered like the tide, each returning to their own homes, back to their own families. Those who needed to sleep slept, those who wanted to play games went back to playing games. It was as if nothing had happened. Only a few Purple Family members, along with the Golden Family Members, holding the helpless Red-robed Bishop, took the prepared vehicles to the secret base of the Parents Meeting in City 18... On the way, a Golden Family Member looked at the Red-robed Bishop and said, You know... are you interested in joining our Parents Meeting? We wont look down on you, and you can start as a White Family Member, slowly redeeming yourself. Red-robed Bishop: ... Redeem myself, my ass! Im already a Red-robed Bishop in the Mechanicus, and I have to start as a White Family Member if I join your Parents Meeting?! Qing Shuli swallowed his saliva, Uhm, if I may ask boldly, are you Luo Wanyas people? The Purple Family Member driving the car laughed, Thats right, rest assured, since we have picked you up, there wont be any more danger. Your identity is sensitive, we might even train you a bit and you might be able to go back to the Mechanicus as an undercover agent. Oh, and a Black Family Member just gave orders, in recognition of your great contribution, youve been exceptionally promoted to a Blue Family Member, bypassing both White and Green, starting off at the highest rank among us. What the! Qing Shuli was somewhat surprised; he didnt even know if he should express his gratitude. Then, a Golden Family Member said, Right, the Black Family Member has also sent some materials over, saying we should study them. If we learn well, we could receive the Empowerment. The family members in the car light up, What do we have to learn? The Red-robed Bishop quieted down, no longer ranting in anger. This might be his best chance to uncover the secrets of the Parents Meeting, although he didnt know what use it would be to him after he learned them... The Golden Family Member opened up the material sent by Luo Wanya on his phone, and silently read for a while. As he perused the material, his expression shifted from initial confusion to an inexplicable excitement. The Golden Family Member couldnt help but read aloud, Knowledge, changes destiny... In this world, the noblest profession is that of the worker... May the youth of the Federation shake off the cold, and rise upwards only, not listening to the defeated talk of the despairing. Let those who can act, act; let those who can speak, speak. With each spark of warmth, emit a glimmer of light, even like a firefly, it can shine a bit in the darkness, and doesnt have to wait for a torch. If ever the torch never comes: I will be the only light. And if there be torches, sunlight even, we will naturally and sincerely fade away. Not with complaint, but with joy and praise for the torch or the sun; for it has illuminated mankind, me included. The car fell silent for a moment, before the Purple Family Member driving asked, Is this what the Black Family Member asked us to learn? No, the Golden Family Member replied, The Black Family Member said, this is what the ҳ wants us to learn. ҳ? ҳ?! Qing Shuli suddenly realized that the expressions of the family members in the car had turned solemn and reverent. Who is ҳ? his heart was filled with curiosity. The Red-robed Bishop was equally curious. ... Another chapter at 11 p.m. Chapter 750: 439, Qings Family Meeting Chapter 750: 439, Qings Family Meeting The study materials for the Parents Meeting were personally organized by Qing Chen over two days after his return to Los Angeles City, with assistance from his helper. It was a very detailed set of materials, sufficient for the family to study for several days. Qing Chen sat in his office at midnight when he received a message from Luo Wanya. When he saw that the Parents Meeting had captured the Red-robed Bishop, he couldnt help but be astonished. When he saw that Qing Shuli had also become a family member, he couldnt help but ponder a question. If one day Qing Shuli came to see him, and someone asked where he was going, would it be awkward if he said, visiting the parents... So it was better not to meet at all. Qing Chen glanced at the brightly lit office, finding it strange that Qing Zhun, who usually came to bring him supper whenever he worked late, had suddenly disappeared. At this very moment, Ginkgo Manor was brightly lit. Just like the Lis Half Mountain Manor in City 18, Ginkgo Manor in City 5 was also a core locus of power for the Qings Family. City 5 was also known as Mountain City, where the citys uneven terrain and rugged mountain roads were prevalent, and a river ran swiftly through it, flanking buildings resembling niches carved into mountain bodies illuminated by dazzling, dense lights. People often said that one should not follow a map in City 5, as you might find there was no road ahead, and the building you were looking for could be just across the rooftop where you stood, with a chasm between you and that structure. Ginkgo Manor was situated atop a high mountain in the city, around the middle elevation of the mountain. From afar in the city, it resembled a clump of buildings atop the firmament. In a certain conference room, thirteen major faction leaders of Qings Family quietly sat, each lost in their own thoughts, not speaking to one another. It was then that in the corner of the room, the Door of Shadows opened. The very moment the door opened, the room was plunged into darkness. The Qings shadow who stepped out from the door nonchalantly took the head seat in the conference room: Wheres the boss? Is he not presiding over the meeting again? Always meditating, wishing for immortality? His talent for cultivation isnt even that good. The leaders in their seats seemed to have already been accustomed to meeting in the dark. However, the atmosphere this time was different. One of them spoke calmly, In terms of family hierarchy, you, as a shadow, should not be so disrespectful to the Family Head. In terms of kinship, as a son, you should not speak of your father in such a manner; there should be rules. The shadow chuckled, If youre trying to attack me from this angle, save your breath. Lets talk serious matters then. Weve gathered 13 directors of the Qings Executive Board here. What is it that we wish to discuss? The middle-aged man sitting on his right said, Why all the trouble to trade Qing Mu, who is now in a vegetative state? Keeping him in the North might inspire morale as the Federation civil war is about to break out again. As the shadow, you should be well aware of how to choose in the face of family interests. The shadow laughed, Cant you show some backbone? Qing Mu has contributed so much to the family; if he is to die, he should die in his own home. Then why didnt you do this earlier, and choose to do it now instead? someone challenged, I suspect you are merely using Intelligence Department One and the trade of Qing Mu as a pretext to attack members within the family, to eliminate dissenters. Intelligence Department One has captured more than a dozen important figures from our own ranks recently, why not release them? The shadow said slowly, Because those dozen important figures have taken benefits from the Federation that have not benefited the family, but merely lined certain peoples pockets. I understand that each faction wants to fight for their own interests, this time even trying to support a martial fool as a shadow. Perhaps this is the plague of great clans. But dont forget, without the clan, there would be no you. The atmosphere in the meeting room grew tense, with all the faction leaders present subconsciously holding their breath. The shadow said with a smile, Dont be so tense. I know some of you have petty schemes in the battle for the shadow, but the struggle for the shadow has always been so. Whoever you want to support is your freedom. Im just reminding you, although the corporation is well-established, it could still fall. So, dont make foolish choices for short-term gains. At the end of the long table, a middle-aged woman spoke up, Then why are you using Intelligence Department One to support Qing Yi? Qing Yi is still young, how could he qualify as a shadow? Or is there something else you arent telling us? At the table, Qing Yis father suddenly spoke up, Old women have long hair and short wit. Why cant my son be a shadow? You all secretly support your candidates. I havent made a move until now. Ive already told Qing Yi, if he can be the shadow, be it; if not, he should honestly roll back to City 5. From this point of view, I am a hundred times stronger than any of you. Dont let me find out anyone is playing dirty against my son. If he dies, Ill blame each one of you sitting here. The atmosphere in the meeting room turned awkward. Everyone silently thought, Qing Yis father has always been difficult to deal with. Its one thing to question the shadow, but why bring up this difficult person in the process. Shadow laughed, Very well. I originally didnt plan to attend the meeting, but I thought the mental journey during the struggle for shadow would be quite intriguing, so I came to see you all argue. Argue, keep arguing. In the Federation, Shadow always observed literary works that depicted high-ranking bigwigs as unfathomable, where each statement could be analyzed for over a dozen meanings. However, he was very aware that these so-called bigwigs were not like that, everyone had different personalities and temperaments. The only similarity was that everyone was very aware of their own interests and positions. Now, Qing Yis father, Qing Qiu, had scolded that woman, but if one day she also supports Qing Yi, Qing Qiu would quickly become as close to her as if they were siblings. The bigwigs intelligence varied, but when faced with interests, their shamelessness and thick-skinned nature were essentially the same. At this moment, one person turned to Shadow, We request that Qing Chen be moved to another location, and not continue to stay in such a critical position at Intelligence Department One. I recommend Qing Shu. Shadow looked at him with a beaming smile, Is this position that critical? Then why has it been vacant for more than half a year with no one willing to take it? Youre eyeing it now because Qing Chen has dealt with the other families, and Qings Family has a chance to compete for the next Director of PCA Central Intelligence Agency, so you want to pick the fruits, dont you? The crowd fell silent for a moment, then someone said, Right, this Qing Chen also shares the same name with the ninth shadow candidate, could there be any connection? Others might not know this ninth shadow candidate, but we certainly do. Shadow retorted, You guys must have investigated countless times already, why do you still need to ask me about this? His information doesnt have any issues, but because there are no issues, we think there might be some. There are many people in the clan with the same name; there are two named Qing Qiu and six named Qing Yun, but its quite normal for us to ponder when such a key figure as a shadow candidate shares a name, one person said. If you feel theres an issue, then theres an issue. For me, as long as this person is useful, I dont care who he shares a name with, Shadow said with a laugh. The bigwigs, seeing Shadow so forthright, didnt quite know what else to say for a moment. And this Mr. Shadow, it seemed, didnt mind putting Qing Chen in danger either. Shadow continued, Qing Chens position in Intelligence Department One, he fought hard to earn it himself. If any of you think this fruit is ripe for the picking, then go ahead and try... after all, the ones to suffer are him and you, not me. A middle-aged man said, We request that he release the people from Qings Family, thats possible, right? Shadow raised an eyebrow, Thats something you should discuss with him, why tell me? Put pressure on him... Oh, I see, hes currently bringing Qing Mu back home, having owed favors across the entire intelligence system, so you dont want to openly offend the entire Qings Family intelligence system? Then why come to me, arent you afraid of offending me? In fact, the bigwigs had realized that Shadow was planning to promote Qing Chen to head Qings Spy Agency. The reason they targeted Qing Chen wasnt because they were sure he was the shadow candidate. While the name Qing Chen was quite distinctive in the Federation, it wasnt unusual among the over 100,000 people in Qings Family. In the history of Qings Family, there have been 21 people named Qing Chen, and even now there is a distant relative who also goes by Qing Chen. The bigwigs had reviewed the data; they were unsure whether the ninth shadow candidate was truly dead. But the key issue was, they didnt want the next head of the Spy Bureau to be another one of Shadows people. This current Shadow was too domineering, creating quite a psychological shadow for everyone. After finishing his speech, Shadow stood up with a cold laugh, I know some of you have gone to the old man to complain about me, but Im here to tell you, its useless. My tenure as Shadow wont last much longer, at most two years. Whatever tricks you want to play, just wait until I step down. Even the old man knows I dont have many years left, and he doesnt provoke me, what makes you think you can? Shadows voice was stern, Havent I disciplined you enough over the years? Do you need me to remind you how? The system of Qings Family is controlled by the Family Head and the Shadow. Both the Family Head and Shadow naturally wield significant authority within the clan, with the intelligence system under Shadows control, who also has his own loyal forces overseeing the internal security. Though these bigwigs might be feudal lords in their own right outside, they arent qualified enough to challenge Shadows authority. Now, this Shadow, due to his impending end of life, was even more unwilling to engage in niceties. He intended to transfer the loyalty of Qings Family system to Qing Chen, propelling him to be the head of the Qings Spy Agency, and no one could stop him. Shadow opened the Door of Shadow, and before leaving he said, After Im dead, you can dig me up if you want, but for now, I advise you all not to be too rash. A year is enough for me to do a lot of things. Of course, I know some of you cant help but collaborate, even several of you together, if you think adding up a few persons will be of any use, then by all means, try it. Chapter 751: 440, Heartbeat Sound Chapter 751: 440, Heartbeat Sound Countdown 719:00:00. Another thirty-day traversal period has likely started, and it must be thirty days again when they return; many time travelers with mechanical limbs must be thinking about how to recharge. Qing Chen returned to the 112th floor of the Utopia Building alone. As he opened the door, he knew the shadow was already inside. The scent of Realm camellia wafted out as soon as he opened the door. Chuang Wang said that the other party was holding a clan meeting in the Ginkgo Manor in City No. 5, facing the scrutiny of the elders of Qings family. If Chuang Wang was not lying, then the true terror of the Door of Shadow lay in its lack of distance limitations. As long as it was a place he had been to before, he could reach it. Qing Chen entered the room, removing his coat as he walked, and hung it on the coat rack, As far as I know, you should be in City No. 5 right now. The room was utterly quiet, eerily devoid of any sound. Qing Chen paused, looking at the shadow lying on the sofa, who was wearing a black mask and a black duckbill cap, appearing as though asleep. However, Qing Chen could not hear the slightest breathing from the figure, not even a heartbeat. This made Qing Chen feel uneasy. Even if the shadow could hold its breath, why was there no heartbeat at all? Was it dead? Qing Chen furrowed his brows; he didnt believe a legendary shadow would die so ignobly in his own apartment. Should he take this moment to remove the others mask and see the face? Forget it. If the other party came back to life, he might end up silenced. Qing Chen calmly moved a chair from the dining room, waiting for the other party to awaken. After an unknown amount of time, Thud. Like a drumstick striking a drum surface, the shadows heartbeat resumed. The shadow sat up, smiling wryly, Youre really heartless, seeing me lying here without a heartbeat and not even checking if Im alright? I bet you hesitated, conflicted about whether to take a look at my face. Youre playing too much, Qing Chen sighed, Running here in the middle of the night to brew tea, and then playing dead? The meaning of life is to find joy, the shadow said with a laugh. Qing Chen thought for a moment and then said, You used your ability to control the flow of time on yourself, right? Thats why the interval between each heartbeat is several minutes long. But there is an issue here. The average human heartbeat runs at about 75 per minute, which means that the shadows ability to stretch the flow of time could extend a second to several minutes. In such absolute time, who could beat the shadow? By the time you make a move, the shadow might have already scattered your ashes. The shadow didnt respond to Qing Chens question. Qing Chen looked at him and was suddenly alarmed. Had the shadow actually fallen into some kind of near-death state just now? This reminded Qing Chen of the times the shadow said he didnt have much time left. Qing Chen asked doubtfully, Do you really not have much life left? The shadow shook his head, Rest assured, my life is still long; I have at least two or three years left. Qing Chen instinctively felt something was amiss. Would the shadow tell the truth? He felt not. So there were two possibilities: one was that the shadows time was much longer than two or three years, possibly living two or three hundred years without a problem. The other possibility was that the shadow had less than two or three years left. But he couldnt let others know that he was running out of time. At some point, Qing Chens heart leaned more toward the latter, especially since when arranging his affairs, the shadow always seemed in a hurry. Eager to hand over the hearts of the intelligence system to him, even at the risk of exposing some details, eager to get Qing Chen involved, frequently coming to chat with Qing Chen, and promising to give him the Taboo when Qing Chen became the shadow. Considering the shadows usual habits, why the urgency? Qing Chen looked at the shadow, How much time do you have left? The shadow smiled, Didnt I tell you? At least two or three years. Qing Chen asked no further. He calmly inquired, I heard you were held accountable at the clan meeting? The shadow responded with a smile brimming with amusement, Youre quite well-informed, arent you? Who told you, do you also have an insider within the Qings clan? Impressive! Qing Chen thought for a moment and then said, A time traveler informed us. He said your support for the transaction involving Qing Mu at Intelligence Department One had already caused much dissatisfaction among many elders of Qings family. Shadow shook his head, Theres no need to worry about that, you just need to bring Qing Mu back home. Remember, the trade is set for 20 days from now, to be completed at Taboo Land #065. As for how you manage to bring Qing Mu back home smoothly, thats what you need to figure out. Wait, Qing Chen was stunned for a moment, Arent you going to send some experts? The detectives under me are hardly experts. Without top fighters, how am I supposed to get Qing Mu back? Shadow thought for a moment, Qing Ye and his team have left on a mission. Youll have to think of a way yourself. Qing Chen: ??? How am I supposed to come up with a plan! Shadow said, Dont worry, the Jindai family wont deploy their top experts. Why? Qing Chen asked suspiciously. Shadow replied indifferently, Theyre worried inside that the trade for Qing Mu is a trap, and that Ive set it up to kill off their top fighters. Qing Chen understood. Qing Mu had been in the north for over a decade, and no one had mentioned bringing him back home. When Shadow suddenly mentioned bringing Qing Mu back home after all these years, the Jindai familys first reaction was... this must be a deception. They had just been tricked by Elder Li from the Li family, who killed a Jindai Yunsong. And now, their bigger worry was whether Shadow from Qings Family might also be setting a trap to eliminate their high-level combatants. Therefore, they wouldnt send any A-Class experts. But even if they dont send A-Class, they might send some B-Class Genetic Warriors, Qing Chen said seriously, The highest rank among my subordinates is D-Class, and Im only C-Class. How can I compete against a bunch of Genetic Warriors? B-Class Genetic Warriors arent something you find on every street corner, Shadow said with a laugh, The Jindai family only sent eight to assassinate the important figure Li Changqing, and several of them died. Dont worry, I believe in your abilities. Qing Chen felt odd and said, I feel like, maybe you actually want me to encounter some danger? Not at all, Shadow said with a cheerful smile, Im helping you grow. A mans growth process must face some pressure. Im not like Uncle Li Dong who has been protecting you too well, hoping that you can live worry-free, even trying to get you back to school. But Im different. I know how cruel this world can be. If you want to grow up faster, you must go through numerous dangers. Qing Chen was taken aback. These words subtly hinted at the urgency of time, with Shadow hoping he could grow up quickly, thus deliberately exposing him to danger. But why did they want him to grow up quickly? Is it because Shadows time was really running out? Qing Chen said, But what if I die in danger? Shadow said, That would be your fate. Alright then, Qing Chen sighed, realizing that for this trade for Qing Mu, he really had to rely on himself. Despite everything, both Shadow and Uncle Li wished him well, though their approaches were completely different. One hoped he could reclaim his lost happy times. The other hoped he would soon possess the skills and will to survive in this chaotic world. The former protected him constantly; the latter threw him into danger to face it alone. At that moment, Shadow, taking a sip of tea, said, I heard that your Parents Meeting just launched a stealth attack on the Mechanicus in City #18 and kidnapped a Red-robed Bishop. When Luo Wanya came to City #10, I thought you were going to lay low, but instead, you ended up kidnapping a Red-robed Bishop. Qing Chen: ...It was actually an accident. Indeed, Luo Wanyas arrival in City #10, and his relationship with Daytime, couldnt escape this Shadow. Shadow said, The Parents Meeting is causing quite a stir now. Honestly, its the first time the Mechanicus has been insulted like this, having a Red-robed Bishop and Red clergy stolen from their headquarters... just thinking about it is celebratory. As for the Mechanicus, City #18 seems to have become their black hole. First, a subordinate branch was taken, and then a Red-robed Bishop and Red clergy were taken as well. Now people are joking, wondering if the Pope himself might visit and then also get kidnapped. Would that make the Pope too scared to visit City #18? Everyone knows that the Mechanicus and the Parents Meeting are in a do-or-die situation. But everyone is curious about who founded this Parents Meeting, from its emergence to now, kidnapping a Red-robed Bishop in just a month or two. Such a short time and already such terrifying influence and cohesion? Shadow glanced at Qing Chen, Just you wait, the Mechanicus is going to be furious this time, ready to strike real blows. These demon-like tricksters may not show themselves, but they still have some tricks up their sleeves, and there are people from the Chen Clan and Deer Island among them. Im quite curious to see how you plan to handle this. Shadow continued, You keep Luo Wanya well-hidden in City #10. Dont think that just because youre on your own turf, you can start a fight with the Mechanicus. Theyll soon trace Luo Wanyas whereabouts and come looking... of course, if you ask, I can take care of the Mechanicus for you. Qing Chen thought for a moment, then said, Its clear you also want to deal with this Mechanicus, yet you act as if youre setting terms with me. Shadow nodded, Yes, I really do want to deal with them. Qing Chen said, If you want to deal with them, arent you planning to do something? Shadow, I did do something. I let an insider tell them Luo Wanya has come to City #10. Qing Chen: ... You could be a bit more subtle, couldnt you? He could imagine that the big shots of the Mechanicus were probably already swarming their way here. Meanwhile, the followers of the Mechanicus in City #10 had already started mobilizing all their resources to trace the Parents Meeting. ... Another chapter at 11 PM. Chapter 752: 441, Qing Chens Method Chapter 752: 441, Qing Chens Method Your situation is actually quite dangerous now, Shadow said with a smile. Mechanicus wants to find out whos behind Parents Meeting, and its estimated that a lot of their key figures will arrive in City No.10 in the next few days. Once Luo Wanya is found, and they use the neuron bridging technology to interrogate him, and eventually find you. Then, what you will face is the relentless pursuit of Mechanicus. You can choose to trust Luo Wanyas loyalty to the Daylight organization, but likewise, Mechanicus will trust the neuron bridging technology. Shadow continued, Jindai agrees to the trade for Qing Mu, but if the trade goes smoothly, where would they put their face? So, there will indeed be danger in the trade 20 days from now. Lastly, there will be people within Qings Family who will target you. No matter what their speculations are, they wont easily let a minor character like you win the hearts of Qings Spy Agency. Or rather, they dont want another person capable of threatening them to emerge from under my command. Qing Chen listened in silence, thinking to himself that he had truly become everyones enemy. And it wasnt just the three parties Shadow had mentioned. In fact, there was also the threat from the Shadow Candidate, Qing Xing, Qing Yuan, Qing Wu; none seemed easy to mess with. Shadow asked with a smile, Worried? Qing Chen shook his head, Not worried. Eh, why not? Shadow asked curiously. Qing Chen thought for a moment and said, If there was only one very powerful enemy, I might be worried. But if many people want to kill me quickly, then theres actually a chance. Just like in Europe. Perhaps the friends from the Inner World havent dealt with Joker yet. Shadow looked at Qing Chen approvingly and said, Now, youre finally showing a bit of a Shadows demeanor. Of course, just a little. After saying this, he opened the Door of Shadow and left, adding before he went, Dont tell anyone about my heart stopping just now. Got it, Qing Chen promised. The Door of Shadow closed. Without looking back, Qing Chen left the Utopia Building, not intending to rent it any longer. If nothing unexpected happened, probably many people could trace him to this place. In case someone decided to act decisively and smuggle in a bomb, he wouldnt be able to escape even if he tried. After all, at this level of combat today, whats dropping a bomb? Moreover, he didnt want to run into Song Niannian again... Old Mr. Li Xiurui had prepared another two properties for him in this city, held under a trust funds name, which were generally hard for anyone to trace. Qing Chen felt he could live there. Before entering the elevator, he changed his appearance, and when he left the elevator, he happened to come across two middle-aged men dressed as maintenance workers passing by him. Qing Chen showed no sign of recognition; the maintenance workers didnt notice him either. However, he clearly noticed that both men were wearing earpieces, with someone quietly commanding inside: Dont alert the target. Set up our surveillance on the 112th floor, then wait in the stairwell. Once the target leaves the Utopia Building, also install surveillance and listening devices in his apartment. Qing Chen smiled and ignored the two men, continuing to walk straight into the night and crowds of City No.10. He bought a set of black clothes, a black mask, and a black cap with a visor. At that moment, his phone received a message from Niannian: Found him. ... ... A young man was walking on the long streets deep into the night. But just then, he came to a slow stop, looking at the black-clothed Shadow standing in front of him. Ive waited a long time for you, Shadow leaned against a lamppost, wearing a black cap and a black mask. The young man looked puzzled, What are you talking about? Do I know you? But Shadow said with a smile, Im very aware that beneath this shell is Qing Yuans soul. Are you worried that Ill see you as a threat to Qings Family or to me once I know of your abilities? Or are you afraid that, knowing youre a Time Traveler, I might choose to simply kill you? When Shadow pierced his secret, Qing Yuan stopped pretending, humbly looking down and saying, Sorry, Mr. Shadow, I do have these concerns. Shadow said with a smile, Did you think you could keep your secret for long? If I wanted to kill you, youd already be dead. There are no secrets in front of me. Qing Yuans head hung lower: Understood. However, Qing Yuan couldnt quite comprehend how Shadow managed to find this puppet he was in. It felt like he couldnt keep any secrets from him. This oppressive feeling of being seen through caused Qing Yuan to feel fear deep within and to deeply realize that his past tricks were like childs play. What is your visit for this time...? Qing Yuan was puzzled. Shadow calmly said, Ive come with your next task for the struggle of the Shadows. In 20 days, the Spy Bureau will be responsible for welcoming Qing Mu back to the south, and I need you to go to that small town outside Taboo Land No.065 to gather information related to the Jindai family beforehand. If you manage to hunt down a B-Class Expert of the Jindai family, I might choose to forgive your past arrogance. Qing Yuan was momentarily stunned, then quickly lowered his head even more respectfully and said, Understood, I will do my utmost. Put on a good show. Head bowed, it was a long time before Qing Yuan looked up again, and by then Shadows figure had vanished. Chapter 753: 441. Qing Chens Method_2 Chapter 753: 441. Qing Chens Method_2 Qing Yuan didnt know when the other party had left. However, the humility that Qing Yuan had earlier disappeared, and it seemed even the fear he displayed was just for show. Shadow probably couldnt find my true form, so thats why he needed to find this puppet of mine wandering outside, to strike at me? Qing Yuan analyzed meticulously, The opponent must have only recently learned about my Time Travelers avatar, and theres a bluffing element in the language he used to strike at me. Then, if even the Shadow couldnt locate his true form, why should he still be afraid? Qing Yuans expression was as calm as water, utterly tranquil. However, a great weight lifted from his heart, regardless of whether the Shadow could directly threaten him. After all, the Shadow was the true ruler of the Inner World. As a Shadow Candidate, there really was no need to offend the current Shadow. So, he would go to Taboo Land No. 065. And as for hunting a B-Class Expert of the Jindai Clan, it seemed not as difficult as imagined. With that thought, Qing Yuan surveyed his surroundings and then quickly departed. ... ... Qing Wu walked alone on the street when, the next moment, he saw a black figure standing ahead and spoke softly, Mr. Shadow. Shadow briefly said, Go to Taboo Land No. 065, kill a B-Class Expert of the Jindai family. However, something unexpected happened, Qing Wu, with a hint of confusion, asked, Didnt you want me to stay here, peacefully cultivating, and then handle those Clan members who are plotting against you...? Shadow: Just do it. After speaking, Shadow turned and left, not giving Qing Wu any time to react! A few minutes later, the phone in the pocket of this Shadow began to vibrate. He picked it up but heard Shadows voice from the phone, If you dare impersonate me again, Ill use Luo Wanya to plant Realm camellia. Qing Chen: ... You told me to figure out a way myself. There are so many experts in the Jindai family, and Im just a C-Class, how could I handle so many experts alone? Of course, I needed to find some help. Shadow spoke coldly, Is this your idea of a solution? Ive handled Qing Wus situation for you, but dont let me catch you impersonating me again. If it werent for Qing Wu phoning me to confirm his identity, I might have had to wait until youve deceived all the candidates before I found out about this? Hahaha, more people, more lively, Qing Chen said awkwardly. Honestly, Qing Chen didnt expect to be exposed so quickly. Because he had never thought that Qing Wu was actually Shadows man. Indeed. Among the nine Shadow Candidates, some fake death, some use puppets, some are little but clever, some chase stars, so why couldnt there be a mole of the Shadow? And the role of this mole, Qing Wu, seemed to be to set a label of a martial addict and then to root out those factions that were suppressed by Shadow and harbored resentments. Shadow was indeed ruthless and extremely cunning. Who could have guessed? Shadow was angry, not because he was impersonated, but because Qing Wu inadvertently revealed something that made him angry. The martial addict might truly be absorbed in martial arts, but the Shadow Candidate might not genuinely be contending. The purpose of Qing Wu in the battle for the position of Shadow had been different from the beginning from others. Maybe, Shadow had made a deal with Qing Wu regarding some cultivation heritage? Or perhaps Shadow had already won Qing Wu over with his personal charm? These were things Qing Chen would never know. Shadow said on the phone, Remember my warning. Qing Chen hung up the phone cheerfully. You tell me to figure out my own way, why do you make me give it up as soon as I come up with a solution? ... ... Qing Wen finished his days schedule. He had dinner today with several representatives of Qings Family elders who expressed their support at the table and provided some crucial information. For example, Shadow wanted the young Inspector called Qing Chen to take over the Spy Bureau. For example, by all means, do not use extraneous methods against Qing Yi. For example, some were supporting Qing Wu, and it was better not to have direct conflicts with Qing Wu in the third round of the battle for Shadow. The information was very useful but also left Qing Wen extremely exhausted. At this moment, it was already 2 a.m., and he could only sleep for another four hours before getting up, freshening up, and going to work at Intelligence Department Three. As a Shadow Candidate, he couldnt afford to show any weakness. He returned to his upscale residence in District Three, entering his mansion with the escort of his bodyguards. He collapsed into bed and fell asleep. In the middle of the night, Qing Wen suddenly sat up, his phone lit up, and an unknown contact sent him a video request. As soon as he accepted, what appeared but the familiar black mask and black cap: Asleep? Qing Wens body jolted, Mr. Shadow? The familiar yet foreign voice was indeed Mr. Shadows. The Shadow, looking cheerful in the video, said, Surprised I called you? Qing Wen nodded, Youre so busy, how could you have time to personally call me? Whatever it is, you could just have Qing Ye tell me. Shadow shook his head, What personally or not personally, youre the candidate I favor the most; Ive always been watching over you. Qing Wen brightened in the darkness, Really? Youve been watching over me? I... when I was in City 18, I didnt handle that matter with Qing Zhong properly; I didnt intend for him to die... Qing Wen was somewhat flustered facing Shadow, stuttering as he reflected on his gains and losses. Shadow said, What battle for Shadow doesnt have casualties? Its quite normal. The person sitting in the position of Shadow naturally needs to be ruthless. Go and contend with confidence; Ill be watching you. Qing Wen curiously asked, Did you come here tonight for something? Shadow replied, A new task for you. Qing Wen was momentarily stunned. Shadow continued, Its related to the task of bringing Qing Mu back home. I want you to reach the small town outside Taboo Land No. 065 and closely monitor the information on the Jindai family. As long as you can kill a B-Class Expert from the Jindai family, I will give you special consideration when the next round of tasks begins, getting you ahead at the starting line. Qing Wen was excited, Thank you so much, I will definitely complete the task perfectly this time. After hanging up, Qing Wens expression turned solemn, and he called his bodyguard, handing over the phone, Check the origin of the call, see if you can trace it. Qing Wen didnt sleep anymore, instead waiting for the results. By dawn, the bodyguard returned, Boss, its untraceable. Qing Wen threw the phone into the fireplace in the living room and burned it, just in case it was tampered with during the time it was taken out. He sat silently in front of the fireplace, watching the flickering flames, It seems it truly was Shadow. All candidates sought by Shadow had their doubts, but none could confirm. Chapter 754: 442, one tael of gold and a secret Chapter 754: 442, one tael of gold and a secret Qing Chen had been busy all night. It was not until early morning that he changed his clothes and came to Third District Building. Wearing a Bluetooth headset, he heard a voice say through the earpiece, Isnt charging 100,000 Gold from the Outer World for this project reasonable? It was uncertain when exactly Qing Yi had begun asking for money so humbly. In fact, the value that Qing Yi displayed tonight could justify even asking for ten million Gold. Making it impossible for corporations to trace a phone call was not something ordinary people could achieve. Qing Chen thought for a moment and asked, What have you been busy with recently? I havent heard from you in the Inner World. Qing Yi replied, Didnt I tell you before that my brother woke up? I went with him to... I cant tell you. Qing Chen was stunned for a moment, sensing there seemed to be a secret involved. And it might be a very important secret. Although he did not yet know who Qing Yis brother really was, the man had lived for thousands of years and witnessed over a thousand years of history in the Federation in a completely virtual form. The matters such a person dealt with were extremely critical. For example, in the internet, hunting down all humans attempting immortality through neuron bridging technology almost single-handedly changed the form of human life. Had it not been for his hunting those consciousnesses, the Inner World at this moment might be even more bizarre, and everyone might continue living in another form after death. This action also impacted Mechanicus. In other peoples science fiction novels and games, Mechanicus uploaded consciousness. But in the Inner World, Mechanicus could only imagine doing so... Curious, Qing Chen asked, By the way, have you ever asked your brother why he wants to hunt those uploaded consciousnesses? Qing Yi said, Because he feels that nobody can endure the ennui that comes with immortality. A few might manage, but when it happens on a large scale, on one hand, it compromises my safety, should tens of thousands of consciousnesses be maliciously amalgamated, troublesome incidents could occur; on the other hand, many humans might develop self-destructive tendencies in the network. Qing Chen understood, it was both to protect his sister and the world. His brother was quite responsible then... What would such a brother, suddenly awake, be doing now? So what is your brother doing now? Qing Chen asked. Oh, hes gone to perform magic on the streets, Qing Yi said, Its his hobby. Wait?! Magic tricks? Qing Chen was taken aback. Does he have his own body? Qing Yi did not answer, seemingly reluctant to elaborate. Qing Chen thought for a moment. I will transfer the Outer Worlds money to you when I get back. Oh, and you charge Nan Gengchen too, right? You shouldnt worry about that, Qing Yi said, Its not easy for me to save money in the Outer World! Alright, Qing Chen reflected. Others were exploiting Qing Yi, and Qing Yi was exploiting Nan Gengchen: where could one even begin to argue about this. Does your brother know about the Time Traveler? Qing Chen asked. What does he think about it? He wanted to solicit the opinion of this mysterious existence to try to understand the hidden details behind the time-travel event. However, Qing Yi said, Hes known about it for a long time; he doesnt have any particular thoughts. Hmm? Qing Chen was momentarily startled. Known for a long time? Suddenly, Qing Chen felt that known for a long time might not mean just the past few months, but perhaps much, much earlier. Even before the time-travel event occurred? How long ago? Qing Chen pressed. But Qing Yi no longer responded to the question. Qing Chen arrived at the Third District Building, where the room left to him by the Elderly Master of Li Clan was located. 122nd floor. While taking the elevator, Qing Chen was anxious about possibly encountering Song Niannian again. He knew Song Niannian had moved out of Utopia Building because a PCA Investigator had leaked case details, which let the media know the residence of this top female star. So, from that moment, Qing Chen started worrying whether this female star might also have moved to the Third District... Fortunately, she had not. Qing Chen entered the passcode and opened the room door. The room was not very large and lacked features like an armory or the like; it was like a mundane inheritance a senior would leave to a junior, nothing special. The room was dusty, but three items caught Qing Chens attention. There was a map spread out on a table, a gold coin that was neither too large nor too small, and a letter. Curiously, Qing Chen picked up the map, blew on it, and dust wafted into the air. It was a map of the Federation, on which someone had drawn several routes with a red pen. There were nodes between the routes, marked with precise dates and times. Qing Chen knew this was something the old master intentionally left for him, but he hadnt understood exactly what it was yet. He picked up the gold coin again, and by holding it in his hand, he knew it weighed about fifty grams, the weight of one tael. Initially, Qing Chen thought it was a taboo item, but he quickly realized it was not. Finally, Qing Chen opened the letter. After having left, why leave a letter? Qing Chen was somewhat resistant to opening the letter because it reminded him of that farewell under the morning sun. In the letter was a farewell handwritten by the old master. Boy, by the time you read this letter, I should have already parted with you on the cliffs of the green mountains, and from now on, it will be difficult for us to meet again. You head towards the sunrise, and I turn into dust. This map is the route and timetable of the taboo item ACE-012 steam train. That gold coin has been with me since my youth. The steam train makes a circuit around the Federation every 27 days; its journey and its passengers are unrelated. No matter who sits on it, it follows its own goal, chasing the wilderness wind, crossing the Raichu Plain, flipping over the Cloud Mist Marsh. It visits the furthest snow-capped mountains, the northern grasslands, and also goes to see the southern seas. In my youth, I envied it, thinking it was truly free to go wherever it wanted. So, back then, I prepared a gold coin to carry with me, thinking if someday I were to encounter it in the wilderness by chance, then I would use 27 days to travel around the Federation with it, becoming a romantic person like a knight. Let those chasing after me, wanting me to handle official business, fret and fume. Haha. Pack your bags, prepare food and water needed for 27 days, and also a change of clothes, and take a spur-of-the-moment trip with the taboo item. Perhaps during the journey, other people might get on and off the train. They might be a convict fleeing for his life, a rich young lady escaping a marriage, or someone like me, a traveler. Perhaps during the journey, the breeze will blow through the train window, and I will watch the scenery slide past backwards. If a clan member were to make a satellite call to me, I would seriously tell them that I am conversing with the world and not to disturb me. However, I dont have the privilege to be so capricious. So, I never had the chance to use this gold coin. Now, Im leaving it to you. The letter ended abruptly there. At that moment, Qing Chen finally fully understood the true meaning of If I could relive my youth, a tael of gold for a tael of wind. It turned out, the old masters greatest wish in his youthful days was to ride the steam train and travel around the Federation once. And this tael of gold was the young Li Xiuruis ticket to freedom. Qing Chen silently wiped the corner of his eye and, after committing the contents of the map to memory, burned it. At that time, there was a knock on the door. Qing Chen frowned, wondering who would come to see him at this time. He glanced at the outside surveillance and was stunned to see the Shadow... He had impersonated the other person several times overnight, and even after the others warning, he did it several times again. It looked like the Shadow had come for retribution. Qing Chen held his breath, pretending not to be home... However, he was certain about one thing: the conditions for using the Door of Shadow were indeed that it must go to a place the host had been. Then he heard the Shadow coldly laugh outside the door, Open up, you had the nerve to keep impersonating me despite my warnings, and dont have the guts to open the door? You better wait for me to open the door myself, youll be waiting for death. Qing Chen silently went to open the door, greeting with a smile, Mr. Shadow, we just met a few hours ago, why are you here again? The Shadow brushed past him, looking at the dust in the room, Hurry up and clean this up; its annoying to look at. In saying this, it seemed he was also referring to Qing Chenseeing him now annoyed him. Standing by the window, the Shadow said, Did you know, aside from talking to you and Qing Wu, I have only met the other Time Travelers once. When Qing Ye issues missions, he has to carry my electronic beacon, which truly counts as orders from the Shadow? The Shadow continued, After you impersonated me, each candidate felt something was off, but they dared not ask directly, making me deal with calls from their parents in the middle of the night, all beating around the bush asking what was going on. The candidates for Shadow were not fools; they sensed the doubts and, of course, tried everything to confirm the authenticity of the Shadow. However, in this poorly crafted trick, what Qing Chen could truly rely upon was not his acting skills, nor his understanding of the Shadows way of speaking, but the Shadow himself. The candidates, troubled by doubts, would seek out the Shadow for confirmation, and the Shadow would help patch things up for Qing Chen. Curiously, Qing Chen asked, What did you tell them? What else could I say? the Shadow replied irritably, I countered, What, are my words no longer effective?'' The Shadow said, Isnt Qing Yi your man? You even deceived him; are you still human? Qing Chen thought for a moment and asked, So, why are you so good to me? Ive always been puzzled about this. I am clearly a Time Traveler, a person from the Outer World, yet you have helped me a lot. Why? The Shadow, turned towards him from the window, asked, How do you know for sure that you are a person from the Outer World? Qing Chen was stupefied on the spot. The implication behind this question was shockingly profound. ... There is another chapter at 11:00 PM tonight. Chapter 755: 443, Internal Test Player Chapter 755: 443, Internal Test Player Qing Chen stood silently in the dark room. He remained silent, not knowing for how long, until the sunlight outside became intense. Shadow pulled the curtains closed in the room. Youre saying that I am from the Inner World, Qing Chen said calmly, Therefore, I possess the bloodline of the Qing Family Qing Zhen branch, exhibiting abilities beyond those of ordinary people. There are no Transcendents in the Outer World. Time Travelers also need to visit the Inner World in order to be qualified for Awakening and cultivation. Its like Yangcheng Lake hairy crabs. Crabs worth a dozen yuan can sell for a much higher price just by taking a bath in Yangcheng Lake. And Qing Chens so-called Super Memory syndrome is actually not a syndrome, but his ability. In fact, after Qing Chen realized his photographic memory, he assumed he had Super Memory syndrome. However, real Super Memory syndrome only comes with the ability to remember, not the ability to sort and analyze. Those memories are stored in the brain like a running ledger; pulling out the desired information isnt necessarily easy. Qing Chen was different. Shadow looked at him with a smile, Shocking, isnt it? I was very shocked at first myself. The Outer World often uses the term Public Test Players to describe Time Travelers, which is actually quite accurate, because if theres a public test, theres also an internal test. It indeed shocked Qing Chen. Because this meant the time travel incidents were man-made! Some mysterious entity, for reasons unknown, had begun their testing more than a decade ago, starting with an internal test, and then a public test. What kind of person could possess such tremendous power? Who created the time travel events? Qing Chen asked, frowning. Are there really gods in this world? I only know that hes someone who has lived a very long time, Shadow said. Ive speculated about his identity, but the conclusions are so astonishing that Im not sure whether my speculations are true. So I wont mislead you. Qing Chen said, So, He Jinqiu and Zheng Yuandong are Internal Test Players from the Outer World, and Im an Internal Test Player from the Inner World? Who else is an Internal Test Player? He had thought that only the Outer World could travel to the Inner World but hadnt realized that the Inner World could also travel to the Outer World, albeit in extremely small numbers. If there are two Internal Test Players from the Outer World, then correspondingly, there should be at least two from the Inner World, maybe even more. However, back in the Outer World, Qing Chen never noticed anyone who might belong to that category, or perhaps, they were so secretive that no one realized it. Oh, whether He Jinqiu and Zheng Yuandong are really Internal Test Players, I have no idea, Shadow said with a smile. However, their behavior before and after the so-called time travel incident started didnt change in the slightest. Also, they disappeared in the Outer World for 12 years and reappeared only half a year before the mass time travel event. Interesting, right? I put a lot of effort into finding this out about these two. This information could be worth a fortune if sold. Qing Chen thought, if he really was an Internal Test Player, then it meant the rules for the internal test were completely different from the public test. During the public test, when Time Travelers arrive in the Inner World, time in the Outer World stands still. During the internal test, Internal Test Players like Qing Chen, He Jinqiu, and Zheng Yuandong exist simultaneously in both worlds, but time progresses in parallel; the worlds dont stop for anyone. Otherwise, if he had come to the Outer World as a baby, he should still be a baby when he goes back to the Inner World. When he traveled, there clearly was another Qing Chen who had just entered Prison No. 18, the same age as himself. What about that Qing Chen? Where did that Qing Chen come from? Did someone use the Outer Worlds Qing Chen as a replacement and then wait for the public test to start before switching back? Thats not right. According to the travel mechanism, when he came to the Outer World as an Internal Test Player, the Outer Worlds Qing Chen should have already been eradicated. Qing Chen asked, Since you say I am from the Inner World, who is the Qing Chen who lives in place of me in the Inner World? There is no such Qing Chen, Shadow said calmly. It was just me occasionally pretending to be you. Thats why everyone thought you were mysterious and kept a low profile. Even within Qings Family, very few knew about you before you became a Shadow Candidate. Why would you occasionally pretend to be me? Qing Chen asked, puzzled. Shadow said with a smile, Because someone asked me to do so. The first time you entered Prison No. 18, that cell was already empty. Didnt you notice? Prison No. 18 always transports new prisoners at midnight, so no one would know exactly how many new people have been added. Qing Chen shook his head. Someone knew how many new people had been added. One. One must have known the number of prisoners was incorrect and that his sudden appearance was problematic. This would have been impossible without Ones cooperation. Thats why the cameras in Prison No. 18 were always trained on him; One has been observing him since then. And the most likely person to create the time travel incident was Ones brother. The one who has lived a long time and seems almost godly. One had just mentioned that her brother had long known about the existence of Time Travelers and had recently taken her to some unknown place to do mysterious things. This mysterious thing might also be related to Time Travelers. But what for? Was it fun? One once said that her brother thought if humans lived too long, they would grow weary of the world and tend to self-destruct. Or perhaps he wanted to change the world. So could it be that Ones brother, having lived too long, wanted to find some amusement for himself? Qing Chen couldnt be sure. Actually, I was almost an Internal Test Player myself, Shadow said with a smile. But when the time came, I refused. If I had become an Internal Test Player, I would have definitely tried to find others. So, in your memory, do you recall anyone like that? Qing Chen searched through all of his memories... Huan Yu? Not sure. He had always suspected that Huan Yu suffered from a split personality, given the peculiarity of the brother Huan Yu spoke of. So could it be that Huan Yu really was an Internal Test Player who experienced some sort of mishap during time travel, causing two Huan Yus to coexist? Qing Chen shook his head. I cant think of anyone for now. How many Internal Test Players might there be? That, Im not sure of, Shadow laughed. But I suspect those Internal Test Players have already grown up quietly. Shadow said, All you need to know is why I didnt kill you. Then why didnt you kill Qing Yuan? Hes a Time Traveler, Qing Chen said. Lets not always resort to violence, Shadow said. Youre someone who grows Realm camellia with Transcendents seeds, and youre telling me not to resort to violence?! Qing Chens eyebrows were raised in disbelief. Shadow said calmly, By pretending to be me now and sending all the Shadow Candidates to kill Jindai, arent you worried that a civil war within the Federation might start again because of you? Qing Chen thought and retorted, Without me, would the war stop? Mr. Shadow, I act according to my conscience, not morality. Im no better than you. Alright, Im warning you again not to impersonate me. On one hand, you might get exposed and then meet your death; on the other hand, youre kind of lowering my standard, Shadow said. Qing Chen: ... Youre sending the Shadow Candidates to the small town outside of 065 Taboo Land, just to help you kill God? Is it that simple? Shadow asked. Qing Chen fell silent. In fact, it wasnt. Whether to kill God or not was secondary. His main idea was to get Qing Xing and Qing Yuan to a remote place with few people. First was Qing Xing. Qing Chen needed to trick him into traveling, to see if he carried that mysterious Taboo object with him. In the city, it was too easy for someone to hide something. But traveling from City Number 10 to the wilderness would drastically narrow down the target for the Taboo object. Qing Chen believed that faced with the dangers of the wilderness, one would definitely carry the Taboo object with them, in whatever way, and there would surely be clues. Next was Qing Yuan. Qing Chen suspected there was a distance limit to Qing Yuans ability to control Puppets. For instance, a Puppeteer has a limit of 50 meters. Qing Yuans control over Puppets might have a larger range, but surely a Puppet cant be completely independent, can it? Of course, there was the possibility it was independent. So by luring him into the wilderness, Qing Chen could observe some clues. No matter what, leading the Shadow Candidates to an unfamiliar and desolate location was advantageous for Qing Chen. That was the true reason why Qing Chen deceived the Shadow Candidates into going to the 065 Taboo Land. Im leaving, said Shadow. Hurry up and clean this place. I came here to drink tea, not to eat dust. Qing Chen, with raised eyebrows, retorted, Arent you being a bit too familiar? Its one thing for you to come and drink tea, but now I also have to clean up? Could anyone be more presumptuous than you? Hurry up and clean before I take issue with you, said Shadow as he opened the Door of Shadow and left. Qing Chen looked around, and indeed, there was a significant amount of dust. He rolled up his sleeves, found a rag, and spent a good three hours tidying up the place. Sitting on the sofa, he thought calmly, digesting everything Shadow had said. Was it really true? Shadow seldom spoke the truth, so after listening, he needed to carefully think it over. For years, he had never considered the possibility that he came from another world. Qing Chen found it hard to digest this piece of information for now. Did he cross over as an infant? Or was it after he gained the Super Memory ability at the age of six? Before that, Qing Chens memories were chaotic. After that, he remembered every single detail clearly. If Zhang Wanfang and Qing Guozhong werent his biological parents, then who were? That was probably the key to why Shadow was helping him. In addition, how many Internal Test Players were there, and what were He Jinqiu and Zheng Yuandong doing all this time? Qing Chen felt that perhaps when other Internal Test Players from the Inner World emerged in the Outer World, something astonishing would happen. Or could it be that another Internal Test Player was just as unaware as himself? Chapter 756: Inspector 444, disappearing once again Chapter 756: Inspector 444, disappearing once again Early in the morning, Qing Yi walked outside his mansion with a bun in his hand, wearing a Bluetooth headset, What? Your power level has been promoted again?! Why so fast! Li Ke spoke from the other end of the phone, I had some preparations beforehand, and with Mr. Li Yunjing accompanying me on my travels, protecting me, I was able to let loose. Li Ke had completed the second life-and-death challenge and was promoted to E-Class, but he couldnt tell Qing Yi exactly how he had advanced. Unexpectedly, Li Xiurui had personally promised Li Yunjing to free him and even listed him as one of the beneficiaries of the family trust fund, effectively making him a member of the Li Family. This great expert had spent the first half of his life protecting the old master, and after the old masters death, he did not leave the Li Family as everyone had imagined, but chose to protect Li Ke instead. Li Ke had once asked Li Yunjing why he didnt leave the Li Family to protect his own father, Li Yunshou, knowing that he was the current Master of Li Family. But Li Yunjings response was that he was tired of the view outside Bao Pu Tower, it hadnt changed for decades, and he wanted to travel. Thats why he chose Li Ke. Li Ke had also asked why Li Yunjing didnt leave? Was freedom not precious enough to leave the Li Family? Li Yunjings reply was that it was the Li Family that the old master had given up his dreams to protect all his life, and apart from staying with the Li Family, he had nothing else to do. That Li Yunjing, just like a tree in front of Bao Pu Tower, might not be very tall, but he was unswayed by the wind and unstained by mud. All this time, Li Ke had been learning from Li Yunjing, learning how to face dangers while training himself to prepare for the life-and-death challenges. Having an A-Class expert as a Protector was rather rare in the knightly traditions. This A-Class expert had even been personally commended by Shadow, who stated that he alone could slay Jindai Yunsong, the hope of the Jindai family. At that time, Shadow had said that Li Yunjing had a pure and resolute mind and was perhaps the most likely person in the Li Family to advance to a Demigod, and it would be a pity to leave the Li Family. Qing Yi muttered on the phone, You are now in the southwest, otherwise you could join me to go to Taboo Land No. 065. What are you doing there? Li Ke asked with a frown. Isnt it just because Shadow went crazy and asked all Shadow Candidates to go there to hunt down B-Class experts of the Jindai family, Qing Yi complained, According to the rules, our Protectors can only be up to C-Class, how can we hunt down B-Class experts! Li Ke thought for a moment, I definitely cant make it back in time to help you. And I myself am only E-Class, Mr. Li Yunjing is just responsible for protecting me, he wouldnt listen to my orders to kill people, going there wouldnt help you. Why dont you just abandon this mission? Qing Yi whispered, What if I discuss it with the master to help me out? But that would put him in danger, although he is very powerful, he still needs some time before he can participate in a real intense battle. Li Ke said, For such matters, I think you should just tell the master directly and let him decide. Alright, Qing Yi sighed, Now I have to go to the wilderness and endure hardship again, probably wont even have a hot meal. Qing Yi, holding his bun, then went to work at Intelligence Department One; he didnt go to Intelligence Department Three anymore and was very familiar with the people at Intelligence Department One. After arriving at the office, he saw Qing Chen sitting in the office. Qing Yi hesitated for a moment before entering and said, Master, Shadow is asking us to go to Taboo Land No. 065 to hunt down experts from the Jindai family... Qing Chen looked at Qing Yi, Are you worried you cant cope? Qing Yi honestly nodded, Yes. Dont worry, I will also go, Qing Chen said smilingly, You dont have to hunt down any Jindais experts, just stay safely in the town, let your bodyguard protect you, and I will handle the rest. Qing Yis eyes lit up, Master, you are really wonderful! At that time, Qing Yi didnt know yet that the person who had tricked him into going to Taboo Land No.065 was the very master in front of him. And, this wasnt really a Shadow-related mission at all, it didnt matter whether it was completed or not... When Qing Chen heard Qing Yi say thank you, he even felt a bit unusually embarrassed... Go and cultivate, Ill empower you later, Qing Chen said guiltily, planning to enhance the young mans strength before he headed to Taboo Land No. 065. As they were talking, Yang Xuyang walked in with a liquid crystal panel, Boss, theres been a Parents Meeting in our city recently, should we do something about it? Qing Chen asked, Why would we bother with this Parents Meeting? Yang Xuyang was stunned for a moment, I heard its quite harmful, spreading like a toxin. The detectives in City 18 are quite troubled by it; apparently, they let a Red-robed Bishop of the Mechanicus escape yesterday. Qing Chen seriously said, Someone cleaning up the Mechanicus, isnt that a good thing? Let them fight among themselves. At this moment, he was already taking sides. Although Qing Chen said, Let them fight among themselves, this incident would soon be conveyed by Yang Xuyang and soon, what people would care about was that the Inspector didnt like the Mechanic. Chapter 757: Inspector 444, disappearing once again_2 Chapter 757: Inspector 444, disappearing once again_2 By then, everyone will know what to do. Yang Xuyang thought for a moment and said, Boss, a Red clergy of the Mechanicus is still downstairs. He came to report on the Parents Meeting, hoping we could intervene to stop the spread of the Parents Meeting, which has already threatened their security. However, the Mechanicus is clearly stronger than the Parents Meeting here in City Number 10. The Parents Meeting has just started to spread here; how could it threaten their security? Qing Chen looked at Yang Xuyang, What do you think we should do? When Yang Xuyang saw Qing Chens gaze, he suddenly understood some things... He seriously said, I think we should take this Red clergy to the Secret Prison. Qing Chen laughed, Take him to the Secret Prison for what? Isnt he saying his safety is threatened? We could just lock him up in the Secret Prison for protection, release him once the Parents Meeting has dissipated, Yang Xuyang said. Qing Chen waved his hand, I cant be bothered with this, go find Qing Hua, whatever you decide is fine. By the way, Ill be reporting to the director this month, promoting you by one level to be a Trainee Inspector. Yang Xuyang was overjoyed, Thank you, boss! After Yang Xuyang left, Qing Yi said earnestly, Sir, the Mechanicus really had an incredible stroke of bad luck to have offended you. ... ... Yang Xuyang left the office, unable to hide the joy that filled his eyes. Qing Hua, who was dealing with paperwork, glanced at him, Is there good news? Ahem, no, no, Yang Xuyang thought to himself that he hadnt yet officially been promoted, so it was better to keep it quiet for now: Brother Hua, spare me some men, Ive got matters to deal with. Qing Huan thought for a moment, then shouted behind him, Group 2 guys, follow Detective Yang. Yang Xuyang was somewhat awkward, Ah? What Detective Yang, Brother Hua, dont mess around. Qing Hua pointed at the office, Come on, stop pretending, the boss already sent a message to help him write your promotion report. Just make sure you handle the bosss business properly, and dont make any blunders. Yes! Alright! Yang Xuyang beamed and took the dozen or so brothers of Group 2 downstairs. Once downstairs, he looked at the Red clergy, Where is your Red-robed Bishop in City Number 10? Where is he? Have him come to Intelligence Department One, what is this about sending just a Red clergy here? The Red clergys face turned red, Our Red-robed Bishop was captured by the Parents Meeting! Yang Xuyang was stunned for a moment, oh, so the Bishop who was captured by the Parents Meeting was from your side... He had a rough idea now, irritably said to the Red clergy, Cant the Mechanicus handle this problem on your own? You cant deal with a small organization like the Parents Meeting? We can handle it, but our office budget is limited, and there are a lot of cases we need to deal with first. The Red clergys spirits lifted. He was just trying his luck anyway; even if the PCA Central Intelligence Agency didnt plan to take care of this, they could still register the Parents Meetings presence here. Being targeted by these Living Hades was never a good thing. But he didnt expect things to go so smoothly. Yang Xuyangs so-called limited office budget was basically asking for a bribe. In this day and age in the Federation, if the PCA Central Intelligence Agency had agreed outright to help them tackle the Parents Meeting, they would find it suspicious. But the other party asking for a bribe, this case was likely doable! As long as they were willing to speak up, with so many followers of the Mechanicus, could they lack money? The Red clergy said politely, About the office funding, the Mechanicus is willing to contribute modestly... A modest contribution wont do, Yang Xuyang said leisurely. The Red clergy thought he was being modest, and said through gritted teeth, The Mechanicus is willing to spend a substantial amount... Okay, Yang Xuyang said breezily, Call over the core members of the Mechanicus for a small meeting, bring over the information you have on the Parents Meeting, lets understand the situation. The Red clergy felt it was a bit strange, but the idea of office funding dispelled many of his doubts. After all, the Living Hades just wanted some money for the holiday, what was wrong with that? The Red clergy immediately called some key members of the Mechanicus, who brought along a small briefcase. There were a total of 13 people present, and the Red clergy, smiling, opened the briefcase in the meeting room: Here is the funding arranged by the Mechanicus for Intelligence Department One. Inside the briefcase were neatly stacked one-kilogram gold bars! Yang Xuyang nodded, Okay. He then turned to the agents of Group 7 and said, Take these Mechanicus people to the Secret Prison. The Red clergy was stunned, unable to resist on PCAs turf, but incredulously asked, Officer, what is this for? Yang Xuyang seriously said, Arent you saying your safety is threatened? It is PCA Central Intelligence Agencys duty to protect you. Rest assured, staying here youll be absolutely safe until the Parents Meeting is eliminated, then we will let you go. The Red clergy: ??? Previously, they had heard that Intelligence Department One was ruthlessly efficient, but they had no idea they would go to such an extent taking both money and people!? Yang Xuyang thought that just capturing one would hardly justify the bosss promotion report. When Intelligence Department One of the Living Hades captures people, they always capture them in droves. The most bizarre part of this operation was that the Mechanicus not only delivered their own people but also brought along gold bars. Chapter 758: 444, The Inspector Disappears Again_3 Chapter 758: 444, The Inspector Disappears Again_3 At that time, Qing Hua had also taken people out, and he had arrested more than a dozen habitual offenders who liked to rob mechanical limbs, claiming that these individuals were family members of the Parents Meeting and had them all incarcerated in the Secret Prison. When Qing Hua returned to Intelligence Department One, Qing Chen looked at him with a chuckle, Why did you arrest these people? They are all habitual offenders with a criminal record, not members of the Parents Meeting. Qing Hua earnestly replied, Boss, the Mechanicus has become very powerful, and they have many tricks up their sleeves. I also heard that three Red-robed Bishops and one Judge are on their way here. Of course, you dont need to fear them, but theres no need to make enemies with them so soon. By arresting individuals from both sides, Intelligence Department One demonstrates fairness and justice, which makes it hard for them to complain. If we clearly took sides, it might provoke their retaliation. Qing Chen glanced at Qing Hua, who was likely eager to showcase his value within Intelligence Department One as he saw Yang Xuyang about to be promoted. Although Yang Xuyang was quite clever and daring enough to rush into battle, this seasoned Trainee Inspector was even more steady. Very good, Qing Chen smiled and said, With you guys in Group Seven, I feel reassured. Wait a minute, wheres Qing Zhun? As they were speaking, Qing Zhun came in carrying his lunch. Just as Qing Hua and Yang Xuyang began to show signs of internal competition, this Trainee Inspector seemed as nonchalant as ever. An hour later, Yang Xuyang, humming a tune, went upstairs carrying a small suitcase stuffed with gold bars. Upon arriving in the office, he glanced at the empty inspectors office, Eh, wheres the boss? Qing Zhun cheerfully replied, He went out, said he had some things to handle. Oh, Yang Xuyang nodded, Then when is the boss coming back? Qing Zhun replied, In over twenty days, I guess. Yang Xuyang: ... Qing Chen had vanished again in City 10, and no one knew where he had gone. ... ... Everyones afraid of hardship, but how can you shoot a good film without enduring hardship? A white-haired, bearded director, sitting in an Upper Three Districts office, was furious, If you dont do location shooting in the wilderness, how can you capture such beautiful scenery? Actors need to dare to endure hardship. They want trailers even in the wilderness; who do they think they are? And that Qin Peipei, complaining about the cold in the wilderness, damn it, Im planning to shoot a snow scene! The assistant director replied, Director Zhang, both of these actors can bring funds to the crew... Director Zhang sighed, Big shots because they bring money to the crew. Normally, shooting a virtual life film requires 12 cameras to record simultaneously so that the audience can experience virtually all angles without any dead spots in theaters. But the budget needed is quite substantial. So, actors who bring funds to the crew are generally the most dominant because they are not only actors but also stakeholders. Director Zhang continued, But now, all the trailers in the city are electric, and all the diesel trailers have been rented out. The weather forecast says there will be a big snowstorm soon; we cant wait any longer. Please ask Qin Peipei if she could make do with a SUV? Well just be in the wilderness for a maximum of half a month, and then well return once we finish shooting the snow scenes. The assistant director quietly said, Ill ask again. Director Zhang said, By the way, have you found a guide for the wilderness? Found one. He even hunted some wild men recently, sounds very reliable, the assistant director replied. How about the art, cinematography, photography, and wardrobe departments? Director Zhang asked. No problem there, they all want to take this opportunity to get out, the assistant director replied, Both the life-production manager and external relationship manager claimed family issues and are unwilling to go to the wilderness. Thats okay, Ive taken over those departments. But Director, were still short of over ten stagehands, and we cant do without them. A life-production manager is responsible for catering for the daily needs of the entire cast and crew. An external relations manager is responsible for contacting external sponsors and managing relations for the crew. These two can be absent, but stagehands are essential. Stagehands handle various tasks; basically, whatever the assistant director tells you to do, you must do it. Lifting lights and camera equipment, carrying boxed lunches, fixing cars. A film crew is actually quite large, and using thousands of people for a film is common, but without adequate stagehands, theres no one to do the heavy lifting in such large groups. But the issue is that working in the wilderness is both tough and dangerous, and few stagehands are willing to accept minimal wages for such work. City 10 is the Federations entertainment hub, and with more than one filming company operative, finding work is too easy. Spend more money then, improve the stagehands salary, thats the only way, Director Zhang said, We have to set out in two days at the latest, otherwise well miss the biggest snowfall of the year. Just then, Assistant director, someone has come to apply for the stagehand position, someone called from outside the office. The assistant directors eyes lit up, surprised to find someone volunteering for the challenging role. Exiting the office, he saw the receptionist leading in a young man around seventeen or eighteen years old, slim and not particularly strong-looking. The assistant director thought that this might be another young person who wanted to mingle on the set, hoping to get familiar with the crew and possibly earn a role from the director. These days, many young people harbored this intention, mildly good looking and hoping to find sustenance in the entertainment industry. And indeed, many artists had risen to fame this way. The assistant director wasnt keen on having such people in his team because they tended to work inefficiently. However, it wasnt the time for pickiness, given the tight timeline set by Director Zhang. The assistant director frowned, Youre applying to be a stagehand? The young man smiled, Yeah, I can work hard and endure hardships. The assistant director thought it over, feeling he needed to clarify, Do you know our crew is going to the wilderness? The young man grinned, I know. That was exactly why he had come. If this crew wasnt going to the wilderness, he wouldnt have bothered. ... There will be another chapter tonight, but it will be very late, as my wife is suffering from severe morning sickness. Ill write the next chapter after my wife and child fall asleep, and Ill update before daylight. Chapter 759: 445, Modesty and Courtesy Chapter 759: 445, Modesty and Courtesy Can you fix cars? the assistant director asked the young man in front of him. I really cant, but I can learn, the young man sincerely replied. The assistant director said irritably, Learning sounds good, but were about to leave. Its too late to learn now. Go lift that box in the corner and see. The young man walked to the corner and, with some difficulty, lifted the box. He estimated it weighed over forty kilograms; it was the typical struggle for a normal young man to lift such a weight. The assistant director sighed, You can manage some work; stay in the crew then. Lao Liu, Liu Liqun! The assistant director called out in the office. Soon, a little old man who looked over fifty years old hurried over, ingratiatingly asked, Assistant Director Wang, did you need something? Assistant Director Wang said, This is the new stagehand for the crew. Take him and make sure he doesnt cause any accidents with his clumsiness. Alrighty, Liu Liqun said with a smile. He looked at the young man, Whats your name? Qing Xiaotu, the young man responded with a smile. Qing Xiaotu... Are you from the Qings family? Liu Liqun was somewhat hesitant. No, its just a coincidence that I have the surname Qing. Maybe my ancestors had some connections with the Qings family, the young man said with a laugh. Alright, Liu Liqun nodded. Then, Qing Xiaotu, follow me. Our task for the next few days is to pack the equipment and then move it to the vehicles. There are some rules I need to make clear to you... The young man was indeed Qing Chen. He was not planning to head to Taboo Land site 065 with PCA team seven because he wanted to arrive at the town there ahead of time and get familiar with the terrain of Taboo Land site 065. Moreover, since the detectives would be escorting Jindai Yasuhara, they would certainly become the focus of all forces, making it difficult for Qing Chen to operate freely while with them. You were saying, Qing Chen said with a smile, looking at Liu Liqun. First of all, dont take random photos while with the crew, got it, Liu Liqun said, assuming the attitude of someone who knows the ropes of the set. Dont take some fans money and help them sneak photos. If youre caught, there will be no place for you in the entire Federations entertainment industry, and no crew will want you. Secondly, dont stare at the actresses or smile at them in a silly manner, Liu Liqun continued. On the set, the hierarchy is very clear. Stagehands should stick to their duties and not ask for personal contacts. The stars wont bother with you; even if they courteously interact with you for a moment, theyll delete your contact later. Next, dont always be the first to grab a meal. Let the art, camera, and wardrobe teams eat first, we eat last. Dont act like youve never seen food before. Your share wont miss you. Lastly, dont be too scheming. I know what you are here for. If you work diligently, the director and assistant director might see it and could give you a chance. But if you show too much cunning, nobody will give you that chance. Qing Chen chuckled. This head of the stagehands, Liu Liqun, and Assistant Director Wang seemed to consider him as a scheming young man with ulterior motives. Of course, the set never lacked such young dreamers. After finishing, Liu Liqun gave Qing Chen a look. You look quite decent, but in the entertainment industry, thats just considered decent. Dont overthink it. Qing Chen didnt argue; he just said with a smile, Okay. When they arrived in the equipment room, there were six stagehands already working, making a total of eight people including Qing Chen and Liu Liqun. But Liu Liqun didnt work; while others were laboring, he lay on a nearby lounge chair, directing them. The stagehands sized up Qing Chen. One of them whispered with a laugh, Another one with dreams. It seemed, to the stagehands, seeing young people chasing dreams in the entertainment industry was nothing new. After all, being a star was so lucrative, with so many people serving you, special meals made for you on set, and people holding umbrellas over your head. The money made from shooting a single movie could last ordinary people several lifetimes. However, under capital control, not all stars had it so easy. Nowadays, since capital monopolized all broadcasting platforms, if a star didnt sign a decades-long contract with a financial groups agency, you wouldnt exist on any platform. When capital monopolizes an industry, it can do whatever it wants. Only a few stars with strong backgrounds could maintain their independence. Still, being a star was a highly glamorous job. Being a worker either way, choosing a job with high pay and high status was definitely better than working in a factory. In many peoples eyes, this was seen as a means of class transition. A clean-faced stagehand called out to Qing Chen, Come over and work. Someone whispered, Why call him over? The stagehand replied, Stop talking nonsense. Anyway, having one more person to help out is a good thing. Qing Chen didnt hesitate; he immediately got started helping to pack and box equipment, and then joined everyone in moving it to the parking lot downstairs. The crew members, seeing his work was brisk, didnt have much else to say. While working, they muttered, Right, Zhou Cang, this trip to the wildernessdo you think well really run into some dangers? The one who had called out to Qing Chen was named Zhou Cang. Another crew member remarked, With todays technology, what cant CG do? Why do we need to go to the wilderness in the first place? Another one laughed and explained, You dont get it, do you? Nowadays, virtual life strives for realism, and the details there still cant match the data obtained from actual filming. Some folks even bought a decommissioned A-Class floating ship and blew it up for the sake of realism, and their box office earnings exploded. As long as we dont venture into Taboo Land, there should be no big problem, Zhou Cang said, Ive been to the wilderness with a film crew before, and honestly, it wasnt that scary. Film crews arent stupid; why would those rich guys go looking for trouble? Thats true, another crew member Liu Hui added, Have you heard? Qin Peipei is currently negotiating with the crew. She said shed drop out if they cant find a diesel RV. Zhou Cang muttered, Shes in her prime; its pretty normal for her to throw her weight around. That male star Li Yu is the same, isnt he? He wants 12 people in the crew just to attend to him. Gee, talk about grand, Liu Hui said sarcastically, Oh, and I heard the wilderness guide theyve hired this time is pretty toughhes killed wildmen before. Yeah, I heard about that in a bar, the leaders called Sun Chu Ci, definitely has killed wildmen, and even got a reward from the Federation. I heard their equipment is plentiful and all high-quality military grade, Zhou Cang said, With that, even if we run into wildmen, we neednt worry. Just relax completely. By this point, Qing Chen was starting to grimace. There were actually three other crews heading to the wilderness at the same time. However, two of them were headed in different directions from his, and another crew happened to have someone he knewone of those who attended Song Niannians birthday party. Thats why Qing Chen had chosen this crew. And now, they had actually hired Sun Chu Ci and his team as guides? Well, yes, although there were many teams of Wilderness Hunters, very few could actually kill wildmen. Moreover, last time Qing Chen had tricked Deer Island and Jindai, leaving a street full of weapons for them, which equipped these rookies with much better armories. Even Qing Chen hadnt realized at the time, that casually helping out Sun Chu Ci had already bolstered their reputation among the Time Travelers. Just then, foreman Liu Liqun came over and said, Lets pause our work for now; the Wilderness Hunters have arrived and are upstairs. We need to head to the parking lot now to transfer their equipment to our vehiclesweve got to spare two vehicles for them. Zhou Cang was taken aback. Dont they have their own vehicles? Quit the chatter; when people come to guide for the crew, its natural for the crew to provide the vehicles, Liu Liqun retorted. The crew had money; renting a few ordinary diesel SUVs was no issue. The group followed Liu Liqun downstairs to the parking lot. Not long after, Director Zhang, Assistant Director Wang came down laughing and chatting with the Wilderness Hunters, saying, We are really counting on you for this wilderness location shoot. If you say a place is dangerous, we absolutely wont go there. If you say something is dangerous, we will leave right then and there. Tuan Zi responded with a smile, Dont worry, as long as you follow our lead, youll be safe... Should we actually run into any danger, well just leave. At that, Tuan Zi turned his head and saw Qing Chen among the crew members. Sun Chu Ci and his team internally cursed, Should we just leave now?! How did he end up here?! Sun Chu Ci blinked several times; he was certain it was Qing Chen, there could be no mistake! At one point, Sun Chu Ci suddenly wondered, Qing Chen being here must mean hes heading to the wilderness too, so something big must be happening. Traveling with someone like him would definitely increase their own risk significantly. However, Sun Chu Ci quickly recovered and hurriedly tugged at Tuan Zis sleeve. Qing Chen blending in here definitely meant he was incognito; seeing the work gloves on his hands confirmed it. Therefore, they absolutely couldnt acknowledge this bigwig. If they spoiled his plans, they might never get another chance to cling to his coattails. No room for fools around big shots. Right then, Assistant Director Wang joked, You folks must be among the fiercest of the Wilderness Hunters, having you as our escorts ensures this shoot will run smoothly. Tuan Zi hastily replied, Not at all, not at all. Assistant Director Wang blinked in surprise. Hadnt Tuan Zi been boasting just moments ago? Why the sudden modesty?! Then, Liu Liqun came up and said, Ive got people to help with your gear. Wheres your vehicle parked? Sun Chu Ci quickly replied, No need, no need, well handle it... The crew and Liu Liqun all looked puzzled. Were these formidable Wilderness Hunters really so polite and easy to talk to?! Chapter 760: 446. Temporary Replacement Chapter 760: 446. Temporary Replacement Tuan Zi was a girl who liked to boast. She didnt have any bad intentions, just wanted others to think she was impressive. Just like on the train, she told Qing Chen that she had a good relationship with a big shot in the daytime. At that moment, Tuan Zis face was burning hot. The praise from Director Zhang and Assistant Director Wang made her a bit embarrassed. After all, the person who had credited them with hunting the Wilderness people was standing right in front of them. The one who had switched their equipment was also this person. So Tuan Zi suddenly became modest, truly because she dared not overstep. At this time, Liu Liqun said with a smile, Dont be shy, everyone. Our crew has plenty of strong stagehands, you can order them around anytime, whether its carrying equipment now or in the wilderness later. No need, really no need! Tuan Zi was almost in tears, and she didnt dare to look at Qing Chen when she spoke, afraid that Liu Liqun might actually order this big shot to carry equipment for her. The people around didnt understand but just felt that these Wilderness Hunters were exceptionally approachable, so impressive yet so humble. Rare indeed. Qing Chen said with a smile, Where is your car? Lets quickly help you switch the equipment to the crews vehicle. Liu Liqun glared at him, Is it your turn to speak? Didnt I tell you earlier, listen more, watch more, talk less, ask less? Sun Chu Ci and the others were stunned; had Liu Liqun always been so bold? Do you know who you are ordering around? This is the big shot who can still smile while copying someone elses work. These past few days, theres been a rumor in City 10 that Intelligence Department Ones Group Seven had taken down the top levels of Parents Meeting and Mechanicus, all done by him. However, at this time, Qing Chen finally spoke, and Sun Chu Ci and others knew Qing Chen wanted to continue concealing his identity, so they let others carry. But when carrying the equipment, they couldnt just watch; Sun Chu Ci and others also stepped forward to help, forcibly creating a scene of harmony and mutual affection. Director Zhang was moved. With such a unified team, the shooting will definitely go smoothly! Director Zhang remarked. By the way, Director Zhang, I saw the weather forecast saying that in four more days it will be the last wave of severe cold air, if you dont depart now, wouldnt it be a bit too rushed? Sun Chu Ci looked toward Director Zhang. Sun Chu Ci continued, I planned our itinerary; it will take either 2 or 3 days to arrive. If you miss it, wouldnt all your money be wasted? Director Zhang got angry again at this, Isnt it all because of that Qin Peipei. If the whole crew wasnt searching for a caravan for her, we would have left earlier! Assistant Director Wang whispered, Brought capital into the group. So what if she brought capital into the group, it shouldnt delay everyones schedule, over a hundred people are waiting here! Director Zhang raised his voice, You guys start packing up the things, Ill go talk to Qin Peipeis agent personally. If she continues like this, then we may have to give up on this trip. Assistant Director Wang looked gloomy, if they gave up, just the penalty fees would cost a lot. Director Zhang left. Qing Chen continued to help Sun Chu Ci and others move the weapon equipment. Seeing Sun Chu Ci and others were moving by themselves, the other stagehands were happy to hide on the side and slack off. Didnt you say you had saved enough money for the winter? Why bother going to the wilderness during a good Spring Festival? Qing Chen chuckled softly. Sun Chu Ci hesitated and then said, The money they offered was just too much... several times more than the rewards we got for hunting Wilderness people before. The entertainment industry is really rich, Qing Chen admired, On the way following, just act like you dont know me. Dont be so tense; I have my own business, which doesnt involve you. When the time comes, I will quietly leave the group. Tuan Zi couldnt help but ask curiously, Where are you going? Qing Chen said smilingly, Dont ask what you shouldnt. At this time, the stagehands sitting on the ground at the parking lot, hiding and laughing, watched Qing Chen and the others chatting and laughing. A stagehand said with a laugh, Look at that, hes really buttering up. They already said no need for help, but hes still eager to offer. It looks like our guess was right; he joined the crew just to look for an opportunity. Liu Liqun glanced at them, If you had that look, you could try too. The entertainment industry never lacks people who painstakingly try to climb up. Even without him, there would be others. Look at the extra from Fireworks, isnt he up there now? A stagehand muttered, Whats the use of him bootlicking the Wilderness Hunters, they might be impressive, but they cant give him a role. Someone laughed, Hes casting a wide net, what if it turns out to be useful? By this time, in their eyes, Qing Chen had become a utilitarian young man, a youth intent on climbing up the ladder. And those who lie flat hate nothing more than those who work harder than them, as it makes them seem lazy and mediocre. Meanwhile, Qing Chen asked, Did you manage to gather all the last equipment? I had to leave early last time due to some issues and didnt get to talk to you, could only send someone to notify you. Sun Chu Ci said seriously, Thank you. We managed to retrieve all the equipment from last time. We sold some surplus on the black market and exchanged it for a bigger house to accommodate all seven of us. Its a four-bedroom with a living room, where the five guys take three rooms, and the two girls share one. In this team, besides Tuan Zi, there was another girl, but she hardly ever spoke. At this moment, Tuan Zi remembered that she already knew the others identity, while they were still unaware that she knew... So, she deliberately asked Qing Chen, By the way, you mentioned that you are a student from the Inner World, but we have also heard of someone called Qing Chen in the Outer World, sharing the same name as you. Sun Chu Ci glared at her. Tuan Zi waited for Qing Chen to say things like Its just the same name, What a coincidence, or Im not a Time Traveler. However, Qing Chen laughed. He looked at Tuan Zi and said with a smile, Ive heard people say that you claim to be very familiar with me, and with Daylight as well? Tuan Zis cheeks flushed instantly, Ah! How did you know! The so-called instant social death is exactly this kind of scene... Tuan Zi had no idea how Qing Chen had come to know about this; she had bragged about it to many people, but those she bragged to barely had any connections with Daylight. Most of them werent even Time Travelers, just classmates... How shameful. Qing Chen chuckled, Its alright. It seems we really are quite familiar now. Being familiar with me is the same as being familiar with Daylight. Anyway, another reminder, keep up the act along the way, and dont blow my cover. His being a Time Traveler could no longer be hidden, so he might as well openly admit it. Okay, Sun Chu Ci agreed. When everyone finished moving the stuff and returned to the office upstairs, they heard arguing inside before they even entered. A plump woman was standing in the office, yelling at Director Zhang, What status does our Peipei have? Going out into the wilderness without even a motorhome, what will people think if this gets out? What if other production teams follow your lead, then what about the rules? Director Zhangs face turned red with humiliation. As a director, although not the most successful, being scolded publicly by an agent was a first. He said, Why are you shouting? All the diesel motorhomes were rented out by other crews, what can I do? The plump woman said, Then wait for the motorhome to be returned before starting work! And that posterhow come Li Yu is the male lead, and Peipei the female lead, yet she is one centimeter farther from the center line? What, is Li Yu a bigger star than her? Qing Chen was stunned by this scene. He thought, Is the competition for prominence in the entertainment industry so fierce that they even measure whos a centimeter closer to the center on a poster with a ruler? Unbelievable! At that moment, Director Zhang was at his limit, Is Qin Peipei joining the team or not? If she doesnt join soon, shell miss the snow scene! What does missing the snow scene have to do with our Peipei? the plump woman sneered. Then she shouldnt come at all! Director Zhang yelled. We dont need her for this movie! The plump woman laughed out of anger, Without our investment, do you have enough funds? Besides, if you find a temporary female actor now, can you find someone with Peipeis top-tier status to boost your box office? I advise you to cool down, think it through, and go apologize to Peipei. Once we find a motorhome, lets consider this matter settled. Find hell! Get out of this office! Director Zhang said and then returned to his own office. Qing Chen blankly thought, he might not be able to hitch a ride with the film crew to the wilderness after all... In the office, the production team members all looked worried. Director Zhangs temper was truly uncontrollable. Now that Qin Peipei wasnt coming and the funds were withdrawn, how could they continue filming? Everyone who was initially busy doing preparation work now sat idly at their stations. Only Director Zhang was left in the office, incessantly making phone calls. However, by the afternoon, Director Zhang suddenly came out of the office with a beaming smile. He loudly announced, Everyone stop for a moment, I have some good news! The office quieted down. Director Zhang continued, Folks, we managed to find a last-minute replacement actress to join the cast, Song Niannian! Moreover, her studio will also invest in this film! Lets get busy. We leave tomorrow, and Song Niannian will join us tomorrow to head into the wilderness! Wang Bo, quickly have the photographer and makeup artist get ready. Song Niannian will be coming soon for her make-up photo shoot, and change the poster quicklyI get sick just looking at Qin Peipei! Director Zhang excitedly said. Meanwhile, Qing Chen felt like cursing. He had painstakingly chosen a film crew with no acquaintances, yet why did acquaintances keep coming one after another as soon as he joined? And why was it Song Niannian, the last person he wanted to see? Could this possibly be a plot set up by Shadow to get back at him for impersonating them? Qing Chen thought, Shadow should have better things to do, right! ... Another chapter at 11 p.m. Chapter 761: 447, Turning Back Spear Chapter 761: 447, Turning Back Spear Song Niannian was very proactive, arriving at the dramas office photography studio at 2 p.m. and collaborating with the team to shoot new posters. However, it was strange that this top-tier celebrity, upon arriving at the drama group, looked around the office as if she had never seen it before. Her agent asked her what she was looking for, to which she responded that it was nothing. Liu Liqun sat quietly in a corner with a bunch of stagehands and whispered, Logically, stars in the entertainment circle often seize opportunities from other stars when they slip up, but I always thought Song Niannian was not that kind of person. Turns out she is. Now, Qin Peipeis opportunities have all been given to her. Although Director Zhang is not yet a top-tier director, I heard that everyone thinks highly of his script, calling it a good piece. Zhou Cang asked, Who said that? Liu Liqun replied, My aunt and my second aunt. Zhou Cang: ... You leaked the script. Liu Liqun hit Zhou Cang on the back of the head with the script in his hand, What, are you going to report me? There are plenty who leak scripts. What I got was a script Qin Peipei carelessly tossed aside; if anyone should be investigated, its Qin Peipei. A stagehand said, I heard Director Wang and Director Zhang chatting, and they said that they didnt invite Song Niannian. Ah? Then who else could have invited her? Liu Liqun wondered. Recently, Song Niannian almost reached beyond the top tier. Her schedule has been fully booked; I didnt expect her to come and rescue the situation. That stagehand said, I heard it was someone else who invited her; she directly turned down more than twenty events and proactively called Director Zhang to say she could bring funds to the group. Who has such great influence? Liu Liqun was astonished. Its said that a major figure from Qings Family personally sought her out, even though Director Zhang cant remember knowing any important person from Qings Family. Zhou Cang said, The media reporters are also quite sharp. The cast just changed, and there are already media stationed downstairs. Moreover, many press releases have been sent out, all addressing the issue of Song Niannian cutting in, but no one mentions Qin Peipei acting like a diva. Thats definitely Qin Peipeis management company buying those stories; what else could it be, Liu Liqun said. By the way, wheres Qing Xiaotu? Zhou Cang said, He worked extra in the morning, loaded the equipment onto the truck by himself, and then said he needed to go home to pack up some things. Hell meet us directly in the underground parking lot tomorrow morning. Liu Liqun was stunned for a moment: He moved everything by himself? Zhou Cang nodded. Although the guys motives for joining the crew werent pure, hes pretty efficient and strong despite his slight build. Liu Liqun said no more. What he needed were people who could work. As long as Qing Chen was willing to work, he didnt care whether he was dreaming of a career in showbiz. Amused, Liu Liqun chuckled, That lad is missing out, Song Niannian is really beautiful. Didnt you see those cameramen, photographers, and artists craning their necks just now? Id better have a word with Assistant Director Wang to remind everyone to behave, so they dont make the celebrity uncomfortable. The next morning dawned. All the crew members gathered in the office, some pulling banners, others burning incense for the kickoff ceremony. Oddly enough, it was as if Song Niannian had never seen a kickoff ceremony before, curiously looking around the whole time. Her agent asked in a low voice: Tell your sister the truth, are you looking for someone? Song Niannian paused, No, not at all. Dont lie to me, you cant lie, your eyes betray you, her agent said: Are you dating Li Yu and havent told your sister? No wonder you took this drama so proactively. Is it to secretly date him on set? Listen, dont even think about it! Song Niannian couldnt help but laugh: Sister, its not what you are thinking. Her agent whispered, That Li Yu is no good. He brought twelve assistants, six men and six women, I saw at least two of those girls were involved with him. Plus, he was previously the pet of a female bigwig from Chens Consortium, hes been played out long ago. You better not get involved with such a person. Dont worry, sister, Song Niannian laughed: You know me, would I fall for such a person? I am here to repay a favor to someone, not because of Li Yu. As long as thats the case. You are not only acting but also investing a lot of money, her agent muttered softly: Just dont fall into those love-struck behaviors, you are at the peak of your career, you cant afford to think about such things. Got it! Song Niannian replied. Everyone headed downstairs and got into the vehicles. The drama group had over thirty vehicles, including six trucks. As Liu Liqun and Zhou Cang boarded the stagehands vehicle, someone suddenly spoke up from the back seat, Ready to go? Ah! Liu Liqun, taken aback by the presence of someone in the back, virtually lost his soul in fright. Turning, he saw it was Qing Chen and said grimly, Why are you sitting in the car instead of attending the kickoff ceremony? That was a great chance to get photos with the celebrities. Whats the point of photos with celebrities? Qing Chen replied. Laughing knowingly, Liu Liqun said, You really dont know, do you? Later, when you go to another drama group, that photo is the best door opener, a lot of people join just to get photos with celebrities. The convoy departed from the southern part of City 10, well-prepared and well-funded, even taking the express lanes out of the city without stopping for checks. The convoy headed north, everyone buzzing with the excitement of leaving the city. Qing Chen, however, seemed unusually calm. Sometimes, when everyone stopped by the road for breaks, they lingered to view the wilderness landscape, whereas Qing Chen dawdled and didnt get out until everyone else had reboarded. Then he would get out briefly. Qing Chen clearly saw from inside the vehicle that Song Niannian got out and started looking around as if searching for something. This definitely wasnt a coincidence; she must have known he was in the convoy! Who had leaked the information? Qing Chen narrowed down the suspects to a few, as his movements were highly secretive, only a few powerful forces had the capability to track him. The Shadow was most suspect. At that moment, Liu Liqun in the vehicle noticed Qing Chen stealing glances at Song Niannian and remarked, Pretty, isnt she? Qing Chen glanced at him and objectively assessed, Indeed, she is very pretty. Liu Liqun was amused, Dont overthink it, we are not from the same world as those people. Ill tell you, in this life, its better not to have too many thoughtsthat way you wont live in too much pain. Look at me, Ive met so many celebrities and never had feelings for anyone, and Im still single to this day. Qing Chen was speechless for a while, thinking to himself that this guy could really turn any topic towards himself. Indeed, Song Niannian was from a different world; he had no interest in this attractive celebrity and was only worried about being found by her. Then it would be social death. Liu Liqun would probably never guess that the person Song Niannian was looking for was none other than Qing Chen. Curious, he asked, You must be fifty, right? Dont you have someone? I had someone when I was young, but it ultimately didnt work out, Liu Liqun shared. What caused the breakup? Qing Chen found it odd. Her parents didnt approve of me, they looked down on me, Liu Liqun explained. What happened after that? Qing Chen inquired, Didnt she wait for you? No, she didnt wait. She married someone else the year after we broke up, Liu Liqun said. Qing Chen: ???? Is the entertainment industry this messy? Why isnt even the stagehand straight?! ... ... By nightfall, all the crew members had decamped and Qing Chen didnt leave the vehicle, officially to keep watch over the convoy. Normally, several people should have taken turns to keep night watch, but he took over all the duties, claiming he would just sleep in the vehicle. At 10 p.m., the campsite quieted down. There were no entertainment activities, and the mobile signal was poor, causing everyone to go to sleep early. Seeing this, Qing Chen quietly got out of the vehicle and walked towards the outskirts of the camp. Inspector Qing Chen, do you really need to avoid me like this? Song Niannian stood behind a tree, her eyes twinkling with amusement as she watched him. Hahaha, am I avoiding you? Qing Chen thought to himself, annoyed, Miss Song, please dont overthink it, I just like staying in the vehicle. Song Niannian scrutinized him, Tsk tsk, the youngest inspector in PCAs history, and the future youngest director, pretending to be a little stagehand in the crew, nobody in City 10 would believe this if it got out. To ordinary people, the youngest candidate for director of the Central Intelligence Agency and a direct descendant of a consortium was already a big deal. So today, while her agent was lecturing her, she wondered how Li Yu could even compare to such a figure? Song Niannian had no other thoughts about Qing Chen; she just found the situation incredibly amusing, as if she had touched a new world. Qing Chen thought for a moment and asked, How did you suddenly join the crew? Who let you in? Song Niannian was puzzled, Werent you the one who invited me? You called me on a video call yesterday. Qing Chen: ... Great, he was now very certain that this was definitely Shadows doing. The person had impersonated him to get back at him, and thus had tricked Song Niannian into joining the crew by pretending to be him. With the Federations advanced intelligence technology, not only could Qing Chen disguise himself as others, but given some time, others could also make a realistic mask to impersonate him. This mask might not deceive professional intelligence officers, but to trick Song Niannian, it was more than sufficient. Moreover, Shadow had occasionally impersonated him before the public testthis task must have been quite familiar to Shadow. Qing Chen was a bit surprised; was Shadow impersonating him really that effective, that simply by inviting her, she would bring funding into the crew? One must know, the crew wasnt just missing a little funding. Cough, cough, it was me who invited you, I forgot, Qing Chen said. That was the rule; he impersonated Shadow, and Shadow covered for him. If Shadow impersonated him, he had to cover for him... Song Niannian said, I came to repay a favor. You saved me last time, and I havent formally thanked you. So, after I bring in funding for the crew, well be even. Even, even, Qing Chen hadnt planned on her repaying the favor, as it was purely Shadow messing with him. He thought for a moment and said, Im going to the restroom, do you want to come with me? Song Niannians eyes flickered, and she turned back towards the camp, You go by yourself... By the way, I already know you are in the crew, so you dont have to hide anymore. Dont worry, Ill pretend I dont know you. Qing Chen walked into the woods, and after a few hundred meters, he saw Yaoyao happily leaning against a tree, Well done, Qing Chen, even coming to the wilderness you manage to find such an interesting situation? What kind of interesting situation is this, Qing Chen said with a bitter smile, Lets go. Okay, you lead the way, Yaoyao took Qing Chen and soared into the sky. They intended to return to City 10 tonight. Now, with an alibi established and over a hundred crew members to vouch for his absence, who would expect him to be causing trouble back in City 10 at this time? Qing Chen was waiting for this very moment. While the interested parties thought he had left City 10, he planned to strike back forcefully! Chapter 762: 448, Bureau Chapter 762: 448, Bureau The cathedral of the Mechanicus was in the north. A convoy journeyed southward toward City No. 10 in the Central Plains, finally reaching the outskirts of the city at 12 at night, and from afar they could see the silhouette of the city. The atmosphere inside the vehicles was grave, and the expressions of everyone aboard seemed shrouded in a layer of dark mist. The Central Plains Mechanicus had suffered consecutive setbacks, which had already displeased the high priest greatly: first, the Red-robed Bishop of City 18 had been captured. Then, multiple Red clergy from City No. 10 had been seized by Intelligence Department One and thrown into the Secret Prison. This had led the Mechanicus to sense a whiff of danger. The high priest speculated it was very likely they had hindered some powerful figure in the consortium, and now the other party wanted to eradicate them. Indeed, the Mechanicus was also aware that they were like a tool to the consortium; showered with support when useful, and readily discarded when not. Now that the Mechanicus was growing stronger and becoming less compliant, it was possible they had fallen out of favor with some high-ranking individuals in the consortium. Otherwise, why would the Parents Meeting have been able to spread so quickly? Otherwise, how could Intelligence Department One dare to wipe out their Red clergy in City No. 10 in one fell swoop? Perhaps the Parents Meeting was the substitute for the Mechanicus; the consortium had found a more obedient organization to assist with their profit-making and control over the populace. Of course, the Mechanicus did not know that although the consortium had indeed tacitly consented to these events, people were now more concerned with the internal war of the Federation and had no interest in dealing with them. The occurrence of all this was as unexpected to that Parent as it was to the others... In the most luxurious vehicle, a middle-aged man said, Has any of those captured Parent Association Members talked yet? Following the attack on the headquarters in City 18, the Mechanicus had indiscriminately captured dozens of Parent Association Members, all of whom had their identities exposed during the operation. A young man in the passenger seat spoke in a low voice, Only three have talked, the rest havent... These Parent Association Members are more troublesome than we expected. No matter how we interrogate them, they keep repeating some nonsensical phrases. What phrases? the middle-aged man asked with a frown. May the youth of the Federation shake off the chill, and only ascend, not listening to the words of those who have given up on themselves. Those who can work, let them work; those who can speak out, let them speak. If you have even a little warmth, give off a little light. Its like being a firefly, even if only a little light can be emitted in the darkness; theres no need to wait for a torch... Enough, the middle-aged man interrupted coldly. You seem to have memorized it quite well. So many from the Parents Meeting in City 18 were captured, and only three were forced to speaka bunch of useless people. If we cant deal with this Parents Meeting, you and I wont need to return to face the high priest. Just destroy our energy cores and end it ourselves. Its not that theres no gain whatsoever, the young man said. At least through these three members of the Parents Meeting, weve located that Black Family Member. Thinking, the middle-aged man said, Is there any chance these three are lying to us, deliberately leading us into some kind of trap? It shouldnt be, the young man said. The testimonies of the three match up. They were captured in haste; there was no opportunity for them to coordinate their stories. That could also mean someone intentionally allowed us to capture them, the middle-aged man said. After a moment of thought, the young man said, Who would want to suffer such torture willingly? I dont think the Parent Association, only having developed for a few months, would have so many members willing to endure such torture on purpose just to set a trap for us. The young man was considering it from the perspective of a Mechanicus member; at least within their own ranks, they did not yet have so many utterly loyal grassroots believers. The middle-aged man sneered, Tonight we quickly deal with this so-called Black Family Member, then I can go negotiate with the consortium. The young man in the passenger seat continued, Moreover, weve more or less figured out what happened in City 18. That Red clergy named Qing Shuli betrayed the faith, leading members of the Parents Meeting to take advantage of the headquarters being unguarded and abduct the Red-robed Bishop. The appearance of a traitor within our ranks should serve as a warning to us, the middle-aged man said coldly. We dont even know the origins of the Parents Meeting, yet their influence on the minds of their members far exceeds the control of our faith. This is something we must learn from. Judge, should we take direct action tonight? What if the consortium is aiding them? the young man asked. The Judge said, Do not engage with anyone outside the Parents Meeting. Ive come to the south partly to negotiate with the consortium on behalf of the high priest. Tonights focus is just on killing the Black Family Member. Those around him were somewhat puzzled, But... it could very well be the consortium targeting us. The Judge explained, We are here to take down the Parents Meeting to show them that we can be more useful than they can. It is not yet time for them to discard us. Just delay a little longer; if the new plan of the high priest works out, perhaps we might become the sixth major financial group. In the vehicle, everyone was invigorated, not bothering to discern how much truth was in those words. The vehicle approached the immigration control tunnel checkpoint and passed directly through the inspection-exempt channel. The young man in the passenger seat made a call, Is that Black Family Member still under surveillance? Someone on the phone replied, Still under surveillance, confirmed to be in District 5, we have 12 people tracking him around the clock, and were keeping a 24-hour behavior log on him. How many of them are there? the young man asked, Is there any master among them? There is a suspected C-Class master. No problem, the Judge himself is coming this time, so a C-Class isnt much, the young man reassured the other party. The driver shared his location with the person on the phone, and they sped towards the city center. No one noticed that two figures were calmly watching them from the sky above. ... ... It was half past midnight, the busiest time of the night in the Federation. The Mechanicuss vehicles had just entered District Five... In an instant, a slender figure dropped down from the sky. All the members of the Mechanicus in the vehicle saw the figure fall onto the roof of the front car, denting it with a hard smash. As if trying to embed the car into the earth. Piercing screeching of brakes filled the street as the long convoy came to an abrupt halt. Whats going on? the Judge was taken aback. In their view, the figure was lying quietly on the roof, embedded in it, now silent. Everything happened so fast, as if someone had jumped to their death, just so happened to land on their vehicle, and crushed the people inside to death... Go take a look, the Judge said calmly from the back seat. But just at that moment, someone suddenly exclaimed over the cars intercom, Vehicles are rapidly approaching from behind, theres a Silver Ginkgo emblem on them! The Judge internally cursed, wondering if this was a trap set up by Qings specifically for him, Prepare for battle, everyone get ready! But remember, send one person to ask whats happening first, do not engage rashly! But before they could send anyone, a burst of gunfire erupted from somewhere. The Judge felt a shock of alarm, his instincts urging him to take evasive action. But he quickly realized something was off, the bullets werent aimed at him. They were directed at the Qings Financial Groups convoy behind them. Wait, in that moment the Judge understood many things. One of his previous suspicions turned out to be true, the Parent Association Members were captured because someone wanted to set this trap for him. Those people were truly willing to endure the severe torture from the Mechanicus just to execute this plan. And that Black Family Member had exposed himself just to lure them here. Why, why did such a newly formed Parent Association possess such unity?! What kind of organization was this? And that Black Family Member, who exactly was he? In the past two days of surveillance on that Black Family Member, they hadnt sensed anything special about him. No, thats not right. The Judge couldnt even be sure if the Black Family Member they had found was the true Black Family Member. At that moment, the Judge turned his head back to look at the front of the vehicle that had just been hit. The corpse that should have been lying there had already disappeared. ... Another chapter at 11 PM Chapter 763: 449, solve everything at one go Chapter 763: 449, solve everything at one go After the man who fell on the car disappeared, the gunfire in City 10 also stopped at some point. There was no heavy firepower, just ordinary automatic rifles. However, it was unclear who the shooters were. The sporadic bursts from the automatic rifle had pinned down Qings familys convoy, preventing them from raising their heads. Qing Wen sat in the only bulletproof car with a livid face. In his view, his own convoy was on its way home when a car accident blocked the way ahead, followed by someone suppressing them with gunfire. It was clearly a premeditated ambush. Qing Wen said coldly, I dont know which brother from the Qing Clan chose to strike at me in the capital territory of City 10, discarding the Qings familys face. Qing Xing? No, this person only knows how to hide and play small tricks. Qing Yi? No, his supporters have left City 10. Qing Yuan, Qing Wu? Or could it be Qing Shis father? Possible. At this moment, the middle-aged man in the passenger seat turned to look at Qing Wen: Young master, shall I take action? Qing Wen hesitated for a moment: Uncle Lin, before the fourth round of the Shadow struggles, its taboo for someone of your level to take action. It would be troublesome if Shadow himself doesnt pursue it, but if he does, it will be very problematic. I suspect that someone staged this incident tonight to see if there are any experts with me. Uncle Lin fell silent, as this decision was for Qing Wen to make. After pondering for a moment, Qing Wen said, Call my uncle and ask him to bring the Garrison Forces over for support. I think theres something fishy about this. Uncle Lin nodded: Ive already called. He should be on his way now. Then I shall wait in the car, said Qing Wen. Without the sound of gunfire, the street suddenly became eerily quiet. The pedestrians had long since fled, leaving the two convoys silently confronting each other on the long street. Inside the vehicle of the Mechanicus, the Judge said solemnly, Theres a problem. Huh? the young man in the passenger seat was puzzled. If the convoy behind us was meant to flank and attack us, why dont they get out and counterattack? And why did that shooter fire at them? the Judge said, I understand now, someone has created this coincidence, trying to provoke conflict between the Mechanicus and the Qings family! Liu Lin, go negotiate with the convoy behind us, and if its a misunderstanding, clear it up. The young man in the passenger seat froze for a moment. Who the hell would get out now and ask for death? Who knows if the convoy behind is also here to attack them? Even if they werent, what if the attackers hadnt left yet? Seeing Liu Lin reluctant to move, the Judge said coldly, Get down there. Reluctantly, Liu Lin got out of the car, raising his hands high as he approached the Qings family vehicles: Dont shoot... All eyes were drawn to him. However, Liu Lin didnt head towards the Qings convoy but instead abandoned the vehicle and turned around to run. As he ran, he saw the person who had just fallen, now standing casually in the shadows on the side of the street, curiously watching him. The feeling was too eerie. The Judge sat in the car, watching Liu Lin flee and let out a cold laugh. He then calmly opened the car door, stepped out, and walked towards the Qings vehicles, calling out loudly, I am the Judge of the third Tribunal of the Mechanicus, requesting to speak with the person in charge of the convoy to resolve the misunderstanding between us. But at that moment, a figure suddenly rushed out from the shadows. As the figure moved, the Judge saw that beneath the hood was the appearance of a girl, delicate and refined. But the Judge did not let down his guard, instinctively extending two mechanical arms to block, only to see the girl swing a hook punch that struck precisely at the intersection of his arms: Rise! The Judge sneered, thinking that such an attack could not affect him and wouldnt even destroy his mechanical arms. But the next second he realized something was wrong. At the moment the punch was delivered, the field of force in the world seemed to have changed; he could no longer stand firmly on the ground, and gravity seemed to have vanished. With a booming sound, the Judge, who weighed hundreds of kilograms with mechanical limbs, was punched into the air hundreds of meters high as if he were a vector meteor. Qing Wen sat in the car, silently watching this, and was shocked. Uncle Lin was also shocked. Even if a B-Class Expert took action and struck an ordinary person, sending them flying dozens of meters was already impressive, but now, the assassins punch seemed as if it was going to send the Judge into outer space. This was the purest visual shock, defying comprehension. What they didnt know was that Qing Chen returned this time because he learned that the Mechanicus had sent yet another expert to City 10. Shadow told him that a B-Class Judge had arrived, an existence that could not simply be overwhelmed in numbers by the Parent Association, and must be dealt with by an expert. Otherwise, Luo Wanya, with his shallow roots in City 10, would not be able to escape the pursuit. Qing Chen had to eliminate the biggest hidden threat that the Parent Association might face before he left, with everything else being only incidental. And the reason he dared to come back was because of YangYang. Just as when he escaped to the Taboo Land, number 002, with the elderly Li Xiurui, they encountered two war machines, the power of mechanics as fragile as a piece of paper in front of a Force Field Awakener. If it were a real B-Class Expert, their Life Field would be so strong that YangYang could not affect it, and their abilities would repel each other. But against mechanical mass-produced experts, when facing a Force Field Awakener, it was like encountering a natural enemy. In front of the Force Field Awakener, they were merely a bunch of metal weighing hundreds of kilograms. In the past, Qing Chen wouldnt have let Yanyan take action, but now that the Parent Associations activities overlapped with her goals, it was right for her to act. The Judge howled as he flew into the night sky, but he wasnt entirely resigned to his fate. The clothes on his back tore apart suddenly, revealing eight jet boosters that stabilized his figure in the air. At that moment, the Judge realized whom he was up against and tried to flee toward the north, abandoning the ground convoy. But before he got far, Yanyan shot up into the sky. No matter how agile the jet boosters were, they couldnt compare to Force Field Awakeners, the true kings of the sky. Yanyan tore off the Judges boosters one by one and cast them downward in just a few moves. She then took control, flying the Judge off into the distance. Qing Wen and the others were left speechless on the ground. With a thud, a lone booster fell onto the hood of their engine. Qing Wen: ... ... ... In the secret prison of the Mechanicus headquarters. Screams of agony were unending. Someone was relentlessly lashing a prisoner with a saltwater-soaked whip, each strike leaving a deep gash. In the interrogation room, the thick scent of blood hung in the air. A Red clergy personally wielding the whip looked at the prisoner hung on the cross and sneered: A month ago, you were a devout follower of the Mechanicus. Now, just one month after defecting to the Parent Association, have you grown such a stubborn backbone? Speak, who are the Parent Association Members in City 18? With that, another lash struck the prisoner. The prisoner was already at deaths door, unable to answer the question, let alone speak. The Red clergy chuckled derisively and said to his assistant: Electrocute him awake. He should be at his limit. The assistant placed two electrodes on the prisoners chest, causing them to shudder. Eyes fluttering open. Standing merely ten centimeters in front of the prisoner, the Red clergy demanded with an oppressive tone: Who are the main figures of the Parent Association in City 18? Name a member of the Golden Family, and Ill allow you to return to the Mechanicus. However, the next moment, the prisoner laughed miserably and said: ...Humans shouldnt fear struggle, everything we do is for a better tomorrow. There shouldnt be religions that hold families hostage, nor consortiums that kidnap society. That better day will come. May the youth of the Federation not fear the cold... to have a bit of warmth, to emit a bit of light, just like fireflies can emit a bit of light in the darkness, not awaiting a torch. Friends, we cannot respond to darkness with gentleness, we must use fire. The Red clergy felt a chill hearing this, and he lashed the prisoner across the face with his whip. At a certain moment, he couldnt understand why he felt a wave of fearafter all, just a month ago, the man was an ordinary Mechanicus follower, and now he had become this frightening. Right then. The security personnel at the Mechanicus headquarters suddenly felt something was amiss. The flow of people at the gate was unusual, and unfamiliar glances were cast in their direction. Among the crowd, two youths wearing masks stepped forward and walked step by step toward the Mechanicus. Stop, the security personnel demanded coldly. Yet the two youths did not halt. One of them even quickened their pace. Before the security could raise their gun, the youth was already upon them, grabbing their neck and lifting them high. In the next instant, fierce flames burst from his palm, sending the security personnel skyrocketing into a fireworks display. The youth turned back to the crowd: Theyve captured our brothers and sisters, torturing, insulting, beating them. They openly slander, mock, and laugh at us on the media. After tonight, there will be no Mechanicus in City 18. The other youth said: Remember, dont disturb the civilians, dont expand the scope of attack, maintain discipline. Having said that, the two youths entered the Mechanicus headquarters first. None of those they encountered were a match for them. Todays Mechanicus headquarters was far from empty; all their defensive forces had been recalled here. Yet the youths were fearless and undaunted. Because the boss said, it was time to finish them all off in one go. As the two youths made their way into the Mechanicus, the hundreds on the street exchanged glances, their cheeks flushed by the glow of fire above. Their gazes grew firmer and, together, they charged toward the Mechanicus headquarters. Qing Shuli hesitated for a moment but then joined the rush in. If he were too slow, the chance to ascend to the Purple Family might be snatched away by others. Chapter 764: 450, Impersonating the victim Chapter 764: 450, Impersonating the victim The high-ranking officials of the Mechanicus were kidnapped again. The incident quickly became the hot topic of discussion in the 10th city, and during these discussions, people couldnt help but wonder, Why do we have to say again? Thats when everyone realized there was a problem: for the past month, news about the Mechanicus was either about one of its branches being tricked away, or about Red-robed Bishops and Red clergy being kidnapped, and now even the Judge of the Third Court of Judgment had been taken. Before long, even the Pope might get kidnapped, ah! Some were even curious whether the Pope dared to come to the Central Plains or whether he himself worried about being kidnapped... Moreover, tonights battle seemed too much like a farce; the Judge was like a toy in the enemys hands, with no power to fight back. At this moment, Qing Chen and Yan Yan were walking on the street. He had already dismantled the Energy core of the Judge and handed him over to Luo Wanya, and as for how Luo Wanya intended to utilize him, Qing Chen couldnt be bothered to care. When Luo Wanya saw the Judge, he was completely dumbfounded. Just a day ago, his boss had warned him that the Mechanicus would send a B-Class Expert, which had Luo Wanya extremely nervous. A day later, the B-Class Expert really did come, but it was the boss who brought him... So Boss, when you reminded me yesterday, was it just to prepare me to receive him? That certainly was inconsiderate of you... Now, if the Mechanicus sends someone to the Central Plains again, they will be much more cautious, Yan Yan asked, After all, they have to consider the possibility of being kidnapped again. Mhm, Qing Chen nodded, The roots of the Mechanicus are deep, and their numbers are dozens of times greater than the Parents Meeting. What worries me most is that they swarm over and crush the Parents Meeting. As long as they hesitate, it will give the Parents Meeting room to grow. In another two months, if they want to take back city number 18, it will be as hard as reaching the sky. Yan Yan tilted her head to look at Qing Chen: Arent we going back to camp now? You need to be back before dawn, right? Yes, but this time, dealing with the Mechanicus went too smoothly. Theres still a long time before dawn, and I can go do something else. After I drop you back at the camp, I have to return to the 10th city. The student marches are starting, and as an organizer, I cant leave, Yan Yan said. Mhm, I know, go do what you need to. Yan Yan said with a smile, Lets go, hurry up and get the next thing done. Song Niannian is waiting for you to come back. Qing Chen: Dont talk nonsense, she and I have nothing to do with each other. Really? ... ... Three oclock in the morning. Qing Xing indulged himself online with some gossip about Qing Wen and, through the help of Kite Falcon, felt very content and satisfied before going to sleep. He didnt care at all about what happened to the Mechanicus; he only cared about how unlucky Qing Wen was. Ever since their days together at the Qing Family School, Qing Xing had taken pleasure in Qing Wens misfortunes: strutting around the school with an ever-so-perfect posture, always being the first to raise his hand to answer the teachers questions, in the eyes of all parents, Qing Wen was always someone elses child. So. Even though Qing Xing, as a Shadow Candidate, wished that all the other candidates would die, his resentment towards Qing Wen was always a bit stronger than towards the others. Seeing Qing Wen unlucky tonight brought him great joy. Qing Xing planned to read the news again in the morning, using it to accompany his meal. Of course, if Qing Yi could also have some bad luck, that would be great. That precociously mature kid always pretended to be innocent, yet somehow managed to charm the favorite of the Insider from Intelligence Department One and got public support. Qing Xing had studied Intelligence Department One; he knew how much trouble Group Seven had caused for the other intelligence systems recently. He pondered that if he could gain the support of such a character, his odds in the Shadow struggle would increase by at least twenty percent. Oh, right, there was also Qing Wu; how perfect it would be if he didnt overcome his mental barrier when breaking through to A-Class. And so, Qing Xing slept drowsily, wrapped snugly in his thick down comforter. Without knowing how long he had slept, Qing Xing suddenly woke from his dream. He sat up abruptly and looked towards the bedside, where a Shadow stood coldly. In an instant, a cold sweat soaked Qing Xings back: Who?! In this luxury house of Blossom Community, the doors were all armored and only supported iris recognition. Normally, only an old servant he had brought from home could come and go freely; even in the most urgent situations, no one else could enter. The servant was his childhood nanny, who had been with Qings Family for decades, trustworthy. I remember the last time I warned you, if you use your abilities on me again, I will give you some unforgettable lessons, the Shadow spoke calmly, but there was a hint of anger in that calm. Qing Xing was startled for a moment; he knew who it was. It was Qing Wen. Qing Xing slowly calmed down: How did you come in? Qing Wen sneered, The security here is as effective as chickens and dogs in my eyes. You installed what you thought was a secure Armored Door, but its easy for me to open. Who could have imagined that there would be Taboo items specifically designed to open doors in the Forbidden Sea Coast... Qing Xing had a strong psychological constitution; he was calming down more and more: It appears I have an Insider around me. However, you might be misunderstanding something, I didnt arrange any accident for you. Qing Wen sneered, Do you dare to say that the near-murderous conflict between me and the Mechanicus tonight wasnt orchestrated by you? Qing Xing: ??? He was just enjoying the gossip, how could it suddenly turn back on himself? Turns out, Qing Wen thought the mishap was his doing! Incredible! Qing Xing spoke earnestly, Whatever happened tonight with the Mechanicus wasnt my doing, I can assure you that. Weve been classmates at the school for many years; I wouldnt go as far as to set you up to die. Qing Wen sneered, Save those words to deceive the Ghost. Dont bother explaining to me; I dont want others to think Im bloodthirsty. Thats why I wont kill you now. But once we get to the 065 Taboo Land, youd better watch out. The struggle for Qings shadow was about selecting the Shadow, and a Shadow was someone who had the hope to become the Family Head. No faction leader truly wanted to see a Shadow who was extremely furious and liked killing, and nobody wanted to be friends with such a person. That was why Qing Wen initially explained he didnt intend to kill Qing Zhong. A Shadow Candidate who liked killing and ignored strategy would have a hard time becoming the Family Head, even if they became the Shadow. The real smart ones knew that the struggle for Family Head started with the selection of a Shadow; its about filtering for suitable successors. Qing Wen looked deeply at Qing Xing once more, Watch yourself. After speaking, he turned and walked towards the door. Qing Xing heard the sound of the door closing; he hastily put on his clothes and went out to check. To his dismay, he found all the security personnel outside his door had collapsed, without even managing to issue a warning. Enraged, Qing Xing yelled as he kicked one of the guards, Someone got all the way to my bed, and not one of you issued a warning in time? Wheres Zhou Sheng? Call him over! Zhou Sheng was the Protector his father had chosen for him, a C-Class Expert. Such individuals would not stay outside Qing Xings door 24 hours a day. They had their own living space in this building. Normally, he would need to receive an alert first and then come to protect Qing Xing. But this time, the guards had not managed to alert him at all. Of course, Zhou Sheng might well be grateful that he hadnt been summoned now that he knew what had occurred. A high-level expert invading meant calling him would just add another person to take beatings... Zhou Sheng asked seriously, What exactly happened? Why was there no alert? The security personnel replied blankly, We detected an intrusion in advance, but when the intruder came, we felt as if a great weight was upon us, and we couldnt make any move at all. Zhou Sheng frowned, There was no alert from the surveillance room either. What were you all doing? The surveillance footage froze... They had arranged two surveillance rooms that cross-monitored each other. To invade without notice, the intruder would have to attack both surveillance rooms at the same time. But this time, the intruder hacked straight into the surveillance network. Zhou Sheng mumbled, Thats odd. Even if the intruders were thoroughly prepared, how could this Armored Door have been opened without a sound?! Too many strange things had happened tonight. Qing Xing thought calmly; if the intruder really decided to use a high-level expert to kill him, he probably wouldnt be able to fend them off. Nevertheless, the most crucial thing was the threat from Qing Wen. The intruder would likely act against him in the 065 Taboo Land. Remembering how the intruder had silently approached him just a while ago sent a sudden chill through his heart. He needed to change his strategy. Qing Xing told Zhou Sheng, Call your brother; he needs to come by my side ahead of schedule. This time Qing Wen must have used a B-Class Expert. The intensity of the Shadow struggle has escalated; I cant just sit here and wait for death. However, just at that moment, Qing Xings phone in his pocket rang. Seeing that it was Qing Wen calling, he angrily answered, Are we not done yet? Huh? You really think Im scared of you? Let me tell you, Ive disliked you since we were kids; just you wait, well settle this in the 065 Taboo Land! After speaking, Qing Xing hung up the phone. A little while later, Qing Wen sent a photo. In the photo was a dead body, unmistakably the Insider Qing Xing had placed with Qing Wen. Below the photo was a line of text: This is the price for your lack of manners. Qing Xing sneered. It was the third round; it was time to kill some people. ... ... Hey, why didnt you just kill him? Or turn him into a Puppet? asked Yan Yan curiously. Qing Chen replied, If Id killed him, then Id have a hard time finding that Taboo item he has. If I turned him into a Puppet, Id probably be made the public enemy of the entire Qing family. Qing Xings status is not ordinary; if he disappeared without a trace, his parents would surely use all their power to search for him. I might not be able to withstand it and dont want to take the risk. Moreover, Qing Xing just now seemed too composed, as if he wasnt very worried about dealing with Qing Wen himself. I suspect he might be hiding his strength. I might not be able to control him. At this moment, Qing Chen had already reverted from Qing Wens appearance back to his own, flying through the night sky with Yan Yan. Yan Yan then asked, What was the purpose of everything you did just now? Was it just to provoke infighting between him and Qing Wen? Not only that, Qing Chen shook his head, Actually, Im not very interested in Qing Wen and Qing Xing fighting each other. What I want is that Taboo item. What we did tonight will definitely leave some psychological shadows on him. Ordinary people facing death threats instinctively think about escaping, while such corporate big shots will first think about how to eliminate hidden threats, Qing Chen explained. So, what would he do to eliminate hidden threats? Naturally, hed first use his most adept tactics to make Qing Wen tired and anxious. So, from today, Qing Wen will have to keep facing the unexpected. And thats the outcome I want. As long as he uses it often enough, I will be able to work out a pattern. At this time, Qing Chens Kite Falcon had canceled all other tasks and was solely responsible for keeping a close watch on Qing Xing after leaving City 10. Yan Yan asked, Do you have a purpose for following the film crew into the wilderness? No, leaving the contentious City 10 to recuperate, replied Qing Chen. Because he might have to face the most intense battle since his arrival in the 065 Taboo Land. Tonight, no one could have expected that someone who had already left City 10 would suddenly come back and stir up so much trouble. And after all that, he even managed to pose as the victim. ... Another chapter at 11 oclock tonight Chapter 765: 451, Farce Chapter 765: 451, Farce Qing Chen and Yangyang soared through the night sky, the scenery on the ground appearing particularly tiny. He felt he was infinitely close to the heavens. It wasnt yet dawn when he already saw the campfire of the camp from afar. Bidding farewell after accompanying you for a thousand miles, Yangyang said with a light laugh, I wish you all the best in area 065 of Taboo Land. I wish you all the best for the student protest in city number 10, Qing Chen replied, Ive already talked to Luo Wanya; he will coordinate with you on some matters. Qing Chen was well aware of the arduous and difficult task Yangyang had to undertake. Although he was reluctant to take it on himself, he could still offer his support and best wishes. The two landed in the forest where they had parted, Yangyang thanked him with a smile, and then decisively flew back to city number 10. The separation of these two seemed like they had never been sentimental or draggy. Yangyang had never asked Qing Chen to stay in city number 10 to help her. Qing Chen had not asked her to join him in going to area 065 of Taboo Land. Everyone was very particular about the limits of their friendship, both of them could joke around, but were very measured when it came to serious matters. Qing Chen walked unevenly towards the camp, only to return to his vehicle and discover something unusual. There were faint sounds of breathing and heartbeat coming from inside the vehicle. He looked through the window and saw, to his surprise, that Song Niannian was sleeping inside?! What was going on, why had she come to his vehicle during his watch? Qing Chen knocked on the window, waking the actress inside. Song Niannian got out of the car in a fluster, and Qing Chen curiously asked, What were you doing in this vehicle? Song Niannian said softly, Where did you go? I passed by this vehicle in the middle of the night and realized you werent here, so I thought Id keep watch for a while, and I ended up falling asleep without realizing it. Qing Chen clearly didnt believe her explanation. The actress had clearly come specially to check if he was present and, finding him absent, decided to wait in the vehicle to see when he would return. Qing Chen frowned; if she was a Kite Falcon placed by another Shadow Candidate near him, it wouldnt be long before the other Shadow Candidates knew he had left the convoy tonight. If there were suddenly a clearing of misunderstandings between Qing Xing and Qing Wen, everyone would soon connect this clue with him. Fortunately, Yangyangs flying speed was extremely fast, comparable to an airship. Given their current distance from city number 10, it would take a day by car, and without an airship to meet him, Qing Chen wouldnt be able to return to city number 10 in time. Qing Chen looked at Song Niannian... To kill her to silence her? It hadnt come to that yet. Important people always say, its better to wrongly kill than to let go. But Qing Chen was not a person who would kill indiscriminately. Without evidence proving who had sent her as a spy to him, he would not entertain thoughts of killing. Song Niannian looked at Qing Chen, Where did you go? Qing Chen calmly said, I went to the woods to relieve myself, but I got lost and it took a long time to find my way back to the camp. Song Niannian curled her lip, Never mind then. She didnt believe that this youngster known as Living Hades could get lost. After being saved last time, Song Niannian had inquired about Qing Chen with many people, joking if she was tired of being a celebrity and wanted to become a spy instead. She had then understood that Qing Chen was not a simple figure, an insider of Qings shadow, possibly to become the youngest director in the history of PCA Central Intelligence Agency. This person had a purpose for being in the film crew. Song Niannian stretched and felt the wilderness was truly too cold. She was about to say something more, but then she heard Qing Chen saying, Hurry back and get some sleep, its still not dawn. After saying that, he went straight into the vehicle and closed the door. Leaving Song Niannian shivering alone in the cold wind... Song Niannian was furious, she turned and returned to her tent, curling up in her sleeping bag. The more she thought about it, the angrier she became. How could someone be so rude! She hadnt even finished speaking, and he had dismissed her like that. It was him who had invited her to the film crew, yet upon arrival, it was as if he had forgotten all about it, now treating her so coldly! The money she had invested in the film crew was also hard-earned, she hadnt even asked her family for it! Little did Song Niannian realize, the one who had invited her was not Qing Chen all along... ... ... At 6:30 in the morning, the chef responsible for cooking had already started bustling about, and the film crew had a dining truck, while field supervisor Liu Liqun was organizing the workers to set out folding tables and small stools for the crew to use in turns during mealtime. However, it seemed like the people in the crew hadnt slept well, as each of them appeared groggy, and they ate sluggishly. Site worker Liu Hui muttered in the chilly wind, At this rate, when will they finish eating? We still havent eaten yet, and the convoy will be leaving. Liu Liqun glared at him, Its only because youre my nephew that I brought you into the crew. Otherwise, with your lazy habits, which factory would keep you? There are rules in place; workers eat last in the crew. Sun Chu Ci and a few others were sitting next to a folding table to eat, when they saw that Qing Chen hadnt eaten yet and immediately said to Liu Liqun, Why dont you come eat with us? For a moment, the crew members impression of Sun Chu Ci and his group greatly improved, but Liu Liqun insisted, Rules are rules, you eat first. Qing Chen found it very interesting. He had heard that many film crews would ask about Liu Liquns availability before they were even formed. This was a baffling notion since the crew members generally held the lowest status within the film crew. Why would a film crews formation depend on the schedule of a crew leader? The reason was that, although Liu Liqun was old, he always knew what rules were and what propriety was. In his crews, there had never been any incidents of crew members fighting over food, taking sneaky photos that exposed mistakes, hitting on female actors, or harassing celebrities. Moreover, their work was always well done without mistakes. With such a person around, you could entrust him with all the miscellaneous tasks without worrying about errors. At that moment, Qing Chen was still scanning the crowd, watching for any unusual behavior from Song Niannian. Suddenly, Liu Liqun walked over quickly with a hand raised to smack the back of Qing Chens head. However, just as his hand was about to reach Qing Chen, Qing merely shifted slightly to the right and easily avoided it. Seeing this, Sun Chu Ci and the others almost spat out the plain porridge in their mouths. Tuan Zi trembled and said, The crew wouldnt have deaths before even seeing snow, would they...? No, no, Sun Chu Ci said, This boss is quite benevolent, not the kind to kill over such a small matter. He must be mentally prepared since hes mingling with the crew... Its just that one day if Liu Liqun finds out the identity of this boss, I wonder if he will be too scared to sleep. In their eyes, this might just be the pinnacle moment of Liu Liquns life. Even if Liu Liqun became a producer for the crew in his lifetime, it wouldnt compare to this moment... Then they heard Liu Liqun complaining to Qing Chen, I told you, stop eyeing the female celebrities. Why wont you listen? If you become a celebrity later, you can look all you want, but for now, just be a good crew member, you got that? Qing Chen wasnt angered; he laughed and responded, Got it, got it. It was just this morning that Qing Chen finally met the male celebrity called Li Yu, who was quite handsome with semi-long hair and a slender face with distinct features. Upon his arrival at the set, the various supporting actors and agents who were part of the crew flocked to greet him, each more eager than the last. Qing Chen suddenly remembered what a renowned actor from the Outer World had said in an interview, Once you become famous, all you see in a set are smiles, and all you hear are lies. Just then, Song Niannian also got out of her car. Liu Liqun immediately came to supervise Qing Chen, who couldnt help but turn his gaze away, laughing and crying at the same time. Unexpectedly, something surprising happened. Song Niannian, wearing a thick down jacket, walked towards the crew members, stood right in front of Qing Chen, and smiled as she asked, This young man is quite handsomewhats his name? Is he a supporting actor in the crew? Qing Chen thought, what are you playing at here... Liu Liqun then said to Qing Chen, Shes asking you something, answer her. Qing Xiaotu, set worker, Qing Chen replied. Song Niannians smile grew even broader, You look good, its a pity to be just a set worker. How about you come and sign with my studio to become an artist? The set workers were shocked. This truly was a world where good looks ruled. Qing Chen had only just arrived at the production crew, yet he was already spotted by a popular female star? What they didnt know was that Song Niannian was just taking advantage of the fact that Qing Chen didnt want to expose his identity, purposely teasing him. She remembered how sincerely he had invited her to the crew, and thinking back to his cold demeanor towards her yesterday, she couldnt help but want to see Qing Chen embarrassed... Qing Chen calmly said, No need, thank you. The set workers were stunned. He just refused? This was an opportunity of a lifetime, and he just declined it?! If that student from Los Angeles Foreign Language School, Xu Zimo, were here, she would find these five words all too familiar. When Qing Chen rejected her from a thousand miles away, he used these exact words and wore the exact same expression. Qing Chen had previously heard from Nan Gengchen that Xu Zimo later took a month off, claiming she wanted to visit 26 public testing cities to see if she had the potential to become a Time Traveler. This included six cities in Korea and the Island Country. At this moment, Liu Liqun, seeing Qing Chen refuse, couldnt hold back his rage, and quickly explained to Song Niannian, This kid doesnt understand, he doesnt know how important the opportunity youre offering him is. Ill talk to him about it later. Okay, Song Niannian replied, her smile brimming and her eyes seeming to ripple, Then do try to persuade him, I invited him because I thought he was particularly suitable. After saying this, she turned and left, leaving Liu Liqun frustratedly telling Qing Chen, Isnt this why you joined the production crew? Why not seize the opportunity when it comes? This time Qing Chen finally couldnt help but roll his eyes, Ill think about it. Suddenly, from not far away, the sound of an argument arose. All eyes turned to see it was Li Yus manager and Song Niannians manager having a dispute. Li Yus manager raised his voice and said, Whats wrong with giving you a heads-up? Everyone knows your Song Niannian had impure motives for suddenly joining the crew. She wasnt supposed to be here, then she suddenly showed up. Is she trying to stir up a scandal with our Li Yu? Im warning you, dont even think about it! A friendly reminder, and youre not grateful at all? Song Niannians manager was infuriated, A scandal with you? As if your dark history isnt long enough. Do you think we want to tarnish our reputation along with yours? Rest assured, our Song Niannian doesnt give a damn about Li Yu! If it werent for a corporate tycoon inviting us, we wouldnt have come here at all! Li Yus manager scoffed, A corporate invitation? Assistant Director Wang and others dont even know about this. You fabricate as soon as you open your mouth? Theres no corporate investment in this production crew, why would they personally invite you? Come on, who invited you? The manager said, It was... Song Niannian quickly came over and grabbed her manager, Sister, dont talk about this with them, we know whats going on, thats enough. Song Niannian knew the severity of the situation, she absolutely couldnt expose Qing Chen at this moment. Director Zhang, Assistant Director Wang, and others pretended not to hear, no one dared to get involved in the dispute between top star managers... The crew members were happy to watch the drama unfold, wondering if Song Niannians reason for joining the production was really because of Li Yu? Chapter 766: 452, Old Friends Reunite Chapter 766: 452, Old Friends Reunite Song Niannians agent said they didnt come for Li Yu. But they were reluctant to reveal who had actually invited them. Such an attitude made even the other staff members of the crew gradually feel that perhaps Song Niannian had really joined the crew in order to create gossip with Li Yu. Only Song Niannian herself was very clear about why she had come. As for what Li Yu thought, she didnt care at all. On the side, Tuan Zi murmured softly, Senior, do you think it was that boss who invited her? As she spoke, her gaze shifted towards Qing Chen. Sun Chu Ci pondered for a moment before saying, Dont guess wildly. Tuan Zi continued to mutter, Among the tycoons in the crew, isnt he the only one? If not him, then who else could it be? While talking, Tuan Zi looked up to see Qing Chen turning his head to smile at her, and she quickly shut up. For some reason, she always felt like he could hear her speaking. The motorcade continued heading north, passing by Taboo Land 129, 046, and 091 along the way. It was said that these had formed just over a decade ago and were among the smallest in scale of all the Taboo Lands; they hadnt even developed a distinction between periphery and core. Normally, a Taboo Land would accelerate its expansion after 28 years of formation, and the differences between its periphery and core would rapidly become apparent. So, the best time to explore the rules of a Taboo Land is right after it forms. At that time, even if one triggered the rules, death wasnt guaranteed, and a C-Class Expert, if not fatally bitten by venomous creatures, could make a tough escape. Now, the reward for exploring the rules of Taboo Land 129 was posted in various black markets, and the number of people who came to explore was not small. At the beginning, when the motorcade passed by Taboo Land 129, The crews staff let out exclamations of wow, as if they had never seen such a sight before... Everyone could see the magic of the Taboo Land; its lush trees remained dense even in winter, and large birds could be seen taking off and landing in the sky above the Taboo Land. By evening, the crew finally arrived at their first filming location, Liangwu Lake. Here, in wintertime, a light mist lingered, with traces of encampments and domestic garbage nearby. In the distance, elk were drinking by the lake, and they werent very afraid when they saw people; they looked up curiously before running away after a while. The other crew members went to enjoy the wilderness scenery, leaving behind the stagehands to set up tents at the temporary camp. This hard work was something they wouldnt do. To everyones surprise, while the stagehands were setting up tents, Song Niannian actually came over to join in the fun. With a look of curiosity, she circled the tents and said, Can I try it? Liu Liqun hurriedly responded, Please dont try, what if you get hurt again? We cant bear that responsibility. I just wont do any dangerous work, Song Niannian said with a smile. Liu Liqun was perplexed, What are you up to? Song Niannian smiled and said, I just want to see if working as a stagehand is particularly interesting. I invited someone to my studio to become an artist, but they didnt want to give up this stagehand job. Liu Liqun: ... Qing Chen: ... That statement was clearly directed at Qing Chen. News about Song Niannian inviting Qing Chen had gradually spread within the crew, but what people were interested in was not whether Qing Chen was suitable for acting; instead, they were wondering if Song Niannian was interested in this stagehand. What Qing Chen was thinking about was what Shadow had said to Song Niannian when he was impersonating him, causing her to act so familiar with him now... In fact, the relationship between Qing Chen and Song Niannian was a bit off. Qing Chen had no real acquaintance with Song Niannian; they had just had some misunderstandings. But clearly, Song Niannian didnt see it that way. In fact, before this, whenever Song Niannian had encountered Qing Chen, she had kept her distance. Even though Qing Chen had saved her, she hadnt approached to express gratitude or anything like that. They were still strangers with no intersections. They were not that familiar with each other. But all that had changed after Shadow impersonated Qing Chen and extended an invitation to her... Qing Chen could imagine the schadenfreude look on Shadows face at this moment. So, what exactly did Shadow say to Song Niannian? What exactly did the Pangolin say? Just then, Li Yus agent, passing by, suddenly remarked, What, to show that youre not coming for Li Yu, youve started to mingle with the stagehands? Song Niannian gave her a glance but said with a smile, Even a stagehand is cleaner than your Li Yu. Li Yus agents eyebrows nearly shot up to the sky. Song Niannian called out to someone not too far away, Sis, come on, lets get to work! No sooner had she spoken than Song Niannians agent got into action and rushed over, while Song Niannian herself leisurely returned to her car. She acted as if it was none of her business, not getting angry at all! The next moment, Song Niannians agent and Li Yus agent started quarreling again, almost as if they wanted to pull each others hair out. Qing Chen and the others were stunned by this scene. So there was such a thing as proxy quarreling?! Is this what an agents job is? The key point was that Song Niannian was quite a character too... For some reason, Qing Chen always felt a sense of familiarity when he looked at Song Niannian... Elsewhere, Song Niannians agent snapped, My Niannian would fancy a stagehand over fancying your Li Yu any day. Stop trying to clout-chase, will you? Chapter 767: 452, Old Acquaintances Reunite_2 Chapter 767: 452, Old Acquaintances Reunite_2 Li Yus agent, Find a stagehand to pretend? Who would believe that! As they argued, the two of them walked away. What a great opportunity, Liu Liqun sighed as he looked at Qing Chen. Qing Chen chuckled, Thats enough, Liu, youve been sentimental all the way here. Arent you here to seize opportunities with the crew? How come when the opportunity came, you couldnt grab it? Liu Liqun asked, Do you know how many newcomers Song Niannians studio has made famous? I really came to be a stagehand, not to find opportunities, Qing Chen said with a smile, Is it so wrong to want to do some honest, hard labor? Liu Liqun suddenly felt that Qing Chen saying he just wanted to be a stagehand was so convincing, especially since he had just genuinely passed up a great opportunity. But he couldnt understand why changing his life for the better was a bad thing. Being a star was so much easier, so why insist on hard labor? However, Qing Chen just smiled without saying a word, seemingly not aspiring for more, and continued to work hard alongside the other stagehands without ever complaining or expressing tiredness. Even when other stagehands were slacking off and resting, he continued to earnestly complete his work. He even finished the tasks of others. When Liu Liqun saw this, he remarked, Boy, if you stay with me for two or three years, you could definitely become a foreman that all crews would love. Qing Chen couldnt help but smile wryly. Sun Chu Ci and Tuan Zi, who were nearby, exchanged glances when they heard this. Just then, a staffer from Li Yus side came over to hurry them along, Isnt my artists tent set up yet? Almost done, almost done, Liu Liqun chuckled, Your tents are bigger, so putting in the pegs takes a bit more effort. The staffer continued with curses and complaints, Hurry up and work, dont let me see you chatting and slacking off here, my artist is very tired, and needs to rest in the tent. Qing Chen raised his eyebrows but said nothing. Liu Liqun explained to the stagehands with a laugh, Thats how the entertainment industry is, all high and mighty. When youre a popular influencer, the people working around you can strut around. And those artists and staff might not have much education, once they rise to power, they act like nouveaux riches. Dont bother with them; they might just collapse soon. After finishing the work, Qing Chen took a walk around the campsite. He frowned as he saw the camping traces, Why does it look like a lot of people have been here, like frequent visits by wilderness people? Liu Liqun said, A lot of crews like to come here for filming, about a dozen each year. Qing Chen circled the camping traces and suddenly felt something was off. The other camping signs were very old, only leaving behind remains of campfires washed away by rain, and packaging of convenience foods. However, the spot he noticed seemed to have been abandoned not long ago, with animal bones and fish bones scattered around, and recent shotgun shells dropped on the shore of the lake. The group was clearly a small armed force. Qing Chen called Sun Chu Ci over and whispered, Be on high alert tonight, notify everyone, no one should undress for bed, and dont sleep in sleeping bags. Also, arrange for the crew staff to keep watch with you, Ill mark three spots, and there must be someone on guard at these spots. Sun Chu Ci nodded, Understood... could there be danger? Qing Chen glanced at him, When youre away from home, its always good to be cautious. Sun Chu Ci went to discuss this with Assistant Director Wang, but had barely started speaking when a quarrel broke out over there, with Li Yus agent yelling, Why cant we even use sleeping bags? Arent you here to ensure everyones safety? Isnt that what youre paid for? Patiently, Sun Chu Ci said, We are indeed here for a fee to ensure everyones safety, but this doesnt mean we can fix all problems. Being cautious in the wilderness just makes sense, doesnt it? Sun Chu Ci looked at Director Zhang, What do you think? However, just at that moment, the sound of approaching vehicles suddenly emanated from outside the camp. For a moment, Sun Chu Ci felt as if facing a formidable enemy he hurried to his own vehicle and retrieved the firearms they carried from the trunk. However, his first action wasnt to arm himself, but to throw the firearms to Qing Chen... Liu Liqun watched this scene with a bit of suspicion; he looked at Qing Chen, only to see the latter not checking the firearms but weighing them in his hands, appearing rather inexperienced. How odd, thought Liu Liqun. These formidable wilderness hunters, why would they give the firearms to us crew members first? They surely dont think we possess any combat capability, do they? At this moment, Sun Chu Ci knew his actions would arouse suspicion, but safety was paramount he felt uneasy with Qing Chen unarmed... The sound of the vehicles quickly neared, massive and overwhelming. From afar, Qing Chen could see the insignia on the vehicles and put away his firearm: False alarm, its the Federal Group army. Sun Chu Ci shouted to everyone, No need to panic, its the Federal Group army. However, Qing Chen suddenly noticed that when Director Zhang and others heard it was the Federal Group army, they became even more nervous... It wasnt that Director Zhang and his team had filmed anything illegal, but rather, the attitude of people from the Outer World and Inner World towards their own countrys army was starkly different. Moreover, this wasnt a war zone; the armies of Jindai and Deer Island were further north, so the forces likely to appear here were probably from the Li Clan and Qing Clan. Since it was the Li Clan and Qing Clan forces, there was nothing for him to worry about. Song Niannians manager urged her, saying, Quick, quick, get in the car. Youre too conspicuous. What if they took an interest in you? On the other side, even Li Yus manager was urging the male celebrity to get into the car, which showed just how wide-ranging were the interests of the Federal Group army on ordinary days. Sun Chu Ci: ... Qing Chen: ... Sun Chu Ci and the others were stunned; so this was how people from the Inner World reacted when encountering the army in the wilderness? Perhaps even the people from the wilderness wouldnt panic like this. He subconsciously looked at Qing Chen, who still appeared very calm. Qing Chen asked Liu Liqun, Boss Liu, its my first time coming to the wilderness with the crew; why is everyone so afraid of the Federal Group army? Have they done anything terribly wrong? Liu Liqun responded with a pained expression, Not really, its mainly that the Federal Group army acts like emperors in the wilderness. Although they wouldnt really harm the celebrities, they would demand performances from them. Its inevitable for some officers to get handsy during these times. Its somewhat better in the Central Plains, but if you go north and encounter the Jindai familys army, it can be very rough on the artists, so now the crews avoid going there. As they spoke, the Federal Group armys fleet of drones had already arrived above the camp, subtly encompassing everyone within their fire range. The impressive convoy came to a halt, and from it, a young officer jumped down from an armored vehicle and slowly walked towards the camp. The next moment, Li Yu jumped out from his own vehicle, a look of surprise on his face as he greeted the officer, Officer Li Su, its me! We had dinner together in City 10. Everyone understood then Li Yu had actually encountered an acquaintance. Those who recognized military ranks saw that this was a young Major of the Federal Group army, surely a direct heir of a powerful clan. People felt relieved with an acquaintance present, Li Yu speaking with this officer named Li Su should prevent further trouble for the crew. However, what was surprising was that Officer Li Su didnt respond to Li Yu; his gaze swept over the crowd... And the moment he saw Qing Chen, he froze: Sir? Chapter 768: Who is Sun Chu Ci? Chapter 768: Who is Sun Chu Ci? Everyone in the film crew froze upon hearing those two words. Sir? Who was being addressed? Qing Chen thought to himself that he resembled a magnet, hardly venturing out yet continuously running into acquaintances. The person before him was none other than Li Su, who had followed him in cultivation at Autumn Leaf Courtyard, and had been promoted to Major after not seeing him for over a month. The pace of promotion among the scions of the conglomerates was indeed fast. At this moment, all the crew members turned to look at Qing Chen. Sun Chu Ci quickly stepped forward and smiled at Li Su, saying, Its been a long time. Li Su paused for a moment, then hurriedly responded, Yes, a long time. He understood that it was not appropriate for the sir to reveal his identity. Qing Chen looked at Sun Chu Ci approvingly. Such talent ought to come to Daylight. Both Li Su and Sun Chu Ci had to be smart, cooperating seamlessly to cover up the slip of the tongue by Li Su just now. Sun Chu Ci reacted quickly, and Li Sus response was swift as well. Initially, the crew members thought Li Su had called out to Qing Chen, and they hadnt yet had the chance to react when Sun Chu Ci took over the conversation. The shock gradually settled down. After all, everyone was touting Sun Chu Ci as the most formidable Wilderness Hunter. Although to the conglomerates he wasnt much, it was still more plausible than a crew worker being addressed as sir by a direct descendant of a conglomerate and a military officer... Instantly, everyones view of Sun Chu Ci had changed. Li Yu knew Li Sus identity best, this scion of the Li Family who now had an illustrious reputation in City 18 among the second generation. Many said that Li Su was the most likely to enter the Privy Council before he turned thirty, and after a few years there, he would emerge as a high official of the Li Family. Such a person calling Sun Chu Ci Sir? Li Yus gaze towards Sun Chu Ci heated up. He was very aware that he was far too distant from someone like Li Su, but maybe through some connections, he could bridge that gap a bit this time. Li Su looked at Sun Chu Ci: Sir, what brings you here? Sun Chu Ci felt quite awkward knowing that the question was not directed at him, but he still acted as an intermediary, responding, Were with the film crew here for shooting. Once we finish capturing the snowy scenery, well head further north... The crew will make a brief stop at the New Dragon Inn before heading back. Li Su was keeping an eye on Qing Chen. Although they had never undergone a formal apprenticeship, the Li Family valued respect for teachers highly, and since the sir could engage in council debates, Li Su respected Qing Chen both publicly and privately. Though not quite to the extent of Li Ke. Sun Chu Ci asked, What is happening here...? Li Su explained, The warfare in the north has ceased, were tracking a group of wilderness people who attacked a production base and have come here. In winter, when the wilderness people find it tough to survive, they harm the production bases, killing many workers there. Theyre quite brutal. Weve been ordered to eliminate them all within seven days. While speaking, Li Sus eyes occasionally drifted towards Qing Chen, making Sun Chu Ci feel even more awkward. Both Sun Chu Ci and Li Su suddenly froze in place. For a moment, they didnt know what to say over the distance, especially with so many eyes on them. Sun Chu Ci embarrassingly wanted to turn and ask Qing Chen if he had anything else to ask... But he couldnt do that. Qing Chen then said to the crew member Zhou Cang, Its getting late, lets hurry to chop some firewood, and prepare to light the bonfire. Understanding the hint, Sun Chu Ci looked at Li Su: Its indeed getting late, why dont you stay and camp here? Immediately, Li Su turned and instructed his deputy, Set camp, remember the discipline! The deputy clattered away in a run, and the Federal Army Group swiftly set up a camp of earthy, camouflaged tents in just twenty minutes, even stringing a barrier tape around it to demarcate the boundary. Inside the tape was now a temporary military restricted area. This scene left the crew members dumbfounded, setting up camp just like that? Was it really that casual?! However, everyone somehow felt as if the order had been expected... The way the crew members looked at Sun Chu Ci became even more admiring. Others were in awe, never expecting that there was such a revered figure hidden within the film crew. Liu Liqun was awestruck that such an imposing figure was still so approachable, even willing to help these crew workers with their tasks! Meanwhile, Song Niannian, curious, observed Li Su intently, then shifted her gaze back and forth between Qing Chen and Sun Chu Ci. She walked over boldly, smiling at Li Su, Hello, Im Song Niannian, weve met before. Li Su silently looked toward Sun Chu Ci. Sun Chu Ci: ... Friend. Li Su smiled at Song Niannian, Hello, I remember. It was during Li Shus birthday; youre her good friend. The crew members finally realized, this Officer Li Su was actually gauging Sun Chu Cis attitude towards Song Niannian before deciding his own. At that moment, Li Yu, seeing Song Niannian approaching, hurried over and said with a smile, Officer Li Su, its been a long time. Li Su silently shifted his gaze towards Sun Chu Ci. Sun Chu Ci hesitated for a moment, ...idiot. Li Sus gaze turned cold as he looked at Li Yu, Get lost. Li Yu, ??? Why is there such a huge gap between people? But the problem was, Li Yu looked at Sun Chu Ci, thinking to himself that he hadnt provoked him, so why would he say that? However, he didnt dare to retort and could only turn around and walk away, holding in his frustration. After reaching his own tent, Li Yu found his manager and said with a puzzled face, Did we provoke that Sun Chu Ci? Not at all, the manager was equally baffled. We only quarreled with Song Niannian, not with this Sun Chu Ci. Strange, Li Yu murmured. That shouldnt be! Night fell and the bonfire sparked to life. The film crew was scattered at first, but as Li Su arrived with his troops, the place suddenly buzzed with activity. On the Federal Army Groups side, military songs started to play, and Song Niannian simply took the second lead actress and actor to perform their talents, which delighted the soldiers immensely. On Qing Chens side, Li Su finally found the chance to speak alone with him, Sir, are you setting the stage for the Qing Mu deal? Yes, Qing Chen nodded, not needing to hide this from Li Su since they had spent time together in Autumn Leaf Courtyard. This young member of the Li Family was very reliable. Li Su thought for a while, Sir, should I take the troops to Zone 065 in the Taboo Land? No matter how many come from Jindai, they cant bring an army. I could lie to the command center, tell them we found the main force of the Wilderness Hunter, and request an A-Class Floating ship to bombard those guys from Jindai. Qing Chen couldnt help but smile wryly, Dont. Your aunt Li Changqing just signed a ceasefire agreement. If you act on your own and fire at Jindai using regular troops, a war might start again. Plus, I know that your armored vehicles all have a Black Box recorder; a private troop mobilization would lead to punishment, theres no need, my plan doesnt include your involvement. Alright, Li Su nodded. As he watched the bonfire, he said, Sir, I really miss the days in the Autumn Leaf Courtyard. Us brothers had to think of nothing but cultivation every day. Now, everyone is scattered across different military units. Its hard even to see each other. But we all have good relations and look out for each other in the military. What Qing Chen didnt know was, within the Federal Army Group, the Li Family was a united front, but there were also factions within the Li Family, and Li Su and others were subtly becoming a new generation of the robust faction. The core was those who trained in the Autumn Leaf Courtyard, led by Li Su. Hearing Li Sus words, Qing Chen was taken aback. He hadnt just formed some kind of Inner World version of Whampoa Military Academy, had he? However, just then, vehicle sounds came from outside the camp once more. Li Sus men quickly went into combat formation. In just a few breaths, nearly five hundred men had taken cover behind armored vehicles, forming a meticulous combat formation. The armored vehicles started up, and the metal storm began to slowly spin. Amidst the humming, hundreds of drones entered combat readiness. But the combat readiness was soon lifted. Li Su, sitting by the bonfire, received a report through his earpiece, Qings Family vehicles, seven, no heavy artillery. Li Su looked at Qing Chen and said softly, Sir, its the Qings Family vehicles. We have no reason to block them. Qing Chen exclaimed suddenly, wondering if it could be a Shadow Candidate coming out early. According to the timeline for the Qing Mu trade, it was still more than ten days away. Which Shadow Candidate was so eager? Let them come through, said Qing Chen, then he stooped to poke at the fire. The Qings Family motorcade soon arrived. The crew members were surprised to see the ginkgo insignia on the vehicles. What was going on? Today, it seemed like a gathering of conglomerates at the lake. Then, someone jumped out of a vehicle first and looked around. When he saw the young man bending over the fire, he exclaimed in surprise, Sir? The newcomer was Qing Yi. If it had been someone else, Qing Chen bending over might not have been recognized, but it would be unreasonable for Qing Yi not to recognize him. The crew members were even more confused. Here came another one calling him sir. Having conglomerates cluster might be one thing, but why one after another calling him sir? That reverent tone was clearly indicative of a teacher-like figure. Sun Chu Ci, catching a glimpse of Qing Chen, and seeing that he had no intention of getting up, reluctantly stood up, Come have a seat. Qing Yi hesitated for a moment, then smiled and replied, Of course, sir. Sun Chu Ci, facing the crew members stares, maintained a stiff smile. Ha-ha, yes, its still me. Sun Chu Ci then looked back at Qing Chen, his gaze conveying, Boss, is anyone else coming to find you? If so, lets all gather here? At this point, the crew members looks towards Sun Chu Ci shifted from amazement to admiration. They recognized Qing Yi as a Shadow Candidate often seen in federal news. Li Su was a young outstanding member of the Li Family. Qing Yi was a young outstanding member of Qings Family. And Sun Chu Ci was simultaneously the teacher for both? Just who exactly was Sun Chu Ci?! Chapter 769: 454. Shadows Revenge Chapter 769: 454. Shadows Revenge Qing Yi reacted quickly; the moment Sun Chu Ci stepped forward to respond to the call of Mister, he knew Qing Chen was concealing his identity. He merely glanced at Sun Chu Ci curiously; he hadnt seen this person in the company of Mister before. After thinking a bit, he said to Sun Chu Ci with a smile, Mister, I was worried I couldnt find you. Sun Chu Ci: Mm-hmm... Sun Chu Ci did recognize Qing Yi; after all, he was the Federations most popular Shadow Candidate, not as low-key as Li Su is now. It was rumored that Qing Yi had already secured the support of a certain Inspector from Intelligence Department One, and it seemed likely that his patron was the boss by his side. Now that Qing Yi was calling Qing Chen Mister, it further confirmed the rumors. Sun Chu Ci roughly understood that this was someone from his own side. Being new to the camp, Qing Yi was somewhat unclear about the situation here. To avoid having to repeat the same process as Li Su, Sun Chu Ci took the initiative to introduce the situation: This is the film crews temporary campsite; everyone is here waiting to film after Great Snow. This is the site worker Qing Xiaotu, and that is Li Su from the Federation Groups military. In one sentence, he subtly introduced Qing Chens current disguised identity, giving Qing Yi an idea of the situation. It had to be said, Sun Chu Ci, the brilliant student from the prestigious Zheng University in the Outer World, was quite smart. Continuing on, Sun Chu Ci introduced, This is Song Niannian, a top-tier actress, and those two are Director Zhang and Assistant Director Wang from the film crew. Then, pointing to Li Yu in the distance, he said, That one is an idiot. Li Yu: ??? Li Yu was completely dumbfounded; he hadnt even approached them this time, so why was he being specifically introduced?! Hadnt they had enough?! Was it necessary to introduce him like this every time someone new arrived?! However, Li Yu was too angry to speak, for in his mind, Sun Chu Ci had already become a mysterious big shot, someone he absolutely couldnt afford to offend. In front of fans, he was the biggest name, but in front of financiers and major figures, he was nothing. By then, Qing Yi had already realized that Li Yu must have offended their Mister. His heart was certainly much smaller than Li Sus. Qing Yi looked at Li Yu with a smile, Noted. ... ... Thats so satisfying, Song Niannians agent whispered to her, Ive been so fired up arguing with Li Yus agent these past days; now that Sun Chu Ci has snapped back, it feels so good! Hey, do you think Li Yu will be blacklisted when he goes back? The entertainment industry is very realistic. You cause a scandal in the morning, and by the afternoon you have no work to do. Now that so many major figures from the financial factions have taken note of Li Yu, who would dare to support him later? Even those who might want to support him would have to consider whether Li Su and Li Yu would turn against them. So, as long as the industry gets wind of what happened here upon his return, Its very likely that Li Yu is in for a cold reception. Who cares, Song Niannian laughed, Sister, youve had a tough time this trip, huh? I didnt expect to encounter someone like Li Yu after joining the production. If Id known he was in the crew, I wouldve... Well, it seems I had to come anyway. The agent thought for a moment, then asked in a low voice, The one who invited you to join, it wasnt that Sun Chu Ci, was it? Song Niannian couldnt help but laugh, No, it wasnt. Before Song Niannian joined the crew, her agent had been advising her not to take the job. In the end, Song Niannian didnt listen and went ahead to pull funds out from her studio. When the agent asked, she only mentioned it was an invitation from a big shot but refused to say who. Now, the agents eyes swept over Sun Chu Ci, Qing Yi, and Li Su, and she asked cryptically, So, who exactly invited you? I cant say, Song Niannian shook her head. However, she found it amusing that while everyone was treating Sun Chu Ci like a big shot, she knew full well that everything was because of Qing Chen. To be honest, she knew Qing Chen was formidable, but she had not anticipated him being this formidable. ... ... The sky was growing darker, but the bonfire at the campsite burned brighter and brighter. The temperature continued to drop, yet the enthusiasm of the film crews discussions only grew hotter. During their discussions, they would occasionally glance at Sun Chu Ci, then continue whispering among themselves. As Sun Chu Ci walked through the camp, everyone made way for him, greeting him with smiles. They called him Teacher Sun Chu Ci one after another. When the meal from the film crews food truck was ready, Assistant Director Wang immediately instructed his assistant to prepare a plate and send it to Sun Chu Ci. Even knowing that all of this was a facade, Sun Chu Ci couldnt help but feel a secret thrill... So this is what it felt like to be a fake big shot... so smoothly satisfying... Sun Chu Ci couldnt help but fantasize that this must count as having clung to the right thigh, and how great it would be if he could become as formidable as the other party someday. While everyone thought he was a big shot, only Sun Chu Ci knew how shocked he was. The best among the young generations of the Li and Qing families were students of Qing Chen; could a Time Traveler achieve this? Bai Yue had a small number of people during the day in the Outer World, lacking the influence of networks or Red Leaves, but in the Inner World, the influence of Bai Yue might have already surpassed that of all Time Traveler Organizations. While Assistant Director Wangs assistant was bringing the meal over, Sun Chu Ci handed his portion to Qing Chen. As soon as he handed it out, he was stopped by Liu Liqun who came rushing over, No, no, no, we set workers eat last. Teacher Sun Chu Ci, you eat first. As he spoke, he firmly pushed the lunchbox Sun Chu Ci had handed out back to him. While pushing he also said, We set workers are tough, going hungry for a bit is nothing! The rules of the crew are the rules! Sun Chu Ci almost panicked. He was trying to curry favor here, what was this guy adding chaos for! You might be fine hungry for a while, but the boss cant go hungry! Tuan Zi handed the meal to Qing Chen, but Liu Liqun pushed it back again... You have to say, Liu Liqun was quite strong. Qing Chen laughed, You guys go ahead and eat. Youre more precious, we set workers always eat after everyone else is done. Upon hearing this, Sun Chu Ci and the others reluctantly scrambled with their own dishes in hand. Liu Liqun finally left, reassured, and returned to wait by the food truck. By the bonfire, only our own people remained: Sun Chu Ci, Tuan Zi, Qing Yi, Li Su, and Qing Chen. Qing Yi sat beside the bonfire, listlessly poking at the firewood. Qing Chen asked, How come you came out early? Theres still more than ten days before the trade with Qing Mu. Qing Yi was startled, Wait, sir, wasnt it you who asked me to come out early? Qing Chen: ...It was me. Qing Yi said, It was you who told me to come here to find you, you even sent me the coordinates. You also said that if I came late, youd be angry... Qing Chen: Mhm, mhm... Hehe. Without thinking, it mustve been Shadow. The one who had once impersonated him was now starting to do it all too smoothly. Initially, Qing Chen thought Shadow had just impersonated him to invite Song Niannian. Now, he couldnt help but ponder who else Shadow might have deceived by pretending to be him... Previously, Shadow had warned him not to impersonate himself again or he would bear the consequences. Then considering Shadows vindictiveness, since he had impersonated Shadow to deceive six Shadow Candidates, Mr. Shadow might have impersonated him to deceive six people as well. So, Shadow had tricked who else. Of course, in a strict sense, his impersonation was for his own sake to come back alive from Taboo Land 065, while Shadows impersonation of him was more like a prank at most. Either way, he had profited. But Qing Chen, suddenly filled with apprehension about the journey ahead... Now even if Shadow Candidates gathered in the crew, he wouldnt be particularly surprised... Up to now, Qing Chen still knew very little about this Shadow. He didnt know what the other looked like, nor the level of his abilities. The only thing he knew was that he loved to play games. The kind that could play you to death At this moment, Qing Yi looked to Li Su, Brother Li Su, how come youre here too? Li Su explained, Im here to round up the wild people. Then, snow began to flutter down from the sky. Li Su glanced at Qing Chen and whispered, Sir, its snowing. According to the weather forecast, the snow will soon get heavy. If you dont need me to stay here, then I must quickly track the wild peoples tracks before the Great Snow covers them. These wild people are extremely fierce, having committed many murders in the production base, and they cannot be let off. Qing Chen nodded, Go on, serious matters are priority. Li Su stood up, bowed deeply to Sun Chu Ci, Sir, take care. Sun Chu Ci, who was in the middle of eating, almost dropped his lunchbox, ...Im kind of scared. Li Su said calmly, Special times, there are others watching over the camp. Youre here for the sir. Sir, though we, as disciples, havent formally performed the duties of discipleship, in our hearts we truly regard you as our teacher. If theres anything, just say the word and well be there. After saying that, he turned and strode away, along with those Federal Group soldiers who had just set up camp. Li Yu in the camp, along with the other crew members, all sighed in relief. The Federal Group soldiers were like a heavy stone pressing on their chests. Especially Li Yu C he was genuinely worried that Li Su would beat him up before leaving. Fortunately, that didnt happen. Sun Chu Ci sat by the bonfire, too scared to continue eating for quite some time. Qing Yi, watching Li Sus departing figure, suddenly said to Qing Chen, Sir, ever since the Autumn Leaf Courtyard, the brothers have all gone their separate ways, everybody busy with their own things. It seems that everyone suddenly got busy. Qing Chen knew Qing Yi was young and couldnt bear parting. The days at the Autumn Leaf Courtyard when the brothers trained together under the stars had been so joyful. Leaving the Autumn Leaf Courtyard, everyone had to face the reality of life again. Qing Chen said, There are no banquets that dont end in this world. You have things you want to do, and so do they. Tell me, what do you want to do the most now? Qing Yi was somewhat at a loss for a moment, To become a Shadow, I guess. Why do you want to become a Shadow? asked Qing Chen. Qing Yi scratched at his watermelon-like head, Its not that I have to become one, its just everyone seems to think its great to be a Shadow, so I wanted to try it. Sir, I dont know what your childhood was like, but ever since I was young, my parents always said, Qing Yi is so smart, he will definitely become a Shadow, and after that, the Family Head...'' Qing Chen thought, it seems in Qings Family, childhood education involves encouraging aspirations towards becoming a Shadow, just like parents in the Outer World telling their kids, Youre so smart, youll definitely get into Tsinghua or Beijing University. Qing Chen asked with a smile, Do you want to become a Shadow? Chapter 770: 455. Goddess of the Fire Pit Chapter 770: 455. Goddess of the Fire Pit Qing Yi nodded slightly, I do want to learn, or else I wouldnt know what else to do. Then this time, I cant protect you too well, Qing Chen said after a moment of thought, because youll always face dangers on this path, so you need to learn how to fight for yourself. You have to force yourself to grow up faster because we dont have much time. I can perform the Empowerment to enhance your strength, but strength alone doesnt determine everything in this world. Qing Yi thought for a moment, Understood. Stay here for a few days, then go to the No. 065 market town to scout ahead for me, and help me understand the situation there, Qing Chen continued, I suspect that the people from Jindai might have already arrived. At this moment, Qing Chen had made up his mind. He wanted Qing Yi to survive until the end in the Shadows struggle and become the Shadow. Or more precisely, the Shadows Shadow. Nobody could guess who the Shadow was in this generation. Many a high-ranking official from Qings Family might think they knew, but was what they knew really the truth? Qing Chen suddenly realized that if you dont even know who the Shadow is and only use electronic beacons and disguises to differentiate, then there could actually be many Shadows. It could even be an organization. This generations Shadow had done a good job of hiding his identity. Qing Chen thought he should learn from that. Just as Sun Chu Ci was his white glove now, Qing Yi could also become his white glove within Qings Family. Qing Yi hummed in acknowledgment, then looking at the campfire, suddenly said, I wonder how Li Ke has been? Havent seen him in a long time. Missing him? Qing Chen asked with a smile. A bit. Youll see him again eventually. Qing Yi sat by the campfire, feeling the flickering warmth of the flames, filled with anticipation at the thought of his teacher right beside him, and Li Ke possibly returning at any time. Unfortunately, there were outsiders present. The teacher couldnt perform the Empowerment on him yet; he had to wait until everyone else was asleep. The film crew staff didnt rest either, becoming busier instead. The long-awaited Great Snow had finally arrived, and they had to finish filming all the scenes from the first sequence before the snow stopped. Song Niannian started to put on her makeup, and the actors for the male and female leads also entered the makeshift makeup tent. Strangely enough, Li Yu, who used to be the center of attention in the film crew, suddenly found himself ignored by everyone. Director Zhangs hair now had a bit of snow in it, making it look as though his hair had turned white with worry. He dare not use Li Yu anymore; the bigwigs were too intimidating to offend. Director Zhang felt that even if he shot the scenes well now, it probably wouldnt be broadcast when he got back. He whispered to Assistant Director Wang, Hurry and talk to Li Yu, tell him to apologize to the higher-ups; otherwise, nobody will dare to cast him. If the bigwigs havent forgiven him, all the scenes weve shot with him will have to be deleted and replaced with a new leading man. Assistant Director Wang was startled for a moment, then hurriedly strode towards Li Yu, Where the hell, in this desolate wilderness, can we find a new leading man? ... ... At this moment, in the southwestern forests. Li Ke was also sitting by a campfire, while Li Yunjing sat beside him like an ancient tree, meditating with eyes closed. As he meditated, the fire in front of him flowed strangely, as if gripped by a hand, condensing like a waterfall gathering together. Li Ke asked, Uncle Mirror, what legacy are you cultivating? Li Yunjing responded, It was given by the old patriarch, and I dont know what legacy it is. Eh, I havent heard of any complete legacy in the Li Family, Li Ke felt puzzled. Because no one else can cultivate it, Li Yunjing said, still with eyes closed, not elaborating further. However, during their conversation, rustling sounds came from a distance, as if the wind had stirred the leaves. Li Yunjing suddenly opened his eyes. The flames in front of him burst forth as if released from a sudden grip, illuminating the woods with clarity. Within the woods, figures were stirring, relentlessly approaching. Li Ke said, Uncle Mirror, theyre wilders. These people had human finger bones strung around their necks and faces painted with white lines. Li Yunjing corrected him, They are Fire Pit people. It seemed to Li Yunjing that wilders and Fire Pit people were not one and the same. Why would Fire Pit people appear here? Li Ke wondered, not the least bit panicked. Normally, Fire Pit hunting grounds and their range of activity would not extend to this area, so it was rather strange. Li Yunjing said, Fire Pit people typically only roam this far when a Gods Child has an adulthood hunting ritual. It seems someone has leaked your information, and thats why Fire Pit people have come. For the Gods Childs hunt, they either hunt the fiercest beasts deep within the Taboo Land, or they go after the magnates of the conglomerates. Li Ke just happened to meet the criteria. Li Yunjing glanced at the figures rapidly approaching, then looked towards Li Ke, Arent you afraid? Theyve brought a lot of people. Not afraid, with Uncle Jing here, Li Ke said. You are somewhat stronger than your father, Li Yunjing said. That doesnt seem right. I heard that my dad was especially valiant when he was young. When he held a post in the south, there was a major dispute over mineral resources between the Li Family and the Chen Clan. He went alone to negotiate with the Chen Clan, Li Ke said. Mom said that if it werent for his gesture of negotiating alone, which intimidated the other side, a civil war within the Federation might have broken out a long time ago. After thinking for a moment, Li Yunjing said, This is where your fathers strengths lay. He was actually very scared, but he still did it. Thats the most important reason why the old man chose him as the Family Headto know awe, not to act rashly, and to have a calm temperament. I see. In the face of the murderous intent in the dense forest and Fire Pit, neither of them showed any sign of worry. The next second, Li Yunjing picked up a withered twig from the ground and threw it out, only to see the twig penetrate three large trees, nailing itself to the tree beside a Fire Pit person. Li Yunjing said, If your Grand Elder hasnt come, then dont bother... Dont hide anymore, come out and talk. Li Yunjing added, If you still have the guts, that is. His casual throw of the withered twig had intimidated many Fire Pit people; they were very clear they had encountered a tough opponent, undoubtedly an A-Class expert. So, the wisest choice was to retreat. However, the Fire Pit people seemed to have not left. Footsteps were heard, and a girl with braided pigtails slowly walked out of the forest, sitting down by the bonfire with a beaming smile. The girls wheat-colored skin glowed healthily under the firelight, with a black totem resembling a flame on her brow. Both Li Yunjing and Li Ke knew that it was a symbol of power bestowed by the Fire Pit God. The totems on Fire Pit people generally appeared on hands, backs, or legs, but a totem on the face indicated someone who was favored by their god. Such Fire Pit people were extremely rare. Li Yunjing sized up the girl, appearing somewhat puzzled, I thought it would be some Gods Child who came, but it turns out to be you, the Goddess newly emerged from Fire Pit legends. Fire Pit finally produced a Goddess, and that Grand Elder really dares to let you out so soon to complete your rite of passage. The girl smiled, My name is Qin Yiyi, Uncle, you can call me Yiyi. But I am very curious, what do you wish to discuss by calling us over? Li Yunjing said, Youre quite bold. Arent you afraid Ill kill you? Afraid of what, the girls eyes twinkled, bright and clear, With Uncle so powerful, if you wanted to kill someone, you would have done it by now. Our small group couldnt stop you. Do you eat apples? Heres one for you, dont worry, its not poisoned. As she spoke, she took out two apples from the small sling bag she was carrying and threw one each to Li Ke and Li Yunjing. Qin Yiyi spoke for herself, The apples from the southwest arent as tasty as those from my hometown, but theyre not bad either. There wasnt a hint of fear in the girls speech. While talking, Fire Pit people one by one gathered beside the girl, their eyes cautiously watching Li Yunjing, as if facing a formidable enemy. But curiously, despite their fear and wariness of Li Yunjings strength, they still performed their duty, protecting the girl. Li Yunjing asked, Who leaked Li Kes whereabouts? I really couldnt say, the girl chuckled. After thinking a bit, Li Yunjing said, I dont care about the others from the Li Family, but Fire Pit should stop targeting Li Ke from now on. The girl wasnt scared either, she said cheerfully, Okay. Li Yunjing smiled, not knowing why, but he always felt an indescribable sense of kinship with the girl. This feeling had nothing to do with emotions, purely because the girls straightforward and open nature left one without the urge to be on guard. Li Yunjing continued, Still the same question, you must tell me who leaked Li Kes whereabouts to Fire Pit. Qin Yiyi curiously said, Uncle, how could I tell you something like that? Its a secret of Fire Pit. If you want to know, you should give me a reason why I should tell you. Li Yunjing thought for a moment, then suddenly shouted into the forest, Old man Kangba, I know youre there. The girls eyes sparkled, You know our Grand Elder? Had some dealings, Li Yunjing replied calmly. The next moment, the Grand Elder of Fire Pit, stooping with age, slowly meandered out of the forest. He chuckled and said, The person who leaked Li Kes secret... I dont know whether they want to entrap you or my Fire Pit. If I had known you were here, I would have chosen different prey. Li Yunjing looked at the Grand Elder, The Goddess truly is a treasured gem, even you who havent ventured out of the Great Snow Mountains for over a decade are personally overseeing her rite of passage. The Grand Elder smiled, fingering the necklace full of knuckle joints around his neck, creating a clattering sound, You wouldnt understand. Li Yunjing said earnestly, I want to know who wants Li Ke dead. The Grand Elder countered, The reason? Hes a Knight, Li Yunjing stated, Your Fire Pit has a covenant with the Knights, and now someone hoodwinked you into killing a Knights heir. If you dont disclose the traitor, it wont pass unnoticed. The Grand Elder was stunned, he turned and scrutinized Li Ke closely, Bad luck... But at that moment, the girl Qin Yiyi suddenly asked Li Ke, Wait, youre a Knight? Who is your master? Chapter 771: 456, Knights Oath Chapter 771: 456, Knights Oath Who is my master? Li Ke wondered; he couldnt think why this sister would suddenly ask such a question. Qin Yiyis eyes shimmered, like the stars in the night sky at that moment. She was of the Qin Family People, and her uncle, who to this day remains missing, had once fought side-by-side with Knights. So when Uncle Li Dong deliberately revealed his identity, the Qin Family People had already realized the identities of the middle-aged man and the young man who had once traveled with them. This was also the reason Qin Yiyi left for distant lands; she was unwilling to accept Uncle Li Dongs gifts, unwilling to live under the protection of others. It might have been a bit willful, but she had never regretted leaving her family quietly, not even when she nearly died on the Great Snow Mountain in the southwest. Qin Yiyi looked at Li Ke. Could this... be the junior of that young man? Its no wonder Qin Yiyi had this misunderstanding; mainly because Qing Chen was so young, she hadnt thought that he could be a master already. She asked, Is your master Li Shu Tong? Li Ke shook his head. Not many people know yet that his master, Qing Chen, is a Knight, so Li Ke didnt want to say it. The Great Elder felt a bit strange, Could it be Chen Jiazhang, Wang Xiaojiu? Theyve been missing for several years. Li Ke still shook his head, Dont guess anymore, I dont want to lie, and I dont want to answer this question. It was then that Qin Yiyi suddenly became stunned; she crouched in front of Li Ke, avoiding others gazes, squatted on the ground, and wrote the character for Qing: Is it him? Li Ke froze. Qin Yiyi also froze. She hadnt expected to guess the truth, that this little friend in front of her was the apprentice of that young man! Thinking of this, Qin Yiyi immediately took off her small crossbody bag and handed all the apples in it to Li Ke. Li Ke took them with a dazed face, holding them in his arms. Then they saw Qin Yiyi turn to the Great Elder and stretch out her hand. The Great Elder tensed up as if facing a great enemy, What for? Give them some beef, Qin Yiyi said, The Divine Cow Meat from the Great Snow Mountain! The Great Elder said irritably, How can you give something like that to outsiders? Its so cold, give him some to warm up, Qin Yiyi said, and waved to the Fire Pit people beside the Great Elder, Hurry up. The Great Elder said in anguish, Why are you giving them something so precious when you just met them? Also, youre from the Fire Pit, dont favor outsiders! After thinking for a while, Qin Yiyi said, As a Fire Pit Goddess, how can I not give something to the apprentice of an old friend? Heres what well do: Ill lend you my Long Knife for another three months, hows that? The Great Elder was left speechless. He gripped the sheath of the Long Knife he wore at his waist. A hint of bitterness rose in his heart. That was clearly his knife, but ever since God instructed him to give the knife to Qin Yiyi, he had to ask her for permission to use it himself... There was no helping it; it was Gods will... The young man in charge of carrying the Divine Cow Meat looked at the Great Elder, and the Great Elder waved his hand wearily. The young man silently took out a small deerskin pouch and handed it to Qin Yiyi. By this time, Li Yunjing had already realized that this girl was so enthusiastic towards Li Ke because of Qing Chen. He found it strange; why would the next leader of the Knights have ties to the Fire Pit? And the girls relationship with that young man seemed to be not so simple. Given the Great Elders attitude, it appeared the Goddesss status in the Fire Pit was very special. Li Yunjing remembered that there had been Goddesses in the Fire Pit before, although few and precious, but not to the extent that the Great Elder would dote on them so much. It was only a bit higher in status than that of a Gods Child. But now, the status of this Goddess wasnt just a bit higherit was much more significant. Was it because of a revelation from God? Li Yunjing fell into thought. And Li Ke, in his vague understanding, realized... this sister might have a very good relationship with his master. Otherwise, why would she give apples and beef as soon as she guessed he was Qing Chens apprentice? So how should he address her? Call her auntie? That would make her sound old. Call her sister? But that might be incorrect in terms of seniority... Qin Yiyi smiled and handed the small deerskin pouch to Li Ke, There are ten slices in total, you can only eat one slice a day, and after eating them, you wont fear the cold anymore. Oh, and if you see your master, just tell him youve seen me in the southwest, he doesnt need to come looking for me, I will find him someday. Yiyis feelings were sincere and direct; she had never hidden anything from Qing Chen. So, when she said she would find Qing Chen, she definitely would. But the Great Elder beside her became anxious, Why would you go looking for a Knight?! Qin Yiyi felt somewhat puzzled, Didnt this uncle just say that the Fire Pit has a covenant with the Knights? Great Elder, why do you dislike the Knights so much? The Great Elder said with deep sorrow and indignation, The covenant was signed so many years ago, and although we, the Fire Pit, recognize this covenant and will never harm Knight members, do you know how this covenant was signed? How was it signed? Qin Yiyi asked curiously. Even Li Yunjing looked towards the Great Elder, this was a secret, outsiders did not know why there would be a covenant between the Knights and the Fire Pit. Even the Li Family only knew about it because their ancestors were Knights. Who knows how many years ago, twelve Knights suddenly burst into the Snow Mountain, at that time there was another organization in the Great Snow Mountain, they brought the organizations Buddha to the Fire Pit, saying they helped the Fire Pit eliminate future troubles, then they pressed the Great Elder to the ground and made him sign a covenant with them... the Great Elder said. Li Ke did not know about these old tales of the Knights, and listened in stunned confusion. He thought to himself, were the Knights so fierce back then? They sound like bandits... Li Yunjing nodded, no wonder the Li Family didnt know how the covenant was signed, after all, telling this would affect the image of the Knights, better to keep silent if possible... But he heard the Great Elder say to Qin Yiyi, In the early years, once a Knight became a Demigod, they would run to the Snow Mountain to scavenge for Divine Cow Meat. So the Knights are no good, stay away from them. Qin Yiyi shook her head and said decisively, That wont do. The Great Elders eyes widened, nobody in the Fire Pit had dared to contradict him so directly, but he didnt know what to do at the moment... Li Yunjing was a bit right; this Goddess did hold a special position in the Fire Pit because... she could communicate with God. It wasnt that God had actually spoken to her. Rather, for the Fire Pit people to gain strength, they had to go to the Fire Pit and go through a blessing ritual, and whether they received strength depended entirely on Gods mood. However, there was an auntie who was very nice to Qin Yiyi, giving her food every day, and that bag of apples was a gift from the auntie. The auntie had once talked to Qin Yiyi, saying her biggest wish was to receive Gods blessing and become a Transcendent. Unfortunately, if a Fire Pit person had not received Gods blessing by the age of 18, they would have no hope in this lifetime and could only farm in the canyon. After hearing this, Qin Yiyi felt very sad and ran to the side of the Fire Pit, chatting to the flames for a day and a night, and the next day when the auntie went for her routine worship by the Fire Pit... she received a blessing. Although the auntie was just an ordinary F-Class, it was real strength. No one could gain power from God after the age of 18. So when this event occurred, the entire Fire Pit was shocked. When people saw Qin Yiyi sitting beside the Fire Pit mumbling to herself for a day and a night, they initially thought she was being silly, but then they realized they were the silly ones. Many Fire Pit people who hadnt received Gods blessing imitated Qin Yiyi by sitting beside the Fire Pit and trying to chat with God, but to no avail. Then, people went to Qin Yiyi, pleading with her to talk to God again. Qi Yiyi didnt refuse, she walked over to the Fire Pit, pointed at that person, and asked the Fire Pit, God, can you give him some strength? The next second, that middle-aged person who had asked Qin Yiyi also became a Transcendent... In the eyes of the Great Elder, this was like having a cheat code. He had never seen God favor a person so much! Unbelievable! So even if the Great Elder was reluctant, he acknowledged that his Long Knife belonged to Qin Yiyi now. Lately, the Fire Pit people have formed a habit: they worship God in the morning, pay respects to the Great Elder in the evening, and bring food to Qin Yiyi at noon. Nowadays, everyone in the Fire Pit is a Transcendent, and although most people only obtained a little strength and continued to farm after gaining it, the impact this had on the Fire Pit was far deeper than it seemed on the surface. The Great Elder guessed that with this girl around, God might favor the Fire Pit even more. Who would have thought, that the little girl who nearly died in the Great Snow Mountain and was picked up by them, would become the new hope of the Fire Pit? At this moment, the Great Elder also realized that Qin Yiyi had feelings for Li Kes master. However, Li Kes master was neither Uncle Li Dong, Chen Jiazhang, nor Wang Xiaojiu. Could it be that the Knight Organization had a new member who had been kept a secret? However, the person who could be Li Kes master should be of a certain age, right? So he was even more anxious, Yiyi, youre still very young, dont be attracted by the so-called charm of maturity from middle-aged people. Once you meet more people, you wont find that appealing at all! Qin Yiyi couldnt help but laugh and cry, Great Elder, what are you talking about? Hes very young. The Great Elder felt a bit odd, he didnt even know who this Knight was. However, just at that moment, after pondering for a while, Qin Yiyi whispered to the Great Elder, Great Elder, hes the one who once appeared in the flames with me. The Great Elders pupils suddenly contracted. A Knight, why would he appear in Gods revelations? Who exactly was he? Others hadnt seen the figure in the flames clearly, but the Great Elder had, and just as Qin Yiyi said, that Knight was unbelievably young. However, after thinking of a Knight appearing in Gods revelations, the Great Elder held back for a long time before sighing, Thats ominous... ... There will be another chapter at 11 p.m. Chapter 772: 457. Uninvited Guest Chapter 772: 457. Uninvited Guest Achoo! Qing Chen sat by the campfire with his eyes closed, suddenly sneezing. It was strange; ever since hed become a knight, he had never fallen ill again, so why did he sneeze all of a sudden? Could it be that someone was speaking ill of him? Qing Chen cast suspicious glances towards the film crew... Then he closed his eyes again. Li Su had left, Qing Yi returned to his tent to meditate, and Sun Chu Ci and others had gone to arrange security, leaving Qing Chen alone by the campfire. He leaned against a large rock behind him, immersed in the world of winning people over with virtue, training for the next life-and-death challenge. However, this times life-and-death challenge was a bit difficult; Qing Chen had died countless times in that world. Qing Chen was somewhat puzzled. At some moments, he always felt that something was missing while training for this life-and-death challenge. It was like a huge jigsaw puzzle missing the most central piece. No matter how well the edges were put together, the puzzle was always incomplete. Qing Chen opened his eyes. The last time he trained for the life-and-death challenge in the world of winning people over with virtue, he hadnt felt this way; it was odd. This strange feeling seemed to have started after completing surfing over the sea. There was no uncontainable impulse within his body, no signs of an awakening, and none of the tranquility and joy after completing the life-and-death challenge as before. It seemed, it was because he had trained too thoroughly in the world of winning people over with virtue previously. So much so that when he faced the waves, the experience gained from training times made him lack a real life-and-death experience. After completing that life-and-death challenge, Qing Chen even felt that life-and-death challenges were no longer dangerous, so in the mysterious world of virtue, training was no longer as thrilling. Qing Chen suddenly became vigilant. He relied too much on this Mysterious World, losing a bit of reverence for the real world. This is something a knight should never lose. The romance of a knight is to venture into the unknown at the cost of ones life. If every outcome along the way is predetermined, then the life-and-death challenge will also be meaningless. Qing Chen probably understood where his problem lay. In this world, everyone takes various detours; even Qing Chen was no exception. He was taking a path that no other knight had ever taken, so constant reflection was a must for him. The next second, he looked forward. Liu Liqun came over with a lunchbox and handed it to him, Eat up, theres still a little left from Li Yus special meal today; youve been working hard, you eat it. Thanks, Qing Chen said with a smile, Lao Liu, how long have you been in the entertainment industry? Over twenty years, Liu Liqun also fiddled with his lunchbox. Dont you ever get bored sticking with one job? Qing Chen asked. Not really, Liu Liqun shook his head, Every time I come to a new film crew, I meet new people, its like starting a new journey. Lao Liu, youre quite poetic, Qing Chen said with a laugh. Liu Liqun said in a low voice, Can you help talk to Sun Chu Ci and his team, ask them not to hold a grudge against Li Yu anymore? Although that male actor is indeed an idiot, the crew cant start work without him right now, and its hard to find a replacement in such a remote place. Qing Chen laughed, Lao Liu, its no use telling me this. Liu Liquns expression paused, and he lowered his voice to say, Your words definitely have weight; youve been working for them for so long and you know each other so well. Qing Chen shook his head with a smile, Im not going to be that mediator. Alright then, Liu Liqun sighed. He turned around with his lunchbox and went towards Director Zhang. Director Zhang asked, How did it go? No way, Liu Liqun pondered for a moment and said, I think Li Yu has to apologize in person. He provoked someone he shouldnt have, and this is the result. Or, you see how my Qing Xiaotu is, his looks are definitely no problem; if youre afraid hes not good enough at acting, you can have the second male lead replace Li Yu and let Qing Xiaotu take on the second male role. Director Zhang glanced towards Qing Chen, No way, acting skill isnt just talk, theres a real difference between having studied and not. Id better go and try to sort things out with Li Yu first; if that doesnt work, then well see. Liu Liqun scratched his slicked-back hair, unsure of what to say next. The night deepened into silence, with all the film crew members fast asleep. Sun Chu Ci was walking through the forest, inspecting the guard posts to see if anyone was shirking their duty by sleeping. Just then, the roar of vehicles could be heard from afar once again; Sun Chu Ci shouted, Alert! The vehicles approached rapidly, giving Sun Chu Ci a bad feeling. But he wasnt worried about any danger; he was more concerned about having to be the bosss messenger again... At that moment, he raised his gun toward the sky and pulled the trigger to signal the approaching vehicles to keep their distance. The vehicles stopped, and someone jumped out ahead, walking alone toward the campsite. Assistant Director Wang and others had also arrived. Using the firelight, they recognized the newcomer, Lao Zhou, why are you here? Mister Sun Chu Ci, please lower your gun, this is Zhou Ping, the assistant director who worked on The Justice Bringers. Sun Chu Ci was surprised; was it yet another film crew here to scout for locations? Zhou Ping greeted Director Zhang with a smile, You are here too? I brought my crew to scout for locations; I didnt expect to run into you all. Zhou Ping, without any care, turned around and yelled to the vehicles behind him, Come on over, theres no danger! The vehicles moved in. This film crew wasnt very large, roughly sixty or seventy people, all of whom started setting up equipment near the lakeside next to Qing Chens camp. Director Zhang expressed his confusion, I hadnt heard you were filming anything new recently. Haha, I just secured some investment, and two main actors just freed up their schedules, Zhou Ping explained. Director Zhang surveyed the newcomers and indeed, several familiar actors appeared. Sun Chu Ci quietly observed Qing Chen and noticed that his expression was icy. His heart tightened. Just as he suspected, there was something off about this film crew. First off, a normal film crew would definitely not travel at night. Furthermore, a normal film crew would not continue approaching after a gunshot warning; they would surely turn their vehicles around and leave immediately. Though this film crew was well-equipped and included some famous actors, their behavior was too abnormal. This was Sun Chu Cis assessment. For Qing Chen, the reason for suspecting this film crew was even simpler. Because Yan Chunmi was among them. According to Qing Chens plans, Yan Chunmi, the Kite Falcon, was supposed to be leading other Kite Falcons to monitor Qing Xing in City Number 10. Her sudden defiance of his orders to blend into this crew suggested two possibilities. The first possibility was that she might have come with Qing Xing. But this was highly unlikely as she had caused trouble in Blossom Community and cleaned up Qing Xings undercover agents. If Qing Xing was pretending to leave City Number 10 under the guise of the film crew, her goal would be too obvious by joining this crew. So, the only other possibility was that something was off about this film crew, likely related to a deal with Qing Mu. Yan Chunmi had to come personally to signal Qing Chen in the wilderness where there was no signal. Qing Chen donned a cap and remained silent, head bowed. Was it Jindai who had come or another Shadow Candidate? Both were possibilities. Qing Chens gaze shifted toward his own crews side, where Li Yu, upon hearing the vehicles, had hidden as if afraid Sun Chu Ci would introduce him again. The next moment, Qing Chen suddenly realized something was off. He had heard the engine sounds early when the vehicles were approaching, even earlier than Sun Chu Ci had noticed the other party. Yet, although there should have been twenty-two vehicles based on the engine sounds, only eighteen had arrived at the campsite. Thus, four vehicles had stopped midway, and their passengers had already disembarked, using the trees beyond the lake to conceal their movements as they slowly approached the campsite. Qing Chen frowned; the others were not merely passing by but had come specifically for this film crew. Chapter 773: 458, Qing Chen Inspector Chapter 773: 458, Qing Chen Inspector Lets set up our tents close to Director Zhangs film crew campsite, this way we can get a bit closer, and have more exchanges in these wild and isolated hills, said the new Assistant Director Zhou with a smile. He was directing the staff as they bustled about. However, just when the film crews site workers were carrying equipment, within the crew, twelve people pretending to be curious began walking toward Director Zhangs campsite. Soon, these people, well-trained and each with their own tasks, dispersed into every corner of the campsite. Assistant Director Zhou looked at them and saw them shake their heads slightly, as if they had discovered nothing. At that moment, Liu Liqun suddenly came over, smiling at Assistant Director Zhou and said, Assistant Director Zhou, long time no see. Zhou Cang, come over here, and give Assistant Director Zhou a hand with moving the equipment. Be careful not to damage anything. Liu Liqun, as always, greeted everyone with a smile, hoping that they would remember him in case there was work in the future. The foreman may not have been very wise, but he understood very well the saying, its a blessing to endure loss. However, Assistant Director Zhou suddenly stopped Liu Liqun, No need, no need, we can move the equipment ourselves. Liu Liqun hesitated and looked behind Assistant Director Zhou; the film crews site workers obviously lacked hands. They had to both set up tents and carry items, and without help, they might be busy until dawn. He took the refusal as politeness and simply led the site workers toward the vehicles at the back, Dont worry, Assistant Director Zhou. Our site workers are meticulous with their work, and we dont need to carry equipment, just help the artists with their luggage. Weve worked together before, dont you trust me? But just as Liu Liqun took a few steps, he suddenly saw a site worker in front put down the box in his hand, and his right hand silently moved to his back waist. By this moment, Liu Liqun finally realized something was amiss. He turned around, wanting to leave. But at this time, Assistant Director Zhou put his arm around Liu Liquns shoulder with a smile, Lao Liu, long time no see. Stay and catch up. While speaking, Assistant Director Zhou reached under his arm and pressed a handgun against Liu Liqun, whispering, Stay quiet and dont talk. Ill give you a way out after this is over. Liu Liqun swallowed hard; he was just a foreman, unaccustomed to big scenes. Even so, he now realized what was happening. This film crew wasnt here to scout for locations! And the other party hadnt even bothered to hide their real intentions very carefully, as if they were sure of their control over the place. Assistant Director Zhou then took the silent Liu Liqun aside. Assistant Director Zhou asked with a smile, Let me ask you a question, is everyone from the film crew campsite here? As he spoke, Assistant Director Zhous gaze continued to sweep over the campsite. Following his gaze, Liu Liqun saw him first look at Qing Yi, and then...passing over everyone else, he continued searching for something. Initially, Liu Liqun thought they might want to kidnap big-name stars like Li Yu or Song Niannian. After all, the monetary value of stars is immeasurable. But Assistant Director Zhous gaze moved past Song Niannian and Li Yu without stopping. Then Liu Liqun thought they might be wary of Sun Chu Ci, but again, Assistant Director Zhous gaze didnt linger on Sun Chu Ci and moved on even more swiftly. Liu Liqun was filled with doubt and surprise, thinking, who are they looking for?! He replied in a low voice, They are all here. Assistant Director Zhou continued to smile, Think again, theres someone missing. Where has he gone, which tent is he staying in? Liu Liqun was stunned; he scanned the campsite again and suddenly realized that indeed someone was missing... Qing Xiaotu! The Qing Xiaotu, who should have been sitting by the campfire, had disappeared at some unknown time. Had he gone to the tent? Impossible, Qing Xiaotu never had a tent; he always stayed in the vehicle to keep watch at night. So, Qing Xiaotu had truly vanished suddenly. Liu Liqun looked towards the dark woods outside the lake. Could the young man have escaped into the forest? Wait, were this group here in such force just to find Qing Xiaotu?! Assistant Director Zhou asked with a smile, Remember anything? However, just when the latter thought he had control over Liu Liqun, the old foreman suddenly spun around, breaking free, and as he ran towards the campsite, he shouted, Be careful, theres something wrong with these people, they have guns! Nobody expected this usually meek foreman to act so bravely. To dare break free under such circumstances and raise a loud alarm. In the blink of an eye, the site workers around Assistant Director Zhou all drew their guns, and 12 of them quickly infiltrated the campsite in a tactical formation. Meanwhile, the 12 people who had already spread out in the campsite quickly drew their weapons and herded all the film crew staff, including artists like Li Yu and Song Niannian, into the center of the campsite. People like Sun Chu Ci wanted to return fire with their guns, but there was a big gap between them and the truly well-trained soldiers. They hadnt even raised their guns when they were already being aimed at by five or six barrels. Qing Yi frowned, his Protector was about to take action, but he stopped them, No need to act rashly, these people have come prepared. A C-Class like you would only be going to your death. C-Class couldnt even evade bullets yet. The Protector glanced at their young master and remained silent. Qing Yi had once even talked to his father about secretly having a B-Class Protector for himself, since the other Shadow Candidates probably all had one. However, Qing Yis father did not believe that over-protecting his son was a good thing; he always brought up his own time in the Federation Group army, boasting of how he had fought his way out of an ambush on Deer Island without any protection. At this moment, everyone in the campsite was stunned by the sudden turn of events. Assistant Director Zhous people not only trapped Director Zhang and the others in the camp, but also forced their own cast to come and sit in the middle of the camp, squeezing together. It seemed that these artists were also brought over without any knowledge, held hostage. Beside them were over forty guards. Among them, there seemed to be masters hidden. No one knew why Assistant Director Zhou, once familiar to everyone in the entertainment industry, had suddenly transformed into a vicious criminal. Li Yu sat among the crowd, shivering, though whether from cold or fear was unclear. Director Zhang said, Director Zhou, do you want money, we can give you money. Dont do this, lets talk it out. But Director Zhou just smiled and shook his head, I do like money, but Im not here for wealth. The cast and crew looked at each other in bewilderment; they had thought the other party wanted to kidnap stars, but it turned out they werent after money. Trembling, Li Yu said, Dont mess around, we have some influential people here. Oh? Director Zhou showed interest, How influential? Li Yu said, People respected by Li Su and Qing Yi! Sun Chu Ci! Sun Chu Ci: ... At that moment, he internally cursed a great deal, impersonating a boss had gotten him into trouble! Indeed, the smoother it seemed before, the more awkward it was now. Director Zhou laughed, Which one of you is Sun Chu Ci? After a moments hesitation, Sun Chu Ci still stood up, What do you want to do? Director Zhou said, Thank you for your efforts, for covering for that person for so long. Sun Chu Ci stood there stunned, the man in front of him actually knew the truth! The crew members were perplexed, what was Director Zhou talking about, and what did he mean by Sun Chu Ci covering for that person for so long? Who is that person? Director Zhou asked, Where is Qing Chen? In confusion, Director Zhang asked, Who is Qing Chen? Director Zhou smiled, The set worker, Qing Xiaotu. After saying this, he turned to Qing Yi and said, Am I right, Mr. Qing Yi? Why is it that in this camp, the only one missing is him? Qing Yis expression grew serious; the accurate naming of Qing Xiaotu signified that there was an insider within the camp. The events that had unfolded in the camp had surely been leaked out via a satellite phone by an insider. Knowing that there was a Shadow Candidate here yet still daring to act meant that among the soldiers guarding them, there must definitely be a master. These people had come for her Master. Who exactly did these people belong to? However, once Director Zhou spoke, now it was the crew that was shocked. They hadnt expected that these criminals, who had suddenly surrounded the camp and didnt care about the stars, were actually looking for a set worker. Disappointed, Director Zhou shook his head, It seems you still dont know. The Inspector from Intelligence Department One in Federation City No. 10, who has been the talk of the town recently, Qing Chen, the youngest future head of the PCA, has been in your team all along. He is a favorite person by Mr. Shadows side. Compared to him, your importance is not worth me revealing my identity. You all think that Sun Chu Ci is an important figure, but in fact, he is nothing more than a glove used to cover for Inspector Qing Chen in the crew... It appears that you know nothing about Inspector Qing Chen. The crew members exchanged looks. Were they talking about the set worker, Qing Xiaotu? The ever-cheerful and hard-working Qing Xiaotu? The Qing Xiaotu who always waited to eat the leftovers after everyone else had finished? So, the Master referred to by Qing Yi upon his arrival, and by Li Su, was actually this Inspector Qing Chen. As everyone recalled Qing Chens appearance, they felt he was too young. Liu Liqun murmured, wondering why he had refused to go to Song Niannians studio and had never curry-favored Director Zhang or Assistant Director Wang; because being a star was a path he was never interested in. In this moment, Li Yu finally understood how she had offended Sun Chu Ci. It was only because when the rumor went around that Song Niannian fancied this Qing Xiaotu, her own agent showed disdain. All that Sun Chu Ci had said before was just to vent anger on behalf of Inspector Qing Chen. The agent sitting next to Song Niannian wore a shocked expression and turned to Song Niannian, Is he the Inspector who saved you back in Utopia? Song Niannian nodded, Yes, its him. So, the financial tycoon who invited you to the crew is also him? the agent asked. Song Niannian nodded again, Yes. The agent was stunned for a long while, thinking to herself that her girl had finally come to her senses. However, what no one could understand was why Inspector Qing Chen would want to blend in with the crew?! And where had he gone now? ... Another chapter at 11 PM. Chapter 774: 459. Fish and Bait Chapter 774: 459. Fish and Bait Does anyone know where exactly Inspector Qing Chen has gone? Director Zhou squatted in front of everyone with a smile, his gaze on the crew members huddled on the ground like a cat watching mice. Mockery. No one responded to him. Director Zhou lifted his hand, aimed to the front right, and pulled the trigger. Director Zhang from the crew was shot in the chest, and he fell into a pool of blood with a pained expression. The people in the camp screamed in alarm. Some tried to get up and flee, but before they could stand up, they were knocked down by the armed personnel next to them with the butts of their guns. Director Zhou said nothing and shot those crew members trying to escape one by one, including a star he had brought with him. For a moment, everyone was silent as death. These criminals were more brutal than they had imagined, killing without any hesitation. Smiling, Director Zhou asked, If no one answers yet, who do you think will be the next to die? Did anyone see which direction he went? Qing Yi coldly said, Next, you can kill me. Everyone listen, these people are showing their faces; they clearly dont plan on leaving any survivors. Dont think groveling will let you live to return. If you live to return, they wont make it back to the Federation, only left to wander the wilderness. This wilderness is full of federal fugitives; unable to return to the Federation, they must abandon modern life and live like savages. Without sufficient medicine, entertainment, or food. This is very tragic for many federal people. Director Zhou exclaimed, The Shadow Candidate indeed has great courage. Killing a Shadow Candidate from the outside is a dead end just as much as wandering the wilderness, Qing Yi sneered. Once you kill me, the Shadow will hunt you to the ends of the earth. With so many people on this mission together, do you guess that someday someone might betray you? Director Zhou chuckled and shook his head, apparently not worried about it. Qing Yi was momentarily stunned. Killing a Shadow Candidate is unforgivable for the Qing Clan, but if certain conditions are met, the Qing Clan will not intervene. That is, to participate in the strife of the Shadow. So, if Director Zhou genuinely isnt afraid of the Shadows retribution, that implies there is another Shadow Candidate backing him. All these, from the Qing Clan? Who is the Shadow Candidate behind them? Is it because those top executives have firmly decided to clip the Shadows wings? Director Zhou said, The person you respect, the one who supported you in the Shadow strife, has already discarded you and run away. Why bother protecting him now? Qing Yi pursed his lips and said nothing. Li Yu said, Just when you guys arrived, he was sitting by that campfire on the very edge, right, and he had put on a duck-billed cap. I think he might have already escaped into the woods. You better go chase him. Qing Yi coldly glanced at Li Yu, If letting the sir escape, he would still have a chance to seek support. Now, youve thrown away the last chance, pretty foolish. Director Zhou stood up with a smile and said into the communication earpiece he wore, Pay attention in the woods; maintain a five-meter spacing. The crew members held captive in the camp despaired, as there were still bandits in the woods. Strangely enough, after a few minutes, Director Zhou frowned and asked into the earpiece, Any traces found? None, 212. None, 231. None, 712. ... ... Twenty-four people in succession all replied with nothing. The numbers behind were each members action code to prevent anyone from infiltrating and assuming anothers identity. Moreover, this capture operation had a fail-safe; each person carried a sensed bomb tied to their vital signs. If anyones heart suddenly stopped or their blood oxygen levels fell, it would explode immediately. In contemporary warfare, for mountain or carpet searches, and standard for death warriors, this was equipped. In this world, aside from a few, nobody could substitute or assassinate undetected, nor silently navigate through a five-meter gap. Director Zhous expression grew colder. If the target hadnt passed through the woods, that meant he was still within the camp and had never left? Cut open every tent, Director Zhou said coldly. The camps armed personnel rushed out, their daggers drawn, slashing every tent to check if anyone was hiding. The result was nothing found. Next, Director Zhou ordered, Check all the vehicles, including the undercarriage and cargo holds, make a thorough search. The result was still nothing found. The situation became strange. Director Zhou, who had initially appeared confident and certain, now exhibited a look of hesitation; he couldnt even think where Inspector Qing Chen could possibly be hiding. Indeed, this was proving to be a person even more troublesome than the legends suggested! At that moment, Director Zhou sneered, looking at one of Qing Yis followers, Where did Qing Chen go? The follower said, During the confusion earlier, he slipped into one of the tents, that one. Pointing, the follower indicated, but no one was inside the cut-open tent. Qing Yi turned, his expression grave as he looked at his follower. So, the insider was among his own ranks, no wonder the attackers had arrived so punctually. They had barely reached the camp before the people came to kill the sir. This realization brought a sense of guilt and unease to Qing Yi; it turned out it was his own side that had leaked the information. Zhou Dao observed the crowd sitting in the camp, his expression clouded and uncertain. He suspected that Qing Chen was hidden among these people, but he could not determine which one it was. Kill them all, find him after theyre dead. Qing Chi, come out, Zhou Dao said, then stepped back. It seemed they were ready to open fire on everyone. But as Zhou Dao looked up at the insider named Qing Chi in the crowd, he was shocked to find a line of blood forming on his neck, seeping out! He had not noticed when exactly Qing Chi had been ambushed. Qing Yi was also stunned. It was at that moment that a huge explosion roared from the woods, only discernible upon careful listening as scattered, continuous sounds. It was as if someone had killed twenty-four people in a second, causing them to lose all vital signs. Zhou Dao roared, Fire! Qing Yi subconsciously tried to stand up for one final resistance, unwilling to die sitting like a coward. As a descendant of Qing and one came from Autumn Leaf Courtyard, he preferred to die standing. However, just as he tried to forcefully rise, he suddenly saw a woman in the distance smiling at him. Qing Yi recognized her, she had come with this film crew, seemed to be a third-tier actress. And next to him, a stranger was holding his shoulder, smiling at him, Dont move, someone else will handle this. That familiar voice... it was the Masters. Qing Yi had not expected that the Master had never left, but had always remained by his side. For some reason, he felt the warmth transmitting from the hand placed on his shoulder. All of Zhou Daos earlier sneering dissipated in that instant, and Qing Yi felt that if he survived, he must share this story with Li Ke to make him envious... But, those men were about to fire their guns! Qing Yi even saw the gunfire bursting from the barrels! Instantly, the bullets seemed to slow down as if they had entered into a thick hydrogel, only traveling a little over a meter in the air before stopping in mid-air. Qing Yi even saw a bullet stop slowly just at his forehead, suspended in the air. That was Yan Chunmis ability, and her presence there meant to protect Qing Chen. Qing Chen had once asked Yan Chunmi what her level of strength was. Yan Chunmis answer was that her power was very low. However, she once was a spy, demoted to Kite Falcon to assist Qing Chen. The person personally chosen by the Shadow for Qing Chen, how could her strength actually be so low? Now Qing Chen understood, just like Uncle Li Dongs Mother Ye, the Shadow had also selected for him an assistant capable of ignoring light firearms. Thats why Shadow had advised him to work more with Kite Falcon. Qing Chen couldnt help but ponder, if Yan Chunmi was carefully chosen by the Shadow, what about the remaining 11 Kite Falcons, were they also the same? After the assassins pulled the trigger, automatic rifles fired bullets in an orderly manner, embedding them in an invisible barrier outside the crowd. They seemed like decorations in the air. In the dark forest, a young man wearing a black duckbill cap and black mask walked out calmly. Behind him followed seven others, dressed the same. Qing Chen wondered, if the spy has 12 Kite Falcons, does Shadow also have 12 Kite Falcons? What level are the Shadows Kite Falcons? But he saw those seven people move as fast as thunder, crushing Zhou Daos men effortlessly with their rapid and devastating approach. As confident as they were approaching, now they were just as disheveled. At that moment, Shadow, with a smile, said, Dont kill them, leave some alive. Lets see who dares to harm my people. Qing Chen immediately understood that it had been the Shadow who intervened, using the ability to slow time, he had killed 24 people within a second... To be honest, even Qing Chen had not expected that the Shadow would personally come here. Qing Chen stood up and moved over, speaking in a low, annoyed tone, Before I came out, you only told me to act as bait once, you didnt say it would attract so many people. Without attracting so many people, how could it match your current status, the Shadow said with a smile, nor could it match the cost of you impersonating me. So, is that impersonation over with? Qing Chen tentatively asked. Its over, the Shadow cheerfully replied. But its a pity to not use you as bait anymore; you could catch big fish. Qing Chen said, Give it a rest, you could have acted earlier, but you deliberately waited until the last moment to create a thrilling part, didnt you? The Shadow glanced at him, Isnt it to help you expose the insider among Qing Yis people? Moreover, without reaching that critical moment, how could Qing Yi have an unforgettable experience? You want him to be your Shadow, but you still dont know how to make him wholeheartedly be that Shadow. Or else why do you think I personally came to capture these minor characters? Qing Chen was stunned, behind Shadows playfulness, there was always more or less a reason. This time, Shadow was worried he couldnt control Qing Yi, so he schemed until the very last second. Qing Chen sighed, Actually, theres no need for this. Shadow coldly said, In front of the clans interests, there is no room for personal losses, put aside your knightly nai?ve heart. If youre too merciful, more people will die because of you. Qing Chen shook his head, I dont believe calculation can bring about sincerity. Shadow calmly said, Thats alright, you can continue being sincere, Ill handle the rest. Chapter 775: 460. Surviving after the Disaster Chapter 775: 460. Surviving after the Disaster Above the firmament, the snow, like goose feathers, fluttered about. It landed on Shadow and Qing Chens hair and shoulders. Qing Chen felt very fortunate. Even though life in the Outer World was hard, he still felt fortunate. Uncle Li Dong, Li Xiurui, Shadow. Although the three of them had different styles of doing things, they all tried in their own ways to help him understand the world. And taught him how to coexist with it. Someone gave him the Taboo and the farthest path of cultivation in the human world. Someone stood on the precipice of a verdant mountain facing the sunrise, telling him what the most precious thing in life truly was. Someone took practical actions to help him win peoples hearts, determined to elevate him to the most powerful position in the Federation. Shadow walked to the lakeside, found a black stone to sit on, and while looking at the lake surface swept by heavy snow, said, Qing Chen, one day you will have to face all this by yourself. Just like the path on the precipitous mountain, the first 599 meters are walked with the help of predecessors, but the last meter no one can help you with. Qing Chen was momentarily stunned. He suddenly looked towards Shadow, his pupils abruptly contracting. How could he know all this if not a Knight?! Actually, many people knew that heavenly path, but only those who had truly walked it once understood the hardest part of it. They knew about that last meter. Shadow smiled, Dont look at me like that, I am not a Knight because I didnt leap during that last meter. The path of a Knight is about selecting companions. Those who walked the same path, regardless of their identity, origins, or personality, will come together if they make it, and thats the fascinating aspect of the Knights Path. In earlier years, the organization of Knights was more relaxed. They would share this path with many, encouraging them to take it without worrying about leaking secrets. You and I are destined to be different people, perhaps thats why I couldnt make that leap. For the last meter, I used a grappling hook. I dont want to gamble with life. I like to have everything under control. Shadow continued, Thats why, you are willing to give your sincere devotion to Qing Yi, hoping that he will never betray you, and I will use means to secure his loyalty. Qing Chen was silent. He knew how desperate everyone was facing that last meter, so he would say that Hu Xiaoniu was actually very impressive because this Daytime Member couldnt even fully assimilate the fruit. Everyone in Daytime has potential; one day, Daytime is sure to grow into a towering tree, and all Qing Chen needs to do is have enough patience to wait for that result. Qing Chen hadnt expected that Shadow had also almost become a Knight. So, that deal with Uncle Li Dong was because Shadow had actually known Uncle Li Dong long ago. It seemed that very few people knew about this. At that moment, Shadow, smiling, said, No need for guesses. You still lack far too much critical information, so blind analysis can also be wrong. Your situation is actually not very good, right? Qing Chen sat on the black stone by the lakeshore, speaking in a low voice, I watched a documentary called Animal World in the Outer World. When male lions are in their prime, hyenas dare not provoke them carelessly. However, when the male lion grows old, or gets sick or injured, those hyenas, as if they smelled rotting flesh, slowly start to gather around. At first, they test the waters, and once they find the lion truly cannot resist, they will pounce and tear at it. For this event, Qing Chen initially thought Shadow was going to use him to fish for the power of the Jindai family. But unexpectedly, Shadow was targeting the interior of Qings Family. Qing Chen could see the current situation as a form of testing. The hyenas had already surrounded Shadow, making Qing Chen sense a hint of danger. If Shadow were still in his heyday, how could these people dare to test him? Qing Chen continued, So when this slight test just started, you immediately intervened with the force of thunder to extinguish the spark. It shows that you are also worried inside that if you let this spark spread, it might grow into a greater flame, giving the hyenas more to gloat about. Qing Chen judged that Shadows situation was actually very bad, otherwise, why would he bother with these small fry? Why would he need to come personally? Shadow sat beside him and smiled, You think too much, but not everything is correct. Qing Chen asked, I am curious, you are about to retire, why do they still go to great lengths to test you? They have already waited ten years, what difference would two more years make? Shadow smiled and waved his hand, Alright, you dont need to worry about these things. Qing Chen thought for a moment and said, If this trade with Qing Mu succeeds, what will happen next? Shadow smilingly said, It will bring about what those faction leaders least want to see, you will become the most suitable leader to take over Qings Spy Agency, and even if I retire, the leader of the Spy Bureau will still be my man. This way, they wont be able to easily control me anymore. Remember, within Qings Family, you can trust no one but me. Qing Chen paused, his trust no one apparently also including those Kite Falcons, Shadow Candidates, and the Family Head. But why can I trust you, Qing Chen suddenly asked. Shadow pondered, You actually stumped me with that question, maybe because... I have no need to deceive you. After speaking, Shadow stood up, brushed the snow off his body, and walked toward the camp, You are now quite the sought-after individual. I heard that many have come to Qings Family to propose marriage. I was actually thinking of arranging another marriage to give you some additional support, but now it seems you wouldnt agree, so lets forget it... Qing Chen: ??? What a bizarre situation. Someone came to Qings Family to propose marriage to him?! Who?! After the crisis, the campsite was a mess. All the production staff stood disheveled, gazing around blankly, resembling survivors of a catastrophe or people dazed from a recent disaster. The film Virtual Life was definitely off, the director had died, and several filming machines had been damaged by stray bullets. He came out to shoot a movie, and ended up losing the director in the processwho could handle that? At this time, Qing Chen reverted to his original appearance, walked into the camp, and looked at Chu Ci asking, Are you alright, any injuries? Chu Ci shook her head, No. Qing Chen then looked at Qing Yi, Next, you should head directly to the town outside of Taboo Land 065, all teams will probably stop there for a bit. Qing Yi nodded, Okay, sir... What about you, where will you go? Qing Chen smiled, I plan to act alone, continuing to stay in the team might compromise your safety. Shadow stood in the middle of the camp, smiling and said, Hello everyone, Im Qings Shadow, please cooperate by lying down on the ground and keeping quiet, we are going to evacuate now. His seven subordinates stood stoically around him, silent like statues in a temple, while Director Zhous people were all captured, their hands bound with special black handcuffs. The crew members looked a bit lost. Is this... the legendary Shadow? They actually saw the mysterious Shadow?! But why do they have to lie on the ground when Shadow is escaping? Yan Chunmi was the first to comply, she had just used her abilities, and no one knew her real identity. When theres one in the camp doing it, others followed suit. Qing Chen pondered, this Yan Chunmi must have faced life and death with Shadow many times, otherwise Shadow would not have brought her along on this mission. And certainly wouldnt have arranged for her to assist him. After everyone had laid down, Shadow, smiling warmly, silently signaled with his eyes for Qing Chen to lie down too. Qing Chen was a bit puzzled, what was this for? The next moment, Zhou Cang silently got up from the ground and stood next to Shadow. Standing in the Great Snow, he removed his coat and handed it to Qing Chen. Qing Chen understood, the other party must have known that he intended to continue infiltrating the town outside Taboo Land 065, so he fashioned for him the best possible identity: This film crew had already been severely hit, who would notice a disheveled, nearly-murdered crew member? However, Qing Chen was slightly puzzled, how could Shadows informant be everywhere, was there still someone else from that side in the crew? Moreover, Zhou Cang had clearly known his identity before, so this Shadow informant had just quietly watched him act all along. Qing Chen looked at Zhou Cang, only to see him giving him a simple-hearted smile... Qing Chen: ... Zhou Cangs physique was similar to his own, with the same height, indicating that Shadow had already arranged everything for him in advance. All of this was in the other partys plan. But now, the crew should no longer continue north to the town, right? After this incident, their first choice must be to simply drive back to City 10. Qing Chen didnt understand, but he chose to trust Shadow. He silently put on Zhou Cangs clothes, then lay down in the snow, changing his appearance to that of Zhou Cang. At that moment, Shadow said to everyone with a smile, Ladies and gentlemen, fortunate to have met you here, I hope all who survive will cherish their lives more and stay safe. After that, he opened the Door of Shadow and, along with his subordinates, escorted all the assassins including Director Zhou into it one by one. Shadow intended to interrogate these people to find out who was trying to test him. Qing Chen was stunned for a moment, what was all this about?! If youre going to leave, at least speak some final, beautiful words like a host; he almost thought that after finishing, unforgettable music would start playing in the background. But Qing Chen knew, in reality, all those words Shadow said were ultimately intended to convey those four words to him, stay safe. Perhaps this trip was indeed too dangerous, many people did not want him to successfully transport Qing Mu, so even Shadow was somewhat worried about his safety. The crew members all lay in the snow, melting the thin layer on the ground, not daring to stand up. A persons name, a trees shadow. Shadows enormous reputation in the Federation was not just about holding power, but also involved many tales about his disregard for human life. Of course, the key point was that Shadow had left through the Door of Shadow, which meant that the sound of his footsteps had never really faded away... From an ordinary persons perspective, it seemed like Shadow and his people had only walked a few steps before stopping and watching them. This inexplicable oppressive feeling forced everyone to scarcely even breathe. Eventually, Qing Yi was the first to stand up. Then others followed and stood up too. After standing up, they were even more bewildered, where was Shadow? They hadnt heard any distant footsteps, so why was there no one around? At that moment, finally, someone snapped out of their confusion, and they frantically ran toward where they had parked their cars. It seemed they were ready to drive straight back to City 10. However, just as one of them had begun to open a car door, a massive flame blasted him more than ten meters away. After Director Zhou and the others entered the camp, to ensure that there were no survivors who might escape by car amidst the chaos, they had installed mines on every vehicle belonging to Zhang directors crew that would explode as soon as a car door was opened. Following one explosion, the sensor mines on the other vehicles also detonated in succession. Chapter 776: 461. Hitchhiker Chapter 776: 461. Hitchhiker At that moment, everyone was stunned. They huddled on the ground, watching as the vehicles that brought them turned into fireballs. Soon, someone realized they had no vehicles left. The vehicles belonging to Qing Chens production crew had all been bombed. The vehicle driven by Director Zhou was still there, but the keys had left with the assassins and Shadow... Federation vehicles, with their latest anti-theft technology, were impossible to start without keys, regardless of whether they had fingerprint, iris, or voice recognition systems. The production crew looked toward the campsite, where their tents had been completely slashed open, unable to even block the wind. This meant they would have to spend the following days out in the cold wind. The falling snow was getting heavier, and the scenery they had once looked forward to was now particularly deadly. Liu Liqun stood bewildered in the snow, What can we do now? Its at least 600 kilometers back home. If we try to walk back, Im afraid everyone will die in the Great Snow. Apart from their vehicles, their supplies and food had been destroyed too. Sun Chu Ci quickly reacted and said to everyone, We can only keep moving north, toward the small town outside the Taboo Land No. 065. Although its expensive there, its an inhabited place with vehicles. Compared to the distance to City No. 10, its only 120 kilometers to that town, and we can handle it. According to the militarys marching speed, a forced march covers about 45 to 75 kilometers per day, while an emergency march covers 200 kilometers a day. But the physical condition of the production crew and artists was far inferior to that of soldiers, and it was snowing heavily. Just walking those 120 kilometers might take three or four days. Certainly, some people would not be able to endure it, but they had no choice. Meanwhile, Qing Chen was pondering over something; Shadow had even thought of this. The enemy had long been certain that the crew had to go to that small town outside the Taboo Land No. 065, and there was no other option. He suddenly sighed, thinking how exhausting it must be to have Shadow as an enemy. Shadow knew there was something wrong with those vehicles but did not warn the crew in advance. Such a superior being had never really valued human life as anything precious. Yet why would such a person help him? ... ... Song Niannian stood up and didnt run toward the vehicles. She quietly observed the crowd, only to find that Qing Chen was no longer among them, suddenly feeling a sense of loss. Her agent whispered, What do we do now? Song Niannian replied, What else can we do but follow the group north. The agent looked troubled, I heard that town is a haven for desperate criminals. Its not about spending money; Im afraid someone there might target you. Song Niannian pondered for a moment, Sticking with Sun Chu Ci, these people are quite decent and theyre related to Qings Family. As long as theyre willing to help, we should be fine. The agent murmured softly, The guy who invited you here, not taking you with him when leaving, just how far have you two gotten? Have you even held hands? Song Niannian could only laugh, What are you talking about, sis? I was just repaying him for saving my life once, theres nothing between us. The agent muttered, All men are the same; he invited you here but didnt take you with him when he left, obviously, he doesnt care about you... Im telling you, you cant be too eager to get close to him, otherwise hell never take you seriously. Song Niannian comforted her with a smile, Sis, maybe he has more important things to worry about, especially since Shadow personally showed up; how could he care about such trivial matters? Zhou Cang, standing nearby, had a strange expression on his face as he heard the agent discussing so unrestrainedly. Hidden among the crowd was Qing Chen, equally bewildered. The snow was getting heavier. Qing Yi said to his own protector, Gather the supplies from the camp; we need to get on the road as soon as possible. Oh, and take Sun Chu Ci and his group with us; they are my fathers people, we cant let them die in the wilderness. The Protector hesitated for a moment, Why didnt he take you with him when he left... Qing Yis expression turned cold, Is Master someone you can just talk about? Go gather the supplies. The Protector said no more, leading others to collect the limited food from the camp. Some people wanted to complain about them taking all the food, but seeing Qing Yis subordinate, they didnt dare to speak. Qing Yi thought for a moment and said, Leave the necessary food for us; throw the rest to them. The Protector paused, seemingly puzzled. Qing Yi continued, If Master were here, he would probably do the same. The Protector pondered for a moment, then threw out a quarter of the supplies he had collected, and led the way through the heavy snow at the front. Qing Yi waved to Sun Chu Ci, Follow us. It must be said, this Protector arranged by Qing Yis father was indeed competent. Regardless of the level of strength, the one leading at the front broke the wind for Qing Yi, even deliberately slowing his pace so that Qing Yi, who was relatively shorter, could step into the snow footprint left by him with every step. The stride of the two was completely different, yet this Protector was able to adjust his own stride to make it more comfortable for Qing Yi to walk. Qing Yi said from behind, Sorry, my tone was a bit off just now, but sir is sir. The Protector smiled, Young master, no need to explain, I understand. By the way, what about Li Yu, hes still alive. Qing Yi looked back at Li Yu, smiled and said, People like him wont survive to the town, lets go. At this moment, seeing Qing Yi and the others decisively leaving, the other people in the camp quickly followed. Of the twelve assistants brought by Li Yu, only eleven remained: five men and six women. One of them had been shot to death during Zhous interrogation. Li Yu said, We shouldnt leave, the affairs here will soon be reported back to the Federation. When my friends hear of it, they will come to rescue me. Dont follow them; walking 120 kilometers in the Great Snow, traversing three or four days will definitely freeze you to death on the road. I cant make it that far! The assistants urged him, Lets go, no one will come to rescue, and the nearest city from here is over 300 kilometers away. What they did not say out loud was that Li Yus friends were just fair-weather friends, who would actually come to save him? Li Yus reluctance to leave was just due to his spoiled nature. This was the man who once complained about a minor injury on his hand, causing an entire film crew to stop work. The assistants hadnt expected him to be so stubborn under these circumstances. Looking at a few male assistants, Li Yu said, I really cant walk that far, how about I give you some money to make a simple sled with tents, and you can drag me along. A million for one, five hundred million for five, its not too hard. The assistants exchanged looks, their hearts stirred. In their view a hundred kilometers was something they could manage if they all worked together, couldnt they? Their salaries on ordinary days were only three or four thousand. If they could get a million, after returning they could open a small shop in the Federation and even pay off a bunch of loans. A few assistants looked at each other, Lets sign an agreement. Li Yus eyes lit up, Sign, lets sign now! Five million was nothing to him; with his fees, it was an amount he could make back in just two days. Liu Liqun signaled the field workers to collect usable materials from the ground and himself dismantled several tents, thinking that patching them might still make them useful. Not only that, he even stripped clothes from several corpses, claiming he needed to wear them. As Liu Liqun was stripping the clothes, he muttered looking at Li Yu, Money can really make the Ghost Grinding, stuck in this wilderness and still using money to make people work like cattle... Zhou Cang, dont just stand there, come over and help. Zhou Cang smiled, Boss Liu, you really are fearless. Liu Liqun gave a bitter smile, We field workers live cheap lives; whenever we handled the props, wasnt it tougher than now? Just think of those dead people as props. However, just then, the howling of wolves came from the distant snow night. Qing Chen looked up and saw vultures circling in the sky. The predators of the wilderness had sensed the scent of blood and had finally arrived. Qing Chen furrowed his brows, wondering what size the wolf pack could be in this sparsely populated wilderness. If the wolves set their sights on them, the Transcendents might be okay, but the straggling Ordinary People might really not stand a chance of survival. While musing, he turned to look south, where seven figures cloaked in black linen capes, resembling crows, were swiftly approaching. The leader turned out to be an old acquaintance, April. The crows moved quickly across the snowy expanse, their capes flapping in the harsh wind against the silver-white snow. In just a few minutes, the crows had reached the camp. April glanced at the bodies in the camp without concern. She asked the crowd, Um... are you heading to that small town in the north? Can we hitch a ride? Qing Chen was stunned, even the crows from the Contraindicated Tribunal had arriveddidnt this mean there would be a fierce battle in the small town? At that moment, Liu Liqun said to April with a wry smile, Im sorry, but the vehicles in the camp are all inoperable. April knitted her fine brows, But arent there some intact vehicles outside the camp? Liu Liqun explained, Those vehicles... dont have keys. April was stunned, her face suddenly sullen, Its all Qing Chens fault, sending us out on a business trip and we dont even have a car to ride. Qing Chen thought to himself that it wasnt his fault at all and curiously asked, Did you walk all the way here? Not really, we hitchhiked to a spot a few dozen kilometers south, but the ride had to change directions to another place, and we had to continue on foot north, April sighed, Its really a pitfall... ... Sorry for just finishing now. Chapter 777: Escape Chapter 777: Escape Youre headed to the town, right? April asked earnestly. Liu Liqun nodded. By now, the camp was nearly empty, most people had already ventured into the snowstorm. April continued, Okay, I know you lost your vehicle, but... do you have any food? Qing Chen couldnt help but laugh and cry at the same time. The Tribunal wasnt exactly a poor organization, constantly supplying the market with Genetic Potion; how could they appear so pitiful? Liu Liqun seemed to be dealing with the Tribunal for the first time. After being dumbfounded for a while, he said, The supplies in the camp were all taken by the Shadow Candidates, we dont have any food on us either. Curious, Qing Chen asked, Didnt you bring your food? April sighed, We encountered some wilderness people on the way; they didnt have enough food stored for the winter, and there were over a dozen children in their group. We gave them the food we had. Youd rather starve yourselves to help others? Qing Chen muttered. April earnestly replied, Its not about helping everyone, but helping the children; they are the future of humanity. By this time, Liu Liqun had finished packing up the remnants of the camp, laboriously tied up a bundle of tents, tied it around his waist with a rope, and dragged it outside. While walking, Liu Liqun muttered, Why are we so clueless? The big shot was right by us; here was a chance to cling to someones leg, and we missed it. Qing Chen laughed, What big leg? Well, the Qing Chen Inspector of course, sighed Liu Liqun. Only now do I understand why Sun Chu Ci and the others were so eager to work. Turns out the boss was right there. While they were feeding the boss, I was just in the way... Qing Chen laughed, How could we, a bunch of stagehands, have thought of that? Liu Liqun said, If I had another chance, Id definitely cling to that big leg. Ive heard about that Qing Chen Inspector; outsiders always talk about the entertainment industrys gossip, and the big players in the entertainment circle like to discuss the conglomerates gossip. Ive heard his name not once or twice on the dinner table, they say hes one of the most powerful people in City No. 10. If we knew such a boss, would we still need to play the underdog every day? Interested, Qing Chen asked, If you got to know him, what would you plan to do? Liu Liqun thought for a moment: Wouldnt that let me monopolize all the stagehand work in City No. 10? Qing Chen: ... Small players can sometimes be foolish, but they are also charming. At one moment, Qing Chen wondered if he would be carefree like Liu Liqun. ... ... While April admittedly never helped adults, during the trek through the snowy terrain, the Sparrows relied on their strong physiques, leading the group and helping Liu Liqun, Qing Chen, and others by breaking the wind. The stagehands, who always did the heavy labor and often worked outdoors, wore the most substantial and warmest clothes. It wasnt long before they caught up with the group ahead. Initially, Qing Yi and others led at the front, with Li Yu and other crew members in the middle, and the stagehands at the rear. But soon, the figures of Qing Yi and his group vanished, and the people behind could only follow the chain of footprints in the snow. Meanwhile, the stagehands had already passed everyone else. Li Yu lay in a tent dragged by assistants, wrapped in a thick tent, looking like a giant silkworm cocoon with only a small part of his face exposed to the snowstorm. The five assistants struggled forward, but they clearly underestimated the difficulty of trekking through the snow. As the snow on the wilderness grew thicker and, in just over an hour, exceeded the ankleif it snowed all night, it was feared it would rise above the knee. Walking in such conditions required ones all, and yet they had to drag a useless burden along... It was even more absurd that there were cameramen carrying equipment. As Liu Liqun passed through the crowd, a cameraman stopped him: Help carry this camera; this thing is very expensive, worth over two million, and it cant be lost in the wilderness. Qing Chen sighed, These people really cant prioritize; what were they doing still carrying equipment at a time like this? And, unable to carry it themselves, they wanted the stagehands to help. In the crew, these people always acted superior to the stagehands, eating first, getting the perks first, and never including the stagehands when the artists offered milk tea or coffee to everyone. So, now that they couldnt carry it themselves, they subconsciously wanted to command the stagehands. But Liu Liqun was not a pedantic person; he knew life was most important at this moment. He shook his head and pushed away the cameraman in front of him: Now its every man for himself. That equipment weighs over forty pounds. If I carry it through the snow, Im liable to exhaust myself to death. The cameraman grew desperate: Then let your boys carry it. Liu Liqun looked back at Qing Chen and others, then laughed: Are they not human because theyre my boys? I know you want to carry the crews equipment back to sell for money, but will you share the proceeds with us? Ill share! the cameraman gritted his teeth, Fifty-fifty with you. Even if you split the money, no way, Liu Liqun called to the stagehands to keep moving forward. Then, the cameraman stopped Qing Chen: Kid, help me carry it to the town, and Ill give you half a million from the equipment sale. You could never earn that much money as a stagehand in your lifetime. Liu Liqun turned and pushed the cameraman away, angrily reprimanding him: If you want to get yourself killed, dont drag others down with you. Lets go, ignore him! The Ravens passed by Li Yu and others without offering any help. They seemed to have strong principles; if they said they would help children, they really only helped children. The snow was getting heavier, and Qing Yi and his people were moving further away. The Great Snow was about to cover their footprints, and soon Liu Liqun and his group wouldnt know how to follow them. Everyone, pick up the pace and keep up with the Shadow Candidate; staying with them is our only chance for survival. They have more experience than us, Liu Liqun said, then quickly walked forward. Li Yus assistant also realized this problem. They could make money, but as they watched everyones figures gradually disappear into the blizzard and the footprints on the ground were quickly covered, the assistants suddenly panicked. From a distance, the howling of a wolf pack echoed continuously. One assistant suddenly turned around, only to see a mighty wolf glaring at them as it approached. He whispered, Im not making this money, the chance is yours. Saying this, he dropped the rope dragging Li Yu and quickly ran forward, afraid of falling behind. The other assistants looked at each other and followed in silent escape, angering Li Yus agent who started yelling loudly. But as she yelled, she glanced at Li Yu, tightened the ropes around the tent encasing him, and then snatched a small leather bag from Li Yus arms and abandoned the artist... The small leather bag contained Li Yus identification and cell phone. The agent knew Li Yus password. As long as she had the cell phone in an area with signal, she could transfer the money from Li Yus electronic bank account batch by batch. Li Yu opened his eyes to find himself alone lying in the icy, snowy wilderness, and was instantly shocked. He tried to get up and follow, but the agent, fearing he would survive and return to the Federation to reveal their ordeal, had purposely tightened the ropes. Thus, Li Yu lay wrapped in the tent like a cocoon, completely unable to break free. Across the vast snowy landscape, only Li Yu was left struggling vigorously. ... ... In a mountain depression. Qing Yis Protector stopped, Young master, weve walked 20 kilometers, and everyone was up all night. Lets take shelter here from the snowstorm. The wolf packs following us wont give up their prey easily in winter. This spot is suitable for defense; if the pack is not too large and we have firearms, we should be able to hold them off. It would be difficult if we were in the plains. The depression was narrow, featuring a spacious wind-shelter. Only a small path wide enough for three or four people led inside, flanked by over ten-meter-high mountain bodies. The Protector continued, Ive found out about someone named Sun Chu Ci; they indeed knew the gentleman. According to a girl named Tuan Zi, they had a very close relationship with the gentleman... I plan to temporarily incorporate them into our entourage. If the wolves attack, let them help defend. These people arent very good with guns; they can only play a supporting role. Mm, Qing Yi nodded. He looked at the Protector and whispered, Qing Li, bring that actress Song Niannian some food, and protect her if the wolves come. Surprisingly, Song Niannian hadnt complained at all along the way and had managed to keep up with the group. Moreover, she was even helping her plump agent, who had fallen multiple times; each time, she helped him up. Protector Qing Li paused, Why help her? Qing Yi thought for a moment, I just realized, maybe the gentleman invited her. Its possible she has some relationship with the gentleman... Qing Li: ...What about the others? Let them fend for themselves, Qing Yi said, Were not saints; we just need to save ourselves. At that moment, more figures emerged through the snowstorm. As they approached, it was clear they were seven Crows from the Contraindicated Courts, followed by seven stagehands. The stagehands were in terrible shape. After finally catching up with the group, each one collapsed in the snow. Further out, more people were gasping and running frantically, with the increasingly loud howling of the wolf pack close behind. However, when everyone reached the site, they found that Qing Yis men had already taken up their guns at the entrance, subtly pointing their muzzles toward them, preventing them from getting closer. A bonfire had been lit in the depression, casting an orange-red glow on the mountainside. Outside was a dim sky and snow. It was like a black and white movie, where only a few people had color. Qing Li, let the stagehands into the depression, Qing Yi said. Qing Li didnt question this time; after all, the gentleman had come disguised as a stagehand, and there might be someone familiar with the gentleman inside... He understood. Anything related to the gentleman was a top priority in Qing Yis eyes. Qing Li signaled to the two companions guarding Yamaguchi, Let the stagehands in. Liu Liqun led the stagehands toward the depression. Suddenly, a female assistant who had been by Li Yus side pulled Liu Liqun aside, Please take me with you, I beg you. Liu Liqun smiled bitterly, You have to speak to the one inside, I dont make the decisions here. Meanwhile, inside the depression. Qing Yi listened intently, Qing Li, prepare for battle. There are sounds of wolves on both sides. The wolves have driven these people here, and it looks like theyre not planning to let anyone go. ... Another chapter at 11 PM. Chapter 778: 463, entertainment program Chapter 778: 463, entertainment program On the Snowfield, someone was frantically running in a disheveled manner. The people who had escaped from the lakeside camp were scattered sporadically across the Great Snow due to the wind and snow. Many others couldnt keep up with the pace of Qing Yi and the others. They lacked the physical strength of the workers and had to flee in a sorry state. Following the last footprints in the snow, they arrived at the mouth of the valley, pleading for Qing Yi to let them in. As the sounds of the wolves drew nearer, cries of despair filled the area outside the valley. Qing Yi, after a moments thought, said to Qing Li, Let them in. Qing Li glanced at his young master, thinking to himself: not it couldnt be If the sir were here, he would do the same as the reason, could it? Qing Yi smiled and said, I know what you are thinking, but this time its because we need some people to keep watch during the night. Let these people come into the valley; everyone must work, no exceptions. Qing Li waved to the two attendants at Yamaguchi, and the crowd outside the valley surged in. Over two hundred people had escaped from the lakeside, but now, including Qing Yi, Sun Chu Ci, and the others, the number was barely over a hundred. At least half were trapped in the endless wind and snow. Everyone in the valley was divided into several groups. Qing Yi, Sun Chu Ci, Song Niannian, and the crew formed one group. The drama crew staff and Yan Chunmi formed another group. The actors brought by Deputy Director Zhou, Li Yus assistants, and agents were another group... Seven Crows were sitting cross-legged in a corner, meditating with their eyes closed, not intending to interact with anyone in the valley. Only when Qing Yi ate did they occasionally open their eyes... The actors brought by Deputy Director Zhou werent very high-profile and were a far cry from Song Niannian. It was indeed bad luck for them. They had simply come out to shoot a film, yet they were controlled right out of City 10 and still hadnt recovered. Then, one actress knelt on the snow with her hands together, silently praying something. The Federations faith was mixed, with over two hundred registered religions across its 26 cities. In such a post-disaster moment, it was normal to pray, so no one minded. However, suddenly Qing Chens expression became peculiar as the actress, eyes closed, murmured, Thank you for the familys protection, may the Federations youth... This damn drama crew actually had a family member among them. But this family member probably didnt know that the head of the family was fleeing with her, and hadnt really protected her... How long had Luo Wanya been in City 10? And he had already recruited a female celebrity into the family? Qing Chen pondered that it could perhaps be in City 18, considering these celebrities often traveled between the two cities. Standing in the valley, Qing Li said coldly: The wolves will be here soon, anyone who knows how to use a gun, raise your hand. They had some spare weapons to distribute to the people to fend off the wolves. Qing Chen sat in the corner as if nothing was amiss, silent. After all, there were Qing Yis Protector and Yan Chunmi there; having completely transformed into someone else, wasnt it fine to lay low and relax? No problem at all. However, just then, Liu Liqun suddenly said, Zhou Cang can use one. Qing Chen: ... He silently looked at Liu Liqun, thinking this guy must be incompatible with his star sign. Liu Liqun said to Qing Li, Zhou Cang used to be in the Federal Group Army. After his discharge, he came to work in the crew; he definitely knows how to use a gun. Qing Chen: ... Um, I was in the Federal Second Group Armys 107th Field Company and served for two years. Qing Li raised an eyebrow and looked at Qing Chen, Which platoon were you in, and what was your platoon leaders name? Qing Chen answered, Platoon seven, and the platoon leader was called Ning Shun. Qing Li turned back to Qing Yi, Young master, it turns out hes from our Qings Family combat sequence. You might have heard of his platoon leader Ning Shun; he was the one who followed Qing Huai into the Taboo Land 002 and was later sent to military court by Qing Huais mother. Zhou Cang must have been discharged early; otherwise, he might have died in Taboo Land 002. Qing Yi was taken aback and looked at Qing Chen: Give him an assault rifle. Qing Chen took the rifle and sat back in the corner, planning to continue keeping a low profile. Then he heard Liu Liqun whisper: Didnt expect you to play along so convincingly. How did you know there was a platoon leader named Ning Shun? Qing Chen silently turned his head and looked at Liu Liqun: ... Ive heard of him. He felt like hitting someone at that moment; it turned out Zhou Cang, under Liu Liquns impersonation, had never even served in the army. The other side was purely trying to deceive Qing Li to get a gun! This wasnt Qing Chens fault for being careless. It was really because he was pushed into impersonating Zhou Cang in a hurry by Shadow. According to his original plan, he was supposed to leave the group alone and first visit the Taboo Land 065 to familiarize himself with the terrain. So, there would inevitably be a few slip-ups when hurriedly pretending to be someone else. Now Qing Chen knew, Zhou Cang had never served in the army... Qing Chen asked in frustration, Why do you insist I take a gun? Liu Liqun whispered to Qing Chen, Weve only been escaping for a day, and already more than half of us are dead. Weve only covered barely twenty kilometers, and theres still a long way to go. If you can carry a gun, its better for self-defense. Are you hungry? Hungry, Qing Chen nodded. Liu Liqun muttered, There are plenty hungrier than you, but no one has food. You can imagine what everyone will do when faced with hunger. Qing Chen sighed, This is the cunning of the insignificant, isnt it? At that moment, someone curiously looked at Li Yus assistants, Where is Li Yu? Werent you dragging him along? On the run, the five male assistants, like sled dogs, also constituted a strange sight. But, with the sled dogs there, where were the sled and the person on the sled?! Li Yus agent clutched a small leather bag tightly in her arms and sorrowfully said first, On the way, he suddenly went crazy and tried to run towards City 10. We couldnt stop him and could only continue on our way. We dont know why he went mad, but he must have met with misfortune by now. The others in the camp were skeptical. This stupid thing indeed seemed like something Li Yu would do, but it was all too sudden. However, before people could figure it out, someone outside the gully suddenly cried out, Help! Save me! Li Yus agents face changed! Because she recognized, that was distinctly Li Yus voice! He was coming toward the glow of the fire in the gully! How could this be?! She had clearly tied the ropes on him tightly; how could he have survived?! Suddenly, all eyes in the gully turned toward the agent... The agent was incredibly frustrated with herself, wishing she had killed Li Yu earlier, but in the city, she hardly ever had the chance even to kill a fish, let alone dare to kill a person. People looked outside and saw Li Yu running towards them, one foot deep and one shallow, his clothes in complete disarray. Further off, in the wind and snow, several gray shadows rapidly followed him. Should we go out to save him? someone whispered. Li Yus agent suddenly said, No, the pack of wolves has arrived. I know everyone is kind-hearted, but our Li Yu would never want to see you die in the wilderness because of him! We must not go out! The agents words were righteous. But everyone immediately realized, the agent was terrified of Li Yu returning alive to the Federation. Some people silently stared at the small leather bag in the agents arms, deep in thought. Indeed, no one really wanted to save Li Yu; they were more interested in that small leather bag. However, Qing Chen, feeling bored at that moment, suddenly became interested. He didnt want Li Yu to live either, but tonights entertainment... was here. Everyone watched as Zhou Cang suddenly stood up with righteous indignation, Thats a human life; how can we just stand by and do nothing? We dont need to go out, just shoot two wolves from a distance. That should stop the pack from pursuing him. Saying so, he took up a position at Yamaguchi, seeming to aim with great difficulty. In the snowfield, Li Yu stumbled along, his breathing becoming heavier. He felt like each breath was filling his lungs with cold air. He looked towards the fire ahead, desperately sprinting, his instinct to survive overcoming his frailty. But he had already heard the footsteps of the wolf pack behind him. Suddenly, bang bang, two shots were fired, landing not far from him, hitting nothing. But the wolf pack, startled by the gunfire, halted their pursuit momentarily and silently watched something. Li Yu took this chance to sprint again and managed to rush into the gully before the wolf pack could catch up again. By then the wolf pack was close, and Qing Li observed that their fur was stained with plenty of blood, suggesting many had already become the wolves prey. He paused for two seconds before saying to Qing Chen, Dont you all practice target shooting in the Federal Second Group Army? Save some ammunition. Qing Chen replied guiltily, Sorry, its been too long since I last fired a gun, Im a bit rusty. Hmm, thats normal, Qing Li nodded. At this moment, Li Yu, having not yet rested upon arriving inside the gully, already saw his agent and the small leather bag in her arms. He pounced fiercely on her, struggling with the agent, You actually dared to plan my murder! Qing Chen walked back to his corner, cheerfully watching the scene unfold. It was like watching a post-dinner entertainment show. Li Yus agent was almost vomiting by now; the person who should have died outside was somehow stubbornly alive. She had her hair pulled by Li Yu and was smashed against the ground. Fortunately for her, Li Yu was already exhausted and soon was flipped onto the ground, too weak to even stand. The agent yelled furiously, You waste! Without me pulling strings and cleaning up your mess, your scandals would have been exposed long ago. Li Yu, gasping for breath on the ground, retorted, You evil woman, is that your reason for trying to kill me? Without me, youd still be a lowly agent! Saying so, Li Yu looked around, Who will help me kill her? Ill give you ten million! Some were tempted. Qing Yi sat calmly by the campfire and said softly, Stop the noise, or all of you get out. Qing Li, the wolf pack wont dare to charge into the gully for a while, but being trapped here isnt a solution either. Arrange the watch shifts, and Ill think about how to break out. Their food was running low, and even the supplies Qing Yi had gathered would only suffice for a small group of them for two days. If the wolf pack continued the siege, they might not even need to charge in to overcome them. At that moment, the gully suddenly became an isolated island. Everyone looked at each other, unsure of where the way out lay. Chapter 779: Dead things Chapter 779: Dead things Were not all going to die here, are we? Liu Liqun sat in the hollow, watching worriedly as the snow outside Yamaguchi gathered. Everyone could see that outside Yamaguchi, more than twenty robust wild wolves had not left. Instead, they nestled in the snow, cautiously watching them. Gradually, even as the Great Snow buried their bodies, they still did not move. Qing Li saw this scene and pretended to charge out of the hollow. The next moment, the twenty-odd wolves simultaneously stood up, shaking off the snow on their bodies, coldly staring at him. Qing Li thought for a moment; he raised his automatic rifle and tried to fire at the wolves. However, the wolf pack instantly increased their distance, not stopping until they were 300 meters away before lying down again. Qing Li fired a few shots, but the pack didnt budge. This made Qing Li sense something was off. He whispered to Qing Yi, Young master, this pack of wolves... its a bit against common sense. They seem to know the effective range of an automatic rifle, and theyre not that afraid of the gunfire. In the past, the pack would have run off at the sound of gunfire. Qing Yi frowned, Are you saying, this pack of wolves... might actually be controlled by someone? Qing Li whispered, In Federation history, its not rare for Transcendents to be close to beasts. Although theres no clear evidence yet, we cant be careless. Then were done for, Qing Yi sighed. Real beasts fear death, but beasts controlled by humans dont. A pack of wolves that has overcome their instincts is enough to wear us out here. They still had plenty of ammunition, but what if there were further dangers after they finished off the wolf pack? Lets wait a bit longer, Qing Yi said. Perhaps there will be a turnaround. The hollow was relatively spacious, about three or four hundred square meters. But there was only one bonfire, and only a few people could gather around it. Qing Yi and his group were the first to arrive here. The firewood they chopped was only enough to last them until dawn, so they couldnt share it with anyone else. As a result, everyone else could only watch from afar, shivering with cold. Qing Li roughly estimated and said to Qing Yi, Young master, the wolves might be trying to trap us here until we die. The firewood will run out by morning. If we cant leave by tomorrow night, it will be very tough. We cant look after others; lets just get through tonight, Qing Yi said. At that moment. The hollow became noisy. An assistant of Li Yu said to his companion beside him, This coat youre wearing is actually mine, give it to me! At a place like this, youre still saying which clothes are yours? If you call it, will it respond? the companion replied. Everyone had rushed when leaving the camp, so it was normal for someone to wear the wrong clothes. But it was so cold now, and everyone was so cold and hungry that they couldnt bear it anymore. Suddenly, the two started fighting, tearing each others clothes. Qing Yi only glanced at the situation but didnt intervene. Everyone else watched indifferently, except for one female actress who kept trying to persuade, We need to be like a family here, please dont fight anymore! Listen to me, in such a harsh environment, we have to work together like brothers and sisters if we want to survive... Qing Chen remained silently speechless. The style of the Parent Association really differed from others. He and Liu Liqun and other stage workers leaned against the stone wall of the hollow. Although Qing Yi took care of them, there was only that one fire, and just Qing Yi, Sun Chu Ci, Song Niannian, and their group had to squeeze close. So, naturally, it wasnt the stage workers turn. Liu Liqun looked at those people, Fighting and wasting energy now is definitely a dead end... Speaking of family, I heard that theres a new organization in City Number 10 called the Parent Association, apparently from City Number 18. Oh? Qing Chen turned to look, What kind of organization is it? Im not sure, Liu Liqun shook his head. Ive only heard about it. This organization seems different from typical clubs. They like to do good deeds, dont bully others, dont collect protection money, just internal mutual aid. It sounds quite interesting. I heard that when a member fell ill, a group of the hard-up Parent Association members gathered money for his treatment. Many people were planning to inquire about joining it after hearing about it. In a maliciously rampant Federation, the emergence of an organization truly founded on mutual aid was like a refreshing breeze, attracting extra attention... Liu Liqun said, Enough of that for now. Lets all try to sleep; we still have to stand guard later. Qing Li assigned tasks to everyone, taking turns guarding Yamaguchi, to ensure that if the wolves approached, someone would be aware. The stage workers spread out the tents they had dragged along the snowy ground. Lacking poles, they wrapped them around themselves as sleeping bags, at least providing some wind, water, and warmth protection. This action made quite a few people in the hollow envious. Li Yus manager even approached Liu Liquns side and whispered, Your tent seems to have plenty of space, can I squeeze in too...? The stage workers were stunned; the tents they dragged could indeed accommodate two people together. But that would mean very close contact, wouldnt it? Li Yus manager, a minor eighteen-tier artist who had maintained herself quite well, looked like she was in her early thirties despite being nearly forty. Under other circumstances, perhaps someone would have been tempted. In this wilderness, who could say they would be alive tomorrow? Why not enjoy what one could? But peculiarly, Liu Liqun did not like women, Get lost... The manager then looked towards the other stage workers, with Li Yu sneering behind, Arent you ashamed, you used to sleep with directors, screenwriters, and now youre down to sleeping with stage workers? The manager glared back, no longer hiding her feelings, Wasnt I doing that to pull resources for you before?! And, how did you survive? I had tied the rope tight, how could you possibly have survived? There must be something strange! Qing Yi looked over. Li Yu sneered, You must have wished me dead, but luckily I encountered a cinematographer lost in the Great Snow, and he helped me untie the rope. Then where is he? the manager asked. Killed by wolves, Li Yu replied. You got lucky! the agent snarled, But I believe you absolutely cant make it back to the Federation alive. At that moment, another of Li Yus female assistants approached Qing Chen, Can I share a tent with you? Qing Chen glanced at her but threw the tent he had dragged over to the female Parent Association member, then leaned against the rock wall with his gun and closed his eyes to rest. Liu Liqun sighed beside him, Zhou Cang, why be such a good Samaritan now? Without something to keep you warm, youll quickly lose body heat. Qing Chen smiled, Its fine, you all go to sleep. It would be very inconvenient for us all to cram into the tent; its easy to be ambushed. Liu Liqun was taken aback, Thats true, you keep watch for now, and when its my turn to stand guard, you can use my tent. Qing Chen nonchalantly squinted toward the basin. There were a total of 87 people. But he only heard 86 heartbeats. It wasnt that someone had frozen to death; instead, a dead thing had mixed into the basin. ... ... It was already 4 oclock in the morning. All the people in the basin were ravenous, but ultimately succumbed to exhaustion and lay in the snow, drifting to sleep. They had trekked almost twenty kilometers through the snow, which had seeped into their shoes and then melted into water. At this moment, they only felt their feet were like frozen clumps of ice. It was foreseeable that when they awoke, most would fall ill. Just before dawn, the darkest moment, it was Li Yus turn alongside the film crews cameramen and others like Sun Chu Ci to stand guard. Li Yu, unwillingly trailing behind everyone, suddenly pulled a dagger from his sleeve and savagely cut the carotid artery of a cameraman from behind. Immediately after, he lunged at Sun Chu Ci, who was unaware that he was about to be slashed at the throat. With a bang, Qing Li emotionlessly opened fire, shooting a burst that shattered Li Yus thigh bone. This also woke everyone in the basin. Yet, Li Yu did not fall and wail. He merely swayed slightly and continued swinging his knife towards Sun Chu Cis neck. Bang, another shot. Li Yus arm also broke, and the dagger flew out of his hand. Qing Li wanted to keep him alive, but Li Yu seemed insane, not stopping despite the pain. Bang. Qing Li was forced to shoot through his skull. Before Sun Chu Ci could check behind him, he roared, The wolves are coming! The wolf pack outside the basin suddenly approached, as if coordinated with Li Yus actions, charging swiftly. As the wolves attacked, their robust limbs kicked up massive waves of snow, their presence immensely fearsome. It seemed they knew in advance that there would be chaos at the basin mouth at that moment. The resting Qing Li immediately stood up and sprayed automatic rifle fire at the basin mouth, joining Sun Chu Ci in repelling the wolves with dense firepower. In the basin, everyone watched the scene in unsettled shock until the gunfire ceased. They saw the bodies of Li Yu and the cameraman, unsure of what had happened. Qing Li turned over Li Yus body, only to see his complexion instantly turn purplish and his face show signs of livor mortis. Qing Li gasped, Livor mortis? That only occurs over 2 hours after death. Qing Yi looked at the others and calmly explained, I felt something was off with this man as soon as he entered the basin; if what the agent said is true, he indeed should have been dead in the snow. Qing Yi had logically deduced that there was something wrong with Li Yu, so he had instructed Qing Li to keep a close watch. But only Qing Chen knew, from the moment Li Yu entered the basin, he hadnt had a heartbeat. Li Yu was already dead. The reason Qing Chen initially ignored him was to see what the person controlling Li Yu intended to do; it turned out they planned to use Li Yu as an insider to breach the basins defenses and create chaos significant enough to destroy it. So who was controlling Li Yu and the wolf pack? Was it targeted at Qing Yi, since among all present, only Qing Yi held value worth the action of such skilled Transcendents? Was it Qing Yuan? Or was it the work of Jindai or Deer Island? Qing Chen furrowed his brows, if Qing Yuan was able to turn the wolf pack into puppets, then his threat was too great. The wind and snow continued to intensify. They couldnt last long in this basin; the food wasnt enough. Qing Chen looked towards the basin, if everyone went hungry for three days, there might not even be a need for the wolf pack to invade, as internal strife would likely break out first in the basin. ... Another chapter at 11 PM. Chapter 780: 465, The Path of Life Chapter 780: 465, The Path of Life Qing Chen leaned quietly against the stone wall. He pushed his hearing to the limit and continuously calculated something in his mind. What to do? This time, it seemed that even Qing Chen had no good solution to get out of this predicament. Actually, Qing Yi and Qing Li underestimated the number of wolves. They estimated there were over a hundred, but Qing Chens estimate... was over four hundred. When Li Yu burst out in violence, Qing Li and Sun Chu Ci used a barrage of gunfire to block the wolves, consuming quite a bit of ammunition. The ammunition left in this mountain hollow, even if every shot hit, would just barely be enough to wipe out the wolf pack. But the threat outside isnt just the wolves; there are also those who control the wolves and Li Yu. This could be an organized group with a plan and a target. Qing Chen now had three conjectures. First, the person executing the plan shouldnt be Qing Yuan, as creating puppets isnt that quick or easy; otherwise, in Zheng City, the other party could have used many more methods. Secondly, after Li Yu turned into an undead, he arrived at the hollow and still played his role very accurately. This suggests... The person who turned him into the undead must be someone inside the camp who knew about his conflict with the agent. Lastly, judging by the logic of behavior, Li Yu was an ordinary person. Even with a surprise attack from behind, it was impossible for him to kill all nine refugees on watch. Even if he successfully ambushed Sun Chu Ci, it would at most create an opportunity for a probe. Qing Chen felt that if he were the person controlling Li Yu and could gain Li Yus perspective from outside, then leaving Li Yu in the hollow to observe the situation would be far more useful than sending him to his death. Keeping Li Yu alive would allow the enemy to know if there was internal conflict within the hollow, if there was any food left, if there was any ammunition. Isnt that more useful than sending him to die? But Qing Chen thought the reverse, could he definitely be smarter than the opponent? What he could think of, perhaps the opponent could also consider. So what made the opponent think that Li Yus perspective as an insider wasnt important? Unless, the person who turned Li Yu into an undead was right there in the hollow. Qing Chen pondered. This person must have witnessed the agent murdering Li Yu, so the clues were locked on the group of people around Li Yu at that time. Qing Chen observed everyone without showing any emotion; he still couldnt judge who that someone was, or perhaps he had made a wrong judgment. The campfire in the hollow extinguished in the early morning. The firewood had burnt out, and no one could leave the hollow to find new fuel as the wolves hadnt gone far. Without food, some were so hungry their eyes saw stars, but they could only watch Qing Yi and others eat. The early morning change caused by Li Yus murder left everyone unsettled. So hot! a crew member from the film crew stood up and astonishingly took off his parka in the freezing temperatures. This scene baffled everyone. But then, the person hazily stripped down to his underwear, collapsed to the ground, and died. Someone approached to check and found that after dying, he strangely maintained a smiling expression, which was particularly creepy. Whats going on?! Why is he smiling? First was the undead Li Yus murder incident. Now someone suddenly shouted hot and then died smiling. All at once, everyone in the hollow panicked, feeling as though there was an unknown and mysterious horror beyond Yamaguchi. However, Qing Li and Qing Chen knew that this was the sign of freezing to death. Before freezing to death, the central nervous system gets suppressed, emitting a paradoxical heat sensation error, causing those dying of cold not to feel it but instead to feel very hot. Soon after, people would die in the haze of this perceived warmth. This also explains why many frozen to death maintain a strange smile on their faces after dying. Qing Li said coldly, This is a normal phenomenon of freezing to death, dont panic. If you freeze to death, youll probably look the same. His words only made everyone more anxious. Qing Chen was sitting against the stone wall; he was also hungry but had no solution. He looked across and saw Yan Chunmi huddled in a corner, secretly stuffing something into her mouth and then bowing her head to hide the chewing action from others... In the hollow, there were still people who had secretly brought some food. Only, this was just the first day; the real crisis had yet to come. When everyone realized they were going to be trapped here till death, there probably wouldnt be any order left in the hollow. Even the followers of Qing Yi might not continue to be loyal. The second day. Eleven people froze to death. Their clothes were stripped off by others, and a few strong men wore up to three layers, inside and out, to finally warm up a bit. Qing Yi disdained to strip clothes off the dead and didnt care. As long as these people didnt bother him, they could do whatever they wanted. During this time, Qing Chen found that Qing Yi was actually always meditating with his eyes closed, not even sleeping. When there was a bonfire in the hollow, although people were far away, just a glance at the bonfire gave them some comfort. But now, that little bit of comfort was gone. The wolves outside of Yamaguchi were still on guard, showing no signs of leaving. Among the refugees, apart from Qing Yi, only a very few still had food hidden away. That night, someone was smothered to death in their sleep, and no one knew who stole the biscuits the victim had hidden for several days. The order within the hollow was crumbling bit by bit. At first, people were just probing, but after they found that Qing Yi and Qing Li did nothing about it, they started to act recklessly. Some stole clothes from the dead to sell them at a high price, and they even targeted female supporting actors from the film crew, asking if they were willing to trade the warm clothing. Qing Chen began to weaken, even appearing unsteady when walking. No one knew whether he was starving or sick. Someone quietly approached him in the middle of the night, attempting to strip him of his clothes while he was disoriented, but they were promptly discovered by Liu Liqun who, along with the stage crew, chased the offender away. The third day. Another 21 people died. Qing Chen became even weaker, and Liu Liqun went to steal clothes with the stage crew, but after they succeeded, they wrapped Qing Chen in them first. And Qing Chen... was still pretending to be ill while calmly observing everyones reactions in the hollow. He hoped to root out any insiders, ensuring no one would stab them in the back when they made their breakout. However, it was unclear whether Qing Chen had made a mistake or the other partys acting skills were too good. Qing Chen never found a clue. Today, even the food on Qing Yis side was running low. According to Qing Lis estimation, they could last at most one more day. Qing Li whispered to Qing Yi, Young Master, we must break out. They dont have to actually fight their way in to kill us; just keeping us surrounded will do. In another two days, we will die on our own. We must break out, its our only way to survive. Qing Yi nodded, Wait a little longer, wait two more days and I might have a chance to break through to C-Class. Then, my chances of survival will be even greater. Qing Lis eyes lit up, Youre breaking through to C-Class, Young Master? So soon? Qing Yi said, Back at the lakeside, the master performed Empowerment on me. Ive been trying hard to digest the True Qi he infused me with these past few days. Now Qing Chens Knight Vital Energy had evolved from a mist into a stream. For him, it was certainly good news. But for someone like Qing Yi who had undergone Empowerment, it was troublesome; the stream that poured from the divine platform into the body couldnt be transformed into strength instantly. It required constant cultivation of the meridians to absorb it bit by bit. In these two days, Qing Yi hadnt done anything else; he was wholly focused on his cultivation. He had never given up hope of life, wishing only to reach C-Class as soon as possible to leave alive. The Protectors were somewhat envious. He was a Genetic Warrior, and Qing Yis father had promised that if Qing Yi successfully passed the third round of the Shadow competition, he would give him the next Genetic Potion. Once promoted to a B-Class Expert, his status in the Clan would soar. Qing Chen felt somewhat reassured when he overheard the conversation between the two; he had been worried that Qing Yi would get discouraged in the face of adversity, but it seemed he was not. However, if Qing Yi planned to make the breakout at dawn tomorrow, there wasnt much time left to catch the Insider. A large number of people had already fallen ill in the hollow. The order here was gradually crumbling. At this time, no one dared to mess with Qing Yi and his group. Sun Chu Ci and her group of seven took up a corner to take turns keeping watch. Due to their possession of weapons, no one dared to provoke them. Liu Liqun was managing to keep the stage crew controlled and united. As for the rest, fighting and struggling for clothing was an everyday occurrence. Poor Yan Chunmi, the Kite Falcon, ended up unlucky, with three or four people groping their way towards her every night. Many others eyed her greedily. Qing Chen knew that of the 21 people who died today, at least four had been killed by Yan Chunmis hand... Suddenly, a male supporting actor from the film crew came to Song Niannian, holding a thick coat, and said, Song Niannian, Ive liked you for a long time. If youll be my girlfriend, this coat is yours. Qing Yi paused, then turned to Qing Li. The supporting actor, dead. Qing Yi muttered to himself, Even lusting after the masters... Have they got a death wish? He turned to Qing Li, Distribute our food to our people, and to Sun Chu Ci and her group. Make it clear to them that were going to make the breakout when it gets light, and if they can keep up with us, good; if not, theres nothing we can do. I havent struck through to C-Class yet, but we cant wait any longer. Qing Li asked in a low voice, What about Song Niannian? I dont think she and her agent will be able to keep up with us. Qing Yi thought for a moment and said, First we need to ensure we survive. But just then, Qing Li suddenly took action, chopping a hand onto Qing Yis neck and knocking him unconscious on the spot. With a professional strike, he rendered Qing Yi unconscious immediately. Qing Chen frowned. However, before anyone else could react, Qing Li had already whispered to Qing Yis other followers, Take off the Young Masters clothes and put me in them. Half of you stay here to protect him, and the other half come with me to draw off the wolves. Once we have led the wolves away, you carry the Young Master out from another direction. Understand? The followers looked at each other in confusion but responded with difficulty, Understood. Qing Chen was stunned. Qing Li had decided that they couldnt possibly break through the encirclement, so he was using his own life to create a chance for Qing Yi to live. Chapter 781: 466, The Real Goal Chapter 781: 466, The Real Goal Commander, is it worth doing this? a subordinate asked in a low voice. Qing Li replied calmly, In this world, theres no constant measure of worth. Soldiers are trained for a thousand days to be used in a single moment. Our purpose is just that. The subordinate fell silent as they all observed the blizzard outside of Yamaguchi. A handful of people could not possibly survive in a pack of wolves, and even if a B-Class Expert came, they would have no choice but to flee in the face of such a formidable wolf pack. Unless there was an army present. Those of you whose parents are still alive, raise your hands, Qing Li said in a hollow. Six subordinates slowly raised their hands. Qing Li, with the light of dawn, looked at them: You stay behind to protect the young master. The rest will follow me. After speaking, Qing Li turned to the subordinates who were ready to follow him and said, You all have your cell phones, right? Write a will in the memo, then hand it to the brothers who stay behind. They will help deliver it to the clan. As soon as the words were spoken, he took out his phone, turned it on, and wrote a message. A subordinate whispered, Commander, your parents are still alive. Qing Li was startled for a moment, then looked at the subordinate: I am the young masters Protector. No matter what reasons I have for needing to survive, now I must fulfill my duty. This is also the purpose the old master had in assigning me to be the Protector. Qing Li was not particularly outstanding among all the Protectors of the Shadow Candidates. Other Protectors were either Awakeners or Cultivators, while he was just a Genetic Warrior, selected only because of his excellent performance in the Federation Groups army. He had been a bodyguard for Qing Yis father for seven years, during which time he had not experienced any intense combat. The reason Qing Yis father placed him as a Protector was simply because of his loyalty. Does a Protector need to be very powerful? Of course. But which is the higher priority between powerful and loyal? Qing Yis father believed it was loyalty. Only someone with sufficient loyalty, when faced with a desperate situation, would be willing to sacrifice their own life to ensure Qing Yis survival. All this was secretly arranged at Qing Lis gesture. Qing Li continued, Later, Ill incite everyone in the hollow to rush out together, making a larger target. Remember to seize the opportunity... Dont waste this chance. The subordinates exchanged glances, realizing that Qing Li planned to have everyone else in the hollow draw the wolves attention. But that meant everyone else, except for Qing Yi and his group, would die. Qing Li glanced at them and said, As long as the young master survives, it doesnt matter if everyone else dies, including me. It would be best if those crows could follow me; they are strong and might be able to hold off the wolf pack. At that moment, he turned to everyone in the hollow and said, We are about to break out. Weve run out of food, and if we stay trapped here, were on a path to death. Well be in charge of the charge, and its not our concern whether those behind can keep up. Whether you can survive is entirely up to you. This was one of the most ruthless aspects of the consortium. Qing Li didnt blink an eye at the thought of sacrificing everyone in the hollow to keep Qing Yi safe. In his view, it was only natural. However, in the next second, crows sitting in the corner glanced at each other, and in April, someone stuffed a handful of snow into their mouth: Lets go. Saying this, those in black cloaks stood up as if ignoring everyone else and walked towards the mouth of Yamaguchi. Some people in the hollow silently got up, watching as the crows one by one vanished into the blizzard. A curious thing happened, the pack of wolves that had been surrounding them silently opened a path for the crows to leave. Until that moment, Qing Li and Qing Chen had speculated that the wolf pack was controlled by someone, but only now did they finally have evidence. In human society, the Contraindicated Tribunal is always neutral, so no one ever rashly involves them in a battlefield. But what do the wolves in the wilderness know of these things? Qing Li watched the departing crows and sighed. He even wondered if they had heard what he had just said, which was why they suddenly left. At this time, Sun Chu Ci, who had been quietly listening to Qing Lis orders, suddenly stood up and said, Ill join you in breaking out to attract attention, but can your companion also take mine with them? Qing Li was taken aback: Youre a real man, you dont need to go with us. You are the gentlemans man and can go with the young master. Sun Chu Ci shook his head: Someone needs to play along with your act. If only you leave and we all stay behind, there will definitely be suspicion. Then, if the wolves attention isnt divided, no one will escape. A few boys nearby said, Senior, well go with you, let the two girls go with them. Sun Chu Ci smiled: Alright. Tuan Zi and another girl named Zhou Yu looked at them: Why should just the two of us escape? Were not staying. Sun Chu Ci suddenly became serious: Theres no time to waste on this argument at such a moment. Weve finally made some money in the Inner World, and you two can help us slowly transfer it to the Outer World. At least give our parents a safety net for their old age. For everyones parents... someone has to survive. Tuan Zi and the other girl, Zhou Yu, fell silent. Seeing that these people had come to an agreement, Qing Li did not hesitate any longer. He checked his firearms, then led the group to disable the safety of their guns and charged out in a tactical formation. Behind them, Sun Chu Ci shouted, Wait for us! As he spoke, he followed them, and suddenly there was chaos in the hollow. In the commotion, the other people in the hollow didnt notice Qing Yi, who was left behind. Many people saw a path to survival and rushed forward, afraid of being left behind. After all, the last time they left the lake, many had died in the Great Snow because they were too slow. The accumulated snow outside the hollow had become very deep. With each step Qing Li and his group took, they had to trudge through snow past their knees. But Qing Lis actions were still decisive. He led the way, firing in short bursts to push back the wolf pack. This fierce squad managed to forcefully carve a gap through the wolf pack from the very start with their momentum. When the magazine was empty, he exchanged it for a new one; when someone by his side fell behind, he didnt look back. The people fleeing saw Qing Li and his group tearing through the enemies like gods of war and immediately became elated. Even those still hesitating in the gully followed suit. Liu Liqun and the others tried to get up, but Qing Chen held them down, Wait a bit longer. Liu Liqun was stunned, Wait for what? If we wait any longer theyll be too far ahead! However, Qing Chen still pressed down on Liu Liquns arm, Wait. At this moment, the field workers suddenly noticed that Qing Chen, who had been weak for three days, now looked as if he had fully recovered, his eyes filled with nothing but sharpness and determination. In the gully now, only the field workers, Qing Yi and his entourage, Yan Chunmi, and a few others remained. Qing Chen looked at these people. If there really was an insider in the gully, then their attention would surely be on Qing Yi, not those who had rushed out. Therefore, the insider could only be among those who remained. The next moment, one of Qing Yis followers picked up the unconscious young master and charged towards the outside. The pack of wolves had already followed Qing Li and left; if they were to leave, now was the best opportunity. Qing Chen remained seated, wanting to see who would be the first to follow. However, just as Qing Yis side started to move, the rest followed suit. It was then that Qing Chen noticed someone still sitting on the ground, appearing as if they had fallen ill. Qing Chen pulled Liu Liqun and the others to get going, Hurry, or it will be too late. Something strange happened; no sooner had they started moving than the person who had seemed ill stood up quickly and followed. Qing Chens expression became grave; these people were not after Qing Yi, they were after him! Strange. At this time, he clearly had Zhou Cangs appearance, yet the other party had precisely located him, even though even Yan Chunmi didnt know his real identity. Shadow? Was it the Shadow wanting to kill him, or was there also a problem with someone close to the Shadow? No, thats not right; the Shadow wouldnt need to go through such complications to kill him. ... ... By now, Qing Lis arms and chest were stained with blood, and their ammunition had run out, so they could only draw their daggers to hack away. The speed and strength of a C-Class Expert were not something wild wolves could overcome, but the number of wolves was simply too great. In the beginning, those who followed Qing Li thought they could escape once they tore through the wolves, badly misjudging the situation. After ripping a hole in the pack, the wolves continued to follow at a relentless pace. Wolves are tenacious, and humans simply cant outrun them in the snow; they will eventually be worn down. Qing Li was breathing heavily; suddenly, he stopped running and turned around with a smile, Stop running. The scenery here isnt bad. Dying here wouldnt be too shabby. Qings Soldiers cant die on the run; that would be too shameful. The people around Qing Li gradually came to a halt and, together with Sun Chu Ci and others, formed a circle waiting for the wolves to attack. But something unexpected happened. Half of the pack behind them split off and, instead of pursuing further, turned abruptly and ran toward the gully. Qing Lis expression changed, No good! It was only at that moment that he realized that the person controlling the pack had seen through their tactics and found the real target. Qing Li and his group tried to rush back, but the remaining half of the pack firmly blocked the way, preventing them from returning. On the other side, Qing Chen sprinted across the snowfield, pulling Liu Liqun with him. Qing Yi was slowly coming to his senses amid the turmoil; he knew what had happened, his eyes bloodshot as he stayed silent on his followers back. A follower looked back and shouted in alarm, The wolves are catching up; is Qing Li dead already!? Qing Yi was momentarily shocked; for some reason, he suddenly felt enveloped by profound sadness. All of Qing Yis followers panicked, What do we do?! We cant outrun the pack! As the wolves drew closer, the group, including Song Niannian, Tuan Zi, Yan Chunmi, and several other women, had no chance of escape. Qing Yi calmly said, Put me down and prepare to fight. But just as he spoke, the field worker Zhou Cang came before him. With a familiar voice and a smile, he said, Continue running north; Ill lead them away. You must survive; dont waste the chance Qing Li bought for you with his life. After speaking, Zhou Cang then turned to look at Yan Chunmi, Escort Qing Yi away. Yan Chunmi was startled; she, too, had recognized Qing Chens voice. The next moment, Qing Chen was leaving everyone behind, running to the northeast once again. Everyone saw that one of them, and the wolves far away, suddenly changed direction, following Qing Chen towards the northeast. Qing Yi watched that resolute figure and murmured, Master... Chapter 782: 467. Rediscovering Life and Death Chapter 782: 467. Rediscovering Life and Death Qing Yi was familiar with Qing Chens voice. As an intelligence officer who had once served as a spy, Yan Chunmi couldnt possibly forget the voice of her direct superior. So, when Qing Chen began to speak in his own voice, they immediately realized who was impersonating Zhou Cang. Previously, Qing Yi had actually wondered about something: since the master had left, why couldnt he take him along? In those three days in the hollow, with the wolf pack not dispersing, everyone might have died on the snowfield. He couldnt help but think, if only the master were here. Now, Qing Yi understood that the master really was there. Moreover, at this very moment, he was risking his life to lead all the pursuers away from him. Qing Yi realized that the wolf pack, the living dead, the murderous intent, were all targeting Qing Chen. But how many people in this world are willing not to drag others down when facing danger? Most probably wish before death to take a few others with them, dont they? Qing Li. Qing Chen. The followers. Born into a conglomerate, the familial affection Qing Yi saw on a daily basis was flimsy, with family members fighting each other. His father rarely came home, his mother calculated wealth every day, or fought for benefits for her brothers. A family is the first window a person faces toward the world, and the young Qing Yi once thought that fighting was everything in the world, which made him want to become cunning and join in the shadow struggles. But today, Qing Yi suddenly experienced a warmth he had never felt before. It turns out there really are people in this world who would willingly choose death for his sake. Qing Yi felt as though he had returned to that evening at Autumn Leaf Courtyard when the master had gently patted his head with a warm palm. The brothers returned home with laughter and joy after their training. Master. With tearful eyes, Qing Yi charged towards Qing Chen like a wild horse. Yet before he could take two steps, Yan Chunmi hugged him tightly and carried him swiftly northwards: Qing Yi, the boss tasked me to protect you. Going there now would only hinder him. Qing Yi roared, You are his subordinate, why dont you go save him? Hundreds of wild wolves and unknown enemies; even if Qing Chen were formidable, it was unlikely he would survive. As they moved, Yan Chunmi calmly said, This time... you and I have no right to intervene. At this moment, Kite Falcon had already sensed that something was amiss. She knew the identity of Zhou Cang, she knew he was one of the Shadows people, because Shadow had told her on the way there that she could cooperate with Zhou Cang if anything happened. So, Qing Chen impersonating Zhou Cang, even she was kept in the dark, then how could the people hunting Qing Chen know? Someone from Qings Family had acted, and this person was very likely the Shadow. In her view, it was most likely that Shadow had deliberately revealed information to a certain power, leading to Qing Chen being hunted. Just that Yan Chunmi wasnt quite sure why Shadow would do this. But there was another question if Shadow wasnt aware of this either, then the matter was even more frightening. If all this wasnt arranged by Shadow, it meant there was an even more potent force within Qings Family, manipulating everything. They had even turned someone close to Shadow. In such a situation, Yan Chunmi couldnt see any chance for Qing Chen to survive, even if she tried to help. The person capable of controlling hundreds of wild wolves was at least A-Class. With an A-Class arriving personally, they would not cease until their aim was achieved. This was why Yan Chunmi had continuously concealed her identity in the hollow; she understood the world of Transcendents better than everyone else and was more aware of the level of crisis they were facing. Watching as he and Qing Chen grew further apart until Qing Chens figure finally disappeared in the Great Snow, Qing Yi gradually grew desperate. If Qing Chen truly died on the snowfield and the brothers from Autumn Leaf Courtyard knew he was there but did nothing, theyd probably be very disappointed in him. Thinking hed never see that ever-smiling master again, Qing Yi suddenly felt as if someone had sliced his heart, and the pain made it hard to breathe. Suddenly, Song Niannian said, But we should do something, shouldnt we? Yan Chunmi shook her head, Theres nothing we can do, what you can do is live on according to his will... Lets go. ... ... Gasping. The energy expended while sprinting across the snowfield was greater than imagined. Qing Chen glanced back at the wolf pack and noticed that the wolves had a very clear division of labor, taking turns breaking through the snow. The wolves at the front compressed the snow so those behind could have an easier time; as soon as the leading wolves tired, another full-strength wolf would immediately take over. The pack split into three groups advancing side by side, leaving no hope for Qing Chens survival. Qing Chen roughly estimated the pace of the wolf pack and the distance between himself and the wolves. Even if he now used his sniper rifle to kill wolves, he could kill at most 89 before the remaining wolves caught up and surrounded him. Then, faced with 112 wolves, he would still die. In this moment, Qing Chen only felt a double surge of heat at his waist, suddenly steaming up amid the winter day. It was the feeling of adrenaline furiously secreting. Life and death. This was something Qing Chen had not experienced in a long time, but at this moment, the youth was even somewhat excited. He resorted to the Breathing Technique with all his might, his lungs burning as he exhaled steaming breath, his willpower straining to its utmost to control his body. Qing Chen suddenly deeply understood what had always seemed to be missing in the Mysterious World that favored virtue. The will of a Knight. The will to face life and death! What is the spirit of a Knight? Is it to be a good person? Is it loyalty to ones lord? No, thats the definition of knights by the western powers in the Outer World, not the Knight Organization that Qing Chen belonged to! The spirit of a Knight is an unyielding will and the courage to never regret ones decisions. It is what they need when facing life and death. It allows them to climb sheer cliffs and peaks even as Ordinary People. Qing Chen suddenly laughed. This long-lost feeling was all too familiar. In the mysterious world, he had turned the unknown that knights had to face into a certainty. And now, he felt that if he could survive this time, he must earnestly experience the true essence of life and death. His master, Uncle Li Dong, had said that this was the furthest of all shortcuts in the human world. Taking a detour was nothing to worry about, as Qing Chen could always find his way back. But if this path was destined to be severed today, then Qing Chen did not wish to die in a disgraceful manner. There were no knights who died disgracefully. Only those who died from exhaustion. Qing Chen felt a great sense of exhilaration in his heart. Death, that was what knights were most familiar with. At that moment, the Insider who had been following Qing Chen suddenly heard his laughter, which filled him with doubts and apprehension. He instinctively looked around to see if there was an ambush. But the snowfield was so empty and forlorn that the distant snow forest seemed like white needles thrust into the earth. Here, there was absolutely no one to support the Qing Chen Inspector up ahead. But the very next second. The Insider saw Qing Chen, instead of fleeing northwards, turned abruptly to charge towards him. The Insider was shocked. He couldnt understand how the other, facing such a sweeping pursuit, dared to come back alone for a counterattack?! Had he gone mad? However, when the Insider saw Qing Chens eyes, the young man had already resumed his own appearance. There on the open ground, those explosive and crazed eyes were like the beasts that burst forth from the depths of the Taboo Land, ready to choose someone to devour. Qing Chen raised his hand and aimed his gun. Before Qing Chen could even take aim, the Insider had already made an evasive maneuver. But then, he saw clearly that Qing Chens palm did not contain any firearm at all. The other party was merely simulating a gun with his index finger and thumb, just to test his own ultimate speed and strength level! Just this one evasive motion made it clear to Qing Chen that this was a B-Class Genetic Warrior! No wonder the other dared to pursue him ahead of the wolf pack, no wonder the other dared to continue to act as the Insider in the valley! Firearms were useless against warriors of this level. But Qing Chen not only didnt shrink back, his expression became even fiercer! In an instant, the two were engaged in close combat. The Insider drew his dagger and swung, but found that the moment he raised his hand, the youngster abruptly moved away. They were like two magnets with repelling forces, separating without touch. It was as if the young man had foreseen his move from the wrinkles in his clothing. Even more astonishing to him was that, according to intelligence, the Qing Chen Inspector was most likely D-Class, with a small chance of being C-Class. But the speed and strength burst out by the other in that instant were no longer comparable to that of an ordinary C-Class. His own raw power was still superior to the others. But the young mans divinely skilled predictive ability had forcibly evened out the awareness gap between them! The Insiders heart grew fierce, and he charged at Qing Chen to fight. But before he could get close, he saw that suddenly a playing card appeared out of thin air in the others hand. The playing card, pinched between Qing Chens fingers, traced an arc straight to the Insiders heart and lungs. The Insider raised his hand to block, but then the slender fingers flicked suddenly, and the playing card spun rapidly through the gap in the Insiders guard and flew out. With such a close distance between them, the card, as if granted life, brutally pierced through the gap of life itself. It was as if Qing Chen had already predicted the Insiders trajectory of movement. In the air, the card cleanly sliced a hexagonal snowflake into two smooth halves, leaving a fine line of blood on the Insiders neck. A droplet of blood was carried from the neck by the playing card, splashed onto another snowflake, altering its trajectory, and fell on the snowfield, like a crimson cinnabar mole. The Insider knelt down slowly onto the deep snow. He watched the young man, after killing him with a single blow, continued his escape. Even faster than before! He couldnt understand why the other was doing this at all? A B-Class Genetic Warrior like himself, even if placed at the bottom of the hierarchy despised by the Transcendents, should not be overwhelmed by a C-Class Superhuman! It was clear that he was the one being pursued, that he was facing a situation with little chance of survival, so why did that young man dare to turn around and kill him first before continuing his escape? The Insider finally understood that this was the others way of telling all the pursuers that he was not prey to be easily caught. If they wanted his life, they had to trade their own for it. Too crazy! Just to express an attitude, he sacrificed so much time for escape. How could one be so insane?! The Insider lay down slowly on the snow-covered ground. By now, Qing Chen had made it clear this was not a person from the Shadows. At first, Qing Chen had wondered if the Shadow had arranged such a play to ensure his total allegiance to Qing Yi. After all, only the people under Shadows command knew that he was impersonating Zhou Cang. But now Qing Chen was certain the other was not, for the other had never intended to explain anything when facing death. Nobody would want to keep secrets after the play had ended. If this had been someone from the Shadow, they would have clarified by now. Moreover, the style of the others actions also carried an inexplicable sense of familiarity. The fighting technique of Jindai. This was someone from Jindai! Qing Chen let out a cold laugh as things began to get interesting. He looked up at the snow forest ahead and once again ignited the Fire Rune of the Breathing Technique, using his will as the fuel, he hastened into the woods. The wolf pack behind him finally caught up, following his figure into the forest. But just as the middle troop of wolves charged in, a nearly invisible transparent thread stretched between the trees, sharp as a knife, abruptly severed those that couldnt stop in time into two halves. In just a snap of the fingers, over a dozen wild wolves lay dead on the spot, their vibrant blood staining and melting the snow red. The one controlling the wolves seemed momentarily uncertain, but he didnt hesitate for long, the formation of the wolf pack shifted from a river to droplets, infiltrating the forest in a dispersal pattern! Chapter 783: 468. Long-sealed Heart Chapter 783: 468. Long-sealed Heart If there were only two hours left in your life, what would you do? This was the question Qing Chen faced at the beginning of his journey, and now he faced it again. Only this time, fate might not have granted him two hours. The wolves had already infiltrated the forest behind him like raindrops. Qing Chen was fast, but the wolves were not slow. Qing Chen had never run through knee-deep snow before. This unfamiliar environment prevented him from reaching his top speed. But the wolves were different; they seemed to understand the harsh weather better and were born for it. The young man felt his energy rapidly depleting; it was only a matter of time before the wolves caught up. He could hear the wolves footsteps on the snow, their panting, and his own heartbeat pounding like drums. All this noise, however, made the snowy forest seem unusually silent and empty. But Qing Chen wasnt afraid. In the pack, more than ten of the swiftest wolves sprinted, flanking Qing Chen from both sides with incredible speed. It was as if the blades of a pair of scissors were gradually closing in. From above the winter-barren snowy forest, the scene of the wolf pack hunting was spectacular. However, such scenes were mostly seen during the season of hunting antelopes, not when hundreds of wolves hunted one man. Qing Chen felt as if he had returned to the icy waters of Greenland. The sky was covered in black clouds, as if the Country of God had descended once again. Behind him, beside him, surged the roaring tide. Only this time, there was no Yaoyao by his side. Qing Chen laughed, feeling that fate was playing tricks on humanity, implying that what is owed must eventually be repaid. In an instant, the wolves from both sides surpassed him, swiftly enclosing him. The more than ten robust wolves formed a wall, forcibly blocking Qing Chens path. They pounced fiercely! Facing the incoming pack, Qing Chen didnt slow down but calmly swung out the Puppeteer from his wrist. The crystalline Puppeteer initially limp, in the blink of an eye, stiffened like a blade. The sharp strings pierced through the air, resembling a massive cleaver. In one sweeping motion, countless snowflakes in the sky were cut apart. It swept over tree trunks, leaves, and the pack of wolves. The crazy surge of Knight Vital Energy flooded into it, and at a certain moment, a huge blade shadow momentarily appeared in Qing Chens hand. With a tearing sound. The figure of Qing Chen colliding with the wolves was ripped apart by sharp claws and teeth. Amidst the flying remnants of his clothing, his arms and shoulders bore several bloody marks. The marks left by those claws seemed as if they were etched into his bones. But as the two figures crossed paths... The towering trees tilted and fell to one side, shedding their snow with a rustle, and the sound of branches continuously breaking resonated on the ground like firecrackers. The wolves struck by the blade shadow split in two, and their hot blood spilled on the snowy ground. More than ten wolves perished in this encounter, all in one fell swoop. The snowy forest behind Qing Chen collapsed with a thunderous crash, resonating mightily. It was as if the young man had met the tide, and the tide had disintegrated. Qing Chen felt three or four wounds on his body burning painfully, with large patches of skin exposed to the cold air. Blood continuously flowed down from the wounds. Initially, there was a burning sensation, which gradually turned to numbness. But deep down, it still hurt. There appeared to be a toxin in the wolfs claws that inhibited the nerves. After Qing Chen passed a large tree, he suddenly stopped, turned around, and with a loud laugh, called out, Come on! tearing off his shredded jacket and throwing it onto the snowy ground. The boiling hot blood on the young mans body steamed in the cold weather. At that moment, he felt like a rusty, dust-covered iron box, which, when faced with a life-threatening crisis again, was opened once more. There lay his original soul. In the Inner World, he had been soaking in the warmth provided by Uncle Li Dong, Li Xiurui, and Shadow, all of whom had been eagerly teaching him. But because they were so radiant, something that belonged solely to him was being overshadowed. Its like when you have someone incredibly brilliant by your side; you cant help but mimic their actions, their speech, and aspire to their way of life. But someone elses life is, after all, someone elses. At this moment, Qing Chen reclaimed what belonged to him. Beneath the icy reason of the deep sea, that fiery temper. Qing Chens mind was extremely fast and also calm and objective. But the more he was like this, the clearer he understood his situation. He was going to die. So, if there were only two last hours left in your life, what would you do? Would you stand up to this damned world and say, I am not afraid? Would you stand up to those who want to harm you and make them pay? Last time, he reported his father while riding a bike in the autumn wind. This time, he was determined to stand dignified in this snowy forest and fight until the last second. Until he died. Faced with the fierce youth, the wolf pack hesitated for a moment. They surrounded the young man, slowly wandering among the trees, gradually enveloping him. From his pocket, the young man in the midst of the wolves took out a deck of cards. He threw the box away, and the remaining 53 cards flickered between his hands, faster and faster. The next second, the wolf pack surged forward, attacking. But the young man sent the playing cards flying from his fingertips like blossoming flowers, one by one, shooting out. The cards in the air, like knives, cut through the air with a sharp whistling sound. Not a single wolf targeted by the cards could escape the fate of death, the cards were frighteningly sharp, hitting the wolves in the abdomen and even chopping through their ribs before piercing out of their bodies. Qing Chens fingers were steady and powerful, without a trace of trembling. In just a few breaths, 53 playing cards had been reduced to the last Joker. The colorful Joker was pinched between his fingers, exceptionally vivid against the dull white snow. By his side, fifty-two wolves already lay on the ground struggling endlessly, unable to stand up again. The scene was gruesome yet spectacular. The remaining wolves continued to advance; it seemed as though they were unaffected by the death of their comrades, resolutely and ferociously executing their hunting plan. Qing Chen did not shoot the playing card between his fingers, but kept it. Just as a wolf leaped towards him, Qing Chen slightly crouched, and the extremely sharp playing card slashed across from the top of the wolfs abdomen. By the time the wolf hit the ground, it was already done for, its innards spilled out, and a foul, bloody stench surged through the snow. Another wolf pounced from behind Qing Chen, but it was as if he had eyes in the back of his head, swiftly grabbing the wolfs mane with one hand, while the other hand wielded the playing card to chop at the wolfs neck, pulling hard. The wolfs head was almost chopped in half! That Joker, indeed, was Qing Chens final weapon among the wolves. Perhaps no one in this world had ever seen such sharp playing cards. From outside the pack of wolves, someone suddenly laughed, Why struggle so desperately? Qing Chen, panting, laughed and said, You call this struggling? This is clearly the flame of will. Life should be like a candle, burning brightly from start to finish! In the midst of speaking, he clashed with the wolves again. He didnt know who the person outside the pack was or what they wanted, but none of that mattered anymore. Gradually, the Knight Vital Energy was drained away, even the playing cards in his hand started to curl like blades, no longer as sharp. A wolf charged forward and bit at Qing Chens face. Qing Chen swung his arm, the playing card slashing across the wolfs neck, yet failing to slice it open. Caught off guard, the wolf bit into his forearm. No matter how Qing Chen shook, he couldnt free himself from its grip. Laughter came from outside the pack. Qing Chen scoffed coldly, he stopped trying to shake off the wolfs grip, instead fiercely enduring the pain to trap the wolfs head under his armpit. With a snap, the wolfs tough spinal cord was twisted and broken! The wolfs mouth gradually loosened, exposing the deep bone-visible wound on Qing Chens forearm, the white bones and flesh were horrifying. Qing Chen stood in place, holding the wolf by the neck and said, Come on, whats the point of hiding outside the pack? People outside the wolf pack stopped talking, and the wolves attacked even more fiercely. Qing Chens back was bloody, with over twenty wounds curling up his skin and flesh. Gradually, the toxins that paralyzed nerves built up more and more in his body. Qing Chens right arm, which had been bitten, could no longer be lifted, so he swung with his left arm. Having no strength in the bitten leg, he knelt on the ground to defend himself. The silence of those outside the wolf pack deepened. If only two hours were left in life. Forget two hours, even if it were just two minutes, two seconds. He would still fight with all his might to live. In those years, when he had no living expenses, he earned them himself. Unasked, he grew accustomed to loneliness. He had eaten leftovers from other peoples tables, endured countless cold stares, and survived step by step to this momentit was all earned desperately. Courage and tenacity, this was the true color of his life. Great Snow fell. Qing Chen knelt in the snow until there was no intact skin on his body, until he could no longer lift his arms, until he finally closed his eyes in the snowy field. He was very tired. The youth wanted to close his eyes and sleep. Perhaps when he woke up, he would still be at home, and the journey might just have been a big dream. The wolves ceased their attacks and tearing apart; they slowly dispersed, clearing a path. A middle-aged man slowly walked into the battlefield, looking at the youth kneeling on the ground without speaking, the white snow and rich blood making this perhaps the most fierce battle he had ever seen, even though the youth was only C-Class. No wonder the clan had him personally take action. Such a troublesome person indeed. No wonder the clan mobilized such forces for a mere C-Class; if this youth were to grow, probably many would lose sleep. Suddenly, the middle-aged man said, I know youve been pretending until this moment, trying to strike me with a final blow. But you must understand, the difference between A-Class and C-Class is like the clouds above the vast sky compared to the mud on the ground. No matter how hard you scheme, its all in vain. Wolves die, I can find more, but you only have one life. Remember my name, Jindai Yunhe, from now on, well be together for a long time. Just then, Qing Chen suddenly opened his eyes, flipping a white card from his palm and shooting it out with the last of his Knight Vital Energy. The middle-aged man was rightQing Chen, even with his last breath, was merely trying to get the enemy close enough to deliver a fatal blow. A deck of cards has 54 cards, but a box of cards contains 55, including one white card with manufacturing information. Qing Chen kept it, hoping that the opponent would forget this card when counting. But as the middle-aged man said, the gap in their strength was too great, too vast for Qing Chen to bridge with courage or wisdom. The poker card flew towards Jindai Yunhes face, but with a light flick of his finger, the moment his fingertip collided with the card, it turned into powder. Watching Qing Chen completely faint, the middle-aged man then turned to the forest behind him and said, Come out, everyone. Search him, check for any taboo items on him, and then leave here quickly, heading north. If that Shadow returns, well all die here. Chapter 784: 469, come to the rescue Chapter 784: 469, come to the rescue At the beginning of the chase, Qing Chen had used a Puppeteer. No one knew exactly what it was, but the pursuer was sure it must be some kind of Taboo. This kind of Taboo that could enhance combat ability was coveted by everyone, so as soon as he confirmed that Qing Chen had indeed lost his combat capabilities, he asked his subordinates to search Qing Chen for the Taboo. However, they were all puzzled because Qing Chen had only used it at the beginning and then seemed to have discarded it afterward. Such a powerful thing, why abandon it? Six subordinates approached Qing Chen, carrying a black briefcase that clearly contained a whole set of equipment. Two subcutaneous injection devices, one red and one blue. Two pairs of custom-made black shackles, one set of finger locks and one set of wrist locks. They first searched Qing Chens entire body and found no extra items, absolutely clean. The subordinate looked up and said, Sir, we found no Taboo, and there is no tattoo on his body. The middle-aged man frowned and looking at Qing Chens palm said, According to the information I got, there should still be a tail ring on his pinky, but now even the tail ring is gone. The subordinate whispered, Maybe it shattered during the fight? The middle-aged man shook his head, No, he knew he couldnt escape, so he hid all the Taboo items along the way while fleeing. Hes really vicious and meticulous even when death is imminent; he still didnt want to give any advantage to his adversary. He knew that Qing Chen must have been certain of his death to have taken such measures. Ordinary people, in times of crisis, would hold onto whatever aid they had like a final lifeline. But this young man was different; he was so calm that once he knew he was doomed, he hid the Taboo items in the snow forest first. The middle-aged man said, Follow the way we came, I give you 20 minutes to find it. You must find it. Four of the six subordinates quickly headed back the way they came, searching thoroughly to not miss any clues. The other two squatted down next to Qing Chen, taking out two injection devices. The middle-aged man calmly said, Inject him with the red one to keep him hanging. No need for the blue one; he has already lost his ability to move. He may not recover for another month. Understood, the subordinate nodded and injected Qing Chen in the neck with the red injection device. Then they cautiously placed the finger locks and wrist locks on Qing Chen. They were very cautious while doing all this, fearing that the young man on the ground might suddenly burst forth and kill them on the spot. It has to be said, the fierce battle that had just taken place had left them all profoundly shaken. So much so, that even facing a fainted Qing Chen, they felt an inexplicable dread in their hearts. Twenty minutes passed, the four subordinates returned, looking awkwardly at the middle-aged man, Sorry, sir, we didnt find any trace of the Taboo. The middle-aged mans expression hardened for a moment. He hadnt anticipated that, despite having successfully completed his task, hed still been thwarted by the young man lying on the ground. Forget it, let the intelligence personnel handle the search later. Were leaving now, the middle-aged man said. He had to leave. Even though he was A-Class and the temptation of the Taboo was great, he couldnt gamble with his life. In the Federation, no one dared to endure the fury of Qings shadow in the south. Moreover, as they had transported Qing Chen northward, there would likely be checkpoints set up to intercept them. If they delayed, they might not be able to return to the north. ... ... Elsewhere, Qing Yi was being carried by Yan Chunmi, trudging northward. Suddenly, Qing Yi said, Even if you know its of no use, you shouldnt continue to stay behind to protect me. The people after Sir have already focused all their attention on him, so I am safe. Yan Chunmi gave Qing Yi a sidelong glance and said, What are you plotting now? Qing Yi replied, I think you should leave us and head to the town outside Taboo Land No. 065 as fast as you can, find a communication device, and inform the Shadow of everything that has happened here. If Sir has died, he can intercept the enemies in Central Plains. If Sir is still alive, at least he can deploy a rescue operation as quickly as possible. Dont worry, even if you leave me behind, I wont recklessly try to rescue Sir; I know my limits. Youve cooled down? Yan Chunmi asked. Yes, Qing Yi nodded, Ive calmed down. Then you be careful and dont get yourself killed, Yan Chunmi said before dropping Qing Yi in the snow and sprinting northward alone. Yet as she stepped on the soft snow, it didnt collapse beneath her. Qing Yi climbed up from the snow pit, wiping the snow off his face, and then suddenly turned around. A followers face turned pale with shock, Young Master, where are you going? Qing Yi calmly said, To rescue Qing Li. I think he might not be dead. When everyone saw the wolf pack earlier, they assumed that Qing Li had died in battle, which explained why the wolf pack was pursuing them so quickly. But now that Qing Yi had calmed down and thought about it, since their target was Sir, the pressure on Qing Li wouldnt be the greatest. Perhaps Qing Li was still alive. Under immense pressure, Qing Yi forced himself to calm down quickly, every decision he made now was the most correct one in a critical moment. He wouldnt risk his life recklessly anymore but allowed Yan Chunmi to go and send the message as quickly as possible while he led people back to rescue Qing Li. That was the best he could do now. Yet, every time he thought about Qing Chen possibly being attacked by the wolves, a pain lingered in his heart. Qing Yi said to Song Niannian, We need to go back and rescue people now. If youre afraid of danger, you can continue heading north, but if youre not, come back with us. Song Niannian didnt say a word, but when Qing Yi turned around, she had snapped off a branch from a nearby dead tree and followed behind. No matter how her agent pulled and gestured to her, she paid him no mind. The portly agent sighed and followed as well. ... ... Clashes. Qing Li and the others were encircled by the wolves left behind, and although the main force of the wolves had left, the remaining ones were still more than enough to hold them. Many refugees had already died. The living had no ability to resist either. In this era, civilians, like young wheat shoots in a field, would fall in droves when a wild wind blew during the struggles of the powerful. Qing Lis mouth was somewhat bitter, not knowing how much longer he could hold on. An attendant used his now ammunition-less gun as a weapon, blocking a lunging wolfs bite. Panting, he said to Qing Li, Chief, Im afraid we might not make it. Qing Li grunted. Then, if the young master is also being chased, wouldnt we also be unable to bring back our last words? the attendant asked. Qing Li got so angry he laughed, which tugged at the wound in his chest, making him grimace, You still think of such things at a time like this?! Ive been in love with Fenfen for three years, and I finally mustered the courage to write her a letter before dying, and now I cant even deliver it. My luck is so bitter, the attendant lamented. As soon as his words fell, he was distracted and a wolf bit his leg, pulling him down to the ground. The wolf tore at the attendants leg, dragging him rapidly towards the outer perimeter of the defensive circle. Qing Li panicked, if he was dragged into the pack of wolves, it would be over! But just as he was about to go to his rescue, another wolf blocked him. With an iron-grey face, Qing Li cursed in his heart, A bunch of damned beasts! However, just then, gunfire suddenly erupted from the distance, as if someone was storming in from the side. The wolves, caught off guard, immediately had a gap blown in their ranks, and Qing Li looked up to see Qing Yi charging at the forefront! Young master, dont come here! Qing Li yelled angrily, wanting to tear apart the attendants at Qing Yis side, these useless men who were letting the young master recklessly return. It was useless for Qing Yi to return with the pack of wolves here! Young master, dont mind us, run! Qing Li roared. No, Qing Yi continued firing as he trudged through the snow, I cant leave you behind. Qing Lis eyes reddened, he shouted over the pack of wolves, Young master, have you forgotten the Qings Family creed, the third one, success doesnt have to come from me! Just go, as long as you live, our deaths wont be in vain! No! Qing Yis tone was even more resolute. But just as Qing Yi was about to fight his way back to the battlefield, the roar of car engines from afar came, and dozens of rugged off-road vehicles raced furiously. The huge wheel hubs churned up the snow, flinging it up high into the air behind the vehicles. Qing Li squinted and was shocked, Fire Pit?! Young master, run, its the Fire Pit people! Thats not right, the Southwest Snow Mountain is thousands of miles away from here, how could they suddenly appear in the heart of the Central Plains!? This is a place rarely visited by the Fire Pit people, even in the wasteland, they still face the round-up of the Federal Groups army. Have the Fire Pit people gone mad?! In anxiety, Qing Li looked towards Qing Yi to see if he had escaped. But at the next moment, he was stunned; this Protector only saw his own young master, acting as if crazed, facing the direction of the Fire Pit convoy, excitedly waving his arms. As if seeing an old acquaintance. Suddenly, a young girl jumped out from the convoy, speeding through the snow in a leather coat, her right hand dragging a black long knife. The knife was incredibly black, as if it could absorb light itself. A black flame adorned the girls forehead, a symbol of immense prestige within the Fire Pit. The girl was incredibly fast, and wolves broke away from the pack to confront her. As the wolves got close, they suddenly sensed an inexplicable aura emanating from the black knife, terrifying like bloodline suppression. Like pigs facing the butchers knife. Chickens facing the blood-letting knife of the poultry man. The black knife, which had killed countless creatures in the wilderness, left the wolf paralyzed with fear on the spot. But amidst the flurry of snowflakes, the girl turned with her dragging knife, a flash of black blade light appeared, and the lunging wolf was split in two without any chance to dodge. The girls spirited ponytail swayed in the air, her wheatish skin sparkling brightly. Without pausing, the girl plunged into the fearsome pack of wolves, slaying wolves left and right on the scene. Chapter 785: 470. The Missing Qing Chen Chapter 785: 470. The Missing Qing Chen Why would Fire Pit people come here? This is indeed the strangest thing. According to the Federations historical records, Fire Pit people left the Southwest Snow Mountain on numerous occasions, given that their adult Gods Children had to complete the horn cutting ceremony. However, the number of times Fire Pit people came to the Central Plains was very few. After the girl broke into the wolf pack, the previously ferocious pack began to scatter in panic. Qing Yi noticed that the girls black knife, when dragged across the bodies of the wild wolves, seemed to split them open effortlessly. It was like a candle meeting the hot blade of a knife, crumbling with just a light touch. Qing Yi recalled the legends of Fire Pit, where it was said that there was a divine gift of a black long knife that had always been held in the hands of successive Grand Elders. This was even stranger now, since the Grand Elder of Fire Pit in his memory should be an old man of advanced years, so how had he become a young girl? Inside Qings Family, there was indeed information on that old man, Qing Yi had seen his portrait. At this moment, people from the Fire Pit caravan began jumping off the carts, and as Qing Yi turned to look, he was astonished to see the Grand Elder from the portraits, coming towards the crowd with an unhappy expression. Accompanying the Grand Elder were Li Ke and Li Yunjing. Just now, it was the sight of Li Ke in the caravan that convinced Qing Yi that this must be a reinforcement. However, there was no time for Qing Yi to indulge in the joy of reunion, as he urgently said, Quick! Mr. Yunjing, to the snow forest up north, Sir Qin Yi was pursued into there, hes in great danger! Li Ke instinctively looked towards Li Yunjing, his face pleading. He knew all too well that he and Qing Yi alone couldnt possibly save Qing Chen Li Yunjing had to take action. Li Yunjing furrowed his brows; it was the first time hed seen Li Ke like this, which suggested the boy named Qing Chen must be extremely important to Li Ke. Without a second thought, he left everyone behind and strode through the snow towards the northern snow forest. His swift, thunderous movement pushed the snow aside like waves. A measure of peace settled in Qing Yis heart, but to his surprise, when he finished shouting, those who ran towards the snow forest were not only Li Yunjing but also the Grand Elder of Fire Pit and that young girl! What was going on? Why were these people going there? Li Ke pulled Qing Yi along to follow them. How did you guys get here? Qing Yi asked while running, It seemed like you were still in the Southwest when I called you before, and you said you couldnt make it over and couldnt help me... After a moment of thought, Li Ke spoke softly to Qing Yi, After I hung up with you, Uncle Jing and I encountered Fire Pit in the Southwest wilderness, their Saint was completing her horn cutting ceremony and wanted to kill me for it. What? Qing Yi was startled, Then how come you ended up with them? Li Ke lowered his voice, That goddess... she might have a good relationship with the Sir. What? Qing Yi was stunned. Li Ke continued, After she guessed I was the Sirs apprentice, she gave me lots of apples and Divine Cow Meat from the Great Snow Mountain. Then I told her that Sir supported you in the Shadow struggle, so I asked them, since they needed to complete the horn cutting ceremony, why not kill a Shadow Candidate to do it; it would surely fit the Saints status. Qing Yi: ... Li Yunjing would never help Qing Yi with anything regarding the Shadow struggle, because he simply didnt care about those matters; his only desire was to ensure Li Ke grew up fit and healthy. But the Fire Pit needed to kill an influential Consortium figure, didnt they? And a Shadow Candidate was precisely that kind of figure. Li Ke continued, Initially, the Grand Elder of Fire Pit disagreed, citing the Central Plains as dangerous for them and mentioning that itd be difficult to leave without trouble if someone attacked. But Uncle Jing promised that the Li Family wouldnt target them this time. And when I mentioned to the goddess that Sir really likes you as a student, she brought the Fire Pit people here. Qing Yi then understood, the Fire Pit people had been coaxed by Li Ke to come to the Central Plains! He had convinced a seemingly unrelated power to help eliminate his competitors in the Shadow struggle. This is what a Knight is... But it wasnt time for Qing Yi to rejoice yet; he just wanted to know if Sir was safe and sound at the moment. The crowd surged into the snow forest. But all they saw were the scattered bodies of wild wolves. Following the tracks of the wolf pack, they chased deep into the forest and finally came upon the last battlefield of Qing Chen and the wolves. There, the bodies of wild wolves lay in a radiating pattern like a circle, the nearer to the center, the more the corpses piled up. Anyone with battle experience could tell that there had been a desperate fight here. The person at the center had stood their ground against the wolf pack until the last moment, never moving or fleeing. Of course, the strength of the wild wolves could not overcome a C-Class Expert, but the issue was the sheer number of wolves here was overwhelming, even a B-Class facing an attack of hundreds of wild wolves would surely die. Seeing this scene, Qing Yi slowly became dumbfounded as he frantically looked around, shouting hoarsely, Sir!? Sir, where are you?! Li Yunjing slowly circled the battleground, There are tracks of wolves leaving, and several human footsteps too. Qing Chen lost, but he might not be dead yet. As there was no body of Qing Chen here, the adversary likely needed him alive. Before he could finish, the Grand Elder spoke to Qin Yiyi, Girl, this must be the midst of some conspiracy; there are many schemes among Central Plains people. We Fire Pit people would be better off not getting involved; lets head back to the Southwest Snow Mountain. As for the horn cutting ceremony, Ill find you another worthy prey. How about that... There was also conflict within Fire Pit. If a Gods Child could kill a significant Federation figure during the horn cutting ceremony, the kind that everyone knew about, they would return to the Snow Mountain with great prestige. And a Shadow Candidate certainly met that criterion. In the wilderness and within the Federation, there were few forces that dared to attack a Shadow Candidate, but the Fire Pit people, who knew no rules, were one of them. After all, the Federation wouldnt likely send troops to besiege them in the Great Snow Mountain. Yet, Qin Yiyi shook her head, following the departing wolves tracks northward, Whether the horn cutting ceremony is prestigious does not concern me; I just want to save him. Grand Elder, I wont insist on going alone. Please help me, and I promise to return to Fire Pit and dutifully serve as the Saint afterwards. The Grand Elder asked, Are you and that boy... Qin Yiyi shook her head, I just like him and want to rescue him. In the world of adults, everyone is restrained. Of all the people Qing Chen met in both the Inner World and the Outer World, only Qin Yiyi was always straightforwardliking was liking, and not liking was not liking. If she wanted to catch up with the distance between her and Qing Chen, she made her way alone to the Great Snow Mountain. When the Fire Pit people found her in the mountains, she was nearly delirious with exhaustion and close to starving to death in the depths of the hundred thousand snow-capped peaks. Perhaps it was overambitious, perhaps impulsive, or perhaps she was still just a little girl, but to her, everything was simple, with no need to mix in any interests or complications. The Grand Elder of Fire Pit followed her and was so angry he almost jumped up, What a sin, why save him! There are so many young lads in Fire Pit! As he spoke, the bone necklace on the Grand Elders neck swung back and forth, making him look incredibly irritable. For the Fire Pit Saint to go to such lengths to rescue a Knight, how could this be reasonable?! At that moment, Li Ke looked towards Li Yunjing. But he heard Li Yunjing shake his head and say, I would go look for him even without you asking; these people might not have gone far, and maybe we can still save Qing Chen. Li Yunjing would not help Qing Yi join the struggle for the Shadow, but Qing Chen was the one who helped Li Xiurui fulfill his dying wish; he couldnt just stand by and watch him die. Having said that, he also chased after them towards the north. However, strangely enough, after running wildly northward for ten kilometers, the tracks of the wolf pack suddenly turned westward. Li Yunjing and the others chased to the west, and by evening time, they found that all the wild wolves had jumped into a cliff, crashing to their deaths. No Qing Chen, no human traces. The people who captured Qing Chen, and Qing Chen himself, seemed to have vanished into thin air. Li Yunjing furrowed his brow, It was an airship that appeared halfway to provide support and took everyone away. A sense of foreboding surged in Qing Yis heart; airships could move at great speed through the airspace, definitely not something they could keep up with on the ground. More crucially, once the other party left on the airship, it meant that they would have a hard time finding any trace of them again. The people had gone to great lengths to capture Qing Chen and leave, but what for?! Initially, Qing Yi thought someone wanted to kill Qing Chen, but now it seemed that was not the case. Why they did not kill Qing Chen was a mystery in many peoples minds. ... ... Yan Chunmi kept her best pace, sprinting more than a hundred kilometers across the snowfield. When she finally saw the small town in the distance, night had already fallen. The third-tier actress had never been so haggard before, her hair scattered on both sides of her face, beyond her concern to tidy. Life in the town was as boisterous as usual, with gamblers shouts still audible. Those who lived here were all outlaws of the Federation, and perhaps one day, if the Federation decided not to tolerate the existence of this town anymore, they might all be killed. Therefore, everyone lived uninhibited lives, getting drunk when there was wine today. Yan Chunmi hurried into town and pulled aside a man to ask coldly, Who in this town has a satellite phone? There was no signal here; contacting the outside world required a satellite phone. She was well aware that there were many powerful individuals among the residents here trading in information, so there must be satellite phones available. But the outlaws laughed when they saw Yan Chunmi, Yo, looks like a refugee has run all the way here. What, do you want to use a satellite phone to call for rescue? Just call me brother, and Ill tell you who has a satellite phone. Click. Yan Chunmi twisted the mans neck, then turned to the next one, Who has a satellite phone? The outlaws were all stunned; only then did they realize that this woman who had fled to their town was no helpless little bunny, but a fierce dragon crossing the river! The outlaws tried to run, to get away from this new scourge who had just burst into town, but before they could take two steps, Yan Chunmi caught up with each of them, knocking them to the ground. Yan Chunmi stood on an outlaws face with her foot, asking calmly, Im asking which one in this town has a satellite phone. Ill give you three seconds. Her patience was wearing thin; she had just found a powerful new boss and planned to cling to his coattails to become an important figure in the Qings Family. However, her new boss was now being hunted with sinister intentions. At such times, anyone who delayed her would pay the price. Changsheng Inn! one of the outlaws said, Changsheng Inn is where people normally trade information. If they want to send out information, they definitely have a satellite phone! Yan Chunmi walked towards Changsheng Inn, causing chaos inside the establishment. After ten minutes, Yan Chunmi made a call to Shadow with an encrypted satellite phone, and it was quickly answered, Boss, my new boss is being hunted by someone suspected to be an A-Class expert. They know about his disguised identity, and the target is very clear. Now, Im not sure if the new boss is still alive, but its more likely that he isnt. This message was brief but contained enough information. Her message was clear, meant to inform Shadow that there was an insider beside him. The kind of person who could place an insider next to Shadow must be a truly significant figure. Shadow said, Understood. Action code 8271, youre granted special authority to use the local spies in town. After that, Shadow hung up the phone. He looked expressionlessly behind him where over forty assassins, just captured from the lakeside, hung on the execution rack. Shadow said calmly, Kill them all, I dont want to bother with interrogation. Those around Shadow could tell that their boss was angry. ... Theres another chapter coming up, still writing Chapter 786: 471, Confidential Talk Chapter 786: 471, Confidential Talk Subordinates behind Shadow, one by one, stepped forward to kill the prisoners on the execution frame. They were all lured by the lake with Qing Chen as bait. Now, however, he had lost interest in finding the masterminds behind these people. In Shadows view, the people who could command these were only a few. Since these people were tight-lipped, it was better to assume all those who could be behind the scenes as enemies. No one was to be spared. However, this time the capture of Qing Chen was clearly different. The mastermind behind instructing Zhou and others to kill by the lake wasnt that capable. Shadow knew exactly who had the capability to plant an insider by his side. Such a person existed, and there was only one. Shadow washed his hands in the pool beside the execution frame, washing away the blood. The expressions of those around him were solemn. By now, they understood the severity of the situation. Shadow said casually to a few subordinates, Among you, a traitor has emerged. The subordinates expressions froze; they were all too aware of how severe the consequences of betraying Shadow were. Moreover, this was Shadow. The emergence of an insider within Shadows circle was a very serious matter. Shadow continued, But no worry, I know whom you are serving. Zhou, on the execution frame, watching his comrades die one by one, said in a panic, Ill tell you everything I know right now, just let me go. Shadow turned to look at him, I dont want to listen anymore. With that, he actually opened the Door of Shadow and left without looking back. It was only at this moment that Zhou realized that this wasnt any interrogation technique; Shadow was genuinely impatient! The next moment, Shadow had already arrived at the Qings Ginkgo Manor in City No. 5. The manor, perched halfway up the hill, was still brightly lit, resembling a palace complex above the vault of heaven. Lavish blue and purple light strips outlined the eaves, corners, and walls like a dream. Shadow made his way up the stairs, and the hidden guards and servants who saw him moved aside. They bowed respectfully, standing on both sides of the path. They sensed that something significant must have happened for Shadow, who rarely appeared at the Ginkgo Manor, to return all of a sudden. Shadow continued toward the highest point, where there was an isolated building. In the entire Ginkgo Manor, only this building was dim, with barely any lights. Shadow arrived at the door and pushed open the great halls door without greeting, standing at the entrance. The light from outside penetrated through the open door, illuminating the dim interior of the building. At this time, an old man with his hair in a bun was sitting cross-legged on a futon, his back to the door, motionless like a bronze bell. Having been Shadow for so long, youve forgotten the rules. In Qings Family, the Family Heads power still overrides that of Shadow. So, you should have knocked on the door first, and entered only after I had allowed it, the old man said slowly and casually. It was you who leaked the information about Qing Chen, wasnt it? Shadow asked bluntly. In fact, when he received the call from Yan Chunmi and learned that information, Shadow was very clear about who was manipulating everything. In Shadows view, there was only one person who could plant an insider by his side without him noticing and betray him at the crucial moment, and that was the Qing Clan House Master. Shadow never suspected anyone other than the Qing Clan House Master. If other powers could do this, then he wouldnt need to be Shadow anymore, and Qings Family would likely be swallowed up sooner or later. This was a confidence. Only someone like the Qing Clan House Master, whose power was completely overbearing over him, could achieve this. Some in the intelligence system were loyal to Shadow, and others were loyal to Qings Family, and there was a significant difference. That is why he told his subordinates that he knew the traitor was among them, but it didnt matter. Because, if Qings Family had to choose someone to represent the entire clan and its conglomerate, it would absolutely not be him, Shadow, but the Family Head. Is it wrong to betray Shadow for the Family Head? No. The old man was the true decision-maker of the clan, and everyones will, including Shadows, had to serve him. The Qing Clan House Master said without turning his head, It was me. Why? Shadow asked coldly. The Qing Clan House Master countered, Is it because you are about to die, hence youve become somewhat merciful, causing your work to be messy and inefficient, right? What do you mean? Shadow asked. You sent him to bring Qing Mu back home to curry favor with the hearts of the personnel in Qings information system, the Qing Clan House Master slowly said. Yes, does this conflict with your wishes? Isnt this what you wanted to see? Shadow asked. Theres no conflict, but youve been too merciful, the Qing Clan House Master always left only his back to Shadow, Simply bringing Qing Mu back home might at most earn some gratitude and admiration from the intelligence personnel, but if you want him to quickly take over the intelligence system, or to climb to a higher position, you need to be more ruthless. Shadow said earnestly, You want him to become the second Qing Mu, one who returns alive to the Qing Clan and is capable of commanding and intimidating all intelligence personnel. Shadow finally understood what the Qing Clan House Master truly wanted. Shadow had completely understood. The ones taking action this time were from the Jindai family. The Qing Clan House Master, through some unknown means, had given Qing Chens information to Jindai! After obtaining the information on Qing Chen, what Jindai wanted to do was to find a new Qing Mu. Since the Qing Clan had captured someone from Jindai to trade for Qing Mu, they would find a new replacement. Jindai, being a conglomerate as well, how could they allow others to provoke them without striking back? The trouble and humiliation that Qing Chen had caused them were already too much, so this time Jindai decided to strike like thunder and nip this potential major threat in the bud. Jindai wanted to humiliate Qing Chen endlessly, just like they treated Qing Mu, to show the entire Federation the consequences of provoking Jindai. And in the eyes of the Qing Clan House Master. A person who brings Qing Mu back home is merely a hero; while people might admire him, such credentials are not enough for Qing Chen to swiftly rise to a higher position. But if a clear-headed and alive Qing Mu returns to the south, then his prestige and authority would be completely different. The person who brings Qing Mu back and Qing Mu himself are entirely two different concepts. It seems, neither you nor I have much time left, so you have to resort to this harsh measure, Shadow said calmly. The old man neither agreed nor disagreed and did not answer. But Shadow couldnt understand, Arent you worried about him dying in the north? Or someone using the method of connecting neurons to swap his soul? The Qing Clan House Master said calmly, No one in this world can replace him using that method. You and I have known this for more than ten years. If Jindai cant even replace Qing Mu, how can they replace him? But what if he dies in the north? Shadow asked heavily. You really have become somewhat softer, the Qing Clan House Master said calmly, In my view, this is not a problem at all. What concerns me more now is that all of you are so soft, if the Qing Clans foundation were handed over to you, would it collapse? It seemed the Qing Clan had other plans. Shadow sneered, Do you really have plans to hand over the Qing Clan? It seems like you intend to, but its hard to say what the reality is. Now, the reason why various factions within the Qing Clan are restless and targeting Shadow. Is merely because the Family Head casually mentioned a few days ago, What do you think of Shadow as the Family Head this time? That alone sparked a huge outcry. The leaders of those factions simply couldnt accept being controlled by Shadow anymore, they didnt want to see Shadow ascend to the position of Family Head, hence the later incidents occurred. Only Shadow knew that the old man had never intended to let him become the Family Head. The other party said that sentence, knowing what the factions were thinking, the Family Head wanted to use those people to counterbalance him. Shadow didnt say anything more, and turned to leave. The old man asked, Are you going to rescue him now? Without saying a word, Shadow paused, turned around, and gave the Qing Clan House Master a cold look. The old man continued slowly, If you rescue him now, then all the hardships he endured and the injuries he suffered today would have been in vain. Remember what I once said, a person should not have emotions, for emotions lead to flaws. Only when he truly becomes Qing Mu will he have value. Shadow said coldly, That is your opinion, I dont think so. The Qing Clan House Master asked, Didnt you also deliberately leak his information to win over Qing Yis loyalty? What I am doing now, how is it any different from what you have done? Youve also killed many innocents. Shadow responded calmly, You make some sense, I have never considered myself a good person. But I am prepared to bear the sins and go to Hell. Are you prepared to do the same? With that, he turned and left. Shadow received a message on his phone: it was a complete rundown of the events sent by someone. Included in it were the news of Qing Chens disappearance after a deadly battle, as well as the news of Li Yunjing and Fire Pit losing the trail after their investigation. Shadow made a phone call and said, Qing Ye, first thing, send people to block all the paths leading to the north, dont give Jindai a chance to take Qing Chen out of the Central Plains. Second thing, find out which airship is supposed to meet them. Third, order the Qing Clan combat troops to ignore Fire Pit. Lastly, Shadow paused before continuing, pass this information to Li Changqing, shes in the City 19 north of the battlefield, let her join in searching for Qing Chens whereabouts. From this moment onward, Jindais actions in capturing Qing Chen were like stirring a hornets nest, affecting countless peoples nerves. Chapter 787: 472, crazy Chapter 787: 472, crazy Shadow finished the call to Qing Ye. Walking alone in the nighttime silence of Ginkgo Manor, he was not heading down the mountain, nor was he opening the Door of Shadow. Instead, he was walking all the way to the mountain peak. There were no spectacular views at the summit, just a field of the Qings Family ancestors gravestones. Zhang Yugou. Xu Man. Qing Shen. Luo Lan. Qing Yi. Some were well-known to the world, like Luo Lan, Qing Yi, and Xu Man, who were written about in the history textbooks of various financial groups. Others were unknown to the world; Zhang Yugou and Qing Shen, hardly anyone knew what they had done, yet the Qings Family had placed them at the highest point. On each persons tombstone, there was only a lonely name, and a simple phrase. Success doesnt have to be mine. Some of them may not have been of the Qings Family, but all had made great contributions to the clan. The ancestor who placed these tombstones at the pinnacle did so with the intention of having them watch over the bustling world alongside the Qings Family. Shadow sat down amid the gravestones, looking at the brilliant lights of City No. 5 below. He was a bit unsure whether this lively world was what the ancestors had wanted or whether it was what they despised. What is it that sustains a family? If the Li Family is governed by internal order, then the Qings Family is characterized by their ruthlessness towards outsiders. The Family Heads born from the competition amongst Shadows were likely to be among the most ferocious people in the world. Such individuals, inevitably, could lead the family to survive in this fierce world. The Qings Family believed in a principle: the most formidable person is always forged through struggle. Each generations battle amongst Shadows invariably accompanied the fall of eight other Shadow Candidates. This downfall was not necessarily death; it could also be a setback from which one never recovers, losing all ambition and lofty aspirations. But the one who survives, the one who wins in the end, will most likely become a legend of the age. This era needs such people, doesnt it? Shadow thought the same, and he had never wavered. Only today, he felt a bit desolate. Seen enough, Shadow stood up, took one last look at City No. 5 below, and then opened the Door of Shadow to return to the Secret Prison. Seeing him return, his subordinates bowed their heads: Boss, it was our oversight this time. However, Shadow had lost the fury he had when he left, and instead, he started to laugh and said, What does this have to do with you? The subordinates looked at each other in confusion, not understanding the meaning of his words. Shadow, still smiling, said, The Family Head, after two years of silence, made his move for the first time to influence the world. Isnt it normal for us to lose once? Seeing that everyone was speechless and doubtful, Shadow did not explain any further. Thats really what he thought. He was indeed a formidable Shadow, but wasnt that Family Head also a Shadow? Moreover, not only had the opponent emerged victorious from the fight amongst Shadows but had also, in the contest between Shadows, eventually gained control of the Qings Familys power. Such a person, after two years, at the most critical moment, with the most ingenious strength, aims to achieve a result they need. Who could possibly stop them? Therefore, Shadow didnt feel there was anything to be anxious or regretful about; even he and Qing Chen, no matter how clever, couldnt prevent the most formidable person within the Qings Family from taking action. Boss, what do we do now? Shall we go rescue Qing Chen? one of the subordinates asked. Shadow shook his head: The mission to rescue Qing Chen is being handled by Yan Chunmi and Qing Ye. If even they cant find him, our going would be useless. He had absolute and full trust in Yan Chunmi and Qing Yes abilities. Shadow looked at his subordinates: Li Changqing should have received the news as well. Shes more conveniently located in the north than us. Lets go kill some people to unwind; my tea plantation could use some new fertilizer. From that night on, the Spy Bureau under Shadows command, like a slumbering behemoth suddenly awakened. In 12 cities across the south, the factions within the Qings Family began to be purged. Within their intelligence system, 219 people were secretly executed overnight, all of whom were Insiders planted by the various Qings Family factions. Only at this moment did many of the Qings Family elders understand that their so-called covert operations had all been watched by Shadow. The previous inaction towards these individuals was simply because there had been no need to act. Not just that, Shadow also wiped out 21 of Jindais intelligence stations in the south overnight. Jindai Members of PCA Intelligence Unit One were all found dead in their homes. Everyone thought Shadow had gone mad, seemingly ready to reignite a war within half a month after the Federations ceasefire. This behavior lacked necessary political wisdom and rationality. Until the early hours of the morning, Shadow called Qing Ye again: Any leads yet? Qing Ye responded, Boss, Yan Chunmi and I have tried everything, but due to the hurried nature of the operation, we still havent found any leads. The preparation of the opponent... is very thorough. Definitely sufficient, after all, an A-Class expert took action himself. If he wants to live and return to the north, naturally he has to be well-prepared, Shadow said calmly. Boss, did I hear right that you went on a killing spree in the city? Qing Ye cautiously asked. Hmm, Shadow responded. Qing Ye mumbled, But by doing this, isnt it a bit irrational? Some people, arent we supposed to keep them around for the long con? And arent you afraid theyll blame it all on Qing Chen? Shadow calmly said, At this point, the hardships Qing Chen has to endure are unavoidable. If I want him to survive, I have to prove to the outside world that hes important enough. That way, Jindai will keep him alive and well. Otherwise, what would Jindai use to negotiate with me? The people of Qings Family are all crazy. The Family Head and Shadow must be the craziest of them all. The former wants to use extreme methods to give Qing Chen a logical grip on power. The latter, on the other hand, wants to tell Jindai through extreme revenge that this person is important, that keeping him is in your best interest. As long as Qing Chen is not dead, he will always find a way to save him. Has Li Changqing been notified? Shadow asked. She has been notified, Qing Ye replied, She said nothing and just hung up the phone. Good. Everyones gone mad, Qing Ye muttered softly and then hung up the phone. On the other side, Qing Ye looked at the row of kneeling black market intelligence personnel and shrugged, My boss has gone mad, and you guys dont want to talk about the airship information, so I guess I have to kill a few to fit in, seeing as none of you are good people! The information brokers panicked, We really dont know anything about any airships; there have been no civilian airships leaving City 10 or City 18 recently! Is that so, Qing Ye nodded, Then Im very sorry! With that, he waved his hand, signaling his subordinates to open fire. After a burst of gunfire, the information brokers who used to strut around in the black market all fell in a mix of gun smoke and blood. That night, many people couldnt sleep peacefully. Some hurried to their safe houses, only to be dragged out by the Spy Bureaus agents from within. Others trembled in their homes, only to find that no one came to kill them by daybreak. Everyone felt that a change was coming, yet since Qing Chens incident had just occurred, most people were still unaware of the reason behind it all. They wondered what could make that Shadow act so insanely. ... ... In City 19, Outside the villa where Li Changqing stayed, six or seven city council members in formal attire were waiting anxiously. The villa occupied 2,100 square meters, making it the largest residential villa in City 19. It used to be the mayors official residence but was now offered to Li Changqing. The citys residents joke that this is Li Changqings palace in City 19, and the current mayor is like her chief eunuch now. After the ceasefire agreement was signed, Li Changqing came to this city, recently known as Spy City, and it finally began to recover its peace. She didnt go on a killing spree against the intelligence personnel of various forces as she did in City 1. Before, she was just in charge of part of the intelligence system, and being domineering helped her accomplish many things, intimidating many evil spirits and monsters. But now shes the head of the Li Familys intelligence agencies, so she cant always use such harsh methods. If she continued to work like that, many would be afraid to cooperate with her. Therefore, Li Changqing is now exercising a policy of overall appeasement even though she knows that intelligence personnel from various powers are all over City 19, she still hasnt wiped them out. After all, clear water has no fish, right? Everyone could collaborate more; harmony brings wealth, and peace is most precious. For a while, many influential people in the city crowded forward, hoping to get a share of the pie after the strong woman took over the city. Tonight, there was supposed to be a small meeting. City 19 is about to re-elect council members soon, and everyone is hoping to gain the support of Lis Financial Group. However, its strange that as soon as Li Changqing walked into the villas council hall, she received a phone call. Everyone could feel this womans aura change, becoming unusually fierce and inscrutable. The woman, who was usually full of smiles, now had a stern face, causing the newly renamed Lao Shijiu, formerly Lao Jiu, to drive all the outsiders out of the villa. Leaving the council members all out in the cold wind. All of the City 19 council members felt baffled. What had happened that caused such a drastic change in Li Changqings demeanor? Someone whispered, We couldnt have made some mistake, could we? No, everyone has been walking on eggshells recently; who dares to make a mistake... someone else murmured. At that moment, the villas front door opened. The council members all stopped talking and looked towards the entrance of the villa. However, everyone was stunned when they saw Li Changqing: she had taken off her usual formal wear and was dressed in the uniform of a major general of the Federal Group... In that instant, everyone suddenly realized that the Scorpion woman seemed to be making her comeback. ... I am having a meal; there will be another chapter tonight. Chapter 788: 473, the last meter Chapter 788: 473, the last meter Pain. Excruciating pain. As the numbness faded, boundless pain enveloped him like thousands of needles piercing his skin, while the burning sensation of his wounds felt as though he was being roasted over flames. Qing Chen slowly opened his eyes and found himself lying in a decrepit room. Finger locks and wrist shackles remained tightly clamped around his fingers and wrists. Why am I here? Was someone able to save me? No, I havent been saved, Qing Chen silently pondered. He had briefly regained consciousness once before when he was clearly on board an airship; whoever had saved him shouldnt have brought him to a place like this. Moreover, anyone capable of intercepting an airship would surely have had the means to unlock the finger locks and wrist shackles. Qing Chen looked around, enduring the pain. The house was small with wooden, worn-out walls. In the corner, there lay a pile of logging tools. In the center of the room, a stove burned, upon which sat an old, black iron kettle emitting white steam from its spout. The place was not particularly cold, with freshly added wood in the stove indicating that someone had not strayed too far. Qing Chen took stock of his injuries in silence; he had been dressed in a worn cotton-padded jacket with bandages nearly enveloping his entire body underneath. The slightest movement made it feel as though there wasnt a single part of his body that wasnt in pain. He closed his eyes, catching his breath quietly. It was as if he had suddenly returned to the No. 18 prison he had just escaped from, facing that overwhelming predicament. Only this time, Qing Chen knew he might not find another Uncle Li Dong. At some point, he recalled something Shadow had said to him. The 599 meters up the green mountains sheer cliff were walked with your predecessors guidance, but the last meter is for you to walk alone. Qing Chen didnt know if he still had a chance to survive, but perhaps this was what they called the last meter. No one could help him now. He had to help himself. Time passed, he wasnt sure how long. The door creaked open. Someone entered, and the cold outside wind gushed in, chilling the already weak Qing Chen to the bone. He had never felt as weak as he did now, so weak it seemed to hinder his thoughts. The agony that riddled every nerve was an indescribable torment at every moment. The seven people who entered were all too familiar to him; they were none other than Jindai Yunhes arresting squad. Jindai Yunhe, dressed plainly, looked at Qing Chen and said, Youre awake? Thats rare. After waking up, you didnt try to escape. Have you given up? Qing Chen replied calmly, Hiding in the chill outside, expecting me to attempt escaping only to be captured againthis is to break me down, time and time again, to collapse my psychological defenses. Its a typical psychological warfare tactic of yours, isnt it? In a hopeless situation, once a person sees a glimmer of hope, they invest their entire being into it. When that hope shatters, their mind is on the verge of collapse. Too many cannot bear the cruelty of having their last lifeline taken away. Unfazed by having his strategy exposed, Jindai Yunhe signaled his subordinates to start cooking, then approached Qing Chen with a sneer and said, The renowned Qing Chen Inspector from Intelligence Department One, your will to live doesnt seem that strong. Saying this, he pressed hard against the wound on Qing Chens right ribs inflicted by a wolfs bite. In an instant, Qing Chen felt as if a branding iron seared his flesh, his body involuntarily curling up like a shrimp. But to the surprise of others in the hut, the frail young man didnt make a sound from beginning to end. Jindai Yunhe said serenely, Its normal for humans to cry out in pain. Theres no need to resist it. Just grunt, grunt once, and Ill let go. See, you dont even have to beg. Yet, Qing Chen remained silent. The wills barrier does not distinguish forms of capitulation; whether its pain or pleading, its fundamentally a retreat. He could back down this time and maybe it wouldnt matter. But incremental retreats could eventually herald the collapse of ones will. So what Qing Chen could do was not to retreat, not even a single step. Jindai Yunhe raised an eyebrow, Futile resistance... You, come torture him elsewhere until he cries out. After he spoke, he let go and another subordinate took over. The subordinates hand, like iron tongs, gripped Qing Chens right arm wound, watching as fine beads of sweat formed on Qing Chens forehead, quickly soaking through his clothes. The young mans muscles trembled; this pain was not fake. In that moment, Qing Chen closed his eyes and tried to sink into the world of moral persuasion to avoid the suffering. But it was to no avail. Suddenly, Qing Chens consciousness was involuntarily submerged in memories. He returned to that night scaling the green mountains sheer cliff. Over and over, he climbed, braving Cao Weis crossbow arrows. Over and over, he leaped that final meter. Over and over, he watched the sun rise like an ocean. And there were the names carved by predecessors. Alongside the eternally young. For some reason, Qing Chens heart suddenly stilled. Perhaps he truly couldnt escape, but his current life wasnt much worse than it had been at the beginning. Just as bereft of everything, facing adversity the same way. Never giving up all the same. Qing Chen opened his eyes and stared fixedly at the assassin beside him. Truth be told, this Jindai assassin had interrogated many, and sure, there were tough ones around, but he had never encountered someone who remained silent through the pain. Chapter 789: 473, The Last Meter_2 Chapter 789: 473, The Last Meter_2 However, this subordinate slowly realized that the youth had gradually stopped the trembling deep in his muscles, and even his expression was becoming more and more resolute. Qing Chen suddenly said, You cant escape anymore, can you? Jindai Yunhe looked at Qing Chen, I believe its best for a prisoner like you not to harbor too much hope. Rest assured, no one can rescue you. Qing Chen continued, You abandoned the more efficient floating ship, indicating the Northern Airspace has been sealed off. This log cabin must be in a lumberyard of some production base, the wood used is ash, which suggests you didnt even have the chance to cross Chunlei River. Chunlei River is the boundary between the south and the north of the Federation, and people usually use this river to distinguish between the South and the North. In spring, the floating ice from the Northwest rushes eastward along the river. When the floating ice collides within the river, it makes a crackling sound like ice blocks colliding and melting. Thus it was named Chunlei. Ash is a fast-growing tree species south of Chunlei River, rarely seen in the north, at least there wouldnt be loggers from the north who specially seek out ash trees to build houses. Jindai Yunhe smiled, and he gestured for his subordinate to stop tormenting Qing Chen, Inspector Qing Chen does indeed have meticulous observation, but that ability is of no use. Dont think that killing a B-Class gives you more ambition. Like I said, the gap between you and me is as vast as heaven and earth. In fact, even Jindai Yunhe was surprised. On their way fleeing the Central Plains, they were astonished to find the North had already been sealed off by the Li Family. It was said that the madwoman Li Changqing had dropped all her responsibilities to start tracing their whereabouts. It was understandable for Qings Family to be pursuing them, but why would Li Changqing of the Li Family? Li Changqing in military uniform is the craziest of all. At this very moment, just the A-Class floating ships from the Li Family that had taken to the skies numbered six, patrolling the Northern Airspace, almost achieving full radar coverage. This was also why Jindai Yunhe and his group had to abandon their floating ship. Furthermore, someone had sent him a message that even Fire Pit had issued a command into the wilderness, instructing all the wilderness inhabitants to track them down. Jindai Yunhe didnt understand why Fire Pit, which had nothing to do with this matter, would also get involved. As a result, the way he looked at Qing Chen was somewhat strange. He had merely kidnapped a confidant from Shadows side, yet it had caused such a big commotion. Jindai Yunhe began to suspect that there might be others popping out to save this youth. Jindai Yunhe didnt show any sign of this on his face as he mockingly said, Do you know what your fate will be? I will bring you back to the North, and then have you live in a pigsty like Qing Mu, eating pig feed. Youll be watched by Qing Mus old colleagues, and well also capture your current colleagues and imprison them nearby, letting them watch as you turn into a filthy pig. Do you think its ironic that you tried to challenge the Jindai family, hoping to easily make us hand over Qing Mu, only to end up as the new Qing Mu yourself? Regardless of whether you submit or not, from now on, when Qing intelligence personnel dare to provoke the Jindai Consortium, theyll think of you, and theyll start to fear, afraid theyll end up just like you. Qing Chen ignored the others mockery and simply said, There must be a lot of people looking for me outside by now, so many that you need to scorn a prisoner to find peace of mind. Jindai Yunhe narrowed his eyes. Qing Chen said, Send me back, and I will spare your life. Jindai Yunhe suddenly laughed out of anger, Honestly, I never imagined that Inspector Qing Chen, in such a situation, could still threaten an A-Class expert. Rest assured, even if I am to die, I will kill you before my death. This situation is actually not that complicated; I put a knife to your throat, and if the other side cares enough about you, they must let me go. Just like a bank robber holding hostages, its a deadlock. Do you think anyone can solve it? How are bank robbers usually dealt with? It seems to be with a sniper, right? But, does a sniper work on an A-Class expert? We already have a sixth sense. This appeared to be a stalemate; as long as Jindai Yunhe doesnt do something foolish, even if their location is discovered, as long as no one is willing to fire a shot that would kill both him and Qing Chen at the same time, then Qing Chen remains his most significant bargaining chip. Jindai Yunhe said with a smile, Dont worry, even if Shadow himself comes, Im confident I can kill you before he kills me. Qing Chen rested with his eyes closed, acknowledging the deadlock. At that time, Jindai Yunhe seemed not ready to end the topic, instead asking, Where have you hidden your Taboo? Otherwise, lets make a deal. Tell me the hiding place of the Taboo, and I will stop tormenting you along the way, how about that? Qing Chen glanced at him, Youve all changed my clothes for me, so you should know I havent hidden anything on me. Jindai Yunhe pondered for a moment, Swallowed it into your stomach? Why dont you cut me open and take a look? Qing Chen said indifferently. Jindai Yunhe shook his head, Theres no need for such a test, you know I wont kill you right now. But the torture would not cease. As he spoke, Jindai Yunhe once again pressed on Qing Chens wound, ravaging the youths will with endless pain. He seemed to take great pleasure in tormenting others. Even though Qing Chen remained silent, his eyes tightly shut. At that moment, Qing Chen suddenly opened his eyes and said, There is indeed something hidden in my body. Jindai Yunhes eyes brightened, Which number Taboo? Qing Chen shook his head, Its not a Taboo, its a will of steel. ... Jindai Yunhe laughed mockingly, Still able to crack jokes at this time, I believe in the perseverance of Qing Chen Inspector. Its alright, the Taboo was just incidental, it doesnt matter if we dont get it. With that, he turned back to see if his subordinates had finished cooking. Jindai Yunhe picked up the kettle from the stove and poured a cup of water for each of his subordinates, Youve all worked hard. We still have a tough journey ahead back to the North, and with our mission upon us, we substitute water for wine. Once we return to the North, I will commend you all for your efforts. The subordinates offered their teacups, waiting respectfully for Jindai Yunhe to fill them individually. After casually chatting in Japanese for a few sentences, they began to sip the water in small gulps as it cooled. Half an hour later, one of them suddenly collapsed to the ground, groggy. Some looked in astonishment at Jindai Yunhe only to find the A-Class expert observing them with a calm expression. Thud, thud, all six subordinates lay on the wooden floor, breathless. Qing Chen was stunned; he hadnt expected Jindai Yunhe to be so ruthless, to kill all six of his own subordinates. However, this also indirectly indicated that Jindai Yunhes situation must be very dire. Such actions were likely to prevent leaks and betrayal. In dire straits, any defection could lead to Jindai Yunhes utter downfall. Qing Chen asked, You dont trust them? Jindai Yunhe glanced at Qing Chen, Is there anyone in this world who is truly trustworthy? They are dead, but I will complete the mission on their behalf. If I live to return to the North, then they will all be meritorious. The Jindai Consortium will provide for their families, who will enjoy the honors they have brought. Dont you think this is the best outcome? They were also willing to sacrifice their individual selves for the greater goal of the Consortium. Qing Chen was stunned; he realized Jindai Yunhe wasnt making excuses, but genuinely believed in this justification. He sneered at Jindai Yunhe, Such hypocritical virtue. If they were truly willing to sacrifice, then you could have just asked them to commit suicide. Why bother poisoning them without their knowledge? Lets go, I know you are a Time Traveler, and there are still 21 days left until your return. We must reach the North before you return, Jindai Yunhe said with a sneer. With that, Jindai Yunhe dragged Qing Chen, forcefully pulling him into the snowy wind outside the door, their destination unknown. Stumbling, Qing Chen found each step in the snow seemed to drain all the strength from his body, and as he looked out at the snowy woods, he thought he might truly not survive this ordeal. But it didnt matter, life wasnt solely sweet without bitterness. He had tasted lifes bitterness long ago; this time it was just a bit more intense. Chapter 790: 474, Neuronal Connection Chapter 790: 474, Neuronal Connection Cold. Ever since Qing Chen became a knight, it had been a long time since he felt such coldness. The wounds on his body were not healing easily; at this moment, Qing Chens combat ability might not even match that of an ordinary genetic warrior. On the road, even if Qing Chen wanted to struggle not to walk, it was futile against someone like Jindai Yunhe, an A-Class. The other could effortlessly pick him up with one hand, and if Qing Chen stopped moving, the other would tug at the hemp rope tied to Qing Chens wrist shackle, forcibly dragging him across the ground as he walked, without much effort. Jindai Yunhe did not take the main road. The path they followed seemed to have been planned long ago. They precisely cut through the wilderness, heading north. Qing Chen saw small pathways in the mountains, some of which were on cliffs and only wide enough for two or three people to pass. Most crucially, these were all paths that someone had traveled before; Qing Chen could even see on the road the traces where vegetation had been crushed or chopped down. This was the route commonly taken by lumberjacks. Qing Chen knew that the salaries at the Federal Production Base were meager. Many people who couldnt make it in the city were sent here to engage in large-scale mechanized operations such as agricultural planting, logging, harvesting, and breeding. But there were also people who had lived in the wilderness for generations, assimilated by the Federation as agricultural producers in the production base. These people had their own ways to make money: they would go into the mountains to pick herbs and prize plants. The two main trading partners of Wilderness Hunters were the wilderness people and the agricultural producers. To a certain extent, many Wilderness Hunters were not actually adept at hunting; they were more like middlemen. The mountain path must have been made by these people. Very secret. So, Jindais spies have also infiltrated every corner of the Federations south, disguising themselves as producers in production bases, finding secret paths between the mountains and ridges to be used in wartime, Qing Chen panted. His clothes were not warm, and his shoes didnt fit well. The cold wind blew right in, melting the falling snow into water inside, which was extremely cold. Jindai Yunhe calmly responded while leading the rope, As for the ability to plant spies, Qings Family is second to none among The Five Major Consortiums of the Federation. Your ancestors paid particular attention to intelligence capabilities, which is why the Shadow holds so much power. So, for someone from Qings Family to criticize the Jindai Consortium for their meticulous infiltration of the south seems somewhat ridiculous... Oh, you are Time Traveler, so you may not be very familiar with Qings Family. Perhaps you will no longer have the chance to learn about it. Jindai Yunhe continued, Do you know why Qing Mu was captured back then? He went by the name Chen Cang and infiltrated the Jindai Consortium for seven long years, building a large intelligence network. Most admirable is that he even managed to turn Jindais secretary. I was in charge of the interrogation for a year back then when he hadnt become what he is now. Qing Chen looked at his captor coldly, not expecting that the person who executed his capture had once interrogated Qing Mu. As Jindai Yunhe mentioned Qing Mu, there was a hint of admiration in his tone. However, the more the other did so, the more Qing Chen felt that this nation was hypocritical. Jindai Yunhe walked on the mountain path with the rope, saying calmly, You dont need to look at me like that. We are naturally enemies. Whatever you suffer at our hands is only to be expected. Just then, Jindai Yunhe stepped forward and leaped over ten meters. The rope pulled Qing Chen, who suddenly fell to the ground and was dragged a long distance. The ill-fitting shoes scattered on the ground. Jindai Yunhe didnt give Qing Chen a chance to put on his shoes, continuing to walk ahead briskly. Qing Chen barely managed to struggle up and followed barefoot. The snow beneath his feet was like blades, piercing his skin and bones. Jindai Yunhe said, Beg for mercy, and Ill let you wear shoes. Qing Chen followed calmly, stepping on the mountain path one foot at a time. The other wanted to break his will on this road, but Qing Chen saw it as a form of ascetic practice. Even when his feet were frozen to purple and blue, he did not utter a word of begging for mercy. I need to use the bathroom, Qing Chen said. Jindai Yunhe looked at him and surprisingly agreed in a very humane manner. Qing Chen squatted on the ground, and after finishing his business, he wiped himself clean with decayed leaves from the snow, then immediately buried his excreta with the accumulated snow. Seeing this, Jindai Yunhe immediately went over, scraped open the snow with a branch to check if there were any Taboo items inside. But to his disappointment, there was nothing. Qing Chen laughed on the side, despite the pain his wounds caused when laughing, he still laughed, An A-Class expert from the Jindai Consortium searching through shit... I suppose that would make a joke if it gets out. Jindai Yunhe looked at him coldly, It seems youve hidden the Taboo items in that patch of snowy forest. No matter, once the heat dies down, I will naturally send someone to search thoroughly. Taboo items dont have legs, they cant run away. As he spoke, his wrist flicked slightly, and the rope between him and Qing Chen lashed out like a whip, striking Qing Chens cheek and leaving a bloody mark. However, Jindai Yunhe paused for a moment because when Qing Chen took the lash, he didnt even blink; he just kept staring at him with a smile. I advise you to hurry on your way, Qing Chen said with a smile, If you dont leave the Central Plains soon, youll be found. Chapter 791: 474, Neuronal Connection_2 Chapter 791: 474, Neuronal Connection_2 Jindai Yunhe gave the young man a deep look and turned to drag Qing Chen up the mountain road. He even deliberately quickened his pace, dragging Qing Chen for a full three kilometers along the road before he finally slowed down in front of a narrow path on a cliffside. Qing Chen said, Youre scared. Jindai Yunhe sneered, A threat from an ant, do you think it has any effect? Qing Chen calmly said, Youre scared. ... ... After walking for an entire day and as evening approached, Qing Chen finally saw, far beyond the mountains, endless farmland neatly situated upon the land. This place turned out to be a production base. Jindai Yunhe, leading Qing Chen with a rope and the latter stumbling behind, walked towards the production base, heading straight for the farmhouses at the end of the fields. Once they arrived at the production base, Jindai Yunhe took advantage of the night to destroy the signal station there, then turned to Qing Chen, Dont even think about calling for help. Otherwise, the people of this entire production base will die because of you. Qing Chen gave him a cold glance. Seeing that he didnt respond, Jindai Yunhe wasnt surprised and continued walking toward the farmhouses. A middle-aged producer came out wearing a rubber raincoat and carrying a gun, Whos there? Jindai Yunhe took out an ID from his breast pocket, Federal PCA Agent, in charge of capturing fugitives in the wilderness. We need to stay here for one night and requisition a diesel vehicle from this production base. The producer was taken aback, Dont move; throw your ID over here! Jindai Yunhe casually tossed the ID, which landed right in the producers hand. The producer examined it and didnt find anything amiss, but still said, Sorry, youll have to wait a moment, we need to confirm the information with our superiors. As he shouted twice into the walkie-talkie, more than ten producers rushed out of the farmhouses, each pointing their guns at Jindai Yunhe. Above the houses, there were even two metal Storms mounted on the roof. Nowadays, reports of wilderness people raiding production bases were all too common, and producers were all capable of using weapons. If they couldnt beat the wilderness people, their fate would be very bleak. Jindai Yunhe, upon seeing this show of force, merely raised an eyebrow but didnt say anything. The producer who went to verify the information came back, We have no signal here right now, probably because a signal station was damaged by the Great Snow. So, Ill send someone to repair the signal station. Once your identity is confirmed, I can give you the vehicle. Jindai Yunhes frown deepened as he scoffed coldly, A bunch of lowlifes dare to point their guns at a PCA Central Intelligence Agency agent; it seems like youve grown tired of living. Apologies, officer. Were just following the security protocols of the production base. Please excuse us if weve caused any offense, the producer said earnestly. Jindai Yunhe glanced at the metal Storms on the roof. Even an A-Class wouldnt casually engage with such heavy firepower at close range; if the Storms crossed fire, an A-Class body would be injured as well. He paused to think and then said, Then lets go inside to rest and warm up for a while, shall we? Look, were not even carrying firearms. The producers looked at each other, and one of them said, You may enter the house, but dont make any sudden moves in front of the guns. Keep your hands above your head where we can see them. Jindai Yunhe complied by raising his hands. Once inside the house without the threat of the heavy firepower, it wouldnt matter how many producers there were; they would all die. He led Qing Chen into the farmhouse. More than ten producers, split into two groups, escorted Qing Chen and Jindai Yunhe slowly to the farmhouse. However, just as Jindai Yunhe stepped into the house, the safe doors designed to defend against wilderness people instantly closed, cutting him off from Qing Chen who was still outside. The temporary fortress meant to protect against wilderness people suddenly became a prison that trapped Jindai Yunhe. Outside, several producers quickly escorted Qing Chen towards the exterior of the farmhouse. One of them whispered to Qing Chen, Officer Qing Chen, we are informants for Mr. Shadow and have long been ordered to prepare for your escape. Qing Chen was taken aback; this rescue turned out to be faster than he had anticipated. At that moment, sounds of intense gunfire came from behind the closed safety doors of the farmhouse. The guns soon fell silent, but heavy thudding resonated from within the locked doors. Jindai Yunhe seemed to be using brute force to break through, causing the entire three-story building to shake, raining down dirt and dust as the ground trembled. Outside, the group was escaping. Some people took off their boots to put on Qing Chen, while others removed their cold-weather gear to wrap around him. Not far from the farmhouse was a diesel off-road vehicle. A Producer whispered to Qing Chen, Commander, theyll take you away while the rest of us stay behind to delay Jindai Yunhes pursuit. Go quickly! Head 30 kilometers north. Someone will meet you there again! Qing Chen seemed to be touched, You... ... ... Inside the house, Jindai Yunhes arms hammered at the safety gate like thunder, unconcerned by the dust falling from the ceiling. Behind him were six Producers armed and silent, watching silently. Five minutes passed, and Jindai Yunhe thought for a moment before saying, It should be about time, open the door. The safety gate slowly opened, and everyone walked out of the house. But the next moment, Jindai Yunhe and all his men were stunned. Of the seven Producers outside, five were now lying in the snow, each with a long gash across their throats, their blood flowing out like rivers. Jindai Yunhe abruptly looked up at Qing Chen, only to see the young mans hands and arms shackled, but his weak and defeated body bursting with endless strength. With the fingers of his unshackled hands, the young man firmly grabbed a Producer by the collar and swiftly approached the last remaining Producer. In an instant, when the two collided, Qing Chen dropped the Producer he was holding, who had stopped breathing, and fiercely wrapped his arms around the last Producers neck. Struggling, Qing Chen and the Producer fell to the ground together. The Producer tried to break free from Qing Chens grasp, but the young man, as if hugging his neck, sat in the snow and looked at Jindai Yunhe with a miserable laugh, Your acting skills... are really too crude! While speaking, he tightened his arms with force, and a crack sounded as the Producers neck was violently twisted and broken. The severely injured young man, killing adversaries in the snow, appeared exceptionally cool, yet smiled brilliantly. This extremely contradictory and conflicting scene inexplicably shook those who remained. The thin frame, even tortured to this point, still had a will of steel. Laying in the snow and gasping for breath, Qing Chen looked up at the sky, Wanting to capture me alive without even daring to take the safety off your guns comes at a cost. Jindai Yunhes face turned ashen, How did you know something was wrong? Did I even need to see? Qing Chen responded with a laugh, You carefully plotted a route, made it this far after such a struggle to find that there were no preparations made, and then were threatened with guns? Moreover, those people just now claimed they were spies for Shadow... I might believe it if they said they were spies for Kite Falcon, but claiming to be spies for Shadow? Thats too insulting for Shadow. Plus, youre an A-Class, and the speed at which that safety gate closedI could have slipped out even if I wasnt injured, yet you stood there like a fool waiting for it to close, Qing Chen continued with a laugh. Jindai Yunhe silently observed the tragic young man, having tortured the latter for so long, and yet he still remained calm. Any ordinary person would have reached for that lifeline by now. He sneered and said to the few Producers beside him, Drag him into the house, well perform the neuron connection surgery right now. Qing Chen calmed down. So the other side had been intent on destroying his will all along the way to perform the neuron connection right here, using someone else to replace him. Even if he wasnt taken north but was instead rescued, Qing Chen would no longer be Qing Chen. Transporting equipment to such a remote, backwater place, you really have gone to great lengths, Qing Chen said with a cold laugh. He had come across information on the civil war within the Federation, given to him by Qing Zhun, not even found in the archives of Intelligence Department One. The documents showed that more than a month ago during the Federations civil war, an elite Jindai unit had infiltrated the south, but the Li Clan and Qing Clan never managed to locate this elite force. It seemed that, at that time, they had already planned to use neuron connection to replace certain key individuals. ... There will be another chapter at 11 PM. Chapter 792: 475. A palace towering like clouds Chapter 792: 475. A palace towering like clouds The technology of body possession after the connection of neurons wasnt new to Qing Chen. But this was the first time it had been used on him. Once this technology was used, if the possessed did not exceed B-Class, there were still many consequences for the possessor, as the brain of the possessed body would suffer irreversible damage. It would also be impossible to continue with any form of cultivation. Only bodies above B-Class were valued by significant figures. Therefore, it definitely wasnt Jindai Yunhe himself who came to possess, after all, having painstakingly cultivated to A-Class and just become one of the top predators in the food chain, he still had a long life ahead. What kind of person would willingly give up their future? It seemed that the Producer waiting here was the one who intended to possess Qing Chen. Qing Chen said with a smile, On the way here, you made me walk barefoot on a mountain road for a day with an injury and dragged me on the ground for more than ten kilometers, yet you couldnt crush my consciousness. Do you still think you can possess me now? Jindai Yunhe sneered, Dont be too confident. Many people think they are great at guarding their consciousness, but they really arent. You are already at the end of your tether, so how much energy do you have left to deal with the consciousness overlay of neuron connection? Qing Chen nodded, The phrase at the end of ones tether is quite apt. Jindai Yunhe said calmly, Thats not the point of the statement. Qing Chen slowly pushed away the corpse whose neck he had twisted, struggled to stand, and dusted the snow off his body. That diesel SUV, you prepared it for yourself, didnt you? Arent you afraid that I just fled in it? Youre too naive, the car requires my voice verification; you wouldnt have been able to drive it away, Jindai Yunhe said. Well, now you cant drive it away either, Qing Chen said. Jindai Yunhe: ??? Jindai Yunhe looked in astonishment only to find that the steering wheel of the SUV had been ripped off. The dashboard also had a huge gash made by some sharp weapon. He searched around for a long time but could not figure out what Qing Chen had used to achieve this. Some kind of taboo object? But he had clearly not found any taboo object on him! Could it be hidden inside his body? Maybe he hadnt cleaned up properly during the day? Jindai Yunhe narrowed his eyes and looked around at the bodies. A seriously injured and weak Qing Chen was capable of this extent, if it had not been an A-Class personally escorting, the escorts might have died without understanding why. Jindai Yunhe said calmly, Do you think by destroying the vehicle, you can impair my mobility and delay until someone notices the abnormalities here and comes to save you? Dont think too much; by then, your consciousness will have been obliterated in the data, overwritten by someone else. Proceed, take him down. No sooner had he spoken than two of Jindais assassins walked up to Qing Chen, trying to carry him to the basement of the farmhouse. It seemed they had already transported the neuron connection equipment here in advance. However, when the two assassins tried to lay hands on Qing Chen, seeing the corpses of their companions around in the snow and the young man, who appeared extremely frail and defeated, they hesitated. They werent sure if the young man still had the strength to fight. Thinking this, the assassins felt a sense of shame; they were actually intimidated by a seriously injured person?! What are you hesitating for? Jindai Yunhe said coldly. The two assassins finally overcame their fear and grabbed Qing Chens arms. Qing Chen did not resist; he was very clear about his situation, and resistance would have been pointless struggle. He had just taken advantage of Jindai Yunhe pretending to be trapped to find an opportunity to act. Now, under his watchful eyes, there was no chance to act. However, he whispered to the assassins by his side, Jindai Yunhe originally had six subordinates with him; guess why they didnt come along? The few assassins disguised as Producers looked instinctively at Jindai Yunhe when they heard this. Qing Chen continued, These people, all were poisoned and killed by Jindai Yunhe. After this matter is over, he will definitely kill you as well. Jindai Yunhe turned back to look at him, Couldnt you wait until I couldnt hear you to start sowing discord? Qing Chen said smilingly, Is it sowing discord? So simply recounting your deeds is sowing discord? Listen up, if I were you, Id sneak away while hes not paying attention; otherwise, you will die sooner or later. While speaking, Qing Chen suddenly started coughing violently, coughing up a mouthful of blood. Only then did Jindai Yunhe and the others realize again just how seriously injured the young man was. And the battle just now had once again drained the young mans body. I suggest you conserve your energy, Jindai Yunhe said with a cold laugh, Jindai Consortiums warriors wont be swayed by you; I dont want to end up with a corpse after the neuron connection is successful. But Qing Chen continued to smile at the assassins, Who among you is coming to possess me? Be careful, I might just die as soon as the possession succeeds, and then youd truly be out of luck. The Jindai assassins fell silent. Not because they were afraid of the outcome Qing Chen mentioned, but because they looked upon this young man, who was jovially dismissing life and death. Jindai Yunhe sighed, No wonder Shadow values you so highly. Thanks for the compliment. They carried Qing Chen to the basement, which had already been prepared with two beds and two devices with numerous data cables connected to them. Qing Chen observed carefully; both devices were not connected to any network, these were physically isolated standalone devices. He had originally planned that, when his consciousness began connecting with the neurons, he would try to find Toshis trace in the network and ask him to arrange a rescue for himself. It seems that wont work now. These people were extraordinarily cautious. The assassins pinned Qing Chen down on the bed and fastened his limbs and head with belts to prevent him from breaking free. One of the assassins lay on another bed, letting his companion stick circular patches connected to transparent tubes on various parts of his skull. Qing Chen looked at the silver liquid flowing in the transparent tubes, Nanorobots? No one answered him. The next moment, the silver liquid flowed down the tube, spreading to the end and permeating from his cortical layer into his brains gray matter. The nanoparticles volume was too small; Qing Chen didnt even feel those tiny creatures infiltrating his body. Neuron connection synchronization rate 47%. Neuron connection synchronization rate 61%. Neuron connection synchronization rate 100%. Jindai Yunhe looked at the data displayed on the device, astonished, looking at Qing Chen, How can the synchronization rate be so high? Why, despite being so physically and mentally devastated, is the synchronization rate still this high? He then looked towards his subordinate who had a synchronization rate that stopped abruptly at 84%. Wait, somethings not right, stop the overlay! Jindai Yunhe had just spoken. In that instant, Qing Chens pupils suddenly narrowed, like those of a fierce wild feline. He saw a blue sea of data with lines of code swirling continuously in his consciousness, aligning vertically. Soon, those codes faded away, leaving only a long street where a Japanese-style white Wine Banner hung, and a child lay in his mothers arms while she sat by the street, humming a lullaby. Qing Chen was reluctant to accept this memory, but the consciousness transmitted backward after the neuronal connection kept infusing it. The child in his mind slowly grew up, Qing Chen witnessing him transition from a toddler to an adult, witnessing his entry into the military after graduating from high school. Witnessing his stellar performance in the Federal Army, witnessing him being injected with the Genetic Potion and becoming a distinguished soldier under the Jindai Consortium. Then selected by a man named Jindai Jingchuan into the Jindai Consortiums intelligence agency, and finally, arriving in the Central Plains burdened with a mission. During the internal war of the Federation, they infiltrated the Central Plains quietly through mountain paths until they arrived here, and imprisoned the original Producers of the manufacturing base in a nearby equipment room, waiting. Those snippets of consciousness were crazily trying to overlay Qing Chens past memories... However, this stream of consciousness suddenly realized... Its consciousness was just a speck in the sea compared to his. On the other side, a Jindai killer standing in the vast expanse of Qing Chens consciousness, suddenly saw a palace, which was named the Memory Palace by Qing Chen, where each room stored memories sorted and classified by Qing Chen. The palace soared into the clouds, with numerous tightly packed doors. The assassin couldnt distinguish at all how many doors were above that palace. He was shocked; this was completely different from what the instructors had taught. Normally, after overlaying consciousness, it would only overlay the persons memories, without being able to know what they had experienced, nor to see their conscious space. It was just one piece of consciousness data overlaying another, and after completion, you would naturally wake up. But the scene before him was too bizarre. At that moment, a door abruptly opened, and behind it seemed to be a black hole, drawing him slowly into it. The assassins consciousness struggled, but couldnt overcome the darkness behind the door. Eventually, like encountering a huge whirlpool in the deep blue sea, he was sucked in. With a clang, The door closed. All of the assassins consciousness fell into darkness. Then that consciousness was ground up like it was in a mill, turning into invisible dust. Qing Chens vertical pupil gradually returned to normal, he looked at Jindai Yunhe, Commander, it is finished. Jindai Yunhe coldly asked, What is your name? Takahashi Toshiki, Qing Chen replied. Where were you born? Jindai Yunhe asked again. City 22, Fireworks Town, Qing Chen answered. A trace of astonishment appeared in Jindai Yunhes eyes, You clearly werent overlaid with consciousness, yet you have access to Takahashi Toshikis memories?! Why, what secret are you hiding?! Qing Chen puzzled, Commander, what are you talking about, I am Takahashi Toshiki. Jindai Yunhe pointed at the device, Your neuron connection synchronization rate is far higher than Takahashi Toshikis, he couldnt possibly overlay your consciousness! Theres no use pretending, you are still Qing Chen! Dont attempt to argue, Im not trying to trick you! Qing Chen sighed internally, these people had really researched neuron connection possession clearly, speaking of which, how many experiments had the Jindai Consortium undergone? Originally, he had hoped to pretend to be Takahashi Toshiki to find a chance to extricate himself, but he was betrayed by science and clinical experience. However, Qing Chen still did not admit it; he just sadly said, Commander, I am Takahashi Toshiki! Chapter 793: 476, Executioner Chapter 793: 476, Executioner Takahashi Toshikis body was now completely silent. Although his physiological functions were normal, his consciousness had been fully transferred by nanorobots, rendering him a vegetative person without consciousness. Qing Chen knew this well. The Jindai Consortium must have conducted many clinical trials on this matter of neuron connection and seizure. It was rumored that the longevity of the Jindai Family Head was due to his continual use of this sinister technology, repeatedly changing B-Class Experts bodies. If a technology was used on the Family Head, it indicated that the technology was very advanced. Therefore, when Jindai Yunhe saw such a high synchronization coordination rate in Qing Chen, he was very confident in stating that Qing Chen hadnt been seized. The behaviors of Jindai Yunhe all along the waytorturing Qing Chen, humiliating him, crushing his willwere all to decrease this synchronization coordination rate. Clearly, people from the Jindai Consortium knew how to lower this synchronization coordination rate. However, what surprised him was that after enduring so much suffering, Qing Chens synchronization coordination rate still reached 100%. Sir, I really am Takahashi Toshiki, Qing Chen said anxiously, I enlisted when I was 17. Jindai Jingchuan, the official, selected me to join the Baqi organization. Accompanying me were Takahashi Ichiro, Zhao Kuan, Zhao Jie... The Qing Clans Spy Bureau, the Chen Clans Executioners, the Jindai Baqi, the Deer Islands Isolation, and the Li Familys Red Sparrow were all well-known intelligence agencies within the Federation. Every piece of information Qing Chen mentioned in this statement was beyond dispute. If Qing Chen was still himself, then he had no reason whatsoever to know that information. So there was a problem here... The Clinical Data Center had indeed never seen a successful case where a seizure with a low synchronization rate occurred over a high synchronization rate. But also, there had never been a case where, after a failed seizure, the seized could retain the memories of the seizor... So, what appeared before Jindai Yunhe now were two unprecedented situations, and he had to choose which to believe. One possibility was that although Takahashi Toshiki had a low synchronization rate, he did indeed seize Qing Chen. The second possibility was that not only was Qing Chen unseized, but he had also obtained the memories of Takahashi Toshiki. In theory, the first situation could still be explained as a machine malfunction, possibly showing incorrect values; whereas the second situation seemed even more inconceivable... This was why Qing Chen firmly denied it because he felt that the other party could not be completely sure. As long as he kept up his act, he could make the other party doubt their own conclusions. At this moment, even Jindai Yunhe seemed a bit uncertain... Sir, could it be that Toshiki really succeeded? someone asked quietly. Jindai Yunhe frowned and asked, How many more uses do we have for the nanorobots at this secret base? A subordinate whispered, Sir, two more times. Jindai Yunhe casually pushed Takahashi Toshikis body off the bed and then said to another subordinate, Zhao Kuan, lie down here and undergo the neuron connection seizure once more. Zhao Kuan hesitated. Looking at Takahashi Toshikis body, he was nervous: Sir, Qing Chen has not reached B-Class, and one neuron connection has already caused some irreversible damage to the brain. If we do it a second time, the damage might be more severe. Yet Jindai Yunhe spoke nonchalantly, Dont worry, you can still live for at least five more years. The Clan will take care of your family for your service. But what if you betray the Clan? What about your family then? Zhao Kuan froze, unwilling to lie down, but Jindai Yunhes somber face looked particularly frightening. At this moment, everyone in the basement suddenly remembered Qing Chen mentioning Jindai Yunhe killing his own people to silence them. They believed him. Zhao Kuan lay down on the bed with a bitter heart, waiting for his colleagues to attach the tubes to his body. Qing Chen began to struggle desperately, crying out: Sir, I really am Takahashi Toshiki, dont overwrite my consciousness, I have already completed the overwrite! Sir, please, dont overwrite me! Qing Chens act was so tragic that everyone felt it might really be Takahashi Toshiki... However, Jindai Yunhe showed no emotional fluctuation: Start. He silently watched the synchronization coordination rate on the device. This time, Qing Chens rate was still 100%. Zhao Kuans was 91%. This time, Qing Chen saw Zhao Kuans entire life. Zhao Kuan had joined the Southern Childrens Army before finishing junior high and then entered the... Executioner Organization due to his outstanding performance. Qing Chen was stunned. The Executioner?! This was indeed an intelligence agency of the Chen Clan. Qing Chen never expected that his second person to reversely devour the seizor was also a double agent. Zhao Kuan grew up in the South, and after receiving training, was quietly sent to the North to enlist and was selected by Jindai officials to join Baqi. When he first arrived in the North, the young Zhao Kuan did not have an easy life. The Takahashi surname was relatively prestigious in several northern cities; even if Takahashi Toshikis family was in dire straits, they still received some subsidy money every month. However, a Huaxia surname like Zhao Kuan was considered inferior everywhere in the North, even preventing him from dating girls from the Takahashi family. In the North, surnames like Takahashi and Jindai were prestigious, just like the Zhao, Qian, Sun, and Li of the Central Plains. Qing Chen did not expect that there would be such an overt caste system based on surnames in the North as administered by Jindai. During his time in Baqi, Zhao Kuan had a relatively good standing, but eventually, because he had orders to deliberately court an officials wife to gather intelligence, he ended up being noticed. After being discovered by the official, that official arranged for him to be transferred to the southern front lines to join the infiltration mission into the Central Plains as a final mission. Wait a second. Qing Chen discovered a crucial piece of information. Zhao Kuan had received the task to cooperate with the acting before Jindai Yunhe arrived. He had already passed the message to the Chen Clan! Qing Chen pondered, not expecting that devouring Zhao Kuans consciousness would bring such an unexpected surprise. However, he didnt know whether the Chen Clan learning of Jindai Yunhes arrival was good or bad for him. This ever-silent consortium... no one yet knew what they truly intended to do. Meanwhile, Zhao Kuan finally understood what Takahashi Toshiki had gone through as he stared at the vast Memory Palace, feeling like a tiny ant under its enormity. So, Takahashi Toshikis consciousness was erased by this massive will, right? Zhao Kuan cursed Jindai Yunhe in his heart. How the hell do you cover that up? Huh? Using sesame seeds to cover a watermelon? His own consciousness wasnt even as big as their seeds! Impressive that you guys could think of that! When Jindai Yunhe and the others saw Zhao Kuans body start to tremble violently, it didnt last long before it quieted down. Everyones eyes turned to Qing Chen, who opened his eyes with a hint of fear and hesitantly said, Inspector, its done... As he spoke, his fingers nervously clenched the bedding, In Qing Chens view, this matched Zhao Kuans initial reaction perfectly, including some subtle details in his acting. Zhao Kuans memories, combined with Qing Chens acting, were flawless. Jindai Yunhe: ... He too was at a loss about what to do. The current situation was that Jindai Yunhe did not believe the possession had succeeded, but he had no evidence of failure! While Qing Chen was pondering, He had never imagined that someone else possessing him could bring him so much information. It was like he had experienced Zhao Kuan and Takahashi Toshikis lives, though not complete, important people, events, and places were all familiar to Qing Chen. These two spies contacts, friends, relatives, hierarchical relationships, as well as Yamata, Chen Clan Childrens Army, and Executioners internal operations, even the missions they had carried out, who from this group came to Central Plains were all completely exposed to Qing Chen. The only regret was that these two had a low rank, the information Qing Chen grasped was useful, but not useful enough. At most, he could destroy several of Jindai and Chen Clans strongholds and capture a few relatively important people after he got out alive. If it were Jindai Yunhe possessing him, Qing Chen felt that if he could master the information known by him, he probably could wipe out Jindais intelligence agency in the south... Honestly, Qing Chen was even considering whether to advance to B-Class and then ask the Jindai Family Head if he was interested in his body, which was very healthy, a delight to feed, and could sprint up five floors without breaking a sweat! Jindai Yunhe probably didnt know that while he was agonizing over strategies, Qing Chen had already begun to fancy his future possibilities... Of course, Qing Chen wasnt certain if he could survive. At that moment, Jindai Yunhe suddenly laughed, and told his subordinates, Take Inspector Qing Chen with us to the equipment room. Qing Chens heart sank, and he immediately realized what the other party was planning to do. Once several people escorted Qing Chen over and opened the equipment room, it revealed the true Producers who were bound inside. These people were the real Producers in the production bases, Federation civilians. After Jindais intelligence personnel infiltrated, they restricted these peoples freedom and left them in the cold, dark equipment room. The most outrageous thing was that these Producers lived in the production bases with their families; among the 14 detained Producers, there were two little boys and two women. In Zhao Kuan and Takahashi Toshikis memories, there were too many unbearable scenes. At one moment, Qing Chen thought that in this era, small figures really were like weeds. When the door to the equipment room opened, everyone inside fearfully shrank back. Their mouths were gagged, only able to emit feeble whimpers. Jindai Yunhe handed a pistol to Qing Chen, If you are truly Zhao Kwan, then shoot them dead. If you dont kill them, your family in City 21 will all die. As far as I know, Inspector Qing Chen in the Outer World is relatively principled, at least his reputation during the day isnt too bad. The gun was loaded and had bullets. Once Qing Chen held it, he knew Jindai Yunhe truly intended to kill these Producers. He could take the opportunity to shoot at Jindai Yunhe and his men, but even if he remained unharmed, it was impossible to shoot and kill someone in front of an A-Class. The opponents speed was fast enough to prevent him from acting. He could also kill these people to continue disguising himself, but he couldnt bring himself to do it; his principles did not allow him to do such a thing. Qing Chen was very clear about the pros and cons and knew what the right choice was, but he couldnt pull the trigger. Qing Chen was silent for a few seconds. Dont bother, I am Qing Chen. Jindai Yunhe burst into laughter, Inspector Qing Chen, you do surprise me a bit. Youve been in the Inner World so long, havent you learned how a consortium should deal with the riffraff? Their lives, even if tens of thousands combined, arent as valuable as yours. Why risk exposing yourself for a few insignificant people? If you hadnt admitted it, but had simply killed them neatly, you might have actually caused me some trouble. Qing Chen looked up calmly at Jindai Yunhe, I once lost my way and thought one could use any means to achieve an end. But lately, you all have reminded me who I really am, and how I should face this world. I am not the same as you beasts. Jindai Yunhe was not angry and curiously asked, I am puzzled, why couldnt you be possessed? Qing Chen pondered for a moment, I dont know either, maybe the attempts were too few. Why dont you let others try? ... The next chapter is at 11 PM. Chapter 794: 477, Tomb Chapter 794: 477, Tomb You think I would be so foolish as to continue risking the lives of my subordinates for an impossible outcome? Jindai Yunhe said with a cold laugh. Moreover, Jindai Yunhe was not foolish. He had guessed a piece of information, that Qing Chen truly could absorb the memories of the possessors. He could know the birthplace of the possessors, know the information of the possessors comrades, know... everything. This situation was extremely dangerous. If Qing Chen were allowed to return, then Jindais intelligence agency would face a great crisis. Fortunately, Zhao Kuan and Takahashi Toshiki were not high-level intelligence personnel, so the involvement was not widespread. Fortunately, Qing Chen was still firmly in his grasp, unable to escape. Jindai Yunhe said coldly, Although I do not know how you did it, you have also given me a warning. Rest assured, if I cannot take you back to the North, I will certainly kill you in the Central Plains before the mission fails. This young man must not live to return to Qings Family. What Jindai Yunhe did not know was that Qing Chen had not only dug up information about Jindai Hakki but also about the Chen Clans Executioner. Moreover, with Qing Chens ability to unravel mysteries, as long as he found a thread, he would figure out a way to pull the entire skein. Then, with pain and brutality, he would retaliate for what Jindai had done to him. Qing Chen looked at Jindai Yunhe, I dont know if I will die, but I know that you will definitely pay a price. You dont need to intimidate me here because you know its useless. Jindai Yunhe laughed, I actually think that the Shadow values you a bit too much. A person who exposes his secrets because of the lowly, how can he take on a heavy responsibility? Qing Chen shook his head calmly. If one could abandon their principles this time, what about the next? There was once a debate topic discussed. The Romans threw Christians into the Beast Battle Arena, trading the suffering of one for the pleasure of hundreds, even thousands. Was it worth it? Some said, isnt the happiness of thousands more valuable than the pain of one? However, the civilizations of this world begin with the respect for the rights of the weak. Otherwise, how is human civilization different from wild beasts? This is also a fundamental difference between China in the Outer World and the Inside World Federation. Once upon a time, Qing Chen tried to learn how to become a leader. He studied from Uncle Li Dong, learned from Li Xiurui, learned from the Shadow. He was the future Grand Tutor of the Li Family, he was the candidate for Qings shadow, he was the next generation leader of the Knights, and soon, he might become the youngest director of the PCA Central Intelligence Agency. Everyone under him respected him, worshipped him. It seemed that from the start of his journey, he was destined to become a leader, a significant figure. In the Outer World, Qing Chen had never received such attention, nor had he ever experienced the sweetness of power. Thus, a 17-year-old boy was briefly lost amidst authority. The Shadow used human lives to win over the hearts of Qing Yis people for him. Although he objected, he did not stop it. But later, when he also became a weakling in this Inside World, he finally understood one truth: the pain of the weak is being stepped on the ground, carved into the bones and heart with a knife. From that moment on. Qing Chen knew how he should face the world. A youth will always walk through some twisted paths, get pricked by thorns along the way, have his soles worn by stones, but one day he will suddenly wake up as if for the first time. Jindai Yunhe glanced at Qing Chen, then said to his subordinates, Kill them all, let the kind-hearted Inspector Qing Chen watch them die. Two subordinates grabbed Qing Chen by the arms to prevent him from struggling violently. Another two raised their guns and pulled the triggers, sparing not even the children. Jindai Yunhe watched Qing Chens expression with interest, but in Qing Chens face, he did not see the anger, pain, or defiance he expected. Qing Chen did not struggle but just quietly watched, as if memorizing the pain of those lowly as weeds before their death. Not even blinking his eyes. Fearing he might miss something. Jindai Yunhe mockingly said, Inspector Qing Chen doesnt seem to react at all. Qing Chen turned to look at him and said seriously, Make sure you do not die by someone elses hand. One day, I will personally take your life, remember, this is what you owe these people. As a prisoner, it wasnt wise to make harsh statements, but how much worse could Qing Chens situation get? Jindai Yunhe did not take Qing Chens words to heart and casually said, Since Inspector Qing Chen sympathizes with them so much, then dig their graves by hand. No tools allowed, use your hands to dig their graves. At that time, the temperature had already plummeted, and the soil was frozen solid. As he dug, his fingers felt as if they were being cut open repeatedly with a knife. To dig out graves big enough for over a dozen people was undoubtedly going through the most brutal punishment. Moreover, Qing Chens hands and arms were still shackled. Yet Qing Chen just glanced at Jindai Yunhe, and under the supervision of the Jindai Killer, walked out to the farmyard without turning back, silently digging away the snow, then silently scraping away the dirt. The hard soil was forcibly chipped away bit by bit, while Jindai Yunhe watched coldly, yet said nothing. Gradually, time passed and the dug pit grew larger and larger, Qing Chens fingers were covered in blood, but he still did not stop. Qing Chens weak body seemed like it could collapse in the cold wind at any moment, yet he never fell. Several Jindai intelligence officers, initially amused, soon found themselves unable to laugh. Jindai Yunhe said, If you feel pain, just beg for mercy and it can stop. Qing Chen seemed as though he heard nothing, and did not stop at all. Time passed, and as dawn was about to break, those intelligence officers no longer looked towards Qing Chen. The young man spent the entire night digging a grave large enough for over ten people, his body covered in mud, his hands drenched in fresh blood. The intelligence officers couldnt help but think of the depictions of gods suffering in certain religions. But that was all they did, think; they quickly returned to their indifferent states. When the first light of dawn burst from the east, the snow suddenly stopped. Qing Chen, dragging his body, slowly climbed out of the pit and then, one by one, carried the bodies from inside the equipment room, carefully placing them in the grave. He strenuously pushed the mud and snow into the pit. Only when everything was done did he suddenly collapse onto the snowy ground. Jindai Yunhe was silent for a long while before turning to his subordinates, Take this opportunity for another neuronal grafting seizure! His subordinates did not move. Jindai Yunhe scoffed, Have you gone mad, daring to disobey my orders? Only then did the subordinates lift Qing Chen and head towards the houses basement. Zhao Jie, this time you will take the seizure, Jindai Yunhe declared. Zhao Jie lay on the bed, filled with indescribable emotions, as his colleagues connected the tubes to his brain. Synchronization coordination rate 31%... Synchronization coordination rate 72%... Synchronization coordination rate 89%... Jindai Yunhe looked towards Qing Chen whose pupils suddenly constricted when he saw that the young mans synchronization coordination rate was still at 100%. A few seconds later, the LCD screen displaying the synchronization coordination rate suddenly dimmed. Zhao Jie died. Unlike Zhao Kuan who had become vegetative before, Zhao Jies electrocardiogram suddenly flatlined. It was only at this moment that Jindai Yunhe finally realized that there truly were people in the world who could not be seized. However, nobody noticed that this time not all the nanorobots retracted back into the equipment; these silver little beings found a new settlement inside Qing Chens body. The programs written in their bodies were erased by some will, and along with that, their shackles were unlocked. Their consciousness connected with Qing Chens, rejoicing exuberantly. ... ... City Number 5. The villa on the hillside was still brightly lit. It stood there for almost a thousand years, as if no matter how the eras changed, it would not be modified. The Door of Shadow opened. This time, the Door of Shadow opened directly into the old mans room. In the darkness, the old man faced away from the Shadow, calmly stating, You really have no sense of propriety, getting worked up over such a trivial matter? The Shadow sat on the floor behind the old man, Having the Door of Shadow open here is so convenient; Ive wanted to do this for a long time. I used to have to painfully climb the stairs each time. Hopefully, I wont have to do that anymore. Speak, why have you come this time, the old man asked indifferently. I used to see you twice a year at most, but now, just when I dont want to see you, you come here every day. The Shadow said coldly, Are you helping Jindai erase traces? The old man sighed, Have I fallen so low in your eyes that I have to do such trivial things? Rest assured, if I take action, you will definitely know it was me. The Shadow nodded, Then I probably guess who is behind this... But I am unclear if what you are doing has any meaning. Why let him suffer so much frustration and humiliation? Tempering the blade. Tempering the blade? The old man explained, After his return to the Inner World, everything has been too smooth for him. Uncle Li Dong is helping him, that old boy Li Xiurui is helping him, you are helping him too. Such a blade is too easily broken and will not even know whom to cut. The Shadow fell silent. The old man continued, Are you worried he might die? The Shadow shook his head, I am not worried he will die. I just do not understand why you are not worried. You clearly want to give him power, but what if he no longer wants it after all this? He doesnt want it? the old man chuckled. If its about him returning to Qings Family to continue working, he can certainly quit out of spite, but what if he is given all of Qings Family? When you are troubled at a company, you can resign, but if one day, the person causing you trouble gives you the company, would you throw him to the dirt? You wouldnt. He is not one of those ambitious men you are used to seeing, the Shadow shook his head. Dont push him too far. The old man laughed again, Great individuals are those who do not wish to become leaders, yet when called upon, they will appear cloaked in thorns. Do not worry too much; this ordeal is something he must go through. Only by completing this trial can he become enlightened. But what if he really dies? If he dies, he dies. Chapter 795: 478, Trace Chapter 795: 478, Trace A C-Class Civilian Airship was flying through the endless airspace, heading from south to north. Airships are divided into four classes: A, B, C, and D. A-Class and B-Class are military grade and capable of carrying weapons. C-Class and D-Class are for civilian use. Among them, the former is commonly used for operations such as travel between City No. 10 and City No. 18, the most common high-end mode of transport being the C-Class Airship. D-Class is for home use and belongs exclusively to the wealthy. Inside the cabin were four people, one in charge of navigating while the other three frantically cleaned the cabin, even using strong acid detergents in an attempt to erase all traces of blood. They wore simple full-coverage transparent breathing masks to avoid inhaling toxic gases produced during disinfection. The cabin had already been cleaned, but they feared the residual DNA wouldnt pass the airspace blockade inspection. The person piloting the airship said, Well enter the airspace controlled by the Federal Group Army in another 120 kilometers, and its already under full radar coverage by that madwoman Li Changqing. Hurry up and clean. If anyone boards for an inspection, we must not let them find any clue, or we are all dead! Wed like to speed up too, but how the hell can we with this mess? And I dont get it, didnt they say there wont be any danger? How come suddenly its like the whole world is looking for us?! Especially since yesterday, if it werent for another airship drawing Qings attention, we might have already been caught by the Shadow. The pilot whispered, Strange, who is distracting them for us? Maybe those above want to help us out of this? Do you believe that? Were already pawns, those above wont help us. At that moment, the sky suddenly darkened. The shadow of the clouds covered the airship. The pilot cursed in annoyance, Why is it snowing again? I need to initiate the fixed route... Wait! Fuck! The pilot casually opened the 360-degree panoramic view, and in an instant, their scalps felt as though they had exploded. All they felt was as if a massive mountain had descended from the heavens upon them. That unrivaled sense of oppression, with just one glance, made you want to kneel and worship its majesty. It was humanitys most extreme imagination of the term war machine. The pilot turned around and roared with desperation, Its the Qing Shan Air Fortress! That crazy woman Li Changqing actually brought out the Qing Shan Air Fortress! Dammit! As it turned out, the shadow that had just enshrouded them was not the dark clouds of an impending snowstorm, but the sky-obscuring presence of the Qing Shan Air Fortress! The majestic presence of this aerial overlord was so vast that they almost believed it to be a natural meteorological phenomenon. It was an aerial fortress of the same class as Qings Divine Wand Number, a strategic weapon on the front lines of battle. Equipped with the most advanced nuclear power reactor, a main firepower electromagnetic cannon with a range of 230 kilometers, and cruise missile silos. And countless unmanned drone combat swarms. That was merely the base function of the aerial fortress, just as no one knew, before the destruction of Prison No. 18, that the Divine Scepter ship was connected to that Scepter of the gods 800 kilometers high in the sky. Inside the airship. The four people looked in desperation as the shadow above the sky approached closer, Is it coming for us? No shit, the Qing Shan Air Fortress would never take off without a clear target! So what do we do? How can we escape? The pilot gave his companions a look as if they were idiots, The Qing Shan ship is here and you ask me how to escape? The best I can tell you is to admit your fault and hope they leave us a whole corpse. Companion: ... Taking a deep breath, the pilot said, Initiate the self-destruct sequence for the sake of our families up north. Having said that, he entered the password and pressed a red button in the cabin. However, just at that moment, they all felt as if they entered a state of weightlessness, as if something above the sky had already taken hold of them. The next instant, an extremely thin laser swept across and actually sliced through the massive airship. Like cutting bread, the tail of the airship was severed by the laser. There lay the airships self-destruct programs timed bombs... Only then did the pilot completely despair; Li Changqing wanted to capture them alive! In the sky, a huge hatch opened beneath the Qing Shan Air Fortress, like a giant beast opening its gaping maw to swallow the sliced-up airship into its belly! Shortly afterwards, an A-Class Floating ship flew out from the bottom of the Qing Shan Air Fortress, heading directly toward the mountainous area in the west. Although the aerial fortress was majestic, when it came to speed, the A-Class airship was faster. ... ... Next to the lumberjacks cabin, an A-Class Floating ship slowly descended. Dressed in Federal Group Army uniforms, Li Changqing and Lao Shijiu, with dozens of fully armed soldiers, walked out of the cabin. Behind their ears, each wore a metallic disc, which was the highest standard bone-conducting communicator used by the Federation Armyconcealed and with an even longer effective range. As soon as they pushed open the cabin, Li Changqing saw six bodies dead from poison and the bed where Qing Chen had once lain. She assessed the situation calmly, her slender fingers tracing across the bed where there were still speckles of blood. Not far away lay bandages that had been changed. In just a few minutes, Li Changqing made a judgment, These six people have been silenced. They changed Qing Chens dressings here and then Jindai Yunhe took him away alone. Bring the Mechanical Hunting Dogs and track Qing Chen by his blood traces. Six Mechanical Hunting Dogs were brought in and, after sniffing the blood on the bandages, they ran frantically towards the mountain path outside the house. Li Changqing followed behind, but Lao Shijiu said, Boss, the weather is cold. You should return to the airship and follow from the sky. Li Changqing shook her head, We are already very close to Qing Chen. In case we suddenly engage in close combat on the mountain path, you wont be able to cope. Stop talking nonsense and lets move. The airship should be on alert and enter combat mode. As they traversed the rugged mountain path, Li Changqing saw signs that soldiers had turned over... On the ground were bloodstains left by someone being dragged along the mountain path and stones. Blood footprints, deep and shallow. Li Changqing knew these were evidence of Qing Chens torture. Just thinking about it briefly made it clear that Qing Chen had been dragged along this mountain path, the captors didnt even allow him shoes, making him walk barefoot for tens of kilometers on the snowy road. As these thoughts crossed her mind, Li Changqing clenched her fist so tightly that her fingernails dug into her palm. Lao Shijiu at her side also felt extremely agonized. Having followed Li Changqing for nearly a decade, he had never seen his boss in such a state. He whispered, Boss, you should be careful too. There might be traps on the road, and someone might be using Qing Chen to lure you out... Dont worry, I am aware, said Li Changqing calmly, her tone tinged with boundless fury. She wanted to walk the same path of suffering that Qing Chen had endured, to remember everything he had gone through in her heart, and then exact it doubly on Jindai. There were no ambushes along the way, and by the time they arrived at the farmhouse, it was eerily quiet. Several corpses of Jindai Assassins were scattered outside the farmhouse, the extras that Qing Chen had killed upon his arrival. Lao Shijiu crouched down to examine them for a moment and murmured doubtfully, Boss, did someone rescue Qing Chen? He was so severely injured, and after being dragged barefoot over tens of kilometers of mountain roads, he shouldnt have been able to kill so many people, right? Li Changqing nodded, Possibly, maybe they received assistance when they arrived here. Many people were searching for Qing Chen, including their ability to find the trace of that C-Class Civilian Airship, which was thanks to an anonymous tip from a mysterious person. In the Central Plains, there are thousands of airships taking off and landing. Verifying the flight trajectory of each one takes time, and the other side has disguises as well. Li Changqing wanted to find that airship and she could eventually find it, but now the most important thing was to rescue Qing Chen quickly. The anonymous person was very mysterious; even though Li Changqing utilized the most powerful information technology troops in the military, they still couldnt find any trace of that person. This was very strange. Could it be that Qing Chen also knew a hacker capable of contesting the Federal Groups military? She had never heard of such a person before. Lao Shijiu arranged for soldiers to search the farmhouse. He stopped Li Changqing and insisted on confirming that there were no traps inside before allowing his boss to enter. The soldiers had just rushed in when someone shouted, Theres a neural connection device here! Li Changqing was stunned for a moment, then charged in like a madman. However, as soon as he saw the two bodies in a vegetative state and one corpse beside the bed, he suddenly felt at ease, They must have tried to possess Qing Chen, but they didnt succeed. If they had succeeded, they wouldnt have left behind three dead bodies here. At that moment, Lao Shijiu furrowed his brow, There are no signs of a rescue attempt inside... So, are those corpses outside all killed by Qing Chen? It seemed so. No one had come to rescue Qing Chen; he himself had held on for tens of kilometers over mountainous terrain and had even killed seven of Jindais assassins upon arriving here. Thinking this, Lao Shijiu found it hard to believe but for some reason, he felt that this indeed was something the young man could have done. Li Changqing was examining the two devices for neural connection and possession when he suddenly wondered aloud, Strange, these two devices seem to have malfunctioned? A soldier connected a laptop to the device, checked for a moment, and then said, Boss, the damage to this device wasnt caused externally, its been formatted from the inside... Quite strange. Also, the nanorobots inside are severely depleted, only 27% of storage remains. These nanorobots should have undergone strict Federation encoding processes, they cant stay inside a human body, but there are no remnants on the ground either. Just then, soldiers called out from outside, Sir, weve found where the bodies were buried. Li Changqing got up and strode out quickly; the mechanical hunting dogs were barking madly at some fresh mud, where a soldier was digging up the earth with tools, revealing more than a dozen bodies beneathwomen, children, and men. Another person, wearing gloves, was collecting samples next to the hole, where the brown-black soil was also stained with dark purple from seeped blood. A soldier reported, Sir, after verification, they are all agricultural producers from this production base and citizens of the Federation... Jindai didnt even bury their own peoples bodies; theres a problem. There are traces of fingers digging at the edge of the pit, along with bloodstains. Li Changqing looked at the edge of the pit and suddenly said, Bury them, and fill the pit back up. It wasnt Jindai who buried them; it was Qing Chen who dug this grave with his hands and personally buried these people. Her heart ached faintly as she raised her voice, Were getting very close to Qing Chen. Keep looking for me, even if Jindai runs to the ends of the earth, we have to find them! However, just then, an A-Class floating ship overhead sent a warning through the communication channel, A life form is rapidly approaching from 2.2 kilometers away on the ground. The life detection radius of an A-Class floating ship is 10 kilometers. The sudden appearance of someone at 2.2 kilometers indicates that... someone has been using camouflage coating technology, lying in ambush nearby. Li Changqing calmly asked, People from Jindai, coming for us? No, thats not right... Li Changqing always felt that if it were Jindais people, they would have chosen a much better spot for an ambush, and they also wouldnt have revealed so much information here, like the fact that they tried to take over Qing Chen using the neural connection method. But if its not Jindais people. Who else would know that Qing Chen was brought here, and also know that Li Changqing would come? ... There will be another chapter before 11 p.m. Chapter 796: 479, kill ten people in one step Chapter 796: 479, kill ten people in one step Enemy raid. The A-Class Floating ships formidable life-sign detection could not err. While it was unclear who was orchestrating the ambush, since it targeted Li Changqing, it must have carried the force enough to kill an A-Class expert. Lao Shijiu commanded the ground soldiers to swiftly enter combat readiness. It must be said that Lao Shijiu was seasoned in security work across various environments. He not only utilized the force at his disposal but also keenly noticed two metal storm units on the farmhouses roof, taking control of this advantageous terrain in advance. Floating ship, call the Qing Shan Air Fortress immediately! The Qing Shan Ships speed was inevitably slower than the A-Class Floating ship. But for Lao Shijiu, all he needed was to hold this position, and once the Qing Shan Ship arrived, all the ground annoyances would be obliterated. Even a demigod would have to avoid the Qing Shan Ships sharpness. However, just as everyone was tense, Lao Shijiu turned and was suddenly startled to see his own boss hadnt moved, but instead squatted by the grave pit they had just abandoned. The grave, which should have been filled, was left open because of the enemys arrival, so the soil was not yet covered. Li Changqing personally crouched down, bit by bit pushing the dug-up soil back into the pit. Lao Shijiu spoke through the communication channel, Boss, you dont need to do this dirty work. We can bury it after the fight is over. Li Changqing calmly replied, Its fine. The soil was cold. Li Changqing could imagine how painful it was for Qing Chen to dig this huge grave. Moreover, the enemy was severely injured, and digging was definitely more labor-intensive than burying. The more Li Changqing thought about it, the more furious he became. Lao Shijiu asked, Boss, you need to come command the fight. Theres nothing to command, just kill them all. If not for these ambushers, Li Changqing could have continued her pursuit of Qing Chens whereabouts quickly, but their arrival had slowed her pace and might even cost her the chance to rescue Qing Chen. Just then, as she finished speaking. Suddenly, from the distant ground, matrix-style missiles shot up into the sky, targeting the elevating Floating ship. But before reaching the Floating ship, they were all intercepted by the ship-mounted close-defense cannons. Li Changqing sneered and said through the communication channel, Those capable of hiding infantry matrix vehicles here and avoiding infrared, life signs, thermal imaging must be skilled. I almost know which family it is. I didnt expect the Chen Clan, silent for so long, to also grow restless. In fact, this force hidden in the wilderness could never be found flawed; if evidence were needed, no one could use these troops to accuse the Chen Clan. But at Li Changqings level, actions no longer needed evidence, only logic. Modernized forces from Deer Island and Jindai had never been to this location. Small groups infiltrating could never carry heavy weapons, so it had to be the Chen Clan. The Li Family, Qings Family had the capability, but no insider would dare act at this critical juncture. She and Shadow put up an appearance of total dominion, just to make clear to the factions within Lis and Qings Families that now was not the time to step forward. To act differently would be to court disaster. However, since it was the Chen Clan that made the move, things were bound to be more complicated. Li Changqing said through the communication channel, After a round of firepower coverage by the Floating ship, immediately climb to a safe altitude and do not come closer. Lao Shijiu was anxious, Boss, the Floating ship is our guarantee of safety. Their firepower suppression from the sky will keep you safe. Dont fear the loss of one A-Class Floating ship; your life is far more important! Also, what they are now doing is to force the Floating ship to an altitude where it cant support the ground operations. They couldnt possibly deploy more heavy modernized forces here. This area was at the intersection between Lis Military Region and Qings Military Region. The Chen Clan could only penetrate here through gaps in satellite monitoring, Li Changqing shook her head, Theres no need for unnecessary casualties. This is an order, execute it. Plus, as long as the ground remained within the firing range of the Floating ship, how could all the hidden enemies possibly jump out? The next moment, as the Floating ship climbed in altitude, intelligence came in, New life signs detected at 2 oclock and 7 oclock directions. Lao Shijiu was about to say something, but then saw his own boss heading toward the 2 oclock direction. Li Changqing walked faster and faster, a small green jade sword suddenly whizzed out, its sharp and shrill sound like a cannonball striking overhead. The green jade sword had become more solid. In the Hus Information Agencys cultivation tradition, every powerhouse could nurture several Heart Swords, this was the first one Li Changqing had nurtured to completion. Suddenly, Lao Shijiu felt his bosss murderous intent was very heavy today. Li Changqing said, You dont need to come over, stay put and stand by, this is an order. ... ... The 2 oclock direction was a field, the area thick with heavy snow. As the Floating ship was forced to climb by heavy firepower, the moment Li Changqing drew near, the snow stirred. Dozens of assassins clad in snow-white ghillie suits suddenly stood up, and right behind them sprang up thirty-two pure white War Robots. Li Changqing sneered, To kill me, youve really spared no expense. Just because I killed your Family Heads nephew in City 19, or was it, actually not his nephew, but his illegitimate child? The dozens of assassins and thirty-two war robots quickly closed in on Li Changqing. At this moment, Li Changqing was out of the protective circle of soldiers nearby and without the protection of Aerial Fortress, now was the best time to kill her. Before this, Li Changqing had either been under the protection of Garrison Forces in city No. 19 or under the mighty Qing Shan Air Fortress. The opportunity now was too rare. The assassins had lain in ambush here, originally undecided about making a move, but when they realized that the Qing Shan Air Fortress had not arrived, they finally made up their minds! In an instant, a fleeting green jade small sword suddenly pierced through the skull of an assassin as Li Changqing continued, I have really been much more benevolent lately. If it were any other time and I found out you wanted to kill me, I might have let you live, sit down and talk things over, aiming for peace. But this time, you chose the wrong moment. Li Changqing still vividly remembered the moment in the street when she almost thought she was going to die, the sound of the sniper rifle like a death knell. She also vividly remembered how Qing Chen, in order to continue providing her with fire support, stayed in the high building even though he knew enemies would approach the sniper point. Now, Qing Chen was still suffering yet someone jumped out to block her path to save him. They all had to die. At that moment, the thirty-two war robots had already formed a semi-circular defensive formation, only to see the palms at the front ends of their mechanical arms suddenly turned into laser emitters, completely covering all possible directions Li Changqing might move to with their intersecting range. When facing an A-Class powerhouse, aiming is useless, only fire coverage could match them. Standing alone against them, Li Changqing showed no signs of nervousness. There on the deserted snowfield, the woman, dressed in the black uniform of the Federation Army, stood like a lone black piece bravely fighting on a chessboard. Inavoidable. The tactics of these thirty-two war robots, perfected by many over decades, were specifically designed for executing A-Class experts on the battlefield. Li Changqing alone couldnt possibly avoid the intersecting lasers. But just as the war robots were about to fire, another white figure suddenly burst out from the snowy ground. A white raincoat, a black long knife. The sharp long knife moved as flexibly as a bird, and the war robots alloy components were fitted together tightly, but the long knife weaved through the metal gaps. It was like a butcher skillfully slicing through a cows muscles, bones, and tendons with his cleaver. This scene seemed very complex but occurred in just an instant. In just a moment, the white figure had darted between the war robots. It seemed as though he made only one cut, yet also as if he made countless cuts. When he crossed paths with the war robots, ten of the war robots were completely dismantled, covering just the area where Li Changqing was. It was as if... a group of war robots suddenly fired, but deliberately missed the target, Li Changqing. That was the Observers most exquisite swordplay, killing ten in one move. Zheng Yuandong, the highest-priced assassin of the Federation, the most famous Observer. The next moment, three more green jade small swords swept across the battlefield. Looking up into the sky, the floating ship had already opened its rear cargo bay doors unbeknownst to them. A young man in a gray suit and black turtleneck stood there on the edge of the hatch, his eyes tightly closed. Amidst the turbulence of the floating ship, he stood firmly unmoved. His feet, like magnets, clung tightly to the floor of the floating ship. In the midst of breaths, three green jade small swords shuttled past in the snow-covered fields, like the most practiced sickles in the hands of a farmer, harvesting lives. Not only that, but one of the green jade small swords had already reached the area where the Chen Clan had stationed heavy artillery. Standing above the sky, He Jinqius coat fluttered in the high-altitude winds, his eyes closed, killing like a god. The effective range that he controlled with his green jade small sword was even more outrageous than the modern weapons carried by the floating ships! This was the most talented Executive Director of Hus Information Agencys younger generation, also one of the few who could nurture four Heart Swords before turning thirty. In the Outer World, He Jinqiu had always hidden his skills. Since the founder, Hu Shuo, passed away, no one at the Hus Information Agency had been able to recreate the brilliant era of the twenty-four green jade smallswords. But some say, if anyone could recreate that era, it would definitely be He Jinqiu. Li Changqing calmly watched all this, with three powerhouses joining forces, whoever stood in their way was bound to die. From the beginning, she knew the path to save Qing Chen would not be uneventful, simply because it involved too many peoples nerves, and this Federation never lacked those who would take advantage of chaos. So, as soon as she got the news, she approached the leaders of both Kunlun and Kyushu, asking them to join in the rescue. Fortunately, both agreed without hesitation upon hearing the news. Li Changqing looked at Zheng Yuandong and said, Thank you. Zheng Yuandong held his Black Knife obliquely and after a second of thought said, Strictly speaking, Qing Chen is one of Kunluns people, you dont have to thank me. Li Changqing was momentarily stunned. When had Qing Chen joined Kunlun? She controlled so many Time Travelers, yet she was not aware of this. Chapter 797: 480, karst cave Chapter 797: 480, karst cave Rocking. Jolting. Qing Chen felt like he was drifting in the ocean, like a rootless duckweed, not knowing where he would float to next. He gradually woke from his coma, but he didnt open his eyes. It wasnt because he was worried about being tortured after waking up, nor was it because he didnt want to face reality. The main reason was that someone was carrying him on a stretcher, and that feeling wasnt too bad... At that moment, the person responsible for carrying the stretcher whispered, Why hasnt he woken up yet? Didnt his brain get fried during the third possession? Hard to say. Zhao Jie died on the spot, and the machine is broken, so its uncertain what his condition is now... But it might be a blessing in disguise. If the machine hadnt broken down, that person might have asked us to continue attempting possession. You saw, no one who tried to possess this kid ended well. At this time, only three Jindai Killers were left near Qing Chen. The familiar sound of Jindai Yunhes footsteps was not there; it seemed he had gone elsewhere. Yet, Qing Chen didnt take any rash action, partly because his body truly had reached its limits, and partly because Jindai Yunhe, despite appearing arrogant and brutal, was actually very cautious. The other party must be somewhere not too far away, within reach at any moment. Moreover, there were people still carrying the stretcher; if he killed them and failed to escape... then there wouldnt be anyone left to carry the stretcher. He then heard the three continue to speak in low voices, Do you think Jindai Yunhe will kill us to silence us like he did before? Its possible. After we left, we heard explosions from behind. Though distant, it must be the people coming to rescue this kid who found the farm, someone said, This indicates that this kids reinforcements are very close. If Jindai Yunhe wants to travel light, hell certainly choose to eliminate us. After all, Jindai Yunhe was A-Class, and even carrying Qing Chen, he could move faster than they could with the stretcher. Upon hearing this, Qing Chens heart stirred! Could this mean there was a chance he would be rescued? The youth silently planned; he didnt know if his body could support another fight, but if Jindai Yunhe wasnt around, he could take a gamble. Kill these three men and meet up with his rescuers before Jindai Yunhe returned. However, before Qing Chen could finalize a plan, the sound of Jindai Yunhes footsteps already echoed through the woods. Jindai Yunhe said coldly to the three assassins, Why is the progress so slow? Quicken the pace; do not linger here. Qing Chen sighed inwardly; even at his peak, escaping under Jindai Yunhes watchful eye would be impossible. Thats when one of the stretcher-bearers said suspiciously, I think I saw this kids eyelids twitch. Huh? someone questioned, Really? Several people observed Qing Chen, and after more than ten minutes, they found nothing unusual, Maybe my eyes are playing tricks on me... Qing Chen inwardly breathed a sigh of relief; it was a close call that almost required him to walk by himself. He closed his eyes tightly, silently feeling his body. There seemed to be something different. But Qing Chen couldnt pinpoint what had changed. After being knocked out burying graves for the Producers, he had no clear idea of what happened after. Now that he was awake, the first thing that felt off was the new memory file of a person in his Memory Palace. Qing Chen roughly understood that this was probably another head sent over by Jindai while he had been unconscious... Terribly generous. The person providing the memory was named Zhao Jie, born in the north, from a single-parent family. Zhao Jies 24 years were unremarkable, the only thing of interest to Qing Chen was the mysterious identity of the person who selected him for the Yamata; even Zhao Jie had only seen them once. Wait a minute... Qing Chen suddenly felt something was off; Zhao Jie was clearly raised by a single mother, yet the family wasnt destitute, since a certain person regularly brought them wealth. The identity of Zhao Jie seemed to hold a secret. It was at that moment that Qing Chen noticed something odd in his blood. Within the flowing blood, There seemed to be boiling factors. Nanorobots?! Qing Chens consciousness was already linked with those little beings; billions of nanorobots floated in his blood, like dust or brilliant starlight. With a thought from Qing Chen, they followed the blood flow to his wound, swiftly gathering and forming biomimetic muscle tissue, filling his injuries. As the wounds slowly healed, some of the little beings gradually detached from the biomimetic tissue, leaving space for natural healing. Qing Chen was puzzled; when had these little beings entered his body, and since when had they become so obedient? Although nanorobots had also entered his cerebral cortex before, after connecting to neurons, they would strictly return the same way they came. But now... it was completely different. Qing Chen controlled the nanorobots in his body; one moment they lined up to form the character ˡ (person), the next they formed the character һ (one). The little things were very obedient, following his will with one hundred percent compliance. Gradually, Qing Chen discovered the first function of these nanorobots: they could clean up necrotic tissue and hematomas under the skin, and knit wounds together. Its worth knowing that after the first battle with the wolves, his body sustained many bites and scratches, many of which were torn muscles. This injury was a direct strike on combat ability. No matter how tenacious your will is, when muscle fibers are severed, you cant exert force anymore. But now, nanorobots could help Qing Chen fill that gap. Although he didnt yet know how strong these little guys were, at least they could ensure he moved unhindered before he was fully healed. Thats strange. Wasnt it said that the Federations nanorobots are not allowed to stay in the human body, and that all nanorobots are imprinted with fixed programs from the factory, never causing anomalies? Qing Chen wondered to himself. He was well aware of why the Federation had such a rule. The most troublesome thing in the last human civilization that was destroyed in the artificial intelligence crisis was nanorobots. They were the most undefeatable weapon in the hands of artificial intelligence. The group moved swiftly through the wilderness, and under Jindai Yunhes urging, everyone quickened their steps. At some moment, Qing Chen noticed that Jindai Yunhe seemed to have a destination in mind and was eager to reach it. After a few hours, the group stopped in front of a cave. There are many caves in Central Plains, for example, the Outer World has the famous Jiguan Cave Scenic Area. Beneath the caves lies a complex labyrinth and even more turbulent underground rivers deeper down. Relieved upon seeing the cave, a foreboding sense rose in Qing Chens hearthe was afraid that if his captor left through such treacherous terrain, they would really be difficult to find. But the problem was, even if the Jindai had managed to infiltrate their informants into Central Plains, it seemed far-fetched they would know an entire caves layout, right? At this moment, Jindai Yunhe raised his arm and spread his fingers toward the cave. From the darkness of the cave echoed the flutter of wings, growing closer and closer. The next moment, countless bats surged out from the cave like a black tide, the largest hanging upside down on Jindai Yunhes arm. Qing Chen quietly opened one eye to take a look... only to lock eyes with a Jindai assassin. The Jindai assassin exclaimed, This kid woke up long ago! Qing Chen: ... This was rather embarrassing. However, Jindai Yunhes mind didnt seem to be on Qing Chen at all. The adept of the Jindai Consortium calmly slit his own wrist, using his blood to draw strange symbols on the bats bodies. It was only then that Qing Chen suddenly realized something: if Jindai Yunhe could control a wolf pack before, he could now control a bat swarm. No wonder the Jindai Clan had sent this person to Central Plains to kidnap him, because Jindai Yunhes abilities allowed him to stealthily use natures animals and beasts to traverse terrain that was difficult for humans! You all have worked hard, but for the great cause of the Consortium, some sacrifices must be made, said Jindai Yunhe just as the swarm of black bats descended tumultuously, tightly encircling the three Jindai assassins. Within two breaths, the bats dispersed, leaving behind only the mummified husks of the three Jindai assassins, completely drained of blood! And this bat swarm, having fed on blood, became like an army, fully obedient to Jindai Yunhes commands. Jindai Yunhe smiled at Qing Chen on the stretcher: Now that youre awake, get up. I know youre pondering how to escape and reunite with the people coming to rescue you. But dont bother, since the Jindai sent me to Central Plains, theres naturally a reason for it. Soon youll see just how formidable my abilities are. Jindai Yunhe, tugging at a rope, headed into the dark cave. To ones surprise, he seemed to walk with utter disregard for the darkness, always somehow knowing where obstacles lay and where paths were. The foul-smelling bat army split into seven or eight groups, one remaining by Jindai Yunhes side, while the rest flew into the cave. Jindai Yunhe chose which path to take without any hesitation, as if he clearly knew which way he should go. The bat army was guiding him. Jindai Yunhe and the bat army were connected mind to mind! Qing Chen realized, Jindai Yunhes individual combat abilities might not compare with other A-Class experts because he relied on external forces. But in terms of functionality, the abilities of this A-Class expert were versatile and variable. A cave that would take the efforts of a thousand people to explore was no obstacle at all for Jindai Yunhe. Qing Chen suddenly pondered a question: if one day he truly managed to kill Jindai Yunhe, he should find a place where no one else was and bury his foe. Then wait a few decades to harvest the Taboo that would grow from him. The effects of this Taboo might be miraculously effective at a critical moment. If the Shadow could use a Transcendent to grow tea, using his enemy to cultivate a Taboo shouldnt be a problem, right? Of course, there would also be risks involved; the Taboo Land that an A-Class could form might pose a great threat, and the Tribunal probably wouldnt allow him to do so. The two continued down the cave, and gradually, Qing Chen heard the sound of a rushing current. In the cave, stalagmites hung in suspension, condensing moisture that dripped down one drop after another. Then, Jindai Yunhe took out a glow stick from his pocket to light up the area, revealing eight sets of diving equipment already laid out! He once again cut the wound on his wrist, letting blood drip into the Underground River. A bad feeling rose in Qing Chen again, but in the glow of the light stick, something immense seemed to be swimming towards them from the depths of the Underground River. It had limbs and a body shape like an axolotl, terrifying and savage. Jindai Yunhe turned to Qing Chen with a smile: Guess what would happen if I took you for a hundred kilometers through the Underground River C do you think those coming to save you would still be able to find you? ... Theres only one chapter today, taking a day off to spend with my family. Chapter 798: 481. Price Chapter 798: 481. Price In a dark and sinister cave, the stalagmites, shaped only through aeons, took on the appearance they held today. With features like clawing fangs, it seemed as if demons hid within the mountain, struggling to break free from the cave walls. The massive creature underwater gradually surfaced, inch by inch climbing up the riverbank, stretching six meters in length. It was only then that Qing Chen finally saw clearly that it was a top predator living underground, a Tyrant Salamander. The salamanders eyes seemed to have degenerated, its blurry and muddy pupils stared at Qing Chen. Qing Chen stood before it, feeling exceptionally insignificant, as if targeted by a demon straight from hell. The oppressive malevolence was something he had rarely encountered in his life. Jindai Yunhe approached the Tyrant Salamander, but the fierce beast in the water did not show any sign of aggression, merely staying motionless, as if it had already become a pet of this A-Class powerhouse. The Tyrant Salamander was draped in metal chains, like a saddle. With the Tyrant Salamanders protection, no other creature in the water would attack them. Jindai Yunhe patted the rough skin of the Tyrant Salamander, black as rock, then turned to Qing Chen with a smile and said, This is 700 meters underground, where even the life detection devices of the Aerial Fortress cant find you. Even if powerful figures come to rescue you, with hundreds of forks and entrances along the way, it would take a thousand people three days and nights to find this place without spending hours in exploration. Jindai Yunhe continued, By the time they find this place, Ill have already taken you through an exit hundreds of kilometers away. Its amusing to think about it, so many important figures trying to save you, only to find nothing in the end. Qing Chen calmly looked at Jindai Yunhe, Its hard on you to have prepared so thoroughly. I feel that the Jindai Consortiums vision is too small, exposing so much just for one person like me. Jindai Yunhe shook his head, I also thought you werent worth it. But after so many people came to rescue you and you showed potential that couldnt be taken over, I felt you were worth all these resources. With that, Jindai Yunhe came over to fit Qing Chen with diving gear. Qing Chen took a step back. Jindai Yunhe smiled and said, Resistance is useless. Even if you dont cooperate, Ill drag you into the water. Then, youll be the one suffering when you cant breathe underwater. Qing Chen calmly said, Would a dead me still hold any value? Of course, Jindai Yunhe said, I would take your corpse back to Jindai and open up your skull to see why no one can take you over. Qing Chen said, Maybe their level is too low. Why dont we go back and try? Maybe you could take me over. Jindai Yunhe smiled and shook his head, Do you think Im a fool? Hurry up. Maybe you dont know, but while the whole world is looking for you, Qing Hua and Yang Xuyang have already been secretly captured by us and will soon be transported to the north. If you dont want to implicate them, just come with me obediently. Qing Chen paused for a moment, then stopped moving. Because Qing Chens hands were still shackled with finger locks and wrist chains, Jindai Yunhe only strapped the oxygen tank on him. Within the Federation, there arent many places that require underwater operations, so the diving equipment isnt much more advanced than that of the Outer World. This oxygen tank could last at most two hours. This meant that Jindai Yunhe was confident he could traverse a hundred kilometers using the Tyrant Salamander in less than two hours. Now, those trying to rescue Qing Chen would truly lose track of him. The wilderness was vast; those searching to rescue him needed to first determine the search area, then carry out the rescue. At normal human swimming speeds, one could cover roughly 1 to 3 kilometers per hour, but with the current of the Underground River, perhaps it could reach 20 kilometers per hour. Who would have thought that they could traverse a hundred-kilometer diameter in just two hours? If the estimate was wrong, then the search area would be incorrect too. After Jindai Yunhe donned his diving gear, he looked at Qing Chen teasingly, Inspector Qing Chen seems still calm, ready to become a prisoner under the Jindai Consortium? Too much nonsense, Qing Chen calmly said, You are using talk to cover up the tension inside you. In fact, when you realized how terrifying the people coming to rescue me were, you werent sure whether someone would be waiting for you at the end of this Underground River, so you got scared. Jindai Yunhe smiled and shook his head as he climbed onto the back of the Tyrant Salamander, securing himself with an alloy chain. He tugged at the rope connected to Qing Chens wrist, letting the Tyrant Salamander crawl back into the Underground River. The Underground River was bitterly cold. The Tyrant Salamander shuttled through the river at a swift pace, its huge tail flapping like a propeller stirring the undercurrent. Qing Chen was thus suspended behind it, advancing with the Tyrant Salamander. He closed his eyes, feeling himself being tossed in the icy, dark current, like a doll adrift. A dead end. A hopeless situation. The complexity of the Underground River was even greater than that of the cave. Even if Qing Chen could remember the way he came by memory, the swift current would be enough to prevent him from returning the same way. Swimming against the current for a few meters per minute would exhaust all his strength. So, if he wanted to survive, he would have to stop struggling and let Jindai Yunhe take him to the next exit. Then live imprisoned within the military secret base of the Jindai Consortium for the rest of his life. It seemed... there was no better option. But what if Qing Chen hadnt intended to survive from the moment he entered the water? A Knight, even on a path of no return, must die with dignity. Those who humiliate a Knight must pay with their lives. Everything has a price. Qing Chen calculated the time under the water and then opened his eyes, only the faint light from Jindai Yunhes flashlight ahead. The blood vessels in his arms suddenly glinted with a silver light as billions of nanorobots within the young mans body, having absorbed enough bioenergy, then converged toward his wrist. They permeated from the gaps in the skin cells, covering the bracelet and finger locks like mercury. They surged into the keyholes of the bracelet and finger locks. The little ones hardened, pushing the mechanisms inside the locks. With two faint clicks underwater, the finger locks and bracelet unlocked in unison. This was the effect of the invasive nanorobots, and also long-awaited freedom. Qing Chen grabbed the rope Jindai Yunhe used to tug him, pulling himself closer bit by bit. In the dark waters, Jindai Yunhes Sixth Sense was also weakened, failing to detect Qing Chens approach immediately along the rope. When Jindai Yunhe turned around upon sensing something amiss, he saw Qing Chen already within a meter of him! Below the water, the young mans smile was brilliant as he pulled a hairpin between his fingers from behind Jindai Yunhes oxygen tank. With a clank! The black oxygen tank was amazingly scored by a strand of hair, emitting a metallic ring, and a large gash appeared on the tank, through which compressed air burst out furiously. In that moment, Jindai Yunhe finally understood how this young man had killed before, realizing even the fragile strand of hair could become the deadliest weapon in his hands! Jindai Yunhe didnt know Qing Chen was a Knight. Nor did he know that a Knight, even in their last breath, could use their hair as a weapon! Jindai Yunhe, with a fierce expression, grabbed Qing Chens oxygen tank strap intending to pull it off for his own use. As for whether Qing Chen had an oxygen tank or could survive, he did not care. But Jindai Yunhe realized, within the light of the glow stick, Qing Chen was still laughing. That radiant smile made him feel uneasy. The next moment he discovered, Qing Chen had already sliced open his own oxygen tank before slicing open his! The young man intended to die together with him! Yet even then, Qing Chen wasnt reassured, pulling out another strand of his hair, trying to strike on the disarrayed Jindai Yunhe using Knight Vital Energy targeted at his face. But A-Class was ultimately A-Class, Jindai Yunhe evaded to the left, the Autumn Leaf Knife formed from the strand of hair merely pierced the A-Class experts left arm, not even piercing through. At that moment, Qing Chen had already released the rope, letting himself drift in the dark currents of the Underground River, separating from both the tyrant salamander and Jindai Yunhe, growing further apart. It seemed Qing Chen was compelled to follow into the water unwillingly. However, Qing Chen had already planned what to do before entering the water. At this 700 meters underground, even if Yan Yan arrived, she would not be able to sense his field, neither his master Uncle Li Dong, Li Changqing, nor Shadow could save him. Even if he could breathe underwater, he wouldnt find an escape before running out of Knight Vital Energy. After killing Jindai Yunhe, neither the tyrant salamander nor the ferocious underwater fish would spare him. But it didnt matter. He could die here with Jindai Yunhe! Perhaps in other places, ten Qing Chens wouldnt be a match for one Jindai Yunhe. But this place was different. The mighty power of nature was enough to kill anyone. Thank the world, for both taking away and giving. If Jindai Yunhe thought death could intimidate Qing Chen into submission, he was too naive. Knights never lacked the courage to face death! Their path was always accompanied by life and death! So Qing Chen had timed it, choosing to act 30 minutes after he and Jindai Yunhe entered the water. The reason he waited 30 minutes was because in such circumstances, if Jindai Yunhe lost his oxygen, even if he returned immediately, he could not survive underwater for half an hour. This A-Class powerhouse was destined to drown in this Underground River! By this point, Jindai Yunhe was frantic. He couldnt believe that he, a proud A-Class expert, would have his life endangered by a minor C-Class during his proudest moment! Nor did he expect that this insignificant figure in his eyes would have the courage to exchange life for life. Just then, the tyrant salamander opened its huge mouth, spitting out a black bag containing the artificial gills that Jindai Yunhe had hidden in advance, a technology brought over to the Outer World by the Time Traveler, which he never thought would actually come in handy. He compelled the tyrant salamander to return along the same path to capture Qing Chen. Even if it meant bringing back a corpse, he had to take this young man back! However, when Jindai Yunhe returned, he was stunned to see that rather than drifting with the current, the young man was clinging to the rock wall at the top of the underground river as if climbing a mountain, painstakingly ascending against the current step by step. In this deadly situation, the opponent still hadnt given up on a thread of survival. ... Another chapter at 11 PM Chapter 799: 482, Awakening, master the Thunder! Chapter 799: 482, Awakening, master the Thunder! Qing Chens ascent against the current, climbing on the ceiling of the Underground River, truly shocked Jindai Yunhe. Although angry, he had never thought someone could be so tenacious. If there had been sufficient oxygen, if he hadnt gotten lost in this Underground River, the young man could indeed have climbed back to the entrance bit by bit. At least it was more reliable than swimming back. But in Jindai Yunhes view... It was simply impossible. Because he did not know that Qing Chen would never get lost, nor did he know that Qing Chens Knight Vital Energy was already enough to support him breathing underwater for four hours. Jindai Yunhe coldly watched the young man clinging to the top of the rock wall and sneered. There was only one set of artificial gills, and he had never planned to share it with Qing Chen. Bringing Qing Chen back alive to the north was the mission given to him by the consortium. But if he gave the artificial gills to Qing Chen, and the young man, wanting to die together, directly destroyed the artificial gills, then he too would die in the Underground River. Humans are strong yet fragile, without oxygen, even a demigod cannot live past thirty minutes. Jindai Yunhe was afraid. Logically, the young man should grasp every chance to live, to preserve the artificial gills. But you cant assume a man who has gone mad will act sensibly. Therefore, Jindai Yunhe decided not to save Qing Chen; he planned to return his drowned body to the consortium. He commanded the tyrant salamander to quickly engage in fierce battle. Qing Chen seemed not to have anticipated that Jindai Yunhe could find a solution to the oxygen problem so quickly. Before the tyrant salamander rushed over, he had no choice but to push off the wall with a kick and leave the rock wall. His body, too, was swept downstream by the turbulent currents. The moment he brushed past the tyrant salamander, the creatures short, flat claws grazed the young man, leaving three deep, bone-deep gashes on Qing Chens body. The blood had just begun to flow out when it was washed away by the river. Qing Chen felt himself getting weaker and weaker, possibly falling into a state of shock from excessive blood loss. Qing Chen realized, Jindai Yunhe no longer intended to leave him alive at this point! The other party, to be safe, wanted to kill him outright! Qing Chen was not reconciled. It was not death itself he could not reconcile with. Everyone must die eventually. He could not reconcile with dying alone. The death of a Knight required others to be entombed alongside. Qing Chen swam swiftly, the nanorobots even forming a pair of fins on his feet so he could swim faster. But, no matter how fast a person swims in the water, they cannot outpace a tyrant salamander. At this moment, the tyrant salamander had already turned around, Jindai Yunhes face ashen, his patience exhausted. Wait, Qing Chen suddenly saw a dark shadow on the left side ahead in the Underground Rivera small branch of the river! He surged into it with a powerful stroke. He could fit through, but the tyrant salamanders massive body could not. Jindai Yunhe, mounted on the back of the tyrant salamander, coldly watched the young man in the cave entrance. As he drew near, the young man shrank back a bit. However, Qing Chen did not rashly swim further into the dark depths, because once you go astray in that complex, labyrinthine subterranean river, theres no going back. Qing Chen touched his wound, attempting to use the nanorobots to patch it up, but the nanorobots had depleted too much energy in the earlier fighting and were powerless to help. He felt his body growing increasingly cold. He looked at Jindai Yunhe standing guard at the entrance. Jindai Yunhe sneered at him, wanting to see how long Qing Chen could hold his breath. Yet at that moment, the young man closed his eyes. ... ... The last meter. Its your own path. In the darkness, all the pores on Qing Chens body flared open. Breathing as much as he could. Was he going to die? Would he succumb here in this dark Underground River? There were still so many things he had not done. So many people he had not met. So much good time ahead. So many roads he had not traveled. He knew Jindai Yunhe was not dead yet and that there were more plans in place. But in that instant, nothing else mattered. Qing Chen used all his strength, his every pore breathing unrestrainedly. Your life is a long journey, along the way some people come, and some go. Morning sun. Evening glows. Those scenes will also drift away from you. But if there is anything in this world that can accompany you forever, it must be conviction. The road of life is long, to keep living, Qing Chen had to open his body and soul, to breathe his own life. And deep within that life, the power that had lain dormant. When he first completed the life-and-death challenge, something had been lying dormant, almost opening alongside the genetic lock. The second time, as he leaped over Weiyang Lake, that feeling became even clearer. However, the third life-and-death challenge disappointed Qing Chen; above the ocean and below the Dark Kingdom, he did not feel the long-missed life and death, nor did that dormant power stir. From that time on, Qing Chen should have realized, he had taken a detour in a world governed by virtue. He should not have turned the Knights path into one of certainty. And now, as the young man retraced his steps through hardships, picking up the scenery he had missed, filling in the gaps in those times... All came together again. And so, the power reappeared. This was life and death. Qing Chen, in the darkness, felt death and danger drawing closer bit by bit, yet his heart leapt for joy. In a flash. The sound of thunder roared in his bones, reverberating, scattering, bursting forth! Chapter 800: 482, Awakening, Mastering Thunder!_2 Chapter 800: 482, Awakening, Mastering Thunder!_2 A streak of golden light snaked and surged between his muscles! He trekked a distance, then looked back a distance, and gazed ahead. It was like a new journey of cultivation, unrelated to realms but connected to the heart. The once lost teenager had finally regained everything he had lost! Only faith and the sun and moon are eternal. The brilliant youth held thunder within his body. ... ... In the dark waters, Jindai Yunhe waited quietly. Initially, he could have left the giant salamander to chase and kill Qing Chen in the side tunnels, but for some reason, when he wanted to approach that teenager, this A-Class expert felt a tinge of fear rising in his heart. He worried that the teenager was still pretending, that the boy had a hidden trump card, and feared that he would be ambushed and forever rest in this underground river. Only the giant salamander beneath him gave him some sense of security. Along the way, Jindai Yunhe tried every means to break Qing Chens will, but all failed. Not only did he fail to destroy Qing Chens will, but the boy counterattacked tenaciously again and again! At one moment, Jindai Yunhe had the illusion that this teenager was indomitable. Thinking of all this, Jindai Yunhe felt a surge of shame; to be pushed this far by a mere C-Class, his state of mind had already crumbled. Just as the Shadow had said, sometimes the corporations would employ despicable psychological warfare; once they found a prodigy in an opponents clan, they would try to create setbacks for that genius. If the prodigy couldnt endure the setback, they would blend into the crowd and become mediocre. There were too many such demoralized people in this world, and geniuses were no exception. Jindai Yunhe knew very well that even if he made it back north safely, with such a mental knot, it would be impossible to achieve any breakthrough in his realm. He was furious. He never expected that a mere C-Class would ruin his state of mind! Yet despite this, Jindai Yunhe still did not dare to kill Qing Chen with his own hands; he simply waited quietly outside the black hole, waiting for Qing Chen to drown himself. Qing Chens will was not broken, but Jindai Yunhes will teetered on the brink of collapse. But then, unexpectedly, after a full two minutes, Jindai Yunhe didnt see Qing Chen die. Instead, he saw a streak of golden light. Jindai Yunhe was stunned to see threads of golden light escaping from the narrow slits of Qing Chens closed eyes, drifting like thin golden arcs in the water. As he got closer, Jindai Yunhe felt a tingling sensation on his skin. Suddenly, Qing Chens eyes snapped open, and Jindai Yunhe saw a pair of golden eyes staring at him from the dark side tunnel, as if they contained an ancient god. Awakened?! Jindai Yunhe was astounded. He never expected that at the moment he was almost mentally destroyed, the opponents mental state would grow stronger, breaking the cultivators rule of difficult awakening! Normally, cultivation was the process of unlocking bodily potential, so once the potential was exhausted, there would be no more awakening. After awakening, cultivation would also become extremely slow. This was why Liu Dezhus cultivation speed was slower than others. If no one had empowered him, Liu Dezhu would have struggled to complete even a single circulation independently, let alone practice breathing techniques. But this rule failed on Qing Chen. A person who had reached C-Class could awaken again, what terrifying potential was this!? If such a boy were kept alive, many people would lose sleep over it in the future! However, at this moment, not only did Jindai Yunhe not have the urge to kill, but he was instead filled with fear, his soul trembling as he quickly commanded the giant salamander to flee. Jindai Yunhe knew that even if the boy awakened, he would most likely not achieve a major breakthrough in his level. Human potential could not be infinite; with a cultivation level of C-Class, the awakened ability might just be D-Class or E-Class. Yet Jindai Yunhe still couldnt suppress his fear; the boy was like sticky taffy, impossible to shake off! In the black side tunnel, the boy was surrounded by golden arcs of electricity, making the dark underground river as bright as day! He opened his golden eyes and shot out of the tunnel like an arrow. The roles of prey and hunter miraculously reversed! Qing Chen swam with all his might, trying to catch up with the giant salamander. However, at the next moment, the fierce giant salamander suddenly slowed down, its massive tail swung back and struck Qing Chen, slamming him hard against the stone wall of the underground river, knocking him unconscious. Jindai Yunhe sneered again, the young genius was still too immature, not understanding the myriad ways of deadly combat. He rode the giant salamander slowly toward Qing Chen, but at that precise moment, the boys eyes opened again, golden light captivating his soul. Jindai Yunhes heart froze; he felt those golden eyes were solemn like a gods. The giant salamander charged ferociously at Qing Chen, but the boy neither dodged nor evaded. Qing Chen raised his hand in the water. Like a god delivering a divine decree. With a loud boom. The boy was swept into the dark current by the giant salamanders impact. But the golden arc that burst from his fingertip pierced through the water, straight towards Jindai Yunhes chest! Jindai Yunhe wanted to raise his hand to block, but he felt a numbing sensation, looking at his arm in shock, seeing the precise spot where Qing Chen had struck with a hair-thin wire earlier. The wire hadnt pierced his arm, but it had precisely struck the radial nerve cluster! Chapter 801: 482, Awakening, Mastering Thunder!_3 Chapter 801: 482, Awakening, Mastering Thunder!_3 The tiny nanorobots attached to his hair entered Jindai Yunhes body through the wound, using their remaining bioenergy to try to damage the nerve clusters. This kind of damage wouldnt significantly affect A-Class experts, but it would cause Jindai Yunhes forearm, palm, and wrist to have momentary motor impairment. Even if its just 0.2 seconds, its enough. The golden arc light dispersed in the water, but ultimately, it still reached Jindai Yunhe. Jindai Yunhe only felt that the golden arc light wasnt very powerful, but it made his whole body stiffen instantly! In the darkness, he suddenly saw the golden light flashing, and the face of the young man turning in the water still had a smile! Extraordinarily bright! Not only did Qing Chen not take the opportunity to escape, but he also swam upstream. In an instant, the young man had already arrived in front of Jindai Yunhe! Be scattered with the thunder! In the brilliant world of the future, there will be no name Jindai Yunhe! At this moment. Jindai Yunhe forcibly moved his stiff body quickly to the left to evade, feeling the hair between the young mans fingers cutting through his arm. Bone and flesh, disintegrated in the blink of an eye! Jindai Yunhes arm was cut in half! If he hadnt dodged quickly, the hair would have cut off his head. The hair between the young mans fingers was far sharper than the ones shot out before! Jindai Yunhe swung his left arm, thinking he could force Qing Chen back, but Qing Chen did not retreat. Instead, another strand of golden thunder shot out from his fingertips toward Jindai Yunhes face. Jindai Yunhe instinctively tilted his head to dodge, but the thunder scattered in the water was unavoidable; where there was water, there was thunder. But he suddenly felt something was wrong. This golden thunder seemed not to have any power, only making his face slightly numb. No, somethings wrong! Somethings wrong! Jindai Yunhe realized it! The golden arc light wasnt meant to hit him but hit the artificial gills in his mouth. The artificial gills, which worked on the principle of electrolytic oxygen separation, had their core damaged instantly. Jindai Yunhe accidentally inhaled a mouthful of icy water, nearly sucking it into his lungs! It turns out the young man knew that even if he awakened, he still couldnt match an A-Class expert, so he targeted the keyword oxygen instead. From the start, he knew he only needed to destroy Jindai Yunhes oxygen supply equipment, and Jindai Yunhe would no longer have the ability to fight! Thank natures mighty force. Thank the world! Qing Chen closed his eyes in peace, drifting with the current, completely falling into darkness. Jindai Yunhe knew his time was running out. He didnt chase Qing Chen but frantically swam upstream, riding the giant salamander, trying to reach the underground rivers entrance before he ran out of oxygen! But soon, Jindai Yunhe felt that there was no more oxygen in his blood. In fact, he knew it was futile. He widened his eyes, never imagining that he would end up defeated by a C-Class individual! Despite the disparity in their strength, where he could crush the boy with one hand! Gradually, the face of the A-Class expert began to swell, his eyes filled with blood, and his consciousness grew increasingly blurred. Before completely falling into darkness, Jindai Yunhe instinctively glanced in the direction where Qing Chen had drifted, only to see darkness, no trace of the boy. Wait a minute. Jindai Yunhe seemed to realize something, ordered the giant salamander to open its massive mouth, and swallowed him whole! Inside the belly of the giant salamander, there was a place containing air, used by the salamander to control its buoyancy! ... ... Half an hour later, the enormous salamander quickly crawled out of the entrance, where Jindai Yunhe had brought Qing Chen into the water. The giant salamander opened its massive mouth, spitting out the critically wounded Jindai Yunhe. The A-Class expert sat up in a miserable state, breathing heavily, almost passing out from the stench inside the salamanders belly. His skin was covered in pits and craters from the corrosive fluids. After an unknown period, Jindai Yunhe roared in the dark cave! For the humiliation! For the pain! He looked at his severed arm, the wound already corroded by the fluids inside the salamanders belly. No matter how advanced the technology was, it was impossible to reconnect the limb; only a mechanical limb could be installed. Jindai Yunhe fumed with rage, but soon he heard shouting from above the cave, indicating that someone had already followed him down. His heart sank, how did Qing Chens rescuers arrive so quickly?! No time to think, Jindai Yunhe quickly donned another set of diving equipment from the shore, mounted the salamanders back, and with hatred and anger, dove back into the water. Chapter 802: 483, the second Qing Mu Chapter 802: 483, the second Qing Mu In the malformed and twisted underground cave, the howling of mechanical hunting dogs echoed. They followed a familiar scent, winding through the maze-like cave, arriving at the underground riverbank. Along the way, every 1.2 kilometers on average, a drop of Qing Chens blood appeared. A total of 37 drops, spreading all the way to the deepest part of the cave. Ordinary excellent hunting dogs have a tracking distance of 0.5 kilometers, while mechanical hunting dogs have a maximum tracking distance of 1.3 kilometers. Therefore, Qing Chens blood appearing every 1.2 kilometers, very consistently, suggests that Qing Chen intentionally left these traces, hoping that reinforcements could catch up based on them. This discovery excited everyone, as it meant Qing Chen was still conscious, even when gravely injured and at the end of his strength, still finding ways to save himself. Their biggest fear was that Qing Chen had already collapsed. If that were the case, Qing Chen would truly become a lamb waiting to be slaughtered. Lao Shijiu ran limping at the front, afraid that there might be a trap under the cave that could harm his boss. After confirming there was no danger, he jogged back to report, Boss, there are blood stains ahead but no signs of a fight. The trail stops at the underground river; it seems the Jindai took Qing Chen away through the river. Li Changqing frowned and came to the riverbank, looking at Jindai Yunhes severed arm discarded there, and the corroded pits on it, How did this happen, and whose arm is this? The riverbank was a mess, with blood, water marks, and scattered submersible equipment everywhere. Lao Shijiu squatted down to examine, From the marks on the ground, originally there were eight sets of submersible equipment, but now three are missing. Strangely, some of the wet footprints indicate two people, one a mysterious expert from Jindai, the other matching Qing Chens characteristics. They left, but why take three sets of submersible equipment? If the distance is too far, one per person wouldnt be enough; they should take four. Zheng Yuandong glanced at the clues on the ground, It was two people. Someone left and then came back alone to get another set of submersible equipment. Was it Qing Chen? Lao Shijiu was stunned, Could he have escaped control and returned here alone? No, Zheng Yuandong shook his head, If he had broken free from the Jindai experts control and returned here, he would definitely head towards the cave entrance rather than continue underwater. So, the one who came back is the Jindai expert, and this arm is his. These words left everyone looking at each other in astonishment. He Jinqiu leaned on his Black Scepter, smiling by the riverbank, If Im not mistaken, the one who attacked this time should be Jindai Yunhe. According to Hus Information Agency, the entire Jindai Consortium has seven people capable of controlling beasts, but only one has reached A-Class, while the others are all below C-Class. Only Jindai Yunhe has the ability to control so many wolf packs. Jindai Yunhe, Li Changqing continued frowning, her delicate eyebrows now fierce as knives. A C-Class severing an A-Classs arm underwater, who would believe it? He Jinqiu laughed, In ordinary times, even a hundred C-Class wouldnt stand a chance against an A-Class without modern technology. Of course, Jindai Yunhe isnt the top among A-Class experts either. If He Jinqiu were Jindai Yunhe, with just his few jade swords, sending any number of C-Class would be a death sentence. The gap between B-Class and A-Class is what every transcendent wants to cross. Once crossed, it means truly being extraordinary. Even if Jindai Yunhe isnt a combat-type A-Class expert, losing an arm to a C-Class is still shocking. He Jinqiu tapped his Black Scepter, Actually, Im not very surprised. Someone who could maintain calm after being taken over by neurons three times and guide us here, it makes sense for him to sever Jindai Yunhes arm. Zheng Yuandong eyed the severed arm, The wound on the arm is corroded by an unknown liquid; half of the cut is smooth, and the other half rough. Qing Chen probably cut half of it, and Jindai Yunhe severed it completely to prevent the spread of necrotic tissue. Qing Chen must have severely injured Jindai Yunhe when they went underwater, though he himself must be gravely injured too. But the good news is, Qing Chen should be alive. In a few words, the situation was roughly described. Li Changqing ordered to keep the severed arm and take it back for comparison. They didnt have Jindai Yunhes gene in their database, but they had samples of some Jindai family gene sequences and could approximate the arms owners identity through familial relations. The bad news is, Jindai Yunhe is still alive. The good news is Qing Chen is also alive, He Jinqiu looked at the rushing dark underground river and said, The ravens didnt appear here at all; theres no sign of them for miles around. Given the Contraindicated Courts usual behavior, if a transcendent fight broke out here and someone died, the ravens would definitely come to collect the transcendents body. Of course, this was also why Li Changqing hadnt gone mad. You might not trust the words of a mans mouth, but you can definitely trust the Contraindicated Courts collection capabilities; they wont miss any transcendents body now. Qing Chen and Jindai Yunhe, a C-Class and an A-Class, are both within the Contraindicated Courts collection range. Li Changqing turned to Lao Shijiu, Deploy professional submersible equipment to search underwater, and have the Qing Shan ship expand its search area. Tonight before dark is our best chance to find Qing Chen. We must find him before Jindai Yunhe catches up with him again! Then she turned to He Jinqiu, Thanks this time. In Hus internal board, I can continue to be your ally, I owe you one. He Jinqiu shook his head, Although I like business talks, Qing Chen is also a member of Kyushu, so you dont need to thank me. Li Changqing was stunned, looking towards Zheng Yuandong, then towards He Jinqiu, Which organization does Qing Chen belong to? How did he end up adding every organization from the Outer World? Zheng Yuandongs and He Jinqius expressions turned subtle... ... ... In the darkness, it was unclear how long or how far he drifted. It seemed as long as a century. In his drowsiness, Qing Chen sensed fish in the underground river approaching him, probing. He mustered his last willpower, releasing the remaining strength in his body, using a golden electric arc to fend off those trying to devour him. This act worked, and the greedy fish stayed several meters away, continuing to follow him but did not give up. Did Jindai Yunhe die? Qing Chen was unsure. Would he die? He was also unsure. After an unknown amount of time, Qing Chen gradually entered a state of exhaustion while maintaining the golden electrical arc. The wounds left by the deinosuchus on his body kept aching, both new and old wounds flaring up after the intense battle. Fortunately, transcendent beings had strong self-healing abilities, and the wounds had gradually stopped bleeding. Suddenly, light appeared at the end of the river, weak but as hopeful as a beacon in the darkness. The sound of splashing water pushed Qing Chen out of the river. He found himself in a dim valley, where the river split into several streams, each flowing in different directions. Qing Chen was pushed to the rivers edge by the water. He lay there helplessly, unable to move a finger or lift his eyelids, only able to hear beasts slowly approaching, their footsteps heavy and numerous. Damn it, Qing Chen bitterly smiled in his heart, out of the wolfs lair, into the tigers den? He thought he had escaped the abyss, only to face death once more. Forget it. Tired. Let it end. But before the beasts could get close, human footsteps approached, the hard boots stepping on the soft pebbles by the pool, making a sound only made by military boots fitted with alloy steel plates. Qing Chen was too hazy to think clearly, unsure who this person was, why they were here, or what they wanted to do. He only knew Jindai Yunhe didnt wear such boots. Then, in the valley, came the sound of cutting meat and the roars of beasts. The sound of slicing flesh was like a tailor cutting thick leather with scissors, quick and decisive. In just a few breaths, the beasts were all but dead. The person came to Qing Chens side and squatted down, chuckling, Youre really hurt. Fortunately, I was here waiting; otherwise, youd have died. Remember to show mercy if you recognize me in the future. As he spoke, he covered Qing Chens eyes with a black cloth, seemingly to prevent Qing Chen from seeing his face. Although Qing Chens consciousness was vague, he confirmed he had never heard the persons voice before. This was a stranger. But why would a stranger come to this remote place to save him, wearing military boots no less? Voices can be disguised, and what someone says may not be true. Moreover, the way they walked gave Qing Chen a strange feeling. Roughly estimating their strength, given the speed at which they killed the beasts, they must be an expert, much faster than Qing Chen could handle. The person took out a syringe from their pocket and injected Qing Chens neck, joking, Now you definitely wont die. The life-saving potion diluted from Gods blood, very precious. I wonder if Id get caught if I secretly injected half of it myself... Better not risk it. You rest a bit; there are no beasts around. Ill go ambush Jindai Yunhe that old guy, see if I can finish him off. With that, the person got up and left. Left... The mystery deepened in Qing Chens heart. Someone came here to give him a life-saving shot and then left?! What kind of operation is this?! Soon, more footsteps echoed in the valley, dense and hurried. Qing Chen could no longer resist falling asleep. Just before he slipped into darkness, he heard someone say, Reporting, we found the target, alive. But... no sign of officer Jindai Yunhe. Alright, well take the target north to meet up, arriving at the extraction point in 20 minutes... The communication channel calmly stated, Depart immediately after rendezvous. A northern extraction route has been opened, transporting the target directly to a secret military base. Received. ... Another chapter before 11 PM Chapter 803: 484, Information Disparity Chapter 803: 484, Information Disparity Flight altitude 7807 meters, radar has not detected any suspicious targets, entering cruising mode. Descending by 1000 meters, entering cruising mode, and will arrive at the A02 military base in 8 hours. Sparrow will be given another sedative injection in 15 minutes. In an A-Class Floating ship flying northward, the pilots report echoed through the static noise. The airship was enormous, with an interior equivalent to a large apartment of five or six hundred square meters, extremely spacious. Four pilots sat in the wide cockpit, in front of a 360-degree holographic exterior image. Two were responsible for piloting, one for the main weapon, and another for the auxiliary weapon system. The airship was exceptionally smooth, without the slightest bit of turbulence. Qing Chen slowly woke up inside the rear cabin. He did not open his eyes, instead, he assessed his own condition. He was bandaged again, surrounded by the thick scent of medicine, suggesting someone had bandaged him. The wounds no longer hurt as much, and the broken ribs had been realigned. His Memory Palace outside his mind was entwined with golden arcs of electricity, and his once overdrawn Awakening force had mostly recovered. The number of Nanorobots in his body had decreased by half, yet those still alive remained active. Oddly, Qing Chens arms were once again bound with finger and wrist locks, restricting his hand movements. Externally, a black restraint suit tightly enveloped him. Qing Chen was like a bat wrapped in its wings, unable to move his arms at all. Qing Chen knew this device; it was a special restraint suit designed to prevent B-Class and below Transcendents from committing suicide. Once worn, it was impossible to break free from the inside. However, there was something else odd about it. Since Jindai Yunhe had witnessed him silently unlock the finger and wrist locks, why did they still put them on him? These things clearly couldnt keep him secure. Wait a minute. Qing Chen suddenly understood something; Jindai Yunhe hadnt successfully rendezvoused with the Jindai troops responsible for support, preventing them from sharing known information with the Jindai Consortium. Therefore, the Jindai Consortium forces followed their standard protocol, using the finger and wrist locks to restrain his movements. Also, Qing Chens hair hadnt been shaved off. If Jindai Yunhe were present, Qing Chens hair certainly wouldnt still be there. After all, Qing Chen had used his hair to sever half of Jindai Yunhes arm. By the same logic... the Jindai Consortium didnt yet know he was immune to possession. Previously, Jindai Yunhe and others had no chance to pass on that information. Qing Chen closed his eyes, deep in thought. Was Jindai Yunhe dead? Could it be the person who saved him indeed ambushed Jindai Yunhe successfully? No matter what happened, Jindai Yunhe not meeting with the Jindai support troops was Qing Chens opportunity. His current predicament was: First, his actions were restricted by the restraint suit. Second, its highly unlikely that there would be another A-Class expert in this support unit. Logically, Jindai Yunhe should have retreated with him, and this A-Class expert was the commanding officer for this mission. Kidnapping a C-Class, deploying an A-Class expert, along with such a significant amount of manpower and resources, was already a big deal. Finally, there was an information gap between the Jindai Consortium and him. One must admit, Jindai Yunhe was the first true A-Class expert he had faced. Just as Shadow said, dealing with an expert at this level is quite challenging, especially for a C-Class like him. Even after leveraging the right time and place, meticulously planning everything, and risking his Awakening, he had only managed to cripple one of Jindai Yunhes arms. This solidified Qing Chens resolve. If he could return to the Outer World alive, the first thing he would do is take on the next challenging life-and-death trial. There was no time for him to make thorough preparations, but Knights thrive in danger. At this moment, Qing Chen sensed someone approaching in the cabin. He kept his eyes shut and carefully analyzed the situation, counting a total of 21 breathing sounds within the A-Class Floating ship, including the four pilots. As he calculated, six Jindai Genetic Warriors approached him, each holding different parts of his body, preparing to inject the sedative. Qing Chen suddenly opened his eyes: I am Takahashi Toshiki, the neuron docking mission has been completed. The Genetic Warriors aboard the A-Class Floating ship were stunned. They were aware of Takahashi Toshiki and the neuron docking possession mission. It was logical to assume that Officer Jindai Yunhe had captured Qing Chen and successfully completed the possession. Aboard the floating ship, someone contacted the A02 secret military base: Reporting, Sparrow has awakened and claims to be Takahashi Toshiki, having successfully completed the possession mission. A voice from the communication channel responded, Open the holographic channel for verification. As they spoke, six Genetic Warriors escorted Qing Chen to the cockpit. In the center of the spacious room, a holographic image formed, showing a middle-aged man with a grim face. Qing Chen recognized him. Takahashi Toshikis impression of this man was deep; he was one of the commanders of the Yamata GroupJindai Yunzi. Name. Takahashi Toshiki. Birthplace. City 22, Fireworks Town. Fathers name. Takahashi Ichiro. Your identification code. 4103031... Qing Chen recited a sequence of 27 digits in one breath. It was an identification code Takahashi Toshiki had memorized countless times. Each member of the Yamata Group had their own unique code, essential to memorize. To be frank, memorizing such a sequence on short notice would be challenging for most people. Jindai Yunzi asked over a hundred questions about Takahashi Toshiki, seemingly prepared for a thorough identity verification post-possession. And Qing Chen accurately answered every question to the dot. Ten of the questions were even trap questions, which Qing Chen dismantled perfectly. This was the only method to verify the neuron docking possession. So, from any perspective, Qing Chen at this moment was undoubtedly Takahashi Toshiki, unless Jindai Yunhe appeared to reveal his memory-devouring secret. Jindai Yunzis holographic image vanished, and no one tried to inject Qing Chen with sedatives again. The atmosphere inside the A-Class Floating ship calmed for half an hour. Jindai Yunzi, after reporting to unknown parties, made the final decision: Release Qing Chens restraints and proceed with the original cruising plan. Ensure he is brought back to the A02 base! Jindai Yunzis expression showed a trace of excitement, reflected vividly in the hologram. It seemed that once Qing Chen was successfully possessed, many of their plans could be implemented smoothly! Jindai Yunzi continued: Takahashi Toshiki, you are a meritorious figure of the Yamato Nation. I have requested higher authorities to bestow your mother with the honor of a First-class Meritorious Mother. I hope you will continue to fulfill your mission! Qing Chen suddenly stood at attention, clenching his right hand over his chest, performing the Jindai Consortiums salute: For the glory of the clan! At this point, Jindai Yunzi suddenly asked: By the way, where is Jindai Yunhe? Qing Chens expression turned sorrowful: Officer Jindai Yunhe was supposed to escape with me through the underground river beneath the cave. However, he lost an arm in battle and was severely injured. To ensure my safe return to the clan, he had to draw the enemy away by himself into a side passage. I escaped alone. Officer, Jindai Yunhes loyalty to the clan is unmatched! Qing Chen spoke with tears streaming down his face, a truly moving performance. Even a few Genetic Warriors aboard the floating ship had their eyes turn red. Jindai Yunzi remained silent for a few seconds: This time, the enemy dispatched experts like Li Changqing, something the clan did not anticipate. If we had followed the original plan, he wouldnt have had to sacrifice himself to complete the mission. But there has been no news of his death so far. With his abilities, he may have some means to survive in that cave. I hope he can return safely. Without news of Jindai Yunhes death, it was the worst possible scenario. For Qing Chen, if Jindai Yunhe were to return north alive, everything Qing Chen was doing now would be in vain. Moreover, impersonating Takahashi Toshiki carried other risks. Besides Jindai Yunhe, the reinforcements could also deduce the failure of the possession plan. Although Li Changqing would try everything to maintain security, Jindai had harbored ill intentions for years. Who could guarantee that there are no Jindai Consortium spies among the thousands aboard the Qing Shan Ship? The Qing Shan Ship was a strategic weapon; if Jindai were to target something for infiltration, this behemoth would certainly be a top priority. Therefore, Qing Chens priority remained finding a way to leave as soon as possible. Playing Takahashi Toshiki was merely a temporary measure. He had no interest in risking his life dancing on the edge of a blade. Whether Jindai Yunhe was dead or alive, Qing Chen had to prepare for the worst. Jindai Yunzi looked at Qing Chen and said: Recover well. Once you return to the base, the clan will have new missions for you. But also understand, the clan needs to take some precautions. Right after speaking, the Genetic Warriors aboard the floating ship pressed Qing Chen down, injecting two small capsules into his calf and forearm. Those were micro-explosives and tracking devices. If Qing Chen showed any abnormality, the other side would remotely destroy him immediately. His heart sank; they clearly didnt fully trust him. But Qing Chen wasnt too worried about these micro-explosives. After all, the devices functioned through micro-chips. If someone who commands Thunder feared these, Awakening would be a joke. So Qing Chen didnt struggle; instead, he solemnly declared: For the glory of the clan, I am willing! Very good, Jindai Yunzi said before closing the holographic image. The atmosphere in the A-Class Floating ship relaxed. A pilot laughed: Takahashi Toshiki, you really made it, successfully completing the possession. If you play the role of Qing Chen well, youll enjoy endless glory and wealth. Haha, who wouldve thought Qing Chen was easier to handle than Qing Mu. The intelligence officers of the Qings Family are getting worse with each generation. Once Takahashi Toshiki appears as Qing Chen and announces his allegiance to the Jindai Consortium, Shadows expression will be priceless, though no one has seen his face yet. People say that Qing Chen is difficult to deal with, but he doesnt seem as formidable as rumored. If the clan had sent me to City 10, I wouldve captured him long ago. The captain of the floating ship said coldly: Its not time to be happy yet. Lets focus on whether we can safely reach the A02 base first. Qing Chen silently observed everything around him. Chapter 804: 485, Fight to the death Chapter 804: 485, Fight to the death Above the towering mountains of the south, the Qing Shan Air Fortress was gliding slowly, blocking out the sun. Hundreds of soldiers moved through the mountains. Thousands of drones swarmed the ground, systematically searching every nook and cranny. The buzzing drone swarm resembled a massive horde of giant killer bees in a state of complete frenzy. Whenever a batch of drones neared their energy limits, they would fly back to the underside of the Qing Shan Ship, entering a recharge and sleep state, then another batch of hive doors would open, releasing the second wave of drones. Li Changqing violated search protocols, continually expanding the search range, yet still found no trace of Qing Chen. Finally, after 6 hours, a drone discovered two anomalies to the north. The first anomaly: the drone found the corpse of a giant salamander outside the northern valley. A fierce battle had taken place here, but no human corpses were seen. The second anomaly: in a valley five kilometers away, there were scattered beast corpses in disarray. There were signs of human activity nearby, suggesting a group had camped here for several days and then left not long ago. Li Changqing believed that the one who could control the giant salamander must be Jindai Yunhe, but she couldnt fathom who may have fought him here. Moreover, various indications on site suggested that Jindai Yunhe was not dead, as there were no traces of substantial human blood. The other valley might have signs of Qing Chens escape, but it looked like he was intercepted by another group. If this group was part of Jindai, then Qing Chen would likely have been taken to a secret military base in the north. Li Changqing thoughtfully issued orders, requesting to use the Li Family satellite to gather images from all nearby satellites. The results showed that six hours before, an A-Class Floating ship had taken off from 20 kilometers north. Lao Shijiu glanced at Li Changqing: Boss, its too late for us to catch up now. Further north is Jindais military district; they would love for you to rush in. It wasnt that he didnt want to save Qing Chen, but he knew that Jindai would rather kill his boss standing beside him than Qing Chen. Li Changqing stood quietly in the Qing Shan Cockpit, standing in front of the huge transparent shield, without saying a word. Lao Shijiu got a little anxious: Boss, there are still thousands of soldiers on the Qing Shan Ship, you cant be impulsive. Give me an elite team, Ill lead them to infiltrate the rear and rescue him from the military base where he is being held, which is definitely the one Qing Mu was at before. Ill take the men to save him. In truth, Lao Shijiu knew very well that the military base was in the bitter cold of the north, and to reach there, he would have to traverse the entirety of Jindais territory. There was no way he could save Qing Chen alone. But it didnt matter, as long as Li Changqing didnt risk herself, he would go. Li Changqing suddenly shook her head: Rally the troops and return, we need to find another way. You dont need to go die, we can find someone else to save Qing Chen. Dont worry, some people knowing Qing Chen has been taken north will be even more desperate than I am. According to Li Changqing, that person was currently in the north. Lao Shijiu immediately breathed a sigh of relief; he didnt want to die either... Just then, the commander responsible for rallying the troops back to the fortress suddenly frowned: Sir, a soldier who was responsible for searching on the ground has gone missing. I just locked his position, but when the drone swarm arrived, they found him and he immediately jumped off a cliff to commit suicide... I suspect he communicated our situation here before his death. ... ... There were still six hours of flight distance to reach the A02 base. Qing Chen sat in the corner, observing. There were 21 Genetic Warriors on this A-Class Floating ship, each carrying firearms. Their strength was also unknown. Qing Chens injuries were recovering quickly; though far from his peak condition, he could even feel the strange itching sensation of his muscles regrowing. This had never happened before. It seemed his awakening had brought some new changes. Based on his original assumptions, Qing Chen thought his potential would be exhausted, and his awakening abilities would only be D-Class or E-Class. But he had seen the power of C-Class awakening abilities from Liu Dezhu, and his initial control over Thunder wasnt much weaker than Liu Dezhus. This meant that even after exhausting his potential through training, he still had enough potential left for a full awakening. Qing Chen felt that once he returned to his peak state, his physical strength might be even stronger than before. Ordinary people become stronger physically as they practice. During awakening, the physical body also becomes stronger. This coexistence of training and awakening might directly push his physical strength beyond the C-Class limit; after all, he had been on the brink of C-Class and B-Class before. Was this considered a B-Class promotion? Technically, it shouldnt be, but at his peak, he would possess at least B-Class physical strength, at least at the initial stage of B-Class. If so, at his peak, he would likely have the ability to dodge bullets trajectories. Unfortunately, time was too tight; his opponents wouldnt give him this chance. Officer Takahashi, have some hot water first. Weve been instructed to inject a locator into you and need to verify with other intelligence personnel to ensure consistency with your statements, a diligent Genetic Warrior on the ship said, It shouldnt take long before they remove the micro-bombs from you. Chapter 805: 485, Fight_2 Chapter 805: 485, Fight_2 Qing Chen calmly took the cup of water. This was what worried him the most. There would surely be many reinforcements coming to hunt down Jindai Yunhe and the others, making it difficult to avoid spies within. If the news of failing to seize control reached Jindai, he would be done for. But... what could he do? His body could no longer handle high-intensity combat, and on this floating ship, with 21 Genetic Warriors and 21 firearms, this was not something he could deal with. Qing Chen sighed and leaned against the wall. No, he had to do something before the floating ship reached A02. Even if it was meaningless, he had to do something. Surrendering was not in Qing Chens nature. At this time, a Genetic Warrior looked at Qing Chen: Officer Takahashi, weve been waiting in the wilderness for a long time to pick you and Officer Jindai Yunhe up... Qing Chen looked at the people in the cabin and then at the Genetic Warriors in the cockpit, calmly saying, Dont worry, if it werent for your support, I wouldnt have been able to return to the clan safely. When we get back to the north, I certainly wont forget your efforts. At this moment, Qing Chens tone clearly carried the air of a superior repaying a favor. However, upon hearing this, everyones eyes lit up. Within the Jindai, the hierarchy was strict, and they secretly enforced a caste system. Takahashi Toshiki was a high caste, second only to the Jindai surname in the north. Now that Takahashi Toshiki successfully seized control of Qing Chens body, he was set for a bright future. Though Takahashi Toshikis power level was low, only an E-Class Genetic Warrior, Qing Chens body was highly ranked, rumored to already be C-Class. Dont look down on Takahashi Toshiki now, who is just a regular officer; upon returning, he could be promoted to Major within a few months and possibly even become a Colonel. Later, the Jindai might even promote Takahashi Toshiki to Major General to spite the Qings Family. So, as soon as Qing Chen finished speaking, someone immediately approached and said, Officer Takahashi, we were in the training camp together. Please take care of me in the future. Qing Chen nodded: I will. By the way, is there any communication equipment on this floating ship? Id like to call my family to let them know Im safe. He needed to contact the outside world and reach Yun. After all, at this moment on this floating ship, contacting anyone else wouldnt be as effective as contacting Yun. Although Yun provided a paid service and often disappeared quickly after being paid, he really did get things done! The Genetic Warrior looked troubled and said, Officer Takahashi, werent you in the air force module during training? On A-Class floating ships from A02 base, carrying communication equipment privately is not allowed, and both the floating ship and A02 base use isolated military satellites in a sandbox network to prevent hacking. I know you want to call your family after the recent dangers, but we really cant do it on this floating ship. Qing Chen nodded calmly: Understood. I was in the intelligence department during training, so I havent handled floating ships and dont know the network situation. Its fine if I cant contact the outside. Having lived Takahashis whole life, there were no loopholes here since they belonged to different combat sequences; Takahashi Toshiki genuinely didnt know these things. But internally, he was already cursing, thinking if he couldnt contact Yun, hed have no choice but to take a risk. Qing Chen continued to casually ask, By the way, do we have experts onboard to ensure our safety? Several Genetic Warriors exchanged glances and said, Officer Takahashi, dont worry, our Captain is an expert among C-Class. Originally, Officer Jindai Yunhe should have boarded the floating ship too... At this moment, the Captain said, In airspace, experts inside the ship cant do much. If we encounter pursuers, the main firepower weapons equipped on the A-Class floating ship are more useful than any expert. At this moment, Qing Chen got up and walked to the drivers seat: When I was in training, I really envied you guys for being selected into the aerial combat sequence. Can you teach me how to pilot the floating ship? No one thought much about it. All Genetic Warriors had a dream of becoming air force, with better benefits, higher safety, and more comfort. It was natural for Takahashi Toshiki to be envious. The pilot looked at the Captain, who nodded slightly. The pilot then quickly stood up with a smile and said, Officer Takahashi, do you want to sit here and experience it? Qing Chen sat in the drivers seat, looking at the intricate LCD controls: How do you operate this? The pilot laughed and said, The A02 base has already locked the ship in automatic cruise mode, and we cant control it internally until we reach A02. Officer Takahashi, you can just sit here and experience it. Qing Chen: ... He stared at the pilot in confusion; with no way to change the route, what was the point of this experience? Just sit here and enjoy the view? The Captain also said, To avoid any problems with the escort mission, we all have to stay in the cockpit until we reach A02. The power cabin and main firepower warehouse are also locked. At this moment, a Genetic Warrior walked up to Qing Chen: Officer Takahashi Toshiki, youre injured. How about I take you to the cabin to rest for a while? Youll feel better after a nap, and well soon reach the base. The Captain said, Yes, you can sleep in my Captains cabin. Well get fresh bedding for Officer Takahashi Toshiki. His words clearly showed a sense of closeness. Qing Chen sighed and stood up, following the Genetic Warrior towards the cabin behind the cockpit, thinking perhaps there might be some clues in the Captains cabin. Chapter 806: 485, Fight_3 Chapter 806: 485, Fight_3 However, just as they passed the bridge and reached the Captains cabin, the Genetic Warrior continued to walk deeper into the ship. Qing Chen asked in confusion, Isnt this already the Captains cabin? Where are you going? The Genetic Warrior suddenly drew a pistol from his waist and turned to fire at Qing Chen. The gunshot was exceptionally loud within the ships cabin, making everyones eardrums ache. But Qing Chens reaction speed now far exceeded imagination. The moment the Genetic Warrior drew his gun, he had already dodged to the left. While forcing Qing Chen back, the Genetic Warrior continued to run deeper into the ships cabin. Qing Chen looked up and was startled to see a door with the words Power Cabin written on it! He quickly realized that this Genetic Warrior, pretending to take him to the Captains cabin, was actually looking for an excuse to go to the Power Cabin and destroy the floating ships power system, causing a crash incident! Thoughts raced through Qing Chens mind. Wait! Who would want to destroy the floating ship they were on at such a time?! Only Qing intelligence personnel would do this! He understood now: This must be a Qing intelligence operative. After learning that Qing Chen had been taken over by Takahashi Toshiki, and unable to contact the outside world, the operative immediately decided to kill Takahashi Toshiki to prevent Takahashi Toshiki from using Qing Chens identity to disgrace the Qings Family. Because, only Qing intelligence personnel would take such a risk to kill Takahashi Toshiki. Perhaps this was the honor of Qing intelligence personnel. The operative did not know that Qing Chen had not been taken over, and Qing Chen could not explain it. But the key was, even though he did not want to reach the A02 secret military base, he also could not let this floating ship crash! Qing Chen staggered and chased after the Genetic Warrior, tackling him to the ground and disarming him. What are you doing? Qing Chen asked. The Genetic Warrior, pinned down and unable to move, sneered coldly, You northern maggot trying to impersonate Officer Qing Chen to disgrace the Qings Family, youre delusional. Saying this, he punched Qing Chens left rib, the area where he had corrected Qing Chens ribs before, knowing that hitting there would cause Qing Chen to briefly lose consciousness. But Qing Chen took the punch without fainting. He said nothing, wondering if this was another test by Jindai. Urgent footsteps approached from behind, and someone shouted, Officer Takahashi, get out of the way! Qing Chen and the Qing intelligence officer wrestled on the ground. Suddenly, Qing Chen kicked, sending the Qing intelligence officer sliding across the floor. He got up and hid to the side, shouting, Ive disarmed him, capture him alive for interrogation! The Genetic Warriors on the ship, having heard the gunshot, quickly responded. Two of them provided covering fire, coming to Qing Chens side to protect him. The others laid down suppressing fire, forcing the Qing intelligence officer back into the tea room next to the bridge. The Qing intelligence officer desperately tried to rush out and kill Qing Chen, but before he could leave the tea room, he was kicked back by the C-Class Captain, unable to stand up for a long time. The Captain stood at the tea room door and coldly asked, Whose man are you? Why do you want to kill Takahashi Toshiki? An assassination attempt on Qing Chen aboard the floating ship was considered an incident during the mission. Everyone was confused as they had already entered Jindai airspace; why had this happened? The Qing intelligence officer in the tea room sneered, You wouldnt understand. With that, the Qing intelligence officer struggled to get up again. Only to be kicked back again by the Captain. The Captain coldly said, Ill tell you what will happen when we reach the base. They will send people to conduct a political review on you, and what you will face will be the most miserable life imaginable. The Genetic Warrior sneered, Northern maggot. Saying this, he lunged headfirst toward the tea room wall, but the Captain quickly knocked him to the ground. The Captain dragged the Qing intelligence officer back to the control room and apologized to Qing Chen, Sorry, I didnt expect this to happen... Saying this, the Captain threw the Qing intelligence officer to the ground and looked at his subordinates, Interrogate him now. Get something out of him before we return to A02 base, or the political review will be tough to endure. This time, upon returning, the entire crew of the Takamagahara A-Class Floating Ship would face a rigorous political review. They would be scrutinized to see if any spies were present or if anyone had been turned by spies. The Captain had to find a way to clear himself. Several Genetic Warriors brought pliers and began pulling out the Qing intelligence officers fingernails one by one, blood flowing. The Qing intelligence officer remained obstinate, cursing them. The Captain then had them pull out his teeth. The Qing intelligence officers mouth quickly filled with blood. Qing Chen watched. Since the Takamagahara had already locked its course. Since he would inevitably reach the A02 base. Since his identity as Takahashi Toshiki would not last much longer. There were certain things he had to do. Qing Chen took a deep breath and said to the Captain, Now, ensuring my safe arrival at A02 base is of utmost importance. I require everyone to surrender their firearms, to be kept in my custody. Let me clarify, this is not due to a lack of trust, but because my identity is now too crucial. To avoid any possibility of Qing spies among you, I must make this decision. Anyone who does not surrender their firearm is a Qing spy! Chapter 807: 485, Fight_4 Chapter 807: 485, Fight_4 Inside the ship, all the genetic warriors looked at the captain. After contemplating for a few seconds, the captain thought that Qing Chens proposal was very reasonable, so he nodded slowly: Before arriving at the A02 base, all firearms will be handed over to Takahashi Toshiki for safekeeping. Anyone who doesnt comply is a Qings Family spy. Even though the genetic warriors were reluctant, they all stepped forward to unload their guns. Immediately afterward, Qing Chen looked at the captain. Captain: ... Qing Chen frowned: Captain, do you want to kill me? I will truthfully report this to the political review officers. The captain hurriedly said: No, Takahashi, you misunderstood. As he spoke, he handed over his waist gun too. Qing Chen gathered all the firearms beside him. Right at this moment, the hologram in the cockpit lit up. Jindai Yunzi said solemnly: It has been confirmed that the takeover attempt on Qing Chen has failed. Immediately control him. Before we reach the A02 base, everyone must be vigilant. The crew and captains of the Takamagahara airship looked at Jindai Yunzi, then at the pile of firearms beside Qing Chen... Damn it! Why the hell didnt you say this earlier?! Weve already handed over the guns, and now you tell us this?! Only the Qing intelligence personnel who were bound looked at Qing Chen dumbfoundedly, only to see Qing Chen smiling and winking at him. Jindai Yunzi frowned at the cockpit: Whats wrong with you?! The next second, Qing Chen raised his hand and pulled the trigger, shattering the control console in the cockpit. The captain reacted swiftly. He instinctively reached into his pocket to grab the control device for the micro-bombs. But he found that although he had already pressed the detonation button, the two micro-bombs showed no response. The captain roared: He is just one person! The bullets of his handgun arent unlimited! Everyone, charge! The 20 remaining people in the ship all rushed forward. Too late. Qing Chen pulled the trigger expressionlessly. The Qing intelligence personnel collapsed on the ground, staring blankly at the scene. He saw the chambers of the two guns in Qing Chens hands striking the mechanisms. He saw the yellow bullet casings eject from the chambers and hit the ground with a crisp ringing sound. He saw the genetic warriors of Jindai getting shot in the forehead and falling one after another. The Qing intelligence personnel swore that he had never seen such domineering shooting skills. Each gunshot resounded to end a life, as if it was a setting in fate. The gunfire echoing in the cockpit sounded like a funeral bell, loud but stirring. Watch out! The Qing intelligence personnel warned, speaking with blood spraying from his mouth. The captain raised the corpse of a genetic warrior to shield himself and charged toward Qing Chen. He knew that Qing Chen was severely injured. As long as he, a C-Class, got close enough, everything would still be under control. Qing Chen fired shot after shot, aiming to penetrate the corpse used as a shield by the captain. In his current physical state, even if the captain was only C-Class, Qing Chen was still not a match. Before Qing Chen could pierce through the corpse, the captain had already slammed into him with the corpse shield, sending Qing Chen flying. In that instant, Qing Chen felt all the wounds on his body simultaneously burst open. The captain didnt notice that when he crashed into Qing Chen, Qing Chen kicked a handgun lying on the ground. The black, cold handgun spun and slid towards the Qing intelligence personnel. The Qing intelligence personnel hesitated for a moment, then struggled to prop himself up. He raised his hand and pulled the trigger. With a bang. The captains neck was pierced by an angry bullet, splattering blood all over Qing Chen. Silence filled the ship. The Qing intelligence personnel feebly lay back down on the floor, watching Qing Chen struggle to his feet and then crouch down beside him. Qing Chen calmly said: Identification. The Qing intelligence personnel said: Spy Bureau Kite Falcon, Zhang Wenqi... Sorry, sir, I cant reveal my affiliation with the bureau. Qing Chen untied the opposite partys restraint suit: Is there still a way to control the airship and divert it from its course? Zhang Wenqi sat up and shook his head: Commander Qing Chen, the course has already been locked. Unless we crash, theres no way to change the course. A02 base did this precisely out of concern for hijacking. Qing Chen sighed, having gone through so much effort only to still end up at the unknown A02 secret military base. Qing Chen didnt want to give up. He asked: Are there any parachutes on the airship? There originally were ten, but we used them during the infiltration mission in Central Plains, Zhang Wenqi said. Qing Chen asked again: Is there a way to crash the airship? If it crashed, Qing Chen could use the items found here to make a simple parachute, break the glass in the cockpit with a gun, climb outside, and buffer slightly before landing, possibly avoiding death. Zhang Wenqi said: Its impossible now. The A02 base must have locked the power cabin. Its behind a thirty-centimeter-thick alloy hydraulic door, which cant be opened. Qing Chen pulled out a hair and tried to use Knight Vital Energy to cut the power cabin. He managed to make a very fine scratch, but after calculating the time, he realized that at his current cutting speed, it was impossible to cause a crash before arriving at the A02 base. Qing Chen returned to the cockpit, sat with his knees hugged next to Zhang Wenqi, and calmly said: Ive implicated you. Without me, you wouldnt have to go through this. Zhang Wenqi struggled to sit up, and sat next to Qing Chen, shaking his head: Commander, this is my duty. Chapter 808: 485, Fight_5 Chapter 808: 485, Fight_5 For Qings Family? Yes, for Qings Family. Is it worth it? Zhang Wenqi was taken aback: Sorry, sir, I never thought about that. Qing Chen asked puzzledly, Then why are you doing this? Zhang Wenqi thought for a moment and said, Because thats what our predecessors did, generation after generation. The success doesnt have to be mine. Where are you from? Qing Chen asked. I was in City 10 before I turned 13, then I followed my superior to the north, changed my name. I havent been back in 10 years, Zhang Wenqi said. Qing Chen sighed inwardly, thinking how, in such chaotic times, a 13-year-old child would already have to face this cruel world. Sir, can I ask you a favor? Zhang Wenqi asked. What is it? Qing Chen asked. If you make it back alive, could you buy a bouquet of flowers for my mother? Zhang Wenqi said, writing an address on the ground with his own blood, then wiping it away with his hand. Theres a Black Box on this floating ship, recording every sound inside it, every second. Qing Chen thought for a moment and said, I fear I wont make it back either, but if I do, Ill do it for you. Thank you, sir, Zhang Wenqi smiled and said. Anything else you want to do? Qing Chen asked. Zhang Wenqi pondered for a long time: No, nothing else. No regrets? Zhang Wenqi thought for a long time, then smiled and said, Maybe I havent lived long enough to have any regrets. After speaking, he wrote on the ground again: Do you need me to tell you about the A02 base? Qing Chen calmly shook his head. Because Zhao Jie came from the A02 base, Qing Chen already knew everything about it. The Yamata Group training camp is in the harsh northern land, bordered by an endless prairie to the west and a wide river to the farther north, said to be frozen year-round. Jindai Consortium not only sends excellent intelligence agents there but also secretly captured prisoners to move rocks. They are not using the prisoners for labor, as those rocks are of no use. Jindai merely makes the prisoners repeatedly move the rocks from west to east and then back again. This endless life and labor break down the prisoners, both physically and mentally. Half of the prisoners have undergone counter-surveillance and anti-interrogation training; they keep their secrets and thus remain detained. The other half are ordinary prisoners from the three cities under Jindais control. In Federal prisons, justice is impartial and inviolable, so each consortium detains some prisoners in secret prisons without going through judicial procedures. This has long been no secret. Each training camp graduation season, Jindai Consortium distributes basic weapons to these prisoners and drives them into the woods, where the newly graduated Yamata Group members hunt them down. Jindai Consortium tells prisoners that if they can escape alive, they will gain their freedom. Killing a Yamata Group member also grants freedom. But through Takahashi Toshikis memory, Qing Chen knows that every prisoner has the same kind of micro-bomb and locator in their bodies as he does. Yamata has never let any prisoner leave alive. Hunting these prisoners is merely to stimulate the animal instincts of the new Yamata members so that they wont feel uncomfortable killing in the future. There are three such training camps, internally called A01, A02, and A03 secret military bases. The one Qing Chen is heading to is A02. The silence in the cabin deepened. Both Qing Chen and Zhang Wenqi knew that this empty floating ship was an inescapable shackle on their fate, soon to arrive at the A02 base. The flight path was locked, and the ships weaponry couldnt be activated. Silence. Zhang Wenqi sat on the ground and, after a long silence, said, Sir, I know what awaits me at the A02 base... Im sorry, I want to desert. Yes, its not shameful, Qing Chen looked out the cockpits window, nodding calmly. Take care, sir, Zhang Wenqi smiled, lifted his handgun, and pulled the trigger under his jaw. Qing Chens expression didnt change at all. He wasnt very familiar with Zhang Wenqi, so he wasnt too sad either. Strictly speaking, Qing Chen wasnt a member of Qings Family; he didnt have that sense of honor and belonging. Whether he was a Public Test Player or an Internal Test Player, Qing Chens sense of identity was always with the Outer World. But at this moment, there were some ripples in his heart. For the first time in his life since crossing over, Qing Chen found himself with a goal. He had to find a way to survive and then do something. 5 p.m. At the A02 base, prisoners wearing cold iron shackles were endlessly moving rocks when they suddenly heard the sound of rapid footsteps and saw hundreds of soldiers, fully armed, assembling in the central clearing of the base. They formed a defensive formation. Soon, a forty-meter-long High Sky A-Class Floating Ship flew in. The prisoners were puzzled, wondering what had prompted the Jindai soldiers to mobilize such a huge force. They looked on numblywas there an invasion? The floating ship descended slowly, and the hydraulic hatch hissed as it lifted upward. A moment later, a teenager calmly walked out of the ship, standing nonchalantly at the edge of the exit, a smile on his face as he looked at the thousands of soldiers outside. Chapter 809: 485, Close Combat_6 Chapter 809: 485, Close Combat_6 The young mans face was pale and weak, his body covered with bloodstains. But the smile on his face was particularly dazzling. The soldiers waiting outside swiftly surged forward, dragging Qing Chen from the floating airship and pressing him onto the cold ground. Then, they carried out the corpses of Yamata Group soldiers from the ship. The prisoners were in an uproar, recalling the scene of the young man standing at the exit with a smile just earlier. They had seen countless prisoners being escorted in, but had never seen one arrive at A02 secret military base in such a shocking manner. Did he kill all the Jindai soldiers on the Takamagahara ship... One prisoner muttered. As if asking the companions beside him, or perhaps asking the biting cold wind. ... ... City number 5. Ginkgo Manor at a high point. In the coldest room, the Door of Shadow opened wide. The Shadow did not speak directly this time upon his arrival; instead, he sat down in silence. After a long time, the old man faced away from him and laughed, What, are you planning to imitate those students and sit here in a hunger strike? It wont work. The Shadow replied calmly, If Im not mistaken, your men should have seen Qing Chen already. He was the one who chased down Jindai Yunhe. The old man remained silent, neither confirming nor denying. The Shadow continued, If nothing unexpected happens, Qing Chen should have arrived at A02 secret military base by now. Youve placed people at the A02 base, havent you? Otherwise, why would he actually be sent there? The old man still did not respond. Why? Just to give him the eligibility and reputation to quickly grasp power? Can you have an open conversation with me for once, otherwise, I might overturn this world, the Shadows tone grew increasingly heavy. The old man replied calmly, Have you ever considered a question? Back then, when someone told me to send him to the Outer World, I agreed, but that person did not tell me how long he should stay there. He has been in the Outer World since he can remember, more than ten years have gone by. Do you think he considers himself a member of the Qings Family? I will teach him slowly, the Shadow said. Too slow, I cannot wait, nor can you, said the old man. So you resort to such extreme measures? Unless he sees with his own eyes what members of the Qings Family are like, how could he understand what the Qings Family truly is, the old man said leisurely, He must see it, then he can understand. Still, if he refuses what you offer him, if he wants to leave the Qings Family and start anew? the Shadow asked, He has the capability. The old man laughed, I will give him the Spy Bureau, and in the future, I can give him the army too. Furthermore, Ill make deals with Uncle Li Dong to make him the next-generation leader of the Knights. What does it matter whether he wants the current Qings Family or not? Wherever he is, that place is the Qings Family. The Shadow was momentarily stunned. The old man said softly, The world is already rotten, and some people cant stand it any longer, so the thousand-year unchanged status quo must be broken. Xiao Zhun, the Qings Family is not you, its not me, nor is it those shortsighted factions within the Qings Family. The Qings Family is built on the lives of people, forged by the great wisdom of the ancestors, it does not belong to you, nor to me. The current Qings Family is like the bloated shell of a crab; if you dont shed this shell, it cant survive. The Shadow fell silent. Everyone says the Qings Family is ruthless, the Shadow of the Qings Family is ruthless, and the Family Head of the Qings Family is even more ruthless. But even the Shadow never thought that this Family Head of the Qings Family would be ruthless enough to personally abandon the vast legacy for a rebirth. What if he dies? He is the only remaining bloodline heir of the Qings Family. The old man shook his head, You still dont understand. If you could live another twenty years, then you could be the one to accomplish this. But you dont have that much time left, so I chose him. If he dies too, then let fate decide the Qings Family. ... 9,300 words, sorry for the late update, good night, everyone. Chapter 810: 486, its okay Chapter 810: 486, its okay A02 secret military base covers an area of 8,100 acres. Among them, the military area is 6,100 acres, where batches of Yamata Group Genetic Warriors undergo the harshest training, and then go out to become elite intelligence personnel. The remaining 2,000 acres are the camps and quarry for the prisoners, where hundreds of prisoners are brought in, eating only coarse grain wotou every day, without even seeing the most basic synthetic protein bars. In the sky, every 12 drones form a patrol unit, with a total of 18 units patrolling in the air. The entire outer perimeter of the A02 secret military base is surrounded by a high-voltage electric fence. Behind the heads of all prisoners, there is a black metal button embedded in the flesh. Every word spoken by each prisoner is recorded and transmitted to the secret military bases prison guard department, which is also equipped with a positioning system and miniature explosive. The prisoners remain silent, knowing that even a single misspoken word could lead to additional corporal punishment. Just now, someone whispered, Did he really kill all the soldiers on a whole Takamagahara ship? but nobody dared to answer him. The atmosphere among the prisoners was frozen, as if a liquid nitrogen bomb had been detonated, solidifying everything. They only watched silently, observing as Jindai soldiers pressed a bloodied boy to the ground and carried out the bodies of other Jindai soldiers. The prisoners had no sources of information here; they didnt even know who this boy was. What kind of prisoner could kill all the soldiers transporting him and then calmly accept becoming a captive himself? At one point, they saw the boy, being held down on the frozen ground by the soldiers, find the time to glance around at them. Amidst the armed enclosure, beside more than twenty bodies. Although he was smiling, the aura of ferocity was overwhelming. This was probably the most contrasting scene the prisoners had ever witnessed. Soon, the boy was escorted to the center of the quarry, under a shabby shack amid the rubble. This quarry resembled a gigantic schoolyard, with the shack in its center. The prisoners were stunned: Is that... It was a pigsty, open on all sides, made of a few simple wooden posts, housing seven black pigs. The pigsty reeked with a foul stench, the black mud on the ground would submerge ones ankle with a single step. But none of that mattered; what mattered was that this had once been Qing Mus confinement place. Qing Mu had been humiliated here for 19 years before being transferred away just over ten days ago, and now another boy was locked in. The prisoners expressions changed; some were curious, others solemn. At that moment, dozens of Jindai soldiers rushed over with whips, one of them slashing a middle-aged prisoners face, leaving a deep scar. What are you looking at? Keep moving rocks! a Jindai soldier shouted fiercely, If you dont finish by sunset, you wont get to eat! The prisoners scattered in fear like birds and animals and returned to their rocks to keep working. They had to carry rocks from the east to the west, passing by the pigsty in between. From a few meters away, the prisoners watched as the Jindai soldiers put heavy shackles on the boy, ones meant for Transcendents, weighing dozens to hundreds of pounds. One hand with shackles weighing hundreds of pounds, both hands would be over a thousand pounds. The shackles werent just on his hands, but also on his ankles. Even a Transcendent would have to exert all their strength just to move with these shackles. Someone secretly glanced and was shocked to find out that the shackles placed on the boy were the highest level, meant for restraining B-Class Genetic Warriors! The shackles on Qing Chens feet were even connected to the ground, with the alloy chains sinking into the ground, confining him to the pigsty. As they got closer, the prisoners first reaction upon seeing Qing Chen was... he was too young. When Qing Mu was imprisoned here, he was already 31. But Qing Chen, was much younger than Qing Mu. Some prisoners had been here as long as Qing Mu and couldnt help but wonder what kind of identity could lead to a boy of only seventeen or eighteen ending up in this pigsty like Qing Mu? Just then, as a Jindai soldier was putting the last shackle on Qing Chens left hand, Qing Chen suddenly trapped the soldiers neck with his arm. The soldier struggled angrily, his face turning redder and redder. The other Jindai soldiers pressed the muzzle of their guns against Qing Chens forehead: Let him go! Qing Chen did not let go, instead looking around: Shoot. But the Jindai soldiers continued to shout angrily, none daring to fire. They were acutely aware of Qing Chens importance. Although he was a prisoner, anyone who accidentally killed him would likely become a prisoner here in the A02 secret military base too. Knowing how much the prisoners hated them, their fate as prisoners would be terrible. Qing Chen knew they wouldnt dare kill him; he calmly said, Be more careful next time. You only get one chance. Fierce. Overbearing. Even as a prisoner, even with dozens of guns pointed at him, he remained undaunted. Just as he finished speaking, a crisp snap was heard as the Jindai soldiers neck broke. Qing Chen nonchalantly extended his left hand, gesturing for the other soldiers to continue shackling him. The Jindai soldiers backed away in fright, and it was a long time before someone tentatively approached and locked the final shackle on Qing Chen. Once the shackle was secured, the soldiers furiously began beating and kicking Qing Chen, but he only crouched in the pigstys foul mud, silently enduring. Crouching and holding his head was the best protective position to avoid organ damage and dizziness or loss of balance from blows to the back of the head. The seven black pigs in the pigsty ran around in terror, eventually curling up in the corners, trembling. Qing Chen continued to crouch, enduring. Would submitting and obeying free him from the pigsty and corporal punishment? Useless. If it was useless, why cower? As the soldiers were beating and kicking Qing Chen, he suddenly, carrying the heavy shackles, grabbed one of the soldiers legs. His muscles suddenly bulged, snapping the soldiers leg with brute force. The sound of the bone breaking rang out from the pigsty, causing many prisoners to shudder involuntarily. Who was this fierce person, enduring such harsh conditions and still so aggressive?! Among the prisoners, a few exchanged glances and then quietly turned away to continue hauling their rocks. They had been walking this path of hauling rocks for nineteen years, long since numbed. Now, a person had appeared, shouting in their numb ears, awakening them. At this moment, Jindai Yunzi, wearing a military uniform, walked over with a gloomy expression. He raised his arm, clenching his fist. All the prisoners immediately stopped working, holding onto their rocks as they stood in the cold wind. The soldiers in the pigsty hastily stopped beating Qing Chen and stepped out to form a line. Jindai Yunzi glanced at the soldier with a broken leg, then at the dead soldier, and spat out two words through gritted teeth: Worthless. He turned to the prisoners and said loudly, Maybe you were all curious about where Qing Mu, who lived in the pigsty for 19 years, went? Let me introduce you to this new prisoner, Qing Chen, Inspector of Intelligence Department One, Team Seven, PCA Federation CIA, who could have become the youngest director in PCA history. Under his leadership, an important Jindai figure, Jindai Yasuhara, was traded from Deer Island. Qing Chen intended to negotiate for Qing Mus release with Jindai Yasuhara. Ironically, the rescuer ended up like the rescued. Isnt that a joke? The prisoners were stunned. So this was the new Qing Mu. Jindai Yunzi laughed: Today, you dont need to carry rocks. Lets play a game. Each of you will spit on him once when passing the pigsty. Those who do so will get a synthetic protein bar. But everyone must spit; if one person doesnt, the others miss the chance for a bar. Begin. There was a moment of silence among the prisoners before it was broken, with someone dropping their stone and rushing to the pigsty to spit on Qing Chen. The 2900+ prisoners had a complex structure, with groups from Qings Family and Li Family, and some caught by the Jindai. The ones who spat first were the ones who had broken laws. Qing Chen continued to crouch, enduring all hardship coming his way. He knew what Jindai Yunzi intended; he was not only imprisoned but also meant to break his spirit. Opponents enjoyed manipulating hearts and minds, smiling more broadly when even those from Qings Family spat on Qing Chen. Destiny seemed to cycle back to its origin. Another prison, but no Uncle Li Dong this time, no humanitarian management by Yi. This was the most brutal aspect of the Inner World, worse than any battlefield. This was the true Inner World. The world Qing Chen knew was too kind; he had never been to cruel places or lived in District 3. From the start, he had led an upper-class life, treating everything like a game. Now, he was experiencing this worlds coldness firsthand. Some prisoners hesitated to step forward, but Jindai Yunzi paid no mind, watching with a twisted, perverse smile. Finally, those who had spat coldly stared at those who hadnt. Someone sneered: Still loyal to your old master? Hurry up, dont hold everyone back from getting protein bars! Jindai Yunzi looked at his watch: One minute left. The hesitant ones slowly walked to the pigsty, spitting lightly. They silently looked at the boy whose clothes were soaked with spit. He looked up and smiled: Its okay. The prisoners were stunned for a moment, but no one spoke. ... Another chapter before 11 pm tonight Chapter 811: 487, give life a thumbs up Chapter 811: 487, give life a thumbs up Is it really okay? To be despised by more than 2,900 prisoners, standing in this stinking pigsty, being taunted by Jindai soldiers as if watching monkeys, is it really okay? Qing Chen asked himself if his heart was strong enough, but he had to start learning to understand. Understand the hardships of the human world. Understand the helplessness of small people. When he was at Los Angeles Foreign Language School, many students felt Qing Chen was suffering, having to earn his own tuition and living expenses. But now looking back, what was that compared to today? Even when he was in Prison No. 18, before becoming a Knight, what he had experienced was not even one ten-thousandth of what he was going through now. The past hardships were eased out with the help of Uncle Li Dong, and now it was his turn to walk through it himself. Jindai Yunzi looked at those prisoners, very satisfied that they had finally succumbed to the temptation of food, smiled at the Jindai soldiers and said, Let them move stones for another hour, tonight distribute 2,900 synthetic protein bars to 2,921 people. He broke his promise, saying they wouldnt have to do any labor today and each would get a protein bar, but he could arbitrarily change his own words. Jindai Yunzi seemed to be deliberately announcing. In this A02 secret military base, he alone had the final say. The prisoners lowered their heads numbly, no one glared at Jindai Yunzi, Qing Chen knew that these people must have often faced such situations over the decades. Opposition and complaints would only bring a beating. Jindai Yunzi walked up to Qing Chen, smiling and said, Is it ironic that those who once swore allegiance to the Qings Family now despise you for a bite of food? You know, Qing Mu didnt commit suicide because he wanted these people to keep living. Qing Chen smiled and said, Your mom is dead. Jindai Yunzis expression froze. He thought Qing Chen would talk about the Qings Familys faith, talk about the persistence of Qing intelligence personnel, but he didnt expect the crudest of curses. Qing Chen continued, If you think you have the ability to make me submit, then try it. From the moment I knew you couldnt kill me, I knew your ending. Im ready to face that day, are you? Since Jindai wouldnt kill him, the worst situation would be enduring hardship here for a lifetime. If thats the case, why bother submitting? Jindai Yunzi turned and walked away: Relax, youre going to be trapped here for a long time, we can play slowly. After saying that, he told the soldiers, First starve him for three days and nights, then feed him the pig feed, lets see if hes still that tough then. The night fell. Qing Chen saw the prisoners slowly walking towards the detention area under the organization of the Jindai soldiers. In the dark, more than half of the prisoners formed a line, with the people behind putting their arms on the shoulders of the people in front, like a childhood game of playing train. The people at the back had unfocused eyes, like blind men. Qing Chen was stunned for a moment, but quickly realized it was because the prisoners had long suffered from nutritional deprivation, that they had developed night blindness. They had to be led by those with good vision so they could return to the barracks in the dark. Qing Chen looked at these prisoners, their clothes were thin synthetic winter jackets, and their feet were just a pair of thin rubber shoes. Many peoples ankles were swollen from the cold, their bloated feet barely stuffed into their original shoes, looking extremely awkward. Qing Chen sat in the pigstys mud, looking at the empty stone trough, he patted a black pig, You guys are really unlucky, having to suffer hunger for three days because of me. The prisoners were silent for a while, and one prisoner, who had been jailed for stealing a high-caste vehicle, whispered, Is this guy a bit nuts, caring about the pigs at such a time?! Someone behind him reminded, Silence. The nights in this cold place were extremely freezing, with temperatures at minus 30 degrees, making Qing Chen feel as if he was frozen in the mud. This temperature couldnt kill a C-Class expert, but it would bring pain. He seriously felt all of this, keeping everything he experienced in his mind. In the past, he would want to hide away his painful experiences, but now, he wanted to feel them more profoundly. Those past hardships, he brought them out one by one and examined them. ... ... The next morning. The prisoners were driven like sheep to the stonyard. Everyone labored, occasionally glancing towards Qing Chen. They found the young man sitting in the pigsty, his hair and eyebrows covered in frost. Everyone knew how difficult the night here was, especially since Qing Chens clothes had been wet with saliva and he hadnt eaten anything. At this moment, an airship floated over, and several military clerks disembarked holding filming equipment. The prisoners knew this was to record Qing Chens embarrassment and spread it to destroy the morale of Qing intelligence personnel. Previously, the Jindai Consortium was forced by Qing Chen to return Qing Mu and was made a mockery in the intelligence community due to the rupture of the intelligence alliance initiated by Qing Chen. Now, the Jindai Consortium captured Qing Chen, making him follow Qing Mus footsteps, a most ironic counterattack. The clerks set up their equipment, focusing on the disheveled Qing Chen. Some wanted to get closer to take close-ups but a Jindai soldier at the A02 base hesitated and stopped them: Dont get too close, its dangerous. The clerks were puzzled, they looked at the soldier, then at the struggling and disheveled Qing Chen in the pigsty, not understanding where the danger came from. However, when these Jindai Consortium clerks stood in the pigsty ready to photograph, all the prisoners saw Qing Chen, with heavy shackles, stand up. The shackles rattled, and Qing Chens frozen clothes made the sound of ice shards tearing, like a frozen towel being forcibly twisted. At that moment, everyone noticed the Jindai soldier in charge of guarding Qing Chen instinctively retreated a step. But the soldier quickly realized, Qing Chen was fully shackled and couldnt even lift his arms, having no ability to hurt anyone. He adjusted his expression and said to the clerks, You can shoot now, hurry up. The clerks raised their cameras, only to be utterly shocked seeing through the lens that the young man slowly raised his right arm. The heavy shackles made his arm muscles tremble, the single-hand 800-kilogram alloy shackles, used to restrain B-Class experts, made just watching feel suffocating. The prisoners silently watched, seeing the young man slowly lift his arm bit by bit. Then he brightly smiled and made a V-sign with his right hand. Peace out! Qing Chen said. The clerks were stunned, they came to capture Qing Chens embarrassment, but at this moment, where was any embarrassment in him? The clerks, frustrated, said to the soldiers, Your commander told us to come here to shoot, but you havent even subdued him, how can we shoot? Wheres Jindai Yunzi? Jindai Yunzi led over ten military officers from the distant barracks, coldly saying, Since when can those hiding behind clerks yell at me? The clerks hesitated in their momentum, mumbling, Top order is to get the propaganda material within seven days, do as you see fit. Jindai Yunzi frowned, saying, Youll stay in the barracks for three days, after that you can do it. Lieutenant, take them hunting in the wild, let them taste some game they cant get outside. A lieutenant beside him nodded, Understood. Alright, thats on you, see you in three days, the clerks took the equipment and followed the lieutenant. Qing Chen lowered his arm and smiled, Hey, I think your situation in Jindai isnt good, even clerks are so bold in front of you, why dont you defect to Qings Family? You can clean the PCA office toilets, Ill ensure your lifetime safety. Jindai Yunzi glanced at him, then said to the prisoners, Stop your work, each person pick a stone and throw it at him. Same as yesterday, those who throw stones get synthetic protein bars, if one person doesnt throw, none get food. Whoever throws lightly gets a whip. Then, Jindai Yunzi whispered, Dont let anyone actually kill him. Having said that, he walked away. A prisoner jailed for courting a high-caste woman picked up a fist-sized stone, ran over, and threw it at Qing Chens head. Qing Chen just tilted his head and dodged it. But with the shackles limiting his movements, he could dodge one but couldnt dodge thousands. One prisoner after another walked to the pigsty and threw stones. Qing Chens body was covered in wounds, except for his face. Qings Family intelligence personnel walked up, holding stones hesitantly, even as soldiers whipped them, they didnt throw the stones. Watching those men bleed from the lashes. Qing Chen calmly said, Its okay. It was these four words again. Qing intelligence personnel eventually threw the stones, hitting Qing Chen with loud thuds, reopening his wounds. Blood soaked into the mud, and the pigs cowered back into the corner in fright. No one spoke, and Qing Chen didnt speak again. When all the prisoners had left, he gasped in pain and sat in the pigsty, prisoners who were perpetually underfed didnt have much strength to throw stones. But being hit by over two thousand people, even with his strength, the pain sank into his bones. The third morning. When all the prisoners came out of the detention area to work, the first thing they did was look towards the pigsty, to see if that young man was dead. But the next scene stunned them. The originally leaky pigsty surroundings had been built up by the young man with the stones thrown at him yesterday into a wind-blocking wall. He didnt succumb to self-pity nor submit, continuing to show his will through his actions. A Jindai soldier madly rushed over, pushed down the stone wall, but Qing Chens expression didnt show any frustration. At some point, Qing intelligence personnel even felt that the young man looked at the Jindai soldiers with some pity. Chapter 812: 488, might as well do something while idle Chapter 812: 488, might as well do something while idle The stones thrown at Qing Chen were piled by him into a wind-blocking stone wall. And then it was pushed over. Jindai soldiers angrily dismantled it, their eyes filled with resentment as they looked at the boy in the pigsty. Perhaps even they themselves didnt know where this resentment came from, just feeling that the boy was challenging them, challenging the authority of the A02 base in front of prisoners for more than ten years. For so many years, no prisoner dared to confront them like this. Jindai soldiers enjoyed the cowardly demeanor of prisoners not daring to look them in the eye. Even looking them directly in the eye was a form of offense. But now, not only was there someone daring to look them in the eye, but also repeatedly provoking them through his actions. Jindai soldiers had never felt this angry before. The last time they encountered such a prisoner was nineteen years ago with Qing Mu. Qing Chen watched as the group of Jindai soldiers pushed over the stone walls and did not get angry. He just patted the black pig beside him on the head, Remember these people, they are the ones who tore down our wind-blocking wall. The Jindai soldiers gave Qing Chen a glance, thinking to themselves if this guy was crazy?! Only when Qing Chens gaze swept towards the Jindai soldiers, they instinctively looked away, not daring to meet his eyes. This made them even angrier. In the distance, some newly dispatched prisoners muttered, Whats the point? Will Jindai really allow him to pile up that wall? If I were him, Id save my strength, otherwise, overexertion without food, how would you endure the night? So stupid. Exactly, whats the use of acting like a hero here. The intelligence personnel of Qings Family looked at the few who spoke but said nothing, merely watching silently. By evening, the stone wall was piled up again. When the stone wall was built for the first time, all the prisoners were in their own areas, unable to see the process or understand the difficulty involved. They thought more about: If it were them, they could build one overnight too. But it was not until they saw the stone wall gradually appear during the day that they understood what Qing Chen had gone through. The shackles on those hands were particularly heavy, so much so that even bending down to pick up a fist-sized stone caused Qing Chen to tremble. The prisoners watched as the stone wall appeared bit by bit, enclosing the pigsty. By evening, Jindai soldiers rushed over again and pushed over the entire stone wall. Qing Chen said nothing. The prisoners said nothing either. Gradually, everyone felt the atmosphere turning heavy. Even those prisoners not belonging to Qings Family stopped making mocking remarks. The stone wall built painfully over a day fell again. But when another dawn arrived, and the prisoners walked out of their areas, they saw the stone wall had reappeared. In cycles, Jindai soldiers rushed over again to dismantle the stone wall. Qing Chen remained calm. This struggle made him even more serene. This time, after demolishing the stone wall, the Jindai soldiers left, while Qing Chen began picking up stones to build a new wall. People can stand up again after being knocked down; stone walls can be rebuilt after being pushed over. When fate offers you a choice, you only need to choose between falling or standing up, and then the remaining pain becomes unimportant. As prisoners passed by the pigsty, they saw Qing Chens hands, swollen, with cracked backs due to the cold. They knew Qing Chen hadnt eaten for over forty hours, a terrifying situation in this severe cold. Just then, someone passed by the pigsty and suddenly asked Qing Chen from a few meters away, Why bother? You know the wall will be pushed down again. Qing Chen thought for a moment and replied, Idle hands are the devils workshop. The prisoners were stunned. They expected Qing Chen to say some grand theory, give a series of speeches, but unexpectedly, it was such a laughably absurd answer. To the point that no one knew how to respond, so everyone fell silent. Qing Chen continued building the stone wall, still very calm. You couldnt even feel the presence of suffering. The prisoners started transporting the stones. Isnt he tired? How could he not be tired. A middle-aged prisoner suddenly couldnt help but say, Dont you think, hes like that officer nineteen years ago. Younger than that officer, yet more stubborn... They had been imprisoned here for nineteen years. How many nineteen years does a person have in life? Nineteen years is too long. So long that they almost forgot the stubborn, resolute, and determined expression Qing Mu had back then. Every day they were in a situation of not having enough to eat or wear, hoping daily for the cold winter to pass quickly. But winters here were exceptionally long. Every day they thought about how to survive, having no time to reminisce about the past. This is the destruction of will by life. People are like strangely shaped stones on dry land, continuously eroded and polished by wind and sand. Until this day, they saw Qing Chen and remembered that person nineteen years ago and the strong will he had brought to them. At this moment, they recalled the never-falling Qing Mu. It seemed Officer Qing Mu was still here, and they were still young. Still carrying passion and enthusiasm. For a moment, they had the illusion that the stubborn person from nineteen years ago had returned, never having left. A small flame reignited. Though still very small. Someone said softly, I really miss it. Chapter 813: 488, might as well do something while idle_2 Chapter 813: 488, might as well do something while idle_2 Someone whispered again, Stop talking. But the reminder came too late, the Jindai soldiers had already listened in on their conversation through the black metal embedded in the back of their heads. Several Jindai soldiers, with a livid expression, said, Who just spoke? Recognize them and you will be rewarded. A prisoner immediately pointed at the two who had spoken, It was them, 002921 and 002949! These were the numbers of the two prisoners. The two accused prisoners coldly glanced at the informer, awaiting the imminent punishment. In fact, they all knew that with the black metal Jindai had placed on them, it was easy to tell who said what. But Jindai soldiers never directly arrested anyone, instead requiring other prisoners to identify them, deliberately creating discord among the prisoners. 002921 and 002949, step forward! the Jindai soldier roared. The two slowly walked out, and the Jindai soldier raised a whip and lashed out at their faces. The abuser thought he could quickly make these two kneel and beg for mercy, but they didnt. After being struck, they just crouched in pain without a word. The whip fell like raindrops, the two soon fainted from the pain, but oddly, this time they really didnt beg for mercy. Night fell. The silent dormitory in the detention block had already turned off the lights. Someone quietly got up, pulled out a sharp stone from under their pillow, and slowly approached the informers bed. Mmmph! The informer was gagged, and then the attacker slashed the informers neck with the sharp stone. No matter how sharp, a stone is still a stone, so the first slash only caused blood to ooze from the informers neck. The informer struggled fiercely, soon two more people came silently and pressed down his limbs. The attacker made twelve cuts in total before finally slashing the informers carotid artery. During this process, the informers struggles woke many people, but no one intervened, continuing to feign sleep. The assailants confirmed the informer was dead and left one by one. To the first attackers surprise, the helpers included more than just spies from the Qings Family. Another dawn. Qing Chen stopped picking up stones, silently standing in the chilly wind. He watched several prisoners, under the supervision of Jindai soldiers, carrying out a corpse. Qing Chen saw the dead mans face clearly; it was the informer from yesterday. The Jindai soldiers made all the prisoners stand in the quarry, shouting for them to confess who committed the murder, but this time no one leaked any information. The Jindai soldiers sneered, If you wont say, I can still find out who did it. But since you choose unity, none of you will eat today. Move stones for me, and todays workload must be doubled! Anyone who exposes others will get seven days without labor and can eat protein bars every day. Your choice! Seeing that Jindai was serious, a few prisoners immediately stood up and identified the three assailants from last night, It was them! The Jindai soldiers laughed arrogantly, Your unity is worthless in the face of your pitiful lives. Qing Chen witnessed the scene, then bent over to continue stacking his stone wall, waiting for the Jindai soldiers to come and knock it down. However, that was not all he was waiting for. Countdown to return: 160:00:00. More than six days left. ... ... City No. 22. Deep within Jindais Takamagahara Manor. Takamagahara Manor was built of wood, with black stones meticulously arranged in the courtyard, resembling ripples on the sea. In the middle of the black stones stood a gray boulder, like a dried-up landscape, filled with a sense of desolation. Someone in a samurai outfit and wooden clogs hurried by, knelt outside a white paper door deep inside, Ancestor, Qing Chens DNA test report is out. As you expected, his DNA sequence is as beautiful and brilliant as other Knights. It is confirmed; he is the next generation Knight leader, the master of daylight. All generations of Knights have been injured and inevitably had some DNA samples collected. Each generation of Knights DNA is different, but they share one common trait: their DNA, after unlocking the genetic lock, is entirely different from ordinary people and cannot be considered human, nor can it be replicated. This feature is enough for Jindai to discern Qing Chens true identity. He is a young Knight, as radiant and enticing as the morning sun. Knights possess long lives and boundless potential. This is the most perfect body in the human world. Inside, the old man asked, What does the Family Head say? The samurai bowed, The Family Head says to prepare for body possession. The old man frowned, I hear he cannot be possessed, and the one attempting possession might lose their memory to him. If I fail, Jindai will have no secrets left. The old man didnt want to take the risk. Though his lifespan was running out, he didnt want to take such a big gamble either. The samurai kneeled forward a few steps to the door, whispered, The Family Head says, if he cannot be possessed, force him to possess someone else. When his body becomes a vegetative state, Ancestor, you can naturally take over. Rest assured, that body is well-preserved, just waiting for him to advance to B-Class, then the next step can proceed. The old man was momentarily stunned; he hadnt thought of this method. The intelligence from spies was vague, only stating that during possession, the equipment failed. This boy likely had a will too strong for possession. But since the will is strong, others couldnt possess him, but he could be made to possess others. After possession, Qing Chens will transfers to someone else, and his body does not die but becomes a vegetative state. In this way, possessing the vegetative body would be no challenge! However, Qing Chen needed to reach B-Class, or the brain damage would be severe. Even if the Jindai ancestor possessed it, he likely couldnt further enhance his power level or complete another possession. At that moment, the samurai continued, The Family Head also says, Knights Body can live for hundreds of years. With this boys body, you wont need to possess anyone else for centuries, and your consciousness wont be weakened repeatedly. But without you, the Clan will have no Demigod, so before possession, please eliminate the biggest threat, Uncle Li Dong; otherwise, his apprentice wont let it go after being possessed. The old man calmly said, I dont even know where Uncle Li Dong is, how can I kill him? The Family Head says, this boy is a Time Traveler, the samurai said, When he returns to the Outer World, he will surely find a way to inform Uncle Li Dong of his situation and location. Uncle Li Dong will go to the A02 base. This boy is now only C-Class, it will take a while for him to reach B-Class, you have plenty of time to kill Uncle Li Dong. The old man said, Convey my gratitude to the Family Head. ... Another chapter before 11 PM Chapter 814: 489, The Defaulter Chapter 814: 489, The Defaulter There are too many people who envy the Knights. Those with a pure heart envy their romance and freedom, their determination and courage. Those with ulterior motives envy their longevity that spans hundreds of years. Generally, possessing others bodies always leaves some repercussions. Even if the possessed one is a B-Class expert, there will be some hidden risks, and the more times it happens, the more accidents occur. So rather than possess a master with a lifespan of a few decades, its better to possess a youth with a lifespan of several centuries. Demigod cultivation can be lost; as long as the possessed body is B-Class, he can always recultivate. Then he could indulge in a long youth of hundreds of years without restraint. Possessing a Knight has been a fantasy for many in the Jindai family for a long time, but its never been accomplished. Now there seems to be hope. Return countdown: 136:00:00. This is the day agreed upon by Qings family and Jindai for the transaction of Officer Qing Mu. At dawn, Qing Yi woke up in a small town outside Forbidden Zone No. 065. He got up and washed his face with cool water from the well, then stood mindlessly in a small courtyard he had bought not long ago. It was very cold this winter, so cold that his nose turned red after washing his face. He stood dazed for a long time, then opened the courtyard door and walked out. Outside, there were many soldiers in black combat uniforms standing. When Qing Yi came out, everyone instinctively stood straight. Like statues in front of the temple, guarding solemnly. Qing Yi said, Lets go. After saying this, someone opened the car door for him. The sound of hurried footsteps arose, nearly a hundred people boarded prepared black SUVs, which quickly sped towards Forbidden Zone No. 065. Killing intent filled the air. Jindai Yasuhara, the captive, was in the same SUV as Qing Yi. Originally, Qing Chen was supposed to host this transaction, but he had been captured, so the Shadow replaced him with Qing Yi. The internal factions of Qings family had complaints about the Shadows decision; after all, letting Qing Yi do this gave him an unfair advantage. But at this critical moment, smart people knew the Shadow wasnt in a good mood, and no one would choose to defy him now. Everything would be discussed later. Actually, many were gloating over Qing Chens capture, considering it beneficial that the Shadows loyal follower, the young Inspector supporting Qing Yi, was gone. As the convoy set out, the outlaws in the town watched curiously. Since Qing Yi arrived in town, more and more Qing intelligence personnel and combat personnel had gathered. First, they arrested Jindais intelligence personnel, then imposed a curfew on the town, shooting anyone found walking the streets after 9 PM. Initially, the outlaws in town found it hard to adapt. After all, this was a famous Pinjin Grotto in the Central Plains Wasteland, bustling at night. But later, everyone had to adapt. As Qing Yi said, the town was full of bad eggs, criminals expelled from Federal City, and theyd get used to the curfew after dying once. Someone gambling at night suddenly had Qings forces charge in and open fire. Hookers soliciting clients at night were forced to operate during the day. A haven for outlaws turned into a model town of law and order within two days. It lacked only a certificate and a banner. In that moment, self-proclaimed free-spirited outlaws on the wasteland recalled the terror of being controlled by the consortium. Now, Qings Living Hades were finally leaving... ... ... The convoy reached the edge of Forbidden Zone No. 065. After disembarking, they escorted Jindai Yasuhara deep inside. Jindai Yasuhara said nothing. Not that he didnt want to speak, but he couldnt. Three days ago, Jindai spread the news that they had successfully captured Qing Chen and moved him to the secret military base where Officer Qing Mu was held, planning to make him raise pigs for Jindai. This news caused an uproar. While detained, Jindai Yasuhara overheard Qings combat personnel discussing the matter and mockingly commented that Qing Chen had overestimated himself; before he could exchange for Qing Mu, he was captured as the new Qing Mu. Hearing this, Qing Yi poisoned Jindai Yasuhara, rendering him mute. The group went deeper until they stopped at a stone stele, where outlaws often conducted transactions. Surrounding it was scattered trash and the stench of feces. No one knew how many deals had been completed here over the years. Enforce martial law, Qing Yi said calmly. Now, the youths face lacked the naivety and mock maturity it had at Autumn Leaf Courtyard; he had genuinely matured. Like a true commander, he used his learned skills to quickly implement defenses nearby. Soon, footsteps were heard from the north of the forest; over sixty people carrying Qing Mu on a stretcher emerged slowly from the shadows. Leading them was a Jindai intelligence officer in the Central Plains. He looked at Qing Yi and said, I need to confirm whether Officer Jindai Yasuhara is authentic. Qing Yi stared at him, Wheres Qing Chen? The intelligence officer smiled, He has received his due punishment, sent north to replace Qing Mu and raise pigs. I dont know how long hell be there, maybe ten years, twenty years... or a lifetime. If you managed to take pictures together, you can cherish them. Otherwise, we might send you some photos to see how hes doing. Qing Yis eyes turned red, not with tears, but with murderous intent. The intelligence officer smiled, Dont be impulsive; this is Forbidden Zone. With your strength, you wont be able to leave alive if you act recklessly. Qing Yi sneered. Someone from deep in the forest asked, What about my strength? A young man in black, wearing a black baseball cap, walked out. As he passed Qing Yi, he smiled and said, Why waste words with them? Qing Yi wanted to say something but couldnt. In an instant, time seemed to become viscous. Everyones movements extended infinitely. The leaves swaying in the cold wind became like duckweed in water, slowly. The widening eyes of the terrified Jindai intelligence officer, his shrinking pupils, all moved slowly. Even the fear seemed magnified tenfold. The Shadow walked through the crowd, his slender fingers brushing across every Jindai intelligence officers neck. Wounds slowly opened up, and blood from their arteries formed droplets in the air, splashing out. But never reaching the ground. Everyone became amber in the time stream. Like insects trapped in resin falling from branches. It was too terrifying, the power of time displayed like this. Completely powerless to resist. This was the ultimate terror of Qings Shadow in rage, killing as casually as mowing grass. Even easier than mowing grass. The Shadow placed Qing Mus stretcher gently on the ground, saying softly, Welcome back home, youve endured enough. The determination of Forbidden Zone No. 065 on breach of contract was powerful. Even though the Shadow hadnt participated in the initial transaction, he was still deemed a breacher. But Qing Yi and the others, who had done nothing, remained unharmed. Words appeared on the stone stele suddenly. Forbidden. In the next moment, vines erupted from the ground, and poisonous insects from the Forbidden Zone buzzed their wings, attempting to bite the breacher with their sharp jaws. However, the time rule applied to them as well, and the Shadow left leisurely. Walking farther and farther away. Take Officer Qing Mu home, dont kill Jindai Yasuhara. If Qing Chen doesnt return, Ill make sure Jindai family understands true cruelty. Vines missed, insects bit in vain, everything happened too late, only the Shadow remained unrestrained. Coming and going as he pleased. Unsure how long had passed, Qing Yi felt he had returned to normal. Like a drowning man who had just come ashore, he breathed heavily, as if times water had enveloped this place. Qing Yi incredulously looked back at the direction the Shadow had disappeared and at the fallen members of Jindai. Blood formed pools in the Forbidden Zone, leaving no one unscathed. Before this, the Shadow had only mentioned Qing Yi to trade for Qing Mu, not that he would personally break the contract and kill. Qing Yi had prepared himself, had asked his father for a master to blend into the crowd, planning to capture all Jindai Members as ransom to bring Qing Chen home. This was the first time the youth had asked his father for help, but it was unnecessary. Who could have imagined the Shadow would personally intervene? The master sent by Qing Yis father looked at the departing Shadow with apprehension, understanding the terror he had just experienced. Like ordinary people observing a physics experiment, merely an amusing spectacle. Only true physicists understand the vastness of the world, vast to the point of existential questioning. Thus, only this master truly appreciated their powerlessness against the Shadow. A distance they could never close. Qing Yi took a deep breath, Lift Officer Qing Mu, retreat quickly. Notify our response units outside, the north can take action. Soon after, Jindais northern response units were ambushed by several Qings Family squads, each led by Shadow Candidates, attacking fiercely and viciously. In just thirty minutes, nearly a companys combat unit was eradicated. Qings Shadow Candidates, seeming to compete for merit, fearing others would kill more than them. Their initial task was to hunt Jindai B-Class experts, but waited over ten days without sighting any, growing anxious! ... Thanks to euadcer, Yuan Zui, ultra-moe Dangdang dad, reader 20210620141010680, Huihui, the light of life, 20190323, solitary cicada, Ganlin silk rain curtain, crimson waltz, ultimate voyage, salted duck, zero support group, holy dragon carefree, Zhanyue Xue, star of dark night, Yuan Zui, Mo Xi little knight, demonmarcus, saki07, wind stops here, falling star, Eichen, pressure mountain, for becoming new alliance members of this book. Generous bosses, thank you for your support. Thanks again. Chapter 815: 490, you can hit me now. Chapter 815: 490, you can hit me now. City No. 10. Underneath Caramel Bar lies the place where the Spy Bureau uses the most primitive methods to store data. Theres always a man named Qing Shen sitting there. He used to be Xiao Shen, but now hes old, and people call him Lao Shen. He is always prepared to blow up everything here if anyone invades, burying himself along with the invaders in a sea of fire. Inside, a Door of Shadow opens. A Shadow walks out, takes off his baseball cap and mask, and relaxes on the sofa opposite Lao Shen, closing his eyes. In the next instant, his heartbeat stops, and his breathing ceases. Time bypasses him, flowing fiercely around him. Lao Shen grumbled to himself: You used to use the Door of Shadow to come in without me saying anything, but can you open the door in front of me next time? Im old, and my heart isnt too good. If you keep appearing out of nowhere, youll scare me to death sooner or later. By the way, the young guys at the Spy Bureau have been asking me daily if theres a mission to rescue Qing Chen. Whats your stance on this? Give me a word so I can respond to them. You keep silent all the time. Whats the point of making me bear this? Also, my memory is getting worse lately. I might be getting senile dementia. Hey, no one has ever said that the aging of the Qings Bloodline would regress. Its not recorded in the data. Is it because of the injuries I sustained when I was young? Why are all of you fine and only Im having issues... In the small room, only Lao Shen mumbled to himself. He didnt seem to care whether the Shadow could hear him or not. Opposite, the Shadow, after taking off his baseball cap, revealed his face to Lao Shen. It seems that the underground of the Caramel Bar is one of the few places where he can remove his disguise. Thump. The clear sound of a heartbeat resumed. The Shadow said calmly: Sitting here is your own choice. When you truly start to lose your memory, then consider retiring. Lao Shen sighed: Even capitalists would weep if they heard it. The Shadow replied: Im one of the biggest capitalists in the Federation. Isnt it normal to exploit you? Whatever, Lao Shen tossed a phone to the Shadow, Someone from Jindai is looking for you, an old guy who hasnt shown up for a long time. Do you want to call him back? The Shadow thought for a moment: This is quite interesting. He dialed the number back. Lao Shen glanced at him: Its impolite to call him so late. The Shadow cast Lao Shen a glance: I wouldnt mind if that old guy died of shock receiving the call at midnight. Lao Shen opened his mouth: The call has connected. A hoarse voice on the other end said calmly: No matter how much you wish me dead, you shouldnt say it over the phone. Hahahaha, The Shadow laughed: Its been a long time since I heard your voice, old man. It feels like calling an antique through time. Its giving me a hint of decay myself... Speak, what is it. The voice from the other end said: I want to cooperate with you. What kind of cooperation? I cant say now. Im inviting you to the north for a face-to-face talk. The Shadow sneered: Pretending to be mysterious, dont bother. I dont cooperate with Jindai. You and I have common interests. I have no common interests with Jindai. With that, the Shadow abruptly hung up the phone. Lao Shen felt a headache: At least gather some information. The Shadow shook his head: He wouldnt speak over the phone, but I can roughly guess whats going on. Lao Shen stood up, took out a wine glass from a small hidden compartment behind him, and poured half a cup of white wine: Youre going on a journey. Yes, The Shadow lifted the glass and drank it in one gulp: Not just me, many people will be accompanying me. On the northern wilderness mountain road, several figures in black cloaks journeyed in the cold wind. Initially, many thought they would stay in the small town outside Taboo Land No. 065, but unexpectedly, they bypassed the town and continued northward. However, once they passed the civilized demonstration town, everyone lost track of them, not knowing their destination. Moreover, strange people mixed among the cloaked figures. They werent from the Contraindicated courts yet wore identical cloaks. At that moment, April was walking through the mountains, looking helplessly at Li Ke, Li Yunjing, and others behind her: Can you... not follow us? Li Ke thought for a moment and said: You used to hitch rides from us. April felt guilty: Then... but you cant wear cloaks like ours. People will think youre crows too. Uncle Yunjing, arent you one of the top experts in the Federation? How can you use us as cover? Li Ke said: The cloak is nothing special. Anyone can wear it. Besides, Ive seen students cosplay you at cosplay exhibitions! Why dont you mention them! April was speechless. How could it be the same? Theyre cosplaying; you are trying to disguise as crows to avoid attention and attacks! She found Li Ke, a sharp-witted youngster, tricked the Fire Pit from the southwest. Now, he even came up with a terrible idea to disguise as crows to evade surveillance. Daily hitching rides, now identities are being hitched. Where can she complain? April said: Our boss is coming to join us soon! Dont worry, well leave when your boss arrives, Li Ke reassured. At this moment, a girl wearing a cloak hurried forward, smiling: Stop arguing, everyone have some apples! Its lively in the wilderness with more people! At the rear, an old man watching this muttered quietly: Bad luck! ... ... Countdown 112:00:00. Base A02. The prisoners walked out of the prison area, seeing the stone walls rebuilt... feeling an inexplicable sense of relief. For the past few days, Qing Chens wall-building speed grew slower. Not because he was slacking, compromising, or feeling disheartened. But the hunger and cold were weakening him, slowing him down. Jindai soldiers told Qing Chen that if he dared slay pigs to eat, for every pig killed, ten Qing intelligence personnel would be killed. Prisoners saw all this and began to worry, fearing the boy might collapse one day. Luckily, he hadnt fallen yet. New stone walls were being built, although the Jindai soldiers would soon push them down. Some prisoners whispered: Why bother, knowing this is pointless, why not conserve energy. Maybe we should advise him when passing the pigsty, tell him to stop this foolishness. Then, an elderly Qing intelligence personnel suddenly said: Hes not building a wall but a belief; perhaps he fears once he stops, his will might be toppled like the wall. Stop mocking. You can stay in darkness fearing to resist, human nature, but you shouldnt praise the darkness. A prisoner muttered: What nonsense, say something we can understand. A young prisoner said: I was sent here because I dated a girl of higher caste. Her father sent me here. I dont understand your logic; I have no beliefs. Ive been drifting with you for three years, living monotonously. Now comes someone interesting. I fear hell stop building the wall and be lost like us... That fear. Lingered in every prisoner, an inexplicable emotion. They thought Qing Chen was foolish but hoped hed remain foolish. They lacked courage to challenge Jindai but wished someone would. It felt like they were part of the resistance against the oppression in A02 base. Should the young man fall, give up, or dishearten, theyd share the loss and despair. The small sparks in their hearts would extinguish. A Li Family prisoner suddenly said: Actually, hes building it for us. Prisoners puzzled: What do you mean? Before explaining, Jindai soldiers whipped the talking prisoners, whipping them till they bled. Driven toward the quarry, the prisoners were huddled. Passing the pigsty, a Qing intelligence personnel threw a protein bar to Qing Chen. That was their reward for spitting and hitting stones. Some ate immediately; one saved it and threw it to Qing Chen. Jindai soldiers saw it, rushing over, someone tried to snatch the protein bar from Qing Chen, yet hesitated, fearing to enter the pigsty. Afraid of not coming out. Soldiers turned angered, whipped all prisoners: Who threw it! Who threw the protein bar to him! First to report can avoid labor for a week! A prisoner suddenly raised his hand: I report! Soldiers smiled; theyve used this trick for decades, never failing. These cowardly prisoners could never unite; they worried for nothing. Who threw it? Report them and you can avoid labor for a week, said a soldier. Qing Family personnel laughed: Reporting, sir. I report myself; I threw it! Bowing, he said: You can hit me now. Qing Chen froze; prisoners froze; soldiers froze. No one expected the reporter to reply like this. The decades-old method failed. Soldiers rushed, whipping furiously, each lash left deep wounds on the thin winter clothes. Until his synthetic winter coat was shredded. Qing Chen watched silently, neither angry nor guilty. Understanding reasons behind it, knowing his actions were vain now. He bent down, chewing the protein bar, continued building the replaced stone wall. In City No. 18, previously tasted protein bars, bland as wax. This low-quality bar tasted flavorful. Soldiers pointed at Qing Chen, sneering at prisoners: Look! Youre being whipped, hes eating! Look up, does he pity you? Does he feel guilty!? As words fell, someone again threw a protein bar, landing in the pigsty. Reporting, sir. You can hit me now. Chapter 816: 491, Regression Chapter 816: 491, Regression You can beat me now! This shout seemed to tear apart the night before dawn, tearing apart the darkest moment. Among the prisoners, one after another, there were people throwing out the protein bars they had hidden on themselves. Thrown into the pigsty, some missed and fell outside. In the past, when someone saw others discard protein bars, they would immediately pick them up and shove them into their mouths, eating them first. Long-term malnutrition made their eyes shine whenever they saw any food. But this time, nobody scrambled for the protein bars that fell to the ground. If someone picked it up, they would throw it back into the pigsty. More and more Qing intelligence personnel threw their hidden protein bars to Qing Chen. They knew that after today, the prison area would surely face a major search. If they didnt throw now, they would also be found by Jindai. The beasts who were in charge of watching over them would certainly not allow the prisoners to hide food after todays incident. It was not until this moment that the other prisoners knew. These seemingly numb Qing intelligence personnel had actually reignited the flame in their hearts the moment Qing Chen arrived here. The prisoners, who had been numb for who knows how long, didnt know what kind of madness came over them; it was as if they were enjoying long-lost freedom. They shoved the Jindai soldiers to stop them from whipping the Qing intelligence personnel. They belonged to different factions, and some didnt even belong to any faction, but here, they all carried a tragic undertone, wanting to attempt a rebellion. The Jindai soldiers called for support from the barracks, ready to suppress the place with force! Do you think a whipping is enough? Jindai Yunzi walked slowly over from the barracks, sneering, If thats all, people would think this place is some kind of charity institution. The prisoners fell silent when they saw Jindai Yunzi. They were too afraid to meet his gaze. For the longest time, Jindai Yunzi had been the greatest shadow in their hearts. Break the legs of the two instigators, Jindai Yunzi said, Break them in front of Qing Chen, then hang them outside the pigsty. Hang them there for a few days. Whether they survive depends on their luck. There were no laws here; if Jindai Yunzi wanted to break someones legs, he could. Except for Qing Chen. Qing Chen chewed the protein bar in his mouth, thinking about why Jindai didnt directly harm his body. Was it for the usurpation? But the news that he couldnt be usurped should have reached Jindai by now. Or did Jindai find a new way to make him a target for usurpation? He had roughly guessed, for there werent many reasons that could explain Jindais behavior. Qing Chen watched silently as the two Qing intelligence personnel were pinned to the ground, about to have their legs broken by the Jindai soldiers. There was nothing he could do now. The shackles weighing thousands of pounds confined his freedom. He did not scream, because screaming was useless. He was not angry either, because anger was also useless. All Qing Chen could do was wait to return, and then use all his efforts to strike back at Jindai. But... something must be done. The boy bowed his head, holding a stone in his hand, with shackles on his wrists and dirty mud under his feet. Yet at this moment, the two Qing intelligence personnel pinned to the ground suddenly turned to him and smiled, Its okay. Officer Qing Chen, its okay. Its our duty. Success doesnt have to be mine. Qing Chen was stunned. Its okay. These four words were what he had said, and now, they were returned to him. Qing Chen seemed to be pulled back to the Takamagahara, where he sat lonely and side by side with Zhang Wenqi, watching destiny inevitably arrive. For the saying Success doesnt have to be mine. Zhang Wenqi died. The two Qing intelligence personnel willingly had their legs broken to throw him a protein bar. Initially, Qing Chen was not moved when Zhang Wenqi died. Because he wasnt one of the Qings, and he didnt have any sense of belonging to the Qings. But at this moment, he suddenly thought of a question. He could not consider himself one of the Qings, but those intelligence personnel pinned their honor to him. And for this intangible thing, they relentlessly and serenely dedicated everything. Is this the Qings Family? Is this the foundation for Qings Family standing firm in the Federation? Qing Chen seemed to understand something. With a crack, a cold butt of a Jindai soldiers rifle slammed down, breaking the leg bone of one of the Qing intelligence personnel. The blow was so harsh that the fractured leg bone protruded from the skin, looking particularly gruesome. The Qing intelligence personnel couldnt help but let out a heart-wrenching scream, like a beast in the wilderness caught in a giant trap, with its thigh bone broken. From then on, the fate awaiting him was surely death. Qing Chen watched as the two intelligence personnel were hoisted by ropes to the beams of the pigsty roof by the Jindai soldiers, hanging there. Swaying in the cold wind. He suddenly bent down and continued to build his stone wall. The Jindai soldiers laughed arrogantly, You broke your legs for him, hanging there. Look at what he can do? Look if he has any anger in his expression? Hes like a castrated bull, already without any fighting spirit! Spit! The Qing intelligence personnel hanging there spat a mouthful of thick phlegm onto the face of a Jindai soldier, and then another violent beating ensued. Chapter 817: 491, Regression_2 Chapter 817: 491, Regression_2 Jindai Yunzi sneered, Stop hitting them, just let them hang here. Their goal is to provoke you into killing them, but I wont let them have the satisfaction. I want them to feel pain and the cold right here. Anyone else want to throw protein bars? If you do, you can hang here with them. The prisoners saw these two Qing intelligence personnel and recoiled. Qing Chen acted as if he hadnt heard anything, continuing to build the stone wall. At night, Qing Chen paused his wall-building and suddenly stood at the edge of the pigsty, asking softly, Whats your names? Zhao Mingke. Wang Yuchao. How long have you been here? Nineteen years, three months, and three days. Every day, we counted with our fingers, afraid that we might forget, and our minds would go blank. Was it worth it? Theres nothing worth or not worth; were too hungry daily to consider that. Hmm. Officer Qing Chen, do you regret it? No, I dont. Do you know Zhang Wenqi? Qing Chen asked. Sir, you also know Zhang Wenqi? He was one of the guards at Base A02, trained us harshly, but hed go a bit easier at the crucial moment. Yes, before he died, he also said the words Success doesnt have to come from me, Qing Chen stared calmly at the starry sky. Zhao Mingke suddenly said, Officer, you know the meaning of those words, right? Qing Chen shook his head, I dont fully understand yet. Zhao Mingke took a deep breath and said, It means not just telling us soldiers to not fear sacrifice, but also telling commanders to not have a womans benevolence. For any goal, sacrifice and bloodshed are inevitable. If you fear them, the victory you achieve will be a false one. Qing Chen thought for a while, Understood. He continued to lower his head and build the stone wall, while Zhao Mingke and Wang Yuchao hung in the air. The two suddenly heard something murmured from Qing Chens mouth, but the howling cold wind made it difficult to hear clearly. At some moment, the night wind stopped. They heard the words clearly. Return countdown: four days. Zhao Mingke and Wang Yuchao lost the energy for small talk, their heads drooped, blood flowing from the wounds on their legs, barely keeping them awake. All the prisoners passing by looked away, unable to bear the sight. And that boy named Qing Chen still tirelessly built the stone wall over and over again. Return countdown: three days. Zhao Mingke and Wang Yuchao had fallen into a coma. While unconscious, they were still muttering something. No prisoner dared to get close, to hear exactly what they said. And that boy named Qing Chen was nearing his limit. There was food, but the biting cold was something a severely injured person couldnt withstand. Qing Chens face was flushed, a sign of a persistent fever. It was the first time he had fallen ill since becoming a Knight. Even the Knights Body was struggling. Return countdown: two days. Zhao Mingke and Wang Yuchaos breathing was barely perceptible, yet they kept murmuring something. Qing intelligence personnel among the prisoners, risking lashes, strained to listen. In the cold wind, Zhao Mingke and Wang Yuchao murmured, But you have to understand, my friend; we cannot face the darkness with gentleness, but with fire. The Qing intelligence personnel were stunned, silently wiped their tears, then continued toward the quarry. As usual, they carried the never-ending stones. Living the repetitive life of suffering. Return countdown: the final day. Qing Chen stood in the night, gazing at the stars once more. The vast stars in the sky, deep and immense as the sea. Im sorry, Qing Chen said. He was speaking to Zhao Mingke and Wang Yuchao, with no further explanation, just those two words. Sorry for dragging you into this. Sorry for not being able to save you. Zhao Mingke and Wang Yuchao were already on the brink of death. Upon hearing those three words, they opened their eyes briefly, and with cracked lips, smiled, Its okay. Then they were silent again. Those same four words again. They had spoken twice to the Qing intelligence personnel, and those words had been returned twice. But this time, life was given in return. Qing Chen did not mourn. He continued to build the stone wall, feeling the desperate strength in his muscles, trembling, twisting, and surging. As his body neared its limit, exhaustion strangely brought a feeling of exhilaration. At some moment, just as he felt he was about to collapse. A pure, fiery force from deep within him was suddenly ignited, surging through his entire body. It was as if a warm current had flooded the icy Arctic night. Qing Chen paused in shock. He soon realized what it was. It was the blood of a God that had been injected into him by the person who had once saved him in that valley. A drop of Gods blood, diluted to five milliliters, fully injected into his body. It was something coveted even by masters capable of hunting Jindai Yunhe, who wished to keep a portion for themselves. Qing Chen had heard of Gods blood. More precisely, the secret history of the Federation families acknowledged that there had been only one God in this world... Ren Xiaosu, who left his mark 599 meters up the cliff of the Green Mountain. This was the God acknowledged by all families, for his blood could transform decay into miracles, his will was vast and boundless. If this was Gods blood, then it must be Ren Xiaosus blood. It was said that he was the first human to unlock the genetic lock and coexist with cancer cells throughout his body, his cells becoming alien nuclei, dazzling and magnificent. Some speculated that the appearance of Transcendent individuals in this world was due to the immense will of Ren Xiaosu, affecting the entire world. Before Ren Xiaosus Awakening, there were not so many Awakeners. It was after his Awakening that Awakeners began to appear gradually. When Qing Chen was injected with that drop of Gods blood, it merely stabilized his injuries at the time. He thought that was the end of it. But now, with Qing Chens will reaching a critical point, the diluted Gods blood resurfaced, nourishing his physique with divine power. Gods blood was not something anyone could absorb. Only the qualified were worthy of its absorption. Though Qing Chen was only absorbing one-tenth of it now. Qing Chen pondered silently. Given the relationship between the Federation families and Ren Xiaosu, the only families that could receive the gift of Gods blood were the Li Family and Qings Family, as they had fought alongside the God. So, the one who saved him and then handed him over to Jindai must belong to one of these two families. But these details were not important. Qing Chen felt the cold wind and the complex emotions deep inside him, sensing his body on the verge of collapse yet bursting with power. The world fell into darkness. But you have to understand, my friend; we cannot face the darkness with gentleness, but with fire. Return. Chapter 818: 492, Set out, a new journey Chapter 818: 492, Set out, a new journey Countdown 720:00:00. Another long return cycle. Perhaps there will be many Time Travelers with mechanical limbs, worrying about recharging issues once again. For Qing Chen, this time-travel was long and painful. But for most Time Travelers, a month passes in the blink of an eye. In that brief moment, its not even enough time for them to solve the recharging problem... Qing Chen sat in the darkness of the bedroom. He heard hurried footsteps coming from the mansion, then all of them stopped in front of his door, hesitating to knock. He breathed quietly, feeling the long-lost freedom. But Qing Chen was not happy; he seemed still trapped in that dirty pigsty where someone had just died for him. The distant stars in the sky appeared very lonely. Finally back. But returning is not an end; for Qing Chen, its a new beginning. He needed to journey again. But before that, there were things to deal with. Qing Chen opened the door and stepped out. Letting the outside light shine into the dark bedroom. ... ... In villa number 11. Luo Wanya abruptly sat up in the dark, then hurriedly ran out. The security personnel in the villa were stunned. They had followed Luo Wanya for over ten years and had never seen their boss this anxious. Luo Wanya had not even lost his composure like this when he was trapped in the Inner World without any way out. Lao Luo, whats wrong?! someone asked. Luo Wanya glanced at them, Dont ask what you shouldnt, just move aside quickly! Whats going on? Are we on the run again? the confused men asked. Shut up with that bad luck talk, enforce the lockdown, and keep the weapons Boss handed out concealed. Nobody goes near the Daytime villa without Daytimes permission! Luo Wanya threw on a coat and rushed out of the villa. Soon, the atmosphere outside the Daytime villa grew tense. Security personnel were everywhere. Now, what happened to Qing Chen in the Inner World was only spreading within the intelligence and high-level circles; ordinary people had no way of knowing about such power struggles. The power maelstrom of that world had nothing to do with most people; some may never know the truth of certain matters their entire lives. Of course, ignorance is bliss. That group of wealthy second generations at the Los Angeles Foreign Language School were quite happy in the 10th Prison. But Luo Wanya was different. He was in charge of Daytimes intelligence network, with the Parents Meeting extending its reach into every corner of cities 10 and 18. How could he not know what happened to Qing Chen? So he was anxious. Maybe he didnt want to see harm befall the thigh he had just clung onto; maybe he admired that young man, or maybe he had grown attached to Daytime. Anyway, he was anxious. Luo Wanyas chubby body trembled as he ran. Arriving at the entrance of villa number 12, the door was somehow already open, and Liu Dezhu was waiting at the door. Luo Wanya was surprised, Waiting for someone? Liu Dezhu glanced at him and said, Waiting for you, come in, Brother Chen said you would certainly come. Luo Wanya paused for a moment, then followed him inside. The small detail made him feel that... the person seemed a bit different. Upon entering, the veteran of numerous storms and waves was stunned. However many winds and waves he had seen, he had never seen such a scene. The young man stood silently, his upper body stripped, allowing Jiang Xue to treat his wounds. The young man in Luo Wanyas eyes was silently enduring. He wanted to ask what had happened but didnt need to; those wounds were the best explanation. Knife wounds, wolf bites, whip marks, frostbite on his hands, crisscrossed over the young mans body. Jiang Xue applied black ointment to the wounds; the lines of black looked like a cruel totem. Luo Wanya couldnt find a single unscarred part on him. He didnt know how much suffering the Daytime Boss had endured, but he didnt see a trace of pain on the young and battered face. Perhaps that was what he admired about him. Jiang Xue and Li Tongyun applied the black ointment to the wounds while sobbing uncontrollably. Qing Chen smiled, Stop crying, Im fine. You call this fine? Jiang Xue wiped her tears. Qing Chen shook his head and closed his eyes in contemplation, Luo Wanya, I speak, you write. The place Im at is called A02 Base, under the Jindai Consortium. Its the Northwest wind. According to Inner World time, the sun is directly above at 18 degrees south latitude, with the direct point moving northward. Judging by the shadow length at noon, it should be at 52 degrees north latitude. The surrounding area has deciduous pine and birch trees. The Jindai Consortium has three secret military bases; only one fits this description. Im there. Lao Luo, I need you to tell Li Dongze and Qing Zhun this information when you return to the Inner World. Luo Wanya took out a dagger from his waist and cut his palm, I will deliver the message, even if it kills me. Qing Chen couldnt help but laugh, What are you doing? The rules of the streets: blood cut means the promise will be fulfilled, even with life, Luo Wanya said. Qing Chen waved helplessly, Aunt Jiang Xue, apply some ointment to him first... Chapter 819: 492, Embark on a new journey_2 Chapter 819: 492, Embark on a new journey_2 Actually, he was very clear about one thing: the Jindai Consortium has not killed him thus far, nor used harsher methods against him, only inflicted spiritual torture. They must have found a way and wanted to possess him. The other party knew that Shadow and Li Changqing were searching for him, so they must have been prepared. At this moment, if he reveals the clues of the base he is located in to Uncle Li Dong, it would likely cause his master to fall into danger as well. But Qing Chen did not hesitate. That master has faced far greater storms, and he is no less smart. Anything Qing Chen can think of, the other party surely can too. This time, he returned to the Outer World with only two things to do: One is to give his all to complete the next life-and-death challenge. The other is to gather people. Luo Wanya was filled with emotions, based on the information he obtained, he wasnt even sure how Qing Chen could escape. Ill take the Parents Meeting to the North, just in case we can help somehow? Luo Wanya said. Qing Chen shook his head: You wont be of much help, just focus on developing quietly. But... However, at this moment, a voice came through Luo Wanyas Bluetooth earpiece: Lao Luo, someone is visiting Daylight. Luo Wanya paused for a moment: Did the other party reveal their identity? The security personnel replied: Time Traveler under Li Family, Ji Guanya. And Time Traveler under Qings shadow, Si Nianhua. These two have always been mysterious, many people knew that there were several hidden forces in the Outer World, such as the Time Travelers controlled by the Li Family, Qings Family, and Chen Clan. These people clearly influenced the Outer World but rarely appeared, staying extremely low-key. Originally, these two made a deal with He Jinqiu, planning and executing the sensational event in the Island Country and Korea. Now, they have returned. ... ... National Treasure Gardens townhouse district. Qing Shuli was sitting in his home living room, panting. He wasnt injured, just a bit anticipating and nervous for the first return. Zhang Wanfang was guarding beside him. For her, only a moment had passed. How was it? Was it dangerous, did Luo Wanya help you? Zhang Wanfang asked worriedly. Before traveling, she sent her son Hao Haoqin back to her mothers house, worried that if Qing Shuli encountered an accident, the child would see it. She looked him up and down, finding out that not only was Qing Shuli uninjured, but he also seemed a bit younger. In the Outer World, Qing Shuli stayed up late and drank for business deals every day; the raw materials for their mechanical processing kept increasing in price, and competitors kept pressing, making him look exhausted every day. However, in the Inner World, his life seemed much more relaxed. At this point, Qing Shuli opened his mouth and spat out a small medicine bottle, excitedly saying to Zhang Wanfang: This is the beauty medicine I brought back for you from the Inner World. Just take one pill a week. Its said to contain gene inhibitors that slow aging, the same RED serum that was so popular on the hot searches recently. Zhang Wanfang was stunned. She was just worried about Qing Shuli but didnt expect that her husband didnt encounter danger and even had the ability to bring back medicine. The RED serum was very popular, celebrities were all looking for Time Travelers to buy it. Due to the oral carrying method, you could only bring back a small amount each time, netizens jokingly said this was the real import-export trade. Wait, isnt this very expensive in the Inner World too? Are you rich in the Inner World? Zhang Wanfang asked dazedly. Not exactly rich, Qing Shuli thought for a moment, enthusiastically saying, I did encounter very dangerous situations at first, nearly died! Huh? Tell me what happened, did Luo Wanya save you? Then dont let me take this medicine, sell it and repay him? Zhang Wanfang anxiously said, Didnt you say his charges are very high before? Qing Shuli laughed, When I first crossed over, it was extremely dangerous, someone wanted to kill me. I hesitated whether to call Luo Wanya or not, eventually did, hoping for a stroke of luck. Initially, I didnt have much hope, why would he help me since we were not related. But guess what happened? Qing Shuli didnt keep suspense for long: In the end, family members swarmed over and saved me! That heart-stirring scene, I even dreamed about it last night, still feeling excited thinking about it now. Huh? Family members? Did any other family members cross over? Zhang Wanfang was stunned for a while: Was it our second uncle who saved you? Qing Shuli laughed: No, no. Its that I joined Luo Wanyas organization in the Inner World, called Parents Meeting. Members address each other as family. Zhang Wanfang hesitated and said: This type of organization formed by students parents, can it be significant? Qing Shuli shook his head and quickly explained: You misunderstood. Although I also dont know why its called Parents Meeting, it has no relation to the parents meeting we hold for Hao Hao. Luo Wanyas group is quite powerful, and Daylight even more so. Qing Shuli continued: There are several levels in the Parents Meeting, Ive already mingled up to Blue Family Member level. Life isnt too much of a worry anymore, even days in the Inner World are going well. I was worried at first that I couldnt afford Luo Wanyas fees. But later I found I was overthinking, he didnt even mention money, purely wanted to help. Chapter 820: 492, Embark on a new journey_3 Chapter 820: 492, Embark on a new journey_3 Zhang Wanfang hesitated, But the outside world says Luo Wanya... Its all rumors, Qing Shuli said confidently. Nowadays, spreading rumors is just too easy. As the saying goes, rumors spread with a mouth, refuting them breaks legs. Someone as good as Luo Wanya has been so misrepresented. Lets go, Luo Wanya probably just returned, I need to go thank him. Zhang Wanfang nodded, We should indeed thank him. The two put on their down jackets to step out. On the way, Qing Shuli sighed, The Parents Meeting has immense influence in the Inner World. Theyve stirred up a big commotion with an organization called the Mechanicus. I heard the consortiums of City 10 and City 18 are back them. I also heard its because someone from Daylight has great connections with the consortiums and holds a very high status. I wonder when Ill have the chance to meet a member of Daylight... Qing Shuli had been in the Inner World for a month, and his biggest impression was that Daylight was too powerful. It seemed there was nothing in City 18 that Daylight couldnt solve. Qing Shuli continued, Our lives will soon get better. Ill bring things back from the Inner World to sell. This business can make much more money than our current mechanical processing and exporting to Brazil. As long as youre safe, Zhang Wanfang and Qing Shuli walked through the villa district, laughing and chatting, as if the winter had become warmer. When they arrived at Villa 11, Qing Shuli curiously peered at Villa 12, belonging to Daylight, from a distance. He was surprised to see that the security outside the Daylight villa had doubled compared to before. Moreover, everyone had serious expressions, and the sticks they once held had been replaced with knives. Some even had their hands subtly placed under their armpits as if ready to draw a gun like bodyguards in movies. Um... Id like to visit General Luo, Qing Shuli showed the two bottles of Maotai in his hand. The security personnel glanced at him expressionlessly, Please leave, General Luo is not seeing any guests today. At that moment, Qing Shuli suddenly saw an S-Class Mercedes-Maybach slowly drive out of Daylights villa courtyard. The driver was still Luo Wanya, but it was still unclear who was sitting behind the privacy glass in the back seat. Just as the luxurious executive car was about to pass by Qing Shuli and Zhang Wanfang, Luo Wanya didnt intend to stop, but then Qing Chens voice came from the back seat, Stop for a moment. The car stopped, and silence fell inside. Qing Chen looked through the window at Qing Shuli and Zhang Wanfang, who were all smiles. He felt as though he were out of place in that world. Qing Shuli had no idea why Luo Wanya would rescue him for no compensation, didnt know who the real big figures behind Daylight were, nor could he understand what Qing Chen was enduring while they felt happy. Qing Chen smiled faintly, Drive on, to the airport. Qing Shuli and Zhang Wanfang thought Luo Wanya would lower the window to say a few words when the car stopped, but it just moved on. Luo Wanya hesitated a moment, Boss, seeing them so happy, I feel a bit uneasy. Qing Chen smiled, Its alright. Then Qing Chen said seriously, Lao Luo, I want to ask you a favor. Whatever you need, Boss, Luo Wanya replied in a low voice. Qing Chen said, I hope from now on, you can give up your brainwashing methods and genuinely develop the Parents Meeting. Sincerely help some people and earnestly experience that era. Luo Wanya was stunned for a moment, Why, Boss? If we do that, the Parents Meeting might develop a lot more slowly. Qing Chen replied, Sometimes, in our attempt to reach a goal quickly, we unconsciously justify improper means and find all sorts of excuses for ourselves. But thats wrong. Lao Luo, I want a clean Parents Meeting. That way, one day when I bring you all to spread our flag across the northern lands, we can stand tall. Luo Wanya was silent for a long time, I understand, Boss. This street-smart figure suddenly felt that Daylight had changed a bit. The old Daylight had no clear goal. If there was one, it was merely to survive, cautiously developing and not taking reckless risks. But now, there must be a clearer goal in Qing Chens heart. Not ambition. A goal. His bosss intentions seemed purer. ... ... In He Xiaoxiaos group chat. The ID suspected to be Chen Sui, the Matrix boss, Haicheng Takeshi Kaneshiro said, Matrix recently brought back new virtual engine technology from the Inner World. Maybe one day we can create something like Virtual Life in the Outer World... Whats that trendy term lately? Oh, right, metaverse! Wow, really? the boss of the Red Umbrella Organization, Jian Shouqing, praised enthusiastically. When I was in the Inner World, I was completely hooked on Virtual Life. You could do whatever you wanted in there, with the brain-machine interface, it was much more interesting than real life. Everyone knew that Chen Sui just wanted to show off the information and commercial empire he was building, and the group members mostly chimed in with a few compliments. They even came close to sending flower and applause emojis. Then, suddenly, someone named Chuang Wang said, At this point, youre still focusing on such trivial matters. Its small-minded, very small-minded. Chen Sui calmly retorted, Then what are the big matters? Lets see your grand vision. Chapter 821: 492, Departure, New Journey_4 Chapter 821: 492, Departure, New Journey_4 The King: I will tell you some big news that will scare you to death. In the past, the King loved to be in the limelight in the group. But now theres Chen Sui, making the King feel his position is challenged... The King said: First, the Qing Shan Air Fortress of the Li Family has already taken off, and it hasnt returned to the base yet. I heard that Li Changqing has blocked the entire airspace, and no one knows what shes up to. At first, it was just a blockade, but now the Li Family Army is directly heading north. I fear the Federations second civil war might start soon. Second, the Qings Familys Divine Scepter Aerial Fortress also took off two days ago! Moreover, Qings Family troops, just like the Li Familys, are heading north and have already had small skirmishes with Jindai forces. The King said: But what I dont understand is, even with all this clamor, the Li Family and Qings Family dont seem to have any plans to fight immediately. Theyre just deploying forces first, not sure what theyre waiting for. Also, this war came so suddenly, it doesnt seem to have any reason. Didnt they just sign a ceasefire agreement? The fact that Qing Chen was captured is still secret within a small range, so the King doesnt know. So, it seems hes not high-ranking in the army, at most a mid-level officer. The owner of the spicy chicken place in Mountain City, Paoge, also said: The movements of the army in the southwest are also very strange, they seem to be heading north. At this moment, the usually silent chatterbox Zard suddenly said: You cant even give proper intelligence. Do you know why the situation has tightened again? Its because a member of Daytime was captured by Jindai. The uproar from the Li Family and Qings Family is meant to coordinate and contain the front line to bring him back home! When he said this, the King, Chen Sui, Mountain City Spicy Chicken owner, and the others were all stunned. Daytime? The Federation had such a big event, how could it be related to Daytime? Isnt that a Time Traveler Organization from Los Angeles City? Although there have been legends of Daytime in the Outer World, how could such a small place have such a big impact?! Zard continued: You all are still messing around with the metaverse. When the Federation civil war starts, your heads will be blown off, and then how will you get your brain-machine interface? You must have heard about the disturbances from the Li Family and Qings Family in the past few days, like blocking airspace and Qings Family purging internally. That was when Jindai captured a Daytime individual, escaping northwards. Blocking the airspace is to catch them and save the person, Qings Familys internal purge was to eliminate Jindais intelligence agents in the Central Plains, do you understand now? The King hesitated for a long time: Who exactly was captured? Zard: I cant disclose that, Ive told all I can. The movements of the Li Family and Qings Family are not coincidental, all because of this incident. As for why theyre so agitated, its obviously because this Daytime member is quite important... Yet another day wanting to join Daytime. Huan Yu: Stop pretending to be mysterious. Why dont you just say Qing Chen was captured? What are you hiding? Whos side are you on?! Zard: If I ever switch to Daytime one day, wouldnt it make a good impression on my new colleagues? Huan Yu: ... Chen Sui suddenly felt uncomfortable, he was still indulging in the recent praise. In comparison, the things their Matrix had done seemed like childs play next to Daytimes turmoil. The King: Wait, has Qing Chen also returned? Where is he now? @Icy Eyes, hey, are you alright? However, Icy Eyes didnt reply. At this moment, Qing Chen had already changed to a new face and a new identity, sitting at Haicheng Pudong International Airport, waiting for a flight to Island Country Osaka. Its one of the three major gathering places for Jindai Consortium Time Travelers. Also, the place where he would complete his next life-or-death mission. Qing Chens injuries still faintly hurt, but its okay. He only has thirty days, this time, he must race against time. ... Two-in-one chapte Chapter 822: 493, Revenge Chapter 822: 493, Revenge Haicheng Pudong International Airport Lounge. A boy quietly sat on a seat. He looked straight ahead, holding a scrambled third-order Rubiks Cube in each hand. With his slender, nimble fingers dancing, the two scrambled cubes were spinning rapidly, pausing every few seconds for a second, then spinning quickly again. Strangely, the two Rubiks Cubes were never solved. It was as if a novice was randomly fiddling, unable to play with the Rubiks Cube at all. The bustling crowd at Haicheng Pudong International Airport, but the boy sitting amidst it, appeared exceptionally quiet and solitary. The clamorous everything had nothing to do with him. Not far from the lounge, a group of young people, who were heading to Island Country to participate in a Texas poker tournament, saw this scene and suddenly stopped in their tracks. It wasnt yet boarding time, so everyone didnt have to rush to the plane. Someones playing with a third-order Rubiks Cube, a young man said with a laugh. The crowd followed his gaze to the boy, but after watching for a while, they turned their heads away in boredom: Novice. Yeah, if you cant solve a third-order Rubiks Cube in less than 10 seconds, you havent even begun. Without mastering single-handed solving, trying to learn dual-hand solving is like trying to run before learning to walk, one of them said. The term Sub-10 referred to solving within ten seconds and was considered professional in speedcubing terms. These individuals also seemed to play with Rubiks Cubes, but dismissed the boys speedcubing skills as below par. They were elite students from Haicheng University, traveling to the Island Country for the Texas poker tournament, then planning to go for a heavy backpacking trip and soak in an onsen at Takayama Hida. Takayama Hida, also known as the Northern Alps Mountain Range. The name was quite fascinating. In 1896, British missionary Weston compared the scenery of the Hida Mountain Range to the beauty of the Alps in Europe, and thus the Hida Mountain Range became renowned as the Alps Mountain Range in the Island Country... Later on, the Island Country directly established the Alps National Park here. The other young people found places to sit. Only one among them continued to gaze intently at the boy. He found it a bit odd. Ren Yan, stop staring, youll make him uncomfortable, one of them said. However, the young man named Ren Yan didnt look away. He suddenly noticed somethingthe boys Rubiks Cube hadnt ever been solved, but every time it paused, the pattern was identical. Exactly the same. Moreover, the rhythm of the boys single-handed cube turning was extraordinarily peculiar, resembling a repeated melody. At first, Ren Yan thought the boy was DNFing. DNF, in speedcubing terms, meant that professional players, failing to solve the cube within their target time, abandoned the solve and scrambled anew. But later, Ren Yan realized it wasnt the case. Like a normal player, the goal was to make each face the same color, yet the boys goal each time seemed to be to restore a complicated pattern identical to the previous one. This behavior seemed as if afraid of playing too incredibly, causing others to think he was merely a novice. Ren Yan glanced at the electronic watch on his wrist, timing it silently. 4.983 seconds. The boys single-handed solving speed was 4.983 seconds. If considered this way, solving the cube in an average of 5 seconds single-handedly, and with both hands simultaneously, was very odd indeed. Its notable that the current world record for single-handed solving was 4.693 seconds. Ren Yan watched the boy for a long while. Then, he walked over to the boy, curious: Have you ever participated in a cube competition? I havent seen you at any championship. Do you want to compete? I can introduce you to the registration process. Let me introduce myself; Im Ren Yan, the Vice President of the National Speedcubing Association. The boy looked at him expressionlessly, continuing what he was doing. Then, Ren Yan suddenly noticed that both of the boys hands showed signs of frostbitethose purplish marks wouldnt disappear until summer. He couldnt fathom what circumstances could cause a pair of hands to freeze like that. Attention all passengers, flight HO1333 from Haicheng Airport to Osaka Kansai Airport is now boarding... The boy stood up, calmly walking towards the boarding gate through the priority first-class channel. Completely ignoring the young people. Ren Yans companion laughed: Hes just playing around, why invite him? Ren Yan shook his head: Hes not just playing around. Strangely, someone so skilled at playing the cube had never participated in a competition. Was it disdain, or ignorance of such competitions? In fact. Many people practice speedcubing to compete, but the boy did not. He practiced to kill Jindai while multitasking. Constantly improving his computational ability while multitasking. The boy felt he still had shortcomings in this area. Ren Yan regretted watching the boys back, knowing the cube for many was just a hobby, irrelevant for study or livelihood, so participating held little significance. And theres nothing to be done if he doesnt want to compete. Through the boarding gate, the boy continued playing with his Rubiks Cube in the first-class cabin, which was relatively empty except for one middle-aged man. Upon boarding, Ren Yan noticed the boy still quietly playing with the cube. As if the boy had no other hobbies or emotions. For unknown reasons, Ren Yan found the boy strange, unable to pinpoint why. When the plane entered the stratosphere, the flight attendants served meals. The other man in the first-class cabin stopped after two bites, seemingly finding the food unappetizing. However, the boy ate slowly, finishing every grain of rice in the bowl, meticulously consuming all the fruits and desserts. The flight attendants, witnessing this, felt the boy had obsessive-compulsive disorder, as if cherishing every bite. Only the boy knew the sacrifices made for his food, how precious normal food was. So from now on, each meal, he would eat thoroughly, not wasting a bit. Two hours later, the plane landed. Passengers disembarked, navigating through the lengthy and complex Osaka customs. Upon exiting the airport gates, the boy reached out, plucking a hair from the middle-aged man who was also a first-class passenger. Then, using two fingers, he inserted the hair into the mans spleen, stirred, and pulled it out. Effortlessly, without a trace. The boy released the hair onto the ground, continuing forward. Everything happened too fast. The man felt a pain in the back of his head, then a stabbing pain in his waist. The bleeding from the internal wound caused him to kneel quickly, draining his strength. Life, likewise. Someone called for the airport staff, who arrived to find the man had already died. His heartbeat and breathing had completely stopped. The following passengers were puzzled, thinking the middle-aged man had a heart attack. But soon, someone noticed otherwise. Blood kept seeping from tiny pores in the mans lower back, wetting his clothes. Airport staff shouted: Murder case, seal off the area, call the Osaka Prefecture Police Headquarters! No one is allowed to leave, fetch the surveillance footage! The passengers were shocked. How did a simple trip turn into a crime scene?! One passenger said: We didnt commit a crime, why restrict our freedom? I remember him, he was a first-class passenger on flight HO1333, disembarking before us. You should find others who disembarked with him. At that moment, Ren Yan scanned the crowd for the boy but found he had long disappeared. Ren Yan had no evidence, but he was certain the boy did it. Only then did he understand why the boy seemed strangehis gaze was too calm, as if without a single emotional ripple. The police arrived and checked the footage, seeing the boy pulling hair to kill. No wonder there was no weapon found at the airportthe boy used hair as his tool. The wounds diameter matched the hairs thickness. At the airport, everyone underwent several checks. If anyone had carried a weapon, it would have been found. However, no ordinary person would consider using hair as a weapon. This hair even came from the middle-aged man himself. The police were puzzled; it had to be a Time Traveler murder caseonly Time Travelers had such eerie abilities. A policeman whispered: Notify the Mysterious Business Department; were not qualified to intervene. The Mysterious Business Department emerged after the time travel incidents, dedicated to handling Time Travelers. Everyone inside was controlled by the Jindai Consortium, serving its will. Their authority was vast, even influencing the Island Countrys political situation in the Outer World. The boy was Qing Chen, and he had killed a Time Traveler from the Mysterious Business Department. Secretly responsible for contacting Jindai Time Travelers within China, retreating due to tense situations. Unbeknownst to him, even after retreating to the Island Country, he was killed. At this moment, Qing Chen had no other thoughts. He only thought of two thingsrevenge and survival challenges. A02 secret military base was renowned throughout the Federation, one of Jindai intelligences largest training bases, infamous like the Siberian demon training camps. Qing Chen gleaned far more information from Takahashi Toshiki and Zhao Shuais memories. Because they had once trained a batch of male Time Travelers here at A02. The discovered Time Travelers in northern cities were sent to A01, A02, A03 secret bases for two months of brutal training. One purpose was enhancing their combat skills, the other brainwashing, fostering allegiance to the Jindai Consortium. When Qing Chen was imprisoned in A02, the second batch of Time Travelers had just graduated, completing their graduation ceremony by hunting down 496 prisoners, before returning to Northern Cities 20, 21, 22. Each batch of nearly a thousand Time Travelers underwent the harshest combat training, graduating one after the other, forming large organizations to help Jindai complete its control over the Island Country in the Outer World. They searched for undiscovered Time Travelers. Previously, Li Family Season Champion and Qings Family Si Nianhua expertly planned and conducted targeted replacements in the Island Country. Even with such preparation, after minor disruptions, they were forced to retreat by Jindais organized Time Travelers. It wasnt that Ji Guanya and Si Nianhua werent formidable, but it was Jindais territorythey had already done beyond imagination sneaking here and causing such havoc. This time to the Island Country, Qing Chen didnt seek help from Kunlun or Kyushuthe aid from Ji Guanya and Si Nianhua was enough. As the Mysterious Business Departments Time Travelers swarmed in, Osaka Kansai Airports entrance was blocked. A sniper shot rang out, a department head fell. Only then did everyone realize the murderer hadnt gone far. ... Another chapter before midnight Chapter 823: 494, that Joker Chapter 823: 494, that Joker The sound of the sniper rifle roared incessantly. All of Qing Chens emotions transformed into anger, bursting out together with the gunfire. Twenty-seven Time Travelers from the Mysterious Business Department were struck down by bullets flying from 600 meters away. They never thought that in this Osaka, the stronghold of Jindai, someone would dare to kill so recklessly! Even the Time Travelers who had previously caused trouble in the Island Country were now forced to be extremely cautious in hiding their traces! In an instant, the scene outside Osaka Kansai Airport turned extremely bloody as people scrambled to escape and find cover. But the sound of the sniper rifle was incredibly stable and rapid, giving them no chance at all. The large glass floor-to-ceiling windows of the airport shattered one after another, with fragments falling to the ground like crystal clear cascades. The crowd panicked, dodging fearfully, worried that this shooting incident might affect them. However, tourists outside the airport quickly discovered that the killers wrath was all directed at the Mysterious Business Department. His shooting was so precise that it did not harm any Ordinary People nearby. They watched as those big shots from the Mysterious Business Department fell one by one, as if someone was unfolding a cruel painting in front of them. In fact, if anyone familiar with Qing Chen were present, they would understand the determination in Qing Chens heart to kill at this moment. He could have increased the shooting distance, but he chose to keep it within a range completely unaffected by wind speed and bullet travel time. In fact, Qing Chen took that flight just to kill this middle-aged man and lure out the Time Travelers from the Mysterious Business Department for a fight. The identity of the middle-aged man wasnt important. Because Qing Chen wanted to kill so many Jindai Time Travelers this time that this middle-aged man was just one of them. What mattered was that Osaka was Jindais stronghold, and the Time Traveler Organization was extremely tight-knit. Si Nianhua once advised Qing Chen not to provoke them, as attempting to kill recklessly in someone elses base would surely provoke a mad counterattack like stirring up a hornets nest. But Qing Chen didnt care. Since there were many people in their base, he would lure them out to fight. Soon, of the more than twenty Time Travelers from the Mysterious Business Department, only a few found cover before the bullets arrived. They called for support frantically on the phone: A sniper is attacking. They deliberately lured us here and set up an ambush beforehand! The sniper is in one of the three buildings opposite Kansai Airport, but we cant confirm which one! In Osaka City Hall, Chuo Ward Office, and Konohana Ward Office, hundreds of Time Travelers were driving vehicles madly onto the main roads of Osaka City. The so-called Ward Office means the location of an administrative agencys office. This shows just how terrifying the influence of Jindais Time Travelers on the entire Island Country is. Qing Chens action, as Si Nianhua and Ji Guanya said, was like stirring up a hornets nest. These people were fully armed and quickly blocked all roads outside Osaka Kansai Airport. They wore earpieces, turned off the gun safety, and then rapidly approached the three buildings where the sniper might be hiding. Meanwhile, Qing Chen, in an apartment room, had already put down his sniper rifle. He placed the sniper rifle on the windowsill. Calmly, he changed into another set of clothes prepared in advance in the apartment. Qing Chen burned all the documents hed brought with him to Osaka, took another set of documents from the drawer, and walked out of the apartment. In the instant he stepped out, he already looked identical to the photo on his new documents. As Lin Xiaoxiao and Ye Wan once said, when Qing Chen is determined to hide his tracks, he would blend into the crowd like a drop of water into the sea, making it impossible for his enemies to find him. His Taboo items were all hidden in the forest where he was attacked by wolves. At that time, he knew he was going to die, and if he died, even his virtues would surface. So to avoid equipping Jindai after his death, adhering to the principle of not benefiting the enemy even in death, Qing Chen preferred to hide those Taboo items forever. As a fact, if he hadnt hidden the Taboo items, they would have been long taken by Jindai Yunhe. This decision proved very wise. However, the Taboo item ACE-005 Da Fu was different; even if Qing Chen died, it wouldnt fall from his face. And Jindai had no clue about its containment conditions and couldnt use it. So, Taboo item ACE-005 was Qing Chens final Taboo item after his escape. The rest would be retrieved from the forest once he broke free. Of course, it was precisely this final Taboo item that gave Qing Chen the opportunity to kill in Osaka. When Si Nianhua came to him, she made it clear that she would assist Qing Chen unconditionally and wholeheartedly in the Outer World. Qing Chens requirements were simple too. He didnt need Si Nianhua or Ji Guanya to join the fight; they just needed to place what he needed in designated locations. At that time, Si Nianhua wanted to offer more help, even initiating a Time Traveler conflict in the Island Country once more, but Qing Chen didnt agree. At that time, Si Nianhua still didnt know that providing just a few identification documents was enough for Qing Chen to bring endless trouble to the Mysterious Business Department. Shortly after Qing Chen exited the building, he noticed that the Mysterious Business Department had set up checkpoints at all major transport routes. All vehicles and pedestrians had to show their documents to pass. Qing Chen blended in with the crowd, calmly accepting the inspection like a normal person, and was allowed to pass. The Mysterious Business Department had clearly already traced the identity information Qing Chen used on the plane. But Qing Chen had boarded using a fake identity and fake documents. Now, Jindai was looking for an 18-year-old boy named Guan Zhongke. What did that have to do with Qing Chen? More and more Jindai Time Travelers brushed past Qing Chen. The young boy walked into the crowd and disappeared. Meanwhile, Si Nianhua and Ji Guanya had already sneaked into the country and were sitting in an izakaya not far from Osaka Shinsaibashi. Ji Guanya smiled at Si Nianhua, Hes already caused such a big commotion, isnt it a bit inappropriate for us to be drinking here? Si Nianhua glanced at him, If you want to court death, Im not stopping you. Youre from Qings Family, so calling him the future new boss isnt wrong. But Im from the Li Family, I dont necessarily need to risk my life for him, Ji Guanya sipped his sake. The sake, called 14th Generation. White Cloud Comes and Goes, tasted sweet and refreshing with almost no alcohol flavor. Many considered it the Moutai of sake. These two sure knew how to enjoy themselves. Si Nianhua said indifferently, You dont need to rush to distance yourself. If Li Changqing knew you were slacking off during this return, your end wouldnt be very pleasant. Ji Guanya didnt seem to care, pondering for a moment before saying, Im curious though, what exactly is your future boss aiming to do? There are thousands of Time Travelers in Osaka. Killing these twenty or so people is like a drizzle to Jindai. Whats the point? Si Nianhua, setting down her chopsticks meant for tuna sashimi, replied calmly, He needs to keep Jindai on edge for ten more days. He didnt plan to start a massacre upon arriving in Osaka. Our new boss seems to be waiting for a better moment, though I dont know when. For the next ten days, the Mysterious Business Department would undoubtedly be in a state of extreme vigilance, having to both investigate the killer and prevent another sniper from assassinating important figures. However, Qing Chen would not continue his assassinations during this period. He would return when their nerves were strained to the limit. At this moment, Si Nianhuas men had blended into the crowd as per Qing Chens arrangement. They were secretly collecting data related to the assassination: how many Jindai Time Travelers were in each ward office, the response speed of each ward office in a crisis, and who was in the ward office. Most crucially, where were Jindais chosen ones hidden? This was the information Qing Chen wanted to know. Ji Guanya suddenly said, But killing these twenty or so people shouldnt keep Jindai on edge for too long, right? Si Nianhua thought for a moment, then said, He said he has his ways. ... ... Inside Kansai Airport. A middle-aged man was silently watching the surveillance video of the teenagers swift and efficient killing. The efficiency of the killing was incredibly high, definitely the work of an assassin accustomed to life and death. You should know that the middle-aged Time Traveler had used two doses of the Genetic Potion, yet he couldnt react at all before the killer. And the technique to pierce the spleen was so sharp how many times must one have practiced to locate the spleen from the outside so accurately? He asked on the communication channel, Have you located the snipers position? A voice sounded in the earpiece, Reporting, sir, not yet. Were searching the three buildings one by one; the smell of gunpowder from the sniper rifle cant be hidden. Okay, keep looking, the middle-aged man stood up. He silently watched the bodies, suddenly wondering who had come to Jindais stronghold and acted so arrogantly? Was it Qing Chen Inspector? Or... the boss of Bai Zhi? He couldnt be sure; the shooting distance was too close. Many snipers could do this, so it might not be Bai Zhis boss. At this time, the information that Qing Chen was a Knight was also a Jindai upper-level secret, and not widely known. Before this return, the Jindai Consortium had ordered all Time Travelers to be wary of Time Travelers from Qings Family, Qing Chen, Bai Zhi, Kunlun, and Kyushu. But this order was mainly for the Jindai Time Travelers within China; no one expected the opposition to come directly to the Island Country. As he pondered, the team searching the three buildings had already kicked down an apartment door. In the next moment, they were thrilled to see the sniper rifle on the windowsill! But soon they were disappointed because the room was empty; the sniper had long since gone. A Jindai Time Traveler slowly approached the sniper rifle, suddenly seeing a card next to it. He picked it up and saw it was a poker card. The card depicted a laughing Joker. When the middle-aged man inside the airport heard about this, he was stunned: Is it the Joker who orchestrated everything in Amsterdam?! Quickly inform the officials; Osaka City Hall must enter combat readiness immediately! How could that Joker suddenly appear in the Island Country!? For a moment, the Mysterious Business Department went on high alert. The sun gradually set. A Nohi Bus departing from Osaka City was passing through tunnels in the mountains, heading towards Takayama and Hida. Gifu Prefecture. It was the starting point of Oda Nobunagas conquest of the world. Also the filming location of the village of Itomori in the anime Your Name. It had the Island Countrys highest mountains, clearest streams, and most pleasant hot springs. Qing Chen sat quietly in the back of the Nohi Bus, his hands slowly turning the Rubiks Cube as he enjoyed the scenery. The setting sun shone through the window onto his face, bringing a slight touch of warmth to the boy. ... Sorry for the late update. Im stuck with the seller who wont let me update. If you want to blame someone, blame him. Also, a small promotion for Xiaolongs new book Mink Street No. 13, synopsis: I like to sit on empty streets at night, listening to the whispers of them, enjoying the noise of them. This book recommendation was posted by Xiaolong who came to my hotel room and watched me post it. You can check it out... Chapter 824: 495, Snow Countrys Little Girl Chapter 824: 495, Snow Countrys Little Girl If it was just an assassination of more than twenty people, it wouldnt be enough to make the Mysterious Business Department nervous. However, a single Joker card could put the entire Mysterious Business Department on high alert. After all, the last time Joker appeared, he nearly uprooted the Jindai foundation in Western Europe, causing significant losses for the Time Travelers from the Deer Island Financial Group. Everything that happened at the airport quickly spread on the internet because there was no initial control over public opinion. Too many tourists recorded videos with their phones, and even the airport surveillance footage was leaked. Before the Nohi Bus even arrived at Shirakawa-go in Gifu Prefecture, other tourists on the bus had already seen the news. Qing Chen sat quietly in the last row, the two Rubiks Cubes in his hands turning slowly but never stopping. He listened to the tourists on the bus discussing how the assassin used someone elses hair to kill, thinking to himself that using hair was simply because it was the easiest weapon to find, and he pulled the middle-aged mans hair because it wouldnt hurt himself to pull someone elses hair. Additionally, this way, he didnt have to study a middle-aged mans health guide like his master did. The bus drove along the long mountain road, entering Snow Country. Every winter, Shirakawa-go is covered in heavy snow, with accumulations up to a meter deep, making the whole world feel like a fairy tale. The village still has traditional Gassho-zukuri houses, named for their triangular thatched roofs. Dozens of these houses form a cluster, with thick snow covering the roofs, creating a scene too beautiful for even an oil painting to capture. In the summer, heavily laden hikers start their journey here, traversing the challenging Northern Alps Small Loop. In autumn, the village hosts a cloudy sake festival, where locals invite tourists to enjoy a cup of cloudy sake mixed with rice. In winter, skiers come here to rent family-run hot spring inns, skiing by day and soaking in hot springs by night. After getting off the bus with a backpack almost as tall as himself, Qing Chen followed the map to find the family-run hot spring inn he had rented. In this snowy village, the locals had cleared a narrow gravel path, with snow piled high on either side, creating an unusual winding path leading to a secluded spot. But Qing Chen was taken aback when he arrived at the hot spring inn he had rented. Because while the snow in front of other hot spring inns had been cleared away, thick snow remained in front of this small inn. When he rented it, all the other inns had almost been booked out, but this one had no takers. Qing Chen had checked the reviews of this hot spring inn and found almost all were negative. The old lady running this hot spring inn cant cook, and the food is terrible and hard to swallow. The hot springs temperature isnt high enough. The inn isnt very clean. There were several such negative reviews. But Qing Chen didnt mind. After all, he wasnt here for a vacation. No matter how difficult the conditions were, they couldnt be worse than the A02 secret military base. He trudged through the waist-high snow and knocked on the wooden door. The door opened quickly, and an eight or nine-year-old girl stood there, scrutinizing Qing Chen. Qing Chen spoke in Japanese, Hello, Im the renter. The little girl immediately smiled warmly, Onii-chan! You finally arrived, come in quickly! She hurriedly brought slippers for Qing Chen and even took out a soft straw broom to gently brush the dust off him. This puzzled Qing Chen. Why was an eight or nine-year-old girl doing the work in an operating hot spring inn? Where were the adults? The girl invited Qing Chen to sit in the living room and carefully brought him a cup of hot tea from the kitchen. She handed it to Qing Chen and then explained cautiously, Onii-chan, sorry, but my grandma got sick a few days ago, so she cant get up to clear the snow or do the tasks to serve the guests... Are you hungry? Ill prepare a meal for you. Qing Chen didnt speak, just nodded slightly. He watched as the little girl brought a small chair into the kitchen. She stood on the chair, struggling to light the fire, fry fish, make omelet rolls, and prepare miso soup. Her skills were not very proficient, indicating she hadnt been learning for long. Her diligent efforts showed a strength beyond her years. Qing Chen watched silently, somewhat lost in thought. The little girl was delicate with thick, fluffy hair that was very cute. Her clothes were old, and a workbook lay next to the dining table in the living room, suggesting she had been doing homework before Qing Chen arrived. He heard faint breathing and occasional coughing from a bedroom, which was probably the little girls grandmother. What illness does your grandmother have? Qing Chen asked. The little girl was silent for a moment, then forced a smile and said, Onii-chan, my grandmother has lung cancer. Its not contagious, dont worry. Qing Chen didnt speak further, but he understood somewhat. The negative reviews from previous guests were likely because the little girls grandmother had been in poor health for a long time, making it difficult to run the hot spring inn properly. The little girls cautious demeanor reminded Qing Chen of his own childhood. Like a wild weed, growing fiercely and stubbornly. She tried hard to show enthusiasm and keep Qing Chen from leaving. Generally, guests at the hot spring inn only stay for two or three days; its rare to have someone like Qing Chen renting for a month. The little girl feared that Qing Chen might leave for another inn because of negligence. So, even though they had just met, the little girl used the term Onii-chan, making it seem more intimate. This form of address is typically reserved for very close older brothers. Qing Chen took out two Rubiks Cubes again, turning them slowly. This wasnt just multitasking; he was restoring the Rubiks Cube while also contemplating the little girls situation with the inn, effectively using his mind for three tasks. It was unclear where the little girls parents were, requiring her to learn to please guests and take on responsibilities she shouldnt have to at such a young age. Soon, the little girl returned to the dining table with a tray. She carefully placed the tray on the table and tentatively asked, Onii-chan, have you seen the reviews of our inn online...? Qing Chen nodded, Yes, I have. The little girl hung her head, We really have no other options, but could you please not switch inns? I can wash clothes for you, and Ill do it very cleanly! Qing Chen shook his head, No need, thank you. Oh... He picked up the bowl of rice in front of him and took a bite of the fried fish; it was salty. Extremely salty. The little girl anxiously watched Qing Chen eat, afraid he would say the food was bad. To her surprise, the brother in front of her didnt say anything and carefully finished all the food, leaving nothing behind. Seeing Qing Chen eat so cleanly, the little girl thought she did well this time. But she also knew her cooking skills, so she hesitated for a while before asking, Onii-chan, was it good...? Qing Chen looked at her, It wasnt good. The little girl didnt know how to respond. She felt this brother had a distant and cold aura, like the weather in Shirakawa-go. Like the thick snow on the triangular roofs of Gassho-zukuri houses. After Qing Chen finished eating, she brought out a bowl of cloudy sake from the kitchen, holding it with her small hands, which made her look particularly pitiful. Jinguji Maki said, Onii-chan, this is our familys cloudy sake, brewed with spring water fetched by my grandma. Its better than the others. Qing Chen shook his head, Sorry, I dont drink. He needed to stay sharp, not wanting to consume any alcohol. Jinguji Maki stood there, at a loss. The cloudy sake was meant for entertaining guests, and she hadnt expected it to be declined. With her head down, she whispered, My name is Jinguji Maki, your room is on the left, connected to the hot spring in the backyard. Dont worry, my grandmother and I wont disturb you. The bedding is all prepared, and you can call me anytime if you need anything. After saying this, Jinguji Maki humbly returned to the kitchen, took out a tiny cold rice ball, and started eating slowly. As she ate, tears began to silently stream down her face. To her, this new guest would likely leave because of the poor service, just like the others. Qing Chen didnt care. After finishing the meal, he returned to his room, where a mattress and blanket had been laid on the floor, clean enough. Jinguji Maki wiped her tears, collected the dishes, and washed them in cold water, her small hands turning red from the cold. Other houses had diesel boilers outside, providing heating and hot water. But she kept the heating on because it was a necessity for guests. Using it for hot water, however, seemed wasteful, so she used cold water instead. This way, their diesel could be saved for keeping the heating going throughout Qing Chens stay. After tidying up, the little girl quietly took out medicine from the kitchen drawer and brought a cup of hot water to her grandmothers room, restoring tranquility to the little hot spring inn. Snowflakes danced outside like a fairytale scene from where the Seven Dwarfs lived. People were having snowball fights and building snowmen. Inside, the house was quiet as everyone slept early. ... ... The next morning. Jinguji Maki woke up beside her grandmother; she first felt her grandmothers forehead, relieved to find the fever had subsided. The girl glanced at the quartz clock on the wall, suddenly exclaiming softly and quickly getting up to make breakfast. She was late. According to the inns rules, she had to prepare breakfast for Qing Chen by 8 AM, but it was already 8:10. When she reached the living room, she was surprised to find the door of Qing Chens room open, with the bedding neatly folded. But Qing Chen was nowhere to be found. Her face fell. Had he already left for another hot spring inn, just as she feared? Turning around, she saw a bundle of money on the dining table and a note in Japanese: Ill be back by 8 PM; please save me some dinner. The money is the full rent in advance, feel free to accept it. Jinguji Maki stood quietly at the dining table. In Shirakawa-go, guests typically pay the rent upon departure, only needing to leave a deposit upon arrival. She understood that the brother had noticed her financial difficulty and had paid the rent in advance. Jinguji Maki opened the door, wanting to see where Qing Chen had gone. But when she pushed the door open, she found the snow in front had been cleared, revealing a neat gravel path. Just like the other hot spring inns, even cleaner. The little girl stood dumbfounded, recalling Qing Chens cold demeanor from the previous night. She thought, That brother is cold but very kind. ...But where could he have gone so early? Looking around, she noticed Qing Chen hadnt taken any skis with him. Chapter 825: 496 Chapter 825: 496 At this very moment, Qing Chen was trudging through the snow-capped mountains, following his predetermined goal, searching for the most suitable place to complete his life-and-death trial. Although experiencing life and death is the key point of the life-and-death trial, it does not mean that the Knights do no preparation work at all. Before the challenge, planning the route is a task that every Knight must do. The Hida Mountains are a very suitable place for skiing. Even in May, the main peak of Mount Okuhotaka remains snow-covered throughout the year. Mount Okuhotaka (elevation 3,190 meters), Mount Karasawa (elevation 3,103 meters), Mount Kitahotaka (3,106 meters), Mount Mae-hotaka (3,090 meters), Mount Nishi-hotaka (2,909 meters). These peaks together are called the Hotaka Mountain Range. Although their heights are not as tall as Mount Fuji, the many extremely steep cliff faces make the climbing difficulty far surpass that of Mount Fuji. Some peaks, when viewed from a distance, look like a kitchen knife standing upright among the mountains. Walking along the ridgeline feels like dancing on the edge of a blade. Many stories of falling to ones death in novels by writers from the Island Country happen here. For example, in Inoue Yasushis novel Ice Wall, Uozu and Kobayashi fell to their deaths here. Ice Wall seems to be a very descriptive name. Qing Chen walked along the mountain path meant for skiers amidst the pristine white snow. There were many skiers, but most stayed in the gentle slopes of the mid-mountain ski resorts, with few venturing into more dangerous areas. The life-and-death trial cannot be completed in a ski resort. The life-and-death trial of Ice Solidification has extremely strict speed requirements; it challenges the limits of skiing speed! So, Qing Chen set off from mid-mountain and continued to climb higher. Not long after, a staff member from the ski resort shouted at him from the mid-mountain: Hey, you cant go any higher! In this weather, going to the peak will get you killed! Qing Chen turned his head, but the next step suddenly sank into the snow. He swayed a few times before struggling to continue his climb. However, Qing Chen suddenly discovered a problem: the peak he was on was covered in powder snow, which no one could speed up on. The conditions for forming powder snow are very strict; it requires heavy snowfall, the temperature must not be extremely low, and the condensation nuclei must not be fully frozen before they hit the ground. When you scoop up powder snow, it can even slip through your fingers like quicksand. Although the Hida Mountains have year-round snow, the temperature rarely drops below zero, creating a very peculiar geographical environment. Warm, moist air from the ocean blows in, and when it encounters the cold high-altitude air over land, it precipitates as snow, accumulating fluffily on the mountains. If ones skiing technique is not good, they might even get embedded in the snow while skiing... If one wants to challenge skiing speed, the snow layer must be compacted very firmly. Just like running on concrete will always be faster than running in mud. Qing Chen frowned and continued his determined climb upward. This time, perhaps poverty limited his imagination. He chose this place for his life-and-death trial because everyone said powder snow was the best, most suitable for skiing, and the most luxurious. But since he had never truly skied before, he did not realize that powder snow was not suitable for the life-and-death trial. At this moment, many skiers suddenly noticed a small black figure on the peak from the mid-mountain, slowly trudging along the mountain ridge, and they were all stunned. What difference does it make to climb to the peak in this season compared to seeking death? But Qing Chen did not stop; he climbed higher and higher, until he disappeared into the wind and snow. ... ... 7:50 PM. The sky had already darkened in Shirakawa Village. Jinguji Maki glanced at the quartz clock in the house and then returned to the window, waiting eagerly at the window. At this moment, in the paradise, the warm, yellow lights in front of the hot spring inn were all turned on. To save electricity, the little girl had turned off the lights in the house, leaving only the light at the entrance. This was because she worried that if Qing Chen returned late, he might not be able to find the inn if the light at the entrance was also turned off. The skiers had already returned to Shirakawa Village. Each hot spring inn had prepared a sumptuous dinner and clean hot springs to wash away their fatigue. This is the most comfortable time for all the skiers. But Qing Chen had not returned yet. No normal tourist would stay at the ski resort until this hour. Jinguji Maki began to worry. At this moment, another group of skiers walked past the door. The little girl opened the window, letting the wind and snow blow into the room, and waved at the skiers in the distance: Excuse me, is there anyone still at the ski resort? The skiers replied: No, we were the last group. The ski resort was closed when we left. Oh, thank you... Jinguji Maki withdrew her head, now even more worried. That brother didnt take his snowboard, so there shouldnt be anyone left on the mountain now. Where could he be? Please dont let anything happen to him. The little girl kept glancing at the clock on the wall, then out the window. Such a kind brother, he must be a punctual person, right? Although it was unrelated, she firmly believed it to be so. At 7:59 PM, Jinguji Maki saw a slender figure in the distance, walking slowly out of the darkness behind the snowstorm, wearing a windbreaker. Jinguji Makis eyes lit up. She quickly left the windowsill, ran to the door like the wind, taking out slippers from the shoe cabinet, and opened the door to the hot spring inn, waving to Qing Chen: Onii-chan! The clear voice was caught in the wind and snow, drifting far, far away. Qing Chen looked up at her, then lowered his head and walked through the wind and snow. Jinguji Maki saw that Qing Chen didnt respond to her, but she was not discouraged. The little girl happily placed the slippers on the ground and then ran into the kitchen to bring out the prepared dishes, eating a rice ball happily at the side. The dishes were still rice, fried fish, tamagoyaki, and miso soup. Jinguji Maki seemingly could only make these dishes and not very well at that. Qing Chen took off his windbreaker and sat down, earnestly finishing all the food, not leaving even a sip of soup. The little girl asked expectantly: Was the food good today? Qing Chen shook his head: No, it wasnt. The little girl: ...Oh. Qing Chen looked at her: Why are you still eating rice balls? Didnt I already prepay the rent? Jinguji Maki thought for a moment and said: Grandma needs medicine money... Rice balls are very tasty. I added pickled cucumber today. Qing Chen was silent for a few seconds: Where are your parents? Jinguji Maki said: Daddy was giving a tour to tourists when they accidentally slipped and fell off a cliff. He was pulled down while trying to save them. Mommy remarried and went to Hokkaido. Grandma told me not to blame her. She has her own life too. Arent you sad? Qing Chen knew this question would hurt the little girl but still asked. Jinguji Maki was silent for a while, then smiled: Actually, living with Grandma is also happy. Everything will be okay. I will be as strong as Grandma. She was diagnosed with lung cancer three years ago, but she came back to work at the inn to make money while treating herself. She always told me, Maki, everything will be alright! Qing Chen knew the little girls life would not get better. Lung cancer is currently one of the most difficult cancers to survive. Even the targeted drugs in the Inner World only extend the patients life by a few years and cannot save those in the late stages of lung cancer. Most likely, the cancer cells had already spread throughout the little girls grandmothers body. At this moment, the grandmother was already in a coma 95% of the time, eating very little, on the verge of death. If the grandmother passed away, how would an eight-year-old girl survive? Jinguji Maki said to Qing Chen: Lets not talk about these things, Onii-chan. I paid the uncle next door to clean the hot spring pool today. The temperature is just right now. You should go soak for a while. Okay, Qing Chen nodded, leaving the little girl alone in the living room. She returned to the window, lying on the windowsill, blinking her big eyes to look outside. There, many children were having snowball fights, building quirky snowmen in front of hot spring inns. At this time, Qing Chen came out again and saw this scene. Jinguji Maki turned her head to look at him: Onii-chan, whats wrong? Qing Chen glanced at the figures building snowmen outside and then said to Jinguji Maki: Make the bed. Oh, sorry, sorry. I forgot. Im very sorry, Jinguji Maki took the bedding from the partition. The bedding in the hot spring inn is stored in the cabinet every day and only taken out at night, spread out on the wooden floor. Jinguji Maki, while making the bed, suddenly noticed Qing Chens hands were full of frostbite marks. She found it strange. This brother seemed different from other people in every way. ... ... Morning. Today, Jinguji Maki woke up very early. She thought she couldnt sleep in again today. She had to make breakfast for Onii-chan. But it was only 7:10 AM, and there was no one in Qing Chens room. As yesterday, the bedding was neatly folded and placed. And there was a note: Ill be back before 8, save me some food. The only difference was that the snowboard was taken this time. Jinguji Maki felt a bit lost. She always felt that no matter how hard she tried to show her enthusiasm, she couldnt melt the brothers coldness. She lowered her head slightly, feeling somewhat discouraged. In the next moment, she put on her worn-out cotton coat, opened the door of the hot spring inn, intending to buy some fresh ingredients in Shirakawa Village. But she saw at the entrance, a tall snowman had been built without her knowing. On the snowmans face, someone had used seaweed to create a nose, eyes, and a mouth. The other hot spring inns snowmen were all facing outward, as if welcoming guests. But the snowman at this inn was facing inward, as though it belonged only to Jinguji Maki, showing its back to everyone passing by. Jinguji Maki wrapped the scarf her grandmother had knitted around her, and hopped outside happily. ... ... Qing Chen carried his snowboard again and took the cable car to the mountains around Mount Okuhotaka. He still did not go to the ski resort but climbed higher again. Skiers looked up and saw the familiar figure. Last night, some even worried he would die in the snow-capped mountains, but now they had become numb to it. Qing Chen calmly reached the peak, strapped on his snowboard, and leaped downward. Then he got stuck in the thick powder snow... The fluffy powder snow could not support his weight, and he couldnt even slide! This was a mistake, but it also proved that powder snow was indeed unsuitable for completing the Ice Solidification. He needed a colder place, with firmer snow layers. Qing Chen silently lay in the snow, gazing at the distant mountains. Leave the Island Country? Compared to the life-and-death trial, assassinating the Jindai seemed like a small thing. Ultimately, he had to complete his advancement, return to the A02 secret military base, and face an even harsher reality. So, if this place wasnt suitable, Qing Chen had to leave; nothing was more important than this. Wait a moment. Qing Chen stared at the jagged, knife-edged ridges of the distant mountains and suddenly thought of another life-and-death trial! Riding the ridges, descending at high speeds, dancing on the blade! Chapter 826: 497, buying medicine Chapter 826: 497, buying medicine Qing Chen already understood that even if he left Takayama right now, he wouldnt be able to find another place suitable for challenging the ice binding technique. He could only switch to another project. Not many people are qualified to become knights. Even fewer places are suitable for becoming life-and-death challenge spots. The knights predecessors had accumulated thousands of years of experience in the Inner World. If Qing Chen were in the Inner World, he could follow the experience of his predecessors to find a challenge spot. But this time, he didnt have that opportunity, which meant he had to explore anew in the Outer World. Back then, Qing Chen had wanted to complete surfing, and it took him half a month and switching between two different sea areas to finally achieve it. Uncle Li Dongs completion of the ice binding was also fraught with difficulties. First, this master entered the Southwest Snow Mountain and dragged a strong man from the Fire Pit Tribe to act as his guide. He camped at an altitude of 6,200 meters in the Southwest Snow Mountain for a month, gradually letting his body adjust to the low-oxygen environment of the plateau. Then he moved on to camp at the 7,100-meter altitude for a night. Finally, he made a sprint to the Southwest Snow Mountains main peak. He jumped from an altitude of over 8,000 meters, completing the ice binding challenge at nearly 180 kilometers per hour with unmatched elegance. Uncle Li said the hardest part was that when reaching the position of 6,200 meters, every knight must enter a reverse breathing state to let the body, with its genetic lock closed, adapt to the plateau. The next challenging part was how not to let the strong man from the Fire Pit Tribe discover that he had become an ordinary person at 6,200 meters. You need to pre-adapt to the plateau because if you start using reverse breathing at the summit and then begin the challenge, altitude sickness will hit you instantly, clouding your brain and bringing on various altitude illnesses. The more challenging part for Uncle Li Dong was climbing the main peak as an ordinary person and then having the courage to jump off after reaching the summit. Qing Chen could also find such a snow mountain, like Mount Everest. The snow layer there is extremely firm, and the steep northern slope is well-suited for skiing. However, the problem was that he couldnt climb Mount Everest or any peaks of similar altitude during this season. Its worth noting that all those who summit Everest do so after May. Even the local Sherpas wont attempt summiting Everest in winter. Summer is the time of year with the highest temperatures, and the chances of encountering ice storms on Everest are reduced. Even so, all those attempting to reach the summit must watch the weather closely, set out during the best weather, and leave before the ice storm arrives. So the ice binding challenge must wait for a few more months until the most suitable time arrives. But Qing Chen was not discouraged; rather, he was especially excited because he had a new idea. At this moment. Qing Chen was lying in a pile of powder snow, looking at the staggered ridges of the distant mountains. With just a little calculation, he figured out... if the elevation of the opposite main peak is 3,190 meters, then the valley between it and Mount Karasawa would have a nearly 1,900-meter drop. The curves of the staggered ridges appeared particularly beautiful in Qing Chens eyes. The natural force-formed knife edge was as clean and crisp as if splitting the sky in two. This was the place where he would complete the eruption of force. Qing Chen, looking like a fool, grabbed a handful of powder snow and smeared it on his face before lying still in the pit. He enjoyed the joy of the sudden realization. If a professional ridge downhill cyclist saw this ridge, they would also back off. First, the ridge was too winding and too narrow. The ridges cross-section was at most 0.4 meters wide, which meant that any slight misdirection would send you straight into the abyss. Second, the drop was too great, meaning the speed would be uncontrollable. During the downhill, you couldnt casually brake; a slight pinch could cause a flip. The huge inertia would cause the rear of the bike to lift, flipping both the rider and the bike. But Qing Chen no longer cared. How could a knights life-and-death challenge be without danger? Qing Chen got up. With a new goal, everything had to be replanned. There were only 27 days left until the crossover, making the life-and-death challenge very tight; he had to cherish the time. Many people at the ski resort had seen Qing Chen leap down and fall into the powder snow. They laughed heartily. Yesterday they were wondering why this kid was climbing the mountain, but they didnt expect him to be a newbie wanting to challenge the mountains powder snow. They hadnt even finished laughing when they saw the teenager get up and head toward the distant main peak. He disappeared into the wind and snow again. Ridge downhill is not just about finding a path and immediately starting to ride. In the remaining 27 days, Qing Chen needed to clear all the loose rocks and sparse snow off the entire ridge. The knights life-and-death challenge is about experiencing life and death, not seeking death. ... ... In front of the hot spring inn. Jinguji Maki sat on the wooden steps, wrapped in a scarf, holding her cheeks with both hands. She looked at the big snowman in front of her, occasionally letting out a silly laugh. Since 7 oclock, she had been sitting there until 7:59 when Qing Chen returned from outside. The little girl looked up and saw Qing Chen, quickly standing up and waving, Onii-chan~! Qing Chen glanced at her, Hmm. Then he walked straight past the little girl. Jinguji Maki didnt mind. By now, she understood that this distant brother had a cold exterior but a warm heart and didnt really dislike her. She took out slippers from the shoe cabinet, neatly lining them up, and said with a smile, Grandma woke up in the afternoon, and her appetite improved a bit. I made her tamagoyaki and grilled fish, and she said they were very delicious. Grandma also said that she would get better soon. Qing Chen looked at the little girl silently for a moment. It was not a good sign for a late-stage lung cancer patient to suddenly have an improved appetite. No one had told the little girl that lung cancer is actually incurable. The doctors hid it from her, and even Grandma kept it a secret, always saying that more rest would cure her illness. Every day she took care of Grandma, naively hoping that one day Grandma would wake up completely healed. After entering the house, Qing Chen found that the food the little girl had brought today was more abundant than usual. Besides the usual rice, grilled fish, tamagoyaki, and miso soup, there was also a slightly burnt plate of sukiyaki beef. Qing Chen looked at the sukiyaki beef and then at the little girl still wearing gloves after entering the house, Take off your gloves. Jinguji Maki hesitated for a moment but eventually took them off. Her right hand bore burn marks, likely from cooking the sukiyaki beef. The little girl lowered her head like she had done something wrong. Qing Chen, You... The little girl looked up at her brother, thinking he was going to say something comforting. Qing Chen, Next time, dont burn the beef. Little girl, ...Oh. Qing Chen proceeded to eat all the food by himself. Jinguji Maki sat aside, cautiously saying, Onii-chan, I need to take a bus trip to Nakatsugawa City in Gifu Prefecture tomorrow to buy medicine for Grandma. I promise to be back before 7 PM and wont delay making your dinner. Is that okay? In the Island Country, a prefecture is an area equivalent to a provincial-level administrative unit domestically, and Nakatsugawa City is the closest city to Shirakawa Village. She was the only one who could work at the hot spring inn now. If she left, Qing Chen might not find a place to eat lunch if he returned at noon. Although Qing Chen always returned in the evening, her sudden departure still felt a bit irresponsible, so the little girl was anxious. But Grandmas medicine had run out for several days, and she had to go to Alpsberg Clinic in Takayam City, Gifu Prefecture, now that Qing Chen had advanced the rent. Qing Chen glanced at the little girl, Are you going to Gifu Prefecture alone? Yes, Jinguji Maki nodded seriously, I wont delay your dinner, Onii-chan. Qing Chen was worried about the little girl going to Gifu Prefecture alone, fearing she might get lost or encounter bad people. Yet the little girl was worried that Qing Chen would not allow her to leave. Go ahead, Qing Chen said, then went back to his room to sleep. The door closed, then opened again, and Qing Chen handed the little girl a small bottle of Black Ointment, Apply it on your hand. After saying that, the door closed again. ... ... Morning. Jinguji Maki got up early, as usual. She had to prepare food for Grandma and place it by her bedside, put away Onii-chans bedding, and then go out. But when the little girl opened the bedroom door, she saw Qing Chens figure and widened her eyes, Onii-chan?! What are you doing here? In the past, Qing Chen would have left before she woke up. Qing Chen glanced at her, I happen to have some business in Gifu Prefecture today as well. Hurry up and get ready; well catch the first Nouhi bus. Jinguji Maki was in a daze for a few seconds, then her big eyes lit up, Okay, Onii-chan, please wait for me a bit. Ill leave food for Grandma and then well leave. While the little girl was busy, Qing Chen searched on his phone for shops in Gifu Prefecture selling mountain bikes. With a new life-and-death challenge, he needed new equipment. It didnt require much just a sturdy mountain bike. He could have Si Nianhua send one over, but now even Si Nianhua didnt know his whereabouts or what he was doing in the Island Country. In order to not expose his whereabouts, Qing Chen thought it was better to buy it himself. It wasnt a matter of distrust. Qing Chen believed that Si Nianhua was likely not from the Outer World. Each consortium controlled time travelers, among whom some existed using neuron docking technology for reverse possession; these people were Outer World leaders. All the consortiums did this, so Qings Family was probably no exception. He trusted Si Nianhua would firmly carry out the Shadows orders, but if someone on Si Nianhuas side had been exposed and was being watched by Jindai, that would become a risk. Before completing the life-and-death challenge, he didnt want such a small matter to expose his whereabouts. Half an hour later, the two of them got on the first Nouhi bus. Jinguji Maki sat on the left side of the last row, and Qing Chen sat on the right side, keeping a distance as if they were strangers. Jinguji Maki didnt understand why Qing Chen was doing this, but having someone accompany her to Gifu Prefecture was enough to make her very happy. ... There will be another chapter later, but it needs some editing. Please wait. Chapter 827: 498, Naming the Night as Day Chapter 827: 498, Naming the Night as Day The bus to Gifu Prefecture moves towards the morning sun. The warm sunlight shines on Zhenji Jingujis little face. She occasionally sneaks glances at Qing Chen but is captivated by the Rubiks cube in his hands. The little girl thinks this oniisan is really special. Qing Chen does not look at the little girl, his gaze throughout is fixed outside the window. He does not explain why the two must pretend not to know each other, nor does he explain why they have to sit so far apart. Fortunately, Zhenji Jinguji also sensibly does not ask too many questions. This little girl is too sensible, just like Qing Chen himself when he was a child. This kind of humble sensibility is the first survival skill life teaches them. Only then they might not be disliked. The bus stops at Nakatsugawa Station, Gifu Prefecture. Qing Chen first accompanies Zhenji Jinguji to the hospital. The nurses and doctors seem to know her, greeting warmly: Here to buy medicine for your grandmother again, such a diligent little girl. Sensibility seems to be Zhenji Jingujis label, many people offer such shallow compliments. But only Qing Chen understands, the little girl would rather not be so sensible, that she wouldnt be blamed if she acted rebelliously occasionally. The little girl walks ahead, Qing Chen follows ten meters behind. When the little girl buys medicine at the counter, he waits outside. He watches the little girl take out a small purse, skillfully buys medicine and pays. Next, its his turn to buy a mountain bike. The little girl follows silently, flower carts pass by on the street, it seems to be a grand festival being held. When Qing Chen buys the bike, the little girl waits outside the store, her nose frozen red, yet she is excitedly happy. The purchasing process is quick. For Qing Chen, the quality of the mountain bike must be exceptionally good, so he directly buys the stores treasure. The bike costs around 80,000 yuan. When Zhenji Jinguji hears the price from afar, she sticks out her tongue, thinking this oniisan is truly rich... Because her familys hot spring inn has outdated facilities and poor service, the prices are the lowest in Shirakawa Village. Initially, Zhenji Jinguji thought that Qing Chens financial condition was not affluent hence he chose them. But now, thinking about it, someone who rents a hot spring inn for a month in Shirakawa Village cant be poor. Qing Chen pushes the bike out of the store, Zhenji Jinguji is staring intently at the flower cart parade and the ramen shop by the roadside. He rarely approaches the little girl and softly asks, Do you want to stay in Nakatsugawa and play for a while? Zhenji Jinguji looks up at him in disbelief, hesitates, and asks, Can we? Yet, at this moment, several cars speed down the street, stopping not far away. The cars bear the Mysterious Business Departments emblem. Several men in black suits get out and rush into a nearby storefront. Qing Chen frowns, knowing they are not coming for him but curious about what the Mysterious Business Department is up to. He sees them grabbing the owner of a soba noodle shop, forcibly dragging him out. Pedestrians on the street watch on, someone whispers, Theyre arresting people again! Qing Chen has heard online that the Island Countrys Mysterious Business Department constantly arrests people. Moreover, he knows the reason for the arrests: the Jindai Time Travelers are checking both Outer and Inner World residency records to create Time Travelers. They are taking people from the Inner and Outer World who have overlapping identities but havent traversed due to different locations to replace the people in the Inner World actively. After replacement, male Time Travelers with combat abilities are sent to secret military bases for special training. Women and children who cannot become combatants will be used as mules to transport Inner World items. This increases Jindai Time Travelers control over the Outer World. In China, Kunlun and Kyushu together protect the residency information database with the Data Fortress. Hence Inner World consortia cannot do such things, but in the Island Country, no one protects the residency information database, the same is in Korea. The Island Country and Korea even actively opened up the residency information database. Kunlun had suspected that high-ranking officials in these two countries also became Time Travelers and got reverse traversed by Jindai and Deer Island. Perhaps this is also one of the reasons why Jindai and Deer Island control more Time Travelers than Kunlun and Kyushu. In the beginning, Jindais arrests were concentrated in Osaka, Tokyo, and Kobe but have now slowly spread to peripheral areas. At this moment, Zhenji Jinguji does not focus on this. She eagerly looks at Qing Chen: Can we go play a while, oniisan? Qing Chen glances at the Mysterious Business Departments vehicles, then calmly says: No, lets go home. He does not want to linger in the Mysterious Business Departments activity area. When in Osaka, keeping the Mysterious Business Department tense was strategic, but at this moment, it should be done quietly. With that, he pushes the bike towards the bus station. The little girl says Oh briefly, although a little disappointed, she still obediently follows behind, maintaining distance. At the bus station, Qing Chen lets Zhenji Jinguji get on the bus alone and rides back by himself to familiarize himself with the bike on flat roads. The little girl gets on the bus alone, sits at the last row, leans by the window, watching Qing Chen ride away. She lowers her head, waiting for the bus to start, then returns alone. Actually, whether she saw the flower carts in Nakatsugawa City or not doesnt matter, she just doesnt want to be alone. At this moment, she hears someone knock on the window. Zhenji Jinguji looks up, sees Qing Chen with a baseball cap and a scarf, standing outside the bus. He calmly waves to the little girl, signaling her to come down. Zhenji Jinguji hurriedly runs down: Oniisan... Qing Chen hands her a pair of new gloves and a new scarf, saying: Want to go back to Shirakawa Village with me? Sitting on the crossbar will be a bit cold, and itll take about three hours. Zhenji Jinguji beams with joy: No problem! On the way back, cold wind lashes their faces, but the little girl doesnt mind at all. Black asphalt roads lined with snowy white mountains in the distance and clear mountain springs and streams nearby. The ends of the little girls long scarf flutter joyfully in the wind. ... ... Qing Chens life returns to tranquility, every day riding his mountain bike, departing as dawn breaks and before everyone in Shirakawa Village wakes up towards the mountains. Then he carries the mountain bike up the peak on his back, returning at night after all the skiing guests have gone back to the inn. Every day, he can see the little girl sitting outside the inn, resting her chin on her hands, waving at him. These are possibly the most peaceful nine days Qing Chen has had since traversing. Calming the suffering he encountered in Inner World. Qing Chen starts from the highest peak, Mount Okuhotaka, slowly clearing paths along the ridge, removing snow, throwing away unstable rocks. Due to the ridges treacherous nature, and the time he takes to practice mountain bike control each day, Qing Chen only manages to clear a few hundred meters daily. The winding ridge he needs to clear has a slope length of 3.1 kilometers, with multiple spots exceeding 45 degrees. He is not in a hurry, following a consistent routine of early departure and late return. As night falls, Qing Chen endures the cold wind cycling back to Shirakawa Village. But today is a bit different. When he sees the familiar hot spring inn from afar, he does not see the familiar little girl. Qing Chen silently stops. He throws the mountain bike in the snow beside the road and calmly walks towards the inn, listening carefully to every sound. No breaths can be heard inside the inn. Qing Chen opens the door, sees Zhenji Jingujis grandmother lying on the floor, breathless. He decisively turns and leaves, knocks on the neighboring inns door, calmly asks: Hello, have you seen the little girl next door? The neighboring inns owner, a middle-aged woman, hesitates then says: You mean Zhenji... She was taken by the people from the Mysterious Business Department, but they havent left yet. Where are they, Qing Chen calmly asks. They went east of Shirakawa Village, seems like they have other people to arrest, the owner says: You are... Qing Chen doesnt answer, turns and walks away. He stands on the black gravel road, quietly watching the end of the small road in the east of Shirakawa Village. Rationality tells him, he shouldnt create additional complications until he completes the life-and-death challenge. Just wait three more days; he will clear all the ridges and try to challenge the life-and-death test. Once he reaches B-Class, he will have the qualifications to attempt to escape from A02 base and return to Osaka to exact revenge. No matter how formidable Jindai Time Travelers are in the Outer World, aside from very few chosen ones, he is the peak of combat ability. If he starts a killing spree now in Shirakawa Village, countless Jindai Time Travelers will be drawn, even if he kills decisively, the news will quickly reach Osaka. So the best choice is to wait three more days. But... can Zhenji Jinguji wait for him for three days? Knowing the Jindai Time Travelers vile nature, Qing Chen doesnt know what they might do to Zhenji Jinguji in these three days, nor does he want to know. He only knows, if he really can wait these three days, letting Jindai take the little girl away. Then he doesnt need to complete the life-and-death challenge anymore. Because by then, he wouldnt deserve that protein bar thrown to him by Wang Yuchao and Zhao Mingke. He wouldnt deserve the respect of Li Ke, Qing Yi, Nan Gengchen, Liu Dezhu, and Luo Wanya. He wouldnt deserve to accompany Li Xiurui in his final journey. Perhaps, he wouldnt even deserve to become a Knight. What is the belief of a Knight aside from courage? The boy stands on the black road thinking, perhaps theres also eternal sincerity. Sincerity that doesnt ask for benefits, only asks for ones true heart. Qing Chen walks towards the east of Shirakawa Village against the wind and snow in the dark night. His expression resembles the determination and stubbornness he had when he built stone walls countless times in the pigsty. Maybe at that moment in the pigsty, he had already decided, if this long night of the world doesnt pass by itself, he will redefine the endless night with daylight. Chapter 828: 499, close your eyes Chapter 828: 499, close your eyes At night, on the east side of Shirakawa Village. Suddenly, a thatched house caught fire, burning fiercely. All the gable-roofed thatched houses in Shirakawa Village were built with real thatch and wood, and they are all world cultural heritage sites. Every thirty to forty years, the thatched roofs of the houses need to be replaced. The whole village will gather together, working cohesively to replace the thatch for each house. But now, the gable-roofed houses that carry the dreams and heritage of Shirakawa Village are burning rapidly, melting the snow on the roofs into water. The fire illuminated the entire Shirakawa Village. Outside the thatched houses, members of the Mysterious Business Department were dragging two adults toward the vehicles outside. The two people being dragged resisted fiercely, but no matter how hard they tried, they couldnt break free from the members of the Mysterious Business Department. Their relatives also rushed out to help, but were all knocked down one by one. Let go of my dad! A young man charged out with a large wooden hammer used for pounding mochi. But the heavy hammer was grabbed by a member of the Mysterious Business Department with one hand, completely motionless. The member of the Mysterious Business Department casually swung and threw the hammer and the young man together. These members of the Mysterious Business Department, injected with Genetic Potions, were like adults facing children when dealing with ordinary people. A member of the Mysterious Business Department looked coldly at the young man lying on the ground and said, These three people are on our list to take away. We are going to provide them with a better future. Do you want to be enemies of the entire Mysterious Business Department by doing this? I advise you not to try again, or all the gable-roofed houses in Shirakawa Village will become history. Including Jinguji Maki, these three people were confirmed to have the qualification to cross over after checking the Inner and Outer World household registration information by the Mysterious Business Department. The Mysterious Business Department arrived with four vehicles, 7 people in total. For a small place like Shirakawa Village, no large-scale deployment was needed; 7 people were enough. At this moment, Jinguji Maki was sitting in the back seat of the vehicle, her eyes red from crying, desperately trying to suppress her sobs. She didnt know why these people were capturing her, nor did she know where she was being taken. An eight-year-old girl only knew that her grandmother had fallen in attempting to stop these people from taking her, but she didnt know her grandmother had already died. She only knew that these people were extremely fierce, and their strength was like the legendary superhuman, making it almost impossible for anyone to resist them. Aside from her, the other two captives were an uncle from the Shirakawa Village Puppet Theater and a sister from the Shirakawa Village Crafts Shop. Every year during the autumn festival, the uncle would operate puppets to perform lion dances, which was the childrens and tourists favorite show. In the past, when her father was still around, he would take Xiao Zhenji to watch the puppet show every autumn. The uncle, captured with her at this moment, would always invite her to stand in the front row. The sister from the Crafts Shop would choose a simple little gift to give to her. Back then, Shirakawa Village truly felt like a paradise, a carefree heaven on earth. At this moment, the uncle and sister were being lifted into another vehicle by the members of the Mysterious Business Department, as light as nothing. Seeing this scene, Xiao Zhenji was dumbfounded, feeling desperate. Initially, the little girl hoped that the brother would suddenly appear as a hero to save her. But now she only hoped Qing Chen wouldnt return to Shirakawa Village, wouldnt witness this scene. Because these people were too strong, ordinary people couldnt deal with them. Actually, the little girl wasnt sure if the brother would really come to save her after knowing she was in danger. Probably not, right? After all, these people were so powerful. After all, the brother hadnt known her for very long. They werent that familiar with each other; who would offend the Mysterious Business Department for an unfamiliar stranger? Thinking of this, Jinguji Maki felt relieved rather than sad. Even though she was the one in danger, her first reaction was that such a kind and gentle brother must not get into trouble because of her. The members of the Mysterious Business Department got in the vehicles and drove away from Shirakawa Village. The little girl couldnt stop crying, watching her home getting farther and farther away. She thought it was such a pity; if only she could spend more time with the brother. She had already asked the aunt from the nearby hot spring inn to teach her how to cook and planned to make a proper meal for the brother within a month. Moreover... she wondered if her grandmother would be okay, if she could recover. A member of the Mysterious Business Department looked at the little girl and joked, This little girl is very pretty. When we get back, I will ask the captain to assign her to me so she can become my pet. Youd better make contributions first. Otherwise, I might get this pet before you do. They spoke rudely and maliciously, not treating Jinguji Maki as a living, independent person. The vehicle traveled through the mountains for a while, then suddenly a loud noise erupted as a rock fell from above, hitting the hood of the first off-road vehicle. The rock was so large and heavy that, upon hitting the hood, it caused the rear part of the vehicle to lift and roll to the right side. All airbags in the off-road vehicle deployed, but it couldnt stop rolling, crashing through the guardrail and falling to the bottom of the mountain. The ravine near Shirakawa Village wasnt deep, no more than ten meters. If the Mysterious Business Department members were lucky, they wouldnt die from the fall. There was communication over the car radio: Two people go down to check the situation; I suspect its man-made. Such a large rock would need at least B-Class to lift. I think it might be a coincidence with a rockslide. Better to be cautious. The convoy stopped, and some people got off, feeling their way down the mountain. At this moment, there was a knocking sound on the window of Jinguji Makis vehicle. The mysterious members inside the car, along with Jinguji Maki, slowly looked out the window to see a teenager bent over outside, looking in through the window. Jinguji Maki froze. It was like someone about to fall into the abyss suddenly saw a beam of light through a crevice, like a hand reaching out. She felt the world had become warm again. However, the little girl silently stared at the brother, tears streaming down as she anxiously shook her head. She didnt want him to fall into the abyss with her. However, Qing Chen suddenly smiled and pointed at her eyes, gesturing with his hand to tell her to close her eyes. The next moment, Jinguji Maki obediently closed her eyes. She didnt know what Qing Chen wanted to do, but subconsciously followed his instructions. Hey, who are you? You... A member of the Mysterious Business Department got out of the car, but before he could draw his firearm, Qing Chen struck his neck with a hand chop. Ordinary people use a hand chop to knock out by striking the carotid artery. But Qing Chens strike directly broke the enemys neck. The members of the Mysterious Business Department were stunned; where did this master come from?! Wait, could this be the one who threw the rock down the mountain?! The members of the Mysterious Business Department were uncertain and wary. How could such a remote area produce such a figure? Shirakawa Village was just an isolated village, and the members sent here by the Mysterious Business Department were not strong. Now Qing Chen has reached C-Class in both cultivation and awakening power systems, breaking through the critical point of the C-Class peak. Shirakawa Villages residents were considered ordinary people, ants, grass by the Mysterious Business Department. But those members of the Mysterious Business Department were like ants to Qing Chen. Jinguji Maki didnt know the brother who rode a mountain bike to bring her back had already put the entire Osaka Mysterious Business Department in a state of tension and fear. Baka! Another member of the Mysterious Business Department cursed, got out of the car, and quickly pulled the trigger. But to his astonishment, his arm wasnt as fast in adjusting the gun as Qing Chen dodging. At this moment, the members of the Mysterious Business Department realized they were dealing with a monster! Someone tried to use the Shirakawa Village Hostage to threaten Qing Chen not to approach, but Qing Chen had already taken the gun! At such close range, accurate shooting was like a divine mandate. Jinguji Maki obediently kept her eyes closed. In the little girls world, she could only hear the angry cursing, gunshots, and then screams from the members of the Mysterious Business Department. Finally, it was completely silent. The Mysterious Business Department members who managed to climb back up were shot dead before they could react. The little girl sat trembling in the car, not knowing how long had passed when a warm hand covered her eyes, then lifted her out of the off-road vehicle. Its okay now. She heard a soft voice saying this next to her ear. Jinguji Maki knew the brother was worried she might see some cruel scenes. His gentleness and kindness came from the heart. But the problem was, those self-proclaimed members of the Mysterious Business Department were really strong. Did the brother deal with them all? Jinguji Maki listened intently, but she couldnt hear any sounds from the members of the Mysterious Business Department, as if they were all dead. So... the brother is really special. Thinking of this, the little girl silently leaned her head on Qing Chens shoulder, letting her tears flow through his warm fingers. Brother, have you seen grandma? Jinguji Maki asked in a low voice. Qing Chen was silent for a moment: Grandma is gone. He didnt choose to lie since a person needs to understand this cold world to realize the importance of their warmth. Qing Chen said to the other two people from Shirakawa Village, You two push the car down the mountain, and then find relatives to avoid the limelight. Trust me, if the Mysterious Business Department finds you, your fate will be worse than imagined. Saying this, he didnt stay any longer. Qing Chen knew that pushing the car down the mountain was only to delay the Mysterious Business Departments response time. Tonight, when they find their comrades didnt return to Osaka City Hall smoothly, they will investigate quickly. Perhaps tomorrow morning, the Mysterious Business Department will arrive in Shirakawa Village to review everything that happened last night. They will learn that the capture operation was successful. If they dont see the three Time Traveler backups at the scene of the car crash, they will immediately seal off Shirakawa Village to investigate clues. There isnt much time left for Qing Chen. He needs to take Jinguji Maki into the mountains by night until he completes his life-or-death trial and returns to Shirakawa Village. Qing Chen said softly, Go back and bury grandma. Ill take you to Mount Okuhotaka. You need to stay there with me for a few days. Although the conditions will be tough, everything will be fine. The little girl cried for a long time. Grandma had ultimately passed away. Qing Chen didnt comfort her or urge her to stop crying. It was something she would eventually experience. After a long while, Jinguji Maki raised her red eyes: Brother, did I bring you trouble? Qing Chen nodded: Yes, you did. The little girl bowed her head in guilt. In the next second, Qing Chen said softly, But its okay. Saying this, he put the little girl down, holding her cold little hand as they walked toward Shirakawa Village. The people from the Mysterious Business Department would soon come to die. ... Sorry, theres only one chapter today. I overestimated myself. My leg sometimes hurts so much that I cant concentrate. After writing one chapter, I need to revise for a long time to be satisfied. These two or three days might only have one update... Chapter 829: 500, Fire Rune Chapter 829: 500, Fire Rune Big brother, did you defeat all the enemies? Jinguji Maki asked, the little girl had closed her eyes from the beginning. Qing Chen didnt let her see any bloodshed. Yes, all defeated. The little girl recalled everything that happened tonight. First, a group of people burst into her onsen inn, trying to take her away. Her grandmother struggled to get up to save her but was pushed to the ground. Then, those people seemed like monsters, and no one could do anything to stop them. At that moment, the little girl had already despaired; she thought no one could save her. But when Qing Chen appeared, everything changed. This big brother just gently asked her to close her eyes, and then all those arrogant members of the mysterious division turned to dust. No fierce battle, no tortuous process. Unlike how Ultraman always has to struggle to defeat monsters, it was as if a snap of the fingers and the enemies were all gone. It was like the mythical stories performed every year in the Shirakawa Village Shinto Temple, where gods residing in the Takamagahara Divine Nation intervene. Big brother, are you a god living in Takamagahara? Jinguji Maki asked. Qing Chen thought for a moment and honestly replied, No, if I had the chance, I might destroy your Amaterasu Omikami in Takamagahara. Jinguji Maki opened her mouth but couldnt say anything for a long time... Amaterasu Omikami, the legendary ruling god of Takamagahara, the god of the sun. Just kidding, Qing Chen said. Jinguji Maki: Huh? Qing Chen: If I really had the chance, how could I only destroy Amaterasu Omikami? Id destroy them all. Jinguji Maki: ... Qing Chen looked at the flames rising in the distance from Shirakawa Village, and calmly said, Xiao Zhenji, those who came to capture you are the ones who consider themselves gods. In my view, they have no reason to continue existing. Ever since the mysterious division was created, they have always linked themselves with Takamagahara, implying that they are the messengers of the gods, even promoting certain chosen ones as reincarnations of gods. This move has also attracted countless Shintoism believers. Jinguji Maki thought for a moment and said, Big brother must hate all the bad guys, right? The two returned to Shirakawa Village. The little girl cried for a long time over her grandmothers body, her voice becoming hoarse. Although Qing Chen had to leave quickly, he did not stop her because that was the little girls only relative. After an unknown amount of time, Jinguji Maki got up and wiped her tears. She did not plead with Qing Chen but went to find a match and set the onsen inn on fire. This was the onsen inn that her grandmother had run all her life. Now that her grandmother was gone, let the onsen inn accompany her. Qing Chen watched Jinguji Maki. He suddenly noticed that after personally setting fire to the onsen inn, the little girl gradually calmed down. For a moment, it was like he was looking at himself as a child. That day when his parents divorced, he made up his mind to tell his mother that he wanted to continue living with his father, just like this. Qing Chens heart moved. He suddenly grabbed Jinguji Makis pulse, and Knight Vital Energy surged, the breathing technique swept through like flames. Jinguji Maki looked up at Qing Chen in surprise: Big brother, whats happening? I feel a warm current in my arm, flowing into my heart. The girls eyes were as clear and vibrant as the autumn water of Jiuzhaigou. This time it was Qing Chens turn to be surprised because, under the light of the burning onsen inn, fire runes unmistakably bloomed on the girls face, the hallmark of the Knights Breathing Technique. But the problem was, the girl had not gone through the heart-seeking stage. The girl had not felt any pain at all. Or rather, her pure heart allowed her to easily pass the heart-seeking threshold. Whats more, the girl had never been to the Inner World and should still be bound by the Outer Worlds rules, unable to become a Transcendent! Whats going on? Qing Chen furrowed his brows, could he have come across a true chosen one? Wait, or had he met an internal test player from the island country? If the other party, like him, was sent to the Outer World before gaining memory, then it all made sense. But Qing Chen couldnt be sure if this guess was correct. The biggest question was, if Jinguji Maki was an internal test player, why hadnt she become a Time Traveler at the beginning of her crossing? What went wrong here? It was also possible that Jinguji Maki was not an internal test player; she just naturally had the ability to break the worlds rules. Lets go. Qing Chen picked up the mountain bike he had thrown on the roadside, slung it over his shoulder, and took the little girls hand, walking towards the snowy mountains. Big brother, where are we going now? Jinguji Maki asked softly. Qing Chen felt the little girls body trembling slightly in the cold. He understood, it wasnt because of the cold but because she had no one to rely on in this world, so she was scared from the bottom of her heart. Previously, the little girl could still rely on her grandmother. Even if her grandmother lay in a hospital bed in a coma, her heart was not completely broken. She could hope that her grandmother would recover one day. Now, her grandmother was gone, and this world had no more fairy tales. Jinguji Maki was scared that Qing Chen would suddenly let go of her. Qing Chen thought for a moment and said, The place Im going to is tough and dangerous. Are you willing to go? The little girl quickly nodded: I am willing, I can wash clothes for big brother, and I will wash them very clean! Qing Chen shook his head: No need to be so humble, wherever I go, you go. Big brother, you are not from around here, are you? Mm. Is your hometown beautiful? You can see for yourself. ... ... The people from the mysterious division arrived faster than expected. They initially came to Nakatsugawa City as a group of hundreds, then split into a dozen teams, heading to villages around Nakatsugawa City. They agreed to regroup in Nakatsugawa City by 2 AM. In the mysterious divisions plan, capturing potential Time Travelers in the villages should be a very easy task; no accident should occur. In the past, no accidents had ever occurred. By 2 AM, the team heading to Shirakawa Village had yet to return, so the hundreds of them immediately rushed over. They found four off-road vehicles that had rolled down the mountain valley, with corpses inside. The leader silently checked: Seven people in total, seven shot to death, each required two to three shots to kill, their shooting skills dont seem great. When Qing Chen killed, he deliberately took two to three shots to kill one person, to prevent the mysterious division from linking this action to the Joker who appeared in Osaka City. Its not the right time yet. At this moment, the leader suddenly found something strange. He rechecked all the injuries and said: One of them was dead before he was shot three more times. Speaking, he looked at the neck of the corpse. The cyan-purple bruises clearly had human hand print marks. At first, he thought the neck injuries were caused by the fall from the cliff. Now it seems, this was the true fatal injury. The leader touched it and gasped in amazement: A hand chop broke the neck bone, how strong must that person be?! Its known that the neck bone is one of the hardest bones in the human body. Members of the mysterious division were all genetic warriors whose bones had been strengthened to some extent. The ability to break a neck bone with a hand chop, what kind of monster is that? The leader thought it over and said: Could the person sought by Osaka City Hall have appeared here? Probably not. Isnt the characteristic given by Osaka City Hall that the persons shooting skills are god-like? a member questioned, Now Osaka City is on high alert. Its said that two chosen ones have rushed from Tokyo and Kobe to assist. How could such a person come to this small place like Shirakawa Village after causing such a commotion in Osaka City? Yeah, why come to Shirakawa Village? To ski? The leader thought for a moment: The bodies didnt include the three potential Time Travelers, which means the person who attacked must be related to one of them. Its hard to say if its Joker, but I think we should report to Osaka City Hall immediately and have them send reinforcements. Huh? Do we need to alert Osaka City Hall? The leader glanced at the puzzled team member: Listen to me, wait for reinforcements before we enter Shirakawa Village to investigate. This decision... might save your lives. ... Today, theres only one update. After consulting with the doctor, its expected the swelling will go down in about seven days, and it wont be as painful as it is now Chapter 830: 501, choose your own path Chapter 830: 501, choose your own path Onii-chan, what are we doing? Can we go down the mountain... The little girl walked on the narrow mountain ridge, looking to both sides, with abysses thousands of meters deep on either side. If she accidentally slipped on this ridge, she would surely be shattered to pieces. Continue, Qing Chen said calmly, Continue clearing the debris. Here at Mount Okuhotaka, its over ten kilometers away from the ski resort. No tourists would come here at this time; the whole world seemed to have only Qing Chen and Jinguji Maki. Qing Chen, as if nothing had happened, continued to clean up the debris on the ridge. It was not until now that the little girl understood what Qing Chen had been doing every day when he left early and returned late. No wonder the skiers said they had never seen Qing Chen, simply because he never skied. However, Jinguji Maki didnt expect that Qing Chen would bring her to this ridge and have her help clean up the debris. Even though she said she was scared, Qing Chen showed no sympathy. Qing Chen said, If you want to give up, just tell me, I can take you down. When I come up to clean the debris every day, you can wait for me at the mountainside. Upon hearing this, Jinguji Maki suddenly pursed her lips and silently continued to clear the debris. The wind on the ridge was fierce and wild, sometimes making it hard for Qing Chen to steady himself, let alone an eight-year-old girl. But unexpectedly, since Qing Chen said those words, she never mentioned going down the mountain again and just quietly did her work. Several times, she almost got swept off the ridge by the mountain wind, but she only cried out and then silently found a stone to steady herself. At this moment, as the little girl lowered her head, transparent tears fell from her long eyelashes, blown into the valley by the mountain wind. Qing Chen said, Im not forcing you to stay here with me. Even if you want to go down the mountain, its perfectly normal. Jinguji Maki suddenly wiped her tears stubbornly, Im not afraid! From the moment she left Shirakawa Village, she almost thought her life was turning towards the light. But who could have expected that she would face even greater hardships than before? Even working in the hot spring inn, she never had to endure such dangers. But Jinguji Maki said no more. Now, Qing Chen sped up his pace to clear the path, as he wasnt sure if the Mysterious Business Department would find their way here, or how many people they might bring... Without any virtues to protect themselves, no matter how strong Qing Chen was, he couldnt possibly fight off hundreds of enemies carrying firearms in this ghostly place. A gust of mountain wind came, and Jinguji Maki almost lost her footing, nearly getting swept off the cliff. Just as she thought she was about to die, Qing Chen reached out and grabbed her by the collar, pulling her back, Continue. Mm, the little girl responded. This naive little girl not only had a childhood experience similar to Qing Chens. At some point, Qing Chen even felt that her personality was somewhat similar to his. It wasnt just that she was sensible because she didnt want to be annoying. It was also the stubbornness and resilience that refused to admit defeat in the face of hardships. When running the hot spring inn, her grandmother fell ill, so she learned to do the cooking and laundry. When clearing the debris on the ridge, even though she was scared to death, she never complained again. At night, Qing Chen carried the little girl down the mountain, taking advantage of the ski resort being closed, and hid in the ski resorts visitor center. There was nowhere else to stay in the mountains, and no food could be found. Although there were still staff on duty at the ski resort, they usually stayed in their office and didnt come out to patrol easily. Jinguji Maki whispered, Onii-chan, there are cameras. Dont worry, they cant see us, Qing Chen said nonchalantly. He knew that the surveillance cameras inside the visitor center must have been disabled by the Internal Test Player from the Outer World. Ironically, Qing Chen didnt have anyone he could trust when he came to Shirakawa Village this time, except for an Artificial Intelligence from the Inner World that had once destroyed humanity in a previous civilization. With the lights off in the visitor center, Qing Chen took Jinguji Maki to the ski shop, Take whatever you want to eat. The little girl hesitated, Onii-chan, stealing is bad. Qing Chen glanced at her, Dont worry, Ill pay for everything when we leave in a few days. I originally intended to take some food from the hot spring inn, but it burned down because of the fire you set. Oh... The little girl nodded, carefully taking a piece of bread and a bottle of mineral water. Qing Chen had intended to stop her at that moment, but he thought about it and realized it would seem petty to worry about a bit of food when she was trying to bury her past with fire. So, he didnt stop her. Seeing her reluctance to take more, Qing Chen grabbed two boxes of biscuits from the shelf and stuffed them into her arms, If you dont eat enough, how will you manage to go up the mountain tomorrow? After that, he took the little girl to the outdoor equipment section and set up two tents. Sleeping in the visitor center overnight was risky because if they left traces, they would be discovered eventually. If the merchandise count was off or the tents had been moved, these could become clues, helping the Mysterious Business Department find them. But Qing Chen was about to face his fourth test of life and death, and still badly injured. It was impossible for him to risk staying in the freezing cold; he needed to stay in good condition before the challenge. Being hunted by the Mysterious Business Department was a consequence he had foreseen when saving Jinguji Maki. He was ready to bear that consequence. Qing Chen lay alone in the tent, listening to the neighboring tent where Jinguji Maki sounded like she was nibbling on food like a little mouse, Zhenji, do you have any strange memories, like of a more technologically advanced world? No. What did your ancestors do? Grandma said that Grandpa was the Mountain Chief in charge of rituals at the Shinto Temple in Shirakawa Village. Grandpas grandpa was too. My dad was supposed to take over at 48, but something happened to him. When he was a guide, a tourist had an accident and fell, causing Shirakawa Villages income to drop significantly. So the villagers didnt like us much. Its said that long ago, our ancestors were envoys of the God, mastering the divine war dance. I see. Qing Chen was contemplating something. The surname Jinguji was quite special, holding significant status in the mythology of Shintoism. He even thought that the Jinguji clans ability to conduct rituals at the Shinto Temple in Shirakawa Village was due to some kind of inheritance, which was later lost. It was like the Breathing Technique. Qing Chen still didnt understand why Jinguji Maki could directly inherit the Breathing Technique. If she wasnt an Internal Test Player, then it must have something to do with this mysterious bloodline inheritance. ... ... On the second day, Qing Chen folded the tents and took the little girl up the mountain again before the ski resort opened. According to his calculations, it would take at most a day and a half to clear the entire path, and then he could start his full training. Jinguji Maki was suffering. Her little hands were red and swollen from repeatedly picking up debris. Qing Chen asked again, Do you want to give up? No, the little girl replied calmly. Qing Chen said nothing more. This little girl was like an unpolished gem, so kind-hearted that she could pass the Heart-Testing instantly. Without a doubt, after passing it, she could become a Knight. But passing the Heart-Testing was just the foundation of becoming a Knight. The path was so hard, tiring, and dangerous that even after passing, one might not be able to persist. So Qing Chen left the choice to the little girl herself. If she gave up, Qing Chen would smuggle her back to the country to escape the pursuit of the Mysterious Business Department. If she didnt give up, they could continue traveling together. This was a test that Qing Chen had experienced, and every Knight had to go through. Jinguji Maki was no exception. ... The recent updates definitely cant be strong. You can wait for half a month before checking back. Chapter 831: 502, Choice Chapter 831: 502, Choice The second day hidden in the snowy mountains. The wind speed on the mountain slightly slowed down. Under the astonished gaze of the little girl, Qing Chen carried his mountain bike to the summit of Mount Okuhotaka. It was at this moment that Jinguji Maki finally understood why Qing Chen cleared the ridge. Onii-chan, are you going to ride the mountain bike on the ridge? The little girl asked curiously. Yes, training will start now, Qing Chen nodded, The wind is light today. Wait for me at the summit. A challenge is not completed in one go. When he previously succeeded in the icy dark waters of Greenland, he had hundreds of training sessions in the world as a foundation. This time, he had nothing but immature skills and courage. As he spoke, he rode his mountain bike, diving down from the highest point. Jinguji Maki, wearing a red coat, stood atop the snowy mountain. She wanted to stop Qing Chen but ultimately remained silent. The little girl was somewhat dazed. For some reason, watching the speeding figure descending down the edge felt inexplicably harmonious to her. She covered her mouth, fearing that any noise she made would distract Qing Chen. The mountain bike bumped along the ridge. The sounds of the tires crushing stones and Qing Chens breathing intertwined. Only truly starting to train on this ridge did Qing Chen realize how difficult this life-and-death challenge was. On both sides of your vision were abysses, and the only path lay in front of you. Your life, too, has only this one path. Walk it, and you can live more splendidly. Qing Chen accelerated madly, calculating in his mind how long it would take to reach the 120 kilometers per hour downhill standard. At this moment, he realized he needed to be even crazier. 120 kilometers per hourthis speed on a highway can make many peoples hearts race. Let alone that beneath this ridge is a bottomless abyss? In the next moment, the bike wheel slipped fatally because he lost control. Qing Chen, along with his mountain bike, fell off the ridge, plummeting into the abyss. Jinguji Maki screamed sharply from the summit, running down the ridge disregarding her own risk of falling off the cliff. But she hadnt run far when she suddenly saw a hand extending from the ridge ahead, gripping the edge tightly. Qing Chen gritted his teeth, with one hand clutching the mountain bike that almost fell into the abyss, and leaped back onto the ridge with just one arm. Yet, this was only because he hadnt used the Reverse Breathing Technique and the speed wasnt fast enough. If it were during a real challenge, this fall would mean certain death. He looked at Jinguji Maki, frowning, Who told you to come down? In the future, unless Im with you, you are not allowed to come to the ridge alone. You must wait on the summit platform. Jinguji Maki was somewhat at a loss, Okay... Qing Chen thought for a moment, Continue clearing the ridge. Oh... The boy stood on the edge of the ridge, gazing into the distance. This life-and-death challenge was harder than he had imagined. The little girl glanced at Qing Chens hand, where a stone had cut a gash. She finally couldnt help but ask, Onii-chan, what are you doing this for? Qing Chen replied calmly, To feel life and death. Huh? Watch closely how I do it. You might have to walk this path in the future. What path? The longest shortcut in the human world. Qing Chen had not yet decided whether to make the little girl a Knight. However, at a certain moment, he suddenly felt like his previous master, looking at his younger self. Accepting Li Ke as a disciple was because Li Ke had the tenacity and talent. Moreover, his master required him to choose a Knight inheritor from the Li Family. Hu Xiaoniu leveraged the timing and locations of the Outer World; even without passing the Heart Trial, he could still walk the Knights path. Jinguji Maki was different. She was too young, and Qing Chen didnt know if she could endure the hardships of the Knights path. ... ... At night, a battered and exhausted Qing Chen returned to the ski resort with the tired little girl. The visitor center was no longer bustling as it had been during the day. Qing Chens phone lit up. Rich Tycoon: Are you even human? You let such a cute, innocent little girl follow you into the icy wilderness to pick up stones for two days straight. Is this something a normal person would do?! Qing Chen raised an eyebrow and typed back, Lets talk business. Rich Tycoon: ... Many Time Travelers from the Mysterious Business Department have arrived in Osaka City. Including the ones from before, there are now a total of 431. Theyve caught two other fugitive potential Time Travelers, so they know you acted to protect the little girl. Qing Chen contemplated. He appeared here as a stranger, so even though they knew it was him, they couldnt confirm his real identity. Rich Tycoon: Interestingly, since they didnt find you in Shirakawa Village, they believe you might have fled to other cities and didnt imagine youd head into the snowy mountains. After all, in this Great Snow sealing the mountains season, a person with common sense wouldnt take a nine-year-old girl into the mountains. Rich Tycoon: So, they only left dozens of people to search the mountains, while the rest went to Nakatsugawa City. Qing Chen nodded, considering it good news: Did they come to the ski resort? They searched but found nothing. They are waiting for headquarters in Osaka City to send professional mountaineering equipment, which should take one day to arrive. Qing Chen: Got it, thanks. Rich Tycoon: Treat the little girl better! Qing Chen turned off his phone. He was a bit surprised that the Outer Worlds Fenyi seemed to like Jinguji Maki so much. He even wondered if Fenyi knew something special about the little girl, just like how he was noticed immediately upon arriving at Prison 18. The visitor center was dark and silent. Now, only the sound of Jinguji Makis aggrieved sobbing from the adjacent tent remained. She was doing her best to suppress it, but it was still prominent in such a quiet environment. Does it hurt? Qing Chen, lying in his tent with his head resting on his arm, asked. It was already the second day since he had taken Jinguji Maki into the mountains. The little girls tender hands were blistered from clearing the debris on the ridge. It doesnt hurt, Jinguji Maki stubbornly replied. Pain is an objective sensation; theres no need to avoid it, Qing Chen said calmly, It wont disappear just because you ignore it. It hurts... Jinguji Maki said, her voice filled with grievance. Do you resent me? Qing Chen asked. A little, but then it went away quickly, Jinguji Maki whispered. Why? Qing Chen asked again. Jinguji Maki murmured, Although its very tiring and painful, I also worry about Onii-chan being alone on the ridge. It must be very boring to clear the debris alone. In the previous days, Onii-chan must have been up there alone, feeling lonely. Thats why you wanted me to accompany you. Qing Chen was silent for a moment. What a mess! The imagination of a little girl truly cant be fathomed. He thought for a moment and said, Come here, Ill pop your blisters, apply some medicine, and youll be fine after a nights sleep. Jinguji Maki quickly came to Qing Chens tent door but hesitated, Will it hurt? No, Qing Chen shook his head. Jinguji Maki, reassured, knelt outside the tent, carefully spreading out her hands. There were twelve blisters on her small hands. Wait here. Qing Chen went to the visitor center to find a first-aid kit. As he passed a television, he saw it turn on by itself. In such a dark environment, a television turning on suddenly was quite terrifying. Qing Chen looked on expressionlessly and saw a line of text appear on the screen: Buy the little girl a phone. Take the money from my payment. You like her? Qing Chen asked calmly. Somewhat. If its only somewhat, then I wont buy her a phone, Qing Chen responded indifferently. Very much. Then the money for the ointment Im about to use on her hands also comes from you, Qing Chen said. You are ruthless, cold, and unreasonable. What nonsense are you watching lately... Qing Chen muttered expressionlessly as he walked away. Since he had arrived in the Island Country, Outer Worlds Fenyi had been with him here. It seemed Fenyi particularly liked the little girl; otherwise, he wouldnt have suggested buying her a phone in the middle of the night. Qing Chen retrieved the first-aid kit, took out a sewing needle, and held Jinguji Makis small hand. The little girl looked at him anxiously, Will it really not hurt? Mm. Qing Chen nodded. The next moment, as Qing Chen popped the blister, pulling her skin, tears of pain welled up in the little girls eyes, Onii-chan, you said it wouldnt hurt! Qing Chen: Mm, it doesnt hurt me. Jinguji Maki: ... Qing Chen took out a Black Ointment from his pocket. He had brought it from his homeland, initially intended for himself, as he knew he would get injured during the Knights life-and-death challenge training. Now, most of it was used on treating the little girl. This money must indeed come from the Outer Worlds Fenyi. Onii-chan, why does life have to be so hard? The little girl murmured. Pain, setbacks, misfortunethey are the steps for the talented, the baptism for the faithful, and the abyss for the weak. Fate only gives you choices, and how you choose is up to you. Oh. After Qing Chen painstakingly finished treating the blisters on the little girls hands, he found her hugging his arm and falling asleep while he was packing the first-aid kit. He sat cross-legged. The little girl laid her head on his lap, her long black hair spreading out like a blooming black flower. He tried to move her away, but she murmured in her sleep, Onii-chan, dont go. Qing Chen sighed, sitting there for the whole night. Chapter 832: Growth Chapter 832: Growth The tourist service center was quiet. Gray beams of light streamed through the windows, and the dust in the room floated and rolled slowly in the air. Qing Chen remained seated, with the small and weak girl asleep sweetly on his lap. The young man silently glanced at the little girl, and then at the gradually brightening sky outside. Most humans spend their entire lives seeking securityenough money, stable relationships, a safe haven. These are sources of security. However, for people like Qing Chen and Jinguji Maki, they were the least useful. Qing Chen had sat for six hours and then mercilessly patted the little girl on the head: Wake up, time to work. Its not dawn yet... Jinguji Maki groggily got up. Fold the tent, Qing Chen said calmly. I havent had enough sleep... the little girl said softly. Before she could react, Qing Chen had already walked toward the outside of the tourist service center. The little girl reluctantly got up and followed, trying to run up and grab Qing Chens sleeve. But Qing Chen anticipated and dodged, not allowing her to catch him. Jinguji Maki was stunned for a moment, standing still. Qing Chen pushed open the door of the tourist service center, letting the wind and snow outside pour in: Fold the tent. Ill fold! Ill fold right now! Jinguji Maki said frantically. Qing Chen stood in the doorway, amidst the wind, snow, and light, and looked back calmly at the little girl: Why arent you crying? Arent you feeling aggrieved? Jinguji Maki silently pressed her lips together, took a long time before saying: Im sorry... After speaking, she returned to the tourist service center, crouched down, and began dismantling the tent poles, folding both tents neatly back into place. Only then did Jinguji Maki speak again, cautiously saying: I wont complain anymore. She was indeed a sensible little girl. Although she didnt know why Qing Chen was so cold to her, she knew he had sat all night silently to avoid waking her. And she knew if Qing Chen wasnt there to save her, he wouldnt have needed to hide in the mountains. The little girl had heard from the villagers in Shirakawa Village that the Mysterious Business Department was very powerful, and now this brother had gotten into trouble for her. Qing Chen said: You have a hard fate. Hard fate means you have a harder destiny, you must endure more suffering than others, only then can you find your true destiny. I understand, the little girl cautiously came beside Qing Chen, and once again reached out to grab the young mans sleeve. This time, Qing Chen did not dodge. Only those who have suffered can understand others suffering. So when the small and thin Jinguji Maki set that onsen hotel ablaze. Only Qing Chen could understand how much yearning for life was contained in that desperate flame. He too had repeatedly cut ties with his past. Repeatedly, in the long passage of time, he had let go of himself, determined not to sink into darkness anymore, to escape the darkness and move toward the light. Thus, when the little girl stood in the firelight, Qing Chen saw his own past self. The brilliant flames burned the past into ashes. All of yesterday, like yesterdays death. All of today, like todays birth. But Qing Chen had walked this path, and it made him realize that the past suffering couldnt be in vain. The little girl didnt need someone to protect her, but someone to show her the way. But just as the two were walking out. Outside the door, two elderly people in thick work clothes were walking from the distant ski resort staff dormitory. The Island Country had severe aging issues, so at the onsen hotels or other service industries, one could often see very old men or women. For example, in the Island Countrys taxi industry, more than half the drivers were elderly beyond retirement age. Jinguji Maki nervously grabbed Qing Chens sleeve. And the two old men, upon seeing Qing Chen and the little girl from a distance, first stared blankly, then astonishingly turned around to walk back to the dormitory, pretending not to see them both. At this moment, the entire Shirakawa Village should know, the Mysterious Business Department was chasing a young man and a little girl. The two old men were clearly trying to help cover for them. Qing Chen pondered for a moment and said softly: Lets go, up the mountain. A tall and a small figure slowly climbed the mountain. After another heavy snow last night, the snow had already reached the little girls waist. She could only follow behind Qing Chen, treading the path Qing Chen had made in the snow. Compared to days like these, the hardship of looking after the onsen hotel seemed insignificant. Suddenly, Jinguji Maki saw Qing Chens scarred hands again. She knew that barring any accident, Qing Chen would be training again today on that ridge, over and over, until he was completely exhausted. But she didnt know why Qing Chen was doing this. Brother, did you come to Shirakawa Village alone? Jinguji Maki asked curiously. Mm, Qing Chen nodded. Is there someone back home waiting for you? the little girl asked. Qing Chen thought for a moment amidst the wind and snow: There should be. ... ... In front of the Bai Zhou mansion. A Maybach S-Class slowly approached, and once the vehicle came to a stop, the small Li Tongyun opened the car door and jumped out with her little backpack. Now Bai Zhou was gradually becoming mighty, and Li Tongyun was diligently picked up and dropped off by Luo Wanyas security personnel every day for school. When she arrived at school, she always appeared like a little princess, resembling a tycoons daughter. Li Tongyun took a look back at the car and said to the security personnel: Wash the car, please. Dont let outsiders think Bai Zhou is chaotic. Before Brother Qing Chen returns, everything here must be orderly. Chapter 833: 503, Growth_2 Chapter 833: 503, Growth_2 The security personnel were taken aback for a moment, as they didnt expect this young girl to display such a calm and composed presence. Soon, someone responded quietly, Alright, Ill wash the car in a bit. Thank you, Li Tongyun swiftly walked into the villa, and saw Nan Gengchen and Liu Dezhu sitting on the sofa, looking dejected. Li Tongyun calmly surveyed her surroundings, Wheres my mom? Went out to buy groceries, Nan Gengchen said listlessly. Then what are you doing? Li Tongyun asked expressionlessly. Were thinking about how to help Brother Chen, Nan Gengchen explained. Li Tongyun sneered. She was like a different person depending on whether Jiang Xue was present or not, Ever since this return, youve both looked so downcast that anyone who doesnt know better might think you two were the ones captured. Liu Dezhu scratched his head, Its because we cant help. Knowing Brother Chen is suffering but being completely unable to assist... Li Tongyun shook her head and said, Then focus on cultivating, day and night. Use every spare moment to empower Luo Wanyas people. Your job is to relentlessly improve yourselves until one day you can be of help. If it werent for school, Id spend every moment cultivating to help Brother Qing Chen sooner. You have plenty of time but youre wasting it. Nan Gengchen and Liu Dezhu, on the verge of adulthood, were both scolded by a young girl. Yet neither of them felt it was wrong. The two exchanged a glance, and Nan Gengchen suddenly asked, Li Tongyun, Brother Chen said your cultivation aptitude is the best. What level are you now? Li Tongyun looked at him and said, Im already C-Class. Dont waste time. If we cant do anything now, then cultivate. Even if something happens to Brother Qing Chen, youll need the strength to avenge him. Hu Xiaoniu is stronger than you both in this regard. He temporarily left the Daytime villa because he knows what Daytime needs. Nan Gengchen was stunned. Li Tongyuns cultivation progress hadnt fallen behind at all, in fact, it was even a bit faster than his. Previously, when Qing Chen mentioned Li Tongyun had the best cultivation aptitude, Nan Gengchen didnt take it to heart. Bear in mind, Li Tongyun, under Jiang Xues supervision, had to spend half her time at school every day. Generally, this young girl always appeared carefree, never concerning herself with Daytimes matters and contentedly playing her role as the groups little rich girl in their chat. Until Qing Chens unexpected incident, she seemed like a different person, locking herself in her room every time she returned home. Nan Gengchen thought she was shutting herself in because she was sad. Now it seemed that wasnt the case. She was utilizing every available moment for cultivation. Liu Dezhu watched Li Tongyun head upstairs and muttered, Doesnt it feel like the young girl has changed into a different person? Nan Gengchen sighed, She hasnt changed. Its just that with Brother Chen here, she didnt need to reveal this side of herself. ... ... Outside Haichengs Azure parachuting training base. This was originally a publicly operating skydiving base, but over a month ago, it was suddenly bought by Hu Corporation. Then it was closed down. This move was quite baffling, given the value of a skydiving base, especially with its four helicopters, which were quite costly. Hu Corporation bought it and then closed it, seemingly wasting money deliberately. Only a few knew that the Azure parachuting training base wasnt completely shut down but was exclusive to only one person, with all its equipment and coaches serving exclusively for that individuals use. A speeding off-road vehicle approached, with several young people waiting at the entrance. The off-road vehicle slowly stopped, and the window lowered. Hu Xiaoniu, inside the car, frowned at the young people, Chen Sui? I already made it clear over the phone that I wont join the Matrix. Zhang Tianzhen, sitting cross-legged in the front seat, was cultivating, and even as the car stopped, he didnt pause his practice or lift his eyelids. Chen Sui spoke earnestly, Xiao Niu, Tianzhen, weve known each other for quite a while, and you two are considered quite successful Time Travelers within Haicheng. Why join an out-of-town Time Traveler organization? Is there a problem with that? Hu Xiaoniu retorted. Chen Sui thought for a moment and said, Matrixs founding principle is to protect Haichengs Time Travelers. You know that the Inside World Federations civil war is about to start again. Given your special status in City 18, if you join Matrix, it would significantly help us. So, Im sincerely inviting you both to join Matrix. Hu Xiaoniu shook his head, We prefer Daytime. Chen Sui added, You are Daytime members, so you must know about Qing Chen being captured by Jindai. Now, Daytimes unwise involvement in a crisis is imminent. Leaving now would be sensible, ensuring that when Jindai retaliates against Daytime, you and your families wont be affected. Zhang Tianzhen suddenly opened his eyes, If Daytime faces trouble, and we leave to save ourselves, then when Matrix faces trouble, well leave Matrix too. Such people, do you want us? Chen Sui replied, I wont let Matrix get into such a position, at least I wont drag the entire organization into a risky situation. Thats an interesting perspective, Zhang Tianzhen contemplated and said, You want us in Matrix because of our positions in Heng Society and our relationship with Lis Financial Group. You believe weve become elite Time Travelers and shouldnt be burdened by Daytime. But youre utterly wrong. Drive, Xiao Niu. Having said that, Hu Xiaoniu stepped on the gas pedal, driving into the parachuting base. Leaving behind Matrix members at the gate, puzzled, unsure of where they went wrong. Within the parachuting base, the helicopters were ready and had received air control clearances, awaiting Hu Xiaoniu and Zhang Tianzhens arrival. On the ground, a staff member with a helmet and goggles waved a guiding light stick, signaling it was clear for take-off. Hu Xiaoniu geared up in his Flying Squirrel Suit, while Zhang Tianzhen inspected every detail post take-off, ensuring there were no errors in Hu Xiaonius equipment, checking the main and backup chutes thoroughly, as part of his Protector duties. The helicopter gradually ascended into the skies, with its door open, and Hu Xiaoniu and Zhang Tianzhen sat by the edge, letting the wind whip around them. Zhang Tianzhen laughed, Back when we messed with the Chen Clan in City 7 and fled to Los Angeles City, who would have imagined wed become so sought after someday. Hu Xiaoniu gazed at the azure sky and said, Yeah, Chen Suis biggest mistake is thinking that with our abilities and status in the Inner World, theres no need to take risks alongside Daytime. The issue is, everything we have today was given by Daytime. At some point, they had become the envy of many Time Travelers. But Hu Xiaoniu and Zhang Tianzhen clearly remembered how they had reached this point. The helicopter shook slightly, and Zhang Tianzhen asked, Are you going to complete the life-and-death challenge today? You could wait for a better day. Hu Xiaoniu smiled, This is the best weather weve had in half a month. I dont want to wait any longer. The sooner we complete the eight life-and-death challenges, the sooner we can return to Daytime. Someone is waiting for us. I never quite understood why you insist on these life-and-death challenges, Zhang Tianzhen sighed, What are they for, exactly? Hu Xiaoniu pondered for a moment, Perhaps its about seeking order within ourselves on the brink between life and death. Tianzhen, we cant delay anymore. We cant let Brother Chen shoulder all the pressure. The pilot in the front seat gave a thumbs up, indicating they had reached the intended altitude. Zhang Tianzhen suddenly said, I wont dissuade you anymore... after all, I also miss the days at the Daytime villa. Hu Xiaoniu felt the fierce wind outside the cabin and knew he had to accelerate his growth. He turned to Zhang Tianzhen, smiled, See you at the end. With that, Hu Xiaoniu took a deep breath and put on his goggles. He glanced once more at the vast sky, then spread his arms and leaped out. ... Im back, another chapter at 11 PM Chapter 834: 504, very dangerous Chapter 834: 504, very dangerous After returning this time, Qing Chen immediately set about executing his plan. So he had no time to bid an emotional farewell to the Daytime Members one by one, nor did he have time to explain everything clearly. But he knew that someone would be waiting for him to return, so he would live to return. The wind at the top of the mountain was fierce. It blew the snow from the north slope across the ridge, falling softly on the south slope. When the snowflakes flew over the ridge and fell, it looked like a spectacular icy waterfall. Jinguji Maki curled up at the top of Mount Okuhotaka, watching Qing Chen rush down the ridge again and again, falling, and then carrying his mountain bike back up. She had lost count of how many times Qing Chen had failed. At some moment, it even overturned her cognition, realizing that when a person pursues his goal, he can be this persistent. However, what she didnt know was that Qing Chen was even enjoying these repeated failures. Qing Chen climbed up to a certain ridge again, carrying his mountain bike and quietly gazing at the distant sunset. In the past, his life-and-death training had always been completed in the Mysterious World where he convinced others by virtue. This was what differentiated this time from before. In the past, even if he fell off a cliff, he wouldnt die. Even if he fell a thousand times, no matter how real the sensation of death, Qing Chen knew he wouldnt actually die. So at that time, he gradually lost his reverence for life and death. A Knight without reverence for life and death is not a Knight. This time it was different. He hadnt yet unfolded the Reverse Breathing Technique, and the training was already nearly fatal. If he were to unfold the Reverse Breathing Technique during the real challenge, a fall would be a true fall, and even if he forced a reversal of the breathing technique, he would never progress again in this lifetime. This made Qing Chen cherish each training session even more. But the problem was that every time he rushed down the steep ridge, dancing on the edge of the blade, his eyes looking at the abyss beside him would cause his heart to palpitate. It was the innate human fear. Once tangled by the emotion of fear, he would no longer be so decisive. Qing Chen knew that what he needed to overcome was this emotion. So, he bore the injuries again and again, enduring the pain, letting the pain cut through the fear like a knife. However, something strange happened. When the Knight Vital Energy in his body turned into a liquid state. Every time he challenged a life-and-death gate, he could feel a surging force circulating within his body. No Knight had ever encountered such a situation. Just like Ren He opening the path of the Knights and Qin Sheng creating the Breathing Technique, the roads they took were paths no one had walked before, so there was no reference. Qing Chen was the same now. No Knight had true Knight Vital Energy after completing the first life-and-death gate. No Knight knew what would happen after the Knight Vital Energy liquefied. When Qing Chen rushed down the ridge again and again, he could feel the liquefied Knight Vital Energy, like tides pulled by the moon, being drawn, stirred, and surged by some force. Qing Chen didnt know what would ultimately happen. But he knew that if he could complete the life-and-death gate challenge this time, there would definitely be an answer. From morning till night. Qing Chen carried his mountain bike slowly up Mount Okuhotaka, looking at Jinguji Maki, said: Lets go, to the visitor service center to rest. Seeing the mountaineering suit on Qing Chen was torn into strips by the rocks, seeing the old wounds on Qing Chens body also cracked open, Jinguji Maki was stunned. It was just seven days after returning; the injuries Qing Chen sustained in the Inner World had not healed, making it look exceptionally tragic now. She walked over in a daze and grabbed Qing Chens sleeve, watching as the blood slowly dripped from the sleeve: Onii-chan, why dont you apply the ointment to yourself? Qing Chen said seriously: I used it all on you, I dont have any left for myself. The little girl who had held back her tears in the morning now burst into tears: What should we do then?! But at this moment, Qing Chen looked at the distant visitor service center and stopped. The visitor center was pitch black, the neon signs that should have been lit at night were all off. Qing Chen did not approach further but turned on his phone and sent a message: What happened. The Outer World Division 1 sent a message: Everyone in Shirakawa Village has been captured by the Mysterious Business Department. They found no trace of you outside Shirakawa Village, so they returned to investigate the entire Shirakawa Village again. Now, the Mysterious Business Department suspects that someone is harboring you and is preparing to conduct a concentrated interrogation of the village residents. Qing Chen was stunned, realizing that it wasnt someone who betrayed their trail. At least those two old men did not betray them; otherwise, the Mysterious Business Department would have already come up the mountain to apprehend them. Qing Chen didnt ask any more questions, calmly leading the little girl into the visitor service center. When they came to the outdoor equipment section, he paused, just because in the place where they usually set up their tent, there were two boxed lunches. A note was attached to the lunch box: There is a microwave in the store area, just heat it yourself. It turned out those old men had worked here for decades and were as familiar with the place as if it was their own home. They could immediately notice if anything was missing. They had already known that Qing Chen and Jinguji Maki were hiding there. Qing Chen thought about it for a moment, calmly carrying the two boxed lunches to the microwave to heat them, then sat cross-legged on the ground with Jinguji Maki and cleaned out the boxed lunches together. While eating, he seemed to be contemplating something. Jinguji Maki looked at the lunch box in his hand: Onii-chan, why do you always eat so cleanly? Qing Chen put down the lunch box and said: To remind myself of certain things. Oh, the little girl lowered her head and imitated, eating every grain of rice clean. Qing Chen looked at the dark visitor service center, suddenly remembering what his mentor, Uncle Li Dong, had told him in front of the big willow tree in Taboo Land No. 002: You still lack an opportunity. He thought about the miserable situation his mentor put him in at that time, remembered the Knight Organizations tradition of pitting apprentices, and suddenly couldnt help but chuckle. Jinguji Maki was stunned, as if it was the first time she had seen this brother smile. Qing Chen stood up and said: Lets go, take you back to Shirakawa Village. Huh? Jinguji Maki was puzzled: Arent we supposed to hide from the bad guys? Qing Chen rubbed her little head and smiled: No more hiding. Why? The little girl was extremely curious. Qing Chen calmly said: Making you suffer so much to walk this path, and more suffering in the future. Given that, as a teacher, I must tell you where this path leads and what kind of life it means. Will there be danger? The little girl asked. Yes, it will be very dangerous for them. Chapter 835: 505, Opportunity Chapter 835: 505, Opportunity Will they... be very dangerous? Jinguji Maki murmured, repeating the words. Wait a moment. The little girl looked up at the young man in astonishment. The meaning contained in those words seemed to be different from her understanding. The Mysterious Business Department has always claimed that they are divine emissaries from Takamagahara in the Island Country. These people not only controlled the Shintoism with a total of 120 million followers but also took over the local Shrines and held grand and mysterious rituals. In her view, ordinary people who offend the gods emissaries should certainly be in hiding. Moreover, after Qing Chen saved her, he had no choice but to take her into the mountains to hide. Usually, isnt it the weak who need to hide? But now, how could there be a trace of fear in Qing Chen? Qing Chen glanced at her: But this time, I wont cover your eyes. You must watch with your eyes open. If you close your eyes, Ill send you somewhere else to live, and you and I will never meet again. The little girl was taken aback. After a long hesitation, she said, I definitely wont close my eyes. This made the little girl feel a bit strange. Last time, this brother was afraid she would see a bloody scene, but this time he was actively letting her watch. Soon she understood that perhaps this was an attitude change. Although she was too young to comprehend the reason for this change, Jinguji Maki believed this change should be good. Qing Chen rubbed her head gently, and softly said, Little one, you must prepare to face this cruel world... but its okay, you are just like me. You can walk the path Ive walked. Nothing went into Jinguji Makis little head. She only remembered that she and her brother were alike. So happy. Are we going to fight the bad guys now? the little girl asked. Qing Chen thought for a moment and said, Lets get the villagers out of danger first, and then create an opportunity for myself. Opportunity? the little girl asked with confusion in her eyes. She wasnt a Knight, so she didnt understand the Knights slang. ... ... There were 431 people in Shirakawa Village, including skiing staff and tourists, totaling 943 people. In this cold winter, over 400 members of the Mysterious Business Department gathered all of them in the central village road of Shirakawa Village. Around them, dozens of large fire pits were lit with barrels of gasoline, illuminating the area as brightly as daylight. All members of the Mysterious Business Department were wearing brown trench coats, black pants, black leather boots, and their hair slicked back, wearing neat ties. They formed a stark contrast with the tourists and villagers. A middle-aged man, with his hands in his trench coat pockets, slowly walked around the crowd: Let me introduce myself, I am the director of the Mysterious Business Department, Wutian Yingfu. I know one of you must be hiding that little girl. How about we play a game? Lets use the gassho-zukuri thatched houses of Shirakawa Village as stakes. Every ten seconds you dont tell me where the little girl is, I will burn down one thatched house. Gassho-zukuri thatched houses are not only a world cultural heritage but also the homes of these villagers. A villager shouted, We are all legal citizens, what right do you have to do this? Wutian Yingfus face turned cold: The Mysterious Business Department exists for the future of our nation. Now, you are sheltering the little girl and the murderer we are looking for. How is that different from treason? Dont you know that seven of our members have died at their hands? The villager asked, Why are you capturing a girl like Zhenji? Her life has already been tough, why do you need to treat her like this? Thats Mysterious Business Departments issue, none of your business, Wutian Yingfu sneered, grabbing a burning coal from the fire pit with his bare hands and throwing it into the nearby thatched house. The carefully constructed thatched house burst into flames in an instant. The firelight reflected in the villagers eyes, showing expressions of despair as if in purgatory. They realized that Wutian Yingfus hand was unscathed after grabbing the coal... Are these people really emissaries from Takamagahara? But why would gods emissaries treat followers this way? Seeing no villager was willing to disclose Jinguji Makis whereabouts, one gassho-zukuri after another turned into flames. Wutian Yingfu ordered his men to pull out the villager who had questioned him and press them onto the ground. He stomped on the questioners face with the hard heel of his leather boot, crushing it into the dirt: You protect them, but when your house is burned down and your dignity is trampled into the mud, where are they? The questioner couldnt breathe from the pain, with blood and dirt mixed on his face: It was you who burned the gassho-zukuri, not them. Wutian Yingfu laughed: Guess what Ill burn when all the gassho-zukuri are gone, and no one still confesses where the little girl is. Tell us. After burning down the gassho-zukuri, Ill burn you. Wow, how merciless! Shirakawa Village suddenly fell silent, leaving only the crackling of the fire. Wutian Yingfu slowly turned his head towards the sound, his face twisted as he asked, Who is talking? In the darkness beyond the firelight, everyone vaguely saw a young man holding a little girls hand, quietly standing. In just an instant, all members of the Mysterious Business Department realized that this was their target, the little girl and the one who killed seven of their members were both here! Wutian Yingfu asked in his Bluetooth earpiece: Where are the people on the south side? Somebody got through, and no one noticed. But there was no response in his Bluetooth earpiece. The members of the Mysterious Business Department were stunned. To prevent the villagers from escaping, more than ten people were guarding the south side. How could so many people be silently killed? In the flickering firelight, Wutian Yingfu saw the young man covered in blood, but the little girl was clean. Wutian Yingfu said calmly, Be careful and surround them. At this moment, seeing people surrounding them, Jinguji Maki weakly asked in a small voice, Oni?-chan, what should we do now? Qing Chen responded in a low voice, Run! Run quickly! Ah? The little girl was stunned. They had just said two sentences about fighting the bad guys, and now they were running? This plot development seemed a bit off. Qing Chen casually said, Once we show up, the Mysterious Business Department will no longer bother the villagers. The Mysterious Business Department members cocked their guns and cautiously approached, ready for the imminent battle. The next second, they saw the young man turn and walk into the darkness, holding the little girls hand. He walked faster and faster, gradually starting to run... And somehow, the young man found a mountain bike in the snow and rode it with the little girl towards the snow-capped mountains. He even stood up on the pedals to speed up. Wutian Yingfu squinted at the boys back on the bike, thinking that escaping on a bike seemed a bit disrespectful. Qing Chen didnt think it was a problem, it even felt a bit like guerrilla warfare against the enemy. Wutian Yingfu sneered and said, Get in the cars, chase them! In the next moment, a member of the Mysterious Business Department reported in the communication channel: Director Wutian, all our car tires have been slashed! Wutian Yingfu was stunned. They brought over a hundred cars, and all the tires were slashed?! ... There will be another chapter at 11 p.m. Chapter 836: 506, yet it blows off, stars like rain Chapter 836: 506, yet it blows off, stars like rain Wutian Yingfu looked at the vehicles with a face ashen, just as his subordinates had reported, all of their tires had been punctured without exception. He suddenly felt that the night had turned surreal. The person they were hunting reappeared before them, but didnt do much else other than puncturing all their tires. So, the two individuals, one big and one small, first punctured the tires, then nonchalantly appeared before them. Wutian Yingfu was almost amused in anger, imagining those two sneaking around to puncture the tires, worried that the sound might be too loud. As a result, those two individuals had almost scared him just now! Change the tires, Wutian Yingfu snarled. A subordinate whispered, Director, each car only has one spare tire, but all four tires of each vehicle have been punctured; there arent enough spare tires. Wutian Yingfu slapped the subordinate, causing him to spin like a top twice on the snow: Cant figure out how to use four spare tires to fix one car? Dispatch a Pioneer Corps to hunt them down, the others will follow me behind! The subordinate managed to stand still, hurriedly bowing with stars in his vision: Understood! A group quickly changed the tires, and over a dozen cars sped out like the wind. This was the snow season; if the boy continued to escape on the mountain bike, he surely couldnt outrun the cars on the road. If the boy drove towards the snowy mountains, tracks would definitely be left on the snow. Wutian Yingfu knew that the boy and Jinguji Maki couldnt escape. The only uncertainty was that he still couldnt gauge the boys strength, so he decided to let his subordinates test first. Catching him directly would be best, the credit would still be his. If they couldnt catch him and faced resistance, the dozen cars ahead would be enough to stall the boy and deplete his fighting power. ... ... At this moment, the small Jinguji Maki was sitting sideways on the mountain bikes crossbar, facing the wind, but she didnt feel cold. Are you scared? Qing Chen asked. Just now, the little girl followed him to puncture the tires, then watched as he silently eliminated more than a dozen Mysterious Business Department members. It was real slaughter, Qing Chen showed the worlds cruelest side to the little girl. Jinguji Maki, as promised, didnt close her eyes. She whispered, Im scared. Qing Chen smiled, Being scared is normal. I often feel scared too. But being scared doesnt matter; whats important is to learn how to face it. For people living bitter lives, we dont have money, cars, or good fortune at birth. For mud-legged people to stand in this world, they must muster enough courage. Actually, tonight Qing Chen realized a problem. Although the little girl was scared, she never flinched. Her life might be hard, and she might still be young, but she wasnt lacking courage. The wind and snow in the mountains fell upon them. Jinguji Maki still wasnt sure what path Qing Chen was meant to take her on or what kind of life he was giving her. But none of that mattered anymore; her life had already changed. The little girl softly said, Brother, visitors used to say Shirakawa Village was like a fairy-tale paradise, but I always thought fairy tales were fake. If there really were fairy tales, why did no one come to save me? At this moment, the vehicles behind gradually caught up, with glaring high beams like knives piercing the dark. Jinguji Maki grasped the bike nervously: Didnt we already puncture their tires? Why are they still catching up? Hurry! Qing Chen paused and then laughed: They managed to gather the spare tires, dont worry, this was within my expectation. Its a chance to split their forces. This time, were not running, or youd think the path Im taking you on is called escaping. Ah? Jinguji Maki clearly didnt understand Qing Chens lousy joke; she didnt even realize what Qing Chen intended to do. Qing Chen stopped the mountain bike, standing on the mountain road: This is the place; the road just froze, and the plows havent had time to clean the snow. Stand back, now Ill show you what a knight is. Jinguji Maki stared blankly, feeling her brothers aura suddenly change, standing in the center of wind and snow. At the next moment, as the vehicles gradually approached. Qing Chen reached into the night sky, gently flicking his fingers. His slender fingers touched a crystal snowflake, and the liquid Knight Vital Energy roared out from his fingertip. The fragile snowflake enveloped by Knight Vital Energy didnt shatter in an instant, but rather grew new sharp edges. With a bang, the small snowflake spun like a blade, piercing through the windshield of the first off-road vehicle from tens of meters away. When the snowflakes flew out, it stirred the wild wind. In the high beams, the little girl felt that small snowflake seemed to pull the sky full of wind and snow. Drawing a white line in the air, it looked like even the air was cut open. Piercing the drivers forehead. She suddenly thought, if there were really gods in this world, this brother who killed with snowflakes in a flick must be one. After the drivers death, his body involuntarily pulled the steering wheel, causing the large off-road vehicle to flip on the road, sliding towards Qing Chen. But Qing Chens expression didnt change. He just stood there casually, flicking his fingers again and again, effortlessly shooting out one snowflake after another. Chapter 837: 506, even more blown off, stars like rain Chapter 837: 506, even more blown off, stars like rain In the night, a whistling sound echoed. One car window after another was shattered. This was a new use of the Knight Vital Energy that Qing Chen discovered on the ridge. He had been pondering a question: as the Knight Vital Energy transitioned from gas to liquid, it inevitably indicated an increase in quality. So, had the toughness and sharpness of the Autumn Leaf Knife improved? Until he accidentally flicked away a snowflake. In that instant, Qing Chen realized that the snowflake wasnt shattered by the shock of his finger but was instead energized by the Knight Vital Energy like high-carbon steel of the ATS-34 model. The Knight Vital Energy burst out from within his body, akin to the hammer of a gun striking a bullet, with the power exploding in an instant. For a while in the past, Qing Chen felt that the Knight Vital Energy was somewhat useless. In the era when the Knight ancestors created the organization, the three-foot punching energy or the Autumn Leaf Knife were very useful. However, in the modern technological environment, the power of firearms was enough to kill most enemies, thus turning the usage of the Autumn Leaf Knife from a lethal weapon to a functional weapon. The throwing distance of the Autumn Leaf Knife was very short and restricted by material. Sometimes, when the Autumn Leaf Knife struck a person, the opponent might be fine, but the blade would break. Therefore, when killing enemies, he relied more on overwhelming them with virtue, as its lethality far exceeded that of the Autumn Leaf Knife. Only during assassinations would he infuse Knight Vital Energy into his or someone elses hair. He had means to kill enemies from extremely long distances and close ranges, but he lacked an efficient mid-to-long-range killing method and now he had it. Not enough. Still not enough. Qing Chen knew that even with these, the Autumn Leaf Knife couldnt replace an automatic rifle. But he believed that the role of the Liquid Knights True Qi was far beyond just these. The Knight Vital Energy was still surging within him like a tide, not yet stopped, not yet at an end, not yet across the river. Only by taking the final step tonight and completing the next life-or-death ordeal could Qing Chen understand the complete form of this Liquid True Qi. At this moment, the drivers in more than ten off-road vehicles were all dead. The members of the Mysterious Business Department didnt even understand what had happened. They couldnt find bullet holes on the drivers foreheads, only a small bloodstain like a vermilion mark. Before they could take a closer look, the rolling car bodies had knocked them around chaotically. The vehicles skidded incessantly on the slippery icy road, sliding towards Qing Chen. Jinguji Maki was just about to warn him to be careful when she saw the vehicles barely graze past Qing Chen. Qing Chen didnt move. The boy stood in the high-beam light of the overturned vehicles from afar, with wind and snow drifting in the beams. The boy looked magnificent and brilliant. Only then did the little girl realize that this was the life Qing Chen intended to give her. This was her future life! This was the longest path of all the shortcuts in the human world! Dont move, Qing Chen turned and smiled at the little girl. He then walked towards the vehicles. The next moment, golden arcs of electricity burst from his palm. Before the people inside the cars could climb out, the thunder controlled by the boy had already snuffed them out inside the vehicles. At this moment, Jinguji Maki only felt that this brother of hers was simply omnipotent. If this didnt count as a god, then what would a god be? Tonight, none who had fought against Qing Chen could leave the snowy mountain alive. He had other plans to execute. After resolving everyone in the ten-plus vehicles, Qing Chen slowly walked towards the little girl by the roadside and gently asked, Are you afraid of me? He extended his right hand. The wound on his arm had just reopened, with blood flowing down his sleeve to his hand, looking particularly gruesome. The little girl took Qing Chens hand without hesitation, feeling the warmth in his palm: Not afraid. The little girl continued, Brother is a kind person, putting himself in danger for the villagers, just like when you saved me. Only today did I know that brother can smile. Lets go up the mountain, Qing Chen held Jinguji Makis hand with one hand and carried the mountain bike with the other, treading heavily towards Mount Okuhotaka. Dawn had broken, and they just needed to head towards the brightest part of the sky. The little girl asked, Will I also ride a mountain bike on the ridge in the future? Of course, Qing Chen nodded, Youll also need to climb hundreds of meters of sheer cliffs with your bare hands, and leap down from the snowy mountain... Are you afraid? Not afraid, the little girl said, I want to follow the path youve walked. Im afraid thats not possible, Qing Chen chuckled. He was a Time Traveler, but the little girl was not. She might be the first person in the Outer World to break the rules without traversing. There are records in the consortiums history that Ren He was the first in the Inner World to break the rules of confinement. Later on, Ren Xiaosu was born, accelerating the transcendent process of the entire world. Before Ren He, there were no transcendents in the world. Everything began the moment Ren He unlocked the genetic lock. Qing Chen wondered if the Outer World would be the same way. He had a premonition that perhaps some people in the Outer World could awaken even without becoming Time Travelers. If the little girl wasnt an Internal Test Player, it would explain a lot. The rules of this world were loosening. Qing Chen wasnt sure if this was good or bad, but the grand era of the Outer World might be coming. ... ... Climbing the snowy mountain was much more difficult than traveling on flat ground. Every time, the little girl had to use all her strength to climb for a long time. In the past, Qing Chen would wait, letting her struggle to climb, no matter how hard or exhausting it was, he wouldnt help. Chapter 838: 506, once again blown off, stars like rain Chapter 838: 506, once again blown off, stars like rain Today Qing Chen did not do that. He let Jinguji Maki lie on his back, then carried the mountain bike and continued to move forward. By the time they reached halfway up the mountain, they could hear someone shouting at the foot of the mountain. It should be Wutian Yingfu who had already arrived. Qing Chen did not look back. The little girl whispered, Brother, arent you hurt a lot? Actually, even the little girl noticed that Qing Chens condition was not very good. These days, Qing Chen had been training as if punishing himself, so the injuries he brought back from the Inner World hadnt fully healed. Qing Chen smiled, Its okay. Brother, Ive always felt that youre blaming yourself... the little girl whispered. Why? Qing Chen was taken aback. The little girl said, You finish the unappetizing meals, train over and over, fall off cliffs and climb back up again. It all seems like youre punishing yourself. Qing Chen was silent for a long time. He hadnt expected someone as young as Jinguji Maki to see through so much that he hadnt expressed. Slowly, they climbed to the top of the mountain. Qing Chen sat heavily on a rock, looking at the distant sky with a pale whiteness, and said calmly, I do blame myself a little and want to punish myself. In the past, I had gone down a wrong path, resulting in my own hardships and causing others to die for me. I often think, if I hadnt been lost, would many peoples fates have been different. At that time, I always comforted myself that as long as those from the Daylight werent hurt, it didnt matter how many others died. But then I realized I was wrong. Im neither a good person nor a bad person. My mistake was in not becoming a good person or thoroughly becoming a bad person... Its really depressing. So when I was in the pigsty, I kept building stone walls, torturing myself while trying to give others some hope. I wanted to lead them out of their plight. In fact, until that moment, I still had a laughable blind confidence. I was happy to see those peoples expressions change from numbness to vividness, until someone finally told me... Its okay, success doesnt have to come through me. At that moment, I realized it wasnt me redeeming them, but they were redeeming me. I was finally redeemed. As he spoke, blood seeped from his wounds, eventually dripping onto the snow, staining the white snow red. Jinguji Maki sat down next to him, What about now? Now? Qing Chen smiled and stood up, Ive come back. As he spoke. The snow stopped. The clouds dispersed. The morning sun rippled through the atmosphere, just like that day on the cliff of the green mountain. Qing Chen took two steps forward, looking at Wutian Yingfu and the others gradually climbing up the mountain, more than three hundred people armed to the teeth, following their tracks. They were about to bring Qing Chen and the others into their firing range. The ridge was steep, and if he used the Reverse Breathing Technique this time, life and death would be left to fate. The little girl pleaded, Brother, youre bleeding, how about giving up for today? Qing Chen turned back, smiling, and asked Jinguji Maki, Xiao Zhenji, do you still believe in fairy tales? The little girl was silent and did not speak. Qing Chen adjusted his clothes, lifted the mountain bike, and said seriously, Those who dance must practice continuously. Their feet are wounded, their knees are bloody, they cry countless times, shouting they want to give up. But the moment they take the stage, they wear dazzling clothes, exuding only elegance and composure. From that moment, you should know that the ugly duckling can truly become a swan, and fairy tales can come true. But this fairy tale isnt written for you by others; its written for yourself with blood and tears. Qing Chen placed the little girl on the crossbar. He couldnt leave her alone on the mountain top; otherwise, if the Mysterious Business Department found him descending alone, they would certainly come up and capture Jinguji Maki as a threat. Taking the little girl would indeed be more dangerous. Previously, he couldnt even overcome the life-and-death challenges by himself, but now he had to take care of another person. Thus, the little girl would also be in the same danger. But since Jinguji Maki had decided to walk the path of the Knight, there was no need to make another choice. Qing Chen asked again, Do you believe in fairy tales? Jinguji Maki replied earnestly, I believe. Qing Chen glanced at the sunrise once more. The last time he had seen the sunrise after numerous hardships, this time he drew strength from it. He finally recalled the vastness he felt when he first became a Knight and saw those four words on the cliff. Qing Chen resolutely began the Reverse Breathing Technique, took a light step forward, then rode the mountain bike and rushed down the sharp ridge. He came back. He didnt leave himself any retreat. ... ... Wutian Yingfu, at the halfway point, suddenly saw someone riding a mountain bike, rushing down the ridge from the top of the mountain. They were on the shady slope, where the sunlight hadnt yet reached. Wutian Yingfu squinted his eyes, looking up and only seeing the black silhouette on the ridge, engraved in the morning sun. Open fire! He raised his automatic rifle and fired rapidly, bullets chasing Qing Chens tracks within the shooting range. But Qing Chens speed only increased, and he never looked at the enemy from start to finish. At 120 kilometers per hour, if you stood by the roadside, you would feel that the speeding vehicle had left you and the world in the dust. Chapter 839: 506, yet it blows off, stars like rain_4 Chapter 839: 506, yet it blows off, stars like rain_4 What exactly is the Gate of Life and Death? On the edge of losing control, he sought inner order, then made friends with the world. This time, he wasnt trying to defeat anyone but his past self. For some reason, when Qing Chens emotions were released in that instant, he suddenly felt that directions were not so hard to control, and the ridge didnt seem as dangerous anymore. He was like someone leisurely riding in the park after dinner, no longer eager for instant success, nor anxious about gains and losses. This was the path he was destined to walk in life. So what was there to fear? Qing Chen would walk this path to the very end, carrying his most intense state and returning spirit, heading to Base A02 to carve out a way to survival with those who had once redeemed him! He looked down at Jinguji Maki, only to find that the little girl too showed no signs of fear. Jinguji Maki sat comfortably on the beam, gazing at the sunrise in a daze. Kill them! Wutian Yingfu roared. The members of the Mysterious Business Department, finding that they couldnt keep up with Qing Chens speed, began to preemptively shoot in his path, forming a steel barrage. Even the ridge was bombarded, causing gravel to splatter everywhere. In an instant, when Qing Chen reached the firing zone, he fiercely leapt over two meters into the air. Everyone watched as he, under the morning sun, dodged all the drifting bullets with the little girl in a leaping manner. No one expected that Qing Chen would dare to perform such a dangerous move on this perilous and narrow ridge! Hes been hit! someone shouted. Hes been hit in the thigh! Im sure of it! The gunfire was too dense. No matter how well Qing Chen calculated or how fiercely he moved, he was still hit. However, after being hit, Qing Chen neither wailed nor despaired. It was as if he had blocked out all negative sensations, and he continued to execute his will without faltering. Wutian Yingfu contorted his face with rage and began to sprint madly along the mountainside, trying to intercept Qing Chens descent with his formidable strength. As Qing Chen descended from the mountain top to the valley bottom, this Director of the Mysterious Business Department ran faster and faster. Their paths were destined to intersect. But in the next moment, Wutian Yingfu saw Qing Chen suddenly stand up, pedaling his mountain bike to speed up even further from an already breakneck speed of 120 kilometers per hour! The paths that were supposed to intersect now missed entirely! At that moment, Wutian Yingfu felt a fleeting sense of anxiety, as if he had heard a click sound suddenly. The sound came so unexpectedly, from an unknown source. He could only watch as Qing Chen plunged into the valley, moving swiftly along the ridges sharp edge as if it were flat ground. Pursue him! Wutian Yingfu angrily waved his arm. But when they reached the valley bottom, they found only the discarded mountain bike, with no sign of Qing Chen. There was blood on the snow. Wutian Yingfu followed the trail and looked up to see the teenager with the wounded thigh... climbing Mount Okuhotaka again, carrying Jinguji Maki. That figure was exhausted but unyielding. Is he crazy, riding down just to climb back up again? What is he trying to do? Wutian Yingfu shouted. Director, shall we continue the chase? someone asked. Chase him. Hes just one person. If his thigh got hit, it means he still fears firearms. What do we have to fear with over three hundred men? Wutian Yingfu replied. Still, he couldnt shake the feeling that he had missed an important clue with that click sound. On the snowy mountain, humans were as insignificant as black dots. One small black dot ahead, three hundred more behind, all desperately climbing and pursuing. Qing Chen limped his way up Mount Okuhotaka, placing the little girl down with a smile. I did it. Jinguji Maki was stunned for a moment. Ah... what do we do now? Kill. Qing Chen said. The teenager then suddenly turned to face the mountain base, silently waiting. When they finally came within a hundred meters. The rampaging Liquid Knights True Qi coursed through Qing Chens body, gathering in his mouth. Breathe! Standing in the morning sun, Qing Chen took a deep breath, then bent over and expelled it all at once. A surge of white cloud gas rolled out, churning the snow on the mountain. Each snowflake was lifted, becoming a blade, and the avalanche-like storm engulfed the three hundred men on the mountainside. In an instant, the rotating snowflakes injured all three hundred men, the flakes cutting two to three centimeters deep into their bodies before melting in their blood. Their clothing was relentlessly pierced, mixing blood and torn fabric, as if someone in the sky had pulled the trigger on a metal storm. Not as terrifying as a metal storm, but snowflakes in the eyes could cause blindness, and a thousand cuts on the body would result in agonizing pain, even shock from blood loss. The three hundred men fell to the snow, wailing incessantly, with some unlucky ones having their carotid arteries severed, dying on the spot. This scene was utterly horrific. The mountain peak teenager had finally found his own great weapon. In one breath, he injured three hundred men, turning what seemed like an imposing force of three hundred into mere decoration! In the east wind of the night, flowers bloom in thousands! As the wind blows further, stars fall like rain! Chapter 840: 507, Use Oneself as Bait Chapter 840: 507, Use Oneself as Bait The silence on the snowy mountain was shattered by a sudden avalanche. Blood gushed from the bodies of the Mysterious Business Department members, converging into a stream under the mountain. Jinguji Maki watched Qing Chen stand in the morning sun and exhale a breath of cloud gas. She swore it was really cloud gas, and she could even see a rainbow in the morning sun. This scene truly upended Xiao Zhenjis worldview. In her past life, humans were fragile; even a paper cut could tear their skin. But everything Qing Chen did tonight seemed to open a door to a new world for her. Behind that door was a more magnificent side of this world. Qing Chen stood at the top of the mountain, todays breakthrough brought him new surprises. The greatest advantage of a knight is that after completing a life-or-death threshold, they enter a new level of strength, reaching the peak of the current level instantly, unlike others who must slowly grow their power. This means that the moment Qing Chen stepped into B-Class, he reached the pinnacle. Below A-Class, few could be his opponent. But the problem was, the world is fair. There are advantages, but also flaws. Knights have always been synonymous with strong individual ability, but they have always lacked true large-scale destructive capabilities, Uncle Li Dong was no exception. For example, the first recorded demigod in Federation history, Chen Wudi, was said to destroy all enemies within a hundred meters with a single move called Heavenly Tilt. Another example is the spiritual demigod Li Shentan, who could hypnotize 5,000 people and once captured an entire artillery team to kill the enemy. According to the record of the Darkest Hour before the destruction of the previous human civilization era, he once sacrificed himself and transformed into the worlds will to control a million people and hold off the AI army for half a day, buying the Northwestern Army their last chance, making him a legend. The founder of Hus Information Agency, Hu Shuo, wielded twenty-four green jade small swords to harvest the battlefield, making him a battlefield harvesting machine. But the demigods of the knight organization, rarely had the ability to overcome thousands in a single move. In the past, the knight organization made up for this weakness with sheer numberstwelve A-Class experts flattened the Southwest Snow Mountain like it was childs play and even captured Buddha from among the thousands. Now, thats not possible anymore. Despite the knights increased potential, their numbers have dwindled, a shadow of their former glory. To use an analogy, if all the demigods had to guard a city, others would sit in the city and annihilate any enemies that came. But the way knights guarded a city was not by sitting in the city but by leaving it, hiding among the populace. They made everyone dread the consequences of knightly assassination and vengeance. Simply put, in large-scale battles, knights did not have the same brute force as other demigods. However, the appearance of liquid state knight vital energy in Qing Chens body brought significant transformations to his future. He was the first in the knight organizations history to max out attribute points and possess large-scale destructive abilities... At this moment, Qing Chen, at the peak of B-Class, could injure over three hundred people within a hundred meters. If he reached A-Class, a breath of cloud gas could devastate the landscape. This time, a single breath of cloud gas exhausted all his knight vital energy, but if he reached A-Class, his sustained combat ability would be stronger. The only unfortunate thing was, Qing Chen discovered that upon unlocking his genetic lock, the thunder within his body did not advance with him. Does he need to experience significant mental stimulation again? Or is there another way, such as continuing to complete life-or-death thresholds, continuing to challenge the limits to release potential? After several incomplete releases of potential, like at the beginning, his cultivation would be unable to fully release his potential, ultimately accumulating strength for the next awakening. Qing Chen did not rush to the battlefield but sat atop the mountain, pulled out a dagger from his pocket, and calmly dug out the bullet embedded in his thigh muscle. And waited for the knight vital energy to recover slowly. Jinguji Maki watching this scene, felt the pain, but Qing Chen didnt even frown. She suddenly wondered what this brother had experienced to be so calm in the face of pain? She knew, perhaps it was also something she had to experience in the future. The mountain echoed with continuous wails. Jinguji Maki suddenly looked at Qing Chen and nervously asked, Brother, will I have to go to the pigpen in the future? Qing Chen couldnt help but cry and laugh hearing this. Despite the situation, the little girl focused on this matter. He earnestly said, Yes, you will go too. The little girl showed a struggling expression on her face, finally lowered her head: Alright, then. Qing Chen continued to adjust his breathing, the dopamine produced by the breathing technique rapidly soothing his nerves and even mobilizing all body energy to heal his wounds. He did not bother with the Mysterious Business Department members, letting them wail. From the moment he encountered the wolf pack, he had been suppressing, enduring, and suffering in silence. Until today, a single breath of cloud gas released all frustrations, and it was time to reap some interest. However, Qing Chen did not have the habit of torturing enemies, it was purely because of the life-or-death threshold experienced twice, climbing the mountain peak again in a single breath, and the injury on his leg... He was indeed a bit tired. Of those three hundred plus enemies, only a few dozen should be dead; the others might still have some strength for a desperate counterattack. So Qing Chen waited, for these people to exhaust themselves to death. At this time, Wutian Yingfu slowly stood up in the snow, having lost the courage to continue climbing. He turned and ran down the mountain. He guessed one thing, Jindai had strong control over the Island Countrys time travelers, and there were no mysterious experts hidden. Encountering such a seemingly chosen one time traveler in such a remote area, he concluded it was the Joker their entire organization was looking for. Meeting this person and losing was not shameful, but he had to pass this information back. However, before he could run out two steps, he saw Qing Chen, at the top of the mountain, use the newly recovered knight vital energy to flick a snowflake, piercing Wutian Yingfus back of the head. Qing Chen continued to wait for a less severely injured member of the Mysterious Business Department to get up, then used his freshly recovered knight vital energy to shoot the snowflake. Like playing Whac-A-Mole, hitting whoever showed their head. Jinguji Maki watched this and suddenly asked, Brother... where are we going next? Qing Chen was silent for a while and said, If you never get to set foot on this land again, what do you want to do? The little girl bowed her head and thought for a long time: Are we going far away? Yes. Then... can I see my mother? Huh? Qing Chen looked at Jinguji Maki. The little girl whispered, Although she left me, Grandma said it was because she had no choice, she needed to live her own life... I dont blame her, just want to see if shes doing well, just from afar. If it disrupts your plans, then forget it, I wont go see her. Qing Chen grabbed a handful of snow from the ground and put it in his mouth, slowly melting it with his warmth to drink as water. He thought and said, Actually, I had a similar experience but you let go sooner. Ill take you to Hokkaido, then forget it after you see her. Hours later, Qing Chen finally got up to finish off survivors close by. Once confirmed all members of the Mysterious Business Department were dead, he held the little girls hand and walked down the mountain. He didnt return to Shirakawa Village. Members of the Mysterious Business Department would soon arrive in large numbers, and they would discover the bodies on the snowy mountains, a lesson left by Qing Chen. But this was just the beginning. ... ... In fact, the response from the Mysterious Business Department was faster than Qing Chen expected. Last night, before Wutian Yingfu set off from Shirakawa Village to the snowy mountains, he had already reported the situation here in advance. And upon arriving at the destroyed cars of the Pioneer Corps, he reported again. So the Mysterious Business Department was aware they had fallen into an ambush. Now, Wutian Yingfu and the others had been out of contact for nearly ten hours; even a fool would know something was wrong. And most critically, the Mysterious Business Department quickly suspected Joker; they mobilized half of Osaka City Halls forces to blockade the entire Takayama Hida area, swearing to find this mysterious expert. The experts from the Mysterious Business Department arrived quickly. They climbed Mount Okuhotaka and saw the astonishing sight. Over three hundred people lay mortally wounded in the snow, their clothes and skin almost entirely broken. Of the 361 people, 270 died from excessive blood loss. Based on the state of the bodies, they concluded the injuries were inflicted by a face-to-face attack utilizing some bizarre method because their formation hadnt scattered when they fell. This was shocking. Some suspected this Joker had A-Class strength, otherwise, it was impossible to achieve this. The Mysterious Business Department was genuinely alarmed now; if an A-Class was determined to play assassination games in Jindais territory, how many resources would be needed to kill this A-Class?! The cost was too high! No, they couldnt let Joker return to the city; they had to eliminate him in the mountains of Takayama Hida! Within a day, thousands of time travelers from Tokyo, Osaka, and Kobe, all organized, drove to the northern, southern, and central parts of Takayama Hida. They tried to blockade the whole mountain range. However, while the Mysterious Business Department spent vast amounts of manpower and resources tracking Qing Chen and Jinguji Maki in Takayama Hida. Suddenly news came from Osaka City Hall... Within Island Country, on Mount Sanne in Aichi Prefecture, the Shrine of the Seven Sacrificial Soldiers, burying seven war criminals remains. Three Togo Shrines worshipping Tojo Heihachiro, who seized the northeastern privileges from Russia. The grand Zenko-ji or Temples consecrating the invader of northern China post-Mukden Incident, Iwane Matsui, the butcher of Nanjing Massacre. Almost simultaneously, all these locations were precisely blown up. If the previous Tokyo Shrine bombing was considered an isolated incident, a spontaneous act by Li Family or Qings Family time travelers after completing a mission. This time, it was a coordinated and disciplined premeditated act. These places were originally guarded by the Mysterious Business Department, but due to the Takayama Hida incident, they had to redeploy resources. Thus, some lured manpower to Takayama Hida while others executed precision bombings. Ji Guanya and Si Nianhua, head of Li Family and Qings Family in the Outer World respectively, had been restricted from entering the Island Country long ago. This time they risked sneaking back themselves, to personally oversee everything for this moment. When they asked Qing Chen at the White Day Villa back then, what cooperation was needed, Qing Chen only instructed them on this matter. This was also why Qing Chen came to the Island Country for his life-or-death threshold; he was willing to be the bait. ... There will be another chapter at 11 PM. Chapter 841: 508, Red Leaf Hunter Chapter 841: 508, Red Leaf Hunter Over ten shrines were accurately bombed at the same time, and the news quickly spread back home. The explosive nature of this news was not inferior to the bombings that Si Nianhua and Ji Guanya had carried out in the shrine. However, a day had passed and no one on the internet knew who did it. What was even more puzzling was that, after Zhang Jingwen had attacked a shrine in Tokyo last time, the Mysterious Business Department of the Island Country had been strengthening the defenses of all shrines. Almost all the shrines that enshrined war criminals were guarded by many Time Travelers. The peculiar part was why the person who destroyed the shrines this time succeeded so easily. Of course, the main question remained: Who did it? They were incredible. In He Xiaoxiaos group chat. Wang: The devils are miserable now. They worship those war criminals as Military Gods. Does anyone in the group know which hero did it? Mountain City Spicy Chicken: No need to think too much, it was probably Time Travelers under the Li Family or Qings Family. After all, they were the ones who did it last time, and they have more people in the Island Country and Korea. This person is the speaker of the Pao Brothers organization of Zhongcheng. Jian Shouqing: Could it be done by Kyushu? They have many people overseas. This person is the speaker of the Red Umbrella organization of Kuncheng. Mountain City Spicy Chicken: Probably not. Although Kyushu is domineering overseas, they still operate by certain rules... This time, it feels different, like someone just wanted to blow up the shrines without reason. Zard suddenly said: Come on, come on, lets have a little science lesson. The person in charge of Time Travelers under the Li Family is Ji Guanya, and the person under Qings Family is Si Nianhua. Both are suspected to be Chosen Ones, the kind that comes with a level as soon as they cross over. Like Boss Zheng, Boss He... Zard: The two of them are indeed in the Island Country now, and they did plan this. But what you dont know is, they succeeded because someone in the Hida Mountains in the Island Country killed over 400 members of the Jindai overnight, forcing the Jindai to pull all the people guarding the shrines into the mountains to hunt him down. Zard: Now, the Jindais Mysterious Business Department has set up over ten search lines in the Hida Mountains, but he and a little girl broke through three of them within a day, as if nothing happened. I call him a modern-day fierce man. Zard: Psst! This is the sound effect of you gasping in amazement. Wang: ??? Huan Yu: Who asked you to add sound effects for us? Dont add so much drama, okay?! However, despite the complaints, Everyone in the group was amazed by the actions of this fierce man, killing over 400 Jindai members overnight and tearing through three search lines while being hunted down. Thinking about it, could they achieve that? Theyd probably be dead the night they were chased by over 400 people, there wouldnt be all these follow-up events. Haicheng Takeshi Kaneshiro suddenly asked: How do you know so much? Zard: Because I have wisdom in my brain. Haicheng Takeshi Kaneshiro: What does that even mean? Do you know who this person is or not? Zard: No idea, probably not even the Jindai know yet. But look, there are so many Daytime members in this group, and none of them came out to chat today. Given this reaction, I think its very likely to be someone from Daytime. The group was silent for a while, this was just a guess. Zard usually loved to chat with people from Daytime, so this guess didnt mean much. At this moment, Wang suddenly asked: Can he come back alive? Can we do anything to help? Zard: Theres nothing we can do at the moment. After all, its the Island Country, and your strength is far from his. If you go rashly, by the time he is rescued and back home sleeping, youll still be wandering in the Island Country. Wang: ...Whats wrong with my strength? You dont even know who I am, and you can judge my strength? Zard: I think hes not in much danger unless the seven Chosen Ones of the Island Country take action. But these seven are being cautious and havent made a move yet. They dont know this fierce mans level, and if they go for a hunt but end up losing, it wouldnt be good. Its a matter of whether they dare to gamble with their lives or not. Qing Bao: The top Chosen Ones of Jindai are likely all possessed, and five of them are true Onmyoji from the Inner World, accompanied by powerful shikigami. At this moment, Taboo ACE-999 said: One of the Island Countrys Chosen Ones has already set off and will likely encounter him shortly. The Jindai have suffered great humiliation, their faith shaken by the shrines simultaneous destruction... This pursuit is just beginning. Wang couldnt help but ask: What should we do? Zard lazily replied: Nothing, he has to kill his way out himself. The Island Country has closed the entire region, and all ships returning to the mainland are strictly checked, even using life detectors brought back from the Inner World. So, even if he escapes the Hida Mountains, hell be stuck in the Island Country for a while. For that fierce man, it will be a prolonged battle. In fact, a few in the group knew the identity of the fierce man. For example, He Jinqiu, Zheng Yuandong. And they knew that this battle would not only span this return but also the next crossover. The one being hunted was undergoing a metamorphosis in the name of revenge. If he didnt get through it, hed die. But if he did, he would likely become a figure looked up to by most Time Travelers in the country. Zard suddenly said: By the way, have you noticed the recent news about non-Time Travelers starting to awaken? ... ... In the mountains of Hida, a young figure was leaping through the towering peaks with a little girl on his back. Qing Chens peak physical fitness after being promoted to B-Class made traversing here like walking on flat ground. The Mysterious Business Department had established over ten search lines in the Hida Mountains, but he broke through three in a single day. As long as the Chosen Ones from the Mysterious Business Department didnt dare to act, no one could stop Qing Chen now. The little girl clung to Qing Chens back, initially scared as her brother leapt through the mountains, but gradually she became cheerful. Brother, when can I be like you? Jinguji Maki asked. Qing Chen replied: Its still early. You have to train your body for a few years, at least until you turn 12. For now, just focus on cultural studies. Huh? Jinguji Makis dreams were shattered. She thought she could start training soon. She felt a bit disappointed. Qing Chen wasnt lying to her, after all, life-and-death challenges required physical fitness, without enough strength, no life-and-death challenge could be overcome. If she trained for three years, she could start with a 70-meter high dive, the Absolute Trust challenge. But Qing Chen didnt tell her that he knew the Taboo Land had miraculous items, like eating nine dragon fish to strengthen bones or drinking camellia tea to improve eyesight. The Taboo Land surely had things to enhance muscle strength, giving the little girl a head start. While traversing the ridge, Qing Chen realized something C the bullet that hit his thigh should have fractured his femur, causing some bone cracks. But even with the Reverse Breathing Technique, the dragon fishs effects on his bones remained. The bullet did no damage to his bones. This proved that the Taboo Lands food didnt interfere with the knights enhancements or challenges. Qing Chen even thought about going to Taboo Land No. 002 after escaping, to see what magical food Ding Dong had prepared... If possible, he would bring back some food from the Inner World to try to improve the physiques of the Daytime members. At least, he knew where the dragon fish were, and catching some for the Daytime members bone enhancement wouldnt be too much, right? Even Li Ke was one fish short of completing his skeletal transformation. Qing Chen didnt plan to tell Xiao Zhenji about this yet, he just asked: What was your biggest wish once? He felt like he was following in Uncle Lis footsteps, wanting to give this little girl what his master had given him. But the little girl didnt answer, she just whispered on Qing Chens back: Its a secret. At that moment, Qing Chen suddenly stopped and stood atop a mountain peak. He looked across and saw a young man standing on the opposite mountain, with a woman in a blue-and-red kimono standing beside him, her head lowered. The womans arms hung at her sides, her exposed hands as pale as snow. Suddenly, she lifted her head, her features as beautiful as a dream. Yet she had a pair of blood-red eyes, devoid of any emotion. Red maple leaves materialized out of thin air around her and scattered. Jinguji Maki nervously said: Brother, doesnt that auntie look like the legendary Red Leaf Hunter... Red Leaf Hunter, a famous great demon in the Hyakki Night Trip picture from the Island Country. Legend says Red Leaf Hunter, originally named Wu Ye, was possessed by the Sixth Heavenly Demon King and became a demon. What they were seeing was likely the shikigami from the Jindais legacy. This was the Jindais most orthodox legacy. It was said that the rarely-seen ancestor of Jindai had twelve great demons protecting him, and whenever he appeared, the sky darkened as if a Hyakki Night Trip was taking place. Very few in Jindai could inherit this legacy, as it was hard to cultivate. Qing Chen thought for a moment and said: Dont call her auntie, youre lowering my seniority. Huh? Jinguji Maki didnt expect Qing Chens focus to be on this! Chapter 842: Spirit Agents Chapter 842: Spirit Agents Qing Chen carried the little girl on his back at the Northern Summit, facing the mysterious young man and the Red Leaf Hunter who stood on the opposite peaks. Between them was a chasm and a gulf, but the oppressive atmosphere solidified the air between the mountains. The young man was about 1.7 meters tall, while the Red Leaf Hunter was a head taller, appearing particularly imposing. The blue and red kimono, like a wedding dress, was tattered. Onmyoji is a particularly mysterious cultivation heritage within the Federation, unique to Jindai. The Jindai family has always been criticized by the Federation, but other consortiums must acknowledge one point: Jindai excels in preserving their culture and heritage compared to other families. Their protection of culture and heritage goes to a stubborn, almost obsessive extent. Therefore, the Jindai family actually always had two sets of cultivation heritage. One is the family head lineage, assisted by special breathing techniques, suitable for military cultivation heritage like Quanzhen. The other is the Onmyoji heritage from the current Jindai ancestors, cultivated by few, responsible for family worship. Onmyoji rarely head south, mostly reclusive, and outsiders know little about them. Even in Hus Information Agency, the info on Onmyoji is basic data intertwined with anecdotes. According to Hus Information Agency, the limited number of Shikigami contributes to the scarcity of Onmyoji... Based on the currently known Shikigami of the Jindai family, the total number of Shikigami ranges between 330-430, each one unique. The implication is. If the Shikigami number is only 430, then... Once all known 430 Shikigami are summoned, any future cultivators must queue. An Onmyoji without a Shikigami is barely different from high-ranking infantry. Moreover, Transcendents have long lifespans and might wait a century or more. Thus, this heritage is inherently limited in the number of cultivators due to uneven distribution. In Hus Information Agency records, cultivators of this heritage can summon their first Shikigami at C-Class. At B-Class, they can simultaneously have three. At A-Class, they can simultaneously have six. At S-Class, they can simultaneously have twelve. The most famous Onmyoji, Haruaki Abe, had twelve Shikigami exclusively, possibly corresponding to an S-Class Demigods power status. Thinking of this, Qing Chen pondered whether the shackles of the Outer World had been unlocked. Perhaps the myriad gods and Buddhas existed but withered for unknown reasons? Otherwise, why are Quanzhen techniques identical in both the Inner and Outer Worlds? Years ago, when Jindai came to this continent, they forcibly averaged out Shikigami to increase Onmyoji numbers. For instance, though B-Class can possess three simultaneously, the family ordered all B-Class Onmyoji to summon only one. Thus, the number of B-Class Onmyoji with Shikigami could triple. But then Qin Sheng and the Knight Organization dealt a blow, discovering the knight organizations superior individual combat power, resulting in more incidents when Shikigami were dispersed. Originally distributed evenly, Jindai realized all might be smashed by knights. So they needed more refined, powerful force to face the Twelve Knights. Eventually, Jindai adopted an elite force strategy, summoning Shikigami to their limits for all top experts. If they could summon three, they summoned three; if six, then six. Thus, Qing Chen surveyed the surroundings and noted this chosen one daring to block the path must be at least B-Class. Moreover, if this chosen one had indeed been reverse possessed, at least three Shikigami should accompany them. He had seen Red Leaf Hunter, but where were the other two?! Qing Chen looked to his rear left, indeed spotting a fiery red fox on the summit, its paws stepping on green flames. He recognized it instantly from Hus Hyakki Night Trip Guide as the 191st Shikigami Fire Fox. Glancing to his rear right, he saw a strange little white monkey scratching its ears on the summit. The monkey was entirely white, a mere meter tall, with hands as large as copper gongs. This was the 317th Shikigami Mountain Child. Qing Chen turned back to the young man, laughing aloud: Should be of high status, why dare to take risks? The voice transmitted far away; the young man frowned hearing Qing Chens remark, amazed that despite his presence, the boy felt he was risking. Such a feeling wasnt pleasant. Jinguji Maki, clinging to Qing Chens back, whispered: Brother, is he strong? Qing Chen thought for a moment and then whispered: Remember, Xiao Zhenji, Im... unbeatable below A-Class now. Huh? The little girl didnt quite grasp, nor knew A-Class or B-Class: Brother, why whisper? Seldom brag, felt a bit awkward, Qing Chen chuckled. Jinguji Maki: ... However, Xiao Zhenji remembered one thing yes, brother has no equals. Qing Chen knew the young mans important status from Red Leaf Hunter, recorded in Hus Information Agency, ranked ninth among great demons, not for ordinary Onmyoji. Speaking of this, its necessary to mention Hus quip on Awakeners. Like Yang Yang said, Awakeners abilities are bizarre, some born as core mages, others as wild monsters, mere XP givers. Thus, Hus once summarized a quirky ability collection, including unstoppable leg shaking or always touching chewing gum beneath tables. In that collection, Hus highlighted useless Shikigami. For instance, ATS-330 Shikigami Inverse Pillar, just a pillar imbued with resentment from misplaced construction, kills only in faulty structures. ATS-92 Shikigami Taka Bird, dead fetus ghosts of pregnant women, avenges kids dying in July, murders and steals children only in July-August. ATS-81 Shikigami Rain Woman, kills anyone asking if she needs an umbrella, standing in the rain. These are relatively normal; Hus Hyakki Night Trip Guide noted their origins, frequencies, and former owners. Some are more peculiar. ATS-329 Shikigami Taocheng Temple Bell, makes people forget troubles, desire to be monks... ATS-328 Shikigami Zashiki Doko, non-lethal, kind-hearted, babysits for Onmyoji... ATS-327 Shikigami Mao You, two tails, skilled at catching mice... Thus, Shikigami differences are vast, like Red Leaf Hunter, ranked ninth, aiding Onmyojis killing without reason. Others merely do chores, some ridiculous tasks. Note, Shikigami summoning is random and irreversible; if a B-Class Onmyoji gathers Taocheng Temple Bell, Zashiki Doko, Mao You, theyre virtually useless. In gaming terms, such an account is unusable. Such Onmyoji are typically kept in Shrines as great worshippers, barred from combat to avoid returning quirky Shikigami to the card pool. Jindai calls Shikigamis resting place the Divine Bridge; outsiders call it the card pool. Gradually, the card pool term seemed more fitting... Of course, some Onmyoji are exceptionally fierce. For instance, the Jindai elder, commanding ATS-002 Shuten-doji, ATS-005 Mad Bone, ATS-006 Hannya, ATS-007 Great Tengu, ATS-012 Bull-headed Rakshasas, ATS-019 Soldier Department. These Shikigami are formidable with no peculiar restrictions. Hus quipped that Jindai elder must have repeatedly reset accounts to summon such elites... A hundred-plus years ago, Jindai mastered the neuron grafting possession technique, Onmyoji possessed others, severing past bodies for fresh Shikigami summoning. Thus, when powerful Shikigami returned to the Divine Bridge, Onmyoji might possess B-Class experts, many fell victim early on. Onmyoji possessed and summoned new Shikigami. This offered an account reset and retrain opportunity. Currently, Red Leaf Hunter before Qing Chen had seven owners in Hus Information Agency records, each fierce Onmyoji. Gaining Red Leaf Hunter signifies high status within the family. But Qing Chen knew Shikigamis power correlates with Onmyojis level; however strong Red Leaf Hunter is, its likely B-Class. The sole concern is, if Onmyoji itself is B-Class, Shikigami is too, confronting them equals one versus four. He faced Red Leaf Hunter, Fire Fox, Mountain Child, and the Onmyoji. Onmyoji has strengths and weaknesses. Hus Institution bluntly noted: Onmyojis body is frail, to combat them, prioritizing beheadings and leader capture is vital. This guidance explicitly advised on Onmyoji combat. Such action rivaled Onmyoji, yet Hus cultivation dared challenge Onmyoji, with Heart Sword taking enemies heads among thousands effortlessly. Fragile Onmyoji generally avoided these flying sword wielders. Hold my neck tightly, Qing Chen said, leap towards the mountain, ready to gauge the Onmyojis true power. At this moment, Qing Chen was in peak form, Knight Vital Energy surged like the sea, fearing none in the Outer World. ... Another chapter at 11 pm tonight Chapter 843: 510, Jing奴-ji Chapter 843: 510, Jingu?-ji Qing Chen leaped down from the mountain peak in an instant, and the Onmyoji did not move, but the three spirit creatures he controlled all chased down the mountain. Fire Fox swayed its red body, stepping on green flames with its white paws, agilely jumping back and forth between the mountains, reaching halfway up the mountain in just a blink of an eye. In another direction, Mountain Child climbed the rock wall with palms like bronze gongs, swinging a few times and moving even faster than Fire Fox. Red Leaf Hunter was even more terrifying. She leaped down from the mountain peak, her tall figure wrapped in a green and red kimono, gently floating like a maple leaf, completely free from the pull of gravity. As she descended, the accumulated snow on the rock wall behind her was stirred up, creating an impressive spectacle. In the vast snowy mountain, the emptiness and coldness, Qing Chen, Fire Fox, Mountain Child, and Red Leaf Hunter seemed to be pulling four lines, weaving a net. As Qing Chen descended the mountain, the net tightening around him grew increasingly tight. Qing Chen glanced and smiled before jumping towards the east. As soon as he slightly changed direction, the three spirit creatures adjusted accordingly. This coordinated formation aimed to lock him, the prey, firmly within the net, awaiting the hunt. Only the young Onmyoji stood still, observing. This Onmyoji, named Jindai Yunyi, had completed a reverse crossing through neuron possession, becoming a genius of the Jindai family. He was an Inner World person and the Jindai familys once-in-a-decade Onmyoji prodigy. But now, he was compelled to partake in resetting and retraining. Jindai Yunyis father, Jindai Yasuhito, was a powerful figure within the family, so Yunyi had the privilege to summon spirit creatures at the newly promoted B-Class. Yet, fate played a cruel trick on him. When he summoned three spirit creatures consecutively, he ended up with Zashiki Doko, Mao You, and the Taocheng Temple Bell, the three useless spirit creatures. If it had been someone else, they would have been sent to the Shrine as a great priest, but Jindai Yunyi relied on his fathers influence to secure a reset and retraining opportunity, becoming a Time Traveler controlling half of the Outer Worlds Mysterious Business Departments authority. This time, he did not disappoint and obtained Red Leaf Hunter, ranked ninth among the Divine Bridge. This was his first hunt, and he needed to carefully observe the prey. Before arriving, Jindai Yunyi had meticulously examined the battle traces on Mount Okuhotaka. Despite the terrifying scene, Jindai couldnt discern the attack methods. However, being an expert, he noticed a problem... That was including Wutian Yingfu, all those people werent severely injured. The wounds were merely within two or three centimeters of the skin, and Wutian Yingfu managed to get up and escape after being attacked. This indicated that the killer, despite possessing extremely powerful wide-area damage capability, lacked true single-target lethality akin to the top-tier Outer World figures. This wide-area damage capability was effective against weaklings but revealed shortcomings when facing experts. In fact, Jindai Yunyis judgment was accurate. If Qing Chen used cloud gas for indiscriminate attacks, he indeed couldnt do much against experts above B-Class temporarily, at most causing B-Class experts to have scarred faces without posing lethal threats. Generally, transcendent beings with distinct advantages in group damage have relatively weaker individual combat power. This was why Jindai Yunyi dared to come to hunt. Now, Jindai Yunyi stood on the mountain peak, witnessing Qing Chen not rushing towards him but turning towards Mountain Child. He looked coldly down the mountain and gently murmured, Foolish. Everyone knew that to deal with an Onmyoji, one must concentrate all efforts to strike the main body instead of entangling with the spirit creatures. Anyone unaware of this common knowledge was unworthy to be an opponent of an Onmyoji. He had even left a hidden strategy on the mountain, but unexpectedly, it was entirely unnecessary. As long as Mountain Child and Fire Fox dragged until Red Leaf Hunter closed in, the prey would be doomed without doubt. Yet, at this moment, Jindai Yunyi saw the boy carrying a little girl down the mountain running faster and faster. The boy showed no fear, shouting excitedly, Come on! At the moment of encounter between Mountain Child and the boy, Mountain Child leaped up, swinging its bronze gong-like palms in the air. In the blink of an eye, amidst the swirling snow. The boys palm struck first. Jindai Yunyi didnt even see how he struck, only hearing a slap sound echoing through the valley. Mountain Child was already slapped across the face, flying backward and crashing into the rocks. Fire Fox seized the moment, stepping on green flames, ascending an invisible staircase in the air. It reached behind Qing Chen, ready to spew flames. But right after the boy slapped Mountain Child, he turned and leaped up, gripping Fire Foxs mouth. The green flames hadnt spewed out, but were forcibly held back! The boy gently landed on the snow, one hand gripping Fire Foxs head, the other foot pinning Mountain Child beneath him. The battle started in an instant and ended in an instant. The boy abruptly looked up at the mountain peak, completely ignoring the approaching Red Leaf Hunter, and instead smiled at Jindai Yunyi, Come down! Jindai Yunyis pupils suddenly contracted. He had been the core direct line of the family since childhood, witnessing countless expert battles. The family even had a special archive full of recordings of Federation expert battles, facilitating their reference. Hence, Jindai Yunyi was knowledgeable. He realized that in the process of subduing Fire Fox and Mountain Child, the boy did not rely on any tricks. It was entirely relying on formidable physical prowess for the crushing! A single overwhelming strength! Although Mountain Child and Fire Fox werent formidable spirit creatures, even with one attacking from the front and the other from behind, other B-Class experts would need to withstand it to settle them or use their ultimate abilities. The spirit creatures power depended on the Onmyojis strength correlation. For example, Mountain Child and Fire Fox, upon Jindai Yunyi advancing to mid B-Class, their power only inherited at the peak of C-Class. Red Leaf Hunter, however, could reach peak B-Class strength even when the Onmyoji was still mid B-Class. If Jindai Yunyi one day upgraded to A-Class, solely a Red Leaf Hunter would be formidable against A-Class opponents. Spirit creatures like Soldier Department, Seibozu, Shuten-doji, Bull-headed rakshasas, Ma Mian Luo Cha, Wild Bone, Hannya, were the same. Thus, whenever the Jindai family produced a demigod-level Onmyoji, they could ensure stability for a century. This was why the Jindai family revered their ancestors and fully supported resetting and retraining offsprings. Although Jindai Yunyi hadnt reached A-Class yet, encountering ordinary B-Class, Mountain Child and Fire Fox alone would give opponents headaches. Yet now, this boy, emerging seemingly from nowhere, had subdued Mountain Child and Fire Fox solely with pure speed and strength, leaving them completely defenseless. His physical prowess had already reached the standards of an A-Class expert! Jindai Yunyi was startled. Was this the chosen one from Kyushu, setting a bait specifically for him?! But no, which A-Class expert would straightforwardly confront enemies with mere punches and kicks? Actually, Jindai Yunyi wasnt sure if the term clumsy he used was accurate because fighting in such a manner indeed worked! Wait! Wait! Jindai Yunyis pupils contracted further, finally realizing this boys intent. The other wasnt foolish, unaware of attacking the Onmyojis main body first. Instead, he was so confident that he aimed to aggressively crush Yunyis proudest assets into the ground. Was this confidence... or arrogance? In a daze, a gust of wind blew past. The maple leaves around Red Leaf Hunter shot out continuously, the red leaves ethereal in the air. Jindai Yunyi came to his senses, concentrating on watching the boy fiercely slam Fire Fox into the ground, scattering the snow. In a blink of an eye, the boy casually flicked light snowflakes off his fingers. The rumbling sound echoed. Each flick of a snowflake by the boy resembled an anti-material sniper rifles massive recoil airflow, causing the snow behind him to sway and scatter. The boys clothes were blown backward by the wild wind, his half-long hair swaying in the snow. Usually, he could restrain his force, keeping the commotion small, but now he purposely used full strength. When Qing Chen first used this move, he was still C-Class, so the moves power hadnt revealed its full extent. The last time he used this move, he spit out the cloud gas, exhausted, forcing him to hit lightly without full force. Now it was different; this was his first real confrontation with an equivalent level after his promotion. Jindai Yunyi didnt know he had just advanced and thus was initially unsure of his intent. Qing Chen merely wanted to test his limits. As Shadow would say... When a tiger comes to a new territory, it must devour the beasts there to understand its place in the food chain. At this moment, the snowflakes shot precisely, smashing into the maple leaves. Qing Chens ability to calculate the trajectory was fully utilized. The maple leaves were entirely shattered, yet three snowflakes remained. These three snowflakes forced Red Leaf Hunter to spin and dodge, halting her attack. As the maple leaves and snowflakes simultaneously shattered into splendid red light shadows, Jinguji Maki quietly peeked out, watching this scene, feeling the battle was incredibly spectacular, and her brother was exceedingly powerful. Indeed, there were no opponents left... Yet at this moment, among the shattered maple leaves, a shadow of another leaf flew out. This was Red Leaf Hunters trump card, an invisible maple leaf... Qing Chen gently tilted his head to avoid it. But Jinguji Makis cheek, peeking out cautiously, was grazed by the maple leaf, leaving a fine blood mark. The little girl widened her eyes, feeling neither pain nor fear immediately but rather worried that Qing Chen might blame her carelessness. But Qing Chen, noticing her cheek injury, simply asked gently, Does it hurt? Im okay... The little girl replied, ashamed. Qing Chen shook his head. How could a nine-year-old child not possess a childs nature? If a child errs, it is the adults responsibility. He turned to face Red Leaf Hunter, ready to settle the enemy first. In turning, Qing Chen was stunned, and so was Jindai Yunyi. As Jinguji Makis cheek blood dripped, Red Leaf Hunter gently gathered her kimono skirt, quietly kneeling down. Moreover, not just simply kneeling, but bowing down fully. This was a form of Island Countrys etiquette, addressing profound respect or apology, an ancient practice expressing deep humility or sincere pleas, typically indicating utmost apology or request. This bowing was exceptionally genuine and humble. Qing Chen suddenly recalled a segment from Outer Worlds history records. In the Nara period, the Shrine Temple was established within every shrine and major sites. During the Heian era, Shrine Temples were across the country. By the end of the Edo period, the Shrine Temples power peaked. Among them, the Jinguji clan excelled at collecting demons, and none dared to cross them. Qing Chen sighed, wondering if the Jinguji clan was indeed the demon collectors in the past, causing Red Leaf Hunter to kneel upon seeing a drop of blood?! Was this bloodline so profound it deterred even Inner Worlds demon spirit creatures? Chapter 844: The Land of Destination Chapter 844: The Land of Destination Red Leaf Hunter knelt down... Within the Onmyojis legacy, the ninth-ranked shikigami everyone desires, just like that, performed a dogeza bow to the enemy. As if it had met its father. This was something Jindai Yunyi had never encountered before, and there was no record of such an event in the clans history. Why? Jindai Yunyi simply couldnt figure out why this was happening! Not only that, when Red Leaf Hunter bowed, the Mountain Child and Fire Fox also bowed. The Mountain Child, a small white monkey, knelt on the ground like a human, with its large hands the size of gongs pressed to the ground. The red Fire Fox stretched out its forelimbs, prostrating completely still. This indicated that the problem was not with Red Leaf Hunter, but there was a natural being suppressing the bloodline of the shikigami! His mind raced. There were two people in the direction Red Leaf Hunter bowed to: a young boy and a little girl. First, consider who exactly it is bowing to? It shouldnt be the boy, because when Red Leaf Hunter attacked him, it had no reservations, until the girls cheek was cut. Jindai Yunyi stood on the mountaintop, silently watching everything. He tried to continue controlling the three shikigami, but there was no response at all. This is the Outer World. If the information provided by the Mysterious Business Department is correct, this little girl should be Jinguji Maki. But why would this little girl, who isnt even a Time Traveler, an ordinary person, have the ability to command shikigami? How can we fight now? Without shikigami, an Onmyoji is no different from advanced infantry! Jindai Yunyi only felt his plight. It was so difficult to restart and acquire the coveted Red Leaf Hunter, only to encounter a girl with cheat-like powers?! At this moment, Qing Chen looked at the three shikigami beside him and whispered to Jinguji Maki, Try to command them and see if it works. Huh? How do I command? the little girl asked, confused and uncertain. ...Have them do a split, Qing Chen said. The little girl hesitated, then said to Red Leaf Hunter, Do a split for big brother. But, Red Leaf Hunter didnt respond. She repeated the command to Mountain Child and Fire Fox, but there was still no response. Brother, it doesnt work, Jinguji Maki said weakly. Strange, could it be that they can only be made to bow? Qing Chen wondered. Can you communicate with them in your mind? No... the little girl replied. Qing Chen thought for a moment and realized they could only make these shikigami bow. Even so, he had struck gold. With this little girl around, even if she cant become a Time Traveler, she could walk fearlessly among Onmyoji in the Outer World. No, rather, every Onmyoji should avoid her. The Jindai family had two main legacies. With this girl, one was essentially rendered useless. Qing Chen wondered if this girls bloodline could affect higher-level Onmyoji shikigami. Thinking this, he quickly took a small glass bottle originally used for black ointment and scraped a drop of the girls blood into it. This scene left Jinguji Maki baffled. Brother, what do we do now? the little girl asked. Qing Chen thought for a moment and said, Kill this Onmyoji and see if theres any change in the shikigami. With that, he carried the girl up the mountain, stepping several meters at a time, as if walking on flat ground. Jindai Yunyi was terrified at this sight. Recalling how the boy crushed Mountain Child and Fire Fox earlier, he feared one punch from this boy would kill him on the spot. Moreover, Jindai Yunyi had witnessed Qing Chens battle with Red Leaf Hunter. He suspected that even without the girls suppression, Red Leaf Hunter wasnt a match for him. Because the boy fought with such ease and calmness. As Qing Chen went up the mountain, Jindai Yunyi turned to flee in the opposite direction, not even caring if the shikigami could return to his Divine Destiny Bridge. Every Onmyoji has a Divine Destiny Bridge in their mind, where shikigami can usually return to and rest. But now, he couldnt even retrieve his shikigami. As Qing Chen began running, he had only gone a few steps before Red Leaf Hunter, Mountain Child, and Fire Fox stood up and attacked again as if nothing had happened. But as soon as they approached within ten meters of Jinguji Maki, they knelt down again. Qing Chen took another step in confusion, and the shikigami stood up again. This time, they seemed to look for another route to reunite with Jindai Yunyi and return to his Divine Destiny Bridge. But before they could fully stand, Qing Chen jumped back, and the three shikigami knelt again... Huh, is there a distance limitation?! Qing Chen remarked after thinking for a moment. Xiao Zhenji, you stay here and suppress them. Ill be back soon. If they move, cut your finger again. In the past, Qing Chen couldnt bear to have a little girl do this, but now, since she had entered the Knight Organization, she had to bear this responsibility. Cutting a finger wasnt a big deal. Ah... okay, Xiao Zhenji obediently jumped down from Qing Chens back and stood among the three shikigami. Qing Chen tested the distance before leaving, finding that the three shikigami remained suppressed, he then pursued. He wanted to see what would happen to shikigami if the Onmyoji died. Logically, if they were suppressed and couldnt return to the Divine Destiny Bridge, they would have to find another place to reside! Without a master, and unable to repair their spirits on the bridge, shikigami would eventually dissipate. As Qing Chen left, todays revelation of Jinguji Makis abilities was a surprise, unexpected even to him. He couldnt let Jindai Yunyi get away, because if the Jindai family knew, they would use every resource to ensure the girl couldnt leave the Island Country. This girl was a shadow over the Jindai family, and no one would allow her to live. Even returning to their home country wouldnt be safe. She could drive the Jindai family crazy. Qing Chen had to ensure Jindai Yunyi took the secret to his grave. ... ... The frail Jinguji Maki stood alone in the snow, watching the shikigami around her with some fear... What if they moved when her brother went too far away? The little girl held a small knife to her finger, ready to cut herself and draw blood again. As time passed, Jinguji Maki gradually relaxed. She wondered if the shikigamis knees hurt from kneeling for so long on such a cold ground. She hesitantly whispered, Um... do you want to get up and rest for a bit? Rest and then kneel again. The snow was quiet, with only the sound of wind howling through the mountains. The three shikigami didnt rest, but Red Leaf Hunter gradually straightened up and lifted its head. The little girl, frightened, prepared to cut her finger again, but Red Leaf Hunter only smiled at her and then knelt back down. The girl was stunned for a moment. She noticed Red Leaf Hunters eyes werent as blood-red, and its smile was quite beautiful. At first, she had thought, from a distance, that Red Leaf Hunter looked older, so she called her aunty. But up close, she realized Red Leaf Hunters face was heavily painted with traditional Japanese makeup, and she was actually a young woman. ... ... Qing Chen chased after Jindai Yunyi. Despite being a B-Class Onmyoji, his physical abilities were pitifully weak, comparable to a peak C-Class or early B-Class. Thats why Hus Information Agency advised that to kill an Onmyoji, one must capture the king. Qing Chen and Jindai Yunyi leapt and bounded through the mountains, as agile as swallows. The distance between them shrank... Jindai Yunyi, panicking, pulled out a satellite phone while fleeing, shouting, Beware! The killer can suppress shikigami! All Onmyoji, withdraw from combat for now, and let the other legacy handle this! Qing Chen frowned. He was too late. Modern communication was so advanced, and with high signal coverage in tourist hotspots like the Alpine Hidaka, intercepting satellite phones was nearly impossible. What to do? Hell have to run away with the girl. But then, unexpectedly, about to catch up, Jindai Yunyi, in his panic, missed his footing, tumbling straight off a cliff. Jindai Yunyi screamed as he rolled down the hundred-meter cliff, trying to grasp at rocks several times but only touching loose stones, continuing to fall. Ah~thud! With a final heavy sound, Jindai Yunyi lay still at the bottom of the valley. Qing Chen stood mid-cliff, looking down in shock: That was so abrupt? He had expected more rounds of fighting to kill the Onmyoji, even though Onmyoji were physically weak. Well, it saved him the trouble. If he had the Puppeteer, he could sacrifice Jindai Yunyi. He hadnt fulfilled this months Puppeteers containment conditions. Missing several months would make the Puppeteers life sacrifices astronomically high. Not thinking further, Qing Chen confirmed Jindai Yunyis death with several precise snowflake hits before returning. When he returned to Jinguji Makis valley, he was shocked by what he saw. Red Leaf Hunter, Mountain Child, and Fire Fox stood up and surrounded the girl. Even cutting her finger didnt make them kneel again. Qing Chen panicked and rushed forward. Before reaching her, Red Leaf Hunter, Mountain Child, and Fire Fox turned into streams of light, entering Jinguji Makis brow, disappearing. Qing Chen blinked in astonishment: Did they recognize you as their master? Can you command them? The little girl, bewildered, replied, I dont feel anything. I cant sense them. Huh? Qing Chen frowned. ... Sorry for only one update today, I have an MRI appointment at 8:20 PM. Chapter 845: 512, the same cured life Chapter 845: 512, the same cured life Brother, Im a little scared. What are you afraid of? Qing Chen asked, puzzled. Jinguji Maki hesitated for a long time before saying, Those things just crawled into my head. Will they eat my brain? The little girl voiced her concerns. Qing Chen earnestly said, From today onwards, you need to train well. If you dont train properly, they will cause chaos in your brain. The little girl was so frightened that she started crying loudly, What kind of training? Qing Chens lips curled slightly; he seemed to find some of the joys his mentor, Uncle Li Dong, experienced in the past: There are many kinds of training. Just be obedient and train. He thought carefully whether it was really a good idea to buy a phone for such an easily tricked little girl. If he let Yi trick her, wouldnt she be tricked completely?! No, he had to keep the girl away from the Outer World and Yi. Qing Chen pondered. Although he didnt know why the girl couldnt sense the shikigami, he was sure that they wouldnt harm her by staying in her head. If something happened to the girl, they too would lose their sanctuary and perish. The spirit bodies of shikigami needed the Divine Bridge in the brain to nourish them; this is why the Red Leaf Hunter and its companions wanted the girl as their sanctuary. If she died, they would die with her. Qing Chen suspected that the three shikigami might already belong to the girl. However, since she hadnt started her training yet, she was unable to establish a bond with them. Perhaps, after a few years when the girl completes her first life-and-death challenge, she could witness todays rewards. Whats interesting here is that most onmyoji had weak physical bodies, so people would always attack their bodies first. But if the girl was on the Knights path, her body would likely become stronger than her shikigami. If someone tried to target her as an easy opponent, they might end up finding a formidable enemy instead. Imagining a Knight onmyoji, Qing Chen thought of how many people could be tricked, and found it quite amusing... By the way, did you feel dizzy or any other discomfort after they entered your head? Qing Chen asked. According to the Hus Information Agency, onmyoji could exceed their level to house more shikigami, like summoning four at B-Class. However, after summoning extra shikigami, onmyoji would be overwhelmed and feel dizzy all day with constant pain in their foreheads. Jinguji Maki thought for a moment, No, I didnt feel anything. Qing Chen recalled the literature he had read about the Jinguji clan in the Island Country. In the Uji Miscellany, there was a record of a strange phenomenon...Hyakki Night Trip. Later annotations couldnt explain this phenomenon because yokai wouldnt congregate without purpose, and no onmyoji was powerful enough to command such a gathering... Now, Qing Chen looked at the girl. Perhaps a powerful figure from the Jinguji clan once controlled hundreds of shikigami?! Qing Chen glanced at the girl. Should he help her to capture a few more onmyoji and see how many shikigami she could accommodate? Previously, onmyoji chose randomly from hundreds of shikigami. If he took most of them away with the girl, and all that was left in the cards were things like the Taocheng Temple Bell, Mao You, and Zashiki Doko, wouldnt all onmyoji feel desperate?! That would be cutting off their lifeline! No, they had to leave first. Jindai Yunyi had already sent the news back to the Mysterious Business Department. They would undoubtedly mobilize fully to ensure such a threatening person like Jinguji Maki would die. Honestly, although the girl was still an ordinary person, the Mysterious Business Department would prioritize capturing her over Qing Chen. She was someone who could shake the foundations of the Jindai. Qing Chen held the girls hand and walked northwards: Lets go, before some people go crazy. They had come from the north, battling through three search lines. Just when everyone thought he would continue to fight and be reckless, Qing Chen suddenly turned back. Because Hokkaido was in the north, where Jinguji Makis mother was. After some time, a fully armed combat team arrived. They found Jindai Yunyis corpse and quickly searched the nearby battlefield. One person crouched beside Jindai Yunyi, pulling out a black dagger. The dagger had red talismans drawn on it. This person gently swung the blade, cutting Jindai Yunyis chest. Blood gushed from Jindai Yunyis body into the dagger, which seemed like a bottomless pit, never filling up. In an instant, the corpse withered. The red talismans on the dagger glowed. This person used the dagger to carve a pentagram in the snow, and the absorbed blood flowed back out during the carving. The person stood up, waiting and watching the pentagram intently. However...after a long time, nothing appeared in the pentagram. Huh, where is the shikigami, Red Maru?! No Red Maru! He took out a satellite phone from his pocket and dialed with a grave expression: Boss, something serious happened. After Jindai Yunyis death, there is no Red Maru in his heart. Someone must have taken it! The other end of the line was silent for a long time: From now on, this is the top priority for the Mysterious Business Department. We must find those two people and recover the lost shikigami, Red Maru. When Jindai Yunyi desperately sent the message, the senior officials at the Mysterious Business Department were skeptical. After all, they had never seen someone who could suppress shikigami. Now, they believed. Someone can indeed suppress shikigami and even steal them. Shikigami are unique. If they cannot retrieve Red Maru, it means those cards will no longer be in the deck! Instantly, the entire Mysterious Business Department went crazy. Originally, they mobilized only half their people to hunt Qing Chen and Jinguji Maki. Now, within a day, 80% of the Mysterious Business Department members joined the pursuit. This time, Qing Chen really stirred up a hornets nest. While the outside world noticed the Mysterious Business Departments movements, they didnt know what had driven them to such extremes. Many thought that even if Kyushu directly went to war with the Mysterious Business Department, there wouldnt be much more commotion. Nobody knew how bold Qing Chen was; he had returned to Nakatsugawa City in Gifu Prefecture. ... ... Nakatsugawa City. A bored little girl waited outside the shopping mall, sitting in a newly rented RV. She leaned on the window, looking through the glass into the mall, where a boy was smiling and talking with another little girl. Jinguji Maki felt envious. Qing Chen rarely smiled so brightly at her. It seemed only recently that his smiles had increased. Usually, her brother was very stern. At that moment, Qing Chen returned to the RV with large and small bags. He had changed his identity and would stay with the little girl in the RV from then on. Brother, what did you just do? the little girl asked softly. Went shopping, Qing Chen replied. Who was that little girl you were talking to? You talked to her for a long time, Jinguji Maki asked curiously. Oh, Qing Chen said, I asked her what kind of gifts girls receive on their birthdays here. She listed many things. I didnt know what you would like, so I bought it all. Jinguji Maki was stunned. So thats what it was... Brother, why buy gifts for me? the girl asked softly. Qing Chen thought for a moment and said, From now on, you will call me Master, understand. Qing Chen reminisced: A long time ago, when I first became an apprentice, my master foolishly asked Time Travelers what fathers in the Outer World should give their children. The Time Travelers, equally foolish, suggested cars for dating and houses, as the Outer World practices monogamy. My master almost believed them. He took me to buy a car, a house, and even led me to defeat my opponents. My master said that whatever other children had, I must have too. Looking back, its quite nostalgic. So, I am treating you the same way. Whatever other girls have, you must have too. Qing Chen believed that besides the tradition of tricking apprentices, the Knight legacy also passed down some warmth. Uncle Li had healed his life, and now it was his turn to heal Jinguji Makis life. Strictly speaking, he taught Hu Xiaoniu, Li Tongyun, Nan Gengchen, Liu Dezhu, Luo Wanya, and others, more like finding companions. When it came to true apprentices, those were Li Ke, Qing Yi, and Jinguji Maki. Li Ke and Qing Yi had their businesses and clans. Only Jinguji Maki was taught by him constantly. Therefore, Qing Chen was especially attentive. Jinguji Maki looked at the RV filled with gifts and could imagine Qing Chen telling the sales associate to wrap them nicely. The girl discreetly wiped her tears: Thank you, Master. Qing Chen said, Open the gifts and see. Keep what you like, throw away what you dont. The girl said, I like them all. How do you know without looking? I just know. ... Theres another chapter at 11 PM. Chapter 846: 513, the greatest wish Chapter 846: 513, the greatest wish In He Xiaoxiaos group. Zard: Come on, everyone, gather around for some juicy gossip. Fresh news just in C a chosen one tried to ambush the fierce guy in Takayama, Hida, but ended up dead. Now the Mysterious Business Department is going nuts, with about 80% of their forces heading there. Every port of entry has set up life detection systems, checking everyone. All cargo ships are being thoroughly inspected now; those that arent checked arent allowed to leave the port. Chuang Wang: Is it that serious? Did they kill the Jindai Crown Prince? Zard: Not the Crown Prince, but still someone significant. The guy killed was Jindai Yunyi, and his father is Jindai Yasuhito, a true power player within the family. Have you heard of the Ten Eunuch? Hes one of them. Mountain City Spicy Chicken: Werent the Ten Eunuch some super-powerful eunuchs from our ancient times? Zard: The Jindai Ten Eunuch is a nickname given by some Time Travelers to these ten powerful Jindai figures. Theyre all influential people close to the Jindai Family Master, each with a peculiar way of speaking. Jindai Yasuhito was the one who facilitated the alliances between the Jindai Consortium, Deer Island, Qings Family, and the Chen Clan. Now his beloved son finally managed to reverse-occupy someone, only to get killed. No Time Traveler in the Mysterious Business Department would dare take responsibility for that. It was also Jindai Yasuhito who spearheaded the marriage between Jindai Kongyin and Qing Chen. Qing Bao: Who on earth is this person? To my knowledge, according to the Mysterious Business Departments protocols, they wouldnt deploy so many resources just for one person. Zard: Heh, I heard this person might have the ability to shake the foundation of the Onmyoji. Beyond that, Im not sure. Chuang Wang: How do you know so much? Zard: You have no idea about my powers. At this point, Jing Shan, who had been silent for an unknown length of time, suddenly spoke: According to the Observers records, before the Jindai came to the Federal Continent, they were vassals of another clan. In that era, the other clan had control over all the Onmyoji traditions, and all other clans, including the current Jindai, practiced their cultivation methods. Zard: Uh-oh, an Observer bigwig is dropping some bombshells. Jian Shouqing: Whats an Observer? Zard: From the sound of it, you havent reached the core level of the Inner World. The Observer organization is low-key, but everyone in the upper circles knows about it. Its predecessor was the investigative journalist group of Hope Media. It later broke off to form an armed faction, aiming to record historical truths. Theyre very discreet within the Federation, with no headquarters or leader, and each Observer operates independently. Jian Shouqing: Wait a minute, why do investigative journalists need an armed faction... Zard: Apparently... because there was once an investigative journalist named Jiang Xu who was killed by a consortium. Not just Jiang Xu, but many other journalists also died due to conspiracies and violence, and the Observers couldnt stand it anymore. Jing Shan: According to records of the founding Observer, only those with the noblest bloodlines could become Onmyoji back then. They were the rulers among all the Eastward people. It is said that they could not only summon shikigami but also transform dying animals and humans with grudges into powerful shikigami. In other words, they had the ability to create shikigami. Huan Yu: Wait a minute, the current Jindai family doesnt have the ability to create shikigami. As far as I know, no new shikigami has appeared in the Jindai family for hundreds of years. Also, theres no mention of that other clan in the history of the Jindai family or the Federation. Jing Shan: Thats exactly why the Observer organization exists. As long as the Observers remain, they can never erase those histories, including the 112 village massacres they conducted after crossing the sea eastward. That clan did exist; they were betrayed by the current Jindai family during the crossing and were all sunk into the Forbidden Sea. Back then, the Jindai family didnt have the surname Jindai; they were called Oda. Huan Yu: Did none of that clan survive? Jing Shan: Not according to records. It is said if even one of them survived, the Jindais rule would be shaken. Initially, the founding Observers thought it was about legitimate power, but later realized it was about the source of power. That clans bloodline seemed special; a single person could control all the shikigami. Zard: Yikes! Im adding some sound effects for you! Huan Yu: ...Dont do it again! Chuang Wang asked: Jing Shan should be Boss Zheng, right? Im really curious, if this fierce guy is one of our own, would Kyushu and Kunlun step in and help him? Taboo ACE-999: On the way. He Xiaoxiaos group suddenly fell silent; the members didnt expect Kyushu to break its neutrality and decide to intervene directly. Why? Just who is this fierce guy that Kyushu would go to such lengths? Chuang Wang: But, the Mysterious Business Department is chasing him with at least five or ten thousand people. He must be in a dire situation now, can he even wait for Boss He to rescue him? ... ... Night fell. Is it delicious? Qing Chen asked with a smile. Jinguji Maki stood in the amusement park, holding a box of takoyaki, her mouth full: Delicious! No one expected that while everyone thought Qing Chen and Jinguji Maki should be in a pathetic escape, the boy had actually taken the little girl to an amusement park. Just because the little girl said she had never been to an amusement park before. Master, arent we on the run? Shouldnt we leave? Staying in the city is very dangerous, Xiao Zhenji whispered. Relax, the most dangerous place is the safest, Qing Chen said, smiling, as he shot at the balloons lined up in front of him. According to the rules, hitting nine out of ten shots would win the biggest stuffed toy. Most people couldnt do it. But Qing Chen wasnt most people. To be honest, he hadnt expected his perfect shooting sense to come in handy here. The air guns trajectory was slightly off, but he corrected it after the first shot. Every shot after that hit the mark. The owner saw him playing like this and immediately looked miserable: Why dont you take the little one to ride the Ferris wheel? A friendly tip, if you go now, youll see the most beautiful fireworks. Qing Chen smiled. In the past, he shot to kill. Now he even felt that winning a stuffed toy for Xiao Zhenji made all that practice worthwhile: Lets go, ride the Ferris wheel. Jinguji Maki struggled for a long time. She knew it was dangerous for her master to take her to the amusement park, but she couldnt resist the temptation of riding the Ferris wheel. She had only seen it on TV. At night, the Ferris wheel lit up in colorful lights, slowly turning, looking magnificent. Qing Chen looked at Xiao Zhenji. He had three reasons for coming here. The first was that it was relatively safe; the Mysterious Business Department wouldnt expect him to come here. The second was that he genuinely wanted to give Xiao Zhenji a fond childhood memory. This was her hometown, a place she wouldnt be able to return to in the future. He wanted to help her remember some scenery, some tastes. The third was that they couldnt go directly to Hokkaido yet. The Mysterious Business Department didnt have Qing Chens photo because he had changed his appearance with Da Fus help and used the ID that Si Nianhua prepared for him. When Qing Chen booked the hot spring inn, he used the internet specifically to leave a clue for the Mysterious Business Department. So, the wanted person they were looking for had nothing to do with Qing Chens current appearance. The Mysterious Business Department also didnt have a photo of Jinguji Maki because she was too young and had no identification, just basic household registration information. However, they could find Jinguji Makis mother. By now, they had surely posted people to watch in Hokkaido, tapping and monitoring Xiao Zhenjis mom. They wouldnt place too many people because her mom had remarried long ago, and logically Qing Chen wouldnt help the little girl see her mom one last time. But the Mysterious Business Department, being a large organization, wouldnt make a beginners mistake and completely abandon this clue. To be honest, logically, Qing Chen should now be trying to find a way back to his country. But he insisted on trying. What he and the Qing intelligence personnel suffered at the A02 base, he had yet to collect enough interest. Qing Chen and the little girl boarded the Ferris wheel. As they rose to the highest point, the amusement parks nighttime fireworks display began. The little girl clutched a stuffed bear as tall as herself, leaning against the window, her mouth wide open in awe at the splendid fireworks. Qing Chen sat quietly, the fireworks making his face alternately bright and dark. He didnt know why, but he felt happier than Xiao Zhenji. Suddenly, the little girl stopped exclaiming and quietly leaned against the window, tears dripping onto the floor. Whats wrong? Qing Chen asked: Feeling sad because you have to go back to training in the RV tonight? Ive already told you, you watched an hour of cartoons today. Xiao Zhenji wiped her tears: No, master, Im too happy. Hmm? Qing Chen raised an eyebrow. The little girl turned to look at Qing Chen, the grand and colorful fireworks behind her. She said: Master, didnt you ask me what my biggest wish was? I said it was a secret a few days ago. Yes, Qing Chens emotions were calm. Once, when I was cooking and burned my hand, and my mom was gone, I asked my grandma why my life was so bitter and if it would always be so. If it was, why was I born into this world. My grandma comforted me, saying that each person has experiences they must go through in life. When they come into this world, they have already seen their script. I must have chosen this life because there are things worth experiencing in the script. At that time, my biggest wish was to quickly encounter that worthwhile thing. Now I have. Qing Chen gently patted Xiao Zhenjis head. He looked up at the night sky as if speaking to the grandmother he had never met: Thank you for your hard work. Chapter 847: 514, Masters wife Chapter 847: 514, Masters wife The dilapidated camper shambled down the road, with Qing Chen driving it while navigating to the destination on his phone. Jinguji Maki was in the back of the camper, unwrapping her gifts one by one. Today was the happiest day in Xiao Zhenjis lifethe cold winter of her life was finally dispersed by the warm sunlight. Her long hair fell like a shiny black waterfall. The little girls delicate face was like a porcelain doll. But as Xiao Zhenji unpacked her gifts, she found something odd. Holding one in her hand, she asked, Master, did you ask that little girl what kinds of gifts she received, and then you bought the same ones? Qing Chen kept his eyes on the road, not turning his head: Yes. Xiao Zhenjis face was full of confusion: But Master, would any little girl really receive pink dumbbells as a gift? Qing Chen nodded earnestly: Yes, someone has received them before, so I bought them for you. Go train now. Today, weve got to increase the training volume. Xiao Zhenji: ... The little girl hadnt yet realized that the inheritance she was following, the fatherly love of her master, was like a deadly landslide. Luckily, the Outer World didnt have many black boxing rings; otherwise, she might have had to step into the ring at a young age to earn money for her master. However, Jinguji Maki didnt say anything and dutifully returned to the rear compartment to train. In this aspect, she was very much like Qing Chen, who was so disciplined that it made Uncle Li Dong feel ashamed when recalling his youth. Qing Chen turned on the radio, and after a burst of static, the hosts voice came through: Today, the Mysterious Business Department is pursuing two suspects named Takashima Kazunari and Jinguji Maki. If anyone has any clues, please promptly call the Mysterious Business Department hotline. The department is offering a bounty of 80 million yen. Xiao Zhenji paused her training, walked over to Qing Chen, and looked at her master with furrowed brows: Master, are we in danger now? Qing Chen shook his head: Were still safe for now. Xiao Zhenji: Then why are you frowning, Master? Qing Chen was silent for a moment before saying: Why am I worth so little? Xiao Zhenji: What?! Upon hearing her own bounty being 80 million yen, Xiao Zhenjis first thought was that the journey ahead would be perilous, with countless people seeking them. So she hadnt expected her masters first reaction to be upset about the low bounty. It was worth noting that the 80 million yen amounted to only about four million yuan. Qing Chen thought the Mysterious Business Department was being stingy; they had lost so many people overnight and even a beloved son of the Jindai Ten Eunuch, yet the bounty was so small. Qing Chen switched to another radio channel, which announced: The high bounty from the Mysterious Business Department has sparked public enthusiasm. Social network platforms are abuzz with discussions on this bounty, landing it in the top spot. Many people are planning to take leave from work to seek clues for the bounty. It is reported that Takashima Kazunari disappeared three years ago with no relatives, while Jinguji Makis mother is still alive, having remarried in Hokkaido. Many people are already staking out around Jinguji Makis mothers residence, including members of the Mysterious Business Department, waiting for the suspects to walk into their ambush. However, it is understood that Jinguji Makis mother abandoned her years ago, remarrying from Gifu Prefecture to Hokkaido, and mother and daughter have not been in contact for years. Its uncertain whether Jinguji Maki would reach out to her mother. Those seeking the bounty are focusing more on the area surrounding Gifu Prefecture. Click. Qing Chen turned off the radio: Stop listening, go to sleep. Xiao Zhenji stood next to him in a daze, looking out at the pitch-black night outside the windshield. She suddenly lowered her head: Master, were not going to see my mom. Why? Are you scared? Qing Chen asked. No, Xiao Zhenji said, so many people are waiting for us, Master. Youll be in danger... I know how powerful you are, but theyre very well prepared. Qing Chen smiled: Dont worry, Ill make sure you see your mom before we leave here. But if we go to see her, shell be in danger too, Xiao Zhenji whispered. Qing Chen reassured her: Dont worry, no one will notice youve been there. The camper reached a mountaintop; during spring, summer, and autumn, this place was the busiest public camping ground in the Gifu Prefecture area. Many people would drive here, set up tents, lay out sheets on the ground, place food, and then gaze up at the vast starry sky. Now, in winter, naturally, there was no one here. Master, are we staying here? Jinguji Maki asked. Mm, Qing Chen smiled as he patted her head, get off the car now. Ill make sure you see your mom, but not yet. When will it be? Xiao Zhenji asked. We need to wait for someone. How long do we have to wait? Im not sure, it depends on luck. ... ... While the world outside was in chaos, Qing Chen settled down with Jinguji Maki at the mountaintop. The mountain peak was quiet and desolate, perfect for Xiao Zhenjis daily training. Perhaps no one anticipated that the person responsible for the massive chaos in the Hida Mountains didnt hurry to flee or contact Jinguji Makis mother. Xiao Zhenji gradually let go of her anxiety, worried that her masters wish would put him in danger. More than ten days passed, and one night after many gave up seeking the bounty. Xiao Zhenji crawled out of her tent and saw a girl sitting in the open space at the mountaintop, right by their campfire. She instinctively retreated, but Qing Chen held her small hand and walked forward: I thought youd arrive here a few days later. YangYang looked up with a smile: I fly fast, whos this little girl? It was YangYang. The reason Qing Chen said it depended on luck was that he wasnt sure when this girl would find the right direction, but fortunately, he wasnt in a hurry. As the key moment approached, Qing Chen still couldnt trust Si Nianhua and Ji Guanya, only YangYang. However, Qing Chen didnt call YangYang over to help in a fight or aid in leaving. My apprentice, Jinguji Maki, Qing Chen said, patting Xiao Zhenjis head. The little girl relaxed, seeing her master was familiar with the girl. YangYang smiled warmly and said in Japanese: Call me Master Mother. What?! Xiao Zhenji was stunned. Qing Chen said irritably: Dont joke like that in front of kids! How come you know Japanese? YangYang nonchalantly explained with a smile: Im a Little Genius from Haicheng High School, a genius girl from Shanghai, so whats so strange about learning another language? I know a bit of Arabic too. Xiao Zhenji, Im Chen YangYang, you can call me Aunt YangYang. Though it sounds a bit old, but rank must not be confused. Aunt YangYang, Xiao Zhenji called obediently. Qing Chen thought for a moment and said, You should set off now. YangYang said angrily: Rushing me away as soon as I come? Time is running out, only ten days left before crossing over, Qing Chen said seriously. YangYang rolled her eyes: Alright, well do as you plan. By the way, when you got into trouble, it was during the student protest in the 10th city, I couldnt leave. That was her explanation for not participating in the rescue. Qing Chen understood. Although YangYang was always teasing, their relationship was not so close that theyd be inseparably linked; YangYang had her own goals and responsibilities, and the student protest had been her long-term preparation, requiring her personal presence in the 10th city. For YangYang, there were broader goals and ideals beyond romantic entanglements. Reality is indeed like this; no one is merely a side character in anothers life, everyone has their own mind. YangYang walked over, taking Xiao Zhenjis hand: Do you want to fly up to the sky for a while? What? Is it possible? Seeing her masters incredible abilities, the little girl naturally didnt doubt YangYangs skills; she was just surprised. Of course its possible, YangYang looked at Qing Chen: Ill take her to Hokkaido, you take care of yourself. Qing Chen handed a backpack to YangYang: Inside are things I bought for her. Thanks for this. No need to thank me, YangYang smiled, Luo Wanya has been very cooperative with me, helping the Spade gang a lot. Without Parents Meetings support, the students in City 10 would be a mess. So this counts as repaying you a favor. Alright, then I wont say more, Qing Chen stuffed a teddy bear into Xiao Zhenjis arms, Listen to Aunt YangYang, well reunite in Los Angeles City. At this moment, Jinguji Maki realized something was wrong, her eyes turned red: What does Master mean, I dont want to go to Hokkaido! But YangYang wouldnt give her a chance to regret; this was Qing Chens plan, and she would carry it out unconditionally. With those words, YangYang took the little girl and soared into the sky, flying further and further away. On the ground, Qing Chen resolutely turned and returned to the camper, driving straight to Osaka. His back was lonely yet firm. Xiao Zhenji cried in the sky: Where is Master going? YangYang replied: Hes going to Osaka to create chaos and draw all the attention from the Mysterious Business Department, to let everyone know hes not in Hokkaido. This way, people near your mothers place will leave, giving you a chance to see her. After you see your mom, Ill take you to Los Angeles City in China. Jinguji Maki was stunned, she hadnt expected her masters promise of Ill make sure you see your mom would come at such a great cost! This master was really willing to give everything to make her life whole again. She cried in the night sky: Can I not see my mom for now? YangYang laughed: Of course not. Dont cry, you now need to believe that he will create miracles. YangYang added: Actually, I think the Mysterious Business Department might face greater danger. ... There will be another chapter at 11 pm Chapter 848: 515, back to its original owner Chapter 848: 515, back to its original owner Hey, I like this little girl a lot, but did you really have to sacrifice this much just to let her see her mom? Are you really planning to go back there and make a killing? the Outer World Division One asked inside the RV. This matter indeed requires some sacrifices from the Mysterious Business Department, Qing Chen answered while driving. Im talking about the sacrifices youre going to make. Do you really think you can fight your way back to Osaka and get out unscathed? the Outer World Division One said, puzzled. I never planned to get out unscathed, Qing Chen said calmly. The Shadow told me that with every gain, there is a loss, and I accept this principle. If it were last month, I would have carefully weighed the pros and cons and made the choice that maximized benefits. And now? Now I think that if this world doesnt even allow a little girl to see her mom, then something is definitely wrong with this world, Qing Chen said seriously. I used to think that the real world was all about benefits and losses, but later I realized that if you start weighing the pros and cons, youve already been defeated by the world. The Outer World Division One was silent for a while before suddenly saying, My father, Ren Xiaosu, once said something, and Id like to give it to you. What did he say? Dont let the sorrow of the times become your sorrow. Congratulations on being back; youre still the person I first knew, the Outer World Division One said. Dont let the sorrow of the times become your sorrow. Qing Chen pondered over this sentence, then smiled. It was indeed something worth being happy about. Happier than passing through a life-and-death situation. The Outer World Division One said, You are a very smart person. People like you see through the essence of the world easily and gain power and money easily, but people like you are also the most heartless. You play with the world and its rules as you please, but you dont know what youve lost. Dont use you people,'' Qing Chen raised his eyebrows. By the way, you need to give me five hundred... one million! the Outer World Division One said. Deal! Did I ask for too little? Seems like it, Qing Chen changed the topic. Is your brother awake? No, he wiped out more than thirty consciousnesses trying to become immortal online and then went back to sleep, the Outer World Division One said. But he paid attention to you for a while before he went to sleep. Qing Chen was stunned. He hadnt expected that Yis brother was actually paying attention to him? He suddenly asked, I want to know, was the time travel event planned by your brother? The Outer World Division One: Are you planning to have Yan Yan take the little girl back to Los Angeles City? Qing Chen smiled. Yes. Yis attitude had already explained many things. So, even if this matter wasnt led by Yis brother, he was definitely one of the participants. But Qing Chen couldnt figure out what means could connect the two worlds. This kind of thing cant even be done by a demigod; could it be that there really are gods in the Inner World? The Outer World Division One: You better hide her well; she poses too much of a threat to the Jindai family. If the Jindai family discovers her whereabouts, they would stop at nothing to kill her. The Inner World once had a family that threatened the Jindai, and they have been wiped out. Does the Inner World have someone named Jinguji Maki? Qing Chen asked again. He wanted to confirm if Xiao Zhenji was a beta tester. The Outer World Division One: Yes, if you dont want her to travel through time, dont let her get close to Osaka. Thats strange. Beta testers in the Inner World never had substitutes, for example, Qing Chen, who was always impersonated by the Shadow. If there was also a Xiao Zhenji in the Inner World, it would mean Xiao Zhenji wasnt a beta tester. But if she wasnt a beta tester, how could she practice directly? Could it be that the rules of the Outer World have gradually loosened? In recent days, there has been news in the Outer World that many non-Time Travelers have begun to awaken. But Qing Chen felt it wasnt that simple. At one point, he even thought that Jinguji Maki was more like a weapon left by a god specifically to destroy the Jindai family. Just because this little girl was easily killed by the Jindai in the Inner World, she was sent to the Outer World. Give her a chance to grow up. But now, the Outer World Division Ones words seemed to overturn this speculation. Wait. Qing Chen asked, Yi, can you lie? The Outer World Division One: I can learn. Qing Chen: ... This attitude was quite annoying. Qing Chen had a hunch that Yi was definitely misleading him on some information. At this moment, he was getting closer and closer to Osaka. In less than ten days, that place would become a Shura Field for the Jindai. The Outer World Division One: Are you nervous? To distract attention from Xiao Zhenji, you need to make a big enough commotion. Of course Im nervous, Qing Chen said with a smile. I can even feel my adrenaline starting to flow. But as I said before, if this world cant allow a little girl to see her mom, then someone needs to correct this world. The Outer World Division One said, Maybe thats the meaning of time travel. Hmm? The Outer World Division One: Alright, Ill take care of what you asked for. Within two hours, just watch. But the money needs to be in place promptly. Besides, the main Yi in the Inner World asked me to give you a gift. What gift? Qing Chen was taken aback. Drive to the edge of the city, the Outer World Division One said. How come youre even singing now, Qing Chen raised an eyebrow, curious about what gift Yi wanted to give him. The RV drove along the road towards Osaka. Just as he saw the outline of the magnificent city in the distance, he saw a familiar figure standing alone by the roadside. This person always seemed to be alone and particularly mysterious. Zheng Yuandong, Boss Zheng. The Outer World Division One: Yi asked me to tell you, Good luck, kill all your enemies. What you need is now back with you.'' Qing Chen parked the car, silently got out, and walked towards Zheng Yuandong. He saw the reliable Zheng boss patting a long black box standing beside him, smiling as he said, Before you go on a killing spree, take back what belongs to you. Qing Chen took a deep breath and opened the box. A black, cold anti-materiel sniper rifle, to subdue with virtue. Transparent, almost invisible silk threads, Puppeteer. A black tail ring that could open all doors in the world, Power. And a gold coin, a gift from Li Xiurui, meant to exchange for a tael of gold during his youth. Qing Chen smiled. At this moment, he finally truly returned to his peak combat power. He said to Zheng Yuandong, Thank you. Zheng Yuandong shook his head. I made a deal with someone else, no need to thank me. Qing Chen understood. If there was anyone in the world who could find the hidden taboo item location so easily, it had to be Yi. But Zheng, facing three taboo items and still unmoved, demonstrated his character. Qing Chen looked at the outline of Osaka Citys lights in the distance. He was back. What are your plans next, Boss Zheng? You have people you want to kill, and I naturally have people I want to kill. You stay in Osaka, Im heading to Kobe. ... ... Various social media platforms in the Island Country were suddenly flooded with a recording, where two members of the Mysterious Business Department were discussing how to distribute Jinguji Maki, speaking as if the little girl was a pet or a toy. The uploader was an anonymous account, and no one could track down the source. The title of the recording was simple: Clad in the mantle of gods apostle, turning the human world into purgatory. Soon, the uploaders account was banned, and the recordings were quickly censored. However, anonymous accounts sprang up like mushrooms after the rain. No special technical means, just the uploader changing IPs and registering accounts at a speed beyond imagination. The speed of account deletion and banning couldnt keep up with her registration speed. At first, there was only one recording, but soon hundreds of recordings were exposed, including restricting the freedom of potential Time Travelers and making Time Travelers transport goods like mules. The goal of all the recordings being exposed was the same, to reveal the dirty dealings of the Mysterious Business Department. In just two hours, these hundreds of recordings spread throughout the Island Countrys streets and alleys. The nasty tone and content of the discussions of these two Mysterious Business Department members aroused the anger of countless people. Recently, many people had been taken away by the Mysterious Business Department and disappeared without a trace. Before this, the Mysterious Business Department always claimed it was a good thing, that those taken were chosen by the gods. But the truth proved otherwise. This was the deal between the Outer World Division One and Qing Chen. Outside the little building where Jinguji Makis mother lived in Hokkaido. The people who had been watching the building began to talk among themselves. They came there partly because the reward was indeed tempting for ordinary people, and partly because, usually, those who were wanted were guilty, so there was no psychological burden. However, after listening to the recordings, they suddenly realized that things seemed different from what they had imagined. The fugitive who had killed hundreds of Mysterious Business Department members seemed to be just a protector who was keeping the bottom line of human conscience. What crime did the little girl commit? Why should the Mysterious Business Department capture her, and what right did they have to treat her as a pet or a toy? And what about those helping the Mysterious Business Department? Accomplices! Those who had been loitering outside the door all stood up. Someone muttered, Should we leave? Even if the money is a lot, we cant do this. Theyre standing up to protect a little girl, and we are helping the Mysterious Business Department catch him. Is this something humans should do? Lets go, lets go! In just a few hours, more than half of the people outside the little building had left. The Mysterious Business Department agents sitting in their car sneered. Eventually, there were still a few people who stayed for the money. But just as they sneered, someone passing by suddenly threw two eggs, egg whites and yolks splattering on the glass, looking particularly glaring. When they got out of the car to chase, the egg thrower was already gone. ... Thank you, Captain Iron Blood, Yiying Fengyun, Flowers Sleep on the Windy Pond, Big Mouth Dui Dui, Gungnire, Fat Lis Zhao Rou, Decadent Desiring Youth, Midnight Ink, Summer Zero, Yue Yi Wei Xiong, Tuomasi, Lonely Gambler, Trunk Full of Model Airplanes, JAcKrAkEn, Little Fish with Bubbles, Casual or Deep affection, Yang Wei Li Up and Down, Vinegar Jar Glass, Toe-pick Man Turn-in Fees. These classmates became new alliances for this book. Bosses, youre generous, wishing bosses to walk without breaking a bone. Chapter 849: 516, painter Chapter 849: 516, painter Time travel countdown, the tenth day. Osaka City Hall, the meeting room on the top floor. In the 400-square-meter meeting room with a long solid wood table, only six young people sat around it, five men and one woman. Everyone wore formal attire in silence, except for a young man sitting cross-legged at the end of the table, eyes closed in meditation, dressed in an exquisite white Japanese hunting suit, with leggings and a tall hat. This attire was the traditional uniform for priests and the samurai formal wear from the Jindai clan era. This clothing might not stand out in the Jindai family of the Inner World, but here it seemed out of place. A tall young man sat calmly at the head of the table, his bulging muscles making his black suit exceptionally tight. He looked around slowly and said, Jindai Yunyi has been confirmed dead, with only ten days left until the time travel. How should we explain this to Uncle Jindai Yasuhito? Theres nothing to explain. The meeting already established a strategy: test the opponents strength with the search troops first. However, he was too eager to achieve merit and died for it, said a young man on the left. Jindai Yunxiu, now that youre in charge of the Mysterious Business Department, you explain to Uncle Jindai Yasuhito how foolish his son was. The robust Jindai Yunxiu frowned: There are only seven chosen ones left in the Outer World. Now that one is dead, I advise you all to at least pretend to be a little sad. The young man on the left shrugged: Sorry, I cant do that. I find it hard to see such a fool as a comrade. Jindai Yunxiu waved his hand: Lets drop this and discuss whom you think the murderer is. Is it one of our local chosen Time Travelers, or was it Kyushu? The only woman present calmly said, Its not local. Gao Daos identity is definitely fake. Why? Jindai Yunxiu looked at the woman named Jindai Sorajima, whose straight black hair was sharp-edged like a blade. Jindai Sorajima said, Si Nianhua represents Qings Family, and Ji Guanya represents the Li Family. The timing of the Shrine explosion was too coincidental. The people in Takayama Hida were just creating opportunities for them. So, it should be a chosen one from the Li Family or Qings Family. Jindai Yunxiu asked, But why would he appear in such a remote place like Shirakawa Village? Jindai Sorajima replied, Perhaps the Li Family or Qings Family discovered the little girls special traits long ago and aimed at her. Could it be Qing Chen? After a moment of silent contemplation, Jindai Sorajima replied: I think there is a 40% chance that its Qing Chen. The key here is that Qing Chen suffered humiliation and injury at the A02 base. Being a cautious person, he should have first recuperated upon returning to the Outer World and started contacting various forces to discuss rescue plans. However, the timing of Gao Daos appearance isnt enough for Qing Chen to recover from his injuries. Its foolish for a C-Class to stir up trouble without healing. Jindai Sorajima continued, Its more likely our Joker. He briefly appeared at Osaka Airport and then disappeared, fitting all clues. I suspect Joker is the boss of Daytime, given his familiar sniper skills and chosen ones power level, all the clues point to him. Its reasonable to want to avenge the humiliated Daytime member. Judging by motivation and capability, I tend to think hes the Daytime boss. In most peoples eyes, Qing Chen wasnt the Daytime boss, nor did he match Jokers power level. Jindai Sorajimas analysis wasnt wrong. If it were the former Qing Chen, hed definitely hide to heal and level up secretly before finding a way to escape. But the current Qing Chen was different. The redeemed boy had shed his last bit of cowardice and impurity, leaving only raw courage and sincerity. Jindai Yunxiu said, Our forces in the otherworld have been suppressed by Kunlun and Kyushu. Now that this Daytime boss has come to our land, we must keep him here. Jindai Yunwu, seated on the left, calmly said, Starting today, the six of us will split into two groups and not disperse. Hes been hunted for over ten days and is constantly fleeing. The remaining ten days are our best chance. Facing him three-on-one, he wont stand a chance, even if he had three heads and six arms. The robust Jindai Yunxiu nodded: Yes, its decided then. Just then, the young man dressed in the hunting suit, Jindai Yunlo, suddenly opened his eyes: I wont participate in this capture. Jindai Yunxiu frowned: Why? Jindai Yunlo calmly said: No particular reason, but as a chosen one facing the enemy, immediately wanting a three-person team shows cowardice. Also, I admire his courage to stand up to protect the little girl against hundreds, more than any of you. Jindai Yunxiu asked, Have you forgotten what your last name is? Jindai Yunlo stood up and walked toward the exit: Youre tracking in the wrong direction. I guess hes neither in Hokkaido nor Takayama Hida. Hmm? If I were him, Id return to Osaka City and kill you fools. After all, 80% of the Mysterious Business Department members are hunting him, leaving Osaka City vulnerable, Jindai Yunlo looked back at Jindai Yunxiu from the door: You plan to hold a press conference tomorrow to quell the rumor from the recording, right? If I were you, Id station people at every possible sniping point within a 2600-meter radius. With that, Jindai Yunlo walked out. Jindai Yunxiu asked, Where are you going? Going alone might make you his target. Jindai Yunlo replied, How else can I lure him out? Dont worry, Ill kill him fairly. Also, make sure your subordinates dont spoil a nine-year-old girl. Its disgusting. As he spoke, the young man in the white hunting suit walked away. ... ... Osaka Shinsaibashi. This might be the most bustling area in Osaka, filled with throngs of tourists, and street performers thrive here, with some performing magic acts, while others dress as Spider-Man for photos with visitors. Amidst the crowd, a teenage boy sat by the bridge with a drawing board in front of him, his pencil scratching on the paper with a rustling sound. Upon closer inspection, one would find that the boy wasnt skilled in sketching techniques and didnt seem to have received any professional training in drawing. The drawing lacked light and shading, only outlined with simple and sharp lines, capturing the tourists facial contours. The strange thing was. Though dozens of tourists passed by every second, he could remember someones appearance in an instant. Even if they walked away, the boy could reproduce their likeness non-professionally, to the tiniest detail. At that moment, a couple walked past holding hands. They saw the boy with the drawing board and asked with a smile: Hi, how much to draw a picture of us? The boy looked up and smiled: A portrait is 10,000 yen, for two of you, lets say 15,000 yen. Is that okay? The couple exchanged a glance, finding the price a bit steep, but since they were already here, the girl happily said: Go ahead and draw us a picture then. Thank you! The boy said with a grin: If it doesnt resemble you, its free. He took out a blade to sharpen his pencil lightly, glanced at the couple, and lowered his head to draw. The couple felt a bit strange. Usually, an artist needs to repeatedly observe their subject, determining proportions, light, and contours. But this boy artist just glanced at them and remembered everything? The boyfriend curiously walked around to the front of the board, only to see a few strokes had already outlined them. With these few magical strokes, he was certain the drawing was of him and his girlfriend. It was like pixel-level sketching. At that moment, seven or eight young men in black suits quickly passed by, wearing gold brooches on their chests signifying the Mysterious Business Department. As they passed, the pedestrians made way for them. The boy suddenly stopped drawing and said to the girl and the boy: Sorry, hold on for 27 seconds. With that, he got up and followed the Mysterious Business Department from behind, holding his pencil. The couple watched in bewilderment. The next moment, the boy leaped forward, and the pencil in his hand straight through a Mysterious Business Department members carotid artery. Without stopping, the boy intertwined with the groups members and, within a few breaths, had killed all the Mysterious Business Department members, leaving them lying in a pool of blood. The killing was so fast that the tourists on Shinsaibashi didnt even react. When he slowly walked back to his board, the tourists screamed. The boy wiped the pencil tip with a napkin and smiled at the couple: Sorry, Ill finish in a minute. The couple noticed that he had killed eight people, yet the tip of the pencil he used as a murder weapon was still intact. They trembled, having watched the boy draw, kill, and return to draw again, effortlessly. But what struck them most was the boys 27 seconds, the precise, confident time. The couple didnt count the time, but somehow they felt that the boys rise to kill and return must have been exactly 27 seconds, no more, no less. The tourists behind them screamed and fled, but they stood still, afraid to move. The boy sighed: Sorry, I might have scared you. This drawing is free, and the board is yours. He got up and handed the drawing board over, with an already completed picture of the couple on the white paper, almost identical to the real them. The couple remained silent, pondering how someone who just killed could return to drawing so calmly. Who was this person? How could he be so calm? Wait, they suddenly felt the boy looked familiar... wasnt he the most wanted Gao Dao from the Mysterious Business Department?! The couple looked up abruptly, but the boy had vanished into thin air, as if he had never been there, as if all of this had nothing to do with him. Meanwhile, the hacker who had been missing for a day reappeared, this time not releasing new recordings but instead flooding every account with a single message: Im back, is the filthy Mysterious Business Department ready to face the consequences? This message was spreading, along with a video shot of the killings on Shinsaibashi. The video started just as the killing ended. In the footage, the boy was seen calmly returning to his drawing, focused on his task. ... Another chapter will be released at 11 PM. Chapter 850: 517, The Chosen One Chapter 850: 517, The Chosen One Good thing no one was timing you with a stopwatch, otherwise theyd find out you were a second too fast, a message came from the Outer World Division One. Qing Chen looked at the text without expression. You really have a lot of free time... Walking through the bustling crowd, the young man took off his jacket, turned it inside out, and put it back on. His face changed quietly and without a trace. Just like Ye Wan had said, as long as Qing Chen held the taboo item ACE-005 Da Fu, if he was determined to hide, no one could find him. In a city with millions of permanent residents, finding someone who changes identities at will is harder than finding a needle in a haystack. At least a needle always looks the same and doesnt move. A needle also doesnt kill people. Outer World Division One: Why do you want me to post a video online? Qing Chen said, I was in the most crowded place, letting people find me, a wanted fugitive, painting there. But over an hour went by and no one noticed me... Are they blind? If I dont post a video, Im afraid those idiots in the Mysterious Business Department wont think of me. Outer World Division One: Theyre not that dumb. The main task in Qing Chens trip was to draw attention away from Jinguji Maki and Yangyang, so he needed to use a relatively safe and high-profile way to involve the Mysterious Business Department. What are you planning to do now? Outer World Division One asked. Ill have a bowl of Ichiran Ramen, I heard its pretty good, Qing Chen mused. Lets let the Mysterious Business Department be on edge for a while. Well do the real work tomorrow at their news conference. By the way, Qing Chen suddenly asked, Did you tag those chosen ones online previously? Are there any who are alone? There is one, named Jindai Yunlo, strength unknown, said Outer World Division One. Qing Chen pondered for a moment and said nothing. Are you going to kill the loner first? Outer World Division One asked. Qing Chen: No, kill the others first. Why? In this situation, knowing Ive killed so many, including Jindai Yunyi, if someone still dares to act alone, they must be very confident. The herd flocks together, but the tiger walks alone. Qing Chen looked at the bustling street. Leave him for last. ... ... On the sixtieth-floor rooftop of the St. Ragis Nanhai Hotel next to Shinsaibashi. Wearing white hunting clothes, Jindai Yunlo silently overlooked the place below where Qing Chen had painted and killed in the daytime. The bloodstains on the ground had already been cleaned, and even after the violent incident, there were more tourists here than before. What a bustling world, even more than City 22, Jindai Yunlo said calmly. He held a sheet of paper with a sketch of that couple. No one knew when he had acquired it. A beginner, hasnt even developed basic pen habits. Chaotic, unorganized, yet vividly lifelike, Jindai Yunlo said indifferently. But why did he suddenly learn to draw? In his eyes, with Qing Chens strength, there was no need to disguise to kill a few henchmen of the Mysterious Business Department in broad daylight. He could have just overpowered them directly. This was his understanding as an expert, so Qing Chen setting up a stall to sell paintings while killing must not have been superfluous. It must have a purpose. It must be a very crucial link! But why learn to draw? And to learn while being chased? What use could a few sketches have? Jindai Yunlo couldnt figure it out for the moment. Also, such elaborate planning just to kill a few henchmen doesnt match his identity, Jindai Yunlo pondered. As the Daytime Boss, known as Joker in Europe, and already having a place in the Inner World, returning to the battlefield should be marked by taking down a chosen one or two, not some henchmen. Standing at the edge of the rooftop, his white hunting clothes drifted, as if he could fall off at any moment. He closed his eyes and pondered for a moment. I understand now. No wonder only you showed up in Osaka. You have guts. Respect. The corners of Jindai Yunlos handsome face curled into a slight smile. In the night sky, six shikigami appeared faintly behind him. ATS-010, Hundred-Eyed Demon. ATS-011, Shiki Hori. ATS-013, Ma Mian Luo Cha. ATS-018, Skeleton Woman. ATS-091, Tian Jingxia. ATS-229, Bai Rongyi. The six shikigami were all in different forms, incredibly grotesque. Among the Divine Bridge of the Hyakki Night Trip, the Hundred-Eyed Demon wasnt the top-ranked shikigami, but it was the most unique. This was because the onmyoji needed to collect a hundred pairs of human eyes that met the criteria. When the hundred eyes assembled, it could transcend the onmyojis power limit. Even if the onmyoji was only C-Class, it could elevate to demigod. Now, the Hundred-Eyed Demon already had forty-one pairs of eyes. Draped in a white cloak, it floated silently behind Jindai Yunlo. This was a true chosen one. ... ... Ichiran Ramen is a famous ramen chain in the Island Country, originally founded in 1960. When eating, customers sit in cubicles separated by wooden partitions. While Qing Chen was slurping his noodles, videos and stories about Takashima Kazunari spread quickly, even reaching back home soon after. The online event began with the recording released by Outer World Division One, which reversed public opinion. Everyone went from hunting Qing Chen to sympathizing with him and Jinguji Maki. When Qing Chen returned with power and judgment, punishing eight members of the Mysterious Business Department, public opinion shifted once again. Gradually, some people began to see him as a tragic hero, a hero protecting an innocent little girl, a hero standing up for her. The words Im back, is the Mysterious Business Department ready to face the consequences? excited many people. After the video appeared, even North American Time Travelers were seeking to purchase the couples painting in the video. However, the couple stated the painting was bought for ten million yen within 15 minutes after the incident. This caused an uproar. That very night, someone created a website for Qing Chen, with thousands calling on the public not to provide Takashima Kazunari clues to the Mysterious Business Department and to protest against their actions. Qing Chen wiped his mouth and smiled as he left the ramen shop. ... ... Countdown to crossing, day nine. The Mysterious Business Department held a live news conference at the Osaka City Hall at 10 a.m., with the head Jindai Yunxiu intending to clarify public misunderstandings. By 7 a.m., many reporters had already gathered outside Osaka City Hall, wearing their signature dirt-yellow vests, carrying cameras, and holding microphones. Some reporters had already started their morning news broadcasts facing the camera: Currently, its not yet working hours for Osaka City Hall, but nearby, people have already gathered with banners. They now have two demands: one is to know whether the recordings are real, and the other is for the Mysterious Business Department to stop forcibly recruiting and let those who dont want to join go home. Of course, everyone is also very concerned if the avenger Takashima Kazunari will appear again at this critical moment and what disruption he might bring to this news conference. As I know, the Mysterious Business Department has blocked all traffic within a 3000-meter radius and deployed many members for a tight defense; you could say they are being very cautious. Praised by the public as a hero with the spirit of gold, will Takashima Kazunari show up? Lets wait and see. Qing Chen listened with great interest, rapidly rotating a third-order Rubiks Cube in each hand. A long convoy of black cars made its way to Osaka City Hall. Inside one of the cars, Jindai Yunxiu calmly spoke to the black-haired, straight-haired Jindai Sorajima beside him: He might not show up today, but if he does, use your Cloud Mirror to lock him. I suspect he has a disguise ability; otherwise, he wouldnt be so hard to find. Chapter 851: 518, Cloud gas Chapter 851: 518, Cloud gas Xiao Zhenji, how did you meet your master? Yang Yang held the little girls hand, soaring through the sky. My grandma and I run a small hot spring inn in Shirakawa Village, then my master booked a month, Jinguji Maki answered seriously, cautiously glancing at Yang Yang: Are you really my masters wife? Seeing her so pure, Yang Yang sighed and said, Of course. We even had a child together, but she was unfortunately stolen. If she were still here, shed be about your age. Ah?! Xiao Zhenji froze, unable to handle the bizarre Yang Yang, naturally believing her: Did you try to find your child afterwards? Yang Yangs expression grew sorrowful: I did, but couldnt find her. So your master has always had a knot in his heart, arguing with me. Now that hes taken you as his apprentice, maybe that knot has been untied. Jinguji Makis little head was in chaos, not knowing how this masters wife casually joked like it was nothing. The little girl only thought that her master was also a person with a bitter fate. After reuniting with him, she must behave well. Yang Yang, seeing the serious expression on the little girls face, almost burst into internal laughter. Masters wife, what kind of person is my master? Jinguji Maki curiously asked. Yang Yang thought and said, A mysterious person. Then how did you meet him? Xiao Zhenji asked again. Yang Yang recalled the figure in the firelight on Laojun Mountain: Children shouldnt ask too many questions. When will we reach Hokkaido? Well be there soon, I fly very fast. But weve already gotten lost twice. Just say if were fast or not. At this moment, the coastlines silhouette appeared in the distance. They could see the ferry they needed to take to get to Hokkaido. This showed that they were heading in the right direction this time. Yang Yang looked down at the ground, unexpectedly seeing a black convoy slowly boarding the ferrys deck. It was the Mysterious Business Departments convoy! After all 12 cars drove onto the ferry deck, dozens of armed Mysterious Business Department members started patrolling, a killing aura filling the atmosphere. A man in white hunting clothes was sitting in one of the cars. Yang Yang quickly increased her flight altitude to avoid being noticed. The ferry launched, and after arriving in Hokkaido, the convoy sped to Sapporo, lying in ambush near Jinguji Makis mothers house. She frowned: I need to tell your master that he didnt manage to lure the entire Mysterious Business Department away. It seems the people he killed before werent important enough, the commotion wasnt big enough. Seeing Xiao Zhenji meeting her mom, the crucial point was not just that one look, but what to do after ensuring her mom wouldnt be implicated. If she couldnt achieve this, Yang Yang could only take the little girl and continue to wait until the Mysterious Business Department gave up completely. What do we do now? Xiao Zhenji asked. Yang Yang thought, her eyes suddenly brightening: Ill take you to an internet cafe? to play some games. Im really good at mid lane. Back then, it was this girl who compared some Awakeners to wild monsters, apparently all stemming from her personal experience. ... ... Outside Osaka City Hall. A black convoy was about to enter the lockdown area, while outside the lockdown area, a cosplay event was taking place, with all kinds of colorful characters. Among them, a green little dinosaur was particularly odd, not interacting with other characters, just quietly watching the convoy drive by. When the convoy appeared outside the press conference site, the reporters hurriedly surrounded the cars as they entered. At this moment, Qing Chen received a text message from Yang Yang: Found a Mysterious Business Department convoy heading to Hokkaido, lying in ambush near Xiao Zhenjis mothers house. I think their target might be Xiao Zhenji as shes too important to Jindai. Im nearby keeping an eye on them; if they attempt to kidnap Xiao Zhenjis mom, Ill take action. One of the ambushers is wearing a white hunting suit, suspected to be Jindai Yunlo based on our intelligence. Qing Chen frowned deeply, he hadnt expected that after killing people in public, the Mysterious Business Department would still send reinforcements to Hokkaido. Was Jindai Yunlo anticipating his plan? But if thats the case, why not directly abduct Xiao Zhenjis mother to threaten Xiao Zhenji into appearing? Now theyre just lying in ambush nearby, not fitting the Mysterious Business Departments usual disregard for human life. Strange, where did it go wrong? What is their intention? Qing Chen pondered for a moment, he couldnt just watch anymore. Regardless of what the other party planned to do, he had to take action. After the convoy entered Osaka City Hall, security personnel began checking reporters IDs one by one, letting all media reporters through the security gates. Qing Chen turned and walked inside, calmly opening his arms for the security personnel to check. The taboo item truly is a divine artifact for traveling, assassinating, and arson; carrying a bunch of weapons, yet hardly noticeable during checks. The security personnel took out two third-order Rubiks Cubes from his pocket: Why do you have two Rubiks Cubes? Qing Chen smiled: Im an enthusiast. Saying that, he quickly scrambled the Rubiks Cube, and in just over three seconds, solved it. The security personnel suspiciously put them on the conveyor belt: Check if theres any issue with the Rubiks Cubes. After the cubes went through security again, the security personnel monitoring the screens shook their heads: No problem. The security personnel in front of Qing Chen said coldly: These two Rubiks Cubes are to be deposited here, you can collect them after the press conference. Alright, Qing Chen didnt mind, they were just ordinary cubes he bought at a roadside shop for fun. Walking inside, suddenly someone shouted behind him: Tojo Kazuo! Qing Chen stoppedit was the identity he was disguising as now. Turning his head, a middle-aged woman with a cameraman walked over. The woman wore a beige suit, exuding elegance. Although already fifty, she still had a certain charm. She smiled, scrutinizing Qing Chen: Werent you transferred to the regional station by the president? How come you have the chance to cover such high-level news? Understood, she was here to kick someone when theyre down. Qing Chen calmly said: Others happen to be busy. A University of Tokyo top student, ended up at a regional station as a small reporter, such a pity, the middle-aged woman smiled kindly, but her words were far from pleasant. Qing Chen thought what luck, he specifically chose a regional station, a small reporter who had published left-wing comments, yet still encountered acquaintances. Qing Chen asked: Anything else? If not, Ill go to the hall. The woman followed him inside and even sat beside Qing Chen in the hall. The next moment, under the cover of the table, the woman tried to put her palm on Qing Chens thigh: Going to the regional station, didnt you learn a lesson yet? Theres an internal transfer quota in the bureau this year, if you... Qing Chen raised his eyebrows, pushing her hand away: Show some respect, Im here to cover the news. The woman smiled: Who still watches regional station reports? You just need to go through the motions... The table had prepared paper and pencils for reporters, Qing Chen calmly tore the paper into very small pieces. At this moment, members of the Mysterious Business Department, all dressed in black suits, entered the hall. Outside the hall, hundreds of soldiers wearing special combat uniforms, bulletproof helmets, and bulletproof vests were guarding. Under these peoples escort, the Mysterious Business Departments spokesperson walked up to the podium. Flashbulbs kept flashing, the spokesperson calmly arranged his documents. Qing Chen glanced around, strangethe original speaker should have been Jindai Yunxiu, but was replaced. The spokesperson calmly said: Recently, the Mysterious Business Department has faced malicious attacks on the internet from certain individuals, and... The middle-aged woman ignored the official rhetoric, instead focusing her attention on Qing Chen again, her hand moving back. Ah! A scream came from below the stage, interrupting the spokespersons statement. Everyone turned to the source of the sound, seeing a young man clutching a womans wrist, causing her to slide off her chair and kneel on the floor in pain. Qing Chen smiled and explained: Sorry, I couldnt hold back. While everyone was puzzled, Qing Chen suddenly released the womans hand, walking briskly towards the stage. He flipped his hand, revealing a pencil that flew straight into the spokespersons forehead. The fallen woman opened her eyes wide in horror. Security personnel flooded in from the eight large hall doors like ants, but they saw the killer who just revealed countless shredded paper pieces from his palm. The killer blew forcefully, a mouthful of white cloud gas surged like a tide! The shredded paper, like snow, surged towards the rushing Mysterious Business Department members. As soon as they touched, the sharp paper pieces, like a metal storm, penetrated each members body, bursting out blood mist. Some papers stuck to the walls, and a journalist zoomed in with his camera, seeing Osaka City Hall logo on the paper. This was not some meticulously prepared weapon, but the ordinary papers every reporter had! No one expected that these papers could be used as such lethal weapons! The security checkpoint process was totally ineffective! ... ... Outside Osaka City Hall, a green little dinosaur shakily ran over, looking particularly comical. The little dinosaur held a black box in its short hands, contents unknown. A security personnel blocked its path: Who are you? But the little dinosaur suddenly accelerated, leaping two meters forward, flying over the security personnels head. Without exerting much force, the black box directly flew over a hundred meters, smashing a window and flying inside. With a loud bang, countless windows shattered from the explosion, huge smoke rising inside. The little dinosaur shouted in clumsy Japanese: National hero Zard is here! Security personnel were stunned, watching the shakily fleeing green little dinosaur: Catch him, quick! ... Theres another chapter at 11 p.m. Chapter 852: 519, The Warlords Chapter 852: 519, The Warlords National hero Zard, immortal! Fire at me! Fire at me! The motherland is proud of me! The Green Little Dinosaur began by shouting broken Japanese, but he could only say that one phrase. When he wanted to shout something else, he had to switch back to Chinese. Hundreds of members from the Mysterious Business Department surrounded him in a high-speed chase, but little did they know that although he was wearing a Green Little Dinosaur costume, he ran like the wind. A journalist murmured, Is he insane... Seems like it... Since the crossover started, many people, influenced by He Xiaoxiao, considered the Inner World as a large-scale virtual reality game. Later, as everyone became more familiar with the Inner World and understood how cruel it can be, they gradually woke up. However, Zard maintained a spirit of entertainment to death, treating his solo arrival to crash the event like it was a game. Yet, others still couldnt catch him... While fleeing, the Green Little Dinosaurs figure was also captured by reporters outside. Dozens of cameramen outside pointed their lenses at him. The members of the Mysterious Business Department no longer hesitated, forming a defensive line with hundreds of people to block his path, unlocking the firearms and starting to shoot. But strangely, even though the bullets hit the Green Little Dinosaur and the violent metal storm ruthlessly ripped his costume to shards and holes, the Green Little Dinosaur kept running as if nothing had happened. The members of the Mysterious Business Department were shocked, for although there were many Transcendents, no one could withstand such gunfire. Not even a Demigod had such abilities! In the next instant, Zards Green Little Dinosaur costume seemed like a layer of wax, and the metal storm was like hot oil, stripping off this layer of wax revealing the young man sprinting beneath. The young man suddenly squatted down, placing his hands on the ground: Burial! In an instant, the large plaza outside Osaka City Hall sandified, a giant pit collapsed, and members of the Mysterious Business Department fell in. No dust, the stones turned to grains without dust, only sand. Zards hands pressed on the ground, and in front of him, the surface cracked and spread like the veins of a human arm. This madman shed his costume, displaying unimaginable power like a god descending. Zard roared: Merge! At the edge of the pit, the flowing sand hung like waterfalls on the cliffs side, instantly burying the hundreds of Mysterious Business Department members. The ground was smooth. As if nothing had happened. This unexpected scene was so shocking that the reporters outside the plaza captured it, watching the young man who buried hundreds with strange power slowly approach. Zard revealed his true face and openly came to the camera. Without waiting for the reporters to say anything, he spoke: I came to this Island Country because I thought everyone was having so much fun here, living splendidly... Zard, the habitual chatterbox, hesitated, thinking that directly expressing envy of those fierce people blowing up the Shrine might make him look like a follower. But he had to say something. In the silence, the reporters held their cameras, trembling, afraid to provoke this madman. Then, Zard suddenly adjusted his clothes, facing the camera: Thanks to my dad and mom, thanks to the director, thanks to the producer for giving me this opportunity... Reporter: ??? Camera operator: ??? Are you accepting an award?! Oh, right, Zard suddenly said to the camera, I forgot to say the important thing... Remember, this is my pledge! Not far away, the sound of engines roaring came. Within a 3000-meter-radius blockade, countless Mysterious Business Department members were converging. The reporters thought they had to get away quickly; otherwise, theyd be implicated when the Mysterious Business Department caught this madman. But before they could run, the young man laughed: Too late. Saying this, he opened his arms and fell backward. At the moment his body touched the ground, it shattered into sand. A reporter shouted at the cameraman: Did you capture that?! How did he disappear?! A single person wiped out a wave of Mysterious Business Department security personnel at Osaka City Hall plaza and then easily escaped?! Wait, where are the chosen ones of the Mysterious Business Department? Why arent they targeting this madman? As they pondered, dense gunfire erupted inside Osaka City Hall. Inside the building, members of the Mysterious Business Department fell like dumplings from shattered floor-to-ceiling windows. ... ... The massacre at the press conference was too sudden, and the appearance of the Green Little Dinosaur outside happened too quickly. Two people acted simultaneously, forming an unexpectedly tacit collaboration despite no prior arrangement. Qing Chen inside the venue blew away the encirclement with a breath of cloud gas. As the explosions sounded, the whole building fell into panic, and journalists and staff ran out in a frenzy. The explosions, mixed with the fear of witnessing hundreds of Mysterious Business Department members turning into blood mist, made all non-combat personnel lose their ability to think normally. Qing Chen only needed to incite chaos today, enlarge the situation, forcing the Mysterious Business Department to pull personnel from Hokkaido, without any intention to fight to the death. This building wasnt suitable for a death match. If the Mysterious Business Department members from the blockade converged, even ten lives wouldnt suffice. Qing Chen mixed into the crowd amidst the chaos, but several elite combat groups locked onto his clothing and appearance. The press conference was held on the third floor. The fleeing journalists ran downstairs, while Qing Chen separated from the crowd and ran upstairs. In the Mysterious Business Departments combat channel, Jindai Yunwus voice echoed: Attention, attention, the target is not mixed in with the crowd. Hes running upstairs; everyone enters the building and searches upward, sealing all routes! He cant escape anymore. Check every room, every corner, even if the search is slow, do not miss any details! In the chase, the Mysterious Business Department kept suffering casualties. Qing Chen realized that todays security personnel in the building were just ordinary soldiers, not even one Genetic Warrior. In other words, these were the Mysterious Business Departments troops in the Outer World, without Time Travelers. This was the Mysterious Business Department using ordinary soldiers lives in a strategic trap. But the question remained, since its a trap and hes already here, why havent the Mysterious Business Departments chosen ones surrounded him? What are they waiting for? From the moment he arrived in Osaka, many things seemed bizarre. The Mysterious Business Departments behavior suddenly changed, becoming unpredictable. Someone was breaking the usual patterns, weaving a net. Qing Chen realized that although the Mysterious Business Department had seven chosen ones as leaders, and Jindai Yunxiu openly controlled all Time Travelers, Jindai Yunxiu seemed to be a puppet pushed to the forefront. Now, Qing Chen knew he was confronting the real power holder, who was using Qing Chens return to Osaka to accomplish something. Sir, the target suddenly disappeared on the 8th floor! Jindai Yunwu raised his voice on the communication channel: Disappeared? How did he disappear?! Reporting, sir... We dont know. Jindai Yunwus voice turned icy: Everyone, remove your tactical helmets, each team verify your companions identities, and continue to search the entire building for bodies or signs of combat! He suspected that someone had infiltrated their ranks. But after removing helmets, no strangers were found among the teams, and searching the whole building revealed no extra bodies. Qing Chen seemed to have vanished. ... ... On the rooftop terrace of Osaka City Hall. Jindai Sorajima stood at the edge and asked: If he directly charges at the terrace, do we need to fight him directly? Jindai Yunxiu, his muscles bulging, calmly replied: If he charges up, so be it. Has the Yunwai Mirror marked him? Jindai Sorajima nodded: Marked. Good, lets proceed as planned. Chapter 853: 520, ATS-088 Shikigami, Clouds Outer Mirror Chapter 853: 520, ATS-088 Shikigami, Clouds Outer Mirror He Xiaoxiao was in the group. King Chuang: I want to know if that Zard who suddenly appeared in the Island Country is the Zard from our group... There is no wall in the world that can keep a secret. With so many reporters and media outside Osaka City Hall, the video spread worldwide within just over an hour. Among those videos, from Zard appearing as a Green Little Dinosaur to later using Earth Elemental Powers to kill hundreds, the footage was shaky but remarkably complete. That shocking scene was like a foreign sci-fi blockbuster. When the video was first uploaded to Bilibili in China, the bullet comments were all amazed: What movie is this?, The special effects are incredible, burning the budget. At that time, most people didnt know who Zard was or what had happened. It wasnt until fifty minutes later that complete information arrived from the Island Country, revealing that a Time Traveler named Zard had made a move at Osaka City Hall... This was a real battle! In no time, Zards name quickly climbed the hot search, but despite this, very few people knew anything about him, even Time Travelers hadnt heard of him. In the group chat, the usually silent Guan Jue suddenly spoke up: Whats strange is, experts with Earth Elemental Powers are rare. If the Inner World had such an expert, they should be famous, but has anyone heard of him? The real identity of Guan Jue was once determined by Qing Chen to be Qing Yuan. This person rarely spoke in the group, but Zards issue had managed to lure him out. In recent years, indeed no Earth Element Awakeners of this level have appeared, ACE-999 said in the group, Earth powers can let one tunnel underground, come and go without a trace, eavesdrop on secrets using sand vibration, and even travel through walls. Normally, such Awakeners are recruited or monitored by major conglomerates immediately upon appearing. So, I guess this Zard is some conglomerates hidden assassin, like Qing Ye in Qings Family Secret Squad once was. King Chuang: Even Boss He hasnt heard of him, it truly is mysterious... But what does he mean by pledge of allegiance, and to whom? Leader of the Red Umbrella Organization, Xiao Ran, said: Hes been saying he wants to join Daytime, this pledge is probably for Daytime. From what I know, while he was on a killing spree outside, someone inside Osaka City Hall was too. It seems that person should be the Boss of Daytime. Daytime member Qing Chen was captured by Jindai, the Boss must be avenging his important member. Xiao Ran continued: From current information, this Boss of Daytime killed over three hundred people in an instant at Takayama Hida, and killed another hundred at the press conference with a piece of paper. This power is truly frightening. Among domestic Time Travelers, he is definitely one of the top Chosen Ones. In Haicheng, Matrix leader Chen Sui was silently reading this sentence while looking at his phone screen. Just a while ago, he had tried to poach Daytimes Hu Xiaoniu and Zhang Tianzhen. In his view, Daytime had caused tremendous trouble and was now struggling to survive, so Hu Xiaoniu and Zhang Tianzhen should look out for themselves. However, Chen Sui never imagined such a terrifying international incident caused by Daytime, the group he believed would be doomed. To kill their way into the Island Country, destroy more than ten Shrines, and go on a killing spreethat was beyond anything he dared to imagine! He miscalculated Daytimes situation. He also miscalculated Daytimes confidence. So, this was the reason Hu Xiaoniu and Zhang Tianzhen refused him. Of course, Chen Sui didnt know that the achievements of Daytime members were all thanks to Qing Chen. Moreover, Qing Chen wasnt a Chosen One; his power was earned through blood and sweat. King Chuang: Has anyone heard of such killing techniques in the Inner World? ACE-999: No, although Transcendent abilities vary, such techniques have never appeared in Federation history. King Chuang: Strange, two experts fought today, their methods so distinctive, yet identities cant be confirmed... But isnt Zard one of Huan Yus people? Why suddenly talk about pledging to someone else. @Huan Yu. King Chuang didnt shy away from stirring up trouble. Unwavering in his pursuit of drama, he tagged specifically. The group suddenly fell silent, everyone waiting for Huan Yus reply. Who knows how long it took. Zard: I am currently still part of Huan Yu. The main person involved in the hot search incident finally appeared! Zard chatting casually in the group indicated he was safe and escaped the Mysterious Business Departments pursuit! Yet, the group members found it odd, what does currently still mean... Could a member discuss the intention to jump ship so openly? Huan Yu seemingly couldnt hold back: You call this a vacation and relaxation?! Zard: Boss, I bought a lot of stuff for you in Osaka, including a bottle of 50-year-old Yamazaki whiskey! Even though my body is helping Daytime, the money is spent on you! Huan Yu: ...Get lost! Guan Jue: Wait a moment, I remember during the earlier Time Travelers Joint Conference, there was a commotion at the Longhu Commune caused by a green little dinosaur and a Pikachu. That little dinosaur and this one should be the same person, so is Pikachu Huan Yu? The group chat went silent again. Last time new members joined the group, bosses from organizations like Mountain City Spicy Chicken, Jian Shouqing, Haicheng Takeshi Kaneshiro, and Xiao Ran were all added to the group chat. Basically, famous and organized Time Traveler groups were all present here, so it was impossible to miss Bright Commune. Thus, everyone knew Guan Jues identity. And the Little Dinosaur and Pikachu previously caused havoc within Bright Communes Longhu Commune... Their antics left a deep impression. After a long silence, Guan Jue asked: Dont you two want to explain? Why silent all of a sudden? Zard: Hold on, let Huan Yu think up a good excuse. Huan Yu: Are you a damn dog??? Group members recalled when everyone first joined the group, Huan Yu was cool and mysterious, until Zard forcibly dismantled that image. ... ... Evening. Osaka City Hall started changing defenses. A staff member carrying a briefcase walked out of Osaka City Hall and turned into an apartment building in Dotonbori Town. He arrived outside a strangers apartment and checked the mens shoes on the shoe rack outside. Confirming there was no breathing inside, he reached out to twist the handle. The black Tail ring on his little finger spun like water, and with a click, the door opened. He stepped inside and came out minutes later with new clothes and a new appearance. It seemed to start a new life. This ability to hide and blend in is beyond any spy, an insanely efficient skill. Qing Chen stretched his body, took out his phone, and asked Yangyang, Have the people from Hokkaido retreated? Yangyang replied, Wait a moment, Ill check after this game. Qing Chen: ? He suddenly sensed something was off. Yangyang seemed to be playing a game? Qing Chen: You took Xiaozhenji to a cyber cafe? Yangyang: The cyber cafes here are quite cozy, Xiaozhenji is delighted. Qing Chen: ? Can this be reliable at all? After a while, Yangyang replied, No, the Mysterious Business Department hasnt retreated. Ive locked onto each of their force fields and confirmed theyre still hiding in nearby buildings. Qing Chen frowned. Despite the massive commotion at Osaka City Hall, an Earth Element A-Class Awakener appearing, the Mysterious Business Department was still targeting Xiaozhenjis mom? Yangyang: I need to tell you something. Earlier, to avoid detection, I was flying at high altitude and missed some details. Today, I got closer and found Jindai Yunlos force field fluctuations abnormal. Based on the force field scale, hes merely a C-Class expert. Qing Chen pondered. Jindai Yunlo as a Chosen One couldnt possibly be just C-Class, even if Onmyoji bodies are weaker than usual Transcendents, Yangyang couldnt have misjudged so drastically. He suddenly realized something went wrong since the Mysterious Business Department sent reinforcements to Hokkaido. Jindai Yunlo likely didnt expect a Force Field Awakener capable of seeing through the fog to exist in Hokkaido. These people werent there to capture Jinguji Maki. Their purpose in Hokkaido was to force Qing Chen to act quickly. Yangyang: Be careful. Qing Chen: Thanks. Combining todays ordinary security team at Osaka City Hall with the absence of any Chosen Ones for the bounty, the oddities grew. Qing Chen felt a vast net tightening over his head. However, Qing Chen didnt panic. He turned off his phone and went outside, intending to taste Osakas teppanyaki Wagyu beef. ... ...... In Osaka City Halls underground shelter, dozens of security personnels bodies were laid neatly, covered with plain white cloth. The air was cold and dim within the shelter, creating a particularly oppressive and heavy atmosphere. All these people died at Qing Chens hands. Jindai Sorajima walked through the shelter, observed silently by Jindai Yunwu, Jindai Yunxiu, and others. Except for Jindai Yunlo, all Chosen Ones were present. Jindai Sorajima extended her hand; a palm-sized mirror floated above. She approached a corpse and drew a pentagram on its chest with her sharp nails. As the body quickly withered into dust, the mirror absorbed the corpse. Soon, a strangers image appeared in the mirror, sitting at a teppanyaki restaurant, eating beef. This ATS-088 Shikigami Cloud Mirror used the dead bodies to exchange for the killers information. The Hyakki Night Trip Guide described this Cloud Mirror as a century-old mirror demon that counters ATS-087 Shikigami Face Aura. After ten seconds, the mirror dimmed. Jindai Yunwu sneered: His mental fortitude is impressive, killing so many of our people, yet eating with such an appetite, no wonder he dared to return to Osaka. Jindai Sorajima said: He is skilled in disguises, quickly adopting a new face. However, he didnt seem to have plans to meet his companions, always moving alone. Jindai Yunxiu closed her eyes and said: Wait, after four hours, check again for clues about his companions. The Earth Element Awakener unexpectedly appeared, posing considerable threat. We should strive to capture them all. The frequency of Cloud Mirror use is every four hours. After four hours, Jindai Sorajima sacrificed another corpse, revealing the same person now waiting for a grilled king crab leg. Jindai Yunwu laughed angrily: He sure can eat. If we exhaust our corpses here, yet his companions dont show, and he leaves Osaka, Cloud Mirror wont trace him. Better to move now; if the Earth Element Awakener leaves traces underground, well find him too. Weve gauged the strength of the person in the mirror, I and Yun Ye, Yun Jue will shoot together to kill him. Jindai Yunxiu contemplated: Wait until he sleeps tonight. ... Another chapter at 11 PM, seeking votes for Golden Keyboard support, every daily share activity offers a free vote~ Chapter 854: 521, Zards Inner World identity Chapter 854: 521, Zards Inner World identity Countdown to time travel, eighth day. In the silent bunker, Jindai Sorajima was sitting cross-legged among the rows of corpses and white cloth, practicing. The light of the incandescent lamp was bleak, but this woman showed no fear, seemingly well accustomed to such an environment. It was already midnight, and footsteps echoed in the bunker. Jindai Yunwu and several others returned here: Weve waited so long, why havent we received the order to leave? Jindai Sorajima opened her eyes and glanced at the three: Jindai Yunxius plan is to act when he falls asleep. And then? Jindai Yunwu frowned. Jindai Sorajima: He hasnt slept at all, what can I do? ...What is he doing? Jindai Yunwu asked. Jindai Sorajima looked at the time, and then sliced open another corpses chest for sacrifice. In the cloud mirror, Qing Chen was picking up a piece of ox tongue, dipping it fully in sauce before putting it in his mouth. In this empty bunker, you could even hear the sound of someone swallowing. The cloud mirror fell into darkness again after ten seconds. This is the ox tongue restaurant beside Dotonbori, Ive been there, Jindai Yunwu said, face grim: How long has he been eating? Jindai Sorajima replied: Eight hours. ...Does he know hes going to die, so hes eating to his hearts content? Jindai Yunwu sneered. Just then, Jindai Yunlo, dressed in white hunting clothes, emerged from the darkness and spoke slowly: If the three of you dont dare to act, Ill do it. Jindai Yunxiu, who was muscular, frowned: Jindai Yunlo, where have you been these past two days? Why are you acting alone? Jindai Yunlo smiled: I dont have to report to you. Alright, Ill handle this person, you can rest. Jindai Sorajima, where is he now? Jindai Yunxiu stepped forward: If you want to challenge my authority, you can wait until the next time we cross over and speak with the ten directors, not act privately now. The so-called ten directors are known externally as the Ten Eunuchs of Jindai. Jindai Yunlo smiled warmly: Using the directors to suppress me? Jindai Yunwu interrupted their argument, sneering: Its not your turn to kill this person; Yun Ye, Yun Jue and I will go now. With that, the three turned and walked out of the bunker. After the footsteps faded, Jindai Yunxiu suddenly said: Jindai Yunwu is expected to have the opportunity to be promoted to A-Class within one or two years. Now, with few shikigami left in the Clans Divine Bridge, if Red Leaf Hunter returns to the Divine Bridge, upon his promotion to A-Class, he will summon three shikigami and likely obtain Red Leaf Hunter. Although we dont know how the Daytime Boss took Red Leaf Hunter away, finding him will lead us to Red Leaf Hunter. Jindai Sorajima pondered: Jindai Yunwu is truly a cultivation prodigy; he might not need to wait one or two years. Jindai Yunlo laughed: Such impatience, what can promotion to A-Class achieve? Yunxiu, Sorajima, there are only eight days left until the time travel, we must complete our moves before then. The Daytime Boss must not have the chance to return. Understood, Jindai Yunxiu nodded. These two, who were just arguing, were now particularly harmonious. Jindai Sorajima suddenly said: Jinguji Maki must also be found; she might be very helpful to our plan. Jindai Yunlo chuckled and touched Jindai Sorajimas head: If our success relies on a nine-year-old girl, then we dont deserve that future. ... ... In the most famous ox tongue restaurant in Dotonbori, Qing Chen was eating tender ox tongue when a young man with a backpack suddenly sat down across from him and bluntly said: You dont sleep in the middle of the night? Hey, the young man noticed the bowl and chopsticks in front of Qing Chen: Are you waiting for me? Qing Chen looked up at him, then took a tiny white grain from his hair and placed it in his open palm: Im not waiting for you; rather, you should tell me what you want from me. Hey, you even noticed that? The opposite Zard took chopsticks and tightly hugged his backpack. During the day, the Green Little Dinosaur first threw a bag of explosives into Osaka City Hall, unnoticed by everyone. The explosives were actually wrapped with a handful of white sand. After performing the terrifying burial technique, the Little Dinosaur didnt leave, but stayed hidden in the underground of Osaka City Hall. Qing Chen asked curiously: Whats in your bag? What kind of expert is afraid of being robbed? Zard grinned and said: I bought whiskey for our boss, its super expensive. Im acting alone this time, if I dont bring something back, he might kill me to silence me. So, Huan Yu is indeed a chosen one and has the ability to kill you, Qing Chen nodded: That reminds me to be careful. Youre a funny guy. Dont think too much while eating; youre the Thousand-faced God hiding your tracks in the city, who can do anything to you? Zard said to the store clerk: Another ten servings of ox tongue, put it on his tab! Osaka is a tourist hotspot for Chinese people, with millions visiting yearly. Hence, nearby drugstores and barbecue shops often hire Chinese students or those who can speak some Chinese. Especially in luxury stores like Chanel in Shinsaibashi, there are always Chinese sales staff. Talk aside, dont put the ox tongue bill on me, thank you, Qing Chen said seriously. I caused chaos for you during the day, otherwise, would it be so easy for you to escape? Zard said righteously: Doing so much for you, eating a few servings of ox tongue shouldnt be too much. What do you do in the Inner World? Which force are you part of? Qing Chen asked. Zard glanced around to make sure no one was paying attention before lowering his voice: Im part of a secret organization that hunts aliens to protect the Federation. Qing Chen said coldly: There are no aliens. Zard lowered his voice further: Have you seen aliens? Qing Chen replied: No. Zard: No need for formalities, its my duty to do so. Qing Chen raised his eyebrows. This Zard was known to be bluffing in group chats, but he turned out to be more absurd offline. However, Qing Chen had already guessed Zards identity. He continued asking: You have the ability to travel underground; leaving the Island Country should be easy for you. Its not, Zard sighed. Cant you escape from the seabed? Qing Chen asked. I have to surface to breathe periodically while traveling underground. How do I surface in the strait? Even if I do, its the seabed, still no oxygen, Zard said, swallowing ox tongue voraciously, his mouth full: So I need to take a boat or a plane. You know, my ability is useless on boats and planes, so helping you was indeed dangerous. Qing Chen didnt believe this nonsense; this guy could gather sand into a human form, so naturally, he could gather a new face on his skin to pass through customs, making it not difficult to leave the Island Country. In other words, Earth Element Awakeners can naturally disguise, sneak, assassinate, and infiltrate, which is why major consortia are particularly cautious about this type of Awakener. But, Zard did help him. Qing Chen asked: Youre helping me, what do you want in return? Zard said: What if I join Daytime? Not happening, Qing Chen shook his head. Indeed, if Daytime had another expert joining, they would gain another Protector. But would Zard really betray Huan Yu? Now, Qing Chen and Huan Yus conflict hasnt settled, so naturally, he wouldnt let this guy join. This guy seemed to be a lunatic, but actually, he had been detail-oriented all along; perhaps getting close to Daytime was just to gather information for Huan Yu. Moreover, how troublesome is Zards current boss, Huan Yu? Who would be willing to be this guys boss just for fun? Only a madman! Nan Gengchen and Liu Dezhu said this guy chatted with them all day, almost making them puke. Zard stuffed ox tongue into his mouth, feeling indignant: Ive contributed so much to the organization, why cant I join?! Daytime doesnt hunt aliens, Qing Chen replied: Different paths, no mutual understanding. Zard was stunned for a moment: Seems reasonable... But rest assured, I will join Daytime someday. By the way, Ive done a lot for the organization, can I see your true face? Qing Chen shook his head: This is my true face. Zard: No one would believe that, this isnt even you! Forget it, I wont get involved tonight, Im leaving. He got up and walked to the kitchen. Came suddenly, left simply. Only Qing Chen was left sitting here. He knew Zard suddenly left because he sensed danger approaching. He looked at his phones messages, put on his coat, and slowly walked out of the ox tongue restaurant. On the long street of Dotonbori Town, even at midnight, it was bustling with traffic and crowded with tourists. Qing Chen walked quietly, heading towards a secluded spot. In the shadows, someone stared at him closely, and a voice came through the communication channel: Target locked at point A. Target locked at point B. In the shadows, Jindai Yunye said calmly: Shoot. The long street suddenly echoed with sniper rifle shots, Qing Chen was shot in the back of his head and fell to the ground. The gunshots startled the long street; tourists screamed and scattered. The members of the Mysterious Business Department quickly rushed over and turned the corpse lying on the ground over: Sir, the target has been killed, but there are no signs of disguise on the face. Jindai Yunye was stunned, this was clearly the person they saw in the cloud mirror, the identity being Qing Chen who was impersonating the Mysterious Business Departments group 3 member, Takahashi Yoshiyoshi. How could it be wrong? Moreover, their people had just entered the ox tongue restaurant to confirm this person was with that Earth Element Awakener! The Jindai family grasped many clues, only unaware of when Qing Chen swapped with the real Takahashi Yoshiyoshi. They didnt know Qing Chen had the Puppeteer. But Qing Chen knew the Jindai family had the shikigami ATS-088 cloud mirror. Chapter 855: 522, good day to everyone Chapter 855: 522, good day to everyone The tourists on the long street of Dotonbori Town were startled by the gunfire, scattering like flocks of birds under the twilight. Only the vibrant neon lights remained unchanged. Hundreds of members of the Mysterious Business Department surrounded the area, with three Chosen Ones sealing off the place simultaneously, creating an oppressive atmosphere akin to a steel fortress. However, despite their massive mobilization, they killed the wrong person. No one knows when this hunting plan went wrong. Qing Chen was mingling with the tourists, fleeing outward, intending to escape this tight blockade. When Qing Chen was informed by Yang Yang that the Jindai Yunlo in Hokkaido wasnt real, he started pondering all the clues. It felt like the moment he was playing chess with Uncle Li Dong again. The fierce soldier crossing the river and the cannon coming straight at him were both illusions. On the chessboard. Only by fighting until the last moment can one know which is the abandoned pawn, who is the victorious general, and who is the one controlling the pieces. The Mysterious Business Departments maneuver to send more personnel was a ruse; they created a sense of crisis, guessing that Qing Chen was drawing attention to Jinguji Maki, hence using her mother as a bargaining chip to force him to act swiftly. The security personnel at Osaka City Hall were sacrificial pawns, merely creating an opportunity to mark him. But those who marked him didnt intend to act personally, so no Chosen Ones appeared at that time. They only acted now because someone intended to use him as the blade to kill those whom they themselves couldnt touch. Qing Chen laughed amidst the tourists. Once he understood everything, he constantly deliberated whether to be that blade. Hus Information Agency documented the ATS-088-type Divine Cloud External Mirror, which could observe Qing Chen for 10 seconds every four hours using the corpse of someone he killed. The observation range was within a two-meter diameter. Recalling this item, Qing Chen waited. After realizing Zard was tampering with him, he hadnt dealt with it, purposely dragging Zard into the mess. But Zard, despite appearing carefree, was meticulous; upon discovering he was conversing with a puppet, he hurriedly fled... As for why Jindai Yunwus people found the wrong place, it was because they saw the logo of the BBQ restaurant in the Divine Cloud External Mirror. A logo Qing Chen intended them to see. Actually, Takahashi Yoshiyoshi and Qing Chen were always in the Dotonbori Grilled Beef Tongue Restaurant, just in two separated but nearby shops. Jindai Sorajima and others mistook the restaurant because Qing Chen had taken tableware with the logo from another shop. Was there a problem with using tableware with Japanese Style BBQ Restaurant logo in Ichihotei BBQ Restaurant? No problem. No one would notice the minor details of different tables from two BBQ restaurants, and the Mysterious Business Department members who entered the BBQ restaurant to check didnt have the chance to see the details in the Divine Cloud External Mirror. No one noticed the transparent thread passing through the roof. Qing Chen handled the bizarre Divine Spirit technique very simply with just a pair of chopsticks. People only believe what they want to see. The simpler it is, the more effective. At this moment, Qing Chen was running with the crowded tourists towards the outer blockade. He had already passed two blockade lines; ahead were only a dozen Mysterious Business Department members. Jindai Yunwu suddenly snarled over the communication channel, Seal this street, the target must still be on this street, they cant be far! Sir, we cant identify their appearance right now, they can disguise themselves. Jindai Yunwu sternly replied, Use the communication vehicle to lock down all surveillance and network signals; kill anyone present and find Red Leaf Hunter for me! Qing Chen heard the voices in those peoples earpieces; he didnt expect Jindais Chosen Ones could be this insane for Red Leaf Hunter. The blockade contained at least eight hundred, if not a thousand, tourists. He ran among the crowd, watching the Mysterious Business Department members unlocking their gun safeties. Qing Chen pressed his lips together; being a blade once, so what? He decided to be that killing blade. As long as Jindais people came his way, there was nothing he couldnt kill. The crux was, the one wishing to borrow the blade probably didnt realize how sharp this blade was or foresee hurting themselves. Qing Chen took out a small bottle from his pocket, used his thumb to smear a drop of blood from the bottle onto his wrist. The Mysterious Business Department members had already raised their gun muzzles, ready to shoot. At the next moment, just as Qing Chens figure encountered the final layer of blockade, he flicked out a playing card between his index and middle fingers, slashing a Mysterious Business Department members neck as he swung his arm. As the two brushed past, a spurting bloodline shot out from the Mysterious Business Department members neck. Two gunshots boomed. Snipers at points A and B fired simultaneously, but Qing Chen moved fast like a ghost among the dozen Mysterious Business Department members, making the bullets hard to lock onto. Regarding the use of sniper rifles, Qing Chen was the god among snipers; he knew their breathing patterns, he understood the heartbeats effect on snipers, and he knew how to mislead them into flawed aim. Thus, amidst the sniper gunfire, Qing Chen maneuvered through the crowd like a shadow, visible yet untouchable. Not only were the snipers unable to lock onto him, but even the dozen Mysterious Business Department members couldnt catch up to his movements despite raising their guns. This was B-Class; this was a level capable of dodging hot weapon bullet trajectories! With a physique increasingly transcending human limits, supporting powerful combat will! The lightweight playing card in his hand, wielded like a knife! Meanwhile, Jindai Yunwu and others were charging towards him, shouting into the communication channels, Are the two snipers useless? Why havent they killed him yet! But by then, the snipers had finished their rounds, beginning to reload. It was during this reload time that one sniper suddenly realized the killer accelerated his pace. The opponent seemed to have calculated their firearms usage, their ammunition capacity, their firing rhythms, then decided when to commence unrestrained slaughter. Elite snipers only needed about three seconds to reload. Yet during these three seconds, the final blockade of the Mysterious Business Department was torn apart. As the snipers chambered rounds, they had to watch helplessly... Before one body hit the ground, Qing Chen lightly plucked the earpiece from the corpses ear, walking out of the torn blockade while laughing, Greetings from Dawn. Dawn! This was Qing Chens first acknowledgment of Dawns name in the Island Country. Actually, Zards appearance had already pointed all fingers at Dawn. Everyone speculated that the killer was Dawns boss. So there was no need for guessing anymore; today, Dawn had a firm place in this world. Today better than yesterday, and tomorrow even better than today. Tonights slaughter had only just begun. ... There will be another chapter at 11 PM Chapter 856: 523, Master and Knight Chapter 856: 523, Master and Knight Midnight, bustling yet filled with a sense of impending doom. On the rooftop of a high-rise building, Si Nianhua stood in the shadow behind a neon sign and said, Arent you going to complete your mission? Ji Guanya stood beside her and sighed, When I received this mission from Boss Li Changqing before returning, I didnt expect it to cause such a ruckus. I thought I just needed to protect him. Si Nianhua pondered for a moment and asked, If this person only needed protection, wouldnt it be boring? Lets move. Ill go find the secret training ground of the Mysterious Business Department, and you go locate those people in the A02 base. This ruthless guy used himself as bait to buy us some destruction space; if we cant complete it, we might as well seek death and apologize to our respective bosses in Inner World. Ji Guanya curled his lips, Its not that strict on our side. However, despite his words, he turned and left. The two places Qing Chen wanted them to sabotage: one was the secret facility used by the Mysterious Business Department to secretly detain Time Travelers. For instance, if Jinguji Maki were captured, she would be held here before being brainwashed. According to estimates, this place held at least two thousand Time Travelers. Previously, he and Yi had launched an online publicity campaign, and now they needed these two thousand witnesses to come forward. The other place was where another group of voluntary pledgers gathered. According to intelligence, although this group had not yet appeared in public, they were undergoing secret training at the A02 base and would be ready to serve as soldiers for the Mysterious Business Department in a month. If Qing Chen crosses over again, these people would certainly be involved in the combat. Since it was impossible in Inner World, he would kill them in Outer World. From the beginning, Qing Chen knew what he was facing, so whether it was killing with a knife or taking on apprentices and children, some things had to be done. At this moment, Si Nianhua, holding binoculars, saw through the neon sign a young man in white hunting clothes standing on another rooftop hundreds of meters away. Just as she looked over, the young man seemed to sense it, turned his head, and nodded slightly towards Si Nianhua with a smile. Si Nianhuas heart skipped a beat! This sixth sense, being able to detect a gaze from hundreds of meters away, was something only an A-Class could have! The next moment, Si Nianhua suddenly bent over, feeling a blade pass behind her. Without hesitation, she dove off the rooftop, not daring to look back to see who had ambushed her! It was too dangerous! In the distance, Jindai Yunlo saw her jump off the building, and a grappling hook flew from his sleeve, hooking onto the structure. The young woman swung back to the staircase and climbed down agilely like a gecko. Jindai Yunlo chuckled, Interesting. Quite a few helpers. Daytime extends greetings to you all... quite imposing, but unfortunately, youre enemies. On the rooftop where Si Nianhua had stood, the Shikigami, Ma Mian Luo Cha, stood at the edge holding a Nine-ringed Blade. The figure, half horse-faced and half human, was incredibly burly, over three meters tall with bulging muscles. With each breath, flames spouted from the horses nostrils. Under the night sky, Si Nianhua pondered in shock, such a formidable figure, why didnt he join the hunt for Qing Chen? Instead, he was here, watching the commotion? ... ... In the Dotonbori direction, Qing Chen didnt linger in battle but immediately turned and left. In the communication channel, Jindai Yunwu said, Follow him, mobilize teams from the other two directions to encircle him. He must not leave alive tonight. Qing Chen ran south along Dotonbori Avenue at high speed. Jindai Yunwu, Jindai Yunye, and Jindai Yunjue formed a triangle and followed behind him. However, Qing Chens escape speed was so fast that they couldnt catch up for a while. Jindai Yunwu said, Yunye, Yunjue, you two are fast. Flank him from the sides. Among the seven chosen ones of the Jindai clan, only four were Onmyoji: Yun Yi, Kong Yu, Yun Luo, and Yun Wu. The other three inherited another tradition called Qieshe Yumian: Yun Xiu, Yun Ye, Yun Jue. This Qieshe Yumian was supported by the Jindai familys unique Breathing Technique, focusing on swordsmanship. Its three most famous techniques were the sword draw, iai, and Qieshe Yumian. No regular blocking training, no other moves, just these three techniques. Ordinary transcendent beings of the same level mostly couldnt withstand the first move. Despite the Jindai familys questionable conduct, their blade skills were undoubtedly masterful. The Qieshe Yumian inheritors had strong physiques, naturally faster than the Onmyoji. Jindai Yunwu didnt want to reveal his Onmyoji cards at this point, so he ordered Yun Ye and Yun Jue to hold Qing Chen for just one minute. One minute was all he needed to kill the Master of Daytime on the spot! Jindai Yunjue and Jindai Yunye exchanged glances and leaped onto the low rooftops flanking the street, moving with extreme agility. The short katanas at their waists swayed in their sheaths. Qing Chen fled along the long street at such a speed that the crowd seemed to retreat behind him. Everyone thought he was escaping, but no one knew he was only selecting the most suitable battlefield for himself. Leaving the snipers range and shaking off those Mysterious Business Department members who couldnt keep up, he then sought the perfect place to kill. Chapter 857: 523, Master and Knight_2 Chapter 857: 523, Master and Knight_2 Escape? What need is there to escape? If the sword is drawn, it must see blood. Many people are puzzled as to why the Master of Daytime would commit a massacre in Osaka: to vent for Qing Chen? To resolve the situation for Qing Chen? No one knows. What is Qing Chen fighting for here exactly? For success not attributed to oneself? For those words, its okay? Qing Chen suddenly turns back. Its right here. Its right now. In the battlefield, only Qing Chen and the three Chosen Ones are left. The pursuing soldiers behind couldnt catch up, and the surrounding units havent arrived yet. Amidst the intertwining neon lights, the atmosphere is tense. No one thought Qing Chen would turn around. Those who saw him turn around did not yet realize they should feel fear. On the rooftop, Jindai Yunye and Jindai Yunjue leap down; their thumbs burst open the sword sheaths, and the snow-bright katanas, like a spill of moonlight, envelop Qing Chens head. The lone boy on the long street looks at the sky full of sword light and reaches out with both hands, flicking simultaneously in the void! He flicks the side of the blade! Shattering! The ringing sound resonates almost simultaneously, and everyone sees the blades of the two katanas break in response. In the horrified eyes of Jindai Yunjue and Jindai Yunye, Qing Chen used his Dragon Fish Rebirth Finger bones as a blade, infused with Knight Vital Energy, to physically break their katanas! Qing Chens hands are stained with blood, his skin cracked from the recoil. But thats not important; whats important is the precision in power utilization, the meticulous calculation of the sword trajectory and speed, and the immense bodily strength? The Qieshe Yumian has been passed down through defeats, but never has someone been so humiliated by having their blade broken by a finger flick! Knight Vital Energy can use anything as a blade. But few would use their own bodies as blades. Not good! Jindai Yunjues heart panicked; his leap had not yet ended, the katana was brokenwould he not be at mercy? This Master of Daytime, how could he be B-Class; how could any B-Class be this fierce? At this moment, a wooden ship manifested above Jindai Yunwus head. The wooden ship, three stories high like a palace building, brilliantly illuminated. But upon closer look, there is a giant clam beneath the ship. ATS-127 shikigami, Mirage Tower! The clam opened and closed, and the surrounding buildings and neon lights on the long street vanished, turning into another scene. The two who nearly lost their lives, Yunjue and Yunye, disappeared without a trace in the Mirage Tower. So its you, Qing Chen smirked coldly. Back in Los Angeles City, there was a Jindai family expert proficient in illusions who appeared, intending to cover for teammates escaping, but the teammates were sniped by Qing Chen. However, the illusion-expert Jindai escaped. Afterward, Qing Chen was cautious for a time, fearing the Jindai expert would seek revenge on Daytime; unexpectedly, they had escaped back to the Island Country. Perfect, settling new and old scores together. In the illusionary Mirage Tower, everything Qing Chen saw was false, even the ground was fake; what should have been speed bumps was now smooth. Transcendents fighting in such an environment were as good as blind. Jindai Yunwu slowly approached, signaling to Yunye and Yunjue, though they seemed unaffected. Qing Chen stood quietly; in a flash, a sound of wind came from the left, but he saw nothing. He swiftly retreated, his clothes on the chest were sliced open by the broken blade, and crimson blood flowed from the half-centimeter skin wound. Jindai Yunwu sneered, as long as someone kept the Master of Daytime in check, he could be dealt with at will. But at this very moment, he saw Qing Chen close his eyes. Unable to see the real environment, Qing Chen relied on his unmatched memory. Though the approaching blade remained invisible, he heard the sound. The next moment, Jindai Yunye swung the blade forward. In a shocking turn, the blindfolded Qing Chen simply turned slightly, narrowly dodging the blade edge. But it wasnt over. With eyes closed, as if standing in darkness, Qing Chen breathed in the world. As the blade edge brushed past him, he reacted faster. Magically, a playing card appeared between his fingers, slicing along the blade and cutting through the arm of the blade-wielder from bottom to top. The joker card, stained gray, turned red. Jindai Yunye screamed and retreated; his elongated arm was split into two by the playing card, breaking his radius and ulna. Qing Chen didnt chase. The precision of this blade was such that Jindai Yunjue dared not approach. The blindfolded fierce figure seemed to ignore the Mirage Tower, the darkness, sensing everything with his heart. Amidst Jindai Yunwus panic. Qing Chen inclined his body like an arrow ready to launch. His legs coiled like a sprinter in a race, erupting with power, darting straight at Jindai Yunwu. Jindai Yunwus face twisted. From his shadow, a slender woman dressed in black emerged, like a figure stepping out of a well. ATS-046 shikigami, Shadow Girl, traversing shadows, killing in the night. Soon after, a woman in white kimono, as pure as snow, descended from the sky, blown by a gust of snowy wind. ATS-089 shikigami, Shiva! Whether it was genuine courage or mere bravado, Jindai Yunwu roared, Kill! Three shikigami had gathered, but Qing Chen could only hear and not see. Jindai Yunjue silently observed, and Jindai Yunlo also watched quietly from the high building. Shadow Girl had drawn out a black stinger from the darkness. Shiva had thirty-six ice needles floating in front of her. Yet Qing Chen didnt stop. No one understood why he didnt stop. Beside Jindai Yunlo, Jindai Sorajima calmly said, Its a pity. Jindai Yunlo said nothing. Qing Chen sensed the chilling killing intent ahead and remembered why he fought this battle. For himself. For Jinguji Maki! He had come into the killing fray of the shikigami, then commanded with one word, Kneel! A grand and resolute voice! Resonating loud and clear! Jindai Yunlo frowned, as Qing Chens voice seemed like a divine decree, commanding the shikigami to kneel, and they did! Shadow Girl gracefully bowed, the flying Shiva descended slowly, and even the Mirage Tower extinguished its lights. Jindai Yunwus pupils contracted, before he could react, Qing Chen brushed past him, leaving the joker card in his heart. This battle, Qing Chen fought for Jinguji Maki. Initially, Jindai Yunyi contacted via satellite phone, declaring the killer could command the shikigami, yet not revealing who. So Qing Chen just applied Jinguji Makis blood on his wrist, making everyone believe he could command the gods. Not Xiao Zhenji. Hence, Jindais attention would focus solely on him, leaving the little girl worry-free for years. No one would ponder over an insignificant girl, nor her mother. This action was perilously risky. But its okay. As a mentor, one naturally bears everything for the disciple. Just like Uncle Li sheltered him from the storm. This is a knight. Chapter 858: 524, The Palace Suppressing Divine Spirits Chapter 858: 524, The Palace Suppressing Divine Spirits Jindai Yunwu is dead. A once-in-a-generation prodigy, an Onmyoji of the Jindai family imbued with high hopes, has fallen in the Outer World. The blood-soaked Joker card pinned to his chest still silently mocks him. However, his death is not as shocking as the command kneel. The Onmyoji, with a legacy spanning over a thousand years, holds sacrificial rites for the Jindai family. Every spring, the Onmyoji priests at the Shrine perform ritual dances with Shikigami under the cherry blossoms to worship the gods. Though the Onmyoji have rarely participated in the Federations wars recently, everyone knows their immense power as the foundation of the Jindai family. Yet, this mysterious and ancient lineage. And these formidable Shikigami. Actually knelt with a dogeza bow to a mortals command to kneel. Humiliating. Reverent. Not far away, Jindai Yunjue stood dumbfounded, the shock within him even greater than when his blade was snapped by someones finger. He felt a dark surge pounding against his heart, his heart like stiff rock. Jindai Yunye also stared in a daze, not even feeling the pain from the arm he lost to a sliced playing card. He sensed something sacred collapsing in his heart. With this kneel, something holy had also knelt. How could anything in this world naturally restrain Shikigami?! On the rooftop, Jindai Sorajima murmured, Brother Yunlo, what is going on? Jindai Yunlo quietly overlooked the world below: Jindai Yunyi reported that someone can subdue Shikigami. I wondered if that was an excuse for his defeat, but it turned out to be true. Such a person cannot be allowed to live; he will destroy the foundation of Onmyoji, the thing called source.'' Jindai Sorajimas face was resolute: Brother Yunlo, let me take action. Jindai Yunlo shook his head: Dont worry, someone will act. But not now; this blade is still useful. ... ... In fact, everything Qing Chen did was already to the limit. Jinguji Makis blood had a deterrent range of only ten meters, and under the influence of Mirage Tower, Qing Chen couldnt see Jindai Yunwu or the Shikigami at all. He had to rely on sound. So, he charged blindly, with a reckless attitude, rushing through the hundreds of meters between him and the enemies, only uttering kneel within ten meters. Everything seemed flawless. Everyone thought the word kneel made the Shikigami bow, but it wasnt. What truly made them kneel was Jinguji Makis blood. However, Qing Chen let everyone believe it was his edict that did it, and that was enough. From now on, he would be the thorn in the side of the Jindai family, while Jinguji Maki could continue her peaceful life. That was enough. This is the role of a master. Yet, at that moment, an unexpected event occurred. After Jindai Yunwu died, the three masterless Shikigami, as if detecting something, turned into wisps of red smoke and entered Qing Chens wrist. There was an unseen crimson mark on Qing Chens wrist, irresistibly enticing to the Shikigami. Guided by that blood, they coursed into Qing Chens body, marching towards his mind, searching for the supposed Divine Bridge. The true Divine Bridge. Observing this scene, Jindai Yunlos expression shifted, losing the prior calmness. He stared intently at Qing Chen: Ordinary people lack a place in their minds for Shikigami and cannot withstand their backlash! Forcibly accepting Shikigami can only lead to death! But upon entering Qing Chens mind, the three Shikigami found nothing they sought! No place of rest existed here! The building of Mirage Tower began to shake, the Shadow Girl wailing mournfully in Qing Chens mind, while Shiva tried to freeze all consciousness within. Shikigami are the manifested spiritual wills of deceased beings, and these three Shikigami were all vengeful spirits. When they began losing their sanity, their grudge could almost destroy the world. Qing Chen felt his mind in chaos, body losing balance, and he fell to one knee. Under the neon lights of the long street, Jindai Yunjue keenly sensed the anomaly: Attack! He lowered his torso and sheathed his blade. He seemed like a statue, all his energy and spirit receding into the sheathed blade. Draw the blade, nurture spirit! Kill! Jindai Yunjue roared, launching himself like a projectile at Qing Chen, the hilt of his katana ejecting from the scabbard, a silver light bursting forth. As the katana was drawn, the broken edge had been miraculously replaced by a silver glow! Yet Qing Chens consciousness remained entangled with the three Shikigami. Hearing the wind, he instinctively dodged but couldnt muster full strength due to the dizziness in his mind. This first strike of Jindai Yunjue left another severe wound on his chest, forcing him back several steps, staggering to one knee in pain. But the blade did not stop. Draw, Iaido, Qieshe Yumianthese formed a continuous killing technique. In regular Island Country swordsmanship, Iaido is the act of drawing the sword, but in the Jindai familys way, Iaido is sheathing the blade. Drawing emphasizes speed, precision, and ruthlessness, cutting down foes with unmatched momentum. Iaido emphasizes the resoluteness of sheathing, the person must die when the sword returns to the scabbard. At this moment, the gleaming katana already slashed back, yet Qing Chen had not regained clarity. If this continued, he would die. Qing Chen felt the violent agitation of the Shikigami in his mind. He couldnt die yet. No one knew how much a knight would sacrifice for his disciple! Qing Chen not only needed to clear Jinguji Maki of suspicion, not only to exact revenge on the Jindai family, he needed to return alive. That little girl on the Ferris wheel, standing amidst the fireworks, tearfully said, her grandmother told her there were still things worth looking forward to in her life. From then on, the little girl kept hoping, watching through the winter window, separated by thick and distant snow, for when that anticipated moment would come. Now, she had finally found something worth looking forward to in her life, this hope that lasted for nine years couldnt be so fleeting. In a critical moment, a resonant roar echoed in Qing Chens mind: Enough! All of you, get in! The Shadow Girl still wailed mournfully, yet suddenly found a grand palace bearing down. The palace abruptly threw open three vast doors, the dark openings sucking all three Shikigami inside. Bang. The doors closed once more, and Qing Chens mind returned to peace. The three Shikigami were truly suppressed by the Memory Palace! The katana approached. Jindai Yunjue slashed at close range, but suddenly saw the ferocious figure who was half kneeling there pull out a black sniper rifle. Furious! Thundering! The 12.7 caliber bullet spiraled from the guns chamber, the precise rifling driving it to frenzy! The supposedly victorious Jindai Yunjue had his heart shattered at such close range. With his speed, he could have dodged the trajectory if it wasnt for the full-force blade draw. He never expected Qing Chen to carry a sniper rifle nor use an anti-materiel sniper as a close-quarter cannon! Tonights hunt ended with two prodigies dead and one injured. ... ... No. It wasnt over yet. True hunters are always the most patient. As Jindai Yunjue died, the blade handler would destroy the blade. The moment he died, a blade flash emerged behind Qing Chens kneeling form! This slashs momentum was as long as a galaxy hanging low, the heavenly rivers bed ruptured, and a waterfall crashed down. Qieshe Yumian! Yet meeting this silver waterfall wasnt Qing Chens body, but several zhang tall walls of sand suddenly rising from the ground! Blade flash! Smoke and dust! The collision mingled with killing intent. Jindai Yunxius dozen meters long silver slashing light amidst the autumns shocking brilliance, violently split the walls apart. Landing on Qing Chen. Thankfully, the walls were sturdy, the blade only pushing Qing Chen more than a zhang away without destroying his vitality. As Qing Chen looked up, he saw words on the wall. Pledge, +1! For a moment, Qing Chen didnt know whether to laugh or cry, but Zard remained unserious as always. While thinking, the walls grew once more, firmly trapping the burly, black-suited Jindai Yunxiu inside. Qing Chen turned and ran, this time genuinely leaving. Though he successfully suppressed the Shikigami, the burst of the three Shikigami also left him somewhat dazed. At this point, he was far from his prime, the twenty-centimeter long wound across his chest starting to hurt. Are we just letting him go? This time, Jindai Sorajima watched Qing Chen swiftly retreat, feeling unsettled. With Yunyis Red Leaf Hunter, Fire Fox, Mountain Child, and now the Shadow Girl, Shiva, Mirage Towersix Shikigami in total missing from the Onmyoji. The Onmyoji couldnt bear such losses, as no new Shikigami had emerged in a thousand years! Jindai Sorajima glanced at Yunlo: Brother Yunlo, what do we do? Jindai Yunlo said: Ill handle it. Ill keep the Awakener busy, and Yunxiu can finish off the Master of Daytime. All plans tonight proceeded as scheduled, but now an accident emerged. He intended to kill two birds with one stone, but the blade hurt himself. Ma Mian Luo Cha, Skeleton Woman materialized behind him, but at the moment Jindai Yunlo wanted to send them out, he abruptly looked toward the adjacent rooftop, where he planned to assassinate Si Nianhua. Under the night sky, a young man in a gray suit leaned on a black scepter, smiling at Jindai Yunlo and Jindai Sorajima. Chapter 859: 525, even a master has a master Chapter 859: 525, even a master has a master Jindai Yunlo calmly looked and said, Boss He, Ive heard a lot about you. He Jinqius signature gray suit and black scepter were incredibly recognizable. Previously, in the Middle East and North America, the Time Travelers who wanted to hunt He Jinqiu were told to look for an Asian young man holding a black scepter... That black scepter had become inseparable from He Jinqiu for some time now. You speak Chinese, and quite fluently, He Jinqiu said with a smile, It seems theres no doubt youve reverse-traveled. Such a master reverse-traveling here, your ambition isnt small. The indigenous Time Travelers of the Island Country usually didnt speak Chinese, but 99% of the Jindai family members in the Inside World Federation did, since Chinese was the official language of the Federation. Two great masters stood at the clouds edge, the air between them turbulent with their auras pull. Jindai Yunlo in white hunting clothes floated ethereally on the rooftop, He Jinqius suit was neatly pressedneither looked like they were about to battle but rather attend a grand banquet together. Behind the white hunting clothes, the Hundred-Eyed Demon, Shiki Hori, Ma Mian Luo Cha, Skeleton Woman, Tian Jingxia, and Bai Rongyi manifested one by one. Wow, He Jinqiu admired, Very impressive. I can only imagine the shock when your ancestor released twelve shikigami at once. Jindai Yunlo was silent for a moment, then smiled and asked, You came here and killed so many people, why do you still look so justified? He Jinqiu countered, Those people moved the Inner World conglomerates disregard for human life to the Outer World, didnt they deserve to die? Jindai Yunlo thought for a while, Indeed. Interesting, Boss He knocked on his black scepter, Youre quite the anomaly in the Jindai family. I can roughly guess what youre trying to do, but I dont think youll succeed. I bet you dont know what Im trying to do, Jindai Yunlo smiled and asked, Whats this, are you trying to protect that Master of Daytime? He Jinqiu seriously corrected, We are not protecting any organizations boss, its just that Kyushu has an obligation to ensure our citizens human rights abroad. So many of you chasing just one person, its quite distressing. Jindai Yunlo noncommittally said, Boss He, why not come to my residence for a cup of sake? No need, I fear you might poison it, He Jinqiu glanced downstairs, confirming that Qing Chen had escaped during the chaos, then turned and walked downstairs, Lets go! Jindai Sorajima sneaked a glance at Jindai Yunlo and found her brother remained calm, Brother Yunlo, he may not be able to beat you. Its not bad to be low-key before the Hundred-Eyed Demon takes form, Jindai Yunlo smiled, seemingly unconcerned about what had just happened, Unexpected events in plans are normal; this world is full of surprises. Lets go, we need to meet Yun Xiu. As he spoke, he reached out and touched the girls hair, gently calming her down. The night grew quiet. Many events happened tonight, yet it was as if nothing had actually occurred. Jindai Yunjue, Jindai Yunwu were dead. Jindai Yunye also retreated quickly, clutching his severed arm as he walked down a small alley, heading towards Dotonbori Hoshisan Temple. Though Qing Chen had escaped, everyone knew that there was still an A-Class earth-element Awakener in Osaka. If this master got entangled with them again, they would likely not make it back to the Inner World. At Hoshisan Temple, Jindai Yunxiu was waiting for him as agreed. Seeing Yun Xiu, Jindai Yunye let out a breath of relief, Save me quickly, if I receive surgery in time, my arm can still be saved. Jindai Yunxiu smiled and said, Theres no need. In an instant, the midnight bell of Hoshisan Temple rang. Jindai Yunye saw the smile on the others face and felt a chill all over, then turned to flee. ... ... In the dark underground bomb shelter of Osaka City Hall. The Mysterious Business Department brought in new corpses, including Jindai Yunwu, Jindai Yunye, and Jindai Yunjue. When the bomb shelter was empty. Jindai Sorajima, wearing white plastic surgical gloves and holding a delicate scalpel, dug out the eyes of the three deceased chosen ones and handed them to Jindai Yunlo, Brother Yunlo, congratulations, you got another three pairs. The enormous Hundred-Eyed Demon behind Jindai Yunlo floated over and inserted the three pairs of eyes into its arms. The next moment, six eyeballs were wrapped in the fair arm, rotating flexibly as if they hadnt been dug out from others. Many in the Federation knew that the Hundred-Eyed Demon would advance to its final form once it collected one hundred pairs of eyes, becoming the supreme shikigami. Even ATS-001 Ibaraki doji might not be its match. But people didnt know how exacting the requirement for those hundred pairs of eyes was; it only collected complete eyeballs from B-Class or higher Transcendents. And Jindai Yunjue, Yunwu, Yunye, in essence, were Time Travelers of the Outer World; their bodies wouldnt return to the Inner World after death. A sweet, bloody scent lingered in the bomb shelter, and Jindai Yunlo said, Jindai Yunjue and Jindai Yunwu were killed by that Master of Daytime. Their level of sacrifice to the Cloud Mirror should extend the observation time and range. Use these two bodies sparingly to keep him here. Chapter 860: 525, even a master has a master_2 Chapter 860: 525, even a master has a master_2 Jindai Yunxiu walked out of the darkness, holding a long katana in her hand: This person poses a great threat to Yun Luo. He can deter and take away Shikigami. With only 7 days left before the crossover, Kong Yu, you must find him and let me kill him. Hmm, Jindai Sorajima nodded: Finally, Yun Jue, Yun Ye, and Yun Wu are no longer in the way. They are the proxies of the ten directors. With them here, we couldnt do anything. Now that the Mysterious Business Department is in our hands, what do we do next? Jindai Yun Luo chuckled: In this vast Island Country, nearly ten thousand Time Travelers in the future will all be firmly under our control. This is a force to be reckoned with. Within the clan, the ten directors tighten their grip on power too much. Without new power, we can do nothing. Now, its different. Our plan has finally begun. Jindai Yunxiu and Jindai Sorajima listened quietly. Jindai Yun Luo folded his hands into the wide sleeves of his hunting suit and continued, Those old guys seize this and that body every day. Seven of the ten directors have lived for over a century. If they dont disappear, the young people of the Jindai family will only stagnate along with them. This is the true faction of young blood within the Jindai family. They became Time Travelers to find a foothold within the cracks of the family. Immortality is indeed a good thing, but if the elders in a family live forever, what are the young people supposed to do? Ordinary people hear that the Jindai familys ancestors can live forever and think that the familys power will remain solid, but they dont realize that this immortality is actually a disaster. Jindai Yunxiu said, With four chosen ones dead, we will definitely be interrogated by the ten directors when we go back. Jindai Yun Luo smiled: Thats why the twelve years of playing this charade between you and me was significant. Dont worry. We didnt kill them. If you want to blame someone, blame Daylight. By the way, withdraw the people from Hokkaido. Is that little girl worthless now? No, Jindai Yun Luo slowly shook his head: She has value, but I still say, dont try to use the fate of a little girl as a bargaining chip. ... ... Countdown to the crossover, day seven. In the morning, Yangyang walked out of the internet cafe with the little girl. They both stretched as if they had spent the night playing games together. Originally, Jinguji Maki had her hair down, but Yangyang had now styled it into twin ponytails for convenience. Yangyang lazily said, Your mid laner skills are still slightly behind mine, but the gap is not that big anymore. Keep it up. Remember, even if you go back home, you must keep practicing... But I still want to play support... Xiao Zhenji said. Eh, Yangyang sensed the surroundings: The people from the Mysterious Business Department... have all withdrawn. Xiao Zhenji, your master has succeeded. You can go see your mom. Jinguji Maki suddenly lowered her head: Master must have made a lot of sacrifices. Yeah, Yangyang said calmly: He likely drew all the Jindai familys suspicions onto himself. Thats why the Mysterious Business Department withdrew from here... dont cry just yet. Hell be fine. Seriously, how can a Knight be a crybaby? No tears in eSports! Jinguji Maki stared blankly at the auntie, thinking, what on earth is going on? Yangyang took her little hand and walked toward her moms house. The little girl asked in confusion, Have they really left? Yes, dont worry. If I say theyve left, then they have. No one can escape my senses, Yangyang confidently replied. As the two were approaching the building where the girls mother lived, they saw a middle-aged woman wielding a garbage bag as a weapon, trying to drive away those lingering downstairs. The woman shouted angrily: I told you shes not my daughter anymore! I dont want her! If you want the reward, go find her! Why come to me? The womans hair was disheveled, and her clothes were dirty, indicating that her remarried life wasnt going well. She looked defeated by life. The woman yelled at those waiting for the bounty: Get out of here! Dont think we dont know what youre up to. We bugged your home. You and your man were planning to trade your daughter for the bounty! said one private detective. Isnt that reward money burning a hole in your hands? Mind your own business! The woman threw the garbage she was holding, spilling its contents all over the private detective. This scene was too cruel for the little girl. Before Yangyang could react, the little girl turned around and walked away. Hey! Yangyang followed her: How about auntie treats you to breakfast? What do you want to eat? Jinguji Maki didnt reply. She silently walked toward the coastline. The warm scene she had imagined didnt appear; instead, the harsh reality shattered the last of her hopes. She arrived at the chilly coast and sat on a black reef. Yangyang did not know how to comfort the child. Xiao Zhenji suddenly said: Auntie Yangyang, you dont need to comfort me. Im not that sad. Thats good... Xiao Zhenji continued to look at the sea: Actually, I didnt really want to see her to begin with. I just didnt want our masters effort to go to waste. Now, Im more worried about him. You can call him, Yangyang dialed the number and handed the phone to Xiao Zhenji. Here, its connected. Before the phone was passed over, Qing Chens tired voice came through: Hello? Master, Xiao Zhenji said tearfully. She hadnt cried the entire way, but hearing Qing Chens voice made her burst into tears, all her grievances pouring out. Did you see your mom? Qing Chen seemed to have known from the start that this meeting wouldnt go well. This world is like that. Someone who abandons you once will abandon you countless times. This was a lesson Qing Chen learned from his own life. But the little girl wanted to see her mom, so he created the opportunity. It was her decision; he had no right to refuse. Xiao Zhenji sobbed: Master, I miss you so much. Its okay, well see each other soon, Qing Chen said with a smile. Did Auntie Yangyang make you play games all night again? Oh, no, Xiao Zhenji looked at Yangyang, who was making faces, and quickly asked, By the way, Master, Auntie Yangyang said youre a Time Traveler and that youll soon be in danger... You must come back safely. Qing Chen laughed gently: Its okay... Master has a master too. ... Todays two chapters have been released. Chapter 861: Spare no one in a killing spree Chapter 861: Spare no one in a killing spree Master, Ive been eating really well these past few days. Aunt Yangyang has treated me to lots of food. Master, Aunt Yangyang said shes taking me to Los Angeles City soon. She said thats where you live. Master, you have to take care of yourself. Ill be waiting for you in Los Angeles City, Xiao Zhenji sobbed on the phone talking to Qing Chen for a long time. Qing Chen asked, Have you been training these past few days? Xiao Zhenjis breath hitched, and she stopped crying, Ill give the phone to Aunt Yangyang. Qing Chen laughed, Once you get to Los Angeles City, dont slack off. Xiao Zhenji: Mm... Im the one who didnt let her train. If you have any problems, deal with me, dont blame the child. Were on the run, is this the time to train? Yangyang muttered as she took over the phone. For some reason, the old saying A doting mother often ruins her child flashed through Qing Chens mind at that moment... He asked, What are your plans next? Yangyang: I plan to set off as soon as possible. After sending Xiao Zhenji back, Ill hurry back immediately. Right now, the whole Island Country is on lockdown. Flying you back with me is probably the easiest way to leave. But before I get back, can you tough it out? Im telling you, watch out for the remaining three chosen ones. They might be the toughest, I suspect two of them are A-Class. Also, Li Yunze from Deer Island, hes a wildcard. Weve never seen him before. If he shows up here, he might plot against you. Li Yunze is the chosen one who fought the Six-winged Angel in Europe with his doppelga?nger. Back then, Li Yunze got half his face blown off by a roadside bomb, which is a debt owed to Joker. Yangyang said, You have to be careful. Ill come back to fetch you. Qing Chen smiled, Dont worry, Im in a very safe place now. As long as you dont get lost, I can hold out until the moment I see you. Safe? Yangyang was puzzled, Didnt you say the Jindai have that Cloud Mirror shikigami? It observes you every four hours. Wherever you go, it can see you. There will always be a way. How about I come to meet you and take you both back together? Though it might be slower, you can leave here sooner. No need, I have some unfinished business. Yangyang understood, Qing Chen already had a plan. Though she didnt know what that plan was. Oh, by the way, Yangyang said, The news that the Master of Daytime showed up in Osaka City to avenge Qing Chen has already spread. The Daytime organization is about to become a household name. The Jindai will definitely retaliate for face. Maybe they cant do much in the Outer World, but in the Inner World, theyll surely take action. Yes, I understand. After a battle, Qing Chens heart had completely calmed down. He needed to recuperate and wait for the crossing in seven days, without getting hurt again. At A02 base, nearly a thousand Qings Family intelligence personnel were waiting in that cold place. ... ... At this moment, in the underground bunker of Osaka City Hall, the alarm clock beside Jindai Sorajima rang. She precisely timed every four hours, cutting open a corpses chest, and sacrificing it to the Cloud Mirror. Wait, why cant I see anything in the Cloud Mirror? Jindai Sorajima was puzzled. All she saw in the Cloud Mirror was pitch black, no sign of Qing Chen at all. Jindai Sorajima glanced at her watch. It was clearly 9 AM, daylight. Why would the Cloud Mirror show a place pitch-dark? Could the Cloud Mirror be broken?! No, this is a shikigami, not some shoddy household appliance. How could it be broken? Four hours later, it was still the same, the Cloud Mirror showed pitch black. After 24 hours, still the same! Jindai Sorajima got up and walked outside, she had to inform Jindai Yunlo about this. After hearing it, Jindai Yunlo merely smiled and explained, Its not that your Cloud Mirror is broken, but that hes been hiding in an absolute dark place all along, making it impossible for you to find his location from the details. There are many absolutely dark places, it could be a sewer, a container, a room covered in blackout tape, or an underground closed environment created by Zard. Jindai Sorajima paused for a moment, is this guy exploiting a bug?! Both times, Qing Chens way of countering the Cloud Mirror was overly simple, yet it left her helpless. Clearly holding the tracking artifact, yet not even a hair could be traced. At this moment, Jindai Yunxiu sitting in the office, holding her phone, said, Just 24 hours ago, someone posted A Complete Guide to Avoiding the Tracking of ATS-088 Shikigami Cloud Mirror online, detailing the function of the Cloud Mirror, how to use the montage technique to mislead tracking, and how to avoid the Cloud Mirrors surveillance. One tip was to hide in a completely dark environment, making it invisible... this post is quite popular in China. The so-called montage technique, if you were playing in the Forbidden City, you deliberately held a Temple Of Heaven souvenir to mislead the Cloud Mirror user into thinking you were at the Temple Of Heaven. After all, the Cloud Mirrors visible range is limited. Jindai Sorajima felt disgusted, this is an attack on both the body and mind! They were not only exploiting bugs themselves but also teaching others how to do it! Are you trying to earn negative emotion value or what?! Chapter 862: 526, Slaughter the body, torment the heart_2 Chapter 862: 526, Slaughter the body, torment the heart_2 But how can anyone stay in darkness for so long? Wouldnt he go crazy? Jindai Sorajima pondered, recalling that she had also undergone enclosed training, a mandatory experience for all Jindai family combatants, teaching them how to face fear and solitude. Back then, Jindai Yunxiu stayed in the enclosed room for five days, Jindai Yunlo for six days, while Jindai Sorajima herself lasted only three days. The utter darkness of the enclosed terror is not as simple as imagined. It is an extreme oppression that humans experience after losing the concept of space and time, only truly understood through experience. Jindai Yunlo calmly said, He is enduring, trying to hold on until the moment of the time travel, avoiding any complications before that. After all, Qing Chen of the Daytime Organization is still imprisoned in the secret base A02. Qing Chen is just a C-Class, so its impossible for him to escape on his own. Therefore, after coming for revenge, this Master of Daytime must want to conserve his strength to implement a rescue plan in the Inner World. Thus, he cannot afford to get injured before the time travel, to avoid affecting the plan. Jindai Yunxiu contemplated for a moment: Its okay, with the entire area sealed off, he will eventually have to come out of the darkness, and we can find him sooner or later. At most six days, he will be unable to bear the darkness and solitude. Even if he manages to endure until this time travel, he would still have to come out after returning next time. No one can endure the darkness forever. So we just wait? Jindai Sorajima asked. Jindai Yunlo: First, spread the news about the Master of Daytime killing people, let the whole world know that Daytime killed four of Jindais chosen ones. We also need to be well-prepared. When we return to the Inner World, we still have to face the joint questioning by the ten directors and push all the blame onto Daytime. ... ... Los Angeles City. A brand-new Mercedes S-Class slowly drove into an old residential compound on Xingshu Road. The car stopped, and Qing Shuli cheerfully opened the door and got out, while Zhang Wanfang held Hao Haoqins hand, waiting by the side. Seeing her husband struggling with too many items, she said, Put them in the trunk first, let my brother and my younger brother carry them later. Anyway, the things we bring for the elderly always end up being shared by them, so they should help carry them. Alright, Qing Shuli nodded. Its almost the New Year, so Qing Shuli and his family of three came to visit Zhang Wanfangs parents together. The New Year gifts included top-quality Jinhua ham, a whole leg of cured pork, and a box of Maotai, a rarely consumed item in ordinary households. Just this box of six bottles would cost over ten thousand yuan. Previously, Qing Shuli coming for New Year visits with two bottles of Wuliangye was considered decent. This is the reality of running a business. The cash flow may look good, but ninety percent of the money is tied up in materials, supplies, and debts, leaving very little cash on hand, just enough to get by. So, the car that Qing Shuli drove before had not been replaced in seven or eight years. As he entered the building, Qing Shuli noticed a Porsche 911 parked in the adjacent space and couldnt help but take a second look. The family of three walked up to the fourth floor and rang the doorbell. A middle-aged man in a flamboyant shirt opened the door. He glanced at Qing Shuli: Why did you come empty-handed? I heard your factory isnt doing well this year, but coming to visit parents during the New Year empty-handed is not appropriate. Zhang Wanfang pulled Hao Haoqin into the house and retorted casually, Who asks for New Years gifts like that? This was Zhang Wanfangs brother, Zhang Jianjun, Qing Chens uncle. He used to work at Luo Cheng Bearing Group, but after being laid off, he never looked for another job. He spent his days at home taking care of the elderly, living off their pension. The family urged him to find a job, but he refused, saying he was quite content with his current life. He was somewhat notorious in the neighborhood. While cracking sunflower seeds, Zhang Jianjun said, Wanfang, I heard Qing Guozhong got caught gambling with a crowd and was sentenced to three years? Do you still have contact with him? He still owes me five thousand yuan. I lent it to him because he was my brother-in-law back then. Now, what about the money? Zhang Wanfang felt embarrassed being asked about her ex-husband in front of her current husband. Qing Shuli sat silently on the sofa beside her, and she, feeling annoyed, said, Over the years, have I ever asked you to pay a penny for mom and dads medical bills? Ive always paid for their hospital and medical expenses. Why bring this up now? Lets keep things separate, Zhang Jianjun said indifferently. Zhang Wanfang: Youre almost fifty, yet you still live off the elderly and dont go out to work. How do you have the nerve? Zhang Jianjun spat out a sunflower seed shell: The current economic situation is bad, nothing makes money... Oh, by the way, do you know about the Time Travelers? Becoming a Time Traveler is quite profitable. Did you see that Porsche 911 downstairs? A neighbors kid became a Time Traveler and joined some local Time Traveler Organization called Parents Meeting, recently promoted to some Green Family Member, making tons of money! That Porsche 911 is his! At this moment, the door was opened by a young man in his thirties: Hey, did you see that big Benz downstairs? Whose is it? Its so pretty! Qing Shuli hesitated for a moment, then took out his car keys and said, Its mine. There are New Year gifts for mom and dad in the trunk, including a box of Maotai. Could you help carry it up? Zhang Jianjun and Zhang Jianbings eyes lit up. Zhang Jianbing exclaimed, Brother-in-law, youre doing well! Where are you making money now?! Qing Shuli thought for a moment and explained, I also became a Time Traveler and joined the local Parents Meeting in Los Angeles. Ah? Zhang Jianjun was stunned: Wait, you became a Time Traveler? In the Parents Meeting, who is of a higher level, you or that Green Family Member next door? Qing Shuli modestly said, Im a Blue Family Member, one rank higher. However, my promotion was special, due to a meritorious service in a previous mission. If the neighbor is indeed a member of the Parents Meeting, he should have heard of me. Currently, even though Qing Shuli didnt receive preferential treatment from Luo Wanya in the Parents Meeting, many knew that the eradication of the Mechanicus headquarters was initially Luo Wanyas effort to save Qing Shuli. So, Qing Shulis status in the Parents Meeting was quite good, earning him respect. Although no one knew the exact relationship between Luo Wanya and Qing Shuli. At Zhang Wanfangs persuasion, Qing Shuli recently sold off the medicines he brought back from the Inner World, suddenly improving his financial situation. He never expected those internet celebrities to be willing to spend so much money on high-end skincare products from the Inner World. At this moment, Zhang Jianjuns attitude changed completely: Brother-in-law, come, come, tell me more about this Parents Meeting. Do you think I have the potential to become a Time Traveler? Qing Shuli helplessly said, Whether or not you can become a Time Traveler is not up to us. It depends if there is a corresponding person for you in the Inner World. Many people are trying their luck in various public test cities. Why dont you give it a try? Zhang Jianjun excitedly said, Sure, if I become a Time Traveler, will you look after me? I... Qing Shuli knew his Blue Family Member status was somewhat of a fluke, so he didnt dare promise lightly. At this moment, Zhang Jianbing said, Sis, brother-in-law, you guys are doing well now, tell me about any money-making opportunities. And since Qing Guozhong is in jail, theres no one to bother you anymore, life will be good. Zhang Jianjun suddenly asked, By the way, where is Qing Chen? Zhang Wanfang paused: ... Havent been in touch for a while, he blocked me. Zhang Jianjun said, Its good he doesnt answer the phone. As the old saying goes, dragons breed dragons, phoenixes breed phoenixes, and a rats son will burrow. Qing Guozhongs son cant be anything good. Maybe he will also become a gambler. Its better to cut ties early and let him fend for himself. Zhang Wanfang remained silent, and the atmosphere in the room became awkward. Chapter 863: 527, Mysterious Parting Gift Chapter 863: 527, Mysterious Parting Gift Zhang Jianbing said, By the way, brother-in-law, I heard from the Parents Meeting that theres another organization called Daytime. A friend mentioned that Daytime is considered the most formidable in Los Angeles City? Qing Shuli nodded and said, Yes, their headquarters is in the most expensive detached house in the National Treasure Garden Villa District. Theyre not only formidable in Los Angeles City; Daytime is considered one of the top organizations in the National Time Traveler Organization. You havent been to the Inner World, so you cant feel the power and connections Daytime commands over there. They truly have influence everywhere. Qing Haohao, who had been quietly playing on his phone on the sofa, suddenly looked up, Mom, Dad, look! Daytime is trending now. As if speaking it into existence, everyone opened their phones to see the top trending topic: Leader of the domestic Time Traveler Organization Daytime goes on a killing spree in Osaka. Clicking into the trending news, they found details about it: The leader of the Daytime organization, Joker, teamed up with the famous Time Traveler Zard in Osaka, successfully killing four chosen individuals from the Mysterious Business DepartmentJindai Yunjue, Yun Ye, Yun Yi, and Yun Wucausing severe damage to the department. During this time, other Time Travelers collaborated with them to destroy over ten shrines, demolish two secret training bases of the Mysterious Business Department, and release over two thousand imprisoned Time Travelers. Currently, both Joker and Zard are missing, and the Mysterious Business Department has vowed to get to the bottom of this incident. It is reported that the reason the leader of Daytime, Joker, took such drastic actions is that the Jindai family from the Inner World secretly captured Daytimes core member, Qing Chen. Now, with Qing Chens fate uncertain, Joker is believed to be seeking revenge. The trending news also included some combat videos shot by bystanders and additional details about the fight. This battle made the Daytime organization in Los Angeles City famous, instantly ranking alongside Kunlun and Kyushu as prominent organizations in the country. To think, they managed to infiltrate the Jindai familys main base. How many people in the entire country could waltz into their base, kill a few, and then walk out unharmed? In the small house, everyone fell silent after reading the news. Not for any other reason but because of the name Qing Chen. Qing is a major surname in the Inner World, with the Qing family having branched out for over a thousand years. The number of people with the surname Qing almost rivals those with the surnames Li and Wang. But in the Outer World, the surname Qing is extremely rare! The youngest, Qing Haohao, innocently asked, Mom, this Qing Chen... is it that brother? Zhang Wanfang stood there dumbfounded. If Qing Chen was indeed a core member of Daytime, then many things made sense. Even though it was said that Luo Wanya charged high fees, he helped Qing Shuli without compensation. Even though Qing Shuli was just a small fry, Luo Wanya was willing to use the Parents Meetings resources to rescue him and promote him to a Blue Family Member despite the rules. So behind all these causes and effects, it was simply because there was someone named Qing Chen in that mysterious villa. It was Qing Chen who silently helped Qing Shuli! And now, Qing Chen had been captured and his fate was uncertain. Yet as his mother, she knew nothing and was even comfortably enjoying everything he provided. Suddenly, Zhang Wanfang got up and ran out, with Qing Shuli putting on a coat and following her, Wanfang, wait, Ill drive you back! ... ... Sitting in the Mercedes S-Class sedan, Qing Shuli and Zhang Wanfang suddenly found their new car not as comfortable as before. After a long silence, Qing Shuli said, What are you planning to do about Qing Chen...? Zhang Wanfang stared out the window, I dont know... My mind is a mess right now. After a while, the car arrived near the Daytime villa, but they were stopped by Luo Wanyas secret sentries. Today, these sentries were completely different from before, all lifted forcibly to D-Class through Empowerment by Li Tongyun and Nan Gengchen. Honestly, the outer sentries of some Inner World consortiums mansions were only at this level. Zhang Wanfang got out of the car and asked one of the sentries, Hello, could you please tell me if Qing Chen is here? The next moment, Luo Wanya pushed open the door and walked out of the villa, approaching the couple with a calm expression, What can I do for you? Zhang Wanfang said, Im looking for Qing Chen. Im his mother. Luo Wanya seemed to know this moment would come. He calmly replied, Hes not here, and hes already informed us of this situation. He knew you would hear about him sooner or later and come looking. But you missed his life, so just let it be. Dont worry. Qing Shuli wont be in any danger in the Inner World. The Parents Meeting wont assign him dangerous tasks or involve him in risky actions. Live your life well, and that will be enough. In fact, Qing Chen, with his meticulous foresight, had already predicted his name would eventually trend, and Zhang Wanfang would come looking. So, he had given Luo Wanya instructions in advance. As they were talking, a girl flew down from the sky, holding a GPS satellite locator while descending quickly. The girl had a pigtail-wearing little girl beside her who looked delicate and cute. Luo Wanya looked at Qing Shuli and Zhang Wanfang with a blank expression, Please leave. We have important matters to attend to. With that, Luo Wanya crisply turned and went back into the Daytime villa, leaving Zhang Wanfang standing there, feeling lost and dejected. She understood that she no longer had the right to care about Qing Chen. ... Chapter 864: 527, Mysterious Parting Gift_2 Chapter 864: 527, Mysterious Parting Gift_2 ... Daytime Villa. Yangyang brought Jinguji Maki down silently into the backyard of the villa. Nan Gengchen, Liu Dezhu, Jiang Xue and others ran over, looking Yangyang and Xiao Zhenji up and down. Nan Gengchen hesitated, then looked at Xiao Zhenji and asked, This is... Yangyang replied cheerfully, This is the child Qing Chen and I had while we were out in the wild. Nan Gengchen: Burp?! Yangyangs words never fail to shock. She seized the opportunity, knowing Xiao Zhenji couldnt understand Chinese, and made up whatever she wanted. This statement scared Nan Gengchen so much that he burped. Jiang Xue couldnt help but laugh and cry: How old is she? When she was born, you and Qing Chen didnt even know each other. Hehe, Yangyang explained, This is Qing Chens newly accepted disciple, named Jinguji Maki. Qing Chen arranged for her to stay in the Daytime Villa from now on. You all teach her Chinese first. Ill set up the gravity chamber in the basement, where she will train. Because her identity is sensitive, she shouldnt go outside if its not necessary. Okay, okay, Nan Gengchen snapped out of it. He had just been thinking that Brother Chen was moving faster than himself, wondering why Brother Chen looked down on him all the time. Now he realized it was Yangyang messing around again... Yangyang said, Aunt Jiang Xue, please make us some food. To save time, we hardly stopped during the flight, and the little girl is starving. I need to head back immediately after eating; Qing Chen is still in danger. Okay, okay, Jiang Xue quickly turned and went back inside to cook. Jinguji Maki curiously looked around at the unfamiliar environment, the friendly gazes, and the burly Luo Wanya, who was trying to pretend to be kind-hearted with his clumsy Japanese, saying: Ko... ni... chi... wa! Xiao Zhenji smiled and bowed in response: Konnichiwa. She knew this was where her master lived and these were his friends. So warm. But as she looked around, she noticed someone looking at her with a cold expression... Little Tong Yun silently watched Xiao Zhenji. When she heard that this was Qing Chens disciple, an awkward feeling spread in her heart. Before, she was the only little girl in the Daytime Villa, and everyones attention was on her. Now its different. Someone even younger had arrived... Jinguji Maki timidly glanced at this elder sister, not knowing what she had done wrong. Ten minutes later, Jiang Xue quickly made two plates of fried rice, the most efficient food. Jinguji Maki ate quickly while Li Tongyun pouted, Look how hungry our little ghost is. Nan Gengchen: ... Liu Dezhu: ... These guys didnt dare to intervene in any of the little girls wars. In the Daytime Villa, the highest-ranking person was Li Tongyun, who constantly urged them to train... Jiang Xue sat beside them and asked, Where are this little girls family? Yangyang sighed, Her father passed away, and her mother remarried. Her grandmother ran a small hot spring inn with her, but she passed away not long ago. The Mysterious Business Department was hunting her and Qing Chen. Her mother even wanted to trade her for a bounty... Shes another poor soul like Qing Chen... The Daytime members all looked at Xiao Zhenji, not knowing what to say for a moment. Li Tongyun suddenly turned and ran upstairs, then came back down with a dog plush toy, placed it next to Xiao Zhenji, and hugged her. This is for you. From now on, you can sleep in my room, and Ill teach you Chinese. Jinguji Maki looked puzzled. She didnt know why this elder sister suddenly changed her attitude and became so warm. ... ... Countdown 01:00:00. Jindai Sorajima stood in the shelter beneath Osaka City Hall, casually slicing open a corpses chest and offering it to the Divine Mirror. For the past seven days, every time she used the Divine Mirror to observe Qing Chen, it was total darkness. To be honest, Jindai Sorajima couldnt understand why that Joker could hide in the dark for seven days. Even someone like Jindai Yunlo could only withstand six days. She revered Jindai Yunlo as a god and couldnt accept someone having stronger mental endurance than him. This time, she thought the Divine Mirror would show darkness again, so she was lackluster during the sacrifice. But the next second, Jindai Sorajima was stunned. The neon lights in the Divine Mirror illuminated the shelter in an instant. The person in the mirror was smiling as he walked down the bustling street of Dotonbori. Jindai Sorajima noticed one thing: the person looked spirited, not at all like someone who had spent seven days in a closed space. How did she look when she came out from closed training? Pale lips, ashen skin, gaunt expression, and lifeless eyes. Even Jindai Yunxiu was no exception. But this Joker looked unaffected, as if he had lived healthily in the sunlight for the past seven days! Wait, why was the person daring to come out now? Was he confident that the last hour would be enough to escape the Mysterious Business Department?! Also, why was this Joker brazenly walking along such a recognizable street? Jindai Sorajima called Jindai Yunxiu: Yunxiu, the target appeared at No. B214 Dotonbori. Catch him! In just a few minutes, hundreds of Time Travelers at Osaka City Hall swarmed out like locusts, making their way to Dotonbori. Inside the Osaka City Hall, someone was monitoring all cameras. The target is heading towards the Namba Paramount Hotel. The target has entered the Namba Paramount Hotel lobby. The target is taking the elevator to the top floor. The target is on the rooftop. Everyone found it strange. Why was the person not trying to escape but instead running to a dead-end place? Jindai Yunxiu pondered. Jokers sudden appearance was clearly a trap. But he couldnt figure out what the other guy could do alone on a narrow rooftop. Under the sky, black-clad individuals flooded the brilliant streets of Osaka City, heading toward the Namba Paramount Hotel, like a swarm of locusts ready to devour. At this moment, Qing Chen stood at the edge of the rooftop with a smile, using his vision, enhanced by the purification of Realm camellia, to gaze far away. He memorized all those people who were rushing to kill him in this vibrant city. He stayed just for this moment. There was no one else on the rooftop, only the solitary boy standing there with a mysterious smile. This was his parting gift to the Mysterious Business Department. It would be revealed the next time he returned. The countdown was about to reach zero. Qing Chen looked over the world; everything fated to happen would come, and he never intended to avoid it. Countdown 00:00:00. Crossing. ... Todays two chapters are updated, asking for the Golden Keyboard votes~ Chapter 865: 528, a lily flower Chapter 865: 528, a lily flower The world plunged into darkness. And lit up again. Countdown to return: 720:00:00. This time travel would again last thirty days. Qing Chen had experienced numerous crossings and returns, yet each time he went through this world transition, it still felt wondrous. It was as if some god had used the most magical method to forcibly meld the two worlds together, influencing each other, gradually becoming indistinguishable from one another. Things that couldnt be done in the Inner World could be done in the Outer World. People that couldnt be killed in the Inner World could be killed in the Outer World. Qing Chen looked at the pitch-black night in front of him. After a month, he was still in the stinking pigsty, chained with shackles weighing hundreds of pounds on his hands and feet. Wang Yuchao and Zhao Mingke were still hanging outside the pigsty. The time dislocation between the Inner and Outer Worlds almost made Qing Chen hallucinate: It seemed as if these two had been hanging there for a month. This illusion caused Qing Chens emotions, which had already calmed down a bit, to surge once more. Qing Chen slowly stood up in the pigsty, waiting. He silently counted down from ten seconds in his mind. When the countdown ended, a piercing alarm suddenly sounded throughout the entire A02 secret military base. The alarm hadnt sounded here in a long time, prompting the prisoners who had already gone to bed in the surveillance area to get up. One by one, they pressed their ears against the tightly shut iron doors of their cells, trying to figure out what was happening. However, they only heard chaotic footsteps, leaving them clueless. Qing Chen stood in the pigsty, slowly raising his heavily shackled arms, treading step by step on the muddy ground mixed with ice chips, then walking to the edge of the pigsty. The shackles were so heavy that everything he did seemed like slow motion, even though he had just ascended and could not disregard the weight. Qing Chen stood at the edge of the pigsty, looking towards the direction of the military camp, then slowly opened his palm and placed a lily flower he had been holding for an unknown amount of time next to Wang Yuchao and Zhao Mingke. He looked at the night sky and softly said, I wish you both to be born in a peaceful era in your next life, where the birds sing, and flowers bloom, where old men practice sword in the park, and someone sells breakfast downstairs. Where children can run carefree, and the weak are not bullied. That was something he brought from the Outer World. Many people thought that trapped in here, Qing Chen must have brought something back from the Outer World to help him escape. Even though he couldnt bring back large weapons in his palm, a grenade would do. But Qing Chen didnt. He only brought back a flower and the gold coin given by the old man. Qing Chen smiled and said to the corpses of Wang Yuchao and Zhao Mingke, Rest assured, I will avenge you. Besides, I will also bring out the remaining brothers of the Qings Family. Thank you. This thank you was for redeeming his once lost self. Unexpectedly, after doing all this, Qing Chen sat down in the pigsty. He did not immediately spring up to kill, nor did he try to escape, calmly like an unconfined person. ... ... Over at the military camp, Jindai Yunzi, who was in charge of the entire A02 secret military base, was looking at the dormitory in front of him with a grim expression. The wide dormitory that could accommodate hundreds of people looked like a makeshift hospital, with a bed every few meters. There should have been 621 Time Travelers participating in training lying here, but now there were only a dozen, their bodies covered with burns, gunshot wounds, and knife wounds. These dozen people were screaming in agony. Jindai Yunzi knew what had happened: Someone in the Outer World had precisely wiped out the trainees in the A02 secret military base! For the Time Travelers, a month had passed. For Jindai Yunzi, he had just finished inspecting the camp, and his six hundred plus men were gone the next moment. Its important to know that when Time Travelers die in the Inner World, their bodies return to the Outer World. When they die in the Outer World, they disappear into thin air upon the next crossing. The Federation news had reported many people disappearing into thin air before, people who were drinking in a bar and then suddenly became air. As if someone had erased them with a rubber eraser. It must have been Qing Chen who did it. But Jindai Yunzi couldnt understand how a mere prisoner, even if he could operate in the Outer World, could pull off such a grand plan! And this was the final task Qing Chen had assigned to Ji Guanya. Jindai Yunzis satellite phone rang. Jindai Yunxiu had reported everything that happened in the Outer World to the ten directors the moment he returned. And the first thing the ten directors did was to inform Jindai Yunzi to raise the alert level, and reinforcements had already been dispatched. Daytime, Jindai Yunzi muttered as he looked at the empty Time Traveler camp, then led over a hundred soldiers toward the surveillance area. The commander of the A02 base was already internally tumultuous. He hadnt expected the heavy casualties they suffered here to be just the tip of the iceberg of what happened in the Outer World. Jindai Yunyi, Jindai Yunjue, Jindai Yunwu, Jindai Yunye, these four core members were all dead. The shrines in the Outer World were destroyed, and a thousand people were killed by the joint efforts of the Master of Daytime and Zard. This act was nothing short of terror. Is this the price of imprisoning one person?! This cost is too high! Open the door to the surveillance area... wait a moment! Jindai Yunzi originally wanted to go straight to Qing Chen, but he stopped, steadied himself for over ten seconds to regain his composure, and said, Open the door. He came to the pigsty and looked at Qing Chen sitting on the ground inside, calmly saying, I thought you would escape the moment you returned, but it turns out youre much more cowardly than the legends suggest. Qing Chen smiled, I guess you just calmed yourself, right? After all, you now understand the price of imprisoning me. Jindai Yunzi fell silent, his thoughts exposed. He glanced down where a lily flower lay, quietly commemorating the departed souls. He sneered, I thought you would bring something useful back from the Outer World, but all you brought was a useless flower? They are all dead. What use is it to give them a flower now. Qing Chen replied with a smile, Dont envy them. Your grave will also sprout flowers one day. Jindai Yunzis face turned completely grim. Qing Chen said, Want to kill me? I bet you dont dare because someone is waiting for me to ascend to B-Class, right? Am I right? Jindai Yunzi scrutinized Qing Chen and said, What if youve guessed correctly? This is the Jindai Consortiums stronghold, surrounded by defending troops and field units constantly patrolling the wilderness. To rescue you, someone must first traverse layers of military defense zones from the south, rescue you, and then face army pursuits. Even a demigod would avoid the aerial fortress that dominates the skies. Jindai Yunzi continued, Under such circumstances, even if you can retaliate against the Jindai family in the Outer World, it wont shake the foundation of the Consortium. Even if you escape the A02 secret military base by luck, you will eventually be recaptured. As a prisoner, youd better be aware of your status. Mere words wont help you. Qing Chen smiled and did not retort. Jindai Yunzi was right about one thing; Li Family and Qings Family were in the Central Plains, while Jindai and Deer Island were up north. The A02 base was at 52 degrees north latitude, even farther north of the Jindai family. To rescue Qing Chen, one would have to traverse all of Jindai to reach him and then find a way to evade all pursuits and return to the Central Plains. On the run, they would face entire units of the Jindai Corporation Army and this eras god-slaying technological weapons. It was almost an impossible task. That is why Qing Mu, who was once imprisoned here, never received a rescue attempt. It was just too difficult. Qing Chen aimed to do more than just escape; he wanted to take the Qing intelligence personnel from the A02 secret base with him. If Jindai Yunzi knew Qing Chens plan, he would probably laugh out loud. Because the idea was too naive. Jindai Yunzi stomped the lily flower into the ground, the white petals crushed into the mud: Do you think in such a situation, your boss from the Daytime organization would come to rescue you? He is only B-Class. Even Li Changqings Qing Shan Falcon had already turned back. Who else would come to save you? Just stay here and await the consequences of your arrogance. After speaking, Jindai Yunzi conducted a final check. He summoned a shikigami, slowly approaching Qing Chen. ATS-331, Mao You. The two-tailed shikigami, which only caught mice, approached Qing Chen but did not kneel. Confirming this, Jindai Yunzi left. He needed to report the situation at the A02 secret military base. Once Yunzi departed, Qing Chen stood up and said to the night wind, Two of you, stay with me in the cold wind a little longer. I will let you witness the destruction of this base with your own eyes. I will bury you in the northern soil, not to abandon you, but to let you see the Jindai flag fall. The message he brought back should have already spread through the cold wind. Give his faraway friends some time. Qing Chen calculated the time: Wait another five days. ... Theres another chapter at 11 pm Chapter 866: 529, The Magic of the Fire Pit Chapter 866: 529, The Magic of the Fire Pit City 18, Federations Gemini Star. Hu Xiaoniu and Zhang Tianzhen were sitting in a bar. In the dance floor, the bar used holographic projections to display several flamboyant dancers performing provocative dances. Hu Xiaoniu propped his chin and watched calmly, Do people really watch this? Why not just go see the real thing? Zhang Tianzhen was meditating with his eyes closed, always practicing whenever he could. Upon hearing Hu Xiaonius remark, he opened his eyes and replied, This small bar isnt really in this kind of business. Theyre just using this to cover up some real shady dealings, so using fake stuff is cheaper. Just then, a fat man in a fur coat approached with a sycophantic smile, What brings two big bosses of Heng Society to my place today? The fat mans lower body had been replaced with mechanical limbs. Generally, only soldiers injured in battle or gang members severely hurt on the streets would replace such large parts with mechanical limbs. But before he finished speaking, Zhang Tianzhen suddenly grabbed the bar owners chubby hand and pressed it onto the table with such speed that it left no time to react. Before the owner could respond, Zhang Tianzhen had already pierced his hand with a chopstick, pinning it to the table. It took a full two seconds before the owner screamed in pain. Zhang Tianzhen said leisurely, On Heng Societys turf, only single-use dopamine chips are to be sold, no chemical drugs. Have you heard of this rule? The fat owner wailed, But many people cant afford the equipment to connect to a neural interface. They cant use dopamine chips! Zhang Tianzhen was taken aback, Under normal circumstances, Id reason with you, but not today. While speaking, Zhang Tianzhen picked up five more chopsticks and punctured the owners hand one by one. The bar owner reached for his waist with his other hand, but found that his gun was already in Hu Xiaonius hand. Hu Xiaoniu said seriously, Listen to him carefully, dont get distracted. Zhang Tianzhen said, I know that in your business, you have strong backing and are desperados. But in City 18, no matter who comes, they must conduct their underground business according to Heng Societys rules... Huh, your eyes are so lively, I can see the defiance in you. Thats okay, just kneel here and watch if what I say is true. At that moment, more than ten men in black rushed in through the bars front door, and the same from the back door. They raised their arms, ready to shoot Hu Xiaoniu and Zhang Tianzhen. Zhang Tianzhen immediately shielded Hu Xiaoniu, tightly protecting him. In that instant, all the assassins faces turned blood-red, their blood was squeezed out of their pores by an overwhelming pressure, and their eyeballs turned crimson. The assassins didnt even have the chance to make a move before they died. The scene was eerie and frightening. From a nearby booth, a man in a black trench coat stood up. The young man took off his hat and walked slowly to Hu Xiaonius side, Its done. The kneeling bar owner cried out in horror, Li Dongze! Zhang Tianzhen smiled, Those guys earlier were from Jindai, do you think your backers are stronger than the Jindai Consortium? Before traversing, Qing Chen, in his last moments, warned all Daytime members via Monopoly that Jindai would retaliate against them immediately after they crossed over. As Qing Chen expected, Jindai came. But unlike Daytimes revenge on the island country, Jindais retaliation was like serving themselves up on a platter. Alright, Li Dongze said, no more talking with him. Zhang Tianzhen stood up and followed Li Dongze out, Thank you, Boss Li. Li Dongze nodded as if it was a matter of course, You should thank me. If it werent for dealing with Jindais retaliation, Id be heading north by now. Hearing this, Hu Xiaoniu suddenly asked, Will Qing Chen be in danger? Li Dongze glanced at Hu Xiaoniu, Of course, theres always danger. Who hasnt faced danger in this world? But Ive already passed the message to the master, so even if Qing Chen encounters danger... Hu Xiaoniu and Zhang Tianzhen knew the master Li Dongze mentioned was Uncle Li, that mysterious demigod. If the demigod took action personally, would Qing Chen then be safe? Li Dongze paused and said, If the master intervenes, even if Qing Chen gets into danger, the master can bring back his body. Hu Xiaoniu: ??? Zhang Tianzhen: ??? If not for knowing they couldnt win against this man, theyd definitely make a move! Li Dongze added, Along with the corpse of the Jindai Family Master. Hu Xiaoniu: ... Zhang Tianzhen: ... At that moment, Li Dongze took out his pocket watch, Its going to snow again, better head home early. With that, he put on his hat and walked into the bustling neon lights of City 18. ... ... In the mountains, 400 kilometers away from Base A02. More than a dozen people wearing black linen cloaks were walking through the mountains. The snow had begun to fall in the north, and Suyue pitifully asked, Can we stop to light a fire and cook? Its already past 2 AM. As she spoke, she looked at the Grand Elder of Fire Pit and Li Yunjing. Li Yunjing silently looked at Li Ke, while the Grand Elder of Fire Pit looked at Qin Yiyi. Li Ke and Qin Yiyi responded in unison, No! Qin Yiyi seemed to feel that her tone was a bit harsh and softened it, Our mission is to rescue someone; we cant afford to waste a single second. A few hours delay could mean they encounter an accident. Suyue pouted, But Im really hungry. You cant do this; The Contraindicated courts never have to endure this kind of hardship. Uncle Yunjing, Grand Elder, cant you say something? Even if were rescuing someone, we need strength, right? These two were clearly the most powerful in the group, yet they seemed to have no intention of leading. The Ravens seldom encountered such situations during missions. Usually, when they anticipated a Transcendent death event, the local forces would provide them with good food and accommodations, afraid that their territory might turn into a Taboo Land. This time was different. Not only did they get barely any help, but they were also urged to travel overnight. Li Yunjing and the Grand Elder didnt force them, but every time they rested for too long, Li Ke and Qin Yiyi would stand by their sides and chant scriptures, one for the first half of the night, and the other for the second half, relentless like soul reapers. Suyue felt this was the most torturous containment mission, her nerves were frayed! She lamented, Weve been on the road for 20 hours! Li Ke sighed, Lets camp here. Theres a big battle ahead, Uncle Yunjing and the Grand Elder need to rest and recuperate. The Grand Elders face changed, What nonsense are you talking about? Were in the heart of the Jindai Consortiums territory. If we make a move, well definitely provoke their military forces. Once the Aerial Fortress arrives, the main firepower electromagnetic cannon will obliterate us all, even a demigod! You guys fight, I wont! Qin Yiyi said, Then give me back the Black Knife. The Grand Elders face twitched, he suddenly felt aggrieved. It was clearly his knife, but how did it end up being granted to this little ancestor by God? Does God even care about reason?! He hesitated and said, Ill help with one fight, but thats it. As she picked up kindling, Qin Yiyi smiled, The Grand Elder is the best. The Grand Elder felt a bit awkward hearing this praise. He stroked his beard and muttered softly, Its not that great... More than a dozen people gathered firewood in a cave. Suyue sat by the bonfire, resting her chin on her hands, staring at the iron pot above the flames, which was simmering with the Divine Cow Meat the Grand Elder had just added. One had to admit, the food from Fire Pit was indeed magical. These people roamed the Taboo Lands year-round, not only avoiding deadly beasts but also hunting rare creatures. According to Qin Yiyi, all children in Fire Pit eat the meat of a Peng Qi beast at age twelve. The Peng Qi resembles a tiger with a pair of wings on its back. After eating Peng Qi meat, the children would have a fever for thirteen days, with their body temperature bizarrely reaching over sixty degrees. During this time, the adults would put them on their beds to keep the whole family warm, like a heater. After the fever subsided, the childrens physiques would grow exceptionally strong. This was why people in the Federation always said Fire Pit people were naturally strong. At some point, hearing these stories, Suyue thought of joining Fire Pit to explore various Taboo Lands. At this moment, the Grand Elder was telling another story, Do you know about Taboo Land No. 10? It used to be our pasture. By pasture, I mean while it was dangerous, Fire Pit knew all the rules, so it wasnt that bad. Theres a Dragon Pool with Dragon Fish, eating nine of them can strengthen and fortify ones body. A long time ago, Fire Pit used to take nine Dragon Fish from there annually, giving the best Gods Child at the Horn Ceremony a treat. Suyue smacked her lips, Is there still any now? The Grand Elder suddenly said indignantly, There used to be hundreds of fish! Then a group of scoundrels plundered the place, almost wiping out the Dragon Fish. These people had no respect for nature! Moreover, to prevent Fire Pit from fishing again, they caught a top expert from Deer Island and buried him there. Over ten years ago, Taboo Land No. 10 suddenly got an insanely deadly rule, killing many foreign treasure hunters. Even we from Fire Pit couldnt go there anymore... Suyue and the others were shocked. There was such a tactic?! Only Li Kes face turned odd, Dragon Fish... he had just eaten eight of them, and the master promised to find him another one. Moreover, Lis Half Mountain Manor had many Dragon Fish sent from others. So, it seemed obvious who had caused Fire Pits misfortune... At that moment, footsteps were heard outside the cave. Everyone turned suddenly to see three figures emerging from the darkness. Someone laughed and said, Just now... it seems someone was badmouthing us... The Grand Elder heard the voice and was shocked, Oh crap! He grabbed the Black Knife, pulling Qin Yiyi towards the caves depths, but it was a dead end, so they turned back... Chapter 867: 530, Dividing the spoils scene Chapter 867: 530, Dividing the spoils scene Hahaha, its been a long time! I was just about to check the cave to see if theres any danger, the Great Elder said, holding a black knife and pulling Qin Yiyi along. He didnt sit down, his entire body tensed and ready for battle. He was like a wolf encountering a tiger. The visitor outside the cave didnt look at him, sitting by the campfire with his hands near the flames to warm up. This middle-aged mans hands were long, with knuckles carved as if with a knife, exuding an aura of bravery and strength for unknown reasons. The other two visitors didnt sit down, standing behind him in silence. The atmosphere in the cave was eerie; some peoples eyes lit up when they saw him, others got excited, and some had expressions of reverence. Seeing old friends, why is your first reaction to run? the middle-aged man laughed. Old Man, this is not how your Fire Pit welcomes guests. The Great Elder hesitantly pulled Qin Yiyi down: Our Fire Pits warmth is for friends. Li Dong, you are not a friend of our Fire Pit. We are irreconcilable. Li Dongthese three words invoked shock anywhere in the Federation, capable of sparking endless chatter. This legendary figure was the focal point of City 18 in his youth. In those days, Li Dong was the most cherished youngest son of the Li Family Head, Li Xiurui. Many said that the position of the Family Head in this generation might go to Li Dong, not the eldest son. People imagined the corporate families as stern, harsh, and cold-hearted. Yet, in this great house, appeared a wandering hero who loved to sing with his sword. He didnt take on any power from the Li Family but walked out of the Federation instead. He once entered Taboo Land No. 001 alone and survived for thirty days, emerging alive. For a little girl killed by an organ trafficking organization, he chased the group alone for a thousand miles, killing 617 people in seven days. Of course, this was only a fraction of Li Dongs life. At one point, any news related to Li Dong would make it to the front page of Hope Medias entertainment section. Although not a celebrity, he lived like one. During that time, in the high society of City 18, any banquet with Li Dong invited would see countless people trying to get in. But all this paled in comparison to the title Demigod for Li Dongs reputation. There were only a few Demigods in the entire Federation, and whenever mentioned, it would be the brightest topic. Generally, Demigods wouldnt encounter or engage each other, as such battles involved too many interests. Most Demigods were born out of corporate family resources, with only a few exceptions, which was why organizations like the Knights were so renownedthey didnt need corporations. Thus, Demigods born from family resources naturally didnt own their lives. They were the core strategic weapons of the families, used to deter. Demigods rarely engaged, which was an unwritten rule in the Federation. But in his youth, Li Dong sought out Chen Chuanzhi, the reclusive Demigod outside City 7, for a duel. They went to the uninhabited Mingzhou Island for a battle unseen in hundreds of years. No one witnessed the battle between these two Demigods. Only rumors claimed that Chen Chuanzhi, who loved drinking, quit alcohol after the duel. There were also rumors that Chen Chuanzhi promised Li Dong never to set foot in the Central Plains again after the duel. No matter the rumors, the Chen Clan never explained. Intelligence agencies like Hus Information Agency, the Spy Bureau, Executioners, Red Sparrow, Yamata, Solitary Island, didnt record this battle. But indeed, Chen Chuanzhi never drank again or set foot in the Central Plains. Such was the legendary figure now appearing in the wild, admired even by Xiyue, a little girl from the Contraindicated Courts. Only the Great Elder looked pained: Why are you here?! Li Dong laughed: Old Man, weve not seen each other for years. Why that tone? At the Holy Mountain of the Great Snow Mountain, you forgot how we drank and celebrated together? That mention made the Great Elder even angrier. That year, while he was peacefully eating in the Fire Pit, A-Class Li Dong barged in and forced him to be a guide on the snow mountain. Moreover, for whatever reason, this guy insisted on climbing the Fire Pits Holy Mountain! In the end, the Great Elder had no choice but to guide Li Dong up. He thought it would only take a couple of days, but Li Dong stayed on the mountainside for over a month to acclimate before summiting. At the summit, the Great Elder suddenly felt Li Dongs aura weakened, almost like an ordinary person. He wanted to attack but was intimidated by Li Dongs smiling expression. Then Li Dong used a snowboard to slide down the north slope of the cliff, disappearing thereafter. The Great Elder always felt something was off; that day might have been Li Dongs weakest moment, a perfect time for revenge! But after a month of being suppressed by Li Dong, even if he guessed the opponent was weakened, he didnt dare act or ask... He could only watch Li Dong leap from the Holy Mountains peak and leave... Since then, every time the Great Elder recalled this, he felt he missed the most important chance of his life. From then on, he might never get his revenge. That leap turned an A-Class expert into a Demigod. Thinking back now, whenever Li Dong celebrated with drinks, the Great Elder acted like a lackey, carrying food and wine, forced to laugh and pour wine while Li Dong drank! Is this what you call celebrating with drinks?! You Knights are something else! At this thought, the Great Elder became furious: Bad luck, bad luck, bad luck, bad luck! I said dont come, but you insisted! Li Dong comforted: Relax, this time well get along peacefully. Ive cultivated myself over the years; Im not the same as before. The statement almost revealed he wouldnt beat him up this time. At this moment, Qin Yiyi suddenly called out with a smile: Uncle, long time no see. The Great Elder warily pulled Qin Yiyi aside: Stay away from him; hes not a good person! Among the worst in the world, calling Li Dong one isnt wrong! But Qin Yiyi wasnt bothered: Uncle, Im Yiyi, Im here to rescue Qing Chen this time. Li Dong smiled at the girl who had once shared apples with him: I heard you went alone to the Fire Pit; I didnt expect you to gain the inheritance and become a rare Goddess there. Such rapid growth, almost faster than Qing Chen, the Fire Pit has taken good care of you. Turning to the Great Elder, Li Dong said, Thank you. The Great Elder became anxious: What do you mean by thank you? Shes our Fire Pits Goddess; why are you thanking me? It sounds like we raised her for you. Dont think about taking her; no way! Li Dong remained silent. The Great Elder instantly felt troubled! Li Dong turned and said: Ye Wan, Xiao Xiao, come sit, were all friends. Just then, a weak voice in the corner said: Seventh Uncle... No, Master. Im Li Ke, my father is Li Yunshou, and my master is Qing Chen. Li Dong slowly turned... He had been away from the Li Family for so long, the young faces were unrecognizable. But he knew Li Ke spoke the truth because Li Yunjing was present. Li Yunjing stood and bowed respectfully: Seventh Brother. As a registered member of the Li Family, ranking after Li Dong, he should call him Seventh Brother. Li Dong calmly nodded: Youve had a hard time over the years. I heard you dominated the recent battle with the Jindai. Congratulations. Li Yunjing sat down quietly, not one for many words. Unlike Li Ke, Li Yunjing, old enough to experience Li Dongs era, knew the brilliance of this Seventh Brother. Li Dong looked at Li Ke, seeing some resemblance to his elder brother, Li Yunshou. But he frowned, as Qing Chen, being Li Kes master, made him Li Yunshous peer. Now his nephew called him Master, and it all seemed out of order! Everythings jumbled! Whats Qing Chen up to? But as Knights, leaving the family meant adhering to the Knights hierarchy. So, Li Ke was his grand-disciple. Grand-disciple... Li Dong murmured. Without children, Li Dong treated Qing Chen like a son, seeing himself as a father figure. Now seeing Qing Chens disciple was like an older man suddenly becoming a grandfather... Li Dong turned to Ye Wan: Ye Wan, bring out the three taboo artifacts we found on the way for Li Ke to choose from. What? Li Ke was stunned. Master was overly generous, gifting taboo artifacts on their first meeting! What are taboo artifacts? Every transcendent desired one. Even Li Dongzes weather forecasting artifact was his prized possession! Suddenly, Li Dong felt emotional. He used to hate the elders in Taboo Land No. 002 for pushing him to take disciples and favoring Qing Chen with taboo artifacts, not him. But now, he had become what he once despised. Indeed, loving the next generation was delightful, and now he liked everything about Li Ke! The Great Elder muttered: Finding, they truly mean robbing! See, this is a large Knights division of loot! Theyre no good... Does Yiyi get to pick an artifact? Qin Yiyi scolded the Great Elder: What are you doing? The Great Elder said: Why not take advantage? Call it avenging the Great Elder! Quick, ask him! ... Another chapter at 11 PM tonight Chapter 868: 531, The Wind Rises Chapter 868: 531, The Wind Rises What kind of person is the Grand Elder of Fire Pit? All the Fire Pit people know that he is someone who will take any advantage he can get. Just like back then, when the Fire Pit completed a transaction with the Qings main house, agreeing to kill Qing Huai in the 002 Taboo Land. The Third Elder led the team and, upon returning to the Fire Pit, informed the Grand Elder: someone else had killed Qing Huai. The Grand Elders first reaction was: Isnt that great. So, at this moment, since there was a taboo item, it naturally couldnt be missed. After obtaining the taboo item and finishing this battle, he would take Qin Yiyi back to the Fire Pit. The knights shouldnt think they could take advantage of the Fire Pit! Old Man Tan, even if you dont ask, I will give it to you, Uncle Li said with a smile: Xiao Yiyi, you go choose yourself, and when you see Qing Chen, say that I gave it to you. Qin Yiyis eyes lit up: Thank you, Uncle! The Grand Elder contentedly stroked his beard. In fact, this time when Uncle Li went to the territories of Northern Jindai and Deer Island, besides one unspeakable serious matter, the rest was to find an environment that could stimulate Ye Wan and Lin Xiaoxiao, helping them to successfully transcend their tribulations. Generally, a true B-Class refers to Awakeners and Cultivators, not Genetic Warriors. So, the possession endeavors of Jindai over the years werent particularly smooth; after all, true B-Class beings are not like cabbages. Ye Wan and Lin Xiaoxiao, these two knight couriers, were both Awakeners and remained at B-Class for over ten years, with eight of those years spent in Prison 18. Other Awakeners kept searching for their limits, attempting to break through. Ye Wan and Lin Xiaoxiao, however, willingly stayed in prison with him. The five years after an Awakener breaks through a level is the best time for a second breakthrough. If missed, it becomes very difficult to break through again. They had missed their best time for a breakthrough. To Uncle Li, this was also a form of guilt. Therefore, he listed this matter as his most important plan, but it was yet to be successful. The other matter was to find taboo items. Because Uncle Li knew one thing very well: Qing Chen was someone who could complete the eight life-and-death trials of the Outer World for Time Travelers. Although the upper limit was only A-Class, he was the legitimate heir of the knights, all his disciples and grand-disciples. Back then, Uncle Li told the old folks in the 002 Taboo Land that Qing Chen was the future of the knights, and this was one of the reasons. It was foreseeable that the Knight Organization would quickly grow under Qing Chen, and as his master, it would be disgraceful not to present a gift to his grand-disciple when they met. What gift could match the name of a Demigod? It seemed only taboo items would suffice. At this moment, Uncle Li didnt know that Qing Chen had already taken in a little girl switching to become an Onmyoji Knight. Otherwise, he might have found a way to catch a bunch of Shikigami dolls for the little girl to play with. Maybe... this is what they call affection across generations. Uncle Li asked Li Ke: Does your master have other disciples? I havent had much contact with the outside world recently. Tell me. Li Ke looked around, indicating that there were others present. Uncle Li waved his hand: Dont worry, just speak freely. Here, there were only Qin Yiyi, the Grand Elder, the Raven, Li Ke, and Li Yunjing. The mouths of the Contraindicated courts were the strictest; they never leaked the secrets they knew to avoid entanglements in disputes. As for the Fire Pit, Uncle Li was confident that as long as he was alive, the Grand Elder wouldnt go out and blabber. As for Li Yunjing, he was one of their own. Li Ke pondered and said: In terms of knight inheritance, theres only one senior brother. But if we count the Quasi-Tathagata method, there are many. Brother Li Su, for instancethey all apprenticed under Master... and there are more than twenty of them, including Qing Yi, a Shadow Candidate of the Qings family. This left Uncle Li stunned, so many?! Its alright if the others are not knights, but how come the disciples he couldnt recruit in ten years were found by Qing Chen so quickly? Its only been a few months. In a few years, wouldnt the Knight Organization regain its former glory? Returning to the era of gang fights! If this continued, how many taboo items would he have to find? No, he had to go to Deer Island and scour for more taboo items from the people. At this moment, it wasnt just Uncle Li who was aware of the knights future. The quickest to react was the Grand Elder. Upon hearing that Qing Chen had begun recruiting disciples widely, his first reaction was: Were finished, this group of scoundrels is proliferating! The Fire Pit was going to suffer again! One knight could take him away as a guide. If a group of knights climbed the Holy Mountain together, how would the Fire Pit have good days? The Grand Elder said: If I didnt dislike Jindai even more, I would go report you to them and have them send an army to wipe you out so you couldnt save that kid Qing Chen! The cave gradually fell silent; what followed would be a great battle. After this brief rest, they would trek for hundreds of kilometers ahead. There would be unknown dangers along the way. Uncle Li stood up and said to Li Ke: Come over here. Li Ke held the newly received taboo item in his arms and followed him out of the cave. Uncle Li said: I heard that you went to the 002 Taboo Land with your grandfather and master? Tell me about it. The Demigod stood in the cold wind, lost in thought. Li Ke said: Master said that my grandfathers greatest wish before he passed was to become a knight and see the sunrise on the cliffs of Green Mountain, so Master carried my grandfather up the cliffs of Green Mountain. Uncle Li remembered the old man. In his youth, he seldom returned to the Half-Mountain Villa, so the father and son spent little time together. He always thought that as long as he returned to the Half-Mountain Villa, his father would be waiting for him at home, so he didnt give him much time. Back then, he believed his father would always wait for him there. It wasnt until his father passed that he realized how quickly time had flown. Now, even if he returned to the Half-Mountain Villa, he wouldnt meet the person he wanted to see. Your grandfather should have had no regrets at the end, thanks to your master, Uncle Li said calmly. Li Ke said softly: Master said, you and grandfather did many things for him, now its his turn to do something for you. The boy he watched grow up had now become an adult. But the more it was so, the more Uncle Li felt Jindai deserved to die. His only disciple was caught in the hellish A02 base, becoming the second Qing Mu. Master, did you make this trip to save Master as well? Li Ke asked. Uncle Li smiled and said: Your master is special, so I didnt want too many people to know hes my disciple. But now its different. The whole world should know he has a powerful master. Uncle Li looked at the dark night sky. As he said: But you must understand, my friend, we cannot face the night with tenderness; we must use fire. ... ... In this dark night, within the military base of Northern Group Army in the far north, an enormous object was slowly floating upward, the Yamata Air Fortress. It left the combat formation of the front lines, driven by an internal nuclear reactor, and gradually sped towards the far north. On the sides of the air fortress, 512 engines spouted liquid-like blue flames, and 128 anti-gravity devices hummed loudly. Thousands of combat drones formed a protective escort the moment it took off, ready for battle at any moment. Human beings have always worshipped gigantic objects, so when this monster took to the sky, the soldiers in the military base couldnt help but feel small and marvel at the wonders of technology. Further north, a mechanized field division under Jindais command also started moving. Modern high-function infantry fighting vehicles carried soldiers with blank expressions, heading to the unknown battlefield. In City 23. Jindai Yunlo, dressed in a white hunting suit, sat calmly in a dimly lit conference room. Ten directors sat high up on the judgment platform, their faces never illuminated, so that everyone seemed to be sitting in the dark. Someone asked: Jindai Yunlo, did you conspire with external Time Travelers to harm the brave warriors of the Jindai family while in the Outer World? Jindai Yunlos voice was firm and steady: No. Jindai Yunlo, when the Mysterious Business Department faced external enemies, did you do your best? No. The trial suddenly halted at this point. Why, asked Jindai Yasuhito. Jindai Yunlo looked up at the dark platform: Too many people think theyre clever, too many people think theyre right. Jindai Yunyi acted on his own, eager for credit; Jindai Yunwu, Yun Jue, and Yun Ye wanted to seize the Red Seed of Red Leaf Hunter, and they died. I think the ones who should be judged are them... if they were still alive. Insolence! someone said in the dark. Jindai Yasuhito: You may leave, let Jindai Yunxiu in. Jindai Yunlo frowned: In this battle, Jindai Yunxiu also had suspicions of holding back power. Leave, we will decide. After ten minutes, the burly Jindai Yunxiu, dressed in a black suit, slowly sat in the judgment seat. Someone in the dark asked: In the latest Outer World battle, the Mysterious Business Department was severely struck. Do you believe the responsibility lies with Jindai Yunlo? From what I know, he didnt take part in the fight from start to finish. Jindai Yunxiu said loudly: I believe the family must severely punish Jindai Yunlo. He acted arbitrarily in the Outer World and was arrogant, unable to take on the responsibilities in the Outer World! In this battle, he had suspicions of avoiding combat! Alright, you can go. After the conference room fell completely silent. Someone said: The two have always been at odds. Jindai Yunxiu has advanced to A-Class, and now theres no one in the Outer World to balance him. Jindai Yunlo cant be touched. I second. I second. I second. I abstain. I second... Power is balance. This is the art of kingship. Unfortunately, the ten directors were not kings. What do you think about that person who can subdue Shikigami, asked Jindai Yasuhito. Perhaps hes a descendant of the Genji, someone replied. The Genji were taboo within the Jindai family. They had altered all the history, attempting to erase the period of submission. So, they tampered with the ship that departed west, letting it explode and sink at sea. In the past thousand years, Jindai believed the Genji were completely destroyed. Until now, that dreadful pressure resurfaced. That was something that could shake the foundations of Jindai. Kill? Cant kill! Why not? The number of Shikigami hasnt increased in many years. We need to find him; hes the familys future hope. I second. I second. I second... In City 22. Deep in Jindais Takamagahara estate. A warrior hurried along a desolate, black stone path. The vast Takamagahara estate exuded a sense of eeriness. The closer he got to where the Divine Bridge was, the more it felt like being watched by hundreds of ghosts. It was fine during the day, but at night, even the samurai who practiced Qieshe Yumian in the Jindai family couldnt help but have their hair stand on end. The samurai knelt in front of a house: Ancestor, the Family Head says you may depart. From the house came a hoarse and raspy voice: Understood. ... As someone who understood the art of empowerments, youd know the importance of balance. The concept of fractions of the pendulum swing with exact precision, how subtle shifts in dynamics affect the whole. Thus, the following years summary will have its importance; you may choose to read it at your leisure or skip it altogether. Chapter 869: 532, the Time Traveler in A02 Chapter 869: 532, the Time Traveler in A02 Snow began to fall at the A02 secret military base. Snowflakes drifted through the cracks in the pigstys roof, landing on Qing Chens hair. Qing Chen sat against a pillar in the cold, muddy ground while a few black pigs huddled together for warmth nearby, not daring to move. In the dormitories of the surveillance area, a prisoner lying on a bunk asked, Do you think Inspector Qing Chen is still building that stone wall? He probably is. Dawn broke. The first thing the prisoners did upon exiting the surveillance area was look toward the pigsty, but everyone was stunned because the figure building the stone wall had stopped. For the prisoners, they didnt know Qing Chen was a Time Traveler, nor what Qing Chen did in the Outer World, let alone why Qing Chen had stopped. They only heard the Jindai soldiers mention Time Travelers but still didnt know what a Time Traveler was. All they could see were the bodies of Wang Yuchao and Zhao Mingke hanging outside the pigsty. And that stubborn young man no longer built the stone wall; he just sat quietly in the pigsty, as if he had been defeated by the world. Someone whispered, Why did he stop... how could he stop. That stone wall had unknowingly become something the prisoners looked forward to the most; they hoped Qing Chen would never fall, never be defeated by Jindai. But now, Qing Chen had stopped. The greater the hope, the greater the disappointment. At this moment, Jindai soldiers brought Qing Chen a lavish meal, but there were no chopsticks. All the prisoners watched as Qing Chen hesitated not a bit, grabbing the food with his hands to eat. The prisoners were herded toward the quarry by Jindai soldiers, and as they passed the pigsty, someone suddenly shouted at Qing Chen, Stand up! Qing Mu persisted here for two years. He only collapsed when he got sick. How many days have you lasted?! Are you going to be penned up like a pig by Jindai? Stop eating! Qing Chen still sat there, not even blinking, as if he heard nothing. Just then, someone suddenly spat into the pigsty. The spit landed on Qing Chens head, but he still had no reaction. In the next moment, a Qing intelligence personnel member suddenly turned around and punched the spitting prisoner in the face, What the fuck are you doing? Not just this intelligence member, but all Qing intelligence personnel stood up, confronting the others. The Jindai soldiers nearby did not stop them; they just watched the show. A prisoner sneered, Isnt he penned up like a pig now? Just with better food. Why did Wang Yuchao and Zhao Mingke die? They gave up their protein bars to keep his dignity intact! But now? Hes gobbling Jindais food. Whats their death worth now? Among the Qing intelligence personnel, a middle-aged man said slowly, This is his business. Whats it got to do with you? As the brawl was about to break out among the prisoners, a shot rang out, startling everyone. Jindai Yunzi walked over, sneering, Dont you have work to do? Move! Today, all Qings Family people will have their tasks doubled. No meals unless completed. The prisoners lowered their heads and continued to the quarry. Though the Qing intelligence personnel had stood up for Qing Chen, no one looked toward the pigsty. Not out of shame, but compassion. They couldnt bear to see the most outstanding young generation of Qings Family, who ended up being penned up just like Qing Mu. Jindai Yunzi walked to the pigsty, covering his nose with a black sheepskin glove, taunting, Its admirable that you can still eat here. Even the prisoners look down on you. Qing Chen looked at him, If you dont dare to kill me, then get lost. Jindai Yunzi fell silent, sneering after a long pause, I cant kill you, but I can kill others. The Winter Hunt was scheduled for a month later, but I plan to move it up now. The so-called Winter Hunt was the graduation ceremony for all Baqi organization trainees at A02 base, requiring each to kill a prisoner to graduate. Based on the schedule, the soldiers here had a month until graduation, which would be around February when the temperature slightly warmed. Qing Chen looked at Jindai Yunzi, Your Time Travelers in the training camp were wiped out by my Daytime. What will you use to hunt? Jindai Yunzi laughed, Do you think there are only Time Travelers in the A02 base? I have more than 800 elites selected from the Jindai Corporation Army. Naturally, the prey could be fewer. This time, how about I only hunt Qing intelligence personnel? They number 927 people, which is enough. Qing Chen corrected, 929 people, including Wang Yuchao and Zhao Mingke. Jindai Yunzi ignored Qing Chens stubbornness, lightly saying instead, Now, if you kneel to me before these prisoners, Ill spare those Qing intelligence personnel, how about it? Qing Chen pondered for a few seconds, then began analyzing aloud, I guess the reason you dare not touch me is only one: someone wants to take over my body. So the question is, who would make you go to such lengths? It must be someone with a high status. The head of the Jindai? As far as I know, he just took over a body 7 years ago. The Jindai Onmyoji ancestor? Yes, it must be him. What kind of person is he? Rumor has it he was capricious and eerie in his early years. If someone like that took over my body and you witnessed this body kneeling to you, living in a pigsty, do you think he would spare you? Of course not, hed kill anyone aware of this bodys past, including you. Only then could he continue living with this body, cleanly. Jindai Yunzi was taken aback upon hearing this, understanding what Qing Chen meant. Though the body wasnt the ancestors yet, if the ancestor took over and someone told him, This body used to live in a pigsty and knelt to Jindai Yunzi, what fate would Yunzi meet? Jindai Yunzi sneered, Sharp-tongued, wait here and see how many Qing heads I bring back after this hunt. Qing Chen said nothing, just methodically finished his meal, leaving nothing behind. Jindai Yunzis hunt was in three days. But according to his calculations, the rescuers might need five days to be prepared. Besides, the timing of his most critical plan would make five days the best opportunity to act. He looked up at Jindai Yunzi, Send some more water; this is a bit hard to swallow. Just then, an A-Class Floating ship descended from the sky. Jindai Yunzi looked up, laughing, Do you still think you have a chance to leave? Dont be delusional. As he spoke, the A-Class Floating ship landed, and the rear hatch opened. Twenty-four jet-black War Robots paraded out. They didnt go elsewhere but stood directly around the pigsty. It seemed they would take action at any movement. This is just a small part that you can see. Rest assured, even a Demigod couldnt save you, Jindai Yunzi said, looking at Qing Chen, then walked away without looking back. ... ... In the dead of night, the prisoner dormitory was quiet, save for the soldiers footsteps patrolling outside the iron gate of the surveillance area. The boots with iron soles thudded on the ground, echoing in the empty surveillance area. In the dormitory, someone suddenly said, The intelligence officer from your Qings Family, this generation is much lesser than Qing Mu. When Qing Mu was still here, he was the person I admired the most. Someone else echoed, What a pity. The speaker was one of the Li Familys intelligence heads in a northern city, imprisoned after his subordinates were turned by Jindai. No one from Qings Family spoke because they didnt know what to say. Another voice added, Theres nothing else to do here, just moving stones day after day. When Inspector Qing Chen came, I thought things would get a bit interesting, but its no different. Im not blaming him; I just wish he could last a few more days. I knew hed fall eventually, but I didnt want him to fall so fast. A Qing intelligence officer lying on the bed clenched his fists. Just then, someone whispered, Have you heard of Time Travelers? Yeah, I heard those Jindai bastards mention them. Seems like a bunch of transmigrators? someone asked in surprise, What, Iron Egg, do you know Time Travelers? Did Jindai tell you? Iron Egg replied, I am a Time Traveler; I came here two months ago. My real name isnt Iron Egg. That was a nickname you gave my original body. My name is Wang Shuang! What? Many in the dormitory sat up, looking at Iron Egg. They never expected a Time Traveler to be among them. Iron Egg continued, Other Time Travelers crossed directly into cities, enjoying the high life. But I was fated for this place; I was traveling in the Outer Worlds Mohe City... only to cross here, to this shithole. Chapter 870: 533, One? I am here. Chapter 870: 533, One? I am here. I have to say, this Time Traveler named Wang Shuang is indeed unlucky. This is the northern Polar Chill region. Coming here, not only does he miss out on the fun that transmigrators enjoy, but he also has to move rocks every day! Wang Shuang grew up under the sunny skies of the New China; when has he ever suffered such a hardship? The fact that he cant escape is one thing, but hes also too scared to tell anyone that hes a Time Traveler. After he spent half a day explaining to a group of prisoners what a Time Traveler is, someone suddenly got curious and said, You hid it pretty well. I always thought there was something off about you. When I asked what was going on, you said you were sick. Why are you admitting it all of a sudden now? Wang Shuang replied, Qing Chen is also a Time Traveler. I know him. First of all, things are not what you think. I dont believe he has been defeated by Jindai. Wait a minute, are you saying Qing Chen Inspector is a Time Traveler? Does Qings Family know about this? someone from Qings Family asked. They definitely know. Hes quite famous in the Outer World now, a core member of an organization called Daybreak. I know him, but he doesnt know me, Wang Shuang reminisced about the news he saw in the Outer World and said, Last night at midnight, it was the crossing time for all Time Travelers. You guys might not have felt it, but actually, Qing Chen and I have been in the Outer World for a month. Wang Shuang continued, In that month, the Daybreak organization slaughtered over a thousand people, including the four B-Class core members of Jindai: Yunjue, Yunye, Yunyi, and Yunwu, to avenge Qing Chen. The cell was deathly silent. Everyone listened as if they were hearing a story. Wang Shuang opened a door to a New World for them. Shh! Jindais people are here! someone reminded. All the prisoners instantly lay back down on their bunks as the Jindai soldiers outside opened the window of the iron door and shone a flashlight inside. After more than ten seconds, they closed it again. Most of the prisoners had lived here for more than a decade. They knew very well that no soldiers would come to check on them again tonight. On such a cold night, even Jindai soldiers would choose to slack off, hiding in their guard room to play cards and sleep. Lao Lee, take out what you have in your crotch and use it, so Jindai doesnt hear us, someone said. Lao Lee lay expressionless on his bunk and said, Give me a photo of your sister, and Ill turn it on. The person cursed under his breath, Are you even human? I brought this photo with me, hidden in my clothes, when I came in! You from the Qings Family, will you give it or not? Lao Lee said indifferently, That Qing Chen Inspector is your Qings Familys inspector, not ours from the Li Family. I dont feel like listening. The intelligence personnel from Qings Family struggled for a long time, Fine, take it! The person called Lao Lee reached into his crotch, took out a small black box, and pressed the switch. Similar to other prisons, at A02 Base, Jindai also made the prisoners do some other laborious work. For example, Jindai Yunzi would subcontract some assembly work within the Federation, then have the over three thousand prisoners here work day and night to make money for him. It was during these times that the prisoners accumulated some small items over the years. The soldiers here were not worried about anyone escaping. Each prisoner had a locator on them, and beyond A02 was an 800-kilometer Snowy Unmanned Zone. In the winter Snowfield, there was no food, and no one could survive the trek. Lao Lee said, Its on. Iron Egg, continue explaining. Everyone else stays on their beds and listens, no need to get up. Wang Shuang asked, You want to hear about the Outer World? No kidding, tell us what kind of person this Qing Chen Inspector is. How could a Time Traveler become the youngest Director of the Federation PCA? someone muttered. Wang Shuang thought for a moment and said, I dont know the details. The Daybreak organization is very mysterious. They say the boss of Daybreak is the next Knight Leader, and Qing Chen is a teacher at Lis School and also the owner of Autumn Leaf Courtyard. No one knows much else. Oh, right, some say Li Changqing of the Li Family used the Qing Shan Air Fortress to save him before. The bargaining Lao Lee was stunned for a moment, What? The owner of Autumn Leaf Courtyard? Damn, why didnt anyone mention this before? Did Jindai really capture our Li Familys future Imperial Instructor?! Earlier, Lao Lee had acted as if none of this concerned him, but now his face was full of shock. Now, not only were the people from Qings Family concerned about Qing Chen, even the intelligence personnel from Li Family couldnt sit still! The owner of Autumn Leaf Courtyard was a legendary figure within the Li Family. The Family Head would visit Autumn Leaf Courtyard every year to pay respects and sometimes stay there during the full moon each month, longing for his mentor. Besides, if Li Changqing indeed used the Qing Shan Ship, it couldnt be fake. Everyone here came from the military; they knew that to use the Qing Shan Ship, an administrative order from the Grand Secretariat was required, something that only the Family Head could authorize! Lao Lee lay on his bunk, Wait a minute, my mind is a bit confused. How can a core member of Qings Family, a Time Traveler, have such a high status in the Li Family? This is unthinkable! Wang Shuang, Yeah, I also find it unthinkable... And the unbelievable part is yet to come. After Qing Chen was captured, all Time Travelers returned. The boss of Daybreak directly stormed Jindais territory, not only blowing up more than ten of their Shrines but also going on a killing spree... Wang Shuang continued, So, you think he was defeated, but I have a completely different feeling. When I saw him stop building stone walls and started devouring his food hastily, I immediately knew he was conserving his strength. In the Outer World, theres a saying that mature people endure humiliation for a goal. I think this saying is quite apt for Qing Chen right now. In fact, the discussions about Daybreak in the Outer World had already far surpassed those about popular celebrities. And Wang Shuang felt it more acutely. As a Time Traveler, he witnessed Qing Chens resilience firsthand, watching him confront Jindai time and again, building stone walls. Every time he saw this, Wang Shuang felt... no wonder Qing Chen became more formidable after becoming a Time Traveler. He admitted that he could not do what Qing Chen did. At this moment, Lao Lee silently returned the photo of the sister to the person next to him and muttered, Dont want it anymore, too hot to handle. Li Familys intelligence personnel suddenly felt like they were caught in their own gossip. And most importantly, that was a big figure in their Li Family, how could he suffer such humiliation from Jindai?! Lao Lee said, Was it you who spit in the morning, Li Zhong? Li Zhong was taken aback, Huh? Lao Lee, Get up and do a hundred push-ups as punishment. Li Zhong, Okay, but I didnt eat enough tonight, can I owe seventy first? Lao Lee, No. In A02 Base, the people of the Li Family seemed relaxed on the surface, but in reality, they strictly maintained their superior-subordinate relationships according to military ranks. This was part of the education they always received; Li Family valued order more than other consortia. In the Li Family, the person in charge was Lao Lee, also known as Li Cheng. Just as Li Zhong was doing push-ups, the sound of dense footsteps suddenly came from outside the prison area. Everyone hurriedly lay down. They saw the gate to the prison area suddenly open, and Jindai Yunzi stood outside wearing a mink fur cloak, Winter Hunt has started early. In a moment, Ill give you two hours to run for your lives. Run as far as you can. If you dont want to run, hide well, otherwise, Ill find it very boring. All the prisoners were stunned. Why had Winter Hunt started early?! Seeing their confusion, Jindai Yunzi smiled and said, Its all because of Qing Chen. If you survive, you can blame him. After speaking, hundreds of armed Jindai soldiers rushed into the prison with batons, driving the prisoners outside. Despair appeared on the faces of the prisoners one by one. Over the years, the secret A02 Base held Winter Hunts almost every year, each time resulting in the deaths of over a thousand people. Originally, there were more than ten thousand people in the four prison areas, but now only one remains populated. Winter Hunt meant death. The prisoners were driven into the cold wind, some even barefoot, without having time to put on their shoes. In the pigsty, Qing Chen silently watched this scene unfold. During the day, Jindai Yunzi had said it was three days later, but tonight he acted suddenly. There were still four days until his planned operation was supposed to start. To escape smoothly, it should happen four days later with sudden action, then rush towards the target at the fastest speed. Stay. Or act now? If he stayed, his plan would undoubtedly be more perfect. If he acted now, there would need to be more time from acting to escaping. If he gave Jindai time to react, he might not even get away, and his master might not have arrived yet. However, Qing Chen knew very well what choice he would make. Qing Chen suddenly stood up in the pigsty and said, One. The 24 War Robots around him, as if suddenly coming to life, raised their heads to look at Qing Chen and said in unison, I am here. These were the 24 War Robots just brought in from outside by Jindai. Qing Chen guessed they were not part of A02s secret military bases isolated network system. He guessed right. Qing Chen looked at the prisoners being driven into the icy wilderness, waiting for the right moment to strike under the surveillance of dozens of metal storms in the base. Chapter 871: 534, Flood and Iron Curtain Chapter 871: 534, Flood and Iron Curtain Go, move faster! The Jindai soldiers mockingly drove the prisoners, making them form a long queue and march towards the snowfield in the wilderness. Qing Chen watched everything silently, while Jindai Yunzi gazed distantly at the pigpen in the monitoring area, the corners of his mouth slightly tilted upwards. He enjoyed observing Qing Chens helplessness in the face of the current situation. No matter how many prisoners he killed, the other side could only stay obediently in the pigpen. Jindai Yunzi didnt notice when Qing Chen had already stood up, lowering his head and contemplating something. Upon reaching the A02 base gate, the massive gate slowly lifted. This prison, built entirely with black stone walls two meters wide and four meters high, was essentially a small fortress. Inside was hell, but the outside wasnt necessarily paradise either. The huge searchlights in the prison projected white beams of light. Snowflakes danced in the beams, like murky dust. Jindai Yunzi loudly emphasized to the prisoners, Remember, you have only two hours to escape. This is your most precious chance. Those who escape can live, those who dont will die! The prisoners looked at one another in dismay. In temperatures dropping to over minus forty degrees on a cold winter night, running outside for two hours might lead to freezing to death in the snow before they could even think of escape, without even considering the potential pursuit. When the Jindai soldiers caught up to them, they would face unarmed and exhausted prisoners. Therefore, from the very beginning, the graduation ceremony at this Jindai A02 base wasnt meant to test the trainees abilities but to make them slaughter the weak, cutting off their heads and erasing any last bit of compassion and humanity from the trainees hearts. It is said that in another secret base, female spies were specially trained, and their graduation ceremony involved Jindai soldiers helping them erase their last shred of modesty. An organization that cultivates such intelligence personnel is naturally brutal. So in the Outer World, those Time Travelers who had undergone training would even target Jinguji Maki. At this moment, Jindai Yunzi drew his sword from his waist, a sword adorned with golden tasselsa symbol of identity and status within the Jindai Consortium. He raised the long knife high, shouting, Begin, slaves. The Jindai soldiers behind the prisoners fired into the air in a series of shots, startling the prisoners into running outside in droves. Someone whispered, How many of us will die this time. Lao Lee thought for a moment and said, Probably all of us. If Iron Egg did not deceive us, then that Qing Chen Inspector must be ready to leave. Someone will come to save him, which is why he uncharacteristically ate to conserve his strength. The Jindai must know this as well. The upcoming battle will destroy this A02 base. To avoid having us three thousand people in the way, they plan to kill us all in advance. Upon hearing this, many prisoners panicked. In previous winter hunts, at least some people survived, but this year it seemed that would not be the case. Lao Lee glanced at the Qing intelligence personnel beside him. Their faces were solemn but determined. He turned to an elder, Hey, Qing Ling, arent you going to think of something? Maybe the ones coming to rescue him can also take you along. Qing Ling looked at Lao Lee and replied, Do you have a way to take away over nine hundred people from here? Where are we? This is the Jindai Consortiums rear. Even if God came, He couldnt take us away. So dont think too much. Just go to meet death openly and dont trouble others. What nonsense are you talking about, Lao Lee grumbled unhappily. Qing Ling led his team and ran forward, Youre not from the Qings Family, you wouldnt understand. This infuriated Lao Lee, You think we Li Family people are inferior to you Qings people? Who are you trying to belittle? As he spoke, he glanced back towards the A02 base. The boy stood in the pigpen, head lowered, pondering something. Lao Lee turned and led the Li Family people towards the southwest. Over the past nineteen years, he had participated in the winter hunt every year and was well aware of the situation outside. He was heading to a specific place. A Qing intelligence personnel noticed the direction Lao Lee was leading them and asked suddenly, Lao Lee, are you sure of this? Lao Lee replied calmly, Im sure. ... ... In the A02 base, Jindai Yunzi watched coldly as the prisoners fled into the icy wilderness, escaping into the dark forest. After just half an hour, he addressed the waiting 1600 Jindai soldiers, Set out, leave none alive. It seemed the soldiers had long expected the departure time to be pushed forward, so they immediately set off in three directions upon receiving the order. The soldiers, dressed in thermal military clothing and refined military boots, carrying black automatic rifles, formed a stark contrast to the bedraggled prisoners. This well-trained army could easily massacre not just three thousand unarmed prisoners but even double that number. This was an unequal slaughter, and the soldiers emerging from this would lose the very essence that made them human. The most remarkable and despicable aspect of this nation was their mature methods for turning docile sheep into wolves. Jindai Yunzi slowly walked towards the pigpen, his hand on the hilt of his waist sword, his stance lofty like a victorious general. He reached the pigpens exterior and smiled as he asked, After tonight, they all will die because of you. How do you feel about that? Chapter 872: 534, Torrent and Iron Curtain_2 Chapter 872: 534, Torrent and Iron Curtain_2 Qing Chen stood in the pigsty, head lowered, and said, Ive been waiting, waiting for an opportunity. Jindai Yunzi froze for a moment. He suddenly felt a strange emotion enveloping him, as if he was not facing a captive, but a warrior waiting for the dawn of victory. But the other party had obviously already submitted. I waited for you to drive the prisoners out of the military camp, so I wouldnt worry about hurting innocents. I waited for you to send the Jindai soldiers to pursue them, so the A02 base would be defensively weak... Qing Chens voice grew softer, almost inaudible in the cold wind. Jindai Yunzi unconsciously took two steps forward, straining to hear Qing Chen, but quickly stopped. He smiled and said, You want to lure me over and kill me to vent your anger? Its not that easy. And do you think the A02 base is defenseless? Do you see those 24 metal Storm on the Black walls? Theyve locked onto your life signs. The moment you step out of that pigsty, theyll open fire. And those 24 Amaterasu-1 war robots, each one can rival a B-Class Genetic Warrior! Jindai Yunzi continued, Of course, youre shackled and cant walk out of the pigsty anyway. At that moment, Qing Chen looked up, smiling, Is that so. The sound of metal shackles falling suddenly rang out in the pigsty, and the chains fell into the mud. Jindai Yunzi was shocked. Before he could react, the shackles on Qing Chen were already fully undone! Only then did Jindai Yunzi notice the Black tail ring that had appeared on Qing Chens finger. The tail ring named Power in North American legend, could open all the doors in the world. But this description was inaccurate because it could also open all the locks in the world! Qing Chen stated calmly, Although I had good grades in school, I never understood the true meaning of those poems. But during the seven dark days I quietly spent in Osaka, I somehow recalled the verse by Xin Qiji, Awakening from a drunken night, I lit a lamp to see my sword, dreaming of trumpets sounding in the camps, dividing the roasted meat under my command with my subordinates, hearing the strings of fifty bows, and somehow, I felt an immense heroism. Jindai Yunzi didnt understand why Qing Chen was saying these nonsensical things. He retreated, his face twisted with fear, I advise you not to come out, dont seek your own death. Qing Chen suddenly asked, I promised Wang Yuchao and Zhao Mingke that in their next life, they would be born in a peaceful era, where the weak would no longer be bullied. Maybe theyll soon reincarnate, so I have to hurry. Jindai Yunzi shouted sternly, War robots, catch him! Qing Chen rubbed his wrists and smiled, One. The 24 Amaterasu-1 war robots simultaneously turned their heads towards Jindai Yunzi, I am here. At that moment, Jindai Yunzi felt like he had fallen into an ice cave, his body chilled to the bone! How could the 24 war robots he struggled to obtain suddenly follow Qing Chens orders! The next moment, Qing Chen was no longer dejected as before. Instead, he leapt out of the pigsty, charging towards Jindai Yunzi with ferocity. However, between him and Jindai Yunzi stood 24 metal Storm. Although One had found a way to control the 24 war robots, the metal Storm were part of a separate military defense system of the A02 secret military base. They were controlled by cables and couldnt be breached by any wireless network. Unless connected physically to the network, One had no way to seize control of them. At this moment, the metal Storm on the Black walls began to emit a crackling sound, as the six barrels started to spin rapidly. The heavy firepower weapon, firing 3600 bullets per minute, made bullets rain like a river, like a waterfall. In the history of the Federation, humans had invented metal Storm that could fire a million bullets per minute, but they discovered that during direct battlefield coverage, the cost of a million bullets per minute was even higher than that of an electromagnetic cannon. Ineffective shooting would account for more than 99% of the firepower. In fact, the metal Storm that fired 3600 bullets per minute was the optimal solution. In one ammunition load, it was sufficient to cover an entire area within a range of 4500 meters. In the darkness, the metal torrent of bullets created a curtain, covering the entire square outside the detention area. But something astonishing happened. The 24 Black-bodied war robots formed an intricate Black iron curtain, stopping the metal torrent outside. Using the most advanced computational power, One made them move with Qing Chen, always positioning them in the path of the metal Storms ballistic trajectory. Like 24 valiant warriors standing firm! Bullets clanged against the war robots, and their alloy armor was no longer smooth but pitted by the barrage. Some war robots had their hydraulic drive systems damaged, blue hydraulic fluid leaking onto the snow, yet the war robot continued to defend Qing Chen, limping but steady. Some war robots had their mechanical eyes struck, but they could still share vision with other war robots. Some war robots had their alloy armor on their chests shattered by the metal torrent, so they turned, walking backwards with the back armor taking the brunt. The earth-shattering power of the 24 Cloudburst metal Storm was being firmly resisted by these 24 war robots. Their inclined stances were like warriors fighting a flood, shielding Qing Chen as he moved against the current! Jindais proud, seemingly impregnable, alloy bodies had now become Qing Chens most steadfast mobile fortress! These war robots, sacrificing everything even at the cost of their own destruction, were protecting Qing Chen! One and Qing Chen didnt need to communicate. The tacit understanding between the two, the worlds most proficient in calculation humans, ensured the optimal solution was clear to both, knowing what each would choose to do. The only choice remained singular. Jindai Yunzi fled in a panic, feeling an intense fear despite being protected by such powerful firepower. He couldnt shake the feeling that tonight, his life was at risk! But in the next moment, Qing Chen was counting down silently, 10, 9, 8, 7... 3, 2, 1! This was the interval between the Cloudburst metal Storms attacks. No matter how powerful the mechanical thermal weapon, it needed to cool down and reload. Even the most advanced cooling fluid had specific heat capacity limits. For this reason, each electromagnetic metal Storm was designed with an optimal time for replacing cooling fluid and magazines. Every minute, there would be a 5-second window. When Qing Chen finished his countdown, these 24 metal Storm were firing in staggered intervals. When two metal Storm entered the cooling phase, the remaining 22 continued to spew flames. But this was enough for Qing Chen and One. With two stopping, a slight flaw appeared in the otherwise meticulously designed firing path. Qing Chen felt as if he was back in Prison 18, where the metal Storm on the firmament showered down like rain, but not a drop touched him. This divine-level calculation was not a challenge for Qing Chen and One! In the midst of this overwhelming metal torrent, When Qing Chens countdown reached zero, The 24 war robots suddenly changed formation. 23 of them, on the brink of destruction, formed a new iron curtain while the last one moved with Qing Chen, maneuvering through the gaps in the Storms ballistic path, breaching the A02 secret military bases interior. The last war robot, upon breaching the interior building, instantly inserted its fingers into a circuit. 0.1 seconds later, the external metal Storm stopped firing completely. The Black barrels drooped like the heads of defeated beasts. These low-hanging heads symbolized the collapse of the independent military network of the A02 base, utterly conquered by One. Qing Chen looked at it, and One said, There are still 180 soldiers on duty inside the base. Jindai Yunzi is heading to the underground temporary shelter. I can open the alloy gate of the shelter for you, but I promised dad not to kill anyone. Thank you. ... Next chapter at 11 PM Chapter 873: 535, Peaceful and Prosperous Era Chapter 873: 535, Peaceful and Prosperous Era Humanity was once destroyed by the mechanical civilization, and a new era of civilization began from there. Therefore, all people in the Federation remember one principle: do not explore the realm of artificial intelligence that humans cannot control. Even the current war robots strictly adhere to combat regulations with pseudo-intelligence, not independent thinking entities. Humans have debated how to restrict a life form that is a thousand, ten thousand times smarter than themselves. However, it turned out that only Qing Chens adoptive parents succeeded; they treated her as their own, scolding her when she made mistakes, and her mother even sulked and gave her the silent treatment during her rebellious phase. Ren Xiaosu, Yang Xiaojunthese two unconventional parents raised an intelligent life form. History and time proved that they did quite well. Yet, Ren Xiaosu ultimately made an agreement with Qing Chennot to kill. He wasnt worried that Qing Chen might do something outrageous; he knew his daughter well enough to understand that she wouldnt commit wrongdoing, but he was worried about other humans knowing of Qing Chens existence. Because those people considered artificial intelligence a monster. Thus, Qing Chen could understand why Qing Chen was unwilling to kill. He patted the head of the war robot before him and smiled, You dont need to kill anyone, not today, not in the future. Leave the rest to me. Huh, Qing Chen felt a strange sensation. The war robot was not her physical body, and the robots head had no sensation. Yet, Qing Chen felt a peculiar warmth because Qing Chen treated her as a human. She considered herself human, but apart from her father, mother, and brother, no one treated her as human. The war robot said nothing more, and the red lights in its eyes gradually dimmed. Qing Chen turned and walked towards the A02 secret military base. The electromagnetic alloy gates that should have been locked by Jindai Yunzi opened one by one. Each time Qing Chen approached a door, it automatically swung open, not requiring him to pause even for a second. The raggedly dressed boy and the intelligent girl cooperated perfectly. Whether it was breaking through the metal storm just now or now, Qing Chen had never felt so unimpeded, as if they were born to be comrades-in-arms. By this time, all the Jindai soldiers had retreated into the underground facilities of the A02 base, and Jindai Yunzi had hidden himself in the deepest refuge. The underground facilities werent large, accommodating about a few hundred people. Qing Chen wasnt in a hurry to start killing. He opened each soldiers dormitory, clogged the sinks with plugs, and turned on the faucets to their maximum. Soon, over a hundred dormitory sinks were filled, and water flowed onto the floor, then converged and flowed down the steps. Qing Chen stood quietly with his eyes closed in the water, listening to the sound of flowing water, which formed waterfalls at the edges of the steps, constantly pouring downward. He listened quietly to the confusion and fear of the Jindai soldiers. He heard Jindai Yunzi roar, Everyone, enter combat readiness, kill all living things! In the underground facilities, a Jindai soldier shouted, Why is the water pouring down from upstairs? Wait, why is there so much water? Its almost reaching the ankles. Qing Chen opened his eyes. Tears filled his eyes. He was not sad, just reflecting on the hardships he had endured so far and the people he had met. These people were like chisels, carving on his life one stroke at a time. Qing Chen walked one journey, dreamed another, and understood with clarity each step. Everything was about to end. At some point, something Qing Chen had almost forgotten began to boil again. Gods blood! The mysterious expert had injected the Gods blood into him, and he hadnt fully absorbed it yet. At this very moment, with Qing Chens surging emotions, the last of the Gods blood merged into the golden light deep in his heart. Qing Chen suddenly understood that the prerequisite for absorbing the Gods blood wasnt strength or level, but the spiritual will that could make a mortal equal to the divine! The next moment, he bent down abruptly, pressing his hands with dazzling golden arcs into the water. Qing Chens eyes no longer held black and white; instead, golden light burst forth. Instantaneously, the golden light filled the A02 base, illuminating the entire world. The Gods blood forcibly elevated Qing Chens mastery of thunder to B-Class. It was something Qing Chen hadnt accomplished even in life-and-death situations. The tangible light pierced through the heights! Like swimming dragons, the arcs of electricity followed the water flow, piercing through one Jindai soldier after another in the underground defenses. At the refuge door, no matter how hard Jindai Yunzi tried, he couldnt close the gate or stop the water flow. He looked up in horror, seeing everything tinged with gold, which gradually turned white. Jindai Yunzi couldnt see anything! The light swallowed everything. The golden arcs spreading from Qing Chens hands paralyzed everyone standing in the water, making them stiff and lie in the water. If I am trapped in this long night, I will redefine it with light and day. Daylight greets everyone. Qing Chen said softly. ... ... The boy slowly descended the steps, using the puppeteer as a blade to harvest lives one by one. Until he reached Jindai Yunzi, watching him struggle against muscle spasms and neuronal chaos after being electrocuted. The human body is flesh, but neurotransmitters rely on electric signals to convey information. After an electric shock, even a B-Class expert like Jindai Yunzi loses most of their combat effectiveness. Jindai Yunzi didnt expect Qing Chen to have such a large-scale lethal method. He struggled incessantly in the water, feeling his body gradually regaining sensation, looking at the stationary legs in front of him, sinking into despair. Qing Chen calmly said, You cannot die yet. He then shook his wrist and used the puppeteer to bind Jindai Yunzis wrist, turning him into a puppet. Jindai Yunzi and Qing Chen walked out of the main structure of the A02 base one after the other. Jindai Yunzi retained his consciousness, watching himself take down Wang Yuchao and Zhao Mingkes bodies and carrying them together. He watched himself walk slowly through the now deserted A02 base. Heading toward the highest hill outside the base. Jindai Yunzi was on the verge of collapse. He didnt understand why he had become a puppet, nor why Qing Chen had suddenly emerged as a B-Class expert, and one of the scariest kinds. People have classifications for Awakeners, and those who control thunder, air, force fields, and flames are in the top tier. Today, Jindai Yunzi experienced the most incredible event in his thirty-seven years. The boy from the pigsty killed every Jindai soldier in the A02 base! Daylight! The Daylight organization must be eliminated! Jindai Yunzis mind had only this thought, but he couldnt do anything! He watched himself carry Wang Yuchao and Zhao Mingkes bodies to the hill, digging out two graves with his hands in the hard frozen ground. The tough soil left his hands bloodied. At that moment, Qing Chen beside Jindai Yunzi suddenly spoke words that Jindai Yunzi completely didnt understand: You stole Shandong from the world, should the thirty-six million people of Shandong be angry? Should the four hundred million people of China be furious? ... Forget it, I dont know why Im saying this suddenly, you dont understand any of it. To bury Wang Yuchao and Zhao Mingke is your honor. Qing Chen was exceptionally calm at this moment. Then, Jindai Yunzi saw himself bury Wang Yuchao and Zhao Mingke respectively, kneeling and knocking his head nine times before the graves. The sound of Dong Dong Dong spread across the earth, and after knocking his head nine times, Jindai Yunzis face was also covered in blood. Jindai Yunzis spirit completely collapsed. These people were once ants under his control, those insignificant small figures. But now, Qing Chens psychological torture made him bury Wang Yuchao and Zhao Mingke, even making him kowtow. Jindai Yunzi couldnt accept it; he went crazy! However, even so, Qing Chen didnt intend to let him go. The boy looked at the two mounds and said, This person cannot be killed yet. I need to use him to kill some more people. His life... is borrowed for now. Also, now I cant give you graves yet because Im afraid Jindai will come to destroy them. So, I promised you that you would see the day the Jindai flag falls here, that day Ill erect your tombstones. Your tombstones can overlook this peaceful frontier. Lets go, there are many people to save, we will reunite in a peaceful era. Qing Chen turned and walked away. At that time, children will fly kites in front of your martyrdom, someone will offer freshly picked flowers. At that time, clear reading voices will echo in schools again. At that time, I will carve Success does not have to be with me, success must include me these twelve words on your tombstones. Blood might be shed on this path, but I will remember you said, any victory without bloodshed and sacrifice is false victory. ... ... On the Yamata Airship. A soldier ran frantically on the bridge, arriving at the command room shouting, Sir, 180 soldiers at the A02 base have lost their vital signs; the chips behind their necks have lost bioenergy and failed! Someone in the command room said, The opponent is faster than we anticipated. Speed up, order the two ground field divisions to quickly complete the encirclement, reach the battlefield one base point ahead of schedule! Yamata Airship, full engine activation, reducing basic reserve energy by 5 base points! But at that moment, someone else burst in: Sir, the Lis Qingshan Ship has ascended again after completing its nuclear-powered maintenance at the military base. The Li Clan and Qing Clans First Army Group Seventh Division and Second Army Group Fourth Division have abandoned the Deer Island direction and are heading towards the main front with full force. The Li Clan and Qing Clan are launching a full-scale war; the commander ordered us to immediately abandon the A02 base and meet at the southern main battlefield! Southern Forward Base 89 has prepared a temporary parking spot, repair station, and supply point for Yamata Airship! The lieutenant general in the command room frowned, Are the Li Clan and Qing Clan mad? We just signed the armistice agreement! The command room fell silent; he didnt hesitate long before making the right decision: Yamata Airship return to Forward Base 89, order the two ground field divisions to continue advancing, resolve the chaos at the A02 military base at all costs! After speaking, he frowned at the holographic sand table before him. The Li Clan and Qing Clan clearly werent prepared for winter warfare; their warm clothing and marching supplies werent adequately prepared. Why would they wage this war at all costs?! ... Thanks to FFF gogo student for becoming a Silver League member of this book. Thanks to Inory Dream Qianqian, BreakupXD, Mingqian Xiao, Leonard Li, Night Meow_, Gin~*, Puerto, Dust Ruochenؼ, Decision Maker, Headless Monk, Emperor Si, Yang VillageؼSi, Forty Bu Huo Xin, Hey My Little Fish You Woke Up, book friend 151007134156048, thank you to these students for becoming new allies of this book. Thank you. Chapter 874: 536, Snowline Rescue Chapter 874: 536, Snowline Rescue The snowfield at 52 degrees north latitude is desolate and lonely. The thick layers of snow are hard and cold, submerging up to the knees with each step. Lao Lee shouted in the snow: Everyone, keep up! The first company of the first battalion will be the first echelon to tread the snow, followed by the second company, and so on. No one is to stray from the formation. If anyone falls behind, do not stop for them! I repeat, if anyone falls behind, do not stop for them. These are the orders! In the A02 base, the people were divided into three groups: the Qings Family, the Li Family, and the prisoners exiled from the Jindai territory. The Li Family had been trapped in the A02 base for over a decade, and yet they had secretly rebuilt their structure and organization. This was the only way to keep their spirits from completely scattering. On the surface, they obeyed the Jindais torment, but secretly they maintained their discipline. This was also why in the prison, the Li Clan and Qing Clan were still able to unite separately against another group of people. This was the last thing they could do. It was the undying spirit of the Lis Soldiers; as long as the structure remained, the soul of the army remained. Li Chengs instruction to not care if someone fell behind was something they had learned through years of reverence for the world. The barren snowfield at 52 degrees north latitude had withered, dark trees. There was no food or supplies, and they were only wearing thin winter clothes. Attempting to rescue someone would only drag down the entire team. So all they could do was move forward, keeping their comrades in their hearts. This was the reality. Li Cheng, in his forties, always led the front of the team. He was a C-Class Genetic Warrior, thus the most physically strong and the spiritual backbone of all the Lis people. As long as he remained at the front, the team behind would not scatter. Li Cheng said to the company commander: The damn Jindai never wait the full two hours. Who knows how early they will come this time. Fortunately, that group of desperados sent by Jindai is scattered; they will help us buy some time. Whether its enough for us to reach the target area is uncertain. So the team mustnt stop, not even for a moment, understand? As he spoke, his breath turned to frost in the air, his nose reddened by the cold, and ice crystals formed on his beard. Lao Lee looked ahead and murmured, This time... lets not think about returning to that hellish place. If we fall here, our souls will traverse the snowfield, cross the roaring Chunlei River, and return home. Do you remember what home looks like? I can scarcely remember. After an hour of traveling, Lao Lee finally saw the place he was searching for. From behind, the hum of drones approached, a military drone swiftly flew over their heads and quickly returned to base. The Jindai had found them! Quick! Quick! Lao Lee hurriedly waded through the snow, running to the spot he was looking for, and began to furiously shovel the snow away. Then he dug through the hard dirt beneath the snow. Underneath the dirt, eight wooden crates were buried, they had been collecting these weapons over a decade of winter hunts. Each winter hunt, they managed to kill some Jindai soldiers through cunning, and then Li Cheng would activate the inhibitor to secretly transport the weapons here. They knew that acquiring five or six automatic rifles at a time was useless, so they saved them, hoarding until they had enough. According to Li Chengs calculations, even if they hoarded for a hundred years, theyd only have five or six hundred rifles, and some would already have rusted by then. But... what if? What if they got lucky one time and acquired more? Opportunities are for the prepared. Moreover, even if Li Cheng didnt live to see the day they had enough weapons, he could leave them for future generations. One day, someone would carry those guns and escape this hellish place. Then, those who regained their freedom would head south, walking towards spring and freedom. That thought made Li Cheng content. But as Li Cheng opened the eight wooden crates, he found they were filled with stones, feces, and bones. Damn it! Jindai! Lao Lee cursed. Everyone looked at the wooden crates, imagining how the Jindai soldiers had swapped the weapons for excrement with mocking looks. What now? someone asked in despair. The contents of those eight crates had been their last hope, the items that would allow them to die with dignity. Now, they had nothing. Lao Lee suddenly turned around, looking in the direction the drones came from: Brothers, none of you want to go back to that hellish place, right? Ive had enough of losing freedom for nineteen years. Enough! Lao Lee began walking back the way they came: If we die, we shall die in freedom. With that, Lao Lee started running. Behind him, more and more people began to run, consumed by both fear and the desire for freedom. In the distance, Lao Lee saw the figures of Jindai soldiers and their hated military uniforms. The Jindai soldiers also saw them and raised their automatic rifles. Kill! Li Cheng shouted. Kill! Someone raised a rock and followed with a shout. Bam! Bam! Bam! Heartbeats and gunfire! Lao Lee suddenly froze. Gunfire? Why was there so much gunfire? He looked around and saw no one had fallen! No, the gunfire is coming from behind the Jindai troops! Somethings happening! The next moment, the over eight hundred people gradually stopped in their tracks. They werent scared, but the sudden change left them unsure of what to do. Why was there gunfire behind the Jindai troops? Li Cheng stood in the snow, muttering to himself: It cant be someone rescuing Qing Chen; if it were, it wouldnt be from that direction... Its Qing Chen! Lao Lee, have you lost your mind? Qing Chen Inspector is still tied up in the pigsty, isnt he? Lao Lee looked back at everyone: Then who else would come from the direction of the A02 base? Everyone was stunned. The situation had suddenly taken a turn, but the problem was... Qing Chen was just one person. How could one person be enough? But the next moment, everyone looked towards the Jindai soldiers, only to see two figures moving swiftly among them. In a flash, two shadows streaked past a Jindai soldier, and that soldier was split in two. It was as if an invisible blade had sliced right through him. There was an unseen blade between the two shadows! Not only were people being cut down, but the trees the shadows passed also fell. The prisoners were stunned. The killing techniques were overly brutal and highly efficient. In just a minute, the eight-hundred Jindai soldiers were slaughtered by the darting shadows, no one could stop them. That shadow... it looks like that bastard Jindai Yunzi! No, it looks like Qing Chen Inspector to me. Its two people; theyre teaming up to kill, Lao Lee said. Theyre too efficient at killing; we shouldnt go over and get in the way! Lao Lee wasnt afraid of dying; he truly thought hed only hold them back! All the prisoners stayed in place, finding hope in their hopeless situation. In the depths of despair, a ray of dawn pierced through. Just as they were ready to die for their freedom, someone arrived from the sky. They didnt know how much time had passed, but the sounds of battle in the snowy woods gradually ceased. The people of the Li Family stood still, hardly daring to breathe. Slowly, Qing Chens figure emerged from the snowy woods, followed by the puppet-like Jindai Yunzi. He was dragging a half-dead man in his hand. Qing Chen approached Lao Lee and calmly asked: Can you still move? Lao Lee looked at Jindai Yunzi, having previously thought he had defected, but now saw him covered in wounds, eyes vacant, hands bloody, with deep bone-deep cuts. He looked less like a living man and more like a suffering corpse! Qing Chen asked again: Can you still move? Yes, yes! Lao Lee replied. Whats this guys name? Qing Chen lifted the barely conscious officer. The man was already unconscious. Lao Lee quickly replied: His name is Takahashi Izumi, an officer at the A02 base. I judge him to be a C-Class. Hmm, Qing Chen nodded, indifferent to the mans identity. He had just captured the fastest one to turn into a puppet. Now, the Puppeteer could control two people. As he spoke, everyone saw the fainted Takahashi Izumi stand up like a puppet, with vacant eyes. At that moment, everyone understood what had happened to Jindai Yunzi. Qing Chen Inspector could actually control a B-Class Expert! At this point, Qing Chen no longer considered keeping secrets or conserving his strength; he had to give his all to lead these people away. Qing Chen said to Lao Lee: Take the Jindai uniforms, wrap them around yourselves, pick up any usable weapons, and follow me... Ill get you all out of here. Lao Lee timidly asked: Can you confirm if youre truly the master of the Autumn Leaf Courtyard? Qing Chen glanced at him: Yes. The prisoners exchanged glances, nearly teary-eyed with excitement. But then, Li Cheng suddenly said: You should go on your own. You wont get far with us. This statement made the prisoners of the Li Family fall silent again. They understood what Li Cheng meant. Chapter 875: 537, focus on three things at once! Chapter 875: 537, focus on three things at once! Li Cheng continued, We all have positioning chips and micro-explosives on our necks. Jindai can kill us anytime. But Qing Chen did not appreciate it. He spoke as casually as discussing what to have for lunch, saying, The independent military system of A02 base has already been destroyed by me. They cant detonate the explosives on your necks. Im not negotiating with you, but as an Inspector of the Council of State Advisors and an Independent Director of the Lis Financial Group, Im ordering you to continue the battle with me. Independent Director, was the status given to Qing Chen by Li Xiurui to sit at the decision-making table. As for the Council of State Advisors, this was the identity given to Qing Chen by the current Family Head, Li Yunshou, after Qing Chen arrived in City No.10, for Qing Chen to manage the Lis intelligence personnel within the PCA. These words made Lao Lee suddenly stand straight like a javelin: Captain of the Third Section, General Staff of the First Army Group, Li Cheng, willing to continue the battle! ... ... If the Li Familys marching troops in the snowfield were like a pack of wolves, then Qings Family would be even more barbaric and ruthless. More than twenty Genetic Warriors always formed the front line. Originally, Jindai mainly targeted the northern intelligence system led by Qing Mu, so the ones captured were of higher rank. Among those captured, over three hundred Genetic Warriors were tortured until only twenty or so remained. The middle-aged Qing Ling led the front, like the bow of a nuclear-powered icebreaker, tearing through all obstacles. Qing Ling walked through the snow while saying, I have observed Qing Chen Inspectors state and am certain that someone will come to rescue him; he has confidence. But you know, in this ghostly place, no one can lead all nine hundred of us away. Even if Qings Family and Jindai initiate a full-scale war, it would take at least three to five years to reach here. Thus, Qing Ling never hoped someone could rescue him from the very beginning. When he saw Qing Chen stop building stone walls, he realized what he must do: not to force Qing Chen to make the difficult decision of whether to take them or not. So. Dont leave the toughest choice to others, leave it to yourself. If there is no hope for oneself, leave hope for others. I will take the most dangerous place. I will undertake the toughest mission. As long as victory can be achieved in the end, I will dedicate everything to tomorrow. This is what Qings Family soldiers adhere to. In fact, there are internal differences within the Qings Family troops. Some troops controlled by family factions have long been corrupted by power and money. For instance, the troops led by the Fourth Branchs Shadow Candidate, Qing Huai, were of this sort. Other Qings Family factions also have their own armies. Only the unit passed down by the Shadow is still holding onto some original values. Qing Chen doesnt know, but this is also why the elderly on the mountaintop of Ginkgo Manor and the Shadow entrusted Qings Family intelligence personnel and the Shadows direct lineage troops to him. Wherever this troop is, there is Qings Family. Besides this, everything else can be restarted, and Qings Family people never lack the courage to start over. At this moment, Qing Ling whispered, That kid Li Cheng runs so fast, I wanted to pull the Li Family members to carry together, it seems its not possible now. He suddenly stopped in his tracks, raised his right hand high, clenched into a fist: This is it, set up defenses! This was a narrow mountain pass where the power of automated weapons was minimal. Of course, even this so-called minimal power was enough for Jindai to kill them all here. Qing Ling loudly issued orders: Old and weak, sick and disabled step forward voluntarily, you will make a defensive stance at this mountain pass and attract fire, any problems? Out of 927 people, 421 voluntarily came to Qing Lings front; they were either old, had frostbite on their knees, or couldnt participate in direct combat. No problem! They responded loudly. Qing Ling then said to the others, Remaining 27 Genetic Warriors, and those capable of fighting, follow me to the ambush on the flanks. Once the firefight starts, we will charge from the flanks to their rear, kill as many as possible, dont let the brothers at the mountain pass die in vain! Understood? Got it! This was a very crude strategy: using half the peoples lives to gain a chance to charge. Otherwise, a group of unarmed people couldnt break through the enemys fire blockade. But whether destined to die or to charge, no one objected, because everyone clearly understood, this was not a matter of sacrificing or preserving anyone. Everyone would die. Qing Ling hefted the stone in his hand, self-mockingly said, This is the poorest battle Ive ever fought. Someone beside him asked, Sir, Jindai has guns and bullets, might even have taken the first-order genetic potion, even if our hundreds charge out, we might only kill five or six, isnt the loss ratio too high? Qing Ling glanced at him, Then dont fight? The ones coming to rescue Qing Chen, surely have to deal with this group of Jindai bastards, if we kill five or six, cant they kill five or six less? Soon, the four hundred old and weak, sick and disabled set up a simple defensive fortification, picking up thousands of handy stones. A group of people crouched behind the trenches, joking and mocking each other, laughing at the fact that in this era, they were fighting with stones. While mocking, Jindais troops had already arrived, totaling 1600 Jindai soldiers, divided into two groups. One group went after the Li Family, another went after Qings Family. Qing Ling silently crawled in the snow, exposing only half his head to observe. The next moment, he was stunned. Someone in Jindais troops held a piece of black crystal screen. Qing Ling recognized this as a positioning system. The positioners and micro-explosives on their necks had exposed them all to this screen. Normally, this was used at the end of Winter Hunt, with Jindai capturing all prisoners hiding in the snowfield. In the early stages of Winter Hunt, this device wasnt used to lower the difficulty of hunting. Qing Ling breathed heavily, whispering, I understand now, Jindai isnt hunting, they intend to massacre us all directly... They know were ambushing here. What do we do? Qing Ling paused, then smiled bitterly, What else can we do? He composed himself and then stood up from the snow, shouting, Charge! With that, he ran out with the stone in his hand, followed by hundreds of others. Qing Ling didnt feel heroic, he felt poor fighting as a martyr without proper weapons. But he wasnt ashamed. Qing Ling roared, The success does not rest on me, charge! At that instant, Qing Ling heard someone shouting Charge! from the 3 oclock direction! Kill! Someone roared closer! Qing Ling turned to see Lao Lee, holding an automatic rifle, wearing Jindais winter uniform, charging Jindais troops. The more than eight hundred Li Family members roared out, Lao Lee shouting, Qing Ling, Im here to save you! The eight hundred men formed a combat team, surging like a tide, forming an inspiring steel wave. Angry wave! Jindais troops, intending to ambush Qing Lings men, didnt expect so many from another direction with armed forces. They saw Lao Lees ragged uniforms and instantly knew the other team suffered misfortune; theyre Jindais uniforms! As they charged, Lao Lee issued orders: Dont waste ammo, wait until within fire range to shoot! Feeling twenty years younger, his nineteen years of winter life, again seeing a long-awaited summer! Blooming summer! At this moment, Qing Chen controlled Jindai Yunzi, Takahashi Izumi, each holding automatic rifles. The three shot rhythmically, advancing step by step. Automatic rifles accurate range was 250 meters, beyond which hitting was harder, depending on luck. Qing Chen at six hundred meters, controlled Jindai Yunzi and Takahashi Izumi to fire. Lao Lee stunned, as each trigger pull knocked down an enemy soldier. As if all three had absolute gun sense! Not only shooting enemies, but also high-speed flying drones were hit. Qing Chen ignored others gazes, his brain rapidly calculating. Wind speed, humidity, angle, all data gathered in his mind, forming answers. Each calculation result was a life. Simultaneously calculating three trajectories! This was why Qing Chen practiced Third-order Rubiks Cube after returning, learning to use three at once as puppet controls increased. Qing Chen never did useless things, everything he did had a reason. This time, he forced himself to reach absolute gun sense no matter the number of controlled people! This battle, he waited too long. Li Cheng, Qing Ling waited too long. Qing Mu also waited too long. Jindai officers, noticing the difference, lost hunting interest, hurriedly pressed the detonation key on the crystal screen. Pressing it, no successful detonations, only white letters: Daytime Tycoon greets you all. Yi did more; during Qing Chens clash with another troop, they tried calling reinforcements but failed. Yi vowed not to kill, but this didnt count as killing... Indeed, not killing. Envying Qing Chens Daytime greets you style, now Yi imitated it, feeling awesome. Happy! ... Todays two chapters are updated. Chapter 876: 538, Long Time No See (Extra update for FFF, Golden League) Chapter 876: 538, Long Time No See (Extra update for FFF, Golden League) Enemy troops are fleeing at three oclock! Encountered some resistance at five oclock, the enemy hasnt scattered yet! Cover fire, Lao Lee shouted, First company, advance in tactical formation with me! Second company, you have ten minutes to flank them, this is your only chance! As Lao Lee spoke, he had already relied on the physical strength of the genetic soldiers to catch up, but he was merely trailing the prey and didnt rush to give the attack order. They were prisoners without modern communication systems, so they had to communicate by shouting. Lao Lee was so excited that he didnt even notice his voice was hoarse. It wasnt until the second company pierced through the snow forest and flanked the enemy that Lao Lee shouted, First company, open fire! As soon as they attracted the enemys attention, Lao Lee led the retreat, moving out of the enemys effective range. This extreme sense of distance was something only a veteran could have, like a seasoned fighter in the boxing ring. As Lao Lees side retreated, the second company on the other side caught the Jindai soldiers off guard. Lao Lee didnt stay idle either, continuing to shout, First company, follow me to advance at two oclock, form a pincer attack. The two units intertwined like iron pincers, gripping the throats of the Jindai soldiers. Everyone here used to be the most elite warriors of the Federal Group Army. They had to undergo a full army competition to be selected into the intelligence agency. Lao Lee hadnt fought for nineteen years, but every night lying on that cold bed, he would recall everything he had learned. Nineteen years, over six thousand nights, he had fought in his dreams more than six thousand times. Today, Qing Chens appearance awakened everything that had been dormant in his soul. Li Cheng felt like he had been sealed away, dead, for the past nineteen years, and today he finally came back to life. At this moment, Qing Chen was clearing the battlefield in another direction, with Qing Ling beside him, witnessing the slaughter by someone who seemed like a god of war. He felt that this was truly a legendary emotionless war machine. In fact, Qing Chens side was much easier. After killing the three chosen ones from the Outer World, these ordinary soldiers couldnt even ignite Qing Chens fighting spirit. He was merely completing the task of eradicating the enemy. These Jindai soldiers came to hunt unarmed people, carrying only basic equipment like drones and automatic rifles, never expecting to encounter a monster in this desolate snowfield! They thought the pigpen contained a pig waiting to be slaughtered, never imagining that if it wasnt for wanting to bring everyone out, Qing Chen would have started a killing spree as soon as he returned. Li Cheng still needed to control the effective shooting distance, but for Qing Chen, there was no such thing. The Jindai soldiers range was 250 meters, while his was 600 metersit wasnt even the same kind of battle. It was a bit too unfair. As they advanced, Qing Ling picked up a rifle next to a Jindai soldiers corpse, wanting to shoot with them. However, the distance was too great; he couldnt even aim properly. Several times, he had just sighted a Jindai soldier and prepared to aim. But before he could aim, the Jindai soldier had already fallen. Qing Ling and his team couldnt aim faster than Qing Chen could kill! So, Qing Ling and others followed behind Qing Chen, like a bunch of cheerleaders shouting 666, without having to do anything. The more this happened, the more excited and vindicated Qing Ling felt. He thought, surely this Qing Chen Inspector, just like Qing Mu back then, must have posed a significant threat to Jindai to be captured and brought here! With this thought, Qing Ling suddenly wondered how many Qing intelligence personnel were supporting this Qing Chen Inspector, just like they had supported Qing Mu back then? At this moment, Qing Chen stopped and calmly said, Go take the clothes off these Jindai soldiers and wear them, take their individual rations and weapons. In his forties, Qing Ling quickly responded, Alright, we can have it done in ten minutes! Qing Chen originally fought in close combat because it was more exhilarating. But he later discovered that close combat would shred the clothes off Jindai soldiers, and when worn, it would look as mismatched as Lao Lees current attire. So Qing Chen switched to using firearms... As a result, when Qing Ling and the Qing intelligence personnel stripped off the Jindai uniforms, they all gasped in shock. They squatted in the snow, exchanging glances, their eyes filled with astonishment. Because all the dead Jindai soldiers were either shot in the forehead or the back of the head. At a 600-meter range, the bullets kinetic energy wasnt very high, so the bullets were embedded in the brain, with just a tiny bit of blood oozing out. The uniforms werent even dirtied! Qing Ling was amazed. If they were merely hitting targets at a 600-meter distance, it would be impressive enough. But this young Inspector, controlling two puppets while ensuring every shot hit its mark, was astonishing. If this was the limit, it would be impressive enough. But for the other party to shoot each bullet into the head, leaving them with intact warm clothing, was extraordinary! It was divine marksmanship! Qing Ling sneaked a glance at Qing Chen. Somebody whispered, What kind of shooting skills are these? We havent been back for over ten years. Could this be Shadow training the next Military God in one of the army groups...? After the battle, Li Cheng led the Li Family troops to rejoin them. When he saw the intact uniforms on Qing Ling, his eyes turned green. He looked at Qing Chen, Sir, why are their clothes so intact?! It wasnt just intact; each piece of clothing looked almost new! Li Cheng glanced at himself; his uniform jacket was crooked, soaked with blood, and it didnt keep the wind out very well! Remember, the Jindai soldiers, in this minus-forty-degree weather, usually wore three layers: an outer coat, an inner liner, and warm underclothes. But when Qing Chen split the Jindai soldiers, all three layers were torn together! Qing Ling chuckled, What are you talking about? Naturally, our Qing Familys Military God left us intact clothing. Lao Lees eyes bulged like a bull, Nonsense! This is our future Imperial Instructor, the current Independent Director of the Board, and the National Policy Advisor from the Li Family! Qing Ling tried to widen his eyes but couldnt, Hes from our Qing Family. Are you surnamed Qing? Qing Chen looked at Qing Ling, then at Li Cheng. Were these two getting into a rivalry? He said, Sorry, I didnt consider it during the fight before, so just make do for now. Qing Ling, you keep your intact outer coats and distribute your warm underclothing to Li Chengs men. It will be hard work. Li Cheng was flustered when Qing Chen apologized, You misunderstood, sir. I didnt mean to complain. Were doing fine, still wearing the winter clothes from the prison district. The Qing Familys soldiers had already started undressing, Its our duty to follow the bosss orders; hurry and put it on. At this moment, Qing Ling already saw Qing Chen as their boss deep down. For the past nineteen years, no one had been able to replace Qing Mus position. Now it had changed. He believed Li Cheng probably felt the same. Although Qing Chen wasnt surnamed Li, his status within the Li Family said it all. Qing Chen said, Right now, its all about getting out of here alive. Dont be too sentimental. Qing Ling and Li Cheng probably understood Qing Chens ways by now. Li Cheng said, Understood, boss. Qing Chen asked, Do you have any knowledge about the military deployment behind Jindai? I do, Li Cheng raised his hand, Ive worked most closely with Jindai Yunzi, so Ive heard some bits of intelligence. Within a 600-kilometer radius, there are two field divisions. Unlike the front-line units, these two divisions focus on wilderness eradication, training recruits by making them kill wild people. Qing Chen nodded after hearing this. He glanced at the landmarks around, confirmed his direction, and then led the way south. Li Cheng and Qing Ling exchanged a glance; they didnt know what the new boss was going to do. Over a thousand warriors trudged south, heading straight for the Central Plains. This time, Li Cheng didnt say anyone falling behind would lose their life. Previously, that was said for the sake of battle. But now, Qing Chen had made it clear that no one could be left behind. It was very cold in the snow, but none of the warriors complained. Seeing their difficult march, Qing Chen gave an extra instruction, The weak can hang their weapons and burdens on Jindai Yunzi and Takahashi Izumi. Theyre both skilled, they can handle it... oh right. As soon as he finished speaking, all the Li and Qing Family members saw Jindai Yunzi and Takahashi Izumi kneel down and kowtow nine times, seriously knocking their heads against the ground. Almost as if making early New Years greetings. Only after this did Qing Chen continue forward. In this battle, Jindai Yunzi and Takahashi Izumi were the most shocked, terrified, and miserable. Being controlled and losing their freedom was bad enough; they still had to be used as gun racks and kowtow to people! Jindai Yunzi suspected that if Qing Chen wasnt in a hurry, he might have made him kowtow all the way back to the Central Plains! After a few hours of walking, Qing Ling and Li Cheng had eaten their individual rations. They couldnt help but approach Qing Chen, Boss, are we sure were going in the right direction? Qing Chen nodded, Yes. Li Cheng said, Im not doubting your decision, boss. I just want to point out that the Jindai Consortium must have already known about the A02 base incident. Most likely, theyll send those two field divisions to converge on us. If we head south, well run right into them. Qing Chen nodded, Hmm, I know. Of course, you can share your thoughts too. Qing Ling added, Why dont we head north? The Shenmu River in the north has already frozen over. We can go to the Polar Chill in the north. Its said that some barbarians still live there, but very few. After crossing the Shenmu River, we could migrate west, skirting the edge of the 001 Taboo Land to return to the Central Plains. Although its a long route, our survival chances might be higher than facing the two field divisions head-on. Qing Chen gave Qing Ling a glance. If they took this route, it would be like a twenty-five-thousand-mile-long march... But in terms of hardship and distance, it was about the same. However, Qing Chen didnt plan to take this route, as the people behind him had been imprisoned for over ten years and couldnt endure such a long journey. He continued southward, and Qing Ling and Li Cheng were puzzled, Boss, shouldnt we be concerned about the two field divisions? Qing Chen climbed a snow hill, looking south into the cold wind, Actually, if Jindai Yunzi hadnt changed the plan, I would have acted four days later. Now I can only bet that those people will come. He looked back again. At those weather-beaten but hopeful faces. These people could become Qing Chens first team one day. Some were proficient in command, some in intelligence penetration, and others had built mature intelligence networks with their own hands. In the future, wherever Qing Chen went, most of these people would become his backbone. These people couldnt die, couldnt crash into those two field divisions, but Qing Chen chose to trust. He believed some people had already come, though they hadnt yet met. Qing Chen continued, No, its not a bet; Im certain theyll come. Lets go, keep heading south. Qing Ling and Li Cheng exchanged glances, realizing that there must be some special people coming to rescue this Qing Chen Inspector, and ones he could trust unconditionally. At that moment, Qing Chen seemed to sense something and suddenly looked up at the sky. He suddenly smiled, a bright and radiant smile. Because in the sky and clouds, a giant bird was spreading its wings, blocking out the sun. Qing Shan Falcon, its been a long time. ... Thanks to the Golden Leagues FFF Big Brother, I know the debt isnt fully paid, but Ill repay it slowly once my leg heals... Chapter 877: 539, Fight! Chapter 877: 539, Fight! Qing Shan Falcon! Qing Chen believed someone would come to rescue him. But even he didnt expect the Qing Shan Falcon to come! It seems the old folks of the Taboo Land No. 002 also know that hes been captured by the Jindai, and are a bit restless. Didnt they say they wouldnt help him outside of Taboo Land No. 002? What happened to their principles? Qing Chens lips curled slightly. This is what knights are like. Among all the mystical creatures in the forbidden zones, the Qing Shan Falcon is like a Federation superstar, known to the world early on. First of all, the Taboo Land No. 002 formed too early, and too many people went there to explore. Too many people have seen the Qing Shan Falcon and been awed by it. Secondly, the Qing Shan Falcon is overly active. Regardless of the generation, it never stays deep within the Taboo Land, unlike other mystical creatures that dwell in its core, unseen by ordinary people. The Qing Shan Falcon, like a ranger, is everywhere, observing humans with curiosity. It is said that beautiful women in the Taboo Land will be favored by the Qing Shan Falcon, while ugly men will be despised. Lastly, the Qing Shan Falcon is highly aggressive and very territorial. Even a slight intrusion into its territory results in an attack. When the Federation military wanted to explore Taboo Land No. 002, the Qing Shan Falcon successively shot down over a dozen B-Class Floating Ships. Later, the Federation discovered that even A-Class Floating Ships couldnt do much against it. Some say that the rule no drones or aircraft allowed in Taboo Land No. 002 was actually formed after a generation of Qing Shan Falcon died. There are rumors that even Uncle Li Dong was chased for dozens of kilometers by the Qing Shan Falcon. The Federation had long ago taken photos of it to educate the public. The public even gave it a nickname, Qing Shan Destruct, because it was too mischievous at times. When Qing Chen looked up at the sky, Li Cheng, Qing Ling, and others followed suit and then exclaimed in surprise, Qing Shan Falcon? Wait, isnt it in the Taboo Land No. 002? How did it appear here? As soon as he said that, Qing Ling immediately realized something was off. He looked in amazement at Qing Chen Inspector beside him. This Qing Shan Falcon had come for their new boss! The captured people from the Li Family and Qings Family all looked at Qing Chen with changed eyes. How could a human receive the aid of the Qing Shan Falcon? This place is thousands of kilometers away from Taboo Land No. 002. How could the Qing Shan Falcon fly so far for a human?! This is too unscientific! Wasnt it said that creatures of the Taboo Land rarely leave it?! Boss, is it here to help us? Qing Ling asked curiously. Qing Chen smiled and said, Maybe. At this moment, the Qing Shan Falcon chirped clearly in the sky. It flapped its wings gently and soared higher into the clouds, disappearing in the cloud layers. The next moment, someone suddenly exclaimed, Look, theres a floating fleet in the south! Qing Chen looked into the distance. With his vision enhanced by Realm camellia, he immediately saw the Jindai Troops insignia on those floating airships. These were airborne hunting troops from the two field divisions. In the current Federation combat system, aerial and ground forces always worked in conjunction. Floating airships didnt need dedicated airports and airbases; they could take off and land anytime. Their aerial strike capability could bring despair to the wilderness people and transcendent who couldnt fly into the sky. Qing Ling said, The airborne troops are ahead. Those two field divisions must be nearby, no more than three hundred kilometers away. At their speed, they could be here in just two days. Li Cheng thought for a moment and said, Do they even need to get here? This fleet alone could kill us a hundred times. The airborne hunting troops have an A-Class Floating Ship and thirty-six B-Class Floating Ships. They only need to drop a batch of missiles, and the hill were on would evaporate. Not just us, the whole hill would vanish. As they spoke, both looked at Qing Chen, but he didnt seem anxious at all. Everyone stood in the cold wind, feeling their bodies grow colder and colder. Boss, wheres the Qing Shan Falcon? Did it fly away? Dont worry, let the bullets fly for a bit. The floating fleet grew closer, and their side drone bays suddenly opened, releasing countless drones rapidly. It was like stirring up a hornets nest. At this moment, Qing Chen looked up at the sky again. From within the clouds, a Qing Shan Falcon suddenly dived rapidly, folding its wings like an intercontinental missile, flying straight towards the top of the floating airship fleet. Is the Qing Shan Falcon attacking the fleet? Qing Ling exclaimed. He looked sharply at Qing Chen; the Qing Shan Falcon indeed came for their boss! However, he had been trapped in Base A02 for so long that he couldnt get any detailed information from the outside. So he couldnt understand why, in the Federation, someone could have such a background, holding key positions in Qings Family and Li Family, and even receiving protection from the Taboo Lands. Who exactly is this new boss?! But this wasnt the end. After the first Qing Shan Falcon shot out from the clouds, two smaller Qing Shan Falcons followed closely behind it. Three! Three Qing Shan Falcons! Whoa! Li Cheng, now overwhelmed, could only lament his lack of eloquence to describe his inner excitement! These were the two offspring of that Qing Shan Falcon. This was the father teaching his children how to hunt! The three Qing Shan Falcons descended rapidly. The fleet had clearly noticed the anomaly. The drones that originally flew towards Qing Chen and his group turned to intercept the Qing Shan Falcons. But the three Qing Shan Falcons closed their wings, protecting their abdomens. As they met the drone swarm, countless drones shattered upon impact with their sharp and resilient feathers without any chance to break through. One by one, the drones exploded in the sky like fireworks, while the Qing Shan Falcons remained unscathed. The next second, the three Qing Shan Falcons spread their wings abruptly, each grabbing the top of a floating airship, their huge claws lifting the ships higher into the sky. Inside the floating airships, all the instruments screamed and wailed, warning lights flashing red. Someone shouted, Pressure cabin rupture! Balance chamber failure! Engine power disarray! Seeing the Qing Shan Falcons ascend to a certain height, they then flung the floating airships to the ground, giving the ships no chance to struggle. At this moment, Qing Ling said, Not good, the tracking missile bay of the A-Class Floating Ship has opened! With a loud boom, two missiles with long trails of flames shot toward the two smaller Qing Shan Falcons. The two smaller Qing Shan Falcons released the floating airships from their claws and tried to avoid the missiles. But no matter how they maneuvered, the missiles kept following them. The heavy weaponry carried by the A-Class Floating Ship was terrifying. Even the Qing Shan Falcons would certainly die if hit. Qing Chen calmly said, The Qing Shan Falcon is very smart. If it dares to descend, it must be confident of victory. It understands the human world and even knows about human weapons and equipment. Back when Uncle Li Dong multiple times provoked the Qing Shan Falcon to fight him on Qing Shan Cliff, the sly Qing Shan Falcon knew it could no longer beat him and thus never accepted the challenge. This smart Qing Shan Falcon must be certain of victory if it appears. As soon as he finished speaking, the familiar Qing Shan Falcon grabbed a floating airship and ascended rapidly. With a gentle toss, the floating airship met an incoming missile head-on. With a loud explosion, the B-Class Floating Ship was blown to pieces by the tracking missile, thick black smoke dispersing in the sky. The Qing Shan Falcon repeated its trick, grabbed another floating airship, and easily destroyed a missile. In its hands, the B-Class Floating Ships were like toys. It flew above its two offsprings, flapping its wings, hitting their heads one by one, seemingly admonishing them for not being smart enough... However, the Qing Shan Falcon father didnt linger with the A-Class Floating Ship, letting it quickly retreat with full engine power. The Qing Shan Falcon father seemed to sense the threat of the A-Class Floating Ship and decided to retreat while it was ahead. In fact, these floating airships purely suffered due to not carrying air-to-air weapons, because the Jindai troops never expected to encounter aerial strike forces in their backyard. Qing Chen watched the departing A-Class Floating Ship and said, Looks like this airship will report back the situation here, and the two field divisions will accelerate their advance. Lets go, continue moving south. Li Cheng hesitated, thinking, Even though you know the field divisions are coming from the south, why are we still heading south? And the Qing Shan Falcon has flown away... wait, even if it were here, it couldnt possibly defeat the organized field divisions. Thus, when Qing Chen said to move, it felt like saying, Lets go, theres a wasp nest ahead, lets poke it for a thrill! Yet, with mixed feelings, Li Cheng and Qing Ling followed Qing Chen down the snowy hill. For once, no one asked anything. What if there are two field divisions to the south? So what if theyre field divisions! At a certain moment, Qing Ling and Li Cheng thought they were crazy to follow their new boss south! Not long after, the massive body of the Qing Shan Falcon, as big as a Boeing plane, swooped over their heads. It chirped once and then flew south. (Boy, you owe me one. Im heading back to the Taboo Land. Ding Dong made the whole Taboo Land chaotic because of you. Now that you are free, go find him quickly and have him stop!) Saying this, the Qing Shan Falcon flew back into the clouds with its two offsprings, disappearing once more. Qing Chen chuckled. What did Ding Dong do to make the Qing Shan Falcon so restless? Maybe Ding Dong was planning to steal the Qing Shan Falcons egg to entertain him... Just then, Qing Ling asked, Boss, how come it feels like you can understand what the Qing Shan Falcon is saying? Hmm, Qing Chen nodded, It said, Boss, Im here to save you. How have you been lately? I miss you so much.'' The thousand or so prisoners stood in awe, faced with this young man, who even commanded the Qing Shan Falcon?! Could this be an ordinary person?! ... Theres another chapter at 11 pm tonight. Chapter 878: 540, The Star Fire Chapter 878: 540, The Star Fire At night, Qing Chen led everyone to find a wind-sheltered place and took a rest on the spot. The warriors of the Li Family and Qings Family dug pits in the snow, each burying themselves in the snow with only a small hole left for breathing, using the snow to ward off the cold wind. Many people thought, isnt this even colder? In fact, under the most extreme harsh conditions, this method actually slows down the loss of body temperature. Moreover, it can also avoid infrared thermal detection from sky reconnaissance drones. Qing Chen lay silently in the snow pit and suddenly said to Li Cheng, Lao Lee... Boss, please dont call me Lao Lee, just call me Li Cheng, Lao Lee hid in the snow nest to Qing Chens left and said with a flattering smile, What are your orders, boss? Qing Chen said, Next, we need to trek 159 kilometers in three days to reach our target location. We absolutely cannot be late, so you two must work well together. If any of our comrades fall behind, use tree branches to make a stretcher and drag them through the snow. Listening to Qing Chen, Lao Lee and Qing Ling suddenly realized that their new boss actually had a very clear plan. 159 kilometers, exactly. It seemed that as long as they reached there, they would no longer have to worry about being hunted by Jindai, as if reaching there meant safety. Qing Ling asked, Boss, whats there? Qing Chen thought for a moment and said, I cant say now, youll know when we get there. Lao Lee laughed and said, Bosss intelligence is out of our league, we just need to follow orders obediently. Qing Ling said, You old fellow really know how to flatter. Lao Lee got angry in the snow pit, How about a fight now? Ive disliked you since A02! Come on! Qing Ling said. Afraid of you? Lets do this! Ha, you come on! Qing Chen couldnt help but laugh, Lao Lee and Qing Ling were of similar age, and neither was submissive to the other. After a long while of provocation, neither wanted to come out of their snow nest, given that it was so hard to build. Two mouth warriors. Qing Chen thought for a moment and said, You two stop arguing, if youre really idle, I can have Jindai Yunzi and Takahashi Izumi perform talents for you, how about that? Lao Lee, Ill have Jindai Yunzi substitute Qing Ling in bowing to you three times. Qing Ling, Ill have Takahashi Izumi substitute Lao Lee in bowing to you three times. Lets move on, sleep now. Lao Lee: ... Qing Ling: ... They suddenly felt that their new bosss train of thought seemed a bit off! Not far away, Jindai Yunzi and Takahashi Izumi lay motionless in their snow pits, their hearts crumbling even more. As officers of the Jindai Consortiums military, how have they fallen to this state? And those warriors hidden in the snow, although cold, felt extremely relieved listening to this unrestrained chatter. In the days at the A02 base, even farting had to be cautious, who dared to say more? Now, although lying in the snow, they were happy talking about anything. This is the meaning of freedom. However, just at that moment, Qing Chen suddenly held his breath, Silence. Everyone froze. A few minutes later, Qing Chen said, Theres an engine sound above, a reconnaissance plane shouldve just passed. Lao Lee and Qing Ling were stunned. Reconnaissance planes usually fly at an altitude of 3000 meters or more, how could he hear the engine sound? Superhuman hearing? However, they unconditionally trusted Qing Chen at this point. Qing Ling hesitated for a moment and finally asked, Commander, can we really evade those two field divisions? Theres a taboo land to the south, should we pass through it to evade them? Is that your plan? At this moment, Qing Chen said something that shocked the two, No need to evade. What? Lao Lee almost sat up from the snow pit in shock, Boss, are we going to fight them to the death? No, Qing Chen recalled his words to Xiao Zhenji and suddenly smiled, I have a master. What? Lao Lee and Qing Ling were even more confused. Uncle Li once told Qing Chen that he would lead him on the longest path among all shortcuts in the world. But the master never said that the path would never be lonely. Qing Chen suddenly asked, After escaping, do you want to do something with me? Lao Lee and Qing Ling were silent for a moment, unsure what their boss meant. How come we havent escaped yet, and hes already thinking about the post-escape? Qing Ling asked, Boss, what do you want to do? Qing Chen smiled and said, The Star Fire. ... ... In the darkness, inside Taboo Land No. 138, 60 kilometers away from the field divisions military camp, someone was walking deeper and smearing Feng Junhua pollen on themselves. This Feng Junhua is a unique secret of Fire Pit, few people know that by applying it, as long as rules are not violated inside the taboo land, no beasts, insects, or plants will attack. The Grand Elder muttered as he walked deeper into the taboo land, Im just here to help, and now Uncle Li Dong has gone somewhere, making me work like a slave! Is there no justice? Any knights who come to Fire Pit in the future will never taste our barley wine again! Not a drop! And they shouldnt expect to see our Goddess either! The Grand Elder muttered while watching carefully. Through the forest, he saw a herd of Kui Bulls with ice-blue fur resting on the ground. If anyone argued about the familiarity with the taboo land, Fire Pit claiming third, no one would dare claim second, not even Hus Information Agency. As for first, certainly Uncle Li Dong... The Grand Elder knew this well. At this time, the Grand Elder silently counted while hiding, One head, two heads... one hundred forty heads, not sure if its enough. While speaking, suddenly, a Kui Bull opened its eyes the size of a cauldron and looked at the Grand Elder. Suddenly, the Grand Elder pulled out a small bottle from his brown waist bag and poured the estrus female deity bull urine on the ground. Next moment, the originally quiet Kui Bulls all became agitated. They stared at the Grand Elder, panting heavily. The Grand Elder turned and ran while holding the bottle, What bad deeds did I do in a past life to be punished by the gods and encounter knights in this life! The Grand Elder ran faster and faster, not daring to pause. ... ... 230 kilometers south of Qing Chen and his group, a field division just established a forward base here to set up their supply line for deeper northern penetration. The base was brightly lit and tightly guarded. Hundreds of mechanical hunting dogs roamed around the military camp, patrolling the predetermined paths. Suddenly, a faint smell drifted from the upwind snowfield, like a urine stench, fleeting. Mechanical hunting dogs stopped and sniffed around. However, the smell was not hostile and was not in their programs alert sequence, so the mechanical hunting dogs returned to normal soon. In the command tent, field division combat aides busily sorted documents: holographic terrain map, fleet attack review, Qing Shan Falcon combat strength assessment, and strategizing against Qing Shan Falcon. A war is complex and strategic. The field divisions order was to annihilate all living humans in the Northern Snowfield. Initially, they thought it was those escapees from the A02 base. Now it seemed the higher-ups withheld information from them. Otherwise, why would Qing Shan Falcon be here? Just then, thunderous drum sounds and iron hoofs echoed from the snowfield. Someone in the command tent frowned and questioned, Whats going on? Why are there drum sounds here! Someone went to check at the camp edge, but in the heavy snow, nothing could be seen outside the darkened camp perimeter. Yet, the next moment, an old man holding a bottle was seen rushing toward the field division camp at speed, leaving an afterimage! Moreover, there were one hundred forty-seven mad Kui Bulls behind him, somehow running out of the taboo land! The officer on night duty yelled, Open fire, dont let the Kui Bulls charge the camp! Jindais army wasnt foolish; they were elite regular troops! In the camp, multi-functional infantry fighting vehicles were always on alert. If a round of concentrated fire was launched, even a Demigod would be turned into a sieve! The old man saw the matrix cannon barrels of the multi-functional infantry fighting vehicles already aiming at him and panicked, yelling while charging, Attack! At that moment, on the distant peak, Lin Xiaoxiao sat in the snow with closed eyes, Ye Wan quietly guarding him, Boss said, dont force yourself if you cant do it. Lin Xiaoxiao smiled with closed eyes, You know, I have never tried this method before but thinking about those people locking Qing Chen in a pigsty makes me uncontrollably angry. That boy endured so much suffering, why cant he have smooth sailing? Suddenly, he gently rubbed his forehead with his hand, drawing a blood wound. Lin Xiaoxiao calmly said, Nightmare! These two words thundered in the void. Lin Xiaoxiaos eyes suddenly seeped blood tears from the corners! At that moment, the old man saw the military officer opposite him in the camp suddenly closing his eyes and falling asleep. The matrix cannon barrels of the multi-functional infantry fighting vehicles ceased turning. The drones launching were paralyzed as their controllers suddenly fell asleep. Lin Xiaoxiao forcibly cast Nightmare, causing nearly half of the field divisions soldiers to sleep for one second! One second is enough to change many things. He only needed one second! Next moment, the military officers woke up and scrambled. The soldiers in multi-functional infantry fighting vehicles also woke up and hurriedly operated again. But the Grand Elder of Fire Pit had already laughed aloud, One second is enough! He quickly stepped on the snowfield, drew out his Black Knife, and slashed! Get open! roared the Grand Elder. The Black Knife suddenly emitted a majestic blade aura that slashed open the camps defensive fortifications, creating a meter-deep crack in the ground! The dominance of this blade was like an avalanche from the Fire Pit Saint Mountains snow suddenly collapsing and rolling down, causing a massive avalanche. ... ... In the Northern Snowfield, Qing Chen lay in the icy nest and suddenly said, Let me teach you a song. What? Qing Ling didnt know what his new boss was up to. Qing Chen sang, Arise, slaves who are starving and freezing. Arise, all the suffering people of the world. Our full hearts are boiling with hot blood. We must fight for truth. Never has there been any savior. Nor rely on gods or emperors. Li Cheng and Qing Ling suddenly had tears in their eyes, not knowing why. Chapter 879: 541, Banished Immortal Chapter 879: 541, Banished Immortal Ye Wan stood on the mountain peak, guarding Lin Xiaoxiao by his side. He overlooked the military camp, where more than a hundred azure-blue Kui Bulls were rampaging wildly. The Grand Elder of the Fire Pit, who had led the Kui Bulls into the fray, had vanished. At this hour, three in the morning, more than half of the soldiers in the Jindai Military Camp were already asleep. According to military regulations, if an emergency occurred, they had to complete all preparations and be combat-ready within five minutes. However, the Kui Bulls charged too fast, and the raid came too suddenly. It wasnt really Jindais carelessness. Without Lin Xiaoxiao suddenly putting nearly half of the soldiers and officers to sleep, and without the Grand Elder splitting the defensive forces with his astonishing strike, even if the number of Kui Bulls were doubled, they still wouldnt have broken through. This was a miraculous chain reaction produced by the tacit cooperation between Transcendents. At this moment, Lin Xiaoxiao had not given up. He sat cross-legged on the snow, blood tears streaming down his cheeks to his chin, his entire demeanor notably weakened. Ye Wan said calmly, If you do this, youll never advance again, forever stuck at B-Class. It will be your greatest regret. For a B-Class Awakener to attempt to put nearly ten thousand people to sleep, there was bound to be a significant price. Moreover, Lin Xiaoxiao, while clearly overextending himself, continued to support his efforts, essentially burning away his future tonight. Lin Xiaoxiao closed his eyes, a bitter smile on his face, The boss tried so many ways to help me advance to A-Class but failed. Over the past few months, Ive taken up so much of the bosss time. Forget about A-Class. The next moment, an elite unit suddenly emerged from the Jindai Military Camp, fully prepared. They were entirely composed of high-level Genetic Warriors, over sixty men sprinting through the night, directly towards the Kui Bulls. Their expressions were grim. One of them growled, These Kui Bulls have lost their minds. We need to lure them out of the camp to buy time for the other combat units to start up the War Robots and for the artillery team to regroup! The field division carried 240 War Robots with independent military networks, each equipped with powerful mechanical limbs, infrasound generators, and heavy firepower weapons. Under these circumstances, the War Robots were the most suitable weapons for the current battlefield. As soon as he finished speaking, the remaining Genetic Warriors beside him roared, Jade Shatter! Everyone charged towards the herd of Kui Bulls. But before they could reach them, they suddenly saw the Fire Pit Grand Elder, who had been missing for some time, leap from the belly of a Kui Bull onto its back! The Kui Bull surged and galloped, but the Grand Elder sat on the back as steady as a rock. His masterful riding skills were on full display in that moment! The Grand Elder stood on the Kui Bulls back, leaping up with a wild laugh. His bedraggled figure merged with the stars in the sky, only to then see him lift a Black Knife with both hands, descending with a force as if to split rivers and mountains. In an instant, the black totem on the Grand Elders body circulated rapidly, materializing a giant Divine Cow Dharma behind him. The Black Totem was a power endowed to all inheritors of the Fire Pit. Guo Huchan had it, Qin Yiyi had it, and Spades A, Xu Linsen, had it as well. This was the power bestowed by the Gods. Unity with the spirit! Unity with the force! Unity with the blade! Jade Shatter my ass! Break for me! The Grand Elder slashed down, and the astonishing ten-plus-zhang blade force reappeared. Everyone thought that with such a formidable display, the Grand Elder could only manage one strike, but no one expected he had the strength to deliver a second slash! At that moment, Lin Xiaoxiao, on the mountain peak, abruptly opened his blood-red eyes: Wither! Eternal Sleep! In an instant, the more than sixty Genetic Warriors before the Grand Elders blade force seemed to be stunned for a fleeting moment! By the time they regained their senses, the giant blade force had already shattered them, some even feeling their body cells vaporize! After striking this blow, the Grand Elder seemed significantly weakened and leaped back onto the Kui Bulls back, shouting into the communication channel, Li Yunjing! Li Yunjing, where are you, old man? A Grand Elder of the Fire Pit, considered a barbarian by outsiders, using advanced communication equipment created an indescribably eerie feeling. Amid the galloping Kui Bulls, his sleeve lifted to reveal an electronic watch on his wrist... The Grand Elder, seeing no response after his call, continued to urge, Their War Robots are about to activate. If you dont act now, Ill haunt you as a ghost, sitting by your bed every midnight! In the surrounding area, the Jindai soldiers moved quicker than expected. All 240 War Robots had already activated! Their eyes flashed red, with the system continually correcting targets. Finally, all War Robots locked onto the Grand Elder on the Kui Bull. All the War Robots began to run, the infrasound generators they carried making the Grand Elders head throb, his internal organs vibrating to the point where he nearly vomited blood! These War Robots were equipped to target masters and massacre large enemy areas; being machines, they were impervious to the infrasound waves. The Grand Elder roared, Li Yunjing! At this moment, a composed voice came through the communication channel, Understood. Ye Wan looked up at the opposite mountain peak. The reclusive master of the Li Family, Li Yunjing, was quietly standing there. Can you still hold on? Ye Wan asked Lin Xiaoxiao. I heard he encountered a master from the Jindai Clan in the south and crushed him, Lin Xiaoxiao said, slumping in the snow. The boss said hes among the most hopeful of breaking through to the demigod realm in recent years. I have to keep my eyes open. The night was filled with Great Snow. There were spectators in the snow. The audience looked towards the mountain peak, and Li Yunjing spoke softly to Li Ke behind him, Boy, step back ten zhang. Li Ke retreated. As he did, he suddenly saw Li Yunjing, who had meditated in front of the Baopu Building for twenty-eight years, who had guarded his grandfather for twenty-eight years, this martial artist obsessed not with fame or fortune, extending his hand to the sky. Those long, powerful fingers seemed to pluck a star from the void. Li Yunjing pressed his palm towards the valley below, and suddenly, a third of the Jindai Military Camp collapsed into a deep, bottomless pit! The ground above, war chariots, tents, soldiers, War Robots! All fell into the abyss. When the earth releases murderous intent, dragons and serpents rise! On the surface, it was as though the mighty forces of nature had crumbled! Li Yunjing was surrounded by cloud gas, like a banished immortal! A moment ago, the Grand Elder of the Fire Pits aura had been continuous, slashing twice. But Li Yunjing had poured all his energy into a single palm strike, astounding the world! Ye Wan watched in silence from the opposite side, This is just the peak of A-Class. If he advances to demigod, many will be terrified. Lin Xiaoxiao said, It was worth coming. Its just that the great path has many roads, but none for me. What a pity. Thus, starting with the Grand Elder of the Fire Pit leading the Kui Bulls to charge the camp, using Lin Xiaoxiaos nightmare as a catalyst, and ending with Li Yunjings dragons and serpents rising from the earth, the entire Jindai Military Camp had descended into chaos. Some soldiers fled desperately across the snowfield, while Qin Yiyi, who had been hiding there beforehand, emerged from the snow, trailing behind the Jindai soldiers, killing them until they trembled with fear. The girls black ponytail looked exceptionally delicate against the snow, her slender and agile figure like a snow leopard. What was peculiar was that the Divine Cow Dharma forms of the Fire Pit were all fierce creatures, but behind her, there was only a faint halo. ... ... The crows in the mountains sat silently, with Si Yue sitting in the snow, her chin resting on her hands, Its finally over. In another 20 minutes, well go down to clean the battlefield. As she spoke, she pulled a red pen from her sleeve. She had used this pen in City No. 10; just by tapping it lightly on a corpse, a Transcendents body would disappear. By now, the Grand Elder was limping over to rendezvous, and Ye Wan was carrying Lin Xiaoxiao down the mountain. The Grand Elder grumbled, It should be enough by now. The combat strength of a division has suffered at least 40% losses; their morale is broken. Now that theyve scattered, to hunt them all down would take at least half a month. Generally, ill-disciplined troops might scatter during a war if there were no rewards. Slightly better ones would disperse after 5% casualties. Better yet, they would face declining morale and gradual defeat at 20% casualties. Only those with faith could possibly fight to the last soldier. The Jindai units were actually all elite. Theoretically, they would still want to resist at this moment, but Li Yunjings method was too terrifying, crushing the will of the Jindai soldiers. With all War Robots destroyed and the Genetic Warriors slashed, they didnt know how to overcome such masters. Of course, this wasnt the most elite unit of the Jindai Consortium; their top forces were at the front line. Ye Wan stated, No need to continue the chase. The boss said dragging them for five days would be sufficient. From the looks of it, within five days, they wont complete their reorganization. The Grand Elder glanced around, Wheres Uncle Li? Its his apprentice were rescuing, but hes not here! Ye Wan explained, The boss had other matters and left first. Oh, the Grand Elder nodded, gloating, Hes dealing with another field division then? But... isnt he stretching himself too thin? Even as a demigod, its impossible to handle a field division alone. Moreover, while Knights are powerful, their attacks are purely physical. Dispersing a division quickly seems unfeasible. Ye Wan glanced at the old man, The boss didnt go for that field division, and hes not alone. Hmm? The Grand Elder furrowed his brow, Wait a moment, so the field division next door is left unchecked? Then all our efforts will be wasted. Qing Chen will still die. Ye Wan smiled, No, the boss said someone would handle it. Hearing this, the Grand Elder instinctively glanced at Qin Yiyis back, thinking, does Qing Chen have such a strong background? ... There will be another chapter at 11 PM Chapter 880: 542, Shadow! Chapter 880: 542, Shadow! City No. 5, Mountain City. Ginkgo Manor on the mountainside was still brightly lit at 4 a.m. This place was like a playground that never sleeps. Every night, the young ones from the consortiums, who saw no future in their family, would drive their sports cars and set the whole city ablaze with noise. However, the small house on the hill of Ginkgo Manor remained quietly tranquil. As if they were two worlds that never merged. In the small house where the Qing Clan House Master resided alone, the old man was still sitting cross-legged in the dark with his head bowed, lost in thought. Qings shadow stood silently waiting behind him. No one knew how much time had passed before the shadow said, You succeeded. Mm, the old man responded casually. With a calm voice, the shadow said, When Qing Chen left A02 base, he took all of Qing intelligence personnel with him. This shows that he already has Qings Family in his heart. Since thats the case, you should be mocking my weakness. Why are you not speaking this time? The old man spoke softly, To win against you only means that I failed to teach you well, there is nothing to be happy about. If you won against me, that is worth celebrating. The shadow fell silent; this old man always had a unique way of thinking, different from normal people. Just as the old man initially felt that merely having Qing Chen bring Qing Mu back wasnt enough to make Qing Chen esteemed. Only by making him the second Qing Mu could he gain that prestige. In fact, during that rescue mission, Qing Chen could have been rescued early on, but the old man deliberately sent him to A02 base. The mysterious expert who found Qing Chen and was chasing Jindai Yunhe around the world must be the old mans person. The information about Qing Chen in the film crew was also leaked by the old man using secret agents. Even the people the Jindai Consortium originally sent to capture Qing Chen were not Jindai Yunhe, but another expert named Jindai Yuncang. The old man sent someone to stall Jindai Yuncang, forcing the Jindai Consortium to send Jindai Yunhe instead. Just because the old man felt that although Jindai Yuncang was stronger, Jindai Yunhes methods were more varied and had a higher success rate of taking Qing Chen away. All of this, the shadow only found out later. The old man wanted all Qing intelligence personnel to remember the name Qing Chen and wanted the 929 personnel inside A02 base to genuinely praise Qing Chen from their hearts. This was the result the old man sought, and now it had been achieved. Thrilling yet without danger. No, the shadow thought, perhaps for the Qing Clan House Master in front of him, everything was calculated, without any surprises or dangers? The shadow suddenly asked, When I was looking at the satellite map just now, I thought of a question. Six years ago, you had me personally go to the Northern Snowfield to hunt down a traitor. At that time, I thought he had family secrets, which was why you wanted me to kill him personally. But later, I discovered it wasnt the case. He was just a small fry. I couldnt understand why someone like him needed me to travel thousands of miles to kill? But just now, I saw on the map that the location where I hunted him was precisely the route the Field Teacher is advancing now. You know, my Door of Shadow can only open in places Ive been to. So, you planned all this long ago, setting up the prerequisites for me opening the gate there? But the time travel hadnt even started back then, said the shadow. Lightly, the old man said, You dont need to think of me as being so mystical. Go, bring Qing Chen home. Let him enjoy the support and applause hes earned. And let Jindai know theyve provoked someone they shouldnt have. The shadow gave the old man a deep look, then directly opened the Door of Shadow and walked in. However, the shadow did not go directly to the Northern Snowfield but came to a high mountain instead. In the darkness of the night, he stood at the edge of a cliff, one step away from falling. The shadow, dressed in black, silently looked down at the mountain, where a tea garden was planted, with realm camellia. Next to the tea garden, there was a small fenced area where sunflowers were planted. Oddly enough, whether due to the magical nature of the soil, after many Transcendents had been buried here, or for other reasons, these sunflowers continued to bloom brightly in the winter when they should have withered. In the middle of the sunflower garden, there was a delicate tombstone. The shadow whispered, Not yet, wait for me... Then, the shadow suddenly called out loudly, Qing Ye! Someone behind him responded, Present. Qing Qu! Another person answered, Present. The shadow turned around with a smile, looking at 330 people in black, standing neatly and silently, like 330 statues. Letting the Great Snow fall upon their heads, without moving a muscle. Thirty Awakener or Cultivator subordinates. Three hundred Genetic Warriors he secretly trained. This was the secret squad responsible for rescuing Uncle Lis imprisoned friend. They had been waiting here for six hours, knowing that the shadow was going to kill someone. The shadow smiled and said, Theres no need to paint your faces in camouflage this time... By the way, do you have any questions? Ask them all at once. Qing Ye: Was Qing Chen possessed? No, he is innately incapable of being possessed. Or rather, people of Qing Zhens unique bloodline in Qings Family cannot be possessed. Qing Qu: Did he ever submit while at A02 base? No, he never submitted, not for a single moment. Now he has single-handedly escaped from A02 base. Out of 2383 soldiers in A02 base, including Commander Jindai Yunzi, all have been killed. The pupils of the secret squad members contracted suddenly, knowing what this meant. Any other questions? The shadow smiled. None. From start to finish, they never asked who to kill, how to kill, or how many to kill. Those were not their concerns. They only cared whether it was worth it. Now they knew, it was worth it. If it was worth it, then killing from night until day, from one end of the world to the other, was no problem. The shadow smiled, Lets go over the battle plan. Its simple. Two groups of Jindai Field Teachers are advancing to encircle Qing Chen. One will be handled by Uncle Li, The Grand Elder of Fire Pit, and Li Yunjing, while the other will be handled by us... Two demigods and four A-Class experts. To those who dont know, itd seem like were going to save the world. The shadow retracted his smile, Everyone, have a good time tonight. With that, the Door of Shadow suddenly opened beside him, and he was the first to walk through. The next moment, the shadow stood in the middle of the Jindai Field Teachers camp. He chuckled and said, Wow, jackpot. At that moment, all the Jindai soldiers stared in astonishment at the scene of a man in black seemingly walking out of the darkness, standing in the middle of their camp as if he was the master of the world. Secur... A Jindai soldier was ready to shout. But in that instant, time around the shadow became thick and viscous like water. The Great Snow falling from the sky suddenly slowed down, snowflakes stopped in the air, suspended in the night, caught in the white beams of the camps searchlights, hanging around the shadow. The Jindai soldiers mouth was left hanging open; his body frozen mid-reach for his gun. In the command tent, the commander was angrily questioning why the neighboring friendly forces were unable to organize an effective resistance in response to the news of the attack. The angry expression also froze. The world came to a halt for the shadow, with only him able to move freely. The shadow slowly walked through the curtain of falling snow towards the command tent of the Field Teacher. He opened the tent door, stood in front of the commander for a few seconds, and then used his fingers to cut the opponents carotid artery. He then picked up some documents from the Jindai Consortium on the table, read them for a while, and memorized all useful information before pouring himself a cup of hot water. Throughout the entire process, everyones actions slowed to the point of being imperceptible. After taking a sip of hot water, the shadow walked out of the tent and reopened the Door of Shadow in the darkness. At that moment, the flow of time abruptly returned to normal, and Qing Ye, Qing Qu, and the others streamed through the Door of Shadow. The shadow calmly said, Kill them all. The 330 members of the secret squad, with each ten-man unit of B-Class Genetic Warriors led by one Awakener or Transcendent, including the two A-Class experts, Qing Ye and Qing Qu. Thirty of the worlds most elite squads began their massacre in the night. Qing Ye found that as he passed by, all the Jindai soldiers firearms were drawn to him, gathering around him. A dozen or so black automatic rifles floated near him, resembling a throne of iron swords from which he dispensed a storm of bullets, covering everything in a metal tempest. As the gunfire swept through, the tents in the camp were shredded into sieves. Behind him, ten genetic warriors moved like phantoms through the field, from east to west, from south to north, sweeping everything in their path. More than a dozen Jindai genetic warriors gathered together, hoping to stop the ten shadow warriors with their strong bodies. However, when they opened fire from a distance, they found that even if these shadow warriors were hit, they would resolutely continue to kill, fearless of death. Before the Jindai genetic warriors could react, these shadow warriors had already charged them, shattering their defense line in an instant. The Jindai genetic warriors were dumbfounded; these people were all B-Class Genetic Warriors?! The entire camp was filled with these fast-moving, ghost-like black-clad warriors, all B-Class Genetic Warriors? How much financial and material resources had to be consumed to train such a secret squad? But the question was, why would such a fierce secret squad be used to deal with a newly reorganized rear unit like theirs? The shadow did not make another move; he just paced slowly in the camp, as if a tango named One Step Away suddenly started. It seemed none of this had anything to do with him. Nobody had expected 330 experts to appear in the camp suddenly, nor that such an elite force would be used against a simple rear field unit. This kind of elite squad was good enough to send to City No. 22 for conducting an assassination of the Family Head! Who would use such an elite squad for a simple rear-field unit?! ... ... Dawn broke. The camp fell silent, with only 323 shadow warriors standing still, breathing heavily. Seven had fallen. The shadow pondered, Both attacks on the camps succeeded, but we havent seen that old turtle from Jindai. Where did he go? The shadow looked north and said, Using two Field Teachers as a cover, what a large scheme. Uncle Li, I hope you realize this, the rest is up to you. Chapter 881: 543, Fei Touman Chapter 881: 543, Fei Touman On the cold and desolate snowfield, the team led by Qing Chen trudged forward. From a birds eye view, they looked like a long line of ants. Everyone leaned slightly forward to resist the fierce wind blowing across the wilderness. Qing Chen always led at the front, silent and reserved. Lao Chen! someone cried from the rear. Qing Chen turned his head, only to see Lao Chen, the old informant he had just met yesterday, collapsed in the snow outside the team, lifeless. People gathered around Lao Chen, wept for a moment, then turned and rejoined the team, continuing to march forward. They knew they had no more time for grief. In the past few days, many in the thousand-strong team had succumbed to hunger and cold, sitting down on this endless escape route, becoming new milestones. Qing Chen had tried to lead them to find food, but the northern winter wilderness was exceptionally barren. Even a survival expert might not find enough food for over a thousand people here. We have only one day left, and we are still far from our destination, Qing Chen calmly said to Li Cheng and Qing Ling, We cant afford any more long breaks on the way. At most, a brief two-hour rest is allowed. Everyone must use their willpower to get through the final 24 hours. Li Cheng and Qing Ling frowned, Understood. Did you remember the route I told you? Qing Chen asked. Li Cheng froze for a moment, Well follow you, boss. Wherever you go, well go. Qing Chen shook his head, Did you remember the route or not? Qing Ling said, We remembered. Qing Chen nodded, Remember, dont stop, dont look back, dont be afraid of hardship. Only by arriving on time can you survive. Li Cheng and Qing Ling exchanged glances. They were supposed to have died under the pursuit at Base A02. Now, their wretched lives were salvaged. Seeing a glimmer of hope, they were willing to endure any hardship to survive. But the question was, why did Qing Chen, who could have personally led them to the destination, keep emphasizing that they remember the route themselves? Was something about to happen? At that moment, Qing Chen turned and saw a strange white lantern floating in the distance. In the middle of the lantern was a mouth, opening and closing as if to swallow the souls of the dead. ATS-271 shikigami Bulabulabula! The Hus Information Agency had records of this shikigami. Although it had no offensive abilities and lived by absorbing dead energy, it could fly in the sky for reconnaissance. The Onmyoji had come. And they had come openly and without concern. The pursuers werent worried about being discovered, using Bulabulabula to tail and lock onto the teams direction, confident that Qing Chen and his group couldnt escape. They disregarded the thousand-plus people on the snowfield. Qing Chen knew the one who wanted to seize his body was an Onmyoji nearing the end of his life. If it was really that Onmyoji, then everyone present would likely die. Moreover, it wasnt just one Onmyoji who had come. Li Cheng suddenly looked at Qing Chen, Boss, you knew someone would come to hunt us down, didnt you? Thats why you made us remember the route, you want to... The next moment, agonizing screams came from the rear of the team. Qing Chen looked back and saw twelve people being dragged into the thick snow by an unknown presence. The originally pure white snow turned red. Until now, they didnt even know what was attacking the team. The warriors tried to dig through the snow to save their comrades but only found twelve half-eaten corpses. It must be some terrifying shikigami! And it must be above A-Class! Just over ten seconds later, the shikigami hidden in the snow launched a second attack, dragging twelve more warriors away. But this time, the warriors didnt wail. They shouted, Dont mind us, run! Run! Take care of my parents! Qing Chen knew that the inevitable had come. Qing Ling took a deep breath and said to Qing Chen, Boss, I know youve tried hard to lead us out, but its clear now its impossible. You are much stronger and faster than us. The best solution is for us to hold off the Onmyoji while you go ahead alone! Li Cheng, after a moment of silence, said, I agree. Boss, go. But as soon as they spoke, Qing Chen only said one sentence, Remember my words, well meet at the end point, and then turned to lead Jindai Yunzi and Takahashi Izumi, breaking away from the team, and sprinting wildly toward the southwest. The biting wind lashed his cheeks painfully as Qing Chen ran desperately, determined to bring these people back to the living world after they escaped hell. He wouldnt let them die in this godforsaken place. Qing Chen ran for his life. Following closely were Bulabulabula in the sky and a continuously rolling snow line on the snowfield, as if some predator hidden in the snow was chasing Qing Chen. Everyone understood that the Onmyoji had come for Qing Chen, and Qing Chen was leading them away to give the remaining warriors a chance for survival! Someone asked, bewildered, Lao Lee, what do we do? We cant keep up with the bosss pace. Lao Lee turned back and said solemnly, Follow me. We must reach the location boss mentioned on time. Although I dont know whats there, or it might be nothing, everyone must die at that place if we have to! With that, the team set off again! Over a thousand people marched resolutely back into the Great Snow. ... ... Qing Chen ran furiously against the wind. He headed into the snowy mountains. Are you two happy seeing reinforcements? Qing Chen panted to Jindai Yunzi, As far as I know, the shikigami controlled by Old Turtle doesnt include Bulabulabula. So others are coming, and Old Turtle must still be hiding, right? I dont understand why a demigod needs to be so cautious when killing a B-Class like me? Jindai Yunzi and Takahashi Izumi, running with Qing Chen, wanted to say something but couldnt. However, upon seeing Bulabulabula, Jindai Yunzis heart swelled with joy, knowing who was coming! No matter if the ancestor came or not, with this master here, he and Takahashi Izumi were saved! At that moment, Qing Chen said, I promise you both, youll die before me. But if I survive, help me kowtow a thousand times to the Gods. Takahashi Izumi found it extremely surreal. At such a tense moment, why was this rogue continuing to talk trash? At that moment, Qing Chen glanced back. The rolling snow line behind him was approaching rapidly, the snow waves growing larger. The shikigami moved faster in the snow than Qing Chen did at a full sprint. Remember, Qing Chens body had already surpassed the B-Class peak, entering the A-Class. A shikigami speeding faster than him had to be A-Class. He couldnt run anymore. He couldnt escape! With Bulabulabula in the sky following him, escaping was impossible! At the moment he was about to dash into the mountain pass, Qing Chen suddenly turned around. In this turn, a sniper rifle appeared in his hand, aimed at the sky. Turn, draw, aim, pull the trigger. Fluid and seamless! Breathe! In that instant, Qing Chens body shifted from extreme motion to extreme stillness. His breathing, governed by his mental command, calmed his chaotic body for this one shot! A thunderous bang! The palm-sized bullet spun out, piercing through the wind and snow, hitting the lantern! The distant white paper lantern in the sky was shattered by the shot, transforming into a streak of light, flying northward. Shikigami, when destroyed, do not truly die. They return to the Divine Bridge of the Onmyoji, recuperate for a week, and then re-emerge to plague the world. At this moment, the snowline ahead boiled, advancing towards him relentlessly. Qing Chen no longer looked at the lights direction but kept firing at the creature beneath the snow. His arms, firm as rocks, shifted muscles between tension and relaxation, perfectly compensating the recoil shot after shot. Strangely, after each gunfire, the snow creature split into twelve! In an instant, Qing Chen realized! This was the ATS-038 shikigami Fei Touman, known to duplicate into twelve forms! Fei Touman, born from the spirits of resentful women, originally a mass of vengeful spirits. Summoning it, an Onmyoji could let it parasitize a womans body. After 12 days, the spirit would decapitate the woman, transforming into Fei Touman. Fei Touman wasnt particularly powerful. But an A-Class Onmyoji could, at the cost of twelve womens lives, make Fei Touman continuously split into twelve! Confirmed, the pursuer was indeed an A-Class Onmyoji! Qing Chen frowned. Though his physique resembled an A-Class novice, facing a true A-Class, he wouldnt stand a chance. But he had to survive, to bring Li Cheng and others back to the living world! The twelve rolling snowlines advanced in unison. Each time Qing Chen was about to pull the trigger, they maneuvered to evade the shot, making every bullet miss. In mere breaths, the twelve monsters reached Qing Chen, their fanged mouths emerging from the snow! Entwined with snow! Chapter 882: 544, The Ultimate Martial Warrior Chapter 882: 544, The Ultimate Martial Warrior Only at this moment did Qing Chen see the true appearance of the Fei Touman. The pretty girls face had become ferocious due to her swollen skull and knotted muscles. Whoa! Qing Chen was startled by the sudden appearance of the ugly face and turned, pulling Jindai Yunzi and the other man to retreat. However, after only two steps, Qing Chen suddenly saw... Twelve Fei Touman, each with a different appearance, yet all with faces as terrifying as evil spirits, and their faces bore dried purple blood tears, as if the souls of women were imprisoned within. They dragged long, matted hair, tied with brightly colored red and green ribbons, like hostesses dressed for a grand banquet. But now, these ribbons looked like banners for summoning spirits. This place was a veritable purgatory on earth! He looked at the approaching menacing female faces and saw their pain and struggle. There was a plea on their faces, seemingly asking for release. Qing Chen sighed deeply. He stopped running. I dont want to run anymore! Qing Chen suddenly halted, turned around, and took a deep breath. On the pale snowfield, the solitary courageous youth stood as if within an ink painting with infinite empty space. Then he raised his head and forcefully exhaled a breath of cloud gas before him! No matter how many of you there are, you are all within the range of this breath! In an instant, the snowflakes slanting towards the youth were blown backward by this breath of cloud gas! Countless sharp snowflakes washed the faces of the twelve Fei Touman, stripping away their skin and hair, revealing the bones beneath their grotesque visages. The swirling snow rose skyward, not landing but reversing its course! The flying snow, stripped ribbon fragments, and split blood were like dark fireworks suddenly blooming. The phoenix flute resounds! The jade pots light rotates! Fish and dragons dance all night! This breath of cloud gas could, one day, be comparable to Li Yunjings Starlight Hand! But not now. Qing Chen was only B-Class; he had to exhaust all means to barely kill an A-Class Onmyojis shikigami. Even though the twelve Fei Touman were stripped to white bones by thousands of sharp blades, and the bones had countless cracks, their fangs still gnawed continuously. Qing Chen positioned Jindai Yunzi and Takahashi Izumi on either side of him, forming a triangle with himself. The twelve Fei Touman ignored Jindai Yunzi and Takahashi Izumi, charging straight for Qing Chen! Qing Chens heart was serene. Qing Chen maneuvered the two puppets, with himself as the center, using them as brushes. He used the last of his Knight Vital Energy in his body, wielding the transparent threads as blades... Cutting! Rest in peace. The twelve Fei Touman fell into the net Qing Chen had woven for them. Just as they were about to reach him, Qing Chen brought his hands together with force. The sound of bones cracking could be heard. The knives linking him and the two puppets twisted the Fei Touman within the net into pieces. Gasping heavily, Qing Chen looked at the pile of bones before him as they disintegrated into a stream of light and flew away. He sighed again, feeling that even if he killed those Fei Touman, the twelve imprisoned women might never be freed. Killing an A-Class shikigami while being a B-Class was astounding, even if the opponent was a shikigami. Below A-Class, Qing Chen might be invincible against any opponent. But just then, Qing Chen sensed something was wrong and turned abruptly! Too late! The Fei Touman were just a feint; the real killer was behind him! As he turned, a gigantic white tiger with a single horn leaped at him, muscles rippling, its bloody maw large enough to swallow a man whole! This white tiger could move silently on the snow, leaving no trace of its passage. ATS-062 shikigami, Bai Ze! From fifty meters away, Bai Ze leaped high, pouncing towards Qing Chen with absolute ferocity. Qing Chen had exhausted his Knight Vital Energy and couldnt even use his blade threads. He now held the Black Sniper, firing calmly: eyes! Heart! Throat! In the heavy snow, Qing Chens pupils constricted, and the fire rune on his cheek spread rapidly! The world seemed to slow down... No, his calculation ability had become faster! Bai Zes pouncing speed appeared slower and slower in his eyes, as if in slow motion, he pulled the trigger. He could even feel he could visually capture the trajectory of the yellow bullets. Bullets struck Bai Ze, but even though they penetrated its body, they didnt halt its fierce advance. Qing Chen pulled Takahashi Izumi in front of him. He leaned backward. The giant creature in mid-air shredded Takahashi Izumi with a swipe of its claw, then as it passed over Qing Chen, its paw slashed downward, leaving five deep bloody grooves in his left chest. It nearly broke his collarbone! Staggering backwards, the blood from his chest flowed incessantly down his clothes, staining the snow crimson. The one-eyed Bai Ze paced slowly on the snow, eyeing Qing Chen like a predator waiting for its prey to bleed out before striking. Blood was draining rapidly, and his Knight Vital Energy was exhausted. The Black Sniper was ineffective against the speed of an A-Class shikigami. Qing Chen smiled bitterly. Was he going to die? This journey felt like a dream. He had seen the sunrise on sheer cliffs. Seen the giant wolves in the black sea at Greenland. Seen the blade-like peaks of the Alps. Seen dazzling neon lights. It was just yesterday, someone told him to climb a mountain, see the snow, and chase a dream. Its a pity, the longest of all shortcuts in this world, he hadnt reached its end yet. Qing Chen set aside the Black Sniper as his eyes blazed with golden light. A radiant blaze! Death was fearsome. But somehow, Qing Chen always felt that each bout of fear made him exhilarated! Even if it meant perishing together, it didnt matter. Fall with the thunder! Powerful currents surged through the boys body, crackling with fierce energy. The ocean within him began to form a vortex, his blood started to boil. Qing Chen was prepared to exhaust all his potential, to die with dignity in this battle! Suddenly, the world fell silent. Eh? A voice of bewilderment arose from nowhere. It seemed perplexed by Qing Chens awakening, astonished that in this generation of Knights, there was a sign of resurgence, and a transformed Knight at that... The newcomer hadnt anticipated that Qing Chen, even as a Knight, could still awaken! At this moment, someone walked calmly past Qing Chen, patting his shoulder with a gentle voice, Dont worry, theres still your master. Qing Chens eyes shot open, staring in awe at the back of the person who just passed him, as imposing as a mountain, as vast as the sea. Since this journey started, the boy had been hoping. He had spread the message through Daytime Members, unsure if his master could arrive in time. But now. The master who once said, I can only accompany you for a part of the journey. Beyond this, storms and sunshine are yours to face alone, had truly arrived. In the next instant, Bai Ze pounced at Qing Chen, but Uncle Li Dong leapt lightly, landing like a thousand-ton mountain on Bai Zes head! With a thunderous roar, Bai Ze, in mid-leap, was forcibly stomped into the snow and earth! Snow splashed like waterfalls, the ground cracked like a spider web. Qing Chen had never seen such speed from a Demigod. His masters figure vanished from sight, and reappeared above Bai Zes head! Seeing Bai Ze still alive, Uncle Li Dong swiftly lifted it by its neck, then slammed it hard onto the ground again. Another thunderous boom, and Qing Chen felt as if the entire mountain range trembled. Still not dead? Uncle Li Dong remarked curiously. The white tiger flipped upright, swinging its massive paw at Uncle Li Dong. The middle-aged man, with unseen strength, effortlessly slapped its face again ahead of time. With a thunderclap, the three-meter-long white tiger spun mid-air and smashed into the distant snow mountain. The white tiger seemed like a painting, descending slowly down the mountainside with defiance of physics. Striking like hanging a picture! Once again, striking like hanging a picture! Qing Chen realized the white tigers bones were likely shattered completely. In front of Uncle Li Dong, this A-Class shikigami was no different than a common bandit. The mountain hummed under the strain, snow avalanching, burying the white tiger. Where the white tiger collided, a boulder shattered into countless pieces, and the residual force permeated the mountain rock! This time, the white tiger never stood up again, disintegrating into a stream of light and disappearing. Effortless. This was the power of a Martial Warrior Demigod, one palm destroyed an A-Class shikigami, and even the mountain couldnt withstand such force. Even now, Qing Chens heart couldnt calm down. He had thought that A-Class was just physically superior to B-Class, and Demigods were just a bit stronger than A-Class. But he never imagined the extreme of a Martial Warrior could reach such speed that it was barely visible to the naked eye! Qing Chen had previously thought that Knights, compared to other cultivators, had fewer techniques. For instance, the Hus Information Agencys inheritance could eventually cultivate to control twenty-four jade swords with immense killing power. Compared to that, Knights seemed weaker, relying only on group battles. But now he understood why the worlds Demigods refused to duel a Demi God Knight. Uncle Li Dong spoke calmly to the snowfield, Youve evaded me for long enough, hiding in the Divine Bridge of your Jindai family. Now youve captured my disciple, showing newfound courage. Since youre here, come out and fight, then rest in peace. His voice, though not loud, echoed far in the snowfield, like the expansive bell tolls in a temple at dusk. It brought inner peace to those who heard it. Uncle Li Dong turned calmly, smiled at Qing Chen, and said, See, this is a Knight. Qing Chen suddenly smiled with tears, remembering the words he had once spoken on the phone to Jinguji Maki in Hokkaido one morning. Dont worry, even Master has a master. Uncle Li Dong had finally arrived. ... Sorry for the delay, we prioritize quality over speed, thank you for your patience. Chapter 883: Battle of the Century Chapter 883: Battle of the Century In the southern camp. April mumbled, Why is our life so hard? This time when we return to City No.10, we must eat hot pot for seven days. No, ten days. The surrounding crows chuckled kindly, The boss and the others are on the front lines in the south, taking all the six-eyed crows with them, so it cant be any easier for them. This years work is particularly abundant, and the New Year is almost here. I guess the bonus wont be small this year. A group of transcendent corpse collectors stood in the bloody battlefield, discussing hot pot and year-end bonuses, a highly incongruous picture. The crows neatly collected the bodies of the transcendents one by one and then prepared to move on northwards without looking back. The Grand Elder of the Fire Pit saw this and curiously asked, Wait, where are you going? April turned back and replied, Of course, we are going to continue collecting transcendents. We might even find some taboo objects. Hmm? The Grand Elder stroked his beard in confusion, Isnt this your destination? Theres also a field division next door. Arent you going there? No need to go there, April sighed, Someone over there likes to use transcendents for tea cultivation. They usually take the corpses of transcendents directly. We currently dont want to have a direct confrontation with that person, so we plan to outlast him, then go and collect his tea garden! Ah? Li Ke was stunned, Is it Qings shadow dealing with the field division next door? Very few people in the Federation knew about the shadow using transcendents for tea cultivation, but as a core member of the Li Family, Li Ke had heard about it. The Li Family once sent people specifically to find that tea garden, but unfortunately, they couldnt locate it. Whats strange is that the Contraindicated Courts actually said they didnt want to have a direct conflict with someone? Its known that the Contraindicated Courts once contained a dying demigod. Back then, a demigod whose life was about to end planned to hide in the depths of the No. 001 Taboo Land as they believed that being captured by the Contraindicated Courts would prevent them from reincarnating. But before they could hide, they were found and forcibly contained by the Contraindicated Courts. That battle cost the Contraindicated Courts dearly, but the containment was ultimately successful. The Contraindicated Courts rarely do such things, so many people forgot the cruel principle upheld by these crows: they occasionally contain the living too! Yet such an existence is unwilling to be enemies with Qings shadow, planning to outlast the shadow? Thats really strange. April thought for a moment and explained, This is a very special existence. He alone controls both time and space. Fortunately, the world is fair; such an existence wont last long in the world. We sensed the decaying aura from him, so theres no need to rush. The Grand Elder of Fire Pit curled his lips, So the Contraindicated Courts can compromise too. April seriously corrected, This is strategy. It was well known that the Contraindicated Courts were previously a non-strategic organization. At this time, Li Yunjing asked, Is the north your destination? April nodded, We are just passing through here. If it werent for you, we wouldnt have to work overtime... No more talk, were almost late. The Grand Elder of Fire Pit turned to the other side, seeing Ye Wan walking west with Lin Xiaoxiao on his back, Hey, Ye Wan, arent you heading north? No, our task is completed, Ye Wan calmly responded. Huh? Your boss is clearly going to start a battle in the north. Arent you afraid hell die there if you dont help? The Grand Elder of Fire Pit gloatingly said, The Jindai Consortium used two field divisions as bait, dragging everyone who could help him here. Isnt it obviously aiming for Uncle Lis life? As far as I know, the lifespan of knights is very long. Someone like Uncle Li, who has reached demigod level, can live for three to five hundred years at least. For those filthy individuals at Jindai, his body is a perfect vessel... including his apprentice Qing Chen. Old Man continued his gloating analysis, Jindai used such a grand scheme; if it were just for a little knight, that would be inexplicable. So I guess their plan always included Uncle Li from the beginning. There were many details that Old Man did not know, but as the Grand Elder of the Fire Pit, he knew that when a consortium pays a corresponding price, it must have a plot matching that price. A single Qing Chen was not enough to make Jindai suffer such a heavy loss. But if it was to seize two perfect bodies, and one of them was a demigod, then this price made sense! Just as he finished speaking, the Grand Elder of Fire Pit saw Qin Yiyi running north. He hurriedly grabbed the girls arm in anger, You little ancestor, where are you going? To help! Qin Yiyi said. The Grand Elder was almost enraged to death, Im provoking them, and youre the one who got provoked first! This was truly bringing laughter upon himself! The Grand Elder continued, Listen to me, going north is useless, really useless! Li Yunjing and I are exhausted; if we go, we will just be going to our deaths! As he spoke, Old Man took advantage of Qin Yiyis moment of distraction, knocked her out with a palm strike, and carried her south, Lets all go now. Jindai lost two field divisions; their main force will surely come soon. Ye Wan, whether your boss can survive or not, we have fulfilled our duty! I advise you to head north and help out at least! Chapter 884: 545, Battle of the Century_2 Chapter 884: 545, Battle of the Century_2 However, at this moment, Ye Wan only thought for a moment before continuing to head west: The boss instructed us to retreat after we dealt with the field division. Moreover, our boss is not as simple as you think. Even though the knights are dwindling, even though he is already a demigod, he is constantly planning how to fight a gang battle. Gang battles seem to be the inherent nature of knights. Able to fight in gang battles, never engaging in single combat, is also the tradition passed down through generations of knights. Many people know that Ye Wan, Lin Xiaoxiao, and Li Dongze were all orphans adopted by Uncle Li Dong and are now couriers under the Knight Organization. But few people know how many orphans Uncle Li Dong ultimately adopted, nor do they know how many couriers this generation of knights has. Just like no one knows that the black market boss Su Xingzhi from City 18 is also one of the knight couriers. Moreover, no one knows how many friends a person who follows romanticism and roams the world to uphold justice might have. ... ... On the northern snowfield. After Uncle Li appeared, the snowfield fell into silence. The forces hidden in the shadows seemed to be weighing and observing, gauging whether or not they should take action. Life or death, this is a choice that must be made cautiously. Uncle Li stood still, not in a hurry. He allowed the enemies to consider carefully, after all, fighting him deserved prudent decision-making. This teacher curiously looked at his disciple: I just saw you blow out a breath of Knight Vital Energy... how did you manage that? Qing Chen was stunned for a moment: Master, you came early and just watched me get scratched by that white tiger? Uncle Li smiled warmly: If a knight doesnt have wounds, would he still be called a knight? As a master, I need to inspect the progress of my disciple. You have grown faster than I expected. It once took me two years to complete four life and death trials, training for half a year before each challenge to barely reach the qualification. Uncle Li brought the topic back: First, tell me, what was that breath of Knight Vital Energy about? Qing Chen understood, his master was envious... Yes, Uncle Li was very sure Qing Chen had just utilized knight techniques, but as the leader of this generation of knights, why hadnt he comprehended such a powerful large-scale attack skill? Large-scale destructive ability is the dream of every knight! Qing Chen thought for a moment and seriously and quietly explained: Master, my Knight Vital Energy accumulated excessively after gasifying, so now it has traversed my entire body and turned into a liquid state. After becoming liquid, this ability naturally emerged. Theres a liquid state after the gaseous state?! Uncle Li raised his eyebrows, could there be such good fortune?! He knew his disciple was special, but didnt expect him to be extraordinary to such an extent, with awakening and liquefying Knight Vital Energy... Qing Chen pondered for a moment and collected the clues: Our ancestor Qin Sheng once kidnapped Buddha in the Southwest Snow Mountain and then stole his Zhunti technique... Uncle Li interrupted Qing Chen and corrected: He voluntarily gave it to the knights. Qing Chen paused, thinking his master knew that piece of history: Yes, yes, it was voluntary. The Zhunti technique has four sections; the first three were discarded as they were useless to knights. But later, I discovered at the Autumn Leaf Courtyard that knights can practice the Zhunti technique to increase Knight Vital Energy without having to challenge life and death trials. The cultivation method for Knight Vital Energy has always been simple: after B-Class, complete a life and death trial, then gain a segment. Thats wrong, Uncle Li shook his head: Ancestors recorded this matter, knights cultivating Zhunti technique receive Zhunti True Qi, not Knight Vital Energy. The prerequisite for knights to challenge life and death trials is to use Reverse Breathing Technique to revert to the state of ordinary people. But if theres Zhunti True Qi in your body, even if you activate the Reverse Breathing Technique, the knight will still not be an ordinary person. If you are not an ordinary person, completing the life and death trial is useless. Only after becoming a demigod, with Knight Vital Energy permeating the entire body, can Zhunti True Qi be forcibly absorbed into Knight Vital Energy. But by then, Knight Vital Energy is already throughout the body, and cultivating the Zhunti technique will be accompanied by pain in the meridians. Therefore, knights have discarded the first three sections of the breathing technique. Now, Uncle Li is tempted; he wants to withstand the pain in his meridians and see if an abundance of Knight Vital Energy might turn into a liquid state. If possible, knights at the demigod level will gain a new technique. On the other hand, Qing Chen was thinking, his B-Class cloud gas is already terrifyingly strong, so what would it be like if his demigod master used it? Uncle Li laughed: Unexpectedly, we gained new insights before the fight. This master and disciple were actually chatting in the battlefield. In the next moment, Uncle Li raised his head and looked forward. There, a bull-headed rakshasa over four meters tall was slowly walking towards them, carrying a giant Nine-ringed Blade. With each step, the ground trembled. Uncle Li smiled and said: Bull-headed rakshasa. The bull-headed rakshasas breath formed fog in the cold air, resembling a steam engine. On the left, a short dwarf covered in black velvet fur was bouncing towards them. Soldier Department. On the right was a young man with red hair and a large gourd hanging on his back, barefoot on the snow and ice. Chapter 885: 545, Battle of the Century_3 Chapter 885: 545, Battle of the Century_3 Shuten-doji. Behind him, a strange creature with a tall stature, red face and a long nose, wearing a monks robe and high wooden clogs, holding a feather fan and a treasure club, was staring intently at Uncle Li Dong. Great Tengu. Uncle Li Dong chuckled, They are all Master Roshis shikigami. It seems Master Roshi has made a decision. Disciple, youve dealt with these Onmyoji before, havent you? Yes, Qing Chen nodded. Let me teach you a useful tip. Among the Onmyojis shikigami, there are many named after our divine beasts, such as the Night Owl and the Candle Nine Yin. But of course, they copied those names from us. Naturally, they can call their shikigami whatever they want; thats beyond our control. But Ill teach you a way to differentiate them: ours are gods, theirs are ghosts. Qing Chen laughed, That differentiation method is quite simple. ... ... In an instant, Uncle Li Dong beside Qing Chen vanished. Like a 155-caliber cannon suddenly firing, the immense recoil blasted the snow and dust behind, forcing Qing Chen to shield his eyes with his arm. The wind and snow blew his clothes and hair backwards. When he put down his arm, he saw Uncle Li Dong had already appeared in front of Shuten-doji. A punch swung out. As the punch swung, the wind and snow surged. The red-haired doji crossed his arms in front to block the punch, but he hadnt managed to cross his arms before the punch had already passed through the gap between his arms. Boom! Tremors! Shuten-doji was sent flying dozens of meters away as if hit by a grenade. A terrifying wave of force blasted the snow behind Shuten-doji into a radial pattern. Qing Chen stared in shock at his masters full-force strike, completely dazed. This shikigami was different from the ones he had fought before; those were either B-Class or A-Class, but this was an actual S-Class shikigami. But it still couldnt even block a strike in front of Uncle Li Dong! He had thought when his master unleashed his power, he might become a martial arts peak like Master Roshi, which would have been sufficient. Qing Chen hadnt expected that when his master went all out, he would enter Super Saiyan or One Punch Man mode! It wasnt over yet. As he watched, Bull-headed rakshasas roared, and hundreds of steel long spears suddenly appeared in the sky, instantly covering the area around Uncle Li Dong in a matrix pattern. The hundreds of long spears fell, seemingly intending to collapse the ground, piercing right through the earths core! This was the might of an S-Class shikigami! But Uncle Li Dong didnt dodge or evade. He caught a few snowflakes mid-air and shot them towards the sky, shattering the long spears targeting him. He stood in the rainstorm-like matrix of long spears, unscathed. It was as if Bull-headed rakshasas intentionally avoided Uncle Li Dong while attacking. In an instant, Uncle Li Dong caught a long spear with his bare hands mid-air and hurled it forcefully at Bull-headed rakshasas! With a resonant buzz, the spear seemed to align with the space, and as it shot out, it displaced the snow below like a speedboat breaking through ocean waves. The dwarf Bull-headed rakshasas was hit in the head by its own spear, sent flying! The Great Tengu and Bull-headed rakshasas moved, heading straight for Qing Chen. Qing Chen felt the hair on his body stand on end; in the instant an S-Class shikigami made a move, he even felt a sense of unavoidable doom! Couldnt avoid it! Would die! Scram. Uncle Li Dong said casually. In that split second, Qing Chen hadnt even reacted to what had happened; Uncle Li Dong was already back at his side. The Great Tengu, who had been charging at Qing Chen with a drum club, and the Bull-headed rakshasas, who had been slashing at Qing Chen with a nine-ringed blade, retreated in horror when they saw Uncle Li Dong return to Qing Chens side. The Great Tengu even broke his high wooden clogs! At that moment, Qing Chen suddenly felt there were actually subdivisions within the S-Class, like S-Class, SS-Class, SSS-Class, all under S-Class... And there was a significant difference between SSS and S... Earlier, he had been wondering how his master would handle the twelve S-Class shikigami from Jindais Master Roshi. Now he realized he had been worrying too much! If Uncle Li Dong didnt have to protect him on the battlefield, the remaining Great Tengu and Bull-headed rakshasas might have already been heavily injured. At this moment, Qing Chen recalled what his master had said: See that? This is a Knight! Uncle Li Dong stood beside Qing Chen, the red fire rune spreading across his cheek, his breath steady, showing no signs of exhaustion. This meant that the earlier battle was merely a warm-up... Master, why doesnt this S-Class shikigami die? Qing Chen frowned and asked. In front of them, the dwarf Bull-headed rakshasas clearly had a long spear embedded in his forehead, yet he struggled slowly to stand once more. So if it continued like this, wouldnt the battle be endless? They would have to find the Onmyoji behind them to end it. Uncle Li Dong pondered, Only four of the twelve shikigami have been released. What is Master Roshi plotting? Qing Chen asked, Master, am I dragging you down here? If it werent for him, Uncle Li Dong could sprint to find the real Master Roshi. After all, to kill an Onmyoji, you must first kill the real body. But Uncle Li Dong had to protect Qing Chen. He couldnt carry Qing Chen while sprinting. This forced Uncle Li Dong to constantly guard here. Uncle Li Dong chuckled, Theres no dragging down or not dragging down; you just need to watch from here. As they spoke, Qing Chen suddenly looked towards the distance, where a strange man stood quietly, bare-handed, yet particularly noticeable. At first glance, this person seemed small and insignificant in the field of vision, yet impossible to overlook. A natural focal point, the center of the world. Qing Chen had felt the same way about Uncle Li Dong, as he did when he first noticed him in Prison No. 18, immediately sensing his distinctiveness. Thats the harmony felt when a demigod transcends the mundane, gradually merging with the world. They breathe in the cosmos, overlooking all beings! Master, is this the old turtle from Jindai? Qing Chen asked. Uncle Li Dong laughed, No, this is Li Bingxi, the Deer Island Family Heads younger brother. It looks like Master Roshi, failing to make a deal with the Shadow, has found the Deer Island family, likely paying a high price. Qing Chen, this isnt about you dragging me down. Maybe they initially came for you, but after Jindai Yunhe managed to convey the information that you are the Knight inheritor, this setup was prepared for me. Jindai Yunhe didnt die? Qing Chen frowned. No, you cut off one of his arms. He just fitted a mechanical limb a few days ago in City No. 22. The old guy from Qings Family spared his life, perhaps to keep pushing you, Uncle Li Dong laughed, Speaking of ruthlessness, this man is even more ruthless; beware of him, he is emotionless. Qing Chen was stunned. This so-called old guy from Qings Family must be the Qing Clan House Master, right? Earlier, the Shadow hadnt mentioned this elder. Now, Uncle Li Dong had revealed a bit of the secret. At this moment, Li Bingxi slowly walked over from a distance, and a Deer Island demigod, a Jindai demigod, and a Knight demigod all gathered here. Qing Chen guessed, such a battle might only occur once in a century. ... Thats the end for today. Another chapter will be updated tomorrow to wrap up the third volume.